NOVEL NEXT Chapter 85 (Attributes, Implants, Items)
Once Angar pledged himself to the Smallest Spark Knightly Chapter, Simo and Veerta joined the crew alongside him, and Angar made good on his word, handing over all his old possessions and credits, besides those gained from Vexn.
But as Simo was being completely reoutfitted by Hidetada, those possessions were handed back.
Simo and Veerta's daughter, Mari, and her family were retrieved from Ur-sag, another city on Zanaya, where she and her husband had been recruited by Saint Hidetada as materials specialists.
Hidetada's call extended beyond them, drawing a host of new hires into the fold, now bunked in the cavernous cargo bay of the Zephuros. Their destination was Sulfuron 9 as well.
Many of these recruits hailed from Thule Megastation, a sprawling orbital fortress in the Sol System owned by Hidetada.
There, amid the clangor of Trivedent Forgeworks' corporate headquarters and primary foundry, Angar's own armor and weapon had been forged. From Thule's shops, his implant and most of his mods were purchased.
Before departing, Hidetada secured a sacred rite for each soul bound for Sulfuron 9, a ritual anointing to shield them from the planet's corrosive atmosphere, one Angar would eventually get too.
Flesh of Hiranyaksha: Imbues the body with the Daitya's golden resilience, hardening flesh to endure mountain-shattering blows, as though forged in the cosmic ocean's depths.
Simo had seventeen rites performed on him. Angar had his armor and weapon sanctified with Holy oils and sacred runes, something he heard cost a fortune, then received the two blessings new Crusaders gained upon joining a chapter.
Blessing of Siddhartha: A sacred ritual instilling the spirit with the Awakened One's unshakable resolve, forging a will as firm as the Bodhi tree's roots, steadfast against doubt, desire, fear, and the darkest of infernal whispers.
Bravery of Gobind: A warrior's rite that ignites the soul with the Guru's fearless tenacity, unyielding even through the loss of four sons, forging bravery to defy all odds, ever fighting onwards.
The first rite had bolstered Angar's Resilience by 6 points, a very tangible boon, among many other benefits, though those weren't reflected in his Annals.
It only took losing against the dark whispers once, the reason why Resilience and improving it was so important.
The second was seen as critical for all Crusaders, though it left the Annals' numbers unchanged. He didn't see it as necessary for him. He had never once flinched from battle. And never would.
After thinking that thought, his mind conjured a picture of the Harmongulan, and he wondered if he'd face that beast again, now knowing the bite of its venom.
Nevertheless, he still saw the rite as unneeded and unnecessary for him, and tried switching it with a more beneficial one, but Hidetada was sticking to their agreement.
Angar had two more sacred rites coming, the ones most chapters granted freely at Tier 2. He had to prove his worth first, before they'd be bought for him.
Once he had those two, then he'd be caught up to his current Tier.
Hidetada was responsible for the confiscation of the two materials the Phasorax dropped. While on the Thule station, he had them delivered to one of his research-focused companies after thoroughly questioning Angar on every detail of his conversation with the Abyssal Tyrant.
After that, they'd headed to the Pinaculum Ordinis where Simo's son, Jon, studied. With a few months left before graduation, Hidetada pulled strings to let the boy take his finals early, securing his path to Sulfuron 9 alongside them.
En route to Angar's world, the Zephuros halted for a mission, and Angar's role in it was hours away.
As he waited, he opened his Annals, his eyes scanning for what had changed.
ANNALS OF SIR ANGAR MECIA (SAINT KRAKUS, ERIM, ZANAYA, EENGURRA)
Age: 16
Social: Holy Knight, Private, Lay Rank - Minor Gentry (surviving heir and heir apparent of devastated lands controlled the former city-state of Mecia located on the planet Sulfuron 9 with few inhabitants or subjects, and no income or apparent imperial value).
Chapter: The Smallest Spark
Tier: 2
Rank: Knight-Adept
Level: 34
XP: 0%
Glory Points: 8
Voluvicas Credits: 9
ATTRIBUTES, STATS, AND ADROITNESS
(Each Attribute Point increases all Stats governed by that Attribute by 1. Applying 4 Stat Points to the same Stat will increase the governing Attribute by 1. Numbers in (parentheses) include increases from items.)
