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The Least Common Denominator Interlude XVI: Ica
Ica wasn't one for games.Being a literal embodiment of her Master's untapped abilities, the phoenix hadn't expected to mold herself into this demeaning approximation of her Master's... preferences. She was power. Pure Essence made manifest. To think that she'd stoop to lower herself simply in a vain attempt to knock some sense into the idiot that was her host?Inconceivable.And yet, as Ica watched her Master reabsorb each and every page of her repressed memories, she couldn't help but roll her eyes at the lengths she had undergone for this event to even happen. Creating a human analog of herself had been the first step, despite her host already being able to understand her through her sheer thoughts. Next came the complete overhaul of the mindscape, which would enable her Master to better understand the place that was her own mess of a mind.
The Least Common Denominator XXXIX.I Quantum Theory
Questions... the fundamental building blocks of curiosity. Any child would have these in spades, as would any other OCD-riddled adult that just refuses to accept any answer at face value. Of course, it wasn't that easy to seek the answers to any question, especially during the late-age information era when the very concept of the truth had been distorted and mangled by those that wished to control it. Anyone with a narrative had their own set of truths, as would those that simply had their own beliefs and principles. Unfortunately, the hivemind that was society had a tendency to spit out those that went against them, and as such, thinking for oneself became radicalism."Crimson?"Radicalism, in turn, becomes extremism. After which would come the gradual degradation of rational thought and basic common sense. Now that I think about it, I think even I, myself, wasn't immune to i
The Least Common Denominator XXXIX.II Quantum Theory
Okay, let's think this through...I apparently have an ability that's supposed to be exclusive to Numerators. I already have access to my missing memories because of Ica. Ica explained that the reason I blacked out was that I was reabsorbing the lingering Essence still present in this abandoned village..................Fuck me, I don't understand how I'm supposed to spin this."..Yeah..." I found myself hesitantly agreeing to Love's comment, her eyes oddly judging despite knowing that their owner wasn't as such. "I did say that...""How did you know then?"I grimaced as Lace presented the fucking question. Of course, I wouldn't be able to dodge this thing forever. But did that mean that I couldn't buy
The Least Common Denominator XXXIX.III Quantum Theory
A few minutes had passed since I had a nervous breakdown when I had decided that I was back to being a presentable person again. The twins were back in the old, dilapidated room that we were staying in; our dinners being cooked by the bafflingly dangerous campfire they've somehow set up on a floor made of wood. I would've questioned them on this, but I honestly couldn't give a shit anymore as this day just kept on getting longer and longer. I couldn't even tell if it was already past midnight already at this point. I was just surviving through sheer conviction and the potential guilt that would well up inside me if I put this thing off for tomorrow.Not that that was out of the cards, however. I could still drop unconscious out of sheer fatigue at any point in time."So, I have a theory..." I started off the discussion, my eyes probably still red from earlier as the twins look
The Least Common Denominator XL.I Synchronicity
"Focus."Focus, huh... Such a nebulous term, at least in my opinion. Forcing one's mind to remove all distractions just to solely aim at one subject, focusing is a vital skill used by both adults and students alike in their everyday lives. Whether as a learning tool or to simply get shit done in as quick and accurate a fashion, the amount of time one can stay focused can dictate whether or not one would be successful in their chosen field. It will always take a certain amount of focus to-*SLAP!*"Oww!"The stinging sensation of a wooden plank hitting its mark threatened to break my skin as I rubbed my reddening arm. My eyes opened in an instant, the visage of Love holding a whacking stick looming above me from where I sat. Was it unwarranted? Was it premature? I don't really know. Then again, I guess I did ask for this
The Least Common Denominator XL.II Synchronicity
I felt my brows twitch as I heard my alter ego's sarcastic remarks. Sure, I might not be the most accurate tool in the shed, but did she really just say that to me? "What do you mean took you long enough?""It's exactly what I mean, Master," Ica smirked at me from her fiery chair as she floated in the air all menacing-like. Totally not jealous about it though, "At the very least, you managed to do so as soon as you put your mind to it.""Haha, very funny."Ignoring the blatant show of power and elegance by Ica's admittedly awesome way of being seated, I found myself looking around at the oh-so-familiar library that was apparently my mindscape. Not much of a difference from last time, at least; same bookshelves, same wooden floors that somehow won't combust despite the literal fire that Ica was emitting, even the same damn chair and table combo with
