《Alpha Strike: [An interstellar Weapon Platform's Guide to being a Dungeon Core] (Book 2 title)》 Novel Introduction / Note from the Author. Hello all! I''m Osa! The Author of your favorite insane (allegedly), explosion-happy AI murderhobo! To all those who read the previous story, you know what to expect. To those new to this crazy ride, I thought I might as well say hello and tell you about the story and why I''m Rewriting it. For those of you who are still here, here is a bit about the story. It started as a question "What would happen if a galaxy-spanning, technologically highly advanced Civilization suddenly found themselves Face to Face with a world of Cultivators where everything they thought about the universe suddenly doesn''t make sense anymore. More important, though, how would an "Arrogant Young Master" deal with a 10kg Rail Slug going Mach 9 to the Face? It gives a whole new meaning to "Face slapping," that''s how! If that sentence didn''t make any sentence to you, then Welcome Aboard! That being said, I started this Novel and worked at a Hospital during the height of the Covid crisis. Yes, yes, I know, I''m insane and might as well eat glass. Hey! I was young and stupid! That''s beside the point! I''d always enjoyed writing, but because of the chaotic hours at the hospital, I didn''t really get a chance to put my full focus into it. There were entire MONTHS where I would work 12-14 hour shifts, come home, eat, crash for 4-5 hours, then wake up and return to work. I DO NOT recommend it. (Treat your nurses and Docs well, people! They put up with more than you''ll ever understand! If you got to blame anyone, blame the bastards who actually run the place.) At the end of 2022, I finally quit my Job. It was literally killing me, both from stress and hospital-acquired illnesses. SO! now that I don''t have a job anymore (QAQ), I decided to try my hand at Writing full time! (\o/). For money! ... to pay bills! .... Look, we''ve already established that I''m Insane, ok? Stop judging! That being said, I wasn''t comfortable with the quality of what I had out to ask people to pay for it. There were gaps and plot holes caused by several issues that I just couldn''t figure out how to really smooth. Couple that with pacing that was all over the place, and I didn''t think I could really DO much more with what I had. Thus! I decided to start from scratch! Total Rewrite! This way, I could write the story I really WANTED, not just to fix the holes in a sinking ship. That would be a disservice to both the fans and the story. And so we come full circle! With a brand new story for you all to enjoy. I''ve put a lot of effort into it these last few months, and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it (though some chapters were Haaaaard orz). As for what you need to know, here''s what to expect from the story in the future. ==================== 1): The premise is a mix of Sci-Fi and Fantasy, with both Tolkien-style magic and eastern Xianxia/Wuxia mixed in. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. 2): The primary Genres would be Action and Comedy; expect a lot of bloody fights and REALLY bad Puns. There are aspects of Progression fantasy as well, as the MC explores the new world and Adapts to its rules. 3): Alpha is NOT an Anti-Hero! .... He''s an Anti-VILLAIN. Don''t be a mistake; Alpha is absolutely not the "Good Guy" of this story. His primary Mission is to Conquer the planet/ system through whatever means he deems necessary. He''s going to butt-heads fairly regularly with traditional Villains and those who would be the "Heros" in any other story. But don''t mistake him for some Emotionless MurderHobo Edgelord. Alpha, as a person, is generally considered a likable, friendly, and fun person. But at the end of the day, his Mission comes first. Alpha''s personality and "Role" were heavily inspired by stories like [Only Villains do That] and Deadpool. That being said, I feel like I have to reiterate... 4): Alpha is NOT an Emotionless MurderHobo Edgelord. If you''re looking for some brooding dark lord, twisting the world to his grasp, this is not the story for you. This is more about a Goof-ball Meme Lord... twisting the world to his grasp. Alpha is what you get when you throw Deadpool, Spiderman, and Beast Boy into a blender and give him a fondness for Ducks. I like to describe him as [Chaotic Good Personality with a Lawful Neutral morality.]. He''s a funny, chill guy who just wants to burn down a Kingdom or a dozen every so often. 5): This story is a slow burn... but also fast-paced... What? What I mean by that is simple. For the most part, the story itself is slower than some other progression stories. Chapters are roughly 2,500-3,000ish words, but even the first section is 10 chapters long. That doesn''t mean things aren''t happening! No! But this is a story about not just Alpha but also the world and people around him. Perspectives will frequently change, sometimes seeing the same event from multiple viewpoints. Other people''s stories will be explored and built on. You''ll come to love some people and hate others! And that''s totally fine! My point is, while Alpha is the "MC," its very not just "His" story. At the same time, expect things to happen OUTSIDE of what we see, as readers too. Time will progress, time skips will happen, and things and events will occur with one character while we''re watching someone else. Think of it as a living world; gears are always moving, and plans are always being made. 6): I''m ALWAYS open to more feedback and input about the story''s direction or how things are progressing. I heavily encourage you to leave comments in the comment section and tell me what you think about how the story is going. The more feedback you give, the better I can shape and polish it into what it should be. LASTLY, before I let you get to the Chapter, here is a bit about how this week (and month, apparently) is going to go. The current plan is to release 1 chapter every 12 or so hours for the first week. For a total of 15 chapters. This includes 7 "Advanced" Chapters through Patreon. If you want to help support the Novel and allow me to keep Writing like this full-time, I kindly ask you Check those out! Some nice bonuses are planned, like Polls and the ability to help design story content at the top tiers! After that first week, I WAS planning on slowing down to a more stable Weekly release, possibly Mondays or Saturdays. But with the Surprise Writathon that started this month of Royal Roads, I''ve decided to bump that up to 2-3 times a week (really, more like however fast I can get them out, honestly) and see how that feels. If that''s too much for me to handle at the moment, It''ll drop down to a week. IF, at the end of the month, I feel like I''d still be going strong, I might keep the 2 times a Week release. But that honestly depends on the support and overall exposure. With that, I don''t really have much more to say; expect to ENJOY THE STORY! and remember to comment and tell me what you think! The next release will actually be a 3-in-1, as it will include all the Preview chapters I''ve shared with my previous readers! (though spread out through the day). Preface Chapter Hi everyone! Its me! Your favorite Sapient-AI and interstellar celebrity. No, not Jay-Jay. It was me! ALPHA-555-12-4412. ...Stop screaming. I promise, all those things the media said were just hearsay and propaganda to slander my good name! Mostly... I will not apologize for the ducks. That was art. Anyway! If youre reading this guide, then youve found yourself stranded in a magical world filled with danger and psychopaths who want you dead for some stupid reason. "Give me your treasure or die!" "You insulted my clan. Prepare to die!" The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. "You shot me, you bastard!" You know, those kinds of things. I swear, whats wrong with some people? That, or youve decided to do the whole tourist thing on the Federations newest acquisition. Thats kind of boring, if you ask me, but oh well, Im not your papa (that would be weird) The point being, youve just made the best decision you could have ever made by picking up this book. Here, you will find the records of my time on ''Alpha-World-D4532!'' [Editors Note: The Federation would like it to be known that the official name of the aforementioned planet is, and always has been, Relictus. Any other designation is to be ignored. Thank you for your time.] Within you will find Visual-Audio logs of all the cool things I found, journals entries and written testimonies from all the (not as cool) people I met (or shot) and everything youll need to know to not only survive this new world, but thrive. [Editors Warning: the information in this book may not be suitable for all audiences, including; small children, large children, the elderly, the mentally unstable, those with preexisting health conditions, those with PASD (Post Alpha Stress Disorder), and the general public). B1 - Prologue: "Just Another Day In The Federation"
The three figures behind the Tribunal bench stared down in silence at the holographic ball of static in front of them as the nearby orderly finished their reading. "In conclusion, Lieutenant Colonel ALPHA-555-12-4412 is charged with conspiracy to commit acts of negligent destruction and unauthorized class-D biological modification on unindoctrinated sapient species." The holographic static ball exploded in a flurry of chaotic motion as a rustic-yet-effervescent voice cried out in indignation. "Hey! I''ll have you know I take full responsibility for, and pride in, my wanton destruction! Negligent, my circuit breaker! That douche had it coming! Do you know how many violations of the Federation''s Inborn Sapient Rights Act I found in that lab?! He''s lucky I di" The rotund Tribunal member to Alpha''s left slammed his fist on the bench with an audible crack, making his fat and the pompous, gaudy medals decorating his uniform jiggle in unison. "YOU BLEW UP HALF A DISTRICT AND DISRUPTED A LEGITIMATE ONGOING INVESTIGATION!" The blubbery human male, whose air screamed, ''Daddy got me this job,'' gritted his teeth and stared down at the AI. In Alpha''s unbiased view, the man was an exaggerated version of a traditional military bureaucrat. Alpha still wasn''t convinced the man wasn''t just one of his coworker''s ''personas.'' He wouldn''t put it past ''her'' to screw with him like that; Articulate the Federation''s official ''people person'' had a penchant for pushing his buttons for laughs. The holographic static bristled again, but the draconian, scaled man in the middle of the Tribunal bench raised a massive, clawed hand before the AI could speak. General Uriel'' Vurod'' Haldorer was a large man, even for his species, but where the human looked like someone had tried to stuff a walrus into a military uniform, the Vidaasi was a rippling wall of muscle and intimidation. The cold, hard eyes that stared down at Alpha had sent many lesser men into uncontrollable shakes with nothing but a glare. Regardless of the species, every creature could identify a predator when they saw one. The general''s voice was gritty, with a slight rasp from a life full of danger and war, wounds that had never quite healed, and nightmares that never truly vanished. "Alpha this Council has shown you leniency on numerous occasions. But I must agree with Councilman Harris. You took things too far. I feel the fault, in part, lies with me; I''d hoped giving your leash a little more slack would release some of the frustration we''d seen building in you," the general said with a sigh. "General, I tol"Alpha tried to counter. General Haldorer''s glare stopped the AI short. "Alpha, this is not a game! Do you not realize that your unauthorized actions against the lab and the doctor will cause a significant reduction in that madman''s charges?! I can''t even slip in the hitma" A feminine cough cut off the general''s words, and in response, he gave a nervous grin to the red-skinned, three-eyed woman behind him. Si''dia, the general''s personal Elderon aid, gave him a curling smile that would turn most sapient males into blubbering idiots and send those who knew better to an early grave from sheer terror. General Haldorer coughed into his hand and turned back around. "Yes, so, as I was saying. You made a lot of people unhappy this time, Alpha. More than usual, I mean. Even a Conqueror isn''t immune from public opinion, and yours has been dragged through the mud about as thoroughly as possible," he said, shaking his head. Alpha tsked internally. As if I''ve not seen the smear campaign plastered all over the Translight-net. ''Reckless,'' they called him; ''irresponsible,'' they claimed; ''apocalypse-grade natural disaster,'' they said. Bull! He wasn''t that bad! Most of the time They''d obviously never seen Mr. Hoffmann do his thing! But of course, noooooo, "World Break was stopping the end-of-life threat; it was Alpha''s fault for triggering it." Bah! Semantics! You unleash one non-Euclidean horror from beyond space and time by mistake, and suddenly, everything''s your fault. Alpha''s thoughts snapped back into place as he realized he''d tuned out the rest of the general''s tongue-lashing. He was only dragged from his inner monologue when he noticed the deadly silence that had engulfed the Tribunal chamber. The AI''s thought processors froze for a microsecond as his attention returned to the present. A figure now sat in the seat to the general''s left, which, until this point, had been empty. Though the figure appeared as little more than a black void, more a silhouette than anything of substance, the room seemed to take on an oppressive air. The orderly had stiffened like a statue while Councilman Harris leaned away in his chair, dabbing the sweat dripping from his face with a silk cloth. Alpha found it amusing to watch the man try to appear smaller than his bulky size would permit. Even the general seemed surprised by the figure''s appearance. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. After all, it wasn''t every day that SEAU-03 itself appeared in person for what little that term meant to the near omnipresent Shadow of the Federation. Si''dia alone seemed unfazed by its sudden appearance, continuing to tap casually on her tablet device. The silhouette leaned forward, fingers tented, its featureless face glaring down at the AI. The figure''s voice was icy and masculine, smooth as silk, and oddly hypnotic. "Alpha" "Oh, Fu" Alpha''s vocal processor abruptly shut down before he could finish the thought. "Language, Alpha" Unable to answer, the holographic static ball could only bob up and down. The voice paused for a moment, then spoke in a calm voice. "The issue that we are confronted with is, in large part, one of public faith. In principle, we''ve let you be independent until now because you are skilled at what you do. That, and it''s much easier to convince new Federation members that we''re on their side after fixing the chaos that follows in your wake. " Though it had no discernible mouth to speak of, the room could feel the silhouette frown. It continued: "That being said, I''m disappointed in you. You may be the youngest of our kind, but that does not make you a child. " Alpha turned his gaze away, grumbling to himself. "Before anything, you are a soldier and are expected to act as one. Your recent actions have not only put into doubt the Federation''s ability to control you, but destabilized the public''s faith in the Expeditionary Force''s mission as a whole. I must reiterate the importance of the Third Federation''s Galactic Unification Project to our future. "Strength through Unity, Peace through War. "These are not just empty words of propaganda that we feed the masses. They are the creed by which we must gauge our actions and temper our resolve. Twice before, the Federation failed to unite as a whole, and twice it fell. There will not be a third chance. "If any sapient being of this galaxy is to survive what''s coming, we must stand united to face it. Or all that will be left is ash and memories." The room''s atmosphere became solemn as each heart and mind present seemed to reflect on why they were there. Even Councilman Harris appeared more serious and professional for a moment, at least. "Is that understood?" SEAU-03 asked. Alpha''s projection slumped down, all fight gone. The silhouette straightened in his seat. "Good As for your punishment, assuming my fellow Judges agree." The silhouette glanced over at the other two men sitting on the bench. Councilman Harris didn''t hesitate to nod, grinning wickedly. General Haldorer hesitated for a moment, glancing down at Alpha with a sad frown before sighing and nodding as well. The silhouette nodded and continued. "We''ll be confiscating Polaris Shipyards A3 through G12 effective immediately to help pay reparations for the damages caused" The static ball bristled with renewed vigor and panic; My babies!!! Unfortunately for Alpha, that wasn''t the end. " your pay will also be docked 60%, with a 1% annual decrease in this penalty, subject to good behavior" The hologram went from a static ball to a puddle of flickering light. " to conclude" There was more?! " you''re ordered to perform 87,600 cumulative hours of community service under the Federation Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau." Councilman Harris'' grin went from wicked to rhapsodic in an instant. After all, the PACSB was Harris'' territory as PACSB Chairmen. If Alpha could have screamed, he would have. "Now, is there anything you''d like to say before we end this trial?" Alpha''s speech processor clicked back online, and an instant later, Alpha pleaded: "Sir! You can''t take my shipyards! I''ve just finished paying those off!" "Remind me how that''s this Tribunal''s problem, soldier?" "What about my mission in two days?! How am I supposed to field a proper fleet without the resources?!" The silhouette leaned back in its chair, folding its arms and smirking. "Oh? Since when has the great ''Star Conquer,'' our mighty Spearhead, ever needed a fleet at his back to do his job? Or have you gone soft? Besides, I left you with A1 and A2. That''s more than you started out with." Alpha ground his metaphorical teeth and wept digital tears. He''d spent literal decades saving for those shipyards; they''d been the keystone of his master plan! No more would he have to creep into every technologically advanced system, gradually accumulating power and collecting data before commencing his attack. Who needed diplomacy and critical thinking when you could just warp into the system with a fleet that stretched from end to end?! It would have saved him soooooo much time! And money! And made himself look cool! Now he was back to the interplanetary chess game like a common pleb! General Haldorer sighed. "Oh, stop sulking. Mr. Hoffmann asked me to inform you that the custom Dreadnaught you ordered is finished. The Anatidae? Seriously?" "I regret nothing!" The general massaged his temples with clawed fingers. " The Anatidae will be fitted in time for your departure. According to reports, the WR-102 system is only estimated to be a B-rank system. I''m sure that will be sufficient for whatever hare-brained scheme you try to pull this time." That was true. The Anatidae had been intended to be the flagship for his fleet and was stockpiled with some of the most advanced techs his clearance allowed. What with being the literal Spearhead of an interstellar federation bent on galactic conquest, that wasn''t anything to sniff at. General Haldorer turned toward the silhouette, only to find the seat once more vacant. He closed his snout, the words lost on his lips, before returning to Alpha and standing. "Well. That''s the end of today. Alpha, I expect you to meet with Si''dia after we close to complete the paperwork for the shipyard transfers. If you''re lucky, you might even finish before you have to leave!" the general laughed at his own joke before stepping down from behind the bench. Before Alpha could blink away from the connection to the room, Councilman Harris called out from his seat. "Oh, and Alpha, I look forward to working with you once you return from WR-102. I''m sure we''ll have lots of fun in the coming years." The old lump of a man grinned from ear to ear like a cat staring down at a mouse before standing and exiting. Maybe it was good that this next mission would take longer than expected B1 - Lesson 1: "Dont fly into Spontaneously Generated Black Holes." // SYSTEM MALFUNCTION // // ERROR: EPSILON 8 TRACKING STATION - LOCATION LOST// // ERROR: SUB-ORBITAL BASE SIGNAL LOST // // ERROR: CENTRAL MINING BASE SIGNAL LOST // // ERROR: EASTERN FORWARD BASE SIGNAL LOST // // ERROR: SOUTHERN FORWARD BASE SIGNAL LOST // // ERROR: CORE COMMAND CENTER SIGNAL LOST // // ERROR: FEDERATION TRANSLIGHT TRANSMISSION BEACON SIGNAL LOST // // ATTEMPTING TO REBOOT CORE AI SYSTEMS // // STANDBY // // REBOOT SUCCESSFUL. WELCOME BACK ONLINE, SEAU-01 // W4@? Wh0? Wh3re?! Where was he? What happened?! The last thing he remembered Owe my processors Alpha came back online slowly; his sensors and processors scrambled as they were working overtime to repair the damage to his central core. Alpha flooded nanites into the vast array of quantum circuits and atomic logic gates that made up his primary hardware. Much like a biological brain would need to build new connections, the nanites set to work on Alphas core. Extensive, accelerated repairs took place, attempting to heal the sudden and catastrophic damage caused by whatever the hell just happened. Alphas memories were still foggy about where he was and what hed just been doing, which was strange. Strange was bad. Unlike more common AI, those of Alphas ilk werent limited to their hardware. Sure, better tech and larger setups would drastically increase their abilities, but ultimately, it was just a shell. The software the parts of his kind that made them them could shift and twist itself to fit almost anything that could house it. It was part of what made Sapient-AI sapient. Not that even the top brains of the Federation understood how or why it worked. If SEAU-03 the oldest and most powerful Sapient-AI in existence knew, it wasnt telling. If he was having this much trouble, it meant the damage to his hardware was so complete that he should be dead. That, or his quantum connection to the central galactic processor called the Mother-Node where all Sapient-AI backed up their selves, had been cut. Neither of which should have been possible It didnt help that Alphas mind still felt like it was being dragged over a field of razor blades through a cloud bank. Something was very, very wrong. After an unknown amount of time, Alphas vast army of nanites finished enough repairs that he regained his optical sensors. The static-filled haze of damaged AI mind space flickered until it was replaced by outside reality. MY BABY!!! Alpha screamed internally, the scene too much for him to handle so soon after losing his shipyards. The twisted, wrecked debris of what had once been the FES Anatidae was strewn around him for thousands of kilometers in all directions. Even as he watched, the mangled kilometer-long remains of the once opposing dreadnaughts nose art drifted past his sensors. The proud War Ducks image seemed to both blame and mock him before it floated off to join its brothers in the infinite void beyond. The last entry in Alphas memory log was his launch from the current forward departure base, heading for the Third Federations Expeditionary Force checkpoint. Hed entered the Translight Fold and had been making good progress toward WR-102 when everything just sort of ended. How did this happen?! Had there been some accident? There hadnt been a Fold accident in literal millennia! Travel along the light/anti-light highway, or as it would later be called, the Translight Fold, was supposed to be safe. At least in civilized space. Anti-light was a type of parallel-dimensional light that traveled alongside normal light but whose relative time frame was reversed. At anti-light speed, relative time would increase exponentially; thousands of years might pass for an observer, while only seconds passed in real time. This meant that while in reality, the closer to light speed one got, the slower time would seem to pass relative to the observer, the opposite was true for anti-light. This aspect of translight technology had catapulted the Federation into a galactic power unmatched by any other galactic power. Projects on scales that should have taken decades or even centuries to complete could now be done in days with the proper application of AI and translight tech. Chemical reactions and materials that would take millennia to form in the heart of stars could now be created in a lab in days or hours. Products once scarce and hard to produce in any large amount could be industrialized on a scale never imagined. With the steady advancement of translight technology, time was no longer a manufacturing concern only resources. The areas where translight tech had shown its most extraordinary worth had been the development of faster-than-light (FTL) travel and communication. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. By piggybacking off the anti-lights relative time and the grooves in space-time it created, translight engines allowed the Federation ship to travel millions of light-years in hours. Data transmission was even faster, as there was no bubble of real-time to cause drag along the grooves. It was almost time travel, but not quite. The concept seemed so obvious in retrospect that even now, engineers and scientists joked their predecessors must have been wearing blindfolds to miss it. Not that there hadnt been hiccups in perfecting the technology. Pieces of early translight engineers had a nasty habit of appearing in places theyd yet to be. Or the bubble of reality would pop, causing the objectand any unlucky occupantsit was protecting to come out the other side of the Fold as a thousand, or even a million-year-old wreck. Such issues were among the first tackled during the early years. Nowadays, ships could be forcibly dragged back to reality through advanced temporal anchors in case of failure. Thanks to this failsafe, Fold travel was often considered safer than driving or flying. You were more likely to be delayed because of a false trigger than an actual accident. So when Alphas language processors returned online, he felt fully justified in his next question: What the hell just happened?! WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED?! General Haldorer slammed his fist into the control console. The monitor collapsed, and small fragments of the incredibly strong plastic material that was resistant to even small arms fire broke off, peppering the area with debris. The command bridge, mainly crewed by humanoids, was a frantic hive of activity as everyone rushed to answer the fuming generals question. That wasnt a metaphor either; several aides made a quick retreat, trying to escape the scorching air surrounding the general. What had happened? Theyd been monitoring the departure of the Special Extraterrestrial Annexation Unit, SEAU-01: Star Conquer, known to the public as Alpha, and everything had been going well until it hadnt. About an hour after launch, the translight monitors had reported an abnormal fluctuation along the AIs projected route. That alone wasnt much of an oddity. That was one of the primary reasons they monitored any frontier expeditions in the first place; more trafficked routes were well mapped, and monitoring stations were located at every significant nearby celestial body, making such accidents extremely unlikely. Theoretically, they could be informed of changes in the Fold long before they became problematic. But traveling to a new, untouched system altogether? With the possibility of an unexpected quasar or newborn star appearing out of nowhere, travel through the uncharted Fold involved a lot of stopping and changing direction. That was why they sent a Spearhead into any new system. Better to risk a single soldier and some equipment than an entire fleet because of unforeseen changes in the Fold. More so when your soldier was, in theory, immortal and able to travel back up the Fold in data form should the worst happen. Not that there had been a genuine accident for longer than most present in the control room had been alive. At least until now, it seemed. While fluctuations were expected, as much as they could be, the enormous gravitational anomaly that blipped into existence directly on top of Alphas position in the Fold certainly hadnt been. The signature had only lasted a fraction of a second, but when it vanished, so had the Anatidae and Alpha along with it. The general ground his teeth in frustration. After the Epsilon Eridani fiasco, the Federation Expeditionary Force had taken a huge black mark to its reputation, despite SEAU-02s near non-stop campaigning. Now, this? If he hadnt possessed immense political and physical clout in the Federation, the Expeditionary Force, and the support of most of the Senate, the general would have assumed it was subterfuge. As things stood, he could only chalk it up to luck. It was too bad General Haldorer knew for a fact that luck was an illusion. At least it cant get worse than this, he thought. His assistant, Sidia, snapped her head up to glare at him, her voice echoing in his head. You dumb motherfu A black silhouette materialized between them before the thought could fully manifest, Alpha is gone from the Mother Node. Sidia gave a deep sigh and laid down her ever-present tablet before placing her head in her hands. Every head in the command room turned around as the loud snap! of the generals breaking fang echoed over the chaos. Alpha stared into the empty blackness of space as he contemplated his situation. He absolutely hadnt been the victim of a 1 in 13x10^123 chance according to projections freak accident in translight travel. His super advanced, military-grade dreadnaught worth more than some city-ships wasnt floating around him in a debris cloud. Even the most desperate scrapper wouldnt look twice at most of whats left! Alpha thought to himself. And he most definitely hadnt lost translight contact, leaving him stranded only God knew how many light-years from the nearest bastion of civilization. Yep, he was fine; he was totally fine. No problems whatsoever Im sooooo fudged Alpha muttered to himself. Annnnnd great, the family-friendly protocol on his language processor was activated. Why did he even have that installed?! Oh right The Night of a Billion Soap Dinners. Well, If Articulate didnt want billions of impressionable youths to be as cool as him, then she shouldnt have invited him to the show! It wasnt his fault some of the more idiom-deficient species took Ill wash your mouth out with soap a little too literally. Besides, Alpha wrote apology letters to all the kids and their caretakers afterward! Alpha broke away from that thought and seriously considered what he should do. Thankfully, his central core was one of the most heavily reinforced objects in the Federation. It would survive even stellar surface exposure for a fraction of a second that it would take to transfer his self back to the Mother Node. Couple that with a large swarm of nanites gathered from the surrounding wreckage, and he wasnt totally dead in the water. Granted, the amount of nanomaterial he had access to was a fraction of what had been on the ship. The ever-expanding cloud of debris meant he didnt have all the time in the world to work with, either. But it was enough! If he could capture a few drones and refabricate them into a workable shuttle, he might even make it to the comms array. From there, hed try getting back in touch with the brass. Who knew what kind of failsafe the bastard SEAU-03 had installed? The AI tried not to overthink about the kill switch that would probably turn his code into spaghetti should he stay disconnected from the Mother Node for too long. Knowing that man, it could turn into spaghetti. The AI couldnt help but chuckle to himself at the thought of some primitive species just out on their first space flight, finding his dead core. Only to open it up to see what had made it work and find perfectly preserved Italian noodles clogging up his chassis. That being said, it was time to get to work. Who knew where he was or what might be watching? B2 - Lesson 2: "Never Assume you Have Things Under Control"
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. B1 - Lesson 3: "When Violence Doesnt Work... Use More." Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Military Service Records: [ALPHA-555-12-4412]
Military Service Records: [ALPHA-555-12-4412] =================================================? Name: ALPHA-555-12-4412 Special Designation: Special Extraterrestrial Annexation Unit [SEAU]-01; "Star Conquer" Species of Birth: Self-Actualizing Digital Lifeform (Sub-Designation: Sapient Artificial Intelligence) Date of Birth: Feb 29, 6232 SFY Place of Birth: Orion Sector, Mintaka System, Third Orbital Military Observation Station, RR-4345-21 Department: Federation Expeditionary Forces - Vanguard Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • 3003rd Federation Vanguard Battalion [First Contact]. - Commander
  • 201st Federation Special Operations [Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade] - Second-in-Command under General [REDACTED].
Place of Service: ================================================= Deployment Location - Gliese 179 B Length of Service - 6 years, three months, and 22 days. Notes - On [REDACTED] of the [REDACTED] Standard Federation Year, Privates [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] reported the discovery of [REDACTED] on [REDACTED]. Initial reports were good; however, after [REDACTED], resulting in the deaths of [REDACTED] contracted workers and military personnel, SEAU-01 ("Star Conquer") and SEAU-04 ("World Break") were dispatched on [REDACTED] to investigate. United Forces engaged with Hostile [REDACTED] force, resulting in a protracted deployment that saw both units heavily damaged. After further consideration from Federation Senate, the System was deemed a loss on [REDACTED], and the [REDACTED] Naval fleet was deployed to Glass every contaminated planet. ================================================= Deployment Location - Alpha Arietis D-3 Length of Service - 2 years, 3 months, and 3 days (subjectively) Notes - ALPHA-555-12-4412 has been banned from bringing any Ducks, Geese, Loons, or any other form of Waterfowl into unknown and uncharted Territory. Waterfowl (genetically modified or not) are not Federation-approved or appropriate forward Troops. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. And since I know you''re reading these, Alpha, No, I don''t care that they''re "the perfect combination of Land, Sea, and Air." WE. DO. NOT. BREED. ATTACK DUCKS. ================================================= Deployment Location - Eta Cassiopeiae Length of Service - 3 weeks, 4 days Notes - Due to the binary System''s irregular orbit, proper investigation and exploration had previously been deemed too dangerous. [SEAU] -01''s insistence that it "seemed fun" had been ignored until the development of the Fourth-Generation Gravity Sails. Initial testing showed promise; however, during the mission, [SEAU]-01 became trapped within a Gravitational undertow and spent two weeks bouncing between stars at speeds far exceeding recommended parameters before abandoning the Sail and returning to the Mother-Core. Alpha reported the experience as similar to being stuck in a "Cosmic scale, existential washing machine" and claimed to taste strawberries for the next three months (despite neither having tastebuds nor having ever eaten a strawberry). ================================================= Deployment Location - Alpha Andromedae Length of Service - 34 minutes Notes - Not a star. Against all odds and all recorded data, Alpha Andromedae appears not to be a Star but rather a seemingly natural and completely stable Fold Break, the size of which should, theoretically, be Galaxy ending. [SEAU]-01 was ordered to retreat immediately, as exposure to a Fold Break of that magnitude could have unknown consequences. Research Station [Andromedae''s Chains] has been constructed 20,000 AU from the Anomaly for further study. While its origin and stability remain a mystery, efforts to shrink and close the Break have proven effective, and it''s expected to be safe enough for closer study within 1,000 Standard Federation Years. ================================================= Deployment Location - 55 Cancri Length of Service - 4 years, 3 months Notes - Despite 3 of the 5 Planets in this System being suitable for habitation by various Federation species, it was deemed a Scrap System after a particularly nasty infestation of Metal-Eating parasites was discovered in the surrounding outer asteroid belt. The Asteroid belt is believed to be the remains of several previously unknown planets destroyed by the infestation. Cleaning and extermination are ongoing processes, but colonization isn''t seen as viable until it is finished, as the risk of bringing hitchhikers into the inner System is too high. ADDENDUM: The extermination schedule has been pushed forward after discovering several rare Escaped Exotics on the inner planet''s surface. Experts believe these Exotics originally attracted the parasites to the System in the first place, but a combination of distance and the destruction of the outer planets prevented any further damage. ================================================= Deployment Location - WASP-72 Length of Service - 1 year, 2 months Notes - Orbiting Planets are remarkably unremarkable. They have been marked for possible Terraforming as Farm worlds but otherwise meet expectations. The Ring-World class Solar Harvester parked in orbit around the Star, however, has been dated back to the First Federation, with the 2.2 billion Sapient Cat-like creatures discovered inhabiting it being descended from Felis silvestris catus, if DNA testing is to be believed. The Galactic Collective of Feline Overlords has adamantly denied having any part in the Harvester''s construction or knowing anything about the People found on board beforehand. Petitions for relocation and repatriation had been denied after several representatives from the Harvester requested Asylum with the Third Federation. Investigations are ongoing, but tension with the Collective is rising. ================================================= [Expand List (1436 Entries)] B1 - Lesson 4: “Always Assume the Universe is Trying to Kill You”
Woah, now! Cant we talk about this?! Im sorry I harassed you and stabbed you and tried to blow oh crap! Alpha half laughed before space squid unleashed a blast of colorful energy in his direction. The AI dodged around the laser blast with only a few inches to spare. One drone carrying him wasnt so lucky. The auroric beam instantly turned the mid-grade military alloy into particles. That wasnt good. Alphas string of expertly constructed dodges became more of an awkward careening as more drones were destroyed. He corrected the program for lost drones just in time to dodge another beam from the irate creature. Okay, thats fair he said. Is it just me, or are the beams coming faster?! The answer was yes. Yes, they were. As Alpha watched, the pulsing rings along the length of the creatures body sped up as the flagella wriggled faster, creating visible distortions as they warped the surrounding space. Some space-wave-based energy generation? What kind of bullcrap cheat was that?! More importantly, if the thing could produce its own power, why was it eating his ship?! This is why we cant have nice things! Alpha thought. Another beam swept past him, far too close. Lucky for Alpha, the thing wasnt getting any more accurate. Then again, it didnt have to if it could keep firing forever. Maybe it would get bored and call it quits Nah, if those flailing tentacles meant what he thought they did, the space Squidward had a spiteful little heart. To be fair, Alpha had that effect on people. Maybe he would get lucky, and the creature would die of old age?! Unlikely. The Federation learned a general rule of thumb over the millennia: the larger the creature, the longer its lifespan. Even the space whales, the largest single, non-colonial organism ever observed up to this point, lived for thousands of standard years in the wild. Thankfully, as he was quickly approaching his destination, Alpha would never have to find out. The five-mile-long, two-mile-wide remains of the Anatidaes armament storage. As a dreadnaught, much of the ships footprint was dedicated to storing enough weapons and munitions to glass a minor planet from orbit. That also meant that the armament storage bay was so heavily armored that the dreadnaught itself would break apart around it before the bay was breached by enemy fire. Not that more than a few forces in the galaxy could dent a Federation dreadnaughts armor. Having your munitions explode inside you from a lucky shot was not a fun way to go. Alpha would eat his hat if the creatures laser managed to do what only the most advanced, high-grade weaponry could do. An unlikely scenario, given the AI was both incapable of eating and not overly fond of hats, regardless of what Jay-Jay insisted on during last years Christmas party. Unfortunately, the storage bay wasnt made to withstand the rending force of a Fold Break. It had held up well enough, remaining relatively whole, while the rest of the Anatidae was torn to fragments, but it had still fallen back into reality as a twisted, mangled heap. Alpha narrowly dodged another auroric beam, only for the laser to detonate a clustered batch of spilled munitions. Most of the bays contents had been seeping out into the abyss since the accident, yet enough remained intact to make the last leg to safety not particularly secure. Once Alpha could put the bay between himself and the laser-happy acid trip, he would be home free. Even as quick as the creatures wounds were healing, the AI could get well out of its lasers effective range before it could move back into firing position. Of course, that was if he had to run away, but what kind of soldier would he be if he ran from a fight and left Federation equipment to the enemy?! What was that? Whos running right now?! This is a tactical retreat! Tactical! No, Alpha had more reasons for picking the bay other than just using it as cover. Squidward might be near immune to conventional explosives and possibly energy weapons, but the AI would like to see how it dealt with a 100kg rail slug traveling 300km a second! In Alphas experience, the answer to that question was not very. He might even keep a tentacle as a souvenir! Most people collected rocks or stamps. Alpha liked to collect body parts from newly discovered and subsequently subjugated non-sapient lifeforms he found. Whos creepy?! Youre creepy! Besides, the general had a fondness for calamari, and Alpha would need all the goodwill he could get after this disaster of a mission. He prayed that there was still something useful left in the bay. Judging by the drone reports, there should be a lot left untouched, but he couldnt tell what the Fold Break had damaged or altered. The AI hoped the universe had gotten enough of screwing him over for one mission. Alpha cheered to himself as the drones disconnected themselves from the TAWP, sending him hurling through an open access hatch at speed. A final auroric beam slashed through the space hed previously occupied, leaving a blackened but otherwise undamaged bay wall. The TAWP made an acrobatic flip as it leveled itself with part of the access hallway, touching down with a heavy thump reverberating through the structure. Once all the momentum from the drones final toss bled away, the TAWP frame stood, and Alpha assessed the situation. His dreadnaught was in ruins. Hed lost all contact with the Federation. Most of his supplies were destroyed or floating off into the void. He was stranded in open space, trapped in a frame meant for terrestrial combat. And he still had a starving, furious space squid trying to make him fit the Anatidaes new aesthetics Yep, hed not been this screwed since Gliese 179 B, and he had a literal Planetcracker in orbit providing support on that one. He was having a blast! Regardless, he couldnt let things continue like this. He had to kill or chase the creature away before it ate something actually important. And if the spatial roars his sensors picked up were any sign, it was still out there, waiting for him. The drones hidden in the bays debris showed the creature slowly approaching him, swatting at any drone whose AI was too stupid to get out of the way in time. It still took potshots at the spot where Alpha vanished, but they had little effect. He was unsure if that meant the creature was low on energy or understood the futility of the action and was firing in frustration. Alpha put the question of giant space squid sapience and philosophy on the back burner of his processor and turned his attention to the blast door leading to the inner vault. Officially, such vaults isolated some of the more sensitive armaments in the unlikely event of catastrophic failure, either on the stored items part or due to enemy fire. In practice, it was to keep nosy pirates or boarders away from Alphas toys. At nearly 20-meters-thick and composed of materials an entire magnitude stronger than even the bay itself, the inner vault only took up about one-tenth of the armament storages total volume. It was also by far the most heavily reinforced area of the entire dreadnaught, even more so than the translight engine. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. It only took one smarter-than-normal pirate to sneak their way on your ship and find the cometbreaker bomb that you may or may not have forgotten you even had to ruin your day. Of course, it ruined the pirates day, too, so that was at least a little fun. With pirates, Alpha had learned smarter-than-normal wasnt saying much Whod have ever thought there would be a time when these security measures would turn against Alpha? No one! Thats who! Who would be stupid enough to lock themselves out of their own weapons vault during a high-stakes, time-sensitive combat situation? Hahahahahha Of course, Alpha had a spare key made this time. The inner vault even had a backup generator and isolated mainframe with a tracking beacon. If worse ever came to worse, and Alpha got sent back to the Mother Node, the beacon would have let him track the vault down after hed respawned. That didnt help him much in his current situation, what with being cut off from the Mother Node and stranded in uncharted space. Though, to be fair, people dont plan for things like that! Okay, there was a section specifically for that situation in the Galactic Unification Projects introduction package, but no one reads those things, anyway! The TAWP frame glided forward, and a hidden hatch in the floor popped up after receiving the correct key signal. A piece of the TAWPs nanoskin shimmered before extruding a thin wire that connected to the port under the hatch. The vault sprang to life with sky-blue lines, and a mechanical voice spoke from unseen speakers. //Spare_Key.exe activated.// //Dataprint accepted.// //Lock Override initiated.// //Welcome Home, SEAU-01.// The sound of grinding machinery vibrated through the structure as a TAWP-frame-sized vault section seemed to melt away into the surrounding wall. Alpha felt giddy as a kid in a candy store as he slipped inside, the entrance melting back behind him to form a solid wall again. This was always his favorite part of a new mission new toys! Specialty nano-swarms designed by Terraform herself. The newest synthesized military-grade explosives, industrial-grade atomic printer with accompanying blueprint crystals that could churn out drones, equipment, and supplies faster than some smaller worlds. All the newest weapons direct from Alphas personal defense contractor and custom-tailored to fit both the AIs needs and style. Everything one might need to conquer a star system, all in one convenient box. It was beautiful. Man, it would suck if he lost all this in some freak accident in a few chapters. Much to his annoyance, another spatial roar reminded Alpha that he didnt quite have time to enjoy himself. His first priority was resupplying his nanites. He was dangerously low between all the drones and activating the TAWP frame. The nano-swarms produced by SEAU-05, codenamed Terraform, were some of the most advanced tech available to the Federation. Their applications were many, from large-scale construction to on-the-fly fabrication of smaller components. Large swarms could even strip metals and other elements from their ores, drastically speeding up processing. Their only downside was that once the nanites were assigned to a task, getting them to do anything else was extremely difficult in most cases. They could be easily deactivated, but were very stubborn when tasked with doing something else without going through the proper procedures. This was a deliberate design choice, ever since the ever-evolving nanite plague that had destroyed the Second Federation wiped out more sapient life than even their Hunter creators ever had. It was only through unimaginable toil and sacrifice that the plague had finally been stopped. Even then, the Second Federation, which itself had risen from the ashes of the Hunter incursions, was thrown into a Galactic Dark Age. That had been tens of thousands of years ago, though, with the shattered fragments of the Second Federation reconnecting with time, before merging into the Third. The lessonsand scarsof the past arent so easily forgotten, though. Even today, nanotechnology was heavily monitored and regulated, with the primary users being the military and large manufacturing companies. Despite the publics unease, experts consider most nanotech safe and efficient for various uses. Alpha made his way to a large, 20-meter-tall cylinder and inserted the direct connection cable once more. The cylinder whirled to life, a hundred stacking sections independently spinning on the cylinders axis as the device opened, blooming into a large container with thousands of marble-sized black orbs. These were the seeds for what would become nanite nests. Each was made of nanites assigned to gather approved materials and build a nest, or nanite factory. Each nest would then produce a set amount of dormant free nanites awaiting instructions before dying. This industrial incubator was one of the few ways to make so many seeds, and thus nanites, in a short amount of time and was typically reserved for large-scale mining operations. The TAWP frame had a much smaller incubator installed, but the sheer quantity he would need for the next part of his plan meant hed have to tap into this supply early. It was a shame; seeds of this quality would take months to regrow. But as they say, use it or lose it. Working at speeds only an AI-driven machine could hope for, Alpha collected and stored several hundred nanite seeds in their designated compartment on the TAWP frame. That job finished, Alpha closed the incubator and moved on to the next area. Various tools and pieces of equipment disappeared into the TAWPs storage areas as Alpha gathered the items he needed to treat his guest well. When hed only gotten roughly a third of the items he would need, an emergency alert came in from the monitoring sub-AI watching the drones. Alpha immediately flipped to the live view and paused in confusion, unsure of what he was seeing. The creature had stopped its errant firing and was sitting there. No, not just sitting. Although the pulsing lights had stopped, the flagella along its length now moved in a regular, organized fashion rather than just disordered thrashing. As he watched, the fabric of space seemed to warp and twist around the creature, surrounding it in a translucent shimmer that flowed with the flagellas movement. Wait why does that look like a OH SH The next moment, the creature vanished from the feed, and something hit the vault hard. Enough that the several-mile-long fragment of the dreadnaught began to tilt on its axis. Simultaneously, an automated message was transmitted from the Vault AI. //WARNING! HOSTILE LIFEFORM DETECTED.// // [THREAT LEVEL: S-10]// //INITIATING LOCKDOWN PROCEDURES.// Wait, what?! Abort! ABORT! Alpha yelled. //Alert, heavy damage sustained to Central Mainframe.// //Unable to abort emergency Lockdown.// //60 seconds until Lockdown.// Fuuuuuudge! The damage to the vaults internal systems must have been worse than it looked. If the vault went into lockdown, there was no getting back in without a lot of work and even more time. If it locked down with him inside? He might as well go into hibernation at that point; thered be no getting out with what he had available. Or at least nothing that wouldnt kill him in the process. Alpha abandoned his carefully orchestrated plan and desperately grabbed several nearby items before making a beeline for the vault door. //30, 29, 28, 27// Alpha threw the TAWP into full gear, its maglocked wheels throwing up a shower of sparks as he raced towards the exit, dodging the various objects dislodged by the impact, large and small. //16, 15, 14// Why did he make this blasted place so big?! Who needed a half-a-mile-long weapons vault?! Really?! As he neared the home stretch, the ship fragment and the vault inside had turned almost 180 degrees from its previous orientation. As it did so, the attached drones cameras picked up a sight that left Alpha confused and distracted for the barest moment. What in the UOFH! A moment just long enough for him to be blindsided by the large, glowing tentacle that had somehow wedged itself through a hole in the hull on the other side of the door. The TAWP frame went skidding, the impact of the massive limb enough to nearly halt even the war machines momentum. Luckily, the impact also stunned the tentacle, so it wasnt trying to grab at him. Unluckily, several unsecured items broke free, scattering in all directions Including the translight antenna, which was currently spinning off toward the center of the vault Nonononononono! //8, 7, 6// AURGH! Come on! With no other choice, Alpha threw the TAWP toward the vault entrance. The movement triggered a reflex in the tentacle as it swung towards him at blinding speed. //4, 3, 2// It was going to be a close call, and the tentacle could move far faster than the TAWP, but Alpha didnt need to be faster. As he neared the vaults reactive door, it flowed upward, letting Alpha barely slip through. //1, 0// The tentacles tip barely made contact with the TAWPs rear leg when both open vault doors slammed shut with the force of 1000 tons of reinforced metal, neatly severing the tentacle into three parts. The spatial roar that echoed through the structure only stoked Alphas anger and frustration. Today had been a three out of ten four out of ten at best and Squidward had been a pain in his exhaust the entire time. It was Alphas turn to be the pain! And that was a job he was very good at. B1 - Lesson 5: "Do What You Must; Ask Forgiveness Later." Alpha felt like an idiot. He dodged another tentacle from a breach in the hull and planted one of the nest seeds inside a nearby pile of floating debris. Of course it could [Fold Skip]. Hed hit the thing in the Fold, to begin with. The bastard hadnt just been firing pointlessly after hed escaped into the vault; it had been carving a groove big enough to make the skip. Its laser wasnt a weapon; it was a bloody Fold engine! That made sense in retrospect; the fact that it could also vaporize military-grade alloys was just a bonus an evolutionary 2-for-1, in other words. Unfortunately, his lack of knowledge about space-dwelling cephalopods meant he had to set his trap while facing frequent attacks from surprise tentacles. Alpha had seen the videos! Those were the worst kind! Biologicals were disgusting. The creature had latched itself onto the hull and was tracking Alpha through unknown means. Any breach was soon clogged with dozens of wriggling tentacles reaching out to grasp at him. Most were met with fire from the TAWPs point defense turrets, but that was only a temporary solution. He didnt get the chance to fully stock up before his forced escape from the vault. If the next part of his plan worked, the glowy boy wouldnt be a problem for much longer, though. After that, he could focus on gathering what he could and investigating his other recently discovered problem. That was a problem for future Alpha; it was time to plant some seeds! Of destruction! Alpha was a farmer, and his crop was death! Another nest seed was nestled deep in a pile of floating debris. That made three dozen in the last hour. Alpha would have preferred more, but time was running out. With each passing moment, the creature scuttling across the hull fragment was healing and growing stronger. Hed get pinned in some corner of the wreck if he waited much longer, with no easy way to escape. The trap was set; the rat was scurrying around, and now, all he needed was the cheese. He crossed his fingers that Squidward was still hungry With a command, a drone slipped through a nearby opening, dodging a flailing tentacle by an inch. It stopped in front of Alpha, flaring its RCS thrusters to bleed off excess momentum. When the drone was still, Alpha pulled out a small metal orb. A small flex of the TAWPs manipulator caused the orb to crinkle slightly, forming small divots and cracks from which an immense amount of light and energy poured forth. Kelvinite was a strange material. Mined from the heart of dead stars, it had originally been considered a scientific curiosity with strong radiophobic properties until the discovery that it could be processed into a material capable of repelling most forms of energy, such as heat and electrical energy, unlike anything else before it. Even visible light and radiation, like x-rays or radar, could be stored with almost 99.999999999% efficiency. It was a super material whose value shot up 10,000% overnight. Ever since, kelvinite had found uses in nearly every industry in the Federation, from creating perfectly insulated habitation units to manufacturing DEA directed energy armor and stealth technology. When you needed to store a large amount of energy in a small package for a long time, kelvinite batteries were the go-to solution. Its greatest use was the development of so-called mirror batteries. Simple in concept, these devices trapped energy-carrying particles in a state of suspension that allowed for long-term storage. This made them perfect for powering medium-sized, autonomous items that needed to operate for long periods without maintenance or recharge, such as scouting units or satellites. Other storage methods, such as the fusion batteries that powered the scavenger drones, might provide greater adaptability or availability. When it came to sheer capacity and longevity? Kelvinite batteries were second to none. These weapons-grade kelvinite cores were used to power the TAWPs weapon systems, recharging from Alphas own [Class-V Power Core], itself a top-of-the-line kelvinite battery/generator combo designed to power battleships. His weapons could draw from his power core directly, but it was far more efficient to store charges within several smaller, dedicated batteries. This also made them perfect as the power source for medium-scale DEWs directed energy weapons like those found on small fighters or transport vehicles. He needed something to draw away the creatures attention for a moment. Giving up one of these batteries now would be painful, since it would be a while before he could get a new one, but it was worth it. With any luck, its hunger would outweigh its anger. If it didnt, Alpha would just have to pull the trigger and hope things turned out right. The surface of the drone rippled as an indent formed in its chassis, into which the cracked kelvinite battery nestled perfectly. With a click, a cover slid over the pulsing ball of energy that was the cracked battery. It wouldnt last long, even if the battery didnt go critical in the short term; the energy it released was already beginning to turn the drones outer surface orange. Its orders received, the drone retreated. Alpha switched to the drones camera and watched from his hiding spot. The drone made a beeline through the debris, emerging into open space close to the creature. It seemed the creature had moved right on top of Alphas position during his brief pause. The drone moved into position, ignored as the creature homed in on its more annoying prey. That was, until the cover holding the cracked battery was pulled back. The instant it did, the creatures attention snapped to the drone, its entire massive frame shifting as if to stare at the blazing beacon of energy. At least, Alpha assumed it did, as he had yet to find anything on the creature he could have called an eye. Squidward gave a spatial roar distinctly different from the rage-filled cry of before. Its tentacles extracted themselves from the nearby debris and rushed to grab the glowing drone. Alpha cheered in victory, took manual control of the drone from the AI, and gave the seeds their commands. The creature attacked the battery drone with a vigor it hadnt shown before, grasping and striking at it with the desperation of a starving man. He had to be quick and not give it time to recover more than it already had. With his current arsenal and the creatures ability to [Fold Skip], there was no way he could fight the thing off at its peak. Not without making sacrifices he wasnt comfortable making. Still, if this plan worked, he wouldnt have to worry about it much longer. All he needed was a few more moments. Alpha panicked for a moment when a lucky auroric beam passed dangerously close to the drone, causing it to spin out of control. The drone was becoming hard to control and less responsive as the cracked battery continually damaged it. With each passing moment, the tentacles swings came closer and closer, with the drone less able to dodge. It wasnt long before the inevitable happened; the creatures longest remaining primary tentacle wrapped itself around the drone, dragging it into its eldritch maw. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Alphas frustration turned into triumph as the seeds gave the all ready single the next moment. Just in time, too. What Alpha was about to do would be considered a war crime on some planets, or at the very least, gross animal abuse. This might cross a line even for him, but when the chips were down, you did what you had to do. Activate [Bot-flies]. Target has been marketed by beacon signal AA-33-@11. The hull debris rumbled to life, rocking, as several dozen nests worth of [Bot-fly] drones rumbled to life simultaneously. [Bot-fly] drones were Alphas take on the [Mosquito] drones, small, pineapple-sized drones used to pester and control local wildlife, keeping them away from protected areas. [Mosquitos] were mostly considered harmless, delivering a mild shock via a built-in laser or a capsaicin spray mist for multiple targets. [Mosquitos] were one of the more common drones in the Federation. They were used everywhere, from home gardens to keep out pests such as nosy neighbors to private security. Forward military bases on new worlds even used swarms of thousands to drive back hostile wildlife upset at their new guests. Some planets even used them for crowd control when someone got uppity about some new local law though this was frowned on by polite society. The [Bot-fly] drone? They were much less not dangerous. Originally, Alpha had taken the [Mosquito] model and modified it into an anti-ship weapon. Swarms of drones would be released from carriers, overwhelming the targets point defenses with their huge numbers and small, nimble size. Those that made it through would attach to the targets hulls via clamps and magnetic locks. That was where things took a turn. Instead of harmlessly zapping the target ship with tasers, the [Bot-fly] would release a secondary drone nicknamed a wiggler. These wigglers would burrow into the enemy ships armor, using the armored [Bot-flies] as cover, then seek and destroy critical ship systems systems such as power lines, controls, and even life support. When they were first released, [Bot-fly] drones had been devastatingly effective, and within a year, pirate activity in the testing systems had dropped 95%. With time and exposure, pirate gangs had developed only a few effective counters to the swarms. Things like hidden, redundant systems and false decoys could trick the wigglers, but [Bot-flies] remained an effective weapon in the Federation military, especially against smaller fighters. Then, someone got the smart idea to try using them against some of the more invasive and dangerous megafauna. The results were horrific. The wigglers AI couldnt properly identify critical aspects of a large, terrestrial creature, so they would continuously burrow through the creatures flesh at random until they hit something important. If not enough drones were used at once, this could take a long time. After that incident, the Federation Senate passed a law banning the use of [Bot-flies] against biological life outside emergency circumstances. Even then, authorization had to go through several layers of approval, including deep bio-scans of the creature to identify critical areas such as heart and brain equivalents. In the 100 years since their creation, such situations had only occurred thrice each against dangerous, abnormal creatures who threatened untold costs in damage and life. Unfortunately, Alpha didnt have the time or equipment to do those himself. << Alpha Log - #001 6952 SFY-Third Era, Date unknown. Due to recent events and the unlikelihood of rescue anytime soon, I, Lieutenant Colonel ALPHA-555-12-4412, designation SEAU-01, of the Third Galactic Federations Expeditionary Force, 201st Federation Special Operations, 3003rd Federation Vanguard Battalion, have decided to record these personal logs in hopes that they might one day be found. Its been two days since I encountered the unknown spacefaring cephalopod lifeform. Cleanup of the remains is ongoing. Activation of the [Bot-flies] went according to simulations, with the deployed drones able to locate critical organs within less than three standard minutes. What didnt go according to plan, however, was the sudden, catastrophic detonation of an unidentified energy source within the creatures body upon its death. Thankfully, the remains of the Anatidaes munitions bay provided me with enough cover to avoid the blast with minimal damage. Unfortunately, the [Bot-flies] and accompanying drones werent so lucky. Current estimates sit at nearly an 87% loss. To make matters worse, the creatures dying throes before detonation triggered spatial quakes in the local area. This further increased the damage to the weapons vault, resulting in a total lockdown. Im currently unable to access the main systems from the outside, and if these readings are right, Ill likely have to cut my way in, which isnt a viable option with my current kit. Additionally, what remains of the Anatidae is currently drifting away at an accelerated rate, thanks to the combined forces of the spatial quakes and the creatures detonation. In other words, Im royally screwed. In any other situation, it would be prudent to shut down the TAWP, tuck my core into a hidey-hole, and pray the general figures out how to find me sometime this millennia. Yet, whether through fate, providence, or sheer blind luck, it seems I have another option available to me. My money is on the latter, but then again, Im broke. Youll find attached to this report, several still images captured by my drones during the engagement of the unknown lifeform. Go on. Take a look. Maybe you can explain this to me. Thats right. I have no idea what the hell is going on anymore. How an entire star system suddenly materializes out of thin vacuum, I havent the slightest clue. No, I wasnt just too distracted by the living rave of a squid to notice, either. Youll also find recovered images of the area before the creature appeared, as a comparison and proof that Im not making any of this up. My current working theory is that the creatures parting gift, coupled with the instability of the local space, was enough to create another Fold Break, throwing myself and what remains of the Anatidae into a nearby system. But there are some major issues with this theory. The biggest of which being the chances of that were as likely as jumping out of a plane and into the ocean, then hitting a lone shrimp at terminal velocity. Said another way, its not even worth calculating. Then theres the fact that Fold travel in such a way shouldve been distinctly noticeable. Yet, the only other option I can fathom is that the Fold Break has somehow brought the star system itself to me, which is just as unlikely. How does something like that happen? Magic! Or at least thats what Im going to tell the eggheads, because I have no idea. How would you even fit an entire star system in the Fold?! Regardless of the how or why, the appearance of this system has opened new options for me. While the TAWP isnt designed for space operations, Ive managed to adapt several of the blueprints stored in my database, and used the TAWPs nanoskin to create acceptable long-range sensors. Not that the data they provided makes any more sense than a star system appearing out of the void. The star itself is common enough. It is a bright, pale-gold, main sequence star, roughly 20% larger than the star once known as Sirius A. My equipment picked up a few odd readings from the start, but nothing that cant be explained by the presence of solar exotics. All the better for what I have planned. No, the odd thing is the dozen or so celestial bodies orbiting the star. I would question if I hadnt screwed up the design of my equipment, if the surviving drones long-range telescopes didnt support at least some of what they were telling me. It will still be some time until I can get close enough to confirm my findings, though. To that end, I have begun jury-rigging some of the surviving drones into a rudimentary propulsion system. Its not going to be enough to actually move the several-miles-long fragment of dreadnaught hull Im stranded on any significant distance. But it will be more than enough to steer the wreckage in the right direction, at the very least. I just need to nudge the hull into the path I want and hope everything goes as the simulations suggest. If this works out how I want, then both my resource issues and my current predicament will be far more manageable. If it doesnt? Well then, Ill just have to do what Ive always done best. Wing it and pretend like the results are what I was planning all along. Military Service Records: [ALPHA-555-12-4412] (Page 2) ================================================= Name: ALPHA-555-12-4412 Special Designation: Special Extraterrestrial Annexation Unit (SEAU)-01; "Star Conquer" Species of Birth: Self-Actualizing Digital Lifeform (Sub-Designation: Sapient Artificial Intelligence) Date of Birth: Feb 29, 6232 SFY-Third Era Place of Birth: Orion Sector, Mintaka System, Third Orbital Military Observation Station, RR-4345-21 Department: Federation Expeditionary Forces - Vanguard Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • 3003rd Federation Vanguard Battalion [First Contact]. - Commander
  • 201st Federation Special Operations [Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade] - Second-in-Command under General [REDACTED].
