Project Seraphina [LitRPG, Magitech, GL]

We touch down on a small airfield consisting of little more than a strip of tarmac and a single tower which I’m not convinced is currently in use. Maybe Chloe would consider that irresponsible, if she took half a minute to think about the implications. No central air-traffic control, no coordination of flights to make sure that two planes weren’t about to turn a bunch of biology-based passengers into so much ballistics gel.

Then again, flights weren’t exactly common, not compared to the before days, and communication didn’t have to take place by radio and smoke signal. Chloe and I could speak telepathically, and I doubted we were the only ones. In fact, given Clara’s reputation and line of work, I’d be surprised if she didn’t have the ability to coordinate all these people mentally, no computers to be hacked, not a single whisper to be carried on the wind toward eavesdropping ears.

‘All these people’ was right. This wasn’t just some mission with the three of us, or even the three of us and another squad of three to five like those missions with Alexey and his team— may he be resting in peace in whatever heaven best suited him. There were dozens of soldiers and agents gathered, and those were just the ones presenting themselves in plain sight. There were probably dozens more, maybe even hundreds, stationed around the surrounding woods, just outside the range of my [Valkyrion’s Perception].

It’s a veritable army of moderate-to-high level folks that Clara and her superiors have gathered for this operation. Uniformity of dress and tactics are out the window, by necessity rather than leadership’s prerogative. Each of the men and women is wearing distinctive suits of armor, carrying every manner of weapon from swords to spears… There’s even one woman, tall and lithe, wielding a bow and with a quiver of arrows that seem forged of pure moonlight. I’d go so far as to wager she were an elf if I had any reason to believe those existed, and if she said she were one, I’d believe her.

A psychic thread pokes at my head. My [Defiant Spirit] flares out, ready to block out the would-be intruder before they can get their grubby little hands on my mind. To my surprise, however, the thread stops just at the surface of my thoughts. It’s no more than a harmless strand, waiting, asking for an invitation. Judging by Chloe’s furrowed brows, she’s going through the same process.

“Who is this?” I ask. “What do you want?”

“Special Agent Duvall, Ma’am. Logistical Coordinator, [Tactician] class. My job is to, as my title suggests, coordinate agent movements throughout the operation.”

“No mind reading, no delving into my secrets?”

“Wouldn’t dream of it, ma’am. All I’ll be doing is coordinating everyone’s movements with my and my team’s [Psychic Link] Skills. Alerting one another to danger, sharing intelligence, that sort of thing.”

I can’t believe I’m even entertaining the thought of letting someone not named Chloe Jacobs anywhere near my mind or my thoughts, but desperate times make for desperate measures.

“Fine,” I say. “But the moment you try something I don’t approve of, I’m throwing you out.”

“I will not try to change your mind, but I would be remiss if I did not mention this. Agent Bennett has already informed you, but this mission carries with it grave risk to every agent participating in the operation. My job is to minimize that risk.”

Playing the ‘appeal to morality’ card. It sickens me to be manipulated like this, but the man— I assume, based on the voice— makes a point. Especially because it could be my or Chloe’s lives who end up being saved.

I sigh. “Very well. Do you have any ability to perceive through senses, including perception Skills? I have a particularly powerful area perception Skill. Enough that, if I’m looking for it, I can pierce Cl– Agent Bennett’s full-powered veil.”

“Unfortunately not. But I have a [Mind] approaching three hundred after buffs, so I should be able to process and relay whatever information you send to me in real time.”

‘Approaching three hundred’? After buffs? That’s something to brag about? Then again, [Angelic Bond] and [Saintess’s Blessing] are both absolutely ludicrous Skills. But I dare not get confident. The tension has only intensified since touching down. Everything is about to come to a head, and I need to make sure that Chloe and I are going to be riding that wave rather than getting swept up in it.

I turn to Chloe. Her eyes are crossed, no doubt locked in the same sort of psychic conversation. She turns to me. We spare a glance, unspoken agreement between us. She doesn’t like it either, having someone other than me in her mind, but she’s going to do everything she can to rescue Mom. If I have to put up with an unwelcome voice whispering in my head for a couple hours to increase the chances we bring her back home by even a small amount, then it’s something I’ll gladly suffer.

“Are you ready, Miss Mortensen?” I had expected Chloe’s voice, but instead, it’s Clara. Guess she’s decided to reveal another of her Skills, even if it’s one I was fairly sure she had beforehand.

My swordstaff is in hand, my equipment is donned, my girlfriend is by my side, our enhancement spells are active, my [Ether] and [Health] are both as topped off as they’re ever going to get. I pick up a few [Ether Canisters] strewn about and store them away in my [Inventory] and take a long and deep breath as I go through everything else I can think I might need. Only then, and after checking with Chloe and getting the nod of approval, do I respond with my assent.

“Very good. You and Miss Jacobs will wait here for the time being.”

“Wait? Shouldn’t we be–”

“No. Not yet. You especially are our greatest asset, and our opportunity to cause confusion in their ranks. I must implore you to hold back for a little longer.”

