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

Through the Landship's communication system, I addressed the entire bastion.

My voice resonated, amplified by the Cognitive Engines to reach every corner of the ship, every bastioneer, Heavenly Maid, and Duolos within range. Even the external speakers broadcast to those stationed outside, ensuring no one missed the announcement.

"People of the bastion," I began, my tone carrying the weight of both command and charisma, honed to command respect but tempered with warmth. Or atleast, that was what I perceived it. "As we stand on the threshold of another Ordeal of the Dusk, let us remind ourselves why we endure. Why we persevere.

"Each night, Carcosa seeks to test us, to see if we are worthy of survival in a world that spares no one. And each night, we rise to meet that challenge, overcompensating our fragile vessel yet radiant soul with an irresistible spark of hope and unity toward any goal that we strive to achieve~!"

I paused briefly, allowing the words to sink in before continuing.

"But tonight, we will do more than survive. Tonight, we excel. Tonight, we compete and lambast the horrors with glee!" My voice lifted slightly, carrying the excitement I knew would ripple through the ranks. "It is with great pleasure that I announce the first-ever 'Bastion Contest of the Night'!

"A test not only of your strength and skill but of your ingenuity, coordination, and ability to adapt under pressure. And most importantly, your altruistic ego, your drive to become better, and keep on improving to reach beyond what is the best of you."

The bastion's collective hum of activity quieted, attention drawn fully to the announcement. I smiled slightly, knowing I had them hooked.

"Here are the rules," I said, letting the anticipation build. "Each Calamity Object that emerges during the Ordeal will be evaluated by the observation network of the Landship's Cognitive Engines.

"Their worth will be calculated based on their difficulty, their gimmicks, and the intrinsic danger they pose. The more complex, the more threatening, the more unique the Calamity Object, the higher the score it will yield.

"For example, a Bloodhound and Shardfiend are both worth 10 points, while a Sandstalker are worth 40 points. But these are common Calamity Objects, there thousands if not millions of unique Calamity Objects out there, so how would all of them be scored, you may ask?

"Fortunately, thanks to the tireless efforts of our collective observation—and the memories provided by the Duolos' former lives as Vandasisimos—we have amassed a significant database of known Calamity Objects.

"Those that fall within this database will be scored automatically." I allowed a brief pause, my tone growing sharper. "But for those rare, undocumented threats that Carcosa is so fond of birthing, their scores will be determined by none other than myself and Kuzunoha."

I could already imagine Kuzunoha's faint prideful smirk at the mention of her name.

Actually, I just checked right now, using my existential height's perceptive extension.

She was no longer smirking, she was grinning devilishly.

"The competition will have three winners, and each will be rewarded with a beautiful crafted sword that are created by none other than our own sole precious and hard-working craftswoman, Naosi. Not only that, each piece will be imbued by blessings given by Kuzunoha, Viviane, and myself.

"The eligible contestants are as follows: the bastioneers, the Heavenly Maids, and the Duolos.

"As for the Duolos… Since you share one mind, you're counted as one entity. I expect your hive mind to put in collective effort."

I already saw some of the bastioneers and the Heavenly Maids taken aback by this statement, especially since there were more than 300 of the Duolos working synchronously and in unified tandem.

They would be able to cover more territory, more battles as a single entity. And most importantly, more processing power for decision making.

I let my voice drop slightly, adding a note of gravity to my words. "This contest isn't just about glory. It's about strengthening our bonds, pushing our limits, and proving—once again—that we are not just survivors, a living, thriving symbolism that can place a an indispensable mark onto the history of Carcosa.

"Likewise, no foul play is tolerated. Perpetrators will receive instant punishment either with their points, or many other forms of discipline that you really don't want to keep inside your memory of its existence.

"Now, prepare yourselves. The Ordeal begins."

The announcement concluded, and the atmosphere across the bastion shifted. Anticipation mingled with determination, and I knew the contest would add a spark of excitement to the grueling hours ahead.

Meanwhile, in the Landship's medical wing, Lupina was fuming.

