Mythos Of Narcissus: Reborn As An NPC In A Horror VRMMO

The Landship was alive with activity, a hive of purpose and precision as the final preparations for the Theotech Expedition came together.

Bastioneers moved with efficiency, checking weapons and equipment while the Heavenly Maids coordinated in smaller clusters, sharpening their focus and strategies for their respective roles in the operation.

Since they still don't have their own personal Cognitive Engines and the likes, they needed to be briefed in person about our plan and also the detail of the Theotech Vault that we gathered from the Assault drones that we sent as a scout.

To refresh the detail of this preparation, the expedition teams had been meticulously divided between Kuzunoha's and Verina's leadership.

Kuzunoha's group, carrying Lupina, had a mission to locate the Theotech Vessel and execute the delicate procedure of transferring Lupina's essence if they found one. This team was fairly a stronger one, with Erika and Lydia joining the fray as a support in leadership and choice-making, they should be enough to herd their fellow bastioneers and Heavenly Maids to perform efficiently.

Verina's group, meanwhile, would act as the vanguard, clearing the path and neutralizing threats as they advanced. Viviane, of course, would act as a critical support for Verina's team with her reality-warping capabilities.

Together with Amelia, our best leading-figure when it comes to battle and strategy, aside from me—this group should have no problem fighting against multiple fronts and ensuring that Kuzunoha's group could smoothly travel between points of interest within the Theotech Vault.

But there was a new crown jewel of the preparation, after thinking that maybe we didn't have enough firepower to storm the vault.

The Warpiece Drone.

At the center of the hangar, the newly completed type of drone floated ominously, an engineering marvel that marked the zenith of the Landship's technological and arcane prowess that should increase the success chance of this expedition in paramount.

"I'm starting to think that this is a little bit of an overkill," Charis nervously commented as she witnessed the majestic figure of the Warpice Drone.

"There is no such thing as an overkill when we're preparing for anything Theotech-related," I replied.

Its sleek, angular form gave it the appearance of a floating battleship rather than a mere drone. Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire

Smooth black plating, crafted from Neural Alloy reinforced with many Calamity Alloys and harvested Theotechs of a great degree—the surface reflected the dim glow of the hangar lights with a faint shimmer of crimson and gold accents.

The Warpiece Drone was far more than just a weapon.

Just as the name suggests, it was something that was meant to be used for war.

Its frame bristled with weaponry—ten independent tactical turrets mounted across its body, each capable of deploying a variety of devastating firepower depending on the situation, while also providing various support from afar.

These turrets ranged from energy-based plasma cannons to kinetic railguns, all coordinated with terrifying efficiency by an array of over twenty Cognitive Engines housed within.

It was also imbued with a little bit of our experimentative Somashift technology, the one that allows parts of something to be hidden within an adjacent pocket dimension and can be shifted back and forth at will.

Thanks to this newly integrated technology, the Warpiece Drone was actually much bigger and more complex than it could be perceived in real time, within our current realm and spatial understanding.

To make it even more terrifying, these Somashift-tech also added an extra defensive measure that allowed the Warpice Drone to put all kinds of hostile force and projectile into a pocket dimension, and also the means to draw it and redirect it.

This feature allowed the Warpiece Drone to be hypothetically capable of withstanding a nuclear explosion, since the pocket dimension that it could draw and summon was conceptually limitless in terms of space.

Was it too powerful?

Of course, but that defensive feature fully relied on the Cognitive Engines' informational and decision-making processing speed.

And the speed had a limit to some extent.

So, theoretically, someone extremely fast might be able to bypass that Somashift defense through brute force alone.

Or maybe someone capable of manipulating space to a great degree like Kuzunoha and I, might be able to bypass the Somashift defense in another form.

Though, this was not all to it.

Integrated along its sleek chassis were arcane conduits designed specifically for Verina and Kuzunoha to channel their respective magic. These conduits allowed their power to harmonize with the Drone, amplifying its destructive capabilities in ways that could be used like a weapon of their own.

"It's a floating fortress," Kuzunoha quipped during the final construction stages. "We could probably storm the Vault with just this."

Despite her confidence, the reality was more sobering: the sheer complexity of its design, materials, and engineering meant that only one Warpiece Drone could be built in time for this expedition.

And since we were too focused on making it a war machine, we forgot to integrate any kind of meaningful everyday utility in its design.

Even so, it would serve as both a game-changer and a symbol of the bastion's ingenuity.

Standing before it now, watching its faintly glowing form hum with barely contained energy, I felt a sense of pride.

And though we managed to build it in less than two hours, our brain cells were quite fried in its development process, because of how excited we are to just add another piece of firepower to this bastion of ours.

