Agnisotra: Origin Tails

Crissy and Raishin finally stopped fighting. Greg and I were discussing how to tackle the rest of our problems. I was already tired of this clownfiesta and wanted to blow the whole place up. Greg felt the same but we both agreed that would be the solution if all else fails.

We formulated a plan; I would keep my clones in the core 8 and place them at opposing corners in 2 diagonally opposite cubes. It was quite confusing so Gregory had to explain it to make clear what his plan was. He told me to imagine the core 8, they will have 8 cubes, 4 to the front and 4 to the back. He numbered the cubes, The foremost cube on top left is number one, next to it is number 2, the foremost bottom left cube is 3, and next to it is number 4, then moving to the back top left is number 5, and so on.

I would place clones in the corner of cube 1 that didn’t border any other core 8 cube. Like this, It could detect whenever the cube layer above it or the 2 cube layers beside it would move. Another clone would sit in the corner of cube 1 where it borders 3 cubes of the core 8. This will be the same for cube 8 which is diagonally opposite to cube 1. A clone will sit in a corner that has no core 8 cubes bordering it and another will sit in a corner where the cube borders to 3 other core 8 cubes.

Like this, I will only need 4 clones to detect every movement in the whole labyrinth. I will then use 2 clones to relay information between floors 2 and 3. And 2 sets of 2 clones which will do this between floor 1 and 2 and floor 3 and 4. Greg will spread his clones through the cubes that don’t belong to the core 8 and find out how to move them and relay this information to my clones that go between floors. Greg had to explain his plan 3 times because complicated 3D puzzles aren’t the norm in anyone day to day life and explaining it is probably even harder.

So, to summarize, I would put down 4 clones to track the movement of the whole labyrinth while Greg would use his clones to investigate and gather information to solve the rest of the labyrinth. But since we can only communicate between clones or telepathy on the same floor, we also need clones that go between floors to update the other clones. We will keep our main bodies in this room while the clones will figure this out and either Greg or I will turn the cube in this room to solve the labyrinth. We don’t know when this labyrinth will move by itself so that’s what my clones are for to detect any movement.

I don’t get this idea…

That is fine, as long as Agnis gets it we will be fine.

“How did you even come up with this idea?” Crissy approached Greg in curiosity.

Greg patted his 3rd tail. This one came up with the idea.

“Your tail can talk?”

They can’t but they act similar to our brains, we can delegate tasks to them that require a lot of processing power. They will do the thinking or simulations while we with our main brain tackle whatever is right in front of us. Every tailed beast can do this however… We both looked at Raishin who was playing with Woofus.

It seems that one race of the tailed beasts didn’t get this memo…

Ok my clones are at their spots! Nothing seems to have moved so far, the core 8 is still as how I’ve put them in.

Right, make sure to have the other clones swap floors periodically to stay up to date, my clones will take way longer to get to their positions.

It took 3 hours for Greg’s clones to get into position. He had to resend some clones out because some got locked in combat with some troublesome monsters and were wasting time so he cancelled them and attempted another route to get his clones there.

It was 16:32 and Raishin was getting visibly bored. Gregory and I were focusing but Crissy started flirting with Greg out of boredom. Hayley sat across me and was staring at me. I gestured toward Raishin with my head to encourage her to talk to Raishin. I didn’t see Woofus anywhere but I was done solving the problems of these humans.

Aww maan she’s totally going for Greg, lucky Greg, he gets the big badonkers…

Are you blind Raishin? Hayley over there also has ehm big badonkers as you call them, how about you keep her company?

Oh, you’re right! Thanks, Agnis!

Hayley looked at me. Her expression seemed to ask me why I did that. I shrugged.

Hey, Christina, I know you like to talk but I need to focus, can you please keep Raishin busy before he does something stupid?

As usual, Greg doesn’t notice that Crissy is into him. One guy is super horny and the other one doesn’t realize he’s getting hit on. Am I in the middle? I sighed.

Greg’s clones were still figuring out what the layout was of every cube. At dinner time I took out a feast and we all relaxed and ate. At this point Crissy discovered that Woofus was nowhere to be found.

“Haroldus! Where is he!”

