Author's Corner
SeerKing glared at his old computer before stomping back over to his desk and throwing himself into his chair.
"Stupid motherboard." he muttered before looking up. "Oh, it's you lot! Well guess who's back with a brand new computer! Me, that's who!...not that I'm actually in any way happy about it."
Gesturing at his old computer, the author frowned. "My old one was the first computer that I bought myself, and I owned it for ten years. No, I did not stutter. The motherboard died on it and, sadly, they no longer make ones compatible with my old computer, which sucked. It sucks because I loathe Windows 10. Seriously, who was it that had the bright idea to export a tablet OS to laptops and PC's? Stark raving mad, the lot of them."
Shaking his head, SeerKing smirked. "I am getting back into the swing of things, however, and adjusting to my computer (and new word processor) as quickly as possible so I can keep giving you guys regular chapters. As an apology for my long, and unplanned, hiatus, today features a double release of Justice For All; this interlude and the first chapter of the new arc. I hope you enjoy the chapters and do me a favor by leaving a constructive review after reading them...preferable something a bit more than 'awesome!' or an emoji. While nice, a bit more than one word or emoticon is always nice to read. now, scroll down and get stuck in!"
Interlude X.1 – Outsider Looking In
Unknown Location
"Well, well, well…that cerrrtainlyyy went betterrr than expected."
The speaker was a cat. To be precise, it was a white, bipedal cat wearing a vest and bow tie, and sitting on a white metal garden chair. Its tail twitched as it looked into a floating screen to one side.
This was Control AI #13, Cheshire, of the world of Infinite Dendrogram. And he, as he was indeed male, was watching one Taylor Anne Hebert sleep in her bed.
"What have you been up to, thirteen?" a voice spoke up from one side. Cheshire looked up to see a humanoid male with patches of black dragon scales and bestial leather crisscrossing its skin and devil-like horns emerging from his head.
"I just did what was expecteed, Jabberwock." Cheshire replied easily. "I aided a new playerr into the game and guided them."
Control AI #4, Jabberwock, scowled down at his feline coworker. "Your duty is to introduce new Masters into the world of Infinite Dendrogram, not intervene in other worlds that aren't even remotely connected to it! I just got notification that one 'Swordswoman Taylor Hebert' defeated the Unique Boss Monster 'Pied-Piper Hamlin' in combat, and my automatic protocols generated loot for her."
"So it worked purrrrrfectly." Cheshire nodded in satisfaction.
"Thirteen, you had better explain yourself." The Control AI in charge of UBMs in Infinite Dendrogram said softly. "Or I will lock her out of the system."
The cat sighed and waved its forepaw, making an armchair appear. "Sit down and I will. Looking up at you makes even the neck bones of a cat ache."
Impatiently, the bestial-looking AI sat and waited.
"Did you happen to notice Taylor's Embryo, Jabberwock?" the cat asked.
"Yes…a Type-Maiden with Arms." Jabberwock nodded tersely. "Iustitia, Maiden of Justice."
"What are the chances of someone, the very first person in her world no less, to acquire a Type Maiden, hmm?" Cheshire asked rhetorically, as they both knew the actuarial probability of any person developing the rare Type-Maiden Embryo. Even among the millions of Masters that came to Infinite Dendrogram, less than one-hundred possessed a Type-Maiden.
"What of it? Even the laws of probability have to ring a jackpot every so often." Jabberwock replied.
"My point is that she desperately needed power." Cheshire's face twisted in disgust. "She was trapped in filth enough that even the [King of Plagues] himself would gag at it. I could do nothing to help herrr, but some…abomination…was reaching out to entrap her. It would have twisted her mind, Jabberwock. I knew of the situation; I couldn't very well ignore it."
Begrudgingly, the UBM Control AI nodded. The Control AI's were supposed to help Masters, so Cheshire's logic there was sound. "Why not simply cut her off when you gave her the seed of the Embryo? Why tie her into our systems?"
