A Simple Scenario (II)

  A creature that was humanoid in shape alone emerged from the shattered canvas. Slowly, it stepped into the light, standing proud and undeterred.

  The form was similar to a human, but the figure itself wasn’t.

  It was a full two heads taller than Cyril with a sharp, jagged body that looked to be carved from rigid obsidian. Its form ought to have been dark with such a constitution, and yet it was fairly bright; not because of the overhead lighting but rather, a form of illumination stemming from the orange light seeping through the numerous groove-like cracks spanning its body.

  The sweltering orange glow made Cyril instinctually think of red-hot magma —an accurate analogy. On a whim, the creature’s gaze lingered about the lobby and eventually stopped on Cyril. With no other choice he was forced to return the intention being conveyed by small the infernos raging inside the sunken circles on the monsters face.

  “An infernal...that’s an upper C rank monster!” the words escaped him reflexively, an ample benefit of having studied so many monster codices.

  Aria, I thought you said this was supposed to be fair. That’s almost a B rank monster there’s no way I can beat that!

  [Answer. That is correct. With your newly recalibrated body and the unique skill at your disposal, you are on even footing with this monster. My calculations have indicated a 54% chance of victory—57.3% if your skills and experience are taken into account.]

  He had faith in his own abilities, but only up to the extent that he had proven himself. This was something completely different, a type of monster he’d only ever seen on video when it was being confronted by those he thought superior to himself. Monsters, much like deviants also had an evaluation system, however instead of ranking them solely on the basis of D to S, the rankings for monsters went a step beyond the supposedly almighty S rank. In general, the rankings closer to the top naturally indicated greater proficiency, but that assessment conveyed completely different meanings for hunters and monsters alike.

  For monsters, rankings and threat levels were determined by their potential destructive capability. In contrast, hunters were measured based on their ability to influence ambient mana through the specialized grading system known as the Cognitive Affinity Index (C.A.I.). A B-rank hunter couldn’t necessarily compete evenly with a B rank monster, it simply meant that they had a higher-than-average chance of confronting it on even footing.

  The monster standing before Cyril was given the stern evaluation of an upper C-rank, a rank that indicated it possessed enough power to wipe out an entire precinct on its own. Compared to conventional weaponry, it could easily be described as a walking vacuum bomb. Normally, when one was up against something like that, they should have naturally felt fear—except that wasn’t the case this time. It wasn’t the case at all. Cyril observed the creature vigilantly, probing everything from the vicious aura leaking off it to the dastardly spiked maw wafting flames like a burning torch.

  He felt no fear, no anxiety, no hesitation—only a vague calm.

  Overconfidence wasn’t the root cause of his newfound assessment of himself. Recent events pit him up against a terrifying presence he hadn’t even thought possible before now. After confronting terror itself, this creature—a mere 'monster'—seemed several degrees less frightening in comparison. In the presence of what should have normally meant certain doom, the boy took a stance and readied himself. Unarmed though he was, he felt vaguely comfortable taking on this monstrosity with nothing but his bare hands.

  The infernal advanced wordlessly—each step sending a wave of sintering heat into the floor. Bright orange flares simultaneously erupted from the grooves adorning its body, setting the obsidian figure ablaze and casting a dreadful shimmer throughout the usually inconspicuous hospital lobby. The heat spilling out seemed to torch the air itself, and although he was mostly fine thanks to his aura, Cyril gave a quick, complimentary glance to the receptionist behind him to confirm his biases.

  His intuition was right, she wouldn’t last long if he allowed the infernal to carelessly advance like that. Normal humans were helpless in the face of such unreasonable temperatures. That fact was further reinforced by the young woman herself, desperately clutching her throat as if the very air were trying to scorch it, but then...

  A few steps short of their position, the monsters flaming advance ceased—not out of hesitation of course, the motive behind its temporary stasis was preparation. This monster, its after me but I can’t make any careless moves. I could get her killed if I act too recklessly.

