| Eclipse Relationship Level increased! (Acquaintance -> Comrade)
Lounging over the comfortable ivory bed, Damien raised his eyebrows and observed the notification window before him. Hours had long passed since he summoned Eclipse and Silhouette, meaning that it was daybreak.
He spent most of his time interacting with his summoned monsters and testing the limits of the Monster Gacha System. Although notification regarding his interaction had materialized, he didn't expect a level up.
'I originally thought that it would take days of interaction to increase the relationship level. Though perhaps it would get harder the more it increased.' He pondered as more notifications followed.
| Congratulations on advancing Eclipse's Relationship Level. You have been rewarded an extra 5 command seals limit. |
| Command seals generation has also been augmented. |
What he anticipated from the level-up has finally arrived. His command seal limit has increased, signifying that his current capacity has reached 10 command seals per day. "I can now issue more commands."
The entire night wasn't spent merely interacting with his monsters. He also tested the command seals and how they separated the lines between passive and active commands.
From his short testing, it seemed that passive command only consisted of the summoning. Following that would be active commands, which would consume command seals.
Even ordering Eclipse to give him a notebook consumed a command seal.
A command seal, while complex, could only accept a single command. For example, Damien wouldn't be able to command Eclipse to automatically protect and fight for him, thus consuming only one command seal.
It was a troublesome weakness, but after discovering that a single increase of relationship level advances the limits of his command seals by five, he wasn't that worried anymore.
The only thing he needed to do was spend more time with his monsters and interact with them even further. It shouldn't take long before the command seals no longer become a weakness.
Without hesitation or delay, he opened the status display. A bluish and neon window materialized before him, displaying vital information.
---
| Monster Gacha System |
-| Boss Title : [ Oberon ] |
-| Monster(s) : One-Star EX Monster: Eclipse(Fragment), One-Star TE Monster: Silhouette |
-| Skill Index : Raptured Blink(Eclipse), Psychic Operation(Silhouette) |
-| Command Seal(s): [ 6/10 ] |
---
"6 command seals... Not bad." Damien remarked while watching the status display with a tinge of intrigue. He had wasted 2 command seals during his experimentation of its limits, but it was worth it.
Otherwise, it would have been problematic if he tried to utilize a strategy that didn't work simply because of his ignorance of the system's intricacies. He would be embarrassed by his foolishness.
Glancing towards the digital clock beside his bed, he perceived the time to be nine in the morning. Usually, he would have been at the university by now. But times have since changed.
The old modern world was long gone from the face of the world. It was replaced by a new and dark age of nonsense, deemed the New World.
Punctually, a knock resounded from the door of his private quarters. His sable-tinted gaze narrowed for a moment as he answered with a calm voice. "Come in..."
The resting Eclipse and standing Silhouette promptly vanished in mere moments without requiring further commands from him. The two understood his intent, so there was no need to waste time lingering.
The door slid open as an alluring lady entered his private quarters wearing a black-suit. She was none other than the secretary of the seventh paragon of Block 7, his senior, Francine.
"Francine, are you here to debrief me?" Remembering the mission that was given to him by his boss, Damien glanced at her and inquired. Alastair was out on a mission, a supposed punishment for her recent offense.
Though for someone of her caliber, it wasn't a punishment but an errand. Something that was utilized to waste her time.
Francine observed the determined young man before her, her plump velvet lips curving into a gentle smile. An Aberrant that was brimming with resolve and curiosity.
If it wasn't for the beacon-like Aether capacity, he would be no less different than an ordinary human. It made her wonder about what the truth actually was. After all, she doubted that he was a normal Aberrant.
"Yes, I have received the mission from the top." Francine nodded, maintaining her calm and graceful demeanor. "I will be briefing you on the mission. It shouldn't be difficult for you to handle."
"But one aspect of it makes the operation complicated." Her coal-like eyes contracted for a moment before regaining their usual gentleness. "You will be collaborating with a rookie from Block 6."
"The two of you will partake in this mission together. Consider it a test from SIGIL. Whether any of you have what it takes to be the Jaegers of humanity. Although I doubt it would remain so simple."
As she handed him the thin tablet between her pale fingers, Francine expounded on the collaborative mission between Blocks 7 and 6. "The two of you will be tackling a trafficking problem within Brooklyn."
"Trafficking?" Damien raised his eyebrows, wondering why his mission dealt with traffickers. He expected to handle monsters belonging to the black towers looming over the skylines, not criminals.
"SIGIL isn't merely about protecting humanity from the New World. It also takes care of internal affairs relating to troublesome ordeals. The criminal organization in the mission is human traffickers."
"They kidnapped people and sold them to the cryptids down in the south. The headquarters has deemed them problematic, so they have sent both of you to take care of these criminals."
"This mission is simple and easy. With your capabilities, it wouldn't be easy for them to kill you. Nevertheless, you must remain cautious, especially towards the rookie from Block 6." She warned with a cold gaze.
Francine gazed forward and noticed a tinge of doubt on the face of her junior. It was understandable since the collaborative partner was also a rookie. But Block 6 wasn't to be underestimated.
"You mustn't underestimate the rookie, Damien. To be accepted by Block 6 isn't easy. At minimum, it requires you to be part of the top 10 within Zero Point Academy. Those belonging to that academy are prodigies."
"So you must be careful."
Understanding her intentions, Damien nodded in understanding and decided to keep her warning in mind. It seemed that his following partner wasn't an ordinary rookie. Even so, he was confident.
After all, he had a plan in mind to handle whatever occurred in the mission.
---
The golden sun, gleaming from above the blue skies, has reached noon. Desolate streets in the night were now crowded with people going about their day. Vehicles honked, their tires screeching near intersections.
It reminded Damien of the world before the black towers descended from the heavens. Though he could also feel some weight from those living their lives. It was a subconscious understanding of the finite peace that held the New World.
"You should be my partner, am I right?" Relaxing on a metallic bench, he munched in an uncaring manner, holding an eternal piece of delicacy.
A burger.
His sable-tinted eyes glanced towards a black-suited young man who stood rigidly before him. It was the collaborative partner belonging to Block 6, a talented rookie. 'Young, yet acts like a middle-aged public servant.'
"Glad to meet you, I'm Damien."