A/N: Hey. So, I've been away from writing fanfics for a while. Didn't have the time due to school and yet I still read some from time to time. Guess I've been more of a consumer rather than a creator. But after reading Ligoya's Accelerator Junior getting thrown around in Gensokyo and ChronoEtente's A Bizarre Adventure: Hidden Eastern Wonderland, I got the urge to try something out with Ligoya's Pioneer concept.
Seeing how there's a lot of potential and ways things can go is really appealing. So I guess this is me coming back from the dead of inactivity on this site. I can't promise a consistent upload schedule or the continuing motivation to work on this. Or remembering this fanfic. But if people do read it and want more, why not provide them.
Begining story!
End A/N
- Mission 1: I reject my normal life -
[Congratulations!]
I must be dreaming.
[You've been granted an opportunity to partake in "The Pioneer of the Universe" Program.]
This glowing blue box is talking to me like a genie.
[As you, the User accept this offer, we'll send you to an alternate universe of your choosing. Along the way, the User will grow stronger through Quests or other means of training. We'll oversee the User's activities and collect data from interesting events, interactions with the locals etc. Memories of those in your old world will be erased for convenience.]
Maybe I lost my mind.
[To prove that this isn't a hallucination, we'll provide proof doubling as a ticket should you accept.]
I felt something in my hand. I opened it to see a gold coin with an inprint spelling "Pioneer of the Universe".
[We'll wait for you to decide whether or not you accept. For questions and other inquiries about us, say "System Start" verbally or mentally.]
And the blue cube dissapears. I think introduction is in order.
Name's Gary, 21, Chinese guy, currently living in Malaysia, moved out to a small apartment with a wage just enough to afford the place and feed myself. Family's doing fine but not entirely happy about me dropping out of my visual art course.
Not my fault that the principal was a douche despite completing his projects. Some of my peers even said my work was decent yet the man still wasn't content. Guess reputation came before helping us develop our skills.
I was working on stuff on my laptop when that floating box came out of nowhere and said I was given this once in a lifetime opportunity.
If what that thing said was true, I can start over somewhere else. Somewhere far from this place, this world. Work on getting a new life without my old one interfering. Maybe become a famous billionaire, a superhero, or a figure of importance who'll go down history.
Nah, too extravagant. I'm not really one who likes being the main spotlight. As cool as it is from time to time, I feel it can get taxing for my introverted mental stamina.
But an opportunity like this is so enticing, I'm surprised this higher being would choose someone like me. It's kinda sad knowing the people I grew up with will forget me like I never existed. Guess that's one of the trade-offs.
I took out the coin from my pocket. Fiddling it with my fingers, I figure it's time to get this going.
'System Start' I called within my head. The cube returns.
[Welcome to the "Pioneer of the Universe" Program. We, The System, are an artificial intelligence made to manage the program. We're made by the ones called "The Creator" who oversees all Pioneers' activities and accomplishments. In this program ,we will grant the User a chance to reside in another world of any kind. Along with an ability and item of the User's choosing. We recommend to make choices that'll increase the User's survivability rate, for obvious reasons. Any other requests before the transfer will be depended on the Creator's consent.]
[If you accept to enter the program, hit Accept. Decline and we'll erase your memories of this encounter.]
[Accept] [Decline]
[Timer remaining at 23:41]
So I have time to get ready. I got on my laptop, closed the software that wasn't downloaded through questionable means, I searched through many fictional worlds that I really like or that I know of.
Unfortunately, a lot of them have a high death rate for the cast.
-14 hours later-
Timer remaining at 9:11
After going through the list of worlds for 8 hours and cans of energy drinks, I've finally chosen one. Though it's not my particular favorite, it beats out the others by a metric.
Researching that world, though I may forget some due to how vast it is, I noticed I burned through another 6 hours.
I really hope insomnia doesn't get to me after this.
"System start."
[Do you wish to enter the program?]
[Accept] [Decline]
I tap "Accept".
[Please state your chosen world.]
Straight to the point. "Touhou Project." Though I never played the games myself, not really a big fan of crazy bullet hell games, the cast of the franchise were really unique.
I'm aware of that world's threat level is way beyond what universes I listed before, but most of the threats could be dealt with without too much issue.
If I don't mess up, of course.
[Accepted. Please state your ability.]
"Equip from Fairy Tail, Gundam version" That's right. I'm gonna go with Titania's magic ability, but to dawn Gundams as awesome armor and wield weapons from those gigantic mechas in my own human sized hands.
I could've gone with something better, but I'm a Gundam fan. Plus it's my choice.
