"What the hell was all of that, Belle?"
The Cunning Hares returned to Random Play soon after escaping the Hollow. Upon returning, they immediately sat Belle down and began to both fuss over her new arm and question her.
Nicole asked the question but Belle saw the same burning question in Wise's eyes. Of course, she knew he likely had thought of their past in Helios Academy and come up with a few ideas himself. He gave her a look, one that said 'make something up'.
"Eeeh.. You ask me but.. I guess I have a strange physiology? Maybe it's my class!" Belle hit her fleshy palm with her metal hand.
Anby gave her a somewhat understanding look, while Billy kept looking at her new arm.
"Don't give me that..! You were out there fighting like a lunatic! You had a halo on your head! And our commission..!" Nicole dragged her hands down her face while whimpering.
"Yeah that's my bad. I think whatever happened to me used the package to rebuild me." Belle admitted, though omitted the fact that Fairy had integrated with her via her implants.
Nicole folded her arms and huffed in exasperation. The job had gone wrong from the start with them being chased by Miguel. At this point, just being glad Belle made it was more than enough.
"Ahem- We'll just take off some of your debt. How does five-thousand sound?" Wise asked, trying to placate the Pinkette.
Nicole's eyes shone with opportunity. She was very much tempted to accept the deal. But then she realized how she brought Belle along with her and how they were separated. She's sure if Belle hadn't returned, there'd be a dramatically different talk happening right now. Her sense of responsibility as the leader of the Cunning Hares kept her from agreeing.
"...No. Thanks for offering but I'd feel weird if I took any reward after how badly that job went. If anything, it feels like I owe you.." Nicole replied with a downcast expression.
"There there.. Let's remember you do owe me, Nicole. What was that you promised earlier?" Belle hugged the taller girl, whispering the last bit.
"..!!" Nicole made a strange sound, her face flushing red as she remembered her earlier words to motivate Belle.
"..U-Uh yeah..! I got you. N-Now just rest up at home and get that arm checked on. We'll be stopping by tomorrow. Come on, guys!" Nicole shivered, urging her team out rather fast while her hiding her face.
"Bye, Belle." Anby waved as she was being pulled out.
"Be careful with the arm. It looks way more advanced than even mine. Well, I'll get out of your hair. I'm sure you guys have lots to talk about. See you!" Billy saluted with his fingers and took off after Nicole and Anby.
Seeing as they were now gone, the HDD (Hollow Deep Dive System) lit up. Every monitor flickered, though the main one blue screened briefly before an icon appeared. A blue, robotic eye covered the screen, even going as far as to blink.
"Greetings, Master. I am a type III general AI equipped with sequential integration. Development Designation: Fairy. Earlier, extreme measures were made during integration via an unknown intelligence. Oddly, the terms and service were automatically agreed to and I was put to work immediately." The artificial intelligence stated, the eye icon blinking in what could be confusion. As it seemed not even it truly understood what happened.
"So you're responsible for Belle's arm?" Wise asked, adopting his usual calm and collected expression.
"Yes. An emergency situation arose. In accordance to Master's injury, I was integrated into Master's neural implant and connected to the Hollow Deep Dive System via her connection. I also assisted with the process of creating a new, stronger limb for Master, using the available materials at hand. This includes the steel alloy of the containment housing me, the ambient background mana and the abundant Ether crystals." Fairy answered curtly.
Belle knew what Fairy was, of course. At least to the extent of what had been revealed during the Burnice banner. But suddenly becoming a magic/ether Cyborg was a bit beyond her predictions.
"According to the user agreement that was automatically agreed to, I am to assist you in your work and wait for the 'opportunity' to arrive." Fairy added, then the eye icon shook and added another condition. "I am also to directly help Master in combat situations in real time via link to her neural implant."
Wise frowned, "Wait, what user agreement? What 'opportunity' are you waiting for?"
"I am unauthorized to answer this question according to the user agreement. You will receive an answer at the appropriate time and place." Fairy answered.
"Hehe.. I like your funny words, robot lady~" Belle added, yawning at the end. Her eyelids felt heavy. Now that the adrenaline wore off, her exhaustion caught up with her and she was only half paying attention to everything around her.
"Advice: I believe Master is exhausted from the extreme stress put on her body. Biometric scans indicate Master is both mentally and physically nearing her limits. Rest is advised." Wise nearly grumbled but agreed with Fairy's assessment.
"She's right, Belle. You should get some sleep. You've more than earned it." Wise sighed, supporting Belle as she started to wobble in place.
Belle yawned and nodded, allowing her brother to help her upstairs. Eventually, she found herself laying in her ludicrously soft bed, where she fell into a deep sleep.
Images flashed in her mind. Of a massive Hollow. Of her and Wise standing in front of it. Words were exchanged, emotions were high, but what exactly was said remained a mystery. Whether this was a premonition or simply a dream was unknown. Then, there were more images. Dungeons, invasion, a war on Earth, Monarchs, a changed reality, another war, apostles, supreme beings, change. Through everything, Belle saw herself at the epicenter of it all.
*Gasp!*
"Oh man.. I really don't need ill omens right now. Ugh.. or a headache.." Belle groaned, dangling her legs off the edge of her bed and opening a bottle of pills from her nightstand to help allieviate her headache.
Thankfully, her sweet older brother left a glass of water, also on her nightstand. Making the process of swallowing the pill easy.
"Mm.." Belle gulped down the water and the pill and looked at her changed arm.
She wondered why her regeneration Adaptation hadn't healed it. Or why those adaptations felt as if they'd disappeared.
["Master, be aware that your current progress on the Mahoraga template has allowed you to use Adaptation in a limited manner. So long as Master possesses reserves of Ether and Mana in her body, Adaptation will work, but it will not be as fast as the Divine General's. At least not until 100% completion."]
Fairy explained as a small blue screen popped up, displaying the words she said.
["Also, please let me know if you prefer hearing notifications, seeing them or perhaps setting up a far faster and more efficient means of communication by means of direct communication with Master's neural implant"]
"Well.. for now, this is fine. So.. my arm's pretty neat now, huh?" Belle muttered, flexing her right arm's fingers. The liquid material underneath the shifting metal plates wasn't wet, nor was it leaking. It was incredibly flexible, allowing her to stretch, harden and move it any way she pleased. The metal moved according to her will and could even form into dense armor, blades and blunt weapons. While the Ether crystals both allowed her to fire them through her arm and unleash stronger energy blasts.
It was easier than she thought it'd be. It was like another muscle she was accustomed to using.
"Maaan.. That's crazy. I'll have to train with this from now on. But..! An even greater task awaits..!" Belle sprung out of bed and clenched her fist after tossing her clothes off.
"Yes..! To sit on Nicole's face! But what should I wear for the occasion..?" Belle rubbed her chin and looked through her dresser.
A lot of sleeved black shirts, stockings of various lengths, some skirts but her panties were rather plain. She had a nice figure, getting something to show it off would be fine-no, appropriate.
"To Janus, then! Wiiiiiiiiiiise...! I wanna go shopping!" Belle threw on her Siege outfit and declared, while Fairy quietly contemplated her strange words.
[AN: Sorry about my absence. Took a week off work for my birthday on the first. Needed to think and stuff]