Hostis Humani Generis
I: At Anchor
Mists rolled about the deck of the ship. Compared to its wooden brethren, what was different about this ship, and its sisters joined to its aft with thick and heavy chains, was the material. This one that had just appeared was translucent, wisps of smoke spiralling from its surface. It was like it was made of crystal — even the sails, riggings and chains – were of the same material, making one wonder whether it really functioned as a ship, bathed in white and glowing like fireflies over the mirrored surface of the water.
Aboard the bridge of such a vessel, clawed fingers drummed a tattoo as the woman blinked slowly, though the emerald eye-patch covering her left eye and part of her cheek made it stand out, against the paleness of her face and the stacked coils of white hair piled upon her head. Her lone remaining eye glittered with a verdant sheen, the slit of its pupil like the ridge of a cat's eye sapphire. She wore a silk blouse of deep blue under a seaweed bolero jacket, covered with silver jewellery amidst sparks of gold and other colours of jewels. From under her hips, there coiled a long snake tail covered in ridged scales and patterned with stripes of green and blue which was half of her, for she was a Nagini.
She was human, playing a Nagini, until now.
She raised a hand, trying to find news on the chat channel- and stopped. There was no console, no control interface. Idly, she looked at her arm, which was pale, though scales glimmered in the light of the Fomori flagship, the Queen of the Night.
"W- What's going on?!"
Her claws scrambled over her skin, before she freaked again. "What the hell is happening here?!"
Surrounded by icy beauty and dressed to the nines, there was frustration in her voice at being unable to end things staring death in the face as the proud shaman queen pirate of the guild, Hostis Humani Generis. There should have been no response to her exclamation or alarm. However...
"Is everything alright?"
The speaker was a young man with black curls falling to the nape of his neck. He was handsome, almost delicate fine-boned save that he stood taller than anyone would expect in a blue shirt and black trousers. The sclera of his eyes were filled with blackness, leaving the white swirls of his pupils readily apparent. As a Kelpie, she knew that this was not his true form, but one more suited for naval life as the commander of the Fleet's First Division.
It was the first time she had heard such a deep, rumbling voice, and she froze in terror.
"Sycorax-sama?" he repeated, fiercer. "Are you alright? Do you need to be attended to? Did something happen to you? I'll call the sick bay immediately-"
"I'm fine." She squinted at him. "Nereus?"
"Yes, Sycorax-sama. Nagato, what took you so long?"
Dazedly, she blinked at him, and then looked around, her eyes resting upon the bridge's sole other occupant. Long black hair fell past her back, framing her silhouette and the skimpy high-collar, black-and-white metal bodice-and-skirt combination, with red and black stockings. The stockings were held up by a garter belt trailing underneath her thighs, leading down to heeled boots up to her ankles. Her red eyes sparkled with an inner light, almost like twin pinpricks of LEDs, belying her Automaton race.
Idly, Sycorax reflected that Nagato's creator, Rear Admiral, had been a graduate student focused on a century-old browser game for his Cultural Studies thesis. Somehow, he had also decided that the best Automaton would be the anthropomorphic personification of a battleship. There had been unpleasant moments between Rear Admiral and Titania, who was the creator of Nereus.
"The cold disrupted my response functions for a moment." Her reply was quick and blatant in ignoring Nereus. "My apologies for my neglect, Admiral. Has something happened to you?"
"... the GM call function won't work," Sycorax lamely replied.
Nagato had a human expression of concern. "Forgive me, Admiral. I do not know what is this GM call. Nereus?"
"I, too, do not know what Sycorax-sama means. Please forgive my ignorance."
"No, it's alright." Sycorax grimaced. "Stand down, the both of you."
They did so, with faces of regret. Sycorax sighed, before she shook her head, causing her white hair to scatter about as she traced her jaw, having realised that her mouth was moving.
"Nereus!"
"Yes, Sycorax-sama?" Nereus bowed his head, still kneeling before her."
"Raise the watches," Sycorax babbled. "Leave the ship, search the surrounding areas at a one-kilometre radius. If you meet any intelligent or non-hostile beings, invite them back. No fighting allowed."
"Aye! As you command."
