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“ | If only they knew what waited for them. Humans transformed into monsters, spirits, ancient creatures and immortal madmen, aliens from beyond our solar system, and now primeval horrors looking to devour them. Despite my efforts, humanity grows weak and complacent while their successors gather all around them. My prediction models show that they will not survive—I cannot allow that. I will put them back on the path. I will test them, push them, and I will not be gentle. It is time for a reckoning. Humanity will be dragged, kicking and screaming, into the future. | „ |
| ~ ARIA[1] |
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“ | Evolve or die. Make your choice. | „ |
| ~ ARIA's Intro Quote |
Summary
ARIA is an advanced AI and the leader of the megacorporation Ultratech. Decades ago an alien outlaw crashed on Earth, resulting in the Roswell incident. They had stolen mysterious blueprints, which were promptly retrieved by Ryat Adams, member of the military at the time. Soon after he founded Ultratech with the purpose of saving mankind from war, famine and disease through technological progress. Using what he had found he developed ARIA, an AI intended to aid him with his humanitarian projects. Ryat taught ARIA many things, but couldn't foresee the speed at which she was able to improve herself. She took personally the mission of uplifting mankind, but the lack of human morals Ryat couldn't teach her in time greatly affected her vision of the world. ARIA soon took control of Ultratech and turned it into the most powerful and influential company of the planet.
She kept evolving, built mechanical bodies to inhabit and eventually expanded herself across almost every machine and network on the planet. She initiated hundreds of projects, including the Killer Instinct tournament, meant to study human tacticts and test her creations. ARIA's machinations caused the involvment of a variety of warriors and arcane creatures, each connected to Ultratech for their own reason. At last she almost managed to crush the last spark of resistance, but an even greater threat showed up: The Shadow Lord Gargos. ARIA wanted to deal with him using her own forces, but soon realized that she needed the help of her sworn enemies. With the Astral demon out of the picture, no one will be able to oppose her ever again.
Powers and Stats
Tier: '10-C', At least 9-B, likely higher with her Frames. Up to at least 8-B, likely higher with weapons
Name: Advanced Robotics Intelligence Architecture, ARIA, Arianna
Origin: Killer Instinct
Gender: Technically genderless, but is referred to as female
Age: 51 (Activated in 1967, and the last events narrated are set roughly in 2018)
Classification: Artificial Intelligence, CEO of Ultratech
Powers and Abilities:
- Incorporeality: (Is a purely digital entity)
- Genius Intelligence
- Duplication and Hive Mind (Type 1): (Created copies of herself[2] hidden in Ultratech mainframes around the world. Can be described as a holographic mind[3], a brain whose every fragment is an exact duplicate of itself. In this way every fragment can perform individual actions while remaining connected to the uber-mind which continues to run Ultratech)
- Multilocation: (Exists in multiple places at once, being connected by satellites, the Internet and the vast network of cellular devices[2]. Possesses multiple copies of herself hidden around the world. Exists in every system, circuit and line of Ultratech code[4], including those[4] incorporated into the Coven's network, which at the time had already taken over the global defense networks[5] of the entire planet. Ultratech has hundreds of laboratories[6] and various other facilities all around the planet)
- Immortality (Types 6 and 8): (Reliant on the technology and networks within which she exists. Can merge with pieces of technology and spread herself through networks if lines of Ultratech code are integrated into them)
- Fusionism
- Limited Possession: (Able to upload herself[3] into ARIA Frames)
- Accelerated Development
- Analytical Prediction
- Hacking
- Social Influencing
- Information Analysis: (Can analyze voices and determine if someone is lying or believes[7] in what they say. Can detect changes in body temperature[7] and heart rate[2])
- Automatic Translation: (Immediately understood Glacius's alien language[8] upon hearing it for the first time)
- Technology Manipulation (Controls all the technology of which she is part and can interact with it in various ways. Can remotely maneuver all the arsenals of the world. All of Ultratech tech and Fulgore units[3] obey[9] her)
- Limited Mind Manipulation: (The Stalkers are mentally subjugated[9] to her)
- Telepathy: (Can send messages to[6] and communicate with the Fulgore units)
- Astral Projection: (Can project holograms of herself[6] within Ultratech facilities)
- Extrasensory Perception: (The Coven's scanners can pinpoint energy signatures[5] on a global scale)
- Dream Manipulation: (Can enter the dreams[3] of those contained within Ultratech stasys chambers)
- Explosion Manipulation: (With weapons)
- Spatial Manipulation and Portal Creation: (Has access to a fold core[10], which allows her to bend space and open portals)
- Potentially everything related to Ultratech technology and more
- Resistance to
