It had been three weeks since the bandages had come up. This was our last official training session before I officially became a Journeymouse. Mousethief had let me know, I would be going on a simpler mission with my father, but he promised to keep his nose to the ground to try and find something more exciting, which meant more killing and cash rewards from the organization.
I moved forward, striking at my father quickly. He backed off and began running away. I chased after him while ke...
2023-04-15 23:03:01 +0000 UTC
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I was resting outside. My ID tucked into my bandages. I had classes today going over procedures and other requirements, like paperwork. It was boring, but I had made sure to pay attention. Now that that it was over there was nothing to do but rest.
While it was tempting to remain in my apartment, I wanted to get some sun, so I was back in my spot outside, off by myself. I also wanted to speak to Mes about Mousethief. ‘Avatar,’ I thought.
‘Hello User Mittens,’ Mes ...
2023-04-15 23:02:01 +0000 UTC
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I partially missed my attack as Michael dodged. I had been aiming at his chest, but I got his hip instead. Multiple beam attacks began to strike me, and soldiers were rushing in. I was out of time. I tried to open a breach between layers, but I failed as the System suppressed me.
The attacks were coming quickly, and I needed to escape. I quickly thought through all my options. There was one that might work in the chaos.
Expelling some energy, I hid my presence. “Astral Proje...
2023-04-15 23:01:01 +0000 UTC
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The look of hatred on the Astrologer’s distorting face brought joy to my heart as I looked on from my prone position. “Imbue Null!” The skills that were launched at him suddenly stopped, as I saw a wave of energy emerge from his body. He kicked off the ground right for me.
Air Burst! I had to escape, which was making it difficult to counter the tumor inside of my head and isolate completely. He was getting closer and closer. I had mere seconds left until he was o...
2023-04-15 23:00:02 +0000 UTC
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Training had been put on hold for a week, while my claws recovered. After getting them coated, Paladin Stormsong hand shoved my paws into a vat of oil. After that, I had my claws and paws completely wrapped up, with strict instructions to keep the extended for the next week.
Now I truly was Mittens, with large bandages wrapped around my paws. My father had helped me back to the car and to my room. The next day, he had to feed me with a grin on his face. “The boat is coming Mittens. Op...
2023-04-14 23:04:01 +0000 UTC
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I was rubbing my arm. An hour of fighting and I thought I had my father, going for his arm that was overextended in a feint I had set up. But he leapt to the side, up and around me, twisting his arm out of the way. I wasn’t able to avoid the blow to my side and went slamming into the padded wall. Even with the padding, the blow was incredibly hard, and the impact had left me shaken.
“This old cat still has some moves it seems,” my father said with a grin.
“Laugh it up whil...
2023-04-14 23:03:00 +0000 UTC
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Michael collapsed at my words. His soldiers weren’t responding as one of them shouted to hold in place. A quick glance upwards and I also knew what the Avatar was planning. My mind raced as I tried to work out what was happening. Address the issues in order.
Michael was faking obviously. I wouldn’t use my trump card until it was necessary. But he chose to play along with it meaning that he had a countermeasure in place that he thought worked and was trying to lure me into a trap.
2023-04-14 23:02:00 +0000 UTC
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“Zin Bin!” I heard the distorted and muffled words next to my head, but nothing triggered. At that moment I felt absolutely nothing trying to disable me. Hopefully that meant that the energy I had used around my ears and the damage I had done to my hearing was enough to stop a verbal disablement. I crossed my fingers, letting Captain Francis keep my protection detail back, as I collapsed to the ground without a word. The captain knew the sign. If he didn’t intervene, then no one else sh...
2023-04-14 23:00:02 +0000 UTC
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I handed the old mouse a signed off form indicating I was giving up one of my points or favors to him before the start of our lesson. We were meeting the morning after the pre-funeral party. “Sit down, so you can focus on your arm,” Gary said and I quickly lay down in the training room. “I am going to strike your left arm slowly, in different spots, slowly speeding up. Watch carefully,” he said.
He began working his way down my arm, striking point after point. “Knowing where t...
2023-04-13 23:04:00 +0000 UTC
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“Knaves,” I greeted the fox. While trying not to stare at the other fox next to him.
“Mittens, congratulations,” he said.
“You too,” I replied.
“Ah, this is Master Assassin Redfur,” Knaves said while introducing a heavily scarred fox next to him. Large patches of his fur were missing along with a chunk of his tail.
“Hello Master Redfur,” I greeted the creature.
“So, you are Mittens.” I noted his eyes glance down at my paws. The white was c...