You must be the worst pet owner ever; he’s been gone for over 3 hours.

Crissy grabbed Raishin by his collar. “Why didn’t you say anything!”

I kept eating, pretending that I didn’t notice that Woofus was gone for over 3 hours.

But it’s your dog right! If he doesn’t listen to you, why would he listen to us?!

He has a point though…

“He seemed quite well behaved when Agnis was holding him though…” The focus shifted to me.

Hey, not cool Hayley, I have nothing to do with this situation.

Hayley stuck out her tongue. “That’s what you get for sending Raishin after me!”

Raishin what did you do this time…

Uhh, nothing…

“He asked me what my bra size was!”

I almost chocked and coughed. Raishin what the fuck is wrong with you?!

I was just curious…

And you’re surprised that you’re single…

Unbelievable…

“Stop changing the subject! What about Haroldus?!”

Who? I dodged a cup flying at me.

“Unbelievable!” Crissy stood up and stormed at a door.

Uhh Christina that’s a bad idea, we’re still underwa…

She opened the door and water flowed in. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the only thing that entered the room. Now I might have messed up my description because I did mention it was a door but it was quite a large door. Maybe more of a gate but it looked like a door. A 4m tall creature stepped in. I managed to freeze the door shut but that only stopped the water.

“Aaah!”

It slammed on Crissy and I swapped myself with her. The punch packed a lot of power but because of that I could use [Auto dodge] The force blew me to the side and I swiftly flipped on its arm, took out Shirayuki and went to cut its head off when it turned into foam and disappeared.

Is this the water version of those scythe dog?

Oh, you do remember those pain in the ass monsters, it seems so, I can’t feel its energy anymore, I assume this is the same scenario.

Yup, I can’t see where it disappeared to.

Sidedog?

Greg explained to Raishin our encounter with the scythe dog and I helped Crissy up. She was terrified, I can’t blame her, whatever just appeared was quite ugly. She grabbed my arm and clung to me.

“I’m sorry… can I hold on to you... what… what was that?” She was shivering and fell through her knees when I tried to get her up.

“Hey not fair!” Raishin and Hayley said in unison.

She really is a female Raishin… Can you get up Crissy?

She tried to answer favorably but I could see that she was too terrified to do anything. I sat down next to her and wrapped her in my tails to calm her down.

“So envious! Agnis I’m scared too!”

Raishin! Greg, and I are quite busy, I put you in charge of finding out how to deal with that thing. I have the feeling it will reappear. Greg and I will be fine but we need you to protect the chicks. Can you do that?

Yessir!

So, you do have a soft side.

Do I need to let more water in?

I retract my statement.

Raishin sat down and it actually seemed like he was running simulations. It is good to see that he went through some character progression. Hayley was poking his tails, he let her play with them. Now just to get Crissy calmed down. It seemed she was crying into my tails… I guess this whole adventure was stressful for her. She doesn’t have a cool head like Hayley and on top of that, her dog keeps doing stupid shit. Maybe I should put more energy into checking if she is okay instead of roasting Woofus.

Something moved at 19:30.

Greg! Y

es, I’ve noticed, the labyrinth is moving.

Nothing in the core 8 moved luckily. A report from Greg’s clones came in 30 minutes later to notify that the first floor was draining. This matched up with what happened yesterday. Greg confirmed this. This means that the next move will be at 20:30. Crissy had cried herself to sleep so I was quite immobilized now. Hayley seemed to have shifted her attention to Raishin and both of them were gross and were flirting with each other. I have successfully evaded Hayley.

20:30 came and the labyrinth moved again. This time it messed with the core 8 so Greg, undid that move at the cube. He doesn’t have a lightning affinity but he seemed to have picked up how to use [Lightning bolt] so he could activate the pedestal by himself.

Something started to bang on the door at 20:53. This woke up Crissy and she went back to being terrified.

Raishin, could you please get that asshole to shut up?

On it! I will show you how cool I am Hayley!

Are you going to take her in a bubble with you?

Ehh, no.

Then how is she able to see how cool you are, you surely aren’t going to let that thing in are you? I pointed at Crissy who was shivering and wrapping herself more in my tails.

