Chapter 477
If audio player doesn't work, press Stop then Play button again
Chapter 477
Silence. That was one advantage that the void of space provided for those who wished to move about unknown. Being able to easily approach from any direction was useful, but not necessary. The drawbacks far outweighed the advantages in Velvets opinion. Silence she could manage on her own. Without gravity being a major factor, cultivators with any sense did not expect anyone to approach in a certain manner, and thus there was no chance to surprise them when something changed.
For the personal techniques of Velvet, making herself blend seamlessly into the surroundings was rather impossible when there were no surroundings. Even something like the void ants stood out, because a space of no energy when the only thing to sense was energy was the clearest change that could happen. In short, Velvet had only the background levels of upper energy to blend in with, and any activity on her part would disturb that fabric and potentially reveal her.
From afar, not many could pick her out regardless of those limitations. She hadnt devoted a century to stealth techniques for nothing- but there were always those who could counter any specific ability you had. Some honed their senses merely because they were part of them, while others focused on a specific purpose. The wide variety in exactly how much could be sensed in particular scenarios- where there werent powerful cultivators advertising themselves for hundreds of kilometers or more- that caused uncertainty.
But Velvet knew one thing for sure. Others had perished around the rings of the gas giant below, the cover they provided insufficient even at great distances. Some had survived, speaking of the arrows that followed them wherever they went which was exactly why Velvet was present now. And she was hiding because there was a reasonable chance it was a different archer than who she was seeking. Kseniya was supposed to have stayed in communication with the others, but for some reason or other after she ascended there was very little word from her. At the current moment it was only presumed she was alive, and in the general region they last knew her to be.
Velvet was not alone- but the others were quite some distance back. Tens of kilometers or more, though it would only take a short time to cover if combat started. Allies from the Dark Ring, interested in determining the allegiances of this particular individual as much as she was. If it turned out they were a danger, Velvet would have backup if she survived long enough.
Dropping up and down and around the components of the ring was a million times better than being in completely empty space, but the small particles were hardly helpful, and even ten meter rocks only blocked the view of Velvet for an instant, and not from all angles. Larger pieces could cover her for a while, but they might also be more closely watched.
Velvet made her way around the rings, hoping that whoever the quarry turned out to be was not an expert at concealment. In some aspects searching through the rings of this planet would be a larger task than combing the entire surface of Ceretos for someone, with the one caveat that there was almost nowhere to hide. Technically someone could burrow into one of the larger floating pieces, but the signs of change would be obvious in a world untouched by human hands. In addition to that, there were no pesky things like plants or animals to distract her.
Not so far at least. Even if there were inhabitants of such a place, they would be few and far between. Then again, anything that survived in the rings of a planet like this would be a troublesome foe- either a powerful hunter, or a deadly ambush predator. So Velvet carefully crept her way through the area, just in case something tried to get the drop on her.
When the time came, she was prepared. The first arrow pierced straight through her chest, or at least that was what she hoped the archer felt. She sustained a dummy of energy for a few moments, letting it become a pincushion before it disintegrated. The arrows themselves seemed to indicate one step in the favor of it being Kseniya. They werent exactly like she remembered, but they were formed of pure energy. The difference between upper and lower energy made it difficult to discern more with Velvets lack of deep training in archery.
The first volley had come from so far off that Velvet hadnt sensed the attacker. As she pushed her sensory energy along the path the arrows had traveled, she found nothing. What that meant was unclear. Her target was too far, expertly hidden, or the path was fake. It could be any of those, or more.
It seemed her decoy had been good enough to give her a moment of safety. Perhaps shed managed to blend in with her surroundings again or perhaps she was being watched. She didnt feel any signs of energy, but it could be a passive approach.
The next arrows came from behind her, exactly the opposite direction along the ring. They werent hidden, but she was only barely able to prepare her response with their speed. One she shattered, the others she dodged in the same manner. Unfortunately, her decoy did no good the second time. The arrows pierced through it, then twisted to follow her. She had to attack them to disrupt their energy. Another point towards it being Kseniya. At this point, Velvet was almost willing to reveal herself. Even if Kseniya wanted to move on from the Order after ascending for some reason, they would have no reason to be enemies.