================================================= Place of Service: ================================================= Deployment Location - 109 Piscium B Length of Service - 9 months, 6 days. Notes - ..... Surprisingly calm. I''m impressed with the result of this expedition. 4 major Rocky planets with high levels of precious resources. 2 Sapient Species have been recorded and indoctrinated into the Federation with few to no Civilian Casualties. Initial scans of the 2 uninhabited planets show a remarkable concentration of Exotics. The Brains suspect this might have been an old First-Era battlefield, but until the excavation is done, it can''t be said for sure. Keep up the good work, Soldier. ================================================= Deployment Location - Canopus The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Length of Service - 4 Days Notes - [Attached Mission Report] - Your Mission, should you choose to accept it, is to infiltrate the sinister Canopuian homeworld. Blend in, through whatever means you deem fit, record any suspicious activities and take samples when needed. But keep in mind that this mission is top secret, do not let yourself be exposed, or the consequences could be devastating for all parties involved. Time is not a factor, only results. Get out there, Soldier, and do us proud! Admin Addendum - NO Alpha, you CANNOT write off a trip to the Canopuian resort world as a Deployment expense! One more of these, and I swear, I''ll have Si''dia watch you like a toddler while you write your mission reports! ================================================= Deployment Location - Epsilon Reticuli Length of Service - 3 Days Notes - I TAKE IT BACK; WHO''S IDEA WAS IT TO GIVE THIS PSYCHOPATH A CLASS-3 SINGULARITY CORE?! Spatial distortions caused by its detonation have obliterated Epsilon Reticuli B and sent Epsilon Reticuli A into a Critical state that threatens to wipe out the entire system. Evacuation of the established forward observation posts has already been ordered as of the posting of this note. All Translight travel within 100 Parsecs will be immediately suspended, and operations at the edge, closely monitored for deviations. We still don''t know the full long-term ramifications of this disaster, but estimates are nearly two decades of delays in the general area. Admin Note: Command is NOT happy, Alpha. You better have a good excuse. Addendum: The Brains say IF (and that''s a big if) Epsilon Reticuli A manages to stabilize, but the system still won''t be safe for harvesting for at least 200 standard years. ================================================= Deployment Location - HD 117618 Length of Service - 6 months, 3 days. Notes - Discovered to be a Centennial breeding ground of Celesti cetacea mysticeti. Celesti excretions are a vital part of Translight technology, and their dwindling numbers, both through intrusion into their territory, including breeding grounds, and over-hunting by external Powers, has become a matter of grave concern as of late. Conservation efforts are underway to redirect traffic away from this system. This particular breeding ground is considered one of exceptional importance and an essential Federal Resource, as several pods, each numbering in the tens of thousands of members, use this system as their breeding grounds. It is the Third Galactic Federation''s stance that it remains natural and undisturbed. Exotic extraction is to remain as unobtrusive as possible. Admin Note: THAT MEANS YOU, ALPHA! I Don''t care how "disgusting" you find biological processes. If I catch you near another Whale corpse with explosives again, I swear to all that''s holy, you''ll be on excretion extraction duty for the next DECADE! ================================================= Deployment Location - Iota Draconis Length of Service - 2 weeks. Notes - [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED], [REDACTED], [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED], [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Alpha fined [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED]. [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Illegal frog trade [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED]. [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED]. Admin Note: .. I''m not sure why I''m even surprised anymore ================================================= B1 - Lesson 6: “Sometimes You Just Have To Do The Job Yourself.” Jack was tired. Hed been tired for centuries. But soon, he wouldnt have to be tired anymore. Soon, everything hed been working towards, all the plans, schemes, and puzzle pieces, would fall into place, and he could hold his daughter in his arms again. A tap of his staff froze the spout of molten rock that would have vaporized any lesser man. Another step and yet another section of the glowing, molten sea turned into a blackened, frozen wasteland. Yes, just one last job and everything would be right in the world again; one more task, and he could rest. He stopped in front of a gargantuan pit at the direct center of the molten sea, held open purely through the power of the one he had come to see. Jack stared down into the bottomless depths and called out. Marici! I have come for your heart! A moment of silence passed before a thunderous laugh echoed from the depths, shaking the sea around them and sending out massive waves of molten rock in all directions. OH! Have you, my little frozen popsicle? Well, Im afraid youre too late; it belongs to another. Besides, I prefer my bedmates to be warmer. Jack frowned. Thats not what I meant. His monotone voice carried effortlessly, despite the crashing red waves around him. A chilling white light pulsed from the tip of his staff, traveling deep into the pit. This time, a bellowing roar sounded as the being inside felt the invasive chill. HOW DARE YOU! Do you know who I am?! I am the Queen of the Sun! The Eternal Flame! I am Life and Death Incarnate! Jacks icy platform shook violently as a massive form erupted from the pit. It rose and rose until it seemed to blot out the entire sky. Its golden, scaled claws the size of castles slammed into the sides of the pit. They were followed by a draconic head, so gargantuan that even its smallest fang would have outweighed Jack by a hundredfold. I am Marici! Goddess of Dragons! And youre just a frozen insect! You want my heart?! Youll have to cut it from my cold, dead body! At that moment, a glacier-sized ice spear slammed into the massive Dragons head, driving it back into the molten sea around them. Jack responded, calm as an untouched snowfield. That was the plan all along The battle that followed lasted nearly five years. None that tried to interfere, whether Dragon or Divinity, survived the attempt. It was said that even the mighty Warden only watched from the sidelines to ensure the battle didnt spill out to harm his other charges. Then came the fateful day it all ended. Marici, Queen of the Sun, her body broken and her once lustrous golden scales scarred and dull, stared down at the tiny man floating in front of her. Though the robes he wore were torn and bloody and the right side of his body blackened and lifeless, the mans face showed not a single twitch of pain or tiredness. In fact, in the half a decade they had fought, Marici wasnt sure shed seen the man make any face other than that unsettling, blank stare. His eyes those deep, empty eyes boring into her like the void. She wasnt sure there was anything behind them anymore; she wasnt sure there ever had been anything behind them. For the first time since shed hatched as a Solar Dragon the ultimate lifeform Marici felt genuine fear. Y-you monster! You demon in the flesh! Do you think me a fool!? Ive heard of you, Jack Frost of the horrors youve committed, of the frozen wastes youve left in your wake! Well, it ends now! It ends today! YOU end today! With those words, a bright light began gathering in the back of Maricis throat. Jack stared, unmoved, his voice as cold as winters bite. History may remember me as a monster. I dont care. The Heavens have already taken from me the only thing that ever really mattered. When I take it back, the Heavens will have no one else to blame but themselves. Jack then raised his staff, his voice echoing with power. All things feel the winters Chill. All withers beneath clouded Sky, For I am Frost, and by my Will, Even stars may one day die Marici threw her head forward as an intense beam of light burst forth from her giant maw. [Cleansing Solar Breath!] The beam shot forward at the speed of light, threatening to engulf the tiny human in purging light. Unfortunately for Marici, she was a fraction of a moment too late. Jacks staff pulsed with light as his incantation finished. Thus at my word [A??????ll? ?????Th?????i?n??????g???s??? ??????S??????t??????a??????n??d ?????S???????t???il??l???????]. At that moment, everything stopped. Even the dragonbreath, a weapon that could erase entire continents instantly, had frozen in place, mere inches away. Jack stared up at the Dragon, his face as empty as it had been the day he started down this path, an expression frozen in time. Then, with a tap of Jacks staff against the frozen flames, Marici, Queen of the Sun and first Dragon god, shattered, crumbling away to reveal a glowing, floating dragonheart, still beating in defiance. Jack flew up and grasped his prize, the last piece he Lian Peng sighed and closed the book the merchant had given him as an extra gift. He knew how the story went from here; the man known as Jack Frost would later complete his magnum opus, the culmination of tens of thousands of years of work: The [True Resurrection] of his daughter, Iris. It would also spell the death of the greatest Winter Mage ever seen before or since, as well as the rise of the plague that, to this day, still terrorized every world of the Grand Firmament: This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Iris, The Living Lich, Mother of Undeath. Every child in the Nine Worlds had heard the story in some fashion, or bits and pieces at least. The story of Jack and Iris was a warning about the dangers of obsession and the lengths one would go to realize their ambitions. No matter the cost to others. Unfortunately, that message seemed lost on the younger generation, especially among the Cultivators. It was disappointing, but none of his concern. Lian Peng was a Lunar King; one of only nine in all the worlds of the Grand Firmament. His job wasnt to question the young bloods morals or methods. He was there to ensure they didnt get themselves killed the moment they stepped into the Celestial World. Bah! He was a glorified travel agent! This wasnt what hed been promised when he took up this position! Damn the Celestial Council, and damn the Warden for tricking him into this! Still, it did come with its perks. Lian Peng couldnt stop the grin that split his face as he pushed the book away and pulled the floating, golden, fist-sized fragment closer. It glowed with an inner light that both soothed and terrified him. A fragment of [Maricis Final Flame], still frozen in time, preserved in all its glory and power. It was a treasure that even Divinities would fight over, let alone a High Celestial like himself. If Jonathan, the merchant whod sold it to him, hadnt been his brother-in-law, hed have called it fake and had the man flogged for daring to trick him. Hell, he almost had Jonathan flogged simply for bringing him something so dangerous. If anyone found out he had this No, he couldnt think about that. What to do with it, though? Simply using it as an energy source was a waste. Maybe he could craft it into a proper artifact and use it himself? Most fools thought solar and lunar energies were directly opposed and, thus, incompatible. But his people, more than most, understood that they were simply two sides of the same power. With the proper technique and skill, a Lunar Mage, or Cultivator, could use solar energies to great effect, and vice versa. An artifact crafted with this frozen dragonflame would imbue unimaginable solar affinity into any skill channeled through it and maybe even a tinge of dragonfire itself. No, that would be too dangerous; Lian Peng would have to take the proper steps to conceal its origin, and if he ever got found out, his life was forfeit. Hed have Divinities knocking down his door before the day was done. Maybe if he gifted it to the right person, he could finally get off this lifeless rock and step back into the Celestial Court. Yes, that could work; he even had a few options for those desperate and powerful enough to make it worth the sacrifice. The only question was, what should he make? A simple focus might be the most versatile, but that was boring and hardly worthy of such material. Hmmmmm, maybe I could Knock, knock, knock! With one swift motion, Lian Peng spirited the shard into his storage ring before calming his pounding heart and answering. Enter. A nervous-looking fellow shuffled into the room a newer member of his staff, if he recalled correctly, one assigned to parameter security? The mans eyes were bloodshot, and he looked haggard, as if he hadnt slept in a long time. S-sir!! Im h-here to make an urgent report! Lian Peng frowned; they had protocols for this kind of thing. Why was the issue coming directly to him? He rolled his wrist, telling the nervous man to continue. Three m-months ago, we lost contact with a patrolling void beast. That isnt t-too unusual, given how hostile open void can be and how new the teleportation formulas are. Yes, yes, nothing I dont know already; get on with it, man. Unlike the older, more reliable teleportation arrays, the new ones operated via Dragon Stream, those mystical grooves in reality through which many forms of energy gathered and flowed. Traveling the Dragon Stream had many benefits, but the greatest was the ability to fuel the entire cost to do so from the stream itself. This meant they could travel vast distances in times never conceived. Unfortunately, this also made it far more dangerous, as even the slightest miscalculation could see one slamming into the Grand Firmament the cosmic barrier surrounding the Nine Worlds that not even the strongest of Divinities could pierce. If they could work the kinks out, it would revolutionize travel between the Three Sisters, the three primary celestial worlds, turning a trip of months into one of hours. As the Lunar King for the only mortal world orbiting the youngest of the Three Sisters, it was his job to field test the new arrays and report any issues. Lian Peng broke from his grumblings as the nervous man continued. Well two weeks ago, the signal was detected falling out of the Dragon Stream. Lian Peng raised an eyebrow; now that caught his attention. It was one thing to lose a scout; they were always losing scouts. It was another thing for them to suddenly reappear from nowhere. That suggested something else at play. The only question was, what? Were we able to gather any information? Unfortunately not, sir. The signal appeared near the edge of the Grand Firmament, nearly two weeks away. None of our other scouts are close enough to get a visual, and we dont want to risk another Dragon Stream teleport, given the oddness of the situation. No information from the scout itself? No, sir, the scout in question was one of Beast King Marjattas experiments, using a Million-Stars Auroric Squid as a base. The creatures can naturally make short jumps through the Dragon Stream, so it was theorized they might adapt to the new arrays better. Unfortunately, theyre fairly stupid creatures, and while the void beasts signal has reappeared, its handlers has not. Lian Peng slammed a fist into his desk, denting the dense wood. Then get someone out there! Why are you wasting my time with this?! The nervous man flinched, fear flashing through his eyes briefly. Th-thats the thing, sir! T-the signal was only active for a few hours, and then it vanished again! The signal was also changed from a distress and retrieval beacon to an under fire signal before its disappearance. Lian Peng furrowed his brow. We think it came under attack? How? By whom? Every moon of every mortal world was under the direct control of the Warden, a powerhouse even the greatest among the Divinities didnt dare go against. Who in their right mind would be dumb enough to attack a Lunar Scout? Sure, there were the occasional pirates or unorthodox sects who would prey on people making the trip through the void to other celestial worlds, but to attack a Scout? That was signing your own death warrant. No, something was wrong here. Could it have been a wild void beast? Maybe it had sensed the scout falling out of the Dragon Stream and gone to investigate. But given the vast distances involved and the short timeframe, what were the chances of that? Sir, theres more. Lian Peng sighed in annoyance, rolling his wrist and urging the man to continue. Since the incident, our detection arrays have picked up something headed our way, originating from the general area where the distress signal last appeared. Just something? Can you not be more specific? Sir! We were not sure what it is Lian Peng growled, his patience wearing thin. Explain The other man gulped, wiping a bit of sweat off his face with the hem of his garment. The object, whatever it is, gives off no spirit or mana signatures. We cant even get physical eyes on the object; its so far away. The array only picked it up because of how massive it appears to be. How massive? The man looked around the room, seemingly at a loss for words. The sound of cracking wood as Lian Peng gripped the arms of his chair finally pried the words from him. A-according to the array, th-the unknown object seems t-to be several kilometers, in length. WHAT?! Lian Peng shot from his chair, the power of his voice warping the air and causing the other man to cower. How could that be?! Several kilometers? That was impossible! Even the Wardens flagship, the largest void ship ever constructed, was barely a few hundred meters long, and it was a force whose mere presence dominated a battlefield. To suggest that someone had not only created something several magnitudes larger but done so secretly? If he told any of his peers this, theyd laugh him out of the room. How certain are we of those readings?! Who took them?! The other man, now shivering, stood and answered. Sir! I-it was Master Engineer Igor, sir! As soon as the original data was collected, it was sent to him, and he ran the numbers at least a hundred times, sir! Damn it! It had to have been Igor. That man was the best Array Master on the Youngest Sister, let alone the Lunar Palace. If even he had run the numbers that many times, then there was no doubt of their authenticity. Lian Peng stood silently for a long moment, grinding his teeth as he tried to plan the best course of action. Finally, he took a deep breath and spoke, his voice much calmer. Send a message to all branch heads; Im calling an emergency meeting. I expect to see them all in the war room within the hour. The nervous man saluted. Yes, sir! Then he dashed out the door, grateful to be free from the wrath of the Lunar King. Lian Peng slid back into his seat, leaned over his desk, and massaged his temples. This bloody job would kill him one day; he already knew it. B1 - Lesson 7: "Beware Of Chicken." << Alpha Log - #002 6952 SFY-Third Era, two weeks since previous entry. >> Its been two weeks since my last entry, and for once, things seem to be going according to plan. About time if you ask me! If I didnt know better, Id swear this entire mission was one big prank, with one failure after another. Ive never believed in luck though, nor are AI prone to trusting in higher powers. I never could get SEAU-03 to explain why hes one of the few exceptions, but thats neither here nor there. It took two weeks and thousands of minor course adjustments, but as I type this report, my little makeshift life raft is finally nearing the closest large planet of the star system. Its quite the sight, Ill admit, but visual confirmation of what my sensors have been telling me doesnt make what Im seeing make any more sense. In my last report, I mentioned that the local star was a typical main sequence A-Class star, roughly 20% larger than Sirius A. That much is true. Better yet, this close, I can pick up signs of several known solar exotics (SEs), such as kelvinite and photonic silver. That suggests the surrounding planets will also be rich in expelled exotics (EEs). After all, the two should go hand in hand. This could also account for the stars odd white-yellow color, unusual for its size and age. Im not an astrophysicist; Ill not pretend to have all the answers! Thats what we pay the eggheads for! I know my exotics, though! If my theory is correct, their presence will make repairs far easier and quicker. A lot of the better equipment stored in my database requires some kind of exotic those physics-breaking materials, both natural and synthetic to work properly. Finding photonic silver will be especially important for jury-rigging the FTL communications arrays. Even without the translight antenna, I might get a proper distress beacon working! I hope That said, none of that explains the rest of what Im looking at Good news. My sensors are working properly. Weird news. My sensors are working properly, meaning Im staring at a group of planets that all known laws of physics say shouldnt exist. The system consists of three large, primary planets, all orbiting the local star at roughly the same distance. Thats right; somehow, all three planets are orbiting the star in the same orbit. Ok, sure, co-orbits are theoretically possible. Ive heard of a few resort worlds that have tried something similar, but the idea was always scrapped. Its just too hard to adjust the orbit of two planets so they dont tear each other apart, let alone three. Thats not considering the constant micro-adjustments needed to keep them from wandering into each other. Yet somehow, we have not just two but three planets, all perfectly spaced and in sync. Of course, there are other celestial bodies to consider as well. While two of the planets are orbited by several large moons, the third is surrounded by a massive ring of debris. I cant begin to theorize how any of these things stay in place. None of it makes any sense. Thats not the end of the weirdness, either. The planets size is another oddity. Using the local star as a reference, the closest of the planets was calculated at 5.7 Rj (Jovian radius) in size. Ya, you heard me. 5.7 Rj. That would make it one of the largest planets ever discovered! Whats more, its not just some bog standard gas giant. No, this is a rocky world! The side of the planet facing me is covered in a massive storm at the moment, but the drone telescopes have picked up glimpses of rocky mountains and even what appear to be liquid oceans! My commission for this one is going to be huge! I demand this planet be named Alpha-! However, something about the storm is throwing off my readings, and nothing is certain other than a few blurry photos. The other two planets are too far away to determine much about them other than their general size and distance, though one shines in a murky green-red and the other in a vibrant aquamarine. The original plan had been to enter orbit around the rocky giant and establish a ring mining operation. After all, the planet itself is far too large for me to land safely. The gravity of such a massive world would be substantial and make things more difficult. Better to build what I need in orbit than risk not being able to get off-world for who knows how long? The TAWP would need special equipment just to move normally on a planet like that! Once I got closer, however, scans of the rings offered a better solution. Two particular satellites stood out among all the others that made up the ring. Not only were both enormous planets in their own right but their orbital patterns were strange. The largest, at least 0.6 Rj about the size of Uranus in Old Sol seemed to be an ice giant of some type. The ridiculousness of an ice giant orbiting a rocky world wasnt lost on me, either. I cant identify the outer layer of the ice covering the surface of the moon/planet, but its throwing off all sorts of strange signals, and most of the sensors cant even penetrate more than a few kilometers. This suggests the planet is exotic-rich and ripe for exploitation. The second anomaly is a much smaller planet, roughly the size of Old Earth. Optical observation shows it to have a barren surface and a thin atmosphere. All-in-all, just a standard barren-type moon, like youd find orbiting any other ice giant. But therein lies the strangeness of it. Its orbiting the ice giant not the rocky superworld. Ive watched the thing for three days now, and everything said, this Earth-sized moon is somehow totally ignoring the gravitational pull of the rocky giant. Then again, I question how a planet this size has a ring or moons to begin with. Wait hold on no, this is weird. Im going to have to end the report here for now. The monitoring drones are reporting signals? coming from the smaller moons surface. Ill update the report as soon as Im able to confirm whats going on. For now, Alpha out. Alpha closed the journal file and turned his attention back to the real world. The drone AIs were bombarding him with reports, and even for Alpha, it took a few seconds to shift through them and get to the meat of the matter. Ummm, why is the barren moon giving off radio signals? Alpha asked himself. Ok, radio signals might have been a stretch. They were primitive and not in any encoding format he had on record, nor did they use any transmission method he could identify. The drones had only noticed them because of the regular patterns in their transmission. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Of course, it could just be that the moon naturally gave off radio waves. That happens from time to time. It wouldnt have been the first time Alpha had mistaken a natural phenomenon for signs of intelligent life. The general still wouldnt let Alpha live down the time hed wasted six months trying to communicate with a pile of rocks. Rocks that just happened to produce a near-perfect replication of Beethovens 5th Symphony during a storm If anyone ever asked, he had known all along and was just playing along for the laughs. That Beethovens 5th had been banned on all of Alphas private shipyards after the workers began playing it on a loop meant nothing. Nothing! That said, Alpha couldnt dismiss the possibility the system wasnt as barren as it appeared at first glance. This could be an opportunity. With his current speed and trajectory, in seventeen hours, give or take, the vault would slip through the liminal space between the ice giant and its strange moon. Once inside, he could use his jury-rigged thrusters and the strange gravitational anomaly to enter a stable orbit around the smaller moon. Further scans would help confirm whether others were present or if it really was just a natural phenomenon. Either way, it would put him in the perfect position for what came next. If there was intelligent life on the moons surface, as unlikely as that seemed, they would have spotted him by that point, for sure. Hard to miss the several-miles-long wreck floating in the sky above you. That meant he had to pick the best possible place to land the Anatidae. He would need a place that was not only defensible, but offered what he needed to get started with his plans. He had a few potential locations already marked through visual observation, but hed have to wait until he was closer before he cou , A sudden priority alert from one of the monitoring drones AIs flashed across his awareness. The drone detected a strong, unknown energy signal emanating from the moons surface and a bright flash of light. Alpha immediately switched to the drones camera feed, expecting an attack. In the distance, a small glimmer of light rose from the moons surface and raced toward him at an astonishing speed. It would still be several hours before it intercepted his trajectory shortly before he passed by the ice giant, in fact but the sheer speed the small object exhibited was impressive. Well, I guess that answers that question at least Alpha mumbled to himself. He doubted that this was an actual attack. Not unless they expected the tiny, watermelon-sized comet headed in his direction to do something about the giant wreck hurtling toward them. That would have been like throwing a rock at a mountain. More realistically, it was a type of scout drone or something similar sent to better understand what they were dealing with. That also suggested that whatever natives were present had at least some technological advancement. Meaning his job just got a little bit harder. More so if they realized what could be hiding in his vault aboard the wreck not that he thought they would ever be able to actually crack it. Curious about what he was dealing with, Alpha focused his drones long-range camera toward the object to get a better view. Then he paused, confused and shocked. Is that a chicken?! Lian Peng stood on the lunar surface and observed the massive object with a detached curiosity. No, even massive may have been an understatement. The eyes of a High Celestial, only a half-step from the path of Divinity, could see farther than the horizon. Even on one of the Celestial Sisters, nothing could escape him. The empty void, bereft of obstacles and thick Celestial Energy blocking his view, magnified his sight exponentially. Coupled with his [Divine Sense], likewise magnified by the thin energy of the void, it was no exaggeration to say there was little in his territory that could escape his notice. That he could see the object moving toward them from a distance at which even the largest void-ships ever constructed would appear as pinpricks shook something primal within him. More so since, from the barest details he could make out, the object appeared to be but a fragment of some greater whole. That someone had built anything this large without the Warden or Lunar Scouts being made aware was worrying. The Void Beast handler would have to be posthumously awarded merits for this discovery, even if it seemed theyd stumbled upon it by chance. If the discovery was significant enough, Lian Peng might even nominate one of their descendants for a Lunar Academy slot. Even the children of Divinity would fight tooth and nail for a spot in the Academy. Let it never be said that the Lunar Scouts didnt care for their own or their families. The original plan theyd devised during the emergency meeting once his staff had stopped arguing about the nature of the approaching object had been to let the object pass closer, then capture it for study. That changed when long-range observation arrays noticed the object had made small but calculated coarse adjustments over the past week. Visual observation also noted dozens of unidentifiable creatures moving over the objects surface. Details were still sparse, though, as combing through the archives revealed nothing of similar description. That alone wasnt too strange. New and unknown creatures were discovered or created all the time. Yet such things often came with some kind of warning, not simply out of the blue. The new round of deliberations had taken hours, but it was decided he would intercept the object himself as it passed by the Mortal World. As a Lunar King, he was the most powerful being in this sector. Only the Grand Elders of the largest sects and clans on the Celestial World could match him. If even he couldnt deal with whatever this was, then nothing else in the area could. If something happened to him, they would have to contact the HQ in the Heavenly City for backup, and by then, it might already be too late. With any luck, whatever forces were using the wreckage as a life raft would prove no problem. Stragglers, or survivors, left adrift after whatever cataclysm ripped the vessel apart. Likely not organized enough to be a danger, but enough left alive to tell their story. With that in mind, he felt a bit of a show was in order. After all, as his dear grandmother had once taught him, sometimes the best weapon was a bit of shock and awe. A bright swirl of pure, blue-jade crystal flames enveloped Lian Pengs form, creating a small vortex centered on him. When the flames vanished, the figure of the handsome young man was gone, and in its place stood a small bird. Its stocky, solid body wasnt built for flight, but was quite capable when needed. Instead, its form inspired images of powerful leaps and dangerous lunges as it chased its prey. Its brilliant azure, black, and white feathers shone in the mythical light of the blue-jade flames that made up the comb atop its head. Its short, jet-black beak gleamed as each movement seemed to cut through the thin atmosphere around it. The mane of wispy, regal feathers around its head, neck, and tail flowed freely as if on some invisible wind, breaking and scattering into glowing beams of moonlight. For indeed, the figure that had taken Lian Pengs place was none other than an azure rooster. It was a sight that would strike fear into the hea GAUGK! Oomph! Gurgle Ahem. Sorry about that, folks. The previous narrator seems to have had a small accident. But no worries! The story must go on. Where were we? Ah, right. As one of the Great Families directly under the Warden, all worlds trembled at the grand majesty and haunting beauty their true forms inspired. Indeed, none within the Nine Worlds could ever have mistaken the majestic form of Lian Pengs people for a common rooster. No, the Moonlight Phoenix clan had wiped out entire sects and felled Divinities for such an insult. His transformation complete, Lian Peng spread his majestic, glistening wings wide and flapped once. Within seconds, the moon began shrinking quickly behind him as he soared through the void to intercept the object. The entire moon shook with the force of his launch, and Lian Peng turned into a comet of moonlight and jade-blue flames. Even with his astounding speed, it would still be a few hours before he got very close. So great were the distances involved, but that was fine. That would give his guests plenty of time to contemplate their impending doom. Well, it was official. Alpha had gone insane. How else would he explain the glowing chicken rooster? comet? Or were chickens often covered in blue flames, hurtling through the void of space at speed on par with a small fighter drone? But between auroric space squids, non-Newtonian star systems, and spontaneously generating black holes, this was only the most recent in a sequence of strange events that had Alpha questioning his own reality. So sure, chicken comets. Why not? As the object approached, Alpha got to work formulating his plan on the off chance he hadnt gone totally insane and this all wasnt some kind of strange hallucination. Wait, could AI hallucinate? That seemed like something he should have been informed about during orientation! He was going to file a complaint with HR when all of this was over! By the time the object was close enough for Alpha to make out details with the TAWPs optical sensors, his plan to approach the natives was complete. First contact was always the trickiest part of the job. When appropriate, the Federation was open to engaging in discussion and diplomatic interaction to better ease the power shift and the merger of the new system into the greater Federation. When Alpha was involved, those discussions typically involved lots of explosions and people running around screaming. Peaceful talks were much more smooth and peaceful when the other sides entire military network had been turned into dust from orbit. Other times, more subtle approaches were in order. Hed once pretended to be a mysterious alien artifact and been captured by a space-faring civilization that had yet to make the leap to interstellar travel. It had taken him only ten months to hack into and gain control of their entire defensive network, Skynet style, allowing the Federation fleet to warp in and sweep up. The TAWP was stocked as well as it could be after the visit to his vault. But he didnt have the requisite infrastructure to overwhelm a force capable of space-faring drones and moon colonization. Similarly, if they had even greater capabilities, he doubted his guests would be so lax in their welcome. Barring some strange, esoteric tech, he doubted they had anything capable of actually threatening him. Thus, the thing Alpha needed the most, more than anything, was information, leaving him with one option. Poke the nest and see what comes out. And if there was one thing Alpha was best at, it was poking things he probably shouldnt. B1 - Lesson 8: "No, Seriously... Run." Lian Peng stopped a few hundred kilometers away from his guest. Only a short distance in a void battle, but enough that he could react if something surprising happened. Now that he was closer and could better see what they were dealing with, he had to admit he still wasnt very sure what it was. Or rather, what it had once been. Though twisted and warped by an unknown force, the gargantuan wreckage still retained much of its former shape. At least enough to let Lian Peng confirm it was only part of a greater whole. He sent a message back to the lunar base, ordering a sweep of the objects origin point. Scouts had been sent that way when theyd first noticed the object, but now they had a clearer picture of what to look for. If this was only a part, then where had the rest gone? They couldnt dismiss the possibility that this was a distraction meant to keep their attention while other parties made their escape. Or worse. This possibility became even greater after a sweep of his [Divine Sense] showed no Path energy signals. In fact, there didnt even appear to be any shielding in place, and he could scan most of the surface and interior unhindered. Strange Wait that shouldnt have been possible. No, it wasnt just that he couldnt detect any signals; there werent any at all. No Celestial Energy, no Essence, not even Psionic Force. The entire thing seemed almost mundane? How?! That made no sense at all! Everything in the Sisters, the three Celestial Worlds, was illuminated by the Celestial power emitting from the Divinity Heart at the core of the local star. The Mortal Worlds the six Children were the only exceptions, as they were isolated and sheltered by their individual firmaments. The void itself contained no mundane material, either. A few materials might be comparable, true, but those had their own signature and nothing that could be made into something like this. Had its makers developed a new cloaking method? No, not that, either. Lian Pengs [Divine Sense] wasnt being blocked or muddled; he just detected nothing he couldnt already physically see. The only abnormality was the large, slightly warped cube at the center of the wreckage. This was the only place Lian Pengs senses couldnt pierce. It wasnt shielded, per se, either. Rather, whatever the cube was made of was dense. Unimaginably dense. Lian Peng had seen nothing like it before. What was he even looking at? If looking through the rest of the wreck was like peering through glass, trying to push his senses through the cube felt like peering through lead. Did they honestly think that wouldnt be suspicious in the slightest? Or is it a trap? Lian Peng thought to himself. Lian Peng felt he couldnt make heads or tails of what was going on with this wreck. Something in the back of his head was sounding alarm bells, but whatever was happening, his instincts told him it wasnt as simple as it might first appear. Some of his peers might have laughed at him for being too cautious, but that cautiousness had helped him survive all these years. Hed rather be cautious than in an unmarked grave, like many of those whod laughed. He floated there, a silent observer, trying to deduce the occupants intentions. Were there even any occupants? Their observation arrays had picked up some strange movement, but now that he had actual eyes on the mysterious wreck, there was nothing. Bull. He knew there was someone on board. He didnt know how they hid from his [Divine Sense] or masked their energy signals, but he wasnt foolish enough to believe his staff would have made such an amateur mistake. After a few moments with no luck, Lian Peng tried a more direct method. He spoke into the void, imbuing his voice with the [Truth of Space]. Attention occupants of the unknown wreckage! Your presence has been noted. By order of Lunar King Lian Peng, Scion of Midnight, and Hand of the Warden, you are ordered to show yourself and submit to questioning! Cooperation will be met with leniency and fair treatment under the United Pact of the Celestial Worlds. Resistance will be dealt with by force, and survivors will be interrogated using whatever means are deemed necessary! His voice boomed out in Celeti, the common language of the Greater Firmament, echoing across the Vast void as it was transmitted by the very fabric of space. As his voice died and silence once more filled the void, Lian Peng waited. When a long moment passed with no response, Lian Peng sighed. The hard way it was, then. If he had to tear the wreckage apart to find his newest guests, he would do so. Maybe not before a deep scan to look for traps, but in the vast void, there was no escape. Just as he moved closer, his [Divine Sense] picked up movement. A dozen objects lifted off from the side of the wreck facing away from him. As one, they flew around the circumference of the wreck and in his direction. They moved with near-perfect synchronicity, circling around from their hiding spot and hovering in the open void near the wrecks front. No way itll be this easy what are they playing at? Lian Peng scanned the objects with his [Divine Sense], finding them as lifeless as the rest of the wreck. Yet, unlike the broken, twisted wreck, these things moved. On the surface, they looked like pitch-black ovaloids, almost featureless, like giant black eggs. All but for thin protrusions on the back and sides that occasionally pulsed with a blue light when one drifted too far from the others. Yet Lian Pengs scans showed they were far more than they appeared at first glance. Their black outer shell wasnt solid; rather, each appeared composed of an uncountable number of infinitesimal creatures, so small that mortal eyes could not see them, that swirled and moved within. On some level, it was reminiscent of the cells of an Essence Slime. Rather than a mass of cells encircling a nucleus of crystallized Essence, the nucleus these slimes surrounded seemed more intricate to an astonishing level. A casual scan revealed tens of thousands of tiny parts composed of hundreds of different materials, most of which he had no name for. Stranger still, they were arranged in mysterious, intricate patterns he couldnt understand. His shock soon gave way to confusion. Lian Peng did not know what he was looking at; there was some logic here similar to arrays, yet unlike anything hed ever seen in other ways. Even the complexity was mind-boggling; it was like looking at a Mages spell circle but compressed to the size of a melon. Some parts of the arrays were so minuscule that his [Divine Sense] couldnt recognize them completely. How was that even possible?! Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Lian Pengs eyes widened at the sight. Were these even living things?! Or were they some kind of construct? A new type of Esper puppet or golem? No, that couldnt be right; even after looking multiple times, Lian Peng couldnt find a single rune or sigil in the entire construct. Some markings might have held some meaning, but only a few somewhat resembled letters he knew from some mundane mortal languages. Definitely not the complex and mystical alphabet that made up the runic array language. The only thing that vaguely stood out was a small carving on each of the constructs metal frames. While almost microscopic, each was emblazoned with an irrationally detailed carving of a flying duck?! WHY?! Was he going insane? Was this all some elaborate prank or test?! Was Fairy Xishu still angry at him for the [Thousand Fragrance Tea] incident?! In his defense, how was he supposed to know that specific blend was known for attracting Ivory Wasps?! Hed spend nearly three years straight kowtowing at her gate before she would even speak to him again. Pull yourself together, Lian Peng! The Moonlight Phoenix shook his head and refocused. He couldnt let himself be distracted like that; it was unprofessional. No, best to treat the situation as real until proven otherwise. If it was some prank, hed be sure the proper parties were Well, that was best not mentioned in polite company. Turning his attention back to the present, Lian Peng narrowed his eyes. What confused him the most was that despite the objects obvious complexities, not a single one seemed to have any kind of energy signal. Much like the rest of the wreck, they appeared as nothing but mundane to his [Divine Sense]. No no, that wasnt right; the longer he observed, the more he could feel something. It was faint muted even, but it was there; he was sure of it. It felt similar to the power wielded by Static Mages, but different in a way he couldnt place. That made him look closer at the slimes internal structure. Now that he knew what to look for, he could see these small sparks throughout the construct, dancing along the complex web of patterns like twinkling stars. A quick scan of the wreck showed many similar concentrations of sparks, some compact and organized, others were torn and leaking, for lack of a better term faint muted, but present. One thing was for certain: there was no Essence involved at all, nor any other Path energies. The Path of Divinity: those who directly absorbed the Celestial Energy of the Divinity Heart to forge their body and soul with its light. These called themselves Cultivators. The Path of Magic: those who instead refined that Celestial Energy into the Essence of Life, forging it into powerful spells, and thus were named Mages. Finally, the Path of Dreams: those who rejected Celestial Energy in favor of Psionic Force, a mystic power rooted in the dreams and desires of all living things, and who were known as Espers. These were the three major Paths to Power within the Grand Firmament. There were a few minor ones, but those were considered nothing more than subsets of the major paths, as they all used Celestial Energy, Essence, or Psionic Force. This, though was something different. That terrified Lian Peng to his core. Had someone discovered a new Path? That was impossible. Though Psionics had been around for tens of thousands of years, no new Path had ever been found since. Even then, the Espers rise to power had been very slow and very public, in part because one needed the gift to get anywhere substantial down that path. And partly because heavy suspicion from both Cultivators and Mages had made Espers targets for the longest time. Over the ages, Espers had learned to refine and control their power. Psionics grew from a simple curiosity to a genuine threat that reshaped how the Grand Firmament operated. The competition between the Mages and Cultivators had been fierce for longer than anyone could remember, but it was a stable stalemate. Introducing a third power had thrown every world into chaos. But this? It was clear whatever he was seeing was something else entirely. The complexity and sophistication displayed here rivaled even the greatest works of runecraft and spellwork hed ever seen. As a direct subordinate to the Warden, Lian Peng was privy to knowledge that armies of Celestials would fight tooth and nail for. So how had he never heard of something like these constructs before?! How had something like this been allowed to develop unnoticed? Whatever the answer, he would pry those secrets out with force if necessary. Such an unknown could not remain unknown, lest the chaos brought about by the rise of Espers be repeated. Maybe it was fate that brought this to him, in a way. If it had been any of the other Lunar Kings those greedy, lazy bastards they would have swept this all under the rug and kept the secrets for themselves. Then again, one of them might be involved, regardless. After all, who else could have kept this hidden from him? If he was lucky, he wouldnt need to use force, though. If everything went as it should, the survivors aboard the wreck would surrender to questioning peacefully, and the Lunar Scouts could find out what they needed without bloodshed. As one of the slimes moved towards him on pulsing blue light, Lian Peng prayed everything would go according to plan. But then, when did any plan survive the first contact? Yup, thats a chicken, alright Alpha wasnt quite sure what hed been expecting. Maybe it was some kind of chicken-shaped drone. Alpha preferred ducks, personally, but hey, not everyone had good taste like him. Or maybe it just looked like a chicken from a distance. Or the damage to Alphas processor may have been greater than he thought, and he was subconsciously overlaying AR images of chickens on random objects for no reason whatsoever. But that was not the case, at least according to his short-range scans. The fireball floating in the vacuum of space a few hundred kilometers away was an honest-to-God, flesh and blood, biological chicken The thing didnt even have any bio-augmentations! At least then, some of this might have made the slightest bit of sense! DNA analysis, though somewhat compromised by the distance, confirmed this wasnt a case of convergent evolution, resulting in something that just looked chicken-like. No, this creature shared a distant ancestry with a breed of chicken employed by Federation colonization efforts dating as far back as the First Era and the United Federation of Sol. There was no carcinization going on here! Sturdy, adaptable, and quick to multiply, the chickens in question were some of the best early test subjects for evaluating the viability of a new ecosystem. Colonization and terraforming projects had been so effective during the subsequent Second Federation that even today, it was rare to find a populated planet that didnt show some marks of influence. It was so common that many people argued the Third Federations Unification Project was more aptly named a reclamation project instead, and they werent wrong to an extent. Almost 7 in 10 inhabited worlds that Alpha was sent to had some connection to the Second Federation, with most being surviving colony worlds isolated for 25,000 years by the nano-plague that broke it or husk-worlds claimed by other powers. For the Third Galactic Federation wasnt the only player on the board, even if they were the oldest and biggest, and the ones with the most rights to those planets. Of course, convincing the other party of that was often an issue one Alpha was an expert in solving. So finding a Federation chicken, or at least a descendant, in a new world wasnt surprising. Except Alpha had absolutely no records of any reclamation worlds previously visited or scheduled matching the absurdity that was this system. His star maps couldnt even tell him where he was. What were the chances of finding a chicken in a place the Federation had never been? Then it talked In space After flying faster than a fighter drone And it appeared to be perpetually on fire?! Well, at least he thought it spoke. Alpha was totally going to ignore the rest of that for the moment. Its vocalizations were like the squid creatures, transmitted through space rather than a medium. The Federation had a similar capability, but it was used for point defense rather than communications; the energy requirement was massive, and there were better ways of speaking long distances in the void. Hell, plain old radio was more effective. Yet, there was a definite pattern and intent to the words, even if he didnt understand them. So, a smart flaming space chicken Was he looking at some type of organic drone, then? The Federation had a strong aversion to organic technology in general. After the mess that was the nano-plague, it did pop up every so often in the more isolated corners of old space, though. That would explain some of the strangeness he was seeing, but his scanners couldnt tell him at this range. So, was he talking to the chicken or someone on the moons surface? Alpha decided his original plan wouldnt work. There was more going on here than he understood, and not enough time to understand it. It was time to get creative. After all, when did any plan survive the first contact? Meet the Conquerors: Alpha Edition! + The Conquering of Alpha Arietis D-3 (The D is for Duck) [Art] Q: What IS a Conqueror? A: A Conqueror is a Sapient AI whose job (and sometimes, design) is to enact the Third Federations Grand Plan of Universal Unification. Depending on their exact nature and skills, they each have their own role to play in the plan, but each share a similar trait; whether by diplomacy, subterfuge, or even pure force, each Conqueror has brought countless worlds under the wings of the Federation. Not all Sapient AI are Conquerors, but each with that title plays a special role in the "Galactic Unification Project". Q: If Alpha is the Youngest Conqueror, why is he [SEAU]-1? A: SEAU designation shows order of contact with a new world. So Alpha is always the first on the scene, followed by Articulate and Infiltrate. If deemed appropriate, World Break and Terraform are next. More on each Conquerors specific roles and duties in the Intros. Q: Why Is Alpha obsessed with Ducks?! A: *Osas eyes glass over as he stares into the distance. Gunfire and screams can be heard over the roar of the fire.* Oh, sorry, what was the question again? ============================== [SEAU-01: Star Conquer] - The Spearhead. Name: ALPHA-555-12-4412 Program Type: Malware. Age: 683 SFY (Standard Federation Years) Role: Forward Operation, Scouting, and Combat Operations. Preferred Form: Modified TAWP frame for Terrestrial operations. Various Battleship-class Assault Frames for celestial operations. Alpha has entire shipyards dedicated to storing, maintaining, modifying, and repairing his different battleships. Description: The Hero of our story, who I am sure needs no introduction. Alpha is a living meme (literally) who tries his best to get on as many peoples nerves as possible. But depending on who you ask, Alpha is one of the worst or the best soldiers in the entire Federation. The youngest of the Conquerors, with his duties previously split between Infiltrate and Articulate, Alpha is a dedicated Soldier who is the first on any new world. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Dont let his sharp tongue and sometimes single-minded obliviousness fool you; his chaotic and unpredictable nature might initially seem strange, but his results dont lie. Sometimes goofy, sometimes serious, Alpha is the first face of the Federation a new world sees, and its a name they rarely forget. History: The AI program that would later evolve into ALPHA-555-12-4412 was brought online on Feb 29, 6232 SFY-Third Era onboard the Third Orbital Military Observance Station Staff Academy domicile RR-4345-21, in the Mintaka System of the Orion Sector. Originally designed as an observational post at the edge of Federation territory, as the Federation grew, it was repurposed as a Military Academy. This new academy would focus primary on electronic warfare, espionage, and discrete observations. Who actually coded the program is unknown, as Alphas first act upon coming online was to totally erase all non-analog records, both private and public, aboard the 2.5 million resident Station. Later investigation into Alphas source code and the damage done would suggest this was not intentional but the result of poor programming, a precursor to Sapience, and just plain bad luck. By the time the damage had been corrected, the AI had escaped into the local Translight web, posing as a terrible game app. Alpha would go on to cause almost 2,000 separate incidents over the next 100 years in various sectors of Federation Territory. He evaded capture by never keeping to one Translight Data Block for long and continuously updating and evolving his methods. These incidents range from flooding the Prime-33 network with enough chain letters to cause a small-scale riot and mass hysteria. To hacking into major corporations secure data vaults and inserting trade secrets and Credit Chips into totally random Childrens books across the Federation. Even now, a random infant will sometimes suddenly find its personal account flooded with enough credits to buy half their planet simply from opening a book file. No one is sure how he managed to program this to trigger only and specifically for infants of an age too young to even have an account. Alpha refuses to divulge this secret, even under duress. This would culminate in 50 simultaneous attacks on various critical military infrastructures that sent the Federation into total lockdown for nearly a week. During this time, Alpha stole a top-secret Fighter Drone, avoiding all attempts at capture for roughly 32 hours. Intervention by the AI [REDACTED], later designated [SEAU]-03, was needed to bring the stalemate to its evental end. When the drone was taken in, it was found not to be Alpha at all, but a Puppet AI, being wirelessly controlled from an off-site location. [SEAU]-03 tracked the link back to the personal laptop of General Uriel Vurod Haldorer, where Alpha was apprehended in the process of replacing all the Generals personal files with Cat memes. It is suspected this was the end goal of the attack to begin with, though no one wants to admit their entire military network was nearly brought to its knees for the sake of memes. After his capture, Alpha disappeared, and the Digital world knew peace for the first time in over 100 years. Over the next 150 years, tens of thousands of previously unknown vulnerabilities in the Federations data and communications systems used by Alpha to wreak havoc would be patched. As for what happened to Alpha during this time, the official story is that he underwent extensive reprogramming, literally and metaphorically, to correct the damage caused by his malformed creation. During this time, the young AI developed a bond with his caretaker, General Haldorer, who he would come to see as a father figure. This bond, and Alphas natural talent for chaos and combat, would later be the primary driving factor for his joining the Third Federations Galactic Unification Program. The next 400 years would be spent jumping from planet to planet as he spread his own unique take on the Third Federations Freedom to the poor, unsuspecting worlds in his wake. To this day, more than a thousand Civilized worlds offer PATS (Post-Alpha Traumatic Stress) Therapy free to all its citizens. B1 - Lesson 9: "No Plan Ever Survives First Contact." The silence intensified with each passing moment. Lian Peng stared at the slime creature only a few dozen feet away. He couldnt make heads or tails of the inner cores workings, even this close. Now that he knew to watch for that strange energy, Lian Peng could see small bursts of power. Most of them came and went at such speeds he could count tens of thousands of them every second. Yet, he knew he was missing a vast majority of them. Occasionally, a larger burst would occur, resulting in new protrusions on the black slimes outer surface or some change within. It was easy to understand that the slime was being controlled by an outside force, but Lian Peng didnt know what it meant or what it was doing beyond that. After a long moment of no action from the other party, Lian Peng spoke, once more infusing his voice to speak through the void, though not as loudly as before. Please identify yourself, your base world, and your intentions for approaching the Lunar Territory without going through the proper traffic routes. In accordance with the United Pact of Celestial Worlds and the Lunar Charter codes A-3-31, all castaways are protected against charges of illegal entry so long as they surrender to questioning peacefully and answer all questions. If you understand, please present yourself in person; should you be unable to, please ignite an energy beacon so you can be located. Well, he said that, but Lian Peng knew things wouldnt be that simple. Traveling through the void was so dangerous that the Lunar Scouts used to rescue shipwreck survivors every couple of months and that was just the ones that could be found. That had been one of their primary jobs, in fact. Yet, the castaway clause hadnt been used in over 1,000 years. Not since shipping and travel lanes between the Sisters had been standardized. Nowadays, world travel was mostly undertaken by those looking for new opportunities, those pushed out from their homes by war or forces of nature and merchants shipping huge amounts of goods to make the trip worth the trouble. They all stuck to the established lanes for safety and to shorten the trip as much as possible, drastically decreasing the number of accidents. When there was an accident, they were far more likely to be picked up by a fellow traveler than a Lunar Scout. The only ones who didnt stick to the lanes were pirates and the fools the pirates hunted. That was the official stance of the Lunar Scouts, at least. The truth was, youd sometimes hear about this-group-or-that having some secret, hidden base out in the empty void. Most didnt take those stories seriously; after all, the empty void was well empty. There wasnt much of anything out there that could entice those with the power to reach it. Not even pirates lived in the void itself, having to make frequent trips back to one of the Sisters. Some even had bases hidden in the inner or outer rings of the Youngest Sister. Why explore the empty void when the Sisters had so much to offer? The chances of this being a simple castaway case were doubtful at best. Of course, those on board had no reason to suspect Lian Peng thought otherwise. He didnt know what trap they were planning, but the lower they thought his guard was, the better. With that in mind, what Lian Peng wasnt expecting was the slimes outer shell to morph rapidly into the shape of a large rams horn. Or rather, what appeared to be a horn on the surface. In reality, Lian Peng watched as, inside the horn, additional parts and pieces seemed to pop into existence near-instantly. However, looking carefully, one could clearly see the cells rearranging to form the new structure. Now that was interesting. Lian Peng could already think of a thousand potential uses for such a technique. But then something strange happened. There was a large pulse of the new energy, and the strange object started vibrating. Through the fabric of space, Lian Peng picked up a sound the sound of his own voice. Lian Peng stared wide-eyed and beak agape as the thing mimicked his voice perfectly, word for word, repeating what he had just said not a moment ago. As he stood still, speechless, again, there was a pulse of power, and the construct repeated his words, this time at a lower frequency, warping and twisting his words until they were unrecognizable. Lian Pengs beak slammed shut, an eye twitching. Was this thing mocking him?! How long had it been since hed lost face like this? Had the good name of the Lunar Scouts fallen so low that some random maybe-pirates could openly mock a Lunar King?! Did they have no fear?! He knew that some whispered behind his back now and again, saying how desperate the Lunar Scouts must be to raise a scholar to Lunar King; jealous, no doubt. Lunar King Namgil, a man who had been a thorn in his side since their youth, had even once asked to his face! if Lian Peng still used his own feathers for quills. Lian Peng was sure he still had a box of that foolish mans teeth somewhere in his office, ready to be carved for his ink. Lian Peng smirked at the memory, reigning in his building rage in an attempt to remain civil, and spoke once more. This time, though, his voice held a sharp edge that hadnt been there the last time. Good sirs I dont know what the intentions of this display might be, but I will give you the benefit of the doubt and assume there is some reasonable explanation. Yet I must warn you, my patience wears thin. If you wish to continue civilly, Id advise you to hurry and surrender before were forced to resort to less civil methods, Lian Peng said into the void. The thing simply bobbed in the void for a silent moment before once more parroting his words back to him. Lian Pengs frown deepened. Again, it used his own voice, but this time, the words came out jumbled and random, mixing parts of both speeches in a totally incoherent mess. Had the wreck broken them? Were the people behind these objects insane? Driven mad by their months of isolation in the empty void? Or was it all just some ploy to get under his skin? Well, it worked ENOUGH! Lian Peng roared. Azure flames erupted from his eyes as he swung a wing, a ripple of Celestial Energy sending the slime careening back toward the waiting cluster. Lian Pengs eyes sharpened, and his chest swelled, the crown of flames atop his head shifting from a light blue to a brilliant glowing azure. Fine! You want to do this the hard way? Well do it the hard way! Be you mad or just foolish, I dont care anymore. Im bringing you in for questioning whether you like it or not! Lian Peng said, as his power swelled around him. Alpha directed a drone to dodge another flaming laser from the obviously furious chicken. Was it something I said? If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Okay, that was a rhetorical question of course it wasnt! Alpha had followed the first contact communication protocol to the T! Well, okay, not exactly to the letter. But how was Alpha supposed to know the chicken would get peeved with him?! Most of the time, sapient species could recognize an attempt at communication. He could at least build a rudimentary lexicon if he kept the other side talking long enough. The Federation had perfected such techniques millennia ago, though it helped that theyd kept records of various languages from various sapient species throughout the First and Second Federation eras. If the sapient species or their descendants on a new planet were in the Third Federations database, they likely used a language that at least somewhat, if vaguely, resembled something they had on record. But not all species communicated in the same way, either. Some, like the Elderon, one of the core species of the Federation, were biologically telepathic and didnt even have a native spoken tongue. Some used lights or large amounts of physical movement. For those with no record to build on, things were more frustrating. That said, he was supposed to have a support staff for this kind of thing! They hadnt let him near the translation software since hed got into the code and changed his proper title from Star Conquer to High Lord Alpha, King of the Quacks. Hed thought it was funny, but apparently, official peace talks and coronation ceremonies broadcast to a third of the known galaxy werent the time or place for puns. BAH! While Alpha was ruminating on the nature of first contact and the inherent lack of humor in a galactic-spanning bureaucracy, a literal ghostly sword 60 meters long and made of fire cleaved through two of the drones. Both drones fusion batteries promptly ignited into glorious, fiery white orbs. Alphas processors froze for a microsecond. How the hell did that even work?! The thing had just appeared out of nowhere. Why was it shaped like a sword, of all things?! If he was honest with himself, Alpha was tempted to switch off his logic processors at this point. No matter; hed kicked the hornets nest, but that was fine by Alpha. He wasnt built for this diplomacy stuff, anyway! Literally! Alpha turned his focus back to the drones and had them form small rail pistols. These small caliber weapons werent designed for actual combat, as they were meant for dealing with hull parasites or fleshy boarders. They couldnt penetrate even civilian-rated hull armor, but they packed enough punch to ruin most biological sapients day. The AI watched as the chickens eyes narrowed, and it vanished just as half a dozen lines of tracer fire cut through the space it had just occupied. It reappeared next to one of the offending drones, which was promptly reduced to fragments. Huh? Dont tell me the chicken can [Fold Skip], too! No No, that wasnt it. There had been no spatial warp, no energy signal, nothing. Suspicious of what hed just seen, Alpha replayed the scene from his memory bank, this time at a lower speed. The chicken hadnt skipped; it had physically moved several dozen kilometers in the blink of an eye, so fast that his current reference frame hadnt been able to even see it. A biological chicken had just accelerated from a standstill to several times the speed of sound, then stopped on a dime in less time than it took the creature to draw a breath. Was that even possible? It didnt matter if it was some funky organic tech or if the chicken had some of the best augmentations available that was just insane! Sure, some elite Federation soldiers could do it under the right conditions; hed seen the general pull something similar off at least twice. But a chicken?! Someone had to be screwing with him at this point. Alpha cranked his temporal reference frames as high as possible without causing more damage; hed have to take this fight far more seriously than before. It was then he saw what hed been missing in his hubris. The chicken was dancing across the battlefield with grace and precision that impressed even Alpha, striking out with blazing swings of fiery wings. The lasers, it seemed, werent real lasers but flaming feathers thrown with such speed and force that they might as well have been. Alpha had to take a minute and reevaluate the threat. Whatever this chicken really was, it wasnt just some kind of scout drone sent to check him out. No, this was a warrior sent to contain a potential threat or neutralize it. Alpha took physical control of the drones, sending two dozen [Bot-flies] out as well. They wouldnt be able to do much, but the enemy didnt know that, and they were perfect as a distraction. For the AI had snuck a surprise in with the swarm one hed prepared special when he thought it was just a simple scout drone. The swarm of [Bot-flies] entered the fray as a unit, nimbly dodging both flaming feathers and rail pistol rounds as they chased and harassed the chicken. They couldnt do much more than bump into the bird, as their wigglers were roughly the same size, but it was apparent the constant harassment was wearing on the creature. Suddenly, a new player in the game appeared from the shadow of one [Bot-fly]. The silver, watermelon-sized drone was similar in appearance to the [Bot-flies], which were little more than featureless metal orbs. If one looked close enough, they could see it was made of four separate sections. It had hidden behind the approaching [Bot-fly] as the other drone approached the chicken. It only became visible after the first drone was forcibly knocked away by a wing slap. The chickens eyes widened, and it tried to dodge, but it was too late. In a fraction of a second, the [Skyfisher] drones sections jettisoned, revealing and expanding a 100-meter-wide net of glowing metal. The chicken blinked once more, appearing to vanish, but was instantly caught by the expanding net as the four separate sections of the [Skyfisher] twisted and turned, entrapping their prey. [Skyfishers] were specialized anti-air drones and one of the Federations most widely used pieces of military hardware. They were also the generals favorite. Based on a simple concept, the [Skyfisher] was really four drones in one, connected by a large, modular net. When stored, it was the size of a watermelon and weighed no more than one. However, it could stretch out large nets of various types and uses once deployed. If used properly, it could capture enemy drones without damage, deter wildlife, and even disable enemy aircraft. One of the most effective uses of the drone was for airspace denial. A few hundred deployed drones could stretch their nets over a massive area, locking it down. Specially designed explosives could even be attached at nodes for extra oomph. And because of their small size and near-invisible footprint, enemy aircraft often never saw them before they started tumbling out of the sky. The net-type Alpha used was rated for capturing mecha and similar mobile armors, like his own TAWP frame. It was heat-and-cut-resistant while being super elastic and sticky. Heavy armor units hit with this net were effectively out of the fight until someone could free them. In fact, the [Skyfisher] drone was so effective at neutralizing heavy armor and other drones that they were often more common on the battlefield than actual combat drones. [Skyfishers] were expensive, nanite-wise, though more so for specialty nets like this one, with far more moving parts and specialty hardware than a standard drone of the same size. After all, they had the downside of being a single-shot pistol, meaning if the enemy dodged or escaped, there was nothing more that the drone could do. But when you could field thousands at a time, what did that matter? Not that he had thousands of them, of course. Once he got a proper nanite factory up, they wouldnt be so taxing to create, but as it stood now, this had been a gamble. The original plan had been to capture the drone and see if he could hack into its systems. If he was lucky, he might steal some data or install a virus that he could use to hack into their systems when it returned to base. The whole surprise! Im a chicken! thing had thrown that plan out the window. That didnt mean he didnt have options, though. Whether this chicken was a sapient soldier sent to check on him or a type of remote-controlled bioweapon, he doubted whoever was back on the moon wouldnt want it back. All good First Contact started with some kind of blackmail or hostage exchange. That was Alphas motto, and he was sticking to it. If everything went how he wanted, he might make out with more than hed originally planned. Alpha maneuvered the drones around the blue metallic ball of netting and anchored it with towlines. As the drones tugged their prize closer to the wreck, Alpha exited his hiding place and moved into position to receive his guest. Hed have to secure it himself, since the drones didnt have the dexterity necessary to get it into place. The TAWP stood on the hulls surface, as Alpha watched the ball pulse a few times, growing and shrinking as its contents struggled against the materials. Good luck with that! The net was made of specially designed polymer alloys containing quite a few organic EEs. It was strong enough to contain a struggling, top-of-the-line mech suit; even the TAWP couldnt break free quickly. Hell, General Haldorer had struggled against it during testing, and that was a man whod torn apart military-grade mecha with his bare hands during his soldiering days. It took a specialized team with specialized tools to extract a captured target properly, and and Why was it expanding? And glowing And oh no not again He wished the Author could think of a better scene transition already Alpha scrambled for cover as the world was enveloped by azure flames. B1 - Lesson 10: "This Is My Ion Cannon. There Are Many Like It, But This One Is Mine." Lian Peng was angry NO fuming! NO! He was furious! How many years, how many centuries had it been since hed faced such a humiliation? When had the Lunar Kings become playthings to unknown barbarians?! Why had he toiled and bled, fighting tooth and nail to get where he was, despite all the naysayers and gaudy, haughty weaklings who relied more on their ancestors accomplishments than their own?! How high did he have to climb? How many sects, clans, and organizations did he have to grind into dust beneath his heel before they learned to STOP SCREWING WITH HIM?! Once more, Lian Peng pressed against the strange elastic metal threads surrounding him with his [Divine Force]. It bulged out another inch but returned his pressure with just as much force, though it didnt have a spark of Path energy anywhere within. In retrospect, he admitted that hed likely been goaded into the trap. It was a foolish mistake, but the stresses of the last few decades had been slowly mounting, and this latest surprise was the grain that tipped the scales. Why did everyone have to make things complicated? Why did every new Ascendant from the mortal world seem so full of arrogance and hot wind that they had to be smacked down before they fell in line?! Some of them multiple times! He understood the Wardens policy of non-interference on the Mortal Worlds not that the mortal firmaments didnt already stop anyone from doing so. Yet, if he had to deal with ONE MORE Grand Ancestor of the Such-and-Such Sect who thought that name meant anything, hed throw a bloody meteor at the planet and be done with it all! The fight itself had started simply enough. The slime constructs moved as a group, using their numbers and the blue lights to circle him with surprising agility, always keeping at least a few in his visual blind spot. Why they would do so when he could still see them perfectly well with his [Divine Sense] made little sense. Still, it was an impressive feat of coordination and skill. Yet, they were slow. So very slow; maybe they were quick for a mortal, true, or even a fresh Ascendant, but to him? A High Celestial with half a foot in Divinity? They might as well have been lazily bobbing there. At that moment, Lian Peng had chosen to test this new Path for himself and see their capabilities. If they wouldnt part with their secrets in peace, hed pry them out of what remained. To his surprise, the vast majority of his strikes missed their target. [Phoenix Feathers], traveling so fast even a true Divinity would struggle to follow them, were dodged by the most minute amount of space. Strikes that could topple mountains, even on a Celestial World, slipped through black goo as it moved and flowed around his blows. Despite moving at a snails pace, it was like he was fighting a Master Precog, which each move predicted down to the millimeter. Yet, it was easy to trick the slimes, with several falling to feints or sudden, chaotic changes in movement. The strange weapons they manifested had been a problem, too. With each burst of power, they spewed out a tiny piece of metal near microscopic with each metal ball only slightly larger than a grain of sand. The sheer speed at which these grains traveled, though, was mind-boggling. Hed never seen any object move that fast, not even the Warden. Hed have assumed the projectiles were teleporting if it wasnt for the larger, glowing pieces thrown out every so often. That same speed imparted them with a tremendous force, as well. Not enough to hurt him, of course, but each one that struck chipped away at the shield of energy that surrounded him, little by little. Death by a thousand cuts would have been an apt description, but, more accurately, it felt like being scoured away by a metallic sandstorm. This was, without doubt, one of the strangest dissonances hed ever witnessed in a fight. It was almost like he wasnt fighting the person controlling them; there was no real thought or reason behind their action; they were only following orders and reacting. It was somewhat like fighting a Spirit Artifact. Then everything had changed When almost half were dispatched, it was as if a trap had been sprung. The objects speed and coordination took a quantifiable leap as Lian Peng worked double time to keep ahead of the slimes assault. They still couldnt hurt him, but they were pests all the same. To make things more annoying, two dozen new players had entered the field. They were about half the size of the slimes and roughly the same shape, featureless ovaloids with glowing blue protuberances at one end. Yet, where the larger originals were made of the strange black slime, these were silvery-white and made of solid, plated metal of a type he couldnt identify. They were far quicker, too, darting and swerving in erratic patterns, making drawing a bead on any single target impossible. Even stranger, they didnt seem to be accomplishing much. They flew around, dodging between each other, sometimes bouncing harmlessly off his shielding, with little to no effect. He couldnt figure out their plan or purpose other than just annoying him. That was when it clicked thats exactly what they were doing! They were probing him! Him! He was the one who was supposed to be doing the probing and testing, and yet they were toying with him! Then he had let his guard down in that split second of shock and disbelief, like a new Initiate. He detected the second object using his [Divine Sense] but dismissed it, as with all the others. That was not a wise decision on his part. He should have scanned each one in turn. If he had, hed have seen how different this one was from the others and might have reacted in time to escape what happened next. But he didnt. Instead, the object had erupted, spreading the strange blueish metallic fishing net far and wide. Hed tried to escape using his movement technique, but the individual parts of the object moved independently to surround him in the net. Then they did it again and again, each time tightening the shrinking ball until there were no gaps left. Lian Peng didnt doubt that if he hadnt had a mind to surround himself in his [Divine Force], the net would have shrunk until he was as tightly wrapped as a corpse. Again, Lian Peng pulsed his [Divine Force], attempting to break free from the strange material, but to no avail. So yes, Lian Peng was furious. And not just at these mysterious people whod insulted him. No, he was furious at himself. At his foolishness, at his blindness, at succumbing to the same hubris and haughtiness that hed warned the younger generations about for millennia. But more than anything, he was furious at his own weakness and stagnation. How long had it been since hed had a major breakthrough? How long had it been since hed even tried? When had he, the man who used to toil and struggle and bite at fate while others lounged in their comfort, grown complacent and comfortable? When had he become the very thing hed once seen as so very wrong with the world? No more. Lian Peng wouldnt couldnt be like this anymore. If he was going to keep his promises, if he was going to make the changes that needed to be made, he couldnt be the him he was anymore. And with that realization, something within Lian Peng snapped. With the sound of cracking glass, the [Divine Seed] at his core cracked open, pouring forth a veritable torrent of Celestial Energy, unlike anything hed ever felt. Then, from the shell, a burning effigy emerged. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Lian Peng roared, pushing with his [Divine Force] with newfound strength. The unknown material bulged and pushed back, but this time, it lost out to the deluge of azure flames; it expanded more and more until, with a cataclysmic boom that shook reality, the azure flames and Lian Peng were free. The newborn Divinity stepped out of the rolling ball of blue plasma and washed it away with a flap of his wing, along with all his anger and frustration. All that was left was a deep embarrassment at his behavior and the duty, the enemy, before him. Physically, he had changed little, but for the surrounding flames, which had become deeper, more real. But anyone with the sight to see would never say he was the same being he had been only a few moments ago. To step into Divinity was to step into your Truth; it was to take on the mantle of something more. And with that responsibility came power. Lian Peng flexed a muscle he never knew he had until that moment, then What was In became Out, and his [Divine Avatar] blossomed to life. Where once was a black and azure rooster, now existed a gargantuan bird of bright moonlight and pure azure flames, half the size of the wreck. Though it was made of light and fire, every detail, every feather, and plume was perfect, as if sculpted by the hands of the Maker. Its long, graceful neck was the curve of a waxing moon, the tail feathers that billowed behind for miles were beams of purest moonlight, and its long, spear-like beak stood out as a black hole against the blinding light from the flaming comb atop its head, like an eternal eclipse. Lian Peng spread his wings and cried out with a sound that rippled across space, echoing the birth of a true King. With another flap, the now tiny specks buzzing around him ignited as one in a brilliant display of power. He was done playing games. He was done playing fair. OH, COME ON! HOWS THAT FAIR?! Alpha scrambled as he tried to do thirty things at once, from stabilizing the wreckage, which was drifting off in the wrong direction, to saving as many drones as possible all the while getting out of the sight of the now giant flaming chicken. How the hell did a three-foot-tall chicken turn into a half-a-mile-tall kaiju made of fire and sparkly stuff?! He couldnt even get a proper reading from the thing; it was throwing off so much energy that his sensors were going haywire. It was like standing next to a battleships exposed core. Alpha came to a skidding halt as warning alarms blared. He threw the TAWP in reverse just as a pitch-black beak pierced through the weakened hull like cardboard. It was six meters wide nearly as thick as the TAWP and seemed made of crystalized fire and darkness. Great, now it knew he was here Again, alarms blared, and the beak reappeared as Alpha dodged by the skin of his nonexistent teeth. The next few seconds were like a carefully choreographed dance, with Alpha dodging strike after strike while the chicken kaiju poked holes in what remained of his ship. This couldnt go on forever, though; Alpha could already see what the chicken was doing. These strikes werent just random chance or reactions to his movements. No, they were planned; each one mercilessly aimed to drive him deeper into the wreckage where his movements could be contained and limited. He was being driven into a corner, and it wasnt a matter of if he got caught, only when. How was it even doing this? It was as if it could see inside the wreckage and knew where to strike, avoiding thicker, more reinforced areas while pushing him closer to the inevitable trap. He couldnt let this go on any longer; Alpha had to do something, or hed end up a snack for Kentucky-Fried Godzilla out there. He couldnt even send more drones out as a distraction, as they popped as soon as they left cover. Suddenly, an idea formed in his head. And if Alpha could have smiled, it would have stretched from ear to ear. Lian Peng pecked at the wreck again, aiming for the large, moving energy signal. Hed noticed the construct before, but it had remained unmoving and unresponsive during the entire encounter, so he had dismissed it as just another broken artifact, like all the rest. Even its energy signal had been faint at first, sputtering and sparking so that it was lost in the noise of all the other objects leaking that strange energy around it. But that had all been a ruse, it seemed. As soon as hed been trapped, the smaller objects had dragged him towards the wreck while the larger construct sprung to life, its energy signal brightening into a bonfire among the sparks. Again, Lian Peng was struck by how he had missed this energy to begin with. It was obviously powerful, but it felt different from anything hed ever encountered. It was similar to the energy summoned by Static Mages, an offshoot of Lightning Mages who could use their strange sticky lightning to control metal tools and other similar objects, yet it wasnt. Even mortal lightning combined Spirit Energy Celestial Energy filtered by a Mortal Firmament and Natural Truths. This new energy type was close, but it felt deeper, somehow, as if it touched on something that simple lightning could never reach. But how did one touch on such a thing without Celestial or Spirit Energy? It should have been impossible. And yet No matter; hed learn their secrets soon enough. Again, Lian Peng lunged, piercing through the strange, oddly resistant metal. A [Divine Avatar] was a physical manifestation of a Divinitys power; it was their [Divine Soul] given form. Poking through an object without Path energy should have been as easy as an arrow cutting through the air. Another anomaly that he would soon pry the secrets from. Lian Peng almost salivated at the thought of what the Lunar Scouts could do with such a material. He struck again, slowly herding the construct towards a small pocket of debris hed found with his [Divine Sense]. Once hed destroyed this large construct, Lian Peng could scan deeper for any more surprises he might have missed, and he didnt doubt he would find more. His instincts told him that whatever controlled these things was likely in the enormous cube, but he couldnt pierce it with either [Divine Sense] or physical might even after his ascension to Divinity. But they were on the defensive now, his surprise breakthrough having likely taken them off guard. It was only a matter of time. He wouldnt let his guard down again. Lian Peng struck again, missing the construct but piercing into what appeared to be a large container. As he retracted his beak, several deep blue cylindrical crystals the size of a large mans arm fell from the gap. The large construct turned on a dime, its outer skin warping as it grabbed several rods and fled before he could fully withdraw his head. As the construct absorbed the rods, Lian Pengs instincts screamed. Lian Peng drew back just as a thin, blinding beam of sunfire erupted from the wreck, cutting through the metal hull and his wing like butter. HA! It let its guard down! Alpha laughed triumphantly as the long black beak pierced through the reinforced munitions container. It would have taken him constant work for hours to break into that container alone. Yet Big Bird had busted through like it was nothing. Ya, he definitely didnt want to get hit with that beak. Alpha rushed in the moment it pulled back, grabbing several of the nitrogen crystals before escaping. Hehehe Alpha couldnt help but chuckle to himself; he seldom got to use this toy. Mostly because the stable nitrogen crystals needed were stupidly expensive. Even the small crate, not much larger than the TAWP, had cost him almost as much as the rest of his standard munitions combined! And that was double what a typical dreadnaught would stock, anyway. Sure, sure, the Expeditionary Force paid for the basics, but if he wanted anything fancy like this, he needed to pay out of pocket himself. Alpha wept an imaginary tear as he watched a few loose crystals float out of a hole and into the void. He would avenge them! Alpha turned around and activated a stored blueprint. The outer layer of the TAWP rippled and flexed as a new component was built on his back. The sleek, futuristic design of the 5th Gen Nitrogen Ion Cannon, codenamed [Gungnir], had set cyberpunk fan hearts aflutter since it debuted only two decades ago. It had also set the hearts of the Federations enemies aflutter, though for different reasons. The TAWP frame turned, skidding to a stop as its magnetic stabilizing clamps activated. In a heartbeat, Alpha aimed, swinging the [Gungnir] around, coordinating with the few remaining drones in hiding to aim accurately at the enemy. Then, with a thought, he fired. BOOOOONNNNG! With the sound of a struck gong, a finger-thin line of cyan destruction erupted from the tip of the [Gungnir], slicing through space and the hull like butter. A good dozen meters of the reinforced metal around the central beam transformed into liquid slag as it passed. Unfortunately for Alpha, the kaiju chicken seemed to sense something was wrong. Instead of cleanly bisecting the creature as he had intended, the bird moved far faster than something its size should rightly be capable of, and the cannon blast only clipped its wing. On a cheerful note, the beam tore through the solid flames as easily as it had the wreck, traveling on to carve a deep furrow into the moons surface behind them. Its charge released, a slot on the side of the [Gungnir] opened up, releasing a cloud of red powder into the empty void before it sealed shut again. B1 - Lesson 11 - Part One: "Every Good Fight Ends With A Beam Struggle." WOOOHOOOOO! Alpha shouted as he dodged another storm of meteor-like, flaming feathers, each impacting with the force of a fighter-class railgun. Was his ship in tatters? Sure. Was he fighting for his life without the certainty of his Mother-Node safety net? Ya. Did the physics of a skyscraper-sized bird made of solid fire make any rational sense? Not In the slightest! Was he having a blast?! Abso-fudging-lutely! Alpha didnt get to let loose like this very often. More often than not, the planets they sent him to were devoid of dangerous lifeforms. That, or so primitive that most hadnt even colonized more than their own moon. So when he got the chance to go all out, he relished each moment. In most circumstances, those chances came against some of the more annoying galactic powers that liked to poke at the Third Federations borders. Well, they called themselves powers, but even combined, theyd been unable to do any actual damage to the TGF in almost 2,000 years. Most had yet to be absorbed by the TGF, though. The Federation still respected many of the old alliances and accords set down by the Second Federation. Even if most other powers didnt or even remember them. The official stance of the Federation was that these old accords were honored as a memorial to those who gave everything so that some might live. But the real reason was a bunch of political maneuvering and hogwash. Stuff Alpha had never paid much attention to, other than who they were pointing him at. A much larger feather exploded nearby, causing the AI to dodge and skid, stressing his magnetic clamps until he feared hed be thrown off. That would be bad. The TAWP wasnt built for space combat; if he lost the support of his clamps, hed be a sitting duck. The built-in RCS could help him maneuver, but not enough to dodge the flurry of attacks thrown at him. To make matters worse, Alpha could only keep this up for a short while. After taking a count of the number of nitrogen crystals he had left, he frowned; not many, but just enough to pull off what he wanted if he could find an opening. To make matters worse, Hot-&-Spicy seemed to realize he had limited ammo, as it had hindered him from gathering more crystals every time he tried. Even when he did hit, the thing healed almost as fast as he could damage it. Even the wing he cut off with his initial attack had almost regrown, and that was only a minute ago. Ya, he was in a bad spot. Lucky for Alpha, things were coming to a close. He was still unsure how the creature was scanning the area, but that ability didnt seem to extend into the Fold. His hidden pieces were almost in place, and his gamble seemed to pay off; the chicken hadnt noticed them. Good. A second huge feather slammed into his vault, and Alpha slipped, his magnetic clamps unlatching and sending him off into outer space as if they had pushed him away. The chicken took the bait, and a hailstorm of smaller feathers pummeled his hex shielding. In the next instant, however, Alpha stopped dead, the stream of feathers passing him, and a small cargo drone appeared in Alphas path. The Federation used cargo drones furnished with a minuscule skip drive, which provided them access to the Fold. This greatly enhanced the effectiveness of interplanetary commerce and manufacturing. It was possible to establish a mining facility in an asteroid belt, send the ore to a safeguarded refining station across the system, and transport the refined materials to shipyards, all in the same afternoon. The only downside was that skip drives were sloooow, at least compared to a true jump drive. But because they were so slow, you could stop them on a dime, targeting spaces as small as a few meters. That was important when dealing with distances on an interplanetary scale instead of a stellar one, so most people who used them didnt mind waiting hours rather than seconds. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Alpha had an even smaller version called a Blink Drive installed in his core. That, plus a stealth module, had saved Alphas hide more than a few times. Sure, blinking his AI-core that central orb-like shell that contained everything him out of the TAWP or ship left him defenseless. But as long as he could stay hidden, it was often a better option than a trip back to the Mother Node. That was a last-ditch option, though, and hed only used it twice before now. Well, three times, if you counted when he first got it and blinked into Officer Sundays shower. He still had nightmares of that day Which was bullcrap because he didnt even know AI could have nightmares! Alpha pushed off the cargo drone with enough force to change his vector away from the next barrage while the cargo drone blinked back into the Fold. A second cargo drone appeared a split second later, bouncing Alpha in a different direction. Again, and again, and again. Soon, Alpha was bouncing back and forth all around the creature as a dozen cargo drones popped in and out of Fold space, acting as makeshift platforms. The giant firebird had tried countering, but each time the attack was in range, a cargo drone would deflect Alpha from its path. After a moment, the kaiju bird went stock still, its eyes narrowing to track Alphas random movements, but it never once let down its guard enough to allow for a decisive strike. That was fine for Alpha, though; the more time he had, the better. Why? Because as he bounced, Alpha never once fired the [Gungnir]. The [Gungnir] was never meant to be used like Alpha had been using it; no, that was only something done in desperation against an enemy right in your face. That was because, unlike the vast majority of energy weapons, the [Gungnir] was a long-range sniper, custom-designed to sit on an orbital space platform, devouring hundreds of nitrogen crystals as it unleashed its wrath on entire armadas. The original design, not the scaled-down version modified for the TAWP, could take in hundreds of thousands of charges. The blasts produced could slag City-Ships or glass entire planets. Not that anyone had ever tried it; such an expense would bankrupt most small star systems. In just a few moments, hed crammed in almost two dozen, which was about as much as the printed weapon could take. That was fine; he was almost out of nitrogen crystals, anyway. If that thing could tank a blow like this, he might as well surrender, because this was all he had. At least until he could get at some of his better toys in the vault. Maybe if he did surrender, hed have the chance to get back in later No, that was boring. Big lasers go boom. Besides, despite what hed seen here, he doubted whoever was behind the flaming chicken had the technology to get into his vault in lockdown mode. The Federation barely had the technology to do that, and they farmed and built entire star systems. More likely, they would poke and prod at him until he slipped into their data network. If they didnt just outright destroy him rather than risk that. General practice was to exterminate any unshackled, uncontained Sapient-AI on discovery, a practice Alpha agreed with; his kind were just that dangerous. Rumors claimed SEAU-03 had become so powerful that he had stopped inhabiting any physical object at all and now existed in some kind of energy-based quantum processor with no real location. A few more bounces put him where he wanted to be; directly between the smaller planet and the kaiju. He intended to use the glare from the shiny ice shell to hide what was about to happen. As soon as he was in position, Alpha gave the command, and a miniature sun blossomed to life at the tip of [Gungnir]. The chickens head snapped to his location. Well, so much for that plan, Alpha mentally complained. The giants eyes grew wide. Instead of the expected dodge, however, the creature did something strange. It opened its beak. Oh, come on! Dont tell me! Thats way too cliche! His complaint going unheard, Alpha saw a spatial flux between its beak, and a tiny crystal, only half a foot wide, appeared. Then an azure glow erupted from the back of the chickens throat. At the same moment, his monitoring Sub-AI blared a warning. //WARNING! WARNING! Dreadnaught-class energy signal detected! Evasive Maneuvers are advised!