Summoner Quest (Celestial Menagerie)

I'm very happy with Mental Realm as if you couldn't tell. I hope you'll like the representation of it that I made in the chapter.

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My response was immediate. "I'm sure I can." No doubts were present in my mind, at a minimum I should be able to track him or her by smell.

I heard him taking a breath before responding. "Very well. You have my permission to pursue. We'll follow you as fast as we can. Be careful."

"Understood, I'm in pursuit." I was moving before I finished talking, jumping on Red's back and only waiting for an instant for Thorne to join me before taking off. I trusted Olky to follow along. I could have asked him to teleport us directly but being able to observe the top of the building before landing seemed wiser. Still, there was no reason to lose time and it hit Red with Speed Boost. The effect was immediate and we rocketed in the air. One of my minds chose that moment to chime in.

Our latest power may come in useful if we need to confront someone, here are the details. It's called Friendly Fire Immunity, as usual, it's aptly named. We are now completely immune to the damage caused directly by our partners. We could stand directly in front of Rex and have him use his atomic breath and we wouldn't even feel it./Except that we would fall to our death afterward because he would still have disintegrated the ground under our feet./Yes, except for that. Anyway, this also applies to our partners among each other. And even to our own attack against them./It also has some strategic applications. For example, Thorne could use Thousand Needles right through our body to strike someone that we are fighting in melee and they wouldn't see it coming.

The few seconds it took for my Minds to detail the power were enough to reach the top of the building. We didn't land immediately, I directed Red to make an orbit above the roof. It was a typical flat roof, covered in gravel, a few air-conditioning units, some antennas, parables, and an access hut. Obviously, it was empty, the only trace of the attempted murder was the really big gun at the edge of the roof. My firearm knowledge was nonexistent, well concerning normal guns anyway, so I didn't recognize anything specific about it except the fact that it was a big weapon equipped with an enormous scope.

For perhaps the first time I really opened myself to my enhanced senses of smell, until now it was just there running in the background. I was a little afraid of being overwhelmed but thankfully no, the instinct that came with the power allowed me to process all the various scents in my environment easily.

Knowing that I need to hurry after our would-be killer I didn't bother examining each and every scent. I just want one linked to the shooter.

I approached the gun being careful to not touch it. There was no doubt that our technician would want to inspect it with a fine-tooth comb. Once I was close enough I took a deep breath and was assaulted by the scent of gunpowder obviously but it wasn't the only thing I could detect. A lot of more subtle scents surged into my nose. What interested me the most was a combination of what was probably aftershave, deodorant, and sweat. A man no doubt about it.

After making sure that I got the right scent I began to turn around to follow it when my instinct blared again. Without thinking I jumped away as far as I could, well no, not really, with The Jump I could have jumped a hundred meters away if I wanted but I would have plummeted to the ground if I did that. Still, I landed on the opposite side of the roof. And just in time because an explosion bloomed to life where the gun was, projecting shrapnel in every direction. A wave of heat and sound hit my position and a few projectiles but nothing dangerous. My ears were ringing but it wasn't too bad. With a look, I checked on Red and Thorne but they both appear unarmed on the edge of the roof.

I looked where the gun was only to find a blackened crater in the ground. I tapped my radio. "Compendium to Armsmaster."

"Armsmaster here, we heard a loud noise coming from your direction. Did you confront the shooter?"

"Not yet, I was examining the gun when it exploded. I'm unarmed but the gun was thoroughly destroyed."

"A trap?"

Even though he couldn't see it, I shook my head. "Possible but I don't think so. Probably timed to destroy proof. All the same, I managed to get a scent. I will continue my pursuit."

"Good luck."

Not wanting to waste more time, I concentrate my attention on my senses of smell, trying to follow the scent of the shooter. I wouldn't call it easy but it wasn't really hard either, it took me only an instant to trace back the path of the shooter. He used the fire escape to climb here. I gestured for Red to come and a few seconds later we landed in a dirty alley at the bottom of the stairs.

