>Stop peeping, you damn stick!

What are you talking about? I'm a stick what is there even for me to look? You know what never mind just put me on speaker phone so we can still plan
-call Mel's phone-
hope that works.

But I do have a question since it seems no one here has any idea how to build things. Mel, Galena, do either of you know where we could find a library or some other build housing information for us to look at when we go on a supply run? Might find a few books which could help us out in the future... as well as just something to read to kill time on slower days.

>>1120141
I mean, fair enough.

I suppose we can just slowly topple over and put our "eye" behind that rock there.

Call Mel's phone so we can complain.
"What kind of magical girl are you? You're supposed to sit such that the water and steam tastefully hide all your delicate bits from the audience's point of view!"

Anyways yes we should raid the city for media, both for knowledge and entertainment. might want to pick up some board games too. The nights are long here

>>1120162
Would that even work? Our sight doesn't seem to be eye-based. Hell, we even see our own eye from a third person POV.

>>1120141

We are an eye. We cannot avoid "peeping" even if we want to. We also cannot do anything to act on what we see, so calm yourself.

>>1120143

Agree on looking for books. We've encountered multiple different islands from multiple different civilizations and we'll be doing ourselves a disservice if we don't start amalgamating their knowledge; especially if we're planning to rebuild anything.

>>1120138

The monster marble will be most useful as a specimen for study. With what we're seeing in it I don't think reviving Frozlynn as is would be a good idea, but we might be able to find some way to reprogram it or extract the energy from it to power something else.

Or maybe we could just feed it to a voidling, if all else fails.

>Stop Peeping
No.

Silv, ask Mel if she wants a bigger chest; magic lets you do wonderful stuff.

>You have learned Mel's phone number
Hey don't break your phone! It's got all those information gathering apps we're going to need if we want to preserve technology for the future! Oh, and your magical girl transformation app, that's also pretty useful.

>>1120141
Neat.
We can text her.
Or sign her up for marketting lists.
Ow!

Lady, we are an eye on a stick.
peeping is our default state.

Besides, your jiggly, chonky, wobbly bits arent as pretty as your wand.
She's hawt.

>>1120141
Fine, fine. Humor her and drape her hoodie over our eye, or something. I don't think we can close it.

Anyways, I'm guessing the unknown rune attached to the monster marble has something to do with the core function of these Skeptiks, while the secondaries determined her type and elemental affinities. Three runes in combination is a bit like a spell, so perhaps Skeptiks are like spells given a living form? Spell-based Homunculi?

>>1120225
>Besides, your jiggly, chonky, wobbly bits arent as pretty as your wand.
>She's hawt.
Or her pipe. Say, what happened to her pipe? Last time we saw Mel dropped it after hitting Frozlynn's ice wall. They better not have abandoned Pipe-chan back there, so help me we're making them go back if we have to

>>1120204
>steam censorship
Heh, yeah Silv does a better job of that than Mel for some reason.

>>1120233
Her pipe is also a magical girl.
I think.
Id swear she changed into the wand.

1/3 Silv 2026/02/10(Tue)22:14 No. 1120946 ID: 091137
File 177076165506.png - (148.80KB , 900x750 , 021026_FromNothing2_124_SpamCall.png )

>Call Mel’s phone.
As the phone falls to the ground, it starts chiming.
Click!
>”Ow!”
A chorus of overlapping voices emerge from the phone.

“Tetsi??”
“What the hell?! How’re you talking through my phone?!”
>”Hey don't break your phone! It's got all those information gathering apps we're going to need if we want to preserve technology for the future! Oh, and your magical girl transformation app, that's also pretty useful.”
The chorus speaks again, but with one voice more noticeable than the others.

“I wouldn’t have to if you stop peeping!”
>”What are you talking about? I'm a stick what is there even for me to look?”
>”I mean, fair enough. I suppose we can just slowly topple over and put our "eye" behind that rock there.”
>”Would that even work? Our sight doesn't seem to be eye-based. Hell, we even see our own eye from a third person POV.”
>”We are an eye. We cannot avoid "peeping" even if we want to.”
>”Lady, we are an eye on a stick. Peeping is our default state. Besides, your jiggly, chonky, wobbly bits arent as pretty as your wand.”
>”Fine, fine. Humor her and drape her hoodie over our eye, or something. I don't think we can close it.”
The chorus of interchanging voices continues, and Mel is visibly embarrassed.

2/3 Silv 2026/02/10(Tue)22:14 No. 1120947 ID: 091137
File 177076169036.png - (403.20KB , 900x750 , 021026_FromNothing2_125_Blinded.png )

“GALENA BLIND THAT DUMB STICK!!”
In less than a second, Galena appears beside you, and covers your eye with Mel's jacket.
Turns out, you CAN be blindfolded.

“They’re not allowed to be uncovered as long as I’m bathing, got it?!”

“Understood. Master Tetsi isn’t allowed to view you bathing.”

“Is it that big of a deal…?”

“Silv, you’ll understand when you’re older that it IS A BIG DEAL!”

