9K word chapter.
Took a while longer because I added quite a bit more to the chapter.
I think it came out pretty well. So enjoy!
.
.
.
—
[Disclaimer! Hidden Quest complete! Shadow of the Past!]
/Nod…/
Philip nodded in satisfaction as he waited in the elevator hall.
But before seeing his rewards for finishing his Class Mission, Philip checked what he gained from his last Contract.
It wasn't a difficult one, so he didn't expect a lot, however, it was the last one out of a string of Contracts, the culmination of all his efforts.
So he expected something sizable to counterbalance its difficulty:
[You have finished your last contract!]
[All of your Class-related skills gained a massive amount of proficiency]
[Rodrigues Perfected Shadow Technique Lv6 -> Lv8]
[Inhuman Martial Arts(Incomplete) Lv3 -> Lv6]
[Steel Flash Lv4 -> Lv6]
[Sword Flash Lv12 -> LvMax]
[Momentum Lv 9 -> Lv12]
[You have gained a new Skill, Phantom Sword Lv0]
[Phantom Sword
Description:
A technique only seen in those who have understood the fundamentals of swordsmanship, born from the constant tempering of one's mind, to slash beyond the reaches of the sword, a materialization of what you deem to be swordsmanship.
Effects:
Create an illusionary sword that mimics yours. Slash reality with the imaginary.
The user's understanding of swordsmanship determines the sword's strength, reach, and limitations.
…
]
"..."
As if waiting for him to read them, as soon as he processed the notifications, images, and ideas sprung inside his mind, giving him a light headache as he tilted his head forward.
After a few moments, he raised his gaze to face his reflection in the smooth metallic doors of the elevator, pensive:
'I'll never grow used to this… Now then.'
'More proficiency is always good, but as I expected, it didn't end there.'
'Compared to my first Class Mission, the System's support was considerably higher… I'm not complaining, though, some of these Skills seem hard to acquire through normal training. So I won't refuse them.'
'Thing is, I'm now in a bind… There are quite a few good things in this Class. I'm afraid I won't be able to move them all properly when the time comes for me to move on.'
'That said, I don't need to move them all, only a few to build a base, from there, I can rebuild some of the Skills through training. After all, several skills are based solely on things achievable by anyone with a functional body.
'Still, which ones should I choose?'
/Din!/
/Open…/
/Step…/
'Philip stepped inside the elevator and left the VIP section before the police arrived, unwilling to deal with them.'
'With this rare moment of tranquility, he moved on with his notification as he looked at the city in the distance:'
"What about the rest?"
[Hidden Quest complete! Shadow of the Past!]
[As a reward, you can choose up to three items to bring with you from this scenario]
[You have acquired a new Title, Vigilante]
[You have gained the Skill, Dueler's Ambition Lv0]
[Dueler's Ambition Lv0
Description:
The lingering will of a man who has attained it all, seeking an end to the path he trod.
Unable to challenge himself further, he chose to fulfill the hollow within him with another's achievements.
Living an empty life…
Activate this Skill to designate a foe as your dueler.
Victory will grant you parts of their achievements; failure means the loss of all that you have accumulated…
…
]
"Something quite interesting has appeared…"
[Your sword's bloodlust has been quenched, all conditions have been met]
[Your Skill, Blade Mode LvMax has evolved into Ripper Mode Lv0]
[All of your Class skills will gain two levels worth of proficiency!]
[Rodrigues Perfected Shadow Technique Lv8 -> Lv10]
[Inhuman Martial arts(Incomplete) Lv6 -> Lv8]
[Steel Flash Lv6 -> Lv8]
[Ripper Mode Lv0 -> Lv2]
[Momentum Lv12 -> Lv14]
[Phantom Sword Lv0 -> Lv2]
[Dueler's Ambition Lv0 -> Lv2]
[It has been detected that some Class skills have exceeded their maximum proficiency]
[Explosive draw LvMax has been forcibly evolved into Ignition Strike Lv0]
[Sword Flash LvMax has been forcibly evolved into Invisible Blade Lv0]
[Would you like to continue the memory?]
'It took Philip a moment to sort his thoughts as he closed the System's notifications.'
'He reached out for his head, exhaling:'
"You are going a bit too..."
/Din!/
Still distracted by the System, Philip failed to notice his height, startled as the elevator stopped at the ground floor, opening up behind him.
He turned around, noticing a dozen heavily armored soldiers waiting before him.
'This could be bad…'
/March!/
But funny enough, the guards walked right through him, asking him to step aside.
Pleasantly surprised, Philip watched them move to the VIP section in silence.
"Mr. Philip."
"?..."
He turned as someone called his name, and as expected, it was the same fat man who let him inside.
Understanding what was going on, Philip followed him before leaving to his temporary apartment.
On the way, he settled the following issues of his contract, putting an end to this chapter of his adventure.
He didn't know if he was going to continue working as a mercenary given the closure to his adventure, but for now, he had something else to resolve.
…
/Around an hour later.../
"... It was a pleasure working with you, agent."
"I could say the same, peace be with you."
/Vroom!/
Philip gave the man his farewells before entering his apartment.
Once he took off his bloody clothes, he moved to the bathroom where he took a bath and enjoyed technology one last time before proceeding with his pending notifications.
Sitting in the long black couch, gazing down at the city, he smiled:
"Enough waiting around…"
'Open!'
