Super Science
Ch 102: Team Work Makes the Dream Work part. 1
Deep within the confines of the N.I.P facility, the Dragon Hunter were hard at work taking on another fight simulation between the four of them and a bunch of holograms and robots made to look like the many dragons they would come to face. As of now, they have already taken on a robotic Scarlett Lasher, Blood Painter, Mountain Devil, Holo Cavern Spitter, and a swarm of Micro dragons. The very last one was a robotic wyvern, which was felled quite quickly by the four.
Fujitora, being a man of great strength at his age, swung around a hammer thrice his size with such power that any of the machines dumb enough to get close would be smashed to bits! Rei used a bow and would snipe off smaller enemies while using her owl, Yoko, to find hidden away or weak parts on exposed machines or holograms. Kai had a sword and shield but didn't use it very much, yet he still used his quirk to relieve the stress and strain from his team. Keanu, being the Swiss army knife, would take any weapon lying around or on a take, and he was able to use it to its best ability. Right now, he was using a greatsword and delivered the final blow on the last robot.
As the holograms vanished and the robot gates closed, the hunters finally rested from this exercise. They removed their helmets and chest plates with pads to allow their bodies to breathe and cool off. The armor they wore was simple in design yet effective. It was made from a durable yet flexible new kind of metal created by the combined efforts of Honey Lemon and Hankoyo. It only covered the vitals and head, with the rest made of simple leather and boots.
As they took their moment to breathe and rehydrate, a voice from within came to life, and the voice of Anima said, "Excellent work, your four. You've come a long way from your beginnings. Gotta say I'm proud."
From above, they saw a large viewing window through which the ever-changing man was wiping tears of pride from his sea turtle head. Keanu rolled his eyes while gagging and commented, "Uck! You sound like a dad!"
"Well, I've always wanted to be one, and having you four under my command has really brought that feeling to the surface.", Genus says whimsically.
"One of us is old enough to be your grandfather.", Keanu gripes.
"None of you have any idea how old I really am.", he tells them, making all four of them stare at the man with confusion, concern, and curiosity. Anyhow, as you all are now proficient with your weapons and how to fight with them and one another in tandem, I believe it is about time to add another layer to the mix.", He changed the subject while pressing a button in the control room.
From the center of the room, a large circular tube rose from the ground and opened a dome at the top, where a bunch of items were held.
Genus explained, "Kai, these are buff and healing items. Using your quirk, you can grant your team their effects without them needing to stop and use them themselves."
In the tube was a whole host of strange things in tubs made into shapes and colors that weren't particularly appetizing to the eye. So Kai took the man's objects and began to sort them across his utility belt. As he did so, he mindlessly inquired, "Is that why you gave me the weakest weapon?"
Genus looked insulted by the insinuation and stated boldly, "The sword and shield are not the weakest weapon and are very viable in battle."
Then the tube raised up another item from a different layer, and Genus once again explained, "Rei, these goggles, placed upon your owl, will allow her to extend the range of her vision and, by extension, your own. They also come with many settings, including infrared and ultraviolet."
Rei placed a set of owl-sized goggles onto Yoko and then activated her quirk through her pet's eyes; she was able to zoom in like high-powered lenses with such intensity that she could almost spot things microscopically. The backlash from this gave her a headache, and she quickly turned her quirk off before she got sick.
"Keanu…I've really got nothing for you. Your quirk works with whatever weapon you have on hand. Just…keep up the good work.", Genus admitted while making the tube re-enter the ground, leaving behind a displeased Keanu to stare at the man.
The only one left out was Fujitora, who was trying to withhold his disappointment and sadness at not getting anything, only Genus to tell him in an inviting tone, "And as for you, Fujitora, I've been holding out for something very special for you.", the man then pressed some buttons on the control panel and a new door open yo three huge animals walking through them.
"Behold! The King Hounds! The lords of all canines!", Genus exclaimed before the group, introducing the dogs.
The King Hounds were like a cross between a Tibetan Mastiff and a Bull Terrier but the side of a horse! They had little or no fur, short tails, upturned ears, extremely large and muscular bodies, and heavily callus skin.
"Holy shit!", yelled Kai screamed in fright.
"They're huge!", Rei exclaimed as she backed away.
"They're ugly as sin!", Keanu comments.
All except for Fujitora, who acts like a child receiving a puppy and squeaks in delight while holding out his arms, "They're so cute! Come here, boys!"
The dogs looked at the older man, and in a moment, they turned into hug puppies as they bounded towards him, slobber flying all around and happy expressions on their long faces before running into him and crashing to the ground! Each one rubbed against him, licking his face or lying in his lap. Fujitora laughed like a child with the dogs, and as he was doing this, the rest of them looked at each other with mixed expressions.
"Hey profes. What's the point of these giant ugly monster dogs?", Keanu asked while looking up at the window.
"While many dog breeds throughout history have been bred for hunting certain game, the same thing applies to the King Hound.", Genus explained vaguely.
Thinking about it momentarily, Keanu inferred with surprise, "You made these things to…hunt dragons?"
"With their sturdy bodies, dense bones, heavy body weight, wrinkled faces, and callus skin, they can hold down, track, and remain unaffected by fire or being carried off. Also, who doesn't love dogs?", Genus explained while motioning to the huge dogs still playing with the old man.
Then another set of doors opened, and a large beast with blue scales clambered in with a lazy walk as its belly nearly dragged along the ground. The hunter freaked out before the sight of the creature and got into defensive stances, thinking they were in for a fight!
