JaceVAmor
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Chapter 195: Rehab
🕑 Added 2024-02-09 16:11:01 +0000 UTCThe Corozal Mender had already checked on Coop’s wounds, but by the time he reached her, he had naturally healed everything that she could have treated. He assumed defeating the Icon had allowed his improved Reaper title to fully restore his health in spite of the apparition’s Soul Burn. However, the physical debuffs remained, and he didn’t want to risk fighting more High Priests while hobbled by the injuries that they represented. Unfortunately, all of the debuffs were beyond even the extremely high level Mender. According to her, only time could heal his current injuries.
The real problem that provoked the intermission in his priest hunt was his inability to mistjump. Even with all of the other injuries, if he could properly throw his spear or shield, he would have been able to press on until the rest naturally recovered. Limping through the jungle was just far too inefficient to get the job done. Legacy of the Mists summoning phantasms provided him with plenty of lethality, but his travel times had increased too much. It was a classic problem for Coop as he sought efficient grinding rotations. From his perspective, everything was a kind of grind.
Coop would only be spending one night in Ghost Reef before he returned to Central America. He didn’t want to lose any of the progress he made in the Yucatan by spending too much time away, and the trip itself was long enough that it was already a significant time investment to leave at all. It was regrettable, but he didn’t have time to relax and enjoy the familiar atmosphere of home. A brief stop would have to be enough to recharge his batteries.
The work he had put in clearing areas of the Yucatan could be undone if he was inattentive for too long. He was leaving a power vacuum when he defeated the Priests of Chakyum, opening up their enclaves and hunting grounds with their absence. There was a small chance that other cultists would take their places, slowing down his progress through the Yucatan by forcing him to reclaim previously cleared areas. His journey through Belize hadn’t been particularly linear, but he had already carved out a wide area up the Yucatan Peninsula and throughout the Northern Lowlands of Belize.
When it came to the local Primal Construct variants, he had also spent quite a bit of time in an effort to reset the region by culling the elites. Hopefully, regular versions would be respawning, but if he was gone for too long, they would have the opportunity to regain their elite status. The warriors from the Crossroads would handle the monsters in close proximity to the outpost, but the rest of the peninsula was just left to Mikey and Amanda, and he couldn’t expect the scouting couple to maintain that much influence over wide swathes of wilderness in addition to their other duties.
Coop mumbled to himself, already planning on grinding some more, as he walked into the shimmering light of the Medical Center lobby. This time, the lights that scattered on the ceiling reminded him of the blizzard of moths inside the Butterfly Cave, but seen during more pleasant conditions they were quite pretty. It almost made him want to revisit the underground caverns to properly admire the natural formations without the whispers of insanity echoing in the back of his head. Maybe he’d make a group trip out of it.
A slender, bald-headed alien greeted Coop, calling out to him to bring his attention away from his future responsibilities and vacations back to the present. They were kindly smiling at him and he noted that even though Jones had warned him about absentee contracted residents, there was an alien manning the front desk of the hospital. He attributed their presence to Madison’s strict guidance.
“Welcome, Champion.” They started with a bow, causing the shine on their head to reflect the golden light. “We see you have some need for our service. I hope you will not think less of us if we retrieve The Sage to provide your treatment.” They straightened out of their bow and looked at him regretfully. “Even though we are capable of aiding you immediately, she has given us firm instructions regarding your treatment. Unless it is immediately life threatening, any rehabilitation is to be reserved so that she may personally provide it.” The contracted resident explained.
Coop grunted. “I guess that’s fine.” He hadn’t even considered that the aliens would be able to fix him up independently, but Madison was way ahead of him. “Can you tell me about the contracted resident meetings?” He asked, changing the subject to something Jones had mentioned.
“We’re sorry, Champion. Those are reserved for the unaffiliated contracted residents. We have not been invited due to being members of a faction.” They responded apologetically. “Though we do have proposals to be made once the others have decided on a plan of action out of respect for our Sage.”
Coop frowned, wondering if he should be more concerned. “What is that all about?” He muttered, not expecting an answer.