[Name: Philip Vinten
Class: Descendant of the Jetstream
Abilities:
Rodrigues Perfected Shadow Technique Lv10 (Passive)
Inhuman Martial Arts(Incomplete) Lv8 (Passive)
Steel Flash Lv8 (Active)
Bisect LvMax (15) (Passive)
Bionics Lv5 (Passive)
Electronics Lv4 (Passive)
Mechanics Lv 4 (Passive)
Skills:
Ripper Mode Lv2 (Active)
Ignition Strike Lv0 (Active)
Invisible Blade Lv0 (Hybrid)
Momentum Lv14 (Hybrid)
Phantom Sword Lv2 (Active)
Critical Strike Lv2 (Active)
Stealth Lv6 (Active)
Interrogation Lv3 (Active)
Dueler's Ambition Lv2 (Active)
Traits:
Strengthened Body
Sword Heart
Inventory (+)
]
"Not too shabby for about two weeks of work."
'Some Skills have changed, and I even gained a new one. I'm satisfied.'
'Now… What exactly are these changes?...'
'Philip read the Skill's description, pondering over its details…'
"Hm… Ignition Strike is essentially better Explosive draw… But its description leaves some room for consideration."
'Interesting, the Skill implies I dont need the sheet anymore, but that doesn't make a lot of sense in this world unless I get some sort of supernatural ability. However, once I get my body back, this Skill will become considerably stronger.'
'Should I remodel my sheath?... That would be difficult. If I strengthen the ignition mechanism anyfurther, my arm will come out flying.'
'I've improved the Exoskeleton, but it has a limit. Though I'll have to research more later.'
"Meanwhile, Invisible Blade is also a direct successor to Sword Flash, and its also much simpler to understand."
'All previous characteristics are retained; however, the dazzling light has been replaced by the sword remaining invisible until I stop moving it.'
'I can also control this and change its state from invisible to dazzling, whenever I wish. Quite fancy.'
'It's almost like a superpower. However, this can easily be replicated with technology. I wonder how mechanical and electronic sensors would detect the sword turning invisible…'
'It raises the question of what type of invisibility this Skill brings to the table. If it can evade sensors, it would become quite a dangerous weapon. Otherwise, Androids and most machines wouldn't be much affected by it vanishing, although Androids can still be startled due to their Human minds.'
"Next, Phantom Sword looks like those things from cultivation manga… Sword QI?"
As Philip thought of that, he looked at a wooden box on the table and activated the skill.
/Swush!/
/CUT!/
The box was suddenly cut in half by an invisible force. The cut was so clean it remained in place, falling only when he applied some force onto it.
If not for him "feeling" the box being cut, it would've been impossible to tell anything even happened to it.
The cut was untraceable.
"... My head just hurts a little bit… But it's rather convenient if I can learn how to properly use it."
'It seems to follow my own abilities, which checks out given its description. So I should take it as the ability to deliver one of my strikes anywhere I desire… Brutal.'
'One proper cut during a fight is enough to end it, such an ability might just be overkill.'
"Lastly, from the changes, Ripper mode. An evolution of the properly named Blade Mode, it does everything its predecessor did and more."
'This ability parallels the main protagonist's ability of the same name. If I activate it, I will temporarily lose my sense of pain, but my physical abilities will be enhanced to their utmost limit.'
'What this signifies, however, confuses me, since, in the first place, I should already be utilizing all of my body's strength through my martial arts. So maybe it's hinting at the physical limits imposed by the mind and senses?'
'Either way, this is a dangerous ability. Losing my sense of pain seems more of a drawback to me than a bonus.'
"Finally, there's Dueler's Ambition."
'I don't know what to say about this Skill, it seems powerful, but I'm uncertain of how to use it, especially given its downside condition.'
'It seems to represent Samuel's inner emotions and philosophy later down in his life, that said, I'll have to test it out later.'
'To some degree, its downsides don't matter since defeat means death in this line of work nine out of ten times. But it's exactly in the off-chance something goes wrong and I have to flee that its downsides weigh on me.'
'But I'll have to test that later.'
"Sigh... So much to do."
"And to end it all, the Title…"
[Vigilante
Description:
Sometimes, when the world is filled with crime and injustice, someone has to take a step forward and fix the wrongs those in power cannot. To fulfill the vows they failed to uphold, even if they dont turn out right in the end.
You did not ask for this, just yet another victim of this cruel world, but different from those who can only take and recoil in fear, you acted, even if to their disapproval.
Effects:
Mark a territory and all invaders will receive a special mark that will raise your Stats when fighting them.
You can only make one territory at a time, taking ten minutes to set one.
Successfully defending a territory will temporarily increase your Stats based on the difficulty of the task.
...
]
"Hum… I dont like it, but it isn't useless by any means."
'Its a lackluster Title. I've seen some Skills that do something similar. Still, it doesn't interfere with my usual fighting style but the restriction of time can make it tricky given I'm someone who usually goes on the offensive.'
'Most my fights end quickly, ten minutes is far too long for me to stretch the battle for a meager increase in Stats. If I want those, I have far better options.'
'This seems more like a Title for me to fuse into something greater in the future. And even if I never use it, I won't refuse it.'
Philip scrolled through the remaining options, taking a sip of some juice on the side.
"Maybe its because this Class doesn't have access to an inventory, so the System gave me the option to bring some items with me instead."
'There is a lot of things I can bring, but even if I were to pool my possessions, I wouldn't have enough to fill the slots.'
'My sword should be an option, and while it isn't anything supernatural, its still a pretty strong blade with a story.'
'Once I have the time, I could even potentially reforge it, and with the necessary knowledge, improve its electronic components. Perhaps even enchant it.'
'That said, there is the issue of handling electronics and such advanced technology in Eden.'
'There are ways to bypass that though. '
"In the end, the sword isn't a complete necessity. If anything, I'm considering it for the memories and its significance."
'In this world, technology is what I should focus on. '
'Would a Metal Gear be considered an item? I don't need one, but maybe I can order some super machine and fill it up with functions… Like some sort of ultra advanced multi tool…'
'Following on that trend, the exoskeleton comes to mind, but it pales in comparison to my normal body. And even when considering some of the more advanced exoskeletons out there, it would only be for fashion, its cool and all, but not necessary.'
