The cape and the crown

Nioh's lab was a chaotic symphony of light, sound, and motion. The central workbench gleamed under the soft glow of blue-tinted holograms, casting an eerie ambiance across the room. Tools hovered in midair, suspended by anti-grav fields, while robotic arms shifted seamlessly between tasks.

In the corner of the room, Ekoh, manifested as a holographic avatar—a sleek, humanoid figure with flowing lines of data coursing through its translucent form. It observed intently, offering occasional quips.

"Are you sure Kol won't just try to eat this cape?" Ekoh teased.

"Not unless it tastes like arrogance," Nioh replied, his focus unwavering. "And you're one to talk—you crashed my simulation twice yesterday."

"That was a feature, not a bug," Ekoh retorted.

Nioh rolled his eyes and turned his attention to the biocore of a Nightlight Bird, encased in a transparent, gelatinous suspension. The biocore pulsed faintly, a mesmerizing blend of luminous blues and shadowy purples, feeding off ambient darkness. The Nightlight Bird's unique physiology allowed it to absorb darkness and convert it into faint bioluminescent light—a perfect base for his dual designs.

He activated a fusion lens above the biocore, which emitted a tight beam of energy to isolate its spectral properties. "Start the spectral separation," he ordered.

"On it," Ekoh said. Several holographic screens materialized, showing the biocore's energy wavelengths. "Shadow absorption levels are optimal. Light resonance needs a slight adjustment."

Nioh adjusted a dial, feeding minute amounts of charged photons into the biocore. The bioluminescence intensified, creating an ethereal glow. "Perfect. Now to pair it with the materials."

On the table, two distinct components awaited their turn in the process: a filamentous black weave spun from Obsidian Silk, a material that absorbed ambient sound and light, and Solar Quartz, a crystalline substance that radiated intense bursts of light when charged.

For Kol's cape, Nioh used a laser-guided stitching arm to weave strands of Obsidian Silk into the cape's core, embedding the Nightlight biocore at its center. As the machine worked, Nioh delicately soldered microfilaments—ultrathin electrical conduits—into the weave.

"This is the fun part," Ekoh remarked. "Microfilament soldering. Nothing like playing with a thread that could fry your brain if it shorts."

"Keep up the commentary, Ekoh, and I might just let you test it first," Nioh shot back.

Using an arc welder the size of a pen, Nioh sealed the biocore's housing to the cape's internal structure. When activated, the cape would shroud Kol in darkness, enhancing his power while providing a shield strong enough to absorb and dissipate attacks. The cape could stretch infinitely depending on Kol's strength.

"Kol's cape—done," Nioh said, brushing off imaginary dust from his hands. "Now for Sol's diadem."

The diadem required a more intricate design. Nioh retrieved a fine lattice made from Prismatic Alloy, a material known for its ability to amplify light frequencies. The Solar Quartz and Nightlight biocore had to be perfectly synchronized for Sol's light-based abilities.

"Load the neural interface protocols," Nioh instructed.

"Done," Ekoh said. "Don't blow it."

Nioh placed the diadem in a stabilization rig and began aligning the Solar Quartz with the biocore. "This part is like threading a needle blindfolded," he muttered.

"I'd help, but I don't have hands," Ekoh said, unhelpfully.

A small plasma torch in Nioh's hand hummed as he fused the crystalline layers. Tiny nanobots, guided by Ekoh's algorithms, crawled across the surface, securing the biocore and connecting it to the neural pathways embedded in the diadem.

Once the structure was complete, Nioh ran a charge through the diadem. A burst of radiant light illuminated the room, casting dancing shadows. Because of the biocore shared properties. The attacks absorbed by the cape would charge the diadem jewel and offer sol, destructive power.

"Beautiful," Ekoh said, for once in awe.

"Functional," Nioh corrected, setting the diadem next to Kol's cape. "Now, let's see if those two can actually handle these without blowing something up."

"Or each other," Ekoh added with a smirk.

"Either way, it'll be entertaining," Nioh said, a satisfied grin spreading across his face.

A sharp beep interrupted Nioh's banter with Ekoh. The lab door swung open with a loud hiss, causing him to sigh. "X, how many times do I have to tell you to open the door like a human being?" he called out, not bothering to look up. He didn't need to; only one person in his life consistently made such an entrance.

For weeks, Nioh had been holed up in his lab, consumed by the dual projects of the diadem and cape. The influx of new materials, his expanded toolset, and Ekoh's unrelenting sass had fueled a level of creativity that bordered on obsession. Now, as X tiptoed around the chaotic lab like a cautious predator, Nioh found himself both amused and annoyed.

X's gaze landed on the diadem and cape resting on their display racks. He didn't touch them, but his fingers itched to test their weight. Instead, he grabbed the performance sheets resting nearby and began skimming through them. His casual reading quickly turned into a frown.

"I see you're done with the weapons," X muttered, though his tone carried less awe and more skepticism. He held up the sheets accusingly. "But it's not good to lie on the performance specs."

"Lie?" Nioh finally looked up, incredulous. "I don't lie on my designs."

"Over 90% functionality? Two items that transfer energy seamlessly between each other? That's Master Weapon Designer territory, Nioh. Even if you're eager to show off, there's no need to exaggerate." X shook his head, tossing the papers back onto the cluttered desk.

Nioh groaned, leaning back in his chair. "What do you want, X? I'm busy."

"The data for the Summer Hunt is in," X replied, tossing a small chip in his direction. Nioh caught it mid-air and immediately plugged it into the console. Dozens of holographic screens sprang to life, each filled with dense columns of text, charts, and images. His hands moved like a conductor orchestrating a chaotic symphony, dragging windows around, resizing them, and devouring the information at lightning speed.

X watched in stunned silence as Nioh squatted like a child in front of a particularly interesting screen, scrolling slowly through the data. The engineer's intensity was almost hypnotic, his focus razor-sharp.

After a long pause, Nioh spoke, still not lifting his head. "Your brother?"

X blinked, startled out of his daze. "Oh, right. His ride just landed."

Nioh shot to his feet so abruptly that the holograms flickered. "Good. Let's all gather for dinner."

"Who's 'all'?" X asked, crossing his arms.

"You, me, your brother, the twins… Oh, and invite Iris. She owes me."

"Where are you going dressed like that?" X wrinkled his nose, gesturing at Nioh's grease-streaked jumpsuit. "You haven't showered in two weeks, and this place looks like a biohazard zone. Clean up completely before you show up anywhere," he added with disgust, striding out of the lab.

Nioh glanced around, finally taking in the state of his workspace. Tools lay scattered, empty energy cells rolled underfoot, and smudges of biocore residue streaked every surface. "I really need to fix my habit of ignoring my surroundings when I'm working," he muttered.

"Just when you're working?" Ekoh chimed in dryly.

Nioh shot Ekoh a glare. "What are you trying to imply?"

"That you're a self-centered, narcissistic person with no regard for anyone else's comfort," Ekoh replied in a tone that managed to sound both cheerful and condescending.

"I really need to find a way to unplug you."

"A bullet to your head would do the trick," Ekoh whispered mockingly.

"Noted. I'll work on your case after the meeting," Nioh grumbled. Rolling his eyes, he began cleaning up the lab with swift, precise movements. Tools were sorted, surfaces scrubbed, and the biocore residue disposed of in containment units. Within minutes, the chaos had been tamed into some semblance of order.

Finally satisfied, Nioh dashed out of the lab, muttering about time. As he headed for the showers, Ekoh's parting remark echoed behind him: "Don't forget to scrub behind your ears, genius."