[Accepted. Initiating ability transfer.]
'Wait, now?' "Gaah!!!"
In an instant, my head felt like it was gonna split in half. So much was going into my cranium, I feel like running my head into a wall would be more bearable than this.
I feel like Coyote Peterson. Only the pain experience bit.
About a few minutes of yelling and grunting past and the pain subsided. I got up and looked around me. Seems like I'm not in the afterlife yet. I tried to test it out.
Raising up my right hand, I began to visualize a weapon from the Gundam franchise. After I got a good image of it, I gave it a whirl.
"Equip. GN-Sword."
A large amount of green glowing particles came out of knowhere and quickly gathered around my outstretched arm. It dissipates and what I expressed was just pure excitement.
"It works! Holy shit!" The GN-Sword! Gundam Exia's signature weapon! Arguably the coolest melee weapon in the Gundam universe!
In my adrenal rush, I swung the blade and hit a few things off the table. I hope that the neighbours didn't hear that.
A few tests later, Timer now at 7:40
I was finally able to summon a complete set of the Exia armor. It's basically a human sized Gundam, even my face was completely covered. As far as I'm aware, none of my fleshy body was exposed.
It's almost as if my entire body changed instead of wearing armor. Weird.
It was a bit difficult to walk in, but I figure I would soon rely on the Gundams' ability to fly, so no worries there.
Unequipping is the same as calling out the thing. Focus on removing the armor or weapons, or the whole thing and you're back to your old meaty body.
[Please state your chosen item.]
"Infinite Space Sling bag." I'll most likely have a lot of items I need to hold on to my person, so this'll be most helpful.
Plus the stuff I'm bringing with me. There's no way I'm carrying multiple luggages to another world. Limited storage is the worst.
[Granted. Materializing item.]
In a few seconds, a black sling bag that looked like it was made for mountain climbing appeared and dropped into my hands. It had a white round panel with a round turquoise reflective lens in the middle of the body.
I began stuffing my things into it. Food wrapped with non-stick paper used for baking. Clothes, but I'd figure modern clothing would stick out so I only took boxers and PJs. A kitchen knife was originally on the list, but I figure I'd never use it outside of cooking.
Not to mention, I can summon a fucking gauntlet blade that shoots energy beams! Why would I need a dinky knife to fight when I have that?!
A thermos watter bottle. Mainly that I'm easily thirsty and it's pretty efficient to have. Now, for the thing most people might do when travelling. The pointless things that they don't need but they bring em' along anyways.
For me, I have two. But one of them is moreso unnecessary.
I walked up to a cube shaped display case. It was made with hard clear plastic with a solid black base. Inside was an object dubbed as "the current best Gunpla" to date.
A Perfect Grade Gundam Exia. Normal version.
This huge plastic figure, was what so many Gunpla (Gundam model figures) did right and frankenstein'd all the good things about them into this God of a model kit.
Great building experience. Durable when posing. Beautiful poportions (in my opinion). Weapons don't fall off the hands easily. A sturdy action base that doubles as accessory storage. And awesome hatch gimmicks, though they were right when they said there's less details on the inner frame (the core body that holds all the armor on).
There's even one with an LED unit with a light cycle, Lighting Model. But it's hella expensive, doubt the price range compared with the Normal one justifies the steep price tag.
It doesn't have any monetary value outside of autioning it for Gunpla enthusiasts, even less in Gensokyo. But I hold a personal attachment to it. I love Gundam Exia, and the PG model was one that I absolutely wanted to get my hands on.
If memories of me here are gonna get erased, surely items will too. And that means my baby. Ain't letting that happen!
Anyways, I removed the case and flipped it upside down. Held the model attatched to the action base inside the case and filled it in with packaging foam that I never threw out. Now the figure itself is safe.
I close it with the base and cross tied it with some rope. I then wrapped it with newspaper and flipped it back upright, tied that up as well.
Package secured.
As I placed it inside the sling bag (which was fortunate since I found out that I can't stuff things the mouth can't open wide enough for. Which at best it can fit in about standard sketchbook wide), I grabbed a tin box with soft-hair brushes inside.
These I normally use for dusting Exia on the surface, small seam lines or the display case itself. They range from a wide spread brush, a slim one and a regular one you'd see used for painting.
'Okay. That's about everything that I can remember. Don't even need to bother with money. I doubt they accept modern Japanese Yen notes, but coins should still be feasible. I think.' I stuff them in my pocket.
"Let's go."
[We'll begin transport. Insert the coin into the slot below. But before that, does the User have any other requests?]