'Any function it possess would be overshadowed by magic… But there are some things magic can't replicate, at least not so easily…'
'An AI computer might be interesting, especially one with a scanning function and high processing power.'
'I could just scout large areas and have the computer identify patterns and other things for me instantly, even if my "brainpower" increased, I am no match for a computer in this regard.'
'I could go to a library, have the computer scan all books, leave, and read the books under the comfort of my base later. Isn't that a perfect scenario?'
'I can't stay in one place for too long, so being able to just bring the books with me everywhere would work just fine… Maybe I can even find some sort of implant I can connect with my mind and import information directly to it.'
'My body can heal under the right circumstances, so with some planning, I could just download information to my brain and study it later… Maybe that wouldn't even be necessary.'
'Some advanced Androids work like that, but I'm on the fence about turning a part of my body machine, even if for just a moment.'
"There certainly are some machines that can do that… I only need to find one that fits my needs."
'It would need to check some boxes first though… Especially regarding its battery issue.'
'Still… If I can't find one, I can always modify something similar and make my own.'
"... For now, I'll only consider my sword."
Finally, with everything sorted out, he focused on his last notification:
[Would you like to continue the memory?]
"This is the second time this notification has appeared. Albeit last time I was too tired to continue."
'At first, I thought it was a unique case for my last Class, but I was wrong. This seems to be the standard… So why didn't this happen with my first one?'
'… I don't remember much about what happened after I took care of the Moon Presence. If I had any memories of it, they were removed after I returned. But I like to imagine I merely lost consciousness, or maybe the System considered me inept to continue.'
'There's still a lot to learn about Gamerverse and what it can actually do. I've so far assumed its ability was to grant me these Class opportunities, but maybe I have yet to see its actual limits.'
"That said… Yes, I'd like to continue."
[Processing…]
[Outcomes have been calculated]
[Displaying…]
[Option 1 -> End the memory and return]
[Option 2 -> Continue from where you stopped]
[Option 3 -> Skip time towards a foreseeable future]
"I have options? Now, this is interesting..."
The first two options were not a surprise to him, he expected either of the two to appear, but the last one got his attention.
"Skipping time… But why would I do that? There's nothing interesting in the future. And I wouldn't want to waste my time training."
'There are many things that will happen in the following years…'
'Aside from the extra years to train, study, and gain new Skills, the only thing I can think of is technology.'
'Technology is exploding as Cybernetics are on the rise, especially given what's about to happen…'
"Heh, its a little crazy, but I could even invest the millions I have, or even everything I make, in scientific research and then skip time a few years to reap the rewards."
'That said, it's currently 2012, and the main series events will soon occur.'
"I never played it before, but I know some things about it…"
'I wasn't interested in participating in those events, but given how close it is to now, I could maybe wait a little and see for myself those legendary moments. I could potentially gain a few interesting things if I persist. But that wouldn't come without its dangers.'
'The next two years will be filled with conflict… It's exactly what someone like me wants.'
'After that, things would begin to cool down. And while there would still be plenty of conflict all around, the main instigators of most of the issues in this world would all be dead, so it would all be tame compared to the decades prior.'
"... Sam dies in 2018, so this memory will most likely end around that time as well."
'It's only an interpretation… Maybe things will change if I avoid Sam's death… I may even gain something by averting it.'
'This is the way the System operates after all.'
"But, is it worth it to spend any more time in this place? I'm not worried about my body, but I am concerned about my mental state."
'These last two weeks have been pretty fine. I could even say I've recovered a portion of my "sanity" by being exposed to the modern world again. But even this will stop being novel after a while.'
'The worst is always when I return… Spending months in the blink of an eye always makes me feel iffy…'
"Can I delay this? Spend a few weeks before skipping time?"
'How would it even consider things? Would it skip time based on pre-determined events? Would it consider my actions? My personality? Or would it base things on how Samuel would act?'
"Hm… I'd rather not risk it. If I try to be too greedy, I may just lose my chance. Either being forced to stay for years to experience it all, or be kicked out without a second thought."
'I'm not too keen on experiencing either, and even if its a little bit of a waste, I'd rather skip time instead.'
After some time pondering, Philip chose the third option.
[Preparing…]
[Displaying results]
[Dezember 2012]
[August 2013]
[Dezember 2013]
[July 2014]
[January 2015]
[March 2016]
"Oho… So I get to choose a time?... Well…"
'Samuel's fate changes when he fails to take down Armstrong in 2016, so I was aiming to change that.
'But since I get this chance, I was thinking of experiencing the events of 2014… Another chance like this won't come again. And who wouldn't want to see the moments they only saw in-game happen in real life?'
'Well… There are some I can think of that I, DEFINATELY, wouldn't want to experience… But this one isn't that high on the list.'
"Should I go for it?... If I can't skip time again, I'd have to spend a few extra years as a 'mercenary…"
Would I be able to take it? Would I be able to live in this world knowing I do not belong in it?'
'Some may treat this as a game or a dream, but should I? Is it the right thing to do? To disregard my morals for the sake of my sanity?'
"Hm…"
After thinking for a few minutes and enjoying the scenery a bit longer, Philip made his choice:
/Shuum!!!/
Suddenly, Philip felt his vision shift as he floated in the air. From this position, he could see his own body falling limp on the ground as if its strings had been cut.
It was an out-of-body experience.
'This feels weird…?!'
At that moment, his body suddenly began moving on its own, possessed by an unknown force!
'What?!'
[Calculating… Simulating…]
'Could it be that it wasn't 'skipping' but actually…'
[Skipping time…]
Before he could finish his thoughts, everything went black.
/Fwoosh!/
The moon high in the sky moved faster and faster… And with its golden rays, the sun took over the sky in all its glory.
