>>6026849“It has everything you’d expect from a regular phone,” Not a clue what to expect here but you don’t say that, “but it also has an application called ‘Industry’ that allows me to edit the world around me by placing buildings and furniture granted I have the right materials nearby. With it, I’ve created this entire city and legions of self-replicating droids to further expand.”
“And how did that show you anything? Is there a guide to it?”
“Well not really, but the more I build the greater the things I can. It has a perk tree,” He taps the app and shows you a screen that has a bunch of orange squares with little white icons connected by white lines to other squares in a grid-like pattern. Some of the squares are attached to gray squares by similarly grayed-out lines. “I’ve been rushing the army focus recently since once I complete a full focus I get a perk that makes it so everything doesn't come with a self-destruction button and-”
“And one of those foci’ contains a requirement for humans and metal? Like you kidnapper said?”
He seems to be thinking carefully about how to say the words, “Yes- but I can assure you there’s no pain in the transaction. I had the sacrifices killed humanely.”
Marie lets out a strangled gasp before once again exploding, “Humanely? How do you kill someone humanely?! And you did it all for your Cheat Skill? What the Hell is wrong with you!” As she says this the Skycar finally reaches its destination. It floats behind the Stranger facing you through the window.
“So you wouldn’t be able to change them back?”
“What? Of course not. Sure their memories are similar and Industry said something about the corpse needing to be fresh ‘for the soul’ whatever that means but no I wouldn’t and I couldn’t if I did ever want to, not of the next focuses said anything about that.”
“So you willfully chose to follow a path that requires you to spill blood to sacrifice to your Skill?” Marie asks.
“I did not do so lightly, Its benefits far outweighed the downsides and-”
“Then you chose to take innocents and kill them for your petty ambition?”
“There is nothing petty about it! It’s not like I was really killing them anyways they came back and were more than happy to serve me!”
Marie looks at you, both resigned and absolved, “Lorina, I don’t think we’ll be learning anything else worth knowing from him.”
“What? Hey! I can still provide-”
“I agree Marie but what are you going to do about that?”
She nods at you and turns back to the Strange man, he gets a moment of confusion before he screams. His hand goes flying, having been severed by Marie’s blade. In a second she leaps forward, grabs the Stranger’s other hand, and forces him to press the giant red button. The entire city glows red and sirens begin to blare.