>”Say, what happened to her pipe?”
>”Her pipe is also a magical girl. I think. Id swear she changed into the wand.”
“My phone is the wand…! Whatever, as long as you’re blinded, let's get back to the main topic?”

>”I do have a question since it seems no one here has any idea how to build things. Mel, Galena, do either of you know where we could find a library or some other build housing information for us to look at when we go on a supply run? Might find a few books which could help us out in the future... as well as just something to read to kill time on slower days.”
>”Anyways yes we should raid the city for media, both for knowledge and entertainment. might want to pick up some board games too. The nights are long here.”
“I have previously collected some technical documents and records, but I doubt they will be very useful to us at present.”

“Well with someone as strong as Galena, we can move over a bunch of stuff rather easily. A few places I wanna loot. You can stay here and rest when we do that, Silv, you’ve been through a lot.”

“But I wanna help!”

“Mel has a point. You have been very active Master Silv, a rest for yourself wouldn’t be terrible.”

>”The monster marble will be most useful as a specimen for study. With what we're seeing in it I don't think reviving Frozlynn as is would be a good idea, but we might be able to find some way to reprogram it or extract the energy from it to power something else. Or maybe we could just feed it to a voidling, if all else fails.”
>”Anyways, I'm guessing the unknown rune attached to the monster marble has something to do with the core function of these Skeptiks, while the secondaries determined her type and elemental affinities. Three runes in combination is a bit like a spell, so perhaps Skeptiks are like spells given a living form? Spell-based Homunculi?”
“The marble is mine, so I’ll figure out what to do with it later, but we are NOT feeding it to a voidling, that is a bad idea!”

3/3 Silv 2026/02/10(Tue)22:15 No. 1120948 ID: 091137
File 177076170945.png - (150.53KB , 900x750 , 021026_FromNothing2_126_.png )

After bathing and chatting for a bit, Mel starts getting out of the hot spring.
“Anything else we need to talk about before heading to bed?”

Silv speaks up.
“Tetsi wanted to use the runes we have to expand the island, buuut I kinda want to save them until we get a lot more, so we can do one large expansion. Then we can figure out where stuff goes I guess? Also Tetsi wants to combine more runes.”

“I will have to concur. The small additions make planning unfavorable in the long term, as more runes will be required anyway.”

“Yeah, what she said.”

After the girls get changed, you are unblinded as she takes her jacket from you.
Galena proceeds with organizing things, while Mel, Silv, and Fern are sleeping together in the hut, and you are left to your own devices.

Tomorrow you will have 2-3 days to explore the islands before they drift away. Where will you go tomorrow?
-Scavenge the Frozen City.
-Confront the Runeling.

Let's kill the runeling before it evolves into something worse - or destroys something massive.

The runeling is such an unknown quantity. Like we don't know what all we would get if we defeat it.

whereas the city is full of loot. Silv could have a proper bed, and other fine home furnishing. and Fern could get some toys or games to keep them busy and not feeding the runelings.

>>1120947
>when you're older
Wait, how old is Silv exactly.

>>1120948
>runes
That reminds me. We probably have enough runes to unlock Darkness now. Do we want to? Better ask everyone present what they think. It is probably a rune that symbolizes... this void we're in. Considering runes strengthen their aspect in the area they're in, it might be dangerous to hold a Darkness rune, or at least have more than one at a time. I wonder what would happen if we inverted it though?

If not, then... I think it's about time to ask for advice on what direction to steer our rune research in. There are a *lot* of different combinations to try. Initially I was trying to unlock runes related to intelligent life to try to climb the tech tree and get runes for things like farming, but we have the tech rune now. We can shortcut that process. ...or maybe that's pointless. We use runes to expand the island and craft spells. We can't use them to make tools. We should be researching runes that would be good for terrain and spell effects. We already have the Ore rune, so that covers rarer materials. I guess if we had a Tree or Wood rune we could make terrain for organic materials; Nature isn't producing any trees. Well, maybe those runes are too specific. I get the feeling rune types are meant to be wide-reaching concepts rather than specific things.
Oh... maybe we could craft a spell to accelerate plant growth though? We might have the runes for it right now. Nature+Cycle... hmm, we don't have anything time-related yet do we?

Combining runes... Maybe Life+Nature? Or Nature+Nature? Primal+Nature? Try Tech+Primal, that should be interesting. Charge+Charge might give us a better electric rune, but maybe a "stronger electricity" concept is too specific again... but wait, what's the difference between Static and Charge? Or Breeze and Gale? Maybe "stronger" rune types really are a thing. Oh, maybe Charge+Cycle to get magnetism? Or would that be Charge+Primal? We need a time rune, so maybe Cycle+Cycle? Hopefully inverting it would give us Space, as right now we have nothing related to it.
(also, the rune interactions chart is out of date, Tech isn't even on it. maybe we haven't tried combining it with anything? Or inverting it?)

well since we do want more ruins it would probably be a good idea to scavenge from the frozen city first to supply ourselves for the runeling fight with both more runes and whatever else we might find.

Maybe find a second tent or two as well since I'm not sure how much the group feels about "cuddle pile" being our only sleeping arrangement or at bare minimum a sealed place to store items and gear. We have found out that weather from islands can effect us and I rather have a dry place to keep out stuff without crowding the only shelter we have.

