Published at 17th of February 2026 7:58 am

Chapter 334: The Ripper

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Thryss didnt move at first. She stood there, staring into the large chamber beyond. Her Soul was well controlled but he saw her fists tighten and realised then that she was afraid. She stepped forwards, through the opening, and he followed.

There were more humans in here, and other things too. But they werent able to speak, because they were hanging on hooks, spiked onto surfaces, stuck inside things he at first took to be machines.

But after looking closer he realised they were bugs. Bugs like hed never seen before, some big and blocky, innards exposed like wires, others just masses of pale flesh. All of them were locked between barriers or racks of heavy metal.

He saw Thryss looking to the side, and followed her gaze. There he saw a pair of what had been Hornets. They were missing wings and arms and legs and they were floating in vats of liquid, with tentacles coming from some dark mass at the bottom and drilling into them.

The whole of it was a mess, some psychotic biologists mad dream. Out of this came a figure.

The Ripper was unusually tall for a Hornet, and his thorax was paler than the norm. He was wrapped in a strange, living armour, formed, Nicolai realised, from more bugs. He also had two extra arms, under his true ones. They were Hornet in shape but looked to have come from a different member of the species, somehow grafted in place.

The Hornets eyes caught on Nicolai and stuck.

Who is this? he asked. His ripples were full of a hungry curiosity. Before Thryss could even answer his Soul Sense had lunged out and snapped around Nicolai.

His brief attempt to fight back ended in moments. The unmistakeable strength of a Tier 3 held him tight. He was wrenched off the ground, slammed against a wall, and the Ripper was beside him, Soul Sense keeping him pinned, feeling at his arm with taloned fingers.

Another one with a device, he chittered. This one is very nice, very nice! And this armour! The creatures hands were on his head, feeling around his helmet, and his Soul Sense was pressing, digging, squeezing at him as though trying to get into his Soul itself.

Rage burned up inside him as the Dark reacted, and with a spasmodic flex he tore himself free, just for a moment. He struck out, a Soul strike with his bionic that tore a hole through the Hornets Soul Sense and blew a dent in its shield. He distantly noted that though Tier 3, this Hornet was weaker than the Queen. Her Soul Sense had been like iron. But even so the Soul Sense just poured back on, crushed his resistance, and now the Hornets interested seemed doubled.

What is that?! You have a very interesting Soul! the Ripper hissed, and the awful intimacy of its spiritual probing grew. It found the spiritual outcropping of the Modules and squeezed at them. An aberration the Ripper murmured, with ominous excitement. I have been looking for one like you!

Nicolai was staring past it, at Thryss. Even through all this, he hadnt felt much true concern. She would speak up and tell this creature that he was not to be harmed.

Only, she wasnt. She was just standing there, watching, and he sensed a faint satisfaction from her. Now his thoughts returned to Xyrrith, who had said others would try to kill him.

Would she let the Ripper do that? The Queen had sent them together. She would blame Thryss, of course. But an excuse could be created, couldnt it? There would be a way. Or, perhaps Thryss would wait a little, then speak up. If he just lost a limb, the Queen might not even care. You only need one arm to stab someone. Still, the Queen had specifically said he shouldnt suffer too much hard but this Daughter would know her mind, and how far how orders could be skirted, far better than he.

The Ripper had a grip of his bionic arm, Symbiotic force crushing down from all angles to keep him still, like a bug nailed to a table. With ugly fleshy noises, more limbs unfurled from the Rippers squirming armour. Tearing, snapping mouthparts, scissor-like mandible things, spiking points, slicing blades.

One of those limbs drifted in front of his palm, into which the port of the handcannons gunbarrel was set. He pulled the mental trigger and it boomed; the.50 round obliterating the limb.

The Rippers shock was a tiny, brief thing. But Nicolai was waiting for it and once more the Dark swelled, claws all over his Soul, and he tore himself free.

The Ripper laughed with delight, Soul Sense spreading. With his Soul finally free, Nicolai was able to ripple.

I am an agent of the Queen. She sent me here to be provided Symbiotes. If you harm me, she will be extremely displeased.

At last the Ripper paused. The limbs of its armour were spread wide, spider-like, and its Soul Sense surrounded him. An asset? But you are human. But you speak the language? He turned to stare at Thryss. Is this true?

Nicolai took a few careful steps back. The Big Mouth worked and his M99 sprang into his hands. His gaze flicked back and forth between the Hornets, then he levelled it at Thryss.

She had been standing there emanating a calm amusement, enjoying his plight. Now she tensed, glaring at him. Hed decided that if she tried to feed him to this insane Tier 3, he would do his very best to kill her first.

Yes, she said at length. The Queen wishes you to give him Wings and a Cloak.

The Ripper turned to look at her, and now its Soul Sense was creeping toward her, too. Nicolai gained the serious impression that the Hornet was deciding whether or not to kill her then capture him. Thryss seemed to feel it too. Her sword flickered into her hands.

