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

The map Viviane had drawn earlier still shimmered faintly on the table's surface, but the real marvel began when the water nymph herself stepped forward.

"Let's make this more comprehensible," Viviane said, her voice a serene melody of command. She raised her delicate hands, her fae magic manifesting in a glow of soft aqua and emerald light.

The map responded instantly, its lines and marks lifting from the surface as if carried on unseen currents. The two-dimensional layout unfurled into a breathtaking three-dimensional projection, so vivid, the structures and underground infrastructure of the Theotech Vault brought to life in striking detail.

The holographic projection floated above the table, a colossal labyrinth of interlocking chambers, towering spires, and sprawling conduits that seemed to spiral endlessly into the depths of the earth. The Vault itself resembled a fractal, with its design repeating on micro and macro scales, its symmetry both hypnotic and disorienting.

The most striking feature was its centerpiece—a titanic central spire that stretched from the very bottom of the Vault to its apex, radiating an aura of sheer dominion. Its surface was covered in shifting glyphs and geometric patterns that seemed alive, pulsing with an otherworldly rhythm.

Encircling this spire were concentric rings of segmented structures—massive platforms, corridors, and bridges suspended in a web of impossible architecture.

And because the projection was so high quality because of the nature of the fae magic, some of us felt a genuine nausea when trying to comprehend the formation of the geometry.

I, for example, was one of them.

It seemed like becoming a demigod doesn't do jack shit when it comes to Theotech, huh.

And I wasn't even done.

The Vault's walls glimmered like liquid metal, their surfaces etched with lines of golden luminescence that flowed like veins, giving the impression that the entire structure was alive. Spiraling conduits connected each segment, forming what looked like an intricate circulatory system. Smaller towers and spheres hovered in the air, held aloft by invisible forces.

Every inch of the projection radiated an aura of ancient, unknowable power.

Viviane stepped back, her expression one of quiet pride as she gestured toward the projection. "There you have it," she said softly. "A visual aid for us to comprehend the scale of what we're dealing with. This Vault… it's twenty times the size of the Landship."

Right, my senses didn't spread wide and large enough to even cover the Theotech Site, nor have I gone outside yet to see the scenery—this revelation hit me quite hard.

The sheer magnitude of the statement hung in the air like a tangible weight. Even I, with my well-practiced poker face, felt the corners of my mouth twitch as I glanced at the holographic monstrosity.

"Twenty times…" Charis murmured, her white eyes wide with disbelief. "How does something that big even stay hidden?"

"Better question," Verina interjected dryly, "How does something that big not collapse under its own weight?"

"Advanced Theotech," Kuzunoha answered simply, her voice laced with both fascination and caution. She began pacing slowly, her crimson gaze locked on the holographic projection. "Every piece of this Vault, every structure and corridor, was designed with precision far beyond our current understanding. It is a masterpiece of divine engineering. And like all masterpieces, it's as dangerous as it is beautiful.

"As for why it stayed hidden. Well, it had just been resurfaced after the latest world's calibration. Not to mention, there was just a dense Theotech influence that acted like a stealthy dome to hide this whole site under it."

"Which is why I checked for biological life," Viviane added. "There are no signs of anything organic inside the Vault. No inhabitants, no guards, no traps that rely on flesh-and-blood entities either."

"Doesn't matter," Kuzunoha said sharply, her voice cutting through the brief spark of hope. "Organic or inorganic, the defenses in a Vault like this aren't bound by such distinctions. After all, many Theotech operates like fae magic—it bends reality itself to its will. A wish becomes law, and that law becomes a death sentence for anyone who isn't prepared!~"

The room fell silent again as everyone processed her words. My gaze shifted back to the holographic projection, my mind racing as I tried to imagine the kind of horrors that might lie within those walls.

To a great extent, it was as exciting as it was horrifying.

"So," I said finally, breaking the tension with a deliberately casual tone. "What kind of dangers are we looking at? Give me your worst-case scenarios, Kuzunoha."