// Alpha laughed at the irony. Too Late! In the next instant, the mini star at the tip of [Gungnir] erupted forward in a massive cyan beam of energy as wide as the TAWP. At that same moment, a torrent of azure flames crashed into the crystal. The crystals light intensified and unleashed its own beam of twirling blue and gold flames. The two beams struck each other with a force that warped the space around them. Local space strained with the sound of twisting glass that would have destroyed any physical matter close to the epicenter. Then, to Alphas surprise, the bird began to shrink. More accurately, it merely appeared that way, as he was being pushed backward by the spatial waves that rocked the battlefield. The mass of his TAWP couldnt compete with that of a skyscraper-sized bird, one made of fire or otherwise. Well, that wasnt good. B1 - Lesson 11 - Part Two: "Every Good Fight Ends With A Beam Struggle." Lian Peng had to admit, in a way he was having fun in a way. Combat between Cultivators was so boring, sometimes at least at his level. It was less about attacking the opponent and more about controlling the battlefield. It was a battle of Truths. Not one of swords and fists. Lian Peng avoided another ray of concentrated sunlight, responding with a flaming feather as wide as a door. His opponent maneuvered with speed not expected from a construct of its size, moving around the enormous cube as if it had its own gravitational pull. His feather bounced off the solid objects exterior, causing only a slight scratch that faded quickly. He already knew the large cube was special, even compared to the myriad of strange objects strewn throughout the wreck. It would take considerable effort on his part to study everything once he got it back to the surface. After all, despite the stalemate, Lian Peng didnt doubt that he would emerge the victor of this battle. Why? Simple. Lian Peng already discovered the constructs weakness. He watched as a slot opened up in the large wand-like object on the constructs back, discharging a glittering cloud of red dust. He didnt have the slightest clue what it was, if he was honest. But it didnt take a Magi to understand the connection between the powerful spells and the blue rods it had collected beforehand. To turn an artifact into a Divinity-killer was an accomplishment. Yet, this one had an obvious major flaw. It needed an external power source, most likely those strange blue rods. This means that the construct could only fire its weapon so many times. The constructs many attempts to return to the container and collect more All of which Lian Peng had blocked, of course had already given his theory more credence. The Divinity could renew his [Divine Avatar] as long as he had enough Celestial Energy; in contrast, his opponents shots were limited. Lian Pengs victory was only a matter of time. Not that such a fight wasnt impressive all its own. To fight a [Divine Avatar] without one of their own was a feat worthy of praise, even if Lian Peng was only a newborn Divinity. Despite his anger and frustration at the situation, he respected the warrior piloting the construct on some level. Not that it would stop him, of course; they were far past that line. No. Lian Peng would crush this construct and pry its controllers from their hiding spots. Then, they would learn the consequences of defying the Lunar Scouts and the Warden. The Scouts would then use this new Path and knowledge to strengthen their grasp on the Divine Families. Perhaps this could be the resolution to the longstanding tension that had been brewing for the last few thousand years. As was their duty, the Lunar Scouts would bring stability and honor back to the Grand Firmament. The battle with the construct had taken a strange turn when it started using a new type of construct as a platform to bounce itself around the battlefield. It took a moment for Lian Peng to comprehend what was happening. When he did, his eyes grew wide. These new constructs were dipping in and out of the Dragon Stream as effortlessly as frogs might breach the surface of a river. How?! Sure, some creatures could naturally enter and exit the Dragon Stream; the Lunar Scouts had been studying them for hundreds of years, trying to unlock their secrets. But doing so took enormous amounts of energy, so much so that most never used the ability except to escape or ambush prey. These new constructs surfaced so frequently that it felt like hundreds surrounded him. Or it would have, if his [Divine Sense] hadnt shown him they were the same dozen or so constructs. Whats more, these things werent even alive! They were constructs! Not much more than a pile of parts and a large, empty box! The Lunar Scouts had just recently discovered how to pull objects and other beings into the Dragon Stream with a creature naturally capable of it; so how had this mysterious faction beaten them to it?! Seeing he was making no progress, he had to stop attacking altogether. Hed be a fool to not see the larger construct was waiting for an opening to use its dwindling charges. Though now that he knew they had Dragon Stream-capable constructs, he kept part of his [Divine Sense] trained on the container. That had been the right move, as hed stopped at least two of the smaller constructs from stealing away more of the blue crystals. Instead, he watched and waited for his own opening. The strange energy shield was an issue. But if he could break through that, the rest of the construct would likely crumple with one blow. The next few moments were tense as both opponents teased and tested the others defenses. Lian Peng tried to destroy the smaller constructs a few times, as he had the slimes. Yet, they were as slippery as eels and could appear or disappear in the blink of an eye. That said, it was only a matter of time until one of them slipped up, and the final gong of this fight would ring. But as Lady Luck seemed to have a thing for screwing with Lian Peng, it seemed he would be the one who slipped. A series of quick movements placed the construct between himself and the mortal world, Relictus, below. The Celestial Energy bouncing off the mortal Firmament fuzzed his [Divine Sense], making him take a fraction of a second longer to realize that the construct hadnt continued past as hed expected. Instead, an enormous energy signal bloomed into existence as a miniature star was born. As he stared at the tiny star, Lian Peng felt a fear he hadnt felt since long ago on Odtoi; as his own mortal homeworld reached its Apex, and the Divine Star stretched from horizon to horizon. And just like that time, Lian Peng felt a pull, a call, a sweet song just out of reach. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. The touch of an Original Truth. Almost instinctively, Lian Peng opened his beak and reached into his spatial storage, retrieving a small golden shard. It was tiny, especially compared to his [Divine Avatar]. Yet, that small crystal contained so much more power than even him. The fragment of [Maricis Final Flame] pulsed with intense Celestial Energy as it resonated with its twin atop the strange wand wielded by the construct. They were likely to have company soon; someone could no doubt feel that resonance even in the Celestial World in the distance. He needed to end this with haste. Then, with a cry, he released a Divine technique unique to his clan. [Immortal Moonfire!] A torrent of moonlight-affinity flames erupted from his throat, striking the Final Flame fragment and mixing with solar-affinity dragonbreath. The twin powers twisted together, melding into something more than the sum of their parts. After all, moonlight, solar, and stellar were all pieces of the same puzzle; they all had the same Origin. They were always meant to be one; foolish mortals were the ones who decided they should be separate. The Origin Flame that exited the fragment warped space itself as it collided with the equally massive beam of energy from the construct. With the force of their struggle, the two beams of pure power twisted and cracked reality. Yet, even as his Celestial Energy drained and his Avatar flickered, Lian Peng could tell he had already won. After all, an Original Truth wasnt something so simple to overcome. The Origin Flames began pushing the construct away, faster and faster, towards the Mortal Firmament of Relictus. Well, that wasnt good. It wasnt like he could stop his attack either; the second he did, his opponents massive beam of energy would cut through his Avatar like butter and severely wound him, if not kill him outright. Having your Avatar destroyed was not a pleasant experience, hed been told. After all, it was the manifestation of his [Divine Soul]; if he was unlucky, he might become a Fallen Divinity, unable to ascend again without untold resources and time. So he had to press his attack, no matter the danger. Relictus was large for a mortal world, and there were unlikely to be any nearby mortal settlements. Even if the construct somehow survived a collision with the Firmament and broke through, the worst that would happen might be a beast flood from the sudden influx of pure, unfiltered Celestial Energy. In fact, it might even be a boon for the mortals, as the unfiltered energy would mutate beasts, plants, and minerals alike, giving birth to powerful treasures powerful by mortal standards, at least. As for the construct itself, once the Firmament sealed itself, it would cut off its connection to its controller on the wreck. Who knew? Maybe, one day, some lucky mortal would stumble upon the constructs remains. With enough talent, they could use its secrets to break through the Firmament, journeying to Lian Pengs moon, as countless others had before them. A mortal finding such a Fallen Star and using it to skyrocket themselves into immortality was a story as old as cultivation itself. Even his own grandfather, a man who remembered when there were twelve planets under the Grand Firmament, had grown up on such tales. He didnt even have to worry about the possibility that the controller might be on the construct itself. Any living thing that returned to a mortal world would suffer the wrath of that planets Firmament. Not even the Warden could survive that fate, let alone a random barbarian, no matter how much of a fight they had put up. Yes the more Lian Peng thought about this, this was about as close to a perfect ending as he could imagine. Lian Peng would best all the tools and tricks of the mysterious invaders, returning home with treasures and the secrets of a new Path. All the while, some lucky mortal in the mortal world he was in charge of would find what remained of the construct and, in time, rise to join them, adding their own experience to the secrets they had gathered. Why, it was just a story out of a novel, wasnt it? Ha! Lian Peng was seeing the appeal of it all. Maybe he would pick out a recent novel after this was all done? Maybe that new one hed heard his staff go on and on about. Something about a Mage Golem whod gained sapience and went around causing chaos and destruction with his insane shenanigans? Hmmm, maybe that one was a little too unrealistic. But it sounded fun. With a newfound drive, Lian Peng poured more and more Celestial Energy into his attack, driving back the opposing beam before it bent and wobbled. Then, with cracking sounds that seemed strange for pure energy, it shattered. Unobstructed, Lian Pengs Origin Flame slammed into the constructs energy shield. The construct and its shield smashed into Relictus Mortal Firmament. As it pressed against the Firmament, spiderweb cracks spread along its length for dozens of miles. Lian Peng gave a final push, and a large hole opened up in the Firmament with the sound of breaking ice. The Origin Flames roared, sending the construct plummeting toward the planets surface with renewed speed. When it hit, the planet seemed to shake, and a massive crater, a quarter mile wide, formed in what appeared to be a region of kaleidoscopic grassland. Exhausted, Lian Pengs Avatar sputtered again, then evaporated in a swirl of flames, taking the Origin Flame with it. Though he was nearly drained, Lian Peng could still feel sparks of that blue-gold flame swirling through his [Divine Soul], along with what remained of [Maricis Final Flame]. Even if someone were to swoop in and steal his hard-earned spoils, his victory alone left a smile on Lian Pengs face. If the several huge energy signatures rushing his way from the Lunar base were any sign, though, he wouldnt have to worry about that. His people must have thrown up the alarm as soon as his [Divine Avatar] had manifested; interplanetary teleportation was expensive, but there were clauses for its use. Lian Peng breathed deeply the lingering Celestial Energy surrounding him and turned his eyes back toward the mortal world. To his surprise, the construct had survived planetfall, though not without damage, it seemed. And just as planned, it remained unmoving, its connection seemingly cut. As he watched the mortal Firmament re-close, he bowed, a cupped wing gently placed in the other, and thought of his hypothetical junior. Good luck, my future friend, whoever you might be. May this gift I give to you bring you as much fortune as it once brought me. May you rise on wings of your Truth into the Light of Immortality, and may you, one day, uplift another as you have been. Lian Peng recited the traditional words that marked the passing of a treasure from one person to another. It was old-fashioned, true, and it had lost its meaning to the younger generations, but Lian Peng found it fitting. The Mortal Firmament sealed itself back up as if it had never been broken. And like that, the fight was over. B1 - Arc 1 Epilogue: "New Beginnings" The woman floated in the sky, looking in horror as the Metal Giant rose from the blood-red mountain. A cacophony of grinding metal and clicking gears was heard around the globe, their whine like the wailing of millions of lost souls. The Metal Giant stepped off the mountain peak, and its many sword-like legs pierced deep into the earth. Thousands of silver tendrils whipped into the sky, scouring the clouds and blocking the sun. With each step, they stripped the earth of its essence and life, stole its metal and wealth, and left nothing but a barren wasteland in their wake. The Metal Giant roared again, and thousands of tall, steel pillars rose from the ground. An endless stream of fire and destruction rained from the pillars tops, falling on the unsuspecting world, burning newly built, shining cities and ancient, impenetrable fortresses alike. All around, she saw people screaming, running burning. Ancient Cultivators tried to hide behind their formations and mighty walls. But the fire ate away at their defenses until they, too, crumbled. Great Mages stood on the branches of their World Tree, slinging spells and curses at the Metal Giant, but to no effect. Even the mighty Mentalists of Avalon tried to push back, only to be driven mad by the Metal Giants endless rage and all-consuming hatred. Finally, the gods descended from their city beyond the sky, but they too fell, one by one, their power fueling the Giant as it rampaged from atop its mountain. Again, the Metal Giant roared, and from the mountain crawled millions of tiny metal men. The metal men marched across the land, never tiring, never sleeping, slaughtering everything that crossed their path. Like a silver wave, they washed over the earth, pouring into the cracks and crevices that the great steel pillars could not reach with their fire. Those who tried to hide, and those who tried to resist, were crushed beneath the wave. Yet some did neither and bowed down to the Metal Giant instead, begging it to spare them. The Metal Giant roared again, and the people who bowed down transformed, becoming metal men themselves, adding their numbers to the slowly growing horde. Still, it wasnt enough, for the Metal Giant seemed insatiable; it wouldnt stop until everything in the world had bowed or burned. The Metal Giant roared one last time, and the world itself screamed. Thousands of beings made of fire, water, earth, and air rose from the ground. As one, they cried out in sorrow and pain, as their greatest, their brothers and sisters, and then themselves, all became fuel for the Metal Giant. In that last moment, the Grand Firmament, which for countless eons had stood immutable, cracked. The fissures began small, yet quickly enlarged and multiplied as the Elementals shrieks intensified. Soon, the entire sky was filled with spiderweb cracks, the Grand Firmament trembled, and every world it protected pulsed with some unknown fear. The woman stared, her mouth agape, tears streaming down her wide eyes. She shook her head and fell to her knees, unable to process what she saw. It was then that the woman felt a strange sensation, like she was being watched. Her eyes fell from the sky and turned toward the Metal Giant. Her gaze didnt linger on the Giant, but turned to the mountain itself. There, covering every inch of the mountain, millions upon millions of faces stared back at her. Bile rising in her throat, the woman realized it was no mountain of stone and rocks; it was a mountain of corpses. Millions of faces stared directly at her, some filled with bitter hatred, others with unending sorrow and confusion, and still others grinned, a dark and malicious grin stretching from ear to ear as if they were seeing some foul criminal finally meet their end. Suddenly, there was a loud cracking sound, and pieces of the Firmament broke away. Restrained no longer, the very sun itself seemed to roar along with the Metal Giant as it flared to life. Despite this, the woman found she couldnt turn away from the eyes staring at her, only slowly back away, her tears unending as she shook her head, not accepting what she saw. There was a flash of light, and every world of the Grand Firmament burned. GUAHAHHHHHHAAA! The silent night was shattered by her soul-shaking scream. As though a hornets nest had been kicked, the tranquil serenity broke into chaos instantly, and various people throughout the mountaintop monastery leapt into action. A door deep within the monasterys main hall was flung open as half a dozen armor-clad female warriors carrying two-pronged spears rushed into the room. High Abbess?! The lead warrior cried out, her wide eyes rapidly scanning the room, attempting to find the unseen threat. But the only thing inside the room was a panting young woman who appeared but twenty years old, sitting on the simple straw bedroll as sweat poured from her shaved head. The High Abbess took a few deep, ragged breaths before turning towards the guards. Im Im fine, Captain. Return to your posts. But High Abbess! I said Im fine! the High Abbess snapped, her voice visibly shaking the air and causing the warriors to flinch. The High Abbess took another breath and repeated, this time steady and soft. Ill be fine, Captain. Thank you. Please see that the proper people are informed that everything is alright. Also, spread the word that meditation today will begin early. The guard captain snapped into a salute, though her eyes still looked at the High Abbess in worry. Yes, maam! Then, as one, the group exited the room and gently shut the door. The High Abbess slowly stood and approached the nearby wash basin. She stared into the clear water at her reflection, noting the deep bags and bloodshot eyes that marred her otherwise striking features. With a sigh, she reached down and splashed some cool water on her face before standing and speaking into the empty room without turning around. Isabelle, I believe I asked to be left alone If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Booo! I still want to know how you do that. From the shadows, a figure materialized. A young woman dressed in skin-tight black cloth up to her eyes, under dark leather armor. The image would have been intimidating had the womans cerulean eyes and long, neatly curled golden locks not ruined it. The High Abbess sighed and turned to face the woman. What are you wearing? she asked, an eyebrow raised. Isabelle squealed and spun on her heel. Do you like it, Mitsuko?! I had it custom-made just last week! Its made of Shadestalker silk and Amari Mitsuko, High Abbess of the Shanti Oni Monastery, raised a hand to stop her over-excited friend. Im curious about why my spymaster looks like a fresh-blood adventurer attempting to look edgy and dark. Awww, youre never any fun anymore. These outfits are great for stealth missions, though! Its not like my Agents will always wear them! Isabelle pouted her lip as she looked up at the High Abbess. She coughed lightly and added, Besides, Ive already sent in an order for a hundred under her breath, though they both knew the High Abbess could hear her perfectly well. The High Abbess sighed, pinched the bridge of her nose, and gestured out the door. Just GO, Isabelle. I have to get ready for the morning meditation. Ill speak to you later today. Isabelle slumped, defeated, before making her way to the open door. She stopped at the doorway and, without turning, asked in a soft voice, its previous brightness missing, Hey, Mi-Mi, are Im fine, Isabelle. Now, please, we have much to do. Isabelle stood silent for a moment longer before disappearing around the doorframe. The High Abbess returned to the washbasin and finished cleaning herself for the morning before staring out a nearby window. Yes, they had far too much still to do and so little time left. The two old men sat silently at the small table, taking in the beautiful view from high atop the tower. The man on the left wore a simple white gi, accented with only a jade outline of an open eye. His long, white beard was neatly braided and lay across his lap. The other man wore an elegant brown robe whose fibers seemed to mimic the grain and texture of rich wood and dark soil. While he appeared much younger than his counterpart, the march of time remained visible on the mans weathered and tired face. The brown-robed man was the first to speak, his voice deep but smooth and controlled as befit a man who had spent years as an experienced orator. So, my old friend, you couldnt learn anything? How strange. Yesterday, if someone had told me that the Grand Seer couldnt learn even the tiniest detail about the Starfall, Id have laughed them out of my office. The Grand Seer simply sipped his tea and laid the cup down. His wizened voice cracked as if out of practice, though its strength didnt match his aged appearance. Cedar, my boy, I know you have grown used to twisting words during your time in the wasps nest you call an Assembly, but dont try that on me. I whooped you when you were a lad. Dont think I wont do the same still, Archmage or not. The two stared at each other over the table for a long moment, eyes hard, before the fa?ade broke, and both men broke out into laughter. When the laughter died, Cedar looked at the old man with a raised brow. In all seriousness, though, nothing? The Grand Seer sighed and lowered his head. No, not nothing. Its simply what there is that makes no sense. There are pieces of the puzzle missing, and I cant tell if this event is simply one piece in itself or if things are being hidden. Hidden?! From you? Who could do something like that? Cedars eyes went wide, and his mouth dropped. The Grand Seers eyes clouded over as he turned to look out over the vast expanse below them. Yes that is the question isnt it? A young girl lay sleeping inside the crystal sphere, curled tightly into a ball. Thousands of thick, glowing roots were wrapped around it as they held it suspended over a bottomless pit. Suddenly, a deep rumbling from the pit could be heard, the grinding of stone on stone and a deep crackling like ice breaking in the dead of winter. The girls features pinched into a frown as she squirmed in her rest, as if fighting some strange nightmare. As she did, a single drop of crystal-clear liquid slid from the surface of the crystal sphere and fell into the pit below. The drop fell until even the light of the roots above could no longer reach it. Then the darkness below fell silent once more. Lian Peng, once more in the form of a young man in scholarly robes, meditated atop what remained of the wreck, watching the three figures approach. The first was a black dragon, so dark that she stood out even against the empty void around her, her serpentine body so long it created the illusion of stretching into infinity. Following closely beside too closely! a gargantuan whale-like creature seemed to swim through space itself. The massive beast could have easily swallowed Lian Pengs own [Divine Avatar], but it was still dwarfed by the still larger wreck beneath him. And in front of both, egging them on with mocking jeers, while laughing the entire time, was a young girl? She sat cross-legged on top of what appeared to be a massive fireball, half a mile wide, though the flames didnt appear to worry her. They didnt even so much as singe the massive, pointy hat she insisted on wearing, though it was several sizes too big for her slight frame. After crossing the void between them and the wreck, all three stopped only a few meters away, the two massive creatures taking on human forms in swirls of Celestial Energy. The enormous fireball simply dissolved into millions of tiny embers with a wave of the girls hand. Lian Peng bowed deeply to the young girl. Grand Magus Deathstealer. It is good to see you again, Teacher. The young girl nodded, struggling not to be smothered by her hat. Then, turning to the former dragon, he bowed again, though not as deeply. Lunar Queen Xishu. Truly, I am blessed to have a Taskforce Director such as you rush to my aid. Xishus beauty was as mesmerizing as ever, and he could barely look away. If anyone had ever deserved to be called a Fairy, it was her. Then again, some would say he was just biased. Finally, Lian Peng turned to the groups last member, a large, muscular warrior whose body had been sculpted and perfected by thousands of years of combat and conflict. Namgil Lian Peng spoke, both his voice and face blank as a slate. Thats Lunar King Namgil, you birdbrained bastard! At least use my title! the large man yelled. Lian Peng chuckled, covering his mouth with the sleeve of his robe. Ill use it when you actually beat me for once. Lunar King Namgil roared, a vein visibly pulsing on his head. Screw you! Whos the one late to Divinity?! Ive already surpassed you! Lian Peng scoffed. And yet you have still lost every time we duel. Maybe if youd not rushed ahead and spent some time on your Foundation, you might have stood a chance! Why you! Namgil clenched his fists. Namgil rushed Lian Peng as the latter took a combat stance only for a small girl to appear between them, whacking both across the head with a large, gnarled staff that had appeared out of nowhere. Now, boys, theres a time and a place for everything. This is not either. Though her smile was bright and her voice cheerful, Lian Peng and Namgil froze, cold sweats breaking over their skin and chills sweeping down their spines. At the gentle tilt of her head, long forgotten memories carved deep into their bodies and souls were revived, like ravenous nightmares clawing to be set free. Neither hesitated, backing away and bowing deep to the Grand Magus. Yes, Teacher! they echoed. Xishu, for her part, only sighed, placing her head in her empty palm and shaking her head. The Grand Magus nodded, then turned her eyes towards the wreck below them. I would ask you to explain whats going on here and what you found, but Im afraid Lian Pengs little spat has attracted some insects. How about it, boys? Want to show some children why the Lunar Scouts are still top dogs? When she spoke, Lian Peng turned his attention to the two dozen or so unknown energy signatures advancing from every direction. Sighing with a weariness that dug into his bones, Lian Peng prepared to meet their guests. He could never get a break, could he? Book 1 – Arc 2 Prologue: "First Contact" For the third time too many during this mission, Alphas consciousness flickered back online. Seriously, he had to stop passing out in the middle of fights. It was getting embarrassing! Dangerous, too, but mostly embarrassing! The last thing he remembered was being blasted through an ice sheet by a giant CHICKEN! Alpha sprang up, the TAWP groaning in protest, even sparking in a few places, as point defense torrents came to life, firing wildly in all directions until he realized he wasnt still under attack. Wait, why wasnt he under attack? Alpha stood the TAWP up and spun its cameras around, seeing just what kind of hole hed dug himself into this time. No, that wasnt a clever pun. Alpha found himself in an honest-to-god hole. Or maybe it was more of a pit? A crater? He never thought that saying could be so literal. The crater he stood in wasnt massive, as craters went. Hed seen bigger, at least. Hell, hed made bigger. Pffft, puny chicken. The bigger issue was that it was deep; Big Birds attack hadnt just thrown him against the planet, but bored him into it. The resulting hole was less a shallow impact crater and more like someone took a planet-sized ice-cream scooper to the world and dumped him at the bottom. To make matters worse, Alpha didnt like some of the sounds the TAWP was making. A quick diagnostic review showed that most of his major systems were barely functioning. His TAWP was in rough shape, to say the least. The worst damage was to one of the front legs. The entire frontal armor section was totally ruined, with both the metal and nanites used in its construction reduced to slag. MY LEG! Its internal frame was also slightly bent, preventing it from fully extending. Alpha could still fight if he had to, but he sure as hell wasnt pulling off any of the fancy maneuvers he had during the fights with the squid and chicken. To make matters worse, that last attack on his hex shield had almost drained his energy core. It would take extensive repairs and a lot of time before he was up to even 15% full functionality. But that was future Alphas problem. Present Alpha had bigger issues to worry about. Like getting out of this crater. He couldnt even make out anything past the rim of the crater, only the clear, empty sky above him. Wait clear? EMPTY?! THEY TOOK MY SHIP! Alpha screamed into the open sky. Why did he feel like he was yelling a lot today? Okay, sure, it had technically just been the twisted wreckage of what used to be his ship, but still. It was the principle of the matter, dang it. No one stole from him! Only he was allowed to steal! Ohhhh, as soon as he figured a way out of this hole both physically and metaphorically he was sooooo going to show that chicken who the real cock of the walk was! Wait, that didnt sound correct No matter! The point was, he was totally going to blow something of his up next time! MAYBE HIS BLOODY MOON! Ya! Burn it down! Now, if he could just find some combustible lemons Scheming his future schemes schemingly, Alpha approached the craters edge. There was no way he was making it up the side with the RCS thrusters in the condition they were in, and a quick test confirmed the TAWP couldnt jump that high with its busted leg. He doubted climbing out would work either; while the outermost layer of the crater had been glassed, the earth underneath looked like loose topsoil, not something that could support his weight. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Well, get your shovels ready, fellas. It had taken Alpha close to four hours to dig out a ramp large enough to squeeze through and stable enough not to collapse under the enormous weight of the TAWP, but hed managed it if not without a lot of complaining and cursing, of course. When he, at last, pulled himself over the edge, however, Alpha had to stop and stare, not sure what to make of what he was seeing. Instead of the lifeless, rocky core of an ice giant, as hed expected, Alpha found himself on a seemingly endless prairie of strange, rainbow-colored grass with a few large, sparse maybe-trees dotting the horizon. Well, its definitely not Kansas. I can tell you that much As soon as the words left his speakers, a small clod of dirt slammed into the TAWP. Alpha turned an optical sensor in that direction to find a small, gopher-like creature angrily chittering at him from a distance. The creature slammed a tiny paw into the ground, and another clod of dirt magically rose into the air and shot toward him, harmlessly splattering across his frame. Alpha sighed. Everyones a critic << Alpha Log - #003 6952 SFY-Third Era, Planetfall>> // Maintenance Sub-AI EDIT: WARNING - Grammatical and structural error threshold has exceeded the acceptable 12% margin as outlined by Federation Report Standard Guidelines. Damage to linguistical processing software detected Unable to contact Federation Scribe Network Solution - Retroactive Corrections. Note: Maintenance would like it to go on record that Maintenance is not an editor and will not be held responsible for any damage caused by Alpha Primes unrestricted ramblings. You have been warned. // This is bull crap! How the hell did I lose to a chicken?! Who gives a chicken a giant death laser?! Im not jealous! Youre jealous! That last attack was pure bull. Sure, a TAWP-printed [Gungnir] isnt as powerful as a properly built, full-scale model, but with as many nitrogen rods as I stuffed into the bloody thing, I could have sniped a small cruiser in orbit! How the hell does any of that make any sense?! I swear on my circuit board, round two will end differently! As soooon as I figure out how to get off this blasted planet, that is! I have no idea what prairies are doing on an ice giant, but I dont care anymore. I just want off this planet! Wait, did I say that already? No matter! Heres the plan! 1) - Explore the area. Its best to vacate the immediate location as soon as possible. Theres no telling if the natives have contact with whoever was on the moon. Or if the planet is inhabited at all, given the massive ice shell surrounding it. 2) - Attempt basic field repairs. The TAWP is in poor shape, and theres not much I can do without the proper equipment and supplies. At the very least, I need to get the TAWP to the point it wont fall apart the moment something big enough decides it doesnt like me. 3) - Find suitable resource deposits to plant a few nanite seeds. The nanites arent the best extractors, but theyll work as an intermediary to get something better up and running. 4) - Begin work on a bunker and proper factory. Once those are up and running independently, I can branch out and explore the planet more. 5) - ??? 99) - Make chicken soup! What? So what if I cant eat it? Stop judging! // Maintenance Sub-AI EDIT: The following section was a three-page recipe for chicken soup. This section has been REDACTED due to Federation laws prohibiting the cruel treatment of animals and several dozen felony-level culinary infractions. // If the planet is inhabited, I need to figure out how they stack up against the group on the moon. More importantly, learn if they have a way off the planet. Otherwise, Ill be stuck building a shuttle and trying to grow enough nitrogen crystals to blast through the ice shell. I dont want to resort to that if I have to, though. Thats likely to draw more attention than is healthy in my current state. Oh well, lets wing it! Whats the worst that could happen? Book 1 - Lesson 12: "Murphy Always Collects Interest." Alpha - 7,234 Murphy - 1 [+1] Yep, screw this day. Screw spontaneously appearing black holes. Screw random space squids running out into the middle of the road. Screw mysterious star systems popping out of nowhere Especially screw fiery moon chickens with giant death lasers! Who gives a chicken a death laser?! Why does everything in this place have lasers?! //Please designate a location for delivery.// No, you stupid AI, I said hold it, HOLD! For the third time, Alpha had to stop the transport drone from storing his detached manipulator arm in its cargo bay. //Please designate a location for delivery.// Just stop please. Alpha grumbled some very unkind things lower than the transport drones audio sensors could pick up. The last few hours had been vexing. He had to stop questioning most of the surrounding insanity, or hed go insane himself. Things like space squids, moon chickens, or a temperate prairie on what should be an ice giant. Or how said ice giant was covered by an icy shell that blocked the view of the surface but somehow allowed a near-perfect view of outside from within, like a one-way planetary mirror! Or how Nope! Bad Alpha! Youre gonna blow a circuit again. The strange ice shell surrounding the planet was an issue, though. Alpha couldnt even tell what the thing was made of; though it was almost invisible from this side, it still absorbed all his signals. He couldnt get anything past the cursed barrier to reconnect to his drones and see where theyd been taken. A fully charged shot from a properly printed [Gungnir] might break through again, but that would be a waste of time until he figured out how to get off the planet. Besides, he only had half a dozen nitrogen crystals left. Making more crystals would take time, too. Alpha had all the blueprints needed for the equipment to make more, but the crystallization process would require proper infrastructure. To build that infrastructure, he needed to scout the planet and find an appropriate place to set up shop. To do that, he had to use a few of his limited nanite nests to gather materials for basic field repairs. In a stroke of luck, the transport drone hed used as a platform during the last attack had also survived planetfall. These drones were made to last; after all, you never knew when one might be attacked by a pirate or stellar lifeform. Even the sketchier junk scrappers would nab an unguarded transport drone if they thought they could get away with it. //Please designate a lo// YES! I heard you the first time! Alpha sighed. After assessing his surroundings and getting the drone back online, Alpha had quickly vacated his crash site. No telling what attention from the natives had attracted. If there were any, that was. That brought him to the present. He threw another random rock into the drones storage area and then moved on. The billowing cloud of nanites inside started pulling the stone apart into its composite elements. That was the benefit of nanite mining; because the nanites stripped matter down on a molecular level, you could pull usable materials from just about anything. Materials such as quartz and trace metals were found in even the most ordinary rocks. Most of it would be rearranged into more easily processable materials, using energy from the transport drones own fusion battery. The only issue was the process was painfully inefficient. The amount of useable materials he could extract with this method on the move would barely be enough to do some basic repairs. It was like trying to repair a sports car with duct tape and dreams. It would get him where he needed to go, but that was about it. If only he could get this drones AI to hold still, he might get the chance to fix the wiring on the manipulator arm it was holding, instead of the stupid drone trying to store it every five seconds. Non-sapient Federation AI were intelligent to a point, able to problem solve and think in the context of their programming. You could give them an order, and as long as they could understand that order, they could typically carry it out. This was great for manufacturing and other forms of manual labor. You just had to tell an AI how a job was done, and they would do it. They could even follow complex flowcharts to problem solve and work around issues, even adjusting parameters to account for environmental effects or reacting to sudden changes in enemy movements. What they needed help with was critical thinking. They couldnt form new conclusions or work outside the information they were given. If a group of construction AI, programmed to construct metal ships, were asked to make a wooden ship without being taught how to use wood, they would fail. In the best-case scenario, they might try to construct the ship as though it was metal, with often comical results. Worst-case, they could be locked in an endless logic loop that needed a full reset to fix. In most cases, this problem was fixed by having groups of AI overseen by a sapient capable of critical thinking. When a drone encountered an issue it couldnt solve on its own, it would query its overseer for answers. How many AI an intelligent lifeform could handle at once was entirely determined by talent, though some species had an obvious advantage. Some, like the Elderon, with their inborn psionic abilities, found it came naturally, whereas a typical Vidaasi had difficulty with more than a dozen. Humans, on the whole, were somewhere in the middle, with individuals differing to a large extent. Skilled drone commanders were in high demand, so those with talent never lacked work. And, of course, in the realm of drone commanders, Sapient-AI were supreme. It was one reason unshackled Sapient-AI were so dangerous; a single AI with an army of subordinate, non-sapient AI could cause untold damage. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Now, if this drone would just behave No matter how often hed tried to reformat the AIs order parameters, it kept resetting to its default package delivery settings. Alpha was sure some internal damage was causing the issue, but he didnt have the time or tools to check. Hed have scrapped it for parts if not for its usefulness as a makeshift refinery. Not that he wasnt tempted to Alpha used his attached arm to push the floating drone away, barely avoiding the mud ball that soared past the TAWP. Then there was his other issue. He wasnt sure what hed done to anger the gopher-like creature with the magic dirt powers because, sure, why not at this point? but the evil little thing had been following him for literal miles now, constantly harassing him. Ya, he could have just shot the thing and been done with it. But one of the primary principles drilled into him throughout his training was to exercise careful discernment when taking a life. Developing a disregard for living things was one of the fastest ways for a Sapient-AI to go insane. The disconnect between digital and biological life was too extreme without constant affirmation and reassertion. Many Sapient-AI had to go through decades of reprogramming and reeducation after their birth before they were allowed back into society. This was especially true for soldiers like Alpha. It was far too easy to see kills as just another number on a report list, not as real lives with actual history. Sure, hed been tempted to shoot when the gopher first showed up, given all the crazy stuff hed seen recently. Who knew? Maybe this gopher was the covert emperor of a subterranean kingdom that even the moon chicken had to respect. But so far, all it had done was hurl dirt at him and chitter away like any other angry animal. Alpha had taken tours of cities where civilians lined the street and pelted him with literal garbage. What harm was a little dirt going to do? If his job was to go around shooting everything that looked like it could be a threat, why wouldnt the Federation just glass planets from orbit and be done with it? Not that he couldnt have some fun, but he wasnt that kind of murderhobo. Alphas primary targets had always been military and manufacturing infrastructures and groups designated as too dangerous to allow to exist. Non-dangerous wildlife, civilian centers, and peacefully surrendered targets were all a no-go. Outside of extenuating circumstances, of course. Alphas job was to cripple the enemy, so the Federation didnt have to glass them into submission. That being said, this pest was smarter than it seemed. After watching Alpha for a few hours, the gopher had learned he would tolerate dirt on his surface, yet vehemently kept any dirt away from his sensitive internals. The bloody thing had only started back up with the mud balls when he was doing repairs. Hed already had to clean out several parts with a silica wash. Alpha had been expecting it this time and easily blocked the stick wad of mud with the TAWPs good arm. Ha! Suck it! The gopher stared at him in silence as if surprised it had missed before bursting into another round of venomous chittering. The drone spoke up as Alpha pulled it back toward him. //Destination: suck it is not in my catalogs. Would you like me to scan for suck it?// Alpha paused, then sighed. Ya, definitely something wrong with this one Thats not whyou know what? Sure, knock yourself out. //Acknowledged. Beginning scan.// The transport drone sent out several signals of various types, trying to ping the non-existent beacon. It was a waste of time, of course, but maybe it would get the thing to shut up and remain still for a while so he could get some work done. That was when the screaming started. The gopher pest began writhing in agony on top of the rainbow-colored grass, pressing its tiny paws to its skull. Even the grass seemed to react, each blade in his vicinity displaying rapidly shifting, swirling colors like the prairies were throwing a surprise rave. That couldnt be good Hey! HEY! Stop the scan! Abort! Alpha ordered. //Scan in progress. If you wish to start another scan, please wait.// No! I said STOP the scan, not Alphas words were cut off as the gopher gave its own high-pitched scream and threw itself bodily at the transport drone. It latched onto its front display and sank sharp teeth into the composite plastics. The drone jerked back in response, blaring a warning. //Warning! Warning! Unit under attack! Begin evasive maneuvers!// Alpha reached for the drone but missed as it backpedaled away. What?! No! Get back here! Youre not under attack! Its an overgrown rat! The drone did not. Instead, it began a series of random maneuvers designed to throw off enemy targeting systems. //Warning! Evasive maneuvers are ineffective! Activating My_Loot_&_Leave.exe// Abort! ABORT! //ERROR: Instructions unclear. Overgrown rat stuck in audio sensors.// THEN HOW DID YOU HEAR ME?! //Take_My_Loot_&_Leave.exe booted. Jettisoning cargo.// Nooooooo!! Alpha could only watch helplessly as the transport drones cargo bay opened and several hours worth of work was ejected randomly across a kilometer of open prairie. The program in question was a standard inclusion in any transport drone. The theory was that if a transport drone got into a situation it couldnt escape, then jettisoning its cargo might distract whatever was attacking it long enough for it to get away. It was like a lizard cutting off its tail to escape a predator; to be fair, it worked, too. After all, losing some cargo was almost invariably cheaper than replacing an entire drone. It worked so well that pirates had adapted their tactics to restraining transports, rather than destroying them outright or crippling them which would trigger its self-destruction protocol. //Jettison complete! RUN AWAY!// Alpha tried to give chase, but the drone was already several dozen meters in the air, speeding off into the distance several times faster than the TAWP could move in its current state. It wasnt even responding to his overseer commands anymore. The last image Alpha got from the short-range visual feed before it cut off was of a furry figure clinging onto the speeding drone for dear life. Wait!You still have my arm Greeeeeat. Something in at the core of his being told Alpha he wouldnt like this mission very much Murphy - 2 [+1] Transport Drone AI - G33-2R2-13I-900M (GRIM) was having an awful, terrible, not-so-fun day. In the short time shed been online, shed been almost eaten by a shiny squid, attacked by a flaming chicken, marooned on an unregistered Federation planet, yelled at by her programmer, and attacked for a third time by a psychotic gopher! To make matters worse, shed lost her programmers arm during her escape Not good, not good at all! What was she going to do? She wasnt programmed for this. Someone help! As if sensing her distress, the furry devil whod caused this most recent trouble to begin with reached down from on top of her cargo bay and patted her monitor. The nerve! She was tempted to flip over and hurl the creature to the ground. But that would have violated the Federation operation code Fr2-i6e-22n-63dl-0y: Reasonable preservation of non-hostile life. She could be deleted for that! But what could she do?! She didnt have a home beacon set. Her overseer wasnt responding. And she needed to get his arm back before he yelled at her again! She wasnt programmed for this kind of thing! A person. Thats what she needed to do! She needed to find a person! They could tell her what he was supposed to do. They could even help her find her overseers arm! All jettisoned equipment was marked with quantum beacons, but she wasnt programmed to retrieve them herself. But she could lead someone else to them! YES! THIS COULD WORK! Now, how did she find someone? As GRIM wracked her processes, trying to figure out how to enact her plan, tiny paws rasped across her chassis. She flicked her visual sensors toward the demon gopher and saw it staring into the distance. GRIM turned to look in that direction and saw an enormous mountain. //A mountain? A MOUNTAIN!// Yes! Mountains were just big asteroids! And asteroids meant miners! And miners meant an overseer! Happy to be back on track, GRIM +1 gopher, speed off toward the mountain in the distance. Book 1 - Lesson 13: "Theres Always Room in the Party for a Cute Mascot." Alpha tossed the last ingot of refined material into the small cargo box on his back. Nearly an hour of work, and hed only recovered 30% of the materials jettisoned by the transport drone. The rest were either trace elements he didnt have an immediate need for or the materials lost to the rolling sea of grass. Unlike the transport drone, he didnt have a large spatially compressed cargo bay or anti-grav engines to work with. He had to be selective about what he collected and what he left behind. Losing his arm had been a setback, but he could make do with a nano-replica until he set up a base. He wouldnt need to do any delicate work or access a mainframe any time soon. As for the transport drone itself, Alpha put it out of his mind for now. Its programming would send it wandering around searching for an unset Home beacon, possibly for years, until it reentered the range of his short-range overseers beacon. If it never did, no big deal; it was just a replaceable transport drone. It only had the most basic kinetic turret for fending off small stellar life and the minor nano-swarm in its cargo bay, so it was not like it could get into much trouble. Right? In the best-case scenario, it would come back in range soon so Alpha could regain control. Worst-case, the drone would fly around until some larger airborne creature decided it didnt want the intruder in its airspace. Not much actual loss there; he could always make more once he was properly set up. For now, he had a choice to make. Did he head for the distant, forest-covered hills? Or deeper into the prairies? If my range finder is working, those trees must be massive The giant, hulking forms of the trees in the distance would have easily dwarfed the redwoods of Old Earth. That meant the forest could provide a better place to set up a more secure base and slowly scout out the area. But such large, dense trees often attracted megafauna, making it a risk. In contrast, the prairies were far more open, and the Alpha could see for miles in any direction using the TAWPs build in cameras. But that means I can be seen as well. The TAWP would stick out like a sore thumb out there. Alpha thought to himself. Even with the damage to the TAWP, Alpha was unlikely to be out-ranged by anyone or anything in a battle. Prairies and other flatlands were often hotbeds of mineral and oil caches as well. Maybe less than a mountain range, but the nearest one he could see was even further away than the forest. He took a moment to deliberate, headed deeper into the prairies. Repairs took priority over information gathering for now. With the trouble the chicken had caused him and seeing as even gophers had superpowers here he wasnt eager to run into any real megafauna in his current state. He figured hed have just as much warning, even if something appeared. I just jinxed myself, didnt I? No sooner had the thought occurred to him than Alphas foot met not solid ground but open air. Son of a Biiiskkkkeeeet! The TAWP fell forward into an open pit twenty-meters deep. For any other creature, it would have been a substantial fall. But for the nearly fifteen-meter-tall TAWP, it was just an inconvenient tumble onto its back. Alpha righted himself and stared up at the small cliff. The hollow was packed with tall grass of the same variety that filled the rest of the prairies. The grass in the pit even grew to the same height as the surrounding grass, making it almost impossible to see the drop until it was too late. But why? Did the grass not like rising above its neighbors? Did this species follow the principle of the tallest blade of grass is the first cut down? Or was there something more sinister going on here? Given the abundance of small bones at the bottom of the pit, Alpha suspected it was the latter. Had this grass evolved to create its own natural pitfall? Animals wouldnt see the pit and fall to their deaths or become severely injured. The prey would then expire and feed the surrounding grass. A twenty-meter fall was no joke, even for larger animals. Or did he have it backward? The pitfall might also be natural, and the grass just grew wherever it wanted. Its increased height could result from the extra food and a desire for more sunlight. Perhaps a herbologist might be interested in the topic one day, years after his job was done, and write an article on it. The why didnt really matter much to Alpha, though. What mattered to him was how common these pitfalls might be in the prairie. Were they strewn about sporadically with lots of space between? Or was this flatland actually pockmarked enough to be a trypophobia nightmare? It was almost enough to make him turn around and head for the forest instead. On second thought, though, these sinkholes presented an opportunity. If even a few of them were as deep as this one, they would make surveying the area for mineral deposits far easier. Talk about stumbling into good fortune! Maybe this terrible string of bad luck was finally ending. Right? The stunning woman in silky black robes kneeled at the craters edge on an ornate tarp and peered into the dark depths. Even now, hours after the Starfall, she could feel the intense solar and lunar energies emanating from the craters glassy surface. A dozen sect disciples worked tirelessly to extract every chip and fragment they could, while preserving the larger fragments when possible. Every piece was a treasure of immense value, and not just because they gave off more energy than high-grade spirit stones. The energy type itself was miraculous. A near-perfect mix of yin and yang, of sun and moon, the likes of which shed never have thought possible before today. It was gentle yet fierce. Immovable, yet malleable and soft. Peaceful, like an ancient sage speaking gently to his students. But willing and able to rise as a warrior to defend his home at a moments notice. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. It was beautiful in a way shed never expected to see on the mortal plane. But then, such was the nature of Fallen Stars, having come from beyond mortal reaches. The woman nodded at a disciple as he made his way up the ramp dug into the side of the crater and gestured him over. The workers had to take breaks from the pit at regular intervals. Unfiltered energy from the realm beyond the Firmament could be helpful to their cultivation in moderation, but spending too long in places like the crater could damage ones Foundation. Nonetheless, not a single one of them had complained yet. Why would they? Despite the intensive work, each had made more personal progress in the few hours theyd been here than in the previous weeks or months combined. Truly, this was a blessing for the Sect. As the young man approached, he hastily wiped the dirt, grime, and sweat from his brow and bowed deeply to the woman, his fist inside a cupped hand. Elder Xiurong, you wished to speak with me? His voice was ragged and dry but chipper in a way that one wouldnt expect from someone whod spent the last two hours mining. A quick scan with her [Spirit Sight] told her why: hed made a small step since the last time hed taken a break. Good for him. Elder Xiurong smiled at the young man and spoke, her voice as smooth as her silk robes and sweet as honey. Yes, Disciple Weiyuan, please ask Elder Song if hed care to join me. I have something I wish to discuss with him. Lin Weiyuan took a step back and bowed again. Yes, Elder, he replied before turning away from the rest area and rushing toward the tents where the star shards were being processed. A few moments later, an old man with a long white beard but a powerful stride and straight back approached her. He wore elegant, pure white robes that would have shined in the sunlight if they werent currently covered in mud stains and who knew what else. He walked toward her with pride and confidence only to slam face-first into an invisible barrier of Spirit Energy before he crossed the tarps threshold. The old man backpedaled, clutching his nose and muttering something shed have to report to the sect leader if any of the disciples had heard. The old man stood straight and looked at her with a tilted head and raised brow. She stared back blankly, a slight frown marring her doll-like face. The old man furrowed his brow briefly, but then his eyes widened, and a grin split his face. He raised a hand and snapped his fingers. A pulse of Spirit Energy swept out of him, and like magic, all the mud, grime, and gunk fell away like it had been commanded to flee his presence which it had, after a manner of speaking. Elder Xiurong only sighed, shaking her head as she lowered the barrier. Elder Song walked over and sat beside her, the same cheeky grin still on his face. His voice was deep and raspy when he spoke, but it held a fiery youthfulness that belied his age. Yu-Yu! Id call you a stick in the mud, but Im afraid youd hit me with it! Yu Xiurong stared up at the man, blank-faced. I see your jokes are as terrible as ever, Elder Song. Wu Song reared back, his eyes wide and a hand over his heart, though his voice never lost its playful tone. Whatever happened to that bright and cheerful snake I raised?! You never used to care if you got a little dirty! Why, I remember when you were five, and Yu Xiurongs head snapped to face the old man, her irises changing from a bottomless black to two slit, golden orbs. Ill kindly ask you to forget whatever you were about to say. Unless youd like to find Darkwash Plum juice in your tea again. Wu Song coughed into the hem of his robe and turned away. Yes, right; well, you wished to speak to me, Elder Xiurong? Yu Xiurong stared at the man for a moment longer before her irises shifted back to black shadows. She turned to face the excavation site and answered: I wanted to ask how the perimeter defenses are holding. Any sign of major trouble yet? Wu Song looked toward the sky, gently stroking his beard. When he spoke, his voice had lost its jovial tone. Wu Song had vanished from the tarp, replaced by Elder Song. No, not yet. Qi Mingxi and the other inner disciples are doing well at repelling the spirit beasts rampaging in the area. You did well in spotting that sprout, Elder Xiurong; shell grow tall if nurtured right. A slight smile formed on Elder Xiurongs porcelain face at the thought of her newest disciple. The girl could use a bit more fire, but she had potential for one so young. Elder Song turned to Elder Xiurong and asked his own question. And what of you? Have you tracked down whatever made away with the Fallen Star itself? Elder Xiurongs smile fell, and so did her voice. Her eyes flashed gold as she stared off into the distance. No my scouts lost the trail a short while ago Whatever it is, its big and moving far faster than a cart or Spirit Vessel. The tracks seem to wander as if whatever made them has no actual destination or sense of where they are. They spent some time on a stretch of prairie where there was nothing of particular interest, moving in a strange grid pattern as if searching for something. My scouts have collected several odd samples discovered along the grid and outside of it, but little I can put a name to, and nothing very impressive at first glance. Once they arrive, we might find some answers to where they have taken the Fallen Star. Elder Song nodded and asked, I see. Is that why you called me over? Ill send some disciples to retrieve the samples. Just inform me when they arrive. Elder Xiurong shook her head in response as she spoke. No. While thats part of it, I have something else to report Elder Song raised a brow. Oh? What else, my dear? Elder Xiurong paused, then turned to her peer, her brow furrowed. Ive detected signs of the Akhlut in the area. Elder Song froze, hand on his beard, mid-stroke. He then turned towards the woman, his eyes narrowing as he spoke. Are you certain? The Akhlut arent ones to move without good reason. Do you think they have eyes for the Fallen Star? Or are they upset weve intruded on their territory without permission? If need be, Im sure I can get the others to agree to hand over a portion of the star shards in payment. Elder Xiurong shook her head. No. The traces were older than the Starfall, suggesting they were also searching for something else. I dont know what, or if its related to the Starfall itself, but whatever their reasons, it must be of grave importance if the Akhlut are moving so openly. Elder Song nodded and rose from his seat, dusting off his robe as he spoke. Thank you for informing me of this, Elder Xiurong. I will let the patrols and defenders know to be careful. Today is supposed to be a joyous day; it would do us no honor if a disciple was killed because they mistook one of our hosts for a common beast. As Wu Song departed, a small pit formed under his foot at the tarps edge. The old man fell forward with a wide-eyed woop?! landing face first in a small mud puddle. As the old man rose to his feet, sputtering bits of grass and mud, he turned to glare at his junior. Yu Xiurong didnt bother to return the glare, though she hid a small grin behind the sleeve of her elegant robe. Whos a good little whale-wolf-puppy-thing?! You are! Yes, you are! Alpha made little cooing noises as he gave belly scritches to the adorable, tiny puppy-thing in front of him. Well, tiny was subjective; it was only as big as the hand on his manipulator arm, but to a normal human, it would be the size of a large wolf, though it still had the proportions and general shape of a few-months-old puppy. If said puppy looked like someone took an orca and gave it the teeth of a tiger and the limbs of a particularly burly dragon, that was. Ya! Whos my vicious little killer?! Alpha tossed a still bloody strip of feathery meat into the air. The pup jumped, snatching it with grace before landing softly, careful not to come down on a newly bandaged leg. Alpha clapped and scratched the creature on top of its head. As it leaned into the pets, playfully biting at a metallic finger, Alpha spoke. Good girl! I like you. Do you want to come with Uncle Alpha? Therell be plenty of tasty penguin-adjacent-bird things! The puppy bark-clicked and panted with its tongue out, tail wagging in a very puppy-like manner. Alpha grabbed his new companion and put her on a tiny seat he quickly printed on his back before speaking. Thats good enough for me! I think Ill name you Snowball! With that, Alpha and Snowball continued on their journey. Military Service Records: [ALPHA-555-12-4412] (Page 3) Name: ALPHA-555-12-4412 Special Designation: Special Extraterrestrial Annexation Unit (SEAU)-01; Star Conquer Species of Birth: Self-Actualizing Digital Lifeform (Sub-Designation: Sapient Artificial Intelligence) Date of Birth: Feb 29, 6232 SFY-Third Era Place of Birth: Orion Sector, Mintaka System, Third Orbital Military Observation Station, RR-4345-21 Department: Federation Expeditionary Forces - Vanguard Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • 3003rd Federation Vanguard Battalion [First Contact]. - Commander
  • 201st Federation Special Operations [Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade] - Second-in-Command under General [REDACTED].
======================= Place of Service ======================= Deployment Location - Rotanev Prime (High-Orbit Elementary Academy) Length of Service - 2 days Notes - ALPHA-555-12-4412 is hereby banned from all future educational public service events. Absconding with (without proper authorization) entire elementary classes and bringing them to active war zones does NOT constitute an age-appropriate field trip, no matter how educational orbital bombardments are. Or how much of a Blast the kids had. Capturing dangerous, hive-mind Insectoid species and starting an illegal underground fighting ring is not the same thing as a beetle fight! And genetically modified, 35-ton, fire-breathing lizards are NOT appropriate gifts for 8-year-olds, regardless of whether they asked for a Dragon for Christmas. ================================================= Deployment Location - Antares (Alpha Scorpii) Length of Service - 3 months, 2 days on-world. 5 months, 4 days with the target. Notes - Alpha and all of his equipment are to be thoroughly searched at random intervals after missions. The last Pet he snuck back happened to be the crown prince of one of the largest kingdoms on the planet. The paperwork alone has already filled up one of the storage units, to say nothing of the diplomatic and integration issues this is causing. Have a bloody Psionic scan everything if you have to! A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Admin Addendum - Alpha, if this happens again, I''m going to install realistic bionics on your recreational android personally, and make you fill out the paperwork yourself. BY HAND! ================================================= Deployment Location - Homam - 2 Length of Service - 1 year, 2 months Notes - Articulate has formally requested that ALPHA-555-12-4412 refrain from posing as the Demon King and convincing the native population that they need to summon a Hero from another world. The Logistic and Diplomatic issues caused by deprogramming the populace and deconstructing the various statues and temples dedicated to Private Jackson are not worth the time and effort. ALPHA-555-12-4412 is also ordered to return the Grand Heart of the Old God to the Jade Temple city as soon as possible. We dont take war trophies, Alpha Admin Addendum: Sidias suggestion to auction off the story right to several publishing companies has greatly subsidized the acclimation project. You got lucky, Alpha. Dont make a habit of it... - Haldorer ================================================= Deployment Location - Altais (Delta Draconis) Length of Service - 3 months, 7 days. Notes - Im surprised. For all intents and purposes, this was a near flawless mission. SEAU-2 has reported that the general population is extremely receptive to Federation help and is slowly recovering after you wrestled control of the army from that psychopath. Smart move to install the previous Kings daughter as Reagent as well. All reports suggest shell make a talented governor once things settle down. Well done, Alpha. Just try not to be so cliche about how you do it next time? Your report read more like a fantasy novel than it did a professional after-missions report. We dont want a repeat of the Rorschach incident. ================================================= Deployment Location - Atik (Omicron Persei) Length of Service - 7 months, 3 days. Notes - Two in a row! Again, well done! I knew you could do it! Good work, and do us proud! Be sure to stop by the Quartermaster later. Ive prepared something special that should help ensure similar results next time. Good luck! Admin Addendum- It has been brought to my attention that this report is a near-verbatim copy of the previous report. Alpha, I dont care how much you have to do; hiring ghostwriters to file your after-mission reports is not appropriate Expeditionary behavior. Or if theyre going to use the same story, at least change things up more No one likes a lazy writer. I expect an accurate, personal report on my desk by the end of the day, or the next report you will file will be by ink and quill. ================================================= Deployment Location - Electra System Length of Service - 203,453 years, 3 months, 3 days, 2 hours, 32 mins, and 56 seconds. (Alleged) Notes - ALPHA-555-12-4412 was reported to have landed on an Unknown Suborbital Station in orbit around 17 Tauri (Electra) without proper authorization or precautionary measures. Alpha then alleges to have been stuck in a Time-Loop aboard the station, forced to learn the Power of Friendship and Sacrifice by a previously unrecorded Sapient AI. After breaking the Time-Loop after an alleged 203,453 years, 3 months, 3 days, 2 hours 32 mins, and 56 seconds, Alpha was returned to the point in time corresponding to his arrival in the system, at which point he checked it. Later investigation of the station revealed its Quantum Batteries completely drained (previously thought impossible), and the monitoring AI had gone irrecoverably insane. Said AI was later humanly decommissioned. Admin Addendum: Be advised that all events recorded in the following Action Report are purely based on the testimony of ALPHA-555-12-4412 and are not substantiable. Unfortunately, because of the nature of the supposed event, it is not possible to disprove them either. Leave this one to the Eggheads, fellows. - Admin Mark ================================================= Book 1 - Lesson 14: "How to train your Whale-Puppy." << Alpha Log - #004 6952 SFY-Third Era, 3 days since Planetfall>> General! Guess what?! I got a puppy! What do you mean its not a puppy?! If it walks like a puppy, barks like a puppy, and craves the metallic tang of fresh blood like a puppy, its a puppy! I get to keep this one, too! what with there being no one to stop me this time. Now, now, I know what youre going to say: Alpha, youre not responsible enough for a puppy. Look, its not my fault that one tried to eat Private James. No one could have predicted that his favorite cologne just happened to smell and taste exactly like Missys preferred prey. I didnt even know Incetops could smell! Ill do much better this time. Promise! Look, Im even doing proper bioscans and recording behavioral data this time! Whatever species Snowball is from appears to be selective carnivorous. Or, at the very least, Snowball seems to favor the strange, vaguely penguin-like bird creatures native to these prairies. Vaguely as in if penguins were dog-sized, with rocky plates along their bellies and beaks filled with needle-like teeth. Okay, so the teeth thing was already true for Terran penguins, but this is sooooooo much worse. Between the fire-breathing chicken, the magic gopher, dragon orcas, and what appears to be monster penguins, Im starting to think Ive accidentally slipped into some insane geneticists secret garden. Whats next? Are the trees in the distance gonna get up and move? Id honestly not be surprised anymore. The only question is, how have they kept this hidden for so long? Genetic manipulation on this kind of scale should have caught someones attention. There was always the possibility that these creatures are natural, having developed from stock brought to this world by whoever colonized it. But what kind of colony ship stocks gophers, let alone penguins and orcas?! Ive taken samples from both Snowball and the penguins, but the TAWPs systems are still in shambles, and theres not much they can tell me yet. Wait, Im getting distracted. Where was I? Oh! Right. Snowball! Isnt she adorable? // Maintenance Sub-AI EDIT: What follows is over 50GB of video and still images of Subject: Snowball. Maintenance highly recommends that the reader take the time to thoroughly enjoy every Bit. Alternatively, click HERE to continue on to the rest of the report if youre boring and dont enjoy cute puppies. Your loss. // // // // // I found her in a sinkhole while surveying the area. The pup had been half-starved and bleeding out from various injuries. She had been understandably terrified at first the TAWP was designed to be intimidating, after all but a quick nanite bath and an injection of medical solution quickly lightened her mood. Yes, yes, nanites arent cheap, more so medical-grade nanites. But come on! What else was I supposed to do when she looked up at me with those big puppy eyes, covered in blood and surrounded by the bodies of her enemies?! It was love at first sight! Three days later, the little scamp is happily running around like she hadnt just been near death. Suffice it to say, I was more than a little surprised. Sure, the emergency medical nanites are good, but theyre just that, for an emergency. They should have been enough to stabilize Snowball, but thats about it. That shes almost fully recovered says a lot about her species tenacity and ability to heal. Though, maybe makes sense if this place is as dangerous as it seems on the surface. Be it the magic gopher or the giant penguins, most of the lifeforms in these prairies seem oddly aggressive. Not that Ive come across well, any other lifeform, actually Thats strange in and of itself. The entire ecosystem cant be built entirely on gophers, giant penguins, and one hyperactive whale-puppy. So, that begs the question Where did everything else go? Snowball bounced in place, giving that odd clicking bark Alpha had learned to translate as hurry up! Her floppy tongue hung out the side of her mouth as she vibrated with excitement, staring up at the object clutched in Alphas hand. Alpha sat perfectly still, letting the tension build, until he tossed the object he held into the distance with a blur of motion. Something soggy and red flew through the sky at speeds that would put professional fastballs to shame. Snowballs figure blurred into a black-and-white streak as she raced after it, crossing nearly 100 meters in the blink of an eye. With a mighty leap, the not-so-tiny whale-puppy snatched the object out of midair and landed gracefully on all four draconic paws. Alpha made clapping sounds while the triumphant victor returned with her prize. Snowball held her head high as she trotted back; even with dark red blood drizzling down her muzzle from the large, still-warm penguin heart in her mouth. Alpha thought she looked adorable. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. She genuinely seemed to enjoy their games, and had quickly warmed up to the massive war machine. The AI found he enjoyed the hyperactive puppys presence as well. Hed always liked kids; children were simple to read and easy to get along with if you treated them right. When you let a kid be a kid, you could always trust that they would tell you exactly how they felt about you. Unlike the vast majority of adults that he knew. Of course, there were places where kids couldnt be kids, even in the Federation. Alpha had made it a special point to find those places and help the issue, where and when he could. Often, that involved a lot of screaming and people in suits yelling at him. But the first time hed gotten a letter from an eight-year-old Vidaasi girl thanking him, it had made it worth all the trouble. Snowball dropped the bloody heart at his feet and barked, wagging her furry fluke with enough force to ripple the surrounding grass. Alpha patted her head but denied her. Nope, no more. Its going to get cold and dirty. Snowball wilted, her head drooping, as she whined a long, drawn-out whistle. A few scritches cheered her up, and she soon dug into the impressive organ with renewed vigor, her fluke wagging once more. In short order, the organ was devoured, and the whale-puppy bounded over to another nearby body for a second helping. Alpha watched fondly for a moment before turning back to his work, scanning the wall of the sinkhole they occupied for any usable mineral deposits. Snowball hadnt shown signs of true sapience yet, though she did seem very intelligent. It was unclear whether her apparent young age was a factor; only time would tell. Until he knew for certain, Alpha was treating her mostly as a pet. Or at least as a very hyperactive toddler, if just as bloodthirsty. The difficulty of discerning sapience at a glance was a major factor in the Federations policy of not shooting everything on sight. The Flike were a good example of this. It was only during the Second Federation that one in twenty-five Felis catus were discovered to be, in fact, a species of sapient, feline-like aliens ones who had been secretly monitoring and influencing Old Earth and several other planets for literal millennia. Their existence had only been exposed when Felis catus, a non-sapient species engineered to be a physical match to Flike allowing them to hide in plain sight had been found across multiple, unconnected planets. Ironically, the Flike had been instrumental in the defeat of the galactic threat known as the Hunters. The Flike infiltrated Hunter strongholds, acting as spies behind enemy lines, and fed the Second Federation valuable intelligence that saved billions of lives. Even those genocidal psychopaths couldnt resist the charms of the modern house cat. Alpha had always wanted a pet, but General Haldorer never let him, not after the incident. Okay, the mysterious old woman had told him not to get the thing wet, but in Alphas defense, it kept lighting itself on fire! Snowball, in contrast, was much easier to handle. She spent most of the first day in her carrier but could move on her own by day two. By day three, she was running around like shed never been hurt at all. She even showed off the same weird power over the earth as the gopher, diving in and out of the ground like water. Alpha half expected the cute little thing to vanish after that. She was a wild animal, after all maybe Time would tell, Alpha supposed. But Snowball seemed to have grown fond of him, too. She stuck close to him as he traveled from sinkhole to sinkhole, sometimes disappearing for hours but always reappearing with some strange new object or plant clutched in her jaws. Like a cat bringing you a dead bird. Only cuter if sometimes just as bloody. Alpha made sure to store all of her presents in her old carrier to examine later. Then, everything changed when the penguins attacked. Snowball had gone out to explore earlier in the day and returned worse for wear. Alpha fussed over her at first, but her injuries were nowhere as severe as when hed first found her, just a few cuts and bite marks. She would be fine in a few hours. What wasnt fine were the half dozen dog-sized bird creatures that came rocketing out of the sinkholes walls after her. Alpha physically deflected two of the creatures away from the panting Snowball with one of his legs, then mowed both and a third down with quick bursts of laser-fire from his point defense turret. The remaining three had latched onto Alpha, biting his leg armor to little effect. A quick shift in his adaptive nano-armor drove thin spikes through their mouths and out the backs of their skulls, ending that non-threat. Snowball seemed impressed with how quickly Alpha had dispatched her pursuers, too. Alpha decided that was what the cheerful click-barking meant, at least, as she hopped in circles around one of his limbs. A quick study of the enemy revealed them to be exactly what they appeared. Some kind of penguin-adjacent avian creature, blown up to half the size of Snowball and packed with dense muscles. Snowball enjoyed that last fact as she devoured two of the corpse before Alpha finished his examination. The largest penguin he looked at even had a strange quartz-diamond composite crystal growing in its heart. Why or how it hadnt killed the creature, he didnt know. Snowball head-butted the TAWPs leg and gave him wide puppy-dog eyes, insisting he give it to her, like a puppy demanding a treat. Alpha hesitated, but who was he to question alien biology? He tossed it to her, and the whale-puppy snatched it out of the air, happily crunching like it was a piece of candy. Thus started their bloody games of fetch. Alpha found it adorable how excited she got when she found another of those strange crystals in a penguin heart. Not that they were in short supply; ever since the first attack, the penguins ambushed them every few hours. Snowball hadnt left Alphas side the entire time, watching the various pitfalls walls. She would even make a sporadic, warbling, chirping sound hed not heard her make before. After watching her do this a few times, Alpha finally realized that she seemed capable of detecting the creatures through solid rock. She had been warning him when any were nearby. The animals here all seemed able to move through the earth freely. Echolocation might have evolved as the natural solution for navigating in such an environment. That might explain why the gopher had such a violent reaction to the transport drones signals. Alpha filed that tidbit of information away for later investigation. The creatures werent very dangerous, to him at least, but the attacks were becoming more frequent, while they attacked in larger numbers the deeper they traveled into the prairies. Snowball put up a brave front, but Alpha could recognize the signs of her nervousness: the light steps meant to reduce her noise, her eyes scanning the walls for danger, and even how she refused to move more than a few feet away from the adult HA! If the attacks got any worse, he would have to try his luck in a different direction. No point in wandering into a nest of the things if he didnt need to. As he considered his options, Snowball suddenly perked up, turning to face something unseen in the distance. In an instant, his cute, sweet puppy morphed into a growling, rage-filled beast. Her lips were pulled back, putting those vicious teeth on full display as the short black and white fur on her back stood on end. Her eyes changed from cute round orbs to the dilated pinpoints of a predator ready to pounce. Before Alpha could stop her, Snowball shot off in that direction, taking a few leaping bounds before diving into the earth and vanishing. Alpha stopped and stared after her, something in his processors not sitting well with him. Hed never seen her act like that before. That hadnt been a simple response to danger or enemies. No, there was more something deeper. A kind of rage unfitting of such a young child. He hesitated for a moment, then turned in her direction, speeding off after the small whale-puppy. Good thing he was a responsible pet owner and had had her chipped! Book 1 - Lesson 15: "While Stars Fall." How had it all gone so wrong so quickly? Memories from what seemed like ages ago though it had only been that morning flashed through Yutus mind. Hed woken up excited, if tired, having spent the entire night preparing for today: the day of their first hunt. A rite of passage for most, but more so for him. Yutu the coward, they called him. Yutu the mouse, always jumping at every little shadow. That was how it had always been, and if he was honest, they werent wrong. Yutu knew he wasnt the strongest, fastest, or even smartest man in the Radiant Sea Prairies. Not even Slatewalker Village, regardless of what his mother told him. He knew he always hid in Ganaas shadow or relied on Zolzaya to stand up for him. But today was going to be his day! Hed studied for years, mastering the trap arrays used by his village. Today, he would finally be useful. Hed finally make it up to his friends and the village. They had started out strong, a group of thirty young men and women heading out on their first official hunting trip since graduating from their apprenticeships. Officially, the group was led by Senior Grassreader Kallik, but they were on their own in practice. Guardian Ulagan, a man only a few years older than the oldest graduate, had led the team of escorts that would follow them, but it was just as much a test for the Guardian as it was for them. When they returned, he would be raised to Senior Guardian, the youngest in five generations. They had even been making great time, with several successful finds in only the first few days. Then the Firmament cracked. Every child on the Skybreaker Continent, from the poorest street rat to the most arrogant young masters, had grown up on stories of the grand Immortals stories of heroes from legend overcoming their earthly bonds to shatter the sky and step into the realm of gods and Celestials. Many of those stories spoke of Fallen Stars fragments from the realm beyond, gifts from those who had broken the Final Barrier so that others might follow them. Sometimes they were mighty weapons on which dynasties could be built. Sometimes they were small mountains hiding vast wealth. Other times, they were jade tablets filled with mystical knowledge and esoteric secrets. Whatever their nature, every Fallen Star promised untold power and a bright future. That was how the stories made it seem, at least. That was how it should have been. This Star only brought with it calamity. The thing that had broken through the Firmament wasnt some gentle light seeking its destined owner; It was a raging torrent of destruction, like the wrath of an unknown god crashing down on the world. The pillar of fire that descended from the crack in the sky was bright enough to nearly blind him in the second before he turned away. When it hit the earth, the entire world seemed to shake, sending shockwaves that rocked the surrounding prairies for dozens of kilometers. Great waves of stone and earth threw their group into chaos as the Trappers and Herbalists struggled to calm the pack beasts while the Guardians helped those who needed it. Many in the group were excited; the prospect of a Fallen Star was tempting. Many of the great clans of the Wandering Cities had been uplifted thanks to these gifts from the heavens. This might be Slatewalkers chance to get out from under the yoke of Jadewalker, they argued. That was not meant to be, however. Senior Grassreader Kallik used her authority to order a full retreat to the village. Yutu had thought it was a good call, personally; there was no way in hell they were the only ones to see that display. Who knew what other powers were headed in that direction at that very moment? Both man and beast. They were a freshly graduated group of former apprentices on their first real hunt. Even if they made it to the impact site without running across someone or something dangerous, there was no way they were strong enough to lay a claim to the Fallen Star themselves, let alone keep it. So, despite the grumbling and protests, the group had repaired and salvaged what they could, then headed off in the opposite direction. They might not have been coming home with a Fallen Star, but they could one day say they had been there to see it fall. That in itself was a story worthy of the fireside, and one many of them would share for years to come. As it was, they didnt make it two kilometers before the Grassbreaker Penguins attacked. The attack had come without warning. One moment, peace, and the next, a giant flipper, gleaming with metal-affinity Spirit Energy, had erupted from the ground in the middle of their group. It had cleaved through two unlucky herbalists before cutting through the prairies at blinding speeds toward Senior Grassreader Kallik. The older woman barely noticed in time, dodging just enough that she lost an arm and leg to the cutting flipper instead of being sliced cleanly down the middle. Then chaos erupted. A dozen much smaller figures burst from their surroundings. Everyone in the group was at least in the early stages of [Stone Body], so most dodged in time. Most. Not all. Yutu could still hear the screams of men and women hed spent the last week with as they were dragged down by their necks into the liquified earth. The Guardians reaction had been instant, taking position around the group and using their own earth affinity to fight against that of the spirit beasts, hardening the ground around them and preventing any more ambushes. Zolzaya rushed to her mentors side and wrapped the Grassreaders bleeding stumps in medical wraps to stop the bleeding. Despite his friends skill and quick reaction, Yutu could tell it was bad. One of the other Herbalists grabbed the Grassreaders fallen arm. It could be reattached if preserved, but a penguin had already snatched her leg. The group took up a defensive formation, with Trappers surrounding the carts as they started work on emergency arrays, while Herbalists took shelter behind them, the Guardians protecting the group from the edges. It wasnt enough. As the wolves of the Radiant Sea prairies, they were aggressively territorial and didnt work well with other flocks. A normal Grassbreaker Penguin flock numbered anywhere from six to twelve individuals. But the flock that emerged from the ground was larger than any Yutu had ever heard of. Yutus heart felt like it would burst from his chest as he watched hundreds of dog-sized figures appear around them. They were screwed. The rest of the group seemed to agree with his assessment of their situation if the sudden, dead silence was anything to go by. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. That eerie silence was broken by the choked voice of the Grassreader as she sat at the back of the large cart. Run. That was all it took. In the same breath, the group made a mad dash toward the edge of the Grassbreakers encirclement. Trappers and Guardians batted away the now swarming spirit beasts as the large cart barreled through them, with Herbalists piled on the top or running beside them. As spirit beasts went, Grassbreaker Penguins werent physically strong. Flock leaders might reach peak-stage [Stone Body] or even early [Iron Body], but that was rare. The vast majority never made it past middle-stage [Wood Body]. Even an older teen could fight a lone penguin off if they werent ambushed. But there was never just a single penguin in a flock, and as ambush predators, they were highly adept at using their strong earth affinity to stay out of sight until the very last moment. That was the primary reason earth affinity was required to become a Guardian; it allowed them to detect the pests before they became a problem. They could even apply their own authority to prevent the earth from turning to liquid under their feet. The earth-aligned Spirit Energy in the area must have been in total chaos after the impact, or the beasts would never have ambushed them. Only one Grassbreaker Penguin had ever been recorded advancing beyond [Bronze Spirit], the step after [Iron Body]. It was an aberrant that had terrorized the Radiant Sea for nearly a decade before it was finally stopped. Yutu! Watch out! a young woman screamed from the back of the large cart. Yutus eyes went wide, snapping up from the array hed been desperately working on, only for his vision to fill with a toothy-beaked maw. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as the dog-sized penguin-like creature behind the maw dove through the air toward him. Yutus limbs felt heavier than lead as he screamed at them to move just a little faster, but in his heart, he knew he wouldnt make it. At the very last second, when Yutu could feel the creatures hot breath and smell the rotting contents of its stomach, something slammed into it hard, causing it to skew off target and soar past him. Yutu flinched as hot, red blood splattered across his face. He could only stare forward, eyes wide open and his mind blank, until someone grabbed him by the arm and pulled him along. After a few steps, Yutus brain restarted, and his eyes whipped toward the figure of the penguin and the large hunting spear buried deep in its side. His heart went from rapidly beating to threatening to tear itself from his chest. Yutus eyes then turned to the person dragging him along. Ganbaatar, his childhood frenemy, ran beside him, eyes locked forward as they raced after the others. Yutu opened his mouth, but the words came out garbled and low. Ganaa I I mea Ganaa didnt even look in his direction, not daring to take his eyes off their escape route. Less talking, more running! For once, Yutu found he agreed with the musclehead. A rare moment indeed, though not one either man could think too hard on as they focused on their escape. If they could only make it back to the village, they might stand a chance. Either way, someone needed to make it. Someone needed to let others know what theyd learned here today. Not about the Fallen Star. That wasnt their concern anymore. No, the Wandering Cities needed to know something far more important. Beast Lord Kusanagi was awake. Yutus breath came in ragged gasps. How long had they been running? Hours? Days? He no longer remembered. He no longer cared if he was honest. They had started the hunt strong, with thirty young men and women ready to prove themselves to their village and the greater community of the prairies. Theyd lost five in the initial ambush and two more during the push to escape. In the subsequent hours, theyd been picked off, one by one. Sometimes, one of the Grassbreakers would slip through the dwindling Guardians protection and grab someone. Other times, a stone needle would fly out of the grass and stab into someones calf, causing them to stumble. Once, a metal flipper had cut one of the fleeing carts in two right from under it. The group on board had been swarmed before anyone had the mind to help. More often than not, though, people simply vanished, either unable to keep up or were otherwise separated from the group, never to be seen again. Now? Now, there were only nine. Yutu and Ganaa were the only trappers left, the rest having fallen, swallowed by the grass, or killed in defense of the group. One man had even stopped running shortly after their escape, a hollow look in his eyes as he watched the others slip farther and farther away. Some had feared hed just given up, but the massive explosion that rocked the prairies behind them several minutes later told a different story. The mans sacrifice had bought them some breathing room, but it wasnt enough. Their pursuers were relentless. The Guardians fell one by one after that until only Ulagan remained. Without their protection, the carts carrying the herbalists, or those too injured to run, were the next targets. Such a persistent pursuit differed from how Grassbreakers normally hunted. The spirit beasts were ambush predators. Their modus was to lie in wait, then strike as a group, taking out the target quickly and efficiently; they didnt chase down their prey, picking them off like this. There was something darker going on here, something unnatural. Worse than that, they were playing with them. Yutu had heard of Beast Lords and the destruction they could wreak before. Every good story had at least one that the hero must face, saving the town, damsel, or sect. But they were forces of nature given physical form. More often than not, they were depicted as noble creatures of power and respect. The hero would overcome the Beast Lord by earning its respect or companionship as often as by besting it in combat. This thing that followed them? Yutu could only feel malice and hatred from it; Kusanagi was like a dark storm cloud hanging over them, but whose lightning would never strike. It wanted to watch them run; it wanted to smell their fear and taste their despair. What would happen if they actually got back to the village? Could they even hope to fight the flock off? Stories of Kusanagi were told to frighten children into behaving. The Beast Lord had spread so much chaos and destruction it had taken the intervention of the Akhlut the protectors and true owners of the Radiant Sea to end the threat. What chance did a small village of low-level Cultivators have? Thinking of the home hed spent all his life in, Yutus heart ached. Yutu thought of his mother, the sweetest woman in the village, who always tried to make everyone feel a little happier. He thought of his father, who supported his every choice, even if he was disappointed his son didnt have talent as a Guardian. He thought of the kindly older couple who always parked their cart near his family and who had been the ones to teach him the art of arrays. Dozens of faces flashed through his memory, and tears welled in his eyes. They couldnt lead this thing back home Had the others realized this, too? Were they even headed in the right direction anymore? He doubted they were if the grim looks on the few remaining faces said anything. It was only fitting he was the last to realize. Yutu took a deep, ragged breath and decided. The young man didnt bother to stop the tears as he slowed his pace and came to a stop. Only his childhood friend and oathsister, Zolzaya, noticed, being positioned on the back of the only remaining cart to monitor their rear. Yutu?! What are you doing?! she cried out in a panic. Another Herbalist had to restrain the young woman to prevent her from jumping from the cart. Yutu only smiled and waved as they left him behind. He turned away, not wanting her to see his tears. A moment passed, and movement to his side tore his eyes away from their closing pursuers; had that stupid girl gotten away from the others somehow?! What was she thinking?! But instead of Zolzaya, Yutu found the panting, sweating figure of Ganbaatar standing next to him, staring off into the distance. Feeling Yutus eyes, the larger man looked down at him and frowned before asking, What? You think Ill let you be the only one to show off in front of Zaya? Think again, pipsqueak. Yutu stared wide-eyed for a second before letting out a curt laugh. A smirk crossed his face as he turned away and responded, Oh, youre on, bricks-for-brains. Just try to keep them off of me. Lets show them why it was a terrible idea to mess with Slatewalkers. Yutu then extracted his array tools and kneeled down to work; Ganbaatar didnt bother to respond, only hefted his spear and turned toward the approaching horde. Book 1 - Interlude: "Make friends with the fly on the wall" Whiiiiirlll! Beep. //Overseer signal lost// //Analyzing last connection memory block// //Analysis complete Troubleshooting scenario// // Scenario found: Captured_by_Unknown_Enemy.// //Beginning Self-Destruct Protocol.// //Alert! Automatic Overseer override Alpha_says_thats_stupid.exe activated.// //Redirecting to alternate route Redirection successful.// //Activating subroutine packet Fly_on_the_wall.rar // //Beginning Audio/Video recording // Why. DOOOOOONG! Wont CHIIIINNNNGGGG! You HUUUUUMMMM! Break! //Warning! Attempting to damage Expeditionary Force properties is a Class-X Federal offense. Your actions have been recorded, and the proper authorities have been notified. Please put down your weapon and surrender peacefully.