"That's right! Turn my body into a 16 year old when I arrive the other world. Hopefully I'll look decent." I know that sounds odd, but really it's going to help me blend in with the world a bit better. Most of the members there are around that age. Well, some at first glance.
And I can relive my youth differently. God, that makes me sound like an old man.
[Analysing User's preferable appearance. Request sent.]
[Pending...]
[The Creator has approved the request.]
'That's oddly quick. Not even a quarter of a minute and they said yes.'
"And I won't get sleep deprived after that, right?"
[Correct. We'll make sure Users are in healthy conditions when transported. Insomnia and other symptoms will be cured. There have been Pioneers who were once bedridden before entering the program with a healthy, functioning body.]
[Of course, its not possible for those on the brink of death.]
That's cool to know. Glad to hear those who had suffered could be helped, even if people here forgot them. For that last one, I guess even this "Creator" can't do everything.
But anyways. I took out the coin and put it into the slot. It made a bling sound and warps out.
[Transfer in 3...]
[2...]
[1...]
Let's hope this isn't going to be the biggest fuck up in my life.
[Begin.]
-Muenzuka, Gensokyo-
I woke up finding myself under a large tree. It had cherry blossoms but they're in a shade of purple. Looking around me and the majority of the area had these trees and red flowers. A bit vibrant for flower red.
I carefully got up and observed my surroundings. Seems like I'm at the place where it's closest to the border of Gensokyo, Muenzuka. Which is also the place where souls of the dead go before being escorted.
'Okay. Either it worked and the System got me here safely. Or something killed me while I was knocked out.'
[Don't fret User. The process was indeed successful.]
Oh thank God. Now, I wonder where should I go? The human village maybe? That's where most outsiders would go.
[Requesting User to state new name. This'll be your identity from here on out. If preferred, continue using old name is allowed.]
'New place, new life and new name. But what would be fitting?' I took out the brush box out of my bag and looked at my reflection from the tin case.
I retained my original skin color, my hair is like a light dirt blond. And my eyes are a deep shade of blue. Also my bangs are going everywhere.
It somewhat reminds me of Setsuna from Gundam 00. At first I considered with that, but I thought otherwise. I decided on the name I'll go with.
"Arthurn Merquise." The main of Seed aside Kira and the Char clone of Wing. Honestly, it just came from the top of my head. But I kinda like it.
And i just noticed that my voice got a bit of a higher pitch. But not much different than my old voice.
[Registered. Displaying User status.]
[Lvl.1 Pioneer Noob, Arthurn Merquise]
[A.P: 0] [I.P: 0]
Noob, not Beginner? And A.P and I.P? Wonder what they are? Currency?
Crack*
'Looks like I'll find out later.' I turned to see some green skinned creatures. They look like goblins. A certain anime character wouldn't be thrilled seeing these guys.
[Lvl.3 Lesser Youkai]
[Lvl.3 Lesser Youkai]
[Lvl.4 Lesser Youkai]
[1* First Quest]
[Survive your first encounter]
[Reward: 1,000 A.P and I.P.]
[Note that Points rewarded only shown as "# Points" will refer to as both A.P and I.P. Specific awards will be mentioned.]
'My first quest and already I have to fight.' Not sure if there are anyone around eavesdropping, but just to be sure.
"Stay back! Who-whatever you guys are!" I brought up my right hand and acted like I was defenceless. If anything, this'll just prompt them more to attack me.
They kept advancing.
"I said stay back!"
One of them rushed towards me.
"Wait!" I yelled.
One pounced at me.
"Equip!" *slice*
In a split second, its' face was cut in half and bled profusely. The GN-Sword, it's blade raised into the air. It maintain it's cleanliness despite cutting through flesh. At least, I assume it is.
"I warned you." I said with a change of tone, dropping the helpless human facade. They noticed I wasn't human at that point. What they're seeing is a Gundam.
Not giving it a chance to recover, the GN-Drive reved and I dashed foward and swung the blade horizontally. The force from that attack at embedded the sword into the thing's sides and it flew a couple meters away.
His friend joined in. Swinging a small club at me. I backed up as the stick hit the ground. I took another swing left side at it and did considerable damage to the body. Using the momentum to do a full rotation, I did a stronger slash at the same area. This time it severed the creature in half.
'Not a pleasent scene. But beats dying.' I looked at the last youkai. It seemed indecisive on what to do. So I did a favor for it.
Folding back the blade, I aimed the barrel at him and fired at him. Though I only got a few hits with the rifle, it was enough to scare it away.
'Accuracy was way off despite aiming straight on. Probably because I'm still at a low level.' I heard some sounds and saw the first one that I attacked was still alive.
