Drakador_Chaos
“Hmph…”

Mainframe lets out an ungrudging grumble, accepting her share of responsibility in the matter.

"There is no need to go all slippery slope on the matter. Indeed, trials like this do… “touch”, whatever “humanity”'s left within me, and reflecting upon the matter does help revision on how we should perform our plan. Things will change through events and emotions, willingly or not, but the effect of the sheer removal of hardware? Might do less than subjecting us through another trial."

"Like i said, Me, Yuki, and Galar. We three are largely regarded as disposables. Yuki and Galar, despite wielding otherworldly powers, are but native people with their souls partaking through… let’s say an “otherworldly journey”, gaining their power, albeit much more dampened to adjust to the rules of this universe. Even with them regarded as MIA in some operations, we have a whole lot of bodies, souls, and energy to repeat the process and produce something, arguably not the same, but similar in the ability and role that they shall serve in the plan."

"As for me, this is but a physical unit, a puppet to be more layman, for me to interact with the real world. Holographic “skin”, various sensors, hollowed cavities, all designed to be effective and efficient in normal face-to-face greetings with beings of similar size. As such, if you are curious about the effect of eliminating us, its just going to be some numbers on the bill, and tada, the plan continues."
"Though, regardless of how far “et omnia vanitas” one goes, vanities are limited to tangible things, while intangible things will be lost. Bonding with the new Yuki and Galar may be much different, and collaborative efforts would have to be reevaluated. Previous experiences and marks of our consequences on our body will be gone, and memories of our little adventure here will be clean from the database."

“Alas, if you do wish to kill me, sure, but do bear the consequence of this trial yourself.”

Mainframe does a subtle shrug, seemingly uncaring of what her provocation at Herald may lead. She shifts her pose once again, still casual as usual.

“By the way, now that you mentioned Calamity… and if you may fulfill my curiosity, what did you do with the shard possessed by the alternate Crimson Alliance?”

      12 days later

      Dumb
      “Fascinating.”, the voice simply remarked after a while of silence,
      There was a dry chuckle.
      “Indeed, why would I kill you? There is no point in disposing of something which is empty in the first place, is there? Nothing woul dbe gained, nothing would be lost, is that not so, Halcyon?”
      The man visibly flinched at the remark but maintained his defiant grimace.
      “Perhaps it would be more entertaining if I instead dragged someone more interesting into this place? Someone more important to your plans?”
      Unwillingly, images of Dasha ran through Mainframes artificial mind.
      “As for your calamity shard… Who knows, really? Many things lose significance over time, especially in a world like this, in a constant flow of change, between nations and people appearing out of nowhere at moments notice and fading into insignicance just as easily. Perhaps, I returned to its owner, perhaps it was the very one you destroyed?”
      There was another pause and Halcyon seemed to become increasingly uncomfortable.
      “What are we even doing here? Are we just here for your entertainment?!”
      "No, no not quite, you do serve a purpose but beyond that, you have made a deal and I intend to uphold my deals, given my subjects have the will to see their tasks through…
      As such, I guess the time for idle chitchat will soon be over."

      • Dumb replied to this.

          Drakador_Chaos
          “……”
          Mainframe remains silent after the response. This being, Herald, Warlord, whatever it proclaims itself to be, is much unknown to Mainframe. This was an entity which belonged to the command strata of a blood thirsty hivemind, which they “stole” a key piece of property from, and even then had been conniving throughout the records of the Alliance, with the only intersection in the Ancients Uprising which to be absolutely frank is only due to the Alliance’s action, the entity even waited out the destruction of their civilization just to recover the piece, an act which he could’ve done whenever he likes, wherever he likes. Then, this entity, after god-knows what happened during Mainframe’s slumber, suddenly proclaim himself to be the “Herald”, putting himself into the position of a guardian of such with his involvement in the Embassy, and no doubt been also doing some heralding behind the scene judging from the abysmal amount of recent entitorial discovery… Now, he is sacrificing an entire civilization for a trial….well, two trials perhaps, but still mysterious to what his motives would be.
          Obviously, Mainframe thinks to herself, that Herald isn’t keen on actively going out and stomping possibilities, but aside from that she can’t really make out what is the deal, and consequently, how to properly “deal” with him, now and in the near future.
          Mainframe remains zoned out, deep in her thoughts and estimates.

              10 days later

              Dumb
              The silence lasted as Mainframes thoughts circulated, the only real sound was Halcyons silent breath and heartbeat just faintly louder than the eerie background hum permeating the impenetrable darkness around them. Once more, Halcyon was the first one to make a move, stepping further into the darkness, out of view though his voice still heard.
              “Then what is what you want us to do?! What is this final trial, untouchable one?!”, strangely enough he was using the same term as the natives of the planet they just left.
              “This place is a transitional area, a space between spaces, a Limbo of unfinished deeds, if you will.”
              “What are you…?!”

              Halcyon began his next question but was cut short by the disembodied voice.
              "Both of you came seeking to fulfill their own wishes, each of you have their reasons, their history, niehter of you know each other particularly well.
              …but I do.
              So who am I to decide who is permitted to deink from the worlds desires? To claim the Chalice of Want?"

