(Finally my first criticism that I can answer, how do I put this in a lore point that makes sense.
Ammo bricks dropping from enemies are a passive Guardian skill. The reason I think this is because It makes no sense that you would carry unique, purpose built ammunition for each weapon every time you leave the tower.
We are dealing with golden age tech where everything is custom built by rapid fabrication combined with a post apocalyptic world where there is no infrastructure, outside of the tower.
It only makes sense that ammunition is print on demand. It's not like your guardian can pop over to the corner gun store while in the depths of the Dreadnought or the cobbled together strings of the Tangled Shore.
Nor can he haul around crates of ammunition. Even Ghost has a limit to what he can transmat easily, or when. So we not only scavenge our guns, but ammunition as well, hence ammo bricks that drops from killed combatants.
I understand it might kill the suspense aspect for a bit, but remember a lot of monsters give guardians a hard time even if they don't have guns.
So with that out the way, let's continue)
Oni-4 made his way back to the guild as he began to look over bounties. Some of these were disturbing.
"Imagine being someone's test subject… eradicate a goblin village… hmm… sounds genocidal… seems like a few young adventurers already tried going after them and failed to come back… pay is low." Yokai read.
"I mean when you think about it, Guardians are puppets of the traveler who wage a genocidal war on the servants of a rival god… but we're still the good guys." Oni-4 said to which his ghost looked at him.
"You sound like Drifter." Yokai remarked.
"Hey I'm just pointing out the obvious, I could care less about offing a village of goblins..." Oni-4 said as he took the bounty.
"Well it says we have to go up the northern Bastion and go North east into the forest. I'd suggest changing into your wildwood armor set. We're going to do some tracking and shiny armor isn't stealthy… not that being stealthy is your thing, we really want to get the drop on these goblins." Yokai said as Oni-4 nodded.
"Yeah once we get to the outer wall." Oni-4 said as he left the guild. The Titan journeyed towards the outer wall where he switched to his wildwood armor set.
"So How do you know so much about goblins?" Oni-4 asked.
"Well while I finished learning the literature of this world and left you to figure it out on your own I decided to research on any data for the surrounding creatures." Yokai explained as The guardian reached the edge of the forest to which his ghost decides to educate him more.
"Careful, Goblins like to set up traps so keep your eyes peeled, I wouldn't be surprised to find some along the way.." Yokai warned and Oni-4 continued on. He began to scout around the area and it was quiet, not even the birds were singing.
Oni-4 then stopped short as he saw a string on the ground. He kneeled down and tugged at it slightly. Even a Titan can be careful when he has to be.
"Tension on it, let's trip the trap." Oni-4 whispered as he pulled the string and out came a sharpened log. The Titan sidestepped the sharp point.
"Sometimes The best way to spring the trap is to spring the trap." Oni-4 said as He examined the log to see the dried blood on the end.
"Alternatively don't be there when it springs." Yokai added as Oni-4 concluded that something triggered this trap earlier and paid the ultimate price.
He heard something hit the tree next to him. When he checked to see it was an arrow, another arrow flew past his head and The Titan whipped around to find a lone goblin.
He closed the distance rather quickly and soon grappled the goblin. It began to cry in some language he couldn't understand but The Titan decided to use this Goblin to find it's village.
He promptly broke the Goblin's leg and dropped it. It reeled back and cried loudly as The Titan backed off.
"That was harsh." His Ghost remarked. Oni-4 shrugged as he hid among the foliage to observe from a distance.
The Goblin looked around and after a bit more crying, the goblin managed to collect itself and crawl away.
Oni-4 followed the goblin, sure enough the damn thing led him to the village. Oni-4 was shocked to see the scattered remains of the adventurers littered about the camp grounds.
Oni-4 took out his ringing nail auto rifle and pulled back the bolt. He then stepped out of the brush and started blasting. Bullets ripped through the goblins, severing a limb or spilling grey matter and bone fragments.