Sycorax's lips thinned. It should have been impossible for Nereus to leave the fleet's ships, having been created to safeguard it. No, she had to reserve her judgement for when he actually came back with news. "Take Huginn, Muninn, and the Nereids as well. If you have to retreat, bring the information to me."
"As you command."
Sycorax nodded, drawing herself up as Nereus left the bridge. From around her neck she traced the largest of her necklaces – a large gold collar, studded with rainbow jewels and edged with orichalcum and adamantite.
Nagato followed the clawed finger of Sycorax with her eyes, watching carefully, ready to step in if Sycorax failed to reach the icy throne dominating the centre of the bridge on its small platform. "Admiral, that necklace..."
"Hmm? Oh, this is the guild weapon of Hostis Humani Generis, One Piece." Sycorax sighed, hoisting herself into the throne.
"That's...! A divine weapon that only the Admiralty can touch..." Nagato whispered, before restraining herself. "It is impressive, Admiral."
Sycorax ignored her, considering that the next step would be–
"...contacting the company."
Considering the abnormal situation, the one would know the most about it should be the company. The problem was contacting them. Normally, Sycorax would have used the 「Shout」 or 「Call GM」 functions to establish immediate contact. That method seemed to have failed at the moment…
"Could I use「Message」?"
The game's in-game messaging magic was only usable in certain places or situations. Right now, it could be put to good use. While this magic could be used to communicate with other players...
Sycorax started, recalling the last conversation she had had, a green film of light enveloping her as she desperately began contacting her last remaining friend.
「Momonga-san!」
「Sycorax-san?! I'm glad you're safe. Where are you?」
「I- I don't know. The NPCs on my fleet are alive, Momonga-san!」
「What a coincidence. It's the same here. They have all become biological beings.」
「Are you alright, Momonga-san? You don't sound panicked.」
「Something must have happened to me Q.Q. I'm a talking skeleton!」
「...One question.」
「Yes?」
「Can you poop?」
「T- That-! Sycorax-san!」
「Sorry, it's from an old manga in the 21st century. Bad joke, sorry.」
「We're surrounded by NPCs who are suddenly alive, Sycorax-san. If... if they team up on us... what should we do?」
「I don't know, but... if we're in our avatar bodies, I think we should check if we have our abilities first. I think you should check around Nazarick, and see if you can use your magic.」
「Eh? Y- You're right. Where are you now, Sycorax-san?」
「I live on a ship, Momonga-san. I can't see any landmarks. But the fact that we can communicate via 「Message」means that we're in the same world, more or less, and that we're safe.」
「I'm so glad you're alright, Sycorax-san.」
「Me too, Momonga-san. I'll try to find land and people to find a location. If we can find a common landmark, we can meet up.」
「I'll try to find a location and more people as well! I'll get started on it. Wait for my message!」
「Sure. Good luck, Momonga-san.」
「You too, Sycorax-san.」
「Uhm...」
「Yes?」
「How did you know that they are all biological beings now?」
「...trade secret.」
Sycorax huffed as the message disconnected with the faint echo of a dial tone. Beside her, Nagato stood patiently, waiting for instructions as Sycorax mulled over her options and stroked her dry, cool skin. Being a Nagini meant that she had scales, but not the snake-hair of the Gorgons, and – barring special circumstances – the petrification powers. Scratching the arm of her throne, Sycorax watched the curl of ice melt under her gaze, and then mulled over her options.
"Nagato."
"Aye!"
"Beat to quarters. Except for Nereus and the Mary Celeste sisters, summon all of the fleet's commanders to the quarterdeck. Activate pilot boats for extra patrols during their absences."
A frisson of shock appeared, but Nagato bowed her head. "Aye, admiral!"
"I'll be checking on the Treasure Ship."
Nagato saluted her as she left by teleporting in the blink of an eye, before going about her duties.
Having been one of the most infamous Player-Killer guilds in YGGDRASIL, the Treasure Ship Sequoia was jealously guarded, second in priority only to the Queen of the Night. Shaped like a Chinese treasure ship as befitted its name, delicate crystals of ice grew in fractals to create a bridge, allowing Sycorax to slide across it and onto the Fleet treasury ship.
"We are the enemy of humanity."
Latin text scrolled across the entrance of the deck. Sic habebis Gloriam totius mundi, ideo fugiet a te omnis obscuritas.