Its' torso is cut open and blood was gushing out onto the green blades of grass, staining it with red. I brought up the rifle section and aimed at it's head. With two shots point-blank into the skull, the youkai was killed. I would be mad if I missed at this distance.
'Then again, can they even be killed fully? Despite having a physical body?' I recalled the Exia and let out a deep sign.
'First battle, it was really quick and really messy.' Looking at the corpses from the corner of my eye, even with the greenery and red lilies the scene was still ugly.
Not that I have anything against violence (even if it's justified, which is rarely), but being the one who does the kill in real life is a heavy feeling. I'll probably be desensitized by it later, but there's no denying that it's gonna linger in my head.
[1* First Quest]
[Survive your first encounter]
[Quest complete]
[Reward 1,000 points sent]
[User has leveled up by 2]
Level up! Hell yeah! I guess levels don't mean too much if the difference isn't too big. 'System, display my current Equip set.'
[User's Gundam Arsenal]
[Gundam Exia]
[RX-78-02 Gundam]
[Gundam MK-2]
[Gundam GP-01Fb Zephyranthes]
'Good starters, all except the Exia are UC MSs. Even the grandaddy Gundam is in it. By the way System, what are A.P and I.Ps?'
[A.P stands for "Ability Points". These are spent on obtaining or upgrading abilities, ie. upgrading User's "Equip" ability, the Gundams' fighting strength and effects or gaining new abilities.]
[I.P stands for "Item Points". These are spent on materialistic things. Ranging from currency of User's current world to conventional weapons. It can also enchant items that aren't a part of the User's abilities and purchase items purely for aesthetic purposes.]
[These points cannot be exchanged for one another.]
Makes sense. But I guess buying stuff from the System would mean that they appear out of nowhere. Best if I do that out of sight. Inside the bag should be good.
Looking at the bodies of the dead goblins one last time. I went to pile them into a hole and buried them. Not that they derserve to rest in peace, but because seeing bodies lying lifelessly on the ground is unsightly. Especially ones that were chopped into pieces.
[1* Exit from the land]
[Find a way out of Meunzuka]
[Reward: 1,000 points]
[2* Find the place of your kind]
[Find and enter the Human Village safely]
[Reward: 1,000 Points]
"Now the question that is, where do I go from here?"
[4* Emergency Quest]
[Survive an encounter with the Youkai Sage]
[Reward: 7,000 Points]
Shit. Well, it was gonna happen eventually. Just that I didn't think it would be this early.
I heard some hand clapping, a slow amused kind of clapping.
I looked to where the source came from. A blode haired woman with purple eyes was looking at me from above. She wore a purple dress with white long sleeves, a white mob cap with a thin red ribbon. Her hair had normal red ribbons tied near the tails and she held a pink parasol in between her left arm.
The most alarming thing was that she was sitting on the edge of a gap. With red ribbons at the tip of the hole, it looked like a tear in space time. Inside I could see a lot of eyes staring at me, hundreds of eyeballs with red iris.
'That's a crazy amount of eyes.' was one thought in my mind.
She spoke but I couldn't understand her. But I don't plan on risking myself by making sudden movements. She might interpret it as a hostile action.
So I just held my gaze in confusion, not saying a word.
She seemed to have got the idea, then waved her hand with one index finger out. I soon felt something changed inside me, but that feeling went away too fast to notice.
"There. Do you understand my words yet?" she asked but not in the way of needing confirmation.
Keep your cool.
"Y-yes, I do. Thank you... I'm sorry, what's your name?" I bowed my head to her. She must've changed the 'boundaries' between languages, allowing me to know how to speak and understand Japanese.
"My, what well manners. It's Yakumo Yukari. But do call me Yukari onee-san. I don't want to feel old when greeted." Never call her with anything that makes he out to be old. Duly noted.
[Lvl.? Youkai Sage, Yakumo Yukari]
Shit, man. Level '?'?
[Those with levels question marked are marked as people who are way beyond the User's league or unable to be determinded their threat level. It's most adviced to avoid confronting them in combat, or befriend them.]
Well, obviously! Not to mention there will definitely be large level gaps. I bet not even ten levels higher than you would be safe. But that's the worst case scenario.
"I understand, Yukari onee-san." I obliged while adding a waist bow. Pissing off a powerful being is never a bright idea. Unless they can be contested, even then it's a risky gamble.
'Uh. Why do I feel kinda dirty for calling her that? Too much anime.'
"Ufufu. That's a good boy." she hid her smile with her fan. Talk about an ego befitting for someone in her place. "And yours?"