Ehh, I will tell you how cool I am after I beat this thing!

“Go get him tiger!”

I cringed. Raishin made an [Air ball] around himself and went out the door. It didn’t take long for him to return.

This asshole disappeared into foam again!

Not doing so great on telling Hayley how cool you are.

Ugh, I guess I need a better idea. Hayley you can play with my tails while I figure this out!

I think I’m almost there, 4 clones have encountered difficulties, and after they have completed their objective, I will be able to simulate solutions.

Hey, Crissy are you ok?

“Is that thing dead?” Crissy was still shaking. She looked at me like a terrified puppy.

Raishin is working on it.

“What about Haroldus? I don’t want to lose him; I don’t have anyone else… Just my grandpa and Haroldus”

Well, we will see what we will do about Woofus, one of our clones are bound to run into him and maybe Greg can take care of you, he should be single, he’s just a bit dense.

Hey, I heard that Agnis!

“What about you, are you single?” She asked when she clutched one of my tails. I don’t like where this is going.

Huh, why does that matter? You’re interested in Greg, right?

“I thought that you were an egocentric asshole but you seem quite nice under that shell of yours.”

Uhm, no you’re wrong, I am an egocentric asshole! Better stay interested in Greg!

Give up Agnis she’s not going to fall for that obvious lie, if it helps Christina, this guy will have no problems dying to get his friends to safety.

Seriously Greg, can you just focus on your task instead of making things troublesome for me!

See it as a payback for causing me trouble, now you do need a girlfriend, you have my blessing hehe.

“I see so I wasn’t wrong.”

Very wrong, I will nuke a whole country if they piss me off.

“I see.” Crissy got up but still stayed wrapped up in my tails. “Thank you, these tails are very calming. I will try to get my act together. I know it’s unreasonable but can you give Haroldus one more chance? I realize that he might be a bit stupid but I love him. But I do realize that he is putting us in danger so I will concede after that is that fine?” Crissy showed a painful smile.

She was forcing herself. I have no idea what to do in these situations. And there is also Woofus’ secret. I wonder if I should tell her. I got up too.

Fine, let’s give Woofus one more chance. Greg floor 2 will drain soon, how are the simulations going?

They are almost done but I think we will have to solve this labyrinth tomorrow; we need the correct sequence of tubes and holes to move between the floors. The best time to start is tomorrow after 00:30 or the day after. I would recommend the day after because we will be able to set up the labyrinth for it to be solvable after the last time the labyrinth moves. A clone reported that there was a move at 00:30.

Oh, how did you find out?

Well, I didn’t cancel all my clones and one got in an embarrassing situation and got stuck, it returned to this floor 20 minutes ago. After 00:30 there should be no movement until 19:30.

So, do we leave a clone behind in this room to change the cube at a certain time to correct the cube?

That would be wise yes. We still have to simulate the solution so I think tomorrow at 00:30 might be too soon.

Fair, I will go look for Woofus then. Can you stay here with the chicks Greg? Raishin you’re coming with me.

Ooh, adventure time!

I’m going nowhere with all this water so you can count on me.

“Can I really not come with you?” Crissy seemed to have difficulty letting go of my tails.

I’m sorry, this place is quite human unfriendly, we will try to get Woofus as swiftly as possible, we will also hunt down that thing so you don’t have to be so terrified anymore.

“T…thank you, I’ll be waiting…” She reluctantly let go of my tails.

“Go get him Raishin!”

I made an [Air ball] around myself and stepped out of the room with Raishin. I scanned the direct area and gestured to Raishin that Woofus was nowhere near. I had 10 clones currently on duty to make sure to relay information and keep track of the labyrinth’s movement which means I had 2 at my disposal to scout the area. I sent them out to explore and look for Woofus.

It was 23:42 and we still didn’t find him. I did say that we would get him as fast as possible but this place is just enormous. The labyrinth has moved once since we left but Greg had corrected it. This floor will drain in 18 minutes which will make looking for Woofus easier but if he went to another floor, it might close off access to where he is.

A clone appeared from the 4th floor and notified me that Woofus had been spotted there. Access to the 4th floor will disappear once this floor drains so I grabbed Raishin and dragged him to floor 4.