The next attacks came simultaneously from the inner and outer parts of the ring, instead of around the curve. Obviously the arrows were flying an indirect path towards her, but from where? She couldnt sense the origin within any reasonable distance. Even an unreasonable distance, but then again she understood that Antons range had become rather unfathomable outside of a planets atmosphere. Planetary rings werent completely devoid of friction, but it was close.
-----
The tip of the fighter plunged down, or at least away from its previous trajectory. Even so, the sensors read hits along both wings. If Nicodemo didnt know any better, hed say that they were wrong. But he had sensed it, the tiny specks of energy raining down upon his vessel. Though the cockpit was safe for the moment, the engines were running below capacity, and he lost his ability to accelerate.
Unlike a purely atmospheric fighter, there werent engines only pointed forward, but due to design and budget limitations they still had to deal with a front and rear, directions of simplest motion determined by the biggest engines and how they set up the cockpit. Nicodemo looked around, trying to see if he could salvage the situation. The sensors said he still had one gun on the left wing. He wasnt going to make it back anyway, so he might as well take someone out with him.
He flipped the ship, overshooting his position and having to more slowly pull back because of the missing thrusters. He lined up his shot, his energy senses stretching to their limit and beyond, locking onto the target in front of him. He drew himself back like an arrow, ready to fire from the ships cannon. Then he was cut in half down the middle.
The ships autopilot took over, reorienting the vessel and routing it back to the station. Nicodemo sighed. This nonlethal piloting system certainly felt more realistic than pure simulations, but it still had some bugs to work out. It didnt change the fact that hed lost to Quigley, in fact it might have even happened sooner if the vessels had a perfect read on the mans energy, but he could see why pilots were still hesitant to use it for training.
What was that? Nicodemo asked of his sparring partner. ... Hello? Quigley?
A burst of static. Sorry, what? I stepped out for a second.
How the hell did you step out for a second? Theres barely room to turn an ankle in these cockpits.
Oh, I just popped out the top for a second. What was your question?
... I asked what the attack was that finished me off. I didnt notice it coming. And did you just say you stepped out of the cockpit?
Yes sir, General Nicodemo. I did say that. Youve been so encouraging of experimenting with new methods I thought Id try it. So I did. I pulled out my sword, and cut the fighter in two with aura. Could have been real, though.
... Listen, Im fine with you experimenting. But dont think Im going to recommend anyone else try the same. And howd you fit a sword into the cockpit with you?
Storage bag, Ty Quigley responded over the radio.
Dont know why I asked, General Nicodemo muttered to himself. What he wouldnt give to be that guy instead of in his own position. Especially since he was now going to have to explain to people that it made sense for a dude to open his cockpit at supersonic speed. Hed better not have lost the top. They werent meant to do that, and military vehicles were expensive.
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Chapter 477
Silence. That was one advantage that the void of space provided for those who wished to move about unknown. Being able to easily approach from any direction was useful, but not necessary. The drawbacks far outweighed the advantages in Velvets opinion. Silence she could manage on her own. Without gravity being a major factor, cultivators with any sense did not expect anyone to approach in a certain manner, and thus there was no chance to surprise them when something changed.
For the personal techniques of Velvet, making herself blend seamlessly into the surroundings was rather impossible when there were no surroundings. Even something like the void ants stood out, because a space of no energy when the only thing to sense was energy was the clearest change that could happen. In short, Velvet had only the background levels of upper energy to blend in with, and any activity on her part would disturb that fabric and potentially reveal her.
From afar, not many could pick her out regardless of those limitations. She hadnt devoted a century to stealth techniques for nothing- but there were always those who could counter any specific ability you had. Some honed their senses merely because they were part of them, while others focused on a specific purpose. The wide variety in exactly how much could be sensed in particular scenarios- where there werent powerful cultivators advertising themselves for hundreds of kilometers or more- that caused uncertainty.