2023-04-13 23:03:01 +0000 UTC
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New information had trickled in. My homunculus had made a move and the city of Esperanza had been wiped somehow. I had missed. That much energy, would have created a Calamity in miniature. An overwhelming surge of energy, which would have killed everyone.
Since it was night, you were either hit and died, or missed it. Especially since I went through a layer. But the slight increase in energy around me, while very subtle, meant that the system was now watching me closely. I technically s...
2023-04-13 23:01:01 +0000 UTC
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General Abdullah
Michael’s plan he had sent via note was simple, yet complicated. I called the Captains for a last minute meeting. I had considered letting them know one by one, but it was better to just have a single meeting right before everything kicked off.
“There is a change of plans that Emperor Michael has decided on to lure out the Astrologer and other hostile forces. I can confirm this was sent by him, but he wanted to have the changes as last minute ...
2023-04-13 23:00:06 +0000 UTC
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I got up early and dragged myself to the training room. My father had been right. The paperwork truly was soul sucking. I couldn’t tell if the paperwork was worse or small boats. I knew for sure that paperwork on small boats was a hell created for cats and vowed to never experience such a fate.
My father didn’t allow me to just fill the paperwork in and be done with it. I had to understand what each piece was for and how it was used, where it was kept, and who had access. If it wasn...
2023-04-12 23:04:00 +0000 UTC
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“Mittens,” my father said and I quickly went over and gave him a hug.
“I missed you,” I said into his chest. He patted my head.
“You have done very well.” I let go of the hug and he gestured at the table in the kitchen. We both sat down. “Too well. I won’t lie and say that I had been hoping you would have failed,” I was a bit shocked at that.
“Why?” I asked. He just smiled at me.
“This job is dangerous. I have told you that. I am feeling my age ...
2023-04-12 23:03:01 +0000 UTC
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I sat meditating while I carefully constructed a portal of energy in front of me. I had been working all evening after a meal of freshly cooked flesh. It was taking time, but my Astral Projection was slowly filling in. It would take another year or two, but I was making progress, which was the most important thing.
Already, I felt my strength increasing as my body became more physical. I would need that strength for tonight. It was time to investigate something quite dangerous ...
2023-04-12 22:58:39 +0000 UTC
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Everyone was being moved into position, and the city was ready to go into lockdown. The Protector had outlived his usefulness and I didn’t care if I took a hit in my popularity. Clarissa would just say he had used the opportunity to try and assassinate me regardless. There was no internet and anyone saying otherwise would be a conspiracy theorist and quietly removed.
That was the nice thing about having absolute power. I could write the narrative I wanted. As long as the people weren...
2023-04-12 22:58:32 +0000 UTC
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‘Can the cameras record you?’ I asked Mes a bit worried I hadn’t thought of this before.
‘Nope. The cameras only record in the visual spectrum. I am not actually floating around. I am interfacing with your mind directly. But I am drawing energy to maintain my link, which is why some creature might be able to sense me.’ That was good to know.
‘What happens if I lose that stone? And what is it?’ I asked.
‘It is a physical node, tying my presence he...
2023-04-12 02:01:14 +0000 UTC
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The following morning, Doctor Sharpeyes picked me up from the room I was assigned. Not the one I had been in during training, but a new room all to myself. I had a bedroom, bathroom, and a living room slash kitchen all to myself.
She had informed me there were no cameras, but I didn’t dare call on Mes inside the building. Doctor Sharpeyes led me back to the third floor and to an office at the corner of the building. “The High Cleric will see you know,” the mouse secretary said. I ...
2023-04-11 23:04:00 +0000 UTC
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No other creature showed up until Paladin Bloodclaw returned on that horrid boat. Both Sharpfang and I made our way over to him. He gave us a look and stared at Sharpfang’s wound for a moment.
“Pendants,” he said. Sharpfang went first and handed over two blue ones and his red one. “Get on board. You will be seen to once we return to the Island.” Sharpfang nodded and went to find a place to rest. I walked forward and handed over nine blue pendants and two red ones. Paladin Bloo...
2023-04-11 23:02:01 +0000 UTC
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It was complicated to fit into the shell of an adult. Especially a woman. I had to redo the skill three times, to make sure there was nothing that could be spotted with the Sense stat. Tying off everything carefully and getting actual clothing.
I used my memories of my Valkyries to create the most stunning woman possible. Michael was a man, which meant there was no way he was able to resist. I knew he wasn’t gay from the conversation I had with him. I increased the allure of my figure...
