《Fortune's Favor》 Prologue Prologue Tyler''s consciousness clawed its way through the hangover fog, his temples throbbing in sync with the cheap ceiling fan spinning lazily above his bed. Last night''s escapade at Sapphire''s¡ªthe third this week¡ªhad left his wallet as barren as his refrigerator and his mouth tasting like someone had died in it. "Fuck me," he groaned, squinting at his phone. The 7% battery warning mocked him as he registered the time¡ª18 minutes until his train departed. No time for a shower. No time to change out of clothes that reeked of stale cigarettes, overpriced bourbon, and exotic dancer perfume. At least I don''t smell like regret, he thought, grimacing as he gathered his work bag. His work phone showed a merciful 40% charge. Small victories. He looked over his bed to his desk admiring his pride and joy, his gaming rig which had weathered all the damage Tyler had handed it. Dirt and grime and stains, but the 4090 he got on the low from his boss the vice president Philip, remained pristine. Tyler stumbled toward the door, patting his pockets in a futile search for cash. Nothing. The familiar panic of broke-until-payday squeezed his chest until his fingers found something in his change pocket¡ªa crumpled twenty-dollar bill nearly escaped to the platform, almost snatched away by a sudden gust as the train approached. "You drunken bastard," he muttered to himself, relief washing over him as he clutched the bill, "at least drunk-you had the sense to hide this." The Long Island Railroad''s familiar screech announced its arrival. Tyler collapsed into a seat, consciousness fading before they cleared the first stop. Sweet oblivion lasted until his work phone''s jarring ringtone cut through his dreams. "Tyler," the dispatcher''s voice crackled through the speaker, "some rich asshole at the Wellington Tower dropped his so called family heirloom ring down an elevator shaft. Since you picked up, you''re the lucky winner. He''s demanding immediate service." Tyler rubbed his bloodshot eyes. "Bro, fuck. I just woke up and it''s not even 8 yet. I''m getting coffee first." "Whatever, man. Just get there as soon as you can." After arriving in the city, Tyler made his way to one of the buildings on his maintenance route. The doorman¡ªa good guy with an unnerving stare and too many stories about his hometown¡ªgreeted him with a knowing smile. "Working the weekend again, huh?" "You know me," Tyler shrugged. "Money beckons. Gonna grab some coffee first though. It''s been a long night." "Yeah, I bet. You smell like cigarettes and sex had a baby." The doorman chuckled. "Unfortunately, our coffee machine broke this morning." "Of course it did. That''s just my fucking luck." Tyler sighed. "Let me splash some water on my face at least." In the bathroom, Tyler¡¯s hangover staged a coup¡ªhis stomach launched a full-on exorcism, leaving him hunched over the toilet like a gargoyle, hollowed out but weirdly proud of the acoustics. After washing his face with cold water, he stared at his reflection, barely recognizing the man looking back. As he headed out, the doorman called after him. "Before you go¡ªT7 shutdown again. I called it in. If you want to take a look now, that would save everyone some trouble." "Got this uptight call from Wellington first," Tyler replied, checking his work phone. "Rich prick lost his ring. Gotta handle that before¡ª" "Ok." Dom''s smile faded as if Tyler was lying about something. "I''ll be back, bro. Chill. I got you." Tyler rolled his eyes. "Giving me that look like I stole your cookies." Tyler made his way toward Wellington, but still felt like absolute shit. Instead of heading straight up to the building, he diverted to a nearby deli for a desperately needed coffee. The rich aroma hit him before he even opened the door, promising salvation in a paper cup. "Medium black, and let me get a scratch-off too. The Set for Life," Tyler said, handing over his crumpled twenty. His next check wouldn''t arrive for another four days, but he knew he could always borrow money from Sandy or one of his co-workers if things got desperate. Somehow, despite his perpetual bad luck, things always worked out for him in the end¡ªlike the universe throwing him a bone after kicking him repeatedly. "You might as well buy a Mega Millions ticket," the clerk suggested, voice flat with boredom. "It''s at 2.4 billion." Tyler snorted. What were the chances¡ªone in a trillion? But 2.4 billion was too much temptation to pass up, even for a cynic like him. "Fuck it, I''ll skip lunch again," he muttered, handing over his last four dollars for the lottery tickets. He downed half his coffee in three scalding gulps, then scratched off his ticket. Loser, of course. But then, giving it a second glance¡ªholy shit¡ªfifty bucks. Enough for lunch and another coffee at least. Instead of heading straight for Wellington, Tyler returned to the counter for a refill. The clerk¡ªan Indian man with deeply etched lines around his eyes¡ªmumbled something in his native language before handing Tyler his coffee and change. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. "Okay, bud. Thanks," Tyler said, unsure if he''d just been blessed or cursed. Coffee working its magic, Tyler felt his natural cockiness returning with each step toward Wellington Tower. He wasn''t conventionally attractive, but for some reason, he never had trouble getting numbers from strippers. Sandy, a dancer he''d met at Caf¨¦ Royale, was way out of his league, but that hadn''t stopped her from giving him her real number. Tyler worked out religiously¡ªhis body was the one thing he never neglected, muscles defined under his wrinkled shirt. Though both his parents were African American, Tyler had come out lighter-skinned than either of them, something his mother never let him forget. His musings were interrupted by a doorman dressed like a butler from the 1940s, who looked him up and down with barely concealed disdain. "How you doing, sir? I''m sorry, mechanics enter through the service entrance." "Nah, not me, dog. I''m your elevator mechanic here for emergency servicing. Lost ring," Tyler said, sarcasm dripping from every word. Before the doorman could argue, another well-dressed man cut him off. "Come in, come in," the man said impatiently. "We''ve been expecting you sooner." "Yeah, I''m sorry but we start at 8 and I needed a pick-me-up. I''m here now though¡ªwhat''s the emergency, boss?" Tyler replied. The man looked Tyler over with thinly veiled contempt, as if thinking: who does this idiot think he is? Tyler knew he''d overdone it, so he adjusted his tone. "Sorry, had a long night," he said more professionally. "But I''m ready to work. Lead the way." The building manager¡ªTyler could tell by his tailored suit and the authoritative aura that screamed ''I deserve respect''¡ªled him toward the elevator. An older man, maybe in his late 60s but looking half-dead, was standing in front of it. His skin had the waxy, yellowish pallor of someone acquainted with serious illness. "Let me talk to the mechanic alone, please," the older man said to the manager. "It''s important he understands how valuable this item is to me. It''s a private matter." His sentence ended with a coughing fit that sounded like a lung was about to eject from his body. "Damn, dude. You good?" Tyler couldn''t help asking. His bluntness often got him in trouble, but it also frequently worked in his favor, opening people up when politeness would have maintained barriers. "No, I''m not," the old man replied flatly. He shot the manager a look that clearly said: leave us. Once the manager had retreated, the old man''s demeanor changed. "Thank you for coming so quickly. I know your job keeps you busy with more important calls, but it''s critical I recover that ring. I''m willing to pay you thousands for its retrieval." Tyler''s interest immediately sharpened. He wasn''t one who felt bound by corporate ethics¡ªif someone was willing to pay that kind of money for a stupid ring, he was absolutely going to take it. "I dropped it on the 4th floor where the laundry room is. On this elevator," the old man continued, leaning heavily on his cane. Tyler was still calculating how a few thousand dollars would change his immediate future. He wasn''t broke by any means¡ªhe made $54 an hour and enjoyed his work enough to put in an extra 15-20 hours of overtime each week. On some weeks, he''d work with Philip doing side gigs, which would bring him another thousand in just a few hours. He was easily pulling in two, sometimes four grand a week after taxes. That financial cushion was partly why he carried himself with such overconfidence. That, and the fact that he was genuinely good at his job, and he knew it. Most guys needed a partner for pit work; Tyler could handle any elevator solo. "So how does that sound?" The old man''s raspy voice jerked Tyler out of his thoughts. "Yeah, sounds excellent," Tyler replied, refocusing. "I''m going to check the pit first. What does the ring look like, you know, besides being round? What color is it?" "It''s green." Green like money, Tyler thought, as the man continued speaking. "And it''s quite thick¡ªthe band itself is actually about half an inch in width, more like a bracelet." "Okay, let me go find it." "Before you go," the man grabbed Tyler''s wrist with surprising strength, his yellowed eyes suddenly intense, "I need you to not put the ring on. It''s vital that you only retrieve it." "Sure," Tyler gave him a halfway nod, mentally filing the request under "weird rich people shit." Tyler made his way down to the basement to access the pit. He was happy to see that there was a pit door for this elevator¡ªsome of the older buildings made you go through contortions to access the mechanisms beneath. Being the impatient asshole he was, Tyler opened the pit door when he heard the car stop above, then hit the stop switch. He heard people complain as they were now stuck in the elevator¡ªnot his problem. He closed the pit door and put the car back in service while he turned on the overhead light and his flashlight, sweeping the beam across the grimy floor of the elevator pit. "Oh shit, nice," Tyler muttered when he spotted a power outlet tucked against the wall. He pulled out his phone charger and plugged in, watching with satisfaction as the battery icon began to fill. Three