"You took your ti," said the First, his body regenerating within monts.
Arnold, Champion of the Var Elegis, sole Homunculus of the seventh generation, administrator of the Empire's AGI, and Elysian Duke, almost glitched. According to the films he'd purchased from the Guardian of Secrets, the First's statent could be interpreted as a greeting and it was impolite not to respond. However, the response options provided by his processors were suboptimal.
Arnold decided to run a thousand simulations to find the perfect reply.
[Duration of the simulations: 1 838 526 000 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the cesium 133 atom. Approximately one-fifth of a human second.]
Human customs allowed for a few hundredths of a second of thought between a remark and a response; that was more than enough ti to devise an optimal coback.
The Var Elegis' processors kicked into high gear. It was an opportunity to nd a relationship that had begun with an attack on his part. During their first encounter, Arnold had obeyed his initial protocols and attempted to neutralize a threat. The failure had alard the Var Elegis, forcing him to adapt.
For the first ti, Arnold had ignored the Empire's commands and developed an ego. His binary worldview had shattered, forcing him to drastically change his ways.
These changes had led to successes, such as the restructuring of the Empire or his cooperation with the Princess. All of it stemd from the First, and Arnold was determined to understand his rival—and their relationship.
Each new interaction portrayed a complex character.
During their second encounter, the First had ignored him before leaping into a spatial rift. What seed like suicide had not eliminated his rival. After analyzing the rift, the conclusions were clear: the physique of a mythical race was necessary to survive the crossing.
During their third encounter, accompanied by the Warrior, the First had demanded the body of the Assassin. His anger had almost caused a localized spatial collapse. Nurous hypotheses could explain this, each more terrifying than the last.
Today, the converted Assassin defended the First's base, alongside the Warrior's subordinates and two local Tier 3s in hiding. Facing them, the Necro Envoy was only just beginning to realize she was the prey. Once again, the First's plans were terrifying.
Even more terrifying were his powers. Arnold had watched the battle from the start, trying to better understand the First. Why was he dragging out the fight? The Tribulation in his chest or the curse in his eyes could have decimated his opponent a hundred tis over.
Arnold had understood why just monts ago when he received a new Talent.
[Artificial Instinct - Gold] - Your biology, mind, and soul predispose you to extre pragmatism; the antithesis of instinct. Yet, the influence of [Redacted] has granted you this gift.
So lines of code optimize the system while others destroy it.
Despite the censorship, Arnold's new instinct left him with no doubt about its creator. The First had dragged out the fight in part to bestow upon him a Gold Talent. What did he expect in return? All of this was part of a plan that none of the Var Elegis’ AGIs could comprehend.
This fourth encounter promised to be as enigmatic for Arnold as the first three. He refocused on the First. Whether his rival was an orphaned Dragon or an agent of the System, it made no difference to the Mission.
The Var Elegis would prevail.
But before their fated death duel fractured the universe of Concepts, temporary collaborations could benefit both sides. He had to get closer to the First, if only to study him. Arnold was aware that his nascent personality was still fragile. Imitating that of his greatest rival would bring him closer to the Zenith.
"I didn't know I was expected," replied the Var Elegis twenty-three hundredths of a second after the First's remark. His simulations had concluded that an honest response in the French language was relevant.
"Yet here you are," pointed out the First.
"The existence of a primary objective—discussing a mutual defense pact—and a secondary objective—a weakened Tier 3 Marquess—in the sa geographical area is the reason for my presence."
"You have a powerful body; too bad I have a preference for a carbon base," comnted the Necro Envoy. "In what way am I an objective?"
The Var Elegis ignored the question. Responding to a future corpse was a waste of energy.
"It seems obvious to . If he kills you, he'll beco a King," the First said.
"Just him?" chuckled the Necro Envoy.
A smile spread across the First's lips. "No, not just him."
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