              The voice was monotone and cold, as if the question was solely rhethorical, an afterthought to himself.

              In the meanwhile the voice and the steps, now in the darkness had fallen silent.

              • Dumb replied to this.

                  Drakador_Chaos
                  “Sigh…”
                  Mainframe lets out a deep breath, of disappointment and melancholy, before she puts down the bag containing the body of the Guide, yet keeping the cocoon intact. She calmly shifts her center backward, nanites flow from her clothes forming a one-legged chair, and sits there cross-legged, as she looks at Halcyon.
                  “Well then, do you keep your word, Halcyon?”

                      11 days later

                      Dumb
                      …though as mainframe waited the only answer that came was a rustling clothes from the darkness beyond then the whistling of air as if something was moving very fast.

                      The next thing she knew was that she saw Halcyon descending from up above, blade in hand rotating like a buzzsaw, the movement was fluid, precise one foot tapping the ground lightly as he landed, twisting and then transforming the accumulated momentum into a strike aimed straight at her neck. Had she not been who she was she likely wouldn’t have had the time to react. There was a certain hint of madness in Halcyons eyes, the man she had gotten to know over the past couple weeks, though that madness was completely overwhelmed by a grim determination that left no second guesses as to who he thought should have the grail and have their wish fulfilled.

                      It seems Halcyon had made his decision long ago.

                      • Dumb replied to this.

                          Drakador_Chaos

                          “Very well…”

                          The chair instantly liquefies under her, and with a slight tilt of her head and the assistance of gravity, the blade passes just millimeters above her forehead, grazing through a few strands of hair. Mainframe, still in her cross-legged posture, albeit now standing instead of sitting, tilts her upper body to the lower right, removing the visual of what she plans with her right hand. With Hal missing his first strike and stranded in midair, the puddle of nanite sprung upwards like a beartrap in two separate layers, one aiming for Hal’s abdomen, while the interior closed in on his extended arm.

                              14 days later

                              Dumb
                              There was a moment where time seemed to slow as the jaws of Mainframes construct leaped towards Hals body then a flash of red light and Hal was flung away from the trap which closed empty mid-air and neither side had hit their first attack, though a tear in his clothes showing just how narrowly he escaped.
                              Flipping backwards mid-air and then landing on his feet, sliding backwards with a scraping sound, one of his hands released the grip on his blade to sway mid-air and release a volley of homing energy projectiles from an arc of red light following his motion, as his legs seemed to tense up ready to make the next charge, blade held point squarely at mainframes chest, making use of the distraction he thought the projectiles would provide him.

                              Hal had not spoken a word and his breathing seemed to be almost non existent, he had wasted no second to stop or reconsider after his first attack failed, whatever his goals were he seemed to have no intention of dropping them even if there was no easy way out.

                              • Dumb replied to this.

                                  Drakador_Chaos
                                  Watching Hal escape the trap, Mainframe resumes her posture, leaning back and bringing back out her previously concealed arm.
                                  Well…might as well test the plan before using it… Mainframe thinks to herself, raising the arm, and clench it tightly. Instantly, the two jaws of the sprung beartrap spin vigorously around Mainframe, with occasional jets of nanite precisely poking off the incoming projectiles.
                                  And then, after the last projectile was intercepted, everything ceased. Just Mainframe standing in a sitting posture greeting the incoming strike, and a large pool of silvery underneath.

                                      8 days later

                                      Dumb
                                      Halcyon sped forward as the tension released, jumping as if he was almost flying forward, halfway towards Mainframe he landed, several steps more followed each one with power behind them, as the silvery pool expanded.
                                      With a scraping sound his heels dug into the ground and Halcyon came to a stop just short of the pool. With a faint whisper, like ghosts from the past, a crimson glow ran down his arm beneath his clothes, his blade thrusting forward as if he’d try to impale her despite the distance, sure enough the energy ran through the blade, releasing in a devastating beam of light from its tip as he thrusted it forward and immediately took a fluid step back from the pool to maintain distance.
                                      Once more, without waiting for the outcome, the blade raised and then swung around his back, still glowing, a wind up for a diagonal downward slash that would follow the next moment.

                                      Halcyon seemed to be unrelenting and if nothing else, he seemed to be by no means underestimating her.

                                      • Dumb replied to this.

                                          Drakador_Chaos
                                          “Hm…”
                                          Mainframe continues to ponder and wave her arm outward. The silvery pool responded to her action and rippled outward, forming a series of waves to douse the beam, and with the residual crashed back onto the pool, sending silvery droplets in every direction. Even with the full length of the beam diminished in the waves of nanites, the waves continue to pile up in front of Mainframe, subsequently anticipating the follow-up slash. However, such usage seems to have its downsides, as the size of the pool has considerably shrunken, albeit with a lot more additional puddles now littered all over the place.