/Sha!/
But then, within the blink of an eye, the sun gave way to darkness, and the cycle repeated itself, growing faster every cycle… Until…
/Flash!/
[Process completed]
[Transferring memories]
"What just…"
Philip's vision blackened as he felt a throbbing pain in his mind!
"URGG! Fuuuuuck!"
'Dammit!'
He clenched his head in agony, his fingers almost digging into his skin as he knelt on the ground.
Several years' worth of memory started to pass through his mind. It felt as if he was being forced to see a movie, a movie about his life. From the day he started the time skip until today, several years later…
The memories passed by precisely as he would've expected, his actions being so perfectly in line with his thinking that he believed he did all of those things for a moment.
From his training to his research, "he" moved in line with his thoughts and goals, preparing according to his plans and desires.
Eventually, it all concluded, and the memories stopped flashing by, almost knocking him out right then and there as he put his hands on the ground, cold sweat pooling before him.'
[Recalculating status…]
Meanwhile, the System continued without care for his well-being, not helping with his splitting headache:
[Rodrigues Perfected Shadow Technique Lv10 -> LvMax(15)]
[Inhuman Martial Arts(Incomplete) Lv8 -> LvMax(15)]
[Steel Flash Lv8 -> LvMax(10)]
[Bionics Lv5 -> Lv15]
[Electronics Lv4 -> Lv17]
[Mechanics Lv4 -> Lv17]
[Ripper Mode Lv2 -> LvMax(15)]
[Ignition Strike Lv0 -> LvMax(10)]
[Invisible Blade Lv0 -> LvMax(15)]
[Momentum Lv14 -> LvMax(15)]
[Phantom Sword Lv2 ->LvMax(25)]
[Critical Strike Lv2 -> LvMax(10)]
[Stealth Lv6 -> LvMax(10)]
[Interrogation Lv3 -> LvMax(10)]
[Dueler's Ambition Lv2 -> Lv7]
[...]
[You have gained the Ability, Study Lv0]
[You have gained the Skill, Acrobatics Lv0]
[You have gained the Skill, Analysis Lv0]
[You have…]
[Calculating proficiency…]
[Study Lv0 -> Lv16]
[Acrobatics Lv0 -> Lv17]
[Analysis Lv0 -> Lv13]
[...]
[Conditions have been met]
[Skill, Rodrigues Perfected Shadow Technique LvMax has evolved into ??? Lv0]
[Skill, Inhuman Martial Arts(Incomplete) LvMax has evolved into Inhuman Martial Arts Lv0]
[Skill, Momentum LvMax has evolved into Flow Lv0]
[Skill, Interrogation LvMax has evolved into Coercion Lv0]
[...]
[Recalculating proficiency…]
[??? Lv0 -> Lv3]
[Inhuman Martial Arts Lv0 -> Lv2]
[Flow Lv0 -> Lv2]
[Coercion Lv0 -> Lv4]
[...]
[There are always those who refuse to follow, to be sheep in the flock. And between those that strive for greatness and those that choose to pull another down, when the law cannot straighten them out, you'll do so]
[The Title, Vigilante has evolved into Enforcer]
[Your legend grew amidst the people of the underworld. A monster that prowls in the dark, cutting at any unfortunate Soul unlucky to stray within the path of your fangs]
[You have gained the Title, Specter]
[For your pristine resume, none have survived your hunt, their names mere decorations in your lengthy portfolio]
[You have gained the Title, Hitman]
…
"Huff… Arg! My poor head…"
'I thought this was supposed to be a simple time skip but I did not expect this shit…'
'My head is about to burst!'
The moment Philip chose the third option, an unknown will took over his body. Based on his past movements and actions, he continued with his life.
Everything his body passed through over that time was forcefully transferred to his head. Philip felt he was forced to marathon an entire streaming service several times non-stop.
However, as he calmed down, he noticed something: the entity's progress was quite insignificant compared to what he would've likely been able to do in a few years' time.
Call him arrogant, but given his track record, this all seemed little.
But Philip soon understood that, in the first place, those skills were already beyond his current body. Training them any further should've been impossible without the proficiency of the system, but hard work paid off as, after years of training, they still leveled up, if only a little.
That in itself was already a miracle.
"Shit… I need to puk… BLERRG!"
Philip went into a corner and puked; he didn't know where he was since he was still processing the memories, but he didn't care… He didn't have a choice in the matter.
"Huff…Huff… I don't want to do this ever again."
'At least censor some of the useless info for God's sake…'
"Huff… Why even skip time if you're just going to shove everything down my throat anyway? Might as well just go through it all on my own…"
Philip sat on the ground and after a few minutes of resting, he recovered, thankfully, most of the information slowly disappeared from his brain, leaving only the important things.
Maybe it was due to his Trait, as even if suppressed, it still worked to assist him.
"Now then…"
He raised his head, looking around the place as he tried to figure out where he was.
"... This looks like a service room… Metal walls, tubes, valves, steam, and water leaking… Wait a minute…"
Philip went through his memories, sweat falling from his forehead as he realized where he was.
"Fucking hell, how the fuck did I infiltrate Outer Heaven?"
Outer Heaven, a Kerykeion-class submersible battleship. A mega warship over 600 meters long with state-of-the-art technology such as an inner orbit railcannon, a cold fusion Nuclear reactor, a hull capable of altering its appearance to blend in with its surroundings, and dozens of nuclear missiles.
It was the mobile base of the strongest private military company in the world, Outer Heaven, led by Liquid Ocelot. And also where the series saw its definite end. Snake's true, final mission.
All of this was just noise to someone unaware of its importance, but Philip understood how deep in shit he was right now.
'Just thinking about how I got here irks me… Very well then. I won't have another shot at this.'
