25: Base Levels

Karma wondered why the Harkness had no faith in the current system since it was the system his mother created. Really, they all did, but Karma was actively thinking about it. But then again, it is a system that made him not have his mother as he grew up, having one but not being present was a concept that Karma didn't understand, her support in Sector J was like her family.

They began adventuring on the path Mira unlocked for them, through the woods as the night began to fall. "You're not gonna get anywhere by staring." Rocco hummed as Machi set up a fire. They left with nothing and Machi assured them they'd be fine. "Machi is strange but he's just as human as the rest of us."

"Is he though?" Mira asked and the trio looked to see in resting - and may I add comfortably - against a rock. Rocco clicked his tongue and chuckled. "Maybe."

Opening his dimensional storage he called 'The Attic', sleeping bags, tents and cooking equipment were placed before them and everyone just grabbed one and began setting up while Machi yawned as he lay on the rock. He had to get used to it, since the dragurs didn't need luxuries like mattresses and pillows. So what if he has a weird habit now, at least he's survival-ready.

'Hey Carbine, you're not really what you say you are, are you?' Machi asked and the consciousness remained silent. 'Your knowledge should be the same as my father's yet it's greater especially when it comes to affairs that don't involve Earth. Basically, you're too smart.' Carbine was shocked he managed to figure something rather complicated so quickly. Rylan accepted him, and Machi questioned him.

'You are too cautious for your own good,' he replied, 'one day, I'll explain what my consciousness is, and where I come from. But for now, know this. Your father's paternal name, and conversely therefore your other family's name is Hallows. Where I believe we have headed that name holds large significance.'

Machi just stayed silent and the trio wondered if he was actually human, just sitting there without moving, not even at the smell of the meat they were cooking.

¤

Zac was questioned by Evermore as to where her son was and he raised an eyebrow, first Machi being questioned, now him. "Ever, he's not a kid. He can do what he wants." Zac argued and Lord Hogwood was annoyed Mira was dragged. "They all are. Meaning, stop treating them like kids and understand that they've gone and that we have to accept that."

No one liked the words but Zac had to play the devil's advocate. Someone had to defend Machi, Rocco, Mira and Karma. They had to have a support system here so they could return home. Lord Hogwood really just wanted to know what sparked this rebellious streak in her daughter and Lord Hellyer, as much as he valued Karma, just accepted that she'd be her own person and could decode for himself.

"If you were to rank their... escapade..." Ruth asked carefully, everyone turning to him as the discussion on what to do about this situation, "what would it be?" Zac looked to the room and massaged his temple. He couldn't quantify it. Rather, he had no quantifiable factors, nothing to compare it against that was known to himself. But, he had one glimpse of quantity.

The short burst of power Machi displayed during the failed invasion. "Well let's put it in these terms. Machi can defeat Black Dragur's with ease. If he wasn't there, even if it was us..." his eyes seemed so cold, "everyone would be dead." He smiled softly and his eyes returned to be full of life. His power - chilling and cold, making the entire room feel as though it was suffocating under the immense pressure he had just emitted - made an appearance and Ever watched as his watch glitched. Yeah, Karma the first level 6 but Zac...

Anyways.

"Then why did you send him on that mission?" Lord Hellyer asked. "He's more valuable here. I agree, the Harkness boy is his own being and can do what he wants but there must be a reason for them to venture to where they are going." Hellyer argued and Zac agreed, and knew where and why they were going to their destination.

"Freed went after Rylan, and then Machi for a specific reason. When I was a kid, bloodline was everything," Zac recalled and they all knew that, knew the history that was the cause of the wars and inequality back then, "Rylan knew deep down he was from a special line. And he... he knew it was catching up to him. But he had zero answer to where he came from. And his pat was rather murky so he began investigating. Machi has the same blood through his veins no matter his last name."

The door opened and Jo walked in, holding a clipboard in her lab coat, cutting the immense tension in the room with just her presence. "If you're worrying about Machi, quite frankly, don't. It's a waste of time. Per the mandatory testing Evermore asked, we checked Machi's new level."

She showed the clipboard and there were five tests run. The same test, run 5 times because no one was able to understand where such numbers came from. And a lifetime to comprehend his strength.

"That's impossible." Lord Hogwood said. "That's--"

"His new level." Jo confirmed and everyone was shocked by the mere… possibility that the levels went that high.

***

Machi yawned, almost falling asleep, looking at his watch as everyone played cards. "Hey Machi, you wanna show your new level?" Karma asked. "You're beyond me but by how much?" Mira noticed the watch glitch and Machi had thrown Karma hers as he removed the tracking GPS. They did run away and were becoming lawbreakers, they didn't need to be followed as well. Showing them his watch, Mira grabbed his wrist and even Rocco was stunned, but not shocked.

"That's not possible." Mira said. Her eyes were in awe. Machi changed it back and Rocco chuckled. "You see why Zac Kalona didn't care about us going on this mission?"

***

"That's 3 times more than Zac at his highest." Evermore wondered why they kept this from her.

"See. That's the difference. Level 8.5 is Zac at his highest, when he's using all of his power. And Machi over here is clocking at level 25.5 at a base level. When he uses all of his powers together, that freak could reach even higher." Kai said endearingly but chuckled too. "All because of that Black Dragur in custody. Machi was right. She's probably a level 50. As I said before, and we have that beast in custody. Damn."

10 times stronger than Evermore as she is now. And she wasn't even doing anything but taking care of her people and ensuring their safety.

¤

"Hey that Black Dragur in custody, could anyone defeat her?" Karma asked as the group woke. Machi didn't need much sleep and he nodded. He had thought long and hard, and when he visited Jisa after the fight, she even gave her opinions on this city's strongest fighters. And who they'd be able to defeat.

"Zac."