Her smile turned razor-sharp, a glint of dark amusement in her crimson eyes. "Where to begin?" she mused, tapping a finger against her lips. "Let's see… There's the classic body-compressing trap—a localized field that condenses anything caught within it into a neat little cube, bones and all."

Charis winced visibly, quite adorably, her hands tightening into a curl.. "That's… graphic."

"Oh, that's just the start," Kuzunoha continued cheerfully, ignoring Charis' discomfort. "Then there are the auto-manifesting guardians. Picture a being of pure energy and metal materializing out of thin air the moment it detects an intruder. They're fast, relentless, and usually equipped with weapons you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Sounds exciting," Verina commented. It seemed like the idea of fighting a Theotech-based entity was merely an amusement to her at this point. Not a single fear or hesitation.

"Let's not forget the neural virus," Kuzunoha added, her smile widening. "A lovely little piece of Theotech that invades your brain, rewires your nervous system, and then… well, let's just say you don't want to be awake when your body starts melting from the inside out."

Lupina let out an audible gulp, her disembodied head tilting nervously. "Okay, I get it. This place is a death trap. You don't need to keep listing things."

Kuzunoha smirked. "Oh, I've barely scratched the surface."

"Save it for later," I said, raising a hand to cut her off. "I think we all get the point—this Vault isn't going to roll out the welcome mat for us."

"Indeed," Kuzunoha agreed, her expression sobering. "Which brings us to our primary objective." She turned toward Lupina, whose wolfish ears seemed to perk up. "While it is best for ust to grab as many harmless Theotechs we encounter to maximise our findings, we're here for one specific item—a Theotech Vessel. Something capable of housing and supporting Lupina's essence."

Lupina's eyes widened, her tone suddenly giddy. "Finally! My favorite part of the deal!"

"That's the idea," I said with a smile. "But don't get too excited just yet. Securing it will be no small feat."

"Oh, I'm already excited regardless!" Lupina declared, practically vibrating with enthusiasm. "I'm going to get a body! A real body! Just you wait—I'll be the most powerful thing in this Landship once I've got legs again!"

The room erupted into a mixture of laughter and teasing remarks, Lupina's exuberance proving infectious despite the gravity of the situation. Even I couldn't suppress a small smile as I watched her bask in the hope of a brighter future.

Once the mood settled, I addressed the group. "Alright, we've got our target and a solid understanding of what we're up against. Now we need to prepare."

After finalizing the plans with my confidantes, I stood, adjusting the folds of my coat with practiced precision. My reflection in the polished surface of the Neuro Alloy walls flickered faintly—an image of unyielding authority, as it should be.

In the end, since the Theotech Vault was much more complex and guarded than I thought, I decided that we should start the expedition tomorrow instead of today.

"Let's call them in," I said, my tone decisive. "They need to be fully briefed on tomorrow's expedition. Charis, notify the bastioneers to gather in the meeting chamber within ten minutes."

Charis nodded, her white eyes glimmering faintly. "Understood, Father."

In her hand, was a cognitive device that she built on her own. It took the Foundational Template that I created with Kuzunoha, but she added some of her own little twist to it.

And now that she possessed her own Cognitive Engine to connect with the neuromorphic network of the Landship, she acted as my second secretary that I could ask when it comes to ordering around the bastioneers.

Why didn't I just do it myself, one may ask?

Well, because it's nice to regulate the common tasks to my own people, instead of doing everything myself, duh.

The bastioneers, as always, responded with remarkable efficiency. Within minutes, the meeting chamber was filled with their presence. Kara, Yora, Sera, Erika, Lydia, Callista, Amelia, Naosi, and Primus stood in respectful silence, their expressions ranging from calm attentiveness to quiet determination. Each bastioneer carried themselves with the poise and discipline befitting their station—ever-reverent, ever-loyal.

As I looked around the room, the bastioneers, confidantes—for a moment, a sense of pride swelled in my chest. These were not just subordinates. They were the backbone of this bastion, my chosen warriors and protectors.

