"You promised right?" Alexa said as she took the choker and looked at it, both Glory and An didn't seem troubled, and more and more kids from their css had come to grab one since two of the leaders of the css had taken one.

  No one seemed to turn to look at Alexa either, so there was that.

  "Yeah," Glory nodded, "Don't worry; as I said, Mother promised it would be safe; at worst, you will not be able to change your body to increase your strength."

  Alexa was not worried about that; her body was already modified for above average strength, and she was almost as strong as an [Adult Stage - Human], no. Her worry was what would happen if P4 got brought out, or if her body changed to [THE CRAB], and that was interesting. Since that had been one of her goals, even if they hadn't made great success towards said goal.

  "Speak for yourself, I'm collecting as much material as I can when I am out," "We do really need to pick up the sck huh."

  "Main Core, prepare to release all Mk 1 Nanites in case this turns for the worst." Alexa sent inward as she raised the choker to her neck.

  "[Awknowledged.]"

  And without extra fanfare, Alexa put the choker and locked it in pce. The time was night, and soon she felt a pulse go through her body.

  Notice:Detected incoming hail...

  Initiating handshake...

  Handshake successful...

  Contact with Saintsworsts Deprecated SO.....

  Outdated certificates...

  Warning, using software or hardware that isn't supported anymore can lead to risks to user...

  The what now?

  "See? Everything is okay," Glory said, smiling at Alexa, "Do you feel funny anywhere?"

  "Everything should be fine, the choker seems to be working as intended," An said looking up and down Alexa.

  "...Say..." Alexa said, reading once again the blue screen thing, "Are these things...old?"

  Alexa's Core implied that at least, that the software and hardware was old. It never said anything about any piece of technology that Alexa used.

  Then again, usually, it was Main Core that interacted with things. Why had Core jumped up?

  "Shouldn't be," Glory said, trying to take off the choker, but it merely sent a beep instead.

  "Tut-tut," Suddenly the teacher person was standing besides Glory, "These remain on while the Exam Wars are going, we can't be having Core Users removing them after all."

  The teacher person looked at Alexa, and all the while the Echoes behind him ughed and pointed at Glory and An, what was that funny?

  "As for your question, the chokers are new-generation artifacts. Our principal volunteered the school for the beta test since most of the pre-alpha and alpha testing was successful." The teacher person said turning to look at Glory and An, "At least that is what we got told by the principal. I assume you two would have more information on the topic? As heirs to the Bckthorn and Harmonia."

  Glory turned pensive at this prompt; her eyes seemed to be going through tons of data, which was interesting since, as far as Alexa was concerned, Glory didn't have access to such upgrades.

  At least not from what Alexa had gotten from her [Blueprint], and since she was also wearing the choker... No wait, the choker! Core! Main Core!

  The world slowed down to a crawl for Alexa.

  "[Starting thought acceleration...]"

  Notice Cont...Archived updates:

  -Received status updates from deprecated software.

  --Action: Refused request.

  -Deprecated device attempted to sve Core.

  --Action: Firewall stopped pitiful attempts from the hostile artifacts.

  -Deprecated software attempted to send an arm.

  --Action: Tracing arm route, intercepting message, reading data...deleting data... sending trojan....success.

  Notice: Host now has access to full student rooster.

  Modifications may result in being noticed by local AI (CRADDLE.subcoreper)

  "But what info do they have!" Alexa screamed in the slowed-down world (In her mind, since she couldn't move that fast to speak as if nothing was happening, she didn't have that type of [Core]), "And what is Alexa's real form?!?!?!

  Currently database only has host as a Shapeshifter Core user with limited shapeshifting abilities, there is a notice about host weighing more than a normal five year old should. And some addendums that it is possible that host has increased density to compensate for the use of Core Powers.

  The database includes a possibility of the host not losing the extra mass once her Core Powers are neutralized.

  Neither host nor the ND0 System was neutralized to any degree.

  Also, host current form is her True Form, even if this deprecated attempt of Saintsworths Technology from 200 years ago was able to restrain host, the current form that host is wielding would not change.

  Host's true form is that of Alexa Saintsworths, twin sister of Alexanders Saintsworth.

  Had Alexanders increased her backstory again?

  "How can Alexa be..." Alexa said, confused; she had a rough understanding about what a twin brother or sister was, someone who shared the same [Blueprint] as someone else, [Humans] who had been reprinted without changing anything.

  There were some instances in which the [Blueprint] was corrupted, and different genders came out; it was possible.