Getting up from his seat, a small plastic bucket, Philip stretched his arms as he got ready to move…
/TREMBLE!/
/BAM!/
"OUCH! Why the sudden commotion…"
The room shook, and he hit his head on the wall, cursing silently as he rubbed his hair.
[ALERT! ALERT!]
[ENEMY HAS BEEN DETECTED!]
A woman's voice echoed in the corridors, reaching him through the metallic walls.
"... It has started."
'I don't remember much of the story, but if I'm not wrong, Solid Snake and his team are mounting an attack while Outer Heaven is trying to take down a satellite with the railcannon...'
'This is all so Ocelot can take control of a super AI network that runs most of the world's electronic Systems. He'd essentially be taking control of the world.'
'Either way, this boat is going down and I don't want to be in it when it happens.'
/bang… bang…/
/boom…/
The echoes of gunshots and explosions rang throughout the complex, and Philip knew it was time to act.
"There's only one thing I could want from this place."
'I don't need weapons or anything material, with the few chances I have to bring something with me, I have to make each meaningful.'
'And what better than one of the most potent Artificial Intelligences in the world?... One of the at least. The most powerful is likely the one moving ten kilometers a second in orbit.'
'But that one is a little hard to get...'
'Somewhere inside this massive ship is an artificial intelligence capable of controlling the world just the same. I may be unable to bring it all with me, for I doubt the System would count this whole warship as an item I can bring out, but I should still be able to make a simple copy of its systems and maybe even take a portion of its processors.'
"Well… Either way, this should be fun."
'Even if I can't gain anything material, there's the satisfaction in being here.'
'At least this time I can enjoy what's happening around me.'
/Clack…/
He tried to open the door, but it wouldn't budge.
"Sigh… Of course, this would happen. The whole place is in lockdown…"
'I could hack the systems, but I don't have enough time. This entire mission lasts only a few minutes at most. It's the time it takes for the railcannon to lock in on the satellite.'
'Once the satellite housing the core AI is knocked down, Ocelot would have full control over the remaining super AIs, or so was his plan...'
/Unsheath…/
/SLASH!/
Philip unsheathed his sword, cutting the sealed wall in front of him.
It was cut through like paper before his blade, opening the way to a service bridge across a small shaft.
(Image)
"Yeah… It's coming back to me… I really planned ahead."
He raised his head, looking at the multiple floors above him.'
"There it is, the entrance to the reactor room."
'I've been wondering why the security was low, but now that I think about it, Ocelot never intended to prevent Snake from achieving his goal.'
'I think he wanted to rid this world of the AIs… Or something like that... Sigh, forget it. The story of Metal Gear is too confusing, and my headache is too strong to think about it.'
"Urg… It's only in these moments I miss my Trait…"
/BANG!/
"!"
Distracted, Philip was startled as gunshots rang high above him.
/Boom!/
/Shuuaaaa…!!/
Shots followed by explosions and falling debris from above. He narrowed his eyes, knowing full well who it all belonged to.
"I don't have much time."
'I can still salvage its parts, but if they delete the Artificial Intelligence, I won't be able to recover it even in a million years.'
/Jump!/
Philip jumped to the metal tubes leading up, using the metal beams supporting them to climb multiple floors quickly.
/BANG!/
/SHUAA!!/
"Tche! Get off me!"
As he did so, dozens of robots were quickly dispatched as they fell around him, some clinging onto him before he kicked them down into the depths of the submarine.
(Image)
/Jump!/
Once he reached the top, he cleaned his hands in annoyance.
"This place is too dusty… Hm?"
/Bzzz…/
The broken robots around him still moved faintly, recognizing him as a threat.
/Kick!/
But he didn't pay them any heed, kicking them out as he went after the "Hero".
"... A legend huh…"
'Dozens of robots were quickly dispatched as he ran through the area. Despite his old age, he's still a monster.'
'This truly is a lot for a human to handle, especially one without cybernetic enhancements…'
Throwing his surprise aside, he crossed through one last door, entering an intersection with dim, white, yellowish lights.
/SLASH!/
/BAM!/
/CRUNCH!/
In the middle of the room, a dozen soldiers slowly pressed down on an armless man as he fought to keep them all from passing through the door behind him.
Despite his tenacity, he wasn't able to fend off dozens of highly trained, elite android soldiers, being stabbed and shot multiple times as he was slowly shoved against the wall…
(Image)
/Throw…/
"Hm?...!!"
/BLAST!/
A powerful flash of light lit in the room, releasing a powerful flash, blinding everyone!
"What's going… AHH!"
"Intruder!... AHHH!"
"ARRG!"
"SH-SHIT!"
"DON'T SHOOT!"
/BANG!/
/Silence…/
"Huff… What is going on…?"
The armless swordsman slowly recovered from the blindness, seeing a man in an exoskeleton before him.
"You okay?"
"... Who are you?"
The swordsman pushed himself off the wall as he looked straight into Philip's eyes, eyes full of distrust.
"Can we leave introductions for later? I have something to do…"
"No, we have all the time in the world."
The swordsman stepped on his way, preventing him from moving past him.
Philip smiled at this, saying:
"We can tango some other time. But I'm not the kind of guy to toy with the disabled."
"!"
In the blink of an eye, Philip struck the man's stomach, sending him onto the ground as he walked past him.
"S-Stop… D-Dammit!!"
"We'll meet after this is over, friend. And hopefully, you'll put up a proper fight then."
/SLASH!/
"W-WAIT!!..."
Philip struck the wall before him, cutting a hole through the dense metal before kicking the rest open.
/Step…/
He descended a flight of stairs, stopping before a simple metal door…
(Image)
/Din din!/
His suit immediately warned him of the dangers beyond it, and he smiled in wonder.
"What a shitshow…"
'Beyond this door is the AI's mainframe, but the corridor leading to it is constantly blasted with powerful microwaves. Getting inside would be no different than being cooked alive.'