The alien responded anyway. “The formation of a faction is a major event within the galactic community, one that you are unlikely to be ready for. None truly are. We believe they are considering ways to provide you with preparations. We have already done the same.” They smiled kindly before directing him to follow. “Rest assured, Champion. Ghost Reef has already developed into a home for many. An uncommon feat.” It seemed like they really believed he had nothing to worry about with regard to the contracted residents.
Coop’s mind wandered as he was guided to a treatment room. They were already preparing for the Eradication Protocol. He sincerely doubted that whatever attention the faction brought would be more extreme than what mana had already levied upon them. There was a difference in scale, after all. The galactic community operated within the confines of the system, but mana was an external threat unbound by any limitations imposed by outside factors. He just wasn’t as concerned with the factions as he was with the more immediate, extinction level threat. The attendant left him to make himself comfortable in an empty room while he tried to alleviate his own concerns.
After a minute of waiting in one of the doorless rooms, Madison arrived, tucking away some reading material into an oversized pocket of her white coat. She didn’t hesitate before starting, not even leaving time to exchange greetings. “What did you do this time?” She queried with obvious exasperation, but she didn’t wait for him to answer before she started poking at his injured shoulder and humming disappointedly to herself.
“Did it to myself, really.” Coop admitted. He sucked in air through his teeth as she prodded at his sensitive hip.
“Yes, I see.” The room lit up for a moment, and her angel wings manifested with celestial mana. A halo sparked into life overhead, glowing with smooth angelic light.
While she patched him up, resting the palm of her hand against his shoulder and shutting her eyes, Coop considered the source of her power. She was muttering various diagnoses and the treatments necessary to rehabilitate broken bones, torn ligaments, stress fractures, and more. They weren’t accurate for what he was actually doing, considering they didn’t have access to her prescriptions and there was no need for the weeks of physical therapy that she identified. He guessed that she was healing him by forcing the effect of the treatments with magic itself, as if he was going through a long period of rehabilitation in a few moments. He had to admit, no matter how he looked at it, her abilities were impressive.
It didn’t seem like she was drawing from some reservoir of information provided by the system the way he did with his mists either. Rather, if all of her demands to defer to her pre-mana medical experience were anything to go by, she was actually utilizing her personal catalog of know-how. It was similar, in a way, to his instinctual knowledge. Madison’s expertise would have been developed through an education that was built upon humanity’s collective mastery in the first place, similar to how he believed his guidance was more actively provided.
He had previously asked her about the process of healing, and she explained that it really was the same as before, just streamlined by the presence of mana. He smirked at the thought that she had her own type of Haunted title, except it was just plain knowledge. How mundane, in comparison to his spectral affinity.
She finished with a sigh, then looked to interrogate him. “So, what did you have to beat up so bad that you ended up doing all that to yourself?” She waved her hand up and down, insinuating that he had been a mess. “..Like a dang car crash.”
Coop shrugged, already feeling better. “Icon of Mana that came out after I whooped the God of Fire and Storm.” Coop responded with his typical indifference.
“Hm.” She hummed, pretending not to be impressed with the trouble he always managed to find. “Fine. But, maybe don’t go all out like that if you’re too far away from home.”
“Wasn’t too far.” Coop pointed out, seeing as he was sitting there being healed, but changed his tune when she gave him a withering look that was usually reserved for Emmanuel when he talked back. “I mean, yes ma’am.” He gulped.
“Doctor.” She corrected him sternly.
“Yes, Doctor.” Coop obediently responded.
“Good.” She nodded as she sat down across from him, like a detective preparing to question a suspect.
What followed was more or less a friendly interrogation. Madison was keeping up with all the developments throughout the Lighthouse faction, whether it involved Empress City, Neptune’s Bridge, or the expeditionary force that was moving toward Neon Park, her daughter among them. Apparently, she planned to visit Corozal and needed Coop’s update to identify when the best time would be. While Coop suggested she wait until the Cult was completely defeated, he wasn’t sure if she would be content to wait that long. She wanted to be on the frontlines, wherever they were, and Ghost Reef had settled into a secure routine, where her skills were almost entirely unnecessary. The territory had spread so that all the immediate monster growth was sustainable, and the mana well was safely being farmed with any surprises being manageable by the staff of the clinic. So long as the residents didn’t spread themselves too far, they were in a comfortable situation. As she saw it, Neptune’s Bridge would need her help sooner or later, if what the defeated army claimed was true, so she wanted to head to Corozal before that happened.
