[Chapter 19. New Drones]

  Searanox jolted upright in his seat, the System window snapping into place with him in perfect sync. He threw the car door open and jumped out, his pulse hammering as instinct took over. With a single thought, he summoned one of each drone.

  Six constructs shimmered into existence around him, their forms distinct and unmistakable.

  The Assault drone hovered low, dual red lenses glowing beneath twin cannons.

  The sleek Offensive drone floated higher, its violet lens fixed forward like a sniper lining up a shot.

  The Defensive drone manifested as a heavy vertical oval, a faint green barrier rippling across its surface.

  The Reconnaissance drone was small, black, and slightly translucent, its presence easy to miss if one did not know where to look.

  The Healing drone gleamed pristine white, its teal lens pulsing with quiet restorative energy.

  The travel drone hovered a flat oval disk shaped, humming softly,

  While the bulky Cargo drone loomed behind it like a moving vault.

  They hovered in silence. A compact fleet of death, support, and logistics. Iris was instantly awake, her eyes wide as she took in the sight.

  "Iris, I got a System boon, and it changes everything," he said quickly. "It multiplied the effects of my summon skill by ten."

  He looked like a child on Christmas Eve, circling the drones with barely contained excitement, examining every curve and glowing lens. He ran a hand along the smooth surface of the travel drone, grinning. Just as Iris perked up, she froze. Her gaze went unfocused, her eyes blank for a brief moment. He recognized the look instantly.

  "Did you just reach Level 10?"

  "Yes. Yes, I did, Searanox."

  Her tail swayed behind her, a faint smile touching her lips before her expression shifted, growing serious as she studied the six drones floating in loose formation.

  "The System has granted you a tremendous advantage," she said. "This fundamentally changes our operational parameters. We no longer need to limit ourselves to a single location. With these drones, we can wage a multi front war of attrition against the region livestock. Our objectives can be achieved in a fraction of the expected time."

  She stepped closer, amber eyes sharp and calculating as she examined each construct.

  "The Reconnaissance drone alone allows full mapping of farms and potential targets within a fifty kilometer radius. We can plan with surgical precision, minimizing exposure while maximizing efficiency."

  Searanox sighed and shook his head.

  "I hate to burst your bubble once again. Iris, but even this does not take us any higher." He pulled out his notebook and flipped through several pages. "Even if the System does not reduce experience gains further at level fourteen, we are still talking about roughly two point two million kills for one of us."

  He snapped the notebook shut.

  "There are not four million chickens here. Nor enough animals worth hunting."

  He stepped closer to her, his voice dropping.

  "I am sure you unlocked something impressive as well, but for now, this is it. In four days, the System descends. After that, we use what we have."

  He paused, then gently booped her snoot before turning back toward the car. Before he could reach the car he stopped and looked at his drones. "that could work, it just has to be one that is large enough."

  All the drones disappear in a cloud of blue sparks, leaving just one of them behind. The oval, disk shaped construct appeared in the blink of an eye, humming softly as it stabilized in the air. His hand slid across its slick, streamlined body, fingers tracing the shallow indentations along its topside. As with his own status, the information surfaced instantly in his mind.

  Thanks to the spell and the knowledge imprinted alongside it, he knew exactly how it was meant to be used. Leaning forward, he pressed his body onto the disk, fitting neatly into the shallow concave indentation. His hands found two recessed grips near the front, designed specifically as handholds.

  It was surprisingly comfortable. The sensation reminded him of lying on a foam kickboard or a small surfboard. His grip tightened as his feet left the ground and the drone lifted smoothly, carrying him above the treetops.

  There was no jolt. No vibration.

  The sensation was not unpleasant at all. It was strangely calming. It felt as though he were lying on solid ground, untouched by motion.

  `Forward.′

  The drone responded instantly, moving even before the thought had fully formed. It turned and accelerated effortlessly, matching his intent perfectly.

  `These drones are incredible. There is no need for instruction. They know exactly what I want.′

  The world beneath him blurred as he picked up speed. Yet nothing changed for him. There was no wind, no chill, no pressure against his face. If not for the landscape streaking by below, he might have believed he was completely still.

  Searanox spent several minutes testing its limits. He dove, banked, climbed, and twisted through the air. Through it all, his body never shifted unless he willed it to.

  Perfect stability. Perfect control.

  Iris watched the retreating form of Searanox as he vanished into the open sky, her gaze lingering on the empty blue above the clearing.

  Searanox returned soon after, the travel drone descending through the canopy before lowering him gently to the ground. Blue sparks erupted as the drone was dismissed. Iris turned as he approached.

  "Iris, change of plans. We won't miss this opportunity, that the system has just dropped at our feet."

  Two travel drones materialized in front of him. "You watched me earlier so you should know how to get on it."

  In one smooth motion, he grabbed hold, and the drone shot skyward, carrying him into the white and blue expanse above the trees. Iris copied his movements and got on the drone as well. Within seconds, they were gone.

  He knew that what he was planning was anything but humane, he needed millions of kills and there is just one way to do this. Just one place where millions are stacked in such a dense area that it would work out. What he needs is a metropolis, one that is not defended by a huge military force. His drones were flying south carrying them to their destination with near 600 km/h.

  Nine hours later the horizon showed a sprawling cityscape, spanning the entire sight.