2023-04-11 23:01:02 +0000 UTC
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I breathed in and out steadily while looking into the large mirror hanging over my chair. The energy was muted in the anti-curse box. The large mirror was good, but not very accurate. The blur was too much for the most part. I was just looking for any large disturbances, since I had gone without a restoration the last four days. It was great for just laying there and focusing only on the energy in the mirror without other thoughts.
That allowed me to try and spot any deviations or distu...
2023-04-11 23:00:02 +0000 UTC
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Sharpfang and I slowly made our way back towards the dock together, through the forest. He had to go slow due to the bullet wound in his side. He told me how they had planned for Grizzle to ambush the tower while he took on the creatures in the building. Grizzle setting off the trap had messed everything up while he was getting into position.
He had gotten all the creatures, but the bullet wound had him dodging and retreating out a window. Once it was light out, I could see a grazing wo...
2023-04-10 23:03:01 +0000 UTC
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I leapt down from the tree. My skills and instinct let me know how to adjust my body to land without making a sound. It was the middle of the night. I had dozed off but, fully falling asleep a couple of times and almost fallen out of the tree once, but I had made it.
Taking the time to stretch and wake up my body fully. I carefully listened. I had listened after waking up in the tree, but it didn’t hurt to be careful. I didn’t risk calling Mes. I already knew what I needed to do. Th...
2023-04-10 23:02:00 +0000 UTC
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It has come through messenger 4, that the Divine Empress has a child. Working to figure out who is the father.
Normandy is out of play. Ensured coma is enforced to prevent long term complications.
Uday has been killed by Ritualist. No longer a possible threat.
I went through the notes, one after another, that had been left behind in the buried stash. A small, enclosed cart to ensure permanency at the same distance and the zone I had initially thoug...
2023-04-10 23:01:01 +0000 UTC
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“When was this?” I asked Clarissa.
“Yesterday. By tomorrow word will have spread. Any ideas how it could be done?” Clarissa asked me.
“Everyone? Even the Divine Empress didn’t get everyone,” I replied, while thinking as hard as I could about what the Astrologer could have done to wipe out a city secretly.
“That’s the issue. Esperanza is a key city. The lynchpin from the East to the West. I don’t have anyone I can put in as governor either. Everyone is bus...
2023-04-10 23:00:04 +0000 UTC
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The ship finally docked. I carefully walked out onto the wooden platform after the other creatures. Everything was still spinning a bit. “I will be back in two days at midday and then midday for the next three days after that,” Paladin Bloodclaw said as the boat took off.
Sharpfang and Grizzle immediately took up straight up the road towards the center of the island and the lake. They were aiming for the peak. Even though I was dying on the boat I had heard them talking. The others ...
2023-04-09 23:01:48 +0000 UTC
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I lined up with everyone else after a week of individual training. I had spent a lot of this week sparring with the other creatures in my cohort. That was where I had my highest tier skill, where each level meant much more improvement compared to the other skills.
Experience: -18,500 EXP
Features: Interface, Avatar, Skill Attunement
T1 Skills: Movement (53/100) +6, Listening (34/100) +1, Balance (33/100) +4
T2 Skills: Danger Sense...
2023-04-09 23:01:16 +0000 UTC
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“Astrologer, congratulations on your survival.” What an interesting technique. Forming a ball of energy remotely and resonating with the energy itself to project your presence. The trick was the first bit of forming energy remotely. She was clearly using the system’s energy or going through layers to reach here.
There was no pull or ripple from a layer breach, so she really was the Avatar of the System. When we had talked in the tower, it had been harder to be sure and he...
2023-04-09 22:59:47 +0000 UTC
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I focused on the energy inside of me. I had taken to observing the soldiers guarding me as references. It kind of helped give me an idea where there were issues. I had noticed that the energy inside of my body was not like the energy outside or from skills. It was a blend of various types.
Thinking about the matter during my breaks, it had made me wonder how force energy was applied to Acid Shotto make it move without annihilation effect. I had used the skill in an unclaimed bu...
2023-04-09 22:59:12 +0000 UTC
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My cohort and I were all lined up in the morning as Paladin Bloodclaw showed up along with a large slim rat. If he had a Movement skill it would have to be at least 90 or even max level. Just watching him made me feel like I was improving.
“Today, you will each get a turn sparring against Master Assassin Southpaw. He normally isn’t part of the training rotation, but kindly volunteered his time. He wishes to speak to you all first,” the Paladin said and then glanced at Southpaw.
2023-04-08 23:04:01 +0000 UTC
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