Eventually, they compromised on Madison and Emmanuel forming an advance squad of Ghost Reef’s residents to help secure the Corozal Outpost after Coop was satisfied with the state of the Primal Constructs in the Yucatan. The ships would maintain contact between the Outpost and Ghost Reef, so they would only be a few days away when the time came. They were both satisfied with the plan.
“Make sure you take care of yourself.” Madison added as they finished up.
“I’ll do my best.” Coop hedged. “Thanks for the heals.” He added, but she just waved him out like he was dismissed.
Coop left the Merciful Medical Center with a pep in his step. Like only the best visits to the doctor; it hadn’t been as bad as he feared. It certainly felt great to be free of all those debuffs, and his confidence was renewed with the eagerness of Ghost Reef’s residents to extend a helping hand.
Coop headed back to Balor’s citadel. The civilization shard was centrally located within the fort and it was housed inside the unique construction created by the dwarf-like alien. The stone bunker was artfully designed to operate as a decorative feature without sacrificing defensive properties should they find themselves in a last stand around the civilization shard. They were pretty far beyond the threat of any type of siege, but it was still nice to have the additional layer of security. In the meantime, the citadel functioned as a friendly gathering place, like a large stone gazebo that protected ornamental plants and patterned stones with careful specifications that allowed sunlight to bounce through the interior. It wouldn’t have been out of place as the centerpiece of a sprawling garden park.
The market was busier than Coop ever remembered, rivaling the grand opening, and plenty of unfamiliar faces greeted him enthusiastically as he made his way across the bridge. They weren’t just saying ‘hi’ because he was the Champion, as they probably didn’t know who he was. They were just happy to exchange greetings with another resident. The settlement had grown large enough that they wouldn’t recognize everyone, but the fact that they were there meant that they were still brothers in arms. Coop appreciated the open camaraderie.
The coffee shop was occupied by a decent number of people lounging with drinks in hand. They gathered on the deck, and watched the southern circle. The Tavern’s front door was a turnstyle despite being a bit too early for happy hour. People sat beneath trees within the green space of the courtyard, enjoying their time between shifts of work or grinding monsters. Overall, Coop was satisfied with the harmonious atmosphere. It reminded him more of a university campus than the bulwark prepared to withstand any type of opposition that it actually was.
On the west side of the canal, the swimming pigs waded just beyond the threshold of the fort’s walls. The Eater of Worlds was lying on his side, looking something like a disabled ship that had been washed into the shallows. Coop shook his head at the absolute relaxation achieved by the largest wild pig, feeling slightly jealous.
“Hm.” Coop hummed as he thought that several of the smaller pigs actually looked quite large themselves. They didn’t compare to the enormous Chosen pig, but still, he wouldn’t wrestle with them unless he was Vronk’s size. It would take a lot of the alien baker’s bread to grow as large as an ogre, but that’s what it would take to avoid being smothered by the growing pigs.
When he glanced to the east end of the canal, he spotted Sharkbait, glancing over his shoulder rather suspiciously. Once Kayla’s first-mate was satisfied that he wasn’t being observed, he pulled something from a pack on his side and held it in one his hands over the edge. The large mute man leaned over the canal, holding out whatever was in his hand as if offering it to the water. Coop’s eyes widened when a tentacle slowly broke the surface tension of the calm water and snaked up the seawall before retrieving whatever Sharkbait had offered.
The tentacle slipped back into the water just as Coop’s form manifested from condensing mists beside Sharkbait. Coop was still holding his spear steady in the air where it had been thrown.