I continued to track the scent and found myself on a calm street. A few pointed passers-by in my direction when they spotted me and my partners but I ignored them. The scent became much fainter a little to the left of the alley exit, precisely at an empty parking space.

He took a car, his scent was still perceptible but much fainter. It took another deep breath to learn the scent of the car itself. It was complicated because most cars got a similar scent, metal, and gas mostly. Still coupled with the shooter's scent it was enough.

"Red, we're going." I jumped on his back, joining Thorne who was still waiting on its back. An instant later we were in the air. Flying just above the street I was able to follow the scent and it was getting stronger. We were creating a commotion by flying so low, people were pointing our way and taking photos. It took longer than I thought it would but I managed to spot a grey car with tinted windows stopped at an intersection, the scent was coming from it.

The shooter spotted me coming because he suddenly floored it, accelerating away and causing a sudden pile up on both sides of the road and one car swerved to avoid a collision and ended up hitting the facade of a shop.

"Oh no, you don't! Thorne Haste on Red!" I spurned Red into action, with the benefit of Speed boost, and a few seconds later Haste, it wouldn't be hard to catch up. I also granted him the Clockwork variant, a little more resistance could always be useful.

The shooter proved to be an excellent driver, deftly avoiding obstacles and making sharp turns without losing control of his vehicle. I was forced to guide Red with some sharp maneuver, at one point even flying upside down to avoid a hanging banner.

All the efforts from the shooter weren't enough. With Red's doubly enhanced speed, we managed to overtake him a little before he reached an intersection and I directed Red to land in front of the car. My enhanced eyesight allows me to pierce through the tinted windscreen. It was a blond man, wearing a red and black mask and a black breastplate. I recognize him from the briefing, Victor. Upon seeing me land in front of the car he decided to accelerate, while I seriously doubt he could kill Clockwork Red with just a car he could still seriously hurt him.

But there was no need to test it, The Big was in my left hand and my scepter in the other. The moment they came into contact I activated the card targeting Red.

With a flash of light, my dragon bat began growing until he occupied the whole intersection. I found myself on his head with Thorne and even though I couldn't see it, I could guess that Red was grinning like mad. I picked up noises of astonishment and a few screams of panic coming from the passersby but my attention remained on Victor and I saw him staring wide-eyed and slamming on the brake of his car.

With a horrendous screech, he managed to stop just before hitting Red extended hands. Victor was quick to emerge from his vehicle and started to run in the opposite direction but it was too late for him. With a flex of my will, I summoned in succession Scorgem in front of him, enlarged for good measure, to his right and left respectively I called on two of my most recent partners, Rayure the Tiger/Armadillo hybrid and Horn my Rhino-like beast.

Victor skid to a halt just in front of Scorgem and took a step back.

I gave my order immediately. "If he tries to run, stop him." I jumped down and dismissed the effect of The Big on Red. It was magically expensive and there was no need to demonstrate that I could sustain it for a long period.

The villain turned around, and looked at me warily but remained silent. People were keeping their distance but were observing the situation with interest. Having a front-row seat to a confrontation between a Protectorate Hero and a Villain wasn't common and even less so with the Hero possessing an advantage so overwhelming.

"Victor of the Empire Eighty-Eight, you are officially under arrest. You are accused of attempted murder. Surrender immediately, any attempt to resist will be met with force." It was the first time that I used those words and I tried my best to appear confident, mostly for the public.

Victor looked around, pausing to observe each of my partners in turn. Including me this was a six against one fight, in that situation, his power barely counted and he was smart enough to realize it. Returning his attention to me frowned, seemingly confused by something.

Finally, he spoke up, his voice was still firm and confident. "Very well it appears that I lost this round. I'll admit that we underestimated you but we will not give up. You have committed grievous crimes against the Empire and you will pay for them."

I gape at that declaration. This was outrageous and I couldn't believe my ears. My response was immediate and incredulous. "I committed crimes? What crimes? Defending myself?"

He simply nodded. "Yes, resisting against the Empire is a crime. We are the defenders of The American Way. The protector against the subhuman invaders."