The Goblins began mustering up their numbers but The Titan simply met that with more bullets. At the end of this short one sided battle, the Titan had slain most of the goblins. One goblin tried escaping into its hut but Oni-4 kicked it aside, took the butt of his rifle and bashed it over the head of the goblin.
He surveyed the area for any resources. He kicked aside the bodies as he picked up more white ammo bricks to replenish his ammunition, he turned to face the huts and began to wonder if they were still any goblins left.
"Clear the huts, we want to make sure we actually do a good job." Yokai said as Oni-4 pulled his shotgun, Threat level. Oni-4 poked open the doors to these huts with the tip of his barrel. He found one Goblin cowering and pulled the trigger, painting the hut red.
The war machine racked his gun and simply carried on, breaching and clearing. He left no Hut unchecked and when he made it to the larger hut to find the chieftain of the goblins huddled around the younger ones. They looked up, eyes full of tears as they began weeping.
The elder took off his headdress and offered it to The Exo as a plea for mercy and groveled before Titan. Oni-4 lowered his shotgun, he knelt down and looked at it, gently taking the headdress.
The bodies of the adventurers he saw flashed before him and he could see the faces of fear that they had. The anger soon rising up from within screamed at him to make them suffer, however he then offered his own gift.
The Elder Goblin looked at it and was curious to what he had given them, was it an offering of a mutual peace?
"Peace was never an option." The Exo murmurs as he raised his hand and mimicked pressing a dentenator. The item that the goblin held exploded and took the rest of young ones out in one explosion of void light. He granted them The gift of a merciful death, one without pain.
"I'll gather the deceased adventurers, we'll burn it all down afterwards." The Exo said as he went outside to gather the remains of the adventurers who didn't make it. He didn't know them, but he felt sorry for them. They were probably some greenhorns who simply were way in over their head.
Once the bodies were gathered he simply used his Vulcan hammer to start burning these huts down. He tossed one after the other and soon the camp was anger that burned within him soon began to quell along with the camp. All that remained were ashes and charred corpses.
Using his light abilities he fashioned a small wagon. He dumped the bodies in and began to haul them off. Once he got to the edge of town he simply dropped the bodies off and changed his armor back to his usual set.
He went into town and soon came back with three coffins in tow, he bought and began Placing the bodies. He took a rope and tied the three coffins together, and he began to drag them through the town.
Kazuma caught a glimpse of this, watching the Titan drag those coffins made him look like an undertaker. It left this pit feeling in his stomach and he only wondered what got to those people laying in the coffins.
The people were in shock, they all stared at the sight. Watching from afar as the Titan dragged the coffins to the church of lady Eris and He dropped them off, as he departed he gave the coffins one more look before going on his way.
He went to the hero's guild and handed over the headdress to Luna. She examined it to see the specks of blood on it.
"I already heard about the bodies, I have your reward right here and a little bonus for recovering the remains of the lost adventurers." She said and handed The Titan his reward. He said nothing as he went to the bar to drink by himself.
"Oni, are you okay?" Yokai asked him and Oni-4 downed his drink.
"I'm fine." He said as he orders another drink.
"Does it remind you of…" Yokai was about to ask but was soon cut off by The Titan.
"Yes… I hate toting around dead bodies…" Oni-4 said, he had seen his fair share of death during his first revival and trying to protect a group of settlers as he guided them to the last city, not everyone made it. He bowed his head and looked into his drink.
He then decided to finish his drink before going to the magic shop. He put his helmet on and and made his way to the door.
On his way out he passed by Kazuma's party. Not even taking a glance at the party and walked out of the guild.
"God that guy is intense." Kazuma said and Aqua leaned over the table.
"I thought you didn't care?" She said and Kazuma narrowed his eyes a bit.
"Yeah I didn't care, but I watched him drag three coffins to the church of Eris, It was really eerie." Kazuma said.
"Oh Oni, he's not a bad guy, he told me he was from space." Megumin stayed and the rest looked at her skeptically.