But Velvet knew one thing for sure. Others had perished around the rings of the gas giant below, the cover they provided insufficient even at great distances. Some had survived, speaking of the arrows that followed them wherever they went which was exactly why Velvet was present now. And she was hiding because there was a reasonable chance it was a different archer than who she was seeking. Kseniya was supposed to have stayed in communication with the others, but for some reason or other after she ascended there was very little word from her. At the current moment it was only presumed she was alive, and in the general region they last knew her to be.
Velvet was not alone- but the others were quite some distance back. Tens of kilometers or more, though it would only take a short time to cover if combat started. Allies from the Dark Ring, interested in determining the allegiances of this particular individual as much as she was. If it turned out they were a danger, Velvet would have backup if she survived long enough.
Dropping up and down and around the components of the ring was a million times better than being in completely empty space, but the small particles were hardly helpful, and even ten meter rocks only blocked the view of Velvet for an instant, and not from all angles. Larger pieces could cover her for a while, but they might also be more closely watched.
Velvet made her way around the rings, hoping that whoever the quarry turned out to be was not an expert at concealment. In some aspects searching through the rings of this planet would be a larger task than combing the entire surface of Ceretos for someone, with the one caveat that there was almost nowhere to hide. Technically someone could burrow into one of the larger floating pieces, but the signs of change would be obvious in a world untouched by human hands. In addition to that, there were no pesky things like plants or animals to distract her.
Not so far at least. Even if there were inhabitants of such a place, they would be few and far between. Then again, anything that survived in the rings of a planet like this would be a troublesome foe- either a powerful hunter, or a deadly ambush predator. So Velvet carefully crept her way through the area, just in case something tried to get the drop on her.
When the time came, she was prepared. The first arrow pierced straight through her chest, or at least that was what she hoped the archer felt. She sustained a dummy of energy for a few moments, letting it become a pincushion before it disintegrated. The arrows themselves seemed to indicate one step in the favor of it being Kseniya. They werent exactly like she remembered, but they were formed of pure energy. The difference between upper and lower energy made it difficult to discern more with Velvets lack of deep training in archery.
The first volley had come from so far off that Velvet hadnt sensed the attacker. As she pushed her sensory energy along the path the arrows had traveled, she found nothing. What that meant was unclear. Her target was too far, expertly hidden, or the path was fake. It could be any of those, or more.
It seemed her decoy had been good enough to give her a moment of safety. Perhaps shed managed to blend in with her surroundings again or perhaps she was being watched. She didnt feel any signs of energy, but it could be a passive approach.
The next arrows came from behind her, exactly the opposite direction along the ring. They werent hidden, but she was only barely able to prepare her response with their speed. One she shattered, the others she dodged in the same manner. Unfortunately, her decoy did no good the second time. The arrows pierced through it, then twisted to follow her. She had to attack them to disrupt their energy. Another point towards it being Kseniya. At this point, Velvet was almost willing to reveal herself. Even if Kseniya wanted to move on from the Order after ascending for some reason, they would have no reason to be enemies.
The next attacks came simultaneously from the inner and outer parts of the ring, instead of around the curve. Obviously the arrows were flying an indirect path towards her, but from where? She couldnt sense the origin within any reasonable distance. Even an unreasonable distance, but then again she understood that Antons range had become rather unfathomable outside of a planets atmosphere. Planetary rings werent completely devoid of friction, but it was close.
-----
The tip of the fighter plunged down, or at least away from its previous trajectory. Even so, the sensors read hits along both wings. If Nicodemo didnt know any better, hed say that they were wrong. But he had sensed it, the tiny specks of energy raining down upon his vessel. Though the cockpit was safe for the moment, the engines were running below capacity, and he lost his ability to accelerate.
Unlike a purely atmospheric fighter, there werent engines only pointed forward, but due to design and budget limitations they still had to deal with a front and rear, directions of simplest motion determined by the biggest engines and how they set up the cockpit. Nicodemo looked around, trying to see if he could salvage the situation. The sensors said he still had one gun on the left wing. He wasnt going to make it back anyway, so he might as well take someone out with him.
He flipped the ship, overshooting his position and having to more slowly pull back because of the missing thrusters. He lined up his shot, his energy senses stretching to their limit and beyond, locking onto the target in front of him. He drew himself back like an arrow, ready to fire from the ships cannon. Then he was cut in half down the middle.