Their presence was a reminder that achieving happiness and stability was not a mere dream in this maddening world, because if I trained or enhanced someone loyal with enough power and authority, I don't need to do jack shit and have everything done per my bidding.

I stepped forward, letting the weight of my gaze fall on each of them. "Thank you all for gathering so quickly," I began, my voice even yet commanding. "What I am about to share with you concerns our next major operation. It is both a rare opportunity and an unprecedented challenge, outside of the ordeal that we faced before we reached the presence."

With a gesture, I activated the holographic projection Viviane had created earlier. The 3D representation of the Theotech Vault sprang to life, its sprawling labyrinth of alien structures and intricate conduits casting an ethereal glow across the chamber.

"This," I said, gesturing toward the projection, "Is our target. A Theotech Vault—one of the most ancient and heavily-guarded sites in Carcosa. Within its depths lies an immense treasure trove for Theotech.

"And unlike all of the ruins and small ransacked architecture that you often find all around Carcosa, this one is a tough nut to crack, even if we have the hammer of god at our disposal."

A ripple of intrigue passed through the room, though the bastioneers maintained their composure.

Charis then fiddled with her personal Cognitive Engine, a signal for me to elaborate my part.

"This Vault," I said, pointing to the central spire in the projection, "Is no ordinary structure. Its size alone dwarfs our Landship by twentyfold, and its defenses are as advanced as they are dangerous. We're dealing with technology that can rewrite reality itself, traps that could compress you into a cube, guardians that materialize without warning, and other possible dangers that I have listed and given precautions for that is currently being sent to each of your MSUs,

"Please refer or ask your Cognitive Engines to analyze the data and information that has just been sent."

After letting the weight of my words and the updated information settle over the room, I continued my speech. "This is not a mission to be taken lightly. Preparation will be crucial, which is why we're not moving out today. The Ordeal of the Dusk is only six hours away, and we'll need every moment to ensure we're ready."

The bastioneers agreed to my decision, whether they showcased it in action or just merely having a thought of it, my heightened existence was capable of reading it all.

"Now," I continued, "I'm considering involving a few of the Heavenly Maids in this operation. Their unique abilities could prove invaluable, especially given the nature of the Vault's defenses. Though, since their positions were lower than all of you, it also meant that some of you possess the responsibility to take after them and order them to their brightest potential in any given scenario."

Lupina's voice broke afterward. "Wait, Heavenly Maids? You mean those twenty clones of the Heavenly Victory you enslaved and turned into walking fashion statements?"

I allowed myself a small smile. "Yes, those Heavenly Maids. They've proven themselves capable thus far, and I see no reason not to utilize their skills where appropriate."

"Well, this is the first time I heard that they were called that."

"That's because it is the first time I said that they are called that."

Returning my attention to the group, I continued giving the needed information, before I ordered Charis to send the rest of the comprehensive breakdown of the Vault's layout, its known and potential dangers, and the strategy we had discussed earlier.

Together with the hypothetical data that was sent to them earlier, their Cognitive Engines should all be starting to be calculating and working on their own personalized inputs and guidance for their respective owners.

"This information," I said, my tone firm, "Review it thoroughly together with your personal Cognitive Engines. If you have questions or suggestions, bring them to me or any of the confidantes before tomorrow. Dismissed."

The bastioneers bowed in unison, their movements precise and quite synchronized. One by one, they filed out of the room.

Once the room was empty, save for my confidantes, Charis approached me, her expression curious. "What are we going to do until the Ordeal of the Dusk, Father?"

I glanced at the holographic projection one last time before deactivating it. "We're going to upgrade the bastion's defenses," I said simply. "While it is important to prepare for the future complications, it is imperative that we should also focus on the nearest event" I allowed a small, sly smile to cross my lips. "There's no harm in being overprepared, but what matters is the order of priority that we put in our mind."

Charis nodded, her white eyes gleaming with quiet determination. "Understood! So when shall we start?"

"After the next feast that I was about to prepare."

Hearing those words, all of my confidantes rejoiced in unison.