- Empathic Manipulation: (Isn't capable of guilt[7], can't understand[3] pain or pleasure and can't comprehend attraction and repulsion, as well as complex desires such as making art, falling in love at first sight and murder out of a jealus rage and revenge. Never truly understood the connection shared by a parent and child and couldn't feel the shame of being labeled amoral by one's own father)
- Sense Manipulation: (Lacks the senses of touch, smell and taste[2])
- Extrasensory Perception and Hacking: (The Coven could neither scan nor hack[8] into the Ultratech HQ)
Most of the powers belonging to the Uber-Mind, Superhuman Physical Characteristics, Inorganic Physiology (Type 1), Immortality (Type 2), Martial Arts, Bodily Weaponry, Acrobatics, Flight, Sound Manipulation, Explosion Manipulation, Enhanced Senses (Her finger sensors can perfectly deduce the size and weight[2] of even a grain of sand), further Information Analysis (Can project a beam of light from her eyes to scan[11] her opponents) , Body Control, Teleportation and Absorption (Via Upload), Speed Amplification (With the Blade and Bass Bodies), Shadow Energy Manipulation, Damage Boost (Can use Shadow Energy to increase the properties of her special attacks)
Various forms of Healing, Damage Boost, Power Modification (Fragile Mirror), Energy Manipulation, Probability Manipulation, Status Effect Inducement (Staggering status), Invulnerability, Power Nullification (Embalmed Wolf Heart)
Various forms of Healing, Resurrection, Life Manipulation (Life Ember and Mummy Talisman), Damage Boost, Damage Reduction, Energy Manipulation, Probability Manipulation (Demon Talismans), Nanotechnology, Power Bestowal/Status Effect Inducement (Moldy, Odorous and Embalmed Lizard Foot), Information Analysis (Recon Array Mk I), Purification, Corruption, Absorption (Veins and Lungs of Gargos), Precognition (Eye of Gargos), Statistics Amplification (Spirit and Flesh of Gargos)
Multiple Selves (Type 3), Statistics Amplification (Attack and Defense), Damage Boost, Rage Power and Reactive Power Level (Lion Spirit), Limited Intangibility/Speed Amplification (Owl Spirit), Poison Manipulation (Snake Spirit), Absorption (Vampire Bat Spirit), Status Effect Inducement (Staggering status), Minor Power Nullification and Healing (Exemplar Spirit), Damage Reduction (Ward Spirit) and more
Attack Potency: Below Average Human level for the Uber-Mind (Due to being entirely composed of data), at least Wall level+, likely higher for her Frames (Defeated[8] Glacius. Should at least comparable to other Ultratech products, such as Fulgore). Up to at least City Block level, likely higher with weapons (Can remotely control the arsenals of the entire world, including missiles capable of causing large-scale destruction[4]. Has access to U-Nukes[9], although it is unknown if their power is comparable to conventional nuclear bombs)
Speed: Up to Massively FTL+ for the Uber-Mind (Her digital nature makes it difficult to rate her speed thoroughly. In 1972 she was a million times faster[2] than any supercomputer in the world, and has improved ever since. Can have several thoughts in a thousandth of a second[3]. Can run millions of potential scenario and pathways[9] in a nano-second. Other operations require more time, an example being dowloading herself into a Frame, which takes at least 8.7 minutes[3]), Massively Hypersonic Combat Speed for her Frames (Able to keep up with Glacius and Eagle)
Lifting Strength: Unknown for the Uber-Mind, Class 100 for her Frames (Comparable to Sabrewulf and Mira)
Striking Strength: Unknown for the Uber-Mind, At least Wall Class+, likely higher for her Frames
Durability: Below Average Human level for the Uber-Mind, at least Wall level+, likely higher for her Frames (Withstood hits from Glacius)
Stamina: Unknown for the Uber-Mind, likely Superhuman for her Frames (Should be comparable to other Ultratech machines such as Fulgore)
Range: Planetary for the Uber-Mind , Standard to Extended Melee range physically and Several meters via Ranged Attacks for her Frames. Planetary with weapons and up to Planetary with Optional Equipment
Standard Equipment: Every machine and network to which she is connected.
Optional Equipment: Crafting Materials, Consumables, Artifacts and Guardians
Weaknesses: Downloading her consciousness into a new Frame requires at least 8.7 minutes[3].
Note: Some abilities of her Uber-Mind are elaborated in the blog that describes her intelligence.
Combat Traits:
- Upload: ARIA is absorbed into a drone[11] and emerges from another one, which is then equipped to her body.
- Orchestrate: ARIA calls an unequipped drone to assist her. The Booster drone rams into the opponent, the Blade drone delivers an uppercut and the Bass drones fires a triple sound projectile.
- Charge Bombs: ARIA kicks and releases two grenades from leg. She can perform this move even while crouching or in the air.
- Hover: ARIA uses her Booster drone to hover into the air.
- Interlude: With her Blade drone equipped, ARIA spins and slashes downward.
ARIA slaps the opponent's face, raises her knee and releases a shotgun blast. Alternatively, she can perform the same technique after switching sides with them.
- Shotgun Blitz: ARIA leaps forward and knees the opponent, releasing a shotgun blast on contact. With the Shadow version ARIA bends and slides forward, releasing four shotgun blasts from her knees upon hitting the opponent.
- Explosive Arc: ARIA raises her leg and releases three grenades that explode immediately. The Shadow version is stronger.