"Arthurn. Arthurn Merquise. The 'N' is silent." I somewhat feel at ease, even just a little. Power of conversation.
Keep up the act, me.
"So, Yukari onee-san, can you tell me-" I turned to where I buried the youkai. To my shock, the indent in the ground where I dug the hole was gone! The land was completely flat again!
"What the?!"
"Don't worry, little one. I took care of them." she spoke, the paper fan still in place. That means she saw my fight before, which also means she saw my Equip ability. "I saw your little battle with those youkai earlier. To be quite frank, I despise killing." Uh Oh.
"But I'll make an exception since you did it out of self-defense. I won't blame you for getting attacked by those mindless creatures." she huffed, it's almost as if she wanted a reason to off me!
"Still, I would like you to avoid killing unless it's absolutely necessary. Despite them being able to return after some time, this will give them more reasons to cause trouble. Understood?" I nod to her firmly.
"On that topic, what was that you displayed earlier? Hm?" she's looking at me intently, must be analysing what I did to summon my weapon. It's best if I keep my ability a secret as best as I can.
"If I may, I'd like to know what those things that attacked me were. You referred them as 'Youkai'. As in like a spirit or some kind of apparition?" This fish ain't gonna take the bait, is she?
"I'm well aware that you're trying to avoid my question, albiet I didn't expect you to outright ask me. But I'll humor you." Thought so. I don't consider myself a convincing liar anyways.
"To an extent, yes. Youkai are spirits in essence. They live off of conflict and humans' fear of them. I would know, since I'm one as well."
'And I'll humor you, Yakumo Yukari.'
I summon back the GN-Sword and flipped the blade out, pointing its sharp tip at her. "Now now, no need to be alert. I'm no man-eater, most of us youkai gain greater sentience and we tone down or outright cut off our need of such barbaric ways. Of course, it can't be said for all youkai."
"And as the one who created the Great Hakurei Barrier along with the Hakurei Shrine Maiden, I'm one of the very few whose been here the longest." I folded back the blade into its standard mode while listening to her.
"Now that I've answered your question, you should answer mine in exchange. I won't take any tangents." she fanned herself with the same paper fan she held on all this time. 'I really hoped that I won't be forced to reveal my ability so soon, especially to the gap youkai herself. But this is Yukari afterall. Whether I tell her or not, she's gonna piece it together in no time.'
"Alright, I'll tell Yukari onee-san. But can I have your word that you won't tell my ability to anyone without my knowledge beforehand?" I asked while staring back at her. Man those eyes inside her gap space aren't helping.
"Oh? And if I do? What do I get out of it?" She asks while spinning her parasol. 'Wha? What kind of manner is that? She wants compensation for keeping someone else's secret? It's like bribing.'
"Well, I-"
"You don't have anything of value to offer? I guess some information about your power is good enough. Afterall, you did just arrive here. Though it's quite suspicious that you simply appeared out of nowhere." She noticed before I even finished. A bit fast to assume, but I don't mind. How good can she read people anyways?
'Guess I have no choice.'
"It's called 'Equip'. An ability to summon equipment onto your person. The usual case is calling out normal armor and weapons based of knights, samurai or different variaties of them. But I'm different. Instead I summon Gundam."
"Gundam? Explain in detail." she said, processing what I said.
"Gundams, are a type of Mobile Suit. Giant warfare machineries piloted by people from inside. They're fictional, so they don't exist in my world outside of entertainment. But after I discovered my Equip ability, I was brought here not too long after. I don't even know what caused it."
I'm not planning on giving her too much, especially on how I got my power or the System.
After a small pause, she spoke. Most likely piecing together more on my Equip ability. "Very well then. Since you just arrived, I'll be generous and guide you." she pointed out into the distance. "Do you see that path? It'll lead you to the Human Village."
I want to keep my eye on her, in case she tries something. I looked out and indeed saw a path. Quickly turning my eyes back at her, she's now up in my face.
"!!!" I stepped back startled and she's just giggles at me. I was not ready for that!
"Y-Yukari onee-san! Please don't do that so suddenly!"
"Oh? And when would you say is a good time?" Stop toying me around! "You're pouting~."
"I'll take my leave now, if you don't mind." I said begrudgingly. Seriously, I know how she is around people at times especially a certain shrine maiden. But experiencing it myself is completely different.
"Safe travels to the Human Village, Arthurn-kun." She went back into the gap but left it small enough only her face is in view. 'Creep-a-zoid much?'
