Mythos Of Narcissus: Reborn As An NPC In A Horror VRMMO

Now that we were close to our expedition target, the Landship's observation deck offered an expansive view of the terrain surrounding the Theotech Vault, a vast expanse that shifted between jagged ridges and shimmering, unnatural landscapes that seemed almost alive with latent energy.

The entire area pulsed faintly, a sign that the Vault had begun to awaken, readying itself to repel intruders.

I stood near the railing, the slight breeze tugging at my golden hair. Charis stood beside me, her posture relaxed but her white eyes scanning the horizon with quiet intensity.

Below us, the bastion's network of Heavenly Maids and Assault Drones worked efficiently and stealthily, keeping tabs on the Vandasisimo's camp, their movements illuminated on the translucent displays embedded into the deck's floor.

Courtesy of me, because I found out that having others outside of myself to read the position of each other and the drones was quite effective in the time of the Ordeal.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"Their inclusion of Theotechs seems massive, but there seem to be great disparities in terms of overall technologies," Charis commented. "They have land-roving vehicles, but they still use carriages pulled by animals for their supply. They have a whole working giant battle puppet, but they still use bows and daggers like they live in the medieval."

"This showcases that there are hierarchies in their ranks." Seeing my dear daughter thinking attentively, I couldn't help but put a smile on my face. "Unity is not as strong there compared to our bastion."

"Speaking of that…" With puffed cheeks, Charis adorably glanced at me. "Their group has Vandasisimo as the name, when will we get a cool name for our faction?"

That is true.

From now and onward, we will probably explain our denomination as a whole group when interacting with another faction.

However, it was quite the agreed knowledge that my naming sense was quite wack.

"We can try gathering everyone for a meeting and brainstorm together for a name, how about that?"

"Yay!"

The Vandasisimo's preparations were surprisingly meticulous, despite their earlier blunders. Groups of their members moved purposefully through the camp, readying equipment, fine-tuning weapons, and adjusting the settings of their battle puppets.

Their reinforcements—200 strong, just as we deduced—had arrived, adding an air of urgency to their activities.

Through the neuromorphic network, I watched as Heavenly Maids stationed a safe distance from the Vandasisimo relayed real-time observations. Assault Drones buzzed silently above the camp. Everything was being documented, down to the faint runic inscriptions on the armor of the Vandasisimo's reinforcements.

Obviously, our intentional observation was not without flaws. Some of them had already been found and identified, but that was a good thing since it would put a greater pressure on them.

They already knew that a single of our Heavenly Maids was more than capable of suppressing a whole squad of their most elites.

And seeing how there were a lot of ohrtenders in their ranks, they should also realize how two of our most powerful sorcerers could wipe their camp clean without lifting a finger.

Actually, to ensure that it was obvious enough, I ordered both Verina and Kuzunoha to let out their psychic signatures, but constrained enough that it wasn't visible from the atmosphere.

"Father," Charis began, her voice casually breaking the silence. "Are you manipulating them?"

I glanced at her, curious. "Manipulating? How so?"

Her gaze remained fixed on the Vandasisimo below. "They seem... hasty. Almost reckless. They don't have our knowledge of the Vault's defenses or its layout, and yet they're rushing ahead. It's as if they're being used as test subjects—to activate whatever traps or defenses the Vault has in store."

I smiled faintly at her astuteness but didn't answer directly. Instead, I posed a question of my own. "Do you feel bad for them?"

Charis blinked, turning to me with a look of surprise before shaking her head firmly. "No. Some of them are scum. They thought they could take on the Landship and its people. And I saw the way many of them looked at you—my father—with impure thoughts. It's disgusting." Read exclusive chapters at empire

Her protective streak was as endearing as it was fierce.

Still, I decided against revealing that I had already adjusted my charm levels to avoid overwhelming the Vandasisimo. If I were to use my original divine charm, they would have already been prostrating from the start.

Though, Evaris, their leader, would not get completely influenced and might call off the entire operation after he knew that my existence was a cognitive hazard. I don't want that, hence why I lowered my charm output.