“But, I–”

“Miss Jacobs,” Clara says authoritatively. “Everyone here wants to see your mother returned safe and sound, and the people responsible for this horrific, reprehensible action brought to justice. And this plan is the best one our [Analysts] and [Thinkers] have been able to come up with. I beg your restraint, for just a little longer.”

The worry on Chloe’s forehead is palpable. I feel it through our bond, and even if I didn’t, I’d still feel just the same. Any attempt to calm myself would be foolish; adrenaline and sheer rage at the violation surges through my veins, denying me rest or solace until our task is complete.

Seeing the first wave of soldiers and agents in their various suits of armor heading off to the south does nothing to assuage my tension. It should be us out there. It was we who were wronged; it is we who have the right to dispense our justice and wrath upon them. That’s what the primal part of my brain keeps saying, the one who has given up on fairness and ethics and just wants to take action. Take advantage that we are strong and they are weak and that anyone who stands in the way of getting our mother returned to us deserves neither mercy nor pity.

But– That’s who I want to be. It’s not who Chloe would want me to be. It’s the path that I’ve refused to go down, taking the role of some overlord or warlord or protector— however one wants to sugarcoat it— who does what she wants, when she wants it, and no one can stop me. Even if it is tempting at times, most of all right now, I temper that rage and let it cool and harden and wait in accordance with the plan.

I don’t trust Clara but I do trust that our interests are aligned, and for that reason alone, I’m able to stay Chloe’s and my hand.

“Just a little longer, love.”

“I–” Chloe is shaking in anger.

Shots ring out behind the southern hills, followed by the screams of a battle having just begun. The metallic clang of swords clashing against armor resonates alongside glows of [Fire] and [Light] magic being flung about. Next comes a heavy rumble, one that feels like a tank driving into the fray. Dozens of small attacks fire toward it, smoke rising overhead, but the rumble doesn’t abate.

Worse still, the flow Ether is twisting all around this fell, metallic presence. Even beyond the range of [Valkyrion’s Perception], I can make out an immense confluence of energy. Chloe senses it as well; the trembling in her fingers making that clear.

“Why?” she asks. “Why are the three of us just standing here?” She turns to Clara with an indignant expression. “We should be out there, helping them! I should be healing them, making sure you don’t lose your subordinates! Don’t you care about them? Or do you really just see them as pawns to be sacrificed. Anything and everything is acceptable, as long as you get your victory? That’s how you see this? Your own people?” Her fist clenches and her [Swords of Repose] materialize in her hands. “Fuck this and fuck you, Clara! Sera, let’s get–”

“Wait,” Clara says. “Now’s not the time.”

“Then when in the nine hells is? And it better not be ‘after the fighting is over and all of your men and women get killed’! Because I swear to the goddess that–”

“Miss Jacobs, do you remember what I said before to Miss Mortensen? About this operation?”

“You mean how we’re all walking right into a trap?”

“I did not say anything of the sort, Miss Jacobs. I said that I had no doubt in my mind that this was a trap. I did not say that we were the ones being ensnared.”

I smirked. Of course. The way she’d said it was evidence, but now we had proof. Too confident, too poised, not a drop of fear in her voice. This was a trap for the Legion forces gathered here.

“One other thing to be aware of, Miss Jacobs. It’s something that Miss Mortensen is aware of already, based on her previous statements. Remember that we now live in a world of Levels and Stats. If you reach in there and pull my agents’ asses out of the proverbial fire, you will be depriving them of the valuable Experience they need to grow stronger and more capable of dealing with future threats. Threats which you might not be around to protect them from.”

Chloe’s eyes drop. “Y– Yes. I still don’t like it, but you raise a good point.”

“Besides, my forces may not be as strong as you are individually, but they are well trained and well-coordinated. It isn’t just about raw stats. It’s about how a team collectively uses their Skills and assets to the greatest effect. Your… ally with Major Richardson speaks as testament to that as well.”

Chloe lowers her fist. The tension subsides for a brief moment, only to come racing back at the sound and rumble of a massive explosion. A huge plume of fire, followed by billowing black smoke that reeked of toxic flames. Thick plates of steel followed, launched into the air with explosive force before falling to the ground with so many loud thuds of metal wedging itself into soft and muddy dirt.

“Is it almost time?” Chloe asks.

“Just a couple of minutes. They’ll summon the next wave of reinforcements. We need to get into position, and quickly. Miss Jacobs, cast whatever enhancements you have, Miss Mortensen, ready yourself for what’s about to happen.”

We take our positions. The battlefield is full of carnage, dozens of fallen soldiers, some dead, some clinging to life. The treads of a single large tank lie not far from the dungeon’s entrance, the body and barrel reduced to hunks of scrap. To my surprise and Chloe’s relief, it’s mostly Clara’s agents who are standing and able to continue the fight, with some of them cross eyed, processing level gains.

My attention, however, is snapped into focus as the next wave approaches. Dozens of soldiers marching in lockstep, each feminine, with long blonde hair, teal eyes, and carrying a long spear at their side. An entire army gathered… entirely of me.