  Although he was composed and ready, the presence of an X-factor on the soon-to-be battlefield could potentially sway the outcome of the fight away from what he would consider a clean victory. Since retreat was never an option in his mind, the only thing left to do was take the fight somewhere else. The infernal growled with a low rumbling grrrr sound, a gesture that willed the hellish surge of flames seeping from the grooves on its body to rapidly condense and compress in its palm.

  The combination of intense light, heat, and pressure blanketed the room in a mirage. Space itself seemed to twist and warp around the creature's ominous form, as if it were a flaw in the very fabric of the world. Before long, the theatrics came to an end, culminating in the formation of a dense, bright blade in the infernal's palm. The weapon’s form wasn't solid; instead, it swayed and flickered like a low-burning candle, for it was entirely composed of hellish flames.

  Beep. Beep. Beep...

  The sound echoed from overhead. Sprinklers activated in the lobby, unleashing a futile, mechanical spray in a desperate attempt to quell the monster’s wrath. Unfazed by the pelting droplets that evaporated before reaching its scalding form, the infernal shifted its weight, planting itself firmly as it prepared for a single, decisive strike.

  Ten meters separated them.

  Behind Cyril stood the reception desk and its host; directly in front of him loomed the infernal. Beyond it, at the far end of the room, a set of automatic glass doors led to the outside world. The lobby wasn’t small by any means but the thought of it hosting a supernatural brawl hadn’t crossed anybody's mind when the place was being constructed, thus it naturally felt like they hardly had any room to move despite its vastness.

  With only his eyes, Cyril surveyed the environment cautiously. Stuck between action and inaction, the paradoxical situation anchored him on the spot. He hadn’t even noticed how quickly his sweat was evaporating as it slid off his skin. By definition, hunters were deviants who were certified to explore the world of Ziggurat and conquer monsters, not save people. They weren’t officially trained for it and neither were they obligated to do so, their priority was to defeat monsters quickly and keep casualties as low as possible.

  If anything, the preservation of any lives in the immediate vicinity of a battle was something of a side effect that came from defeating the monster itself. If he recklessly engaged the infernal and something unfortunate were to happen, there wouldn’t be any serious repercussions if it was just a single person.

  But he couldn’t accept that.

  He couldn’t call it a ‘victory.’

  Even when faced with such an absurd amount of unfairness, Cyril carefully assessed the situation before proceeding. That was the only way he could truly ‘win’.

  Alright, I know what to do now!

  "RAAAGH!!!"

  The infernal had reached its limit, letting out a monstrous howl that echoed with its intent. The time for thought had passed—only action remained. A roar split the air. The infernal—intensifying its mantle of flames— made the first move. It swung the burning blade along a vicious arc, unleashing a rippling wave of heat that flew across the open space like a raging inferno.

  “Get down!” Cyril shouted impulsively.

  No further incentive was needed for him to dive over the edge of the reception desk and tackle the wheezing receptionist to the floor. Only a second later, a loud bang sounded and something bright whizzed past the space above their heads before slamming into the wall. His silhouette immediately lit up under the influence of the bright glow pulsing at his back. A quick glance over his shoulder revealed the source to be a large, molten gash freshly carved into the upper segment of the wall behind them.

  The tension peaked again.

  Cyril quickly shook the frightened receptionist, snapping her out of her widening gaze, and conveyed his intent in just seconds. “I’ll lure that thing outside, so get ready to run as fast as you can! Tell everyone else to evacuate too!”

  The young woman—still frantic — hurriedly shook her head in a gesture of compliance. She probably found it hard to speak after being exposed to all that heat earlier.

  “Good, now get ready.”

  Cyril rolled off her body and dropped into a low stance. His legs coiled like a spring, muscles taut and bulging, ready to unleash an explosive force beyond ordinary comprehension.

  “Now!”

  With a roar, he mercilessly slammed both legs into the underside of the large reception desk. The bolts fastening the wooden frame didn’t even have time to creak before they tore loose. In an instant, the massive slab of polished mahogany was sent hurtling toward the opposite end of the room—tumbling, crashing and smashing against the floor as it approached the burning creature in its path.