The Least Common Denominator XL.III Synchronicity
Were my ears deceiving me? Did I hear her correctly? "I thought you're not supposed to lie to me?"I was supposed to be that normal Denominator isekai chick. At least, if the cosmic being that put me here had the idea of entertaining itself with my own misery. I didn't show Numerator powers back when I wanted it to appear, and Mother flat out told me that being a Den or a Num were mutually exclusive from each other. And then here came little old me just suddenly being capable of doing both? It felt like a massive cop-out, not to mention the fact of why did it not appear earlier? If I had Numerator powers, surely I would've noticed it years ago. I find this shit highly suspect."And yet here we are," I heard Ica answer my thoughts with a sigh. "I, myself, do not know how or why this is the case, only that I am the manifestation of your power."'Mani
The Least Common Denominator XL.IV Synchronicity
"Focus, you idiot."Now, where had I heard that before...Flicking my right wrist, I did my damn best to pretend that I was throwing out my so-called 'other Essence' as I threw out my arm like a fucking weeb on steroids. And as predicted, nothing came out of my palms except some of my dignity as I grimaced at what I was doing. It was demeaning, humiliating; probably the most cringe-worthy action I had ever done in my life."Even worse than posing awkwardly trying to do your best approximation of an Iaido?""Oh shut up." Of course, she'd respond to my thoughts like this. "Now tell me if I'm doing this right."It might have been a slow start in terms of actual learning, but I would at least like to think that I was doing pretty well despite being only at it for about an hour or so.
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- The Least Common Denominator
CV.V Cotangent
I don't even know what's happening anymore..."Huh... That looks far too complex even for you, Crimson," Phillipe snarked at my work. Technically Anne's as well, to be honest. "A square rune with that many parts? I don't think that'll work out in the long run.""You and me both," I rolled my eyes with the sarcasm of an overflowing dam. "Seriously, why are you here?""You're being annoying."I raised an eyebrow at the blunt delivery of his oh-so-important announcement. Giving him the best sarcastic inquisitive eyes I could muster, I let out a scoff as I began whatever this talk was going to end up as.'Right behind you there.'You always are, Ica. "And?"Phillipe smirked at me as if he knew exactly what I was thinking, "You're wasting
- The Least Common Denominator
CV.IV Cotangent
"Let's go crazy..."With a borderline manic whisper, I let my imagination cut loose as my hand moved on its own. Traps within traps, earthen sigils meant to sprout at a moment's notice, the world was my oyster as the goodies slowly accumulated with each stroke of my charcoal.'Don't get too carried away, Master.'I know. I'm not dumb enough to overload the thing before it even came to fruition.And that was the biggest risk to such a massive array as well. With so many moving parts, any wrong line or overlapping rune will pretty much make the whole thing explode. I couldn't stress it enough, even to myself. Do not make this thing more complicated than it already is.'And yet here you are having fun with it.'Don't test me, Ica. Or maybe I'll just assert me being
- The Least Common Denominator
CV.III Cotangent
Fiiiineee... You win, my precious Ica.The stuttering that ensued at the back of my head was like a soothing tune as I looked over my work. The communication arrays were gonna stay, as would the Essence storage runes at strategic parts of the palace grounds. Hmmm.... Wouldn't the communication arrays be two-way anyway? So why even bother with surveillance runes like last time?My hand moved to remove the minor additions I added on the dirt parts of the grounds, leaving me with more space to work with in terms of... well... anything, really. What kind of runes would even work on shaky ground? Dirt couldn't hold anything beyond the basic types of runic arrays. Anything more complex than a three-layered circuit would blow up instantly from the strain. I could maybe run- wait... why not just do that?The charcoal streaked across the outskirts of the pa
- The Least Common Denominator
CV.II Cotangent
*ruummbbllee...*The sound of a sputtering engine echoed from behind me as I drew up yet another set of circles on the board. While I kind of put the general purpose of the massive multi-circuit array at the back of my head, I really should try and solidify that stuff properly before making the main control array, shouldn't I...'Good thing you remembered that, Master.'I grumbled through the dull pain I was feeling at my knees as I focused myself back on the doodle that was supposed to be a defense system for the palace grounds. It was far too small of a circle, now that I thought about it. The size of the drawing did little to help me ascertain the types of circuits that I drew on it in the first place. Squinting even further, it felt as if I was reading my own handwriting from how jumbled and nonsensical it all looked with hindsight.