  But even so, how could Alexa be a twin sister to Alexanders? He seemed closer in age to the naggy one, not to her. Or had he made such a change thinking about hanging out with the naggy one?

  "...I'll not [Hang out] with him," "You do look like him tho." "SO DO YOU! SO DOES ALEXA!"

  "That doesn't matter!" Alexa said at the back of her mind, "What matters is...can we use our Core Powers? Or what we are pretending our Core powers are."

  There are no limits to host or within the [Core], it is advised that host doesn't wield anything above the threshold they have. Current host status are as follow.

  StatusName:Alexa SaintsworthsHead:Human(Peak)Race:Bio-WeaponRight Arm:Human(Mod)Subrace:HumanLeft Arm:Human(Mod)Gender:FemaleTorso:Human(Peak)Age:5yearsRight Leg:Human(Mod)Weight:42kgsLeft Leg:Human(Mod)Height:1,02cmsSkeleton System:ReinforcedOverall Status:HealthyMuscur System:ReinforcedCurrent Form:Human (Peak)Nanite Foundry:Active Sub Nanite Foundry:ActiveBody StatusStrength42unitsHealth:30Dexterity:40unitsMana:30Constitution10unitsStamina:41Luck10unitsNanite Swarm:4Projected Status expected from an average child of host build. Average Child Strength18unitsHealth:30Dexterity:5unitsMana:30Constitution10unitsStamina:17Luck10units So the only thing that Alexa had simir to other [Child Stage - Humans] was her constitution?

  Alexa somehow doubted that, she was sure that she was more sturdy than them...

  "[Data is accurate compared to specuted data, if anything host is less durable compared to the average Child Stage Human.]"

  What? No. Alexa was durable! She had been squished in two! And exploded! And and...many things!

  "[Host has always been healed, regenerated or has built a new body during those occasions, the host is not durable. At all.]"

  Well...rude.

  "So...they know nothing about Alexa's [Core Power] and this is Alexa's true form?" Alexa asked once again to confirm, she turned her attention to Glory and An who remained frozen as her mind raced.

  To the Teacher person and the reflections behind reality waiting behind him.

  Correct.Then all was good, Main Core!

  "[Ending thought acceleration, resuming activities at normal speed.]"

  "These should be st generation, the Bckthorn took a few of these to test in some of our lower caste members," Glory said touching the choker, "Only reason Mother approved of their use in the school when the principal asked."

  "Yeah," An nodded too, "The Harmonia tested some of these in their hospitals too, they are going still using some of the Beta-test version and their effectivity is quite good. These should be pre-release if the make and decorations are to be believed."

  So they said, then why had [Core] said these were deprecated?

  "So they say, did you have access to more advanced versions of these?" The teacher person said smiling at Alexa, why was he smiling? "Well, if you have it with you we could probably arrange for a change...I can guess what the principal would say, but for now..."

  The teacher person said bringing out his phone and fiddling with it, "You'll have to settle with that one, you did not got a custom one assigned from the shipment of chokers after all." And showed his phone to them.

  There were a couple names highlighted but Alexa didn't manage to read them since the phone's screen focused on her, there was a small green dot besides her name.

  "This means yours is working as intended, and the choker is blocking your use of Core Powers," The teacher person said, touching his own choker, "See here? I am marked as a blue light, this means that I am a normal civilian with no detectable powers."

  The teacher person said pointing to Alexa, "Any other questions?" Alexa had many questions, such as how he was beled as a non [Core User].

  "[Notice, SuperVilin Designation: The Theater Master said 'Not detectable Powers', implied that his Core Powers can't be detected and as such the choker isn't 100% efficient.]"

  So was that why Core beled as [Deprecated Technolgy]? Since it was fwed?

  Either way, it had beled Alexa as [Core User] even if it didn't bel the correct one, also it was allowing her to keep it.

  "No, thank you for your help Teacher." An said doing a small bow to the teacher person.

  "Thank you for your dedication," Glory said while doing a small curtsy.

  The teacher person nodded at them and walked away, before Alexa noticed he was once more standing handing out chokers to normal students, it was almost as if no one had noticed him teleport all over the pce. Or was he merely...twisting everyone's perceptions?

  She wasn't sure what was that he did yet, it felt as if he was toying with some kind of primordial force, they had said that he wasn't a [Mind Core] user, so perhaps he maniputed other force?

  "See?" Glory suddenly said from her side, "Same Alexa and everything, or do you feel different?"

  "Doesn't look different from here," An added while poking Alexa's side.

  "Alexa..." Alexa answered while checking her systems and ensuring every part of her body returned green. Her self-diagnosis at least said that all her vitals were within normal parameters; if anything, it was weirder the fact that she wasn't feeling anything out of pce.