There was no need for Charis to know that their reactions, while distasteful, had been within the bounds of my design.

"Charis," I said gently, "Not everyone among the Vandasisimo is like that. Those who wronged us don't represent all of them."

Charis crossed her arms, her expression unyielding. "I don't care. They're still Vandasisimo, and their leader should have disciplined his people better. They represent his group, whether he likes it or not."

I chuckled softly, amused by her conviction. "And if the same thing happened within our bastion? What if someone among our own people betrayed us or acted dishonorably?"

Without hesitation, Charis's expression darkened. "I'd deal with them before they had the chance to harm anyone or betray you, Father."

I reached out, resting a hand on her head. Her white hair felt soft beneath my fingers, and she blinked in surprise at the gesture. "You're diligent as always, my sunshine," I said warmly. "But you don't need to take on that responsibility. It's my job to oversee our people and discipline them when necessary, not yours."

Charis hesitated, her stern demeanor softening slightly.

"Our bastion is more like a family than a proper organization," I continued. "At least for now. I want it to stay that way, at least until we establish a proper citadel. Don't be so strict with everyone just yet."

She sighed, her shoulders relaxing. "If you say so, Father."

I gave her a reassuring smile before turning my attention back to the Vandasisimo camp.

Their preparations were progressing rapidly, and their scouting squad was beginning to assemble.

The squad consisted of a dozen heavily armed members, each equipped with advanced hybrid weapons that combined arcane and technological elements.

However, the real stars of their operation were the battle puppets.

These towering constructs stood at roughly four meters tall, their sleek, humanoid frames crafted from a mix of shimmering metal alloys and Theotech components.

Each puppet's design was more focused on both functionality and intimidation, with angular armor plating and glowing core mechanisms visible through their chest cavities.

Their arms were equipped with multi-functional weapon systems: one arm ended in a massive, rotating blade that hummed with stored energy, while the other was outfitted with an energy cannon that crackled faintly even at rest. Their legs were jointed with precision mechanisms, allowing for both speed and agility despite their size. Along their backs, faintly glowing runes pulsed in rhythmic intervals, likely tied to their internal power systems or defensive enchantments.

"They're sending in their best toys first," Charis observed, her tone laced with a hint of disdain.

"Typical strategy," I replied. "Test the waters with your strongest assets to gauge the enemy's defenses, instead of your lowest. This implies that they value their manpower greatly."

"Sounds like the opposite with how the leader carefreely executed their crews back then."

The Vandasisimo's scouting squad began its approach toward the Vault, the battle puppets flanking them like silent guardians. Their movements were methodical, the puppets' heavy footsteps leaving deep imprints in the rocky terrain as they advanced.

Then, it happened.

The towering Theotech walls, dormant until now, began to stir. A faint tremor rippled through the ground, and the air grew charged with energy.

The shimmering barrier that surrounded the Vault's entrance pulsed with a golden hue, its intricate patterns rearranging themselves into something new.

Charis's eyes widened as the first line of defenses activated.

From within the shimmering barrier, a regal, dragon-like beast emerged.

Its form was an intricate blend of organic and mechanical design, its scales appearing as though forged from molten gold. The creature's elongated body gleamed under the faint light, its every movement exuding both power and grace.

Its wings, wide and majestic, were adorned with faintly glowing Theotech runes that pulsed in harmony with its movements. Twin rows of crystalline spines ran along its back, each one radiating a faint, otherworldly light. Its eyes, a piercing shade of azure, locked onto the advancing Vandasisimo squad with an intelligence that should chills down anyone's spines.

"Our drones don't activate the defenses" Charis murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "How come they got activated now?"

"The defensive mechanism reacts greatly to a sign of life. Our drones are fully automated inorganic existence, even if their neuromorphic processor acts similarly to that of a human brain." I replied, my gaze fixed on the magnificent beast. "And the Vandasisimo are about to learn just how unprepared they truly are."

The dragon-like creature let out a roar that resonated across the landscape, its sound both ethereal and thunderous. The Vandasisimo squad hesitated, their battle puppets raising their weapons in preparation for a fight they clearly hadn't anticipated.