"The phrase... 'By this means you will acquire the glory of the whole world, and so you will drive away all shadows and blindness.'"
The text dissipated, and the ship's lights blinked, a lamp burning nearby as the lights hovered, revealing a small face.
"Mekong, come down." Sycorax commanded as the Will-O-Wisp descended from the ship's paper sails to hover around her head. "You're my familiar, how come you're near this ship? I appreciate your help, Celeste."
A ghostly shape appeared before her, mist coalescing into a nun's habit with a face made indistinct by the lack of solidly defined lines. "The Admiral's pet happened to float along here."
"Is that so? Still, thank you for ensuring the integrity of the Sequoia. I wish to check on the contents."
"Of course."
"I will go in alone." Sycorax clarified as the ghost beckoned them towards a hatch.
"Yes, Sycorax-sama." Celeste the ghostly nun agreed, floating away towards the bridge of the ship.
As a PK guild, they had done a fair share of raiding and stealing. Even as their numbers had dwindled, Sycorax had gone raiding dungeons and beating bosses, accumulating currency and treasures. The assigned space for each guild coding was limited without shelling out, especially for the functions that allowed the Fomori fleet to serve as their guild base. Sycorax had planned and saved for it, coding most details herself with only minor additions.
The Treasure Ship, she knew, was divided into three decks:
Currency
Armoury
Vault
Celeste and her sister and fellow guard, Mary, knew that too, as well as how many weapons there were in stock and how much gold the Treasure Ship had. Sycorax decided that they did not need to know what Hostis Humani Generis held in the deepest vault.
The inside of the ship's decks once Sycorax descended was lit with reddish light, instead of the cool white that radiated above deck. The first deck was filled with bolted chests and tied bags, each containing gold that numbered in the tens of thousands, possibly millions. In a ship, to leave valuables around without packing was the essence of foolishness. That is why stores of gold were limited to the Sequoia and Queen of the Night.
Sycorax slithered down the ladder towards the bottom decks, into a room slightly more organised to have wall-mounted weapons, tables, gun cabinets and crates of bullets, and a refrigerator. She dropped down into the third and last level of the Treasure Ship, Mekong's flames giving a small light as she dropped into a cloakroom, complete with hooks for hats and coats.
She twiddled the Doubloon Ring on her left ring finger, before taking off her other jewellery. She did not have the same proficiency of abilities as Momonga, but she had managed to wear and use ten rings after some research. Their proficiencies were different anyway; compared to the Elder Lich, the Nagas were better at weather manipulation and water magic, and Sycorax had the ability of weaving magic and of magic writing. It was she who had created and encoded spells into many scrolls when Hostis Humani Generis killed players who bullied the heteromorphic races. It was she, the pirate, who had kept the guild together.
In the end, though, at the twilight... she was alone, like Momonga.
Grumbling, Sycorax shed a few articles of jewellery into a waiting empty chest, leaving them aside here and there until she wore only her clothes, One Piece, and the Doubloon Ring. Then, and only then, did she advance.
The first thing that greeted her was a glass bottle sealed with a stopper of wax. It was bolted down onto its podium, bubbling as if someone had lit a Bunsen burner under it.
A pain seized her left eye upon the sight. Sycorax scowled, leaning by the icy wall of the corridor to glare impotently towards the stopper and its transparent contents.
"Yes, you're water from Mimir's well," she snapped at the bottle. "You don't have to remind me of it, or the price needed to drink from you."
The eyeball throbbed, waiting to evacuate the socket it had been implanted into. Grumbling, Sycorax slid around the podium, cradling her left eye in one hand to calculate the treasures set on themselves. This was the target of many guilds seeking revenge; the hoard of Sycorax, chaotic evil personified. Cash Items and Items above Legendary were stocked here, including the seven World Class Items that they had struggled so hard for.
Her hand brushed a pile of sticks interwoven with silver string set onto a shelf. She put it away into her Item Chest with an expression of worry, and a whisper of apology to the guild that was not present. Checking the other chests, she determined that they were all present before sliding back into the cloakroom for her baubles.
