Rebirth of the Supreme Sentinel

Chapter 13: Coordination

______________________________

[Status Window]

Name: Nichol Schade

Age: 18

Condition: Healthy

Level: 1 [Mana: 17]

Strength: 28.07

Dexterity: 25.28

Vitality: 26.66

Intelligence: ???

Innate Skill(s): [SENTINEL], [ONE ABOVE ALL]

______________________________

[ONE ABOVE ALL | Level 1]

*The Power of Your Mind is Limitless*

Each Skill Level-Up will develop your Cerebral Capacity by 10%.

One Above All is a maturing-type Innate Skill. Instead of adapting the Ranger’s Level, it independently advance to the next Level after a certain period of time.

Countdown before Level 2: 9 days, 23 hours, 16 minutes, 09 seconds

For your body to endure the 20% Cerebral Capacity, you must enhance your Stats to the following minimum:

25 Strength, 20 Dexterity, 30 Vitality

Failure may result to DEATH due to the disparity between your Physical State and Cerebral Capacity.

______________________________

With his Status and Skill Windows openly flashed in front of them and though they are still 3 and half points short to the required Vitality, Nichol and Sen are spending their morning already collecting Stat enhancing ideas they could use once the quest for One Above All Level 3 arrives.

-How about Genetic Vaccine? (Sentinel)

“Genetic Vaccine.” Nichol repeated and had it written to his notebook. Genetic Vaccine was an idea under the category of human modification that Nichol concocted when he was still in Nautilus. Unfortunately, it failed to progress beyond the early stage since the revelations that led to the Sentinel Apocalypse transpired not long after that.

-Though we have to be careful using that technology. If I remember it correctly, increasing Stats is just a superficial effect. What it truly does is unlock one’s genetic potential. (Sentinel)

In short, it forces a mutation identical to how Rangers are awakened with superhuman abilities except that it is purely manmade, completely independent from the control of the Akashic System.

If they will utilize the vaccine, it will demand great caution just as Sen mentioned. If it is revealed to mankind that a technology exist where they can infinitely produce individuals that can rival the Rangers, it will surely bring chaos.

The Rangers is a faction that were granted great power to protect the world from the threats of the Mazes but not everyone are delighted over that fact.

Envy and insecurities are typical parts of human nature and in this present era, there are no bigger targets of these than the Rangers.

-Then there’s also Nano Machines. (Sentinel)

Sen suggested next.

Nano Technology is the use of cell-level nanobots to internally manipulate and bring improvements to one’s body. However, Nichol shook his head and immediately dismissed the idea. “What the nanobots can accomplish, I can accomplish them on my own once I enter the 20% range of my cerebral capacity.”

Hence, the utilization of nanobots is unnecessary.

-Oh yeah, I nearly forgot about that. (Sentinel)

Nichol then rubbed his chin and dug his brain for more ideas. Unfortunately, nothing else came to mind and he eventually gave up.

The same is true with Sen.

“Let’s just look instead for another fresh Maze.”

It’s been four days since they cleared Clawnest Swamp and no new Maze had emerged since, at least one that’s nearby and on top of that, far from the public’s eyes. Hence, they’d only been going to low ranked Mazes for the sake of the Association’s monthly contribution quota and some cash from the Mana Stones.

-Incoming call from ORA. (Sentinel)

Sen notified as he was about to sift through their feeds.

Nichol answered it immediately and an hour later, he found himself back in ORA and inside Mr. Bowen’s office.

“Ranger Schade,” Mr. Bowen greeted, shaking his hand. “Thank you for making time despite the short notice.”

“It’s fine. I was just at home anyway.” Nichol replied back as they both sat. “Hopefully, it’s a good news.” Obviously, he implies the cooperation he offered. Though Nichol already knew their decision through Sen, in Mr. Bowen’s perspective, he is unaware of it yet.

“As a matter of fact, it is,” Mr. Bowen said and took out a folder from his desk’s drawer. “The President accepted your offer but first, he needed you to do a favour for the Association.”

“What it is?”

Again, Nichol already knew the details. It’s about Brute Kingdom, the Rank 5 Maze that emerged in Seattle a couple of weeks ago. The Maze is a special case due to the fact that despite its rank, the scouts sent identified that the field inside contains nothing else but Level 2 Orcs which are led by Orc Champions. However, what it lacks in its spawns’ strength, it compensates in size and sheer number of its spawns. Brute Kingdom is as big as half of Portland and it contains 10,000 Level 2 Orcs. It also has multiple Bosses. For every 200 Orcs, there’s an Orc Champion that leads them.

All in all, that’s a total of 10,000 Level 2 Orcs and 50 Level 3 Orc Champions, and the clearing condition of Brute Kingdom is to eliminate all of them.

Overwhelming but clearing it could have been simple especially that there’s a Ranger like the Ice Princess around. Unfortunately, the entry requirement of the Maze is exclusive only to Rangers of Level 2 and below though thankfully, there’s no entry limit.

Hence, with these conditions, the government and the Rangers can either let the Brute Kingdom assimilate or gather the best of the Level 2s to clear it. Both options has their own complications. For the former, the location of the Brute Kingdom is right at the heart of Seattle. Washington will not surrender a major city of theirs to the Mazes. As for the latter, the problem is the quality of the Rangers. Most Level 2 Rangers are either subpar that were unable to progress further or inexperienced that barely got out of their novice status. A factor to these is that majority of the Level 2 Ranger population are Induced-type. Those that’d become Rangers through the Heart-type Skillbooks and most, if not all of them, are leisure raiders.

There are very few Level 2s that both has the quality and the competency.

“The raid is next week. A week less before it completely assimilate.”

“But I’m only a Level 1,” Nichol said after listening the explanation and giving the contents of the folder a look.

“Who can beat a Level 3 Troll and a Level 4 Werewolf,” Mr. Bowen countered. “Capable of doing those, you can be a Level 0 for all we care.”

“Alright Mr. Bowen,” Nichol said after a brief pause. “You convinced me but, I too have a condition.”

“What is it?”

“I enlist alone. No teams.”

For the third time, Nichol is aware of ORA’s arrangements. There’s a group of 7 of ORA’s best Level 2 Rangers that Nichol will be part of once he agreed. However, based on his analysis, it is better for both parties to not mix. On Nichol’s part, it’s his personal reason and the fact that attending to teammates will limit his movement. As for them, they’re already training and working together for a long time, developing an outstanding teamwork. Introducing him will just disrupt that.

Partly expecting this outcome, Mr. Bowen asked, “Will you be okay?”

“You said it yourself, I can beat a Level 3 and a Level 4.” Not to mention another Level 3 surrounded by its lackeys. He’ll be fine. “I’ll be fine.”

Mr. Bowen sighed. “Well, if that is your decision then I can only wish you good luck.” With that, Nichol’s enlistment to Brute Kingdom had been settled. “Now, moving to the property you requested, we already prepared a suitable one.”

He gave Nichol another folder.

“It used to be a factory for game consoles that the game company shuts down a decade ago. Also, it has a loft suitable for residence. We will transfer the property to your name once the Brute Kingdom raid is over.”

“Wow, thank you,” Nichol smiled then took out a blueprint from his bag and offer it to Mr. Bowen. “For starters, you can have this.” Taking the blueprint, Nichol continued, “It’s the design for an automated battle drone.”