"And this place is called 'Gensokyo'. And I welcome you to Gensokyo, Arthurn Merquise." and the gap closes completely.
I patted my body all around. Limbs are still attatched. Head not decapitated. Mind isn't fucked beyond recovery. And my insides are still inside of me. "*huff* I didn't notice I held my breath there." Man I feel more relieved.
[4* Emergency Quest]
[Survive an encounter with the Youkai Sage]
[Quest Complete]
[Reward: 7,000 Points sent]
8 thousand points after less than an hour in Gensokyo. A real headstart.
[Achievement Alert]
[Meet Yakumo Yukari - 1,000 Points. Sent]
There's a reward just for meeting people for the first time? More reasons to be sociable. A few thousands will probably be chump change in the later stages when stuff gets expensive maybe.
Now to get out of this valley. 'System, get me a pair of nose filters. Ones that can resist deadly pollen.'
[Super Nose Filters - Wearer will be able to breathe in contaminated areas without risk.]
[2,300 I.P]
'Yeah. And immediately equip it in my nostrils.' I felt something attatched inside of my nose. I can feel that the filters fit in comfortably, plus it should be out of sight.
'So what Gundams can I buy?'
[Gundams currently available to purchase]
[Zeta Gundam]
[Gundam Kyrios]
[Gundam Dynames]
[Gundam Deathscythe Hell Custom]
[Gundam Sandrock Custom]
[Gundam Heavyarms Custom]
[Gundam Age-1]
[Gundam X]
[Gundam Airmaster Burst]
[Gundam Leopard Destroy]
[Narrative Gundam
[Strike Gundam]
[Duel Gundam]
Damn. That's a lot to choose from.
'I could get Kyrios or Zeta to get used to Transformable-types. DS Hell for that stealth, it could be very useful. Charge-up attacks are also common in Spell Card Battles, so the Gundam X's Satellite Cannon can be great in that department (though it feels more fitting as a finisher, knowing its' destructive power).
Narrative and Age-1 are surpisingly cheap compared to the others. It's probably because the attatchments are sold seperately. Probably pricy too, knowing the NT's packs. Narrative also follows the movie, the base MS only has its head vulcans as it's only weapon, no beam sabers either.
'Get me Heavyarms Custom.' This'll help me with firepower for a good amount of time. Leopard Destroy can accomplish the same as Heavyarms with it's many beam weapons.
But I'd prefer to take gatling guns, thank you very much.
[Heavyarms Custom - 8,400 A.P]
[Confirm purchase?]
'Yes.'
I felt a bit of a tingle inside. It's probably a feeling whenever I get a power up. 'Let's do a test run.'
Few hours later
I kept my pace on the path that led to the village. Also I reached level 7 about an hour ago. How you might ask?
Small goblin horde. Dual-wielding Twin Gatling Guns. Lots of pew pew pewing. Though my level went up a bit just after I bought the Gundam. So, what? Does the level system evaluate my overall skills and firepower? Neat.
I had all weapons set to attack with Danmaku. So it should be non-lethal. That way, I can fight and gain experiences without worrying about killing youkai. Unless we talking about High Mega Cannon levels of power or above.
Course, the powerhouses of Gensokyo would most likely have no trouble with those level of attacks.
"I can almost see the end of the valley." Finally, I can stop being so cautious whenever I take a few steps too fast through this field of red lilies. I won't die from breathing in, but getting them in your eye isn't a good experience.
"Hold it!" Oh come on. Just ignore him. He's probably calling someone else.
"I'm talking to you, human!"
...I'm sure there's another human I passed by without noticing.
"Gggrrr! I'm talking to you! The one with the strange clothing!"
"Fine!" I turned around to see a big silver haired werewolf. It's standing on it's hind legs. Mouth slightly frothing. "What do you want? I'm trying to get to somewhere." I asked in an annoyed manner.
"Cocky, aren't you? I'm gonna enjoy having you as my meal! Outsiders are free game afterall."
"Look who's talking." I muttered. This is not a good situation to be in. Due to... well, this.
[Lvl.21 Werewolf]
[Lvl.7 Pioneer Noob, Arthurn Merquise]
I don't have enough power to beat someone that high yet. So I'll have to rely on tactics instead of brute force.
"Okay then. Equip!" When I said tactics, I meant Trowa Barton tactics. Stand and shoot!
I aimed the gatlings at the furball with Heavyarms' signature pose. Legs slightly apart, knees bent a bit for stability, both weapons in each arm is revving and I let it rip.
Trtrtrtrrr-*
Thank God the headgear is acting like an earpad so all that shooting doesn't tear my eardrums. Can't say how others around me would feel. Not my case.