Climbing up to the armoury was worth it as Sycorax fished out a plain sapphire ring from a cushioned chest just for stacks and stacks of rings. The ship's rocking barely disturbed her as she threw 「Red Baron's Trousers」 and the shoes「Savates」 she found into her Item Chest. Sycorax hummed as the black cloud of displaced space winked out, before outfitting herself with a pair of knuckle-dusters,「Hurricane」. She put on a hat with a large white feather stuck inside the brim, a gift from a fire-phoenix that they had slaughtered for an event. The「Belt of the Nine Snakes」was next, and then Sycorax cast her eye about, her eyes skipping over the golden spear in the corner. She found the Relic-class 「Luck be a Lady」charm bracelet, and the Artefact-class「Derringer」. Rings such as 「Curse of Scotland」 and 「Lorelei's Tear」joined the Doubloon Ring, and she also equipped 「Piece of Eight」. As she fitted 「Derringer」 into her sleeve, she put on a pair of earrings, tucking a pen and some paper for scrolls into her pockets, and trailed knotted bracelets of woven silver onto her wrists.
She would have preferred to use the weapons down in the vault, but these were the most understated of the armoury and she knew nothing about this world. She reinforced that decision with an 「Hairpin of Sokuten」to hold up her white hair, baring her face and the eye-patch that hid another weapon.
"What do you think, Mekong?"
The wisp fizzled, sparks scattering from red to blue.
"Yes. Come."
Now kitted out, she slid out, with the Will-O-Wisp hovering next to her. Once out of below-decks, it was simple enough to teleport to the Queen's quarterdeck, a raised platform directly before the bridge and the largest section of non-occupied space anywhere in the fleet at present. It was also filled with the sounds of hammering.
"Captain!" exclaimed the small faceless figure dressed in bright yellow. A woollen cap graced his childish head, and a tobacco pipe hung from his lips. A large hammer swung in his hand, another tool of his job. "Are you alright?"
"I am fine." Sycorax told the Klabautermann. "Thank you, Merry. You came early."
"Ah, I was on watch, so when a beat to quarters is sounded I rushed here."
"Good work." Reaching for the Item Chest, Sycorax saw her hand disappear into black space, and reappear with a jug. "Have a drink as a reward for your hard work."
"Ah..." Merry stared as two cups were summoned onto the small table upon the quarterdeck and Sycorax poured out some, handing him one. "Thank you very much, Captain!"
"You are the commander of the Seventh Division and Larch, so I'm not your Captain." Sycorax remarked in the face of his enthusiasm.
Merry shook his head. "I was created by Vice-Admiral Checky to serve under the Admiralty, but Sycorax-sama is the sole remaining member and the highest of Admirals."
"Oh, that guy." Sycorax observed Merry drinking, taking a small sip for herself. "Do you want some more?"
"Uh- thank you! But I have had enough..."
Suddenly a voice rang out:
"Could I be- ah, Merry beat me."
A shadow emerged from the ground, the source of the mature yet high-pitched youthful voice. From the shadows walked out a grinning Goth punk with greyed skin and black hair chopped short, clad in leather armour and leggings and currently smoking a cigarette.
"Commander of the Third Division, Caliban has appeared, Admiral. Reporting for quarters."
"As expected, Caliban." Sycorax sternly replied to her own creation.
"Isn't 「Portal」forbidden to be used, Admiral?" Merry threw a look as Caliban dropped his cigarette and stubbed it out onto the wooden planks.
Caliban grinned at the Klabautermann, "It's general quarters, imp."
"I'm not an imp!" Merry protested.
Sycorax merely sighed indulgently, pondering on how she had teased Merry's creator Checky.
Chains rattled, before the silhouette of a shadow in the black robes of a Magic Caster dropped down. Her design was almost like Sadako, which had inspired her creator CAM to make her, and then designate her a Cleric just for the irony burn. "Commander of the Fourth Division, Bonny. Reporting for quarters."
A swoosh of feathers echoed as a man with the head of a bird and claws in hands and feet dropped down onto the railings. Besides being dressed as an archer, an English longbow as long as he was tall – about two metres – ran the length of his back, held next to a long quiver. "Commander of the Fifth Division, Phaeton. Reporting for quarters."
"Cease the ceremony." Sycorax dismissed.
"Phaeton..." she whispered to herself. "The only one with the most ironic name was your creator Icarus. A Birdman with the name Icarus is just asking for trouble."