The ships autopilot took over, reorienting the vessel and routing it back to the station. Nicodemo sighed. This nonlethal piloting system certainly felt more realistic than pure simulations, but it still had some bugs to work out. It didnt change the fact that hed lost to Quigley, in fact it might have even happened sooner if the vessels had a perfect read on the mans energy, but he could see why pilots were still hesitant to use it for training.
What was that? Nicodemo asked of his sparring partner. ... Hello? Quigley?
A burst of static. Sorry, what? I stepped out for a second.
How the hell did you step out for a second? Theres barely room to turn an ankle in these cockpits.
Oh, I just popped out the top for a second. What was your question?
... I asked what the attack was that finished me off. I didnt notice it coming. And did you just say you stepped out of the cockpit?
Yes sir, General Nicodemo. I did say that. Youve been so encouraging of experimenting with new methods I thought Id try it. So I did. I pulled out my sword, and cut the fighter in two with aura. Could have been real, though.
... Listen, Im fine with you experimenting. But dont think Im going to recommend anyone else try the same. And howd you fit a sword into the cockpit with you?
Storage bag, Ty Quigley responded over the radio.
Dont know why I asked, General Nicodemo muttered to himself. What he wouldnt give to be that guy instead of in his own position. Especially since he was now going to have to explain to people that it made sense for a dude to open his cockpit at supersonic speed. Hed better not have lost the top. They werent meant to do that, and military vehicles were expensive.
Chapter 477Silence. That was one advantage that the void of space provided for those who wished to move about unknown. Being able to easily approach from any direction was useful, but not necessary. The drawbacks far outweighed the advantages in Velvets opinion. Silence she could manage on her own. Without gravity being a major factor, cultivators with any sense did not expect anyone to approach in a certain manner, and thus there was no chance to surprise them when something changed.For the personal techniques of Velvet, making herself blend seamlessly into the surroundings was rather impossible when there were no surroundings. Even something like the void ants stood out, because a space of no energy when the only thing to sense was energy was the clearest change that could happen. In short, Velvet had only the background levels of upper energy to blend in with, and any activity on her part would disturb that fabric and potentially reveal her. From afar, not many could pick her out regardless of those limitations. She hadnt devoted a century to stealth techniques for nothing- but there were always those who could counter any specific ability you had. Some honed their senses merely because they were part of them, while others focused on a specific purpose. The wide variety in exactly how much could be sensed in particular scenarios- where there werent powerful cultivators advertising themselves for hundreds of kilometers or more- that caused uncertainty.But Velvet knew one thing for sure. Others had perished around the rings of the gas giant below, the cover they provided insufficient even at great distances. Some had survived, speaking of the arrows that followed them wherever they went which was exactly why Velvet was present now. And she was hiding because there was a reasonable chance it was a different archer than who she was seeking. Kseniya was supposed to have stayed in communication with the others, but for some reason or other after she ascended there was very little word from her. At the current moment it was only presumed she was alive, and in the general region they last knew her to be.Velvet was not alone- but the others were quite some distance back. Tens of kilometers or more, though it would only take a short time to cover if combat started. Allies from the Dark Ring, interested in determining the allegiances of this particular individual as much as she was. If it turned out they were a danger, Velvet would have backup if she survived long enough.Dropping up and down and around the components of the ring was a million times better than being in completely empty space, but the small particles were hardly helpful, and even ten meter rocks only blocked the view of Velvet for an instant, and not from all angles. Larger pieces could cover her for a while, but they might also be more closely watched.Velvet made her way around the rings, hoping that whoever the quarry turned out to be was not an expert at concealment. In some aspects searching through the rings of this planet would be a larger task than combing the entire surface of Ceretos for someone, with the one caveat that there was almost nowhere to hide. Technically someone could burrow into one of the larger floating pieces, but the signs of change would be obvious in a world untouched by human hands. In addition to that, there were no pesky things like plants or animals to distract her.Not so far at least. Even if there were inhabitants of such a place, they would be few and far between. Then again, anything that survived in the rings of a planet