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All Chapters of The Least Common Denominator: Chapter 21
- Chapter 30
499 chapters
V.IV Hidden Variable
The Least Common Denominator/MokouFriedChicken
As we moved deeper and deeper into the center of the Furnace, the heat intensified to the point of almost smothering the air around us. Behind me, Olivia panted as the heat made it unbearable to even breathe. As for me... I found it strangely comforting. Don't get me wrong, I was still sweating bullets, but the fires of the Furnace offered a weird sense of familiarity; the warmth diffusing into my very core for some reason. A strange development, since I've hated the disgusting warmth of the summer season for as long as I can remember. "Sis..." 'Livia breathed as she trailed behind me. "Are we there yet?"<
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V.V Hidden Variable
The Least Common Denominator/MokouFriedChicken
"Why are you bowing?" I immediately straightened my back at his curious observation. I really have to stop doing that. "It's a sign of respect, sir," I explained as I raised my head to meet his confused grey eyes. At the edge of my periphery, Olivia quickly bowed as soon as my explanation came from my lips. "Never heard of that kind of behavior in my long years of living," the old man wondered while rubbing the scruff of his grey beard. "And stop calling me 'Sir.' I am Backus. I'm no Imperial Dog." "As you wis
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Interlude III: Arya
The Least Common Denominator/MokouFriedChicken
*Knock Knock!* "Arya?" In the middle of her bed, Arya laid as still as a corpse; blood pooling into her bedsheets as red stained her naked form. If one were to see such a sight, one might assume that she'd already gone from the world of the living. *Knock Knock Knock!* "Arya?!" the male voice from outside her room shouted as he repeatedly banged on the unyielding door. "Open this fucking door, you lazy bitch!" Read more
VI.I Solve for X
The Least Common Denominator/MokouFriedChicken
*CLANG!* The sounds of industry echoed through the blistering air as I hammered down on my new project. It had been at least a week since I had last spoken to Backus. After a few precious seconds of forethought, I realized that it was kind of in the realm of possibility that I can lead a somewhat decent resistance front. I had the know-how through some of the games I've played throughout the years. And if I applied what I knew of modern tactics in this fledgling rebellion of ours, I can actually see it working out in our favor. "Sis," a voice shook me out of my musings as Olivia called for my attention. "Am I doing this right?" Read more
VI.II Solve for X
The Least Common Denominator/MokouFriedChicken
"SIS!" I could barely hear Olivia speak as the deafening blast of the miniature explosion still rang in my ears. I'd barely gotten away with but a scratch as the rifle all but turned to shrapnel just as soon as I'd let go of it. What happened?! "What happened?!" I felt a hand on my shoulder as I turned my head behind me, Olivia greeting me with a worried expression bordering on panic and resolve. "Are you okay?!" I absently nodded as my eyes roamed back to the disastrous prototype that almost took my right han
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VI.III Solve for X
The Least Common Denominator/MokouFriedChicken
The chilling realization of my responsibility hit me like a tidal wave crashing against the concrete ports of my hometown; washing over me in a way that almost led me to commit suicide before I even graduated. I have no plan... no idea on how to handle a possible bloody situation beyond applying basic triage... I'm a just fucking nerd with next to no experience in leading beyond maybe calling the shots in a MOBA that I used to play. AHHHHHHHHH!!!!! "Sis?" Shit. Okay, okay... Calm down, me... Make yourself presentable. <
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VI.IV Solve for X
The Least Common Denominator/MokouFriedChicken
I was shaking. My ears rang as I steadied myself from where I stood. A loud bang... The sound of compressed air reverberating through my chest... "D-Did it..." I muttered as I felt something support me on my side. "'L-Livia?" "The rifle, sis," she began, her steps small as she accommodated to mine. "Something came out of it." I shook my head as my ears slowly stopped ringing. With a heave, I stood on my own two feet, leaving my little sister's grasp in favor of looking around the area.Read more
VI.V Solve for X
The Least Common Denominator/MokouFriedChicken
"Amazing..." Backus whispered as he eyed the runes etched onto the metal itself. "Squared angles to provide durability... and is that one of my open circles that I see?" the elder chuckled at his observations. "You certainly have a talent for picking up ideas, young Crimson." "It's not just me. Olivia etched the runes herself," I preened, while at the same time giving my little sister most of the credit. "I just gave her the rough draft. She actually made it work." Which was true. It was her adjustments that made the thing work. At best, I only gave her the idea to use those specific runes. Maybe she could've come up with a much better version if I didn't give any-Read more
VI.VI Solve for X
The Least Common Denominator/MokouFriedChicken
*CLANG!* And with a resounding clang, the third iteration of the rifle was complete. I watched in fascination as Backus's Essence slowly seeped into the rifle's runes; giving them the rudimentary power to activate and do their jobs. "Time to test it, no?" the elder jovially asked, one hand hefting what now amounted to something like a sawed-off shotgun in size. "From what I've seen, it should lessen the energy required of us by a considerable margin." I simply nodded in response, too engrossed on what the old man was doing as he proceeded to aim his rifle down the range. Like an old light bulb, the rifle began gl
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VII.I Analytical Geometry
The Least Common Denominator/MokouFriedChicken
"What do you mean 'you can't use them'?!" It was the day after our supposed breakthrough with our rifle, and as Backus has mentioned, there were a few of our fellow Denominators that showed up just before I woke up, I think. "It's as she'd said, Crimson," the tall muscular man piped up, hefting a rifle of Backus's design. "Not everyone can spare that much Essence on something that has no guarantee we can hit. Not to mention that any Numerator worth their salt could easily rush us and disarm us anyway." I put a palm on my forehead as I briefed my two new 'assistants', as they might as well call themselves. One was
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