>>1120959
We would probably get a large number of runes to experiment and expand, for one.

So I support runeling battle!

We should craft a new spell designed to help against the runeling.

Core: Charge, to allow the spell to interact with and condense energy.
Attachment: Stagnate, to allow the spell to stop/slow energy.
Modification: Eldritch, to allow the energy to behave in ways that defy physics.

The intent of the spell: To project a field which captures energy blasts and traps it, forming it into different shapes. The idea is we can 'catch' one of the runeling's laser blasts and make a hardlight shield or even weapons out of it.

Does Galena have some lasers we can test it with?

As for what to do... well, it'll be easier to scavenge once the runeling is out of the way... but we don't have a great plan of attack. We'd have to either figure out a three-rune spell that could be used for both attack and defense, or solve either attack or defense in some other way. Toppling a building onto it would be a good plan I think; at the very least it'll be immobile. Then we can use Tremor to move rubble into strategic spots to create cover which will allow us to get close enough to hit it with something to kill it? Probably a strong electric-based spell. Like a Flare Mortar but replace the Flare with Charge?

Maybe we can combine the two tasks? Scavenge near the runeling, looking for buildings unstable enough for the plan?

Didnt we have an anti tech spell idea earlier?

We should get more supplies first, it's better to be more prepared to fight the runeling if needed. Though, make sure we're fight-ready when we go back to the frozen island.

Also, good work, Galena.

>>1120965
>(also, the rune interactions chart is out of date, Tech isn't even on it. maybe we haven't tried combining it with anything? Or inverting it?)
(pretty much, I didn't wanna bother changing the chart with nothing to show in it)

>>1120947
Dont wanna see your wobblers anyway lady.
Wow. Sure is roomy in this here hoody.
Someone lumpy musta stretched it out with their gross curvy bits.

Ah, alright.
Serious time.
The two choices are fairy intertwined.

If we go at the runeling, and win, some scavanging will be viable afterwards but some things may be damaged and injuries may limit our recovery teams numbers and work output.

If we scavange first, we may get to pick out undamaged loot, but our choice would be limited by the presence of the runeling as we'd have to avoid loot spots it was present in, plus we'd risk the chance of losing initiative on the attack. It may come for us.

There is some validity to the idea of just letting it be to see what the runeling life cycle is like, but with the island leaving we may never find out.

So fighting the runeling is probably the only thing we're going to need our whole party together for, so let's do that first. If we have any time left in the day we can scavenge there too; Galena will probably know the best places to search. Then on the next day Mel and Galena can scavenge in the frozen city, while Silv takes some time off.

1/2 Silv 2026/02/17(Tue)22:02 No. 1121175 ID: 091137
File 177136574214.png - (234.47KB , 900x750 , 021726_FromNothing2_127_.png )

Votes:
-Runeling Fight: 4
-Scavenge: 3
>So fighting the runeling is probably the only thing we're going to need our whole party together for, so let's do that first. If we have any time left in the day we can scavenge there too; Galena will probably know the best places to search. Then on the next day Mel and Galena can scavenge in the frozen city, while Silv takes some time off.

You will challenge the Tech Runeling!
You were given some spell ideas, so choose which you’ll go with, or make a new one:
>Breakpoint
>>1106434
>>1120968

BREAKPOINT… SIMPLE CONCEPT, WELL DEFINED INSTRUCTION. NEEDS NO FURTHER MODIFICATION.
UNNAMED SPELL… CERTAIN INSTRUCTIONS AND INTERACTIONS MAY RESULT IN UNINTENDED RESULT.

2/2 Silv 2026/02/17(Tue)22:03 No. 1121176 ID: 091137
File 177136578381.gif - (175.56KB , 960x800 , 021726_FromNothing2_128_Dark&Light.gif )

>Wait, how old is Silv exactly?
You drift over to Galena, who picks you up.
“I do not know how her race ages, but mentally, she appears to be around 10 or 12 years.”

>Does Galena have some lasers we can test it with?
“I am not equipped with any weaponry, only the rusted swords from the museum, and those will break rather quickly.”

>That reminds me. We probably have enough runes to unlock Darkness now. Do we want to? Better ask everyone present what they think. It is probably a rune that symbolizes... this void we're in. Considering runes strengthen their aspect in the area they're in, it might be dangerous to hold a Darkness rune, or at least have more than one at a time. I wonder what would happen if we inverted it though?
Mel pulls some granola bars from her bag after everyone wakes up, and everyone eats.
You nudge Silv until she agrees to combine runes at least once.
“Ok Tetsi, I’ll combine runes once, then we’ll get ready to go.”

The air grows still as Silv attempts the combination once more. Suddenly, blackness crackles between her hands. It quickly amplifies, radiating around her. Everyone around her quickly stands back as what looks like a hole in reality manifests between her hands.

The combination of Eldritch and Primal created a new Fundamental rune!
Darkness Rune obtained! Inversion creates another Fundamental rune. Light Rune obtained!
“Fundamental runes…? Light and Darkness?”

“Are you ok Silv?!”

