MagnusGrey
patreon
[Skill-Eater] Chapter 105: Implant
🕑 Added 2024-09-18 17:01:01 +0000 UTCEdge crept his way through the heart of Puppet Town, ducking down alleyways and dimly lit side streets instead of taking the main thoroughfares. He wanted to keep a low profile, because tonight he was heading back to Lilly’s exchange to install his first magtech implant.
On his way, he tried to remember everything that he could about magic-based technology, generally referred to as magtech.
Broadly speaking, all magtech devices could be divided into low and high-grade gear, although the details were far more complex. Low-grade gadgets were common throughout the galaxy, granting anyone access to magic without the specialized training and arduous study required to perform even the simplest of incantations. Over time, they had replaced most other forms of technology that were in use prior to the discovery of magicytes.
Low-grade items ranged from simple tools like his lantern and firestarter, to the generators, filters, and pumps that supplied the town with light, running water, and a thousand other needs. Such devices were powered by copper-class aether, a cheap and widely available distillation of various magicyte containing substances.
On Ord, high-grade magtech, including implants, was heavily regulated by the System. Rare exceptions aside, the only way that a person could get their hands on a piece was by delving into dungeons, opening sealed chests, or acquiring mortium, any of which were always a risky endeavor.
Implants contained runic assemblies that were powered by silver or gold-class aether. A potent form of refined magicytes that could only be produced with expensive resources and high-rank skills. While they could only be used a limited number of times before needing to be recharged, implants provided a range of benefits, many of which couldn’t be replicated by skills.
Other high-grade magtech gear, such as weapons, armor, and tools, could be acquired with mortium as well. But since he only had a single lifecoin to spend, they were well outside of Edge’s price range for now.
There were limits to how many implants a person could have and removing them required spending mortium too. But he was certain that he had chosen wisely and was eager to have his installed.
Given the limitations of regeneration, having a heart-guard could save his life from an attack that he wouldn’t be able to heal. He was looking forward to having an added layer of protection that could stop all but the most powerful of blows.
While these thoughts passed through his head, he crossed the last few streets and found himself standing at the stairwell leading down to Lilly’s store. He didn’t see the sentry tonight, so after a quick look around to make sure that no one had followed him, Edge walked over to her door and knocked.
He suspected that she had another means of watching the street outside, and had noticed him approaching while he was still several blocks away. But he figured that it never hurt to be polite.
His heart began to race as the door cracked open and he stepped into the empty room beyond. He was excited to get the upgrade, and nervous about the operation that would be required to install it into his body. They weren’t called implants for nothing.
He jumped when the door behind him bolted shut, and the secret entrance slid open. He took the final stairwell and then stepped into the exchange. He stopped to run his eyes across the arsenal of magtech weapons and armor lining the walls, fantasizing about taking a piece home with him one day.
“Hello, Edge.” Lilly’s voice echoed across the enclosure. “Everything is ready on my end. Now we just need to cut you open and weld the implant to your rib.”
“Thanks. Although I’m nervous enough already, without you making this even creepier than it already is.” She let out a chuckle, full of dark mirth, then waved him over. This time, Lilly led Edge out of the main showroom and through a door behind the counter.
Inside was a stone chamber featuring a metal chair with leather restraints for the neck, arms, and legs. Beside it was a tray filled with surgical equipment, along with a small silver box that had his implant inside.
“Don’t worry.” She grinned, enjoying his rising discomfort. “This is a straightforward procedure. The odds of anything going catastrophically wrong are… not high at least.”
Edge sighed and tried not to shudder, since it was clear by now that Lilly wasn’t going to let up until she had finished milking the moment for everything it was worth. Instead of protesting, he just took off his shirt and lowered himself into the chair, shivering as the cold metal pressed into his back. “Are those restraints really necessary?”
“Yes. But not for what we’re doing today. Some of the more extensive upgrades, to the skin or the nervous system for example, can result in quite a bit of involuntary movement, even while sedated. Now, you have a choice to make. Do you want to do this awake or asleep? With an implant this size, I can let you watch if you promise not to freak out. Although I’ll warn you now, that it’s going to hurt like hell.”
“I’ll watch,” he replied. “I can handle the pain and regeneration should take care of the rest.”
“Good,” she said. “That makes things easier, and you might learn something along the way.” Lilly’s expression turned serious. “Don’t turn that skill on until the operation is complete, or you’ll fuck things up royally. Do you have any questions before we begin?”
“Just one. How do I refill the device’s reservoir? I know that the same copper-class aether I use in my lantern won’t work.”
“This is a simple implant that runs on silver. Interfacing with an active implant requires a specialized machine. You’ll have to come back to a mortium exchange or aether distillery to refill it. It’s not cheap though. A dose of silver runs about five thousand credits, depending on supply.”
Edge nodded along with the explanation. “Got it. Let’s get this over with, and thanks. I know this is your job, but I really do appreciate it.”
Lilly offered him a wicked smile, running her eyes across his body long enough to make him blush. Then she turned away and got to work.
