Upgrade! Gjallarhorn Vigridr (1)
1119 Words
Somewhere in Planet Bisraj, one of the planets in the Nuashicc Galaxy, which is far away from our Milky Way Galaxy...
A bounty hunter clad in thick armor is disappointed in his latest catch.
“Grr! That blasted Peridot Signet! I thought it would cost eight million space credits! But when I exchanged it at my usual treasure appraiser, he said this was only a replica of the real thing! And thus, I ended up with money enough to buy THIS! ARRRGHHH!”
And when he means “this”, he means a little birdhouse that he bought for just 1,000 space credits – the value of the signet's replica.
“I've been duped several times all my life! All I wanted was enough money to build a palace of my own where I can retire and live like royalty!”
Amidst this latest instance of bad news, a floating eye bot comes up to him.
“OK, float-eye. What kind of treasure news are you divulging to me this time? Better not be some fake, you hear? Or... uh... see?”
The eye bot then shines a screen that displays a picture of a treasure. Specifically, a crystal.
Pertinent info about the crystal is also displayed on the screen.
“Hmm... the Nonpareil Prism... sounds like a great name to me. And it looks like it can generate seven colors of its own will! And how about the location?”
The text below the crystal states: “Approximate location: Rain Marginal, Mississippi, United States of America, Planet Earth, Solar System, Milky Way Galaxy.”
“Great! Planet Earth! I've always wanted to snag at least one of its treasures! Alright, then! I'll start right away! Here I come, my little crystal!”
It's a Tuesday once more.
Berenice and I are having a nice little innocuous chat in our downtime.
“So, Bernard, maybe we can go together to the municipal museum later after work?”
“Sounds cool. I'm in.”
However, a private message on Berenice's phone makes her rethink her plan.
“What? The museum is being invaded by some alien who wants to steal a huge crystal being exhibited there?!”
“Are you sure this isn't fake news?”
“Why will I? The site even has a built-in fake news checker, so no one will be baited by inane posts.”
“Good. I'll go check the news myself.”
On my own PC, I check my social media feed to read the news alert myself.
Indeed, the news isn't fake; and it's been confirmed by KTRM News, too.
“BREAKING NEWS: An alien-looking creature invades the Rain Marginal Municipal Museum allegedly in search of one of the treasures being exhibited there. We will provide more updates as the story develops.”
Man, am I itching for some action... but it's still 11am! I'm still on my job!
And even though I'm done with my tasks this morning, I can't stand by and do nothing while a monster is rampaging my beloved hometown!
Eh... maybe the police and military can take care of that first.
I tap my fingers, waiting for lunch break to actually commence.
And the clock eventually reads exactly 12 noon.
Alright, time to finally do what I have to do... even though I still uphold my “normal and boring” facade.
12:15 pm. Rain Marginal Municipal Museum.
Right at the front gate, policemen and soldiers are gallantly defending the museum from an armored alien who's packed with a laser gun-arm.
However, their efforts are in vain, as many of their comrades are knocked unconscious by the seemingly endless shower of laser shots that are overwhelming them all, despite the enforcers' superior numbers.
“Is this what humans can actually do? How pathetic! You do have the numbers, but you are well unequipped! You guys are just making me yawn in boredom!”
The alien then continues showering the enforcers with more laser shots until all of them are knocked out, and there are no reinforcements to arrive post-haste.
“Ha ha! This is all child's play to me! Now to take the Nonpareil Prism and have my dream of retiring rich come true...”
Of course, I have to muster up the courage to confront such a powerful alien.
I show up in front of him, challenging him with my own fighting words.
“Whoever you are, alien, you can't just take something precious and valuable without permission. It's the way of Earthlings, you know. Or maybe you didn't learn this in your native planet's good manners and right conduct classes?”
“Ahahahaha!!! Another puny human to challenge the mighty Debothledge, this time without any sort of weapon or armor! This might be another walk in the park!”
“Hmph. Not so much a walk in the park as a walk going to jail.”
I ready my five magical ladybugs, swallow them, flail my arms...
“Gjallarhorn... Gjallar-form!”
...and let my body get covered by the magical armor as the heroic trumpet plays once more.
“I sound the beginning of the end of evil! The Resounding Horn, Gjallarhorn!”
“Ah... Gjallarhorn. I kinda like that name. But I hate your guts!”
He wastes no time firing laser shots from his gun-arm.
Despite having quick reflexes, I can barely keep up with his shots.
It's either he is actually good in combat, his weapon is actually good in combat, or both.
I need to switch tactics.
I dash towards him, evading the constant stream of laser shots, for some good old-fashioned melee beat down.
Punches, kicks, elbow and knee strikes, I try them all.
But there's one little big problem.
It's his armor.
It's as tough as it looks; and I could break my own limbs if I did any more of these physicals.
“You do realize that I'm much tougher than I look? And in half a million years – that's my age to you puny Earthlings – have I never broke a sweat in combat just to get those big fat juicy bounties!”
Ah, so he's a bounty hunter, huh?
“Then why can't you just change jobs? You've had thousands of years to decide and master another career instead of sticking to your current barbaric one!”
“How dare you lecture me, meddlesome human! Eat this!”
He brings out a much faster stream of laser shots that I can't keep up with.
And I'm hit.
“Argh! You never learn... huh.”
“Now to finally burn you with my light! Transcendental Flash!”
He charges his gun-arm and then launches a much larger beam of light.
Yeah, that can't be good in any instance.
I evade the huge beam, but it then hits the glass barrier where the Nonpareil Prism is being exhibited, which is beyond the entrance.
“Thanks, Gjallarhorn. You've made my job much easier. Now to take the treasure...”
“Not a chance!”
I dash towards him, trying to block his plundering attempt.
However...
He quickly charges up for another serving of Transcendental Flash, and...
...the beam of light hits me at point-blank range.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!”
No doubt, I scream in excruciating pain.
Not even Gjallarhorn's armor is enough for this type of attack.
And now, it's showing signs of cracking.
And as I gradually fall into unconsciousness, while the bounty hunter is about to make his steal, I whisper to myself...
“L-Lilette... save me...”
- Writer
