Space jump tech is still developing, and humanity is currently limited to intragalactic exploration. A ship's crew gets stranded in the future and have to explore the galaxy to piece together how to get home.
(Author's Note: This particular chapter has more pictures than prior chapters. This is because I had fully animated this battle scene, which you can find over on YouTube. Here's the URL, hopefully it converts it to an actual link:)
https://youtu.be/77i3Zy8NWFY?si=OFQvP8ZDsCkeyFpp
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I materialize in a wooded area outside several meters behind some kind of building. From where I stand, I can see several large flooded areas just like Ilirora said. Then my attention is brought back to the front when I hear a broadcast.
"Attention staff of Thicillon. Another guest has arrived. This guest is reserved specifically for Miss Bagley. You are instructed to leave him alive. You are permitted to inflict wounds, but the choice of whether he lives or dies is reserved for Miss Bagley. Thank you."
I frown, seething. I'm never going to be rid of this, huh? Then I shake my head, clearing my thoughts. No, I need to focus on finding the girls. I immediately drop to a crouch and start making my way towards the building. Clearing the trees, I don't see anyone nearby, but the door to the building is open.
It looks like one of those old Victorian style houses that I read about in history books. I quickly straighten out and go into a run. I jump, flip and roll through the door, hoping that no one saw me. Coming out of my roll, I return to a jog, being careful of the several doors that line this hallway from back door to front.
One door at the end on the left is open. Right as I'm coming up to it, I see a figure coming out the door. I quickly drop to a slide, taking out their feet as we cross through the same space. Crap, it's some kind of robot, and it was carrying a giant mace.
I immediately hop up from the slide and head out the front door. I hear the steps of it getting up and following. As soon as I'm out of the door, I slide off the porch to the ground. Hitting the ground, I turn just to see the robot spinning to attack me. Crap. I go to roll backwards, but the mace clips my shoulder on the way.
Coming out of the roll, I duck low, ball up my fist and bring it into an uppercut putting the robot on its back. As soon as it's down, I snap my fingers and transmute my sword. Which, I've gotten good at being able to do without the extra materials. I just transmute part of my prosthetic arm, which in hindsight probably isn't a good idea in case I have an accident. I'll have to think about this later.
This thought is only in my head for a hot second. Now that I have my sword, I'm waiting to see its next move. It's taking its time getting up, but as soon as it lifts itself up just enough, I give it a hard spinning kick. That knocks it back several more meters. Okay, I've wasted enough time. I need to find Misaki and the twins.
I move towards it. It pulls to a kip up and as soon as it's on its feet, I strike. Moving in fast and swift, I spin my sword and my body in an upward left arc, lifting both of us into the air. However, as I spin around, I arc my right arm and sword up and down into a knockdown slash which slams the robot to the ground hard.