'I'd rather not risk it even with my exoskeleton, but what other option do I have?...'
/Clack!/
"Anything else would be anticlimactic." He said out loud with a smile as his exoskeleton activated, covering his face and head with a protective suit
/CUT!/
/SHAAAAA!!/
/SIZZLE!/
He cut through the door, bursting through in one motion.
"It's hot!"
His exoskeleton immediately began steaming as the plastic on his clothes melted or caught fire.
/DASH!/
Philip dashed through the corridor, quickly making his way across. Biting through the pain, holding it in without losing focus.
"!!!"
""?!""
On his way, he saw a man crawling on the ground next to a strange robot. Before either of the two had time to react, he held onto the man's back and dashed across the rest of the way with the tiny robot in tow!!
/Shaa!!/
They stepped out of the cooking chamber into a room with a tall vault door securing what was on the other side.
(Image)
Smoke came out of their clothes as they did so, and Philip helped the old man walk as he looked at the robot on the ground.
(Image)
"W-Who are you?!"
"Does it matter? Open the door."
"I, I can't…"
"No, that's not it… You have to."
"..."
While the old man on his shoulder struggled to breathe, the man controlling the robot struggled with what to do. In the end, he opened the vault door by hacking into it, revealing what was hidden on its other side.
/Crunk!/
A large room akin to a cemetery appeared before them.
(Image)
Its design was simple, and it was no different from the rest of the submarine, but that was where its similarities ended.
At the center of the room, a large pillar full of cables was surrounded by dozens of tombstone-looking computers decorated with holographic flowers.
"We don't have time, do it." Philip said as he placed the old man on the ground
/SMACK!/
"DO IT, OTACON!" Snake exclaimed out loud as he punched Philip, holding him down as the little machine sped to the computer
"You're still full of energy, old man."
Even while old, he's still quite strong. If it weren't for my armor, he would've shoved a knife into my back.
That's what I get for underestimating a half-dead man.
/PUSH!/
"ARGH!"
Without difficulty, Philip pushed the frail man to the side, running after the robot as he convulsed on the ground.
"... W-What are you doing?!"
"Nothing much, don't worry, I won't get in your way."
"That's even worse!"
Otacon, the little robot, quickly moved to the central pillar, connecting a cable directly to its frame. This activated all the machines around it, causing them to turn red as they detected a breach.
(Image)
Meanwhile, Philip did the same, pulling a cord from his exoskeleton and connecting to the mainframe, beginning his operation.
/Roll…/
"Hum?..."
"Heh."
/BANG! BANG! BANG!/
Behind him, Snake was about to shoot at him with a rifle, but a bunch of the spherical robots stopped him as they jumped onto him, causing his shots to miss him.
/KICK!/
/CRACK!/
While Snake went wild against the circling robots, Philip and Otacon hacked into the System, each working on their own goals.
One injected a virus into the AI, another cloned it… Philip used Otacon's incredible skills to easily breach the mainframe, doing the rest with his own ability.
/BANG!/
/BANG!/
/BANG!/
"URG! OTACON!"
Meanwhile, Snake was buried in a swarm of robots, shooting his gun uncontrollably as they attempted to rip him to shreds!
"... I did it!"
"..."
'Right on time. It's about to start.'
[Upload completed]
Philip quickly pulled his cord out before it was too late.
/Catching!/
On the side of the machine, a large hard drive the size of a suitcase popped out, which Philip promptly retrieved while everyone else was distracted.
"... Cough…"
Snake took a deep breath as he pushed the deactivated robots above him. He struggled to breathe as he put his hand on his chest.
"... Huh? Wait a minute… The worm is still spreading. Is it removing the other clones?"
"No… Wait. I can't believe this… Naomi…"
/Flash!/
The metal panels around the room suddenly came to life as a video began to play…
A woman was reflected on the panels, looking down at them with a regretful gaze.
Meanwhile, Philip sat down on the side, enjoying the show…
(Image)
"Snake… Haul… It's you, isn't it?" She asked with deep, sorrofull eyes
"..."
"I hope you're listening."
"... The Virus you uploaded is using GW as a conduit to annihilate the entire AI network. It's set to destroy all four AIs along with JD, the core that tied all of them together."
"... I've set this video to play back once they're all gone…"
He already knew most of the story, so he focused on the AI's servers rather than paying attention.
Every piece of machinery here costs an exorbitant amount, more than he could ever afford, and even if he could, no one would sell it to him.
'I can't carry the mainframe, nor do I need it... Nor would they allow it.'
'Any of the smaller processing units will do, though. Besides, they're mostly useless now. Only an oversized computer with a lot of power... Although it's still in charge of many important world Systems.'
'Still, even if I take a few servers, they can always replace those later. After all, Snake didn't really hit all of his shots. A few of them stranded off... So this place will need some maintenance.'
'Either way, I've secured the GW AI before it was deleted. Once I gather a few of those modules and the proper shell, I'll create an incredibly powerful machine.'
'It won't be comparable to the total might of the total Sons of the Patriots Network, but I don't need it to be that powerful anyway.'
'Besides, once I'm back in Eden, I can find ways to improve its processing power. But the Artificial Intelligence is another matter altogether.'
"... What she created was an anti-AI FOXDIE… But this virus' name is FOXALIVE. It's… The conceptual opposite of the nanomachines that I created all those years ago."
"We wished to free the captured foxes… To let them run free in the wild."
"..."
"..."
Philip looked at Solid Snake, an idol of his childhood, a man of many myths and legends, and he looked back at him, full of distrust yet unable to do anything due to his deteriorating body.
/Twitch…/
"... Snake… The time has come. You've earned your rest."
"The rose petal is about to fall…"
"!"
"Snake?!"