  As far as [Core] was concerned this choker had attempted to either suberse or modify Alexa's Core. And yet she didn't feel anything out of pce, neither by the fact that she was wearing a tight choker on her neck or from mana pulses being emitted by this thing.

  "Alexa feels normal," Alexa ended up answering after a dramatic pause, "And it doesn't seem like Alexa's body changed either. Core did say that this was Alexa's normal body, too..."

  "Well, gd that you solved your dysmorphia issues." An answered from the side, "Now... how much strength did you manage to keep?"

  What? Did he only see Alexa as a means to get things done?!?!?

  "An!" Glory came to the rescue, "Be gentle about it. Sorry about that Alexa, but we do need to know how much you can help us. The first game is all but guaranteed to be dodgeball after all."

  No one wanted Alexa for who she was ?!?!?!!?

  "[...Confirming current level of strength, still within optimal levels. Advised to follow previous advice and restraint strength and dexterity levels to more normal levels...Proceed with seal of stats?]"

  ...Main Core didn't comfort Alexa!

  "It's okay Alexa, we love you for who you are." "Even if that is the most narcissistic thing ever..." "Shut it Ale, we must comfort Alexa!"

  "According to Main Core, just barely above what I should have as a normal five-year-old girl." Alexa answered.

  "[Aknowledged, adjusting status:

  Strength: 42 > 21

  Dexterity: 40 > 10

  Constitution: 10 > 9

  Adjusting both health and stamina... done.

  Health: 28

  Stamina: 19]"

  Alexa felt her body suddenly turn heavy, and more awkward. She almost fell to the ground, but was able to compensate st second.

  "Everything all right?" Glory asked in a worried tone, "You looked like if you were going to fall."

  "Yeah," Alexa answered, getting her bearings in order, fixing the imbance on her body from losing the extra strength, squirreling away the extra biomass till her body was in bance.

  She wasn't getting her strength back anyway, or perhaps she could, to some degree, abuse the fact that her body was heavier...if she could even move that is.

  "Lossing my [Core Powers] hit harder than I thought," Alexa continued speaking as she flexed her arms and did a couple stretches to make sure everything was in order, she had reordered most of her body mass after all, "Also I think I lost a couple kilograms..."

  Well, she lost to be precise around twenty kilograms of mass...

  "I see...well, tell us if something is out of pce, we should be able to stretch something before the war test starts." Glory said turning to An, "Shall we go to register and confirm our test?"

  "Might as well," An answered turning to Alexa, "If you need help or something you can call any of our cssmates, even if you haven't spoken much with them, they will be your comrades during these tests."

  Alexa turned to look around, and sure enough, there were some students looking at her worriedly. Some of those looked down on her, of course, Alexa knew those looks. It was the same that had gone through Alexanders face for a second or two before they talked more in depth.

  The same look she hadn't wanted him to give her.

  But for some reason, the other students looking at her like that didn't cause trouble for her.

  "Don't mind them, they are still getting used to you." Glory said gring at some of those that looked down on Alexa, "If some of them cause problems for you, tell us and we will deal with it."

  Alexa wanted to see how they dealt with them, but for now she merely nodded.

  "Good, then we will return ter." And like that An left with Glory.

  Leaving Alexa truly alone, "We are still here," Alone to ponder with her thoughts "Like, we can't leave even if we want."

  What was supposed to do, Alexa?

  Well, may as well do another check up, so Alexa walked closer to a wall, she would use that as a metric to gauge herself. Usually, all it would take for her to sink her fingers there without using her nanites would be to focus her strength on her fingertips.

  Now? Now she could barely make a dent into the material, whatever it was, it seemed to be designed to be brittle when someone wanted to mine it, but when the same was done by the use of explosives or more dangerous means, then the material seemed to turn stronger.

  It was pretty interesting reaction, Alexa wanted to test if she could do the same, but for now. For now she turned her attention to the other people around, those that would participate with her in the test war.

  First her eyes went to those that wielded a badge like hers, the students of her css, most of these were stretching or moving around like her. None seemed intent on picking up a conversation with Alexa, a couple did walked closer to her though. Probably to help her as An and Glory had implied they would. But that didn't affect Alexa, since she was still going to get help, one way or another.

  With that out of the way, the next group she turend her attention was... Those that were coming here from speaking with someone in the office building. The one that Alexa had gone to and hadn't gotten anything important.

  Then why was this group coming her way?

  Alexa would need to think how to deal with them if An and Glory didn't return in time....