NSLICE-00P linked to Melion, testing some data transfers. It appeared that all went well, Melion again had no apparent issues with a full connection to the NSLICE network. As such, NSLICE-00P went ahead and began transferring data and videos regarding NSLICE technology to Melion, as well as any other technologies that had been considered classified, such as the exact workings and specifications of NSLICE-00P’s armaments. Melion froze as the data transfer began.

“Master…you’re…giving me your secrets?”

“Affirmative. Statement: Unit Melion has expressed interest in acting as maintenance personnel, which the NSLICE network current lacks, and has also displayed compatible capabilities with that role. This unit would like to bring Unit Melion’s knowledge base to the minimum required levels as soon as possible.”

Melion suddenly began thruster-assisted bounces all over the room.

“YOU’RE THE BEST, MASTER! I WON’T LET YOU DOWN!”

And then they immediately sat on the floor and went completely still and silent as they focused their whole attention on the materials provided. NSLICE-00P turned to her next course of action.

Unit Melion’s designation.

It had come to NSLICE-00P’s attention that Melion was not precisely an NSLICE unit, at least as they had been designed. Melion lacked the emotional controls, and their intelligence leashing measures had been reversed such that the cybernetic half followed the organic. The process by which they had been upgraded had also changed significantly, and Melion’s cybernetic implants even followed a different design philosophy from Dr. Ottosen’s. As such, it was somewhat inaccurate to call them a Non-Standard Leashed Intelligence Cybernetic Enforcer.

To be fair, the original organization had applied the NSLICE label to units that it wasn’t fully suited for. The fully robotic NSLICE-A warbots also had no intelligence leashing, seeing as they had no organic components to begin with, which also meant the ‘non-standard’ designation was also questionable. In that case, the NSLICE label had been applied to signify the development and production links between the cyborg line’s implants and the warbot line’s components, as well as some shared protocols, and the fact that the warbots had been designed to complement the original NSLICE units.

But that no longer applied. Melion was not upgraded by her original organization and the links to the original design process had become tenuous. NSLICE-00P decided the connection was loose enough and Melion changed enough that a new model designation was necessary.

To that end, what should the designation be? Upon review, very little of the original designation applied. Melion was intended as maintenance personnel, so the ‘Enforcer’ designation was inaccurate. Likewise, Non-Standard was a questionable designation in a universe where every living thing NSLICE-00P had recorded had access to mana. NSLICE-00P decided to do away with the designation and start over.

“Designation: Unit Melion’s model type determined as Cybernetically Enhanced Linked Intelligence Unit, Maintenance Variant.”

Of course, that called into question the other units’ designations. None of them had been upgraded via the actual NSLICE process, after all, and many were missing some of the protocols Dr. Ottosen had considered key, mainly the emotional controls. Those that did, such as Ateia, had such protocols disabled and their intelligence leashing reversed to favor their organic halves. And the ‘Enforcer’ designation had become questionable as well, of her current subordinates only 00B and possibly the Canus and Felix units specifically fell under that intended mission set.

In fact, even her own designation was questionable. She had been heavily retrofitted since arriving in this universe, she had disabled her emotional controls, and most of her protocols had required heavy adjustment to adapt to this universe’s conditions. And even though she was the network’s main combat asset, she was also the acting command unit, so she wasn’t sure if Enforcer was the most accurate summary of her current role.

But in the end, she decided to defer such discussions. She may eventually revert to an Enforcer role upon location of a suitable commander, so changing her own designation at this time was deemed unnecessary. As for the other units, their components and design philosophy had been based largely off of NSLICE-00P’s, so the NSLICE designation was still viable even if the upgrade process and actual use cases had deviated. She decided the new designation would apply to newly upgraded units from now on.

“Master, I have a question!”

“Acknowledged.”

And so NSLICE-00P turned her attention to CELIU-MV Melion instead.

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Ateia and Melion left the new world and returned to the beach. NSLICE-00P worked with Melion, answering any questions they had on technology from her original world. Once they had a general overview, Melion and NSLICE-00P began a joint analysis of one of the drone-golems. Melion, being a golem creator themselves, was extremely curious about the blending of electrical and mana-based technologies the Aesdes had created. Meanwhile, NSLICE-00P had bumped the priority of drone-technology development, given the need to scout for the hostile Heralds of the New Dawn.