messages from Sandy waited for him, and one from his mom. "I''ll check it later," he told himself, refocusing on the task at hand. Tyler went back to searching, sweeping his flashlight methodically across the concrete floor. He noticed the ring almost immediately, but it was in the adjacent elevator shaft¡ªthe one that came all the way down to the basement. He''d need to be careful retrieving it. Just as the old man had described, that shit was green and looked more like those rings Egyptians wore in those history channel documentaries Tyler sometimes watched when hungover¡ªwide as fuck, almost like a bracelet for your finger. He moved toward it, waiting for the elevator cab to come to a full stop four floors up before slamming the stop switch with a grin. "Why the fuck does life always allow me to get away with shit?" he chuckled to himself. This wasn''t the first time Tyler had gotten a strange request and side money. Once, some hedge fund guy asked him to fix a door handle¡ªtook Tyler less than five minutes, and the rich fucker gave him three hundred dollars "for his trouble." Tyler had asked if he had anything else that needed fixing, only half joking. The ring was positioned in the front of the shaftway, right where the doors would open. The car was four stories above, doors closed, and Tyler noted with satisfaction as he looked up that there were no complaints echoing down the shaft¡ªnobody inside to bother him. He reached down, picking up the ring. The fucker was gorgeous¡ªit had a strange reflection, and the surface was smooth as silk. The metal looked like nothing Tyler had ever seen before, a brilliant green unlike any alloy he knew. At the center, a crystal or gem¡ªwhatever you call it¡ªglowed like a yellow diamond. "Yeah, this shit''s gotta be worth millions," Tyler thought, turning it over in his fingers. When would he ever have another chance to wear something this fucking fine? Despite the old man''s warning, the temptation was too strong. He placed it on his middle finger in a "fuck you" kind of way, admiring how it caught the dim light of the pit. In that moment, the elevator control circuit bypassed his safety stop and the massive car plummeted down the shaft, smashing into Tyler''s head with devastating force. Chapter 1 Chapter 1 His consciousness slammed back into his body like a wrecking ball. His head pounded with a second heartbeat, each pulse sending fresh waves of agony through his skull. Every inch of him ached as if he''d been thrown from a skyscraper and somehow survived the impact. The cold hit him next¡ªa bone-deep chill that set his teeth chattering. He was completely fucking naked, birthday suit on full display with nothing but a strange green ring that adorned his middle finger. Instinctively, he curled inward, trying to preserve whatever body heat remained. "What the fuck?" he whispered, his voice sounding foreign even to himself. His surroundings made no sense. The darkness wasn''t normal darkness¡ªit was a wrongness that seemed to swallow light rather than merely lack it. The only illumination came from purple flames dancing on wall-mounted torches, but even that light behaved strangely. Instead of dispersing throughout the room, it created small pockets of visibility that barely penetrated the unnatural blackness. The bench beneath him was made of some material that looked like solidified shadow. The walls¡ªwhat little he could see of them¡ªwere black with hints of purple reflections from the otherworldly flames. As he tried to orient himself, a thought bubbled up from some unfamiliar part of his mind: Who the fuck am I? What the fuck is this place? The moment that thought crystallized, a door he hadn''t noticed¡ªcouldn''t have noticed in this bizarre lighting¡ªswung open. A blast of air so cold it felt like liquid nitrogen washed over his naked body. He curled tighter, balls practically retreating into his abdomen for warmth. A robed figure emerged from the darkness beyond the doorway. Its movements were too fluid, too predatory to be human. "Good, you''re awake." The voice rumbled like distant thunder, more animal than human, reverberating in his chest. He squinted, trying to make sense of what stood before him. The creature wasn''t fully visible beneath its robe, but what he could see wasn''t remotely human. Its face resembled a bat''s, but with disturbing humanoid features. Long, gray fingers ended in curved talons. Its skin was dark granite gray, almost blue in the strange light. The only thing that properly reflected the purple flames were its eyes¡ªpale white orbs that seemed to glow from within. "You are uglier than I expected, Henry," the creature said. Henry. Okay, that''s my name, I guess, he thought, latching onto this single piece of identity, but something about it just didn''t fit right. "What is this place? Where the fuck am I?" Henry demanded, his fear transforming into defensive anger. "And I''m ugly? Have you looked in a mirror lately, you circus freak? You look like a bat that escaped captivity." The creature''s face contorted into what might have been a scowl, though it was hard to read expressions on its inhuman features. "Henry," it said with forced patience, "this place can disorient newcomers. It takes time for your new body to regain its memory here. As you may or may not remember, the ring needs time to reallocate all of your soul history in this new form." Its voice dropped dangerously low. "Don''t ever disrespect me again." "I''m not trying to sound like a kid, but you started it, Batman," Henry shot back, the nickname coming to him instinctively despite his confusion. The creature inhaled deeply, its chest expanding beneath the robe. "Henry, we don''t have much time. Your transition had some flaws, and it took time for your body to form properly. Your memories will start to emerge as time passes." "Okay, buddy, I''m freezing my ass off while you''re just standing there staring at my naked form. Can you get some clothes for me?" Henry wrapped his arms tighter around himself, his skin prickling with goosebumps. "All in due time, Henry." This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. "My man, I realize my name is Henry¡ªyou can chill with saying it after every sentence. What''s your name?" He tried to sound casual despite the surreal circumstances. The bat-like being performed an elaborate bow, its movements unnaturally fluid. "My name is Wormpool, and I will be your attendant... for now." "Do you mind if I call you Batman?" Henry ventured, finding strange comfort in sarcasm. "I mean, it fits better." Wormpool shot him a look of pure venom, but then simply waved a clawed hand in dismissal. A ring on his finger red stone began to glow with an inner light. From seemingly nowhere, a pile of piss-yellow cloth materialized in midair, hovering for a moment before dropping to the floor. "This will accommodate you for now, brute," Wormpool said, his voice dripping with disdain. Henry laughed, grateful for the normalcy of their mutual dislike. "That''s the spirit, my man." He reached for the clothing, then paused. "Are you going to watch me dress too? Want me to bend over next? Or was the cavity search already performed while I was out?" Wormpool''s pale eyes narrowed but he remained silent, clearly struggling to maintain his composure. Releasing his hands from covering his privates, Henry grabbed the cloth. It felt strange¡ªlike cotton candy spun from some unnatural fiber. "Yeah, this shit is going to be itchy as fuck," he muttered, awkwardly pulling it around himself. As he dressed, a memory flickered through his mind: a lottery ticket, 2.4 billion, an Indian clerk in a deli muttering something he couldn''t understand. The fragment vanished as quickly as it had appeared, leaving him more confused than before. "Good," Wormpool said when Henry had finished dressing. "Now we have much to do and not much time, as I said." The creature produced a small vial containing a viscous liquid that glowed an unsettling mixture of green and yellow, like radioactive bile. "Drink this. It will make you feel better, but it will be... a shock at first." Henry eyed the vial suspiciously. "Are you sure, my man? That shit looks like poison. Needs a skull and crossbones label on it." "DO IT NOW, YOU PETULANT HUMAN!" Wormpool suddenly bellowed, his voice transforming into something monstrous that shook the very walls. Henry flinched. "Dude, chill. Give me that shit." He snatched the vial from Wormpool''s clawed hand, his heart racing. Whatever was happening, it was clear that this bat-creature was not someone¡ªor something¡ªto push too far. He uncorked the vial, the strange liquid emitting a faint vapor that smelled like ozone and rotten eggs. Whatever new hell this was, he was already in too deep to back out now The liquid seared down Henry''s throat like napalm, worse than any whiskey he''d ever shotgunned. His body convulsed violently as he collapsed to the floor, muscles contracting and expanding in painful spasms. "FUCK!" The word barely escaped his lips as his entire being seemed to implode from within. His mind vibrated like a struck tuning fork, reality distorting around him. For a terrifying moment, he felt himself teetering on the edge of nothingness, as if his consciousness might simply dissolve into the darkness. Then came the light¡ªblinding, searing, burning through his eyes from inside his own skull. It wasn''t external; the radiance emerged from within him, scorching his vision with impossible brightness. Words materialized directly in his field of view, glowing text that seemed burned into his consciousness: [Welcome to the Cosmore] [Vacuus The Lord of the Void has granted you a new life] [Congratulations. You have reached Level Four] [Location: Bakarus Vine] [Age of Location: 7,247,407] Additional text appeared, revealing what appeared to be some kind of character sheet: [Subject: Tyler Jackson] [Age: 28] [Race: Human (Basic 1) (High-Conscious)] His mind reeled as it processed more information: [Affinity Rating: 14.7] [Energy: 35/35 Un-Attuned] And then his statistics: [Will: 7] [Strength: 5] [Intelligence: 5] [Vitality: 1] [Agility: 3] [Dexterity: 6] [Resilience: 2] [Unbound: 24] The text continued, listing sections for abilities, skills, and spells¡ªall currently empty. As the glowing text faded, Henry¡ªno, Tyler¡ªremained