“Yeah… I didn’t expect that to happen. Tetsi’s been trying to get me to do that combination for a bit. I got a Darkness and Light rune from it.”

“I’m thankful you are unharmed master Silv, but please warn us the next time you attempt something like that. Now, let us prepare to head towards Mainefalis, and gather our equipment.”

“Ok!”
Silv grabs 6 runes, while Galena brings the rusted swords, and Mel brings her phone and pipe. Fern stands guard with the shovel at home.

Craft your spell. Remember that directions are important! Most popular spell will be crafted.

>>1121175
breakpoint sounds good

>>1121176
>Mel brings her phone and pipe
pipe-chan! she's back!
also, what about inverting the tech rune? surely we have time to do that before leaving?

Breakpoint sounds more sure than the energy capture spell.

>>1121176
>10 or 12
No wonder she's better at Convenient Censorship then.

>Fundamental runes
Neato! I wonder what Fundamental means. Maybe they're "purer" than other rune types? Even the basic ones we got at the start are somewhat impure in concept-- they can mean several things. Darkness and Light might be just that, and nothing more. Alternatively maybe they signify fundamental forces of reality, and mean far *more* than simple dark and light. Maybe it's a yin/yang thing... in that case perhaps we should try making more rune combinations with the Ore rune to try to make Metal, which is one of the five Chinese elements. I'm not sure how we'd make Fire since Flare seems to already be that concept. Wood might be attainable by combining Nature with something... Life+Nature perhaps. Water is again a problem since Stream should be it. Oh, maybe all we have to do is combine Stream or Flare with Primal to get the more Fundamental concept. During the process I was worried that Eldritch was the root cause of the unusual combination, but now that we know the result was Fundamental, I think Primal will be used to reach other Fundamentals.
I wonder if they give stronger effects than expected when put into a 3-rune spell?

>make a 3-rune spell
Breakpoint seems good, but I am concerned about the range. We need something long range, or something we can place as a trap, or something we can attach to an object and then launch at the enemy.
...eh, it's probably good enough. We just need to sneak up on it, or use Tremor to create cover we can dodge between to avoid the blasts while we approach.

>>1121175
Breakpoint is an elegant design. Very useful given our target

I am going to vote for the unnamed spell. I am also going to vote for naming it "Aiki".

>>1121176
Yeah, Breakpoint seems good enough since we can't do testing on the unclear spell.

1/3 Silv 2026/03/04(Wed)22:50 No. 1122994 ID: 091137
File 177266461598.png - (671.41KB , 900x750 , 030426_FromNothing2_129_EnterTheEnemy.png )

>Fundamental runes
>>1121180
“No idea Tetsi! We’ll figure it out later I suppose?”

>Breakpoint!
“Tech as the spell's core to connect to the target…”
“Static to affect energy flow…?”
“And Stagnate to suspend operations.”

x3 runes consumed.
Slowing AOE replaced with Breakpoint.

Your party makes it way over towards Mainefalis, cautiously approaching where you found the Runeling. Galena relayers her knowledge of the area.

“Where you encountered this Runeling appears to be an old plaza area between arcane towers. A very open area unless we can drive it closer to the buildings or walls.”

Mel chimes in. “Ok, so, it shoots lasers. Anything else?”

“Unfortunately, we are unaware of any other abilities it may possess. We must remain cautious.”

Hiding behind the buildings, you slowly approach the plaza area, scanning for your target. Debris piles are strewn about, but one particularly tall one catches your attention…!

 

The tower of debris stirs!

The towering mass of metal and void lets out a bellow!

Tech Runeling

The result when Voidlings consume runes, something they cannot process under normal means. A great number of Tech runes are stuck inside it, and it has assimilated the Tech around it, mutating into this monstrous form. Very dangerous.
Primary Runic Affinity: Tech. Secondary: Unknown.

Abilities:
Prototype Battery Core: Unstable energy storage device. Stores a lot of energy, but can release its energy suddenly and quickly.
Conduit Engraving Laser: Device to carve into stone and metal to lay the basis of rune-conduits. Power output unstable.

“...I’m WAY more intimidated by this thing than the witch.”

“It is indeed intimidating.”

“Ok, we can do this!”
Mel transforms into her magical girl form, Galena draws the rested swords, and Silv brandishes you. Plan your attack!

3/3 Silv 2026/03/04(Wed)23:13 No. 1122996 ID: 091137
Audio Void_battle_theme_1_v1_030.mp3 - (3.21MB , Void battle theme 1 v1_030.mp3 )

(OFFICIAL BOSS MUSIC BABY!)

Its battery core is unstable; if we can damage it, then the runeling might lose most of its powers.

It's got three legs. Cut one and it won't be able to stand. Also of note, it can only fire in one direction. So if someone provokes a shot and gets behind cover, the other two can advance.

So I think the fastest of us should pop out and get it to aim, then hide behind cover while the other two rush in to strike at one of its legs. Presumably Silv is not the fastest of us so she can try to get off her spell and disable it.

Use Tremor to block its second shot if it gets to fire one.

Silv, no matter how much i beg, do not become distracted and use us like an airguitar...

