Chapter 53: Chapter 10.6: The Swarm Approaches Part 2 He looked at the quest details again, the checkboxes and objectives a clear path forward. "Alright. Rest and recovery. I can do that. Memorize routes. I’ll need your help with that, Asha."
’Of course,’ Asha confirmed. ’I can provide you with a detailed, interactive holographic map of the sector. The routes will overlay in your HUD for step-by-step memorization.’
Consider it your personal, private GPS.
"Equipment familiarization," Jin continued, reading from the list. "Test everything twice. Got it."
He looked at Sera, a small, determined smile on his face. "I think... I can handle that."
Sera nodded, a flicker of respect in her eyes. "Good. We’ll meet back here in twelve hours. Be ready."
As Jin stood to leave, Sera’s voice stopped him. "And Jin?"
He turned back to her.
"Yes?"
"Try not to get into a battle you can’t win," she said, her voice soft but firm. "Your sword is a powerful tool, but it’s not a magic wand. It can’t solve every problem. Use it wisely."
Jin nodded, his hand resting on the hilt of the Kageyoshi. "I will."
He walked away, leaving Sera to her plans, his mind already working, his body already preparing for the challenges ahead. He had a plan. He had a team. He had a purpose. And for the first time in a long time, he felt truly, completely ready.
As she walked away, Jin turned his attention to the others. The main area of the lounge had been transformed into a makeshift workshop. Clara was hunched over a workbench, surrounded by the advanced components they’d salvaged from the Research Lab. Her engineering glasses glowed as she meticulously worked on the personal shield emitter.
Rosa was sitting nearby, her plasma daggers disassembled on a cloth. She was carefully integrating a new power cell and a small, unfamiliar module into one of the hilts, her movements precise and focused.
"Making upgrades?" Jin asked, approaching them.
"Trying to," Clara said without looking up, her brow furrowed in concentration. "The materials from Sector 7B are incredible. I think I can boost the shield emitter’s output by fifteen percent and extend its duration. The power routing is just... incredibly complex."
Rosa held up her modified dagger. "And I’m giving these girls a little kick. Found a schematic for an overload circuit. One-shot, but it should pack a punch big enough to stun even one of those big Alphas we fought."
Jin nodded, impressed. "You’re both amazing."
"Y-your more incredible Jin," Clara said shyly, glancing at him before quickly looking away.
Jin’s gaze fell upon the Kageyoshi, resting in its simple black scabbard. He felt a pang of inadequacy, knowing he was the only one without a piece of advanced tech to enhance his capabilities.
As if reading his mind, Clara held up a small, dark gray object. It was a whetstone, but unlike any he had ever seen. It was perfectly smooth, with a faint, almost imperceptible hum.
"I-I made this for you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "It’s a synthetic sharpening stone, made from the same composite material as the armor plating in the lab. It won’t wear down, and it should... well, it should help the Kageyoshi sharper."
Jin took the stone, its surface cool and strangely alive to the touch. He looked from the stone to Clara’s anxious face, a warmth spreading through his chest. "Thank you, Clara. This... this means a lot."
He took the Kageyoshi in his hands and, with a reverence that felt like a prayer, drew the blade. The steel seemed to drink in the light of the lounge, its edge a perfect, shimmering line. He began to draw the stone along the blade, moving with a slow, steady rhythm. A faint, melodic hum filled the air, a sound that seemed to resonate deep within his bones.
The others stopped what they were doing to watch, mesmerized by the simple, profound ritual. In that moment, Jin wasn’t just a boy with a sword; he was a swordsman, connecting with a legacy that spanned centuries, preparing for the battle to come.
---
[QUEST PROGRESS UPDATE]
□ Rest and Recovery (Sera: 4/6 hours) - In Progress
□ Memorize tactical routes with Asha - Ready to begin
□ Equipment familiarization and testing - Enhancements in progress
□ Final briefing and team coordination - Pending
Time Remaining: 12 hours, 05 minutes
Team Morale: High
Survival Probability: Recalculating...
The Command Wing’s northern corridor stretched before Jin, empty and echoing. He’d found this quiet corner by accident—a small alcove near a sealed blast door marked with faded warnings in multiple languages. Through the thick metal, he could hear them: the Crawlers. A distant scraping of claws and inhuman breathing that never quite stopped.
Jin sat cross-legged on the cold floor, back against the wall, eyes closed. The Kageyoshi rested across his lap, its dark scabbard a comforting weight against his thighs. In twelve hours, he’d be out there with them. A blade against nightmares.
"Asha," he said quietly, "show me my status."
His HUD flickered to life.