I released the triggers, the barrels slowly stopped rotating. Smoke from the barrels quickly faded and began to cool down.
Okay, so that only staggered it.
"Gah! I'll break your chest in for that!"
'What it doesn't know, is that was just phase 1 of the plan. Now onto phase 2.'
"What!? No way! How'd you survive Heavyarms' barrage like that!?" I did my best to fake being surprised to lower its' guard. This one looks like an egotistical jackass.
"Ha! Your attempts are that of garbage!" It boasted with its' chest puffed out. I guessed right.
"How am I suppose to defeat someone so strong!?" I took a few steps backwards. Keep feeding its' ego.
"That's right! Nothing can help you! Now get into my belly!" The werewolf lunged at me. Fell for it, furball!
The verniers on the backpack lit up and launched me into the air. The canine belly flops on the ground. I flip myself and positioned my body where the front is facing the ground.
'Phase 2.' The missile pods on my legs opened up. I didn't need to lock onto it, just fire at the general direction.
"You hungry?! Then fill your insides with these!"
A total of 8 missiles fired and exploded on and around the werewolf.
'Now to phase 3.' I aligned myself to face where the road leads to and put more power into the thrusters.
'Use the explosion as a smoke screen.' And I'm outta here. Bonus if I dealt some damage to that thing.
"You're not getting away!" The thing is still up and running. It rushed through the red lilies, not affected by the pollen at all.
Oh. My. FUCKING. GOD! "Give up" is not in this guy's book at all.
"Just leave me THE HELL ALONE!" Time to pull out the big guns! No fucking around! 'Temporarily revert attacks to normal.'
Opening the hatch on the chest, revealing 4 more gatling barrels on the chest. I aimed the guns at the werewolf while maintaning flight. Hundreds of energy beams flew right at the youkai every passing second.
Now, the coup de grace. I boosted downwards, planted myself on the path. I opened the shoulder armors, armed with multiple amounts of missiles.
With the beast held back by the barrage, I showed it this Gundam's full strength.
"Fire everything!"
-Somewhere-
(Yukari's PoV)
After I left the boy in his own device, he let out a sizable breath. Was he startled by my presence? His eyes were darting to the sides slightly when he saw me, but his expression only showed confusion. Perhaps the eyes in my gap space was the reason he couldn't maintain eye contact with me at first. Or that he can feel my magical aura? Strange.
Arthurn Merquise, an interesting name to say the least. An Outsider who's not Japanese, which would raise eyebrows since one from outside the barrier would need to be at the area where Gensokyo was once at when it was still a part of Earth. His appearance would suggest he's from anywhere but Japan.
Another thing that's interesting is his ability. Based on his explanation, it seemed to me that this "Equip" ability is convenient for knights or samurai who can ultilize swordsmanship and other skills involving weapons. But he can summon these "Gundams" in place of regular or supernatural armor and weapons. A special case indeed.
His startled expression was quite cute to say. It reminds me of Reimu somewhat. Perfect teasing victim.
An hour or 2 he encountered a horde of goblins. Instead of equipping the blue one with the large sword from before, he used one in black with dull turquoise armor plates with yellow streaks on it. A yellow horn like protrusion on each shoulder. It bears almost the same facial structure except for the dome and the V shaped piece on its forehead is shaped differently and it's in gold.
'It's a polar opposite compared the the blue one before. This one relies on those large double barreled weapons to fire energy rounds. Seems like he's keeping a distance, most likely that this Gundam lacks in close range fighting capabilities.' I mentally took note as I observed his fight patterns.
He mentioned that these machineries are based on war fiction. How he can summon them as armor, let alone have that ability at all, is something that can only be speculated for now. There's possibly a large variety of these Gundams that this Arthurn boy can be an interesting all-rounder in battle.
So far, he only showed basic fighting prowess, though he may show some more in the future. 'I might test him indirectly.'
"Hold it!" A loud rough voice called out to the boy. It seemed to be another youkai wanting to consume him. However, Arthurn is simply ignoring the beast. Since it hasn't made any moves yet, he's likely thinking that it would leave him be.
"I'm talking to you, human!" It's definitely referring to the outsider. He's holding a slightly annoyed face. He's close to leaving the valley afterall, but why rush? Logically he would want to secure a place to stay for now or he wants to avoid more combat for the day. The latter would somewhat contradict his ability which its' purpose is solely combat based. There will definitely be more encounters if word gets around.
'Maybe that'll be my test for him.'