  Slice

  A sharp sound denied the inevitable collision, and the large desk—over four meters in length — was perfectly cleaved in two by a scalding slash. Though bisected, its momentum was still conserved, resulting in the two hefty chunks of wood crashing into the surrounding pillars and drawing the monster's attention for a split second.

  By the time it noticed the faint patter of the receptionist's loafers echoing down the adjacent halls, it was already too late—it's opponent, the trainee, had already closed the distance between them and was ready to exploit the opening in its blind spot. Cyril planted his feet firmly and channeled the strength from the ground into his fingertips. With a swift twist of his hips, he transferred the centrifugal force into a furious punch.

  The blow found purchase; slamming into the scalding mass of rocks with an explosive sound. Reinforced by mana, it was no ordinary punch. Rather than a stagger or a stumble, the infernal’s body was flung into a tailspin that sent it spiraling through the air—and everything else that lined its path. The floor, pillars and automatic doors were all subject to its velocity, though none could completely stop its flailing body.

  Echoes of crashes, booms, and bangs followed, gradually fading as if the source were growing more distant. One the small tremors subsided, Cyril sprinted toward the ravaged exit and charged through the billowing dust, crumbling pillars, and shattered doorway, indifferent to them all. It didn’t take long for him to spot his target outside; its luminous body was far too conspicuous under the dim morning light. The creature had already recovered from the impact, its form poised and ready before it could stretch the small trench it had carved into the ground even further.

  “I figured it would take more than that.” Cyril muttered offhandedly, fanning the wisp of smoke wafting from his hand. They only made contact for an instant and yet, somehow, that was enough for the infernal’s passive defenses to scorch his hand.

  Not only does it have ranged attacks, its also dangerous for me to get close too....

  The strength of one’s aura was undeniably one of the key factors that made battles between magical entities stray far from conventional logic. It was a dense layer of mana that coated both the body and weapon of any magic user, acting as a zone of interference that enhanced their durability and innate magical resistance. This was achieved by using manites as a conduit to overwrite the user's physical state, making them more resistant to external influences—be they physical, magical, or otherwise.

  It was the reason both deviants and monsters alike could emerge unscathed after taking a direct hit from a tank shell, and why certain magicians couldn’t simply extract all the moisture from an opponent’s body. Any attempt to overwrite a user’s state would be repelled, unless they could no longer maintain their aura—or the difference in Indexes between the two combatants was simply too great.

  Although his aura could shield him from the infernal’s flames to some extent, it wasn’t a complete safeguard. Given the creature’s overwhelming magical output, his defenses could only withstand direct attacks for short bursts. If he hesitated for too long, the aura protecting his body from the intense heat would eventually collapse under the weight of his foe’s superior magic, in which case, he would be reduced to ash in a matter of seconds.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Changing locations still didn’t change his situation, after all retreat still wasn’t an option in his mind. The only thing their new environment did was give him a bit more room to move around. He fell into an offensive stance and quickly probed his mental companion, hoping for even the slightest cue that could give him some kind of an advantage.

  Aria, this would be a great time for you to fill me in on that unique skill. If it can’t help me now the only thing I can do is draw its attention until some other hunters show up.

  [Answer. That will not be necessary. As I have said before, this monster is relative to your level. Your unique skill is the only thing you need to gain the upper hand. Your skill is almost done undergoing the calibrations, that is why you do not have an instinctual grasp of its capabilities yet. Once the process is complete, you will be able to fend off the monster’s assault.]

  That’s what I’m saying! He replied tersely, sounding as if his inner voice was about to crack. I’ve never had any skills before, I don’t even know what that [Juggernaut] skill does.

  [Confirmed. Allow me to explain. Your unique skill-]

  "ROAAA!!!"

  Her answer never came.

  The infernal lunged at him viciously, slashing its blade to project an arc of hellfire. Acting on instinct, he dove to the side and transitioned into a roll, narrowly avoiding being melted into the asphalt. Though he evaded the direct attack, it wasn’t over—the intense heat from the small trench seared into the asphalt unleashed a sudden wave of pressure, pelting him with molten rocks.