But the Rippers Soul Sense retracted, and its strange limbs snapped back into place.

An unfortunate misunderstanding, he said to Nicolai, emanating friendliness. He took a few rapid steps forward, reached out.

Nicolai felt quite a strong urge to shoot him, but he wouldnt have time to fire enough shots to break the shields in any case. The Ripper patted him on the shoulder, emanating friendliness. What is your name, human friend?

Nicolai.

I am called Perizen! It warms my heart to make your acquaintance! You know, you have a very interesting Soul.

I thought you were called the Ripper.

The Ripper dismissed that with, A humorous nickname with little bearing on my warm personality. Would you consent to a quick examination? Allow me to have a closer look at you, and I could work out some useful things. Information that might aid you on your journey!

No.

The Ripper stared at him, fingers flexing. Unfortunate. You limit the advancement of science. But it is your decision. Of course. Of course He trailed off in a way which made the neutral words somehow threatening. You desire things of me?

The Queen desires things of you. The Queen was his only real card here, best to play it wherever possible.

I will see what is available. Alas, I am very busy. I do not have long to search for the choicest.

The meaning was clear. The Ripper would fulfil the letter of the order, no more. Unless he consented to these tests, but that wasnt happening. The Hornet had already noticed the strangeness of his Soul, there was no telling what hed work out if allowed to test more thoroughly.

But this was not ideal. The Ripper may have manufactured the poison within him. Hed hoped to ingratiate himself. Plus, this Hornet seemed a little less reliable than most. He was sure it had been considering killing them both, which obviously wouldnt go over well with the Queen.

On the one hand, dangerous to be around someone like that, when the Queen was his only protection. On the other, it meant that the Ripper could, possibly, be convinced to turn against her. Threat Analysis felt that this individual had numerous commonalities with Research and Development. That probably wasnt a compliment.

The Rippr returned, holding Symbiotes.

Thank you, Perizen, said Nicolai as he accepted them. I would like to apologise for my reaction. Your earlier actions were understandable. It was foolish of me to become emotional in response. Perhaps we could try this examination, in time. Today, however, I cannot stay for too long.

Thryss, whod stood there wordlessly, snapped a look at him. The Ripper stilled.

Oh! Good! You are very reasonable, human. I have noticed an unfortunate tendency in many humans, and even my own kind, to hold useless grudges. It gladdens me that you are more sensible! His mandibles spread in a smile. I apologise also. Yes, there is much you and I could learn together.

This is all very impressive, added Nicolai, waving at the grisly mess of experimentation. I didnt know there were any others interested in such discoveries here.

A man of science?! I had no idea! Your presence feels increasingly fortuitous! Please, let me show you my work

The Ripper drew him around the chamber, enthusing over one or another grisly biological machine.

It turned out that these were Symbiote factories. Formed from large numbers of bug parts, as well as the odd Spirit Beast. The Ripper had treated biological parts like puzzle pieces, fitting them together with Symbiotic glue. As hed noticed before, some of the machines had humans, and even Hornets, stuck into them.

Wings, the Ripper proclaimed at one such machine. It had many Hornets, or at least their chests and heads, grafted into it. All of them had wings, facing outwards, but running his Soul Sense over them he found they possessed no Symbiotes. These Hornets, Nicolai noted, werent fully developed. They were also alive.

Help us they rippled weakly, a miserable sussurrus.

The Rippers excited ripples pierced through. Through a process I myself perfected, this machine generates fresh spiritual wing Symbiotes! It all hinges on the lack, you see? The lack of a Symbiote where one is expected! Far more efficient than the previous method, of waiting until the latest crop of young had grown wings, then harvesting those who came last in their tests. Much faster and far fewer resources are used, since now the weak are culled much earlier.

There is a lack because Hornets naturally develop wing Symbiotes, and stinger Symbiotes? Nicolai asked.

Yes, yes. And so with certain species of Spirit Beasts, certain Spirit Bugs. The Ripper gestured to other machines. In one there was a comatose big catgreat cat, even, the thing looked like it would be larger than a car, in its full shapethis one was again just a chest and head, as well as a long, spiked tail. Arc Tails, they naturally develop a lightning Symbiote. One that can be side-graded into a large number of more usable Symbiotes!

And what of humans? Nicolai asked, eyes on a pair of humans studded into the same machine as the big cat. There were humans all over, mixed into other machines.

Very interesting, very interesting. Humans do not, so far as I can tell, develop any Symbiotes themselves. And it seems at first that they are useless for my purposes. But they lack Cultivation! Another lack, and where there is emptiness, something wishes to fill it! The Ripper strode manically back and forth, stopped in front of a machine and ran a loving hand over a flexing, shaking human. In this case, it can be anything. I have failed to create any Seeds as of yet. They are far beyond me. But, I have created other things, interesting things. And, I find that when added into other machines that wonderful lack! It speeds everything, as though the human body demands more all my machines are faster, more efficient than ever!

What about the ones who have used Seeds, and can Cultivate?