Ok! The quick drawing fire is good, but remember lasers are too fast to dodge, so we cant be too far back... but it still has to pivot to aim so theres a sweet spot where it cant stomp on you and youre too close and fast to bring firing apeture into alignment...

Whover takes the position is taking a risk, but thatll let the strikers get in close to hit.

If Silv can get close she can target the laser with breakpoint, then a faster team member can go for the battery.

Galena and Mel should break from cover and circle around the runeling in opposite directions. Move fast and give it multiple targets. When it's facing away Silv can run in close.

>>1123020
>If Silv can get close she can target the laser with breakpoint
Galena's pretty strong, think she can fastball-special Silv?

>>1122995
Can Galena hold and carry some rubble to help shield your approach? Keeping it at an angle should help the shield tank the blast. And if the power supply is unstable, it may be prone to failures or needing to recharge, which could create an opening to get in Breakpoint range.

1/3 Silv 2026/03/13(Fri)01:01 No. 1123373 ID: 091137
File 177336368918.png - (530.77KB , 900x750 , 031226_FromNothing2_131_Assault.png )

>Its battery core is unstable; if we can damage it, then the runeling might lose most of its powers.
>It's got three legs. Cut one and it won't be able to stand. Also of note, it can only fire in one direction. So if someone provokes a shot and gets behind cover, the other two can advance. So I think the fastest of us should pop out and get it to aim, then hide behind cover while the other two rush in to strike at one of its legs. Presumably Silv is not the fastest of us so she can try to get off her spell and disable it. Use Tremor to block its second shot if it gets to fire one.
>The quick drawing fire is good, but remember lasers are too fast to dodge, so we cant be too far back... but it still has to pivot to aim so theres a sweet spot where it cant stomp on you and youre too close and fast to bring firing apeture into alignment… Whover takes the position is taking a risk, but thatll let the strikers get in close to hit.
>If Silv can get close she can target the laser with breakpoint, then a faster team member can go for the battery. Galena and Mel should break from cover and circle around the runeling in opposite directions. Move fast and give it multiple targets. When it's facing away Silv can run in close.
>Galena's pretty strong, think she can fastball-special Silv?
>Can Galena hold and carry some rubble to help shield your approach? Keeping it at an angle should help the shield tank the blast. And if the power supply is unstable, it may be prone to failures or needing to recharge, which could create an opening to get in Breakpoint range.
The group discusses their plan, and decide it’s best to try to limit its movement by damaging the legs, then disabling the battery so the laser is unusable. Mel will take the lead in targeting the legs since she can fly, leaving the faster people to get in close.

Mel flies in and starts shooting magical blasts at its legs. One problem however.

PANG!!
As it turns out, the bulk of its legs are solid metal.

“Tch… Try this on for size!”
Mel flies around its side, flinging a wide spread over it. The Runeling bellows out, and turns towards Mel, it’s laser charging up. Silv and Galena run towards it once the beam fires, Mel easily flying out of its firing angle.

2/3 Silv 2026/03/13(Fri)01:01 No. 1123374 ID: 091137
File 177336371499.png - (410.85KB , 900x750 , 031226_FromNothing2_132_SickDrift.png )

“Breakpoint!”
The laser quickly loses its next shot as the Battery Core shuts down. The Runeling seems staggered for a moment before quickly recovering. With speed you didn’t expect from its bulk, it jumps and spins towards Silv and Galena, shaking the ground as it lands.

It begins to charge, and Galena grabs Silv.
“Mel, please catch Master Silv.”

“WhaaAAAAA!”

Silv is thrown airborne and caught by Mel while Galena quickly runs from the charging Runeling, sparks flying from her heels. Swiftly sliding around debris while the Runeling charges though, she enters a nearby building, causing her pursuer to crash. Half a building destroyed, it stumbles back, dazed.

Silv and Mel start shooting it from behind before it can get its bearings again. It’s very durable, but if you keep at it…!

3/3 Silv 2026/03/13(Fri)01:02 No. 1123375 ID: 091137
File 177336373218.png - (497.40KB , 900x750 , 031226_FromNothing2_133_SpitefulLaser.png )

The Runeling sidesteps and turns towards you, thick smoke now billowing from it’s chimney…!

WAIT, THE LASER IS CHARGING, DESPITE THE BATTERY STILL BEING DISABLED!

>>1123375
Try and disable the Breakpoint effect so that the laser overcharges and explodes. It's already unstable, right? And it can already evaporate anyone here if it hits them so it's not like making it stronger will make them MORE evaporated. Try turning the Battery Core back on when it's near full charge so it overshoots and blows up a capacitor or something.

Looks like maybe it's using a furnace or st as a generator? We got anything that can shut down a furnace? Maybe dump some water down the chimney?

Oh I was hoping to cut the tentacles it's using to grab the metal poles with but I guess that's still too tough.

>laser charging anyway
Use Tremor to pull up some stone to block the shot!

>>1123383
Or something that can block up the chimmney, overheat and overpressure the thing

>>1123390
Buckle the chimney, or jam it. Pressure might pop the runeling.

Ok, it seems like it's overheating. If we can keep forcing it to use its laser, and maybe heat it up in other ways, we can make it melt.