on the cold floor, gasping for breath. The pain subsided gradually, replaced by a strange tingling sensation throughout his body. "Tyler," he whispered to himself, the name suddenly feeling right. "My name is Tyler Jackson." He looked up at Wormpool, newfound recognition dawning in his eyes. "What the actual fuck was that? And why do I suddenly know things I didn''t know before?" Chapter 2 As Tyler reviewed his stats, fragments of memories surfaced like debris after a shipwreck. His gaming rig¡ª"my pride and joy," he thought with a pang of nostalgia. When he wasn''t working his ass off or partying until his liver begged for mercy, Tyler lived for gaming. He was a first-person shooter fiend with reflexes that made other players rage-quit. In his earlier years, he''d sink endless hours into gameplay with a blunt smoldering between his fingers or a bowl waiting on his desk. Him and his boys dominated servers, talking endless shit over their mics. Those sessions had shaped him, building the cocky confidence that became his armor in the real world. "Sir, are you alright?" Wormpool''s voice cut through Tyler''s reminiscing, startling him back to this bizarre reality. The creature''s voice had changed¡ªclearer now, less bestial growl and more like a native English speaker. "Damn it, Batman," Tyler muttered, shaking his head. "What the fuck is this place? Some kind of game?" Before Wormpool could respond, another notification blazed across Tyler''s consciousness: [Vacuus Language Acquired] "Wait," Tyler said, blinking rapidly as his brain processed this new information. "So am I speaking English right now or some other shit?" "You are currently speaking English. I can understand you, and now you can understand me in the language of this Realm." Wormpool''s tone carried the weariness of someone who''d had this conversation too many times before. A bottle materialized in the creature''s gnarled hand. The container¡ªor perhaps the liquid inside¡ªshifted colors hypnotically: purple to black to yellow to green, then back to purple. The substance appeared to be composed of tiny hexagons or crystals, simultaneously unnerving and mesmerizing. "This place is wicked, bro," Tyler whispered, unable to tear his eyes from the bottle. "This item will help you form a Core of your desire," Wormpool explained. "It will only allow you to form a Core that is aligned with the affinities you currently possess. I will leave you for this process. Vlad will arrive shortly¡ªhe is skilled at helping Newcomers with this procedure." The bat-creature''s perpetual scowl never softened. "I will return later with your Ability Gem, and skill selections." With that, Wormpool departed with practiced ease, leaving Tyler alone with his thoughts. Tyler stood frozen, trying desperately to remember how he''d ended up in this nightmare. Was it real? Some elaborate dream? Or a fucked-up prank? Then it hit him like a stripper''s ass bouncing too hard against his face¡ªsomething he would normally welcome. He chuckled despite himself. "I now know I''m an idiot," he muttered. Another memory slammed into him¡ªthe elevator. His gaze dropped to the ring on his finger. "My precious," he thought with grim irony. The old man, had probably coughed up his final meal after they found Tyler''s crushed corpse. His parents. His brother. Sandy¡ªoh sweet Sandy. What a sexy thing. Goddamn, why couldn''t he focus? Tyler closed his eyes and looked inward. His stats appeared like some twisted welcome screen. This shit was beyond crazy¡ªhe actually had stats. And energy. And soon, abilities. It was wild, a gamer''s wet dream turned reality, but in nightmare form. So that old man must be Henry. Based on this fucked-up place, Tyler guessed the geezer had sold his soul or something similar. He''d had that creepy Grim Reaper vibe about him. And he''d offered Tyler thousands. "Should''ve told that old fart to keep his money," Tyler muttered. "Why the fuck did I put the ring on?" His mind raced with a constant stream of consciousness. Where was this Vlad character, and why was his name so normal? Tyler had met a Vlad once¡ªdude was pretty chill. A gust of warmth washed over Tyler, carrying with it a presence of power. It wasn''t physical wealth he sensed, but something deeper¡ªan aura of influence that seemed to bend reality itself. A man walked in, finally halting Tyler''s nervous musings. The man looked like the Count of Monte Cristo, or more accurately, the Count''s evil cousin¡ªall suave sophistication in a rich purple cape. He wore an impeccable suit beneath it, and at his hip hung an ornate sword. Three tiny green orbs circled his waist like satellites in orbit. His skin was unnaturally pale, as if white had an even whiter brother. Light gray eyes gleamed, a sharp jaw beneath slicked-back hair, and he stood at least 6''6", towering over Tyler while looking distinctly, impossibly human. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. "I''m not gay, my man, but you got a girl? We can hit the club, you know. I can be a great wingman," Tyler blurted out, not knowing where these ridiculous thoughts came from but letting the words tumble out anyway. Even though Tyler was good at putting on this front he mind was turning with nerves. The man laughed¡ªnot just chuckled, but genuinely howled with amusement, his shoulders shaking as the sound echoed off the shadowy walls. "Damn, dude, it wasn''t that funny," Tyler said, shifting uncomfortably. "Yes, yes it was," the stranger replied, his laughter subsiding. "But you''re not Henry, are you?" The man looked at Tyler¡ªor more accurately, looked into Tyler. Tyler felt like chopped liver, or a woman at the beach, or anywhere for that matter, being sized up by hungry eyes. Then he felt it¡ªsomething digging into his skin, or maybe the back of his head, or perhaps even deeper. An invisible probe sifting through his thoughts, his memories. His soul? "Ah, I see. Not Henry, but very interesting. This year''s league is going to be entertaining indeed." The man''s smile widened, revealing teeth too perfect to be natural. Tyler looked at him, puzzled. "What the fuck was that? I feel violated. At least take me out to dinner first." He hated the clich¨¦, but it just felt right in the moment. The man chuckled again, more softly this time. "Hello Tyler. My name is Vlad, and I will be assisting you today on your Core." His voice carried a barely perceptible accent that Tyler couldn''t quite place. "I''m going to first ask you a few important questions. Growing up, what did you do? What did you enjoy?" He leaned forward slightly. "And don''t worry¡ªnothing you say to me will leave this room. This is a pact oath I cannot break." Tyler looked at Vlad with undisguised skepticism. "Bro, I don''t care if you tell your daddy." He shrugged. "Okay, so what do I like? I like women, of course. Like I said, not gay. But 2024, nothing wrong with that, just not me, you know." A spark flashed in Tyler''s mind like a lightbulb suddenly illuminating. "Now that you know I''m not Henry, what will be the repercussions? Does Henry need to be here? Was Henry the old man, and did he sell his soul?" "Those are some excellent questions, Tyler," Vlad replied, his perfect smile never wavering. "But we only have time for a few, as I am very busy and you are already late." He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "In fact, he did, Tyler. He sold his soul to Vacuus. But it''s more than that. Henry was a very ambitious man with high intelligence. He would have made a great candidate for the League, but you, Tyler..." His eyes gleamed with predatory interest. "This will be an excellent twist. I feel something in you that I''ve only felt in one place. One place that is far from here, and is very powerful indeed." Vlad straightened his immaculate suit. "Now, back to my questions. What did you enjoy doing growing up?" "Well, besides, you know," Tyler made the coke-bottle gestured, "I was big into gaming. Do you understand the concept I''m referring to when I say gaming? I''m not talking puzzles or whatever the fuck you guys do here." "Yes, I''ve peeked into your memories. I think I have an understanding of your concept of games." Tyler''s eyes narrowed with sudden insight. "So you would understand when I say this is a game-like world, would you not?" He felt a flicker of pride¡ªhe knew he could be smart when he wanted to be. "No, not exactly," Vlad countered. "This world is The Cosmore. What is life in this universe may differ from what is life in your universe, but that doesn''t change the fact that it is real." His voice took on a distant quality. "I''ve been to places, Tyler¡ªplaces that wouldn''t be understood by normal consciousness, places that fold dimensions, that exist beyond time and space. Would you say those places are games? What is real and what is fantasy all depends on the observer." Tyler considered this, genuinely curious about the prospects. After a moment, he frowned. "Okay, that''s awesome and all, but if you already peeked into my mind, what''s the point of asking these questions?" "Well, Tyler," Vlad explained with practiced patience, "I need you to feel what you manifest, what you are connected to in your soul, to determine how to guide you to develop the proper core for you." "Okay, so yeah¡ªgames, music, all typical shit." "Would you say you enjoy work?" Vlad''s gaze intensified. "You really looked deep, huh?" Tyler snorted. "Yeah, I enjoy work. I enjoy fixing things." Memories flooded Tyler''s mind: rescuing the cute Indian chick who scowled and asked what took so long, her boyfriend giving him the apologetic ''sorry, bro'' look; extracting kids after they purposely got themselves stuck by jumping up and down in elevator; figuring out drive issues on some ancient piece-of-shit controller. "Yeah, I enjoy the difficulty and the accomplishment feeling I get when I discover the problem." "That''s very good, Tyler. I can see your pathways opening up." Vlad''s orbiting green spheres pulsed brighter. "Would you say your lifestyle is pretty chaotic?" "Hell yeah. I like to think of it as organized chaos." Tyler grinned, finally in comfortable territory. "I love going to clubs, whether that''s the titty bars, dance clubs, parties¡ªwaking up and finding my way in the concrete jungle of New York." "Would you say your life is kind of