"Wait you actually believed he's from space come on I haven't seen any rocket ships, if anything it was probably just a lie to impress a dumb kid like you." Kazuma said and Aqua agreed.
"I hate to say he's right but, I don't think any mortal has ever made it to space." Aqua said.
"Where do you even hang out with him, because when he's here he just sits, eats and ignores everything." Kazuma asked.
"He set up a camp on the rural side of town. He doesn't have a home…" Megumin said.
"So you let some homeless knight convince you, he's from space?" Darkness asked and the disappointment dawned onto Kazuma's face.
"Okay in my defense he offered me free food that actually tastes good." Megumin said as she looked out the window to watch Oni walk away.
The Titan was soon at the magic shop looking at the potions and items with Wiz providing assistance.
"So this is a potion of emotional stability, it can clear one's mind." Wiz stayed and Oni-4 placed down some coins.
"Bottoms up." The Titan said and downed the bland potion. He waited for a reaction, it seemed to be minutes. Oni-4 was becoming skeptical of the potion.
"Did it work?" Yokai asked and Oni-4 shrugged before toppling over. His screams were very painful as he felt a rush of emotions surge through him. He felt sad, then happy, then angry. He groaned as the surge of emotions made his head hurt.
"Uh oh, seems the potion backfired, instead of clearing the mind it's giving him an emotional overload." Wiz said as she took some notes.
"So what happens after the emotional overload?" Yokai asked as Oni-4 clutched his head and began punching himself in a fit of confusion.
"Well anything that would have been bothering him would wear off, it should work out in the end… I hope" Wiz said as Oni-4 laid there. Once the pain subsided he got up feeling a tad better.
"So what made you upset today?" Wiz asked as Oni-4 took a seat.
"Well I took on a goblin quest and I came across the adventurers who went before and they didn't make it out alive so I dragged their bodies back and I dropped the coffins off at the church." Oni-4 said.
"Is this a feeling of sympathy?" Wiz asked.
"Yeah, some poor farmer has to deal with goblins raiding his farm. The skilled heroes don't want to do anything with it because it is a waste of their time, so these young ones, these greenhorns decide to take the job themselves and wind up dead... maybe these goblins were smarter than your average goblin, humph either way no one has to worry about them anymore." Oni-4 said as he looked out the window.
"Tell me Oni, what do you do when you want to make yourself feel better?" Wiz asked.
"Eat and drink." He said.
"Something less self indulgent and destructive…" Wiz asked.
"I play music, me and Yokai here can play Devil went down to Georgia perfectly." Oni said as he manifested a fiddle and bow made from light and a bow. Fire flew across his fingertips as He resined up his bow and he pulled his bow across his strings and it made an evil hiss.
"No, no, we are not doing the devil went down to Georgia act..." Yokai said as his guardian dropped the fiddle and bow, letting explode into sparkles once it hit the ground.
"Wow, you are just full of surprises, these manifestations, you can control them?" Wiz asked. Oni-4 nodded as he made a sword appear.
"See they are just projections of light, while tangible, once I release my grip." Oni-4 said as he dropped the sword onto Yokai. It poofed and sparkles rain around the Ghost.
"It still has its limits though, like my projections can't go too far from me other wise they diminish, and they only as strong as the light I put into it, that's why when I cast my super ability it takes all the light I have to use, while doing practical things uses very little to none." Oni-4 explained.
"Hmm… such an amazing power, seems very versatile... Oni, would you like to come with me to the grave yard. I heard how you brought three bodies in…" Wiz said and Oni's eyes narrowed.
"And I want to make sure their souls pass on to the afterlife peacefully… they simply buried them in a gravesite for the impoverished. They don't get a proper burial…" She said and Oni-4 relaxed a bit. He thought about it for a bit and realized that he had nothing else better to do.
"Alright, let's go pay our respects Yokai." Oni-4 said and they were off to the cemetery. Axle town was very quiet tonight except for the Hero's guild which was loud and bright. Oni-4 paid no mind to it. He went to the cemetery and Wiz prompted him to sit.