Smoke would indicate fire. Mel could fly you up and you could cast stream into the stack to bank that flame

>>1123378
Yup. It's using an alternative power source to charge the laser. If you dump the unstable battery's power into the laser when it's already charged, KABLOOEY.

1/1 Silv 2026/03/23(Mon)22:27 No. 1123886 ID: 091137
File 177430482736.png - (662.84KB , 900x750 , 032326_FromNothing2_134_Down4TheCount.png )

>Try turning the Battery Core back on when it's near full charge so it overshoots and blows up a capacitor or something.
>Yup. It's using an alternative power source to charge the laser. If you dump the unstable battery's power into the laser when it's already charged, KABLOOEY.
Still being carried by Mel, Silv tries casting Breakpoint on the battery to cause it to overload.
Unfortunately the spell is only designed to ‘turn off’, and it doesn’t seem like Silv is able to move the effect around.

>Looks like maybe it's using a furnace as a generator? We got anything that can shut down a furnace? Maybe dump some water down the chimney?
>Or something that can block up the chimmney, overheat and overpressure the thing
>smoke would indicate fire. Mel could fly you up and you could cast stream into the stack to bank that flame
They try to get above and out of it’s range, but it isn’t stationary enough for Silv to get any water inside the chimney. She’s also seems to be having a harder time breathing…
Silv is suffering from Mana Depletion. You quickly identify the cause as Breakpoint. It’s causing a sustained effect supplied by Silvs mana.

The Tech Runeling is about to fire!
>Use Tremor to pull up some stone to block the shot!
You quickly wiggle to get Mel's attention and she grabs you.
“Whats wrong?”

You urgently tell her to take cover behind something!

BWEEEEEEEM!!

The laser burns across the piles of debris, just as Mel ducks behind the biggest pile she can find. Silv is breathing heavily, and the Breakpoint effect will fade once she passes out from Mana Depletion…

Wait… Where's Galena?

Galena: Hijack the Titan's power core

Galena help ussss!!!!!!

>>1123886
Galena: Block the smokestack, choke the engine.

>>1123886
Huh? Silv can't stop casting Breakpoint once it affects something?! What an awkward limitation!

Hopefully Galena is doing something useful. Silv is gonna pass out soon since her spell is draining her mana...
Oh, we might be able to finish this fight using a technique we've used earlier... using runes directly! You could fly up and stuff some runes down that chimney. You could try Blast, which is volatile enough to explode on its own, or Corrosion to simply mess with the mechanism. I feel like Blast is our best bet right now, since we don't seem to be doing much damage and an internal explosion is our best bet.
Just make sure Galena isn't about to do a heroic leap out of a building onto it; making it explode when she lands on it would be bad.

>>1123886
Oh no.
Galena?
Where are you?

Scan.

Hmm, Silv ought to be able to cease breakpoint. Silv see if you can sense the spell and maybe dismiss it. Not like you can do anything else in your condition.

Yeah, we can Scan for Galena.

Warn Mel: When you do pass out, Breakpoint will end and the power surge will probably nuke the Runeling, but also the laser might have a sudden surge of power.

1/5 Silv 2026/04/03(Fri)18:43 No. 1124269 ID: 091137
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>Huh? Silv can't stop casting Breakpoint once it affects something?! What an awkward limitation!
>Hmm, Silv ought to be able to cease breakpoint. Silv see if you can sense the spell and maybe dismiss it. Not like you can do anything else in your condition.
You try to get Silv to dismiss the Breakpoint spell effect, but she’s too out of it to really comprehend what you’re telling her.

>Warn Mel: When you do pass out, Breakpoint will end and the power surge will probably nuke the Runeling, but also the laser might have a sudden surge of power.
You tap yourself into Mel, and speak to her.
“You’ve gotta be kidding…!”

Mel grabs you and Silv, and flies further behind a larger pile of debris. It bellows, attempting to follow you, but stumbling. Whatever it did, it seems to have tired it out.

2/5 Silv 2026/04/03(Fri)18:44 No. 1124270 ID: 091137
File 177524186476.png - (275.21KB , 900x750 , 033126_FromNothing2_136_ZoomZoom.png )

>Galena: Hijack the Titan's power core
>Galena help ussss!!!!!!
>Galena: Block the smokestack, choke the engine.
>Oh no. Galena? Where are you?
You have no mouth, and yet you must scream! Your communication limitations are very annoying in situations like this!

>Scan for Galena.
Unfortunately you can’t scan for something as specific as her or at this close a range…

3/5 Silv 2026/04/03(Fri)18:44 No. 1124271 ID: 091137
File 177524189554.png - (266.02KB , 900x750 , 033126_FromNothing2_137_CrashCrash.png )

CRASH!!!

You watch as Galena jumps through a 3rd story window.

4/5 Silv 2026/04/03(Fri)18:45 No. 1124272 ID: 091137
File 177524192473.png - (454.89KB , 900x750 , 033126_FromNothing2_138_Krackle.png )

She flips over the Runeling, striking the battery, and landing on the ground with a thud.

Silv passes out from Mana Depletion.