As the woman continued with her narration, Snake fell into another seizure, losing consciousness before Philip even had the time to help him.
"SNAKE!!"
"... He's still alive." Philip voiced as he crouched next to him
'This guy is one tough son of a gun. His exoskeleton isn't comparable to mine, yet he walked through that oven and lived to tell the tale.'
'I know his body is full of nanomachines, but it takes some thick skin to not be burned to ashes in there.'
"... Just who are you?"
The small machine had a monitor displaying a man on the other side. His eyes were full of tears and melancholy, but he knew not to let emotions get the best of him.
Knowing his friend was in a critical situation, he could not let him be for long.
"No need to look at me like that, I don't bite."
He pointed at the robots deactivated on the ground and then at the units around the room, saying:
"I'll bring him with me, do me a favor and reactivate some of those lil bots for me, will ya?"
"And why would I do that?"
"Feel free not to, I can do both just the same… But it'll take a little longer… And he doesn't look that good to say so myself."
'He'll be fine, though. This guy won't die with just this. Only time can take down a Snake... Or another one.'
"... Fine. But get moving… Please."
Philip smiled, just as planned.
"Will do. Just get me five of those servers and I'll do everything you want."
"That's... What do you plan to do with those… And that?"
"You mean this? Don't worry, this is for my personal use… I'm kind of a collector, you see. Can't let this all vanish without a fight."
"Now… I'll be waiting outside, don't go biting me in the ass later. I don't want to make my way down here again, it would just be quite awkward."
"..."
While Otacon reactivated the robots, Philip led Snake through the silent passageway.
The ground still burned hot from the microwaves, but it wasn't difficult to walk through. Soon enough, he was back at the entrance where someone waited for him.
"Look who's here, quite late if I say so myself."
"... What do you want?"
"Can you be more precise?"
Philip walked past the swordsman as he glared at him, clearly unsatisfied, but didn't try to stop him.
"Don't toy with me! Who do you work for?! A bounty hunter? A Secret agent?..."
"I'm working on my own if that's what's on your mind. As for this, it's just for my private collection. You see, I'm…"
"Stop right there!"
"Hands off the old man!"
A pair of armed soldiers, a man and a woman, appeared from a door at the end of the corridor, pointing their guns at Philip.
(Image)
"Snake!"
The girl saw the collapsed old man on Philip's shoulder and grimaced, but she soon looked at the swordsman and focused.
"Put him down!"
"Do you want to carry him? Feel free! He's quite heavy."
/Thud…/
Philip carefully put Snake down, letting the woman approach him and pull him back.
She never took her eyes off him, nor did the man and the swordsman.
"Hm… Quite the heavy atmosphere… Can we talk outside? It's too dusty here…"
"Don't move!"
/BANG!/
The girl shot at the ground, and Philip rolled his eyes inside his exoskeleton.
"Drop that!"
"Now that's straight up bullying…"
/BANG!/
She shot the ground again, but Philip did not laugh this time.
"Miss, I'm not here to fight you."
"I do agree with him, his vibes aren't that bad…"
"Not now, Johnny!"
The girl looked at Philip with a heavy gaze before turning around and pulling Snake along.
"... Dammit! Let's go!"
"Let me help you!"
"..."
While the two left, the swordsman walked past him, brushing against him.
"You… I'll remember you. What's your name?"
"... Depends on who you ask. I like to call myself Philip. What about you? You're quite the sharp fella."
"... I'm Raiden… After this is over… We'll settle this score."
"My pleasure."
/Catchin catchin!/
Meanwhile, several small robots arrived behind them carrying five large servers on their backs.
"... They're all here… Where's Snake?"
"A bossy girl and a stupid-looking guy appeared and took him; they left just before you arrived."
"Johnny and Meryl… Thankfully they're alright… But you…"
"Hm?"
Philip was distracted taking control of the robots carrying the servers, not paying attention to the man's words.
"We need to talk."
"Everyone seems to want to talk with me, but I can't say it's reciprocated."
"Can they be blamed? You've caused quite the impression. It isn't every time you see a Military Grade BARS-2 Exoskeleton in action."
"You know this model? It was quite expensive…"
"Hum… There were some rumors in Germany about a military convoy being raided and a private operator being employed to recover it due to border issues. I suppose that was you?"
"Things sure spread fast in this age… Well, enough talk."
'That was a mission I performed through the time skip. Actually, I'm still processing most of those memories.'
Philip walked to the side of the bridge, jumping onto the supporting beams on the side.
"If you need anything, I'll be waiting somewhere up there. It won't be too difficult to find me; after all, I'll need a ride back home."
"... You do realize you've accumulated several criminal charges, right? Heavy charges..."
"Let's say it's an exchange for the lives of that android and the old man, is that fair?"
'You're not that better than me either. It's hard to say who's acting in the law here...'
"That's not up to me to decide."
Philip shrugged, climbing to the top of the submarine in the blink of an eye.
/Chia chia chia!/
The robots jumped after him, clumsily following him as they held onto the servers.
Otacon looked at them as they vanished from view, sighing as he shook his head.
"... One trouble after the other…"
/Swoosh!/
The little robot drove into the distance, going after everyone else.
…
/Later that day…/
/SMACK!/
/PUNCH!/
At the highest point of Outer Heaven, Philip watched in silence as two old men fought to the death, punching each other in the meanest way possible.
(Image)
A conclusion to a lifeline of adventures, regrets, wars, and scheming. It was the conclusion of the old generation, the nail in the coffin of their mistakes.
To create a new world free of their sins and open space for those who came after. A world without their influence, without their presence…
But even as one drew his final breath, another still remained, and this conflict would only truly end…
When the world becomes free of snakes.
"..."
'It's not as dramatic without flashbacks and ambient music…'
This was a story he had seen once many years ago. And seeing it in person was exactly as he expected… Dry.
