Balalaika's Alt'Ver points her palm at me. "He is an «Usurper»!". She exclaims, her arm extended, emitting a green laser of Emts.
The blue rhombus in my chest is reached, my Bodsh and Tasota are meaningless, the beam of Mentality and Spirituality extract the ball of golden flakes, there is no pain during the process, just a dim discomfort, similar to a heartburn from overeating.
Yet, i'm pushed back with the golden flash of a shockwave, time slowing down, while the ethereal silhouette of my Alt'Ver is rapidly formed and restored.
He seems taller and stronger than before, like the Mirror Me did, and identically to that coward, the Alt'Ver does an attack right after his body is fully materialized.
"«Rail Shot»".
I'm still in the air, unable to see the incoming immaterial projectile, trying to dodge by reading the Alt'Ver's motion.
The hit's effect is immediate, an hypersonic impact crashing on my left eyebrow, both energy protections defending my body proving to be utterly worthless.
Temple's skin is burned and splattered back, piercing the upper left side of my socket and eyeball, tissue and bone's skull becoming biological shrapnel, tearing the outer left side of my head, separating my ear, leaving it hanging.
The bursting strike accelerates my fall, the shot has wounded me, but it's not as bad as what i underwent on Fettiyio. I lost a third of my head there, an eye partially smashed is barely a mere scratch.
My natural lube anesthetizes the affected area, stopping the bleeding, reconstructing the shape as i roll back.
Three Farioth take Balalaika's Alt'Ver into custody, the rest fire their Plasma Rifles against my Alt'Ver.
He jumps high, acquiring a fetal position as his body is coated in Spirituality, teleporting himself, showing his skin is actually white, and his ears are pointy.
{A Niffler…}.
Wounded, and with no way to retaliate against the mastermind moving the strings of this machination, my focus is turned to the perpetrator who facilitate the Alt'Ver's escape, reaching Balalaika's Alt'Ver with a Dash, my right hand transforming into a paw with golden claws, clasping her neck, piercing her throat. "What in Fettiyio is wrong with you?!".
Her terror is evident, the sharp edges sinking deep into her flesh, blood sprouting, guided to swamp her damaged windpipe, panicking with her futile struggle, the sadistic assistance of two Farioth coming in clutch.
They stab combat knives in the Alt'Ver's forearms, twisting the blades to injure her further.
Suitable, as i don't want answers or explanations from her, using the occasion to vent some of the repressed frustration that has been piling up since the moment i was dragged to Loutharn.
{No more trips to other locations until i properly understand the interactions of the Stats, and how to counter them}.
Ready to crush the neck of Balalaika's Alt'Ver, a hand touches my left shoulder.
With half of my hearing impaired, and one eye healing, i couldn't notice Collette's Alt'Ver until she is besides me.
"I understand your frustration".
"You do?". I say sarcastically. "Weird. If that were the case, you wouldn't dare to persuade me, and not hurt this idiot".
"She is an apprentice, her formation…".
"I don't care. «I am learning too». Which means i must follow the advice and teachings of others, to acquire decent comprehension of the environment i was brought to. Not acting on my own as if i had all the answers".
"Mistakes are…"
"Irrelevant!. I don't know what an Usurper is, but more than twenty people are in the corridor, and she is the only one who made such conclusion about me. Is she retarded?. You are as stupid and mediocre as her?. The Custodian you should protect is useless too?".
"No".
"Then have your airhead apprentice closely leashed". I throw Balalaika's Alt'Ver against Collet's Alt'Ver, the knives ripping the forearms of the former, as her neck bleeds profusely.
"And i mean it". At my remark, the Farioth pull a piece of polymer from their Combat Exoskeletons, molding the strap into a restraint adaptable in size, probably their primary function is to serve as suspenders, belts, handcuffs, or whatever they may need.
{That is Handy, Though their humor sense is a bit too off}.
The Saintess casts a healing light, limiting the brilliance to Balalaika's Alt'Ver. "I believe it's for the better if we postpone the talk until tomorrow?".
The Matriarch Farioth answers. "There is no need to waste saliva with you, Maiden. We will depart from Trok'Gayian and Naiyag'Kort as you want. Cooperating to protect our shared worlds, if you stop encroaching our borders and delving uninvited into our domain. Deliver the massage to the House's League. During the armistice, The Cardumen will remain on hold, don't provoke us. This period of probation will be observed by The Zindrack Conglomerate. If you show your respect, we might send a Diplomatic Delegation to establish an Alliance".
The Matriarch Farioth turns around, throwing a strap at me. "We'll see you again, Vurckair".
The Farioth Troops have a wide grin, emphasizing their fangs before gifting me their own straps too.
Unsure on how to proceed, i bring the items close to my chest, the Adarga assimilates and integrates the material, which only enlarges the big smiles plastered on the departing Farioth Troops.
The rest of our stay at Naiyag'Kort goes as intended, returning to guard the Umbral in the old library, eliminating creatures from the anomalies, practicing our skills without having the interference of the Alt'Vers.
The Umbral's vortex activates, and we end this discouraging time by crossing back to Nrahtuol.
Saavedra is waiting for us on the other side, analyzing our performance, distributing Score, and updating our schedules, showing the personnel in Takctoor keeps track on our progress, regardless of our origins, status and personal development.
However. She doesn't mention anything about the mistake that sent the Box Of Boxes to an environment that was Leveling Up.
With the rest of the day free, i head to Takctoor's Library.
{Although i will receive Lectures tomorrow, i need to know why the Bodsh and Tasota didn't protect me. The latter is concerning, because the Hot Aunt said «The Emeneld is the ultimate defense, if we omit The Added Shielding Of The Adarga»…}.