strange? Like you seem to get a lot of coincidences often? Tripping only to then notice you avoided getting hit by a mobile unit?" "I''m guessing you''re referring to cars. Yeah, that happens often, like life is always testing me or twisting me, pulling this way then changing course." "Very good. That will be enough." Vlad''s expression became more focused, clinical. "I need you to look inward now. Think about looking into something you can''t see, something deep." "It''s easier if you close your eyes," he added softly. "I will try to guide you. You might feel a prick again." Tyler tried to look inward, feeling silly at first, like what''s this mobo jumbo, but then he felt it¡ªor more accurately, he saw it. Threads of energy in layers, different colors weaving together in patterns that somehow made sense despite their alien nature. "Perfect. I''m right there with you, Tyler." Vlad''s voice seemed to come from both outside and inside Tyler''s head simultaneously. "Okay, now I can see your pathways. They are fully open. Open your eyes." Chapter 3 "Impressive indeed," Vlad said, his gray eyes gleaming with interest. "Tyler, I felt that power as soon as I entered the room, but now its presence is stronger. When you make a core, it might become even stronger." He folded his arms, the three green orbs at his waist pulsing in rhythm. "Okay, you pegged my interest enough, so stop with the intrigue. By the way, are you some kind of psychic or something?" Tyler asked, studying the tall, pale figure. "No, not really. I acquired a few items that granted me psi abilities. Reading someone''s soul print is one." Vlad gestured to one of the orbiting spheres. "It helps with my true core, which is a Nurture Core which gives me empath abilities, allowing me to help guide people." His expression turned serious. "Now, let''s get back to the topic at hand. You have many choices, young Human." Tyler thought silently: Is this dude not human? ''Cause he could have fooled me, besides the whole skin of a dead man thing. "I''m going to start with some less potent affinities that resonate with you, that I think would fit you well," Vlad continued, circling Tyler with measured steps. "You are a complex person, Tyler, with many flaws but also many virtues that you try to hide even from yourself. You have a very interesting soul and nature." He held up one long finger. "Your first affinity is Anarchy. You have an anti-law, anti-order quality about you, and your pathways feed off it. You are very suitable for a Chaos Core." He raised another finger. "You also have Mutation and Flux as minor affinities." Vlad paused, a smile playing on his lips. "Now, this is interesting, Tyler, and it goes with your strange, contradictory nature. You also have an affinity for Structure. You like rigid rules when it comes to problem-solving; you enjoy taking things in a step-by-step manner even when your mind is falling apart. Which means an Order Core would also suit you well." His voice was measured, clinical. "You also have a minor affinity for Harmony." His steps took him behind Tyler, who had to turn to keep him in view. "You have a strong Will and Spirit, with a Courage affinity which often gets you into trouble. So a Spirit Core will also be a good choice." Vlad waved his hand dismissively. "Now this core seems bad, but trust me, it''s not as bad as it sounds coming from your world¡ªit just has a bad rap. You have an affinity for the Night. Unlike most of your kin, you enjoy the night; it fills your pathways even now in this place. An affinity called Night Stalker. It''s a vampiric core affinity, but it can also be attuned to a different core." This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. His eyes locked with Tyler''s. "Now this is the kicker. This world is called the Void Realm for a reason, and in your absence of mind¡ªlike you often have¡ªyou have an affinity for Nothingness. Now this might sound boring for a person like you, but not only is it not boring, this affinity will win you favor in this realm." Vlad''s voice dropped to a near whisper. "Your last affinity¡ªthat is a greater affinity¡ªis the one I think you should go with, of course." Tyler was almost salivating; he knew it already. He had experienced it all his life. "You have a Fortune affinity," Vlad pronounced with gravity. "Your life has been gilded by fate for as long as you''ve been alive. You being here isn''t a coincidence¡ªyou manifested it, knowingly or unknowingly. Your minor affinities are Chance and Divination." Vlad''s expression turned serious, almost concerned. "Now, Tyler, this Core, this Fate Core is very dangerous to you. I''ve only known one other being who possessed such a thing. You can bend chance, changing outcomes at will. People will seek after you. Kingdoms will fall at your feet. Gods will try to use you, harvest you. If you choose this path, it will be a decision you cannot change." "You already know what I''m going with, right? Is it even a choice, to be honest?" Tyler said, feeling the excitement coursing through him. Vlad chuckled again. "Yes, I know you very well already." He held out the shifting, multi-colored potion. "This will help stabilize your threads. It will keep your pathways open and ensure that as your core forms, you will receive the best possible outcome." He gestured for Tyler to take the bottle, and to sit. "Now, hold out the potion with your hands. Think about when you placed the ring on your finger. Try to think about all the times you became lucky, all the times you didn''t, all the times you wanted to see a friend and how they appeared, all the times you needed a break and someone called. All the times you wanted something and you got it. All the times you made mistakes and somehow that led to the answers." Tyler''s hands trembled slightly as he held the bottle, mind flooding with memories¡ªthe twenty-dollar bill he found just when he needed it, the winning scratch ticket, The 4090. His Job. Sandy giving him her real number when others got fake ones. "Hold those thoughts," Vlad instructed. "Look inward again. Do you see the light, that golden light, that thread? Hold it there. Hold the thoughts, hold it all together." Tyler concentrated, feeling something shift within him, a resonance that seemed to connect with the bottle in his hands. "Now open your eyes." Tyler''s eyelids fluttered open. The bottle had transformed to a brilliant golden yellow, shimmering with inner light that seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat. "Drink it," Vlad commanded, his voice carrying the weight of destiny. Chapter 4 Chapter 4 The liquid went down like tiny crystals the size of pencil tips. The taste was a bizarre combination of battery acid and milk¡ªan odd mix of harsh texture and unexpected smoothness. "Hold it," the voice kept saying. It felt like threads were coming inward, but into what, Tyler couldn''t comprehend. It felt as though it was a part of him, but a part that wasn''t inside¡ªit was outside. Threads pulled in from all different directions, gathering into a swirl, spinning faster and faster. The light was a brilliant golden yellow, spinning in ways that defied the logic of any physical plane. It wasn''t painful, just strange¡ªlike he was watching himself from outside himself. "Hold it," the voice said again as some strings tried to escape that spinning center. Then that spinning center stopped suddenly as the threads stopped pulling in, and the center tightened. "Hold it," the words were felt this time instead of heard. Density. It collapsed on itself, getting deeper, then¡ªBAM¡ªit started to spin more rapidly again. More threads started pulling in, new colors being drawn in, transforming into the golden yellow until again it stopped. The center was full again, collapsing in on itself before expanding. This happened six times before it was over. Tyler felt exhausted, but on a level that was beyond physical, beyond mental, beyond himself entirely. "Good job," the voice said. "I would let you rest, but there is no time for that." Tyler''s eyes¡ªwhether they were closed or open¡ªcouldn''t see, couldn''t feel, couldn''t hear. The voice was inside him, beckoning him to come back. And there he was. "Drink this. It will help." Tyler opened his eyes, back to the nightmare. Back to this void, back to the purple light, back to the darkness. Tyler felt oddly comforted by this strange man; he truly was something beyond what Tyler understood to be possible. He took the bottle, which was more bottle-shaped than vial-like. The liquid was as clear as vodka with a sugary honey taste that was, for the first time, pleasant in this strange place. After about four minutes, Tyler''s senses started to fully recover. He was beginning to feel like himself again. And he noticed notifications were in his mind, waiting for him. [Core development successful: Basic Fate Core] [Congratulations your Core has been upgraded to (basic 2)] The message repeated until it said Basic 6. Wow, Tyler thought¡ªdid he upgrade his core 6 times? Was that typical? A part of him felt excited, as if he was something more. Shaking his head and rubbing his face, he asked Vlad, "What happened?" "You had an excellent core awakening. You didn''t need much of my assistance," Vlad replied, his gray eyes reflecting the golden glow still emanating from Tyler''s skin. "Many people need me to force their souls to bind their cores. It''s a process that takes a toll on the person. It can be hard to grasp for most, but some, like you, have an easier go at it." Vlad''s orbiting spheres pulsed with renewed energy. "And I see you have reached Basic 6. Now that''s an accomplishment. Most get upgrades in this expedited process¡ªmaybe two to four¡ªbut six? I''ve only had a few achieve that." He smiled, revealing those unnaturally perfect teeth. "Again, you are full of surprises. It could have something to do with your core type." He gestured toward Tyler''s head. "Open up your Character sheet and see for yourself." Tyler focused his thoughts, and immediately information materialized in his mind: [Character sheet] [Subject: Tyler Jackson] [Age: 28] [Level: 4] [Race: Human (Basic 1) (High-Conscious)] [Affinities: Fortune] [Affinity Rating: 14.7] [Core Type: Fate Core (Basic 6)] [Energy: 348/348 Fate] Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. [Classes] [Stats] [Will: 