like this would be a troublesome foe- either a powerful hunter, or a deadly ambush predator. So Velvet carefully crept her way through the area, just in case something tried to get the drop on her. When the time came, she was prepared. The first arrow pierced straight through her chest, or at least that was what she hoped the archer felt. She sustained a dummy of energy for a few moments, letting it become a pincushion before it disintegrated. The arrows themselves seemed to indicate one step in the favor of it being Kseniya. They werent exactly like she remembered, but they were formed of pure energy. The difference between upper and lower energy made it difficult to discern more with Velvets lack of deep training in archery.The first volley had come from so far off that Velvet hadnt sensed the attacker. As she pushed her sensory energy along the path the arrows had traveled, she found nothing. What that meant was unclear. Her target was too far, expertly hidden, or the path was fake. It could be any of those, or more.It seemed her decoy had been good enough to give her a moment of safety. Perhaps shed managed to blend in with her surroundings again or perhaps she was being watched. She didnt feel any signs of energy, but it could be a passive approach. The next arrows came from behind her, exactly the opposite direction along the ring. They werent hidden, but she was only barely able to prepare her response with their speed. One she shattered, the others she dodged in the same manner. Unfortunately, her decoy did no good the second time. The arrows pierced through it, then twisted to follow her. She had to attack them to disrupt their energy. Another point towards it being Kseniya. At this point, Velvet was almost willing to reveal herself. Even if Kseniya wanted to move on from the Order after ascending for some reason, they would have no reason to be enemies.The next attacks came simultaneously from the inner and outer parts of the ring, instead of around the curve. Obviously the arrows were flying an indirect path towards her, but from where? She couldnt sense the origin within any reasonable distance. Even an unreasonable distance, but then again she understood that Antons range had become rather unfathomable outside of a planets atmosphere. Planetary rings werent completely devoid of friction, but it was close.-----The tip of the fighter plunged down, or at least away from its previous trajectory. Even so, the sensors read hits along both wings. If Nicodemo didnt know any better, hed say that they were wrong. But he had sensed it, the tiny specks of energy raining down upon his vessel. Though the cockpit was safe for the moment, the engines were running below capacity, and he lost his ability to accelerate.Unlike a purely atmospheric fighter, there werent engines only pointed forward, but due to design and budget limitations they still had to deal with a front and rear, directions of simplest motion determined by the biggest engines and how they set up the cockpit. Nicodemo looked around, trying to see if he could salvage the situation. The sensors said he still had one gun on the left wing. He wasnt going to make it back anyway, so he might as well take someone out with him.He flipped the ship, overshooting his position and having to more slowly pull back because of the missing thrusters. He lined up his shot, his energy senses stretching to their limit and beyond, locking onto the target in front of him. He drew himself back like an arrow, ready to fire from the ships cannon. Then he was cut in half down the middle.The ships autopilot took over, reorienting the vessel and routing it back to the station. Nicodemo sighed. This nonlethal piloting system certainly felt more realistic than pure simulations, but it still had some bugs to work out. It didnt change the fact that hed lost to Quigley, in fact it might have even happened sooner if the vessels had a perfect read on the mans energy, but he could see why pilots were still hesitant to use it for training.What was that? Nicodemo asked of his sparring partner. ... Hello? Quigley?A burst of static. Sorry, what? I stepped out for a second.How the hell did you step out for a second? Theres barely room to turn an ankle in these cockpits.Oh, I just popped out the top for a second. What was your question?... I asked what the attack was that finished me off. I didnt notice it coming. And did you just say you stepped out of the cockpit?Yes sir, General Nicodemo. I did say that. Youve been so encouraging of experimenting with new methods I thought Id try it. So I did. I pulled out my sword, and cut the fighter in two with aura. Could have been real, though.... Listen, Im fine with you experimenting. But dont think Im going to recommend anyone else try the same. And howd you fit a sword into the cockpit with you?Storage bag, Ty Quigley responded over the radio.Dont know why I asked, General Nicodemo muttered to himself. What he wouldnt give to be that guy instead of in his own position. Especially since he was now going to have to explain to people that it made sense for a dude to open his cockpit at supersonic speed. Hed better not have lost the top. They werent meant to do that, and military vehicles were expensive.
