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| Chapter 100 | Book 7 • Chapter 101 | Chapter 102 |
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Ignihyde Dorm
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You're... |
| *camera pans up, Idia fades in* |
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You can't start a raid without a tank. Now we're finally ready to go in. The opening act is over. Now it's time for the main event. Whee hee...! |
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What are you doing here? What's going on?! Have we awoken from our dream? |
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Sadly, nope. Still in a dream. Well, technically it's less a "dream" and more an arcane realm Malleus created, but you get the idea. That cool armor set you're wearing is all the proof we need of that. Unfortunately, you won't be able to bring that back to the real world. It's data, not material. |
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Wait. How are you aware that you're inside this "realm Malleus created," as you put it? Does that mean you remember what happened before we went to sleep? |
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I don't "remember" anything, per se. I'm just aware of the situation. |
| What's the difference? | What does that mean? |
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Uh, hold on. I'll get to that soon. But first, uh... I've barely interacted with either of you Diasomnia guys, right? I'm Idia Shroud, housewarden of Ignihyde. |
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Oh, of course! No wonder you looked familiar. You had a more...tabular form at orientation. This might be the first time I've ever had a proper look at you in person. |
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Oh, uh... Yeah. In the real world I attended remotely it seems... |
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I am Sebek Zigvolt of Diasomnia Dorm—Freshman, class D, seat 33! And this is Silver. Same dorm, sophomore year! He always has that blank look on his face. |
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Eep! Talk about loud... Thought my eardrums were gonna rupture there. How do Malleus and his dormmates endure this decibel level at close range every day without ear damage...? |
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Sorry, Idia. I'll tell him to be more careful about that. Though I doubt you'd have to worry about ruptured eardrums in reality, considering we're in a dream—ah! Everyone, stay vigilant! Idia, Grim, MC! Get behind me and Sebek! |
| *Silver and Sebek move in front of Idia |
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Huh? What's this about? HRK! Oww! Getting sandwiched between armor and hard muscles is painful! |
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Mrah? What's the matter, Silver? |
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If Idia's woken up from his dream, we should expect darkness to attack and try to pull him into an even deeper sleep. |
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Oh yeah! It does that. In fact... Malleus could show up in person goin' all, "So you've awoken, hm?" and stuff. |
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The darkness we could handle, but I question if we stand any chance against Malleus without Lilia by our side... No, I am prepared for this! Whether it be the darkness or Malleus himself...I SHALL PREVAIL! |
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Hrrrk... Pressure's...too much...can't breathe...! |
| *Idia shakes |
??? |
Not to rain on your parade, but... We won't actually have to worry about Malleus Draconia or that black goop for a while. I think he's devoting a heavy amount of resources to putting Lilia Vanrouge to sleep. |
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Ortho! We were scared you'd gotten stranded in the dreamways. Way to freak us out! Where are you, anyway? |
| *Ortho fades in on a monitor |
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Heh heh, sorry to worry you. If I show up in Idia's dream in my normal form, it triggers a critical error. So I'll be sticking to a monitor display. Also... Idia's turning pale from oxygen deprivation. Could you please give him some room to breathe? |
| *Silver and Sebek move away from Idia |
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Oh! Sorry! |
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*gasp!* Whew, I almost set out on a journey to the Underworld... Thanks for the save, Ortho... |
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All right, you two. What's all this about Malleus devoting resources to Lilia? |
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Oh, yeah... That. Ortho, give 'em the rundown. |
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Sure thing, Idia. First, let's cover how me and my brother are cognizant that this is a dream. On the day of Lilia's farewell party, Malleus used his magic to put the entirety of Sage's Island to sleep... ...Or rather, to freeze it, and all of space-time in the region as well. I extracted myself from my gear in data form and successfully made it off the island via a communications satellite. |
| A communications satellite?! |
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You can DO that?! |
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Heh heh heh. My unique nature came in handy. I'm not a mage, so I can't acquire a signature spell or anything like that... But using a satellite, I can move my mind and soul over radio waves to another gear. No one but me could pull that off, right? |
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I hate to say it, but human technology is formidable indeed. |
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No kidding. No amount of training could enable us to do what you've done here. This is definitely unique to you, Ortho. |
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Eheheh! I'd say keep singing my praises, but considering the circumstances we should probably stay on topic. So... |
| *flashback to Ortho receiving Cerberus Gear |
| I relayed myself from the satellite to Styx, where I acquired a new gear. |
| Styx... That's the organization Lilia told us about, yes? The Watchmen of the Island of Woe? |
| Yup. I got support from there, and now I'm on a mission to enter Sage's Island. To analyze Malleus's signature spell—Fae Maleficience. |
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| Chapter 100 | Book 7 • Chapter 101 | Chapter 102 |
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