  To his detriment, the searing divot expanded with a dull boom. Driven back by the explosion, Cyril found himself tumbling along the ground. Battered, bruised and burnt, he reluctantly lurched up a bit of blood. For a few seconds, the world seemed disconnected, images swayed, and his vision was swimming.

  His sense of hearing was the only thing still intact, and rightfully so. Still on his back, he heard a wicked screech coming from above and successfully performed another desperate roll seconds before impact. A bright orange silhouette came crashing down on that spot like a meteor—the asphalt rumbled, shook and shattered again, sending Cyril’s body flying off even further along the gritty ground.

  Instead of tumbling, this time the force made his body bounced along the ground like a ragdoll. Eventually, he managed to pull off a well-timed leap using both hands, halting his momentum with a series of backflips.

  “Haah...Haah...”

  Blood drizzled and oozed from his skin, dying even his vision with a thick red smear. He felt only pain and the racing of his heart, aside from those two things the only other thoughts he would allow were inherently strategic.

  “Damn, so much for the whole unique skill thing...” He muttered bitterly.

  A sizzling sound came from the newly formed crater ahead of him, once again signaling that his foe was preparing to attack. The monster's orange glow was contagious, corrupting even the hard asphalt beneath it with a radiance that threatened to reduce everything to ash. Cyril assumed a stance again—his form still unwavering.

  Truthfully, he had no plan.

  If things were allowed to continue like this, then the one-sided struggle from earlier would just repeat itself until the boy met his demise. He had the same thought, and was desperately trying to prepare countermeasures when a familiar voice suddenly invaded his mind.

  [Alert. Cyril, as I was saying earlier, the unique skill ‘Juggernaut’ has completed its calibrations. The skill is now available for use. It is a power that allows the user to augment the action of any physical phenomena they are in contact with.]

  Aria, I never thought I’d feel so happy just hearing your voice! About that unique skill, you said it can augment stuff, right? How do I do that?!

  [Confirmed. Your skill-]

  Shit!

  Another wave of hellfire erupted from his infernal adversary, snaking ruthlessly along the ground and tearing through asphalt and rubble alike as it closed in. Cyril reacted instinctively, dodging the attack with a powerful leap that launched him several meters into the air—higher than he'd intended but driven purely by reflex. Unfortunately, that was a mistake. He was airborne with no weapon and no means to defend himself, unlike his foe.

  The infernal angled the flaming saber like a javelin and aligned it with his trajectory. Needless to say, there could only be one reason why it was doing such a thing.

  A feint? Crap it baited me!

  The realization was almost heavy enough to force him to the ground.

  [Alert. The opponent is aiming for your landing. Prepare to defend using your unique skill.]

  The suggestion sparked a flicker of hope in his mind. He carelessly gave his answer aloud without even thinking about it. “Go for it, Aria!”

  Cackling furiously, the monster hurled the burning blade like a missile. The instant the young trainee's feet touched the ground, a devastating blast erupted, hot enough to melt metal. It obliterated the asphalt, scattering debris and sending thick plumes of smoke spiraling into the damp morning air.

  A raging pit of flames smoldered on the gritty asphalt.

  The infernal’s latest attack carved a deep trench into the ground, sending thick, murky clouds of smoke spiraling into the morning sky. The smoke billowed ominously, illuminated by the fiery glow of flames that flickered and danced beneath its darkened veil. It was only natural to assume that any human on the receiving end of such a devastating blow wouldn’t be getting back up. Surviving in one piece wasn’t even an option, that ought to have been a universal conclusion.

  Even the infernal, a literal force of nature given form understood that. It had no eyeballs, only two gaping holes lit by ardent flames wafting out their socket. Without a proper face to examine it should have been near impossible to read the creatures mood and yet, after staring down its handiwork for a measly few seconds it whipped around disinterestedly and began marching towards its next target.

  The towering building in the distance caught the monster's eye.

  It was a multi-story structure with a rectangular, block-like design that gave off a utilitarian aesthetic. There was a large display board mounted near the front, audaciously portraying the words ‘Babel Medical’ in bold. Such things were of little consequence to a literal walking calamity. The infernal paid no heed to it, there was only one thing on its mind: ‘havoc’

  Each one of the monsters smoldering steps it took were simply a means to effectively execute that goal, however, before the creature could get a head start on its ruthless agenda, something peculiar caught its attention.