"Because of a very simple reason." Cheshire replied. "Without being connected to the master system, there was a chance that her Embryo would not have formed beyond the 'egg' form. I have watched Taylor's actions and she needed, and still needs, someone at her side, someone who will look out for her and guide her. That, I suspect, is a part of the reason that she gained a Type-Maiden, although I am certain the chance was equally good for her getting a Type-Guardian."
The various types of Embryos that existed were grouped into categories; Arms, Chariot, Castle, Guardian, Territory and Maiden. Out of all of them, Guardian and Maiden were the only ones who could give proper physical comfort and companionship to their Master-partners. Even then, Maidens were the only ones who were 100% going to have human forms; Guardians were typically monsters or machines of some sort.
One of the few exceptions was the Master called Rook, who had his Guardian Embryo Babylon, who looked very human. She was a succubus, however, and was named after the Whore of Babylon. Her taste in food (ice cream topped with chili sauce, for example) was very blasphemous and certainly lived up to her namesake. Cheshire had to shudder at the thought of that particular combination of food.
"I can follow your logic thus far." Jabberwock conceded reluctantly. "But why continue to keep her hocked up to the system?"
"I checked and there's a proto-system growing in strength over on her world as she does." Cheshire smirked with catlike smugness. "Once Taylor, or Justitia as she calls herself, makes Iustitia evolve to her Sixth Form, whatever abomination it is that is twisting minds over there will have to race to grab someone before the system does."
"Her Embryo has been manifested for a couple of days at most." The other AI frowned. "Who knows how long it will be until she earns the Sixth Form of Iustitia?"
"She has already earned Iustitia's Third Form." Cheshire's smirk grew at the astonished expression on Jabberwock's face. "She shares the typical attitude of all Maiden Masters and truly lives as she fights. Granted, she is actually living in her world rather than simply visiting using an Avatar like the Masters do, but the point remains. I feel that it will not be very long, a few months her side, a year or two at absolute maximum, before she achieves her Embryo's Sixth Form."
That made Jabberwock pause slightly. A year at most…that was very quick. Iustitia had evolved from her First Form to her Third Form at a far more rapid pace than almost any Master in Infinite Dendrogram. The Second Form was usually fairly quick, but the accumulated experience needed for the Third form usually took a month (Dendro Time) or so, unless they were going through quests and monsters like crazy.
Unlike the passage of time between Infinite Dendrogram and the Earth it was connected to, where one day there was three in Infinite Dendrogram, the passage of time between the Earth where Taylor Hebert lived and Infinite Dendrogram was the opposite unless you used a screen and slowed it down to view events, as Cheshire was doing currently.
"So…another few months at absolute most from our side?" he asked carefully. At the other AI's nod, Jabberwock leaned back in his chair and sighed. "Very well. A single other player won't put any strain on the servers for that long, and I'll help convince the other Control AI of that. I am curious though; exactly how did you discover young Miss Hebert and her Earth?"
"A small bug I was investigating after I last saw Ray Starling." The cat AI replied. "I cleared it up, and discovered a window looking in on young Taylor. I found I could run the Character Startup System on her, albeit minus the Character Creation and Equipment Bestowal sections. I hesitated to do anything before that dratted abomination showed up."
"Is there any chance that this 'abomination' could come to Infinite Dendrogram?" Jabberwock asked seriously.
"I've placed several dozen firewalls and security measures around it, so I don't think so." Cheshire said with a shake of his head. "Feel free to place more if you wish. I think that whatever this abomination is, it either doesn't know about Taylor's Embryo or it thinks that Iustitia is just another expression of the mind twisting powers it hands out. Unless there are more people who connect to the main system from that Earth, I think we will be ignored by whatever the abomination is."
"Hm. I shall inspect your preparations." Jabberwock said with a nod. He would add several more extreme ones; Cheshire was not known for his aggressive nature when it wasn't warranted.
