These Eldritch Hips – (Modbased)Litrpg

Celia had never considered herself all too curious a person. Yes, there were things she didn't understand. Questions she would like answered. But never things she ceaselessly pondered on, wondering about all the implications. She didn't have the time for that. Didn't feel like wasting the effort.

Until now, that is. As Celia had a great many questions for this "fragment" of her future self. Questions that Paradox seemed all too eager to answer.

What are you like? Oh, that's a good one. It's also pretty hard to answer seeing as your /REDACTED\. But, in a sense, not all that different from how you are now. I think. It's been a very long time since now, hard to remember.

"Speaking of which, uh, so I can time travel eventually?"

Not exactly, no. And even if you could I wouldn't recommend it. Messing with time is the sort of thing best reserved for suicidal fools.

"But didn't-"

No. Paradox declared. Voice strong, tone resonant and finally. As if it were a blade held at the throat. That Bird went looking where he shouldn't have. If anything he invited me here. And, well, that's just not as dangerous in the grand scheme of things. Besides, I like to think that it taught him a right proper lesson about being nosy.

"Right." Celia nodded along. Thoughts shifting to the other question she had. "So, uh, what was he looking for. And what were those visions about. If you can tell me, of course."

I wish I could tell you. But that would be mildly disastrous for a handful of major timelines if I did.

"It would be what!?"

A bad thing if I told you. Irresponsible.

Celia did her best to not be completely shocked by that information. And she utterly failed. Coming to a complete stop as she desperately tried to figure how she should feel about that. Or any of this, seeing as, at the very least, she apparently became a Beyonder herself in the future.

Thoughts which drew her other two selves out of their silence.

Is it bad? Discipline asked, sounding every bit as curious as a young child.

Vice wasn't as subtle.

Please tell me our future is full of food.

Celia answered neither, and instead focused on not freaking out. The future could wait. Would have to wait till she was done dealing with the pressing now.

Oh, my dear self. The present circumstances you find yourself in isn't nearly as bad as you make it out to be. In fact, I daresay you already have all you need to take your latest adversary down.

"Um, we are thinking of the same hydra, right?"

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Yes. And trust me, as far as their kind goes he is severely underwhelming. He's also surprisingly lackluster in taste.

"You ate him!"

Yes.

"But h-"

The circumstances were not ideal, and trust me, he is an animal. Almost all Beyondlings are.

For the third time, Celia was left in stunned silence by Patadox's words. Unsure of how to respond to them. So she didn't. And instead continued back to Sel'ci in silence. No talk between her and her alternate selves, save mute understanding of how they differed.

And what she understood about her future self was that she was many things. Powerful was one. And potentially jaded was another. It was the second that made her hesitant of finding out more of what lay ahead of her. Of becoming more than she already was. Rekindling the fear of losing who she was within her.

One she chewed on all the way back. Up until, of course, she shelved it and decided to ask another question. A much more important question. At least for now.

"How do I kill E-10?"

That's the neat part, you don't.

*****

Fifty minutes later, Celia found herself at the head of a table. Towering over everyone there save for Haet. And she wasn't really sure if he would be participating in her plan. Especially seeing as how they had essentially hijacked the table from him.

A detail she, and he, chose to ignore. Her focus returning to the topic at hand as she scanned the assembled faces before her.

They were afraid, lacked resolve, and spoke of the defeat they already felt. A defeat Celia herself may have felt if she hadn't just been given some information that changed everything.

"Hi all." She greeted, offering a bright smile in an attempt to lift the mood.

It did not work.

"Uh. As you know I'm Celia, and I've gathered you all here to help me kill E-10." She gestured to the map laid out before them all. A projection of bone and blood borne from whatever power animated Sel'ci. Finger landing where E-10's lair supposedly lay.

"This is the location of our enemy. Who, according to what I know, is heavily wounded and poisoned. And if it weren't for his nature as a hydra he would already be dead by now. Still he should be too weak to offer proper resistance." She explained, seeing as the expressions around the table changed.

By how much, she couldn't quite tell, seeing as almost none of them were humanlike in form. They definitely didn't look as depressed though. Which she took as a cue to continue.

Only to find herself interrupted by the raising of a hand. Or rather, a claw.

"Haet curious, how was information gained?"

"A trusted source gave it to me." She answered, easily.

Though, Haet did not look convinced. Still, he said nothing more and simply watched on as she continued.

And continue she did. Laying out the ground work of an ambush. one based almost entirely on nature she had gleamed from her supposed future self.

How accurate said knowledge actually was, however, would be determined later. Though, she was pretty certain that E-10 was actually in as bad a condition as Paradox described. If only because he had yet to act out against her again since she him last. And she hadn't exactly been subtle in moving through the forest.

So, without a doubt, he was injured to a degree. If that injury was less than she had been told, and he wasn't poisoned, well than she just hoped her plan was salvageable.

Oh don't worry, there's too many forces in play that want you alive. You'll be fine. Paradox whispered.

Celia let the uncomfortable feeling from such a statement linger with her a second. Tasting it as she continued to explain her plan.

A very, very simple plan on account of the fact that most Beyondlings didn't handle complex all that well. And also because, it was much harder to fumble a very simple plan. Especially one as simple as wait right here and attack.

Though, her plan was in actuality, a bit more complicated than that.

Essentially she would serve as bait, luring E-10 out of hiding, and when he went to get her, they would all jump him. Which, again, sounded like an extremely horrible plan based solely on the idea that he was too injured to fight them all off.

Especially if Haet chose to get involved.

Which brought her to the next step of her plan.

"And you Haet will be the hammer that beats in the nail."

"Word first." Was his response. Followed by him abruptly rising from his seat and walking away from the table.

And Celia followed.