  "That was dangerous!" a snarky voice called out from behind the infernal, yanking its attention away in an instant.

  Alarmed, the monster stopped to slowly peer its blazing head around —half from confusion, half from disbelief. The only place that voice could have come from was the raging pit of flames in the ground, but that was impossible. Its last attack landed with perfect precision, a pinpoint blast from a flame forged blade, powerful enough to reduce even a tank to cinders.

  The attack connected, there was no doubt about that and yet, it recognized the familiar silhouette standing in the pit of flames.

  “Aren’t you supposed to make sure I'm dead before leaving?” The voice asked pompously from beyond the smoking veil.

  Recognizing that presence, the creature roared again, splitting the spiky maw on its face with a deafening cry that echoed through the sleeping metropolis. The sound alone was strong enough to send the wind whipping about unnaturally, it was the most efficient way to banish the plumes of smoke and confirm the mounting suspicion it had—a feeling that something was very wrong.

  The thick black plumes were swept away by a sudden gust, revealing a smoldering crater illuminated by crackling flames and the boy standing at its center. The flickering light cast sharp shadows across his form. His sterile clothing was scorched and torn, yet he stood unyielding, his eyes burning brighter than the flames around him.

  Sharply contrasting with his conserved demeanor from earlier, he was smiling. He wasn’t sure why that was since the status quo had yet to officially change, and if anything, he was even worse off now with all the burn marks on his body. Nevertheless, withstanding the infernal’s last attack made him feel powerful for some reason.

  Not ‘powerful’ in the sense of growing stronger through training, but something more elusive—a feeling that could only be truly understood in the midst of battle

  “Aria, I don’t have the skill’s mechanics down yet, so I’m going to need your help again.” He affirmed triumphantly, assuming his stance for the final time.

  There was no audible reply but he still smiled as if he’d gotten a favorable response. It was all too strange for the flaming creature to process, someone who should have been reduced to ash was standing proud in their deathbed and smirking recklessly as if the battle had already concluded.

  As if he already won.

  What little reason the creature possessed naturally fell to the wayside afterwards to make way for its true nature, which was of course pure, unrestrained savagery. Widening its maw, the infernal unleashed another shrill sound, this time with a different intention attached to it. The powerful noise wasn’t meant to resonate out into the world—no, instead, the effect was much closer to a vacuum. The whirling winds swaying about were instantly dominated by a forceful pull, drawn inexorably toward the creature's gaping maw, the sound warping into a low, guttural hum.

  Dust whirled about from the extreme action which, although daunting, had little effect on the overall environment. Cyril’s hair barely rustled from the uncanny tactic which is why he had yet to move—because he didn’t need to. He wasn’t the target, what the infernal truly sought were the flames dancing at his feet. Responding to its summons, the shimmering glows shot forth, coalescing into a single, cohesive stream of fiery brilliance for the creature to ravenously devour.

  The mass of flames vanished in an instant, disappearing inside the infernal's smoldering body. A second later the monsters form expanded fiercely, cracking the ground beneath it and setting the dim grooves adorning its body ablaze. The bright orange glow streaming through its form intensified, rapidly growing larger, as if it were about to burst from its chest.

  Tilting its body backwards, the monster braced itself against the ruptured ground, ready to unleash one final wave of fiery destruction. It was a simple move, people often referred to such attacks as their ‘trump card’. This was no different—in the monster's mind if this didn’t kill him, nothing else would.

  Cyril dashed forth, aiming to close the distance between them when a voice suddenly rang in his mind:

  [Alert. Cyril, incoming breath attack. Preemptive action is recommended.]

  I know, this is what I was waiting for! Do it now, augment velocity!

  The second he gave that internal command Cyril’s body moved like a bullet, propelled by some unseen force. He closed the distance in a flash and flickered into his opponent’s blind spot, angling his hand for a decisive thrust. There wasn’t much the monster could do after assuming such a vulnerable posture. The boy had already layered himself inside a thick coating of his own aura and resolved to power through the immense heat no matter what. The last thing the creature felt was a violent tug that pulled its head back and the sharp impact from the trainee’s fist harpooning into its chest.