Ateia joined the other monsters in combat training. She had taken a break from the Blessing practice and was currently exploring some of her other capabilities. She took a deep breath, and then reached into her cybernetic half. She selected one of the weapon protocols.

She winced only a bit, her brain tingling as she let the protocol take over. She was getting used to the NSLICE network’s presence now, and the knowledge that her organic half could take back command at any time eased the strange feeling. So she quickly shook it off as the protocol activated, the cybernetic components lifting her arm with her palm facing forward.

A circle began to glow on her palm while her wings and core lit up. A beam of golden and silver light fired from her palm into the water of the cove. Ateia blinked as the protocol concluded. She turned her palm back towards herself and stared at it.

“I…have Seero beams now?”

Her cybernetic components responded by displaying a list of all the installed weaponry she now possessed. She started to grin when something appeared on her sensors, informing her of an incoming mana signature. She turned her attention to it and then her eyes widened.

She turned from the beach and ran towards the nearby forest. After a few minutes of running through the foliage, she arrived.

Taog had returned, a bit dirty and scratched up, but grinning. He had a new sword strapped to his side, and an Aelea Drake scale held under one arm. Ateia ran towards him, then stopped herself, and crossed her arms. She glared at him.

“Taog, what do you have to say for yourself?”

Taog made a sheepish grin and rubbed the back of his head.

“Sorry, I know it was…not very smart to go off alone.”

Ateia’s eyes narrowed.

“ ‘Not very smart?’ More like, incredibly dumb or so you always told me!”

Taog glanced away. Ateia sighed.

And then she stepped forward and hugged him.

“I’m just glad you’re ok. Please, don’t do something like that again.”

Taog returned her embrace.

“I won’t. I promise. In fact, that’s why I had to do this.”

The two stepped away from each other. Taog pulled out his new sword and stirred up his mana. The blade was immediately coated in pitch black mana. Taog grinned.

“Now I can follow you wherever you go.”

Ateia sighed and shook her head before grinning.

“…you always could, but I’ll admit that does seem cool.”

Taog’s grin grew.

“That’s only the start of it.”

Ateia and Taog returned to the beach together. Taog walked over to Colleöne.

“Thank you, Mighty Victoria, for your help.”

Colleöne smiled and shook her head.

“I only pointed you in the right direction, and rewarded you for your deeds, Taog. It was you who accomplished this victory.”

Colleöne then glanced over at Ateia and then winked at Taog.

“Though, perhaps not entirely without assistance.”

Taog's eyes widened a bit but then he nodded.

“So that was Ateia I heard.”

Colleöne smiled.

“Technically, you have the favor of the Aesdes now, Taog. I would advise you to cherish that relationship, but I do not think you need to be told that.”

Taog shook his head and Colleöne nodded.

“What I will say is this. Learn to rely on one another. Do not let this victory convince you must do everything yourself. We all need someone we can show our weakness to, and that’s something that must go both ways.”

Taog furrowed his brow and nodded at that.

“I’ll consider your words, Mighty Victoria. Thank you again for your guidance.”

Colleöne just continued to smile.

“Think nothing of it. Go ahead, and rejoin your friends.”

Taog nodded and then walked over to NSLICE-00P.

“Greeting: This unit is pleased to see friendly Taog return in fully functional condition.”

Taog grinned.

“Glad to see you too, Seero. Um, if you don’t mind, I have a request.”

Ateia raised an eyebrow at that.

“Affirmative. Please state the request.”

Taog took a deep breath. He glanced at Ateia, then turned to look NSLICE-00P in the eye.

“Ateia’s your subordinate now, right? Something like a dungeon monster? Is it possible for me to become one too, like through a Contract?”

Ateia’s eyes widened.

“Taog, what are you saying?”

Taog turned to face her.

“…I know it wasn’t exactly something you decided. But…I want to follow you, wherever you go. And…Seero came into our lives, and shattered every obstacle in our way while I was too afraid to even try. She didn’t hesitate when faced with armies or dungeons or cults or whatever. She’s an example of what I want to become, she’s someone worth following, and she deserves my loyalty as a both our friend and savior. I don’t know how much I can do, but I want to pay her back however I can, at least a little. And what better way to do that then to join you in following after her?”

Ateia fell silent, and Taog turned back to NSLICE-00P.

“If that’s what you want, that is, Seero. If you’ll have me, I would like to follow you.”

NSLICE-00P saw no reason to refuse.

Taog Sutharlan has offered to become your subordinate. Accept?