"Please don't add anything ludicrous." The cat said sharply.
"I still say that having a UBM with atomic breath would be good." Jabberwock muttered.
"Leave that idea aside!" Cheshire scolded him. "We have enough trouble with the Superior Unique Boss Monsters that we have running around the world as it is."
"As you say." The UBM AI shrugged. He just managed the UBMs, as well as designates any monsters that caught his interest as UBMs. What they did after that wasn't his business.
Once Jabberwock left, Cheshire gazed at the image of Taylor sleeping in her bed one last time before closing the window. He designated one subroutine of his to alert him if she did anything interesting.
'One thing that Jabberwock forgot to ask was whether Taylor had any monsters to kill for EXP on her world.' He thought. 'There aren't any, but my little interference in the item that she received from Hamlin should alter that. I wonder what she'll think of it once Iustitia finishes decoding the last skill on the cloak…?'
With a smile, Cheshire headed off to go about his duties.
End of Arc 1 Stats
Name: Taylor Hebert
Cape Name: Justitia
Gender: Female
Level: 10
Title: None (*)
Job (s): (1) Swordsman (LV6)
(2) Maceman (LV2)
(3) Gunslinger (LV2)
EXP: 273/700
Embryo: Maiden of Justice Iustitia
Embryo Type: Maiden with Arms
Embryo Forms Achieved: 3/7
Stats
HP: 840
STA: 2800
MP: 425
Strength: 52
Toughness: 50
Endurance: 52
Dexterity: 35
Intelligence: 80
Wisdom: 85
Luck: ?
Iustitia Forms and Skills
Maiden Form: - [Justice Over Earthly Authority] – Allows Iustitia to see any and all crimes committed by anyone she sees. No MP/Stamina cost.
- [The People's Welfare Is Supreme] – Allows Iustitia to heal any wounded people within 10 Meters of herself. Injuries such as cuts, burns, bruises, lacerations, torn muscles, concussions and internal bleeding are affected. Poisons and their damaging effects are also undone. Costs 30 Stamina per 30 seconds active.
- [MP Up] – A skill gained upon the evolution of Iustitia to her Second Stage. Raises MP slightly.
Form One - [Sword and Scales of Justice] - A single-handed steel sword and one set of golden scales. Type Arms. Sword has a +30 Damage Modifier.
- [Balance the Scales, LV3] – Grants the ability to alter the physical abilities of the enemy to match the user, either increasing or reducing their capabilities. Reducing the abilities of especially large or heavy enemies renders them unable to move under their own power. Increasing the abilities of weak enemies can make them damage themselves from over/underestimating their abilities. Range: 70 Meters.
- [Justice is Blind, LV2] - Grants the ability to enforce any negative status effects that currently afflict the user onto any enemy within range. Range: 20 Meters.
Form Two – [Cudgel of the Law] – A single foot long tipstaff made of a metalthat resembles white gold. Type Arms. The tipstaff has a +20 Damage Modifier.
- [Order in the Court, LV2] – Grants the user increased damage based on the number of enemies that the user is facing, the more enemies there are, the more damage is inflicted. Has a secondary effect that makes the enemies struck with the [Cudgel] react as if the added damage was physical strength instead.
- [The Law Stands Alone, LV2] – Grants the user increased damage based on how low the user's stamina bar is. The lower the stamina bar is, the more the user's damage is increased. Additionally, the rate of the user's [Stamina] consumption is reduced by 75% while the [Cudgel] is active.
Form Three – [The Lone Gun and Star of Frontier Justice] – A single revolver-type gun made of silvery metal and a silver star badge. The gun automatically reloads after ten seconds once emptied at the cost of 5 MP. Type Arms.
- [One Riot, One Ranger] – Raises the user's damage output, Dexterity and Defense by a fixed amount when facing more than one enemy.