---
[PHOENIX CORE STATUS - SUBJECT: JIN TSURUGI]
Level: 8
EXP: 720 / 2000
---
CORE ATTRIBUTES:
STR (Strength): 20.00
Governs melee damage, lifting capacity, strike momentum
DEX (Dexterity): 8.00
Influences precision, hand-eye coordination, tool handling
AGI (Agility): 14.00
Determines movement speed, dodge timing, evasion
END (Endurance): 18.00
Affects stamina recovery, fatigue resistance, HP pool
RES (Resilience): 15.00
Resistance to toxins, environmental damage, status effects
PER (Perception): 17.00
Enhances awareness, threat detection, weak point targeting
HEALTH & CONDITION:
HP: 450 / 450 (Fully recovered)
Stamina: 450 / 450 (Well-rested)
Status Effects: None
Recovery Rate: Enhanced (Nanite-assisted healing)
ACTIVE SKILLS:
Kensei Kōryū (Passive Lv. 3)
- +15% melee accuracy with bladed weapons
- +15% parry/counter timing window
- -20% stamina consumption for sword techniques
Melee Weapon Mastery (Improvised) (Lv. 5 - 30%)
- Enhanced accuracy and combo potential
- +5% critical hit chance with melee weapons
Combat Art: Desperate Strike (Active)
- High-damage finisher when HP is critical
- 55-second cooldown
Instinct Surge (Active Lv. 1)
- +30% STR, AGI, PER for 10 seconds
- 5-minute cooldown
- Enhanced HUD predictive targeting
PASSIVE SKILLS:
Night Vision (Lv. 1)
- 75% improved low-light visibility
- Minor energy drain when active
Stealth (Lv. 1)
- Reduced noise and heat signature
- Enhanced evasion in shadows
Tsundere Radar (Lv. 1)
- Interprets contradictory social cues
Basic First Aid (Lv. 2 - 15%)
- Faster wound treatment
- Usable mid-combat
Athletics - Basic Strength Feats (Lv. 1 - 5%)
- Above-average lifting/breaking actions
Mutated Fauna Combat Basics (Lv. 1 - 15%)
- Pattern recognition vs. Crawlers
- Weak point identification
Predator Instinct (Lv. 1 - 15%)
- Detects concealed threats and ambush patterns
- Time dilation during critical moments
Accidental Harem Magnet (Max Lv. 5)
- +25% chance of "ecchi scenarios"
- +15% affinity gain during physical contact
- Harem Synergy Pulse: +5% all affinities (24hr cooldown)
EQUIPMENT:
𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺 Primary Weapon: Kageyoshi (Katana)
Armor: Phoenix Corps Tactical Uniform (Environmental protection), Reinforced Tactical Vest (Blunt, Slash and Shock Protection)
COMPANION AFFINITIES:
Seraphina Valerius: 52/100 (Leadership Synergy)
Clara Vance: 62/100 (Technical Support Bond)
Rosalie Thorne: 50/100 (Combat Coordination)
SPECIAL ABILITIES:
Phoenix Protocol (Genetic)
- Enhanced healing (2.3x normal rate)
- Resurrection Sub-routine ’(72hr cooldown)’
- Nanite-assisted recovery
Neural Link: Asha
- Tactical AI support and analysis
- Vault system access
- Real-time combat assistance
Tsurugi Bloodline
- Genetic combat instincts
- Enhanced weapon compatibility
- Corporate access privileges
---
Asha’s Evaluation: "Based on the current analysis, there is a likelihood of about 31.7% that you may end up as a meal for one of the Crawlers. However, there’s a silver lining to this news—the percentage has actually improved since yesterday, when the probability stood at a higher 67%! So, while the odds are still a bit daunting, it’s encouraging to see that you’ve made some progress."
Jin took a close look at the numbers, searching for some reassurance in their blunt reality. "My Kensei Kōryū is still low."
"Indeed, mastering a system that spans battlefield tactics, court kata, and guerrilla counters feels rather challenging when your previous experience involves merely flailing about with pipes. Yet, necessity tends to sharpen one’s skills rather rapidly."
He got up slowly and made his way to the middle of the cramped space. The hallway opened up just enough for some basic movements. Not perfect, but it would work. The air was cool and carried the faint scent of ozone from the facility’s aging ventilation system.
He drew the Kageyoshi. The steel sang as it left the scabbard, a sound that seemed to resonate deep within his bones. He began with ’Asahi no Kata’. The draw was a single, fluid motion, the blade seeming to pause the world for a fraction of a second before cutting through the air with calm precision. It felt right.
Then, he heard a sound coming from the blast door—way too close for comfort. A scraping sound, followed by a low guttural growl that vibrated through the floor. Jin felt a wave of panic. They were right there, just inches away, with only metal in between.