"Gggrrr! I'm talking to you! The one with the strange clothing!" the youkai finally referred directly at him. "Fine! What do you want? I'm trying to get to somewhere." Oh, he's not gonna continue ignoring it. There's a bit of a disgruntled tone to his voice just now.
His vocal tone just now is just like the type who bottles up negative thoughts and emotions until it inevitably releases into a burst of unadulterated, channeled rage.
"Cocky, aren't you? I'm gonna enjoy having you as my meal! Outsiders are free game afterall." the werewolf youkai proclaimed. It's not wrong though. Excluding the humans in the village under the protection of Keine, outsiders are free game. That's what most feral youkai would believe. Any sensible human who just arrived at Gensokyo would need to understand that.
'Arthurn-kun just muttered under his breath.' If I'm not mistaken, he whispered "Look who's talking.". Does he have bad experiences with boastful individuals? Is it an inferiority complex? Or that he doesn't like to be looked down upon those who're arrogant and high-strung?
A minute or two passed and the boy was the first to draw in this standoff. He summoned the dark one with the barreled weapons again and immediately fired upon the youkai. But the youkai still stands with no injuries. "Gah! I'll break your chest in for that!" it yelled in anger.
Arthurn took a moment after he ceased his attack. "What!? No way! How'd you survive Heavyarms' barrage like that!?" So these Gundams have their own names. "Heavyarms", somewhat fitting since he took a slightly bent down stance as he used those weapons to attack. "Arms" as in armory or arsenal perhaps, a nod to this one's fighting strength using long ranged barrages.
I can somewhat understand his response, since he was able to tear through the goblin horde earlier with ease. "Ha! Your attempts are that of garbage!" the werewolf youkai boasted, I'm slightly inclined for the boy to teach this furry annoyance a lesson.
"How am I suppose to defeat someone so strong!?" He's cowering, but it looks like a feint. He's probably using the youkai's ego as his ticket of escape. Cunning, not all that impressive but cunning nontheless. It wouldn't be wise if he were to pull a trick on me.
"That's right! Nothing can help you! Now get into my belly!" the werewolf pounced at him, attempting to devour him right then and there. But he did something I didn't anticipate. Those dome like protrusions underneath the black attatchment behind him roared out bright bluish white flames. Launching him into the air.
'So these Gundams are capable of flight too. If I recall, humans in the outside world called it "rockets" or "verniers".' The latter is more likely its name as it resembles nothing like a tube with a cone that flies into the sky. If he can fly all this time, why not do so after our little talk? A travel limit? Power consumption? No, it's most likely that he wanted to keep as much of his capabilities a secret.
'Too bad I'm observing all of it.' I felt a little smirk on my face for that thought.
He positioned himself in the air and then, those box like attatchments on each of his legs fired 8 small tube like projectiles with a firely trail behind each of them. "You hungry?! Then fill your insides with these!" he yelled out his battle line. 'Missiles.' was my immediate thought of those projectiles.
As the name implies, they exploded upon impact of the youkai and the land around it. I can still sense the youkai's signature, quite durable to surive a multitude of explosions. Arthurn took this opportunity to escape via flight. Maybe he thought since he already exposed his ability of flight, he'd just fly to the village then.
"You're not getting away!" It's still running, quite literally. This one is very tenacious, annoyingly tenacious.
"Leave me THE HELL ALONE!" the boy is mad, infuriated. He was calm, docile and seemingly approachable when he and I talked. Now he's displaying his emotions, unrestrained from anything. And interesting characteristic.
The chestplates opened up, functioning like panels. He adjusted his position, facing the hairy beast. Four more slightly smaller barrels of his handheld weapons began to fire directly at the youkai. I can feel a little of the impact of each shots just from looking at it.
He let out a thrust and planted himself onto the path. Those grey protrutions on the side skirt pieces showed more missiles kept within, more armor plates opened up and he let out one more battlecry.
"Fire everything!"
A whole army's worth of projectiles flew straight at the youkai. It all exploded with enough power that all the floral in the blast radius must've been burnt and the soil blackened. Tree leaves shook about, even the ones far from the area are swaying a bit from the violent force.
'A human boy who's calm and collected has an ability and temperment of a fighter. Not wild uncontrollable anger, but focused concentrated anger. Very unfortunate for some on the receiving end. Yet he buried the youkai he killed after he just appeared here, shows that he's raised with a good moral compass he too contradicts. It seems that Gensokyo won't be so boring now that the boy's around. I'll have to continue monitoring him.'
(My Pov)
[Achievement Alert]
[Impress the Youkai Sage]
[Reward: 20,000 Points]
What the fuck?
End chapter