                                              9 days later

                                              Dumb
                                              The came around and charged with energy released another wave of force, no less sharp than than the blade itself and no less less energetic than the thrust before. His eyes darted around as the droplets spread in the vicinity, a moment later he jumped backwards, creating more distance between the two again.
                                              She could see his chest lifting and lowering as he stood his blade pointed at her, he was certainly agitated but nowhere near strained or even exhausted yet.

                                              For a moment there was a pause in his movement, as if he was thinking about his next angle of attack. He seemed to be wary of the pools, having seen what they could do.

                                              • Dumb replied to this.

                                                  Drakador_Chaos
                                                  Blocking the shockwave with yet another splashing wave, Mainframe, for the first time in this battle, “leaps” from her one-legged sitting posture, and stands to face Hal squarely.
                                                  “I do understand the despair and hatred caused by the tragedy burning bright within you, but do enlighten me, what is it that you want from the grail, that you would seek even after getting sealed away and through the price of butchering your own kind?”
                                                  Despite Mainframe’s seemingly attempt at negotiation, the pool of silver around her only repeats with more haste, covering more ground with newly splashed puddles. But in turn, the main pool itself is reduced to no more than a small puddle like all the others.

                                                      a month later

                                                      Dumb
                                                      Halcyon jumped backwards, away from the puddles, several bolts of energy screamed through the air summoned from his hands as he soared through the air.
                                                      “THEY ARE NOT MY PEOPLE!”, there was anger in his voice, perhaps denial, it was hard to tell, though it certainly aggravated him. His legs strained as he went into a lower position and leaped forwards, over mainframe. Several metres in the air at the apex of his jump he performed a circular slash downward, the blade releasing another wave of energy with a sharp humming sound this time directly above mainframe, then attempting to land on the other side of the puddles.
                                                      This time it was the voice of the Herald interjecting.
                                                      “Why yes, they were not and they never will be, not in this timeline. You certainly made sure of that.”, the tone was amused, malicious and laden with implications.

                                                      • Dumb replied to this.
                                                          13 days later

                                                          Drakador_Chaos
                                                          “hm…well this is exactly why I said this is of bad taste…”
                                                          Muttering a comment on the doings of Herald, or at least what she hypothesizes to be the details of the trial, Mainframe glides sideways perpendicular to the length of the slash with just a slight tilt of her balance. The slash vaporized a section of her hair, and sunk into the ground with a portion of the silver puddle, but Mainframe doesn’t seem to mind at all. After sliding a half-circle, she faced towards the position where Hal would be landing.
                                                          “Let’s perhaps compare some answers, just in case I’m once again drifting away by my own assumptions. Did Herald previously agree to return you to your own people after you sacrifice this… falsely replica from another timeline?”
                                                          Despite having all the opportunities, Mainframe did not act to intercept Hal again. She simply stood there, waiting for answers.

                                                              a month later

                                                              Dumb
                                                              “Return them?! They can stay dead for all I care! You think I’m an idiot, trying to make a desperate deal to get some fleeting idea or object or bring something or someone back?! Every wish comes with its price and the only price I will pay is myself!” The rage in his eyes was mixed with a grim determination, a his sword raised over his head once more, a ripple of energy permeating the atmosphere is the non-room as thin red lines started glowing on the blade.
                                                              “There is only one thing this man can grant me, and it is the power to do it MYSELF!”, The Sword swung down in an arc with so much force that his feet visibly lifted off the floor as it hit the ground, a wave of energy releasing, tall and wide enough to conceal everything in that direction.

                                                              “One wishes for power, one for a wish, others for favours, what does it matter in the end? I uphold my bargain so long as they do theirs. In end what matters is what they make of it and how they manage to struggle against fate and cope with their own decisions. One stays what they are, lest they change it themselves, I only provide the means to do such, though the deed is to be done by everyone for themselves…”, the ephemeral voice added this time in a far more matter of factly but also melancholic tone, almost as if it was talking to itself rather than anyone specific in the room, whatever it was, whether he didn’t hear him or chose not to, Hal did not answer this time.

                                                              • Dumb replied to this.
                                                                  5 days later

                                                                  Drakador_Chaos
                                                                  Nanites converge on Mainframe’s fingertip as she points at Halcyon, and releases in a single, narrow jet against the tide of energy, just barely enough to create a small safe zone for where she is standing. However, all the other puddles Mainframe had previously scattered are not spared from the attack, as most of which are dissipated under the attack, while the remaining are far from anywhere useful.
                                                                  Situation’s dire, yet Mainframe refuse to back down.
                                                                  “And yet, why are you still fighting?” The silver on her body drains away while converging on her hand, as she once again take aim. But now, Mainframe drops the casual act, fixating on Halcyon with a stern gaze. “You have successfully fooled us all and removed all life of this foreign yet similar civilization of yours, and yet after doing what you claim to seek, you continue to strive for the chalice?”

                                                                  The nanitic bag which contains the guide’s corpse seems to follow Mainframe’s command of gathering as well, as it relocated back to her side, but remains dormant as a bag instead of joining into the blob in Mainframe’s hand.

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