7] [Strength: 5] [Intelligence: 5] [Vitality: 1] [Agility: 3] [Dexterity: 6] [Resilience: 2] [Unbound: 24] [Abilities] [Skills] [Spells] Tyler stared at the empty sections for Abilities, Skills, and Spells, feeling a mix of disappointment and anticipation. His energy had increased dramatically, but what good was all that power if he didn''t know how to use it? "It seems you have a high affinity rating as well. I should have known," Vlad said, studying Tyler with renewed interest. "It''s above 13, which is very uncommon." Vlad glanced toward the doorway, a flicker of concern crossing his features. "Okay, I need to make this brief and depart. Henry signed up for this, so he would have known." His voice dropped lower. "Tyler, this is a trial league. It will be held in a dungeon where you will be tested. It is a dangerous test meant to kill most who do not rise up to the challenge." He leaned closer, the green orbs at his waist spinning faster. "Severen will instantly recognize that you are not Henry when you enter his chambers. He will not have time to question you because this is a spectacle¡ªit is a game. You will need to take up the name of Henry. Severen''s pride will not allow him to make a mess of this game, for now." Vlad tapped his temple. "I possess the ability to read people and their auras with my empathic affinity. Others have similar affinities and may be able to feel your core. It is important you do not share this information." His expression turned grave. "Most people will not be able to discern what kind of core it is, even if they feel it. It''s best to lie and say it''s a Chaos Core. Some will believe, but most will be curious." His words came faster now, urgent. "I will give you a spell that you will need to learn as soon as possible. It will help you deceive people, but it''s a powerful spell you cannot do at the moment. As your power grows, so will your aura." "Damn, dude, slow down. That''s a lot of shit you''re dropping on me," Tyler interrupted, head spinning. "Why do you even want to help me so badly?" "It''s a win for both of us. Take this." Vlad handed Tyler a ring. It was the color of silver with a silver gem on its prong. "This is a simple spatial ring. It can hold items. Its dimensions are 5 by 5, so it''s not meant to hold many things. The dimension can only last 4 hours without needing to be recharged." A scroll appeared in Vlad''s hand as he continued talking. "This is a fleeting scroll of Core Deception. It takes your aura and masks it with another. It''s an active ability, meaning you need to constantly use it for its effects. It removes part of your stored energy to keep it active." His eyes locked with Tyler''s. "Put it in the ring. Bond with the ring. It is important that you keep that ring hidden until you enter the dungeon... Henry." Tyler did as requested, putting the ring on and trying to remain as serious as he could in this bizarre situation. "Okay, nothing is happening. What do I do?" "You need to open your threads and release them into the ring. Look inward again." Tyler did as instructed and saw his pathways, "almost as beautiful as a stripper on a Saturday night," he thought to himself. "Focus, Tyler," he muttered under his breath. "I have it." "Now release that energy into your hand," Vlad instructed. "It will feel strange at first, like a tickle or a tingle." Tyler felt the energy push through his pathways into the ring¡ªa strange sensation, like electricity flowing under his skin but somehow pleasant rather than painful. The ring warmed against his finger, seeming to buzz with a newfound connection to his being. A notification enter his consciousness. Ring of Minor Holding (Basic Ring, Enchanted) cost 4 energy per 2 hours I can''t act like I''m not impressed. That''s cool, man." Tyler marveled at the sensation of the dimensional container¡ªit was strange, like looking into a cabinet of another dimension outside himself. He placed the scroll inside mentally, and it vanished from his hand. "Nicely done," Vlad said with an approving nod. "I need to make my leave. I''ve already overstayed my welcome." He straightened his purple cape and adjusted his immaculate suit. "Every hour or so, give it a little energy to keep it stable. You will retrieve some more storage devices from Wormpool so hiding the ring won¡¯t be an issue" Turning to leave, Vlad paused at the doorway. He looked back at Tyler with a smile that was a little too wide, revealing those impossibly perfect teeth. "And remember what I said... Henry. Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Tyler was lost in his thoughts again, thinking about his life and how he ended up here. He thought about his parents¡ªhis mom, a smart woman, a lawyer who always told Tyler he needed to get his shit together. His father, an electrician who wasn''t that smart when it came to social cues, but was very handy. Tyler knew about social cues; he just ignored them. His brother Darren was always the cool one. Smart, handsome, popular, smooth, and made Tyler''s jokes feel like a rowboat compared to his cruise ship. Darren became an electrician like their father, but unlike him, he had more ambition and started his own company. The dude was driven, and Tyler admired him for it. Tyler was driven too, but driven to destruction¡ªhe''d rather blow his cash and live in the moment. He thought about the time he got drunk at one of their mutual friends¡¯ weddings and ended up in a fight with the hotel concierge. The cops were called, and Tyler was taken out in handcuffs. He still remembered the look in his brother¡¯s eyes¡ªa pool of hatred burning behind them. It was a moment Tyler wasn¡¯t sure Darren had ever forgiven. Looking down at the yellow rags, impressively dull in a way that felt intentional, he felt another twinge of embarrassment. It itched his skin as if it wanted to scrape off the top layer. It was a type of tunic, but cut low. Tyler only knew the word "tunic" from the RPG games he would play sometimes. He wouldn''t say he was good at them¡ªmaybe half decent¡ªbut he would follow someone else''s build and get pretty deep. Again, he noticed he was going on a tangent. The tunic had a deep, wide V-neck cut down his chest, which exposed Tyler''s physique. The sleeves were cut almost down to his wrists, but Tyler rolled them up. The tunic barely reached his knees, with a sash around his waist that he tied into a knot. No undies, he thought, feeling the coldness rise up from the bottom of it. I feel like some kind of medieval peasant. Wormpool entered the room with a new look, but that coldness pushed Tyler out of his uncomfortable musings. "Hello, Henry. I''m back with your Skill Scrolls, and Ability Gem," the bat-like creature announced. Its tone was more professional now, less antagonistic. "I suggest you add your unbound points now. It will help with the generated abilities that will be offered." Tyler decided to play along since Wormpool was being less of an dick. "Thanks for the suggestion, Wormpool. Would you mind telling me what each stat impacts?¡± ¡°We don''t have¡ªFine.¡± Wormpool said with a sigh. ¡°but it will be a quick lesson, and I will only say this once. Listen carefully, Human." Wormpool''s bat-like features twitched with impatience. "First, there is Will. Will influence your ability to withstand mental and soul intrusions. It will also boost your energy level and its recharge rate." The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. He continued methodically, "Then there is Strength. Strength will increase your overall physical power¡ªhow hard you hit, how much you can lift, and how dense your muscles are. Intelligence will increase your ability to think quicker, to perceive things and make decisions. It will also help with your mental recall, but that has diminishing returns." The creature''s pale eyes narrowed slightly. "Vitality is how fast you can heal when taking damage. Some wounds can''t heal, so be warned. Agility is your quickness, how fast you can move. Dexterity is how good you are with your body¡ªhow fluid, how accurate you can be. Tyler figured that meant aiming, dodging, maybe parkour if things got weird. And finally, Resilience is how dense your layers are, how much it takes to cause damage upon you." Wormpool''s claws flexed absently. "There are plenty more stats that are not displayed that have other impacts. Some items will show increases in these stats, but your numbers will be hidden from you. All the stats interplay with each other, so I would caution balance." "Thanks, Wormpool. That was... very insightful." Trying his best not to sound sarcastic. Tyler looked inward, and the system screen popped up in his third eye. Balance, he thought. He felt that Wormpool wasn''t lying and decided to trust that he was steering him correctly, but Tyler did wonder why the creature was being so... not nice. That wasn''t right¡ªjust less adversarial. Damn, where the fuck did that word come from? It fit though. Maybe Wormpool had talked with Vlad, or maybe he sensed something in Tyler now. Either way, balance seemed like a smart choice, at least for now. With that thought, he allocated his points: 2 into Strength, 2 into Intelligence, 6 into Vitality, 4 into Agility, 1 into Dexterity and finally 5 into Resilience. That would bring everything to an even 7, a number that seemed to pop up a lot. Maybe it really is a lucky number, he thought. Focus, Tyler. He put 2 more into Intelligence and 1 each into Vitality and Strength. I was never dumb, but maybe this will help me make better decisions. [Character sheet] [Subject: Tyler Jackson] [Age: 28] [Level: 4] [Race: Human (Basic 1) (High-Conscious)] [Affinities: Fortune] [Affinity Rating: 14.7] [Core Type: Fate Core (Basic 6)] [Energy: 412/412 Fate] [Classes] [Stats] [Will: 7] [Strength: 8] [Intelligence: 9] [Vitality: 8] [Agility: 7] [Dexterity: 7] [Resilience: 7] [Unbound: 0] [Abilities] [Skills] [Spells] Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Tyler felt it all shift at once, everything changing. His muscles expanded then retracted, his thoughts somehow felt smoother, more fluent, less messy. His heart felt stronger, as if his blood circulated more efficiently. His skin felt tougher, as if it had new layers or hardened layers. He felt like he had more control, like his body could respond more easily