Crisis Mode
In a Crisis Mode, when Threat levels exceed Security levels, only missions linked to the Security of the Village would be available. A good many of these missions had requirements of having taken certain courses or having minimum levels of equipment.
Orb listed the Level 6 missions available to Cody in the current Crisis Mode.
1. Patrol the Village Checkpoints. Tier 1 survival rating required. 33 credits award. [Details]
2. Reinforce 3 vulnerable structures. 33 credits award. [Details]
3. Help set up internal alarm systems. 33 credits award. [Details]
4. Repair 3 sets of old armor. 33 credits award. [Details]
5. [Advancement] Supply Run (Provisions). Credits awarded according to contribution, 1=1. [Details]
The level 5 missions were similar, but were easier versions that only paid out 23 credits. Cody directly ignored those and paid special attention to the Advancement mission for level 6.
"Details on the advancement mission, please." Cody requested.
Orb explained, "The outlying farms around Initial Village has some of their harvest stored away in their warehouses. While the farmers are willing to contribute them to the defense forces of the village, somebody needs to go and retrieve these provisions."
"So… bring the tricycle and the cart?" Cody guessed. "How much do I need to bring back to advance?"
"An accumulated total of 33 credits worth." Orb summarized. "This mission is repeatable."
"So I can take several trips, and I'll advance as long as the total reaches 33 credits worth!" Cody realized.
"Warning: All areas outside the village and all uninspected areas within it are currently considered dangerous territory."
"Huh." Cody grimaced. "I guess I won't be helping organize the village festival after all."
"The village festival has been canceled under Crisis Mode."
Meanwhile, Elder T was urging them to raise the village Security Levels. "Just minutes ago, our Threat Level was 25, while our Security Level was rated at 13. Had things continued as they were or gotten worse, the entire village could have been wiped out today! But thanks to Crystal, right now, our Threat Level dropped to 10! This saved our village, but if the Threat Levels overwhelm Security Levels again, next time Crystal won't be here to help us! We have to increase Security! Firstly, we need to make sure the village itself is safe! Missions that directly safeguard the village will be given priority bonuses!"
As she said that, the Patrol Village Checkpoints mission suddenly received a +9 Priority bonus to its reward credits, bringing its total award to 42. Cody itched to do it, but he simply lacked the requirements.
Courses! Getting cheap gear could be done quickly, but Cody also needed to take courses to qualify! He had already signed up, but the Psuche Activation Course wasn't until Monday, and Rudimentary Telepathy was on Tuesday. Until then, Cody could only gaze longingly at the bonus and sigh.
"I guess I'll take the advancement mission…" Cody murmured.
Orb cut in. "Unable to take mission. You are still under lockdown for recent death."
"Oh. Right." Cody grimaced as Elder-T ended her briefing and everyone disappeared. As the projection conference ended, he asked. "How much Usage Time do I have left?"
"Three hours, fourteen minutes." Orb replied.
Cody looked around at his very empty Personal Space and shook his head. "There's no point waiting here doing nothing. I may as well try to learn something in real-life."
***
Out in the comms room, Cody sat down on the sofa and took a break.
Cyril must have received an alert or something that he was out, because he, too, logged off some minutes later. "Hey, Cody! Reached level 10 yet?"
"Reached it? I haven't even passed level 6 yet." Cody said glumly. "I even got killed and now the whole village is in Crisis Mode and we've all been Conscripted."
"Ouch." Cyril winced. "Crisis Mode on Day Five, huh? That has to be a new record. But don't give up just yet. Even though it sounds bad right now, Crisis Mode also has its upsides."
"Yeah. For one thing, I no longer need to help organize a school festival for advancement. I just need to do supply runs."
"Err…" Cyril hesitated then shrugged. "Yeah, something like that. But also, there should be Priority Bonuses…"
"Those only help if you qualify for the missions. I don't." Cody said flatly. "I don't suppose you can teach me Psuche Activation and Rudimentary Telepathy right now?"
"Um… I don't have certification for those. Plus I'm only allowed to teach you courses you've already signed up and paid for."
"Then…" Cody had another idea. "What about sword arts? Can you teach me the Mina Style?"
"That, I can teach." Cyril nodded. "I have the certification for it."
"Great! I've only started learning the First Form, Uta…" Cody said. "I've only had one class so far."
Cyril thought for a bit. "I'll open a private room in our family network. Meet me in the Sphere."
***
In a virtual arena, practice swords clashed.
"Oompfh!" Cody reeled under the weight of Cyril's blade. "Hey! No fair! Uta doesn't use strokes like that! We're supposed to jab and poke!"
"And what would you do if an opponent did what I just did?" Cyril asked.
"Uh… block it?"
"Like you just tried?"
"Uh… yeah?"
"Aren't you supposed to dodge? That's how you defend in Uta, right? Evade and withdraw?"
"Oops." Cody grimaced.
"Uta's defenses should work no matter what attack your opponent uses. It doesn't matter if he's using a stab or a slash, a sword or an axe or even a spear. The response is the same; evade." Cyril explained.
"I thought the way to defend in Uta was to step back." Cody frowned. "But that wouldn't work very well against a spear."
"Exactly. Stepping back is just one direction you can move to evade. Stepping aside could be a better option."
"But… I thought the focus of Uta is the straight line… just forward and back…?"
"Ah, but you can turn the line. Your focus should always be forward, so if you side-step… the line shifts accordingly." Cyril said. "There's such a thing as flanking your opponent. Also, there's parries, but that only works on lighter attacks. If you want to try blocking the way you did just now, I strongly suggest you shift to the Second Form, Iwa."
"Slow down! I haven't even gotten the hang of the First Form yet! It's too early to try the Second!"
"Then GET it, quick! Don't you have classes on Monday? You've got one weekend to prepare yourself and then you're going to have to go back to school and face Crisis Mode."
"How did you know I have class on Monday?"
Cyril lunged. Cody dodged to one side, stumbling.
"Don't get distracted. Focus." Cyril told him. "Now, try to attack me."
Cody stabbed at Cyril, stepping forward and carefully aiming the point of his practice sword at Cyril's center.
"Too slow!" Cyril parried it with the flick of his wrist.
"Ow!" Cody felt the sting in his hand.
"You have to fix that grip of yours." Cyril observed. "Also, you need to attack much, much more quickly. Forget about the correct posture or the correct footwork; I'm trying to train you to win a fight, not to pass an exam! The point, the whole point to the attack, is to hit your target. You have to do it as quick as a thought! Don't bother thinking about where to place your feet or how to posture your body! Just get the tip of your blade as fast toward me as you can!"
Cody jabbed out again.
"Better! But this time, extend farther. Full lunge, and stretch for reach! Show me your maximum range strike!"
Cody charged.
Cyril sidestepped and whacked him over the back as he passed. "Not like that! A single step is all you get! Always maintain your balance, and be prepared for a counter-attack!"
"How?!" Cody spluttered. "You just told me to go all-out and now you're telling me to maintain balance and all?!"
"Attack like a spring! Strike- and recover!" Cyril demonstrated, darting forward and then back again in a flash.
"Oof!" Cody felt the impact against the chest piece of his practice armor.
"Now, you try it!" Cyril instructed.
Cody tried. He really did. Over and over again until his arms were sore and his feet turned to wood, he tried, until at last, his hands were shaking, his feet couldn't even move and he was on the verge of collapse.
An alarm beeped. Cyril frowned. "I have to go. Warm down, take a break for dinner then come back and keep practicing. I'll put a practice dummy here for you. You can access this training room any time."
"Okay." Cody grimaced. "Thanks, Cyril."
Cyril waved, and vanished from the training room.