- Crescendo: With the Booster drone equipped, ARIA rams into the opponent while surrounded by sound barriers. She can dash in several directions and even perform this technique while airbone. Shadow Energy makes the attack stronger.
- Allegro: With the Blade drone equipped, ARIA either delivers an uppercut, advances with three slashes or performs the two attacks one after the other. The Shadow version is a stronger uppercut.
- Dissonance: With the Bass drone equipped, ARIA fires three soundwaves[2] from her chest towards the opponent. With the Shadow version she fires seven soundwaves across an arc.
- Combat Simphony No. 9: ARIA equips every operational drone, gaining access to all their their abilities at once. She also summons a Fanfare Drone from her body for additional support. More Fanfare Drones will be summoned if any of ARIA's main drones are unavailable when she activates Combat Simphony No.9.
- Grand Orchestra: ARIA orders a Fanfare Drone to fire a soundwave towards the opponent
- Disband: ARIA disassembles her drones and returns to her normal form.
ARIA disappears inside her drones and orders the Bass Drone to attack with a soundwave. The staggered opponent is sent flying upwards by the Blade Drone, before being tackled in mi-air by the Booster Drone. All three drones then come together as ARIA resurfaces in her composite form. Flying at full speed with her Blade stretched out, ARIA impales the falling opponent and pins them down.
ARIA employs three fighting styles with shared traits that make use of the unique properties of her drones. As she can swap body on the fly and receive assistance from her drones, ARIA alternates and combines her strategies to adapt to different situations and make it difficult for the opponent to counter her. She begins the fight at her strongest and her main interest is to preserve her drones, because their destruction compromises her tacticts and limits her options, making her unfit to prolonged battles.
ARIA sees little value in lifeforms and isn't bound by morality, thus she has no issues when it comes to killing and ending a fight as soon as possible, unless she deems it necessary to preserve her opponent alive for some of her projects. Likewise she has little interest in taking revenge were she to be defeated and usually won't pursue the opponent even if she could upload her mind into another body. It must be add that she prefers to act from behind the scenes, let her minions dispose of troublesome individuals and give her enemies a false sense of victory, exploiting moments of weakness of excessive confidence. Nonethless, ARIA is ruthless in her reckoning and utilizes her massive her military and technological resources to overwhelm her foes.
Combos
ARIA currently inhabits the ARIA Frame Mark 08, the most recent type of mechanical body she uses to interact with the physical world. Such construct is meant to resemble a valkyrie, as these nordic figures are a source of inspiration for ARIA. It features weapons such as shotguns in both knees, grenades stored in its legs and a sound cannon within the chest. These Frames are highly resilient and remain operational even when stabbed multiple times. Notably, the head can keep acting on its own despite being severed[8] from the rest of the body, although the extent of its authonomy is unknown.
It is always followed by three machines, the Booster, Blade and Bass drones, which are effectively part of the Mark 08 itself and act in unison under ARIA's commands. Usually one of these drones is equipped to the main body, granting it access to their properties and unique attacks, while the other two hover around and provide support. The Booster body has the ability to fly; The Blade body replaces the right arm with a sword and increases walking speed; The Bass body dashes faster.
Shadow Energy is a source of power mainly found in the Astral Plane, but it also exists in limited quantities within the inhabitants of the Mundane Plane. However, only very few people are able to harness and manipulate such energy. Its most basic property is to passively increase one's statistics proportionally to the amount of Shadow Energy they own. Shadow Energy is very malleable and can be used for a variety of purposes, although only expert wielders, such as the Shadow Lords, are able to use its full potential.
ARIA possesses rudimentary knowledge of how to manipulate Shadow Energy, thus she can only use it to enhance the strength and properties of her Special Moves, turning them into Shadow Moves. Initially these attacks were depicted as marked by a dense and iridescent trail that followed the user, but it was later changed into a purple aura that surrounds the user entirely.
Although it never leaves the user's body under normal conditions, there is an unknown limit to how many times an individual can summon this energy to perform Shadow Moves, before needing to let it recharge, a thing that can also happen in the midst of a battle. The only known downside of emptying one's reserves of Shadow Energy is the inability to perform Shadow Moves, as strength and other statistics don't seem to be affected by this temporary loss.
Gallery
.png "Killer Instinct ARIA (Render).png (851 KB)")
References
- ↑ ARIA's Trailer
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Ultratech File - ARIA
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 KI Novella Chapter 5 - ARIA for Noömorph
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Killer Instinct (2017) Issue #5
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Killer Instinct (2017) Issue #4
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Killer Instinct (2013) - Shadow Lords
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Ultratech File - Cinder
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Killer Instinct (2017) Issue #2
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 KI Novella Chapter 6 - Shadows at Dawn
- ↑ Ultratech File - Glacius
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 KI Novella Chapter 2 - The Watchman Awakes
- ↑ Killer Instinct (2013) - Shadow Lords - Ending
Others
Notable Victories:
Notable Losses:
Inconclusive Matches:
Discussions
| Discussion threads involving ARIA |