to his commands. "Am I a goddamn superhero now or what?" Tyler said, marveling. "Wormpool, you didn''t warn me about how good it would feel. Damn, I feel like a new man, like I could take on the world." "Yes, it is a great feeling," Wormpool acknowledged, his bat-like features impassive. "How am I level 4 already?" "Well¡­ Henry¡­ That potion I gave you when you woke was an energy potion. It contains a good amount of soul essence." Wormpool''s eyes narrowed slightly. "You should have known this already." "Now, let''s get back to the matter at hand¡ªyour Skills. You get to choose five skills that will help with your journey. It''s a long list, as you know." He pulled out a scroll that unfurled to reveal a ridiculously long list. For fuck''s sake, Tyler thought. He saw "Long Sword" and thought, Fuck yeah, then it dawned on him¡ªFuck, man, this shit is real. I''m going to fucking die. For real this time. His heart began to pound. This whole place freaked him out, but the thought of a sword really put things in perspective. I''m going to have to stab something. Or be killed trying. "Henry, are you OK?" Wormpool inquired, his tone somewhere between concerned and suspicious. "Sorry, yeah, I''m good. Thanks, buddy." He went through the list. Fuck, man, at least I can read faster now, he thought. He figured a sword and shield skill would be essential¡ªthat left four more skills. He chose Two-Handed Sword, Knife Throwing, and Survivalist, which sounded useful. He was juggling between Bushcraft and Lockpicking. The bad intention side of him won over, and he picked Lockpicking. "OK, Wormpool, I have made my choices." This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. "Good. That was faster than I expected from you. Very good." The creature''s voice held a hint of surprise. "One second, let me fetch those for you." He looked into space, reaching into some invisible dimension. Tyler thought it looked so stupid, so awkward. I guess that''s what I look like when I go through the ring. "Ah, here we are." Wormpool pulled out the scrolls one at a time, each appearing in his hand as he placed it on the bench. Tyler wondered how he was doing it so fast. His ring had a cooldown. Did this one not? Wormpool handed Tyler the first scroll. "This is a fleeting scroll. Bond with it, and the information will dissolve into your being. It will only take a moment." His pale eyes fixed on Tyler''s. "Vlad did tell you how to bond with things, did he not?" That was an interesting question¡ªa suspicious one. Tyler was no dumber, at least he thought so. Would Vlad be the one to teach him, or was Wormpool fishing for something? "What if I told you he didn''t?" Tyler asked, eyebrow raised, watching carefully for the creature''s reaction. "Well, he should have. Nonetheless, I need you to look into your pathways." "How do I do that?" Tyler played dumb, still testing the waters. "Close your eyes. It helps for newcomers." Wormpool''s voice carried a hint of impatience. Tyler knew how to do it. He just didn''t know who was lying more here, and it almost made him laugh. Now this is meta. "Now you will see the core you created. You need to pull that energy into your pathways, if it''s not already there. Some new users'' cores are weak, causing the energy to be close. Opening might feel strange." Tyler''s pathways were already open¡ªhe could see them, could feel them. He pushed them into the scroll, and the scroll responded in return. It disappeared, being absorbed into Tyler like a ghost. It was a strange sensation. [Sword and Shield Mastery: Basic 7] He did the same for the remaining scrolls, as he focused then lost focus his mind started to wonder off again. Tyler had gotten into plenty of fights growing up. At parties, events, bars, but, he liked to hang out with all kinds of people: the thugs, the nerds, the jocks. He was the Black guy at the party who was the hook-up, I.E. drug dealer. Whether he was hanging with his black, white or spanish friends, he moved between worlds with ease. He referred to hanging out with non-hood people as "mainstreaming," which kids now call code-switching. Ahh, more mental diarrhea, back to the story. As the knowledge from all five scrolls settled into his mind, Tyler felt like things were looking up once more¡ªlike maybe he wouldn''t get his shit pushed in after all. The skills weren''t just information¡ªthey were becoming part of him, integrating with who he was. The survivalist knowledge felt particularly valuable; knowing how to find food, water, and shelter might be the difference between life and death in this freaky place. He flexed his fingers, imagining the weight of a sword in his hand. The knife-throwing techniques played through his mind like a movie he''d watched a hundred times. And lockpicking¡ªthat might come in handy in more ways than one. "So," Tyler said, looking up at Wormpool with newfound resolve, "what''s next?" Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Wormpool pulled out a gleaming clear gem, the size of a gaming controller, it had etchings scratched into it, its surface catching the strange purple light of the chamber. "Now, this gem is valuable. It is worth more than your soul. Don''t waste it." Tyler chuckled. "My soul, huh?" "Yes, it truly is," Wormpool replied, his bat-like features deadly serious. "It''s a bypass. It allows you to receive an ability directly from The Cosmore early, before your first class selection. It also will give you the intermediate version of the ability, or as close as your being will allow." The gem flickered with inner light, changing colors subtly as it caught different angles of illumination. "Out of everything I''ve been told, this feels the strangest¡ªsome say even painful. But a strong, confident human like yourself can handle it, right?" Wormpool''s tone carried a hint of challenge, perhaps even mockery. "This isn''t something you can bond with. You need to force it into your pathways. It''s better to place it at your chest, some say, it can take in more that way, but have possible consequences. Others prefer to pull it in from their hands. Which is slower and less potent, but much safer. The choice is yours." Tyler gave Wormpool the smirking look that said "challenge accepted." He grabbed the gem with little hesitation¡ªit was much lighter than expected. Was that from the limited strength he''d added, or was it actually just lighter in this realm? He stopped his thoughts and made a choice: I''m not chicken shit. He placed the gem on his chest. The feeling was instantaneous¡ªa resistance and a burn he didn''t feel in his hands. At that moment, he knew he''d made the right choice. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. He felt his pathways forcing themselves to pull in the gem. Golden light flickered from his hands, his chest, his body. The gem pulled away like a force he couldn''t describe¡ªlike an ocean wave or a magnetic opposing end, but on a level that wasn''t physical, even though the gem itself was. He felt his threads reaching out. Strings grabbing hold of it, pulling it closer to his core? His soul? Was it all the same thing? The intensity increased. The burning sensation warped his body. He felt bones cracking¡ªor was it something else? Then a sensation rippled, starting in his chest, then down his spine¡ªa burn that felt like his atoms were turning into ash. His feet began to feel numb. His hands felt heavy. Was it over? Then BAM¡ªhe felt his back snap as a beam of Golden light emitted from his chest, and then he collapsed. Several notifications awaited him in his mind''s eye, glowing like neon signs against the darkness of his consciousness: ¡ª---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- But he couldn''t move. Was he paralyzed? Did he just fuck himself? His body ached in ways that didn''t feel possible. Wormpool''s warning was a fucking joke¡ªhe was trying to get Tyler to do something stupid, and it worked. He still couldn''t feel his feet. His hands remained heavy, his back arched in a way that felt unnatural. He looked up. Wormpool had a grin playing on his mouth, and for the first time, from that angle, Tyler saw his fangs. ."What... what the fuck just happened? What did you do to me?" Tyler gasped, struggling to move his unresponsive body. Wormpool loomed over him, his expression transforming from mild amusement to cruel satisfaction. "I did nothing. You made your choice, and now you deal with it." The bat-creature''s voice had shed its professional tone, revealing the malice beneath. "You idiot. You are not Henry, are you? I was told Henry was an intelligent, patient man who took advice and was mentally stable." He leaned closer, his fangs fully visible now. "You''re pitiful. A bug. A nuisance. Who are you? Tell me now, and I might decide to not leave you here to rot." Fully deflated physically and mentally feeling like a true numbskull Tyler diverts his gaze and looks down ¡°My name is Tyler¡± Chapler 8 Chapter 8 "Good boy." The smugness gained in Wormpool''s voice. "Now tell me this: What is your core? What is your affinity?" "I have a Chaos Core, an Anarchy Affinity," Tyler said, still gasping for breath, remembering Vlad''s advice to lie about his true nature. "LIE!" Wormpool''s voice boomed through the chamber, rattling the jagged walls. "HOW DARE YOU STILL LIE TO ME, BOY!" The bat-creature¡¯s eyes flashed with rage, and his claws slashed through the air, inches from Tyler¡¯s throat, leaving a faint sting where the wind grazed his skin. "Chaos channels don¡¯t bleed yellow. Do you still take me for a fool?" Panicking Tyler looked inward. [Congratulations! You''ve successfully force-bonded an ability gem] [Choose one of five available abilities.] While his mind fumbled through the options, Wormpool sneered, "Those won''t help you, Human. It''s too late." The choices flashed through Tyler''s consciousness: [Fortune¡¯s Favor: Intermediate] [Active Spell (5 second activation time)] [While active, loot obtained from Cosmore-generated sources is improved by 100%. Additionally, there is a 50% chance to upgrade items found in non-Cosmore-generated chests. (50 Core) Short*** CoolDown] [Lucky Charm: Intermediate] [Passive Spell] [Grants favorable treatment from individuals with low will. In some cases, they may even feel as though their actions are influenced beyond their control.] [Critical Success: Intermediate] [Passive Spell] [Boosts the chance of successful hits and parries. All attributes temporarily increase during critical moments in combat.] [Strike Streak: intermediate] [Active Ability] [When active, after landing 3 consecutive successful strikes, the next 4 strikes gain an increased chance to deal critical damage. (50 Core) Short* Cooldown] [Flicker of Fortune: Intermediate] Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. [Auto-Activation Ability] [When near death agility and dexterity increase by 500 and 100% until energy pull is fully drained. (60 core-draining) Long*** Cooldown] Damn it, The choices were all so cool, but only two would get him out of this scenario: Flicker of Fortune and Lucky Charm. This animal couldn¡¯t be that powerful; he couldn¡¯t truly have a will higher than "low," whatever that was. Could he kill Wormpool though? He couldn¡¯t even move. Could he use Flicker and run out of here? Where would he even go? Wormpool¡¯s claws scraping the stone floor with a sound like nails on glass. Time was running out. Time was running out. Wormpool''s fangs gleamed in the purple light as he waited for Tyler''s next lie or confession. Tyler had to choose, and he had to choose now. Wormpool lunges, and the air whooshed past Tyler¡ª"Tell me, bug!"