BXBX NOVEL Chapter 303: Just the beginning [2/2]
" Gimme. We don\'t have much time."
"{Perspective} - Minerva."
"{Accept}"
As if knowing what the other would do, Bella and I turned away from each other and summoned a {Fate}.
"{Portal}." x2
Creating a {Portal} required two things. Knowledge of the entrance and the exit. Since it was extremely difficult to use, we had to be careful. While we could theoretically create {Portals} anywhere, there were hidden dangers.
The {Portal} and the {Store} family of {Fates} generally controlled space. Subspace defied the concepts of physics and allowed two objects to be in the same place. Not included in the download for {Portal}, it was possible to kill yourself with it.
Should you exit into a solid wall, the moment the effects of {Portal} cease, your body will merge with the wall at an atomic level. That was why Lilly was grateful for {Code}.
It required brain power to ensure each use of {Portal}. But of course, its effects were far greater than the inventory-based {Fates}. Even though each of the Sirens and I could create a {Portal}, it was a matter of trust whether or not we would leave on the one we created for each other.
Much like when I fought Raymond, we had no sense of direction in subspace. There was no direction or guide. The only thing inside was the opening and the exit. So if you entered without creating an exit, the chance of being stuck in the dark space forever was high.
However, despite the risk. I moved my body into my portal. Bella\'s body, whose eyes I was currently using, also went without an inch of worry.
This was because we trusted each other with our lives.
Our bodies entered the portal and found our respective exits. When we emerged, I saw my body next to the portal Bella had created. Both {Portals} disappeared the next moment. I smiled and saw my own face grinning. It looked freaking weird. So I abruptly deactivated {Perspective}.
When my vision returned to my own body, I saw Bella smiling. She then strutted towards me as she spoke.
"Excellent. This is going to work. Honey, come here and give me some loving. I need {Perspective}."
Amused by her brazenness, I teased my Brazilian bombshell. "Ho? Aren\'t you being lewd? Don\'t you want blood instead?"
Bella then grabbed my tie and pulled me towards her before kissing me. After Bella savored my lips, she commented.
"Hmph. After your little wife plays with Aki, expect everyone to ask for some pampering. Oh Shujin-sama! Receiving {Fate} and {Kismet} like this is a right only given to a Siren. So stop being so stingy."
"Not complaining, take as much as you need," I said proudly.
After some light-hearted teasing, the Sirens and I hammered out the details of how they would fight. The Sirens then all prepared to deploy for the first time.
Since we had no idea how they would acclimate, we all agreed that only the girls would take a Dirge Siren each.
I on the other hand would stay behind as a backup. Using {Connect} and the Minerva network, I would rush to the aid of anyone who encountered a problem. Part of me wanted them all to be in the same zone, but considering their combat capabilities, I agreed that it was a bit wasteful.
As new Priority 5 mercenaries, the Dirge sirens they could take were quite limited. Luckily or unluckily, there were a lot of fallen zones to choose from, so I picked a suitable zone for each of them.
Once they were all settled in, I felt like a doting father dropping my kids off at preschool for the first time.
"Remember to use {Rewind} if you are in danger! [Autoload] and [Autosave] have been loaded, but you can never be too careful. Call me if you think you can\'t handle it, okay? I will punish anyone who fights in a dangerous manner. I.."
"Honey. I love you, but get a fucking grip. We will be fine."
"Husband, you are too cute. This won\'t take long."
"Good grief, is this what clingy dads are like? Dear, stop. You\'re embarrassing me."
"I kind of like it. Darling! Remember to give me some affection when I do a good job, okay?"
"Shujin, I will take my leave. Stay safe."
"My love, believe in me and await my victory."
"Possum, you worry too much, open a tinny while you wait."
"Wait! I still have something to say! Rememb..."
{Reaper NR20230701-FRM, Liv Ivaldi joining the vanguard!}
{Reaper NA20010329-FRM, Lilly Browning preparing to sortie.}
{Reaper AU20230702-FRM, Robyn Lithgow, ready to dance!}
{Reaper EU20230704-FRM, Josephine Benelli, LET\'S FUCKING GO!!!!}
{Reaper SA20230706-FRM, Isabella Taurus locked and loaded.}
{Reaper AF20230705-FRM, Jasmine Denel reporting for combat.}
{Reaper AS20230703-FRM, Miroku Aki awaiting deployment.}
Without waiting for me to finish, the girls announced their intent and were suddenly enveloped in light. Having done this to Phillip many times before, I could only smile wryly.
\'Is that what you call karma?\'
If I wanted my girls to soar, I had to be the wind beneath their wings, not the chain shackling them to the ground. I resolved myself to left them go. I bowed and said a final blessing to the women I loved most.
"My lovely kindred. The ones who own my heart. Good hunting. May your destiny end the darkness."
Each woman gave a dazzling smile of confidence as they disappeared in a burst of light. Their departure left me alone in the meeting room. If the room had been warm before, it now felt empty.
Such a feeling would await me if I failed to protect my women. Gritting my teeth, my desires to keep them safe and to see my girls grow began to clash.
"Get a fucking grip John. This is just the beginning."
I then used {Connect} and traveled to my cyberspace. This would probably be my new norm. Since I had a harem, my nerves would never be at peace while any of my girls were in combat.
It was an uncomfortable feeling, but during those times I just remembered the quote I liked. It summed up my feelings in that situation.
"He who sweats more in training, bleeds less in battle," I murmured once again.
It was much better for my girls to get hurt early than when their lives were on the line. I used {Connect} and summoned a screen to display each of the girls. Bella had already shown me how to use the Minerva network to use Sabel\'s readings.
Currently none of the screens were showing anything. But once my children began to populate the battlefield, their information would work to create a map of all seven zones.
This was similar to what Aira had done before using the Skydio drone. According to Bella, Sabel was leagues better than any human in her ability to conduct reconnaissance.
Of course, even though I knew how powerful the Sirens were, my nerves were tense. I was afraid of seeing them get hurt. I was afraid of them disappearing from my life. But I endured.
I gritted my teeth as I remembered why I had agreed to this in the first place; this was the best way to ensure their survival. That reason alone made all my complaints irrelevant.