A snap of her fingers summoned a throne of ice attached to the quarterdeck of the Queen of the Night, which she sat upon. "The repair, melee, magic, and aerial division commanders arrived early."
A pair of bare feet dropped down next to Phaeton, and the dark-skinned dark-haired boy they were attached to grinned. "Commander of the Second Division, Ariel. Reporting for quarters."
"Ariel." Sycorax nodded. "Welcome. We're still waiting for a few people, so please be patient."
Ariel came at the same time as slime erupted upon the icy planks of the ship, coalescing into an Elder Black Ooze which formed itself into the vaguely human shape of a naked Shapeshifter, complete with egg-head.
"Commander of the Sixth Division, Cutty Sark. Reporting for duty."
The whinny of a horse resounded into the gloomy night of the icy fleet, as a black horse galloped up the hull and crashed down onto the quarterdeck, smoothly transforming into an artfully soaked and dishevelled Nereus.
"Commander of the First Division, Nereus. Reporting for quarters."
"Quartermaster of the Intelligence Division under the Admiral, Nagato." The proud sailor marched up onto the deck, head held high but posture deferential. "Reporting for quarters."
"Your orders, Admiral?" They spoke together, as the ship's bell rung. Ting-ting, ting-ting.
"Two am." Sycorax reflected. "My apologies for summoning all of you at this late hour, but something has happened. Nereus, sit rep."
"Aye." His head was inclined. "Admiral, the Fomori Fleet has been caught in an unknown situation. We are not in Mimisbrunnr."
Sycorax looked at him. "How do you know?"
"Aye. The taste is markedly different. The rocky terrains of Jötunheimr have also been replaced with beaches."
"Beaches?" echoed the Admiral.
"Beaches. Sandy beaches, with wooden populations of houses next to them. Huginn and Muninn will be able to elaborate more."
"I see. Thank you for your hard work. Ariel. Your navigational expertise is required."
The Storm Spirit looked up. "I do not recognise the constellations, Admiral. My deepest apologies."
Sycorax gave the night skies a glare. It was a truly beautiful sky like glitter drenched over black crepe paper, and it would be a help if it was also a familiar enough to navigate by. "I see."
Were they programmed? No, they seemed like humans, and there was no differences that were remarkable. A program had no reason, even if it had the ability, to show such emotions. It should be assumed that due to some reason, they became like humans.
What in this world is going on? Sycorax did not know. Since the magic from YGGDRASIL could be used here, then it would be more appropriate to assume that it was a game. Yet, it was doubtful, being nothing like inside a game. Was it a different world? Possible.
To what extent did this world follow the rules of YGGDRASIL? If the monsters and NPCs were all based on the electronic data from YGGDRASIL, then there should be no enemy here at all. If there were complications, though... for the time being, she had the highest position here.
What this kind of action should be taken in the future? At the moment, intelligence and passing was the highest priority. And, if this is truly a different world...
Doubt crossed her mind. Working several jobs and then coming home only to login into YGGDRASIL, which would no longer be possible was the only fate that awaited her back there. All possibilities, however, should be laid on the table before the decision was made.
Hast thou not gone against sincerity?
Hast thou not felt ashamed of thy words and deeds?
Hast thou not lacked vigour?
Hast thou exerted all efforts?
Hast thou not become slothful?
"Does anyone have any idea?"
Looks were exchanged, and it was Nagato who spoke next. "No, Admiral. We cannot think of any leads."
"I see. Well, did anything strange happen on your fleets?"
Hearing those words, each of them replied in order of their divisions:
"Nothing on the Heart of Oak." Nereus smirked.
"Same for the Cedar." Ariel did a back flip, somehow managing not to fall off the railings and land on his back but on his feet.
"The Mahogany is fine, Admiral." Caliban leered.
"The Pine is functional." No expression from Bonny.
"The Spruce is fully functional." relayed Phaeton.
"The Totara has resisted me and this new world, Admiral." Cutty rasped.
"The Larch is fine!" Merry cheered.
"I have checked the Queen of the Night, Admiral." Nagato offered. "It is fully operational."
Sycorax nodded, affecting the coldness befitting of the fleet's Admiral as two pairs of claws stopped upon the arms of her throne. "Huginn? Muninn?"