"I think you should rest for a while, Father."

"I appreciate the thoughtfulness, Charis."

The bastioneers and Heavenly Maids had been fully outfitted with their equipment and positioned for their assignments.

Supplies were distributed, routes established, and contingency plans uploaded into the Cognitive Engine network.

The Expedition was set to commence in one hour, but I had allowed everyone a brief reprieve from the tension. The teams were stationed at the hangar, the launch platforms, or near the Landship's defensive network, sharing subdued conversations or sharpening their focus in quiet preparation.

For the moment, everything seemed to be under control.

Then, all of a sudden, a rapid sequence of alerts blinked across my interface, pulling my attention toward the Landship's northeastern quadrant. As I accessed the surveillance feed, my eyes narrowed.

A group of 110 armed individuals was approaching on foot and in smaller hovercrafts, cutting across the rocky terrain. Their armor shimmered faintly with a combination of high fantasy and advanced technology, adorned with glowing runes and metallic etchings reminiscent of Theotech designs.

The hovercrafts themselves—ten sleek, hovering vehicles—were outfitted with what appeared to be small-scale turrets and armored plating. These machines were agile and functional, blending aesthetic craftsmanship with combat-readiness.

The individuals bore a variety of weapons, ranging from intricately crafted swords and polearms embedded with Theotech cores to ranged weaponry that resembled a hybrid of crossbows and plasma rifles. Even at a glance, it was clear these were experienced and well-equipped combatants.

"Hmm, I think I know them to an extent," Kuzunoha commented. "That symbol on their transportation vessel is certainly something that I had seen before."

Kuzunoha then briefed of what she knew about this group.

The Vandasisimo.

They were a group of infamous Theotech Hunters of long legacy to their name—specialists who scoured ruins, vaults, and forgotten territories in search of ancient technologies, often with little regard for territorial boundaries or diplomacy.

Their leader—a tall, broad-shouldered figure clad in an imposing suit of black-and-silver armor—stood at the forefront. His helm bore a crown-like crest, glowing faintly with a bluish hue that matched the runic inscriptions along his chest plate. He carried a staff-like weapon adorned with a large crystal core, its faint pulsing suggesting it wasn't merely ceremonial.

"Activate the outer defenses," I ordered calmly through the neuromorphic interface. "But do not engage unless provoked."

The defensive systems responded with a series of low hums as turrets swiveled into position and drones moved into formation. The Warpiece Drone floated silently above the hangar, its presence was an intentional unspoken deterrent.

I made my way to the outer platform, flanked by a contingent of bastioneers for security. As I emerged, the leader of the Vandasisimo stepped forward, his posture tense yet measured.

Removing his helm, he revealed a stern but handsome face framed by short, dark hair. His sharp green eyes scanned the Landship and the assembled forces before settling on me.

"I am Lord Evaris Cade," he announced, his voice clear and formal, though there was an undercurrent of unease. "Leader of the Vandasisimo. May I know to whom I'm speaking?"

His gaze lingered briefly on the Landship's technological advancements—particularly the Warpiece Drone visible in the distance. The subtle glint of apprehension in his eyes didn't escape me.

I stepped forward, my golden hair catching the light as I met his gaze. "I am Narcissus, leader of this bastion and owner of this Landship."

Evaris straightened slightly, clearly attempting to mask his nerves. Whether it was because of my overwhelming divine charm, or the sight of the high techs in front of them, he was not in his utmost steadfast state. "We are here for the Theotech Vault," he stated, gesturing to his forces. "It appears our paths have crossed."

I smiled faintly, though my tone remained composed. "Your presence is unexpected, Lord Cade. What exactly are your intentions?"

He hesitated, weighing his words carefully. "Our goal is to secure the artifacts within the Vault. We are Theotech Hunters, and this is our profession. But I must ask—are you also here for the Vault?"Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Some of his men appeared to be awestruck for my charisma, with some of them fighting the urge to kneel without any proper order from his leader.

Evaris, however, remained standing and speaking clearly. His willpower was quite notable.

I guess that was needed when their sole jobs were hunting Theotechs.

I inclined my head. "We are. My Expedition Team departs in one hour."

Evaris' jaw tightened briefly, his gaze flicking toward the Warpiece Drone once more. "You've brought impressive firepower for this endeavor," he remarked cautiously.

"We are prepared for any eventuality," I replied with a gentle smile. "The Vault is not without its dangers, after all."

The tension between us was palpable, each word carefully measured from both parties. While I maintained an air of calm confidence, it was clear that Evaris and his forces were weighing the odds of conflict—or perhaps a tenuous cooperation.