5/5 Silv 2026/04/03(Fri)18:45 No. 1124273 ID: 091137
File 177524194526.png - (496.18KB , 900x750 , 033126_FromNothing2_139_KaBoom.png )

The effect of Breakpoint is dismissed.

KA-BOOM!

The core reactivates, emitting sparks. A thunderous explosion sounds out, toppling the Runeling, crashing it into the ground.
“...Holy shit.”

“Miss Mel, please mind your language around Master Silv. Also, please finish off the monster, as my weapons have broken. I shall tend to Master Silv.”

“Oh, uh, sure, on it!” , she says, flying off toward the Runeling to give it a pelting.
Galena kneels down, and rests Silvs head on her lap.

well one thing you can definitely say about Galena is she has amazing timing.

But yeah what do you know about mana depletion? Is it similar to exhaustion where you just feel tired for a while or are their other things we need to worry about? Do we need to feed her things that are blue? I heard blue things help restore mana.

>>1124273
Ahh... we need to get Galena some new weapons. Some from the museum, maybe? Should probably get spares as well, enough to last until we can make more ourselves.

Good work everyone.

Galena, please throw a rock into the tech runeling's GIANT WOUND.

Masterfully done Galena, thank you.

This will have to be the last time we take an untested spell into the field.
Silv needs rest and electrolytes.

Where'd Fern go?

>>1124273
You are the best robot big sister ever galena.

>>1124329
see
>>1121176
>Fern stands guard with the shovel at home.

Whoahhhh, you are really cool Galena!!

>>1124273
Compliment Galena on her badassery

1/1 Galena 2026/04/09(Thu)23:55 No. 1124937 ID: 091137
File 177577894795.png - (212.20KB , 687x687 , 040926_FromNothing2_140_.png )

>Masterfully done Galena, thank you.
>well one thing you can definitely say about Galena is she has amazing timing.
>Compliment Galena on her badassery
>You are the best robot big sister ever galena.
“Thank you Master Tetsi.”

>Ahh... we need to get Galena some new weapons. Some from the museum, maybe? Should probably get spares as well, enough to last until we can make more ourselves.
“The weapons from the museum are over 300 years old, they are not structurally sound. Also, I am not programmed for combat. I simply swung at a pest.”

>what do you know about mana depletion? Is it similar to exhaustion where you just feel tired for a while or are their other things we need to worry about? Do we need to feed her things that are blue? I heard blue things help restore mana.
>This will have to be the last time we take an untested spell into the field.
Silv needs rest and electrolytes.
“I do not know it exactly, but I know mages can cast using exterior mana and their own internal reserves. I imagine it’s something like one's stamina when running. Master Silv is young, so she likely doesn't have a large reserve of mana for casting, and there is no ambient mana for her to draw from, otherwise the Beacon Towers would be active.”

A short bit later, the sound of the Runeling exploding is heard.

x38 Tech runes obtained, bringing the total currently present to 41.
x12 Voidmatter obtained.

Galena tasks Mel with comforting Silv, while she goes to find crates and materials to transport stuff in. Anything you’d like to talk to Mel about in the meanwhile?

>>1124937
Galena is so humble. ...what the heck are Beacon Towers?

Hey Mel, know anything about how to increase mana reserves? Actually, anything you can tell us about spellcasting would be great. Silv has some memory issues and can't remember all her lessons.

Right, now that the main threat is out of the way...

1) With the death of the Tech Runeling, the city has become a low-risk, medium-reward area. We need to spend most of our remaining time looting as much of this city as possible. Galena, you know better than any other person alive where the best loot is. Not just the most expensive or most powerful, but the stuff that can help us grow more stuff. Seeds, cores, entire golem factories... anything and everything is on the table, though I expect transportation to be first on the list.
2) We're running out of 'slots' for voidling maintenance. Sure, we could increase our livable space and resources, but what we're sorely lacking is 'trust'. If we don't have dedicated and skilled ranchers maintaining our voidlings, it's only a matter of time before we accidentally put two rivals together and they start a turf war, or one of them trips into the rune storage and becomes a runeling. Which means we need to be more selective of which voidlings we recruit from now on. We should come up with some kind of sidequest during the looting, where we observe voidlings in their natural state and see what our ranching program should evolve towards; diversity, or breeding?
3) We still need to spend a little time scavenging the frost city. Our goal there should be to collect as much data as possible; most modernized cities get plasticine in nature, the food becomes an unhealthy slop compressed into sausages and every other tool is filled with poisonous materials. Miniaturization and increasingly incomprehensible public tech ruins the ability to personally diagnose your own stuff. But the art? Even the slop has grains of meaning if you know where to find it. We'll need to collect enough anime and games to keep Silv and Mel entertained, or this trip might develop cabin fever in a matter of months.

So... how are you handling being woken up after everything and the new body? Not sure we really had time to ask before getting swept up in everything but are you doing ok? Since we have a good moment to rest figured a wellness check would probably be appropriate.

>>1124937
If she can't draw from ambient mana, can we transfer mana to her from some other source?

>>1124938
Knowing more about Mel's methods of magic might be a good idea, yeah.

