![Newbie Guide](https://i.imgur.com/Uy7hIlu.png")
Post by Marimba on Aug 28, 2023 7:36:18 GMT -5
"Trash! Is that your name? Get over here!"
"Permissions Required."
"ASSIST HIM, TRASH!!"
"Permissions Granted."
The drone floated through the air, soon reaching Gandigan.
"How may I assist you?"
"The system has initiated some sort of security lockdown; I need you to shut it down and open up anything that's been locked."
"Understood. Initializing System Takeover..."
A series of wires and metallic tendrils erupt from the drone. It soon gets to work, swiftly removing the faceplate from the console and sticking its robotic extremities inside. Some also reach out to the sockets in the room, connecting to the building's power supply. The lights in the room flicker on and off, with the monitor on the console also resetting, before displaying a dark screen with lines of code running through it faster than the normal eye can see. After about a minute, the blaring alarm is silenced, and the sounds of clicking and whirring machinery can be heard by Namekian ears as every closed door and lock in the tower is opened.
"System Control Established. Lockdown measures revoked."
"Estimated 15 minutes required for full-scale lockdown to be re-initiated."
"You did it? Good. Let's finish this then."
Back outside, Marimba and the Security Golem had been exchanging blows with one another, both focusing on the power of their strikes rather than sheer numbers. The golem was dented, and the mutant was bruised, yet neither party appeared to be able to overcome the defense of the other. The automaton unhinged its jaw, blasting Marimba with a torrent of intense green flame in an attempt to fry the Namekian's insides. But the Mazoku walked through the flame blast, slamming his fist against the Katchin robot at full force and knocking it to the ground once more.
"Is that all you've got!? I've already trained to endure extreme temperatures, bathing myself in magma and the absolute zero of space! Compared to that, your little fireball is hardly worse!"
Unlike other times it was knocked down, the Magitech machine did not stand back up. It remained on the ground, unmoving.
Marimba was confused as to why his opponent was no longer fighting back. Did his newest blow damage some internal components? He did not have to wait to receive an answer, as a telepathic message from Gandigan resounded throughout his mind.
"Your machine successfully reversed the lockdown. There's a fifteen-minute cool-down period before a full-scale lockdown can be initiated again, so that should buy me enough time to find the Candles."
Trash's interference with the security system was very likely the cause of the golem's inaction. Marimba was equal parts impressed and disappointed. Part of him had relished the challenge of defeating such a durable opponent. The Mazoku tried to turn around to enter the tower when suddenly he found himself unable to move! From inside him, a circular sphere of foreign magic grew, trapping him with his own energy. What's worse was that he could feel it being siphoned as well.
The mighty Marimba had been rendered completely helpless and looked up toward the sky to see the perpetrators. A dozen Kashvar in blue robes, all exactly alike in appearance, were now above him, concentrating on maintaining the sphere that held his own power hostage against him. One of them cackled and derided the cloaked Namekian from above.
"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"You should have thought twice before trifling with us, Invader, for we, the Zoi Simulacrum Corps, clones of the greatest Warlock in existence, will be the final thing you ever see!"
"After our COLLAPSING DRAW spell drains you and your collaborator dry, your immense energies will be put to use for the creation of the phantom Majin!
Who knows, once we finish using it to eradicate the Nova Corps, perhaps the council will send the newborn world slayer to your planet next! After all, your escapades here gave us all the justification we need!"
Who knows, once we finish using it to eradicate the Nova Corps, perhaps the council will send the newborn world slayer to your planet next! After all, your escapades here gave us all the justification we need!"
Marimba was livid at these threats, but without access to his power, he could do nothing. He tried to reach out to Gandigan telepathically, but the magical sphere countered it, sending a wave of pain slicing through his head. The Mazoku was getting desperate now. For the first time in his life, he tried to call out for help.
"Help me... Gandigan.. help... trash... anyone... help... help me...!"
But the desperate call of the mutant would be strained and muffled by the barrier. Gandigan, even with his Namekian hearing, failed to receive them, especially given the chaotic situation at the bottom of the tower, and his mind focused on finding the candles.
To make matters worse, the golem had reactivated and stood up once more. Its flaming eyes intensified into an inferno as its demonic energy flared. Again, It drew out its enchanted machine gun, seeming to see its chance to end the Mazoku. The machine gun whirled around violently and began to fire its devastating stream of bullets, not aimed at the Namekian, but at the warlocks in the sky. The wizards were caught entirely off guard and were shredded one after another by the immense gunfire.
The Automaton, The Security System, and Trash were all connected, and the Tuffle drone had heard its master's request by extension, much to everyone's confusion.
"THE GUARDIAN'S GONE HAYWIRE! STOP IT! STOP IT NOW!"
Six evil wizards remained, with three of them forced to cease maintaining the Collapsing Draw spell to deal with the rouge automaton. One conjured a barrier around the warlocks who were still trying to restrain and steal energy from Marimba. A second shouted, "WICKED WAVE!" as they fired a double-handed energy ray to contest the stream of bullets headed their way and distracted the golem. A third casted, "Demon Eye!," sending magical slime at the golem, sticking to and growing over it, simultaneously immobilizing the machine and suppressing its power. With its energy diminished, the wicked wave prevails over the gunfire, destroying its weapon. Immediately afterward, the slime completely consumes the golem, and it shuts down.
But the three evil wizards still focused on Marimba were nowhere near strong enough to hold the Mazoku's power against him any longer. In the chaos, the raging Namekian managed to shatter the Collapsing Draw spell through sheer strength and willpower. With a monstrous battle cry, he unleashed his pent-up wrath.
"DARKNESS STAR STORM!"
Marimba's power flares as dozens of radiant star-shaped Ki blasts manifest around the Mazoku, firing at each and every one of the Kashvar, blasting them continuously with such rapid intensity that even their barriers could not save them. In one continuous attack, what remained of the Zoi Simulacrum Corps was utterly obliterated. Now filled with bloodlust, Mazoku briefly considered flattening the city and its inhabitants but ultimately relented and returned to the tower. He entered through the main gate and made his way to the basement, where he found Gandigan, now holding the box of guiding candles.
"Have I got a tale to tell you! But first, we get the hell out of dodge!"
"Those Kashvar have done it now. They've taken every step to make it on my death list!"
With the duo reunited, they suppress their powers once more. The remainder of their journey is uneventful, with the Mazoku using their tunnel to travel back to the forest, then to their ships, and eventually back to Namek. On the way, the story of Marimba's battle against the Simulacrum Corps and all the things they carelessly spouted was told to Gandigan in full.
WC: 1,175. TWC: 4,452. Thread Exit.