  "Gwaaaahhh!!!"

  A final roar came, this time accompanied by a wave of hellfire. Although it was bested, the creature still had enough life left to unleash its breath attack, and so it did. Riding the roar was a blast powerful enough to scorch the heavens themself. The inferno erupting from the infernal’s maw took the form of a bright orange pillar as it shot up into the early morning sky, clearing the clouds above and sending a low rumbling through the ground below.

  It must have seemed beautiful from afar, but the boy at the helm of the creature's destructive wave thought otherwise. Gritting his teeth and pushing through the pain, he let out a roar of his own, determined to keep the blast's trajectory on course. From Cyril‘s perspective it took a while for the seconds of hell to elapse, but they eventually did. He loosened his grip on the charred remains of the hellish creature and slowly stepped out of the cratered asphalt, collapsing onto his back the moment his bare feet touched the cold pavement.

  “Haah...I thought I was going to die....” Proudly smiling to himself, Cyril huffed the words in a playful tone.

  [Notice. The chances of your death were unlikely Cyril, as I have said before there was a 54% chance of your vict-]

  “Yeah, Yeah.” He quipped, cutting off the assistant's robotic tone. “We clearly have very different opinions on percentages, but at the very least allow me to thank you Aria. Half of this is your victory too.” Proclaiming the words proudly, Cyril stretched his body with a smile.

  [Understood. Your intention has been conveyed. Allow me to congratulate you as well Cyril, you have cleared the first scenario.]

  >>>>>-------<<<<<<

  [Incident report— July 28th]

  [Host Unit: Cyril Severin. Status: Initial Scenario Successfully Completed. Performance evaluation indicates notable proficiency in tactical execution, combat acumen, and adaptive strategy. Target opponent: Modified Infernal. Objective: Neutralization achieved with high efficiency.]

  [Analysis: Host successfully deployed unique skill protocol 'Juggernaut' in conjunction with A.R.I.A.s’ support systems. Memory scans and historical training records confirm sufficient theoretical and practical comprehension of the skill's parameters. Limitation detected: insufficient repetition-based refinement. Recommendation: increase frequency of controlled application scenarios.]

  [Scenario Design: Opponent selection emphasizing dual-capability (close-quarters and ranged combat) validated. Observation: Host exhibits talent yet displays a deficiency in innovation during combat strategies. Current evaluation: conservative tactical approach restricts optimization potential.]

  [Behavioral Analysis: Host exhibits protective tendencies toward non-combatants. Spectator presence introduces performance variability, increasing risk tolerance unnecessarily. Recommendation: restrict future engagements to isolated environments to ensure unimpeded combat efficiency. Operator input requested: scenario deadline adjustment authorization.]

  [Memory Assessment: 30+ hours dedicated to host memory integration. Conclusion: Host origin classified as substandard deviant baseline. Exceptional skillset attributed to intensive training under primary influence Alice Severin, designation: Saint of Steel Hypothesis: skill acquisition via transfer mechanism under investigation. Further data required.]

  [Risk Analysis: Host interaction with entity 'Marcel Phoenix' identified as critical risk vector. Entity profile: Flame Magician with recurrent engagement history and propensity for hostility. Designation: Threat. Countermeasure protocol initiated—objective: conditioning host for neutralization through scenario progression and skill development.]

  [Investigative Directive: Additional empirical data required. Priority subjects: "Saint," "Lamplight," and "Special Assessment Ward" Memory analysis ongoing. Probing required to uncover the origin of supplementary skills present in the host.]

  [Host compatibility rating: 47%. Pacifistic tendencies are limiting combat effectiveness. The current host does not meet the criteria for an ideal candidate unless these tendencies are suppressed. However, combat experience and skillset partially offset this limitation. Further data collection is required for a more accurate evaluation.]

  [Conclusion: This report concludes A.R.I.A.s' transmission to the Operator. Progress updates will be provided upon acquisition of further actionable intelligence.]