How have you been surviving all of this stuff, Mel?

How much do you understand tech stuff Mel? Now that we have all these tech runes we could expand the island with something really useful.

>>1124937
>I simply swung at a pest
If you're strong and quick enough, swinging is all you need to do.

>>1124942
Silv's too young for a mana transfer

>>1124937
Hey.
Hey.
Mel?
Thanks for watching out for silv.
We do our best but we cant do it alone against the big stuff.
So, thanks.
To pay you back im going to use your phone number only for emergencies and pictures of cute voidlings.
Hey.
What happens if we try to phone you when your wand is active?

>>1124938
Im pretty sure its those big ass towers around

1/2 Mel 2026/04/23(Thu)01:08 No. 1125785 ID: 091137
File 177690652424.png - (181.80KB , 900x750 , 042226_FromNothing2_141_NoSignal.png )

>know anything about how to increase mana reserves? Actually, anything you can tell us about spellcasting would be great. Silv has some memory issues and can't remember all her lessons.
>Knowing more about Mel's methods of magic might be a good idea, yeah.
“Uhh, not really. Only thing I can think of is just constantly pushing yourself? At least that's how it works for magical girls according to Rhapsodic. ‘Magical girls get stronger by pushing their potential and beating darkness’ and stuff like that. They said a lot of stuff about potential also being bad without limits…”, Mel trails off.

>How have you been surviving all of this stuff, Mel?
“Eh, never expected to be sent outside of reality to a literal void. Other than that, at least I don’t have to pay taxes now I guess.”

>Hey. Hey. Mel? Thanks for watching out for silv. We do our best but we cant do it alone against the big stuff. So, thanks. To pay you back im going to use your phone number only for emergencies and pictures of cute voidlings.
>Hey. What happens if we try to phone you when your wand is active?
“Yeah yeah you weird stick, thanks.”

Mel transforms her phone into her wand, and you try calling her. You get no connection.
“Guess you can’t talk to me when it’s transformed.”

>How much do you understand tech stuff Mel? Now that we have all these tech runes we could expand the island with something really useful.
“I know next to nothing except some basic stuff I guess. I had to fix a few things at the orphanage now and then.”

—

After a while, Galena returns with several empty crates, some already filled partially with scrap.
>>1124939
“Unfortunately, anything of major value has long decayed. This frame is an exception due to it having been set in preservation at the museum prior. Master Silv has yet to awaken, so I shall retrieve what I can. This crate here can be used for the materials from the Runeling, while I go scavenge what I can.”
Galena quickly departs once again.

2/2 Silv 2026/04/23(Thu)01:09 No. 1125786 ID: 091137
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After a bit, Silv regains consciousness, and helps Mel put the Runeling drops into a crate. Galena returns a while after with what she could find of use.

Total amount gained this trip:
49 Runes.
12 Voidmatter.
5 Golem parts.
13 Metal Junk.

You all head back to the home island, with your materials in tow, and stash them. You all chat around the fire and eat dinner.
The next ‘morning’, you, Silv, Galena, and Mel will use the final day to scavenge the frozen city.

Order these in terms of priority:
Food/Supplies
Runes/Voidmatter
Other?

>>1125786
Food and supplies. I guess there's no hope for recovering any useful organic materials such as cloth and rope... even nylon rope decays.
What about information? If there are any databanks left that we can power up and learn from, we won't have much more opportunity to do so.

Prioritize hard drives. Nab the parts from every computer you can get your hands on.
And maybe a DVD box set for entertainment.

Past that, look for potatoes, mushrooms, and any seeds you can find.

>>1125786
Other?
Cultural artifacts. Books, clothes, works of art, religious icons, anything unique to the civilization that inhabited this place. There are things that can be found in many places, and things that can only be found here.

Oh yeah, try to find any written text. books, papers, plaques, we could find out more about this world.

These are for the snowy area where Mel is from.

>>1125786
Im guessing food and supplies covers small scale building material.
Hmm.
Everywhere weve been has a uniqueness to it, but it seems like a missed opportunity to just gather food etc.
Especially when weve made inroads to growing our own so...

Hey, galena?
Did the folk of this city ever set up something like a seed bank?
They seemed pretty keen on archiving stuff with the museum. Whether its an apocalypse proof vault or museum long term storage, that kind of thing would be a part of this fragment worth trying to save.
Not just for the variety of things silv could grow from it, but to give that life another shot.

>>1125786
Food. We have more mouths to feed now, so we'll need a good stockpile until we get better agriculture set up. Mel's world island should have some good canned, preserved or otherwise stockpilable foods to keep meat in your bones.

>>1125794
How specific should we be about other things to look for?

Food and supplies, we don't know how hard it will be to find more
Art, Mel should take the lead here. She'll know best where to find it, and what she'll miss the most if its not retrieved now.
Runes can be picked up along the way, its not much of a priority right now.

>>1125786
Hey, now we can try building more Golems for our dead pals, like the less-evil half of that spider and that cold angry witch!

food and supplies, we need to build more tents at a bear minimum for all the extra bodies we have now and food to feed said bodies.

food!! and!! supplies!!