Chapter 283 B4 Chapter 39 - Organize

“It’s incredible how much can be achieved simply by forming a string of ethereal branches,” Civar said in his lab of clear walls and cluttered tables. He placed his cup of coffee on the one part of the table that still had space and rolled his chair to another slightly less cluttered table. “We’re positive that creating a healing string, at least a string to close wounds, is inevitable.”

“Skill wisps are just strings of runes, are they not?” Vivi said. “In theory, almost anything should be possible.”

“Should, in theory, are the key words,” Civar said. “Skill wisps are like magic. Their complexity can’t yet be replicated. Capturing their branches is still a work in progress. None of us have the ability to see branches like you do.”

“Well, I’m back from the dead,” Vivi said. “I’m quite busy, though.”

Civar smiled at her. “I couldn’t be happier to see you back. Not only to boost our research, but because you’re an honest person, Vivi. It’s rare for powerful hunters to be kind. You’re not just that; you’re the closest thing to an altruist any hunter has ever been.”

Vivi smiled awkwardly. “I’m not an altruist. I just selfishly help my friends, because I like it.”

“Yeah, you’re just selfishly the most selfless person in the city right now,” Civar said with a laugh. “Thanks for surviving, Vivi.”

Vivi rubbed her cheek, then said, “Sorry, I might have to make you regret thanking me. I have a request.”

“I’ll work all night if it’s a request from you,” Civar said.

“I need you to develop a new enhancement string,” Vivi said with a serious face. “Something to immobilize targets. The slingshot launcher is powerful if it lands a shot, but hitting an agile target is still difficult. We need some sort of method to lock targets in place.”

Civar rested his chin on his hand, thinking. “We’ve considered that, of course. A lock-down string is an idea we want to invent.”

“I need you to invest more resources into that,” Vivi said. “A working prototype needs to be built in a week.”

He met her eyes, watched her expression for a bit, then leaned back. “A week, huh? I’m afraid I can’t promise anything.”

“It doesn’t need to be omnipotent,” Vivi said. “Maybe just a platform that, if stepped on, hinders movement inside. Maybe not even that; if the platform replicates a nothing cuff’s effects on a larger scale, that will be perfect.”

“So like a full vacuum room?” Civar said. “Could be possible. And I presume this invention would need to be undetectable and operable as a trap?”

“The final version needs to be potent enough to trap fifth elevation hunters,” Vivi said.

Civar blinked at her. “A fifth elevation hunter?”

“I’m aware that their cores are probably too protected to manipulate,” Vivi said. “But if you can invent a string to distract a fifth elevation hunter for even half a second, it will give me time to cut them down.”

“You’re not planning on fighting someone like that, are you?”

“I am,” Vivi said. “And I need to make up for the difference in skill with equipment. I have the best weapons and the best armor. But I don’t have the best tricks yet. If I can’t catch someone off guard, my lack of skill will make the difference. They’ll win.”

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Civar’s smile had turned contemplative. “At most, I might be able to replicate nothing cuffs,” he said. “But for that, I’ll need you to draw a wisp for us to copy.”

“I can do it right now if it’s not too large,” Vivi said. “I don’t have much time.”

And she was tired. She really wanted to get everything arranged before falling asleep. Illustrating a skill wisp would probably place her to the brink of exhaustion, if she’d even manage to get it done without snoozing off on the table.

But if Civar needed an illustration of a skill wisp to have a chance at building a trap, Vivi would need to get it done. “Can you tell Coshi I need to quickly meet her after this?” Vivi asked. “And bring me the skill wisp.”

“Will be done,” Civar said. He called for his co-workers, who went to inform the Luminary. A few minutes later, they brought Vivi a jar, in which was a crystal-like skill container. The jar read, Arcana Snare. Lucius seemed immediately interested as the skill entered a slot in her core. Vivi rejected explanations, however, and just got to drawing.

Two things helped her avoid falling asleep. The first was an optimization in the way she depicted the skill wisps. Instead of drawing the complex structure proportionally and with all the branches of complex runes included, Vivi simply wrote down the order of runes and sub-elements within the skill wisp. Enhancement strings only needed the order to be correct, nothing more complex than that, so this shouldn’t have been an issue.

Second, and she wasn’t proud to admit, but she abused ether. Even a miniscule flow of ether could energize her like a cup of strong tea, making her just awake enough to be accurately aware of the order of runes she was writing. She really had to be accurate. The smallest mistake could cost the scientists headaches.

Mid-way through, she realized she was writing in Ythar Standard, which the demons here probably wouldn’t understand. But they had translators, and maybe translation skills. Vivi probably didn’t need to worry.

Some hours later, with the skill wisp finally fully deciphered onto paper, Vivi stood, feeling like a walking undead. Just a few more conversations, and she could head to sleep.

She gave her work to Civar and said, “Good luck, please do your best,” and left. Civar must have noticed how tired she was and didn’t ask her anything else.

For once, Vivi decided to make use of the carriages and palanquins that the city made sure were always available for her. A woman in a black dress, clearly one of the servants from the palace, was waiting for her in the laboratory’s entry hall. Vivi asked the woman to bring her wherever Coshi was right now.

That turned out to be the Nemonns’ estate. Vivi was led into the dining hall, with bright surgeways underneath and grand paintings lining the walls. Cael, Alda, Aolinn and Helegar were all there, facing Coshi, with Senith and her father at the end of the table. Vivi hadn’t talked to Mr. Nemonn much, but he appeared like a respectable and humble nobleman.

Upon entering, Vivi bowed and said, “Sorry, I’m too tired for formalities. I’ll have to ask all of you for favors.”

“Perfect timing,” Coshi said. “We have all finished fully introducing ourselves. Take a seat, Vivi.”

Vivi placed her hands on the backrest on the chair on the other end of the table and said, “I’m going back to the surface to rescue Patryn and everyone else, and to meet Ythar.”

Everyone listened silently, but with serious expressions. Nobody looked appalled about her plans.

“I’m going to face fifth elevation hunters,” Vivi said. “I’m not sure how many, how strong, and I’m not sure who’s included. Cael, Alda, I’ll request you two to gather information in Paradise, and to learn as much about the surface as you can.”

“We’ve already gathered some tidbits,” Cael said. “We’re decently famous in Paradise now, after our disappearance. I should have the full situation given a few days.”

“You’ll have a week,” Vivi said. “If something catastrophic is happening before that, let me know.”

She turned to Coshi for the arguably more important task. “And this might be a tall ask… But if Anthony and members of the ballistics team are willing, I need help on the surface.”

Coshi thought about it. “I admit, we are low on manpower,” she said.

Vivi bit her lip.

“But,” Coshi continued. “To rescue friends, there won’t be many who refuse the opportunity. I’ll gather as many men as we can without sacrificing the city itself.”

Vivi gave an honest bow.

“For the rest of you,” Vivi continued, “who can’t access Paradise and can’t fight, I won’t ask for anything. Thank you for everything you’ve done. Please stay safe.”

Aolinn nervously looked away, and Senith smiled, saying, “You too. Please return safely.”

Vivi nodded. “I’m hoping to be ready in a week. That’s how long I think I’ll need to complete my project in the smithy.”

Everyone looked curious. Coshi was the first to ask, “That project is…?”

“Inside-carved armor,” Vivi said. “If I’m right, and if I can fit three runes in, I think I can make myself just about invincible.”