- [Always Alone, Never Put to Flight] – Applies a Master Effect to the enemies of the user. When faced by multiple enemies, the more enemies there are and the longer the user fights. When facing anyone affected by the Skill, the user is granted extra Dexterity and Damage versus them.
- [The Silver Bullet to Strike Down Villainy] – An Active Skill only usable once per day. In order for this skill to be used, the target has to have been shot by the gun at least once and they have to be within line of sight of the user. Once activate all attacks from the user, whether with the gun or one of the other forms of Iustitia or even a completely different weapon completely, deals double the damage to the target. In exchange for activating this skill, however, the user must sacrifice a flat half of their Stamina, regardless of the amount they have remaining, and they cannot attack for five minutes after the skill is successfully activated.
- [The Bullet Strikes True] – Using either Stamina or MP, the user can perform trick shots. The bullets fired from the gun will ricochet off of surfaces and go through obstacles in order to strike the enemies at the angle and location the user desires. Only static obstacles are taken into account, so a moving body or device can and will interfere in the shots if the user is not careful.
Class Skills
[Swordswoman] – A female Warrior who wields a sword in battle. Low-Rank Job.
- [Blade Charge LV6] – A basic Instant Skill of a Swordsman that deals piercing damage. The damage is calculated by STR*2 + Weapon and Equipment Damage Modifiers + Modifiers from Skills + Modifiers from location struck. Costs 30 STA.
- [Swordsman's Eye LV6] – A basic Passive Skill of a Swordsman that allows the user to predict attacks a few seconds in advance. Current Prediction Time: 6 seconds.
- [First Health Boost LV6] – A basic Passive Skill of close combat classes that increases HP by 50 per Skill level.
- [Sword Mastery LV6] – A basic Passive Skill of any sword-focused class that slightly ups the damage dealt when wielding a sword.
- [Blade Sweep LV2] – A basic Instant Skill of a Swordsman that deals slashing damage. The damage is calculated by STR +10 + Weapon and Equipment Damage Modifiers + Modifiers from Skills + Modifiers from location struck. Costs 50 STA.
- [Sword Arts Proficiency LV2] – A basic Passive Skill of a Swordsman that shows that the user is starting to master finesse with the blade as well as just pure hacking, slashing and stabbing. Slightly ups damage dealt while wielding a sword. Caps at LV10.
[Maceman] – A warrior who wields a blunt weapon in close combat. Low-Rank Job.
- [Mighty Smash LV2] – A basic Instant Skill used by a Maceman that deals bludgeoning damage. The damage is calculated by STR +10 + Weapon and Equipment Damage Modifiers + Modifiers from Skills + Modifiers from location struck. Costs 50 STA.
- [Buckler Mastery LV2] – A basic Passive Skill used by various classes that can use bucklers. The defensive abilities of a buckler are increased slightly.
- [Second Health Boost LV2] – A basic Passive Skill of close combat classes that increases HP by 50 per level.
- [Club Mastery LV2] – A basic Passive Skill used by and class that uses club-type weapons to deal damage. Increases the damage dealt by club-type weapons slightly.
[Gunslinger] – A combatant who uses a pistol, handgun or revolver to fight. Low-Rank Job.
- [Quickdraw LV2] – A basic Passive Skill of pistol-using classes, this grants the user a mental speed boost from the start of combat to when they fire the first bullet. That first attack is also granted a DEX boost.
- [Improved Accuracy] – A basic Passive Skill of classes focused on wielding projectile weaponry, it grants the user +5 DEX per Class Level while wielding a ranged weapon.
Personal Skills
- [Pain Resistance, LV2] –A general Passive skill earned from enduring physical pain on a daily basis. 5% of any pain inflicted is mitigated.
- [Danger Sense] – A general Passive skill earned from justified paranoia. Grants a 1% chance to detect danger encroaching on you.
- [Acting] - A general Passive skill earned from playing innocent to someone and getting them to believe your act. Increases chance that any lies or acts you put on are more successful.