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BODY (Physical Attributes): With 9 AP applied – 31 (40)
Physique (Size/Strength): With 9 SP applied – 43 (52)
Endurance (Stamina/Health): 35 (44)
Toughness (Physical Durability/Resistance): 43 (121)
MIND (Non-Physical Attributes): 24
Competence (Skills/Insight): 26
Cognizance (Awareness/Perception): 33 (38)
Resilience (Non-Physical Durability/Resistance): With 39 SP applied – 74 (82)
SPIRIT (Metaphysical Attributes): 17 (19)
Power Level (PL) (Ability Damage and Effectiveness): With 39 SP applied – 57 (59)
Energy (Resource for Powers shown as Energy Points equal to 3 + (Energy Stat x 3)): 17 (19)
Charges (Increases the number of times certain Abilities can be used per combat): 17 (19)
ADROITNESS (Finesse/Reaction/Speed): 5 (6)
RESOURCES
Current/Maximum Energy Points: 60/60
Current/Maximum Charges: 19/19
IMPLANTS
Head: Infernus Oculus, Neurvux, Somnoregulator.
Right Leg: Crura Agiliora w/ customizations.
Mods:
Digiti Terebrantes – Three twelve-centimeter claws extend as toes, serving as weapons and aiding balance. Imbuing 1 Energy Point activates them as high-penetration drills capable of boring through thick surfaces.
Hydraulica Aucta – Enhanced hydraulic jacks and system amplifying the implant's base functions such as improved agility, jump height, fall distance tolerance, and overall mobility.
Ictus Absorbentia – Shock-absorbing components reducing fall damage and stabilizing recoil from jumps or rapid maneuvers.
Pes Gyrostatic Tripodis – Foot with three points of contact distributing weight and improving balance, gyroscopes counterbalancing motion, and articulated struts adjusting to terrain.
ITEMS
Primary Weapon: Trivident Maul, V8.2M5/2, Graviton x6 Power Hammer, Tier 2
Mods:
Extended Reach – Lengthens weapon range.
Personalized Grip – Custom handle boosts accuracy and control.
Armor: Crusader Armor, Armiger, Tier 2, 4/4 mods, w/customizations (+1 Adroitness, +9 Body, +2 Spirit, +69 Toughness, +5 Cognizance, +3 Resilience).
Mods:
Omnivis Interface – Provides Ammo Count, Biomechanical Feedback, Customizable Widgets, Dynamic Crosshair, Enhanced Vision Modes, Environmental HUD, Gravity Indicator, Hacking Overlay, Loot Notifications, Map/Radar, Overheat Gauge, Ping System, Proximity Alerts, Range Finder, Reload Prompt, Stealth Meter, Suit Environment Auto-tuning, Target Lock Indicator, Team Status, Timers (Clock, Cooldown, Status Effects), Trackers (Injury, Resource, Motion, Objective/Task), Universal Translator.
Phasorax Core – Phase through 3 meters of solid matter once daily (currently 2 meters once daily. Will increase to stated values upon ascension to Tier 3).
Scutum Radians – Consumes one Charge every 12 hours providing additional shielding against radiant attacks (non-physical-Ability, energetic, and thermic).
Hacking Module S2 Prime – Skill level 2 Prime-rated hacking semi-AI, with full kit.
Back: Vitalulum, Tier 3 – Auto-treats 9 worst injuries post-combat based on First Aid Skill, using items from a superior medkit, accruing 3 minutes of credit towards First Aid training per use; at 50 hours, substitutes a Skill Point for higher Tier First Aid System training (currently 6 injuries, 2 minutes, and basic medkit. Will increase to stated values upon ascension to Tier 3 and equivalent Skill level for kit).
Ring 1: Reliquary of Wrath, Tier 2 – Increases duration of channeled Abilities by 20%.
Ring 2: Electrum Tutela – Increases resistance to electrical damage.
Trinket/Accessory: Negatus Susurri – Decreases vulnerability to dark whispers and corruption, increasing Resilience by 5 points.