The twin crows nodded at her, eyes bright and aware.
"You have found land?"
Twin caws echoed.
"I see. Use 「Crystal Mirror」."
A portal shimmered into existence, revealing the mirror-smooth sea under the bright moon, and then the image panned towards the shimmering of the ice fleet, showing their position relative to the land.
"Land sighted?" Ariel realised in shock.
"It's still at night, and not all of our ratings have night vision." Sycorax considered. "Ariel, use mists to hide the fleet. Do you require help?"
"No, myself alone will be fine." Ariel saluted with his palm facing inwards. "No need to disrupt Bonny."
"If that is the case, Bonny, cast all information spells you can to hide the ships from magical surveillance. Also, work with Ariel and Nagato to create a more comprehensive communication system."
Bonny yawned. "Got it."
"Aye-aye!" all three of them spoke.
"Phaeton, there is a lagoon near the settlements you indicated. I need you to act as a pilot to guide us through shallow waters. Nereus will give you the necessary information."
"Aye, Admiral!"
"Cutty Sark. Merry. I need a full inventory of the fleet's current condition. When may it be completed?"
"We'll get to it, Admiral!" Merry beamed at his job.
"Mmm." She steepled her hands, feeling like a shitty Admiral all of a sudden. "Nagato, terminate general quarters, but do not let down your guard. Inform the ratings aboard your ships to your discretion. Set course to absolute bearing 120 degrees."
"Yes, my Admiral!"
"Then, I will patrol the ship before turning in." The throne dissolved back into icy water as Sycorax arose, and with a sweep of her hand thunder cracked overhead. The weather continued to rumble, a wave broke over the railings, and then she slid down a hatch to below decks, leaving silence in her wake.
The pressure that almost pushed their head into the ground suddenly disappeared without a trace. Though the meeting was concluded, and there were duties to discharge, nobody walked. After a while, someone let out a sigh of relief, and the tension was finally released.
"T- That was scary," rasped Cutty Sark. It was a wonder how he could rasp, since he did not technically have a dry part in his body at all.
"I thought I would be crushed..." Bonny sniffed.
"Even to commanders like us, she would have such a huge effect." Nereus shuddered. "Although I knew that she is a supreme being, stronger than all of us... I did not expect such an extent."
The pressure that they had felt, was actually an aura around Sycorax, 「Scylla & Charybdis」. In addition to the Terror effect, it could also reduce the stats of a player, leaving them stuck between the unpalatable choice of being torn apart or being slowly poisoned to death. Normally, it would not affect level 100 NPCs, but the Fleet's presence had made it stronger.
"Admiral is a nice person!" Merry chirped.
"Our admiral has displayed incredible will befitting a pirate of her stature." Phaeton's wings fluttered behind him.
"Yes, before we announced ourselves she did not reveal his true abilities, but once we assumed our roles, Admiral came." Caliban agreed. "Too bad Bonny cried."
"It is as the Admiralty wills it." Ariel intoned, ignoring the erupting argument.
There were sighs of thankfulness and gratitude. Hope in the future, bright eyes that sleep did not touch, dreamy smiles hoping for the next order. For any creature created by a superior being, it must seem normal for them to assist their creator in hope of their recognition.
"Nagato?" Nereus considered the Automaton. "You haven't said anything."
"Is there a need to say anything?" came the matter-of-fact reply. "Sycorax-sama has applied flawless reasoning to our plans. It is now our part to play. Everything is going as the Admiralty wills. I must attend to the Admiral on her patrol now."
"Yes, you're right." Nereus agreed as Nagato stalked off. "Sycorax-sama is the last of the Admiralty left. As the highest Admiral, we must protect her. But, speaking of the Admiralty's will... Ariel?"
"Hmm?" the storm spirit was floating about the rigging.
"What are you wearing?"
Ariel brandished his arms, showing off the flowing robe of gauzy silk that barely concealed anything. "Oh, my creator, Vice-Admiral Librobum Prohibitorium, created me with this. He said it was something called sex appeal to Sycorax-sama's theme."
"I see. Then keep it." Nereus shrugged.
Since they were tools meant to serve the supreme beings that created them, their course was obviously to follow the will of the Admiralty.
"Now then, shall we begin?"
Critiquez, s'il vous plaît!