There he sat and watched as Wiz began to cast her spell. It was a beautiful sight to see these souls rise out of the ground and pass on.
This world being so new to him and to see what people were capable of amazed him. He just wondered what else he'll see and be mesmerized by.
However a sound had caught his attention he Swiveled his head around to see that Aqua, Kazuma, that blonde girl and Megumin.
"Undead scum, I'll kill you." Aqua said as she interrupted the spell. The Titan sighed a bit as he knew he had to step in. Oni-4 got up and shoved her back.
"Stop you have no business here. Leave!" He demanded as Aqua simply got more angrier.
"I am the goddess Aqua and I will not allow this Lich to raise any zombies here. Now I demand that you step aside." Aqua said as she threw a punch that knocked Oni-4 back a bit. Two things went through his mind as he skidded back, one she's actually really powerful and 2 he's going to wreck this bitch.
"I don't think you understand what's going on her-." Wiz tried pleading.
"Shut up!" Aqua said and soon was yanked up by the collar of her dress and she began to realize she might be in trouble. Aqua screamed as she was thrown like a ragdoll and skidded across the ground only stopping when she crashed into a large tombstone.
"Aqua!" Kazuma shouted. Oni-4 sighed as he stretches his arm. Kazuma turned to face him, however Megumin brushed past him
"Hey friend what brings you here?" He asked.
"Well Aqua said she sensed undead and here you are with a Lich?" Megumin asked.
"Yeah I got caught up with some business, I came here with her to watch her guide the souls of those bodies I found adventuring today to the afterlife." Oni-4 said and she shrugged.
"I understand, listen if your gonna duke it out with Aqua just go easy on her." Megumin said as she stepped aside.
"God's Blow!" Aqua shouted as she smashed into Oni-4, he slid past a couple tombstones. The Titan dug his heels as he skidded to a halt. That was actually powerful for someone of her size.
"It actually worked, it worked." Aqua said as Oni-4 began sprinting and arc surrounded him as he dashed forward throwing a palm strike that echoed throughout the graveyard. Aqua was thrown back again and fell on her back.
However she got up clutching her head and began rubbing the spot where he hit her. This surprise the Titan as that palm strike usually knocked out smaller opponents or sometimes Killed them. Though I guess rolling over and crying was good enough result.
"Heh, you're strong for someone your size." Oni-4 shares his bittersweet compliment. Aqua was about to continue but Kazuma stopped her with a smack on the head.
"Aqua, just stop, hey look Um Oni, I'm sorry about her. Aqua is a little slower than most." Kazuma said and after Aqua eased up is when the Titan did the same.
"No need for apologies, however this let this be a warning. I will protect Wiz if I need to." Oni-4 said as he held out a hand and just like that the intensity died down. Kazuma gripped his hand and shook it.
"Okay, you mind if I talk to Wiz while you keep Aqua back, I just want to apologize." Kazuma asked and Oni-4 gave Kazuma his approval. Oni-4 made a chair with his light and sat down as he continued to keep an eye on Aqua.
Aqua stares down the Titan as she was curious of what Oni-4 was. He had these weird powers but didn't really look like a mage.
"Alright So what are you?" Aqua asked.
"Above your understanding that's what I am." Oni-4 said as he twiddled a coin in his hands.
"See that's where you're wrong. I can sense the Lich's dark powers but you… you don't have dark powers you have light powers, so what are you?" Aqua asked.
"What I am is best left to uncertainty, hell of I know what I could be, ." He said holding up His adventurer card. Aqua read it over. Her eyes widened as she began reading the stats and abilities.
"What your stats are just like mine… with a higher strength, slightly higher intelligence stat, The mana pool you have is high, though not as high as mine That can't be… are you a god?!"
"What, that's a stupid assumption… though kinda flattering, I'm an Exo." He said.
"I've never heard of that race before." Aqua said.