¡ªfangs gleaming, claws out, and Tyler''s vision swims as the notifications flash. Lucky Charm, he thinks, locking it in¡ªfuck it, it''s now or never. A faint golden shimmer ripples from Tyler''s body. Wormpool pauses momentarily, his grip on Tyler¡¯s tunic slackens, and his snarl falters, replaced by a furrowed brow. Then, his tone shifts, unexpectedly calmer "What is your Core? Another lie and... and I will..." The creature hesitates, his previous rage seeming to dissipate. "Tell Severen, He will let me get a part of your soul for my enjoyment¡±. Tyler''s eyes went wide he could tell something changed and it happened so fast. ¡°But why lie, I can help you, boy. We don''t need to be enemies." Tyler''s numbness was starting to fade. He could wiggle his toes, and his back didn''t feel unnaturally arched anymore. His thoughts started to flow more smoothly again. I knew this thing wasn''t as powerful as it let on, he thought. "Thanks, Wormpool, and I am sorry for lying in the first place." Tyler decided to roll the dice with this one. "Vlad told me to conceal my Core for a reason. What could you offer me, and how could I help you in return?" "Tell me your Core, Your Affinity, and Your ability, and I''ll tell you what it''s worth to me." "I have an Order Core, With a Structure Affinity" Tyler lied again, adapting his strategy. "Vlad told me that it was highly disliked in the void. Was he right?" "Vlad steered you wrong. He is always playing games with the Newcomers," Wormpool said, his voice now less threatening. "Your core is useful in all realms. It''s very useful for crafting, very useful indeed." He nodded approvingly. "Now, was that so hard, Tyler?" Fuck it knew his real name, even if it was playing nice this could be a problem. Wormpool produced a potion that was clear except for its center, which contained a red sphere of liquid suspended within it. "Drink it," he commanded. "It''s a health potion. It will quicken your recovery." Tyler eyed the potion skeptically but took it anyway. The Lucky Charm ability seemed to be working well enough to keep Wormpool in a cooperative mood. "You can be useful to me," Wormpool continued. "I need Structure beads. At level 5, you will be able to create beads. To keep things short, they are this world''s currency. You can offer them to our God, Lord Vacuus, and he will give you boons and items." His pale eyes gleamed with calculated interest. "But I need them for a craft. That''s a rare core, boy. I now know why he told you to hide it." Wormpool''s claws tapped together as he spoke. "It will take time, but I need 10,000 beads. It''s a task, but you will be here for many lifetimes if you survive. And in return, I won''t tell Severen about this little... incident." Tyler took a sip of the potion, feeling warmth spread through his body as the paralysis continued to fade. His mind raced with the implications. He''d managed to turn an enemy into something approaching an ally¡ªor at least a business partner. But he was still lying about his core, and if Wormpool discovered the truth... "Sounds like a win-win," Tyler said, feeling the strength return to his limbs. "And this Severen¡ªwhat''s his deal? Why would it matter to him what my core is?" Chapter 9 Chapter 9 You should start to feel better. The potion is a Major and is fast acting," Wormpool explained. The healing warmth spread through Tyler''s body, chasing away the last remnants of paralysis. "Now, I can''t tell you much other than Severen runs the game. He is an acolyte to our Demi-god Siruc. It''s a way for energy-rich assholes like him to pass the time, but it also serves other purposes I''m not allowed to disclose." Wormpool''s tone became more hushed. "Just know the soul contract Henry signed is now bound to you through that ring." Tyler looked down at his hand. He''d forgotten the green ring was even there. He subtly adjusted his belt, making sure the other ring Vlad had given him remained safely hidden. Acolyte? Demi-god? What is this place? Tyler wondered, trying to process the bizarre information. "Other high lords of this place¡ªKings, Priest, Nobles and the like¡ªplace bets. They follow strict guidelines placed by The Cosmore in agreement with our Lord Vacuus." Wormpool''s pale eyes darted around nervously. "Now that''s all I can say without the wards taking notice." The bat-creature straightened his robes. "You are very late, and you will need some gear before you meet the others. Here." Wormpool made a series of quick gestures, and items began to materialize around Tyler: Each item had stone on it with a glyph or rune or some kind of etching. Each time Tyler looked at one of the stones a notification popped in his head. [Item Acquired: Basic Short Sword (Unenchanted)] [Item Acquired:Basic Reinforced Wooden Shield (Unenchanted)] [Item Acquired: Basic Studded Leather Cuirass (Unenchanted)] [Item Acquired:Basic Leather Bracers (Unenchanted)] [Item Acquired: Basic Leather Greaves (Unenchanted)] [Item Acquired:Basic Adventurer''s Kit (Unenchanted)] Each item had a description but they were lackluster at best. "Oh, one more thing," Wormpool said, dropping a pouch maybe the size of a fist. "This is a simple containment pouch. Like my ring, you can fit a larger amount of items inside. Bond with it like you did the skill scrolls." Tyler picked up the pouch, examining it. Unlike the ornate ring Vlad had given him, this looked almost mundane¡ªrough leather with simple stitching. But if it worked like the dimensional storage ring, it would be invaluable. He closed his eyes, focusing on his pathways as he''d done before. The golden energy flowed from his core, through his arm, and into the pouch. The connection formed almost instantly, much easier than his previous attempts at bonding. After bonding with it a notification popped up. He mentally swiped it away. He wondered if he could put a storage ring in a storage poached or would that break this world. The way Wormpool was treating him, Tyler figured that Lucky Charm was something he''d had his whole life¡ªit had just been labeled and formalized in this place. People had always treated him in a way that didn''t quite match how annoying he could be. As Tyler adjusted his equipment, everything felt a little lighter than expected. Those two extra points in Strength had done enough for him to feel a difference. But he felt silly in his armor, like a knight with an ankle bracelet on. Where did he fit in this world? Would he be able to escape? You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. They walked through a long corridor of darkness and purple flames, and Tyler saw other chambers just as barren as his¡ªeach with only a bench and nothing else. Other beings similar to Wormpool moved about, looking busy but seeming like wallpaper, pretending to work but not actually doing anything, like NPCs chopping down the same tree forever. He supposed they needed to pretend to work to keep their jobs. Government workers, fucking bums, Tyler thought. They made their way through large double doors spanning upward¡ªthey looked like gates made of wood but painted black, unlike the stone doors that somehow didn''t creak. From what little Tyler could see, they were ornately decorated with black silver and obsidian gems. It was a striking look. The doors opened as if automated, revealing a cavernous chamber that stretched wide and tall, a tribunal hall carved from shadow and stone. The first level sprawled broad enough to hold a hundred souls, its floor a polished slab of black marble veined with silver, reflecting the flicker of purple flames that lined the walls in sconces. Above, a balcony jutted out, ringing the room like a judge¡¯s bench, its dark wood polished to a gleam and fitted with rows of high-backed chairs¡ªtwenty-five, maybe thirty seats, no more¡ªoverlooking the chaos below. Obsidian pillars thick as tree trunks flanked the space, soaring up to a vaulted ceiling lost in gloom, where faint glints suggested more gems or carvings hidden in the dark. The room was packed with people: Wormpool¡¯s kind, other creatures¡ªsome with green skin, red-skin, fur, others with hair on their long ears. Some looked more human-like than others But on the balcony level, there were beings who looked a lot like Vlad¡ªdressed very suave, moving about, eating and drinking, what looked like wine or was it blood Tyler hoped it was the former. They were laughing, and chatting, being served by the batmen, some sitting in polished chairs, while others stood. The people or more appropriately, the beings on Tyler''s floor looked how Tyler was beginning to feel: dreadful. "This is where they gather. People have been here for weeks waiting for all the contestants to arrive, and you are the last one, so try to get acquainted with some of the people. It would be in your best interest to make friends.¡± Wormpool pulled out a pen - one of those old quills from the 1600s or whatever era they belonged to - and wrote something down, handing it to Tyler as his voice lowered. "It''s been my pleasure to serve you.. Henry." He said that last part as if reading from a script, as if it was something he was forced to say.