The Libra didn't react to his statement; he really believed the rubbish he was sprouting.

"Yeah, no. I'm not in the mood to listen to your drivel." He tried to continue but I interrupted him. "Sleep!" My order was absolute, he slumped down a second later falling to the ground. He couldn't resist the effect of Dream Flower. Knowing that it didn't last long I also summoned Starro directly on his head, it would keep him paralyzed as per my standing order.

I took a deep breath, satisfied that this was over. Just as I was about to reach for my radio and call Armsmaster I was interrupted by the sound of applause coming from all around me. The people were all smiling, laughing, and shouting my name. I hesitantly smiled and nodded in their direction. I didn't expect that reaction but I should have, a victory from a Hero wasn't a common event in the bay. At best it was a stalemate and often a loss. It was nice to see hope in their eyes.

The following hour was spent dealing with the aftermath. I was quickly joined by Armsmaster, Manpower, and a squad of PRT troopers to secure the perimeter. I unsummoned Horn and Rayure after thanking them for their help but I kept Scorgem with me after reducing his size. I was getting a little low on partners with significant power, at least ones that I've summoned before.

As we were escorting the van transporting Victor back to the HQ, I felt a new power settling in my soul but I didn't have time to analyze it before a mind chimed in.

Oh my god, that's awesome. I'm going immediately./What are you…? Wow, I'm coming too!/Yes, yes, yes, that will be so much fun, see you there.

I felt those three Minds suddenly disappearing and panicked for an instant. But after checking more thoughtfully I found them. They were still there in my head but unresponsive as if asleep.

I looked at the power myself and I understood. Mental Realm, I could now travel mentally in a world where all my partners reside. I could interact with them without wasting a daily summoning, I could give them orders before summoning them, I could test their power without any risk and most importantly I could just enjoy their company freely. In practice, it wouldn't change that much once they were summoned but it was still a very very good power. I resisted the urge to put another Mind in the driver's seat of my body and go myself. As much as I want to go it could wait.

Absently I noticed a new theme and distracted myself by looking at it. It was Lightning this time, this was promising I'll need to check later but this one I may be able to use regularly. Particularly since the passive benefit protects me to some degree against metallic weapons, including bullets. Maybe an intimidation factor too, depending on the exact change. Definitely worth considering for long-term use.

I refocussed on the present, we were approaching the PRT building and we would need to report directly to Director Piggot.

Mental Realm:

Three copies of Alex blinked into existence one after another in the middle of an infinite white expanse, floating freely in the void. No sun was present in the sky, but light was coming from everywhere and nowhere. However this white expanse was far from empty, it contained numerous gigantic bubbles, each one containing a different scenery.

From their position, seemingly in the "center" of the bubbles, they could see a lot of different landscapes. The bottom of the ocean, a luxurious forest, an isolated government building, a cityscape with numerous skyscrapers, a desert of white sand, a snow-covered mountain, you could find nearly any sort of landscapes you could wish and even a few you couldn't imagine. Of note, a few bubbles seem to be merged together to create an even bigger space inside.

"Wow" The silence was broken by this exclamation and the other two Alex could only nod.
All three were looking all around them in wonderment.

Finally one of them spoke up. "If I focus on a bubble I just know who it belongs to."

"Yeah, I get that too. But how do we move?"

"Well it's called Mental Realm, perhaps just by thinking about it. Let's see if I want to go visit Aylamon." After looking around a little he focussed on a specific bubble containing a big forested area and suddenly disappeared.

"I guess it works. I'm curious about where Scalpa lives. I'll go see him." He managed to find a bubble containing a floating spaceship and disappeared.

The last one looks around some more before focusing on a bubble containing an expanse of ocean with a tropical island in the middle. "Let's go see Rex, I want to see him with his true size." With those words resonating in the void the last copy of Alex disappeared too.

Wordcount: 2619
Excess word: 899
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Among my longest chapters so far. Hope you like it.

For the roll, 460 points.

[] Creature

[] Power

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