"I like to think I'm the only Exo around here… are you really a goddess… Like don't get me wrong if I doubt it." He asked which offended her.
"Why would you doubt it? Haven't you been in the churches?" Aqua asked.
"Well no, see I just envisioned something more powerful… you look honestly kind of normal." He said and Aqua sighed.
"Like if, I'm the goddess of water and I have a following of worshippers." Aqua said.
"So why are you tagging around a kid and his friends?" Oni-4 asked.
"Because that creepy perv, decided to take me with him and not a useful weapon or ability." Aqua states as she crossed her arms.
"Really...?" Oni-4 asked and chuckled a bit, It dawned on him that she just called herself useless.
"Oh and that's so funny to you, you know I was once really respected." Aqua said and Oni-4 shook his head in Disapproval.
"So let me get this straight, stomping your way into a graveyard to stop someone from helping souls pass on to the afterlife is respectable? For someone claiming to be a goddess you got a lot of nerve to be doing that and claiming that you're the good one." Oni-4 said and Aqua was flushed.
"Oh and you claim you came from space, where's your space ship, huh." Aqua said and Oni-4 scoffed at the question.
"Oh please, when I was brought into this world the only thing I came with are the things I had. No space ship or sparrow." Oni-4 said as he leaned back.
"Wait… so you're someone who was brought in to kill a devil king." She asked and he nodded.
"Damn right, The only thing is I have no idea where to go, if I had my spaceship. I could've found him within the week and then killed him." Oni-4 said as he yawned and began to make a paddle ball out of light as to quell his boredom.
Aqua stared at the Titan unsure about him. She gazed back to Kazuma and back to Oni-4, as to compare the two, they were somewhat the same and she then actually had an idea.
"Why don't you join our party, We are looking to kill the devil king too." She asked.
"Not interested, why would I want to take on a babysitting job, I don't want to team up with people who don't know how to handle themselves…" Oni-4 said bluntly as Kazuma came back.
"Alright I smoothed it over, We're going back to the stables, before you get us into anymore trouble. Take care Oni." Kazuma said that last part sheeply, it was not hard to feel intimidated by the Titan especially when he had a gun on his hip.
Later that night Kazuma laid on his straw bed and stared at the ceiling. Aqua had told him earlier how this guy had stats similar to her and was also trying to kill the devil king too.
"It's not fair, I wish I could have wished for powers like that." Kazuma complained before rolling over.
"You know that powers and stats can be widely based on past lives. Unlike you, he came to this world strong…" Aqua said before someone banged on the wall.
"Quiet down before I make you." The voice said and Kazuma sighed.
Oni-4 was napping by the fire he made. He had been making money but not enough for a home. Didn't matter though he was getting used to sleeping under the stars. Megamuin
Elsewhere, not in a physical plane but one that is astral. Powerful beings conversed with each other.
"Are you sure this was a right call, I mean we have summoned something that defies the very nature of this world. Something that can defy us, and the things he had brought with him. He's far too superior."
"He's the only thing capable of taking out the devil king. Aqua already screwed up bringing in that kid and look where that got her."
"And that fight, I mean I like to think Aqua is a pushover but he put her in her place. Such power… he may be the one to slay the devil king."
"I don't doubt he can hold his own against the devil king. I think he is the one, but what if he grows so powerful that he turns on us and kills us."
"Can we even die?"
"No we'll suffer a fate far worse than death. We could lose our powers and be casted out of heaven… that thing, is a capable god slayer, a force that can topple armies.
"If we intervene ourselves it will only spell disaster, we don't need to be scared, he is powerful but not immortal, if we just push the balance of things and tempt his self righteous behavior then maybe we can off him and expel him from the world, put him back where he came from."
"I foresee danger in the eminent future, perhaps we can use that to our advantage."
"Let's hope we can…"
(Another note, Oni-4 may not be secretive with his Guardian status but that's simply because he's a Titan. Brash and loud.
Leave being secretive to the warlocks and hunters)