¡± As he turn to leave he faced change back to a scowl, mouth just open enough for a single fang to show. Tyler took the note, wondering if it was a favor or a fuck-you. As Wormpool slipped away into the shadows, his robes whispering against the stone, Tyler turned to face the room. It was a zoo¡ªgreen-skinned bruisers with tusks, long-eared types with twitchy fingers, bat-faces like Wormpool scuttling around like they owned the place. The air buzzed with tension, a cocktail of dread and jittery hype, like a bar before a brawl breaks out. Up top, the balcony crowd¡ªVlad¡¯s suave cousins in slick capes¡ªsipped drinks and laughed, their eyes flicking down every so often, sizing up the meat like it was a buffet. Detached, cold. Tyler¡¯s gut twisted as it sank in. He was ¡°Henry¡± now¡ªsome dead guy¡¯s soul contract stuck to him like gum on a shoe, courtesy of that green ring weighing down his finger. He flexed his hand, feeling the other ring¡ªVlad¡¯s silver trick¡ªstill tucked safe under his belt. This wasn¡¯t a game he¡¯d signed up for; it was a cosmic cage fight run by demi-gods and assholes with too much power. All he had was his Fate Core humming in his chest, that Lucky Charm vibe bending wills, and the same wits that¡¯d gotten him out of bar fights and cop cars back home. Enough to survive? Fuck if he knew, but he wasn¡¯t folding yet. He fished out Wormpool¡¯s note¡ªscratched in jagged ink on brittle paper: ¡°Keep your head down, ¡®Henry¡¯ Living Lord Severen likes things that bleed.¡± Great. Real helpful, Batman. Tyler snorted, pocketing it in his new containment pouch with a mental flick¡ªstill weird, shoving stuff into a void bag like some RPG inventory hack. Time to work the room. He slapped on that grin¡ªthe one that¡¯d talked bouncers out of tossing him, charmed strippers into real numbers¡ªand started weaving through the crowd. A tusked green-skin grunted a nod, too dumb to care who he was. A long-eared chick with sharp eyes and sharper cheekbones flashed a smile back¡ªdamn, things might be looking up. A couple others, rough-looking humans maybe, smirked like they¡¯d seen his type before. Lucky Charm was doing its thing, softening edges, but not everyone bought it. A shadow loomed¡ªa broad bastard with gray skin and a scar splitting his lip, glaring from across the floor. Didn¡¯t smile, didn¡¯t blink, just stared like Tyler owed him money. ¡°Fresh meat,¡± he growled, loud enough to turn heads. Tyler kept the grin, but his hand brushed the short sword at his hip¡ªBasic 7 mastery or not, he wasn¡¯t itching to test it yet. Above, a balcony prick leaned over the rail, cape fluttering, smirking. Tyler shrugged it off, sidling toward the long-eared chick instead. ¡°Hey, you look like you know how this shitshow works. Name¡¯s Henry¡ªlate to the party. What¡¯s the play?¡± She raised an eyebrow, sizing him up, but that Lucky Charm glint in her eyes said he might just have a shot. Whatever this dungeon trial was, he¡¯d bluff, hustle, and luck his way through¡ªor die trying. Again. Chapter 10 Chapter 10 ¡°Leave me be,¡± she said, her voice cool and clipped. She wore leather armor¡ªlighter, more mobile than the clunky studded junk Wormpool had dumped on him. Two small daggers poked out from her back, tucked neat against her spine. Her skin was ¡°olive¡± but not like how people bullshit about back home¡ªit was a pale green, legit forest-hue, smooth and weirdly striking. Cute, in an elf-troll kind of way¡ªsharp cheekbones, pointy ears, maybe 25 if Tyler had to slap a human age on her. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t do me like that,¡± he pressed, flashing that grin. ¡°I need someone to talk to¡ªI¡¯ve been stuck with that bat thing for hours, and the fucker tried to kill me.¡± Her eyes sparked with interest, narrowing slightly. Fuck, Tyler thought, did I say too much? ¡°Those creatures are Lord Severen¡¯s servants,¡± she said, her tone low and skeptical. ¡°They¡¯re only meant to guide us¡ªthey can¡¯t harm you. They¡¯re bound to serve. Tyler smirked, leaning in a little. ¡°Yeah? Maybe he nudged me just enough that I tried to kill myself¡ªreal subtle, that one. Slipped me a gem and said ¡®go nuts,¡¯ then watched me fry.¡± He tapped his chest where the Ability Gem had burned, playing it off with a shrug. ¡°Point is, I¡¯m still breathing.¡± She tilted her head, not quite buying it but not walking away either. ¡°I really need to know what to expect in this place,¡± he added, dropping the grin for a second. ¡°When I got dragged here, they didn¡¯t tell me shit¡ªSeveren kept it all vague as hell. What¡¯s the deal?¡± Her gaze flicked up to the balcony, then back to him. ¡°Look, we¡¯re contestants in a dungeon,¡± she said, voice steady. ¡°Those nobles up there? They place bets on us. Our goal¡¯s simple¡ªsurvive long enough to hit Tier 4.¡± ¡°Tier 4?¡± Tyler cut in, eyebrow cocked. ¡°What, like I level up and get a gold star? Then what?¡± She didn¡¯t flinch¡ªthe humor sailed right over her head. ¡°When you make it that far, you¡¯re allowed to either join Severen¡ªor claw your way out to somewhere else in this realm. Your call, if you don¡¯t die first.¡± ¡°Alright, cool,¡± Tyler said, smirking. ¡°Thought I was gonna have to fight Godzilla or some shit.¡± Another reference lost on her¡ªher blank stare was almost cute. She tilted her head, eyeing him now. ¡°What world are you from? You have a strange way of speaking. Are you human, like those ones over there?¡± Her finger¡ªnails painted red to match her hair¡ªpointed at a cluster of rough-looking humans across the room. She was growing on him, green skin and all. ¡°Human, yeah,¡± he said, leaning into it. ¡°From a place called ¡®Merica, as some say. Land of the free, home of the brave¡ªand shitty coffee.¡± Shit, he thought, mind snagging on Sandy. How long had it been¡ªweeks, months, years since that elevator crushed him? Was she still slinging drinks at Caf¨¦ Royale, sassing customers? This chick kinda reminded him of her¡ªnot the green skin or the face that could burn holes or ears that could poke eyes out, but that sass Tyler always vibed with. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. He shook it off, flashing the grin again. ¡°Where you from, Red? Somewhere with better manners than this dump, I hope.¡± ¡°Unlike you, I wasn¡¯t summoned from some other universe,¡± she said, her voice flat but edged with something heavy. ¡°That costs a ton of energy. I¡¯m from an edge world¡ªone being claimed by our Lord Vacuus.¡± She said in mock reverence. Tyler cocked an eyebrow. ¡°Being claimed? What, like a mortgage? Your world didn¡¯t pay its bills or something?¡± He glanced around¡ªpurple flames flickering, obsidian decorations glinting, the light bending in ways that made no damn sense. ¡°So are there places that don¡¯t look like this haunted-ass funhouse? What¡¯s it called?¡± ¡°Lamaora,¡± she said, unfazed by his jab. ¡°It¡¯s only been around about 120,000 years.¡± ¡°Only?¡± Tyler snorted. ¡°My apartment¡¯s older than that¡ªor feels like it.¡± He leaned in, grin widening. ¡°So what¡¯s the deal with this claiming shit?¡± She didn¡¯t bite at the humor. ¡°My parents say our ancestors came from another universe, like you. But me?¡± Her eyes flicked to the balcony, then back. ¡°They sold me into this game¡ªthought a rare Core might win favor with Siruc. Damn,¡± Tyler said, letting out a low whistle. ¡°Sold you like slavery? Cold world.¡± He paused, scratching his jaw. ¡°Mine was cold too, once. Few hundred years back, I¡¯d have been a slave myself¡ªchained up, no ¡®Merica bullshit.I feel for you, seriously. ¡± The tension was creeping up, thick as bar smoke, so he flashed a grin to cut it. ¡°It''s a cold world, but I can keep you¡ª¡± ¡°Fresh meat¡¯s chatty,¡± a gravelly voice growled behind him. Tyler spun to see scar-lip stomping up¡ªbuilt like a World of Warcraft block, all bulk and broad shoulders that didn¡¯t match the rest of his frame. Dude carried a two-handed axe, its head the size of Tyler¡¯s torso, gleaming like it¡¯d slice him in half cleaner than a deli cutter. Not some piece-of-shit hand-me-down like Tyler¡¯s gear¡ªthis thing was crafted, mean. The beast towered over him, and Tyler gulped down saliva like a cartoon character, throat bobbing loud. ¡°How¡¯s it going, big dog?¡± he said, forcing a grin to ease the buildup. Eyes swung their way¡ªgreen-skins, long-ears, humans¡ªcrowd forming, all stares pinned on him and this moose-faced freak. Up close, its face was mostly human¡ªif a human got drunk and hooked up with a moose. Snout, not a nose, jutted out, slick and shiny, catching the purple flames like a damn spotlight. ¡°So you¡¯re the reason we¡¯ve been waiting days?¡± it rumbled, voice like rocks grinding. There it was¡ªthe question Tyler¡¯d dodged with Vlad and Wormpool, too busy bullshitting to ask. Don¡¯t beat yourself up, he thought, shrugging it off. ¡°Yeah, sorry, man¡ªmy ring malfunctioned or some shit. Took the scenic route.¡± The gray-fur beast¡ªshort fuzz, not skin, he saw now¡ªdidn¡¯t crack a smile. Not even a twitch. Before scar-lip could open his moose-maw again, a loud boom slammed into Tyler¡¯s eardrums, deep and rattling like a bass drop at a shitty club, but heavier¡ªless a gong¡¯s clang and more a wall of sound rolling down from the balcony level. The air shifted, thick with it, and Tyler¡¯s chest vibrated faintly. Up top, the suave bastards in their capes stirred¡ªlaughter fading, footsteps shuffling as they drifted to their polished seats, settling in like vultures circling a fresh kill. Shit, man, Tyler thought, neck prickling. I think it¡¯s about to start. The crowd below went still, breaths held, eyes darting up. Even Red¡¯s pointy ears twitched, her gaze flicking to the balcony then back to him, like she was waiting for something to drop. The silence stretched, heavy and unnatural, until a voice cut through it¡ªlow, resonant, like Wormpool¡¯s Batman growl but smoother, clearer, dripping with authority. ¡°I present,¡± it began, each word deliberate, echoing off the obsidian walls, ¡°Harbinger of the Hollow Star, Warden of the Last Silence, Bearer of the Umbral Crown, Voidfather of the Hollow Kin, Living Lord of Bakarus Vine¡ªAcolyte Severen Siruc, The Master of the Bleeding Sea.