- The Least Common Denominator
CV.I Cotangent
Plans upon plans upon plans. I feel like I'm repeating myself whenever I say that I'm obsessed about things going right, and if not, to have plans to be able to properly react to the failure. Fool-proofing something small was easy. Doing it again for something on the scale of a war, however, was a completely different beast. The number of variables at play, hundreds to even thousands of moving parts to look over and take into account. The time, the weather, morale, even individuals that might have other ideas and could stray from the plans put into place... It was so much to think about that hours or even days of pouring over the relevant information wouldn't be enough to take everything into account into one's plans. And even if you think you somehow managed to achieve this impossibility, there will always be something so monumentally out of left field that could just absolutely destroy any and all plans along with its sub plans and
- The Least Common Denominator
Interlude XXXIX: Grigori
GRIGORI⬛⬛⬛*RRRRRUUUMMBBLLEEEE!!!! RRRRUUMMBBLEEEE!!!*"What's wrong, Lord Stone?! Finally getting tired in your old age?!"Grigori grumbled in annoyance as he found himself standing his ground in his self-made fortress. Truth be told, the former Prime expected his fight to be over over ten minutes ago. However, he severely underestimated his enemies' hidden tenacity and downright stubbornness."I'm just getting started, kid!" he boisterously replied. "I'm far from being done!"Still, even as he said those words, Grigori was beginning to feel more tired than he initially expected. His reserves were starting to run dry from the constant back and forth that the combined forces of Lords Breeze and Inferno were throwing at him. And that's not to mention the current
- The Least Common Denominator
CIV.IV Transistor
OLIVIA⬛⬛⬛"So Lord Iron truly took care of the problem?"Olivia held her breath as she found herself taking in the state that the young Num was just found in. Broken, battered, and bleeding all over, Tesla had clearly taken a beating of a lifetime as her head lolled in her unconscious state, her face marred with cuts and bruises as her white hair was stained brown with dried blood."Damn... I guess the ranking in the Prime Thirteen's not a joke, huh...""Lord Iron's the Sixth, after all. Lady Static's the Thirteenth...""Fuck..." Olivia swore under her breath, her teeth gnashing as she watched the Imperials gawk at her fallen friend. "How the hell do I get her out of there safely..."The warrior Den tuned everything out as she focused on the unenviabl
- The Least Common Denominator
CIV.III Transistor
OLIVIA⬛⬛⬛*c..crackle....*The faint sound of electricity seemed to crackle from the distance as Olivia stood in the middle of her self-made carnage. The lack of common sense that she was witnessing honestly made her feel more irritated than amused as she slowly walked towards the panicking commander. Olivia had places to be, and possibly someone to save depending on whether or not Tesla could somehow relay to her that she was okay."No matter," she sighed. "You idiots wouldn't understand, I guess.""No!-"*SLASH!*With a quick step, the commander didn't even stand a chance. His sword fell with an unceremonious clang onto the ground as his head rolled off his neck like a piece of meat. Olivia didn't flinch as the idiot's terrified fa
- The Least Common Denominator
CIV.II Transistor
OLIVIA⬛⬛⬛*CRACKLE! CRACKLE! KRAKATHOOM!*Olivia ran through the streets of Mathema like a woman possessed. Wreaking havoc across every Imperial contingent she came across, lightning followed her path as she relied on Tesla's ever-encompassing presence to deal massive damage on the enemy while despite being outnumbered by at least a hundred to one. She knew that Her Sister would no doubt disapprove of her current tactics, but if it worked, then why bother changing it?"If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right?"*KRAKATHOOM!*"AAHHH!!!!""IT BURNS!"With a smile on her face and blood on her blade, Olivia uttered her Sister's own words out loud as a reminder. Lightning crackled behind her, screams of her fallen enemies saturat