Chapter 43 - Mason and Zext

Selvaria and Galatea approached the stadium's VIP booth occupied by a man who is well known for wearing Fantasy Knight armor sets that he had fabricated for a cosplay event before D-Day. At first, Selvaria found it odd, but she grew used to the sight since he kept wearing them every day and rarely showed his face other than removing the lower face guard to eat. His odd nature drew Selvaria to get to know him better, and they hung out regularly to give each other company over the past week. The similarity between their interests made it easy to talk about the world, history, and mythology.

He revealed his name was Mason and his skill sheet when he found out that Selvaria gave the same answers for attributes to the Monster App during egg fertilization.

[Monster: Frigid Vampiric Bat (Zotz)

Type: Mind, Sea, Beast, Mana, Ice

Mastery: Enhanced Mana Regeneration

Combat Style: Equipment Transformation

Skills: Vampiric Ice Javelin (Beginner), Ice Dragoon's Aura (Beginner), Arctic Wings (Beginner), Ice Cannon (Beginner)

Skill Features:

Vampiric Ice Javelin - The Monster can create any number of Javelins made of Ice that will drain the Mana from the opponents that they impale. Mana is required to create these weapons.

Ice Dragoon's Aura - The Monster can share its Mana with monsters with 'Mind, Sea, Beast, Mana, Ice' as their attributes. They must be within a twenty-meter range to receive Mana from the aura. The more attributes that match, the more Mana they receive.

Arctic Wings - The Monster can create wings made of Ice that grants flight, generate waves of freezing winds, and absorb Mana-based attacks.

Ice Cannon - The Monster concentrates Mana into an Iceball in front of its mouth that can be shot out like a cannon. It will detonate and freeze all within a ten-meter radius]

When Selvaria entered the VIP Booth, she found Mason talking to a man of Persian origin in a black leather jacket.

Mason. "Selvaria... Zext here was asking me about you."

Zext. "Damn! Didn't you say she had a Seal? Why does it look like an Asian Dragon."

Mason. "Jealous, Zext?"

Zext. "Mine is a Dragon too, but it has more Snake than I would like."

Selvaria. "Before you start congratulating me, look at the skill set."

She orders her Butler to message the details of her skill sheet to Mason, who quickly inspects it along with the other man. They both frowned when they read that she needed to be submerged in cold water or in an environment below freezing temperature.

Zext. "Well, that's a difficult-ass way to power up your skills. Guess I am lucky that I can take away Mana from anyone."

Selvaria gave Mason and Zext a confused look.

Selvaria. "Can I have a look at your skill sheet, Zext?"

Zext. "Why?"

Selvaria. "I want to see if your skills are compatible with mine."

Mason. "What's the harm in letting her have a look, Zext?"

Zext shook his head and then reluctantly ordered his Butler to share his skill sheet with Selvaria.

Zext. "Well, if the young lady here doesn't mind keeping my skills a secret, I would be happy to share some of my 'Mana' with her."

Selvaria got pervert vibes from Zext, and she made a mental note to keep a distance from him in the future. But, for now, she would tolerate his talk.

[Monster: Cursed Dragon Snake (Zaf El)

Type: Mind, Sun, Reptile, Mana, Poison

Mastery: Enhanced Mana Regeneration

Combat Style: Skill Transfer

Skills: Parasitic Flames (Beginner), Cursed Flame Body (Beginner), Symbiotic Flame (Beginner), Will of Fire (Beginner)

Skill Features:

Parasitic Flames - The Monster has access to two types of flames created by Mana. When injected into a victim that possesses Mana, Red Flames will aggressively and painfully drain its Mana pool until reabsorbed or canceled. Conversely, Blue flames will provide Mana to whoever is injected with it until reabsorbed or canceled.

Cursed Flame Body - The Monster can summon a cursed flame veil around its body that will act as both armor and weapon. The Monster can shape it to its will, and those burnt by it cannot heal their wounds by conventional medical treatment.

Symbiotic Flame - Parasitic flames can be added to physical weapons such as blades, arrows, and bullets. Those struck by these weapons will be injected with the parasitic flames until canceled or reabsorbed.

Will of Fire - If the Monster is injured, it can reabsorb the parasitic flames from its victims along with their vitality to heal itself]

Selvaria studied the skill sheet, and a smile appeared as she looked at Zext.

Selvaria. "I came here to ask Mason to share his Mana pool with me, but if you can do it as well, then I want your help too."

Mason. "Wait... are you planning on going out there?"

Selvaria. "I also plan to kill IceBugs and let the UGP land their aircraft so that the Evac can begin."

Zext. "You didn't tell me this chick is insane! Look, there is a reason we all said no to Bison. Four freaky-looking giant bugs are right outside the front door. The moment we open it up, the bugs will start pouring in, and we all are dead."

Selvaria. "I studied the videos. Those Bugs you mentioned have been running back into the tunnels every time the Tamers outside do some damage to them. That is not normal behavior for any bug that is used to combat. So I think the Queen is directly controlling them, and if we take them down, then the other Icebugs under their control will scatter."

Zext. "How do you know that?"

Selvaria. "Let's just say I have endured physical and mental enhancements that go far beyond what you can imagine."

Her teenage years on the Moon, where she was subjected to countless experiments, resurfaced in her mind.

Mason. "Even if they are being controlled by the Icebug Queen. What makes you think we can take them down?"

Selvaria. "Zext's fire skills eat away at Mana. Your Vampiric Ice Javelin does that too. So I will create Ballistas out of Ice and then have you two arm it with your Mana eating skills. Once we hit them with the surprise attack, their Mana must be transferred to me. I will personally put an end to them."

Mason. "Oh... I see what you are planning. But you just evolved your Monster and haven't even practiced your skills. How are you sure it will work?"

Zext. "I would like to know that too."

Selvaria stepped forward and placed both her thumbs on their foreheads. She then shared with them memories that weren't her own. Those that belonged to long-dead people and had seen the carnage of the battlefield countless times over different lifetimes."

Ten seconds later, both Mason and Zext collapsed to the ground as they lost balance. They looked up at her in confusion over what she made them witness.

Mason. "Were those your memories?"

Zext. "I thought I saw a view of Earth from the moon."

Selvaria. "Yes, I am from Vector. Just know that I have been trained for combat and possess abilities that have nothing to do with the Monster App."

Both Mason and Zext nodded their heads as they felt haunted by some of the things they saw in the vision.

Several minutes later, the three found themselves in front of the stadium's door, where Albert and Rin stood in front of the lockdown control panel. The two bunnies were still seated on Selvaria's shoulders, and Galatea sat in a curved posture around her Tamer's legs.

Albert. "Let me get this straight... the three of you who have no combat experience want to go out into the meat grinder where even the UGP tamers are struggling to keep the Bugs at bay."

Zext. "Didn't Bison go outside with a few of his friends? Last I checked, he was a football player with a broken leg."

Albert. "Bison has been risking his life and fighting to save every survivor for over a week while you did nothing here. He knows how to take care of himself."

Selvaria. "Albert, I have a plan to kill those four bugs that have been stalling the evacuation. Just let me handle them, and I promise you the battle outside will stop."

Rin grew curious about this exchange and studied Selvaria closely before asking her a few questions in her native language. To everyone else's surprise, Selvaria spoke back in fluent Japanese. After the two spent a minute talking back and forth, Rin walked over to the console and deactivated the front door lockdown.

Albert. "Rin! What the hell!"

Rin ignored Albert, politely bowed to Selvaria, who mirrored the action, and proceeded to the retracting doors. This was the debut of the first Tamer from the Moon.