A good question, said the Ripper approvingly. I have yet to find a use for them, but I believe I will. I feel there is a great potential there, waiting to be unearthed

The Mask felt the Ripper was perhaps the worst he had yet encountered. Nicolai, in contrast, found a certain undeniable logic in the Rippers view of the world.

I have come to be especially interested in your people, spoke the Ripper. They stood now before a large number of recovered augments. Some still had flecks of blood from their previous owners. These devices are veeeerrry interesting. Wondrous in what they accomplish, without any need for Soul or Symbiote. I have made very deep enquiries of your people. They tell me of electricity, gears, wires. Muscle made from cleverness! Astonishing. But none of them seem to entirely understand how it all works. Their answers illuminate only all that I do not know

Nicolai plucked a bionic arm from the table. A cheap Xeon-29a. He and the Modules paused while he looked it over, considering his words. His mastery of the Hornet language was not complete, as he was picking up as he went along. For this explanation he would need words he did not have, words that likely didnt even exist. A different method was needed.

This is a metal skeleton fitted with electric muscles, special tendons and joints He paused, and drove some very focused, crafted spiritual emanations at the Ripper. Doing his best to put images and understanding of electro-polymer muscles, carbon-fibre tendons, ceramic-lined joints, into the emanations.

He turned the arm over as he emanated, and with one finger traced the muscles and tendons, outlined the joints.

When new, this would have been a greyish pink in colour. Now its yellowed by sweat, darkened by stains. This was used hard for many years, but from the texture it was cared for reasonably well. He flipped it over again. A few patchwork repairs in places, likely where it caught a sharp edge and was cut. One of the fingers, he indicated a finger that stood out, not quite matching, is a replacement. Whoever owned this looked after it as much as one could expect. He eyed the dried blood around the shoulder joint, where it would have attached to its old owner, then tossed it clattering back onto the table, flopping like a dead fish at the elbow joint.

The Ripper gazed at him with a near religious fervour. You know much more than the rest of them. What is this electric polymer muscle? The last words were a strange mingling of emanation and ripple.

Polymer is lots of small pieces linked into chains he trailed off, then attempted to emanate an explanation. He felt the Rippers total focus as the spiritual emanations containing pure understanding were pressed at him.

Nicolai purposefully did an incomplete job then stood there, emanating frustration, grasping as though wishing for a better method of communication. It is difficult to explain, he told the Rippers desperate features. In this case the polymer apes real muscle, contracting or relaxing in response to electrical signals. It also has some small motorised servos at the joints, to aid more powerful, less precise movements.

Motorised servos?

Nicolai paused, thinking. Do you know what a magnet is? He emanated intently.

Magnet The Ripper murmured, feeling the strange ripple and accompanying emanation. Nicolai had just made the ripple up, creating one that felt right to express magnet. Yes. Star metal. It applies an invisible force. A useful refinement material.

Nicolai reached out and tapped the arm. This contains motors. Those motors use the invisible force of the star metal. He hunched down, seized a chalky piece of stone from the ground with his bionic. Held it up before the Ripper, and squeezed.

The motors in his bionic hand let out a faint whine. That sound is the motors in my hand working. A sudden crunch and puff of dust, and the stone crumbled, chunks falling from his hand. When harnessed correctly, the force can be very great.

But how?! I have star metal! It is weak, very weak! Just a toy!

You do not know how to harness it. Normally, the force will be spread out. With understandng, you can focus it precisely, boost its power with electricity. Add more layers doing the same, all applying a slow but constant force, and it becomes enough to break rock.

The Ripper stared at him, eyes shining. What does the Queen want you for?

I cannot say.

An important task, put in Thryss. There was something worried in her voice.

How important? snapped the Ripper, glaring at her.

She hesitated, glanced at Nicolai. Very important. For now.

A waste of your talents, muttered the Ripper. You should be with me, human. Imagine what we could accomplish together! I will go to her.

Nicolai patted calmingly at the air. I have much to do for her, but there is no reason I cannot visit you. I would be very interested in developing a partnership.

Partnership, yes, good!

Of course, as partners we would never harm one another, but share knowledge and work towards scientific advancements, he added.

The Ripper expressed wounded regret. I would never harm you, human!

Nicolai believed him. At least, while he valued what was in his head more than the secrets that could be gleaned from his body and Soul. This being was very, very important. Quite likely the Ripper had made the poison construct within him, which would be very difficult to remove. Feeling at it, he knew that it would react to the slightest provocation. In fact, hed better avoid being wounded in the chest. That might spur it into activating. Alas, if he could simply avoid any wound, he would never have had it put into him in the first place.

Hed established himself as possessing things the Ripper hungered for. Now he expressed his regrets but said he must be leaving. He wanted to let it stew, think on all he could offer and then think, in turn, on what it could offer him. But as he was about to leave, thanking Perizen for the Symbiotes, the Hornet started.

No, no, those wont do! I will get you different sets, better sets. Give those back to me, they are garbage. One moment The Hornet bustled off.

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