Unsafe Working Conditions : A He Who Fights With Monsters 6+ Companion Story

Chapter 11 - Control Preference

 The two figures retreated down the passageway towards the light, the one that was left didn't move. A gurgling hiss accompanied the oppressive silence. Liam looked at Henri and using his synapse nexus sent a message, "Let me get up there and deal the finishing blow, we may be able to find something out."

Henri nodded and the two men moved silently and swiftly. They reached the injured creature, both were shocked at what they saw. It was the general proportions of a very large man, the glaring difference was it had the humanoid equivalent of an alligator for a head. Before the creature even noticed they were there, Liam chanted his spell and plunged his sword into the creature's neck. A gurgling followed by the familiar pop, the creature reverted to rainbow mist.

Having gotten familiar with the effects of his looting power, Liam quickly ducked. Apart from one of his arms he completely avoided the cloud of smoke, "Cats Willy! Little Devil that smells like compost was used with roadkill to make meatloaf then microwaved too long!" Waving his arm to disperse the smoke, with one eye looking down the tunnel he waited for it to clear before looking at what had been looted. There was a small cube about the size of his fingernail, the typical pile of spirit coins and a book. Liam picked up the object and retreated with Henri back into the dark of the cavern.

"That is a skill chip, it is like a memory card for your computer but it worked for people," Henri was explaining the small cube, "It is what I found in my starting room, apparently I have a racial gift that allows me to use them."

Henri accepted the small cube from Liam, as soon as his fist closed golden text erupted from it. Liam had the feeling that whatever was happening to Henri was not what should be happening, while his memories were hazy he was certain that there should not be pain, merely discomfort.

Henri spasmed, still managing to remain on his feet, eventually opening his eyes. "I need to meditate, the skill cube is harsh, it will require time to sort through the information." Henri shakily walked to the wall and using his hand to steady himself, quickly sat and closed his eyes. Liam sat against the opposite wall of the corridor and scanned the cover of the book, 'tribe tactics'.

"Is this a skill book?" Liam asked of his glasses. The outline of the book blinked before being filled in with red then fading to normal. He had begun to understand the glasses, "Show me your settings." While he had the time during Henri's meditation Liam decided it would be prudent to go through whatever he could to learn about his abilities.

Ability: Augmented Reality - Settings

Target Lock - On/Off/Auto

Information Download - On/Off/Auto

Weakpoint Designation - On/Off/Auto

Non-Biological Identification - On/Off/Auto

Ability Identification - On/Off/Auto

Target Mana Value - Unavailable

Target Health Value - Unavailable

Target Affliction Status - Unavailable

Control Preference : Audible/Gesture/BMI (Requires Calibration)

Remote Monitoring - Unavailable

Addon Slots in Use (0/3)

Liam perused the different options that were available. With his memories still hazy he relied on his gut. The one setting that seemed to stick out to him the most was the 'Control Preference' which allowed for the selection of Audible, Gesture and BMI. The last option was an acronym which had the caveat of needing calibration. From what he could remember all Essence abilities would impart a general understanding upon their inception and would require training to fully grasp what they could do. Figuring that the Configuration would be something like a video game where he would be required to look up then down then select brightness or inverted controls he selected BMI.