"Is that a dragon!?", Rei exclaimed in fear.
"Close, but no. This is the Lightning Beast. Whenever you guys go on a hunt that requires more firepower, that's where he will come in.", Genus explained as the lightning beast lay down in a corner to nap. "And I have one more surprise.", Genus says excitedly as he presses some buttons where four individual armor displays come out of the ground. "Behold! Your new armor sets! Designed by me and made by Purah and Robbie with ancient technology.", he says zealously.
Each case had a set of armor that was vastly different from one another, all in various styles, colors, and so on. Some had spikes, some were bulky, some were cool, some plain, and some were just ridiculous. Overall, they looked like armor you'd see out of a vastly unrealistic fantasy video game. Cool in concept, not so much in practice. (Just imagine any armor set from Monster Hunter; I literally couldn't think of which set to give to each)
"They look cool.", said Kai
"They look heavy.", Fijitor observed.
"They look uncomfortable.", Rei complained.
"Can we even fight in these?", Keanu asked in suspicion.
"It's ancient technology; light, breathable, protective, and very stylish.", Genus assured them.
So they all shrugged and began to dawn the armor over the ones they were wearing, which all snapped into place with ease as if it were tailor-made for them. On top of that, it was everything Genus told them it was. "Now then, your next and final test will be held with all that you have acquired and be tested in the next room.", Genus explained as a new door opened.
The team of four, their hounds, and the Lightning beast, who didn't want to wake up, entered where they stood in a 100 ft square room with reflective white tiles. As they all walked around and observed the vast amounts of nothing, Genus called out to them through the P.A system.
"This place is so small.", said Kai.
"How are we going to take our next test here?", Keanu complained.
"That's just because I haven't turned it on.", Genus told them.
Genus then pressed several buttons, dials, and knobs in his control room, and the space below began to hum with energy while giving off a slight glow! Then, what looked like tic tacs began to swarm the room, which made the area look like some kind of retro video game for a few seconds. The lights went dim, and before they knew it, a whole forest surrounded them, surrounded by a very thin swamp. Trees reached high into the air with light barely peeking out from the foliage, a thin layer of water puddled in several areas, large boulders littered all over, and the sound of insects, birds, and frogs hit their ears. Any foliage along the ground was large, thick, and very sparse.
The hunters were more than surprised by this site and were nearly knocked off their feet by the whiplash they got from trying to comprehend what was happening around them! Even the animals panicked for a moment! Once they got their footing and brains back in working order, they voiced their discomfort and shock on the matter.
"Woah woah, what!? When did we get outside?", Keanu yelled.
"Short-term confusion, disorientation, and psychosis. Interesting side effect for those unprepared.", Genus observed aloud while noting it down.
"Genus!", Rei growled at him.
Putting away his notes, Genus coughed and said, "You're not outside; you're still in the building. Our newest invention, the Hyper Advanced Simulation System, or H.A.S.S for short."
"It looks so real.", Kai said while staring at one of the trees.
"It feels so real.", Fujitora stated while pushing his feet into the fresh soil.
"It may as well be. It's the pinnacle of simulation technology. We put enough money into this one room to buy a large country.", Genus informed them, making the hunters' eyes widen.
"That's crazy.", Keanu said in the calmest and most surprising voice he's made to date.
"And this is where your final test is going to be held. For the next twenty-four hours.", Genus told them, knocking the hunters out of their trance at his words.
Surely, there was no way they could spend a whole day in a room that was no larger than a standard apartment…right? But when one of them walked past the 100ft square, they found they could walk even further! Right up to the horizon if they could see it.
Then Kai asked the big question, inquiring, "What if we need to pee, drink, or eat?"
"Those packs on your armor have enough food and water to last a day and night. As for your bathroom requirements, don't think too hard.", Genus tried to assure them.
"So what's our test? Do we just survive in this simulation?", Rei asked him while allowing her owl to take flight through the branches.
"Oh no, no, no. Nothing like that. You see, this will be the closest we can get you to fighting a real dragon without fighting the real thing. You took on robots and holograms before; now, this is the real test of your skills.", Genus said with a serious yet excited tone.
Fujitaoir asked him, confused about their quest, "Do you want us to hunt down an advanced hologram?"
"From the dirt under your toes to the weather above, and the fire or poison spat from your target. It's as real as it'll get. If you get hurt, it's the real deal!", Genus warned them, making their hair stand on ends. "But you won't die because you're in a simulation, and we can cut it at any point if things go backward.", Genus told them so as to not freak them out too much.
"That's reassuring…I think.", said Rei with caution.
"So what's our target?", asked Fujitora.
"That's what you have to find out.", Gneus said cryptically.
"What?! Why!", Keanu argued angrily.
Genus repressed the urge to sigh, so he explained, "Every time we get a dragon emergency, we are not going to have concrete intel on what it may or may not be. It is your job to play Sherlock and then legal animal abuser."
"That's a colorful way of putting it.", Kai stated while picking up and smelling a flower.
"Do we have to kill the simulation?", Rei inquired, not at all worried about how to do it, just that they do it right.
Genus gave them a blah-ze-da tone and explained before cutting off contact, "Kill it, catch it, whatever. Find the dragon in twenty-four hours and put it down before it puts you down; don't, and you fail. Easy. Use anything and everything you can, and don't forget to work together. Certain dragons may work alone, but one is enough to take on a seasoned hero. Be smart, be fast, and be deadly. Have fun.", when his voice cut off, so did his view from the control panel from the hunter's point of view, leaving them in the swampy forest with what they had and one another.
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