A week had passed since Belle began to experiment with Ether (and Nicole hehe bwoi~). Her days spent hanging out with Wise, taking commissions, texting the Cunning Hares, exploring her abilities and the occasional nightly patrol.
While her relationship progress hadn't increased for Anby and Billy, while Nicole had been giving her a few points whenever they texted or met up. Though Belle's interest in Nicole wasn't due to her crippling gacha addiction, it was nice to have that bonus.
It was in training did she see the most progress. Belle had even kept a journal regarding her discoveries and improvements regarding her usage of Ether.
-♤Belle's Ether Journal♤-
Ether, for normal users acts almost like Magic. It 'mutates' certain technology and corrupts them. It also creates Thirens in certain circumstances. The exact conditions for Thirenification is unknown but it is a fact that they can withstand Ether far longer than humans and can utilize Ether to empower their bodies. It's also used in specialized Hunter weapons as well, such as Billy's guns, Anby's blade and Nicole's Ether attuned gun-suitcase.
Ether effects for me: Just as with Thirens, it can enhance my physical attributes. Not only that, it can be refined internally and released as techniques. I can compress it, add friction to it, make it freeze and recently, I was able to sharpen it. Soon, I'll learn how to cleave and dismantle!
Now for magic. Magic powers skills, spells and techniques. Most Hunters simply utilize magic, as it's less volatile than Ether. But those exceptional Hunters use both. Thirens have a hard time using magic but I've been researching. I think Hosimi Miyabi may be one of the Magic and Ether using Thirens, but it hasn't been confirmed yet.
Lastly, I found a way to increase the Mahoraga template without relying on the now expensive Gacha rolls~ I've dedicated my nightly routine to grinding that out.
-♤Journal Entry 127, July 3rd 2022♤-
"Shit! Who the fuck is attacking us!?" A man in white tank top, black cargo pants and an intimidating round black horned helmet that covered his head was fleeing down some of the alleys in New Eridu.
He was accimpanied by two lankier men in similar white helmets who were running behind him. The one on his left yelled back, "I don't know! We were just jumped after we grabbed some supplies!"
The three bandits continued running, sprinting off into one of the side streets within Lumina square. The biggest one grabbed the lankier bandits and stopped them while ducking behind the closed Coff Cafe.
"Haah.." The lanky bandits panted while the muscular bandit peeked out from the corner.
It was strangely quiet. Lumina Square was almost always busy, being the center of New Eridu. Even at three in the morning, as it was, there was usually a few people meandering about. Not to mention the Pubsec officers, who had a station within Lumina Square itself.
"We need to take a car.." The bulky bandit stated, shoving both of the smaller men under him.
"What? But I don't know how to hotwi-Guhk!" The lanky bandit started to complain until he was quickly taken from behind.
The bulky bandit and the other skinnier bandit quickly turned around, just in time to see a machete fall onto the pavement. But their companion was nowhere to be found.
"Hiiiee!!!" The smaller bandit freaked out and yelped, quickly looking around to see if he could see the now missing bandit.
"Wait, you dumbass!" The bulky bandit grabbed the other by the arm and forced him to stay still.
"This fucking vigilante's picking us off. Stay calm, stick close.. and we'll finish her off."
*THUD*
Unfortunately for him, his orders and confidence were overcome with shock as their friend was dropped onto the pavement in front of them, completely unconscious. Looking up, they saw Belle in her Scathach disguise. Her hair lengthened and put into a ponytail as she sat above them with an aura of confidence.
"You're done, boys." The bulky bandit was instantly set off, drawing a large Ether enhanced hand cannon.
But like a blur, she was already upon them. Her sword of extermination flashed as she slashed the barrel of the hand cannon away as it was aimed at her and kicked the other bandit in the chest.
"You little bitch.." The bigger bandit cursed as he charged forward and struck out with his huge fist.
Belle actually moved forward, toward his punch before ducking her upper body underneath his passing fist, evading him with a practiced grace before stepping on his foot and driving her elbow into his liver. Then raising her knee and striking him right in the family jewels before she had to back away from the other bandit's bat swing.
"Y-You..." The bigger bandit avoided screaming and shouting, but his hands both gently cupped his balls as Belle practically danced around the smaller bandit's uncoordinated swinging.
"Hm... No, this isn't working as effectively." Belle muttered before holding her arm up and forcefully stopping the swing using the Blade of Extermination.
Before the flustered bandit could even get a sound out, Belle smashed her fist into his face and sent the guy flying, his body flipping through the air before going straight in a trash bin.
The burly bandit felt his facial muscles twitch in irritation and shock. Belle had gone from graceful and assassin-like, to a berserking brute. She then started walking toward him, her demeanor now like one of those heavily armored and powerful Ethereals, yet somehow more refined and intimidating.
Her hands blurred and he was struck several times by heavy blows that didn't look right on a girl of Belle's stature. He kept his guard up, despite the numb feeling in his arms, only for Belle to rear her arm back and punch him in the head hard enough to break a few of his ribs and sternum. He then promptly passed out soon after.
Belle once more pulled out her phone and looked at her Mahoraga template. Now a solid twenty-two percent. Belle eagerly awaited the day she could finally unlock Adaptation.
Deciding it was late, Belle dumped all of the bandits into a trash bin, wrote a note and rolled them out in front of the Pubsec station before quickly making her exit. Unknown to her though, a certain undercover Pubsec Thiren agent had been watching her atop the nearby cinema's roof.
"A vigilante huh.. Maybe I could use someone like that?" Jane Doe hummed thoughtfully, beginning to take interest in the girl she met during one of her stake-outs.
-That morning-
Belle once more woke up early, to check if the news had covered her nightly deeds. This time, they did.
"Officer Zhu Yuan, can you tell us more about these.. Mountain Lion Bandits? Any idea about what they were doing in New Eridu? Seeing as how they usually are seen outside city limits and all.." The reporter man asked, understandably a little nervous, given the intense look Zhu Yuan had at the moment.
"We believe they were resupplying. Though that is just speculation at this point." Zhu Yuan answered curtly.
"Ah.. yes. Well.. how about the Vigilante? The Midnight Striker?" The reporter asked.
Belle nearly choked upon hearing the name.
"Whaaaat? I didn't even come up with a vigilante name yet.." She whispered in outrage, but pushed it down to hear what Zhu Yuan was going to say.
"I.. appreciate the sentiments of concerned civilians wanting to help deal with these dangerous criminals. But I ask they simply stop all vigilante activities. Things could get out of hand and-" *Ring~ Ring~*
Belle's phone began to ring, taking her attention away from the interview. Belle hurriedly picked up her cell, seeing Nicole's picture pop up.
*Click*
"Heeeey Nicole. What's going on? You usually text if it's not urgent."
"Ahem~ That's because it IS urgent. Remember that job I was talking about? We have the go-ahead! We're gonna do it today, so come on over by noon!" Nicole excitedly told her, sounding incredibly proud of herself.
"Oh. Oh..! Yeah, I'll be there soon! Let me get Wise up and I'll be there in an hour." Belle replied, quickly getting up and turning the TV off.
It was finally starting. The beginning of the ZZZ storyline. The rescue, Fairy, Nekomiya, Belobog. It all started here.
[AN: For those unfamiliar with ZZZ let me know if you want pics of the girls mentioned]