She lay stomach-down on a medical table, her newly acquired wings and tail restrained by a series of machines that clicked and hummed as they worked. The mineral-textured wings, laced with exotic Theotech material, twitched in agitation as she tried to move, but the restraints held firm.

"This is ridiculous!" Lupina growled, her voice muffled slightly by the way her head rested on the table. "I finally have a body—an amazing body—and I'm stuck here while everyone else gets to have fun with your stupid contest!"

Across the room, Kuzunoha leaned casually against a console, her crimson eyes glinting with amusement as one of her fox ears twitched in reaction. "Fun, is it?" she drawled, her tone laced with her usual haughtiness. "Lupina, my dear, you wouldn't last five minutes in that contest. You have no idea what your Theotech Vessel is capable of. Meanwhile, almost every contestant has their own means of utter dominance.

"The bastioneers received a divine genetic bioengineering and countless Theotech modification, while also imbued by vital and powerful knowledges and wisdom from other worlds.

"The Heavenly Maids are demigods of victory. They are a hundred times more resilient, faster, more tenacious, and more smart than the average person in Carcosa.

"And then there is the Duolos, which is basically an entire army of super-soldiers who don't need to sleep, eat less than a chicken, and possess the intrinsic capability of neuromorphic network that are only available to the interconnected Cognitive Engines in this Landship~"

Lupina turned her head sharply to glare at Kuzunoha. "I know enough! I feel strong—I feel invincible! I'm the newTheotech Vessel now! The very sole being capable of reaching what is beyond what can be comprehended!"

I see that Lupina herself was exaggerating in some parts, but her feeling about her own capability stayed true to her own heart.

Kuzunoha smirked. "Ah, the arrogance of the newly empowered. Let me remind you, Lupina, that your soul and your Vessel are still in the process of attuning. Right now, you're like a child trying to wield a blade twice her size. All power, no finesse~"

The machinery around Lupina whirred softly, a faint arcane glow illuminating the room as Kuzunoha's arcane therapy continued. "This process is vital," she said. "Your case is… unique, after all. A disembodied and uniquely crippled yet thriving soul transplanted into a Theotech Vessel isn't exactly a common occurrence."

Lupina growled in frustration, her tail thrashing as much as the restraints would allow. "I don't care about finesse! I just want to join the fight!"

Verina, seated nearby with her musket resting against her shoulder, watched the exchange with a deadpan expression. "You'd trip over your own wings and crash into the first Calamity Object you see," she said dryly. "It'd be hilarious, honestly. Because you did that when you tried to run for the first time in that body."

"Shut up, Verina!" Lupina snapped, her wings twitching furiously. "You're supposed to be on my side!"

"I am," Verina replied, her tone flat. "I'm on the side of not having to drag your reckless self back in pieces because you decided to charge into a fight you're not ready for."

"I'm probably going to be stronger than you!"

"But that is not the current reality that we're in."

"Just you wait!"

"I'm waiting, alright."

Lupina glared at her as she pouted, but Verina remained unfazed, her expression unreadable as always.

Kuzunoha chuckled softly. "Listen to Verina, Lupina. She's one of the few here with enough sense to recognize when someone is biting off more than they can chew."

"More like she's biting her own tongue," Lupina muttered under her breath.

"Oh, trust me," Verina said, her tone still deadpan. "If I bit my tongue, I wouldn't be able to enjoy this delightful teasing of you being stuck here."

The two went back and forth like this for several minutes, Lupina's frustration clashing with Verina's dry wit. Kuzunoha watched them with a faint smirk, occasionally interjecting with her own biting remarks.

Elsewhere, Viviane was in the hydroponic farm with Charis and Carlotta, overseeing the cultivation of the bastion's food supply, while also having some teaching session about morality, and philosophical principles that the two of my daughters will be good to have. Discover hidden stories at empire

The three of them seem to get along very well. The faint hum of the farm's equipment provides a soothing backdrop.

It was a sharp contrast to the chaos unfolding in the medical wing.

And obviously, an even sharper contrast to the world outside of the Landship, where all inhabitants of this bastion are actively hunting Calamity Objects like they were some preyable herbivores in the calm and nurturing forest.

Even though they were none other than a dangerous and an incomprehensible horror in reality.