Saint Hidetada suspected this mission to be a trap, but one worth checking out, nonetheless.
All crew members save Heith the helmsman, Deli the operator, Saint Thryna, Harc, Hidetada himself, and Veerta were already planet side.
Hidetada's crew doubled as both a Knightly Chapter and a registered Free Agency, well accustomed to combat missions.
Now, with Angar's addition, they were poised for deadlier ventures like this.
For missions, the Free Agency now bore the callsign 'Peregrines.' Hidetada had wanted 'Goshawk' for Angar, but as the lone Knight, he just kept his own name.
Hidetada had intel of a Heretic cult lurking on Albion, a world not quite in the fringe, teetering on the edge of both the Orion Arm and imperial space.
The Peregrines had scoured the planet for days, pinpointing the cult's lair, and they believed they found it.
During the Second Galactic War, ending in AE 1453, a space station had crashed far from Albion's inhabited zones. Though the world's population had grown since, none settled anywhere near the wreck, which used to be easily spotted, but was now hidden and sensor-shrouded.
The Peregrines suspected it housed Void Reapers, pirate scourges bribing officials to shield a nested Heretic cult.
Angar exalted in finally being in Crusader Armor, to finally being in a chapter. His first true mission loomed. Trap or not, his blood sang with zeal.
He scanned the shuttle's hold, sensing a presence, expecting Spirit, but found only emptiness and silence.
Kneeling, he prayed in his odd, fervent way, heart ablaze with fervor and anticipation, until Deli's voice cut through. "The Peregrines are at the target. It has to be a trap. My drones count at least six turrets near the only entrance found."
Hidetada's mechanical rasp, his callsign 'Hunter,' crackled over the comms. "Your call, Angar. Proceed or abort?"
"Proceed, Hunter," Angar replied, his resolve unshaken.
"Mission's a go," Deli announced over the all-comm channel, and Stek guided the shuttle forward.
Seconds later, Stek entered the shuttle's hold. "We have time before we're on objective. If you would, let me lead the Penitent's Prayer."
Angar nodded. Both knelt, and Steck began. "Oh Lord, my Shepard, my guiding light through these dark times, I shall not let the Holy martyrdom of our savior, Mi, the blessed Mother, be for naught. Bestow upon my arm the might to smite the foul Hellspawn and Heretic. Illuminate my thoughts with sacred fury and the path to my foes, that I might cleave through their ranks in a splendid slaughter. Inflame my spirit with feverous zeal, that I may break free of this eternal gloom, and with my last breath, offer myself upon the gore-soaked altar of war."
"Amen," replied Angar, ending with, "For God and Empire."
The Lay version of the prayer was a little different than the Knightly version. Though he went along with those offering the prayer, asking the Lord for qualities he already possessed wasn't his way.
"For God and Empire, Sir Angar," said Stek as he stood to head back to the cockpit. "May the Three protect you."
Less than twenty minutes later, the craft hovered high above the station's lone known entrance, a buried scar with a metal door in Albion's crust. "You're over the target," Deli said. "Remember the drill?"
"I do," Angar answered, leaping out as the door locked open.
He plummeted from beyond the reach of suspected defenses, wind howling past him.
At two hundred meters above ground, two of Deli's drones darted in. He seized them, slowing his fall. When they tugged upward, shifting his momentum, he released, dropping the final sixty meters.
His cyber-leg absorbed the landing, the impact barely felt, and rolled, dropping an explosives charge as a dozen turrets, far more than the stated six, erupted from the ground, shredding his touchdown spot with blazing salvos.
He reached the entrance and phased through, the Phasorax Core's gift sending him past thick and solid steel.
He emerged atop a stairwell. An icon flashed, indicating his suit's auto-tuning had adjusted to the station's artificial life support and gravity as he gazed into a vast hall teeming with pirates and cultists, their weapons ready and leveled at him, new turrets whirring to life in the hall's corners.
A grim smile twisted Angar's face as a muffled explosion roared behind him, the dropped charge thumping against the steel door he had phased through moments before.
I love being a Crusader, he thought, ready to unleash Holy wrath, his soul alight with the ecstasy of impending battle.
A new tribute of sacred slaughter for You, Lord.