“Sharkbait? What the heck was that?” Coop demanded, fully armed and armored, and ready for a fight in the instant that he detected danger. That tentacle had been a narrow strip of seaweed. It could have only come from one place. The massive stone crab that had attacked Windchaser on the way to the oil rig, and later sank an entire cruise ship full of the newest residents of Ghost Reef. It was still among the highest level animals he had encountered, and it had achieved its power earlier than any other.
Sharkbait looked properly shocked at the Champion’s sudden appearance, but he raised his hands to make sure Coop didn’t start a fight.
“What are you doing?” Coop demanded, concern for the sanctity of the settlement dripping from his words.
Sharkbait assumed an apologetic posture, raising his shoulders and bowing his head. It looked completely out of place on the scarred, tattooed, and oversized pirate, with his braided beard resting on his protruding belly. Judging by what remained in the much larger pirate’s pack, he had been feeding the crab treats from the Tavern. He pointed at the gargantuan claw that still hung from the side of the Clumsy Shark. The trophy had become a fixture within the settlement.
“Did it follow us home? All the way back then?” Coop wondered, and Sharkbait nodded solemnly.
“You could have let me know, I would have taken care of it.” Coop pointed out, obviously threatening the monstrous crab, but Sharkbait immediately put his hands forward to stop Coop, then put them together to beg Coop for something.
“Dude, it’s not a pet.” Coop pointed out as he guessed at the muted man’s intent. Sharkbait was obviously insisting on keeping the crab.
Coop peered over the edge, and vaguely spotted the crab at the bottom of the moat, so large it could easily be mistaken for the muddy bottom itself. It had two rather small claws folded against its front and a tiny wig of seaweed still growing on its back. Only one or two blades were even long enough to reach the surface. Apparently, it had been pretty severely diminished after receiving a direct hit from one of Coop’s heaviest spears and catching the cruise ship’s anchor during their last encounter.
He remembered how Kayla had been so excited to fulfill a request from Sharkbait and considered just how insistent he was at the moment. The first mate wasn’t someone that asked for much. Even beyond the fact that he didn’t speak at all, he rarely seemed to need anything. Instead, he was someone that anticipated the needs of others. However, letting the crab stay was an extremely tall ask.
Coop sighed, considering what to do with the infraction. It wasn’t like he was completely innocent considering how he welcomed all sorts of other animals himself, though most of them hadn’t been so aggressive beforehand.
“Alright, we’ll figure something out.” Coop rubbed his chin. “First of all, you’re grounded. Find someone else to captain Windchaser. Your job is to make sure this guy doesn’t cause any problems.” Coop shook his head in disbelief. “I mean, there are kids around, man, what are you gonna do when it fully regains its strength. It could easily snatch someone.” Sharkbait knocked his brass knuckles together, indicating he wouldn’t allow it, though Coop wasn’t sure if he had the ability. “In any case, you’re demoted to crab keeper until Kayla gets back and straightens everything out.”
Sharkbait nodded along, agreeing with Coop without complaint. Compared to their other animal residents, all of them seemed more sophisticated than a crab. Coop tried to recall each of them: a cat, dog, cockatiel, some owls, pigs, and bats. All of them were either normal pets or at least existed in close proximity to humans. Then there was the raccoon and alligator on the mainland, neither of which were particularly out of the ordinary for Florida. A crab might be kept in an aquarium, or maybe beneath a dock, but they didn’t have the same relationship with people that the others did. Hopefully, he just wasn’t giving them enough credit. The impact of mana was really the primary factor, and to that end, all animals were closer to level with humans than pre-mana relationships would have predicted.
“Seriously, man. Keep an eye on it.” Coop ordered. Sharkbait nodded firmly, accepting the demand honestly.
Coop left the second in command of the entire Tempest Fleet in charge of babysitting a crab, shaking his head as he went.
Comments
Alnatura
It would be hilarious if slaying a boss fort monster solo is another hidden quest of the Next settlement update 😎
BelligerentGnu
It's not a frog, Coop, but it's a start. (What, you think I'm going to let that go, author? I have a bridge to sell you.)
Nyroe
🦀🦀🦀