But maybe that was what they would've wanted, for their ending wasn't meant to be one of glory, for they wanted no one to idolize their actions and motives.
They lived in the shadows, they were the shadows… And would die within it too.
As the last light snuffled, so would the shadows it cast down go out.
/Vrooom!!/
"Snake!"
As Snake saw his old friend breathe his last. A helicopter rose from the side, a man waving down to gather his attention.
It was the same scientist who had previously controlled the little robot.
"Snake...!!"
He quickly noticed Philip, his eyes sharpening as he waved back at him.
'There's my ride.'
…
""...""
"..."
It was pure silence inside the helicopter.
Philip knew the man wanted to ask him questions, but with how exhausted Solid Snake was, he kept quiet, and so did he.
No one made a sound throughout their journey until a nearby warship.
Philip looked out the window, seeing dozens of lifeboats coming in and out of Outer Heaven, with a light sigh, he closed his eyes as well, tired.
(Image)
He had just checked and confirmed his ability to advance time, and while the dates hadn't changed, he chose to remain, just a while longer…
He wanted to experience these moments with his own two eyes.
'I suppose this is my first time wanting to stay, even if temporarily.'
'Maybe it's for the best I've been given terrible worlds… I wonder how it would actually be if I were sent to a paradise world, only to know that I'd eventually be sent back into Eden…'
He smiled faintly, adjusting his posture.
'Maybe that's why Gamerverse doesn't listen, perhaps it knows I would freak out a little.'
'I'll enjoy a little vacation, make up for all my sleepless nights. Who knows when I'll have the chance to be this lazy again?...'
They soon arrived at the warship, where he'd be "warmly welcomed" by many heavily armed soldiers.
From there, it took a lot of words, but eventually, he was let go with a warning… Quite a big one at that.
Even so, he was kept under strict watch for a while, so rather than just being under surveillance, he just stuck around, much to the annoyance of a few individuals.
Time passed…
…
"... Are you certain about this?"
"Yes. Had enough of walking around with nothing to do, or rather, with only boring things to do."
In a white room with only a table and a few chairs, Philip sat before Otakon and a soldier in black clothes.
(Image)
While he seemed calm and composed, the other two were rather tense.
"That's it? You want to join just to sate your boredom?"
"What's wrong with that? Every man has their reasons to help. Mine are just this simple."
"Stable work and a friendly workplace without dealing with the bureaucracy of looking for gigs. Reliable teammates and even the chance to work with the brightest minds in the field, count me in."
"Well…"
"Don't let him butter you up, Hal… Just answer one question."
"What will you do with the servers and the George Washington AI? It's essentially just a brick now, but it doesn't change that it's still the most powerful Artificial Intelligence in the world."
"With the previous AIs being deleted, those Systems are now working autonomously. So as long as someone worked just a little, they'd be able to take control, and with it, restart the Sons of the Patriots System…"
"I've wiped it out."
Philip crossed his arms with a laid-back expression, not even looking at the woman as he interrupted her.
"P-Pardon?"
"I've wiped out most of GW's hard drive but kept its Neural Network intact."
"Why would you do that?"
"Because I don't care about the contents within, only the programming. Regardless of its previous use, GW was still one of the most incredible feats of computer science on the globe, I wasn't going to let it vanish. I said that already."
"Even so, why do you need an AI that powerful?"
"Just because?"
"..."
"In his defense, I would also like to have an AI like that…"
"... Doctor Hal, why are you even in this room again?"
"The same reason why there are a dozen soldiers outside?"
"Why aren't you with them then?"
"Guys… Can we go back to topic?"
""...""
…
/Later…/
After many discussions, Philip finally managed to get the government off his back, so he enjoyed some free time in his room, stretching his arms as he watched movies he had never seen before.
"... It's time."
'I've laid the groundwork… It's time to move on.'
[March 2016]
"I've done everything I needed, now it's time to enjoy the fruits of my labor."
'I've successfully become part of the team. If everything goes according to plan, I'll eventually join Maverick Security Consulting, Inc. The same private military company Raiden joins to provide for his family.'
'My goal is to create an environment where I can finish my project, and with it, build the second of the three items I can bring with me back to Eden.'
'By keeping contact with these people, my skills will definitely grow accordingly. Maybe not in the combat sector, but I've had enough of those memories. '
'This adventure of mine only lasted about a month from my perspective, but I already have years' worth of memories. I've had enough of those repetitive memories where I do nothing aside from training or killing others.'
'Besides, it's not like I'll be alone, Raiden will make things quite interesting…'
"Its strange to consider these fictional characters in my plans… But this is my reality."
'Enough said, time to jump.'
"Let's roll."
[Calculating… Simulating…]
[Skipping time…]
/Flash!/
[Process completed]
[Transferring memories]
…
.
.
.
Notes
Honestly, I wanted to make this Arc bigger, have Philip join, or at least follow Snake around as he goes through the events of Metal Gear Solid 4, but opted to cut it all down to what would likely happen: Philip sneaking his way inside the fortress and doing his thing.
For those who read the original work, you may be familiar with what Philip is attempting to make, and hopefully, this time, it feels more like Philip worked for it rather then just pulling out of his ass.
I plan to have artificial intelligence play a bigger role in the story than most things do. So I hope this becomes a decent background for it.
I tried to believe in the original game, but like in other cases, it's difficult to encapsulate the story within what's essentially a chapter the size of an Anime episode.
MGS4 Alone had several hours worth of cutscenes, and I had to cut a few of them to not be forced to have Philip and us listen to their massive monologues.
There were many more interactions I was interested in posting, but in the end, I felt this was best.
In the next chapter, Philip will skip time for the last time and return to reality before continuing with his adventure! From there, only one thing remains: Acquiring the Origin Orbs.
See you all then, peace!