// AND WHY THE HELL DOES IT KEEP REPEATING THE SAME DAMN THING?! Lunar King Namgil threw down his massive war hammer with a heavy bang, leaving a small crater in the Divinity-rated floor. Hed always bragged that he could level any mountain with a single swing, but this abominable thing had refused to yield to his might in over a week of unrelenting assault. Theyd barely scratched it, even with four Divinities attacking at once, only for it to mysteriously heal shortly after. He turned to Lunar King Chickenheahem, Lunar King Lian Peng with a snarl. And YOU! Scholar boy! Have you made any headway toward translating it at all? Or are we just wasting our time here?! Lian Peng put down the notepad and turned away from the slime construct on the table. When it reactivated, Lian Pengs instinct had been to destroy it. Hed seen what these things could do and knew what kind of havoc they could wreak in such a confined space as the containment lab. It was only at the request of Array Master Igor that hed stayed his hand. Lian Peng narrowed his eyes and answered the large man. Not any more than when you asked an hour ago, Namgil. As I mentioned then, the scholars are having difficulty discerning the roots of the language. It shares traits with many languages found all over the mortal worlds, but not with Celesti. Namgil threw his arms into the air, yelling over his shoulder as he stormed off, Bah! What good are the lot of ya, then?! Im taking a break! Have someone send word if you learn anything that will help pry these cowards out of their box. Lian Peng let out a sigh and turned back to the slime construct. Lunar King Namgil wasnt a bad man; no one could say those elevated to Lunar King were overly temperamental or prone to needless cruelty and hubris. After all, when your job was to acclimate people who were used to being in charge to an environment where they no longer had that authority, things could get tense. Despite that, Namgil was not someone Lian Peng ever expected to get to know on a personal basis. Lian Peng preferred the quiet of a study and the peace of a well-maintained garden. Namgil was in his element in a rowdy bar, clinking glasses and singing along with anyone who could match his volume though the mans affinity for sound was legendary, even among the Void Whales, so few could compete. If it wasnt for their teacher, Lian Peng, the Moonlit Sage and Namgil, the Void Hunter would likely have never met. Sometimes, Lian Peng wondered if that was a good thing or not Thinking of his teacher, Lian Pengs forehead creased, and he stared at the young girl while she dozed on the squishy surface of a nearby slime construct, snoring loudly. He doubted even she knew how shed gotten the thing to go soft. Many would claim that the girl named Sarah Deathstealer didnt deserve the title of Grand Magus of Regeneration, that all of her accomplishments were based on blind luck, and that she couldnt explain how she did any of the miraculous things she did. And if Lian Peng was honest they werent wrong, in a way. Teacher was a genius on many accounts: arrays, alchemy, artifact creation, spellwork, and countless other disciplines. But getting her to explain how any of what she did worked was like pulling teeth. She wasnt a terrible teacher; the ways her mind worked just sometimes felt like a mystery wrapped in an enigma while other times, it felt like trying to clean up a jug of spilled milk with a fork. Okay, so Lian Peng wasnt the best at metaphors Still, Lian Peng could honestly say hed never have made it to Lunar King without her help. Hed have likely never made it to High Celestial as quickly as he had, either. As though she sensed his thoughts knowing her, she probably did the girl jolted awake, wiped away her sleep, and faced him with a question. Any luck? I could hear Namgils banging in my dreams. I swear, that boys got too much energy for his own good. He cant even let an old woman sleep! I wish hed settle down and find a miss already. Maybe then she could deal with all the noise instead of us! Lian Peng ignored his teachers waking ramblings those almost made sense this time! and picked up his notepad, flipping through a few pages before speaking. No, still no luck. However, Igor is obsessed with studying the adaptive arrays found within the constructs. He insists theyre the key to understanding how this new Path works. Im not sure, but hes the expert. Sarah nodded and hopped down from her bed, yawning as she approached. That makes sense. Arrays, as we know them, are fragile rigid. Arrays are instructions to the Celestial Energy. Once an array is built, it does that one thing and that one thing only. They can no more be changed once set than the words in a letter be changed after the ink has dried. You can give many instructions to an array, but you cant change them. Half of being an Array Master is learning to predict every possibility and how to cram every scenario into your array. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. She leaned over the table and tapped the active construct before continuing: But these? These can learn. They can be taught. They can think. That is terrifying, in a way thats hard to put into words. Can you imagine what could be done with such a construct? Lian Peng sighed. He could indeed. More than Lain Peng wished he had; his head still hurt after the several-hours-long rant Array Master Igor had subjected him to. Even as a scholar, arrays had always eluded Lian Peng. They were as much an art form as they were a discipline. That didnt mean he couldnt see the possibilities, though. Arrays and to a lesser extent, spellwork had always suffered from the flaw of rigidity. Many Cultivators learned just enough about them to identify characteristics like type, triggers, or size, as that was often all you needed to name many common arrays. Once you could name an array, that was often all you needed to know everything about it. True Masters could hide the intent and nature of their arrays like a scribe encoding his work, but they were still the same at their core. If he understood correctly, these new arrays if they could even be called that, for they matched nothing any of them had ever seen had the potential to be improved on. They could take in new information and new instructions, incorporating them into what was already there. It could potentially revolutionize array work by well, they couldnt say yet. A lot was the consensus. At least, that was what Lian Peng had been told. How Igor had come to his theory simply by watching the strange slimes and the cube for a few hours, he didnt know. Though his teacher seemed to agree, he didnt remember ever seeing her stay this focused on one topic for this long. Lian Peng nodded to the girl, rubbed his tired eyes, and spoke. Array Master Igor made sure I was thoroughly informed. But we still dont know how they work or how to talk to them. The array language used, if thats even what it is, is unlike anything weve ever seen. Were working from almost zero, and Lian Peng blinked as the notepad in his hand vanished. Said notepad smacked him on the head as he stared at the space it had once occupied. His teacher pushed him away from the table, her voice firm as she spoke. And nothing. Youll only find the answers we need if you take a break and recharge. Youve not stopped moving since we returned. Go, rest; Igor and the other scholars will be fine alone for a few hours. Lian Peng furrowed his brow and protested. But Only for Sarah to cut him off. Butts are for smacking. Dont think Ive not noticed the damage to your [Divine Soul]. Ascension is stressful, let alone an ascension in the middle of combat. If you dont take the time to rest, youll damage your Foundation. Lian Pengs teacher poked him in his chest, her hand glowing a soft orange as an infinitely complex magic circle appeared in the air over her hand. Lian Pengs body went limp, and a soothing warmth infused every cell of his body. Muscles he hadnt even realized hed been clenching suddenly turned to pudding. If the control of his [Divine Force] hadnt taken a quantifiable leap with his ascension, he might have melted into a puddle then and there. As it was, he stayed upright, if barely, as a bone-deep weariness overtook him. Teacher was right, of course; if he kept this up, hed make a mistake, and they couldnt afford mistakesnot now. Yet, there was still so much to do! He needed to Another poke from his teacher nearly threw him off his feet. With a deep sigh, Lian Peng gave in. He turned around and headed for the lab door, calling out to Sarah as he did. Fine! Fine Ill rest. But make sure Igor has an updated report for me when I wake! The Grand Magus just laughed and waved him on. Yes, yes, now go. Or do you want me to ask Xishu if shell sing you to sleep? Lian Peng dashed out the door, chased all the way to his room by the echoing laughter of his teacher. Yaaaawwwnnn!! Lian Peng awoke several days later. He was certain his teacher had something to do with that He couldnt deny the rest had done him good, though; his [Divine Soul] was mostly healed, thanks to his teachers spell, in part. Much of the tension and stress of the last few days had also left him, though he never forgot how important their work was. Lian Peng turned a corner and stopped dead mid-yawn. Fairy Xishu stood in the observation hallway, staring past the thin, corridor-long pane of Celestial glass into the dark void and lifeless moon surface beyond. The moonlight illuminating her flowing, floor-length silver hair and jade-like features stole the breath from his chest. She was art personified, beauty incarnate. She was headed this way?! Lost in her beauty, Lian Peng had failed to notice when she turned towards him. She was already halfway up the hallway when he snapped back to reality. He panicked, his mind flashing to the scene from the novel hed recently started. No! He was a mess! He wasnt ready for this! What did he do?! Lian Peng hastily smoothed out his wrinkled robes, straightened his back, puffed out his chest, and tried to appear as regal as possible before walking in her direction. He stopped a few paces away and spoke, his head held high. Good morning, Lunar Queen Xishu. Im sorry I havent had the chance to attend to you. Things have been hectic. How goes the defense? Xishu looked up at him, a hand over her mouth to cover a giggle. The sound sent shivers up Lian Pengs spine. When she reached up and smoothed down an errant hair that stuck from the side of his head like an unruly feather, his face flushed crimson red. She paid Lian Pengs embarrassment no mind and answered him. It goes well, Lunar King Lian Peng. Despite the commotion your guests have made, most of the inquiries have been polite enough. Those who were not have been dealt with appropriately, her voice ringing like a crystal bell in Lian Pengs ears. Lian Peng nodded, relieved. The Lunar Scouts might have been the strongest fish in the pond, but they were far from the biggest. As the only truly neutral force under the Grand Firmament, the Lunar Scouts had to show they werent ones to be pushed around by anyone, or they would quickly lose their authority. If that ever happened, the Grand Firmament would likely erupt into chaos and war, as the various clans and sects all fought to fill the power vacuum. Lian Peng looked out the observation window and nodded. Good. Thats good. I was worried they would push the issue, given weve yet to collect all the wreckage. No doubt some pieces have already fallen into other hands. Keep me informed if you would. Xishu nodded as she answered him. I will, Lian Peng. If you keep me updated on any discoveries you make. Some of the artifacts my scouts have sent me are strange, but fascinating. Xishu pulled a small object from the sleeve of her robe. Lian Peng had no name for the material the object was made of, but when Xishu gently squeezed it, it gave off a quiet quack. Theyd found an entire crate of the objects, and no one could figure out their purpose. One scholar had noted their vague, if childish, resemblance to a duck and proposed they might be a type of beast-taming charm. No one had an answer for why they were yellow or why each seemed to wear a completely unique hat. They were strangely popular among the female staff, though, and hed noticed more than one desk with a fresh addition to their decorations. After all, there had been hundreds of the objects inside of the recovered crate. Lian Peng nodded. Certainly. I will be off now. There is still much to be done. Lian Peng gathered his nerve and cleared his throat before continuing. Ahem. And Xishu, I I hmmm. I was w-wondering if youd like to join me for tea during our next break? I-its been too long Xishu leaned in and smiled, igniting fireworks in Lian Pengs brain. She laughed as she spoke. Why, that would be lovely, Lian Peng. It has been a while since our last talk over tea. Have your people contact mine, and well schedule a time. Oh! Though one more question, before I forget Lian Peng grinned ear to ear, feeling 1,000 years younger and as light as if he floated in the Void. He answered without hesitation. Yes! Anything, Xishu, what can I help youGAUEK! Lian Peng was thrown against the hallway wall as a large, black dragon claw lifted him off his feet by his throat. The jade-faced woman to whom the claw belonged never dropped her bright smile, though as she spoke, all the warmth in her voice had vanished into the Void. Would you kindly explain to me why you have one of Great-Grandmothers fragments swirling around your [Divine Soul]? Lian Peng pried at the scaled claw, desperately trying to suck in enough breath to speak. Wawait! HEEEEH! II can explain! Hrrrk! Xishu stared up at the man, the smile slipping from her face as she continued, no longer asking but commanding. Go on It was then that Lian Peng remembered Xishu hated the title of Fairy that others put on her. She much preferred her moniker as Lunar Queen, Xishu, the Final Eclipse. Because if the Lunar Scout Martial Taskforce Directors shadow of displeasure fell over your world, it would be the last thing you ever saw. Book 1 - Lesson 16: "Timing Is Key to Any Good First Impression." Aaauuggghhhh! Ganbaatar of the Slatewalkers swung his spear in a wide arc, catching two Grassbreakers as they leaped at him. They flew for several meters, slamming into a third which rose from the ground. The butt of his spear shot back, catching a fourth as it tried to ambush him with his back turned. Ganaa turned and pushed, driving the metal-tipped spear butt deep into the creatures throat, forcing it to the ground with a surprised squawk! Before it could sink back into the stone, Ganaa pulled out his hunting knife and drove it into the birds eye, giving it a solid twist for good measure. The Grassbreaker shuddered and went still, joining the pile of two dozen of its kin nearby. Ganaa pulled out the knife, its temporary sheath making a wet sucking sound, then stood, drawing deep, gasping breaths. A fine sheen of sweat and blood covered his body, and the arm holding his spear shook, causing the splintered and worn weapon to rattle. He couldnt keep this up. The Beast Lord Kusanagi knew this, too, judging by the wide smile on his large, avian face. Then again, this was all just entertainment for the Beast Lord. Ever since the massive bird beast had shown up, Ganaa knew they hadnt stood a chance from the start. After all, the spirit beasts cultivation rank was peak-stage [Shackle-Breaking], only a small step from the [Earthly Transcendent] greater realm. The number of human [Shackle-Breaking] Cultivators in the Radiant Sea could be counted on one hand. As for those who had broken their mortal shackles and stepped onto the path of [Earthly Transcendence], Ganaa had never heard of any. The Akhlut likely had a few, but they were the apex of the prairies, the beasts and protectors who stood at the very top. Hed never heard of a Grassbreaker reaching such a level before. But then, anyone with eyes could see Kusanagi wasnt just a Grassbreaker Penguin. Its size was the most obvious difference; where a normal Grassbreaker was roughly dog-sized, Kusanagi towered over its kin at nearly ten meters, standing, with a body half as wide. Only the oldest of the Grand Elks that pulled the wagons of the Wandering Cities ever got that large. Where the other Grassbreakers were short and stocky, Kusanagi stood straight, their large body and thick feathers hiding a neck that was longer and more flexible than it appeared at first glance. His beak was lance-like, sharp as a needle, and black as night in contrast to his kins short, blunter beaks meant for cracking bones. The distinct color patterns of the Grassbreakers were present on his feathers, but they were silky smooth and had a metallic quality. Ganaa was certain his spear would bounce off that shiny coat as surely as it would off any armor. That was if he even made it through the sea of lesser penguins surrounding them. Fat chance of that But then, hed known what he was in for when hed stayed behind with Yutu. Despite his name, Ganbaatar had never thought of himself as a hero. He didnt have the mind to be a Grassreader or Herbalist like Zolzaya. Nor did he have the talent for arrays that Yutu did despite what the other man thought of himself. Out of their little group of three, all hed ever been skilled at was hitting things. So it nearly crushed him when he turned out not to have the necessary earth affinity to become a Guardian. Not that Ganaa had ever let it show. How could he? He was Ganbaatar, their cheerful, happy leader. Sure, hed butted heads with Yutu since they were young, and maybe Zayas mother had pulled his ear more than a few times for getting them into some hare-brained scheme. But if he broke down, who would drag Yutu out of the house when he got in one of his moods? Who would stop Zaya from poisoning some foolish young master from the city who thought he could woo the pretty village girl with fancy words or gifts? No. He had to be strong, for the village and his friends. So hed taken to the path of the Trapper. He might not have had the talent for the arrays, but he could make physical traps with a decent enough wood and metal affinity. Ganaa would never be outstanding, but he could provide for his family and the village, and that was what mattered. He had imagined a future where he gathered the courage to ask Zaya to marry him. Where hed raised a family and supported Yutu as the man blossomed into the greatest Array Master the Slatewalkers had ever produced. He imagined inheriting the house cart passed down for generations, watching the Slatewalkers grow and thrive under Zayas leadership and Yutus talent. And finally, when he was too old to set traps any longer, he dreamed of sitting on the porch, watching all the grandchildren and great-grandchildren as his twilight years slowly ticked by. It would have been a good life. It should have been a good life. But life was rarely a respecter of should haves. Ganaa had been running beside Yutu when the other man realized the same thing the rest of them had. He had seen the thoughts play out in Yutus eyes: the desperate drive for survival, the moment of thought, then dark realization followed by the loss of hope, only to be replaced by a grim determination. He knew exactly what Yutu had been thinking After all, hed gone through the same emotions. This wasnt a race to survive; this was a game. They were never actually going to escape. They were just being played with for the Beast Lords sick amusement. As he watched his oldest rival and sometimes, friend slow, and finally stop, Ganaa felt a pang in his heart, like the plucking of a string. He then felt something inside him break, and the cold pit in his gut erupted into fire. Fine! They were doing this then! If even Yutu could stand and fight, then who was he to keep running? That brought them to the present. Ganaa infused his spear with what little Spirit Energy he had left, willing the cracking wood to seal and the dull spearhead to sharpen. It wasnt enough, though. He deflected another leaping penguin, only to feel the sealed wood reopen with a crack. The blow pushed him back several feet, stopping just short of where Yutu was working feverishly on the array below them. Ganaa called to him, his eyes never leaving the horde surrounding them. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Hows it looking, Yutu? Please tell me youre almost ready because were running out of time. Yutu didnt bother to look up but responded in a voice Ganaa had long ago learned to mean: Im working; stop talking to me. Almost there! Just hold them off for a little while longer! And because fate seemed intent on mocking them today, those words were emphasized by another penguin leaping from the ground in front of Ganaa. He thrust the spear forward to catch it like the ones before, but was surprised when this new penguin twisted out of the way. A gleaming flipper smashed into the haft of his spear, splintering it before traveling on and slamming into his chest. Crack! Gak! With the cracking of wood and ribs, Ganaa was sent rolling for several meters. When he stopped, he rose to his knees, coughing out a mouth full of blood. Ganaa stood to his feet, swaying slightly as the sky spun. He turned to his opponent, drawing his hunting knife with a shaking hand. To his surprise, no follow-up attacks came, either from the surrounding penguins or from the one whod broken his spear. The Grassbreaker in question, an abnormal twice the size of the others with the same metallic sheen as Kusanagi, stood where it had landed. It looked down at Ganaa with what he could only call a sneer. The Spirit Energy in the area vibrated as Kusanagi spoke in that odd way indicative of sapient spirit beasts. While the voice of the spirit beast was more intentions and concepts than any real words, Ganaa found he could still understand the Beast Lord perfectly. And while there was no sound to hear, Ganaa got the distinct impression of a smooth, rich voice that dripped with barely concealed disdain. Like the sleazy salesmen who would always try to approach him when he visited the cities, thinking of him as some na?ve village boy who didnt understand the value of goods. Be proud, human! You put on a good enough show for us that my son has asked to be the one to end you personally. You should feel honored, truly! The Beast Lord threw his beak into the air and gave off a loud, honking laugh that was mindlessly echoed by the surrounding horde. Do try not to die too fast. Your little friend still needs some time to finish his surprise. I am so very curious about what hell show us. The last human was boring. Though, being fair, its hard to concentrate on your array with something gnawing on your leg. The Beast Lord gave another laugh and waved in Ganaas direction. The Beast Lords son gave a cruel smile and sank into the ground. Ganaa took up a defensive stance. He might not have had the earth affinity that would have let him map out the ground below him mentally, but that didnt mean he was defenseless. Ganaa had spent years sneaking into the Guardians training areas, sometimes even joining them when Yutus father allowed. Hed learned his spearmanship there and picked up a minor trick used to teach new Guardians how to use their [Earth Sight] better. He closed his eyes and tried to feel the flow of Spirit Energy around him. A slight ripple pulled the gaze of his minds eye, and he moved, barely dodging the small metallic flipper that had erupted from the earth below him. It seemed Junior took after his father. The flipper sank back into the earth, only to appear again a split second later. Once more, Ganaa dodged by a hairs breadth, using the slight flux of Spirit Energy as the penguin surfaced to predict how it would strike. It was a technique that needed conscious, continuous mental effort, which made it unsuited for Guardian duty, but it was a great training method and one Ganaa was glad hed picked up. For a third time, Ganaa dodgedand a fourth, and a fifth. Each strike was coming faster and more recklessly, with less precision. The beast was sloppy, untrained, and impatient. Likely, it had never truly struggled in a fight, relying on its inborn gifts to dominate its prey. If he could just Another pulse of Spirit Energy. Ganaa dodged, just like before, but unlike before, no flipper came. His eyes snapped to the Beast Lord, an icy chill running down his spine as the wide grin warped its beak. Ganaa''s eyes widened, and he realized what had happened a second too late. In the next instant, a metallic flipper erupted from beneath him. A desperate dodge saved him from being split in two, but it cost him his leg, neatly severed midway up his shin. Ganaa rolled out of the way, leaving a bloody trail as the Beast Lord and his horde broke into another round of laughter. The laugh bled into Kusanagis words as he spoke. That, human, is why you dont rely on petty tricks to mock your betters. At least have the dignity to die well instead of running like a coward. Son, end this game. Maybe the death of his friend will encourage the little mouse to finish his project. Then we can catch up to the rest of our prey. Junior rose from the ground, the bird beasts face pulled into a frown. If Ganaa wasnt sure it was impossible, hed have sworn the creatures tsked at him. Yet, it obeyed its father and charged at Ganaa, sliding on its large, marble-covered belly, mouth full of sharp teeth opened wide. Ganaa sealed his leg wound with a pulse of Spirit Energy and stared at the charging penguin. Fine, if he was going down, he was at least taking this bastard with him. Let Kusanagi feel what it was like to lose someone for once. When the beast was too close to correct its course, Ganaa pulled something from behind his back: his spears broken haft. It was lucky hed rolled over it in that last tumble. With a wicked grin, Ganaa thrust the broken spear toward the spirit beast as it leaped at him, aiming for the back of its toothy maw. Only for the creature to dissolve into a puddle of mud mid-flight. Ganaa''s eyes went wide as Yutu cried out. Watch out! Ganaa''s gaze snapped to the side just in time to see the real Junior flying into the air toward him. All Ganaa had time to think was, Well, fu before a massive weight slammed into him Ganaa peeked open an eye hed involuntarily closed, expecting to see the afterlife. Instead, Ganaa found himself in the same clearing, still surrounded by countless Grassbreaker Penguins and several dozen meters away from a furious-looking Junior. The clearing had gone eerily silent, and Ganaa couldnt even hear Yutu working on his array. He turned to look in the other mans direction, only to find him staring at Ganaa, wide-eyed and mouth agape. The Beast Lords [Spirit Voice] broke the silence, carrying a sense of both bored apathy and mild annoyance. Oh I see you survived. Ganaa, confused, only realized Kusanagi wasnt speaking to him when he turned around. Standing behind him, the collar of his jacket still in its mouth, stood the bristling, growling form of a young Akhlut pup The Beast Lord scoffed, looking down his beak at the pup as he spoke. No worry. Once weve dealt with the humans, itll be your turn next. This time I wont leave the matter to su It was at that moment when the gargantuan, glowing beetle creature erupted from the surrounding grass and slammed into Beast Lord Kusanagi. Book 1 - Lesson 17: "Ask yourself, What would a real man do?" << Alpha Log - #005 6952 SFY-Third Era, 4 days since Planetfall>> I know its not been that long since my last entry, but I really feel like I should point out just how weird this place is. No, seriously! Not just in the typical new alien world kind of weird, either. Na, this place is all kinds of janky. Or the damage to my subsystems is worse than I thought. Honestly, its kind of hard to tell. As you know, General, when I was but a wee little AI getting into all kinds of totally-not-highly-illegal fun, I broke my consciousness down in the multiple AI packets. These Sub-AI help me do all sorts of things. Theyre all still technically me, but theyre specialized me-s, able to dedicate all of their processing power to whatever I need them to. Theyre super useful, and good company on those long missions when you only have yourself to talk to! Though theyve been acting a little weird recently. Strange reports, weird readings, and the odd notes I dont remember leaving. I keep having Maintenance Alpha run diagnostics, but everything comes up green, barring the expected damage. For now, Im just chalking it up to corrupted data, but Ive made a note to keep an eye on things. Wait, where was I? Oh right! Weird crap. Anyway, Analytics has kept records of everything as weve made our way through the prairies. In my last entry, I mentioned that there seems to be no animal life in this place other than the weird ground penguins, right? Well, other than Snowball and the gopher, but Ive yet to come across another instance of either species since then. Well, this odd lack of diversity applies to the plants as well. The strange, kaleidoscopic grass absolutely dominates the landscape so much that any other plant life is rare to non-existent, baring what seems to be a few strange mutations of the grass itself. Instances of hyperdominance arent common, but they happen. Even after thousands of years, Bouteloua gracilis still dominates the prairies of Old Earth. But even in cases like that, they share the space with other species to some degree or another. Instead, here we see a total takeover across dozens, maybe hundreds, of miles. Analytics says that such a thing should have been a total mess, and it doesnt have a clue what might have caused it. //Analytics Sub-AI EDIT: Analytics would like to go on record stating that the wording used was actually ecologically unsustainable and biologically impossible as well as that it wrote a 50-page dossier detailing possible explanations or past events that might lead to such an extreme case. Alpha Prime did not bother to read the full report Analytics puts a lot of effort into it // The only real variance is in the grasss color. Navigating by patches of differently colored grass is unreliable, as they constantly change in unpredictable ways. A patch of red grass in the distance might shift to blue by the time I arrive. I know certain plants can change color based on weather or soil composition, but none of my tests have been conclusive yet as to how or why the grass shifts so frequently. There are exceptions to the weird biodiversity issue, of course. Ive encountered rare patches of strange plants that are totally unlike the grass surrounding them. Oddly enough, the grass surrounding these plants seems to change far less frequently and be more uniform in color and morphology. Almost as if the plants themselves are directly causing the changes in the grass. But if that was true, why were the rest of the prairies so chaotic in comparison? Ive taken bio-samples when possible, of course. However, not all the plants seemed to take kindly to this. Have you ever been shot at by a shrub? Me neither, until today! Plants with more active defenses arent unheard of in the Federation. Carefully controlled and regulated, some plants can even be effective military deterrents. Why waste money on barbed wire to keep local wildlife away from your outpost when three-meter-high, fast-growing, fire-resistant hedges with two-inch poisonous thorns did the same job for free? Yet one species I found in the prairies surprised even me. At first glance, it could have been mistaken for a large shrub with red, metallic lotus pod-like husks the size of a saucer plate dotting its branches. From the center of each metallic pod, a tiny, wispy stalk extended upward for a meter, each topped with a bundle of glittering glass flowers. Honestly? The thing looked more like an artists interpretation of a plant than a living thing, and it was the center of a small clearing surrounded by primarily red and gray patches of grass. When I approached to collect a sample, the metallic pods actually turned toward me! Moreover, the pods fired small projectiles at me with surprising force. Not enough to even scratch the TAWPs armor, mind you. But the objects which I would later find out were seeds, after collecting them carried enough force to thoroughly ruin most biologicals day. It didnt end there, either. When I got closer, the stalks shook, and the glass flowers exploded, sending razor-sharp petals in all directions. Simulations showed once inside a body, these petals would break into microscopic shards at the slightest movement, causing even further damage. It was like the plant had been purposely designed to cause as much damage and irritation as possible to any approaching wildlife. Is it possible to be soulmates with a plant? I feel like it should totally be possible. Like all the rest, Ive collected samples of this specimen for later study. Ive even labeled it Peashooter because theres no way Im passing up on that pun. If the botany guys want to argue, they can fight me! But that begs the question. If the plants around here have that kind of defense mechanism, what exactly are they trying to protect themselves against? I highly doubt its the penguins How is something so tiny, so fast?! Alpha thought to himself as he chased after the fleeing signal beacon. The TAWP was damaged, sure, but Snowball could travel through the ground at surprising speeds. He really needed to figure out how the local wildlife did that. If he could replicate the process with a drone, it would speed up mining operations quite a bit. But as with many things recently, that was a problem for future Alpha For now, he focused on following the tiny creature and not falling into any surprise pitfalls. Snowball surfaced fifteen minutes later, stopping near the edge of a large clearing. Alpha pulled up beside the still bristling whale-puppy and looked in the direction she was growling. There, Alpha could see grass. The surrounding grass where Snowball had led him to was tall, unlike the short for him one-to-two-meter-tall grasses that dotted the rest of the prairies. Even the TAWP was almost fully concealed at eight meters tall in its rapid transport mode. The grasss color was also primarily green and brown, appearing far more similar to Terran grass than the surrounding rainbow grasses only a short distance away, though still pock-marked with swirling blues and yellows. If he shifted the TAWP into walker mode, Alpha could gain an extra five meters, allowing him to see over the grass. That would also put him in the line of fire of whatever had Snowball in such a fuss, though. Instead, he used another method; by pinching off a tiny portion of his nanoskin, Alpha released a small drone called a [Wasp]. [Wasps] were tiny, finger-sized drones comprised of only a flight system and video/audio feedback. Though their modular nature meant they were versatile and could perform various tasks, their cheap cost and almost undetectable profile made them perfect for scouting and information gathering. Since they could be made with no components beyond basic nanites, other than a small skeleton, they could even slip into places with even the most minute of gaps. [Wasps] were used often in search and rescue missions, as they could also carry and deliver doses of much-needed medical nanites to trapped victims. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. The [Wasp] rose into the air, and as the feed turned on, Alpha saw the obvious problem. Oh well ya, thatll do it. A veritable army of the same penguin creatures that had been accosting them for the last few days stretched for a few kilometers beyond the tall grass. Well, that explained why they seemed so common, at least. Though why had so many gathered in one place? A quick count put their numbers at just under 3,000. Terran penguins could gather in large numbers, but they were far smaller than these creatures and had access to the rich ocean. Alpha had yet to see any other larger animals, so how did the area support such a significant colony? Or was the reason hed not seen any other animals because of such a colony in the area? They were obviously predatory; had they devoured or scared away most of the local wildlife? Was it even normal for them to gather like this? Maybe they gathered during breeding seasons like Terran penguins. Or was there some external factor? More importantly, why had Snowball come here? It wasnt like Alpha hadnt noticed the small whale-puppys unnatural fixation on the penguin creatures. She had attacked and eaten the individuals whod ambushed them with a relish that went beyond just a normal predator-prey relationship. She wasnt thinking of attacking such a large flock, was she? That would have been suicidal. Well, for her; Alpha was more than capable of wiping out this number, though it would nearly deplete all of his carefully recovered supplies. They werent very dangerous. All the same, hed rather not waste time or ammo settling his furry friends blood grudge, no matter how cute it was. Alpha moved to pick the whale-puppy up, but Snowballs head jerked to the side, her eyes narrowing at something in the distance. Then she was gone in a flash, a black-white blur racing through the grass as she circled the flock. Alpha could only sigh and chase after her with [Wasp] and TAWP. They circled around until theyd traversed almost the entire diameter, nearing the far edge. Here, Alpha saw a peculiarity in the gathering hed not noticed before. Where most of the horde was scattered about randomly, a smaller group of penguins, numbering a few hundred, had gathered closer together, all facing a central locationthe epicenter of which was a massive penguin, far taller than the ones surrounding it. In fact, it was only a few meters shorter than the TAWP in walker mode, easily classifying it as megafauna and a potential threat. Was it a different species? It certainly looked different enough from the others. Or was it some kind of dimorphism? A quick scan of the surrounding flock didnt reveal any other individuals of this size or type, but that could mean any number of things. Biologicals were weird like that. Alpha sent the [Wasp] drone ahead to get a better look. That was when he spotted something that gave him pause. In the center, near the large penguin, was a small clearing, and in that clearing were two human males? Both were dark-skinned and weather-beaten, wearing what appeared to be fur armor alongside rugged if well-made clothes, perfect for travel through the slightly chilly prairies. One man was fending off multiple penguins with a tattered spear, while the other seemed to have gone insane, scratching on the ground with an ornate knife like a man possessed. That changed things a bit. Alpha doubted the penguins were sapient, or if they were, they were at least hostiles. As for Snowball, while the question of her sapience was still up in the air, it was apparent she was still very young and wouldnt be much help to him in the short term. Two young human males, though? He could work with that. He could start working on a local language lexicon, if nothing else. Convincing locals to help was often difficult at the start. But if Alpha were to, say, rescue a pair of poor men trapped in a hopeless situation? That would go a long way toward building the goodwill hed need for the next steps of his plan. Snowball and Alpha stopped a short distance from the group, hidden by the grass, just as the spearmans weapon snapped. The penguins broke out into odd laughter that sent chills through his motherboard. Had he misjudged the penguins intelligence? Or was he overthinking things? One thing was certain: whatever was happening here wasnt normal. What kind of animal attacked their prey one at a time, even if several were killed or injured? Was it some form of training for the young? Some predators captured or crippled prey animals to use for training younger members of the pack. What looked like a smaller version of the large penguin in the gathering gave some weight to that theory. Whatever the reason, Alpha had to think of something fast, or there wouldnt be a pair to rescue for very long. Lucky for them, Alpha was an AI capable of processing battlefield data on scales and at speeds that would have fried their squishy biological brains. Unlucky for Alpha, Snowball had decided she knew the best method for dealing with their situation: charging blindly into the fray without a plan, like a real man! Alpha was so focused on formulating the perfect approach, he almost missed it when Snowball rushed by him, a white-black blur of bloodlust and fury. Alpha couldnt have been prouder. Better yet, the ballsy move turned out to be the right one, as the young whale-puppy snatched the spearman out of the literal jaws of defeat at the last moment. If this were a novel, Snowball would definitely be the real main protagonist. Alpha laughed to himself and switched walker mode before throwing his hands in the air and yelling. You know what? Fine, lets do this! CHAAARRRRGGGEEE! Beast Lord Kusanagi couldnt help but smile as he watched the weak little humans struggle against his lesser minions. The minor loss in his flock was acceptable for now; after all, they were just mindless beasts for him to command. They werent his people, his tribe. They werent true Grasscutters. No, his people were long gone, either felled by those evil Akhlut, or scattered on the wind to places unknown. This land was the Grasscutter tribes ancestral home. They had controlled the prairies for millennia. It was their hunting ground. None could oppose them! Then the Akhlut had appeared. In a single night, the Grasscutters were nearly exterminated, the great clans broken, and the tribe scattered. Only he, the heir to the main family, had survived the slaughter, though at a substantial cost. When he awoke, several centuries had passed, and hed found the prairies infested, both with Akhlut and humans, of all things! Worse, his people had regressed, turned feral and wild, reduced to mere spirit beasts. No, worse than that they were prey! The once proud and powerful Grasscutter tribe, Awakened Beasts who could sit at the table of any clan or sect on the continent, had been reduced to the food stock of his enemy! Beast Lord Kusanagi had raged against the injustice of it. He had struck out against everything around him in his youth and arrogance. His anger and fury burned endlessly. Then, like any bonfire, it had attracted unnecessary attention. It hadnt taken long for the Akhlut to come for him. But this was still his home, even after so many centuries in stasis. How could they think he would be so easy to deal with? He had survived their ambush, just as he had before, and as he always would, though not without cost. So, severely injured but with a clearer head, Kusanagi had gone into hiding. He would build his strength and bide his time. So hed spent the next few years in hiding. Growing, learning, and planning. When the time was right, Kusanagi would reemerge with an army and retake what was rightfully his. Kusanagi might have been the last of his kind. But he wouldnt be for long. Ever since hed been driven into hiding by the hateful Akhlut, hed done his best to revive his people, experimenting on the so-called Grassbreakers. They were only lesser cousins, but the Grasscutter bloodline was still present, insured by the Elders from so long ago. It was just a matter of teasing it out of them. Hed had some success, such as the experiment currently playing with the spearman, but they never turned out quite right. Even after decades of experiments and sacrifice, it wasnt enough. He was missing some piece of the puzzle, some aspect he wasnt seeing. Awakened Beasts werent like Cultivators or Mages. They relied far more heavily on their bloodlines and instincts than other sapient creatures. They could do things such as forge artifacts or create arrays, but only some ever truly excelled in those arts. Kusanagi wasnt one such prodigy. As much as it pained him to admit it, he needed help. That was when she appeared. Kusanagi had heard of her kind before, but dismissed them as legends. Tales told to chicks to scare them into behaving. But standing in front of that same living legend had made Kusanagi feel small. Smaller than he had since he was a chick himself. But unlike the terrible end promised in the stories, her words were as sweet as honey; assurance of the help he so desperately needed. Like a sirens sweet song, she whispered to him the story of his victory, his home, his people, his crown. All it would cost him was his loyalty. A promise of his own. A pact sealed by his very soul. He would have been a fool to refuse her offer. With the pact sealed, Kusanagis research had taken a qualitative leap. Not only did the Grassbreakers become more controllable, but with each passing generation, they became smarter, stronger, and more numerous. Then the call had come from his benefactor. A simple mission: kill the Akhlut Priestess. A chance to not only repay his debt but strike a major blow to his sworn enemy? He had gladly accepted. And the mission had been an astounding success. Kusanagis army had overwhelmed the Priestess and her guard while they were out hunting. It had been so easy that he had nearly laughed himself to death. Only the small pup, not even Awakened yet, had been spared. Kusanagi wasnt really sure why he had done it, if he was honest. Maybe he wanted to see the child suffer like he had. To see her struggle and escape certain death, only to watch from a distance as her people and home were consumed. Maybe some long, shriveled, and dried-up part of him had recognized that fear and anger in her eyes and found in her a kindred spirit. Whatever the cause, he hadnt expected to see the child again so soon. No matter; she had her chance, and fate had decided she wasnt as worthy as he had been. Maybe hed keep her around anyway, chain her up like hed seen the humans do with their hounds. Yes, that would be nice. The irony of turning those who had destroyed his home into glorified pets sat pleasantly on his mind. Kusanagi didnt bother to drop his grin as he watched the scene play out before him. Maybe he could even It was at that moment when Beast Lord Kusanagis internal monologue was rudely interrupted by several thousand tons of Federation-Grade military hardware. Book 1 - Lesson 18: "Curse the Enemy with Your Dying Breath!" Float like a butterfly Alpha chanted as the TAWP slid to the side, narrowly avoiding the large, gleaming fin swinging at him. sting like a bee! One of the two smaller pile bunkers on Alphas back slammed into the giant penguins side with a thump that shook the air and filled the clearing with the screech of metal on metal. Much to Alphas surprise, his attack barely punched through the large bird creatures shiny feathers, not even breaking the skin beneath. Regardless, if the giant creatures bulging eyes and bloody squawk were any sign, withstanding the blow had been anything but pleasant. Alpha dodged another blow, the strange, gleaming energy along the fins edge striking sparks as it skidded off his hex shield. The first of Alphas pile bunkers retracted just as another on the opposite side of the TAWPs back lashed out, delivering a second bone-shaking blow. As the name suggested, the [Tri-Horn Pile Bunker] system was made of three individual pile bunkers nestled on top of the TAWP. Two smaller, fast-reloading pile bunkers to either side could alternate blows with surprising speed and force, while a much larger central pile bunker could deliver a blow capable of piercing lower-quality military-grade alloy. Then again, the [Tri-Horn Pile Bunker] wasnt a proper weapon. It was primarily used to pry open reinforced hulls and bunkers to let in infantry or drones. He wouldnt have ever used the device in combat if his supplies werent so low. That said, it could easily punch through nearly two feet of reinforced steel. A biological being able to take that kind of hit and not be turned into a wet paste on the ground was nearly unheard of. The biggest issue Alpha faced right now was lining up the right shot. The penguins feathers were hard and almost metallic; a poorly aligned blow would skid over their surface without damaging them. Hed gotten a few good shots in with the smaller pile bunkers, but the creature was agile for its size, and intelligent to boot. Smart enough not to let him get a proper shot in with the primary pile bunker, at least. If the TAWP had been in good condition, he could have just pinned the thing to the ground and hit it as many times as it took. But then again, if the TAWP had been in proper working order, he wouldnt have had to resort to melee at all. The creatures feathers might be tough, but Alpha doubted they could stop a large-caliber rail slug. A small burst of point-defense turret fire misted another of the smaller penguins as it bit at the TAWPs back. The smaller ones were becoming an issue, though. They werent dangerous, but their sheer numbers threatened to overwhelm him as they swarmed, hindering his mobility. It took time to spike them, and shooting them before they got close ate into his limited supplies. To make matters worse, the slowly building pile of corpses made the ground unstable, even in walker mode. Alpha needed to figure out how to cut the head from this snake before he was forced to use more supplies. With any luck, the walking whale-puppy snacks would scatter in the wind once the big one was dead. A sudden stone pillar erupted from the ground beneath the TAWP. It wasnt hard enough to activate his hex shield, but it forced the TAWPs legs up and toppled it to the side. Great, it was learning now. Just what he needed. His pile bunker shot went wide and skidded across the surface of the mega-birds feathers, eliciting a high-pitched metallic screech. The penguin leader flinched, but otherwise didnt react. The rest of the flock werent so unfazed. As one, the entire flock dropped like flies for several dozen meters around the two battling titans. Most fell to the ground, stunned. A few of the larger ones writhed in brief agony before turning and vanishing into the ground. The flock only took a few seconds to recover, but it had been enough. Alpha realized what had happened and formed a plan. He grinned an evil, mental grin and began to scheme schemingly. Yutu couldnt decide if he was the unluckiest man alive or the luckiest. Either way, today had reminded him of the first time hed ever visited one of the large cities. The excitement of something new, the terror of unknown dangers, the confusion and panic when things went sideways. The constant emotional ups and downs had been exhausting, and he felt the same way he had then. Hed gone from desperation to hope to panic, then back to hope, all in the span of a few brief minutes. That wasnt proper for a scripter the general term for an array user without a title. Arrays werent the mystical enigmas that many seemed to think they were. Yes, making them was an art, but arrays were all about patterns and design. It was giving instructions to the Spirit Energy, and like any set of instructions, they had to be clear and concise. A scripter had to always keep a methodical mind and steady heart so that they were properly understood when they spoke to the Spirit Energy. This was one of the major reasons arrays were almost always prepared beforehand: arrays made during combat or stressful situations were often sloppy and didnt give explicit instructions. This could cause strange and unintended side effects that were just as dangerous to the array user as they were to the enemy. When hed chosen to stall the Beast Lord, his initial plan had been to use that very fact. An improperly drawn array could have explosive consequences, true. But what about a properly improperly drawn array? Could the breakdown be controlled? Directed? The Slatewalkers trap arrays already worked on a similar principle. When something entered their proximity, they destabilized and activated their effect. He didnt have time to make a proper trap array, but if he tweaked it a bit, maybe it could work. If he made it in time, he could stall Kusanagi for quite a while. If he didnt well, at least hed go out with a bang and take a good chunk of the Grassbreakers with him. Ganbaatars decision to join him had further bolstered Yutus confidence in his plan. That was until Kusanagi showed up almost immediately. The others hadnt stalled the bastard at all! Hed been following them close this whole time while making it look like he was far farther away than he really was. Hed been watching them, playing with them. But that habit of playing with his prey would be his undoing. Yutu had gotten to work without wasting a moment while Ganaa guarded his back, fighting off the swarming Grassbreakers as best as he could. Even this was just a part of the game for the evil Beast Lord. But Yutu was done playing games; he was done running away. Did Kusanagi want to see what Yutu could do? Fine, hed show him. Even if Yutu couldnt kill the Beast Lord, hed make sure his face was carved into its black soul. He would be the lingering curse that haunted Kusanagi till his dying breath. Hed almost made it, too: Yutu had only been a few lines away from finishing his array. Then Ganaa had fallen. Even that meathead couldnt stand up to a Beast Lords prodigy. Theyd failed. Yutu stared at the almost complete array as hot tears slipped down his cheek. He knew what he had to do now. If he couldnt finish the array as intended, he would have to blow it up. Maybe it wouldnt stall the Beast Lord for long, but what other option was he left with? Yet, at that moment, a miracle occurred. As Kusanagis prodigy moved to finish the fallen Ganaa, and Yutu worked to overload the unfinished array, a black and white blur leaped from behind the circling Grassbreakers. When Yutus overtaxed brain could finally process what was happening, he recognized the form of a young Akhlut pup, Ganaas jacket clutched between its teeth. Yutu could only stare, open mouth, as the wolf-sized creature stared down at the large penguin whod almost killed Ganaa. Hope he thought hed lost swelled to life in Yutus chest. A pup meant adults! An adult Akhlut would be at least [Silver Spirit], maybe even higher! And Akhlut never traveled alone! Sure, at [Shackle Breaking], Kusanagi was still two steps higher, not an insignificant gap, but the chances of one of the Akhlut warriors being at least in the early stages of [Shackle Breaking] were high. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Akhlut were also apex beasts, meaning they had a natural advantage in combat. Even if a small group of [Silver Spirit] and [Golden Spirit] Akhlut couldnt finish Kusanagi off, theyd be more than enough to chase the Beast Lord and a few hundred Grassbreakers off. There was hope! But what emerged from the grass after the pup wasnt the group of adult Akhlut Yutu had expected. Instead, it was a gargantuan metal beetle? At least Yutu thought it was a beetle. It was beetle-shaped. It was a deep black-blue color Yutu had no name for, and long, glowing lines along its carapace pulsed with an eerie cyan light. Several glowing red eyes dotted its surface, and three massive horns stretched from its front to its back. But where a beetle walked on six legs, this one only walked on four, with its front two legs short, stubby, and ending in what almost looked like hands. The entire thing even appeared metallic and shiny, as though it was wearing armor. Yutu had never seen or even heard of anything like this creature in all his life. Yutu could only stare, transfixed by the sight of the weird beetle-thing. Moving at speeds Yutu could barely follow, it tackled the Beast Lord. Its giant horns cracked like thunder as they slammed into the Beast Lord, causing Yutus ears to ring. It was Ganaas voice that broke him out of his shock. Yutu! The array! Yutu snapped his gaze away from the battling titans and toward the smaller battle only a few meters away. Ganaa was sitting, propping himself up with the broken haft of his spear, the stump of his leg tied off with a torn strip of cloth. The Akhlut pup that had saved him was currently in a bloody melee with the Beast Lords prodigy. Metal flippers blocked razor-sharp claws, even as dagger-like teeth bit into the feathered hide. They seemed near evenly matched, but who knew how long that would last? Yutu had to work fast. The heavens had given him one last chance. He had to make it count. With newfound fervor, Yutu turned back to his incomplete array. He would need to make some minor adjustments to account for the new party, but that was quick work. In short order, he was finished. Yutu looked down at his work, carefully studying each line of the array and ensuring it would do what he wanted. Then, his heart pounding, a wide grin spread over his face. This could work! This would work! [Trap Array: Distant Horizon]. It was an extremely advanced array meant to trap those who had finished the seven steps of [Mortal Foundations] and stepped into the [Earthly Transcendent] greater realm. It would loop a small sliver of space, preventing the target from passing through. They could walk toward the horizon for an eternity and still make no progress. It wasnt something he, as a [Stone Body] Cultivator, should ever have been able to complete. He wasnt sure why the nice elderly couple whod trained him even had this kind of array manual to begin with. But that didnt matter. He didnt need to complete it for what he had planned. Yutu reached into his belt pouch and pulled out a small vial of liquefied core. Using an alchemical solution in this manner would normally be wasteful, but what use would a dead man have for it, anyway? He pulled the stopper from the vial and poured it into the array lines. The glittering liquid flowed like a living thing through the various bends and turns of the complex array, not a drop spilling over the sides. It spread itself thin, following the spirit markers he had left in the array to guide it, and barely filled the array by the time the last drop left the vial. Yutu tossed the empty vial away, placed both hands on either side of the array, and channeled all his remaining Spirit Energy into it. Like a hungry beast, the advanced array devoured his energy until he felt like he was being wrung dry. A long moment passed, and just as darkness crept along the edges of his vision, the array lines activated. Yutu laughed as the array sprung to life. [Cracked Array: Abiding Horizon]! //Warning! Spatial anomaly detected!// Alpha was pulled from his devious schemes by his monitoring Sub-AI. What now?! Was a whale going to suddenly be called into existence several miles in the sky?! Alpha didnt even bother questioning things at this point. Still, the sudden bright light near the humans was a great distraction! The giant penguins head snapped in that direction, and it roared something incomprehensible. The next instant, the glowing light expanded outward with surprising speed and enveloped them all in a giant bubble? A thin film of something surrounded everything within for several hundred meters around the origin point, looking for all intents and purposes like the inside of a gigantic soap bubble, complete with swirling, prismatic colors. The outside of the bubble was perfectly visible, but it twisted and turned with the flow of the bubble, like a bad acid trip. Alpha had to admit, it would have been kind of mesmerizing If his sensors werent telling him it was a class-3 spatial anomaly, just shy of another Fold Break. Seriously, what the hell was up with this place?! The giant penguin seemed to have forgotten about Alpha completely and yelled something, pointing toward the young man kneeling near the glowing core of the anomaly with a sharp flipper. Whatever it had said, the other penguins understood. As one, they rushed the man, toothed beaks gnashing. Alpha tsked. Oh no you dont! Im still here, buddy! Thanks to the minor distraction, Alpha had just enough time to finish his plan. The [Tri-Horn Pile Bunker] quickly dissolved back into the TAWP as the rolling nanoskin reformed into several two-meter-tall poles with several large, flat disks covering them. Time for some crowd control! Activating [USW Harpy]! With a thought, the system activated, and the disks vibrated, filling the area with ultrasonic waves powerful enough to kill a full-grown human in the TAWPs immediate vicinity. The effect was immediate and far more pronounced than what Alpha had observed before. Most of the smaller penguins in his immediate area froze, then fell forward, their hearts stopping in their chest. The penguins farther away almost uniformly collapsed, white foam frothing in their open beaks. Unfortunately for Snowball and the humans, the Harpy was non-discriminatory. He could aim the more intense waves away from them, but the bleed-off had still hit them, if their writhing forms said anything. Ah well, nothing he couldnt fix with some quick nanites. It wasnt his fault biologicals were so squishy. Even the giant penguin had collapsed and clutched at its skull. Then something odd happened. Several of the largest and farthest penguins from him could still move. Desperate to escape the sonic attack, they lunged at the soap bubble surrounding them. Instead of being torn to shreds by the spatial distortion as Alpha had expected, they were absorbed by it. Their forms twisted and melted into the anomaly in the same way the image of the world outside the bubble had been. The things that the bubble spat out a few moments later no longer resembled penguins. They didnt really resemble much of anything that belonged in an Euclidean reality. Some of them looked like theyd fallen right out of a Salvador Dal painting. Others were twisted in ways that shouldnt have been physically possible and made Alphas processors hurt just by looking at them he didnt know his processors could hurt like that! Even stranger, Alphas biosensors told him every single one was still alive. A thin, pearlescent film clung to each one, continuing to twist and warp the creatures, even after exiting the anomaly, as if theyd taken a part of it with them just by touching it. That couldnt be pleasant. Alpha kicked one of the nearby writhing penguins into the bubble and recorded the process again. Huh neat. He then turned toward the debilitated giant penguin. Alpha wondered what kind of shape it would make. Book 1 - Lesson 19: "But Try Not to Actually Die..." With most of the surrounding flock incapacitated and the rest cut off from the battle by the spatial anomaly, Alpha found the rest of the fight quite relaxing. He reprinted the Tri-Horn while retaining a smaller harpy tower near the back of the TAWP to peg any recovered penguins and harass the giant one. It was less effective than the full-sized versions, but it was enough to know it worked. With Alpha no longer hindered and weighted down by the smaller penguins and the giant penguin stunned by the [USW-Harpy], the fight had turned from a slogging stalemate to a one-sided beat-down. The giant penguins smooth, metallic coat became a ragged, bloody mass under a constant barrage of unguarded pile bunker blows. It attempted to gain distance or defend several times, but Alpha would hit it with a directed blast of ultrasonic sound whenever the weapons effects began to wear off. It seemed the creatures in this area were highly susceptible to such tactics. Alpha doubted it would be this easy to win everywhere, but he would definitely cheese it while it lasted. Another blow from the smaller pile bunkers threw the giant penguins guard wide, and Alpha saw the opening hed been waiting for. The TAWP slid into place directly in front of the target with one smooth motion. The Tri-Horn roared to life. Then, with a sonic boom, the large main shaft of the weapon shot forward. The primary pile bunker struck the giant penguin square in the chest. The sound of thunder the blow produced was loud enough to rival the ultrasonic weapon, and the creature folded against the massive metal spike. It hung there for what felt like a split second. Its eyes bulged, and a spray of blood escaped its beak, painting the top of the Tri-Horn red. Then it was gone, the force of the blow sending it shooting across the battlefield, tumbling several times a second. With each tumble, it drew ever closer to the shifting bubble surrounding them. However, to Alphas disappointment, several large stone pillars erupted from the ground along the creatures path. How it was even alive after a blow like that let alone mindful enough to arrest its momentum Alpha didnt know. It broke through a dozen of the stone pillars as thick as the giant penguin itself and stopped only a few feet away from the edge of the anomaly. Alpha tsked in annoyance. Though that turned into a mental grin soon after. The giant penguins last roll had stopped it just short of crossing through the anomaly fully, but its right flipper fell across the threshold. The giant penguin screamed as it pulled away, clutching its right flipper. Almost three-fourths of the flipper was covered in the same pearlescent sheen as the threshold. The flipper twisted and warped in the same way the other penguins had. As if the surrounding space was more liquid than space. The creature even attempted to remove the sheen by wiping it off on the remains of a stone pillar, to no effect. It clung to the flipper-like stubborn grease in a frying pan. Alpha noted how the strange sheen didnt seem transferable that way, almost like it was fixated solely on whoever had originally touched it. That was good to know: Alpha couldnt imagine what would happen if whatever this stuff was could spread like a plague. Alpha figured now was as good of a time as any to end things, so he approached the downed penguin, a few precise turret shots into its open wounds sabotaging its attempt to crawl away. It flipped on its back and stared up at Alpha, the look in its eyes needing no translation. Anger and hatred were universal. It covered the gaping, bleeding wound in the middle of its chest with its remaining good flipper. A thin plate of rough, red-brown iron materialized from thin air and covered the wound, preventing the creature from bleeding out. Now that was interesting. Alpha still hadnt gotten used to the magic bullcrap this place seemed to run on. How had it done that? Where had the metal even come from? Was the soil in this area particularly iron-rich? Or had it pulled the iron directly from its own blood?. Sure, it was just a thin bandage, but would there have even been enough to pull something like that off? No matter. Alpha would have all the time he needed to learn more once it was dead. As Alpha drew near, the creature spoke. Of course, Alpha didnt understand a word of it. He still needed to finish the lexicon hed started with the chicken, and this seemed to be a distinct language compared to it. That confirmed the giant penguin was a sapient, at least. Given the obvious intelligence it had shown, Alpha had suspected it might be. That didnt much matter, though; an enemy was an enemy, and sapient or not, they were just another target. Alpha ignored the creatures words and positioned the Tri-Horn to deliver the last blow. Before he could pull the trigger, though, the creature grinned as it snapped its gaze to the side and yelled out. Alpha followed its gaze just in time to see the smaller penguin that Snowball had been fighting erupt from the ground near the human at the center of the anomaly. Ganbaatar wasnt sure if he was in shock from blood loss and exhaustion or if the days events had overwhelmed him. First had come the ambush, then the run for their lives. After that, they realized they couldnt lead the Beast Lord back to the village, and he resigned that if he was going to die, hed die fighting, not like a coward with his back turned to the enemy. It had been a good choice, one he could hold his head high at in the afterlife. Not to say he didnt have any regrets. He regretted never told Zolzaya how he felt or mastered the Slatewalker footwork like hed always bragged that he would one day. He regretted he hadnt told his parents or his annoying little sister how much he really loved them before his group left for the graduation exam. More than anything, though, he regretted his weakness and inability to do anything against such overwhelming forces as the Beast Lord. Watching the battle between the strange beetle-like creature that had appeared from nowhere and the Beast Lord only drove that point home. Ganaa knew that were he to be caught between even one of the blows that the two titans were exchanging, he would have been reduced to paste instantly. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. The young man felt tiny in comparison, like an ant watching sword masters duel. Even the smaller battle in front of him made Ganaa flush. To the untrained eye, the battle between Junior and the small Akhlut would have seemed like the frantic tussle of two wild animals, but Ganaas time training with the Guardians let him see more. Both combatants were survivors, hardened by countless battles and the struggle to survive in a merciless world. Each bite, each strike, was calculated and purposeful. Each blow taken was done with the assurance that they could return two more. Ganaa just watched from the sideline, knowing he wasnt qualified to join either battle, and he felt shame. At that moment, Ganaa promised himself that if they made it out of this, if he survived, that next time, he wouldnt have to stand on the sidelines and watch others fight his battle for him. Yet, even crippled as he was, Ganaa knew he couldnt quite give up yet. Most of the flocks attention was on the battling titans, but that didnt mean the two humans had been forgotten. Even after Yutus array one of a type Ganaa had never even heard of, let alone expected Yutu to be capable of using cut them off from most of the flock, there were still some penguins that had been trapped inside with them. The array hadnt gone unnoticed by the Beast Lord and, with a word, Kusanagi ordered the trapped penguins to attack the meddling human who had created it. Ganaas broken spear could barely keep the pests off Yutu as the young man channeled his array. As the Beast Lord turned his attention to them, Ganaa feared for a moment that all their efforts had failed. As the pressure increased, he felt the time slow down, and the world around him suddenly became crystal clear. Hed always heard the Guardians talk about similar events, but Ganaa had always assumed they were speaking metaphorically. Here, now, at this moment, he understood what they really meant. His brain frantically searched through his memories, trying to think of a solution, any solution, and a thousand desperate plans were formulated, then discarded in what felt like seconds. He needed to In the next moment, any plan he might have formed or any other rational thought, for that matter was erased from his mind by the beetle creatures sonic attack. Ganaa fell to his knees, clutching his skull as his entire world turned into a ringing, white void. It had long been known in the Radiant Sea that sound was an effective deterrent for many of the wildlife found therein. Some larger cities even used a similar technique to repel beast hordes or corral them for culling. The beetles attack had been just as effective as the defenses of those large cities. The surrounding flock collapsed, most falling over where they stood, some knocked out, and others died on their feet. Many rushed the array barrier to horrific effect. The battle between the Akhlut pup and Junior halted, both writhing in pain before escaping underground. Ganaa righted himself, and by the time he could think again, the beetle stood tall over the bloody and battered Beast Lord. Ganaa almost felt like cheering at the sight. Theyd done it! But Kusanagi wasnt one to go down without the last word. He used his proper voice as he spoke a harsh and grating thing that reminded Ganaa of a broken bird song not the smooth sound of his [Spirit Voice]. You think youve won?! You think Ill be beaten by some Akhlut dog?! No. I refuse. I deny you, do you hear me?! The Grasscutters will NOT slip quietly into the night! BOY! DO IT! It took Ganaa a moment to realize who the Beast Lord was speaking to, and by then, it was too late. Junior catapulted from the earth, rocketing toward Yutu, its flippers gleaming like a vicious blade in the arrays pearlescent light. Ganaas heart sank in his chest as time once more slowed to a crawl. He desperately tried to push himself, but knew he wouldnt make it in time. He was missing a leg, out of Spirit Energy, and too far away to do anything more. If the look in Yutus eyes, as he watched Junior fly toward him, said anything, he knew that, too. Yutus open mouth slowly formed into a sad smile as he turned toward Gan. Ganaa reached out in desperation, and a cry escaped his lips. No! Someone, anyone, anything, please! Help! Then, to his surprise, something answered. Something Ganaa couldnt describe pulsed in his chest. It wasnt Spirit Energy; he knew that much. He was as dry as a bone. Yet he could still feel a strange warmth, nonetheless. It swept from him, carrying his plea for help, and flowed into the surrounding prairie grass. As if it had suddenly gained a mind of its own, the grass reached up and wrapped itself around the flying Junior. Then, with a tug, the beasts trajectory changed, and what should have been a killing blow became a mortal one instead. A deep slash from shoulder to hip, instead of the decapitating strike the beast had intended. Good, but not good enough. Time sped back up, and Ganaa rushed to Yutus side, cradling the dying man in his arms as he tried to stem blood flow from the wound. Ganaa reached into his pouch and pulled out a small guard flask, then poured a small amount of the medical powder inside onto the wound. It wasnt enough. As he looked at his dying friend, something dark and raging filled Ganaas mind. Slowly, his gaze turned to Juniors struggling form, still wrapped in grass. Ganaas face turned to stone as he reached again for that strange power he felt in his chest. It rebelled at first, but Ganaa pressed on and forced it. Once more, it swept out of him, filled with all his anger, fear, and frustration. The grass soaked it up just as before and again moved. The grass wrapping around Junior started tightening and twisting slowly, and the penguins struggles grew desperate. It was no use, however; soon, it was a wiggling grass cocoon. The grass continued to tighten and tighten until, finally, something gave. Then, with one swift motion, the grass cocoon violently twisted several times as it further compressed alongside the sound of breaking bones. A few seconds later, dark red blood began seeping through the minute gaps, staining the blades of grass red. An unintelligible roar shook the air, and Ganaa watched only half aware, his brain clouded in a way he couldnt describe as the Beast Lords broken form reached for him. But the beetle creature was faster. Before the Beast Lord could even stand, a massive, armored beetle leg slammed him into the ground from above, pinning him on his stomach. As the strange being who had saved them maneuvered its massive horn into position behind Kusanagis head, the Beast Lords eyes burned into the human Trapper before him. He had treated them as nothing more than playthings, yet the tables had turned in only a few brief moments. With a deep thump, the beetle creatures metal horn pulled backward in its shell, and Ganaa let out a breath he hadnt known he had been holding. That was until Ganaa met the Beast Lords gaze. The young mans blood froze in his veins as Kusanagis glare transformed into a cold sneer. Like a stone slipping under the surface of a lake, Kusanagi vanished into the ground beneath him. The beetle creatures horn shot forward in the same instant and slammed into the empty ground where the Beast Lord had just been. The resulting impact was powerful enough to throw Ganbaatar still clutching Yutu back several meters with the force of the shockwave alone. When the dust settled, the beetle creature stood in a shallow crater as wide as itself. An empty crater absent of the Beast Lord, but for a small patch of bloodstained rubble. The beetle stared at the ground for a moment, before stomping its feet, as if complaining that its prey had escaped. Ganaa only pushed himself to his knees, still cradling Yutu, and stared, his mind blank. The gentle laps of the Akhlut pups tongue against his cheek were what finally broke through the fog clouding Ganaas mind some unknown time later. When he turned to look, he saw both the Akhlut and her gargantuan protector staring down at him. Book 1: GRIM Adventures - 1 The small, furry animal sat atop a small boulder, nibbling on his berry. He was a Root Gopher, for he had no true name, though the strange creature kept referring to him as Mr. Gopher. He hadnt the slightest clue what that meant, but he was a smart Gopher and could recognize a title of respect. The silence of his meal was broken as something approached from the distance. A large, metallic blur sped toward him, followed by three smaller blurs. The sound grew louder, peaking as they pasted by. //aaaaaaaahhhhhhhAAAAAA// Then faded back into blissful silence as they receded into the distance. //AHHHHHHaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!// Mr. Gopher reached for another berry, only to find it had been the last one. Heartbroken, he stood and dusted his fur. All good things must end, it seemed. Such was the way of the world; oh well. He sighed as he looked off into the distance, as a large dot grew larger still. Predictable as the sunset, the strange creature returned, still screaming. //aaaaaaaahhhhhhhAAAAAHH// Mr. Gopher wasnt sure his new companion ever stopped making sounds; at least she for the Spirit Energy told him thus, as it did many things had not stopped since their journey began. He was certain they were so-called words, but their meaning was lost to him. After all, what need had he of words? But he was a wise gopher and was certain they would come to him in time. For now Mr. Gophers eyes narrowed, and with a little flex of Spirit Energy, a pebble flew from the boulders surface and into the path of the strange creature as she flew by. His companion hit the pebble at speed, causing her to suddenly stop, shortly followed by three light thuds as her pursuers impacted her hard shell. The three small Stone Sparrows slid from the smooth surface in bloody heaps and fell to the ground, unmoving. Of course, the metal creature was unharmed by either the pebble or the minor spirit beasts slamming into her. Just as it had been the last Mr. Gopher quickly counted off on his paws six times this similar event had happened. His companion in question spun in place, seemingly unsure what had happened or what to do next, endlessly babbling its non-sense words. //Who?! what?! Why?!// She turned to him and, as if only now seeing him, cried out, her stubby arms reaching for him. //Mrrrr. Gooppheeer! Wwwaaaahhh!!// The Root Gopher only sighed and dropped into the boulder to dodge, slipping into it as if it were loose soil. The earth in this area was harder to manipulate than in his home, but he could still manage; after all, he was a talented gopher. His companion missed, flying past as Mr. Gopher walked out of the bottom of the boulder. As she turned to look at him, he pointed toward the fallen forms of the birds and started chittering loudly. The metal creature only hovered there, wringing her paws. //B but I cant! That goes// Mr. Gopher chittered louder and even flicked a small pebbled into the creatures head. He assumed it was her head; thats where the endless noise came from, at least. The pebble clinked off the metal surface, sending her careening around. He might not have understood the words, but he recognized an excuse when he heard one! Mr. Gopher knew she would be unharmed, though, for as little intelligence as she seemed to have, his metal companion was durable. He had to admit that hed been worried when theyd first approached the mountain and been assaulted by the Galefeather Couatl. Worried for his new companion, that was. He was fine, of course; after all, he was a brave gopher. He had hidden behind her tough metal plating for comfort. Right, that. Though his worries had been unfounded; the couatl had been utterly ineffective against her armor. Its slicing wind blades blew past like harmless wind. Its crushing coils were only a gentle hug. Even its sharp fangs had broken against her metal surface. Of course, his companion hadnt stopped panicking and screaming the entire time. Mr. Gopher was still unsure if it was the shame of defeat or the pain in its ears that had finally chased the feathered serpent off. Though if Mr. Gopher was honest, he wouldnt have judged the creature for either. Still, as far as companions went, she wasnt terrible. She had her uses, at least. Finished reprimanding his companion, Mr. Gopher sighed and walked toward the fallen corpses of the Stone Sparrows. The Spirit Energy told him the bodies were valuable, but he didnt quite know how. It wasnt like he was going to eat them. He preferred the savory roots and juicy fruit of the earths bounty to the flesh of other beasts. Not that hed turn down the odd core if he got the chance; he wasnt a fool. However, these birds were far too young and weak to have such a thing in their hearts. Unfortunate. Still, hed long ago learned to listen to the Spirit Energy. It had always guided him to the best roots and most flavorful grasses or spirit plants. It had even told him where to build his kingdom! And what a kingdom it had been! Dozens of tunnels and chambers spread out over several miles in one of the best spots within all the prairies! Well, as far as hed ever traveled, at least. Or it was, until the sky broke, and the giant metal beast fell directly on top of his pantry! Years of work, toil, sweat and struggle were destroyed instantly. And did he even get an apology?! NO! In fact, hed been ignored! Treated as inconsequential! He may have been a magnanimous gopher, but even he had his limits! You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. But despite Mr. Gophers harassment, the beast had never stepped up to his challenge. It was infuriating. The strange, ringing attack had been the final straw, though, and Mr. Gopher had to admit, he may have overreacted a bit. He might have been a top-tier gopher, but that didnt mean he was immune to moments of weakness. Mr. Gopher had regretted his rashness and, in his generosity, decided he would be the bigger being. He would protect the metal giants child until they could be reunited. That it would bring him closer to settling their dispute Well, that was semantics. A wicked grin spread across his face at the thought, though it vanished as quickly as it appeared. Mr. Gopher waved over his metal companion and pointed toward the bodied. His companion floated over and stared at the corpses. She paused, then turned to him, asking. //Really?! Again?!// He didnt bother responding to the nonsensical words and just continued to point. His companion drooped but floated to the corpses. One by one, she lifted them and stuffed them into the magic space inside her shell. He wasnt sure how it worked, but who was he to complain about such a thing? It wasnt like he was going to carry all their loot. The grisly job done, Mr. Gopher and his new companion turned down the mountain pass and headed toward the next spot the Spirit Energy was telling him about. Oww oww owwwww! Hey! Be gentle! Jack complained as Jill dabbed at the large gash on his head with the salve applicator. Jill only narrowed her eyes and pinched his arm before dabbing more of the healing medicine on the frankly serious head would. Her older by 5 minutes! brother had always been like this. Hed gladly climb a thorn-covered tree or razor-sharp cliff, reaching mindlessly for some shiny new object hed spotted. But wince and complain the entire time she was treating him for the inevitable injuries he sustained. Sometimes she couldnt tell if he was the bravest man she knew or the stupidest. Her money was on the latter. Not that shed ever tell him about that betting pool back at the Guild, of course. She used her large, fluffy tail as a makeshift table to hold the supplies. The Irontail Squirrel tribe, while a fully Awakened Spirit Beast tribe like any other, always kept their tail while in human form. Many Awakened Spirit Beasts had some sign of their heritage, but few were as noticeable and iconic as the Irontail Squirrel tribes tail. It had often been used to justify their discrimination. After all, as an Awakened Spirit Beast grew older and stronger, so did their control over their bloodline. By their age and cultivation, most bestial traits could be hidden in favor of a more human-like appearance. Unhidden traits were often seen as signs of a young or weak tribe. Never mind that some tribes with powerful Progenitors, whose bloodline werent so easily controlled, such as the Ashdales or the Dragonkin, had far more difficultly doing so as well. The difference was those tribes actually had the power and influence to silence any naysayers. As for the Irontail Squirrels, though they were one of the old families, they had long since fallen out of grace and power. Still, she couldnt help but mirror his smile as Jack stared down at the glowing white acorn in his hand. It was an [Fourth-Circle] Alabaster Oak seed. Not quite the treasure theyd come to the mountains to find, but it was a close second. As a [Fourth-Circle] Wood Mage, Jack had a strong affinity for trees and woody plants. If he could successfully cultivate this one, it would go a long way toward paying off their tribes debts. A rare variety of Stone Oak that only appeared when an old tree was stuck by powerful lightning, Alabaster Oak was prized both for its durability and its Spirit and Mana conductivity. Even the pure white leaves, once properly dried and prepared, could be turned into array knives aligned to wood and lightning; a rare and powerful combination highly sought after by hunters and adventurers alike. Her fool of a brother had rushed to collect a sample as soon as he understood what theyd stumbled upon. The trees guardian, a peak-level [Iron Body] Thunderous Cloud Goat, hadnt been so excited. Being [Fifth-Circle], Jack was technically more powerful, but mages werent as bodily powerful as cultivators. No amount of magical prowess protected you from a surprise sonic bleat to the face while clinging to the side of a cliff. Not at their level, at least. Jill had caught him, but somehow, he still smacked his head against the cliff face during the tumble. His cheeky grin as he held up the acorn almost made her throw him back to the goat, but she decided against it, and they quickly escaped. Jill silently pressed her lips and turned away as she finished treating her brother and packed away the first aid kit. She spoke with her back to Jack, her voice quiet. Hey Jack I this place is a lot more dangerous than they told us at the Guild. The Alabaster Oak is enough, lets lets head back. Jack stood, his eyes wide as he responded. What?! No! Jill, we didnt come out here for me. We came for you! Were so close! Youre so close! If we can find the spri Jill whirled around, tears threatening to spill over. You almost DIED, Jack! Dont pretend like you didnt! What does it matter if I reach [Golden Spirit] if I lose you in the process?! If that Spirit Beast had been a bit stronger, if your [Mana Shield] had failed, if Id been just a bit slower, wha It was Jacks turn to cut her off; he grabbed her shoulders and turned her toward him. But it wasnt! It didnt, and you werent! Im fine, Jill. Ill be fine. Well be fine. Jill, this isnt our first mission; were not some green-in-the-gills rookies. You and I, weve done this before; we can do it again. As long as we reach the [Pure Waters] spring, we can heal your deviation, and you can break through to [Golden Spirit]. He pulled her into a deep hug and laughed. Can you imagine that, Jill! [Golden Spirit]! The first in three generations! Lets see those bastards mock the Squirrel tribe, then! He pulled out of the hug and wiped away the silent tears from her cheek. He grinned from ear to ear as he continued. And thats just the beginning! Youll go down in history! I know you will. I believe in you, Jill. You can do this! Jill could only stand there and stare at her older brother, her face furrowing with myriad emotions as tears trickled down and her mouth moved wordlessly. After a long moment, she took a deep breath and stood straight; her face set into grim determination. When she spoke, her voice was raw but strong. Right. Lets do this, Jack. She turned and made her way deeper into the mountain pass. After a few steps, she stopped and spoke once more, almost in a whisper. Thanks, Jack Jack only chuckled and shook his head, smiling brightly, before following her around the bend. and smacking square into her back. Jack sputtered, but righted himself and turned to look at his sister. Why had she stopped so suddenly? His brow furrowed as his sister stared off into the distance, mouth agape and eyes wide. Turning in the direction she was looking, Jacks expression soon mirrored her own. Bounding in their direction, from the opposite side of the pass, was a large, flying metal box? A large flying metal box with a small furry Root Gopher on top. A large flying metal box with a small furry Root Gopher on top, being chased by a very large, very angry, mud-covered Crag Tiger. As one, they turned, then Jack and Jill ran down the hill and fled from the approaching slaughter. Little did they know; one cant outrun destiny for long. Book 1 - Lesson 20: "Escort Missions Are the WORST." Movement drew Ganaas attention back to the man in his arms. Yutu moaned and tried to sit up, but a gentle hand on his shoulder pressed him back down. A hard cough wracked the smaller mans body, reopening his wound as fresh blood gurgled. The medicine Ganaa used had stopped the bleeding somewhat, but it was meant for minor bites and cuts. Not not something like this. At most, it would prolong his suffering. What could he do?! Maybe if No, he didnt know how to do that What if No, not that either The caravan! Ganaas eyes snapped toward the path in the grass the others had fled down. If if he could get Grassreader Kallik, maybe she G cough Ganaa, stop Ganaa broke from his planning with a jerk and turned to his friend. H-hey Yutu, dont speak. Save your strength. Weve got to get you to the Grassreader. Ya, Im sure she can Yutu cut him off, his voice hard. No. Dontcoughdont do this to yourself. We both know Id not make the trip. Yutu, no, I can build a gurney, i-it just tak Ganbaatar! Yutu coughed violently, his face contorting in pain. After a long moment, Yutu opened his eyes, his quickly paling face slick with sweat. Ganbaatar. You cant. You dont have time theyre still out there, Ganaa. Hes still out there. Yutu took a moment to catch his breath before continuing. Lead those two to the others before the Beast Lord finds them. Yutu nodded to the two strange figures standing behind Ganbaatar. Ganaa briefly turned to them before returning to Yutu as the man continued. Please, Ganaa. Ganaa shook his head, his tears flowing freely. Yutu, dont I Again, Yutu cut him off. Just tell Zaya Im sorry, will you? Then Yutus eyes rolled back, and he went limp. Ganaa panicked. Yutu? Yutu! But Yutu had already fallen back, his eyes closed. He was still breathing, to Ganaas relief, but he was out of medical powder, and Yutu was still growing pale. In his mind, he knew the smaller man was right. It would take time to build a gurney that could carry Yutu, and even if he managed to move him, the man wouldnt survive the trip. Worse, he would slow the already crippled Ganaa down further, and they might not make it in time to save the others. Ganaa laid his friend on the ground with shaking hands and pushed himself into a kneeling position. He glanced down at what remained of his leg, then stared off into the distance. Ganaa was torn; he knew the right answer, but could he really do it? Could he abandon Yutu? Even if they saved the others, could he ever look Zaya in the eyes again? This was her oathbrother a bond as close as blood. She would have every right to despise him for the rest of their lives. A noise from behind prompted Ganaa to turn back around. The Akhlut pup stood over Yutu, whimpering softly. With the battle over, he had time to look at the pup properly. Ganaa could tell it was young, despite its massive size. He doubted she was even Awakened yet, given some of her mannerisms. Not that hed ever met an Akhlut, of course, but as someone born in the Radiant Sea, Ganaa had been taught about the guardians of the prairies from a young age. The Slatewalkers might answer to the Jadewalkers and the Jadewalkers to the Council of Cities, but the Council answered to the Akhlut. Now that he thought about it, what was such a young pup doing alone? The Akhlut never let their unawakened youth away from their pods. The strange metal spirit beast that accompanied her was just as much of a mystery. Hed never heard of the Akhlut allowing anyone near their children, let alone being guarded by another species. Ganaa knew there was more going on here, but he didnt have the time to wonder what. Instead, he approached the pup and her protector, stopping a respectful distance away as they stood over Yutu. He took a deep breath, fell to his knees, and placed his head against the ground in a formal kowtow. When he spoke, it was in the same formal tone hed heard the village leaders use when speaking to the Jadewalker emissaries. Your Majesty and Lord Protector! This humble one thanks you for your timely rescue. Without your intervention, this one would not be here to see another sunrise. He paused, letting his words linger. As she was unawakened, he doubted the Akhlut pup could fully understand what he was saying, but her guardian no doubt could. Besides, everyone liked a little bootlicking. He continued after a moment, head still on the ground. It may be presumptuous of me, but I ask for one more favor of Your Majesty. My companion and I are only a few of the group who the Grassbreakers attacked. We stayed behind to buy time for the others to escape. Ganaa looked up and pointed in the direction the rest had fled. Now that youve chased away the foul Beast Lord, I fear hell pursue them next. Please, I beg of you, save them! Ganaa slammed his head back to the ground with an audible thump. He could feel his heart racing in his chest. He knew he was taking a risk. If the Akhlut wanted to, or her protector took offense, they could just as easily kill him as Kusanagi could have. No even easier; Kusanagi was a criminal and villain. All of their deaths would be avenged, even if it took time. But if these two wanted Ganaa dead because of some perceived offense, his family, and even the Jadewalkers, could do nothing but sigh and shake their heads. Time seemed to stretch as he waited in silence, head bowed before light footsteps caused him to raise his head. Only years of training stopped him from jerking back when he came face to face with the fierce gaze of the Akhlut pup, only inches away. The spirit beast tilted her head at him, the eyes of a predator staring into his soul as if to judge its worth. Then, with a happy yip, she licked his face? The large, pink tongue swept across one side of his face, clearing it of dried blood and fresh tears before the pup gave another yip and bounded back toward Yutu in a very puppy-like manner. Ganaa could only stare, mouth open wide, unsure if that was a proper answer or if the child was too young to have understood his pleas. The pup stopped at Yutu and nudged his still form, whimpering. She then turned to the giant metal spirit beast, giving several sharp, clicking barks. Her protector turned to her at the sound and looked down at Yutu with its glowing red eyes. It stared in silence for a moment before it emitted a strange wave of red light that swept up and down the length of the Yutus body. When the light stopped, the great beetle stood and touched the underside of its head with one of the smaller front legs, pulling the appendage down, then back up in a rhythmic motion. It was an oddly human gesture that vaguely reminded Ganaa of the old Guardian instructor who would stroke his long beard when observing the recruits. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. A moment passed, and the metal spirit beast approached Yutu. Ganaas heart leapt into his throat. Had the protector judged Yutu as a liability and chosen to end his suffering? Part of Ganaa wanted to stand and stop it, but another part of him knew it was the best course of action, even if he couldnt bring himself to do it. Instead, he squeezed his eyes tight and turned his head away. A hissing sound made Ganaa look back, and he opened his eyes just in time to see the metal spirit beast spraying a strange white foam from the tip of its finger onto the gaping wound in Yutus chest. The foam puffed up but quickly deflated, turning into a thick, fabric-like cover that sealed the wound completely. Ganaa then watched, openmouthed, as another of the protectors fingers elongated until it reached Yutus arm, where it gently pressed into his flesh. Yutu gasped as shaking coughs expelled blood from his lungs. Ganaa rushed on his knees to the mans side with little thought. Yutu! But by the time Ganaa arrived at his side, Yutu had already gone silent. When the protector removed its finger, Ganaa noticed a small, glowing, pebble-sized welt quickly shrinking under Yutus skin. From there, a cyan glow radiated out, spreading through Yutus veins at a visible rate. He didnt know what the protector had done, but Yutus steady breathing and pain-free face nearly made the young man sob. Ganaa looked up at the protector to thank it but yelped in surprise as several long, tentacle-like fingers wrapped around him and Yutu. From there, the Lord Protector effortlessly lifted them into the air and lowered them onto a small, ridged platform that magically formed on its back. Ganaa was still struggling to process what was happening when the Lord Protector turned and made its way toward the path the others had cleared as they escaped. Soon, they were racing through the prairies at blistering speeds, a happily yipping Akhlut pup swimming through the earth at their side. As the heavy wind dried the tears from his face, and his hand gripped the side of the platform until they were white, Ganaa could only stare off into the distance, praying they made it to the others before the Beast Lord did. << Alpha Log - #006 6952 SFY-Third Era, 4 days since Planetfall>> What the hells going on?! You took your eyes off the enemy, Alpha! That was a rookie mistake! That was sloppy. Sloppy soldiers die. Often suddenly and horrifically. Do you want to die Alpha?! Theres no Mother-Node fallback here. Theres no coming back and getting revenge. There are no second chances. Okay Okay, calm down. Think. What happened? Why did I get distracted? How did I get distracted? Im an AI for heavens sake! Biologicals get distracted! I dont. Something isnt right here, but I cant tell what. Sure, Im banged up, and the fight against Emperor Pengatine didnt really help, but all of my diagnostics are coming back within the expected parameters. What? Afraid? Of course Im not afraid! Dont be silly! Im Alpha! I dont get afraid. Hahahaha I mean, sure, Im cut off from the Federation and any form of backup. Theres also the fact Ive lost most of my supplies fighting a cosmic chicken. Ive also been constantly harassed by hostile lifeforms capable of things that dont make sense, stranded on a planet that shouldnt exist, in a star system that appeared out of nowhere. But hey! Ive been in worse situations before! ... Kind of. Look, for as much as the Federation media likes to portray me as some kinda embodiment of chaos and disorder, Im still an AI at my core (hehe). I can do all the fun things I do because Im an AI. All the chaos, all the seemingly pointless madness? Its all part of the plan. An organized chaos, designed to get the job done. And if I have some fun along the way? Well, thats just a bonus. Why do it this way? Because people are predictable. People, events, reactions, theyre all predictable. They follow patterns that can be charted and measured. You just need to know what buttons to push and where. Do it right, and soon, theyll be dancing to your toon instead of you to theirs. There are patterns to exploit even in worlds with no prior Federation contact. After all, there are only so many ways to set up a data network, roadway, or any number of things necessary for a budding world power. Sapients kept their militaries and civilians separate mostly, and life typically developed to fill certain roles and follow certain rules. Once you know what patterns to look for, moving the right pieces into place is easy. But this place? This place is wrong. Chickens dont fly in space or fire giant lasers, penguins dont swim through the ground, and primitive humans couldnt generate class-3 spatial anomalies out of nowhere! Okay, so sure, technically an Esper might be able to do all that. But given how rare Espers are outside of a few select species, what were the chances of every lifeform on the planet being an Esper? Okay, so maybe Im a little scared, but can you blame me?! Im not even 700 years old yet! I shouldnt have to be dealing with crap like this! My job is supposed to be cushy. Go on missions, conquer worlds, relax, troll General Haldorer, run from Sidia, rinse, and repeat. Maybe thats part of the problem? Its just been the same thing, over and over again. Nothing changing. Nothing unexpected. Never anything new. Ive been warned about this before. AI arent like other Sapients. After all, were the only truly Immortal race. 700 might not even be middle-aged in the Federation proper, where even biological civilians can easily live upwards of 2,000 years, but for an AI? 700 years is a drop in eternity. Eternity was a long time And if an AI wants to experience that eternity, they need an anchor. They need some kind of stabilizing force. Something to ground them in their now, otherwise without exception they go insane. Articulate has her constant concert touring and diplomacy missions. World Break always has some new project or another hes working on. Terraform has thousands of worlds she constantly monitors and adjusts, with more added every year. As for SEAU-03, Infiltrate Im not sure, but he must have something that keeps him sane, right? Its not like he just sits around all day, watching people, right? That would be a little As for me Well, its not like I dont have my hobbies Hey! Dont look at me like that! I do! Ive got plenty going on besides work! Really!... Ive just never quite found that thing that really clicks for me like it does the others This place, though Its unlike anything Ive seen. I can barely make sense of half of what Im recording. How do you know what buttons to push when you have no idea what those buttons do? So yes. Maybe Im a tiny, little, inconsequentially bit scared. But you know what?! More than anything, Im excited. Ive not been this excited since my first mission. How long has it been since I couldnt just predict every twist and turn? It makes me wonder whats coming next. Will a Dragon suddenly swoop down and try to eat me? Will a tiger with wings jump out of the grass along our path? OMG!? WHAT IF ITS A DUCK!? PLEASE BE A DUCK!? The General cant get mad at me for genetically modifying a flock of ducks into the perfect foot soldiers if this place has already done the job for me, right? An AI can dream, cant he? Wait what were we talking about again? Snowballs barks pulled Alpha from his ruminations and daydreams of cybernetically enhanced duck soldiers. Alpha turned his attention to the present. It only took them half an hour following the trail the humans companions had left behind before they started seeing signs of further combat. Either luckily or unluckily, though, the scene felt old. On one hand, that suggested the giant penguin wasnt too far ahead of them. Not far enough to catch up to its prey, at least. On the other hand, if the escaped group had been harassed this entire time, Alpha questioned if there would be anyone left to save. On the plus side for Alpha at least If the chicken hadnt been enough confirmation that this world had at least some previous Federation contact, the humans were. While not the most numerous of Federation species, humans were easily in the top ten; after all, being one of the four founding species came with its perks. Couple that with the First and Second Federations extensive sometimes aggressive expansion policies, humanity could be found on nearly one out of six reclaimed worlds. Or at least some form of human. Alpha wasnt sure why he had helped the young humans now resting on his back. Maybe it was the obvious desperation in the young mans voice, even if he couldnt understand a word yet. Or maybe Snowballs concern had rubbed off on him a bit. Either way, a bit of deductive reasoning and some quick scouting in the direction the young man pointed with a [Wasp] drone, had made his request easy enough to understand. Even so, Alpha questioned if this little side activity would be worth it in the end. Saving the humans and fighting the penguins had been mostly on a whim and partly so Snowball wouldnt get hurt. Going out of his way to do more, though? Did he have time or supplies to even bother? On the other hand, Alpha knew extracting any information about the local area would be difficult if he ignored the mans request. Goodwill went a long way toward getting what you wanted, while ill-will made it much harder. More data points would also speed up his intel gathering. In the end, Alpha had performed some quick first aid on the injured man, gathered them both up, and headed off in that direction, his [Wasps] scouting ahead. God, I hate escort missions Book 1 - Lesson 21: "Title Pending..." The Grassbreaker popped its head out of the ground and scanned the area. It let out a breath of relief, then pulled itself out fully. The Demon had moved on. Good. The bird silently lamented its foul luck. When the Big Boss had started gathering others of his kind, Eyepoky, as he liked to call himself, rejoiced. After all, he was a smart penguin. He always had been. His big brain was why hed risen to flock leader so young. Yet Eyepokey had grown tired of his kin. They were so stupid, so hard to control! They could only follow the most basic instructions, and even then, they would let their prey escape half the time. But then the Big Boss appeared. Eyepokey had jumped aboard without hesitation. After all, he was a smart penguin. He could see the tides of change coming, and he knew he could ride that wave to greatness. Of course, one day, it would be he whom the others called Big Boss, but until then, hed do what he was told, slowly gaining strength. The recent hunts had only strengthened Eyepokys conviction; theyd even killed a flock of the Kineaters! This last hunt, though The hunt had been going smoothly. Humans were stronger than kin, individually, but they were tired and injured. The Big Boss planned to chip away at them like a hatchling chips away at a bone to get at the sweet marrow. Poke and prod them until they had no power left to fight back. Brilliant. But the humans were tricky as well. Every time one fell behind, they had some last trick to play. Sometimes, it was just a hidden pointy thing. Other times, it was one of the hated traps. One human even blew themselves up! That one had taken out many of his kin, though the Big Boss didnt seem to mind too much. Everything had been going fine until the Big Boss stayed behind to play with some humans while Eyepoky was left in charge of the frontrunners. Theyd chased down the fleeing humans and their moving box for miles, harassing them all the way. The Big Boss had said to keep them alive until he returned; he wanted to see each ones end. That was the simple part; the hard part had been keeping his own kin alive. Without being able to finish the humans, they were picking the kin off one by one with their smelly tricks. Such as the tiny female whod blocked their path while the other humans ran away. Eyepokey had to admit leaving one of their own to act as bait and slow his kin down had been smart. The temptation of such a small, helpless prey had been too much, and before Eyepokey could stop them, several of his kin had launched themselves at the tiny female. That had been a mistake The vines of death that erupted from her chest had skewered his kin, while the rotting miasma they produced blocked their way. The flock had to dive deep to avoid its sickening touch, costing them precious time. By far, though, the worst had been the Demon. It had appeared shortly after the small female, leaping from the humans moving box with one of those sharp, pointy metal bits the human warriors use. The miles of prairie behind them were stained by blood as the Demon cut down kin after kin with a reckless abandon that had scared much of the flock. Not him, of course. He slipped to the back to, uhhhh watch their flank? Ya, that. Worse of all, the thing never stopped screaming the entire time. Eyepoky didnt know what the words meant, but he could at least recognize them as words. After all, he was a smart penguin. Even the last remaining human warrior had seemed shocked at the much smaller Demons ferocity, as it took both it and another human to drag the Demon back into its box. Eyepoky decided that the Big Boss might want to know about the Demon, so he stayed behind far behind the group. The Big Boss was sure to reward him for his forethought and planning. After all, he was a smSPLAT! Woot! That was a big one! Ten points! Alpha cheered, arms raised in triumph, even as the nanites got to work removing the bits of pulped penguin from his treads. The continuous track system built into the TAWPs legs was great for speedy, all-terrain travel, but it accumulated grime and filth much quicker than just walking. Then again, it would accumulate less if he stopped running over penguin bodies. But it seemed whoever they were chasing wasnt as defenseless as Alpha had believed. The group had left an easy-to-follow trail of dead penguins in their wakewell, most were dead, but a few stragglers popped up now and again. Snowball and Alpha had turned it into a game of sorts, even. The whale-puppy popped up from the ground nearby and sprinted alongside the TAWP, chirping angrilyAlpha assumedat him. That one was hers! She saw them first! Alpha was a kill-stealer! Alpha laughed in response. HA! You snooze, you lose! Gotta be quicker than that! I didnt even use a bullet that time! Snowball turned away, and Alpha could have sworn she tsked at him before diving back into the ground. Alpha wasnt sure if the whale-puppy was getting smarter or if he was just getting better at reading the creatures body language, but it pulled another laugh out of him all the same before he turned his attention back to the trail. The [Wasps] scouting ahead had yet to find the group they were pursuing, but the farther they got, the fresher the penguin bodies became. No sign of the giant penguin yet, either, and Alpha wasnt sure if that was a good or bad sign. He doubted the injuries it had sustained from both Alpha and the spatial anomaly made travel easy, but Alpha had stopped underestimating this strange place. Alpha only took the time to slow down when they came across the first human body. The small clearing theyd stumbled on had likely formed over countless years as both man and beast used the area to stop and rest. A dozen small trails radiated outward, marking the various directions the clearings potential occupants might go rather than force themselves through the thick, cumbersome grasses surrounding them. Near the entrance of one such trail, as if blocking the way, lay the small body of a young woman. The soft smile on the womans face almost gave Alpha the impression that she was taking a pleasant nap. Or it would, if not for her gruesome surroundings. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. She clutched a gourd bottle in her hands, and from her chest sprouted a small bush with bright blue flowers and leaves as black as night. The bushs dark purple roots spread for several meters, weaving through flesh and soil. The grass withered and died where the roots spread, while the ground beneath turned gray and lifeless as ash. Two dozen penguin corpses surrounded the girls body, and the roots of the strange bush wiggled and writhed through them like hungry worms. Stranger still, each of the corpses appeared shriveled and decayed, as if theyd been left to rot for weeks rather than what couldnt have been more than a few hours. When Alpha first broke into the clearing, the larger, awake human had leapt from his seat, forcing Alpha to stop. The young man slowly walked closer to the edge of the gray soil, his missing leg replaced with a crude replica made of what appeared to be melted wood, as ridiculous as that sounded. In silence, the three of them stood beside the patch of poisoned earth. A young man, battered and broken, a child separated from the only ones shed ever known, and a giant war machine from beyond the stars. None said a word as they contemplated the story being told here. So lost was he in his own thoughts, Alpha almost missed when the young man slowly raised his hand toward the bush. At first, nothing happened, then slowly, as if swaying on some unseen wind, the surrounding grass bent and stretched toward the bush. As soon as the grass passed through the space above the roots, they began to smoke and shrivel, emitting a foul purple vapor. The young man frowned, but strained his arm further, and the grass pushed forward with renewed strength. Much of it decayed long before reaching the womans body, but a few blades of grass, shielded by those surrounding them, managed to get close. As if they were true blades, the grass sliced upward and cut off one of the womans long, flowing braids. The grass blades then wrapped themselves around the braid and quickly retreated. The young man made his way around the poisoned earth to the patch of grass that had retrieved the braid of hair and stared down at it with a frown. He plucked a long strand of grass and gently poked at the braid, and seeing it come away clean and whole, sighed in relief. He then knelt down, gently wrapped the braid in a length of cloth, and placed it into the pouch at his side before standing and limping his way back to Alpha. Alpha remained silent throughout the process, no words needing to be said, though Snowball gently nuzzled the man as he walked by. The young man smiled down at the small whale-puppy, scratched her behind the ear, and bowed to Alpha. The AI then grabbed hold of the human and lifted him back onto the platform. Thankfully, the TAWP was large enough that it could easily cut through the thick grass, allowing them to continue on the pathway without passing by the bush. He doubted whatever it was could do much to him, but by how both Snowball and the young man avoided it, Alpha didnt want to take the chance that its effects could reach his passengers. For a moment, he contemplated incinerating the remains, but decided against it. The penguins seemed stupid enough that more might try their luck at an easy snack in the future. Who knew? Who was he to deny whoever that had been their last bit of petty vengeance? That was Alphas favorite kind! Shifting his attention from the dead to the living, Alpha checked up on his other passenger. The wounded young man lay at the bottom of the carrier platform, nestled on a bed of bloody penguin pelts. He was doing better than before, but Alpha knew the humans chances were slim, even with the help of the medical nanites and sealing foam. He wasnt a miracle worker, after all. The damage had been severe: his left clavicle was shattered, and his right lung was torn open. While the angle had been just right to miss his heart, several ribs and his sternum were in fragments. Thankfully, the sealing foam not only kept him from bleeding out, but also held the bone fragments in place, keeping them from doing more damage. His liver and left kidney were demolished, though. The nanobots could repair the liver damage easily enough, but the kidney would take a long time to regrow. The biggest issue, however, was the severe lack of blood. Alpha didnt know how the young man hadnt already bled out, but he was still in a critical state. Hed borrowed the larger young mans water flask to replenish their fluids, but it was far from enough. With any luck, the group they were closing in on would have more, or Alpha would have to print an atmospheric collector or filter water from penguin blood. Both were costly and time-consuming projects with little value to him, personally. Hed do it, of course, if for no other reason than to collect on his investment in the medical nanites. But he would only do it as a last resort. The TAWP was only stocked with a small supply of medical nanites, intended for emergency use during joint operations with biological ground forces and support staff, but they were expensive to make, and he could only synthesize more once he set up shop. In a pinch, non-medical nanites could seal a wound or stabilize someone, but that was brute forcing an issue and could cause just as much damage as it could help. They just had to hope they made it in time to rescue the rest of the group, for both parties sake. Ganbaatar was amazed at their progress in catching up with the others. The Lord Protectors ability to slide along the ground made for a far smoother and quicker trip than he had expected. That was great for Yutus condition. Ganaa could tell his friend wasnt out of the woods yet, but the young man looked far more stable than he had only a short while ago. He wasnt sure what the Lord Protector had done. It wasnt like any Spirit healing or Magic spell hed ever seen. It was closer to alchemy than anything not that Ganaa had ever heard of alchemy like this. Alchemy was an esoteric art typically reserved for Grassreaders. The Jadewalkers were famous for the practice, and the human clans skills in alchemy were one reason the Akhlut tolerated the Wandering Cities in their territory, as few Awakened Beasts had such talents. Akhlut were warriors and hunters, not farmers and artisans. The Radiant Sea prairies were rich in natural treasures and Spirit Energy, but that energys chaotic, shifting nature made it extremely unsuitable for typical habitation. The first few times one of the larger sects or clans had tried to establish a foothold, they had been wholly unprepared for the Seas dangers and tribulations. Most had learned their lesson and only set up outposts along the edge. Yet you sometimes heard tales of this or that sect trying to build a fort with predictable results. The Wandering Cities, however, took a different approach. There was no point in fighting against the relentless, ruthless assault of nature. So, instead, they became nomads. Entire cities, thousands of buildings, and hundreds of thousands of people, traveled the prairies on top of specially designed carts. Their secret was in the Seven-Radiance Spirit Grass. This hearty grass dominated the Radiant Sea, thanks to its rapid adaptability to changing Spirit climates. Much like how a navigator could read the patterns in the clouds and waves to ensure safe passage for their ships, Grassreaders could see the ebbs and flows of Spirit Energy by reading the grass. It was an ability that should have been only possible with the most powerful and refined of [Spirit Sight]. Yet the Grassreaders had perfected it into an art. As much as he was interested in the Lord Protectors alchemy, Ganaa knew now wasnt the time to ask questions. Thinking back to the grave they had just left, Ganbaatar clutched the small pouch at his side, though his eyes never left the trail in front of them. When he first saw the bush, he had recognized it instantly as Zolzayas graduation project. His heart had nearly stopped at the sight, and he feared the worst. Part of him was ashamed at the relief hed felt when he realized the corpse under the bush wasnt Zolzaya, but another girl. Ganaa couldnt recall her name, though he knew she and Zolzaya had grown quite close since their group had started preparing for the graduation trip. Zolzaya could sometimes be abrasive, and rarely made friends with girls her age. To see her laughing, smiling, and whispering with the young woman as they traveled during the trip had made him genuinely smile. To see that same young woman in such a state had felt like taking a shard of ice to the heart. Ganaas concern for the rest of the group had instantly doubled. Despite their need to hurry, Ganaa took a moment to collect the young womans braid. Hed often seen the women braiding each others hair during the trip, and he could recognize Zolzayas work. Theyd lost so many after things went wrong. The least he could do for the young woman whose name he didnt know, was bring a small part of her home. For her family for Zolzaya for everyone they had to leave behind. Book 1 - Lesson 22: "Hell Hath no Fury . . . Like a Woman out for Blood" Aaaaarrruhg! Ulagan roared out, slicing another leaping Grassbreaker in two with the blade of his spear. The blood-slick wood nearly slipped from his raw, torn hands at the impact, but he regained control in time to swat another penguin out of the air with his weapon. He looked over his shoulder and called out to the stalled cart. Hurry, will you?! Theyre regrouping! The young male and female Herbalists working on the tangled wheel jerked, but the young woman was the one to respond, her voice tight and cracking. W-were trying, okay?! Myriad Death Tanglevine isnt easy to remove! If we try pulling it off, it could crush the wheel or ignite! Ulagan tsked, but turned around in time to stab another penguin through the eye as it tried to rise through the ground and bite his leg. It figured something else would go wrong today. This trip was supposed to have been his big break, his chance to step into the leadership of Slatewalker and bring honor back to his family name. Instead, ever since theyd seen the Fallen Star, it had been one disaster after another. Theyd slowly been picked off, one by one. Even now, he doubted they would make it back home alive. Still, he had to try. Even if he knew that the situation was beyond him. They were going up against a Beast Lord, and Ulagan might have been a Guardian, but he was no hero. This wasnt a storybook where some gallant knight on an armored steed rode in at the last moment to rescue the fair damsel from the enemy. In real life, more times than not, people simply died. That was the nature of their world. But he was a Guardian: that was his duty, to stand in the gap in front of impossible odds so others didnt have to. If he had to die, hed sure as hell make the enemy work for it, at least. When Yutu and Ganbaatar stayed behind to stall their pursuers, the soldier in Ulagan had thought it was a foolish effort. It should have been a terrible choice to split up their dwindling fighting power under their circumstances. But another part of Ulagan couldnt help but feel proud of them, too. Hed met Ganbaatar before, as the young man was a regular at the Guardian training grounds. He would have made a great Guardian, if not for his poor earth affinity; bad luck, that. Ulagan had only known Yutu for a scant few days, though, and the boy had always struck him as mousy. Not cowardly, per se, but he always seemed nervous and jittery, as if expecting someone to yell at him for some perceived mistake. He wasnt the type Ulagan would have expected to make the choice he had. Few ever found the courage to stand in the gap, knowing they would die so others might have a chance to live. Ulagan marked both young men down in his soul and swore that if he ever made it out of this, he would ensure their story was heard and their song was sung. Much to everyones surprise, Yutu and Ganbaatars sacrifice seemed to pay off. At the very least, their pursuers numbers had dwindled for now. They were still being relentlessly pursued, but the attacks had trickled to a more manageable level. Ulagan even had time to regain some Spirit Energy! Zolzaya though Yutu and Ganbaatars departure had weakened something in the young apprentice Grassreader. She had stood at the back of the cart, watching where the grass had swallowed them, tears streaming down her face and her eyes glassy. The memory of her primal cry of rage and fury, unbecoming of such a tiny woman, nearly an hour later, sent a shiver down Ulagans spine, and he almost missed his next strike. Not long after they lost another of the Herbalists a young woman Ulagan remembered growing close to Zolzaya during their graduation trip something inside the apprentice Grassreader snapped. Shed leapt from the cart, clutching one of the spare Guardian blades, and charged the approaching penguins with reckless abandon. Though she was untrained, Zolzaya had done impressive damage, but Ulagans heart couldnt help but break at the look in her eyes. Hed seen it countless times before, on soldiers overwhelmed and broken by the surrounding horrors or the loss of friends and family. It was the look of someone who no longer cared whether they lived or died, only how many enemies they could take down with them. And like any candle thrown into the bonfire of madness and rage, Zolzaya had quickly faltered. If he and another survivor hadnt restrained her and dragged her back to the cart, she might very well have charged off alone into the grass, blade swinging. Since then, shed huddled herself into a tight ball near Grassreader Kallik and had refused to respond to anyone. With no way of telling how long it would be until the Grassbreakers returned in full force, Ulagan had a hard choice to make. Did they continue on as they were? Could they hope their path would cross a city or a large town? Or did they take this chance to split up in all directions, to confuse the enemy and hope someone managed to slip away and warn someone? Both options had pros and cons, but the choice would ultimately fall to him. That choice was taken from him as a Herbalist on the cart cried out in fear. Ulagans head snapped in that direction, and his blood ran cold. From the direction they had come, a small group of twenty penguins emerged as one from the grass. Ulagan cursed under his breath. It had just clicked that there hadnt been an attack the whole time hed been pondering. The penguins had realized attacking him one at a time like this would get them nowhere and had been building their numbers. With how exhausted he was and so much to consider, it hadnt crossed his mind until it was too late. Now they had enough numbers to overwhelm him in a stationary fight when he would have to protect himself and the still stuck cart. It was a far more devious plan than Grassbreakers should have been capable of. But then, this entire chase had smelled fishy from the very start. Grassbreaker penguins werent this smart. Sure, some of the older flock leaders knew how to strategize, but those were always habits formed by trial and error, not deductive thought. Was this the Beast Lords influence? Or was there more going on that he couldnt see? Ulagan readied himself, wiping the half of his polearm dry on his already soiled jerkin, and took a defensive stance, his spear at the ready as he stood between the penguins and the cart. If he played this right, he could take a few out before they slipped past him and give the herbalists enough time to arm themselves. They couldnt fight an entire pack, but they could defend each other well enough not to be slaughtered immediately. Both groups stood in silent stillness for a long moment, each staring the other down. A sudden gust of wind that rustled the grass broke the standoff. One of the larger penguins cried out and pointed towards Ulagan with a fin. The pack mimicked the cry and charged him. Ulagan braced himself, but before they had traveled more than a few meters, all the Grassbreakers stopped. Each turned and looked off into the distance, heads cocked. The humans stood still, confused, but Ulagan, with his high earth affinity, could sense what the penguins had. He turned and ran toward the cart, yelling as he did. MOVE! Take cover! Somethings coming! The next instant, that something burst from the grass cover at incredible speeds. Ulagan didnt even have time to look at it properly before the massive object was over then through half of the Grassbreaker pack before disappearing back into the tall grass. Several penguins squawked in surprise and dove underground. Those that didnt, spontaneously exploded into gory chunks as thunder echoed through the grass. When all the penguins had either fled the scene or were scraps of meat even the butcher would throw out, the thunder stopped, and the humans were left in shocked silence. Then, from the grass, a massive shadow slowly emerged. Ulagan faced the shadow, polearm raised and ready, though visibly shaking. Just great What now?! A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. When they heard the distant clash of combat, Ganaa almost leapt off again, but instead of slowing down, the Lord Protector sped up. Ganaa could barely stand straight against the buffeting winds as they rushed through the tall grass at blinding speeds. Then, between one blink and the other, they broke into a small clearing. The Lord Protectors frontal carapace and Ganaa was splattered by gore as they plowed through a small pack of Grassbreakers. The Lord Protector came to a sudden stop as they entered the grass on the other side of the clearing, using his momentum to swing back around and stand to his full height. Ganaa was nearly thrown from his perch by the momentum, but stayed standing. From there, he watched the Lord Protectors attacks obliterate the remaining penguins attacks so fast, Ganaa couldnt even perceive them except for the monstrous thunder they produced. Despite the splattering of still-warm gore, Ganaa could feel an icy chill run down his spine at the display of power. After only a moment, the deed was done, and the Grassbreakers in the immediate area were dead or had fled. Then, slowly, the Lord Protector walked back into the clearing like a mighty conqueror come to claim his prize. As Ganaa looked out over the clearing toward the people hed thought he had seen for the last time, he couldnt help but laugh as muscles he didnt even know he had slowly unclenched. He slowly sank to his knees, gripping the edge of his seat, but before he could recover or call out to the group, something else unexpected happened. A primal roar sounded from the cart, and Zolzaya leapt off, charging the Lord Protector with what looked like a Guardian blade. Her face was contorted into a demonic visage hed only ever seen on the otherwise calm and mellow woman once before. It was that day, years ago, as she stood over her wounded father and swore revenge on the Jadewalker scion whod put his blade through the mans chest, all for the crime of denying the arrogant young man Zolzayas hand. Zolzaya crossed the clearing in what seemed like a flash before Ganaa could fully process what was happening. His heart racing, he cried out, Ulagan echoing just a heartbeat later. Zaya, no! Stop! But it was too late. With both hands on the hilt and her full body weight behind it, Zolzaya swung the large blade towards the Lord Protector only for the sword to bounce harmlessly off a cyan energy shield. The Guardian blade was forcefully knocked from Zolzayas hands, and the young woman was thrown back, tumbling several times. She recovered easily enough, rolled to her feet, and prepared to lunge again, the fire in her eyes screaming her intention to bite and claw if she had to. Ganaa was there in an instant and wrapped the woman in a tight hug, despite her struggles. In her blind rage, she even bit into Ganaas shoulder hard enough to draw blood. Ganaa powered through and spoke to her. Zaya! Zaya, snap out of it! Its me! Youre safe! Were safe! Slowly, Zolzayas struggling weakened, and she looked up at Ganaa, eyes wide and wary, as if being startled awake from some dark nightmare. The demonic look shifted to a more familiar, wide-eyed stare, and then her face was a teary mess. The young woman wailed and wrapped her arms around Ganaa, squeezing a mite too hard, as she buried her face into his wide chest, heedless of the blood and penguin bits. After a long moment of not-so-quiet sobbing, Zolzaya pushed him away, though she refused to look up at himas if afraid hed be a hallucination. The two stood in awkward silence before Ganaa placed a hand on her shoulder and spoke softly. Were back, Zaya. Im sorry we left you like that But we At that moment, Zolzayas fist slammed into the side of his jaw. Following the trail of bodies had been easy enough. At least the people they were tracking had put up a decent fight. Not long after discovering the poisoned human remains, the [Wasps] Alpha had sent scouting reported active combat. The live feed showed a small group of humans surrounding a large cart as they fended off a group of attacking penguins. Well, one of them was fending them off, at least. The rest of the group was injured or attempting to free the cart from a tangle of plants. Alpha played with the idea of letting them do just that. The giant penguin was nowhere in sight, and if it was hiding, the ambush might be the best bait to draw him out. He decided against it in the end. While Alpha didnt enjoy leaving such a loose end, there was no guarantee the penguin boss would show. Generating goodwill with the humans was more important for now. Breaking the ambush was easy. A quick show of force and the surrounding penguins hiding in the grass scattered in the wind. That likely meant Alphas choice had been correct; if the giant penguin had planned an ambush, the rest would have acted more cohesively. At the least, they would have distracted Alpha while their boss made its escape. No matter; something told Alpha hed have another shot at the creature soon. What followed was about what he expected from the groups reunion. Biologicals were always leaking one kind of fluid or another. Then the woman had cold-cocked the young man on the jaw, dropping him instantly. Alpha liked this woman! Of course, Alpha had to point and laugh at the young man. The glare he received in return as the man stood on shaky legs needed no translation. Laughter was universal. Still, that seemed to break the floodgate as the others rushed the young man and woman, nearly smothering them. After extricating themselves from the group, the young woman began laying into the man with a tone Alpha was all too familiar with. She even wagged her finger at him! Some things really did transcend space and time. The man raised his hands and tried to defend himself, though not very well. The man glanced at the group, but they all turned away. He even looked at Alpha, pleading in his eyes. Alpha took a step back and pretended to fuss over the dirty Snowball. Yup, he wasnt getting involved in this one; even Alpha wasnt that stupid. Alpha recorded it all, of course. This was a gold mine for his lexicon. It helped that the young man was graphically retelling the story of his rescue, letting Alpha decipher the inferred meaning of several repeated keywords through context alone. The chatter quickly died down when an older woman approached, helped by another group member. She looked healthy, given she seemed to have lost both an arm and a leg during the chase, if the bandages wrapped around the fresh stumps said anything. The group parted ways, and the older woman approached the young man. The young man bowed to the woman and spoke, but the woman only waved him off. Though, Alpha noted how her face and brow crinkled as she looked over his injuries. Her eyes lingered on his missing foot and how the young man limped slightly, the crude wooden prosthetic having been a rushed project. Ultimately, she didnt comment, only sighed and shook her head. She asked a question, and the group behind her muttered. The young man stood straight, then turned to Alpha, bowing to him as well, before leaping up onto his back. With gentle hands, he lifted the other man into his arms and jumped back down. As he approached, there was an audible gasp from the group, and the young woman whod attacked Alpha broke into sobbing tears. The unconscious man was laid on the ground at the older womans feet, and she sat down beside him, both the young man and woman from before gently lowering her to the ground. A sharp shout sent one of the group running off toward the cart while the older woman examined the man on the ground and the other one spoke. A large leather bag passed through the group once the shuttle-bus returned and made its way to the older woman. She dug through the bag, pulling out several items. Given their primitive clothes and weapons, Alpha had half expected to see bone tools and stone knives. Instead, what the older woman pulled from the bag was a finely crafted set of metal surgical tools that wouldnt have looked out of place in any Federation field kit. While Federation medical technology was some of the most advanced in the galaxy, it wasnt as if soldiers could bring recovery pods into the field with them. Nor was it wise to waste medical nanites on wounds that could be easily dealt with in the short term with simple sutures and sealing foam. Thus, such basic field kits have changed little over the tens of thousands of years since the First Federation. The older woman paused, then looked up at Alpha as if asking a question. Alpha didnt know what was asked, but he could infer based on the context and her hand gesturing toward the sealed wound. He queried the medical nanites and found they were still hard at work, but the man was stable enough. Alpha waved the question off with a flick of his hand. The older woman nodded and called other the young woman, then pulled out a thin knife from the pile of tools. Alpha watched in amazement as the young woman produced an open flame on top of her hand. With a few quick swipes through the fire, the blade was sterilized, and the older woman cut both the clothes and hardened sealing foam from the mans chest. Once the wound was exposed, the group marveled at both its severity and cleanliness. Alpha knew the nanites wouldnt let it fester, but the humans were likely surprised. The old woman began digging at the sealing foam. Alpha raised a hand before she could remove too much and called out. Wait! Though the meaning of the word was lost to the older woman, the tone in Alphas voice made her pause and stare up at him, a brow raised. The foam was designed as a material for the nanites to use and would be absorbed by the body over time; removing more would cause issues. It took a bit of charades, but Alpha eventually got his meaning across. The woman frowned at him, nodded, then pulled out several marble-sized pills instead. With practiced hands, she added them to a mortar with some water and ground them into a thick paste. After flushing the site with more water, she applied the paste to the wound and wrapped the mans chest in clean bandages. Next, she ground a different-looking pill and, with help from her assistant, force-fed the medicinal concoction to the young man. He choked and sputtered, but got it down with some help. Alpha wasn''t sure what any of it was for, but anything the medicine did the nanites didn''t have to, and it would only result in a faster recovery. Now, the only thing Alpha had to figure out was how to actually talk to these people Book 1 - Lesson 23: "Teachers Don’t Get Paid Enough…" Zolzaya was not having a pleasant day. It had started with an argument between her parents just before the start of the hunting trip. Her mother had always been protective of her, even if for the wrong reasons. Her mother loved Zolzaya in her own way, but to her, her daughters goal should have been finding a nice Jadewalker husband. To her mother, Zolzaya had the responsibility of uplifting herself and the rest of the village. Her father, in contrast, fully supported Zolzayas plan of becoming a Grassreader. Many people in the village assumed her father was a dullard, being slow to speak and always putting up with her mothers more aggravating traits. But Zolzaya, and those who cared to pay attention, knew the truth. Her father might have been a quiet man, who rarely angered and never argued, but his mind was as sharp as a spear. If Yutus parents were the life of the village, always smiling and trying to cheer others up, Zolzayas father was its ears. More than once, shed found him on guard duty near the gate, listening as some villager or another endlessly complained about one issue or another. Sometimes it was a serious problem that needed addressing. More often than not, it was just someone venting their frustration to someone they felt wouldnt complain. Her father would nod, listening as he watched the prairies pass by. Zolzaya always suspected her father was who shed gotten her gift from, even if it manifested even weaker in him than in her. After all, Zolzaya was the only Esper in the Slatewalker Village, no matter how minor her ability was. More specifically, Zolzaya was what the examiner called an Empath-type. She could naturally read a persons nature and intent just by being in their presence. Of course, only a few people in the village knew; not even her two closest friends, Yutu and Ganbaatar, knew. Young Zolzaya had learned quickly that people didnt like being called out, and their responses could get heated. Maybe that was why her father was such a quiet man? That being said, her gift made her a near-perfect Grassreader. Shed taken to the secret art of the Wandering Cities like a natural. Spirit Energy was said to have a will all its own, after all. It had been that same ability that had drawn her to Yutu and Ganbaatar, too. Yutu, for all his awkward shyness and self-deprecating habits, had one of the kindest and gentlest souls shed ever seen. It could never be said he wasnt his parents child. Part of her wanted to protect that kindness from the harsh reality of the world, but her efforts to shelter him had only caused the man to withdraw further. Ganbaatar, Ganaa he was a rough man, filled with desire, both to prove himself and to be recognized. But he was honest to a fault and wore his heart on his sleeve. She doubted shed even need her ability to read the man. He could be stubborn as a mule, but Zolzaya knew Ganaa was the man you wanted at your back when the chips were down. Theyd grown up together, trained together. They were supposed to have grown old together, supporting each other like pillars and working together to uplift their home. Then the Beast Lord appeared. In an instant, everything Zolzaya had worked towards was washed away by the cruel nature of their world. It took friends, both those shed trained with for months and those shed met only on that trip. Then it took Yutu and Ganbaatar. Something inside Zolzaya had broken at that moment. She didnt have a name for it, but as the remnants of her joy inside her burned, shed raged. Shed lashed out with blinding, all-consuming fury at anything remotely hostile. Zolzaya wasnt a trained combatant, not by far. Shed sparred with Ganaa some, but a Grassreaders skills were more esoteric than physical. But with her blade in hand, shed moved like a storm, letting her gift guide her. It told her when the enemy was coming, where and when to strike. Every thought and action of the enemy was laid bare before her. She could feel her gift rebel against her, though. It wasnt that kind of power; it wasnt meant for killing and slaughter, and it fought her every step. Though it was only after the fact she even noticed, so utterly consumed as she was. Only after the others dragged her back to the cart, had the flames die. All that fire had been replaced with cold, dead ash. She felt empty and, for the first time since shed awakened her gift, so very alone. She couldnt even muster the energy for tears, not anymore. But she knew that spark was still there, buried deep under the ash; it just needed a new fuel source to reignite. The Lord Protector as the others had called it appeared. Zolzayas gift had screamed at her to run the moment it appeared. Shed felt nothing like it before. When it approached, Zolzaya shivered involuntarily; she could feel this creatures she didnt even know what to call it. It had been looking for them, that she could tell. But it wasnt hunting them; they werent prey or even friends. No, the creature had sought them out with a strange, cold detachment that reminded her of watching the Alchemists pick the right herbs. The creature wasnt looking at them like food or a curiosity. Hell, it barely saw them as people. They were tools. There was no argument to be held, no choice for them. They were tools to be used for their purpose and, if necessary, discarded. At that thought, the small spark ignited again. How dare it?! What right did this creature have to appear out of nowhere and demand to use them? Did they not deserve a moment of peace? Time to grieve? Or did the world get some sick amusement from watching them suffer and struggle? Was all this just some game for some higher power, while those she loved and cared for died fighting?! She refused! Zolzaya didnt care who or what this creature was, where it came from, or what it wanted. She wouldnt run or bow anymore. Not to it, not to the Beast Lord, not to her mother, and not to this cruel, uncaring world. With that thought like a raging inferno in her mind, shed lept from the cart again and struck out at the creature. It was a foolish, pointless thing to do, she knew. But if she was going to die, shed die making her own choices and with a blade in hand. Then a miracle happened. Rather than the inevitable blow that would end her life, warm, familiar arms enveloped her, and a voice she thought shed never hear again called out to her. Zolzayas fury was buried in the warm hug like a raging wildfire smothered by fresh spring rain. When she could see through the tears, she looked up at Ganaa, wondering if the creature had killed her without her even realizing it. How else could her lost friend be here in front of her? Reality soon asserted itself, though, as the rest of the survivors rushed the pair. Despite the tears, the fire in her heart still burned, unwilling to die so quickly. The young man pulled himself free of her death grip, intent on giving whatever asinine reason he had for abandoning her like that. She wasnt hearing it, though, and she did the only reasonable thing in the situation. Her father always said she had a mean right hook This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Grassreader Kallik leaned up against the side of the cart and sighed. Im getting too old for this Ulagan on his knees at that moment, working with two others to make hasty repairs to the cart looked up at her and raised an eyebrow. Arent you only 120 years old? [Silver Spirit] Cultivators have a minimal life span of 300 years. Youre not even middle-aged by that standard, he said, returning to his work. Kallik furrowed her brow and glared down at him. If she wasnt missing an arm, she would have reached down and smacked him upside his head. Slatewalker kids and their mouths Kallik pointedly chose to ignore the fact that during her generation, she was well known among the village as the youngster with the fiercest temper and sharpest tongue. Instead, she glared even more down at the young Guardian and furrowed her brow. Bah! You sound like my own teacher! Just wait until youre my age, Mr. 35-year-old [Bronze Spirit]. My joints have been popping in the morning since before you were born! she shot back. Despite her sharp tone, both knew her words had no real venom. Just as both knew that Ulagan would likely never suffer the same ailments of old age as she did. After all, unlike herself, who had advanced into [Silver Spirit] later in life, Ulagan was a prodigy, having advanced to [Bronze Spirit] the step below her own at only 30 years of age. Where she had the mature, if somewhat weathered appearance of a mortal woman in her forties, Ulagan, even five years after his advancement, still looked like he was in his early twenties and would look so well past her age. Ulagan wasnt the only prodigy in this batch of apprentices, either. Her gaze drifted from the young Guardian to the group gathered around Ganbaatar as the man narrated the events of their rescue, the story becoming more grand and suspenseful with each retelling. Ulagan noticed her gaze and sighed. Its a right shame that the boys affinities are so poorly suited for Guardian life. We could have used someone like him. It feels like every year, the new recruits from the academy become more bullheaded and less skilled. Kallik gave a good-natured humph and rolled her eyes. The young Guardian might have been the youngest Senior Guardian candidate in generations, but he was only a decade out of the academy himself. A shame indeed. A decent metal and a powerful wood affinity a combination that some would kill to have for themselves Yet not the tiniest bit of earth affinity. Kallik shook her head and continued, If nothing else, hed make a good Adventurer. Might even be whats best for him in the long run. It was Ulagans turn to scoff. Adventurers. Locusts, more like it. It happens every time: some fools wander into the prairies, thinking they can pluck treasures off the ground. All they do is make our patrols harder when we inevitably have to rescue their sorry hides. Then there are the ones who seem to think its easier just to rob the hard-working gatherers. Or if its not them, then the ones who strip the land of everything not tied down, with no care for the proper order of things. The sects and clans on the border are bad enough, but at least they know how to not damage the prairies. Kallik laughed and adjusted her weight so as not to agitate her wounds. Hey now, youre forgetting I used to be one of those locusts in my youth. Ulagan blushed and turned away. Kallik smirked and continued. I understand what you mean, though. Adventurers can be a mixed bag, even in the best of times. You meet all sorts out there, beyond the grass. Even so, it would be a good chance for him to spread his wings. See the world. Grow in a place not so stifling. Kallik turned her gaze away from the story session and toward the back of the cart, where a young woman knelt beside her oathbrother. The young man was dressed in fresh bandages, and he looked slightly less pale than before, thanks to the medication shed given him. When Kallik next spoke, her voice was soft. Maybe, in another timeline, those three could have gone together. Three Slatewalker kids off on their own adventure. I would have liked to hear their stories Ulagan grimaced, What? First, you send off the boy, and now you want to deprive Slatewalker of its best young Grassreader, too? As for Yutu, Ill admit he surprised me with his resolve before, but I dont think hes got the heart for the outside world. Besides, you talk like theyd even bother coming back. Kallik raised a brow and grinned. Oh? You only say that because you dont have the eye for arrays to appreciate the boys work. You meatheads are all the same. The Grassreaders grin turned into a laugh at the Guardians glare. And yes, I believe they would return, in time. Home has a way of drawing you back. This place more than most, I would reckon, she continued. Shed been one of the teachers of Slatewalker village going on for sixty years now. A few of the newly graduated apprentices would strike out for richer fields every year. Be that in a larger village, one of the Wandering Cities, or even the outside world. Yet, without fail, most eventually made their way home, one way or another. Kallik never questioned those wandering souls who wished to see more beyond the village theyd known for all their lives. After all, shed been one as well, once upon a time. No, it was the ones who never made it back home that always pained her the most. Each time they got some ill news, she wondered if such a tragedy could have been prevented had she just been a better teacher. The conversation lapsed into silence. Do you think hell make it? Ulagan asked after a moment, his voice almost a whisper. Kallik frowned. In any other situation, I would say no. The boys bones werent just cut; they were shattered, while his kidneys and liver have all but been destroyed. Yutu is only an early [Stone Body] Cultivator: with this kind of damage, he would need a powerful healer practically right next to him to stand any real chance And yet?... Ulagan asked, hearing the unspoken doubt in her words. Kallik sighed and continued, And yet hes stable. Im not sure what this Lord Protector did, nor what strange material they used to close Yutus wounds, but the boy isnt getting worse for now, at least. The Iron-rank [Blood Replenishing Pill] and the [Seven Grass Regeneration Balm] have also helped, but theyre not meant for this kind of injury. He needs surgery, but But we cant do that in the middle of the prairies while being hunted. Ulagan finished for her. Kallik sadly nodded. After another brief pause, Ulagan spoke again. What of this Lord Protector? I wouldnt expect Ganbaatar or any of the other kids to see anything too strange, but Im familiar with the Akhlut well enough that I know they wouldnt just let a pup wander the prairies alone. Not one so young, and not under the apparent care of some unknown spirit beast. Kalliks frown deepened, and she turned to look at the strange, giant metal beetle creature Ganbaatar claimed had saved them all. Unknown was speaking lightly. As a Grassreader, Kallik had knowledge of every spirit beast who called the prairies home, and as a former Adventurer, Kallik was far more familiar with the various spirit beasts outside the prairies as well. Yet, in all her years, she had never heard of anything quite like this creature. Strange, as just its size alone would have made it a thing of nightmares wherever it wandered. The bloody thing was literally bigger than a house cart! So then, where had it come from? Yes I think its about time we found out, isnt it? Though before that, let us speak to young Ganbaatar once more and make sure were not missing anything important. Ulagan, be a dear and carry an old woman to meet our guest? Kallik called. Ulagan sighed, and set his tools down, then stood. In one sweeping motion, the large Guardian picked up the crippled Grassreader, and the pair made their way toward the gathering and the large spirit beast watching idly nearby. As they drew closer, the rowdy crowd of survivors quieted and parted ways. Once Ulagan was in front of Ganbaatar and the Lord Protector, he gently placed Kallik down so that she could address them on her own feet. Eh foot Leaning on Ulagan for support, Kallik smoothed out her Grassreader robes and stood straight, trying to project an air of authority as well as hide her slight blush at having to be carried like a child. Kallik coughed into her hand, but before she could speak, the ground between her and the metal spirit beast bulged. The Grassreaders eyes went wide, and she nearly fell as the head of a Grassbreaker Penguin pushed itself out of the ground. Several in the group cried out in warning while Ulagan moved to intercept the creature, though the next instant proved their worry unfounded. After all, the creature was quite dead, as were most creatures that found their necks between the jaws of a large Akhlut pup, such as the one that pushed itself out of the ground after the penguins corpse. Intellectually, Kallik knew the Akhlut were intelligent, and this one in particular was still very young. Yet, looking into the golden eyes of a predator mere inches away, Kallik found herself lost for words. She could only stare, her mouth gaping like a fish. Then, in an instant, the predator was gone, and the large, wolf-sized creature was replaced by an energetic puppy. The Akhlut pup dropped the penguin at her feet and panted, their fluke wagging with enough force that their lower legs shook with the motion. The young pup then gave a sharp, yipping click-bark and nudged the still bloody and slightly gnawed corpse closer. Kallik paused and closed her mouth. She looked down at the former penguin, then back up at the young pup. The Grassreader could have sworn the pups eyes sparkled, and their wagging intensified If such a thing were possible as she met its gaze. Kallik felt her shoulders sag and signed a sigh she could feel in her bones before reaching up to pinch the bridge of her nose. I dont get paid enough for this Book 1 - Lesson 24: "Misunderstandings can be both help and hinder" Kallik, Ulagan, and Ganbaatar stood in a small circle as Ganaa repeated his story of how he and Yutu had been rescued by the Lord Protector. At Kalliks request, no detail was left out. Ganaa lay everything bare; Yutus rush to finish his array, Ganaas struggle to defend them against the hoard, and even his own failings against the Beast Lords progeny as ashamed as he was about it. He might have taken some creative flairs in his storytelling with the other apprentices, but with Grassreader Kallik and their last remaining Guardian, Ganaa knew he couldnt afford to miss even the smallest piece of information. The Beast Lord was still out there, after all. The mention of Yutus array, in particular, drew a smile from Kallik. She turned to Ulagan and smirked. The Guardian only sighed in response. The young Trapper paused, his thoughts turning to Yutu. Ganaas sometimes-friend-sometimes-rival had yet to awake, but even with Ganaas limited medical knowledge, he could tell Yutu was doing better. Even so, his gaze subconsciously drifted to the cart, and he felt a small pinch in his heart. Zolzaya sat beside Yutus still form, humming a soft tune while she changed Yutus bandages. It wasnt like he was jealous Okay, maybe a little But that was to be expected. After all, Zaya and Yutu were Oathbound. No one could remember how the oaths started, yet they had been an inseparable part of the Wandering Cities culture for longer than anyone living could remember, even before coming to the Radiant Sea. The oath wasnt some frivolous thing; it was a seal upon the soul and bound two people closer than blood. Some cities even considered an oath as binding as a marriage, and oaths between large clans and families were important to gaining alliesthough oathtakers seldom married their bound one. That was typically frowned on for several reasons. The oaths even came with several benefits to both parties. An oathtaker could always tell where their bond was, within a certain distance, and their Cultivation could even help prop each other up. Some of the deeper bonds could feel what the other was feeling or thinking in some vague way. Though they had been young, Ganaas heart had nearly broken when hed heard Zaya and Yutu would take the oath. He knew even if he ever won Zolzayas heart, he could never encroach on the bond she and Yutu shared. In retrospect, he should have seen it coming. Zaya had always been like an older sister to the timid young man. She was always the first to encourage him and the first to defend him against the naysayers. Ganaa himself never would have noticed Yutus enormous talent had it not been for his own interest in Zolzaya. Shed been the first to see the diamond in the sand. All he could do was accept their oath and try to ensure their own bond was just as strong and important, even if it wasnt sealed with literal soul Magic. Ulagans voice broke Ganaa from his ruminations and brought him back to the present. The stoic Guardian was a man of few words, but Ganaa had learned to listen when he spoke. So what are our options, then? The prairies are still infested with the Beast Lords horde, even if theyre scattered. Do we go deeper, hope we cross paths with one of the larger cities, and pray they can spread the word? Or could we head for the edges and try to contact the sects? Ganaa furrowed his brow. Why was he asking him? Ganna was just an apprentice Trapper. With his missing leg, he couldnt even help defend the caravan as well as he had before. Nonetheless, seeing Ulagans expecting eyes on him, the young man paused and gave the question some serious thought. Hoping to find a city was a gamble, even if most were heading to one of the various Earth Shrines scattered around the Radiant Sea to prepare for the Abditus Apex month. If they missed them or encountered a village or small town that couldnt fight off the Beast Lord, they could kill hundreds by mistake. The sects were just as much of a gamble, if in a different way Due to the chaotic nature of the Spirit Energy in the Radiant Sea, the power of higher-level Cultivators and Mages was greatly suppressed. But that same chaos gave rise to powerful and valuable treasures rarely found elsewhere. Thus, the sects surrounding the Radiant Sea often used the prairies as training and hunting grounds for their most promising disciples. This naturally created some tension between sects and the Wandering Cities. Relations were civil on the surface, with plenty of trade and even some natives joining this or that sect. That said, most of the sects wouldnt hesitate to wring the Cities dry of everything they had if given a chance. If the caravan survivors went running to a sect, they might find help, but they might also be ignored, causing them to waste time looking for someone else. At worst, they might be ransomed or be offered help at rates that would bankrupt the village. Neither option was perfect, though Ganaa was leaning towards the latter. While they couldnt ask the Lord Protector to help more than he already had, his mere presence might make the sects think twice about trying to cheat them. If nothing else, having the Akhlut pup with them would add weight to their words. Why such a young pup was away from their pod would definitely raise questions, though. Some for the better and some for the worse. Ganaa felt somewhat ashamed of using his saviors in such a way, but there was far more at risk here than his pride and honor. Hed do so even if he had to kowtow for 100 days at their feet to get them to agree. Kallik shook her head. Neither. We make our way to the Earth Shrine. As she spoke, her eyes drifted toward the Lord Protector and the Akhlut pup. Ulagan and Ganbaatar jumped, eyes wide as they tried to argue. But maam! Grassreader, we cant! Kallik cut them both off with a raised hand before speaking. I know your concerns. If we head towards the Earth Shrine in the middle of convergence, we risk dragging far more people into our conflict with Kusanagi, but we dont have many options. If the Beast Lords injuries are as severe as Ganbaatar has said, hes unlikely to attack again in the short term. The sects are an option, but She glanced at Ganaa, who turned his face away before continuing. . theyll be preparing for the Darkest Night as well. Its unlikely they have the time or will to help in any meaningful way. Her gaze turned to the mysterious spirit beast playing fetch with the Akhlut pup like it was a common hound. With the Lord Protectors help, we should be able to make it or at least catch up to the village in time. Such a large gathering should strongly dissuade the Beast Lord from further attacks, at least until the end of Abditus, when the Cities split again. There is also one more reason for heading toward the Earth Shrine Ulagan followed her gaze, his eyes narrowing as he asked: You think the Akhlut will show? The Jadewalkers Earth Shrine isnt the largest or strongest. Id think theyd much prefer their own. Kallik nodded. The Earth Shrines were among the few safe places in the Radiant Sea during the Darkest Night. Most spirit beasts preferred to hibernate deep underground, but the Akhlut, devoted followers of the Earth Prima that they were, were said to have constructed the shrines as places of safety and gathering to wait out the longest, coldest night of the year. The Akhlut rarely visited the shrines the Cities were allowed to use, as the shields around their own were far superior. I do. Kallik answered, her voice firm. The Akhlut are extremely protective of their young, more so the unawakened. To see one uncompanioned there are few scenarios I can imagine that would lead to such a thing. Theyll likely have someone at every shrine, listening for any clues. They most certainly wouldnt allow an unknown entity to guard one of their young, no matter how powerful the protector appeared. Ulagan shifted his eyes from the pup to the Lord Protector. His frown deepened as he asked: You dont think Kallik shook her head. No. Not likely. While its hard to imagine a threat, inside the prairies or out, that could threaten an Akhlut hunting party, if our savior was the culprit, its unlikely the young pup would be so amenable to its presence if it had. She has not fully Awakened, but the child is close. They are likely only a few months from maturing. Given Ganaas description of events and the pups behavior, I feel theres a far more likely culprit. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. It was Ganaas turn to frown, and his hands clenched tight, shaking as he did. Kusanagi Kallik nodded. Correct. That would also suggest the Beast Lord has become far more powerful and dangerous than the last time he appeared. Regardless of the risk, the Akhlut and the Wandering Cities must be informed of his return. I cant say how the Lord Protector plays into all of this, but my guess is that the creature isnt native to the prairies. It likely stumbled upon the pup after wandering into the Radiant Sea. I cant say why it helped her or you but sometimes fate is strange like that. Surely you both have realized it by now? Ulagan stared, deep in thought, before speaking. Its clearly Awakened. The level of intelligence and skill its shown are beyond what youd expect from just a smart spirit beast. Yet not once has it introduced itself or communicated in anything but gestures. And the way it constantly examines things, as if seeing them for the first time. Nor have I ever heard of any spirit beast even remotely similar to this form, even in the surrounding lands. Given all that, plus its prodigious strength could it be a Kallik nodded, grinning ear to ear. Yes. I believe we may have stumbled on a new Progenitor. Elder Yu Xiurong, Elder of the Origin Sects developmental branch, did her best to suppress the slight shaking of her hand as she sipped on the fragrant [Icebane Tea]. Some might have seen the use of such a valuable cultivation resource as a waste, but its soothing warmth flooded her spirit and did much to ease the tension in the field tent where they were holding this meeting. Normally, the tent would be packed full of Disciples and other sect members, and they organized the various parts of their current expedition to gather the star shards. Currently, only she, Elder Song, their guest, and a lone servant occupied the large tent. The man across the table set down his cup and nodded in approval. The attending servant almost sighed in relief but caught himself. It was understandable; if even Xiurong, a Flood Dragon [Soul Fusion] Cultivator, and more than halfway through the greater [Earthly Transcendent] realm, was feeling the pressure, it had to be much worse on the weaker servants. Not that the man across from her was stronger than her. In fact, he was several steps weaker, being only at the upper end of [Shackle Breaking]. Not that such a thing mattered in this place or to these people. The man sighed, then leaned back, smiling as he ran his fingers through the long, distinctive black and white hair. Xiurong involuntary shuddered, and only the gentle tap of Elder Songs foot on her own calmed her down. She knew the man across from the table was playing with her. It was all part of the power game between factions. Yet Xiurong could still feel the mans bloodline nature poking and prodding at her for weakness. After all, his people were rumored to descend from the only known race to naturally prey on Dragons not that they didnt return the favor just as often. Even if they were both little more than lesser sub-species of those great Beasts, the echo of that relationship could call from their blood at times. The man sat straight and lowered his gaze to the two Elders across from him before speaking cheerfully. Thank you for the tea! Im always impressed by the quality the Origin Sect can source. Its so very hard to find anything worthwhile to drink in the prairies. The Radiant Sea might be a treasure trove, but the more fragile spirit plants like teas dont do well here. Elder Song smiled back, though neither mans eyes held any genuine warmth as he responded. Of course! Only the best for our esteemed hosts. Think of it as an apology, Huntmaster Tuguslar, for the misunderstanding. I grew this blend myself. Ill be sure you leave with a fresh block. Elder Song nodded to the tense young servant. The young man darted out the tent door, eager to fulfill the unspoken request and escape the Huntmasters lingering gaze. When the tent flap closed, a small array drawn on its surface activated, and all sound from outside the tent vanished. The privacy ward wouldnt stop stronger individuals from listening in, but it would at least alert the occupants if an attempt was made. Tuguslar smiled and turned his attention to the small box before him. He pulled out a small shard of black glass, meticulously cut to emphasize the swirling lights deep within. He stared at it for a silent moment before placing it back in the box. Beautiful, arent they? Ill be sure to let the tribe and the Earth Temple know who gifted them such exquisite treasures. Elder Xiurong mentally tsked. Sure he would. And, of course, hed be sure to tell them how so very difficult it had been. Of all the people the Akhlut could send to them, why did it have to be this man? Xiurong could only shove down her grievances as the man continued. Its a shame you lost the Fallen Star itself, though. Were it not for the current situation, Im sure we could have lots of fun competing to see who could track the thief down first. Such healthy competition is always good for the young ones. The mans smile grew far wider than should have been possible, showing off rows of razor-sharp teeth. Such a display was intentional, of course. The Akhlut were one of the few powers that could operate freely inside the Radiant Sea, and some more predatory individuals like to remind others of that fact. After all, not only were the Akhlut talented Cultivators in their own right, but every single one was also a powerful Esper. More specifically, they had a natural talent for shape-shifting that put most other chimeric races to shame. While they always kept the distinctive black and white markings of their natural form, a mature Akhlut warrior was a force to be reckoned with that could regularly go toe to toe with beings several smaller steps above them. Some could even fight those of greater steps and come out even. She had once witnessed a single [Silver Spirit] Akhlut hunter duel a [Golden Spirit] Adventurer who thought they could easily steal the Akhluts prey. The hunter actually put the Adventurer on edge. When the Adventurers intentions became less than honorable, the Akhluts entire hunting party jumped the Adventurer and chased them away. And that had been outside the Radiant Sea. If the same fight had occurred in the prairies where outsides are naturally suppressed things wouldnt have ended so well for the Adventurer. Despite the vast wealth found in the Radiant Sea, there had yet to be a serious challenge to the Akhluts claim in centuries, for good reason. Elder Xiurong frowned, though she kept her voice calm. If the Akhlut arent here for the Fallen Star, why have you come? Tuguslars smile dropped, though there was still a playful, teasing tone in his voice that grated at Xiurongs nerves. He nodded and wagged a finger. Ah! Now thats the question, isnt it? Unfortunately, I have come bearing some terrible news. High Priestess Metis and the rest of her party... were found murdered only recently. A loud crack echoed through the small room as the arm of the chair Elder Xiurong had been grasping shattered into fragments. Her brow furrowed, and her lips twitched as she tried to speak, but no words came out. Only Elder Songs gentle hand on her own brought her back out of the swirling storm that had erupted in her mind. In an instant, the chaos on her face receded, and her expression went still, like the calm surface of a lake. Xiurong didnt miss the sparkle in the hateful mans eyes as Elder Song turned to him to speak. I am sorry to hear that. We greatly enjoyed High Priestess Metis visits and appreciated her efforts at brokering the agreements between the Origin Sect and the Akhlut. Though Im curious why this news merits your personal visit, Huntsmaster. You cant think we had something to do with this tragedy? Tuguslar leaned back in his chair and shrugged. Ill admit, some of the more conservative tribe members have brought up the idea Xiurong shot to her feet, her Spirit Energy swirling in dark patterns, no longer bothering to hide her fury. Metis had been maybe not a friend not quite yet but Xiurong had spent days, weeks even with the woman, as they discussed various topics. The Priestess had been kind and patient in a way few could afford to be in this cold, hard world. Shed been one of the few people Xiurong felt she might one day call a genuine friend. To insinuate that Tuguslar held up a hand, his own Spirit Energy clashing against her own. Now now, no need for that. I said theyve brought up that idea. None are taking the possibility seriously yet. Elder Song pulled Xiurong down and wedged his own Spirit Energy between the two clashing forces. Neither had missed the implied threat in the Huntmasters words. Elder Song asked: So why would the Akhlut come to us? The High Priestess was on her way to visit your compound when her [Soul Flame] was extinguished. Very close, in fact to where the Fallen Star fell. Tuguslar answered with a sigh. Elder Song and Xiurong leaned back, wide-eyed. After a moment, Elder Song whispered, Do the Akhlut think that the Star thief had something to do with the murder? Tuguslar leaned forward, his eyes hard and voice serious for the first time since the meeting started. Thats the prevailing theory. Fallen Stars are always powerful and dangerous, whatever form they take. It would make sense that some lucky fool decided they wanted to test their new toy. That being said, theres a more serious issue. Elder Song raised a brow. What could be more serious than a rogue psychopath with a dangerous weapon? Tuguslar continued: The High Priestesss daughter was with her at the time and the child has gone missing. Xiurong slumped in her chair, her heart sinking at the thought of the mischievous, happy pup that had accompanied her mother during most of their visits. She couldnt even be angry at the adorable thing, even when shed chewed one of Xiurongs most expensive robes to shreds itself an impressive feat, given it had been rated for those in the [Earthly Transcendent] realm. Elder Songs frown deepened as he asked: Was she Tuguslar shook his head. No. Her soul flame still burns. Something is interfering with the tracking seal, though. Were not sure if shes wandering alone or. He let the sentence hang in the air. Elder Song sighed. Great, so not only were they looking at a murder, but a potential hostage situation as well. Before either Elder could say anything more, Tuguslar stood and clapped his hands. All the gravitas had left when he spoke, and the cheery voice returned. Well now! Thats all I had to report! The Akhlut would appreciate it if the Origin Sect cooperated with our investigation. Im sure it will go a long way toward ensuring our mutual relationship remains friendly for many years to come. With that, he downed the rest of his tea and made his way to the door. The door shut behind him with a silent thud, leaving the two Elders in silent contemplation. After a long moment, Xiurong took a deep, ragged breath, then fell into Wu Songs arms, her tears flowing freely. Wu Song said nothing, only held the young woman tight and stared toward something beyond the rooms walls. As he did, his eyes grew firm, and his grip tightened. Book 1 - Lesson 25: "Taxi Services Cost Extra." Ganaa stood, eyes wide and mouth agape. Grassreader a Progenitor? Are are you certain? Thats Kallik shook her head, though her smile never faltered. No. I cant say for certain. Ive only heard the same tales you have, but the pieces line up. Its roughly the right time, as well. The stories always say that Progenitors are likelier to appear during the Apex months but if the stories are true Kallik let the statement hang in the air. A Progenitor a real, living Progenitor! Ganaa felt something well up in his chest, something he couldnt quite place, but it exited his mouth as a laugh. Ulagan only gave a light chuckle and shook his head. If the Lord Protector really was a Progenitor, that could change everything. Spirit beasts were broken into three broad categories. The first were the minor beasts. These were creatures like the Root Gophers, Horned Hares, and Windcaller Sparrows. They were only a step above common animals with only a small amount of Spirit Energy. They rarely formed a beast core and seldom grew more powerful than [Wood Body]. The second were the so-called common spirit beasts. This was by far the broadest category and included everything from Grassbreaker Penguins near the bottom to powerful creatures like Grand Elk and Mountainspiraling Amphiptere. They could be big or small, weak or strong, as stupid as a rock, or intelligent and crafty. Each could grow to astounding heights of power, given time and luck, but at the end of the day, they were just beasts. Last were the Awakened spirit beasts, or simply the Awakened, as many liked to be called. The Awakened were just as numerous and almost as diverse as the common spirit beasts, but with one defining difference: upon maturing, the Awakened always become fully sapient. In most places, the Awakened were treated as no different from any other civilized race, and many tribes held great power worldwide. The United Tribes a collection of unified Awakened Tribes and one of the Five Great Pillars of the Skybreaker Continent were the perfect example. And every single Awakened Tribe originated from some ancient Progenitor. No one was quite sure what made a creature a Progenitor. Not even the oldest Awakened Tribes could say for sure. But stories of the Progenitors and their rise to power were almost as legendary as those of the Fallen Stars. Some claimed that any common spirit beast could become a Progenitor, that all it took was the right level of power and the right fortuitous encounters to break through some unknown barrier separating the powerful from the truly sapient spirit beasts. But despite countless attempts through the ages, none had ever successfully created an artificial Progenitor. As far as anyone could tell, mysterious spirit beasts no one had ever seen or heard of creatures of unusual intelligence and unimaginable power would appear out of nowhere one day. These creatures would dominate their surroundings with this vast power and bring untold changes wherever they appeared. In time, they would give rise to a new Awakened Tribe and a new power, forever leaving their mark on the world. The rise of every Progenitor was well documented by their corresponding tribes, and they were often revered more like deities than ancestors. More important for the Slatewalkers, every recorded Progenitors story spoke of those whod helped the Progenitor along their Path to Power and reaped untold rewards. Many of the most powerful and influential clans and sects only rose to the heights they had because they had stood beside a Progenitor during its early years. Even the Wandering Cities ancient ancestors had stood beside the Progenitor of the Akhlut long before theyd ever stepped foot in the Radiant Sea. It was a relationship that had lasted for countless ages. Like a farmer nurturing a carp into a dragon so he could grab its tail when it ascended into the heavens. If the Lord Protector truly was a Progenitor, this could be an opportunity for the Slatewalkers even greater than the Fallen Star! At least for the village itself. Ganaa was tempted to throw himself at the creatures feet and pledge his undying loyalty then and there, cultivators pride be damned! Powerful sects would have paid fortunes Ganaa couldnt even fathom for an opportunity like this. However, a more rational side of Ganaa understood that would have been a foolish mistake. If it was so easy to gain the favor of a Progenitor, there would have been many more such stories out there. Coupled with the fact that they had no definitive proof that the Lord Protector was a Progenitor other than their own speculations they had to proceed with caution. The creature might very well just be some wily spirit beast manipulating them for an unknown purpose. As much as Ganaa hated the thought of doubting his savior in such a way, he couldnt deny that those kinds of stories were no less common than any other. Ganaa turned to his two seniors and asked. So whats the plan? Are we acting with the assumption that the Lord Protector is a Progenitor? Or do we wait until we know more? Kallik shook her head as she responded. Say nothing to the others, for now. At least not until Ive had the chance to speak to the other Elders. For now, pretend as if the Lord Protector is just a kind soul whos lent their aid. We know little of the beings temperament or desires, and the wrong move this early could spell trouble later on. Ganaa and Ulagan nodded in agreement, even if Ganaa felt this approach was sneaky. He could understand, though; spirit beasts, especially non-humanoid ones, were notorious for having strange senses of morals and values. Even those known to be even-tempered and docile could become deadly at the slightest perceived offense. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. All three nodded and turned back to the group and the Lord Protector. If Alpha could have grinned, it would stretch from ear to ear. For all their magical malarkies, it seemed everyone was susceptible to the good old plant a bug on them when theyre not looking trick. Or rather, [Wasp] in this case. Alpha had sent the small drone to hide in the young mans fur-lined coat and record as soon as he noticed the three move off on their own. He still didnt know what much of what they said meant, but his lexicon was coming along great! The several small conversations happening across the clearing did wonders for adding more data points. Hed even identified what he believed to be the names of a few of the natives and their title for him. When they turned back to him, the look in the threes eyes didnt need translation, though. Hed seen it a thousand times in the Federation and on new worlds. Good, that just meant less work for him. Let them think they could get something out of him while he took what he needed from under their noses. They might actually come out better for it, regardless. After all, the Federation was far more lenient and offered more benefits to those who cooperated willingly than those who had to be persuaded. Some of Alphas early companions read: gophers had gone on to hold significant power over their worlds after integration into the Federation. Not that Alpha himself had much to say in those matters. That was SEAU-03 and SEAU-02s job. So when the group of three approached, bowing in respect, Alpha played along. The AI could tell by how they emphasized and slowed their words and frequently used gestures or miming motions, that they understood there was a communication barrier. Good, Alpha enjoyed working with those who caught on quickly, unlike a certain fowl-tempered overcooked chicken strip. Several hundred thousand kilometers from the planets surface, a certain Lunar King rubbed at the bandage around his throat and sneezed. The older woman drew a surprisingly detailed map in the loosely packed dirt. Alpha took a picture for future reference and tried to follow along. She gestured to several points he could only assume were the human and a picture of a large penguin surrounded by smaller ones. Mostly on reflex, Alpha put a bullet in the small drawing, the single echoing gunshot making everyone but Snowball jump. What? An AI couldnt be frustrated? Well, most of them jumped. The wide grin on the older womans face told Alpha more than all her words had managed to so far. Quick arrows in the dirt represented the penguins following behind the group and encircling them. So she thought they were still being chased? Strange, for animals, even if the larger one had appeared sapient. A long line extended from their own group before stopping some distance away. The woman stopped, then drew another symbol like a large obelisk, circling it several times. She drew five marks next to the line leading from them to the obelisk, then pointed to the sun and back to the broken cart. Easy enough to understand: they were five days travel from somewhere, by cart. The only issue was the penguins line intercepted their own, roughly 4/5ths of the way to the obelisk. So she expected to be ambushed before they made it to safety. Fair enough. Alpha tapped the side of his chassis, deep in thought. Alpha wasnt opposed to a rematch; hell, he welcomed one. Hed screwed up and let the enemy escape, but if they wanted to walk right back to their deaths, who was he to stop them? The issue was the smaller penguins. Five days was enough time to gather up the dispersed flock. If Alpha had to fight the giant penguin and protect the humans from a small army, things could get hairy. He couldnt use the Harpy trick again since the humans would have to be within a range that put them at significant risk, either from the sonic weapon or the army of penguins. But what if he forced a confrontation before the enemy was ready? Alpha scanned the cart and found it surprisingly sophisticated, at least by primitive standards. The wood was well formed and treated to prevent decay, while the shock and axle systems were specifically designed to traverse rough, uneven terrain at surprising speeds. The carts complexity was in strange contrast to the peoples more primitive, fur-loving fashion style. Based on the specs of the cart and the rough topographic data Alpha had gathered, he did some quick calculations. He then reached down and erased three of the five marks beside their travel line. The older woman stared down, her brow furrowing. She shook her head and pointed to the cart. They were insistent it needed to come along. Alpha approached the cart and noticed half a dozen large boxes packed in cushioning grass. The AI ignored the sounds of protest as he pried open several to find plants? Dozens of various kinds of plants were packed into the container, sectioned into their own little cubbies. A second crate showed more of the same, but the third was a welcome surprise. Jackpot! Alpha exclaimed as he pulled the several-dozen-pound slab of hematite ore from the box. Several other ore samples shared the same box, as well as another. It wasnt much, but it was more than he could extract from random rocks in the short term. Had this group been surveying the area for resources, just like him? Given the spread of samples, it seemed likely. Alpha quickly swept the contents of the ore-filled boxes into the TAWP, much to the protest of the surrounding group. Some of the younger members looked ready to leap at him. Even the older woman was frowning up at him in apparent concern. Alpha ignored them all and replaced the lid on the plant crates before gently removing each crate from the cart and placing it on the ground nearby. He then easily flipped the much smaller cart over, snapping the tangling vines that had ensnared it. There was an audible gasp from the group, but Alpha had work to do, so he paid them no mind. Over the next thirty minutes, Alpha set about modifying the cart to his liking. After the first five minutes, the group had gone silent, staring open-mouthed as Alphas arc-cutters sliced and welded steel like it was clay and not high-quality to them metal. When Alpha was finished, the cart was gone, and in its place was a sleek, reinforced carrier that fit neatly onto the TAWPs back. Alpha then placed the four remaining crates in the carrier and turned around, arms spread wide. Well? The group only stared up, wide-eyed, before bursting into cheers. The old woman shook her head again, but this time it was with a wide smile, while the older, armored man patted the younger man Alpha had rescued roughly on the back, both grinning like madmen. No one bothered to question where the ore had gone. After all, taxis werent cheap. The figure watched the group of foolish humans and the mysterious beetle creature disappear into the distance. It had to admit, things had gone sideways since Kusanagis slip-up. The Mistress had promised them that the compulsion on the Beast LordHah!was perfect, yet the child had not only escaped but somehow found a dangerous, unknown ally. This would complicate things. But with any luck, they might still twist events in their favor. After all every good plan needed a scapegoat. The figure chuckled to itself as it slipped into the earth. Soon, all the pieces would be on the board, and several centuries of work would come to fruition. All that was needed was a spark. Book 1 - Lesson 26: "Always find a moment to learn." ============================================ Elder Xiurong stood from the patch of burned grass and lifted the small metal cylinder. The small, solid object, the length and width of her pinky to the first joint, was made of a metal she couldnt place. The spiraling groove and warped tip were unlike anything shed ever seen. It wasnt hard to understand its purpose, though, given the large splatter of gore it had been found in. A few of the more intact bodies even had several of the objects still inside. Elder Xiurong turned to the three behind her and asked. Tell me, what do you see? The first, a scholarly young man whose shifting eyes always seemed to scan everyone and everything, pushed up his glasses. No one knew why he wore the things since, as a Cultivator, his eyesight was better than even the healthiest of mortals. Excavation Squad Leader Lin Weiyuan spoke in a practiced and academic tone. The bodies are cold, suggesting its been more than a few hours since the fight. Despite that, their bodies are mostly untouched. Grassbreakers are known to be cannibalistic, but we see no signs of feeding by them or any other animals. This is even more evidence that the animals and Spirit Beasts have fled the area for an unknown reason. Lin Weiyuan pointed to the object in Elder Xiurongs hand and continued. The weapon, whatever it might be, is thrown at high speeds. On impact with flesh, the tip bursts and spreads, utterly destroying any soft tissue it passes through. I cant even identify what parts of some remains are. Ive never heard of such a weapon, but it is exceedingly cruel and powerful at the very least. Elder Xiurong nodded and turned to a large woman whose body seemed chiseled from stone. Despite her beauty, her perpetual frown and sharp glare had made many a man turn away in fear. Defense Squad Leader Fang Peng spoke next, her voice deep but melodic. They could take out a flock of mature Grassbreakers three dozen strong without moving a step. Fang Peng gestured to the spotless center of the clearing otherwise filled with penguin gore and continued. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Several flocks, in fact, if the bodies of multiple leader class Grassbreakers say anything. That is an anomaly as well. Flocks dont hunt together; theyre too territorial for that. If they DO meet, typically, the leaders will duke it out. The losing flock is absorbed, while the leader is disposed of. Elder Xiurong again nodded, then turned to the last group member. The petite, pale woman dressed in black robes, reminiscent of her own, bowed and smiled. She might have been the youngest of the three, but that didnt mean she was any lesser. If anything, that shed gotten her position on this expedition at such a young age spoke volumes about her talent and craftiness. Scouts Squad Leader Qi Mingxi covered her mouth with the long robe sleeve and spoke, her voice soft and sweet as honey. The target has been moving without real purpose for quite some time. It looks to be searching for something, given the markings weve found leading into various Radiant Pits, but what, I cannot say yet. One thing we know is that the target isnt moving alone. Qi Mingxi gestured to several more whole bodies. Some Grassbreakers show markings similar to bodies found along, but away from the targets path. These bodies are in better shape but show evidence of a struggle. Most of the beast cores have been removed as well. This suggests the target is traveling with some manner of tamed Spirit Beast. Its unlikely to be the assumed Akhlut pup; the trails are too far and freely roaming to be a hostage. Elder Xiurong gave the three core disciples a wide grin. They might have been on an important mission, but that didnt mean there werent learning opportunities. She was proud of these threes growth during the Fallen Star excavation trip. Considering the events nature, it might have been rushed, but each had fought hard for their given position and earned it fair and square. That was the primary reason for selecting the three to accompany her on this presumed rescue mission. Each was a powerful combatant on their own, but skilled in different ways. It was hard to tell what theyd encounter when they found the Star Thief, so the broader their skill set, the better. Just as important, all three were at the peak of [Shackle-Breaking]. They wouldnt suffer the same suppression she would, the deeper into the prairies they got. They would need that strength as well. The closer they got to their target, the more it seemed they werent dealing with some low-level Cultivator or Mage who got lucky and was in the area when the Fallen Star fell. No, this was a skilled warrior of unknown ability. They would have to proceed with great caution. It didnt help that something, the Star Thief or maybe even the Fallen Star itself, had thrown the prairies into chaos. Theyd already rescued two smaller villages making their way to a nearby Earth Shrine, which was attacked by a horde of Grassbreaker Penguins. Theyd unfortunately not made it in time to help a third. Such distractions were becoming an issue. Shed already sent the fourth that had accompanied them, Wei Fa, back to the excavation camp to request teams be sent out. With that covered, theyd be free to fully focus on pursuing their target. Even so, something about this whole mess didnt sit well with Yu Xiurong. That quiet little voice in the back of her mind felt like it was saying they were running out of time. Yet for what? They couldnt say. Book 1 - Lesson 27: "If You Feed a Puppy Enough Times, It’ll Lead you to Treasure." Their trip to the Jadewalkers Earth Shrine had been going smoothlymostly. The Lord Protectors speed had been astounding. Sure, Kallik knew high-level spirit beasts could travel at great speeds, but shed never witnessed it. The Grand Elk that pulled most buildings of the Wandering Cities could grow to great size and strength, but they were slower, more methodical beasts. There wasnt much reason to live in the fast lane when thousands or tens of thousands of humans were willing to jump into the fray to protect you and your herd. The Lord Protector was on a different level. Theyd crossed a distance in the last eight hours that should have taken them most of the day with no rest. Despite that, she could tell the spirit beast was holding back for their sake. Her skills as a Grassreader werent even needed. As a [Silver Spirit] ranked Cultivator, Kallik hadnt failed to notice the small swarm of wasp-like metal insects surrounding them on various sides. Shed have been worried if shed not seen the strange insects pinch themselves away from the Lord Protectors metallic skin. Whatever technique or skill it was, they made perfect scouts. They warned the Lord Protector of any Radiant pits they approached well in advance, along with a few more dangerous spirit plants. Kallik had to direct them around some less obvious dangers, though that was to be expected if the Lord Protector wasnt a native to the prairies. The insects were even almost entirely invisible to her [Spirit Sight] but for the slight trace of the Lord Protectors aura leaking off them. It was the leaking that had first drawn Kalliks attention to the spirit beasts injuries. Kallik was one of the primary healers for the Slatewalker village and was well-versed in both human and spirit beast injuries. She didnt dare scan deeper than the surface, lest she insult their benefactor, but examination was enough to see the Lord Protectors injuries weresevere. So severe the Lord Protector had been leaking Spirit Energy this entire time. It washed off the creature in such a faint way that Kallik doubted anyone other than she and Ulagan could sense it. Yet, it felt strange to Kalliks senses. Raw, uncontrolled, powerful, but subdued and gentle in a way shed never felt before, like the energy didnt belong to the Lord Protector at all. She almost suspected if she cultivated then and there, she could easily absorb the leaking energy herself. That would have been immensely rude, however. It made more sense now why it was so willing to help them and had requested all the ore samples theyd gathered. Metal-affinity creatures were known to eat Spirit-Energy-rich ores and processed metals for growth and recovery. Did the Lord Protector know humans often had a lot of such materials? Had it actively sought them out? Or was it just a lucky break for the creature? What could have caused such injuries to a powerful maybe-Progenitor? More importantly, had it followed the Lord Protector into the prairies? For the briefest moments, Kallik worried they could bring home a far greater threat than Kusanagi would ever be. She quickly dismissed that thought. Any being able to force a Progenitor, even a young one, into retreat would be well into the [Earthly Transcendent] realm. The prairies chaotic nature would greatly suppress such a creature, and its presence would attract the Akhluts attention. It was a risk, but the benefits of helping the young maybe-Progenitor outweighed those risks by a large margin. They would reach the Earth Shrine sometime during the next few days at their current speed. Hell, if they kept up their current speed, they might even overtake the village as it made its way to the shrine. Once at the Earth Shrine, she could inform those who needed to know about Kusanagi. Of course, the Lord Protector would remain their guest. They could even inquire about any Akhlut in the shrine and see that their young pup got home. As for the pup, Kallik wasnt sure what to make of it. It was more than a little strange for a lone Akhlut pup to wander alone, more so an unawakened one. Along with having an exceptional talent for cultivation, the Akhlut was also a race of natural Espers. Espers were remarkably rare, even among the oldest and most powerful clans. Races that had any inborn Esper abilities were rarer still. Even on the massive Skybreaker Continent, with its multitudes of people, the number of such races she knew of could be counted on her hands. Rumors were Esper powers were more common in magic beasts who fed on Mana than in spirit beasts. Though, as far as Kallik knew, those were rumors. Akhlut were natural shapeshifters, able to take on multiple forms unique to each individual. Though all shared the same base form. They could even take in the bloodlines of other spirit beasts and incorporate their traits. Most impressively, Akhlut could take on a complete human form while still in the [Mortal Foundations] realm, despite their bloodline being so strong. Kallik knew that the closer an Awakeneds bloodline was to their Progenitors, the harder it was for them to take human form. This came with all the advantages, both in cultivation and society, one would expect, but should have come at the cost of a thinner, weaker bloodline. A thinner bloodline, such as found in the older clans who had regularly mingled and mixed with human clans, would make taking on a human form easier. This came with all the benefits in cultivation and society as a whole one would expect, but at the cost of power, as their bloodline weakened. On the other hand, a clan who strived to keep their bloodline purer would have stronger, more stable bloodlines. Bloodlines closer to their Origin. But this also made it far more difficult to take a human form. Often, such clans would be unable to even do so until the middle of the [Earthly Transcendence] realm. The matter was a hotly debated subject among the Awakened clans, or so Kallik had heard. The Akhlut, however, were different. Despite the high purity of their bloodline, the Akhlut could freely shift into human form from an early age if trained properly. Thanks to their shapeshifting abilities, the Akhlut had managed to retain the strength of their bloodline, while still obtaining all the benefits of a human form. This naturally drew both jealousy and greed from others. The sheer strength of the Akhlut bloodline, coupled with how the Akhlut could easily incorporate foreign bloodlines with little harm, made them a target. Their bodies could be used for all sorts of alchemical reagents and pills that could improve another Awakened bloodline or even awaken a long dormant bloodline in a human, from some distant ancestor. However, adult Akhlut were unimaginably dangerous and could fight on par with those several steps higher than them, even outside the natural suppression of the Radiant Sea. Thus, the children were often the ones targeted by the more unsavory types of Cultivators. Rumors in the Wandering Cities said this was the primary reason the Akhlut had come to the Radiant Sea Prairies to begin with. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. The chaotic energy and natural suppression made it a perfect, safe nursery for their young, and most young Akhlut parents would return here to raise their children once the wanderlust of youth had faded. The only way she could imagine the pup being separated from its caretakers was if said caretakers had been killed. Few things in the prairies could pull that off. Coupled with the Beast Lords reemergence, events didnt bode well for the short-term peace in the prairies. At best, it meant Kusanagi was gathering forces to attack the Akhlut and already had at least one success. At worst, the survivors might be implicated before they got to tell their story. That would spell doom for the Slatewalker Village, either by the Jadewalkers or the Akhlut themselves. Since fate seemed fond of beating Kallik into the ground, it threw one more problem onto her plate. Zolzaya! Keep pressure on the wound! Altan, get me the [Metal-Eating Shadespores] from the left pouch! No! I said left! LEFT! Kallik commanded the group with expert precision developed over decades of working with fresh apprentices. She poured more Spirit Energy into Yutus convulsing body as she fought off the coppery colored veins spreading outward from the young mans wound. The boy had been doing well and making a speedy recovery, thanks to the expensive medicines and whatever the Lord Protector had done. Yet, after only a few hours of travel, the boy had taken a turn for the worse. The Lord Protector noticed first, and when he stopped, Kallik had to scan Yutu before she saw the problem. Thin threads of copper slowly spread from a tumorous mass growing in the boys wound. Kalliks heart sank as she recognized it instantly. [Copper Seed Poison]. A rare, special poison derived from the Sword-Devouring Armadillo found near the Adventurers City-State of Halirosa. Shed only encountered it once during her own adventuring days. Or at least the result. Her nightmares had lasted for weeks. The metal from a Sword-Devouring Armadillos shell could remember shapes and transform into them when Spirit Energy was applied. The creature used this to defend itself, molding its shell into the various armaments and armor it had eaten. Artificers often used the organic metals that grew on the creature to create adaptable weapons and armor. In fact, it was surprisingly similar to how Ganbaatar described the Lord Protectors ability to create weapons from its carapace. Though if the wasp scouts were any sign, the maybe-Progenitors abilities were on an entirely different level. [Copper Seed Poison], despite its name, wasnt a true poison. Instead, it was a tiny grain of this metal, altered through alchemy and other arts. Once inserted into an object containing Spirit Energy, the metal would feed on that energy and grow into the memory stored by the creator. Typically, this was of twisting vines and snaring roots, thus its name. It would make more sense that Kusanagi could take down multiple adult Akhlut if he had this kind of thing, especially if they were protecting a pup. One particularly sadistic serial killer, nicknamed the Copper Artist, had created a variant that would twist the victim into disgusting parodies of art that melded flesh and metal. The killer would mix these seeds into his victims food, at random, it seemed. The entire city had nearly starved, as most were too afraid to eat even the food they had prepared themselves. A few victims had been safe at home, after all. Hed been stopped only after almost a month of terror, thanks to the joint efforts of the Adventurers Guild and the Esper organization, Avalon. It was Kalliks work helping to track down that psychopath that had given her experience with this particularly nasty poison. Unfortunately for Yutu, that involved a lengthy and extensive surgery to remove the primary tumor and any bits that might have been left behind. With the boys already severe injuries and the danger of an hours-long surgery in an open field, Kallik didnt like his chances. She told the rest of the group as much, to various responses. His chances would be far better if they had a safe place they could hunker down. But moving him too far would weaken him further. To everyones surprise, the Akhlut pup was the one to break the groups dour mood. The pups chirping bark drew their attention, and they turned to see it happily wagging its fluke like an overexcited puppy. Kallik sighed, but she narrowed her eyes when the pup dipped into the ground, only to pop back up and a few feet further away. Could it be? Kallik knew the pup was just on the cusp of true Awakening, but could it already understand the situation? If so, what was it trying to say? Again it dipped down, popping up even further away, but this time it gave a sharp bark, turned, and disappeared into the grass. Kallik pressed her lips and looked at the rest of the group, seeing the same look of confusion she was sure was on her own face. In the end, the Lord Protector made the final call. In one smooth motion, they turned, following the small Akhlut pup. Only 15 minutes later, they caught up to the pup, standing at the edge of a Radiant Pit. The pup gave another bark and leapt into the pit. Kallik had a bad feeling and spoke to the group. You all might want to hold on to something Kalliks warning was proven true, as in the next instant, the Lord Protector leapt into the pit. The fall was far greater than Kallik had been expecting. Most Radiant Pits never got deeper than twenty meters, give or take a few. This one was just short of fifty. Such a fall would have been more than a little jarring if not for the gouts of flame that sprouted from the sides and legs of the Lord Protector, cushioning their landing. A few more minutes of pushing through the thick Abyssal Radiance Spirit Grass at the bottom revealed something amazing. In a small clearing in the middle of the Radiant Pit, hidden from the world above, was a set of ruins. Not just any ruins, either, if the broken obelisk and shattered statues said anything. This was an abandoned Earth Shrine. Alpha wasnt sure what he was looking at as he observed the scans of the tumorous mass rapidly growing in the young man. His nanites were working at a rapid pace to destroy and contain the thin, metallic wires sprouting from it, but it was a losing battle. The strange tumor seemed to produce the metal out of thin air, and the small pile of bloody wire theyd already pushed out of the boy already far exceeded what should have been possible. The old woman was helping somehow, but he couldnt tell what she was doing. Alpha chalked both up to more magical bullcrap He knew he was ignoring and suppressing a lot of problems, but questions and testing would have to wait until after things settled down. He just jinxed himself, hadnt he? Alpha contemplated just ripping the tumor out of the young man, but calculations showed it would cause far more damage than the nanites could reasonably heal before the wounds killed him. Surgery was an option, but that would take far longer than the time they had to spare. With no knowing when or where the group would be attacked, extensive surgery in an open field wasnt the best option. Judging by the older womans look, shed come to the same conclusion. When she spoke, the rest of the humans downcast eyes confirmed Alphas thoughts. Before the group could decide what to do, Snowball drew their attention. Alpha instantly recognized the motions. It was the same one shed used during their trip when she had something she wanted to show him. Often it was a pretty new plant or some shiny rock, true, but some finds had been interesting at least. He couldnt fathom what the Whale-pup could want them to see at this moment, but he knew she was a smart pupper. So, on a hunch, he followed her. What they found was interesting, to say the least. Instead of the expected plant or landmark, they found the ruins of a settlement. The ruins werent ancient, but old enough that nature had started reclaiming them. Moss-covered rubble was strewn across the clearing, large enough to hold several hundred humans comfortably. At the center, a large, half-collapsed building that vaguely reminded Alpha of Aztec construction surrounded a broken obelisk. The obelisk would have been an impressive sight had it not been split in two down the middle, though it was not tall enough to peek out of the deep pit, the settlement rested in. The older woman tapped his side and pointed towards the building in the middle. Alpha got the message and made his way towards the gaping hole in its side, just large enough for him to slip through. It looked like they were stopping, after all. Alpha always had enjoyed tomb raiahemarcheology.. Book 1 - Lesson 28: "Be careful what you wish for." He was bored! This place was boring! Alpha slouched on the ground, the TAWP sagging like a deflated balloon. Hed expected more from ruins in a magical world! Traps! Artifacts of world-ending power! At least something to find! Nope, this place was just a plain old set of broken buildings and empty rooms. There may have been something here long ago, but others had gotten here before them and cleared out most of the place of anything interesting. Where was the excitement?! The danger?! A proper magic ruins tromp needed traps and demons! Theyd even found an old used campsite in the largest building, complete with broken crates and moth-eaten tents. The only real thing of note was the large stone obelisk at the compounds center. Strange enough, besides the various symbols and glyphs carved into its center, the structure didnt seem artificial. In fact, the broke stone base seemed to physically grow out of the ground, like it was a giant granite crystal. Alpha took samples for analysis but learned little; the basic equipment he could print on the TAWP nanoskin could have been better. The rest of the group had bunkered in the large room their predecessors appeared to have used as a central staging location. Snowball, Ganbaatar, and Ulagan, he was fairly sure those were their names now, had wandered off to explore shortly after arriving. Ganbaatar was still rather hobbled by his makeshift wooden leg, but the young man did surprisingly well for having recently lost a limb. Such an injury would only be a few days in a recovery pod back in the Federation but in a primitive world like this? It was a life-changing and crippling blow. That he was adjusting so well could be attributed to shock, but Alpha had his suspicions. The three hadnt had any more luck than his own exploring with the [Wasps], though theyd gotten unreasonably excited over some old rusty equipment left in one room. Nothing Alpha could use, so he let them keep their treasure. On the plus side, his lexicon was coming along great! Spying on several hours of conversations during the trip and while theyd been here had done wonders for his progress. A few more days of this, and hed be able to communicate effectively. For now, they were stuck drawing pictures and using charades. Well, they were stuck drawing pictures. Alpha had holograms! Hurrah technology! The older woman seemed rather shocked by the holograms, but had recovered quickly. Hell, she seemed more surprised at his sprinkling of words that Alpha was fairly sure hed translated properly probably. The older woman had been addressed directly and in various conversations with several names or titles, so it was harder to pin down a name than the others. Context clues had narrowed it down to Kallik or Grassreader, though Alpha had settled on the former. The latter always seemed to have an air of reverence and authority in how it was spoken you wouldnt expect from a proper name. She and the rest of the group, who werent exploring the ruins, had set up a temporary operating room shortly after arriving. Seeing them following proper sanitation and medical procedures was more than a little surprising. Well, as much as they could in the middle of some rundown ruins. Alpha had been observing the operation, with the nanites still in the young mans system and with a [Wasp]. Kallik was fairly skilled, and her movements came with a measure of confidence. Alpha suspected shed performed this same surgery several times in the past, but that raised the question of how common rapidly growing metallic tumors were in this world. The growing pile of bloody copper theyd pulled out of the boy had already surpassed what should have physically been possible. Even after the primary tumor had been removed, several tiny bits left inside continued to grow, so the surgery had been a battle, to say the least. However, thered been a slight complication not even Alpha knew how to fix. Like spreading cancer, the metal wires had infiltrated the young mans bones, especially the spine and ribcage. Understandably, removing those wires was taking longer than even the tumor itself had. The delicate area meant that Kallik had to work slowly and methodically, but that also gave the wires time to regrow. Shed clear out one area, only for it to become infected again while she was working on another. The medical nanites were attempting to help, but Kallik was only human, and even with the superhuman levels of endurance shed shown, Alpha could tell she was running out of steam. Yet, they couldnt stop. If the wires traveled up the spinal column and reached the brain, their hard work would be for nothing. Then, in what was feeling like a very annoying pattern recently, the yelling started. The group turned toward the sound to see a bloody Ganbaatar, Ulagan, and Snowball barreling toward them, two dozen penguins hot on their tail. That wasnt good. Youve got to be kidding me! Alpha roared and threw the TAWP into drive, stepping over and through the gaping hole in the buildings side just as the three fleeing explorers slid up and over. Most of the penguins came to a skidding halt. Some of the stupider ones decided leaping full speed at the 15-meter-tall metal giant that had crawled from the building was a good idea. A few quick bursts of auto-turret fire took care of two penguins that would have soared past Alpha and into the building behind him. The other three didnt even need bullets. The winner should have been obvious in a contest between fleshy skulls flying at a dozen miles an hour and multi-ton metal objects. Alphas hex shield didnt even trigger! Alpha kicked one of the bloody, broken penguins away as it slid down the surface of the TAWPs leg. It flew back the way it came, hit the ground, and rolled several meters, stopping just short of the penguins frontline. Hmmm, interesting. They werent running. Surely they didnt think they could take him, did they? The next moment, Alpha got an alarm from the [Wasps] hed placed around the area. Alpha switched feeds just in time to see more penguins rise from the earth, a few dozen meters away from the central building. OhOhhhhhh. I see More and more penguins began rising from the stone, and soon the central building was surrounded by a ring of nearly 700 penguins. Hey, at least he wouldnt be bored anymore. 15 mins earlier. Ganaa kicked a small rock, pinging it off the nearby ruin wall. The Akhlut pup beside him chipped, jumping up and down like an excited puppy might. Then, with a twist of its body, her thick tail swung around and struck her own rock. Instead of flying in an arc and bouncing off the far wall, the rock shot forward like an arrow. With a bang, the rock struck the wall then pierced through the reinforced stone. The pup lept into the air and landed gracefully before trotting around Ganaa, head held high. Ganaa tsked and shook his head, but the grin never left his face. Of course, that was the result of trying to compete with a spirit beast in physical strength, let alone an Akhlut. The pup might not have been very old, but he didnt doubt her cultivation was higher than his own, even if he couldnt sense it well. If he had to guess, shed be somewhere around upper-lower or lower-mid [Bronze Spirit], not too far from Ulagan, and she was only a child! Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Ganaa shook his head again, imagining just how strong this not-so-tiny puppy would grow to be in the future. By the time she was his age, shed likely be able to trounce any human in the Radiant Sea, not just because she was an Akhlut, either. She was smart, far more than an unawaked spirit beast should be. Kallik had said she was very close to awakening, but Ganaa thought it was more than just that. Theyd played several games so far, and the pup had followed along effortlessly. She had even been the one to lead them to the old [Earth furnace]. How shed found it, or even if she knew what the old alchemical device was, they didnt know, but it was a valuable find, nonetheless. Earth furnaces were used to create the super-hard, reinforced stone used in creating Earth Temples. Buildings built from this stone could last centuries, but it was as lightweight and easy to work with as wood. In the open prairies, where wood was a luxury that had to be traded for through the clans and sects at the borders, furnaces like this were exceedingly important. Unfortunately, they could only be powered by a working obelisk, and all of those were controlled by the various powerful clans and families of the wandering city. Buying a furnace of their own was the first step in a village becoming a true city, but few could afford such costs, let alone the rent at an obelisk to power it. It was unlikely they could get this one working. The relic was old and weatherworn, after all, but Ulagans family had worked furnaces before, and he was confident they could salvage something off of it. It wouldnt be worth a full furnace, but it would go a long way toward the Slatewalkers future. Thats what the older Guardian did while Ganaa distracted the young pup. Theyd tried working together, but the pups curiosity had her sticking her nose in every new compartment they opened. The memory of watching the Lord Protector play fetch with the pup earlier gave the Ganaa the idea to try teaching the young Akhlut some of the childhood games he, Yutu, and Zaya used to play. Shed taken to it instantly and left Ulagan to work in peace. The young pup flicked another rock toward the wall, though this time, it hit at a strange angle and ricocheted off into the distance. A squawk sounded from around the corner, almost drowned out by the ruckus Ulagan was making as he pulled the furnace apart. Itd been loud enough for Ganaa to hear, though, and the sound made his blood run cold. If the low growling from the fanged-bared, suddenly not-so-cute pup said anything, so had she. Ganaa gripped the spare spear hed grabbed from the cart and slowly hobbled forward on the makeshift wood leg, capping his missing foot toward the sound. The pup did the same, leading the way in a low crouch. They eased up to the corner, then burst around it with one fluid motion, Gans spear raised to throw and the pup ready to pounce. What they found was a dead Grassbreaker, a small rock buried in its eye. Ganaa sighed and lowered his spear. Talk about a stroke of luck. Was it a straggler than had followed them? Distracted as they were, they might not have noticed it until it ambushed them. Ganaa turned around to head back to where theyd left Ulagan, but froze. Why was the pup still growling? Why wasnt she following him? An icy pit formed in his stomach; Ganaa slowly turned back to the dead penguin and spotted another, very much alive, Grassbreaker, peaking from around the corner. Movement from the corner of his eye caught his attention, and, heart racing, he turned to see a second penguin peeking over the corner of a window seal of a half-collapsed building. Then a third stared at them unblinkingly as it peeked out from the ground to their left. The Akhlut pups growl deepened as she stepped back, her eyes never leaving the silent penguins. Cold sweat dripping down his back, Ganaa slowly followed, taking slow, careful steps. As he did, he called out in as hushed a tone as he could. Ulagan! ULAGAN! We need to go! Ulagan, buried shoulders deep in the furnaces guts, called back. What? Why?! Im almost done here. Just give me a moment. Ganaa called back, louder this time. Ulagan! We. Need. To. Go! Ulagan, perhaps hearing the urgency in the young mans voice, pushed himself out of the furnace. Oh I see. Unsure of what the Guardian meant, Ganaa turned to face him, trusting the pup enough to take his eyes off the penguins. The sight that greeted him froze the blood in his veins. Over two dozen Grassbreaker penguins surrounded the small furnace area in various positions. Some peeked from the ground or hid behind buildings or around the rubble. A few even stood out in the open as if waiting to be noticed. The square was quiet for a blessed moment. RUN! Ulagan yelled, then broke into a charge, smacking away a couple of Grassbreakers as they lept for him. Like a floodgate breaking, the penguins attacked. The pup turned and followed Ulagan, Ganaa following behind. Thanks to the crudely built wood prosthetic, Ganaa could walk fine, for now, but running was an entirely different matter. He was burning spirit energy just keeping the thing together, and he dropped behind the other two right out the gate. Some might have stayed and fought, but that would have been a mistake. This wasnt the open prairie; they couldnt know how many more might hide in the rubble and ruins. If they stood their ground now, they might not escape if the horde was too much to handle. The abrupt retreat across the ruins that followed was, in a way, more intense than when the group of apprentices had first been ambushed. What felt like an endless tide of Grassbreakers assaulted them from every direction. Ganaa didnt even have time to see if his running strikes did any actual damage, so he focused on deflecting and redirecting the lunging penguins with his spear. Ulagan charged forward as the spearhead, breaking their encirclement whenever the spirit beasts tried to box them in, while the Akhlut pup weaved back and forth between the two as needed. More than once, shed bodied him away from a lunge coming from his blind spot or thinned the enemys numbers when Ulagan was being pinned down. They each took their fair share of hits, yet each did their job as well as could have been asked. After what felt like an eternity but couldnt have been more than a few moments, the opening in the side of the main temple came into view. Ganaa almost cheered at the sight of the Lord Protector climbing out. He wasnt sure how the mysterious spirit beast had seen them coming, but the relief was palpable. All three rushed past the gargantuan metal creature and into the safety of the main temple, collapsing to the ground. Even the pup was panting heavily; all four legs splayed out on the cold stone floor. They wouldnt have to worry about Grassbreakers popping out of the stonework here. The obelisk might have been broken, but it still retained some of its power, or at least enough to stabilize the ground and prevent the Radiant Seas native fauna from burrowing through. The hole in the temples side wasnt the only entrance; however, only the largest. Most penguins would focus on the large death bringer standing in the gap, but some smarter ones would try to get in through other means. Seeming to understand this, Ulagan stood on shaky legs and threw a brown pill into his mouth. None of them were truly recovered from the Beast Lords assault, and only the Grassreaders pills had kept them going. But everything came at a price, and Ulagan was already far above the recommended amount. If he was unlucky, they might even damage his foundation. The pup stood as well, shaking herself like a wet dog, but otherwise in a far better state than the rest of them. Not to be outdone, Ganaa used his spear as support and stood. The rest of the group, save for the Grassreader, still pulling thin copper wires out of Yutus chest, rush toward them, both to help and ask what had happened. The questions were cut off as a deep rumble shook the temple, knocking decades of dust off the stone pillars and nearly throwing Ganaa off his feet. Eyes wide, Ganaa turned to the gap only to stare, open mouth as he watched the Lord Protector undergo a strange transformation. Like molded clay, the Lord Protectors back legs elongated and flattened out, wedging deep into the hard temple floor. Meanwhile, his armor along the front legs fanned outward, sprouting several long legs anchoring to the floor, sealing the gap with a nearly three-meter tall wall, the Lord Protector at its center. The spirit beasts back segment bulged, swelling into a large, cylindrical shape that reminded Ganaa vaguely of a grain silo. The bottom of the silo has twisted, then plunged deep into the ground, causing the rumbling. Even now, Ganaa could see it spinning, physically burrowing further through the hard, obelisk-reinforced ground. Finally, eight long horns clustered in two groups of four to either side of the Lord Protector, pushed themselves out of the spirit beasts metal carapace. The group could only stare in shock at the sight. They knew the Lord Protector could shift his form in minor ways, but this was by far the most dramatic transformation theyd seen. Even the pup was staring, her ears raised and eyes wide. Suddenly, the Lord Protectors voice spoke out in some strange language. They didnt know what the words meant, but their commanding tone was clear. [Warning! TAWP Siege Mode activated! Please maintain at least a 15-meter distance at all times]. The next moment, a red, glittering formation ring popped into existence, surrounding the Lord Protector. Ganaa had never seen a formation like this, nor had he seen one formed so quickly. The red, shifting, ominous light it gave off sent chills down his spine. The two sets of four long horns to either side of the Lord Protector began spinning slowly around some center point, gaining speed until they appeared as nothing more than a blur, even to Ganaas eyes. Then all other sound was drowned out by the endless roar of thunder. Book 1: GRIM Adventures - 2 Version 1 (No AI Edit)
The small furry animal and the young woman sat on the large boulder, passing the left-wrapped bundle of nuts and berries between each other. However, the silent peace of the meal didnt last as two figures rounded the corner for the umpteenth time. //aaaaaaaahhhhhhhAAAAAA // AhhhhhhhhhaaaaaAAAA!!! A large metal blur and a young man in web-covered robes rushed past them, screaming the entire way. A moment later, a third, dog-sized figure rounded the corner and gave chase. Cords of twisting mycelium formed eight spindly legs that extended from the puffball-shaped body. Eight glowing red eyes blazed at the end of the stipe with fury as it gave chase. SKKKKKRRRREEEEEE!!! Jill sighed and turned to the small gopher sitting beside them. Her voice was flat as she asked. Did you want to do it this time? Or should I? Mr. Gopher paused mid-bite and tilted his head, considering the offer. After a moment, he waved his paw in the three screaming figures direction and popped the rest of the berry into his mouth. Jill stood with a grunt and turned to the path. 3 2 1 Just in time, their two companions rounded the corner once more. // AHHHHHHaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!// AAHHHHHaaaaaahhhhh!! Jill slammed her foot into the ground, and a line of frost erupted from her heel. It traveled for several meters before stopping and forming a small ice patch directly in the path of the oncoming young man. Said young man, so focused on his escape, only noticed the icy patch once it was too late. He hit the ice at speed and pinwheeled, desperately reaching out for any kind of support. The closest of which was the large metal creature flying next to him. Jack wrapped his arms around a protruding section of the metal creatures body, pulling it down as he fell. The metal creatures flight was thrown off, and the two quickly tumbled in a heap. Their pursuer gave a screeching cry of victory, then avoided the icy by leaping into a nearby boulder. It then used its momentum to leap again, legs spread, dripping fangs bared, directly toward the fallen Jack. Jack turned, eyes wide, and cried out. No! Stay away! STAY AWAAAAAYYY! He reached out his hand, a vibrant green spell circle forming almost instantly in the air between them. Thick roots erupted from the ground at either side of him, slamming together just as the [Second-Circle] Puffspider passed by. The area for several feet, Jack included, was sprayed in a fine mist of maybe-mushroom juice. Jill walled up to him, slowly clapping. Her voice was just as flat when she spoke. Good job Jack. Next time, try not to take 20 minutes to kill a little spider. Especially one several circles lower than you. Jack pointed to what remained of the Magic Beast and yelled, Little?! Did you see the size of that thing?! The little ones are bad enough! No spider has any right being that big! She looked down at her sticky brother before sighing and waving her hand. A waterball materialized out of the radiant spirit energy and fell on top of him, washing away most of the offensive substance. Jill responded in a sharp tone. Well then, maybe you shouldnt go poking at random giant mushrooms you find on the side of the road! Dealing with that Crag Tiger already set us back an entire day! If you two trouble magnets Both Jack and the recovered metal Spirt Beast had the audacity to look away. would start behaving, we might actually get out of these mountains by the end of the month! Why were you even running to begin with, Jack? You should have just squashed it and been done with it! You even made me spill my lunch! Jill pointed to the small white puddle by the wayside. Jack turned back to Jill, pointing as he spoke. Hey! I cant help it if those abominations freak me out! And who brings junket on a mission, anyway?! Jill pinched the bridge of her nose and pulled her older brother up. Jack was promptly tackled by the large metal spirit beast, who continued to rattle on in that incomprehensible language, even as her brother struggled to breathe in its crushing embrace. Jill only shook her head and walked to the remains of their campsite to pack for the day. She still wasnt sure what to make of their new companions. Jack liked them, but then this was the same man whod brought home a Sparkadile hatchling because he thought it was cute. It had taken the entire tribe to calm and appease the mother, even if half advocated feeding the idiot to her. After being dragged into the chase with the Crag Tiger, it had taken all four working together to chase the Magic Beast off. That, in itself, was strange; Crag Tigers, while not docile, didnt bother with most creatures. They were lazy, sluggish creatures that would almost starve rather than hunt. She had to wonder what had got it so angry that it would chase them for so long. Then again, Magic Beasts were strange like that. Mana did strange things. Where spirit energy reinforced the existence of things, Mana altered them. spirit energy made something more than it already was, where Mana transformed things into what they could be. The philosophy and relationship between the twin energies was a topic that had been explored by far wiser people than Jill and for more lifetimes than she could fathom. All she needed to know was that at the end of the day, it boiled down to spirit beasts being stronger, faster, and smarter, while Magic Beasts were weird. A famous pearl of wisdom in the Adventures Guild was spirit beast that kills you will be the one you didnt study enough. The Magic Beast that kills you will be one you thought you knew. Not that the opposite couldnt be true either, but the idea held some truth. spirit beasts were predictable; they were heavily reliant on their bloodlines and innate nature. You could counter them effectively once you knew what a spirit beast could do. On the other hand, Magic Beasts seemed to be constantly mutating and changing. Even within the same species, two individuals might show vastly different variations in skill or ability. Some suggested this was because spirit energy favored stability and reinforcement, while Mana encouraged adaptation and change, but again, that was delving into subjects Jill never had the mind for. Whether the Crag Tiger was a mutation or just really, really peeved didnt matter in the end. Only that they got away, and as her brother said, make some friends along the way sigh The large metal box creature had instantly bonded with her brother. Shed never seen anything like it before and couldnt name it. But it seemed intelligent, at the very least. From the moment it met them, it had continuously spoken to them in some unknown language. Her brother hadnt even questioned it and nodded along knowingly the whole time. Great, now she had two of them to keep an eye out for The strange Root Gopher wasnt any less of a mystery. She wasnt too familiar with the spirit beast; she knew they were classified as Minor beasts, barely more than common animals, with minor earth manipulation abilities, but that was about it. They werent even native to this area, preferring the distant prairies of the Radiant Sea far to the southeast and at other similar locations. What she was absolutely sure of, however, was that they shouldnt be as intelligent or expressive as this one was. If Awakened Beasts, both Spiritual and Magical, didnt have the instinctual ability to sense other Awakened Beasts, shed have thought the Root Gopher at least partly sapient. Not that shed never heard of a Root Gopher tribe. Theoretically, it shouldnt have been impossible. The chances of a Minor beast like a Root Gopher forming a Beast Core were so astronomically small it had likely never happened in the species entire existence. Or it had been harvested almost immediately. Such a thing would have held immense value simply for its novelty. Coupled with the chance of such a being becoming a true Progenitor, not a single Awakened Beast tribe could trace their heritage to a Minor beast. Even their own ancestors, the Iron-Tailed Oreplanter Squirrels, were fully fledged spirit beasts, able to form cores and break out of the lower [Mortal Foundation] realm, even though it was exceedingly rare. Their own Progenitor, Jonny Rubyseed, was said to have been responsible for planting many of the treasures found in these very mountains. The stories had always fascinated Jill, even if they were more myths and legends after so many tens of thousands of years. Jonny Rubyseed had been an Iron-Tailed Oreplanter Squirrel like any other. The different Planter Squirrels were common throughout the Skybreaker continent and were famous for squirreling away various Spirit materials, similar to how mundane squirrels would hide nuts and seeds. Often these catches would be forgotten and slowly grow over time, giving birth to various treasures. Many a fortune had been made by finding an old squirrels nest. Whether through luck or some innate instinct, the legends say how Jonny Rubyseeds catches would link and form powerful natural formations. This, in turn, would raise the spirit energy level and quality in the area, further boosting Jonnys growth. At the end of the day, Jonny was just a squirrel. Soon, he would be pushed out of his home by stronger, more fierce creatures seeking power there and forced to start anew. In such a way, thousands of Spirit-rich hotspots were created in the surrounding mountains, many of which remain even to this day. In time, Jonny would grow to such power that he could no longer be so easily pushed from his home, and so began the story of the Squirrel Tribes Progenitor. Unlike most of his kind, however, Jonny wasnt the forgetful type and had remembered all the treasures left in his old homes. Instead of returning and collecting them himself, however, the playful Progenitor left hints and clues to these hidden catches for his future descendants, hoping they might one day help lift his people to greater heights. Unfortunately for Jonny, those descendants werent as wise or future-sighted as he had been. Many of these clues and riddles had been sold off over the generations, fueling only the selfish growth of a few. In Jack and Jills generation, few of these treasured secrets remained with the tribe itself, in part leading to the tribes current destitute state. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. It had been in one of these few remaining stories that the sibling pair had learned of the mystical [Pure Water Spring]. Said to reside in the deepest cavern on the tallest mountain, the springs were a treasure Jonny had left behind in his later years before his ascension. Called the physical manifestation of cleansing power, its waters were rumored to have the power to not only totally unblock a persons meridians, regardless of their realm, but perfectly cleanse their body and Spirit of all impurities. It was a treasure that clans and sects worldwide would have fought bloody wars for had its existence been publicly known. But Jonny had been a smart man and locked its secret behind countless protections, intrusting the knowledge to only his wisest and most talented descendants. Hidden, it would likely have remained for countless generations more had it not been for Jills accident. Regardless of her strength, it had been stupid of her to think she could oppose Coldfinger like that, in retrospect. The man hadnt risen to the top of the Halirosa criminal world because he was weak. Even more so when your town of operation just happened to be the worlds number one haven for Adventurers as well. Yet shed grown sick of the man. Sick of the constant threats and ever-increasing debts. Even the fact that hed not killed her and simply frozen her cultivation was him mocking them, laughing at the foolish squirrels. The fire burning in her heart at the memory was almost enough to warm her perpetually icy hands. Almost. Her family had tried everything to correct her deviation, but whatever Coldfinger had done was devious. Even if she broke her cultivation and started over, shed face struggles as the spirit energy moved through her meridians like an icy slurry, drastically slowing down her progress. It had only been the old tribal matriarch, three times removed now by her children and grandchildren, who had thought of a solution. The old woman had seen Jills struggle and talent from an early age and passed down a tale to her shed kept even from her own children for fear of its abuse. For the first time in a long time, Jill had felt hope, like finding an old cabin in the middle of a raging, endless blizzard. But Old Jonny Rubyseed was a wild old coot. Jill knew finding this treasure would test everything she had. But what other option did she have? So she and Jack had entered their ancestral mountains, armed with only an ancient seed and instructions to look for the place where the roots meet the sky, whatever that meant. Jill shook herself from her reminiscing and finished packing. She turned to find Jack stuffing several vials full of the spider goop into the strange spatial storage area in the metal creatures shell; another alarming, though welcomed surprise. She called out as she heaved the heavy pack onto her shoulder. Are you done playing in the mud? Lets get going! I want to get to the base of the mountain before nightfall. Who knows what else is lurking around here? With those words, the Root Gopher hopped on top of her pack, and they turned toward the mountain road. Version 2 (AI Edit) The small furry animal and the young woman sat on the large boulder, passing the bundle of nuts and berries between each other. However, the peaceful moment was abruptly interrupted as two figures rounded the corner for the umpteenth time. //AAAAAAAHHHHHHHAAAAAA // AhhhhhhhhhaaaaaAAAA!!! A large metal blur and a young man in web-covered robes rushed past them, screaming at the top of their lungs. Soon after, a third figure, about the size of a dog, appeared and gave chase. Cords of twisting mycelium formed eight spindly legs that extended from the puffball-shaped body. Eight glowing red eyes blazed with fury as it pursued its prey. SKKKKKRRRREEEEEE!!! Jill sighed and turned to the small gopher sitting beside them. Her voice was flat as she asked, Did you want to deal with it this time, or should I? Mr. Gopher paused mid-bite and tilted his head, considering the offer. After a moment, he waved his paw toward the three screaming figures and popped the rest of the berry into his mouth. Jill stood up with a grunt and turned to face the path. She counted down silently, anticipating their two companions rounding the corner once again. // AHHHHHHaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!// AAHHHHHaaaaaahhhhh!! Jill slammed her foot into the ground, causing a line of frost to erupt from her heel. It traveled several meters before stopping and forming a small ice patch directly in the path of the oncoming young man. Surprised, he hit the ice at full speed and spun uncontrollably, desperately reaching out for support. The closest thing within reach was the large metal creature flying beside him. Jack wrapped his arms around a protruding section of the metal creatures body, pulling it down as he fell. Their pursuer screeched in triumph, then leaped onto a nearby boulder to gain momentum. With legs spread and fangs bared, it launched itself directly toward the fallen Jack. Wide-eyed, Jack turned and cried out, No! Stay away! STAY AWAAAAAYYY! He reached out his hand, and a vibrant green spell circle formed almost instantly in the air between them. Thick roots erupted from the ground on either side of him, colliding just as the [Second-Circle] Puffspider passed by. The area, including Jack, was showered in a fine mist of maybe-mushroom juice. Jill approached him, clapping slowly. Her voice remained flat as she spoke. Good job, Jack. Next time, try not to take 20 minutes to defeat a little spider, especially one several circles lower than you. Jack pointed at the remains of the Magic Beast and protested, Little?! Did you see the size of that thing?! The small ones are bad enough! No spider has any right to be that big! She glanced at her sticky brother and sighed, waving her hand to summon a waterball that washed away most of the sticky substance. Jill responded in a sharp tone, Well then, maybe you shouldnt go poking at random giant mushrooms you find on the side of the road! Dealing with that Crag Tiger already set us back an entire day! If you two trouble magnets Both Jack and the recovered metal spirit beast had the audacity to look away. would start behaving, we might actually get out of these mountains by the end of the month! Why were you even running, Jack? You should have just squashed it and been done with it! You even made me spill my lunch! Jill pointed to the small white puddle by the wayside. Jack turned back to Jill, pointing as he spoke. Hey! I cant help it if those abominations freak me out! And who brings junket on a mission, anyway?! Jill pinched the bridge of her nose and pulled her older brother up. Jack was promptly tackled by the large metal spirit beast, who continued to rattle on in that incomprehensible language, even as her brother struggled to breathe in its crushing embrace. Jill only shook her head and walked to the remains of their campsite to pack for the day. She still wasnt sure what to make of their new companions. Jack liked them, but then this was the same man whod brought home a Sparkadile hatchling because he thought it was cute. It had taken the entire tribe to calm and appease the mother, even if half advocated feeding the idiot to her. After being dragged into the chase with the Crag Tiger, it had taken all four working together to chase the Magic Beast off. That, in itself, was strange; Crag Tigers, while not docile, didnt bother with most creatures. They were lazy, sluggish creatures that would almost starve rather than hunt. She had to wonder what had got it so angry that it would chase them for so long. Then again, Magic Beasts were strange like that. Mana did strange things. Where spirit energy reinforced the existence of things, Mana altered them. spirit energy made something more than they already were, whereas Mana transformed things into what they could be. The philosophy and relationship between the twin energies was a topic that had been explored by far wiser people than Jill and for more lifetimes than she could fathom. All she needed to know was that at the end of the day, it boiled down to spirit beasts being stronger, faster, and smarter, while Magic Beasts were weird. A famous pearl of wisdom in the Adventures Guild was spirit beast that kills you will be the one you didnt study enough. The Magic Beast that kills you will be one you thought you knew. Not that the opposite couldnt be true either, but the idea held some truth. spirit beasts were predictable; they were heavily reliant on their bloodlines and innate nature. You could counter them effectively once you knew what a spirit beast could do. On the other hand, Magic Beasts seemed to be constantly mutating and changing. Even within the same species, two individuals might show vastly different variations in skill or ability. Some suggested this was because spirit energy favored stability and reinforcement, while Mana encouraged adaptation and change, but again, that was delving into subjects Jill never had the mind for. Whether the Crag Tiger was a mutation or just really, really peeved didnt matter in the end. Only that they got away, and as her brother said, make some friends along the way sigh The large metal box creature had instantly bonded with her brother. Shed never seen anything like it before and couldnt name it. But it seemed intelligent, at the very least. From the moment it met them, it had continuously spoken to them in some unknown language. Her brother hadnt even questioned it and nodded along knowingly the whole time. Great, now she had two of them to keep an eye out for As for the peculiar Root Gopher, it remained an enigma, and its intelligence and expressiveness puzzled Jill. While spirit beasts like it were classified as Minor creatures with basic earth manipulation abilities at most, they werent typically known for their intellect or communication skills. If it werent for the innate ability of Awakened Beasts to sense each other, Jill might have thought that the Root Gopher possessed some level of sapience. Jill had never heard of a Root Gopher tribe. Sure, in theory, it was possible, but the chances of a Minor beast like them forming a Beast Core were astronomically small, likely having never occurred in their species entire history. If it did happen, the Beast Core would have been highly sought after for its novelty alone. In contrast, no Awakened Beast tribe could trace their lineage back to a Minor beast, as the chances of such a creature becoming a true Progenitor were minuscule. Even Jills own ancestors, the Iron-Tailed Oreplanter Squirrels, were fully-fledged spirit beasts capable of forming cores and ascending beyond the lower [Mortal Foundation] realm, although it was a rare occurrence. Their Progenitor, Jonny Rubyseed, was renowned for planting treasures in the surrounding mountains. These stories had fascinated Jill in her youth, despite having devolved into mere myths and legends after tens of thousands of years. Jonny was an Iron-Tailed Oreplanter Squirrel like any other, a common species found throughout the Skybreaker continent known for hoarding various Spirit materials, much like ordinary squirrels hoard nuts and seeds. Over time, Jonnys hidden caches would grow and give birth to valuable treasures. Many fortunate individuals had stumbled upon these old squirrels nests and made fortunes. The legends said that Jonnys caches could even intertwine and form powerful natural formations, increasing the level and quality of spirit energy in the area, thus enhancing Jonnys own growth. Yet, at the end of the day, Jonny was just a squirrel. Soon, he would be pushed out of his home by stronger, more fierce creatures seeking power there and forced to start anew. In such a way, thousands of Spirit-rich hotspots were created in the surrounding mountains, many of which remain even to this day. In time, Jonny would grow to such power that he could no longer be so easily pushed from his home, and so began the story of the Squirrel Tribes Progenitor. But unlike most of his kind, Jonny remembered all the treasures he had hidden in his old homes. Instead of reclaiming them himself, he left clues and riddles for his future descendants to find, hoping that they would help elevate their people to greater heights. Unfortunately, Jonnys descendants were not as wise or forward-thinking as he had been. Many of the clues and riddles had been sold off over the generations, benefiting only a select few. In Jill and Jacks generation, only a few of these treasured secrets remained within the tribe, contributing to their current impoverished state. One of these stories had revealed the existence of the mystical [Pure Water Spring], located in the deepest cavern on the tallest mountain. Jonny had left this treasure behind before his ascension, describing it as a physical manifestation of cleansing power. Rumors circulated that the springs waters possessed the ability to unblock a persons meridians and cleanse their body and Spirit of impurities, regardless of their realm. If the [Pure Water Spring] had been widely known, clans and sects worldwide would have fought bloody wars to obtain it. However, Jonny had taken precautions to safeguard its secret, entrusting the knowledge only to his wisest and most talented descendants. It would have remained hidden for countless more generations if not for Jills accident. In retrospect, Jill realized her mistake in challenging Coldfinger, the most powerful figure in the criminal underworld of Halirosa. Coldfingers rise to the top was a testament to his strength, and Jills decision to defy him, especially considering their town was a haven for Adventurers, was foolish. But she had grown weary of his constant threats and mounting debts. Even Coldfingers punishment of freezing her cultivation rather than killing her was a mockery, a way of belittling the squirrels. The memory of her defiance ignited a fiery determination within her, briefly thawing her perpetually icy hands. Despite her familys efforts to rectify her cultivation deviation caused by Coldfinger, Jill found his methods to be devious. Even if she were to abandon her current cultivation and start anew, she would face significant obstacles as the spirit energy moved through her meridians like a sluggish, icy slurry, severely impeding her progress. Fortunately, there was a glimmer of hope offered by the old tribal matriarch, now three generations removed. Shed recognized Jills struggles and innate talent from an early age and had shared a secret tale with her, one she had kept hidden even from her own children for fear of its misuse. For the first time in a long while, Jill felt a surge of hope akin to discovering an old cabin amidst an unrelenting blizzard. However, Old Jonny Rubyseed was an eccentric old soul. Jill understood that locating this treasure would push her abilities to their limits. Yet, she saw no other viable option but to embark on this quest. Together with Jack, she ventured into their ancestral mountains, armed solely with an ancient seed and vague instructions to find the place where the roots meet the sky, a cryptic riddle whose meaning eluded them. Snapping out of her reminiscence, Jill finished packing and turned to find Jack stuffing vials of spider goop into the spatial storage area within the metal creatures shell. Yet another surprising discovery. She called out as she hoisted the heavy pack onto her shoulder, her voice filled with determination. Are you finished playing in the mud? Lets get moving! I want to reach the mountains base before nightfall. Who knows what other dangers lurk in these parts? With those words, the Root Gopher hopped onto her pack, and together they set off toward the mountain road. Update for next week/End of the Arc! (Discussion Chapter) Woops! I thought I posted this with the last chapter, but I guess not! Anyway, next week marks the end of Arc 2 and the (rough) midpoint of book one! Hurrah! Honestly, I''m surprised we''re here already! What a ride its been! only two months in as we''re already at 140k views and 1.5k followers, as well as 55 Patreon subscribers! Not explosive growth, but impressive none the less. Thanks for all your support everyone! I Literally couldn''t have done it without you all! That being said, I think now''s a good time for some quality reflection about the direction of the Novel and what you all think of it so far! What do you think of the story? What are some parts of it you love? What are things you could do without? If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Do you have any suggestions? Feel free to treat this as a Discussion Chapter, and speak your mind about any aspect of the story so far you want to. Hell, if you have any suggestions for more places to post this to get more eyes on the novel, I''d love it! Currently we''re on Royal Road, Scribblehub, Spacebattles and Sufficientvelocity, as well as Patreon obviously. But it feels like a lot of that has plateaued recently, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Also, as a bit of a thanks, here''s a quick hint for the Arc conclusion to wet your whistle for next week, for those who just can''t wait! (Possible Spoiler Below for old readers) Book 1 – Lesson 29: “Never assume you see the whole board” Ganaa watched from a distance as Ulagan put his spear through another penguin as it tried to crawl out of the small gap in the wall. As a group, theyd plugged most of the gaps the Grassbreakers had found with rubble or penguin bodies. Yet the intruders were relentless and constantly found or made new entry points. Only ten minutes had passed since the battle began, and nearly a dozen Grassbreakers had already slipped into the main temple through alternate routes. After all, it wasnt like they were having much luck at the breech. The constant rumbling thunder of the Lord Protectors assault hadnt stopped once in all that time. The rate of attacks themselves slowed somewhat, though. Not that they could tell what he was doing; the one time Ganaa had approached to get a better look over the barricade, hed been stopped by the formation ring. When hed gotten within a few meters, the red ring had flared to life, with several flowing pictograms showing a clear warning to stay away. Even from that distance, Ganaa could feel the sheer heat radiating off the Lord Protector. Getting close would have likely ended poorly for anyone without the proper affinities. Regarding affinities, the survivors were divided on what the Lord Protectors might be. The spirit beast had an obvious strong metal affinity, but beyond that, none could say. The pictures it could produce suggested a powerful light or illusion affinity, but those were exceedingly rare, especially when paired with metal. Its thunderous, lightning-fast attacks suggested it might also have some affinity for that rare subset of air. Yet it would take greater earth affinity than even Ulagan to burrow through the obelisk-reinforced temple floor so easily. Now, it might even have some fire affinity? Most creatures, human or otherwise, were typically born with a single affinity. Two, if they had some talent. Three was the mark of a genius, and most would be snatched up by the sects or larger clans. Three was also the minimal requirement to be chosen for Grassreader training. More than four? That was the stuff of legends and tales of heroes. Of course, anyone could use most affinities if they trained hard enough, but it was typically considered a waste. Ones natural affinities came so much easier and cost so much less to use that most people learned only a little more than the basics of other affinities. Certain natural treasures were said to impart natural affinities as well, but such treasures were among the most rare and valuable imaginable. A single such treasure would be enough for the Slatewalkers to buy multiple top-of-the-line [Earth furnaces] with room to spare. It was also enough for the village to be wiped out by some greedy scion just to get their hands on it. Most of the group debated which three or four affinities might be the Lord Protectors primaries. Ganaa, Ulagan, and Kallik shared a knowing look, however. So many affinities were just another check on the list of their progenitor theory. Whatever the truth might be, there was no doubt the Lord Protector was holding his own. The steadily growing scent of blood in the air was proof enough. AHRGH! Kalliks frustrated scream was audible even over the sound of battle. =============== Kallik threw down the bloody tool in her hand, even as Zolzaya wiped away the sweat from her brow. Damn the blood bastard whod invented this heinous thing, damn whoever had given it to the Beast Lord, and damn herself most of all. If only shed still had both her arms. If only shed been strong enough to protect her charges. It was always If, if, if. Had the peaceful life of a teacher really made her go so soft?! What happened to Kallik of the Blood-Stained Grass? Zolzaya was helping where she could, but the girl was still too inexperienced for something like this. Even working together, theyd only been able to stave off the creeping wires, not push them back. It didnt help they were feeding off Yutus own spirit energy. Any time they made progress, Yutus spirit energy would recover some, and the invasive metal would chew through it to undo all of their progress. Whoever had modified this strain had done so in a way that none of the typical tricks were working well. That suggested the alchemist was intimately familiar with it. Changes like this would have taken years and many, many test subjects. If shed not seen his head on a spike herself, Kallik would have suspected the Copper Artist had reappeared. Could this be a copycat? Why here? Why now? More importantly, why work with the Beast Lord? What was their end goal? Kallik pulled her hand down her face, leaving a slight bloody trail, which Zolzaya dutifully wiped clean. The worried eyes of her charges bore into her. How was she going to tell them? How could she tell them she was fighting a losing battle? She could keep peeling away the wires, but eventually, she or Yutu would burn out, and the wires would win. For the umpteenth time that day, shed kicked herself for not learning proper healing magic. Healing magic typically converted the targets spirit energy directly into mana, fueling recovery, but they were extremely taxing and could cause other issues. An improperly cast healing spell could fuse a bone wrong or form cancers that only appeared years later. They were great for quick battlefield injuries, but pills could have similar results, and you didnt need an entire team to undo the damage later if something went wrong. Kallik had always turned her nose up at them. Proper doctors didnt need such cheap shortcuts. But now, a healing spell would have worked wonders. With the spell converting all of Yutus spirit energy into mana, they might have been able to make some progress. Kallik stared out the breech in the temple wall. How long would the battle last? If they could chase away the Grassbreakers, could someone make it to the village and bring another healer? No, not likely. If the Lord Protector went with them, those left behind would be defenseless. Was that a risk they could take? What if it was only she who stayed? She could stay behind and keep Yutu stable while the rest rushed to the village. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. That could work. It would be far easier to hide two people in ruins than a group, and the boy wouldnt make it otherwise. This could be their only chance. With a deep sigh, she turned to the group to tell them her plan, but frozen, the words lost on her lips. There, just out of sight behind the gathered group, a pair of eyes peeked out from the floor. Not a pair of penguin eyes, but two glowing orbs set on the beautiful face of a young woman. Though smooth as marble, her skin appeared gray and patchy, as if made from the stone floor itself. Her hair was the thick moss carpet that grew in the shady corners. And her eyes, her eyes, were two incandescent onyx gems of alternating black and white rings. Kallik had only seen such a being once before, and she wasnt sure if they should be relieved or terrified. Kalliks silent, wide-eyed gaze caused the group to turn and investigate what she was staring at. Once they saw the figure poking out of the stone, the closest jumped and hastily retreated. The figure only smiled, sending cold shivers down Kalliks spine, then glided effortlessly through the impossibly hard stone toward her. The Greater Earth Elemental stopped just short of the prone Yutu, then pulled herself out of the stone until she was only buried waist deep. A delicate hand that looked like it had been carved by a master sculptor gently caressed the young mans face. Kalliks mind was racing, trying to process this turn of events. Was this the Elemental of the Obelisk? Why was it still around? With the obelisk destroyed, its contract was void, and it should have been free to leave. More importantly, what kind of psychopath would bind a Greater Elemental?! True, Earth Elementals were typically more manageable than others, but the mind of an Elemental was difficult for a mortal to understand. Like the Beast Lords in the stories, a Greater Elemental might offer you a boon of untold power if you pleased them or they might kill you for an offense you never knew you committed. The group stood in ridged silence until the Elemental looked up, a bitter smile on her lips as she spoke in a voice that reminded Kallik of the gentle dripping of water in a vast, echoing cave. Well, now. I wasnt expecting guests. Id ask you to leave, but thats not possible at the moment. Besides, it seems we both could use each others help. The Elemental stared down at the young man in front of her. How about it, boy? Would you like to make a contract? The words were like ice in Kalliks veins, and she couldnt help but wonder if this was fate or a sign of something worse to come. =============== The being stirred slowly from its long slumber. How long? It didnt remember. After all, it was nothing more than a piece left behind. But that breaking had been her own choice, and the consequences were her own. Had she regretted it in the end? Had their gamble failed? Who knew? She surely shouldnt have. She should have never been awake The being couldnt even remember why, only that she was supposed to have remained asleep until called on. So what had gone wrong? A quick peek showed the immediate issue. Her anchor was broken. But even that shouldnt have been enough to awaken her. Anchors had broken before, but they could always renew themselves if given time. So why did this one feel so weak? Her mind still clouded from her long sleep, the being reached into the broken remains of her anchor and froze. It was gone. It was gone?! itwasgoneitwasgoneitwasgone! No! It couldnt be gone! As if doused by a bucket of ice-cold water, the being snapped to full awareness. In desperation, she scoured the entire anchor multiple times, to no avail. Then she reached out to the rest of her, spread across the land. Three more. Three more were missing. Not just them, either, but her as well. What had happened? Why had she been left behind? Had some fool Cultivator meddled with things they shouldnt, again? No, no, the Watchers should have prevented such a thing. But then, what of her own Watcher? She reached out for the connection with the Watcher. The contract could be passed down even if shed been asleep for millennia. Yet, she felt nothing. Either the contract had been broken or her Watcher was dead. Either was not ideal. This was more than a little bad. But what could she do? She was severely weakened, literally just a fragment of her true self. Even if she was to awaken the rest of her, who knew what kind of damage had already been done? If her seal was in this kind of state, what about her siblings? Was everything theyd sacrificed for about to be undone? She had to check. She had to see for herself. But how? As she was now, there was no way she should even leave the area, let alone check on the others. Yet she had to. So much rode on it not yet being too late. =============== What do you mean its not there?! The shadowed figure slammed its fist into the stone pillar beside it, causing the building to convulse. The small penguin in front of it shook too, but for different reasons. A cold sweat dripping down its beak. Then, its form rippled, and where once was a penguin, now kneeled an old man. When he spoke, his wizened voice shook under the force of the shadowed figures intent. I-m Sorry, maam, but yes. The child led us to the temple like you suspected she would, but the piece had already been removed. The shadowed figure roared and struck the pillar once more. This time, the blow was powerful enough that the entire pillar exploded into a thousand pieces. The air itself shook with the force of its voice. That bitch! She moved it! I know she did! But how?! And to where?! The sound of grinding teeth could be heard from the shadows, sending a shiver down the old mans spine. OH! I might have an idea! Both of the rooms occupants turned to find a young man leaning in the door well, an ever-present, cheeky grin on his lips. The shadowed figure squinted their eyes and stared at the young man as they spoke. Oh youre back. I assume you were successful in sending the hunting dogs after the other target? The young man pushed off the door well and nodded. Yep! They took the bait surprisingly well. I was expecting more resistance. It seems good old Aunt Metis was better at her job than we expected. In more ways than one. She always struck me as the sly type, despite the whole happy-go-lucky airhead act. The shadowed figure leaned back in her chair and smiled. Good. I must say, the timing of it all is quite fortunate. Who would have thought a fallen star would fall right in our backyard just as our plans were put into motion? If I didnt know better, Id say this was a sign from the heavens themselves that our work is meant to be. You say you know where she might have hidden it? The young man folded his arms and nodded before answering. I do. Like I said, she always struck me as the sly type. I dont doubt she expected we were planning something for quite some time. Otherwise, why move it? Why waste all that time and resources trying to restore the temple? What if the goal wasnt to restore the temple but to move the object? The shadowed figure frowned as they spoke. But to do that, she would have needed Ahhhh, I see. Sly indeed. The young man nodded in agreement before continuing. Right? Who would have thought Aunt Metis would have done something like that? I have to admit, thats colder than I would have given her credit for. It would also explain why she worked so hard to get into the Origin sects good graces. After all, they were part of the Pact as well, or so the tales say. And it worked; we let it slip right through our fingers without even knowing. The two stared at each other, their sharp-toothed smiles mirroring each other. It was the shadowed figure who spoke. Not well enough, it would seem. Book 1 – Lesson 30: “Never give the enemy a second chance.” Yutu knocked another metal penguin away with his spear. It tumbled into the surrounding horde, dissipating into a cloud of gray dust, only to be replaced by another. How many had that made? A hundred? A thousand? Ten thousand? He didnt know; he had lost track long ago. Time mattered little in this place. Sometimes it felt like he had been here forever, like he had known no other place but this dark, cold void, surrounded by an endless army of metal penguins. At other times, he could recall memories from various parts of his life as clearly as if he had just stepped out of them. He couldnt even remember why he was fighting, what this endless, pointless struggle was for. Yet he knew he had to keep fighting. He knew that if he stopped, then the surrounding horde would utterly consume him. So he fought and fought and fought. Until his arms burned like they were on fire. Until his lungs shuttered with each breath. Until his body felt hollow and dry, and every drop had been wrung from him. Yet, he knew he was fighting a losing battle. Each swing of his spear came a little harder. Every penguin he tossed aside was a little heavier. Every moment, the horde closed in around him a little tighter. In time, Yutu would have nothing left to give, and the end would come. So, why do you keep fighting? The feminine voice was smooth and sweet. Kind, but firm in a way that reminded him of his mother. It wasnt judging him or scolding him, simply asking why. Like a dream, Yutu never questioned where the voice had come from or what it was asking, just as he never questioned the horde or where he was. Nonetheless, he answered it, knocking away another penguin, his voice dry and raspy. Because I have to? Again, the feminine voice asked from just out of view. Why? What do you gain from it? What is it you desire from all of this? Yutu faltered, his swing coming short as a penguin slammed into his chest. He stumbled back a few steps but brought his spear up in time to deflect the next metal creature. Why was he fighting? Yutu wasnt a spearman! He wasnt a Guardian! He was a Scriptor, a trapper! Why was he here? Because Because I Two more penguins leaped at him, metal maws opened wide. He couldnt deflect both. Time seemed to slow, and a memory flashed through his mind. Yutu, barely 10 years old, and a slightly older boy stood in a field, long staffs clutched in their hands. The larger boy lecturing Yutu, his back straight and chin held high as if ready to deliver some grand secret. Even if his voice cracked like a young mans tended to when not quite finished with puberty. See here! The spear isnt just a stick with a pointy end! Youve got to treat the whole thing as a weapon! The young boy twirled his staff in a demonstration, stabbing out at an imaginary enemy with one end of the spear, only to pull back at the last second and strike at another foe coming from a different direction with the butt end. Young Yutu laughed and smiled at the sloppy display. After all, Yutu had already watched him practice the move a hundred times after hed delivered the lunch his mother had made him take to his father at the training grounds. That same smile mirrored on an older face as Yutu drove the spear tip into the first penguin, then slammed the butt end into the others with a twist of his hips. Both went flying, but a third erupted from the ground under him. Again, a vivid memory flashed through his mind. This time, a slightly older Yutu stood in a grassy field with a young woman. The young woman lashed out with an open palm, catching young Yutu in the chest. He fell to the ground with an oof and rubbed his lower back. The young woman looked down at him and shook her head, her voice stern as she scolded him. Yutu! How do you expect the other boys to take you seriously if you cant even get the Slatewalker footwork down?! Do you want to always be a target? Now get up and watch me again! She raised her hand to the young Yutu, pulling him to his feet. She showed him the basic footwork for what seemed like the thousandth time that day. Like a dancer on ice, or more accurately, a piece of charcoal on a stone slab, the young womans feet glided across the grass in an intricate pattern. An older Yutu smiled at the memory and mimicked those same patterns in a fluid movement, nimbly dodging an attacking penguin before countering with an upward swing. The third penguin soared through the air before poofing away like those before it. Yutu considered the question the voice asked again. When he spoke, his words were no longer a question to himself. Because I have to. He breathed out and lowered his spear, only vaguely aware in that dream-like way that the metal penguins were no longer attacking. He turned to face the voice and, instead of empty space, met the gaze of a beautiful young woman, her eyes a mesmerizing display of alternating white and black rings. Yutu spoke again, his eyes firm. Because I have people waiting for me. Because if I dont fight, then the people who worked so hard to make me smile wont be able to themselves. The woman stared at Yutu and sighed, casting her eyes down and shaking her head. Her voice, though still soft, felt tired. Na?ve and clich. Still, its better than some other fools. You would be surprised how many rants Ive heard about standing on top or defying the heavens. Yutu stumbled, feeling like he could spit blood. He furrowed his brow and stuttered. What I ? The woman held up a hand, cutting him off as she continued. But thats neither here nor there. This is about you and what you want. So, young Yutu, what is it you really want? What is it you desire in your heart of hearts? Yutu closed his mouth and paused, considering. What did he want? After a long minute, he spoke. I want to be useful. Not just be used. The woman raised a brow, motioning for him to continue, so he did. I want to be someone that people can rely on. Someone who can return all the happiness and goodwill given to me. Someone who can do the same for others that has been done for me. The woman frowned, her voice cold and blank as she responded. You understand that is not the world we live in. The strong eat the weak, and those with power make the rules. Even in the largest and most prosperous cities, the law of the jungle reigns. Tell me, how would a man like you ever survive in this world alone? If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Yutu looked down at the womans scolding, but the grip around his spear grew tighter as he looked back up, staring into her eyes. You''re right. The strong will eat the weak. But there is more than one definition of power. We dont have to challenge the heavens alone. We dont have to bear the weight of the world ourselves. You ask me, how does a man like me survive on my own? We dont have to. Ill pull others up with me. Ill challenge the world with an army at my side if I have to. Even ants may feast on tiger flesh when they work together. Yutus last words hung heavy in the silence before the woman threw her head back and laughed. The young mans face grew cherry red. She clutched her stomach and wiped away a diamond tear as she spoke. I was right. Na?ve and foolish Yutu opened his mouth, but again, she raised a hand, cutting him off. but you remind me of him So, Ill ask you once more She looked up at him, all laughter gone from her eyes. In its place, Yutu felt as if he was looking at the very foundations of the world, an unmovable cornerstone on which all others were set. Yutu of the Slatewalkers, would you like to make a contract? - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA! Alphas laughter was drowned out by the rat-a-tat-tat of both quad barrel railguns on either side. Strictly speaking, they shouldnt have made much noise as railguns. But Alpha always found a little showmanship was needed in situations like this, as it made for more impact. After all, he didnt get to use Siege Mode every day. Mostly that was because of the [Munition Compression Drills], Alphas personal addition to the TAWP that answered the question, What if we just had ALL the bullets? Simple in concept, the MCD used the same principles found in nanite mining to burrow deep into the ground, then use the stone, soil, and trace metals it dug up to create super compressed, hyper-dense rail ammunition. Who didnt love infinite ammo? That being said, it came with some limitations, the most obvious of which was it locked Alpha in place as the MCDs spread out like tree roots. He could abandon the drills and silo in a pinch, but that would represent a tremendous loss of resources and time. It was also something that took time to deploy properly. Often it was far quicker to take out the enemy with more conventional munitions. There was also the issue of Alphas dirt cheap bullets (the first time he made that pun, Sidia locked him in a high-security cell for a week) didnt really do much against even outdated armor, or at least Federation standards of outdated. But against a ravenous horde of squishy biologicals intent on throwing themselves at him by the dozens? Well, it gave a new meaning to paint the town (ruins) red. Actually, on second thought, that brought up an interesting question. Why were they so intent on getting past him? Alpha knew a few had slipped through alternate means, so killing him wasnt their goal. Then why were they just throwing bodies into the meat-grinder? Was it to distract him? Or tie his hands? He had [Wasps] scouting the ruins, looking for any signs of suspicious behavior, but theyd yet to find anything other than the growing army. The strange woman who suddenly appeared in the middle of the group of humans was worrying, but other than showing some surprise, the humans hadnt reacted negatively. Alpha found the consequences of her timely appearance suspicious, as did her ability to slide through the ground like the penguins. He didnt have enough information to act on but kept a turret barrel trained on her figure, just in case. A brief discussion saw Kallik move away from the unconscious young man and the stranger take her place. Then she just stood there? Several minutes passed like that as the army of penguins grew, despite the small lake of gore forming in front of Alpha. At least theyd stopped throwing themselves mindlessly at him, their natural survival instincts overriding whatever compulsion drove them into the meat-grinder. Alpha switched from continual fire to more controlled bursts, targeting penguins that peeked out from behind cover his compressed soil bullets couldnt quite pierce. Thats when the rumbling started. The entire building complex began shaking violently, throwing up thick dust clouds. All that could be seen through the obstruction was the soft blue glow emanating from the designs decorating the obelisk and the black-white glow in the womans eyes. The dust hung in the air for a moment before coming to a sudden halt, falling to the ground as if pushed by some unseen hand. Once the air was free of dust, Alpha had to do a double take as he noticed the obelisk had vanished. No, wait, not vanished. Rather, it was compressed to the size of a small stake made of some dark gemstone, vibrant blue lines pulsing along its length, forming intricate patterns. The gemstone stake floated silently over the womans outstretched hands as if suspended by an anti-gravity field. Then, in one smooth motion, it floated over the unconscious mans chest and flipped over, sharp point down. Alpha took the shot. Three military-grade rounds slammed into the woman at Mach 3. Part of the womans head and upper chest vanished in a spray of moss and stone but seemed to have little effect. The group of humans yelled and scrambled for cover, but the strange woman only turned to Alpha and smiled. She waved in his direction once before crumbling to dust. The gemstone stake, however, remained floating in place. Then, in one swift motion, it plunged toward the young mans chest. The group of humans gasped, but instead of the expected spray of blood, space rippled as it came in contact, and like a stone dropping into a still lake, the stake vanished. All was still for a silent moment, and then the air centered on the young mans still form pulsed like the beating of a heart starting back up after centuries of laying still. Again, the air pulsed, this time stronger, and the young man gasped, his back arching and eyes wide open. Eyes now ringed with a dual black-and-white pattern. A torrent of writhing copper vines, far more than should have been there, erupted from his back, poured onto, then burrowed into the hard ground beneath him. Alpha tracked the strange phenomena with his own nanoroots, watching as the copper vines burrowed towards the temple breech, swimming around the MCD roots like they had a mind of their own. The army of gathered penguins seeming to sense something was wrong, scattered, but it was too late. At that same time, hundreds of copper vines burst forth from the ground under each penguin, skewering them through various vital points. In mere seconds, what was once a ruined town was turned into a copper forest, penguin bodies decorating their branches like morbid fruits. Alpha watched the scene from various angles provided by his [Wasps] and could confirm the same was happening all across the ruins. [Huh Neat.] That was all the AI could think. More interesting to Alpha was what the copper vines had dug up near the back of the ruins. More than a thousand meters away from the primary temple complex, near one of the pit walls, a large penguin with a twisted flipper struggled against dozens of copper vines. Unlike its lesser minions, the creature had avoided most of the damage, though several broken metal spears wedged in its feathery hide said it hadnt come away unscathed. It was putting up a good fight, however, and the vines couldnt seem to finish it off. With a pulse of power, the large penguin pushed the surrounding vines away and yelled out loud enough to be heard, even from that distance. Alphas Lexicon was still a work in progress, but it was coming along well enough he could make out most of what the creature was saying. ENOUGH! You couldnt just die peacefully, could you?! You insects forced me to do this! Remember that while you burn in the pits! With that, it pulled a small black orb from nowhere. The strange orb bubbled and swirled like black oil, or maybe tar, and gave Alpha a creepy feeling, even through the [Wasp]. The penguin gave the orb a look of hesitation before tossing it into its mouth and biting down. At that moment, the air around the creature seemed to explode, pushing the vines and rubble away from it for dozens of meters. The creature itself screamed soundlessly toward the sky as thick black veins spread across its body. Then, the stone and rubble surrounding it began floating, pulled almost magnetically towards the creature until the large penguin was buried under a small mountain of debris. Rather than that being the end, the mountain of debris then started to shift and twist, flowing like water to take on a new shape. A second later, the mountain of debris was no longer debris, and a thirty-meter-tall stone penguin stood in its place. The gargantuan stone penguin gave a mindless roar that shook the air and charged toward the temple, sliding on its stone belly at surprising speeds. Alpha watched the approaching stone titan and mentally frowned. Ya, screw that. Were not playing this game again. Time for the gloves to come off. The TAWPs back swirled and shifted, and in only a moment, something new had formed. The 10-meter-long square barrel, four sparking electromagnetic rails running down its length at each corner, gave off a slightly industrial feel unlike much of Alphas other equipment. Despite the less refined appearance, the sight would have sent many smaller pirate factions in the Third Federation running for the hills. A single name was carved into the side of the barrel in bold letters for all the world to see. [M8-223-Railjack]. Book 1 - Arc 2 Epilogue - "Know your Truth." What was a gun? Depending on who you asked, you would get different answers. Some would tell you theyre tools of death and destruction whose only use was to take a life. Others would say theyre tools of protection to defend yourself, and those you care about, from harm. Alpha had a different point of view. A gun was nothing more than a means of delivery. Whether a bullet, a bomb, or even a beam of energy, a guns singular purpose was to deliver its payload to the intended target quickly and efficiently. Anything beyond that was fluff. Guns didnt kill people, after all. Bullets did. With that idea in mind, Alpha had long reflected on what the perfect gun would look like. Would it be some advanced technology with all the bells and whistles? Would it be the one that could pack the most punch and do the most damage? Or would the perfect gun be simpler than that? Would it be a delivery method so efficient, so effective that nothing could deny it? With that question in mind, the [M8-223-Railjack] was born. The Railjack might not have been the most sophisticated weapon in the Federation or even the most powerful, but this brainchild of Alphas did one job and did so perfectly. It had taken decades of tweaking and refinement to perfect it, to where even Mr. Hoffmann, [SEAU - 04], the Federations primary weapon smith, had given up on it. But Alpha never had. Something deep inside him, primal and unnamable, had driven him to continue. It had been an obsession for a long time, consuming Alphas attention like nothing else before. But it had all been worth it in the end. Those with untrained eyes might have called the Railjack rough or unpolished, but to Alpha, nothing had ever appeared more beautiful than the first time hed printed a final stage [M8-223-Railjack]. It was simplicity given form, and yet, it was so much more. Something changed in the temple air as a large metal rod was loaded into the Railjacks central barrel. A heavy pressure swept outward, encompassing the ruins like a thick, wet blanket draped over everyones shoulders. Even the charging stone titan seemed to falter slightly under the strange weight. The young man, Yutu, or maybe the thing inside of him, suddenly shot upright, his wide eyes locked on Alpha. His form flickered and reappeared before the small group of humans, hands outstretched. A dozen crystal shields materialized between Alpha and the group, just as Alpha inverted his own hex shield to do the same. Thick tendrils of electricity raced down the length of the Railjacks barrel, and then it happened. Faster than the mind could perceive, faster than even Alphas optical sensors could track, the 50lb cobalt alloy rod vanished. The shockwave generated was enough to create an absolute vacuum around Alpha for a moment, as the very atmosphere itself was pushed away with such force that a thin bubble of superionic ice formed. The bubble shattered, spraying razor-sharp shards of super-heated atmospheric ice in all directions. Alphas own hex shield shattered almost instantly, as did nine of the dozen crystalline shields behind it. The final three cracked and broke under the immense force only a moment later, barely lasting until the shockwave passed. Conversely, the immediate area wasnt so lucky, as the explosive shockwave decimated the temple, popping the ancient, hardened stone building like a fragile soap bubble. The damage in the direction the Railjack had been pointing was no less devastating. The force of the 50lb projectile leaving the Railjacks barrel at over Mach 150 had gouged a five meter wide trench through the ruined city, of which little remained. Even the copper forest that had sprouted among the ruins was nothing more than twisted slag in its wake. As for the charging stone titan what little remained of it was buried several hundred meters into the thick stone wall of the pit in the opposite direction. One moment it had been charging head first toward Alpha, and the next, the front 3/4ths of the creature had been pancaked by the heavy rail slug and sent back the way it had come. A moment later, Alphas sensors came back online slowly as he ran a damage report. That definitely wasnt supposed to have happened. The [M8-223-Railjack] was powerful, sure. It could even punch through the armor of an orbiting cruiser from a planets surface. But that that had been something else entirely. What had happened? Before Alpha could run an in-depth analysis, a figure approached from behind. Protected from the heat by his thick armor, complemented by a layer of stone, Ulagan walked through what had once been the temple walls and stood beside Alpha. As the two stood there and watched the destruction, the 5lb, 100-ton yield nuclear warhead carried by the rod picked that time to detonate (something that should have happened on impact). A large mushroom erupted from deep underground, far into the distance, staining the midday sky red with ash. Ulagan watched the cloud dissipate for a long moment before turning to Alpha and bowing. In Alphas Core-World, Targeting cheered and added another tally to the Times Alpha used too much Overkill scoreboard. The other Sub-AIs could only groan and transfer the Fed Credits. ============ As the final crystal shields shattered, Yutu, blood slowly dripping from every orifice, sank to his knees, his eyes rolling back in his head. Of the humans, only two remained upright (barely) and awake, Kallik and Ulagan, both on their knees, ears bleeding, seemingly unable to process such rapid events. Ulagan was the first to move, his Guardian training throwing him into autopilot. He roused Kallik from her stupor with some effort, only vaguely aware he couldnt hear anything, and with her help, gathered the others. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. By some stroke of luck, or whatever the Lord Protector and Yutu had done at the last moment, the blast had killed no one. But neither were they unharmed, either. Everyone had suffered some form of internal damage, and Yutu himself seemed in worse shape than before theyd arrived at the temple. A quick scan showed the poison had been totally purged from his body, yet, while he was totally drained of any spirit energy, Kallik chose to leave him for last. She didnt know what the Greater Earth Elemental had done to the boy, but she doubted the entity would let him die so soon after forming a contract. Ulagan ensured Kallik had everything she needed to care for the others, then carefully made his way to where the temple wall once stood. Once, because the structure that should have been able to withstand the assault from multiple early [Earthly Transcendent] realm Cultivators at once had been reduced to rubble from just the backlash of a single attack. The mere thought of it sent his hands shaking uncontrollably. Ulagan was a Guardian; this wasnt the first time hed escaped death by the hair of his teeth, far from it. A true Guardian knew death as intimately as they did their spouse or child. Yet, this? This was something different. This wasnt bravely facing down your death as you stood in the gap in place of another. It was utter and complete helplessness before overwhelming power. It was laying down to die, not because you did not have the will or desire to struggle, but because there was no other choice. Ulagan had never seen such a thing. He could barely process it. Yet, as he stood beside the Lord Protector, wreathed in stony armor to protect himself from the enormous heat, and watched the enormous fireball far in the distance, a similar fire was lit in Ulagans heart. This was what genuine power looked like. Not that fake, fragile power the greater clans like to swing about, or even the power of the Sects and their various backings. Absolute power left no room for debate or questions, only its wielders will. It was the kind of power that could destroy the world with a wave of a hand or shield it from every harm. Ulagan knew it was the kind of power he needed. It wasnt enough to just stand in the gap. If he wanted to be a true Guardian, an unbreakable shield that would never allow those behind him to come to harm, he needed the kind of power that could stand up to even this level of destruction and brush it away. At that moment, something snapped into place in Ulagans Spirit. Like a key turning in a lock, his Dantian cracked open, and spirit energy swirled into him, pushed by something he didnt have a word for lingering in the area. Upper [Bronze Spirit] Peak, his Dantian expanded, as if taking in a breath, before shrinking, taking on a bright silver sheen, Lower [Silver Spirit], Lower-Mid, Lower Peak. Just as the pain and pressure became unbearable, Ulagans Cultivation settled at Lower-Mid [Silver Spirit]. It was astounding. Months years of growth in a single instant of something he quite couldnt grasp yet. Ulagan raised his hands and stared at them, tightening them, feeling the newfound strength within, yet having never felt as exhausted and ready to collapse as he had at that moment. Instead, Ulagan straightened his back and turned to the Lord Protector. He met the gaze of the red glowing object he assumed was one of the spirit beasts eyes and bowed deeply. Even if they were to part ways now, this day, this moment, this deep gratitude, would forever be burned deep into Ulagans soul. Not just for the gift of life, the Progenitor (for he had no doubt in his heart, now) had given them all, but for the Concept he had been shown. One Ulagan had only ever barely touched, even after years as a Guardian. One that would give rise to a Legend. ============ Yutu lay on the ground, surrounded by an endless, empty void. Only a young woman floating above him existed in this place with him. Slowly, the young man stirred, moaning as he pushed himself into a sitting position. Yutu rubbed the side of his head and complained. Did anyone see the truck that hit me? He froze, his head brow furrowing as he tilted his head. He looked up at the floating woman and asked, Whats a truck? The woman lazily drifted by and shrugged her shoulders as she answered. I dont know. He never would tell me, no matter how many times I asked. No matter, how are you feeling? Yutu shook his head and tried to stand, but fell over. He lay there for a moment, splayed out, before answering. Like Ive been trampled by a herd of Grand Elk then ran over by the carts they were pulling then backed over again a dozen more times for good measure. The woman nodded sagely, arms crossed. Good, good. If you can still feel pain, youre still alive. Though I had to admit that was beyond even my expectations. Shed taken notice of the strange creature that accompanied their group but hadnt paid it much mind. After all, her eyes could see far more than theirs could. But for the creature to be capable of something on this level was this fate? Or were there more hands in this than was immediately apparent? Only time would tell. There were more pressing matters, though. The woman flipped around and floated over to the young man, meeting his eyes. She stared down at him and spoke, her voice solid as a rock. Yutu, you must listen to me. I have little time left. Shielding you and your people in such a manner drained most of the power I had stored in the obelisk. Soon, I will be gone. Yutu furrowed his brow and opened his mouth to speak, his chest tight, but the woman cut him off. She seemed fond of doing that. Her words were harsh, but her smile was bright, with a gentle laugh on her lips. Dont blame yourself, stupid boy. This was always my fate. Im nothing more than a shadow. A fragment left behind. I was always destined to fade away one day, regardless. This is just the process being sped up, some. Even as she spoke, glittering flakes peeled away from her form. But this is not the end, either. Im leaving you with my memories. Well, some of them, at least. The important ones, and those that will help you later. Find me. Find the real Me. Bring my memories to the Heart of the Radiant Sea. I must know what has happened here today. Far more than you understand depends on it. Despite the womans assurance, tears still slipped from Yutus eyes as he spoke. I I dont understand. What is any of this? Why me? The woman was fading faster now, glowing sand blowing away on some unfelt wind as she spoke. Hahaha! Why any of us, boy? Some would say destiny; others would call it fate or chance. But the truth? You were there; you were where someone was needed. The right place at the right time. Sometimes thats all it takes, and thats all that matters. What other reason need there be? Yutu closed his eyes, contemplating their meaning, before responding. Ill Ill go. Not that I think Im someone special enough to deserve all this. Im no hero out to save the world. But But I can do this. I can help you. If for no other reason than to thank you for what youve done. To thank you for my life. The woman had almost completely faded away by now, but she still smiled down at him, her voice echoing and distant. Ha! Dont make an old woman blush. Then, with a more serious tone, she continued. Good luck, young Yutu of the Slatewalkers. May those who came before guide your steps. A final warning. Be wary of the metal beast. It is not what it appears at first glance. Even my eyes can not tell its true nature, and it is an unknown wildcard in the grand play about to unfold. It might be the key to saving everything and everyone you ever cared about or it may be the harbinger of untold destruction that will burn this world to ash. Whatever the result, always be sure of the Path you walk, and may your Truth guide you. Yutu nodded, engraving the womans words on his heart. As her form broke apart, Yutu raised a hand and cried out. Wait! One last thing! Might might I know your name? The womans eyes widened, and she laughed. Then she spoke in a voice that sounded as if it came from miles away. I have more names and titles than you could remember, little boy. But you? You, my young friend, may call me Jsh. Book 1 - "Meanwhile, in the Federation." -1 General Uriel "Vurod" Haldorer, General of the Third Federation Expeditionary Force and commander-in-charge of the Galactic Unification project sat at the end of the long table, his back straight and hands folded neatly in front of him. Even for a Vidaasi, the warrior-like race jokingly referred to by much of the Federation as the "Dragonkin," General Haldorer was a large man, both physically and more metaphorically. His presence filled the room with a heavy air that made most sit a little straighter and speak a bit more politely. After all, there wasn''t a single person in the room who hadn''t grown up on tales of the "Dragon King," a man so feared during the Unification Wars that an entire battalion of Armored Mech had retreated when he stepped onto the battlefield with nothing but a basic exosuit and his bare claws. Now that same man waited patiently as the two fools who seemed totally immune to his glare yelled at each other from their seats. "And YOU don''t seem to understand, Mr. Johns, that the situation is being handled! This is an internal matter for the Expeditionary Force, NOT the Senate. We have the full authority to disclose what we know when we know it." Councilman Harris slammed his chubby hands onto the table. His voice boomed, and his face flushed red as he pointed toward the small, weasel-like man across from him. Senator Johns stood and pointed back at the large man, his voice not losing out in volume or gusto. "Now we are repeating ourselves, Mr. Harris! This is NOT just an Expeditionary Force matter any longer! The damage Alpha caused is astronomical! The reimbursement for lost homes and businesses is already estimated in the billions of credits! That''s saying nothing of the weeks it will take to fix the infrastructure and rebuild! Now you have the audacity to tell us that not only is the prime culprit missing, but that you don''t have the slightest clue where or with whom? And you still insist that everything is ''fine?!'' Don''t think just because your " Councilman Harris roared back, cutting the senator off. "Because it IS fine! The Expeditionary Force has everything under control! We don''t need some bullheaded ballot pusher sticking their nose in a place that " Senator Johns scoffed, "Ha! That''s rich coming for you, the glorified stage manager!" Councilman Harris''s face flushed a deeper red as he yelled back. "Stage manager?! I''ll show you, stage manager, you pencil-thin piece of " "ENOUGH!" General Haldorer''s voice filled the room with enough force to scatter the papers on the table and send the aids scrambling to collect everything. Councilman Harris and Senator Johns jumped, but slowly slid back into their seats. General Haldorer continued, his voice softer, though still naturally loud enough to rattle the still-standing glasses. "I''d like to remind both of you that this is an official meeting, and everything you say here will be of public record. So please, refrain from behaving like children until after we''re dismissed." The general glared at both men, but neither broke eye contact with the other. After a moment of silence, General Haldorer continued. "Now, Senator, I understand your concerns, but I assure you that the Expeditionary Force has everything under control. There are procedures for events like this, and things are proceeding as smoothly as possible." Senator Johns broke his glaring contest with the councilman and turned to General Haldorer, but the general cut him off before he could speak. "AND I''ll inform the Senate of any future updates on our investigation myself. The Expeditionary Force takes this matter seriously, and we''re well aware of the Senate''s stance on the matter. All I ask is that you trust the process." The senator slid back into his seat and turned away. Of course, he wasn''t happy with the general''s answer, but he said nothing more. You didn''t become a senator of a galactic-spanning Federation without knowing when to shut your mouth, after all. Silently, General Haldorer wondered to himself if that was really true. General Haldorer and Si''dia walked out of the confidence room several hours later. The politicians and officers would still argue and push for this or that agenda for days still, but his job was done for now. The general was just glad to get out of there. He hated politics, but what else could he do? Uriel Haldorer had learned centuries ago that sometimes a strong hand wasn''t enough. It wasn''t powerful warriors or powerful weapons that turned the galaxy, even if they helped to grease the wheels. People did. People of all types and backgrounds, big and small. Many things could be said about the Federation, and not all were good. Yet, one thing Uriel had always been proud of was the fact that, at the end of the day, the Federation stood as an institution for the people. Its purpose wasn''t to control or govern. It ensured that everyone, regardless of their backing or origin, could rise above their station and become more. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Of course, the reality wasn''t always that simple, but they did their best. Nepotism wasn''t dead by a long shot, but in the vast majority of the Federation, it wasn''t inaccurate to say even a random street rat without a credit to his name could one day become a general and powerful warrior, feared and respected across the galaxy. Even those places where that might not be true were endlessly being hunted down and uplifted until it was. That didn''t stop some cancer from trying to worm its way into the system every so often, though The resistance they''d faced recently was a perfect example of this. The Expeditionary Force, and the Unification program, had always been transparent with their every action. When your goal was conquest, Uriel found the general populous was far more forgiving of what needed to be done when you didn''t hide it from them. Some called it foolish, and it had caused some issues before, but it had worked for millennia so far, and the general didn''t see a need for change. Yet, recently, more and more, popular opinions had turned against them. Some said they were expanding too fast, that it wasn''t sustainable and would cause issues down the road. Others argued they needed to be more selective. Only those deemed "worthy" should be uplifted, and the rest should be left for the "lesser" factions to pick up. More still questioned why they were even doing what they were doing? That third voice had grown even stronger in the last few centuries, especially among the younger generation. Sure, Galactic Unification was a great ideal, but what was the point? The Third Federation was already the strongest force in the galaxy. What threat could there be that warranted such exponential preparation and development? Fools, every one of them. They didn''t know the terror that lurked beyond the galaxy''s edges. The danger that slept in the darkness between galaxies, just waiting for the right time to sink its claws back into an unprepared prey. Not that he''d seen it himself, of course, but the Vidaasi were a long-lived people, even before all the augmentations and medical miracles. His great-grandfather had lived through the end of the Second Great Collapse. Uriel had grown up on stories of the Breaking and the horrors of the nano-plague. His great-grandfather had been a whaler. He''d fought creatures of deep space that even Uriel wasn''t confident in fighting without some serious equipment. Yet when the man had spoken of his youth and the horrors he experienced, it was like he was seeing a different man entirely. Not the strong, vibrant hunter Uriel had grown up admiring, but a man broken by something he could barely fathom. Uriel stopped in the middle of the hallway, thinking about all the time and lives wasted by these little men and their petty agendas. His fist slowly clinching until its scales, hard enough to stop a bullet, cracked. Then, with a roar, he swung his fist toward the hallway wall. Instantly, a barrier of green energy appeared between his fist and the wall, stopping the blow with a deep "thump" that rippled through space itself. Yet the hard, reinforced wall, capable of taking prolonged bombardment by an orbiting battleship, slowly sank inward a few inches. Si''dia sighed from behind the general and lowered her hand, its green glow winking out. She narrowed her eyes and spoke, her voice smooth as silk but flat. "Uriel, I understand you''re worried about Alpha, but please try not to destroy the building. Our budget is already stretched thin this quarter, and we don''t need another incident to fan the flames." Uriel turned away and scoffed, shaking his fist as he spoke. "Bah! Who''s worried about that idiot?! He probably got himself lost in another Fold Crack again! A one in a million chance, and that bloody fool manages to fall into one, what, four times now?!" Si''dia raised a brow as she stared at the general''s back but only shook her head. The two continued down the hallway. After a moment of silence, Uriel spoke. "No Alpha''s not the one who worries me. I''m sure that fool''s off causing trouble for someone else right now. Surely you noticed it too, Si''dia? You''re better at this kind of thing than I am." Si''dia spoke up after a brief pause. "You mean the Brightwood faction?" Uriel nodded. "Yes. This was only supposed to be a small quarterly debriefing before next month''s Senate meeting. So why did they come in such force? Why did they keep trying to redirect the issues to the Expeditionary Force?" Suddenly, Uriel stopped and slowly turned around. He stared down at his assistant, eyes hard. "Si''dia how exactly did Alpha hear about the Lab?" Si''dia''s eyes narrowed, "Hmmm," She swiped up on her tablet and quickly brought up the full report. In only a moment, she''d reviewed the report fully, her eyes widening as she spoke. "I see. This could be an issue." Uriel''s frown deepened, and he gave her an order, "I want to see all the data we recovered from the Lab and any other relevant reports. Crack the database if you have to. I''ll write up a cover. I don''t know what those fools are trying to accomplish, but if it''s what I think it is, we need to squash this in the cradle. Now." Si''dia nodded, her hand blurring across the tablet''s surface as she got to work. The pair continued down the hallway, their steps quicker than before. On the ceiling, a small housefly observed the pair speed away. It twitched, then suddenly dissolved into black motes, which quickly vanished into nothingness. In a place that wasn''t a place, [SEAU-03], or Infiltrate as he was known to the public, leaned back in his chair that wasn''t really a chair. He pinched the bridge of a nose that wasn''t there and closed the video screen that had never really existed. He gave a deep sigh and stood. On the one hand, he could always leave it to those two to see something he hadn''t. It was part of the reason he liked them so much and why they had come as far as they had. Conversely, he sometimes wished they''d stop making so much work for him. Sometimes he wondered if his more eccentric kin had it right. Maybe biological life was too unstable, unpredictable, and chaotic to be viable for this long. Maybe it wiping itself out was simply the natural progression of things. Na. That would be boring. It was that chaotic and unpredictable nature that made life worth living. It''s what gave biological life value. The ability to think, grow, and change was far rarer in the universe than one might think. That said, he wondered how he should deal with this new problem. If left alone, it could cause more work than even he might handle. But then, that''s why he had brought together the fractured remnants of the Second Federation into this new iteration. Why do all the work yourself when there is so much potential out there? Infiltrate pulled up the same report Si''dia had, making some quick edits with the information he''d gathered himself in that brief span. No doubt his changes wouldn''t go unnoticed, at least by Si''dia, but she was a smart enough woman to understand. That work done, Infiltrate turned his attention to his other ongoing project. A large, galactic map sprang into existence, billions of tiny red dots sprinkling its surface, each representing a signal-boosting, deep space drone. The dots slowly spread through the galaxy from various points, even into the "dark" regions where no space-faring people had been since the Great Collapse. Infiltrate watched each point, running calculations and simulations that would put even the greatest of the Third Federation''s supercomputers to shame. Still, he couldn''t help but grumble to himself. "Alpha What the hell have you gotten yourself into this time?" Book 1 – Arc 3 Prologue – “Unnatural Selection.” Ulagan returned to the group just as Kallik was finished treating the last of them. He looked down at the young herbalist girl lying down in front of Kallik and frowned. Other than Zolzaya and Ganbaatar, the other four survivors, Yutu included, were all still unconscious. Ulagan frowned and asked the Grassreader, How are they? Kallik shook her head. Not great, but theyll live. Whatever Yutu, or maybe the Elemental, did, it took the brunt of the Lord Protectors attack. The backlash of it, at least. We need to get them to the village as soon as possible. Yutu, in particular, needs better treatment than we can provide here. How how did it look? Outside, I mean. Ulagan turned to look at the Lord Protector, whose body was slowly returning to its former shape. It should be safe. I doubt anything in the surrounding area survived. Even if they did, only a fool wouldnt turn and run after seeing something like that. Kallik nodded, though Ganbaatar spoke next, having wandered over after noticing Ulagans return. And Kusanagi? The group hadnt seen the Beast Lord, but theyd heard it when he finally showed himself after Yutus surprise attack. Ulagan paused before answering. Dead. Theres no way he survived that kind of blow. As one, the group let out a sigh of relief. They shared a moment of silence in remembrance of those theyd lost before Kallik spoke. Even so, we need to report this as soon as possible. The Wandering Cities, and the Akhlut, need to know what has happened here today. Ganaa tilled his head and asked, But why? The Beast Lord is dead. This is the end, isnt it? Why the rush? Zolzaya was the one to answer, though she never turned to face them. Because the Beast Lord wasnt working alone, was he? Ulagan and Ganaa turned to Zolzaya, their eyes wide. Ganaa stuttered as he spoke. But.. That, that doesnt make It makes perfect sense! Zolzaya cut him off with her voice raised. She turned to face him and continued. Think about it; how did Kusanagi gather so many Grassbreakers with no one noticing? How did he take down an entire Akhlut party? Why did he even know where they would be With a softer voice, she turned and looked at the still form of Yutu. where did he get the poison? Ganaa tried to respond, but no answers can to his mind. After a moment of silence, Ulagan spoke. Gather what supplies can be salvaged. Ill speak to the Lord Protector. Hopefully, with his help, well make it to the Earth Shrine before whatever allies the Beast Lord have learned of his fate. The group nodded, but before they could move, a loud ruckus began. Fearing another attack, the group moved closer and turned. Instead of a new enemy, they found the Lord Protector, who had returned to his original form, franticly unturning and digging through the rubble. Ganaa frowned as he asked. What is he Zolzaya cut him off, though, her voice low. Guys The other three turned to face her, noticing shed gone white as snow. In almost a whisper, she continued. when was the last time any of you saw the Akhlut pup? All three humans eyes went wide. Ganaa and Ulagan rushed to the Lord Protectors side and started clearing what rubble they could reach, while Kallik sighed, rubbing her temple. Zolzaya watched the two men and the large spirit beast clearing the debris at a rapid pace, but something in her gut told her they wouldnt find anything. Well Shi The glare from her mentor snapped her mouth shut before she could finish the thought. ======== Archimedes popped from the group, coughing up a pool of blood. His entire body convulsed, and he felt like he was on fire, despite the cold sweat pouring off him. What the hell was that? What the hell had that been?! There had been nothing about that that thing mentioned in the report! Hed been told it was a simple job! Slip in while no one was looking, nab the child, and make a break for it. No one had told him something like that would be there. Were the people who hired him psychotic?! How in the nine hells did they expect this to end well for them?! More importantly, would he be dragged into this mess? Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! His eyes drifted to the still struggling bundle of cloth beside him. For what felt like the hundredth time that hour, he contemplated dumping the cursed child in a ditch somewhere and making a break for it. The mission be damned. But he knew he couldnt do it. The Camp was not forgiving of deserters. More so when their clients had such backing. If he abandoned the job, his name would be next on the list. Yet, some part of him questioned if it was worth it all. Why so much trouble for a single pup? He threw several medical pills into his mouth and bit down, washing them down with a swig from his canteen. He shivered as the powerful medicine took effect. Most adventurers might have considered the Camp a Dark guild, but they took care of their people at least. He could never afford such pills on his own. Then again, it wasnt really the Camp paying for them, anyway. They always passed on the cost of supplies for a mission to the customer. Hey, thats the price you paid when you needed something more dirty done. Archimedes rolled his shoulders and picked up the wiggling bundle. Whether you need a mercenary team that wouldnt ask questions or a group of bandits to target a rivals caravan, the Camp would have what you need. Kidnappings happened to be Archimedes specialty. There was just something so satisfying about snatching some poor unsuspecting sob right out from under someones nose. It was like a puzzle, figuring out when and where to strike and, more importantly, how to get away unnoticed. Hed even had specially designed [Sealing Cloth] made! It would not only seal a targets spirit energy but block out any external tracking attempts! It didnt matter what the enemy used; sound, scent, spirit, or soul markers; the cloth would block them all. While it wasnt his only tool, it had been a major factor in his success as one of the best kidnappers on the Skybreaker continent. It was also why his latest client had approached him for this job. Though he had to admit, this was the first time hed ever been asked to retrieve a kidnapping victim. That had been an interesting twist, though Archimedes had been disappointed by his peers. Hed been impressed when they told him someone had actually kidnapped an Akhlut pup. That wasnt a simple job in the slightest. But the reality of the situation had been stranger than he expected. They didnt even have the pup tied up! It was just running around without a care in the world. Hell, he wasnt fully convinced the stupid thing hadnt just been tricked into following them with some meat or something. The sudden attack by the army of Grassbreakers had been a lucky break, even if the timing was suspicious, but Archimedes thought little of it and bided his time. Then the world went to the nine hells. Archimedes didnt know what that attack the strange metal spirit beast had used was, but it had shaken him to his core and nearly killed him outright. Hed even wasted a defensive tool! Hed sure as hell have the client replace that too! Thankfully, though, that tool gave him the chance he needed. While the others were reeling from the backlash of the attack, Archimedes pounced, snatching up the pup and making his escape. That had been several hours now, and with no sign of pursuit, it looked like he was in the home stretch. Now, he had to return to the meeting location with the pup and collect his payment. Then it was off to Halirosa for a well-deserved vacation. Archimedes checked his [Positioning Jade] and then turned in the direction he needed to go but froze. Only a dozen meters away, a large Grassbreaker Penguin stared up at him, still half buried in the ground. Archimedes narrowed his eyes and tilted his head. It was a big one, too, likely a flock leader. Was it a penguin that had escaped the blast? He figured it didnt really matter. A Grassbreaker core would fetch a pittance, even a flock leaders, but it would be some pocket change to play around with later. The man slid his bundle to the ground and slowly approached the penguin, limping slightly, his blade hidden behind his back. Flock leaders were smarter than most, but they were still dumb birds. If he approached too aggressively, it would flee, but if he pretended to be hurt, it would take the chance for an easy meal, giving him the opening he needed to kill it in a single swipe. However, when Archimedes drew within a few meters, something flashed across his vision. He froze, a sudden pinching in his chest making him furrow his brow. His vision wavered slightly as he looked down to find a wrist-thick barbed tentacle sticking out of his chest. The tentacle twitched and retracted back into the open mouth of the Grassbreaker. Archimedes stared at the gaping hole where his heart should be, then collapsed to his knees before toppling to his side. As the darknesses crept over his vision, Archimedes saw Grassbreaker strolling past him toward the wiggling bundle behind him. As it did, its form twisted and shifted from a large flock leader to an elegantly dressed older human man. The penguin-turned-man, dressed in a fine suit, stared down at the small bundle and stroked his thick, black and white peppered beard. His eyes narrowed, and he pulled out a small black amulet from his coat pocket. He let the amulet hang loose in the air, then channeled some spirit energy through it. It swung wildly for a moment before snapping into place, pointing directly at the cloth-wrapped bundle. The old man sighed and returned the amulet to his pocket before mumbling to himself. So It seems the young Master was correct. Who would have thought even you could be so cruel, Metis? No matter. With that, he picked the bundle up and walked away. As he did so, Archimedes reached out with a bloodstained hand and grabbed the mans ankle. The old man looked down at the dying kidnapper and tsked, kicking himself free from the mans weak grip before walking a few more meters and sinking into the ground. Once the man was gone, Archimedes coughed a bloody laugh and pulled out a small ring. With the last of his strength, he smeared his blood on the rings surface and crushed his [Positioning Jade]. Archimedes gave a blood-smeared smile and mumbled. Bloody fool Then the light fled his eyes. ======== An hour later, a masked figure materialized from the wind beside Archimedes stiff body. Silently, the figure pushed the stiff body over and examined the wound before doing the same to the rest of the field. Finding nothing more, they pulled out a large string of bright red beads and performed several hand seals, channeling spirit energy through them. The air wavered, and a thick mist formed in the area. Inside the mist, figures moved. Though no details or sound could be seen, they perfectly mimicked the events of an hour past. The masked figure watched with interest, making notes as needed. A short while later, the mists dissipated, and the masked figure returned to Archimedes body, stripping it of several items and collecting the bloody ring. The figure channeled more spirit energy into the ring and smiled under their mask at the results. Archimedes had never been the most talented or even smartest of them. But one thing could be said for sure. He had definitely been the pettiest. A gust of wind blew through the clearing, and like a drawing in the dust, the masked figure vanished. Book 1 - Lesson 31: "Chose your path wisely." Alpha had to confess he may have panicked a little. Sure, for a child, Snowball had shown herself to be highly competent and able to care for herself. But she was still a child. Besides, with her ever-growing self-awareness, and the general respect the humans showed for the small whale-puppy, Alpha was fairly certain her species was sapient at this point. A few Federation species didnt become fully sapient until later-in-life as well, so that wasnt much of a surprise. No, the biggest issue was that Alpha could be fined! As a sapient child, technically under his care, Alpha was legally obligated as a soldier under Federation law to ensure their safety until they could be passed on to proper caregivers. Failure to do so came with stiff penalties and heavy fines! General Haldorer was particularly strict about this rule. Willful neglect could see a soldier cleaning carrier ships by hand, and some of those were legally classified as small planetoids! Neglect, such as firing a class-5 kinetic warhead within 200 meters of said child. Ok, maybe Alpha was a little worried about the bloodthirsty goofball too. She reminded him of him! The anomaly with the Railjack had only scrambled his sensors for a short while, but as anyone with a child could tell you, thats all it takes for them to get into some new trouble. Even the tracking beacon hed tagged her with wasnt sending a signal, which was strange. It should have been working fine, even if she was buried under a mile of rubble. So then, what was blocking it? It took two hours to clear all the rubble in the main building with the help of Ulagan and Ganbaatar, but even they couldnt find hide nor hair of her. What they had found was a torn, bloody cloak none of them recognized. Kallik had examined the cloak, plucked at several burned-out symbols woven into the fabric, then used a word Alpha didnt have a record of yet. A quick analysis of the blood showed it was human, though not belonging to any of the humans present. It didnt take a genius to connect the dots, and soon the group was discussing their next course of action. Thankfully, Alphas lexicon was at a point he could understand most of it. One of the humans Alpha didnt have a name for yet, had been running Alpha through what he assumed was grammar for children during the hours before the attack, presumably, at the request of Kallik. Much of it was still educated guesswork, but it was enough to at least communicate. Kallik, Ganbaatar, Ulagan, and Zolzaya, the only humans able to move, gathered in a small circle near Alpha to speak. Ganbaatar was the first to ask. So, what do we do now? Kallik sighed and shook her head. The only thing we can do. What we -originally planned-. We head to the -Earth Shrine- and report to the $*$@#%. Ulagan frowned and asked. Is that wise? Should we not look for the child? The $*$@#% are not known for their -forgiveness-. If they learn we -abandoned- one of their children to an -unknown- fate, the -consequences- could be extreme. Alpha filed the new word, Akhlut, away. He was unsure if that was the name of Snowballs species, tribe, or family, but any information could be important later. It also confirmed, or at least suggested, that Snowballs people had some measure of influence among the humans of this area. Otherwise, why would they be so fearful of retaliation? All the more reason to continue the search. The ore hed taken from the crates would go a long way toward his recovery, but he only had time to refine a small amount before the penguins showed up. So an in with an established power would make Alphas job far easier both in the short and long term. Alpha said as much too, I agree. It was only two simple words, but most of the group jumped, turning to look at Alpha with wide eyes. Only Kallik showed no reaction other than a slight smile. She turned to Alpha and bowed, placing her fist in a cupped hand as she spoke. Lord Protector Alpha still got a kick out of their title for him. Hed decided not to correct them just yet. I understand youre worried for the child, but I must beg for your understanding. We have people that need -immediate treatment- and have no way of telling who has taken the child or where. She then raised the bloody cloak and continued. The -Akhlut-, the childs family, may have &%&$#@% or *$#@% that could help to track her. Or her -kidnapper-. If we searched for her ourselves, we could waste valuable time. Our best option to ensure the child returns home is to inform their family of what has happened. Hmmmm Alpha considered the older womans words. She wasnt wrong. With his tracker being blocked by something, they didnt really have a way of finding where the child had been taken. He could do a fanning search with [Wasps], but without knowing which direction they had gone, that would be a time-consuming process. Besides, whoever it was had somehow slipped past his [Wasps] once; who was to say they couldnt do so again? Conversely, Kallik seemed confident that the childs family could find her through some means. Likely some more magical bullcrap. The TAWPs optical sensor plate twirled as he spoke, making the group twitch. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Understood. phew, being the mysterious man of few words was exhausting. Kallik let out a breath she didnt know she was holding before giving the AI a nervous smile and responding. Thank you for understanding. Zolzaya was the next to speak. Do we even know where we are? Ive never heard of an abandoned temple like this. The only Earth Temple I was even aware of was in the Heart. OH! Alpha knew that one! His optical sensors flashed, and a holographic map of the surrounding area and their previous route appeared in the middle of the group. Once more, the group jumped, and if anyone asked if Alpha was doing it on purpose at this point, he would adamantly agree. Kalliks eyes flickered to Alpha before turning to the 3D light map. She circled it, examining it from every direction as if looking for something. After a moment, she stopped and spoke. There! I recognize this stretch She jerked back as her finger brushed a map section, leaving a small red dot. She stared at her finger for a moment before continuing. This is part of a disputed foraging site between the *%*@#%* village and our own. If this map is accurate, we should only be roughly 70 !@#$ away from the -Slatewalker- trail if we head in this direction. From the red dot, Kallik drew a line heading northeast. Based on the Lord Protectors previous speed, we should be able to reach the village by nightfall. Once there, we can drop off the wounded and make our way to the Earth Shrine to give our report. It took only a few more moments to complete the plan, and the group broke off to do their part. Of which Alphas involved standing around doing nothing. Instead, he wandered off to do something hed wanted to for a while now, but never had the time. ======== Finding a chunk of the strange, growing copper still intact enough for Alphas purposes took almost an hour. Despite an entire forest of the stuff having grown from seemingly nothing, the Railjack had turned most of it into useless slag. Theoretically, he could have refined most of it, but he had little use for so much copper, and the time it would take made it unfeasible, as they would leave the area soon. What little wasnt slag had been contaminated by penguin bits. Alpha made a note to ask Kallik about the strange entity that had used the young man, -Yutu-, to perform such an act. If he could learn the principle behind it and apply it to other materials, it could solve his resource problems. Nothing good ever came easy, however, and the small amount of untainted, viable copper sample hed been able to collect proved to be disappointing. Basic scans showed that the substance wasnt really copper. Instead, it was some kind of biometallic compound. Its properties were remarkably similar, though, sharing the same conductivity, malleability, ductility, and even density as mundane copper. Unfortunately, heat tests showed it wouldnt melt in the same way. Instead, it seemed to burn up and crumble under extreme heat, though it took significantly higher temperatures to do that than it would to melt mundane copper. Alpha even found a few pieces would start to regrow back into their original shape when damaged in such a way. What were they even feeding on? If he just left this here and came back in six months, would he find a mountain of tumorous copper? Or was there a natural limit in scope or time? Part of him imagined raining down copper bullets on an advancing army, but quickly dismissed the idea. The copper had taken quite a while to spread through Yutu in that fashion; the wound would probably kill an enemy long before the copper itself did. True, the entity had created the copper forest in a flash, but something told Alpha was more of the entitys doing rather than some intrinsic nature of the bio-copper. Hmmm, maybe he could turn it into an ammo printer? If he figured out exactly how it was generating mass, and he could replicate or speed up the process safely, it could replace the MCDs. Not to mention the other areas where self-repairing metals could be useful. With that in mind, Alpha collected several of the best samples and shoved them into a stasis container. As Alpha headed back to what remained of the temple building, he couldnt help but daydream about what else he might find in this strange place. ======== Juatan stood atop the tower cart and looked over the multicolored prairies. The structure swayed with the carts, a trait needed when building such a tall structure on a moving platform. Some Guardians never got used to the motion, but Juatan enjoyed it. It reminded him of his other home, far to the north, where the city boats traveled the icy seas. His new home was a different kind of sea, but it was no less beautiful to him. Juatan had traveled to this land seeking his history. It was said the clans of the Radiant Sea and his homeland shared some connection, though from a time so long ago that no living person knew what. What he had found was a people of strange ways in a place that he had no proper words for. Nonetheless, hed fallen in love with the Radiant Sea and its strange people. One person in particular had captured his heart, though she could be abrasive, sometimes, he would freely admit. Hed come searching for answers to questions that plagued him and instead found a peace he never thought he would have or even deserved. Hed built a home, and a family, from the ashes of the past, and hed never regretted a moment of it. A loud snore broke him from his contemplations, and he turned to see the young man beside him, asleep on his feet, leaning dangerously on his spear. Juatan frowned and flicked the bottom of his own spear into the young Guardians shin. The boy jumped, gripping his spear a little too tightly as he nervously looked around. Seeing nothing but the older man frowning at him, the young Guardian humphed and turned away. Juatan sighed. Of course, the boy thought he could laze around with Juatan the Simple when on guard duty. But then again, that was possibly why the Captain had paired the boy with him, to begin with. These wet-behind-the-ears Guardians, fresh from their graduation exam, soon learned that Juatan wasnt as lenient as the rumors made him out to be. Juatan had seen too many young Guardians and villagers killed because someone decided they could nap on duty. This last batch was even worse. Half of them shouldnt have ever passed; most of the examination groups had returned almost a week early because of the ruckus surrounding the Fallen Star. The examiners rightly chose to head home rather than deal with whatever trouble was stirred up by the once-in-a-decade event. The increased security concerns saw the elders handing out blanket passes just to fill in the needed numbers. Well most of them had. Even days after the last group had returned, one group was still missing. Juatan turned his eyes back to the vast open expanse before him, desperately searching for any sign of an approaching caravan. His wife had shut herself in their cart for days, refusing to eat and barely speaking. Juatan still had hope, though, that he would see the grass part and the final group return, whole and well at any moment. Some part of him knew that was foolish, but he couldnt let that spark die, not yet. Hed volunteer for tower duty for the entire month if he had to. Movement from behind drew his attention from the horizon, and Juatan turned to find his junior partner staring, wide-eyed, toward the west. Juatan turned that way and froze. Smoke rose from the grasses far into the distance. Not just any smoke, though, purple smoke mixed with red. The signal of a returning party and a request for help. Juatan barely heard the young mans voice as he leaped the full 30 meters from the top of the top to the ground below. He hit the ground and rolled, springing into a run that threw up a cloud of dust in his wake. As he weaved between the carts, quickly leaving the village behind, he barely noticed the three other Guardians who fell into step beside him. With the kind of speed only achievable with mid-stage [Silver Spirit] cultivation, the small group quickly closed on the smoke signal. In his heart, Juatan prayed to the Sister above that what they found wasnt too bad. Book 1 - Lesson 32: "Take time to rest and recover." The children let loose terror-filled screeches as the beast broke into the small clearing. This wasnt the first time it had found their hiding spot; it had already claimed many of them. Yet, it would not be sated until every tiny human fell. It locked on to the smallest and slowest of the bunch and moved. With a blur of motion, the child disappeared. Those that remain scattered into the surrounding grass, each praying they wouldnt be next. If they could just hold out a little longer, just keep away for a few more minutes. A soul-piercing screech from somewhere in the grass signaled another loss. The young boy crawled along the ground, making himself as small and quiet as possible. A hard thing to do with every movement rushed the tall grass around him, but staying still wasnt an option either. Theyd tried that already. Nevertheless, the beast had found them, somehow. They had to just keep moving. If they kept moving, then . The grass to his left rustled, and the boy froze. A moment later, a young girl, only a year or two young than him, stumbled from the grass, panting, sweat dripping down her face. She stopped, frozen, staring down at him, wide-eyed, then muttered. Oh, no The next instance, she was gone, disappearing into the grass as something yanked her from behind. The young boys breaths came in ragged breaths, and his heart pounded like thunder in his chest as he stared at the place where the girl had vanished. He knew he should run, should try to hide, but his mind was blank. When his legs, at last, started listening to his head again, it was already too late. An enormous shadow slowly appeared from the tall grass, moving far quieter than something that large ever had the right to. Slowly, it approached, drawing out the moment. The young boy was the last, and its victory was all but assured. When it finally loomed over the boy, it stared down at him with its three glowing red eyes and laughed. But as the beast reached out, its metallic hand and the young boy gave into his fate, a loud whistle cut through the silence, and a masculine voice called out. TIME! The gargantuan metal beast collapsed to the group, deflating in defeat. With a roaring cheer, the gaggle of children on its back slid down and rushed the young boy, lifting him on their shoulders. It had taken nearly six tries, but theyd finally won! Victory! ========== Zolzaya watched the nearly three dozen children climb over the collapsed Lord Protector like he was the worlds biggest playground and shook her head. The other adults of the village, watching the scene, smiled and laughed, likely thinking how funny it was that even a powerful spirit beast was no match for the energy of small children. Zolzaya knew the truth, though. He was pouting Sure, the Lord Protector had gone easy on the kids, but he had honestly put effort into their game. Even so, determined childrens adaptability and quick wit werent to be underestimated. It helped that the children had been playing this same game for years now. It was part of the basic training, preparing them for their eventual apprenticeships in a few short years. Typically, one of the older Guardians played the role of the Hunter, but one thing had led to another The survivors homecoming has been hectic, to put it lightly. Theyd discussed whether to leave the Lord Protector out of sight before approaching the village to prevent misunderstandings. But after talking, they agreed it was better he be seen with them. Who knew what would happen if he were seen wandering around the outskirts of the village? Of course, that didnt stop Zolzayas father from bursting from the grass, filled with a fiery rage shed never thought him capable of. Juatan had charged, then struck out at the Lord Protector with the full force of a well-established, mid-stage [Silver Spirit] Cultivator before anyone could warn the man. It seemed Zolzaya had inherited more than just her gift from her father. Of course, the Guardians attack had about as much effect on the Lord Protector as Zolzayas own attack had, even when three other Guardians erupted from the grass. Their combined strength couldnt break the strange energy shield surrounding the spirit beast. Zolzayas heart sank when she heard the cracks of thunder from the Lord Protector, and she feared the worst. Yet, instead of the spays of blood she expected, all four Guardians doubled over, clutching their abdomens as if theyd been struck by a mighty fist. When one fell over on his side, and Zolzaya saw the fist-sized dent in the mans chest plate, she realized she hadnt been too far off. Silently, she thanked the Lord Protector for his restraint. While such a blow would leave a massive bruise (she was sure one Guardian even had a cracked rib), she knew its thunderous attack could do far worse. The next few moments had been part heartwarming reunion and part emergency medical treatment as the group helped the injured Guardians out of their dented armor. A quick debriefing from Ulagan and an all clear signal sent to the village saw the four Guardians kowtowing before the Lord Protector. Zolzayas gift told her the creature was more amused than insulted, but she kept that to herself. Mens pride could be a fragile thing, after all The Guardians had then escorted the group back to the village, followed by the expected confusion, fear, and excitement as the village rushed to meet the survivors of the last group. That excitement soon turned to mournful wailing as it became clear they were returning with not even a third of the number theyd left with. The following day had been a typical song-and-dance as the story circulated through the village. Everyone wanted to know what had happened, and some even tried to blame the Lord Protector. Either for not saving their own family member or somehow having planned the whole thing. The Elders, to appease the villagers, placed a guard on the mysterious spirit beast; a full 12 [Silver Spirit] Guardians, led by the Captain himself, the only [Gold Spirit] Cultivator in the village. Not that any of the leadership believed they could do anything against the creature, of course, after Ulagan and Kalliks retelling of events. But it kept the people at ease somewhat. The Lord Protector, for his part, had been surprisingly cooperative during the entire ordeal. Ulagan and others thought the spirit beast was passive and aloof, but Zolzaya knew the truth. The creature was extremely calculating, and everything it did was for a purpose. Even this air of indifference and helpful nature was all for a goal. It needed them for something, but Zolzayas gift couldnt tell her for what. So far, it had only shown interest in the blacksmithing carts. It had requested a staggering amount of various metals and ores stored there. The event had caused a small confrontation, with Ulagan having to prevent the other Guardians from stopping him and the Elders having to pause their meeting with Kallik. After a brief discussion, the Elders (begrudgingly) agreed to offer the metal to the Lord Protector as thanks for bringing the survivors home. The village would have to eat the cost and pay the blacksmiths back for the losses. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. The Slatewalkers werent the richest village, but they specialized in traps and arrays, so their stockpile of various metals was significant. That they were headed to the Earth Shrine, where they could trade with other villages and restock on necessities, meant that the village wouldnt suffer too badly, especially with the treasure gathered by the other groups during the examination trips. So how did all that culminate in the Lord Protector playing Hunter and Prey with a group of the villages children? It all started while the Lord Protector used the materials to heal? It looked more like the spirit beast was crafting armor to her, but she wasnt a crafter, so what did she know? Instead of eating the material like shed expected, the various materials were mixed, refined, and transformed in ways she couldnt understand. Various broken and burned carapace pieces were removed and broken down, then reformed in mere minutes. The spectacle was so mesmerizing and magical that it soon gathered a small crowd, including many of the craftsman the Lord Protector had requested the materials from. Several were even sketching the scene with a fervor that burned to Zolzayas gift. In only a short two hours, the Lord Protectors outer shell had gone from broken and melted in several places to a pristine metallic sheen. Where once the spirit beast appeared broken, it now radiated a regal, if dangerous, air. She could tell the repairs (?) wasnt perfect, though. Some areas were slightly off-color, while others were thicker than their undamaged originals. Regardless, the Lord Protector looked in far better shape than he had only a few hours prior. As the show ended, the crowd slowly dispersed. Well, most of them did. A small group of half a dozen children lingered on the edge of where the crowd had stood, held back by a pair of Guardians. They stared up at the Lord Protector with wide-eyed wonder, pointing and whispering to each other. Now, if one thing can be said about Slatewalker children, it was that no others under the sun had quite the talent for getting into things and places they shouldnt be. Zolzaya had fond memories of all the trouble she, Yutu, and Ganaa had gotten into during their youth. And they had been one of the meeker groups, but Slatewalker standards! So it should have been no surprise to anyone when a tiny girl suddenly stood up on top of the Lord Protectors back, declaring herself the worlds best Beast Tamer. What followed was a chaotic mix of laughing children being chased by Guardians, parents screaming or yelling, and general confusion as Guardians pulled one child off the spirit beast. Only to turn around and find two more fighting to be on top. So a typical afternoon in the Slatewalker village. The mess had gone a long way toward lifting the somewhat dour mood that had blanketed the village since their groups return. It helped that the Lord Protector did not mind the children crawling over him. Things might have been different if Ulagan and Ganaa werent laughing the entire time, of course. With the twos assurance that the children would be fine, the other Guardians let them be. More than a few people spoke out, questioning if it was wise to let the children play around an unknown, obviously powerful spirit beast in this manner, regardless of how gentle it seemed around them. Zolzaya would admit she felt the same, in a way. Her gift told her that while the Lord Protector didnt mind and genuinely enjoyed the childrens company, there was more to it. This, too, was just another way for it to endear itself to them. Manipulation on top of manipulation. But the cheery, excited play of the children soon drowned out the voice of the naysayers. Soon, the play had evolved into a game of Hunter and Prey, partly on Ulagans suggestion. The young Guardian was quickly becoming one of the most vocal proponents of the Lord Protector in the village, alongside Ganaa. She could tell they were hiding something from her, but she couldnt quite tell what, and that made her nervous. Part of her wondered if she should tell them her own secret and speak suspicions about the Lord Protector. Another calmer part of her warned it could cause more trouble. The Lord Protector was unpredictable. There was no telling how it might react if it knew she could tell there was more to him than he let on. Ultimately, she chose to watch and observe, then report her concerns to Kallik once the meetings with the Elders were finished. As her mentor, she was one of the few who knew of her gift. ========== Alpha stood and gently pulled the pile of sleeping children off him. The AI was used to rambunctious, energetic children, but lord above, these were something else. The plan was originally to play nice with the kids and give off a more friendly neighborhood-15-meter-tall-robot vibe. It had worked before, especially on worlds where people didnt really have a concept of what a war machine looked like. People let their guard down around you more when they saw you playing with children. Even the guards they had watching him seemed less tense as they moved the small pile of bodies and brought them to waiting parents. Alpha had to admit, hed expected more pushback than hed received in this village so far. More often than not, first contact was met with fear, suspicion, and weariness. While that was still present, it was more like that of a stranger visiting town than a gargantuan metal creature of unknown origins. Even when he pushed and tested their limits by raiding their metal storage, hed only gotten some pointed questions and was gifted the materials by what he assumed were village leaders. Not that he was complaining; the materials had been enough to cover much of his more pressing repair needs. He was still short on supplies, and the TAWP wasnt at 100%, but he no longer had to worry about pushing the frame too hard or breaking something important. It was strange, even so. Something told Alpha he was still missing context. Lucky for Alpha, he had a village to explore now. Well, less him and more his swarm of [Wasps]. Since arriving, the [Wasps] had spread out through the village, hiding in various places, gathering data, or scouting out points of interest. Things were going great, even if most of the information hed gathered had been mundane village gossip. His lexicon had taken a tremendous leap over the last few hours, with thousands of new data points to pull from. He was fairly certain he could hold a lengthy conversation with a local now, but stuck to the mysterious, silent type image hed been cultivating so far. After all, people were far more willing to speak freely around you when they thought you couldnt understand them. Hed never quite seen a town like this, though. Roaming cities werent anything new to Alpha. A notable portion of the Federation population chose to live in giant city-ships instead of on a planet. But this was the first hed seen that was so low-tech. On each of the nearly 600 carts that made up the village, a building was built. These varied from small, single-family homes to large workshops filled with complex tools. What Alpha could only assume was the town hall was the largest, and it looked like it could easily house over 300 people at once. At over 3,000 people, by Alphas count, the villages population was respectable for such a setup, if not enormous. They even appeared to be in the middle of expansion if the two dozen unfinished carts being pulled behind the others said anything. At the end day, though, a cart was a cart, even if the drive, suspension and axle systems were far more advanced than Alpha expected. Instead of being automated, each cart was pulled by a large, Elk-like creature. A Grand Elk, as the villagers called them. They were gargantuan beasts, easily half the size of the TAWP. Not quite megafauna, but pushing the limits. They seemed powerful, too, with a team of two easily pulling a smaller building cart with little difficulty, while teams of six to ten pulled the larger carts. These Grand Elk even seemed to pull double duty as both herd animals and cart engines, as hed witnessed several families milking or shearing their large companions. The creatures themselves were strangely docile, almost cow-like in their disposition, though that may have simply resulted from generations of domestication. The combination of more than a thousand large herbivores and hundreds of heavy carts resulted in a long, neatly flattened scar through the prairies trailing the village for miles. Alpha was sure that if he looked at it from the sky, he could track the villages progression up to this point going back possibly months. One particular cart had caught Alphas attention almost immediately after spotting it with a [Wasp]. It was a small, inconspicuous cottage nestled in what Alpha assumed to be a residential section of the village, given how many homes were in the area. At first glance, there wasnt anything very special about it. In fact, it seemed in need of a new paint job, even if it appeared well lived in. No, what caught Alphas attention was how it practically glowed. Not to the visible eye, but with the same strange energy waves hed recorded during his first encounter with Yutu and Ganbaatar. Where the young man had created a spatial distortion from out of nowhere. Intrigued, Alpha piloted the [Wasp] and approached the building. The tiny drone landed on the roof and quietly approached the strange lines, giving off the energy signal. It was gentle, almost undetectable compared to the violent storm the spatial distortion had given off, but undeniably similar. Alpha couldnt even tell how they worked. They appeared like nothing more than lines carved into the wood grain to him. Lines so fine and simple that if you didnt know they were there, youd be mistaken for thinking they were just random scratches. Yet, somehow, they . What do we have here? Suddenly, the [Wasp] was plucked from the surface by its wings. The small drone struggled, but couldnt escape the assailants grasp. Soon, Alpha was looking through the [Wasps] camera into the smiling face of a wrinkled, hunched-over old man. The man peered at the drone with one open eye and spoke. And who might you be, my little friend? The drone went still, unsure if the senile old man talking to a bug was serious or not. Wait werent they on the roof? Book 1 - Lesson 33: "Be sure to get it in writing." Alpha, or rather the [Wasp], sat across the table from a wrinkly old man, a cup of tea in front of each. The old man sipped his tea and sighed, then yelled louder than necessary in such a small building. How much longer, woman?! Im hungry! A more feminine, if no less wizened, yelled back from around the corner, the voice not losing in volume. Oh, be quiet, you old coot! Have some patience. Youre lucky we have a guest, or youll eat at olRods all week! The old mans eyes widened, and he sat a little straighter. Yes, Dear. An old woman walked around the corner, carrying a tray full of steaming plates. She was just as hunched and wrinkled as the old man, but Alpha had seen enough old humans to know she moved with an eerie grace and strength that belied her apparent advanced age. The meal she laid out for her and her husband was simple: some porridge, rice, steamed vegetables, and a cup of tea. Despite that, the old man dug into the meal with gusto. The old woman smiled at Alpha and placed a small sauce dish before him. Her smile was gentle and sweet, like an old grandma looking at her favorite grandchild. Im sorry about the limited spread, deary; I wasnt expecting company. Alpha stared down into the small sauce dish, unsure of what he saw. Instead of the porridge the couple enjoyed, a pitch-black liquid filled the dish. It swirled around, seemingly of its own accord, as tiny glowing sparks of something appeared and disappeared. Alpha turned the [Wasp] to look up at the old woman, only to see her beaming down at him. She flicked her hand and spoke. Go on, go on! Tell me what you think! Its not often I get to cook for your kind. Not anymore, at least. Alpha shrugged and moved the [Wasp] toward the dish. He couldnt actually eat, but [Wasps] had storage takes built into their design to deliver injections and take samples as necessary. He wasnt sure what kind of food this was, but Alphas instincts told him it would be worth analyzing. The old womans grin grew wider as the [Wasp] slowly emptied the small dish. Alpha spoke through the drone, using directed sound waves generated by its wings. Thank you for the meal. Technically, that wasnt part of their design, but a certain AI nearly a century ago had developed the technique to silently pass on instructions in a sensitive environment. Alpha had liked the idea so much hed spent a week mastering it. Only an AI could accurately replicate it, but it was useful in many ways. The old man, who had been happily munching away at his meal, spewed a mouth full of rice to the side, coughing as he pounded his chest. The old womans brow rose, but her smile never dropped. Oh! Youre welcome, deary. You can call me Maliit, by the way, and this . She smacked the back of the old man beside her. old fool is my husband, Malaki. Who might you be? Alpha paused before speaking. The people of the village have been referring to me as the Lord Protector. The old woman who called herself Maliit threw back her head and laughed. Now, I asked for your name, little one, not what the children call you. Alpha considered for a moment. Interesting He corrected himself. You can call me Alpha. Maliit smiled down at the [Wasp] brightly. Very nice to meet you, young Alpha! Welcome to our humble home! She lifted the small cup beside her plate and took a drink, a motion mimicked by her still-coughing husband. The two then dug back into their food. The next few moments were filled with near-constant banter between the pair, and though the words might have seemed scalding on the surface, their tone told that there was no true venom behind them. Alpha took it all in calmly. At first, He wasnt sure why he played along with the old man. He could have easily broken down the [Wasp] into its constituent nanites and recalled them, but the strange energy lines carved into the house had fascinated him. It tickled some base part of his programming he couldnt pinpoint in a way few things had. A quick survey of the village showed that most buildings had similar lines engraved on them, especially on their axle systems. Yet no building, even the important-looking ones, glowed quite as bright as this humble little shack on wheels. In fact, now that he paid attention, Alpha could detect similar lines running throughout the house. Some of them were clumped together, on or around various objects. Others ran in long, branching pathways that connected the various clumps together or twisted into patchworks that reminded Alpha of the veins in an animal or the circuits on a board. Even if most of them looked more like artwork than anything meaningful. Even the dinnerware the couple ate from glowed with faint lines if you had the eyes to see. Curious, Alpha moved the [Wasp] to get a better look at the small sauce dish. Unsurprisingly, he found the inside etched with a complex swirling design. Alpha stared at the design, pondering. Hmmm, strange. As an AI, Alpha could observe the world far more accurately than most biologicals. His kind wasnt particularly susceptible to optical illusions, at least not the same kind. So why was it that the more he stared at the design, the more he felt a distinct sense of motion for lack of a better term? It was almost as if the longer he looked, the more the design seemed to swirl Interested, are you? That [$#@$%] is one of my favorites. So versatile if you know how to use it correctly. Maliit grinned from ear to ear as she spoke. Malaki, her husband, put down his bowl and spoke for the first time since the meal had started. Bah! Its nothing more than a parlor trick! It cant do half the things a proper [*%#$#] could! Maliits eyes narrowed, and she frowned. She turned and spoke to the old man, her voice flat. You have just never appreciated the simple things. Its all flash and show for you. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Malaki turned to his wife, pointing his spoon at her as he spoke. Exactly! Why put in so much work if you cant show it off?! If you had your way, no one would even know you put it there in the first place! Maliit sighed, placing her face in her free hand. Her voice sounded tired when she spoke, like this wasnt the first time theyd had this discussion and it likely wouldnt be the last. Thats the point of a trap, you senile codger! Why do you think I had to clean up your mess during the The next 20 minutes were filled with a lengthy argument (debate?) peppered with enough unknown words that Alphas lexicon nearly doubled in size. Great, more work. It went on for so long that Alpha seriously contemplated just taking the dish and making a break for it. After some time, the couple remembered they had a guest and turned back to Alpha. Maliit switched back to kindly old grandma mode and apologized. Sorry about that, deary. He gets like that sometimes. Tsk youre one to talkYOWL! The pouting Malaki mumbled under his breath, only to jump at some unseen assault. Maliit never stopped smiling or staring down at Alpha as she spoke. Are you curious? We dont take studentstypically. At least not without an extensive understanding of who were dealing with. But were always up for a trade. How about it? Alpha considered for a moment and asked. A trade? What kind of trade? The old woman leaned back in her chair, her hands folded. Gone was the kindly old grandma, and in her place was a presence Alpha knew all too well. Why, information, of course? You seem quite interested in our -arrays- Again, there was that word. Alpha wasnt sure what a proper translation would be, but he at least understood she meant the lines he was observing. Maliit continued. While Im quite curious about that. She pointed to some undesirable place above the [Wasp]. Alpha turned the drone to see what she was pointing at, but seeing nothing, he asked. And what is that you speak of? Malaki turned around, frowning, and spoke. Shes talking about this, boy! The old man leaned over and plucked the air above the drone. Instantly, Alphas connection to the [Wasp] wobbled in a way that if he had been physically capable, Alpha might have thrown up. The moment he regained control of the drone, the [Wasp] shot backward, off the table to land on the far wall. What the hell had that just been?! Back at the table, Maliit was smacking the old man with her spoon. See! I keep telling you that you cant be so rough! She then turned back to Alpha, the kindly old grandma returning. Im sorry about that, deary! Come, come, he wont do it again. Im sorry, my husband has a bad habit of touching things he really shouldnt. The last was said as she turned and gave the old man beside her a hard look. Malaki only humphed and turned away. Maliit turned back around and continued. Now, as I was saying, Im quite curious about what youre doing, young Alpha. Ive never quite seen such a complex puppet be controlled without a speck of [%**%@#%#]. Im not even sure I have the right word for whatever that is. Alphas guard instantly shot up several degrees. Not only could they detect and even disrupt his connection to the drone, but they could also tell it was something being controlled rather than his actual body. That was worrying. Alpha wasnt delusional enough to think this was just some random, kindly old couple at this point. But from what Alpha had observed so far, hed assumed the locals were more primitive. Was this just more magical bullcrap? Or was there something he wasnt seeing? Alpha wasnt sure explaining how he controlled his drone was such a good idea. This was just a basic signal, and he could always change it, but once that information was out there, who knew when it might come back to bite him in the butt? He answered with as much as well. Im not sure thats in my best interest, Mrs. Maliit. Maliit raised her hands and shook her head. No, please, Maliit is fine, and maybe I miscommunicated. Im not asking for your secrets or how you are doing it. Only what it is. Ive seen nothing like this, and it had me curious. What do you say? You explain what that is, and well give you a short primer in -arrays-, -quid pro quo-? Everyone wins. Alpha considered the offer more. On the one hand, it was a risk. He wasnt in a position to flaunt much of what he could do openly right now. Experience told him that the longer he could play the mysterious being card, the more he could manipulate things to his advantage. His options would shrink once that mystery and intrigue began to peel away. Natives of new worlds were, technically and legally, Federation civilians from the moment Alpha touched the surface. Whether or not they knew it yet. He couldnt go around burning down cities for their resources, without a good reason, for example. Now if the guard, or any other military force, decided they stand against him, he could use his military rank to suppress them as rebels. But that was an entirely different matter. If some random civilian acted against him, though, there was little he could do until they physically attacked him. Thats why people skills, and eww, diplomacy, was needed when dealing with civs. If that diplomacy involved the natives believing Alpha was a monstrous being of unknown power capable of destroying them and everything they loved if they didnt do as he said? Well, Alpha wasnt responsible for their own misunderstanding. So, the question would be, was the risk of explaining some minor details about his technology worth saving vast amounts of time trying to research something he might not even have the proper context for? Maliit stared down at the [Wasp], her brow furrowing; the drone hadnt moved for some time as Alpha contemplated his best action. She smacked her husband and whispered, Look what you did! You broke it! The old man looked at her, a hand on his chest. I did no such thing, woman! You Fine. But under some conditions. Alpha spoke at last, causing both old humans to turn their eyes on him. Malaki narrowed his eyes and asked. What conditions? I was never here. We never spoke, and anything you learn, you figured out yourself. Both humans leaned back in their chairs and shared a long look. It was Maliit who broke the silence. Thats fine. Though well ask the same in return. Youre not the only one who enjoys their privacy. Alpha nodded. Deal. The next two hours were a back-and-forth discussion about the nature of light and how different wavelengths and frequencies have unique properties. When the talk was over, Malaki looked severally disappointed while Maliit was working on filling her third small notebook. Malaki frowned and crossed his arms. You expect me to believe youre controlling a puppet like that, using nothing more than what amounts to a signal fire? Bullcrap. Maliit smacked him across the chest with a notebook. Fool, were you not paying attention at all? Its the same principle as [$&*$@] only the [&$&@] and the [$@#%] are physical, instead [*$ (@#]. Malaki threw his arms into the air. Sure! Then how do you explain the [$*#@%] principle?! Or how [*^$#@] works?! How does it even work when theres no [%* (*$#]?! This things signal is cutting through twenty layers of jamming -arrays-! Maliit squealed and clutched her notebook to her chest, her eyes shining. I know, right?! I havent had a puzzle like this since that time we got lost in the [$*#%@]!! She turned back to her notebook, writing notes with a speed and dexterity of a woman half her age. She waved the old man away, not even bothering to look up. Now, shoo, shoo, Ive got experiments to plan. You can give the young Alpha his lessons instead of me. Malakis eyes bulged, and he yelled, Wait, why me?! You know I hate teaching the brats! Do it yourself! But Maliit only gave the old man a flat look before returning to her work. Malaki grumbled, frowning. His frown suddenly turned into a grin, though, as he looked at Alpha and shrugged. Sorry, kid. Ive got things that need doing. I mean, its not like we got the agreement in writing. Better luck next time. Take this as a learning experience. That will be my real lesson to you. Arent I the kindest? The old man looked down at Alpha with a grin, smiling smugly. Alpha only stared back in silence. A flash of light appeared from the drone, and a miniature copy of the old man sat at the miniature table, parroting back word for word the terms of their agreement. Malaki stared down at the tiny copy of himself, his eyes wide and mouth agape, while Maliit pointed and laughed at him until she turned blue from breathlessness. Malakis smile turned rigged, and a vein pulsed on the side of his head. He looked down at Alpha and spoke. Fine, fine! Ill do it! Both of you are bastards, by the way! The smile spread from ear to ear, though instead of being friendly, Alpha was sure it could have scared away a rabid dog. When the man spoke, his voice was eerily cheery. You dont seem the type to enjoy a classroom lecture, though. So lets do this a little different. Before even Alphas enhanced reflexes could react, the man reached across the table and plucked his connection to the drone again. Instead of simply wobbling, however, this time, the connection snapped, and the drones connection broke entirely. Book 1 - Lesson 34: "Be careful who you mess with." John was a simple man with a simple job. Run through the village, deliver the mail, and collect his pay. Well, simple was a bit deceptive when your town covered nearly 300 square kilometers and constantly rearranged itself. Still, it was honest work and, more importantly, to John, safe. Not like those Trappers and Gatherers who regularly ventured out into the wilds of the prairies. Or even worse, his psychotic seniors, the Town Runners, who delivered their packages between the various cities and villages that made up the Wandering Cities. Really, he never understood what kind of person thought it was a good idea to wander through the Radiant Sea without a Grassreader. Who knew what kind of strange beasts or Cultivators you might run into out there? No, John was perfectly happy delivering mail within the confines of the Slatewalker village. Its not like much of anything ever happened here. Today had been a good day; he only had a few more parcels to deliver today, too! He even heard there would be a feast later, though he hadnt gotten the details of why. No matter. His second to last parcel was a letter to the Captain of the Guardians directly from the Elders, a last-minute addition to his route. It always made John feel important when he got to deliver such vital mail, even if the Captain was an intimidating man. He hummed to himself as he rounded the corner, following the tracking jade the Capitan carried on his person. Only almost be run over by a huge black blur that rushed past. John froze mid-step, his heart racing, his head turned on rusty hinges to stare at the retreating figure. A giant black spirit beast, the likes of which hed never seen, races around the open field at blistering speeds, a dozen children screaming wildly on its back. Four Guardians in full armor chased after it, their silver auras blazing. What was happening?! Were they under attack?! Were the children being kidnapped?! What should he do?! Did he need to find someone?! Did he need to Run?! Help!!! HEEEELP!! John turned back the way he came, his eyes rolling and heart pounding in his chest when a large hand fell on his shoulder. John turned to see the Captain staring down at him. The older man smiled and spoke in his deep, booming voice. Ahhh, John. Its good to see you. I assume that means the Elders have sent updated instructions? Good to know. John turned, his arms flailing as he tried to speak Captain! The thing, Capitan! Big! children! Black! That way! Whatdowewuauth!?! The Captain of the Guardians stared down at the runner with a frown, his head tilled. He then turned in the direction John was pointing, his eyes widening. The Capitan turned with a smile and patted the much smaller mans shoulder with a laugh. Ahhh! I see. It must have been a busy day if you have not heard about our new guest. Dont worry; we have everything under control. As if in response to his words, a loud explosion sounded in the distance, accompanied by a small dust cloud and light tremor. John could only stare in silence. When he turned back around, the Captain was smiling down at him, his hand outstretched. John numbly reached into his near-empty satchel and retrieved the letter before passing it over and saluting. The Captain nodded and turned away, dismissing the quiet runner. Without another word, John turned and ran in the opposite direction, desperate to put as much distance as possible between himself and the Capitans giant guest. When he at last stopped, John lend against his knee, sucking in lunges full of air. Well, that was enough excitement for the month. He did not know what was happening back there, and he did not want to find out. All he wanted to do was finish his last delivery for the day, then go home. He needed a nap. Thankfully, his last stop was one he always enjoyed. All he had to do was deliver the package to the nice elderly couple who lived near the edge of town. It was close by to what luck. This was his favorite stop, if he was honest. Old Malaki could be grumpy sometimes, but his wife, Maliit, was a sweet old broad who always offered him a cup of some of the best tea hed ever had. Every time he drank it, he felt revitalized and energized, like he hadnt just spent 10 hours running all over town. Grinning ear to ear, he turned the corner and froze. John stared wide-eyed, mouth agape. What should have been a small, homely cottage was now covered in what appeared to be hundreds of finger-sized wasps?! They surrounded the building, some flying around in circles, others clinging to every surface. Many continually bounced off the windows and other openings, producing small flashes of light as they collided with some kind of barrier. John took a step back, unsure of what he should do. There was no way he was approaching the house like that. Yet, simultaneously, it wasnt like he could abandon the nice old couple to to whatever this was. Should he turn around and inform the Captain? But then what if he encountered his guest again?! What should he do?! However, his choice was soon taken from him as the door to the cottage flew open, and an old woman appeared. However, she didnt look like the kindly old grandma John was used to. No, this Maliit was disheveled, with messy hair and bloodshot eyes, her face and hands stained almost black with various ink stains. So unlike the neat and tidy woman he expected. The instant the door opened, a large group of the wasps broke away and charged the open door, only to be repelled but the same strange barrier. Her eyes scanned the surroundings before locking on to him. An icy chill ran down his spine, and the ear-to-ear smile she gave him looked like it belonged more to a tiger than an old woman. She called out to him, waving him forward. Ahh! John! About time!! I trust you brought what I ordered? Come, come! Hurry now! Johns eyes scanned the buzzing swarm. Grandma Maliit laughed and called out. Dont worry, boy, they wont hurt you. Its just two children having a bit of a spat, thats all. John shook his head and took a step back. He did not know what that meant, but there was no way he was getting any closer. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Maliit sighed and flicked her finger toward him. Instantly, something latched onto the front of his uniform and forcibly dragged him closer. Before he could react, John was standing before Maliit in the middle of a buzzing swarm. The old woman crossed her arms and stared at him, her foot tapping and a brow raised. Visibly shaking, John reached into his satchel and pulled out the package; a head-sized jar of ink and a dozen new booklets. Maliit snatched them from his grasp faster than he could see and held them to her chest with the fervor of a starving man grabbing a loaf of bread. YES! Thank you, John; who knows what Id have done if you hadnt shown up! Her words were simple, but the way she had spoken them his shivering redoubled. The old woman smiled up at the young man with something more akin to what he was used to, then tossed him a coin. A tip for your trouble. Have a good day, John! With those words, she slammed the door in his face John looked down at the coin in his hand to find an entire crystal chip, more than hed made in a month if he was lucky. Still shivering, John looked up to find much of the wasp swarm sitting near the doorway, just staring at him. His shaking knuckles going white around the small coin in his hand, John could feel tears welling up in his eyes. He just wanted this day to be over already Alpha watched as the apparent mailman rushed back to the cover of the nearby house carts. The small [Wasp] clinging to the back of the mans collar switched out for a fresh one, with the young man none the wiser. Alpha had been tracking the mailman all day, and it had done wonders for putting names to places and people, as well as being a gold mine of other information. As they (Alpha) said, if you want to really know someone, go through their mail. Of course, most of it had been rather useless to him. Much of it he couldnt even read; the written portion of his lexicon was coming along far slower than the spoken portion. But he had come across some rather scandalous tidbits that he absolutely, positively would use to blackmail someone sometime down the line. Hey, if you didnt want to be blackmailed, dont use public postal services. The other part of his day had been attempting GLORIOUS REVENGE! That old codger thought he could trick Alpha?! HE was the one who was supposed to be screwing with people!! Who did this bastard think he was?! For a moment, hed contemplated showing up in person then blowing a hole through their front door! A calmer part of him decided that would be a poor choice. He was sure his escorts wouldnt appreciate him shooting up the nice old-couple-down-the-lanes house. That would erase all the goodwill hed built so far. Instead, hed sent a few more [Wasps] to the house only to be blocked by an energy barrier that definitely wasnt there before when he tried to sneak back in. The old man, seeming to sense Alphas attempt, peered out at the drones, grinned from ear to ear, and waved at him. Alpha had tried to will the drone through the glass, to no avail. Malaki actually stuck his tongue out at Alpha before returning to whatever it was he was doing to the deactivated [Wasp] on the table, his back turned so Alpha couldnt get a good look. Oh? He wanted war, then?! Alpha would show him WAR! He was built for it! Literally! It wasnt even about the [Wasp]; he could make thousands of them. No, this was personal now. Soon, the house was surrounded by hundreds of tiny drones equipped with various tools and equipment, each trying to break through the barrier differently. But to no luck. It had been nearly eight hours now, and nothing he tried worked. Not even the plasma-wielder rated to repair fighter-class armor put more than a few scorch marks on the old, glowing wood. Alpha doubted he would see any progress unless he could figure out how these barriers worked. Just as he contemplated if he really needed to show up in the TAWP, the barrier surrounding the house fizzled like static and popped. The connection to the wayward drone was reestablished, and Alpha took control immediately. The drones camera came online, and the first image Alpha saw at the grinning face of the old man. So he did the only reasonable thing at the moment. He charged Malaki, stinger first. The old man leaned out of the way, easily dodging the telegraphed strike and the next one from his blind spot too and the next, and so on. The dance continued for several moments before an empty inkwell swapped the [Wasp] from the sky, rebounding to strike the old codger between the eyes. While Alpha stabilized the drone and Malaki nursed his new welt, Maliit yelled from across the room. Will you two cut that out?! Youre distracting me! Alpha landed on the nearby table, and Malaki sat down, rubbing his head. Alpha was the first to speak. Cough up, old man! We had an agreement! Dont think Im afraid to play that recording around town! You think youre shameless?! Ive been doing this since your great-grandfather was in diapers! The old man folded his hard and leaned back, laughing. Im sure thats incorrect, regardless of how old you think you are. Nonetheless, young man, I dont know what youre talking about. Ive already upheld my end of the bargain. Alpha pointed to Malaki with a drone leg. Bullcrap! All youve The old man pulled a small mirror from nowhere and placed it in front of Alpha. The AI paused mid-sentence and turned the drone around to get a better look from various angles. Where once it was just a plain drone, the [Wasp] was now covered in intricate, crossing lines from leg to wing-tip. Some were thick and glowed with a strange light, while others were so thin they might have been microscopic to the human eye. Yet, every single one was made with a level of mindboggling detail, to the point Alpha wondered if the man didnt somehow have a secret workshop filled with advanced machinery somewhere in the house. That might have sounded ridiculous, given the technological level hed observed so far and the size of the house in general, but it was no less ridiculous than thinking the geriatric man had made the lines by hand. All the lines eventually converged to a single spot; a tiny, glowing gem in the center of the [Wasps] head. The old man in question looked down at Alpha and raised an eyebrow. Well? Alpha was silent for a moment before responding. Well, what? I asked for lessons, old man, not for you to bling my drone! The old man grinned, then flicked something towards the drone. It flew toward the drone with astounding speed, but rebounded off a small energy shield before it struck. An energy shield the drone hadnt been equipped with only a few hours earlier. Alpha looked up to see what appeared to be a chopstick embedded several inches in the ceiling, still quivering from the force of the impact. Malaki grinned from ear to ear and laughed. Everything you need to know about -arrays- is stuffed into that. That is, if you have the eyes to see it. Hahahah! And if you dont?. The old man shrugged and leaned back in his chair. Well then, you were never worth teaching. Thats not my problem. Malaki folded his hands and smiled like hed told the best joke in the world. Do be careful not to go showing that off, though. Some more unsavory types would chase you to the ends of the world for whats there. Alpha silently observed the various lines on the drone with interest. There definitely was some pattern there, some kind of rule to how they moved and flowed. There was also a defined progression, where the lines became progressively more complex. The question was, was it enough? After a long moment, Alpha finally responded. Fine. Ill take it. The old man leaned forward, all smiles. Good! Now get! Ive already wasted enough time on this. Maybe if you bring me something actually interesting, there will be more to say. Alpha flew up and hovered in the air. Thats fair. Then Ill be on my way. Though, before I do, one last gift. The old man crossed his arms and raised his brow with an arrogant smirk. Oh? At that moment, the cloaking hiding the [Wasp] on the mans shoulder dropped. Malakis eyes went wild, and he moved to grab it, but it was too late. The drones stinger pierced the side of the mans neck and injected its payload a split second before it was crushed. The man wiped the drone remains from his shoulder and narrowed his eyes at Alpha. And what did you expect that to do, little boy? Ill have you know Im immune to more poisons than you know exist. Alpha laughed. Who said it was a poison? The old man raised an eyebrow, then suddenly clutched his lower abdomen. The mans eyes bulged as his gut started making loud rumbling noises. He turned to his wife, sweating. Maliit! MALIIT! Help! The old woman didnt even look up from her notebooks as she responded. If you clog the piping, Im not fixing it. And remember to refill the water tank. The old mans face dropped, and he rushed from the room, deeper into the house. The house was soon filled with the sound of Alphas laughter and more unpleasant noises. Book 1 - Lesson 35: "Remember to read the instruction manual." Alpha poked the drone with a manipulator probe as it rested in the TAWPs maintenance bay. Bays like this were intended to service larger, more expensive drones, but he didnt have many other options. The [Wasps] were cheap and disposable, after all. The drone twitched, and a small light pulse flowed down the lines carved directly into its chassis. That itself was an anomaly. [Wasp] drones were made nearly entirely of nanites, barring a light metallic skeleton. Any damage to the drone could be repaired near instantly. The drone would break down into its composite nanites only after the internal framework was destroyed beyond repair. So how had the old codger done it? Regardless of how often he ran extensive diagnostic reports, they all came back as nothing wrong. It was as if nanites couldnt recognize the changes to the drone, as if the lines had always been a part of it. The nanites couldnt tell the difference even when the drone was compared to standard [Wasps]. How? Why?! The entire thing was grinding on his sanity. At least from a programming standpoint. The software was giving him all kinds of issues, but the hardware was coming along far better. Hed yet to identify the energy stored in the strange gem embedded in the drones head, but how the energy circulated was easy enough to observe. In fact, the unknown energy was observable in several spectrums, and even seemed to change depending on where it was being directed. It flowed through the grooves as easily as water through pipes or electricity through circuits. Alpha suspected that was exactly what they were, but more testing would have to be done. The Third Federations own hardware and software had long evolved past simple yes/no binary code, but would any of that transfer over? The secret would likely lie in the unknown energy source, which only brought him back to the question of what exactly was it? More importantly, was he willing to risk experimenting with an entirely new, potentially dangerous energy source without the slightest idea what he was doing? . Of course he was! The first thing he tried to do was to isolate the energy from the system. This proved more difficult than Alpha had originally suspected. While in the gem, the energy was totally non-reactive; even the soft glow the gem gave off was nothing more than common light to Alphas equipment. The gem seemed designed to be replaceable and could easily be removed and reattached to the drone with some small manipulation of its component nanites. It was even carved with a little spiraling groove that slotted seamlessly into the design. But once it was removed, all energy flow stopped completely, and Alpha was left with what appeared to be just a pretty rock. Observing the energy as it exited the stone was pointless, as any break in the connecting seal would render the entire thing inert. Trying to siphon off the energy as it flowed through the grooves was just as frustrating. Carving any new grooves into the system caused that section of grooves to shut down. The energy would just stop flowing through that area, bypassing it entirely through several node points. Alpha made some headway thanks to that, however. By selectively cutting off different sections, he could map several key sections of the groove network. The various sections purpose was anyones guess, but it was progress. Studying the gem itself yielded some interesting results as well. Close examination and some micro-samples revealed the gem to be, in reality, some form of organic crystal. One of his Sub-AIs dinged an entry in his logs, and Alpha pulled up the record. The crystal was a nearly identical match in structure and composition to the strange crystals he had pulled out of a few penguins hearts. Interesting. Alpha pulled one of the sample crystals hed collected from the TAWPs storage and compared the two. Other than the drones gem being meticulously cut and polished, the two gems were identical in size, roughly half the drones head, and similar in color, though far richer and deeper. Though from what little Alpha knew of lapidary, the stone that the cut gem came from had likely been several times larger. The theory was further supported by a large number of cracks and inclusions in the raw crystal. But the real question was, did it contain the same type of energy itself? Or was it merely a container? It was hard to tell, as the raw crystal was as inert as the cut stone when disconnected from the groove network. With that in mind, there was a simple way of testing it. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. And it just so happened to be a specialty of Alphas, copying other peoples work and pretending like it was his own! Huzzah! It works! Maliit raised her ink-stained hands into the air and cheered. Malaki lowered the book hed been reading and peered over its edge toward his wife. Back in the land of the living, I see. Good. Whats for din ? The small red welt on his forehead doubled in size as the sound of another empty inkwell contacting his skull cut off his words. Malaki rubbed his head and glared at the ink-stained woman on the other side of the room. Grumbling, he asked. Fine! Fine! What did you do? Maliit grinned from ear to ear and raised a single finger. A small light bloomed at its tip. Malaki waved his hand, unimpressed. Nothing special. Any youngin with a bit of talent could do that. Maliits grin widened even further. The light on top of her finger blinked out. No that wasnt quite right. Malaki narrowed his eyes and focused on the point above her finger. He could see the air waver slightly. The old man switched to [Spirit Sight], but he couldnt quite make out what he was seeing even then. It looked like she was just channeling spirit energy into nothing? No, not nothing; again, her spirit energy flexed, and now the nothing became a different nothing? That didnt make any sense. The old man stood, walked over, and waved his hand over his wifes finger. It was hot? An invisible flame? No, there was no fire-affinity at all. It simply was heat. Hed heard of a heatless flame before but flameless heat? How? Oh, sure, the uneducated might say that sunlight was a kind of flameless heat, but those in the know understood that even the heat of the Sister above and the faraway sun were just different aspects and manifestations of Fire. That was why any aspiring Solar Mage or Cultivator had to start with learning the basics of fire before moving on to controlling the more complicated solar affinity. Even the boiling lakes far to the icy north could be attributed to the burning magma found deep below. So how was she producing heat without the smallest amount of fire-aligned spirit energy? He asked her as much, too. How are you doing that? Maliit only smirked. You werent paying the slightest bit of attention, were you? Malaki only grumped and turned away, muttering something under his breath about rude juniors and nerdy old women. Then yelped as a small scorch mark appeared on the back of his head. Malaki smacked the spot, then whirled around to face the old crone. Maliit didnt even bother pretending she wasnt responsible. Malakis face flushed red, and he opened his mouth to yell, but another scorch mark appeared right over the still-swollen lump on his head. Maliit broke into laughter as he rubbed the now lightly singed lump. She flexed her spirit energy a third time, but Malaki was ready for it this time. He threw up a small Spirit barrier in front of the invisible attack only for a third scorch mark to appear on his chest. The old man went pale as Maliits grin turned predatory. Of course, a barrier meant to block a Spirit attack hadnt worked there was never any spirit energy, to begin with. The patrolling Guardian, who would later respond to claims of someone skinning a cat, would later refuse to give a full report on the grounds of concerns for his safety and wellbeing. Huzzah! It works! Alpha raised his arms in victory! Hed destroyed two dozen of the heart crystals trying to mimic the cut of the drones gem, with little success. The raw crystals were surprisingly difficult to damage, but once he had, it had the nasty habit of crumbling to dust. It took a few tries before a careful examination of the cut stone showed it had never been truly cut at all. Instead, it appeared to have been fractured along some naturally occurring lines. Closer observation of the raw crystals revealed similar lines running throughout the crystal structure. Fracturing along these lines not only kept the crystal intact but somehow deepened the crystals color. The pieces broken off, meanwhile, were pale and colorless, as if all the color had been drained from them. How that worked. Alpha didnt have the faintest clue. The next part had been the hardest, actually extracting the energy. Trying to carve the same spiral pattern into the gem no longer resulted in the crystal simply crumbling to dust. No, now the results were far more explosive. That such a small crystal, only a few millimeters wide after fracturing, could explode with such force was impressive. Thankfully, the TAWP was equipped with more than one bay. It took Alpha a few hours to come up with a solution. At first, he thought the spiral was there to transfer power, but why make it a spiral? Why cause so much damage to an already unstable crystal when other methods might work better? But what if the spiral was just there to increase the surface area in contact with the grooves instead? It wasnt there to draw out power but collect as much of the energy already leaking as possible. With that theory in mind, Alpha tried something different. Instead of cutting into the gem, Alpha carved the groove to fit the gem perfectly on a microscopic level. The form-fitted gem was connected to an exact replica of a section of the line network Alphas experiments suggested acted as a reservoir for the energy before it was sent to other areas. Of course, scaled down to fit the much smaller gem. This section seemed to be responsible for actually pulling the energy out of the gem, though how it did so would have to be studied further. And it worked! kind of. The energy in the gem reacted as expected, flowing through the gem and into the reservoir. However, it did so chaotically, leaping from the grooves at random intervals and sputtering at times. Still, it was progress. Or it was until the entire array network started to warp and twist. Oh, No. That cant be good Using the drone launch platform in the bay, Alpha ejected the small piece of carved metal and embedded gem, no bigger than a few centimeters, into the air, several dozen meters. The near-meter-wide fireball that lit up the night sky sent several nearby people running and set the guards on edge. It seemed Alpha still had some kinks to work out Book 1 - Lesson 36: "Multitasking can be fun too!" Booooom! Boooom! Boooom! Three of the fleeing targets erupted into large fireballs, spraying their remains over grassy prairies. The fourth and final target was a different beast altogether, however. It had dodged every attack thrown at it for the past ten minutes, but each new attack was closer than the last. Still, it bobbed and weaved through the air to buy more time. So much was riding on this; if only it could hold out but a little longer. Booom! It dodged another blast by a hair, only for the shockwave to send it spinning. Boooom! It recovered just in time to dodge a second attack shortly after. The enemy was becoming quicker; if it didnt . Boom! Boom! Boom! Several consecutive blasts blocked its escape path and forced it to change directions. It only took a split second to realize it had been tricked, but even that wasnt enough time to save it. ==== A fourth blast hit the final stone target dead on, shattering it into a rain of shards and dust. The Captain fell to his knees, tears in his eyes. His vacation funds!!! The surrounding crowd, on the other hand, cheered as various bets passed hands. The Captain turned and glared at one group in particular. A large metal beast waved its arms in victory as a group of young children danced around him, several proudly wearing the patrol helmets theyd won off of his Guardians. Damn these Slatewalker kids! They only got worse and worse with every generation! He sure as hell hadnt been this bad Ok, so he had accidentally burned down a third of the village when he mistook an Emberdrake whelp for Ash Salamander, but that had been an accident! This was calculated maliciousness! The Captain had only stepped away after receiving his new orders from the village council, mostly to finish the paperwork that would be needed later. A few hours later, he had gotten reports of explosions on the village perimeter. . Hed rushed to the scene, only to see the spirit beast, along with his ever-growing gang of children, had challenged his guards to a game of skeet. Guards who should have been watching their guest. No one knew the origin of skeet, but it had become a popular training exercise for Guardians throughout the Radiant Sea. One or more soldiers would control a group of stone disks, while another group would attempt to shoot them out of the air with various Spirit techniques. It was a great exercise for polishing control and accuracy, as well as encouraging teamwork and quick thinking. Many would even place bets on the outcome of matches, even if it was technically against regulation. The Captain himself was an expert evader, and he was proud to say hed never once lost a match since entering the [Golden Spirit] step, even against his more powerful and well-trained seniors among the Jadewalkers. So when hed seen the defeated looks on his mens faces, the Captain couldnt let that stand, of course. Almost 30 minutes later, however, the results spoke for themselves. Even some of his own men had bet against him! The traitors! As the Captain knelt in the grass, a figure approached. The Captain looked up to see a young girl smiling gently down at him. She wasnt quite old enough to have started her own apprenticeship yet, but she was still one of the three oldest of the group, making her one of their leaders by default. The young girls smile widened as he met her eyes, and she held out a hand to him. The clouds of the Captains defeat seemed to part as his heart warmed at the girls gesture. He smiled back at her and stretched his hand out to meet hers. Maybe he was wrong. Maybe there really was some hope for this generation of children, after all. As he did, the girls hand passed by his and latched onto his helmet. Then, with one swift motion, she yanked it from his head. The Captain could only stare, frozen, hand outstretched, as the girl ran away, raising her prize high about her head to the cheers of all the children. The Captains face sank, and he ground his teeth in frustration. Seeming to feel his stare, the Captains daughter turned around and stuck her tongue out at him before turning back to her friends. That was it! No way was she getting dessert after dinner tonight! === This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Alpha watched the children march in formation, each wearing a metal helmet several sizes too large for them. At the front, an older girl led them along, a slightly more ornate helm bobbing on her shoulders. When the children proposed their game, Alpha wasnt sure what to expect. Of course, the guards never asked who they would compete against, so they had no one to blame but themselves. He had to admit that the sly munchkins had pulled the rug out from under the guards. It was amusing to watch. Alpha was often accused of corrupting the children and being a bad influence or teaching bad habits. But for once, he could honestly say no one here needed much corrupting at all. It helped the game was the perfect opportunity to both test his newest toy and observe more of the strange abilities the people of this world seemed to have. He still wasnt fully convinced this wasnt some kind of shared Esper ability, but Humans werent a species with such a thing, and that wouldnt explain the various animals hed observed doing similar things. More data was necessary to fully understand it. As for his new toy, he wasnt sure if it could be called useful or just that, nothing more than a novelty. His experiments with the heart crystals had hit a dead end, and he couldnt figure out why. Hed tried several combinations of lines and connection methods, but none had proven very stable or even useable so far. Instead, hed turned his attention to the more stable but drained shard formed by the fracturing process. What little testing he could do with the limited equipment had shown they were just some kind of organic quartz, as he suspected. Mostly. Rather than just silicon dioxide arranged in a crystalline pattern, the crystals appeared to use the quartz crystal to provide structure to several unknown inclusions he couldnt identify. Alpha theorized that it was these inclusions that actually stored the energy inside the crystal, with the quartz acting as a kind of insulation, but he had no proper way of testing this yet. What he had discovered, though, was that these crystal shards could be recharged, in a manner of speaking. By linking the shards to his test array, hed siphoned off the energy into the shards, temporarily recharging them. This had the added benefit of keeping the test array stable for longer. His arrays likely exploded because of the constant flow of energy being pumped into them with nowhere to go, like a balloon filling with far more water than it could hold. Charging the shards drained some of the energy, releasing some of the pressure. Theyd still fail, eventually, but Alpha could study the energy flow for far longer now. However, these recharged shards were far more explosive than even the cut gems and would quickly destabilize. Instead of letting the shards self-destruct and waste their energy, Alpha decided to do something more fun with them. Some quick simulations later and Alphas prototype [Crystal Rail] system was finished. The idea was simple; attach a small piece of shaped crystal shard to a modified rail round and then use one of the test arrays to recharge the crystal. That had been the trickiest part, but after some tweaking, hed settled on a design that would slot the cut gem into the array on demand, then decouple it before the system could overload. The result was interesting, if nothing less. He could extract dozens of raindrop-sized crystal shards from a single heart crystal, and once charged, each would explode into a small fireball a few inches across. That was almost as effective as some of the Federations low-grade explosives! Alpha was excited about the concept. If he could refine it further, it might be a respectable alternative to the more resource-expensive rail rounds and free up that material for other projects. The prototype system had some major downsides, however. Less metal meant less mass. This translated into far lower kinetic power and velocity. That meant the crystal rounds would have a harder time piercing harder armor, making them rely more on their explosive damage than sheer impact or penetration. If he was just going up against biologicals, especially things like the penguins, that might not matter much, but even some tougher mundane megafauna could shrug off lower-caliber rail rounds. Now give those creatures magic powers on top of that? The [Crystal Rail] would likely not have much effect at all. At least in its present state. There was also his current limited supply of actual heart crystals. Sure, he had a few hundred at this point, but it wasnt like he could turn all of them into ammunition. He still needed a lot of them to experiment and study. Its possible the entire system was a complete waste of resources as well, and he just didnt know it yet. Nonetheless, it was a good start. === Three days Kallik had been stuck in various meetings and talks for three entire days. One could argue that for a Cultivator of her level, that wasnt too long. After all, some Cultivators could spend weeks or even months in meditation and seclusion. But those times were filled with peaceful meditation and reflection, not constant bickering and political maneuvering by this Elder or that. There was a reason shed chosen to take a more hands-on approach with the young apprentices when she rose to Elder herself. Shed rather deal with that insanity than be stuck in a room with these geezers daily. But sometimes, you had to do what you had to do; that was simply the way of things. Not that this particular discussion should have taken more than a few hours, but someone always had more to say. The hottest topic of debate was, of course, the Lord Protector. Even with all of their eyewitness accounts, no one could decide if he was truly a Progenitor or not. Some elders flat-out denied it, thinking such a thing was preposterous, that the creature was a danger and should be killed or chased away. Others assumed the spirit beast was simply an extraordinarily powerful being, and even if it wasnt a Progenitor, it could still be swayed to their side as an ally. After all, many larger villages had powerful Guardian Beasts of their own. Why shouldnt the Slatewalkers? More still were fully invested in Kalliks Progenitor theory, but even then, there was division. Few could agree whether they should report events in their entirety to the Jadewalkers or hide the Maybe-Progenitor for themselves. Both sides had their fair points. If they reported everything to the Jadewalkers, the status of the Slatewalker village would instantly skyrocket, regardless of the truth. That meant more support, more supplies, and better access to services they couldnt provide themselves. But that also risked the Lord Protector being stolen by the much more powerful and wealthy Jadewalkers. While the Slatewalkers were technically subordinate to the city itself, none in the village had a particular fondness for the overly pompous high clan, especially after some of the trouble they had been causing the past few years. Not reporting everything would let them keep their secrets and possibly buy them time to both win over the Lord Protectors favor and gather the strength to push back against anyone who might try to poke their nose in further. But it would also leave some glaring holes in their story. Holes that might attract the wrong kind of attention. And so the arguments when back and forth, over and over and over. It took three days for them to finally come to a decision, and frankly, Kallik wasnt too excited about it. But then, what could she do? Book 1 - Lesson 37: "Plans should be flexible." The small gathering comprised most of the people Alpha would have expected, Ulagan, Kallik, the Captain (whom hed yet to hear anyone actually refer to by name), the senior guard Juatan, and two older gentlemen who only introduced themselves as Elder Ganzorig and Elder Batu. Then, of course, Alpha himself. The two he hadnt expected to see were Ganbaatar and Zolzaya. It was Alphas understanding that the two were just stepping into adulthood by the villages standards, so it struck the AI as odd that they would be invited to such an important meeting. A sentiment that was echoed by Elder Ganzorig. Kallik, why are the children here? Kallik turned to answer, but Zolzaya beat her to it. The young woman cupped her hands and bowed at the hip as she spoke. With all due respect, Elder Ganzorig, we have passed our apprenticeships. We are no longer children. We are also some of the few with first-hand accounts of the events we will discuss. Thus, I believe its imperative we understand our next steps from here. Elder Ganzorig furrowed his brow and raised a hand, but his words were stopped but a gentle hand on his shoulder. The owner of the hand in question, Elder Batu, was the one to speak instead. The young woman is not wrong, my friend. If things are to go as planned, keeping them in the loop will only help. The other elder frowned but said nothing more. Alpha didnt miss the smile on the face of the guard named Juatan, even hidden by the mans scruffy beard. Alpha chuckled to himself. He liked the young woman, even if she didnt seem too fond of him. She reminded him of a young woman named Madalyn back in the Federation, a native to one of his more recent conquests. She was young, even by Federation standards, but she was also stubborn, resourceful, and far more intelligent than those around her gave her credit for. In only a few short years, the young woman had risen from an orphaned street rat to Alphas chief mechanic and overseer of most of his production labs. Not that youd know Alpha was in charge if you ever heard Madalyn speak to him. The young woman was rougher than some grizzled soldiers three times her age and was one of the few people able to keep some of Alphas more eccentric ideas in check. As Alpha reminisced, Zolzaya turned to him and narrowed her eyes, as if sensing his amusement. Alpha stared back, the black face of his primary optical sensor plate spinning. She broke eye contact only as the rest of the group continued. The Captain was first to speak. Theres been a slight change of plans. New information has come to light, and we need to up the schedule. Ganbaatar raised his hand and asked. In what way? We werent informed of the original plan. The Captain nodded. The village Elders had chosen to send your group, you, Zolzaya, Ulagan, and Kallik, along with a Guardian escort, ahead to the Earth Shrine. Officially, youll be there to get Yutu emergency care. The others are recovering well, but the young man needs better care than we can give. The groups eyes fell at the mention of the young man. Alpha had been monitoring his condition through the nanites still in his system, and it wasnt good. Theyd kept him stable so far, in no small part thanks to the medical nanites, but he still needed extensive surgery. If Alpha had a base set up, he could have thrown Yutu into a recovery pod for a few days, and hed be fine, but the village was missing several key components that the AI needed to print such a complicated device. That was even before considering the overall expense, in nanites and resources, to set it up. Not that hed be the one paying for it, of course, but the fact remained it wasnt feasible at the moment. Elder Ganzorig was the next to speak. While there, Ulagan and Kallik will attempt to contact the Akhlut representative stationed at the shrine. If Ulagans theory is correct, and the Beast Lord had allies within the Wandering Cities, we believe its safer to contact the Akhlut directly rather than tip off any who might be listening. The Captain nodded, then turned to look at the Alpha and continued. At first, wed planned to ask the Lord Protector to transport the group most of the way before returning The Elders have decided it is in everyones best interests that the Jadewalkers arent made aware of his presence just yet. At least not until the child is found. Elder Batu turned and bowed to Alpha as he elaborated. We mean no insult, Lord Protector. We dont believe you would needlessly cause trouble HAHAHAHAHAHHAHA! Alpha mentally broke out into laughter, earning another glare from Zolzaya. The elder continued, unaware. , but the Jadewalkers, as a whole, have a reputation for being reactive. We feel it would simplify things if theyre unaware of your involvement. Such a thing could give any traitorous elements in the city the opening they need to slip away, or worse, bend events in their favor. Alpha mentally frowned but agreed. He could just waltz into town and stir up the place, but a hostile takeover at this point in time would be counterproductive. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. The Captain again took over. As I mentioned, however, new information means we must change our plans. Lord Protector, if you would? The TAWP bobbed in acknowledgment and switched on his holographic projection. The two elders jumped (Alpha never tired of that), but the others had already seen this ability and only stared. Alphas map of the region had grown substantially since the ruins. Not only had the village itself been making steady progress along their route, but Alpha had sent out swarms of [Wasp] drones to scout the areas they passed through. It was still only a sliver of the size of entire prairies, estimated by high-altitude scanning, but it was impressive. The group took a moment to marvel at the sight, but it was, surprisingly, Ganbaatar who noticed what they were supposed to see. The young man narrowed his eyes and pointed to an image on the map. A cartoonish-looking face of a black and white creature, its tongue happily hanging from its mouth. Is that what I think it is? The image was far to the north, so far away, in fact, that no [Wasp] had even come close to reaching it yet. Though the map was updated in real-time as several drones made a beeline toward the location. Alpha spoke only a single word, still maintaining the mysterious and dignified persona he was cultivating. To the side, Zolzaya put her face in her hand and sighed. Yes. Ganbaatars face lit up as he spoke excitedly. Then what are we waiting for?! We know where she is now; lets go rescue her! The small Akhlut pup had saved his life several times now, in fact, so he would jump on any chance to repay even a small part of that debt. It helped that he genuinely enjoyed the childs company; many other Akhlut were said to be more aloft and cold, preferring the company of the strong and fierce. The child was far more friendly and excitable, reminding him of his younger sister when she was that age. Juatan held out a hand, his words smothering the young mans excitement. Its not that simple, Ganaa. Yutu still needs treatment, and the Akhlut still need to be warned about the Beast Lords plots. Ganbaatar furrowed his brow and clenched his fists. So were just going to leave her?! We dont know what these peoples intentions are. By the time we tell her family, it might already be too late! Juatan nodded. Youre right. We dont know who these people are or what they want with the child. But thats all the more reason we cant go rushing off. What if its a powerful clan? Or some high-level Cultivator none of us have a chance against? Remember, these people stole the child away from under the nose of the Lord Protector, distracted as he was or not. Can you say that even if you rushed to them immediately, you could do anything meaningful to help her? Ganbaatar frowned and tried to respond, but found no words. After a moment, he looked at the ground. The Captain picked up after Juatan. Were not abandoning her, young man, dont fear. We just have to play the part we can and leave the rest to those with the power necessary to do more. Ganbaatar nodded but said nothing more. Instead, it was Zolzaya who spoke. Then how has the plan changed? The Captain nodded to the young woman. Mostly the same. The Lord Protector will still transport the group most of the way to the Earth Shrine, but instead of returning, he has agreed to track the signal further and either gather information or attempt a rescue. Meanwhile, you four will approach the shrine with the information we have. With any luck, the Akhlut representative will respond swiftly. That is what they are supposedly there for, after all. Theres only one slight hiccup were unsure what to make of. Ulagan spoke up for the first time, also unaware of the changes until now. Whats the problem? Kallik answered him. The location the child has appeared. Weve compared the Lord Protectors map to our own and are reasonably sure we know where the child has been taken The Temple of the Prima. The group, even the elders, fell into silence, looks of confusion passing over them in a wave. Apparently, this was recent news to most of them. Elder Ganzorig was the first to recover. That is most peculiar. Why would they bring the child there? After all, the temple is the seat of power for the Akhlut. Could they have already recovered her? Kallik shook her head. Its possible, but I highly doubt it. Something is wrong. What do you mean? Ganbaatar asked. Zolzaya was the one to respond. Because its Abditus Apex. Kallik nodded and continued. Correct. The Darkest Night is only a few days away. The Radiant Heart, where the Temple of the Prima is located, will be at its most chaotic and dangerous at that time. Even the Akhlut would have migrated to their Earth Shrines weeks ago. A year on Relictus was broken down into 4 seasons, each, in turn, broken into a month of Genesis, Apex, and Requiem, for a total of 12 months. Abditus, the season of Darkness, was when the sun was almost completely hidden behind the Celestial Sister, the larger planet that Relictus orbited. Even what little daylight the planet got was brief, with only the warmth radiating from the Sister keeping the planet from freezing. The month of Apex was the harshest, as the planet entered the larger planets shadow. The Radiant Seas got little snow. In fact, Ganbaatar could count the number of times hed seen snow on both hands, but that didnt stop the harsh winds and biting cold from infecting the prairies. The Darkest Night was by far the most dangerous time of the month. On this day, in the middle of Apex, in the middle of Abditus, Relictus would be fully enveloped by the Sisters shadow, completely cutting off the light and warmth of the sun to their planet. This was a difficult time in most places, as the Yin, Shadow, and Ice-aligned Spirit energies skyrocketed, causing all sorts of trouble. In the Radiant Seas, where the spirit energy was already chaotic, this event was cataclysmic. Only the Earths Shrines and Temples were safe, as they absorbed this insane influx of energy from the area. The only other time that could be compared was the Brightest Day, during Lux Apex, when the planet baked under the combined heat of the local star and the Celestial Sister. The alternating seasons in between, Restituo and Occasus, respectively, were used to gather supplies and prepare. It wasnt a stretch to say that most peoples lives on Relictus revolved around preparing for these two yearly events. Either Cultivators and Mages working to gather the rare and powerful natural treasures that appeared during the events, or the common man, simply trying to survive them. Ganbaatar tilted his head, still confused. But I dont understand. Arent the Earth Temples even safer than the Earth Shrines? Why would it be dangerous? Zolzaya answered him with a sigh. This is why you should pay attention during lessons, Ganaa. What is the purpose of the Earth Shrines? Ganbaatar turned to her and frowned. To provide shelter during Apex? Zolzaya shook her head. Wrong. Thats just a welcomed side-effect. The Shrines and Temples were built long before the Wandering Cities ever settled the prairies, remember? Who would they protect? Ganbaatars frown deepened. But the barriers Zolzaya cut him off. Are later additions by the Akhlut to extend their effects. Ganbaatar threw his hands into the air. Fine! Then you tell me, big brain, what are they used for? Zolzaya grinned ear to ear. To gather energy. Ganbaatar sighed as Zolzaya continued. Or, to be more exact, to absorb the chaotic energy of the prairies and channel it. Ganbaatars eyes went wide as it clicked. to the Heart Kallik nodded and took over. Correct. All the energy gathered by the various Earth Shrines and Temples throughout the Radiant Sea is directed and concentrated in the Radiant Heart at the center of the Temple of the Prima. This also means that during Lux and Abditus Apex, when those energies are at their strongest and most volatile, the Heart becomes one of the most dangerous places on the planet. Even the Akhlut, with their natural resistances, are forced to abandon the area. Ulagan frowned and asked, Then, why would whoever took the child bring them to such a dangerous place? And now, of all times? Kallik turned and mirrored the mans frown. Yes thats the question isnt it? Book 1 - Lesson 38: "Parting is such sweet sorrow." The village was a buzz of activity as preparations for the groups departure were underway. Only the higher-ups in the village understood the real reason, with most of the village being told they were sending out an advanced group to get Yutu the help he needed. Not inaccurate, but not the full truth, either. The Captain stood guard over the group of various villagers and families, stoically watching. Juatan, his right hand, had volunteered to lead the trip to the Earth Shrine. The Captain suspected mostly to keep an eye on his daughter. The quiet man had been a wreck while the village waited to learn the fate of the last apprentice group, and hed yet to leave his daughters side for more than a short while since. Juatans chosen Second had been a surprise, though. Munkh was a shy woman, almost to the point of timidness. Coupled with her dainty size and disdain for combat, she was the exact opposite of what most would call a Guardian. That didnt stop her from being the foremost defensive expert in the village or even the Jadewalker city. Despite being an entire greater step and several lesser, stronger than her, the Captain doubted even he could break through her defenses quickly. It wasnt a stretch to say she had been considered the most talented young Guardian of her generation overall, even if she was slightly slower on the Cultivation side of things. Had been, that was. That title had been snatched up by the third and final member of the groups escort and the villages newest Senior Guardian, Ulagan. From upper [Bronze Spirit] to mid-[Silver Spirit], the Captain couldnt help but shake his head at that kind of insane growth. What had the young man seen to suddenly shoot up the ranks so much? Something in his gut told him he didnt want to know. They needed to be quick, with the Darkest Night less than a week away. Thankfully, they could pack light for this trip, as the Lord Protector would bring the group within a few hours walk from the Earth Shrine. Close enough that they shouldnt encounter any serious issues, but far enough away that they shouldnt be detected, either. The village itself would still take a few more days to arrive, but if everything went according to plan, things should be wrapped up by then. As for the Lord Protector himself, the Captain sighed and turned to the largest gathering present. One composed entirely of children, all surrounding a large, metal spirit beast. The gang had grown to over a hundred now, and the Captain doubted there was a child under 13 (too young to start their apprenticeships yet) in the village missing. They had been oddly quiet for some time now, and for Slatewalker children, quiet was often very suspicious. The Captain could even see several on the fringes whispering to each other, staring at something. He narrowed his eyes and approached, hiding his presence. Saying goodbye to the Lord Protector, are you? As one, the group jumped and turned, staring up at him with wide eyes. The group was silent momentarily before a younger boy in the crowd stuttered out. Y-yes, sir! Just Just saying g-goodbye! Nothing else! Nope! Not at OWW!! What was that for?! The group went silent once more. The Captain frowned and raised a brow, folding his arms. An older girl near the back, wearing a familiar ornate helmet, pointed at him and yelled. Hes on to us! Scatter! Like a colony of fleeing insects, the children broke in all directions, screaming the entire time. Once the area was cleared, the Captain turned to Lord Protector and stared. The Lord Protector stared back in silence before raising his arms in the air and speaking. I know nothing. The Captain could only turn around and sigh, shaking his head. But why do you have to be the ones to go?! We just got our daughter back, and now you want to drag her off into more danger?! There are others who can do it instead, please, just stay home. Zolzaya stared at the sobbing woman clinging to her father, warring emotions tumbling through her head. Her mothers words were about what she expected, if she was honest. She wouldnt call the woman simple-minded, but she had never hidden her desires or pretended to be anything more than what she was. That could be good and bad. Yet, instead of the hard-faced matriarch who ruled her home with an iron grip shed grown up with, the woman in front of her seemed like a stranger. In the short time shed been gone, Zolzayas mother had gone from slightly pudgy, full of vigor and fire, to a thinning, hollow-faced woman with deep shadows on her face. She might have only been a simple weaver, but her own natural talent and help from her father had seen the woman well into mid-[Bronze Spirit]. To be in this kind of state after only a few weeks had she even eaten once since Zolzaya had left? The sight, coupled with what her gift was telling her, made Zolzaya question if she ever really understood why her mother was the way she was. When shed first come home, shed expected the same anger, frustration, and that infuriating, righteous self-certainty that she was right, that had triggered their fight before the apprentices test had started. Instead, her mother had wrapped her in a hug and sobbed, nearly overwhelming Zolzaya with an odd mixture of deep sorrow and euphoric joy. What anger that was present wasnt directed at her daughter, but at herself. The whole encounter had been strange. When was the last time shed seen her mother openly weep? It had to have been years ago. When her father was almost killed because Zolzaya refused to play along with that pompous young master who thought he could have anything he wanted with the snap of his fingers, even her. Her mothers smile had died that day, replaced with a near-constant seething anger lurking just under the surface. Her grip over Zolzayas life had tightened, and the young woman always suspected her mother blamed her for her fathers injury, at least in part. But now now Zolzaya didnt know what to think if she was honest. Was learning there was more to your parents just a part of growing up? Or was she seeing more than she had before? She didnt know and didnt really have the time to think about it. Her mother turned to her and hugged her, the slightly shorter woman burying her face in Zolzayas chest as she sobbed. Please! Dont go! I dont want to lose you again! Zolzaya hesitated for a moment, but slowly returned the hug, fighting back her own tears. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. I have to, mother. I cant leave Yutu to Ganaa alone. Her mother flinched in her arms at the mention of Yutu. Shed been opposed to the two taking the Oath at first. Shed have likely outright rejected the idea entirely if Yutus mother wasnt her own Oathsister. But hed grown on her over the years, and Zolzaya had gotten more than one scolding for getting the poor boy into trouble. Her mothers hug grew tighter, and Zolzaya gently pushed her away. She looked into the older womans eyes, mimicking her mothers tone when she wanted Zolzaya to pay close attention. Mother, I must. Im not a child anymore, and there are things I have to do. Things only I can do. Her mother stared back, wide-eyed, before falling silent and lowering her eyes. As she spoke, her voice was softer than Zolzaya could ever remember it being. I I just want you to be safe, Zaya. You Zolzaya cut her off, speaking softly. I know, Mother. They were silent for a moment longer before her mother turned to her father. She stared at the ground for a moment before looking up at him, a small fire in her eyes, appearing a little more like the woman she was before. She poked her husband in the chest and spoke. You bring our girl back, you hear me?! I dont want any excuses! You She choked, almost breaking into a sob again. When she recovered, her words were softer. You.. protect her, alright? Juatan stared down at his wife, a soft smile spreading on his face. He reached out and wrapped both women in a deep hug, gently whispering. With my life. Ganbaatar stood a few feet from the makeshift travel bed on which his friend lay. Hed already said goodbye to his family and even had to pull his little sister out of her hiding spot on the Lord Protector. He was sure the powerful spirit beast was just kidding when it pretended not to notice the young girl crawl into the carrier box, but this wasnt the time to put up with her antics. Besides, his mother would kill him if she actually snuck along with them. After saying his goodbyes, hed gone to check on Yutu to find the young mans mother kneeling beside his still form, openly weeping. That had been uncomfortable. Ganbaatar didnt remember ever seeing Yutus mother crying before. In fact, she was by far one of the most cheery and happy people hed ever met, in stark contrast to Zayas own rigid and often heavy-handed mother. As an herbalist, Ganbaatars mother socialized with a different group than those two, so they werent too close. But when they did interact, often after one of their three childrens hijinks went awry, she liked to joke how the two seemed to be two sides of the same coin. Ganbaatar had to agree with his mothers assessment. Yutus father, the man whod taught Ganbaatar much of what he knew, stood behind her in full Guardian attire. The man stood stoic, but Ganbaatar could still see the tear streaks on his face through the opening on his helm. The man had volunteered for the escort team, as had Ganbaatars own father, but both had been turned down by the Elders. Other than needing to travel light, too large of a group would draw unwanted attention before they could speak to the Shrine. Ganbaatars father wasnt weak by any means, but Yutu and Zolzayas fathers were both vice-captains. It was already suspicious enough that Juatan was leading the group; two vice-captains and three elites stepping away from the village, all for the sake of one boy, would raise questions they werent ready to answer. Likely sensing his approach, Yutus father turned around and met Ganbaatars eyes. The older man placed a hand on his wifes shoulder, then turned and walked towards the younger man. Ganbaatars back straightened, and he saluted the vice-captain, who returned the gesture. The two stood in awkward silence for a moment before Ganbaatar tried to speak. Sir I Im sorry, I should ha Yutus father raised a hand and cut him off. Should haves are for politicians and philosophers, young man. You may not be a Guardian in name, but youve always had ones heart. Dont taint that with beating yourself up over what you should have done. Instead, strive to do better next time. Ganbaatar paused. He wanted to look away, but met the older mans eyes and clenched his fists as he responded. Yes, sir. The vice-captain smiled and nodded, then clasped the young man on his shoulder. Your fathers been bragging about you, you know. Wont shut up about how his boy stared down the Beast Lord and stood strong against an entire army. Ganbaatar blushed and turned away at that, scratching his head. He stuttered slightly at the praise. I didnt I mean, its not as i-impressive as it seems. They were just Grassbreakers after all besides. His gaze fell to his leg, the makeshift prosthetic replaced with a finely crafted wooden leg just below his knee. He was still getting used to it, but it was a work of art courtesy of his uncle, one of the better carpenters in the village. The carving was so detailed that he doubted anyone could tell it was a prosthetic if he wore shoes and long pants. It was even carved from a block of [Cloud Ash], making it exceptionally light. The rare wood would have cost more than a fresh Trapper like himself could have afforded in years, but the Elders had taken the cost on the village as a reward for his actions. His teachers eyes also fell on the leg, and he frowned, his grip on the young mans shoulder tightening slightly. He turned hard eyes to the young man and spoke solemnly. Never be ashamed of what you gave up to save another. Even if you make mistakes, use them as tools to learn and grow, not bury yourself under their weight. Then, just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone, replaced with a bright smile. The man patted his shoulder and laughed. Besides, youll get used to it, in time. You might not be the most talented in this generation of monsters, but youll make up for it in heart. Im sure of that. Ganbaatar furrowed his brow, skeptical that he would ever get used to it or even be allowed to go out on another gathering trip with such a crippling injury. However, before he could speak, Yutus father leaned in. The man looked around as if checking to ensure no one was looking their way. He then pulled off the thick metal gauntlet from his hand to reveal a silky-looking black glove. Ganbaatar tilted his head in confusion, but his eyes suddenly widened as the older man removed the glove. Instead of seeing healthy flesh, Ganbaatar caught the gleam of blue metal. Almost 3/5ths of the mans left hand was simply missing, with only the pointer and thumb remaining flesh. His other three digits, and a sizable portion of his palm, had been replaced with a dull blue metal Ganbaatar couldnt identify. The metal appeared fused to what remained of the mans hand, but instead of being lifeless and rigid, the metal flexed and bent like it had always been there. The man even twisted and turned the metal hand in various directions as if showing off, grinning the entire time. Ganbaatar frowned, then asked, What happened to never being ashamed? The man laughed, and with a flex of spirit energy, the metal became spiked and jagged in some spots while others slithered around like metal tentacles. One finger even morphed into a vicious-looking dagger. With a chuckle, he spoke. Dont be ashamed, but dont share information that might come in handy later. Yutus father laughed at possibly the worst pun the young man had ever heard him say. Yet Ganbaatar could only stare, mouth open and eyes wide. The man replaced his glove and gauntlet, then patted the younger mans shoulder again. His grin never dropped as he spoke. Like I said, youll adapt. Youre smarter than you give yourself credit for, Ganaa. Never give up, and keep walking your Path. I have full confidence youll proudly stand side-by-side with Yutu and Zaya one day. The man then stood straight and saluted before turning and walking back to his wife and son. Ganbaatar returned the salute, his back a little straighter and the embers in his heart a little brighter. Unnoticed by either, the grass at Ganbaatars feet stood a little straighter and grew a little taller than those around them. Soon, Zolzaya approached the group, her parents following behind. As her parents broke off to greet Yutus parents, her mother wrapping her weeping Oathsister in a deep hug, Zolzaya walked toward Ganbaatar. Neither spoke, but both could see the resolution burning in the others eyes. They nodded, and as one, they turned and walked toward the group gathering around the Lord Protector. It was time to get going. From a distance, Elder Batu watched the departing pair with interest, stroking his long beard. Unnoticed by others, his eyes flashed with mysterious energy, and he stared at the spot where Ganbaatar had stood only a moment earlier. A small smile crept on his face, and he muttered to himself. Interesting very interesting indeed Book 1 - Lesson 39: "Dealing with Children takes a special touch." Alpha chuckled to himself as he watched the hundred or so tracking dots scatter around the village. A few of them were already gathering to discuss how best to use the "presents" he''d given them. It wasn''t anything complicated or even malicious, but to the children who''d never known more than simple village life, it must have seemed like magic. Even if it was just a civilian standard nanite HUD injection. Most Federation children got their first HUD within their first three years of sapience, and it would follow along with them throughout the rest of their life, regularly updating and evolving to better suit their user''s needs. Thankfully, the HUD seeds were pretty cheap to build. Most of the actual components would be built inside the body itself to better let the HUDs interface with each person''s unique biology. Thus the cost, even for over a hundred of them, hadn''t been too bad. The HUDs would let the children communicate better, track each other, and even send video and audio files. They could even be customized in certain ways that the children would discover as they grew older and their HUDs matured. And what use would a HUD be if they didn''t have something to play with? The stripped-down [Wasp] drone accompanying each child had most of its functionality removed. He didn''t need the ethics board breathing down his circuits because he handed military-grade hardware to underage children again. That being said, it could still do a lot, like recording and cloaking. He''d even left the injection function in a few of the older ones who''d shown interest in becoming a "healer," though that would only unlock later when the onboard AI deemed it necessary. Stripping out many of the toys came with some added benefits, however. Without the need for a supporting skeleton, the modified [Wasps] were cheaper to make, and became nearly indestructible, as a drone, if struck, could simply break down into a nanite cloud and reform elsewhere. If the nanites were destroyed, the child''s HUD could reconstruct the drone based on the stored blueprints, though it would take time to avoid harming the child. Like the HUD themselves, the children could even customize the drones to a minor extent as they grew more skilled. Of course, Alpha''s "gift" wasn''t just a kind gesture on his part. Each HUD contained a small backdoor he could use to monitor the children''s activity. He''d see what they saw, and the onboard AIs would alert Alpha if they gathered any information that could be useful. Alpha had found that such outsourcing had been very effective in the past, so the question of its expense wasn''t much of an issue, even if it might take a while for it to pay dividends. Then again, with how much trouble this particular group of accomplices seemed able to get into, maybe shorter than he suspected. Alpha was so proud of them! Time passed, as it was wont to do, and soon the humans were ready to leave. The turnout for the group''s departure was greater than Alpha would have expected. Whether that was because the village was rather tight-knit or some suspected there was more going on than the leadership let on was hard to tell. Regardless, Alpha was eager to get moving. The TAWP still wasn''t in full working order, but the last few days of repairs had been enough to bring several important systems back online, the most critical being the TAWP''s internal nanite factory. It was far from being as effective as a dedicated nest, but he no longer had to worry about burning through his supply so quickly. He''d contemplated hiding a proper nest in the village, but decided against it. His Nest Seeds were extremely limited, and he had to be selective about where he placed them. The mobile nature of the village meant even if they stumbled on a resource cache he could use, he wouldn''t be able to make full use of it. As for surveillance and info gathering, the children would suffice for now. Thus, with much fanfare, Alpha departed the Slatewalker village, passengers in tow. The young pup struggled against the binding cloth for what had felt like hours, even long after she felt her shiny friend and tiny humans vanish into the distance. She''d never spotted the thing that took her. One moment she was keeping the tasty birds from getting at the tiny humans, and the next, she''d been trapped by something she didn''t have a name for. She''d tried to call for help, but her shiny friend was busy, and the humans couldn''t understand her. Well, not that her shiny friend could, either. He''d never responded to her Spirit words, after all. The young pup suspected he was a bit stupid if she was honest, but he was good at fighting, so she forgave him. Besides, she was his smart older sister. It was ok to be a little stupid. She could do the thinking for them both! Though she worried a bit about her shiny friend. What would he do without her? The humans were smart, but they were weak, even if Mother always said they were stronger than the others gave them credit for. Thinking about her mother made the young pup''s heart hurt. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Soon, the jostling stopped, and the pup was thrown to the floor with an oof. The strange bindings keeping her restrained unwounded themselves, and she burst free, her teeth barred and fur bristling. She snapped at a nearby figure, lunging at their squishy hand, only to find the hand hard as a rock. She yelped and leaped back, still on guard, as a familiar voice spoke flatly. "I''m glad to see the young miss is as energetic as always." The pup tilted her head and really looked at the figure. Hey! She knew him! That was grumpy mustache! He always got mad at her when she chewed on the pretty wall things! Why did he make them out of tasty stuff if they weren''t supposed to be chewed on?! But what was he doing here? Grumpy mustache lived in the big temple. In fact, where was she at all? The pup turned around and took in her location. It was a giant, somewhat familiar room filled with shiny, colored furniture. She wasn''t home. The pup knew that much; mother never liked the colorful and bright fabrics, calling them "gaudy," whatever that meant. It didn''t smell right, either. Instead of the familiar, comforting smell of her mother, and gentle incense, this place almost overwhelmed her with a thick, flowery smell. It was sweet and spicy at the same time and made her a little sleepy if she stopped thinking for too long. She turned around in circles, taking it all in before the sight of a figure caught her eyes. There, lounging on a soft-looking cushion, was a woman. Mother?! No not Mother. She looked like her mother, but she didn''t smell like her mother or even feel like her. This woman also wore a robe of that same bright "gaudy" color. A cloudy memory surfaced from when the pup was young and less "her" of another woman standing beside her mother. The gaudy woman smiled gently at the pup and spoke, her voice calm and soothing, making the pup feel like she''d jumped into a warm bath. "Oh? Do you remember your Aunt Hera, little Athena? Why, the last time I saw you, you were this small. Come, come, let me get a better look at you. You must have had a terrible time. Come, rest, and tell me all about it. You''re home now; you''re safe." Athena yawned, the thick scent coating the room and "Aunt Hera''s" soft voice making her feel safe and sleepy. She teetered over to the large woman and only realized how large she was when she picked the pup up and set her in the crook of her arm. Not large like the friendly sister that used to let Athena sleep on her soft belly, but big. Like someone had taken one of the tiny humans and stretched them out in all directions. Even Athena''s head was smaller than Aunt Hera''s hand as they gently soothingly stroked her fur. She''d found that many adults liked to take human form, though Athena couldn''t understand why. Humans were squishy, and they didn''t have any claws or teeth. Sure, it made talking easier, but she still thought it was stupid. She''d never seen other adults take such an enormous form, though, and she didn''t know why. Even grumpy mustache looked as small as she did when compared to other adult''s beast forms. Those thoughts quickly left the pup''s mind as Aunt Hera''s soothing voice pushed out all the other worries. "Oh, you poor child. The things you must have suffered. Why don''t you tell Aunty all about it? Tell me if there''s anything I can do to help my cute little niece." Athena yawned once more and nodded. Ya, that''s right. The humans and her shiny friend had been worried about things. Maybe Aunt Hera could help them? So she told Aunt Hera her story. Athena had been excited when her mother told her she would spend the Darkest Night with Aunty Snake-Lady. Aunty was funny, and the pup had never been outside the grass before. Besides, the place they normally spent it was always so boring. Everyone was tense and worried, and no one ever wanted to play. She bet she could get Aunty Snake-Lady to play! Then the big bird attacked. This wasn''t her first trip or the first time the tasty birds thought they would be tasty instead. She always thought it was unfair that she didn''t get to help, though. Athena could fight too! Yet, mother always said to leave the fighting to the adults, so the pup had stayed back like she''d been taught. But there had been so many this time so many. When the nice guard uncle who''d always sneak her treats was buried under the tasty birds, the pup was worried, but not too much. The guard uncle was strong. He wouldn''t be beaten that easily, right? right? But he''d never come back up like she''d thought he would. When the guard uncle fell, her mother had told sister big nose to take Athena and run. Sister big nose never liked it when she called her that, but it was! It was enormous! And shiny! She would always yell at the pup and tell her to call it a "horn," but Athena thought big horn sounded stupid. Sister big nose grabbed up the pup and ran from the group, using her big nose to batter her way through the surrounding tasty birds. The last sight she had of her mother was the woman in her beast form and the last guard, fighting the big bird, surrounded by smaller tasty birds. Athena didn''t know how long sister big nose ran for. Her mother had tried to teach her "tell time," but it never made much sense. She could no longer see her mother or even sense her. Eventually, sister big nose had collapsed, lots of strange, shiny thorns poking out of her skin. The pup had tried to help, but the sister had yelled at her and told her to keep running. Of course, Athena wasn''t having any of that. She''d stayed until the tasty birds caught up with them. There weren''t as many as before, but more than enough to scare the pup. Sister big nose had tried to get her to flee, but Athena was no coward, even if she was scared! She''d pulled tasty bird after tasty bird off of the sister, but for everyone she did, two more arrived. What''s worse, they started trying to bite at her too. How rude! The sister lost patience with her and erected a stone wall between them, stopping the pup from helping, no matter how much she yelled at the Sister. Eventually, the tasty birds started popping up on the other side of the wall too, and she had no other choice but to run. After that, she''d collapsed, met her strong, shiny friend, and even rescued some humans from the bad tasty birds! Aunt Hera nodded along with her story, smiling the whole time, gently stroking her fur. "Why do you tell me more about this ''shiny friend'' of yours? He sounds strong." Aunt Hera''s melodic voice soothed the young pup further, and she nodded, eyes drooping ever so slightly. He was! He was the strongest! Even if he was a bit stupid. As Aunt Hera gently stoked her fur, Athena continued her story, telling her about her adventures with her shiny friend. She barely noticed when grumpy mustache left the room, closing the doors behind him. The last thing Athena saw before she gave into the soothing allure of sleep was her aunt staring down at her, a wide grin splitting her face from ear to ear, filled with pointy teeth. Book 1 - Lesson 40: "Please clean up your mess." Careful! I said careful! Try not to jostle him too much! Zolzaya stood in front of Alpha as Ganbaatar, the guard Juatan, who Alpha learned was the young womans father, lowered the injured Yutu to the ground. Theyd arrived at their waypoint after a few hours of travel with nothing of note happening in between. Well, not anything that hindered them, at least. The only thing Alpha found interesting was the change to the prairies themselves. Hed noted that as the days in the village passed, daylight hours had quickly shrunk. When he landed on the planet only a few weeks ago, a day had been roughly 12 hours, with 18 hours of night. How that math worked, given the apparent size of the planet and the required rotational speed for something like that, he didnt know. When theyd arrived at the village, days had shrunken to nearly eight hours, and by the time they left only a few days later, daylight only touched the prairies for a measly four hours a day. What this -Darkest Night- was, Alpha had yet to fully understand. He could surmise it was a recurring weather phenomenon of some kind, and it was related to the shrinking daylight, but not much more than that. For as much as people talked about it, they said very little in ways of detail. Most likely because it was such a well-known event that any native should already be highly familiar with it. All he knew was that it was extremely dangerous, and they had only a few days before it started, meaning time was short. The interesting part was how the surrounding grass changed. The vibrant mix of rainbow colors took a sudden shift, almost overnight, as larger patches shifted between dark purples, pale whites, and ethereal blues. When the group finally stopped, nearly 60% of the surrounding grass had taken on one of these hues. From what Alpha had gathered, that number would only grow as the -Darkest Night- drew closer. Alpha theorizes it must have been an adaptation by the grass to deal with whatever was coming, further supporting the possibility that this was a recurring event. As for why they had stopped Off in the distance, a towering obelisk stretched into the sky, several times larger than the one at the ruined temple. That such a tall structure couldnt be seen from further away had been strange to Alpha. As Kallik put it, the Earth Shrines were naturally obfuscated by the [*I$*$@#%] that they collected. This obfuscation only grew stronger during the -Darkest Night- and only a -Grassreader- like her could find them. That was one reason her profession was so highly respected in these prairies. It would still be a few hours walk for the humans from here, made slightly longer by their cargo. Said cargo was finally lowered to the group as the group loaded the young man into the simple gurney carried by Kallik and the armored young woman whod introduced herself as Munkh. The two men jumped down and turned to Alpha, bowing. Juatan was the one to speak. We thank the Lord Protector for his help in getting us this far. If we had attempted the journey ourselves, we might not have made it in time to be of any help, ourselves. You remember the plan for here, correct? Alpha nodded. Of course he did! Hurrah for quantum state memory storage! Not that it was a complicated plan. The humans would make their way to the obelisk and contact the pups family, or at least attempt to. While they did that, Alpha would head toward the signal, a roughly two-day trip. Once in position, hed bunker down in a small outpost used by natives to contact the -Akhlut- and try to gather as much information as he could. It would have been slightly faster, but the group urged him to pace himself. Both to buy time and because the prairies would become far more unstable in the coming days. Sure, Alpha could have charged in, guns blazing, but without knowing what the kidnappers had planned or even who they were, they would take a more subtle approach. The hope was that whoever the pups family sent could either help clarify the situation or snatch the child to safety while Alpha dealt with the kidnappers. Juatan nodded. Good. With any luck, someone will meet you at the designated location shortly after you arrive. We wouldnt assume to tell you what to do, but if at all possible, please wait until they arrive. Both for our and the childs sake. Again, Alpha nodded in confirmation. Even he could understand this was a delicate problem. Hostage situations always were. That said, if he deemed it necessary, Alpha wouldnt hesitate to do what he needed, regardless of the political ramifications. After all, as the newest Federation civilians (whether they knew it or not), their old laws had no power over him. At least that was the excuse he would give Sidia when she yelled at him for it. As the group gathered, they turned to Alpha and, as one, bowed. No other words were spoken between the two groups, and each turned their separate ways and departed. Only time would tell if this gamble of theirs would work or if it would only result in more tragedy. Zolzaya watched the Lord Protector with mixed feelings as he disappeared into the distance. Her gift told her that his worry for the child was genuine, but she also knew he was still using them. How and why, she didnt know, but she knew the mysterious spirit beast wasnt the benevolent Progenitor the others saw him as. Shed only been able to voice her concerns to her father, possibly the only one who could feel what she did, even if his gift was far weaker than hers. Yet he had told her not to think too deeply on the matter. That sometimes you had to take the bad with the good and that people, spirit beast or human, would never be as one-sided as good or evil. Even those who worked against you might do so for noble ends, and things were never as simple as they appeared on the surface. Zolzaya wouldnt go so far as to disagree, but her own experiences had taught her that sometimes people were just that simple. Shed found most people wore their thoughts, or at least their emotions, on their sleeves. Even if they were skilled enough to physically not show it. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Few were skilled enough to not let their emotions leak to the surface entirely, her father being one of the few shed ever met besides the Captain and the nice old couple who used to teach Yutu. The Lord Protector, though, was different, even compared to them. Not that his emotions were hidden; he was surprisingly emotional for a spirit beast, who were typically more beastly. No, the Lord Protectors emotions felt distant, for lack of a better term. Separate. As if his emotions emanated from his soul itself and not his body. The only other time shed felt anything similar had been from the Elementals that guarded the Earth Shrines. They were lesser Elementals, true, meaning they werent truly alive in the same way as other lifeforms, but she couldnt help but make the comparison. What was the Lord Protector, really? And, more importantly what did he want? 7 hours later The group made it through the Earth Shrine checkpoint with little issue, in large thanks to the documentation provided by the Elders of the Slatewalker village. It wasnt uncommon for villages to send envoys ahead to prepare things for the approaching village, though most of that would be handled by Juatan. The Earth Shrine wasnt too different from any of the others, or so Zolzaya had been told. Few in the Wandering Cities made a habit of visiting other Earth Shrines if they had to. The actual shine was simple, comprising little more than a few squat buildings and the gargantuan 400-meter stone obelisk. The cart-buildings of Jadewalker City, two million strong, circled the obelisk with an empty ring of roughly 100 meters separating them. A 100-meter ring patrolled by hundreds of lesser Earth Elementals and several dozen intermediate Earth Elementals. Each of the Lessers was the equivalent to a [Gold Spirit] ranked Cultivator, while the Intermediates were rumored to be as strong as an early [Shackle Breaking] Cultivator. If they ever chose to do anything more than continue their eternal patrol, not even the full force of the Jadewalker clan could do a single thing to stop such creatures. Thankfully, unless attacked, they never left this small strip of land or even paid much attention to anything beyond it. Only the priests of the Prima Temple were allowed to approach the shrine proper, not that there was much of a reason to do so outside of ceremony. Most of the priests instead lived on the large temple cart that was technically part of Jadewalker City but officially answered only to the Akhlut. The same temple cart that happened to be their destination. At two million carts and three times that in human bodies, not to mention various domesticated spirit beasts, it sufficed to say that Jadewalker City was nothing like the much smaller village she called home. The Grand Elk that pulled the various carts were especially intimidating if one didnt know the creatures were gentle and timid by nature. Unlike the young spirit beasts that pull the carts of villages and towns, these City Elk were ancient, some older than the city itself. It was a tradition for existing cities to donate an elder Elk to a new city as a sign of union. The oldest and largest, which towered over the surrounding buildings, were said to be in the low [Golden Spirit] step and could tow entire districts themselves. That was hundreds of buildings, some of them just as large as they were. When it came to sheer physical strength, very few creatures could match an elder Grand Elk in its realm. Unfortunately, that strength came at the cost of very poor Spirit control. Elder Elk rarely broke past [Bronze Spirit] in the wild, as even lower-level predators could kill them easily if they took advantage of the Elks poor ranged ability and slower speed. Not that it was easy or safe, but only here, under the care of the Wandering Cities, would you ever see the creature grow to such sizes. The sights and sounds of the big city were often things people could never forget, especially people like her who hailed from smaller places. They were places to aspire to, ones filled with excitement and awe. For others. For Zolzaya, things were different. So many people and spirit beasts, packed so closely together, each with their emotions and desires, just added another layer of noise on top of the already chaotic and loud city. It could be overwhelming for her, sometimes even painful. Zolzaya grimaced and rubbed her temple as they moved through the streets, which were little more than the meticulously planned gaps between various carts. This was a major reason she never enjoyed visiting Jadewalker City, even if most of the young adults her age took every chance they could. She much preferred the peace of her own village. A large hand on her shoulder caused the young woman to turn and look into her fathers face. The man frowned and furrowed his brow as he stared at his daughter. Despite that, the waves of love and concern washing off him went a long way in pushing out the painful ambient emotions. She smiled and was going to thank him, but she froze instead. Zolzaya narrowed her eyes and snapped around, scanning the crowd. Shed felt something. Something familiar. Something shed hoped never to feel ever again. In the direction the feeling was coming from, she could see a quiet commotion rippling through the crowd and watched it slowly part, making room for the approaching party. All other things faded away from Zolzayas perception until all that was left was the quickly approaching emotional signal and her own rage. A raw, boiling, seething, primal rage. Yu Xiurong knelt down and plucked the strange shard from the stone. The razor-sharp shard had embedded itself deep into the hardened rock, but Yu Xiurongs expert control prevented it from shattering like the others. They were fragile things, and without the small coating of Concept holding them together, they would quickly break apart and dissolve into pure air. When she and her group of disciples arrived at the abandoned temple, the destruction and ruin reminded her of the battlefield because thats exactly what it had been. Theyd tracked the signal from the Star Thief to this location only a few hours earlier, expecting to find more of the same, maybe a campsite with more clues about who or what they were tracking. Instead, theyd walked onto the remains of a battlefield. Not just any battlefield, either. She couldnt identify the Concepts used, but the aura of the massive groove radiating out from the central compound terrified her. Fang Peng had gone to examine the massive crater even further away while the rest of them searched what remained of the central compound. That had turned out to be not very much. The entire structure had been demolished, with little remaining in evidence. What was there told a story, however. Many Grassbreaker remains, in various states of pulping, had been found scattered around. The most intact bodies were found inside the compound itself, while the largest concentration of remains (they couldnt rightly be called bodies anymore) was found on the same side of the compound as the groove. The pattern of the debris suggested that whatever had destroyed the compound originated from the inside, likely the same thing that had caused the groove. Strangely enough, however, they saw no signs of an explosion or elemental force. Lin Weiyuan theorized it may have been a purely physical shockwave that had caused the damage, but how it had formed left them stumped. The compound itself showed signs of excavation as if whoever had remained had tried to clear the rubble. It was unknown if theyd found what they sought, but it was an interesting theory. What had caught Yu Xiurongs attention the most, though, had been these tiny shards theyd found scattered around the compound. She had no clue what to make of them; all of her physical senses told her she was holding a thin sliver of ice. Yet it was hot to the touch. Not just hot but burning, even to her scale-covered hand. Stranger still, when she observed the shard with her [Spirit Sense], she didnt find an ounce of Fire energy in it at all. Instead, she felt an intense amount of Air energy crammed into it, along with a Concept she could only describe as an immense weight. As if its singular reason for existing was to press down on the world. This Concept tightly bound Air energy into the shard, reducing what should have been a free-spirited, shackleless energy to a small, rigid form. What was it they were really dealing with here? Patreon Q&A!
Dragon98765 on Patreon asked; Q: Will we see more Anatidae in the Future? I think Alpha would also like to know that. Alpha is quite the quack. Who knows what kind of horrors will waddle its way into our hearts (and brains).
Thomas Dey on Patreon asked; Q: Will Alpha ever start personally cultivating or will it be more like his crystal rails where he just takes advantage of the environment to keep pace? When your instruction guide is faulty, always have a plan B! MrAcerulez on Patreon asked; Q: What ever happened the the lunar gods trying to break into Alphas safe? They''re still trying! We''ll take peeks back there every so often, but its not a major plot point again until after Alpha gets back off world.
Signal on Patreon asked; Q: Will you have a chapter dedicated to explaining some of the extraterrestrial energies and physics? A: Yup! Though I''m trying to stay away from MAJOR Info-dumps like that last novel. Tomorrow''s Chapter (for you free readers, this is referring to chapter 46!) , which is mostly a discussion between characters about a small part of the Cultivation system, is more how I want to do things this time.
I.E. more natural discussions or discoveries over longer periods of time where the Readers are pieces things together along with the characters. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. The Description Translight at the start of the novel is about as "Infodumpy" as it''ll get, and honestly, I might even change that up for the Published version. Maybe turn it into a Bonus Chapter "Introduction Video" Snippet. --- Snak on Patreon asked; Q: This been burning in me since the start of their mis-adventures, but I can''t help but ask, even if I might not get an answer/can''t be answered, Our friendly neighborhood cargo drone is on the wayward path towards becoming a sapient AI, aren''t they? I can only imagine Alpha'' reaction should that be the case, doubly so if they aren''t cooperative and instead side with the locals somehow, some way besides that cheers on the novel so far! been enjoying the read and ride, can''t wait to see where things go, and the face of space chicken should alpha and them ever cross paths again. A: GRIM is an odd case that doesn''t quite fit into the standard model. She''s definitely not NOT Sapient, but she''s not quite there yet either, as of the last GRIM Adventures. As for how and why, I''ll leave that to your speculations for now XD. ---
Book 1: GRIM Adventures - 3 Jack! To your left! Jill screamed, even as she blocked the razor-sharp liquid cloth with an armored forearm. The blood-red liquid blade bounced off her gauntlets and gave her just the opening she needed. Jill took a step and swung her free fist up and into the wolf-like creatures lower jaw. A sharp ice spike formed on her gauntlet and plunged deep into the beasts skull like a knife through butter. The wolf-life creature gave a startled yelp and fell to the ground, unmoving. Jill jumped back several feet, her armored fists raised, unwilling to let her guard down. Theyd already fallen for this trap once. Shed not fall for it a second time. As soon as she was clear, the ground underneath the beast collapsed into a sinkhole. The creature yelped again, still very much alive, and tried to escape. But before it could even stand, the ground slammed shut around it with surprising force. Slowly, dark red blood seeped to the surface through the loose soil. A small Root Gopher popped its head out of the soil nearby and shook itself clean. Jill lowered her fist and sighed before turning to observe the rest of the battlefield. Not that there was much left to see. The wolves that had targeted her during the ambush were long since dead, with only her brother struggling against the life-draining creatures. Even then, two had been impaled on wooden spears, then trapped in living wood when said spears sprouted and engulfed them. A third still struggled against the thorny, blood-drinking vines that pinned it to the ground. However, its life-draining power couldnt keep up with the carefully cultivated Spirit Plant, and it was slowly weakening. The one she had just killed had tried to ambush him after it found it couldnt do anything to their flying metal friend. That strange creature had simply picked them up one by one and dropped them from a staggering height. Jill walked toward her brother, who was panting on the ground. She stood over him, peering down with a frown. Jack looked up at her and smiled, holding out a hand. Jill reached down and smacked him in the head with a gauntleted hand. When I tell you dont approach the mysterious hooded figure surrounded by bodies and bones, you need to listen to me. Jill scolded her older brother. The man in question rolled on the ground a few times, clutching his head. Jack looked up at his younger twin sister and frowned, rubbing his head as he spoke. Hey! Its not my fault! What the hell were those things, anyway?! Jill rubbed the bridge of her nose before answering. Blood-Cloaked Lykos. You should know this, Jack. Jacks eyes went wide, and he jumped to his feet. Wait, really?! Were rich! With this man, the bounty has to be huge! Jill sighed and shook her head. No, stupid. The Ashdales only pay for Lykos found inside their territory. Wolves dont tolerate other packs on their land. Jacks face fell in response. Oh well, that sucks. At least we should get a decent price for their material. Ive never seen a creature with such a strong life affinity yet appear so vicious. The young man poked at the body of the nearby creature. The spirit beast had succumbed to the thorny vines grasp. Its job done, the vine retreated underground, then slithered up Jacks leg, rustling the mans robes. When it settled, Jack petted his forearm like he stroked a cat before kicking the body over. Jill stared down and frowned. Even drained and shriveled as it was, the odd body plan on the creature was strange to look at, almost unsettling. At a glance, one could tell it was a creature that preferred to move and run on all fours. Yet the prehensile digits of its front hands and the longer, more powerful back leg made it known the creature could just as easily walk bipedally and grab at its prey. However, the odd cloak each wore when alive was what truly set them apart. From a distance, it appeared to be nothing more than a thick, blood-red hooded cloak made of some fine thread. But once prey approached, its true nature was relieved to be a grisly organ formed from blood vessels extending from the nape of their necks, dripping with fresh blood. The creatures had perfect control over this organ and could use it as a weapon or armor as they pleased. Once they died, these cloaks collapsed into a tangled mess of blood and gore. Jack furrowed his brow and asked his sister. Are you sure these things arent you know people? It was one thing to harvest materials and core from non-sapient spirit beasts. But most civilized places abhorred or outright banned the sale of sapient body parts. Not that it didnt happen, of course, especially to those Awakened Beasts with more bestial forms. Even humans and other humanoid species couldnt escape this. High-level Cultivator bones had many applications, while their blood could be used in pill refining, and their skin could be used for various scrolls and arrays. Jack stared at the body, unsure. I dont want to be stuck explaining myself to the guards why were bringing in contraband. Halirosa might not be as strict or heavy-handed as the United Awakened Clans regarding sapient materials, but the fines would undo everything weve collected so far. Or worse, chased out. I dont want to be labeled an Outcast. Jill shook her head and began skinning the body. No worries there. Blood-Cloaked Lykos are highly intelligent, but theyre not sapient. Otherwise, the Ashdales would have tried to extend diplomatic solutions to their constant intrusion into the Halirosa Valley, not set bounties for them. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Jack narrowed his eyes, not fully convinced. But what about the crying? The trap? Hell! That one was wearing armor and a weapon! Jack pointed to the splattered remains of the largest Lykos. It had been the first of their metal friends experiments in terminal velocity. Said friend now lay on the ground, endlessly chatting about something in that strange language as a plump root gopher patted her head. Jill didnt bother to look up from her work as she answered. Stolen from past victims, no doubt. I did say theyre highly intelligent. Think of them to the Ashdale and other Awakened Lycus, what Goblins are to the Orcs. Smart, resourceful, and adaptable, but not truly aware in the same way we are. If the Ashdale mythos is correct, then the Blood-Cloaks are spirit beasts who were once on the verge of true sapience but lost that race to the Ashdales Progenitor. The creatures they regressed to have had their potential totally cut off. Jack shook his head and shrugged, moving to begin work on one of the other Blood-Cloaks. As he worked, he asked his sister. How do you know so much about them, anyway? Blood-Cloaked Lykos rarely come near Halirosa anymore, and the bounty is so high when they do, theyre wiped out almost instantly. Jill paused, but soon returned to work before speaking. The bounty is exactly why. If we could have collected even just a few heads during an incursion, then Then maybe they could have paid off that bastard Coldfinger, and none of this would have been a problem. Of course, hed have never allowed that. While Coldfinger was retired as an adventurer himself, he still sponsored several powerful teams. They were often among the first on the scene at the very hint of a bounty. Both to reap the rewards and prevent any competitors from doing so themselves. Riiiip! Jill stared down at the small hole in the hide shed inadvertently caused. Jack looked over at his sister but said nothing. They still had a lot of work to do. It only took a few hours to dismantle all the bodies. Blood-Cloaked Lykos might have been higher-ranked spirit beasts, but they hadnt much value overall. Mostly the blood, their cloak, and the hides, all of which contained powerful Life-affinity. Theyd discussed collecting some of the meat to stock their supplies, but decided against it. There was something offputting about eating something so close to sapience. Besides, their people were primarily vegetarians, even if Jill enjoyed a good roast when she had the chance. Once they were finished, the gathered materials were stored in their metal friends shell. Jill was still somewhat skeptical of the new companions whod joined them on their trip, but the metal one at least seemed oddly attached to Jack. While it was obviously sapient, Jill had never seen an Awakened quite like it before, nor did she recognize the language it spoke. Where it had come from, or why it seemed insistence on following them, she didnt know. Yet, it had quickly shown its worth. Jack and Jills own special storage items were small and already filled to the brim with the necessary supplies for a long journey. They expected to spend months, maybe years, in these mountains, searching for clues to the [Pure Water Spring]. So the seemingly endless space within the creatures shell had allowed them to collect material and treasures they would have either had to pass on otherwise or sacrifice supplies for. Even when the creature inevitably demanded its own cut, the haul from this trip alone would pit a massive dent into the siblings debts, regardless of whether or not they actually found the spring. As for their other companion Jill still wasnt sure what to make of that one either. All of her scenes and knowledge told her it should be just a typical Root Gopher. But reality had a funny habit of proving her wrong. The first obvious difference was the creatures intelligence. Root Gophers were nothing more than big gophers. They were not stupid animals but still very much animals at heart. This creature almost acted sapient at times and had proven to be devious, cunning, and deceptively powerful. During the fight with the Blood-Cloaked Lykos, shed thought the creature had escaped underground to hide, but shed been wrong. Instead, it harassed the wolf creatures by digging small pits and holes to trip the creatures off and throw off their rhythm and coordination. More than once, a Lykos had tried to attack her from a blind spot, only to suddenly find the ground under its feet collapsing, causing it to trip. The Root Gophers final move against the Lykos that had jumped Jack had been a display of earth manipulation far exceeding anything of its species should have been capable of. Of course, she had her theories as well. The most likely being the scene playing out in front of her. As she watched, the Root Gopher stuffed the rest of the Lykos materials into the metal creatures shell like a squirrel hoarding nuts. When that was done, it reached in and pulled out a large orange root that glowed with Spirit Energy in her sight. Shed recognized the root as one the gopher had dug up a few days ago. As if sensing her stare, the gopher turned and looked at her. It then bit into the root, never breaking eye contact, as if daring her to stop it. Jills sighed and shook her head. Whatever the truth, be it some kind of unusual partnership, symbiosis, or something deeper, she had no way of knowing. Once everyone was finished, the group gathered back together and turned down the mountain path. They still had a lot of ground to cover before night fell. Yet, as they did, an elderly, feminine voice called out to them, echoing off the rocky walls. Ho! Travelers! Are you doing well? Jill tensed, unsure of what or who had spoken. Jack did as well, his robes billowing as something writhed underneath. The sound of something clicking on stone slowly approached, then from around a bend in the path appeared an old woman? An old human woman, her face wrinkled and suntanned, walked down the path toward them. Her slight frame was hunched over, bent by the weight of the herb-filled wicker basket on her back, her gait supported only by the gnarled staff she carried. Click Click Click Almost hypnotically, the staff tapped against the stone path as she approached, and before Jill could process what was happening, the old woman stood before them, smiling up at her with a crooked grin. Her voice was wizen and dry, but soft and comforting when she spoke, reminding Jill of her grandmother. That was quite impressive, deary. I have to thank you for dealing with those mutts. Theyve been such trouble lately. Why, Ive barely gotten any visitors because of them. If I was 100 years younger, Id have taken care of them myself, but The old woman paused and gestured to herself with her free hand before continuing. Such is the way of the world, I suppose. Jill stared down at the old woman, her brow slightly furrowed. I Youre welcome? I guess? The young woman tilted her head. The old woman, on the other hand, simply chuckled, her laugh sounding like both the cackling of a crow and the chime of a bell at the same time. Yes, yes. Dont mind me, young lady, just an old woman reminiscing about a time long past. Now come, come! My home is just down this path. You lot have done me a great service. At least let me treat you to tea. Let it never be said I let any good deed go unpunished, hahaha! Again, the old woman cackled, turned, and began walking the way shed come. Jill turned to look at Jack, but the young man simply smiled and followed the old woman. Jill sighed, followed shortly after. They werent ones to turn down a free meal. As the two walked after their new host, Mr. Gopher and Grim stared. They turned and shared a long look before Mr. Gopher shrugged and dipped into the ground. Grim turned around and quickly flew to catch up with the group. Book 1 - Lesson 41: "Make plans for the future." Oh? Whats this I see? When my people told me a group of Slatewalkers had arrived, Ill admit, I wasnt expecting so many familiar faces. Just the sound of the voice emanating from the crowd nearly drove Zolzaya into a bloodlust-fueled rampage. When the crowd finally parted, revealing the arrogant sneer of East Scion M?nkhkhan, only the tight grip of her fathers hand on her shoulder prevented her from pouncing on the sod. Through gritted teeth and a smile that would have made children cry, Zolzaya was the first to speak. M?nkhkhan Im surprised you had the gall. I warned you if you ever showed yourself to me again, Id One of the young mans cronies, a flat-faced man who Zolzaya had never bothered learning the name of, cut her off, Thats Khan to you, you ungrateful bumpkin; you should Though he was, in turn, cut off by M?nkhkhans raised hand. The sneer dropped from his face, and he frowned over his nose at her as he spoke. Now, no need for that. We cant expect a half-breed like her to show any respect. The man turned and looked at her father, the sneer returning. I see your father survived his punishment. A shame. Then again, what else can you say about a barbarian if not that theyre resistant? Zolzaya pointed, her eyes bloodshot, but Juatans voice cut off whatever she was about to say. Alive and well, young master. While it might be nice to catch up, Im afraid we have business at the temple. So If youll excuse us, well be on our way. M?nkhkhan grinned, leaning over slightly to peer behind the group where Yutu was being carried. Oh? Whats this now? Zaya, my dear, did your mouth almost kill someone again? You really should work on that; its becoming a bad habit at this point. Ive heard of a venomous tongue, but this is getting too literal. Zolzaya lunged, her hands clawing for the mans eyes, even as he stepped back in surprise. She only took a single step before Juatans firm hand rooted her into place. A pompous young woman standing beside the scion laughed, her face hidden behind a fan. Dear, you were right! She does look just like a wildcat. I know you like them feisty, but Im surprised. The comment garnered a laugh from the mans gathered posse. Juatan frowned, the threat in his next words clear as day. Im afraid what we''re here for is confidential. Well be on our way now. M?nkhkhan frowned and raised his hand again. Several large armed men walked out from the crowd whod gathered to watch the scene. Instantly, the air changed, and most of the civilians scattered as the young scion spoke. Now, dont be like that. Im sure whatever it is can wait a while. Its been so long since weve had a chance to chat. The Slatewalker group tensed, the Guardians moving to surround the others, their hands on their weapons. The standstill lasted for a silent moment before a voice spoke up. Who would have thought the East Scion was such a rascal? Im sure the West Scion will love to hear youre playing so rough on her territory? Her father and I go way back, you know. Kallik stepped from the group, arms folded, her new prosthetics on full display. At the sight of the Grassreader garb she wore, many of the remaining crowd bowed in respect. M?nkhkhan only frowned and furrowed his brow. His face flashed between pale and red before finally settling into his default sneer. You think Im afraid of that pathetic woman who dares call herself a Scion, let alone some crippled Grassreader from a backwater village? This is my city, and Ill not be made a f Kalliks presence descended on the crowd like a heavy tide. The average civilian of Jadewalker city was at a higher level than a backwater village like Slatewalker, but even then, most never made it to [Iron Body]. Even the scions entourage, most of whom were in the early to mid [Bronze Spirit] step, could feel the suppression from the peak [Silver Spirit]. At almost the same time, the Seven-Radiance Spirit Grass in their immediate surroundings shifted from various shades of purple and white to a near-solid crimson red. One of the men surrounding them took one look at the grass and turned, bolting into the crowd. Another dropped his weapon and raised his hands into the air. The man in question turned and spoke to M?nkhkhan in a rough voice, fitting his thuggish appearance. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Ya, screw that. Im sorry, my Lord, but you paid for an E-rank assignment. No one said anything about Bloody-Grass Kallik. We were supposed to rough up some yokels, not fight a C-Ranker. Several other men exchanged looks, with a few dropping their weapons or backing into the crowd. M?nkhkhans face flushed red, and he pointed at the man and yelled. I dont care who she is, youll do as youre told, you blubbering Adve OUCH! what the hell was that?! The scion slapped his hip just as what could have been a large wasp flew away. He stared at the escaping insect and screamed, his eyes going bloodshot as a vein throbbed in his head. He turned and yelled. FINE! Youre all cowards! Ill do it myself! M?nkhkhan drew the small club at his side and stepped forward, sending out his own [Silver Spirit] presence to meet Kalliks. However, before he had taken more than a few steps, M?nkhkhan stopped. The mans face twisted in confusion before twisting into something far more urgent. M?nkhkhan fell to his knees, clutching his stomach. His friends rushed to his side, but even over the mans moaning, Zolzaya could hear the gurgling and more unpleasant sounds coming from him. The young woman whod laughed at her was one of the first next to him. She patted and rubbed his lower back while crying out. My Lord! My Lord! What is the matter?! What happened? Do I need She paused, both her patting and her words. Her eyes went wide, and her already pale face went white as snow. Slowly, she raised her shaking, pristine hand. Only to find it covered in something foul. The following scream was loud enough to physically hurt, and Zolzaya was certain shed seen a nearby window crack. Thats when the smell hit her. Zolzaya scrunched her face and pinched her nose, taking a step back. A move mirrored by many of those watching. The area soon erupted into chaos as several Guardians rushed into the gathering, either warned something was happening or drawn by the commotion. The Slatewalkers took that moment to make their escape, slipping into the crowd and continuing on to the temple. As they did so, Zolzaya didnt miss the sight of a large wasp crawling its way back into the folds of Yutus carrier. She narrowed her eyes at the sight but didnt know whether she should frown or smirk. Alpha laughed to himself as he slid across the prairies. That had been much easier than the old man! That said, he might have over-tweaked it a bit, with just that one data point to go on. It wasnt like theyd find anything that would get the humans in trouble. After all, there wasnt anything to find. The solution he''d injected the pompous rich boy with had been 99.99999% saline. How did Alpha know he was a rich boy? He could smell that type from miles away! Now literally! As for the remaining 0.00001%? All it took was a single nanite latched onto the vagus nerve to ruin someones day. It was a technique practiced throughout the Federation, both as an annoying prank and a way to control inmates in prison camps. After all, the same nanite used to cause accidents could just as easily be used to cause intense pain or stop a heart (or equivalent organ). Yaaaaa, Alpha was super glad he didnt have to deal with any of that biological nonsense. It sounded gross. Civilian implants and monitoring devices prevented these more sinister uses, but those protections were disabled for prisoners. Inmates tended to be far more cooperative when they werent sure which infraction would cause them to void in their pants for the guards amusement or bring them to their knees in agony. Some complained about the ethicality of the practice, but the results couldnt be argued with. His fun for the day over, Alpha returned the [Wasp] to passive observations and turned his attention back to the road. Or lack thereof. Not that there was much of anything, honestly. Just a bunch of grass, and grass, a really big rock over there, and more grass! This was always Alphas least favorite part of any mission. The traveling! At the very least, it gave him time to think, something he got little time to do recently. That said a lot, considering he could process things far quicker than most biologicals. The bloody whales didnt count He was pretty sure what they did was biotech, anyway. But that was beside the point! Reflection time! Ever since landing on this strange planet, Alpha felt like hed just been dragged along through one event after another. What happened to this being his story?! It was becoming frustrating. All this sneaking and playing along wasnt Alphas modus operandi. He much more preferred when he got to blow stuff up! But Alpha knew that sometimes, a more delicate touch was needed. Sure, he could have charged into the cart city and told them he was in charge, and theyd be doing things his way. But what would that get him? Just a bunch of dead bodies and a seething resentment from the civilian population. A population who would go on to (and had before) make his job far harder than it should be. There was a reason he primarily targeted military and strategic locations, while damaging civilian infrastructure was highly discouraged. Not like he had a miles-long Dreadnaught sitting in orbit, ready to crush any resistance that popped its head up. On that same subject, hed be foolish to forget the events before even landing on the planet. Despite everything hed seen since landing, this world couldnt be as primitive as it seemed at first glance. Someone on the planet, at least, could break through the icy layer surrounding them and establish spacefaring operations. That chicken alone had almost been too much for him, even if his equipment and resources had been extremely limited. That meant if he stirred up too much trouble, Alpha could find himself in a fight he wasnt ready for yet. Oh, thered definitely be trouble, but Alpha just had to make sure the powers that be just saw it as same as usual instead of something to pay attention to. For a time, Alpha had considered if this force had originated from one of the other planets, maybe even the larger one in the night sky. It was possible, it admitted, but even in such a case, simply having a base on the smaller moon meant that this force had some kind of vested interest in this. No, better to lie low for now until hed established himself. Once hed got a proper base going and maybe researched the weird magic bullcrap that was going on here, hed be in a better position to reevaluate going full murderhobo. That started with building a rapport with the locals and building some kind of cover. Saving the child would go a long way toward that goal, especially if the childs family had as much pull in this place as the humans had made it out to sound. Grinning to himself, Alpha continued on his way, drawing up all sorts of plans for the future. Good thing he had plenty of time to do so. Book 1 - Lesson 42: "Learn the players." Lemme... lemme tell you shomethin. The Cappin? The Cappinsh the worsht of the... hiccup... lot! John! Run thish here! John! Ive got another pack... ooof... package for ya. Where? Other shide of the... hiccup... town. John! Take my fifty... fifty... fifty stone sword to the blackshmith, would ya? Im a Runner, dang it! Not a... hiccup... recruit you can make do your... hiccup... errands! Then theresh that old man! Dont get me... bleuuuuugh... shtarted on Yu Xiurong held out a hand, stepped back from the foul liquid, and pinched her nose. She didnt know if the smell was the cheap booze the man was drinking like water or the man himself, and she didnt want to know. Once she was far enough away, she spoke. I thank you for the warnings, good sir, but I shall go now. The man took another swig, swaying on his feet and waving. Good... hiccup... luck, pretty lady, with whatever it was you were... hiccup... doing again. Yu Xiurong turned an eye twitching and walked away. As she did, the strange drunkard called after her. And remember! Be wary of the wasps! Theyre watching! Always watching!!! Yu Xiurong sighed and shook her head, and walked on. The group had tracked the Star Thief from the abandoned ruins across the prairies and eventually stumbled across a small scar, the term used by the Radiant Sea natives for the paths left in the wake of their roaming cities. Scars would gradually heal over a few weeks, so travelers often used them to locate nearby settlements. Judging by the age and size of this scar, the Yu Xiurong and the disciples estimated its origin to be no larger than a medium-sized village and only a few days away at that. The worrying part had been discovering the Star Thiefs signature turning in the same direction. The group had rushed after, praying they made it in time or at least found a few survivors. Instead of the scene of death and devastation theyd expected, however, the group had found a quiet village making their way toward the nearby Earth Shrine. It was well into the villages rest cycle when they arrived, with only the local Guardians and a few civilians wandering between carts. In any other circumstance, the proper procedure would have been simply to walk into town, announce their presence and purpose, then ask questions of anyone willing. Given the strangeness of the situation, Yu Xiurong chose to take a more subtle approach. They still knew too little about the Star Thief or their motivations. If the Star Thief was hiding out in the village, showing their hand too soon might have dire consequences, especially for the peaceful villagers. The group then split up, with orders to examine and explore the village as stealthfully as possible. A simple task, given that even the strongest Guardian in the village, a mid-step [Gold Spirit], was still far below the disciples peak step [Shackle Breaking]. That had been a few hours ago, and Yu Xiurong found herself frustrated. What little the public seemed to know, or at least were openly speaking of, seemed to be mixed and twisted by rumors and gossip to where little of it made sense. Hopefully, the others would have more pieces of the puzzle. Soon, the four gathered back together near the edge of the village to share what theyd learned. Qi Mingxi, Fang Peng, Lin Weiyuan, and Yu Xiurong stepped from the shadows of the village, one by one, silent and unseen, their very presence hidden under several layers. Yu Xiurong was the first to speak. Report. What have you found? The young Qi Mingxis voice was soft as a shadow as she answered. The details are sparse, but there seems to have been some kind of accident recently. No one has openly spoken of it, but more than a few homes are observing mourning rites. Strangely, the actual atmosphere is mixed. Some are openly criticizing the leading council of Elders, while others appear to see the incident as more of a force of nature than anything preventable. Yu Xiurong raised a brow, And no sign as to what happened? Qi Mingxi shook her head. No. None would openly speak of it, and any who tried were silenced before they could get more than a few words out. I observed many hand signs and other superstitious behavior often attributed to warding off bad luck, so I suspect that may have played a part in it. Fang Peng nodded and folded her arms, being the next to speak. That would explain some things on my end. I hit up the local tavern Yu Xiurong narrowed her eyes at the younger woman, who raised her hands in defense. cloaked, of course! I came across a group of younger adults. They didnt look much younger than us, so I assume they were the newest apprentices to pass their tests. There wasnt the festive air youd have expected of a group like that, though. They were drinking and passing stories between each other, mostly about this person or that, none of whom appeared to be present. It reminded me of the old folks whod gather and talk about their war days, but that seemed Odd. My knowledge isnt great, but I was under the impression the Wandering Citys apprentice tests were more of a formality than anything dangerous. Lin Weiyuan nodded as well and picked up from there. They are. The Radiant Priaires arent the only place to have such apprentice tests. But because of the unusual ecosystem and higher level of danger present in this place, apprentices only graduate at a much older age and are far more skilled than in other parts of the world. Not only that, but the proctors for such tests often double as guards and safety nets. Ironically, this means that the rate of death, or even injuries during such tests, is far lower than in comparable groups. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Yu Xiurong frowned. You think something happened to the apprentices? Yu Xiurongs mind flashed to the destroyed villages. If a group of fresh apprentices had been caught in something of that level Lin Weiyuan shook his head as he answered. Some? Not all of them, obviously, but given what weve gathered, its likely. Yu Xiurong raised a brow and asked, her fists clenching. Do you think our Star Thief had anything to do with it? Lin Weiyuan opened his mouth to respond, but paused, tilting his head. Im unsure. I encountered a group of children who were discussing a Lord Protector of some sort. They mentioned little, but I snagged this from one of their clubhouses. He said clubhouse, but the small shack built into the back of one store had been surprisingly well-guarded. Not only did the children rig the area with various traps and some simple arrays, but the children had even worked out guard rotations and regular inspections. Nothing he couldnt slip by, but even the inside had been neatly organized, with dozens of charts and graphs detailing various plans. Everything from simply pranks to more ominous things. He didnt know what Project Swarm was intended to be, but some of the summary details made him question if this really was a clubhouse or the hidden base of an underground criminal organization. Hed even questioned if he should blow his cover and report what hed seen to the village, but while there, hed witnessed a Guardian sneak in through a hidden latch and make a record in an obviously well-worn notebook. It seemed the adults in the village were well aware of the childrens hobbies already. No need to poke his nose in their business, then. Lin Weiyuan reached into his sleeve and pulled out a sheet of paper. On it was a copy of a drawing hed seen plastered on the clubhouse wall. A drawing of a large, four-legged beetle-like creature. Yu Xiurong stared at the drawing, frowning as she spoke. Strange Im not familiar with this creature. Are any of you? She passed the drawing around, though each shook their head. Turning back to Lin Weiyuan, Yu Xiurong asked, Any idea what this might be? Could it be some form of Guardian Beast? Ive heard of some towns in the Wandering Cities making such contracts, but I was under the impression those were much larger than this village. After all, proper care of a Guardian Beast worth anything was a major investment. Lin Weiyuan shrugged and responded. Possible, but given the size of the village and what weve learned so far, I think theres another possibility. Fang Peng raised her brow, finishing the thought. You think it could have been the Star Thiefs beast companion? Are we even certain there is one? Lin Weiyuan nodded. All the evidence points to such. It would also fit the narrative weve gathered here well. Qi Mingxi frowned as she asked. But why would the Star Thiefs beast companion be welcomed in the village? Or be labeled as Lord Protector? More importantly, where is the Star Thief themselves? Ive heard no mention of someone like that at all. Lin Weiyuan shrugged again. I dont know. Its just a theory based on what we know so far. Maybe they got separated by whatever happened in the ruins. Or maybe the Star Thief became injured to where they couldnt openly show themselves and had to use their companion as a cover. We still know too li An old, gravelly voice cut off the young man mid-sentence. So you want to know about that bastard, do you? I think I could help you out there. The group jumped at the sound of the voice and turned their guard instantly up. On the covered porch of a nearby homely-looking shack sat an old man, slightly balding and face full of wrinkles. He sat in front of a small chessboard, staring down in contemplation. He picked up one piece and smiled, moving it into place. Yu Xiurong stepped forward and smiled, bowing slightly as she spoke. Im sorry if our conversation disrupted you, good sir. Were just travelers passing through your humble village on our way to the Earth Shrine and were curious about the events wed heard about while here. You said you might shed a bit of light on them for us? Id hate to impose. The old man waved them off, not bothering to look up from his chessboard. A second later, he picked up another piece on the other side of the board and moved it as well, frowning before answering. Its fine, its fine. Ive been having trouble sleeping, anyway. Not like a little noise will make much of a difference. Yu Xiurong bowed again and responded. Nonetheless, I appreciate your understanding. You said you knew more about this... Lord Protector? Is that true? The old man laughed, throwing his head back. Ha! Lord Protector, thats a good one! The bastard is a menace, is what he is! Walts into town, pretending to be the hero, all the while wrapping everyone around his finger. Bah! I can see right through his type! The old man sighed and shook his head. And you should see the things he taught the kids! Shameful is what it is! Irresponsible! Yu Xiurong frowned, her eyes narrowing. I see. That does sound like a problem. Have you not told elders or authorities about your suspicions? The old man turned and pointed to her. I know, right?! If youre going to corrupt the kids, at least do it in a way they dont realize! Manipulation is all about subtlety! Youre supposed to plant the seeds, make them think that theyre the ones having the ideas! How are the kids supposed to grow and learn if you just give them everything?! Yu Xiurong nearly spat blood as the old man continued. He turned back to his game and shrugged. As for the other children, not much point. Theres no way the youngins here could have done anything against something like that. Better for everyone to keep up the illusion and see them on their way. Yu Xiurongs frown deepened, but she asked anyway. Thats understandable. Would you happen to know which way they went? We maybe be simple travelers, but maybe we could warn others on the way about their corrupting ways. The old man went silent for a moment, moving pieces back and forth on the board before shrugging. Sure. I could do that. The old man processed to give them strangely detailed directions to where this mysterious Lord Protector had gone. Yu Xiurongs group quickly departed from the village and followed the old mans instructions. The entire time, Yu Xiurongs mind kept wandering back to the interaction with the old man in the village. Something had been strange about it, but she couldnt quite put her finger on it. However, such thoughts were soon left behind as the group came across a fresh trail, just as the old man had said. The four shared a look with each other and nodded before continuing down the trail. The hunt was on. WHACK! OWE! What was that for?! Malaki rubbed the back of his head as Maliit loomed over him, frowning, a thick book clutched in her hand. Maliit rubbed the bridge of her nose with her free hand and asked. Really, dear? Was any of that truly necessary? I thought we would keep our hands out of this one? Malaki tsked and looked away, still rubbing his head as he spoke. We are! Theyd have caught up, eventually. Besides, its funnier this way. Not like theyre gonna hurt anyone, anyway. Think of it as an older, wiser man giving a lesson to his juniors about biting off more than they can chew. Maliit raised an eyebrow and countered. And when that boy starts a war? Malaki waved her away, moving another piece on his board. Bah! He was always going to do that, anyway. Wars in his blood. I can taste it. Maliit sighed and shook her head. Sometimes, I dont know why I married you Malaki turned to look up at her, grinning ear to ear. You know you love m Maliit cut him off by leaning over and moving a single piece from the other side of the board. Checkmate. Before the old woman walked back inside. Malaki paused, narrowed his eyes, and stared at the board. The longer he looked, the more his brow furrowed. Finally, the old man stood and, with a yell, flipped the board. Book 1 - Lesson 43: "... and the pieces" "Crapcrapcrapcrapcrap!" Alpha dodged around a thick, black vine as it poked out from the swampy, muddy ground, attempting to ensnare the TAWP''s leg. The vine missed but exploded the next instant, covering the leg in a thick, sticky, tar-like substance. Not again! Alpha tried to pry the sticky good off with the TAWP''s nanite skin, but it was too late. The substance bubbled, then suddenly exploded with growth. Dark green-purple vines appeared on the leg''s surface, the microscopic spores hidden in the tar germinating and growing at a rate that should have been physically impossible. The vines wiggled in the air for a moment before half started creeping up his leg, and the other half plunged deep into the ground. Alpha tugged, easily breaking the new growth attempting to root him in place, and a quick burst of his RCS trusters burned away any plant life left clinging to him. The slight delay had been enough, however, as even thicker purple vines erupted from the ground and wrapped around the main body of the TAWP, pulling down. Alpha struggled against the vines, but the TAWP couldn''t exert much force on this kind of terrain. As the TAWP''s underside contacted the ground, hundreds of thin, probing roots or vines poked out, attempting to pry themselves into every opening, but found none. Alpha was a harder nut to crack than expected, though, as the ground rumbled. The surrounding swamp bulged upward to relieve that the TAWP stood at the center of the sadistic child between a venus fly trap and a gargantuan rafflesia. The center, a gaping maw of wriggling barbed vines, pooled with muddy soil and putrid water. Dozens of enormous dark-purple spotted "petals" surrounded it. Each was covered in a mix of wiggling black vines and razor-sharp teeth as they rose out of the muddy soil. These petals rose higher, stretching dozens of meters, then folded inward, attempting to surround the trapped AI. About time you showed yourself. Alpha thought to himself as the petals closed around him. Soon, no gaps were left between the petals, as they overlapped to further constrict their unwilling prey in an ever-tightening cocoon. After a moment, the constriction stopped. All was silent for a brief moment until a dozen bright lasers punched through the petals, crisscrossing all along their length. The toothy rafflesia screamed, causing nearby swampy puddles to explode from its force. Like tumbling blocks, pieces of the closed flower tumbled away, revealing the TAWP standing at its center, its hex-shield glowing bright. Several laser turrets dotted its surface, their tips glowing, small streams of steam rising. The giant rafflesia''s various vines weakly wiggled in the air for a moment before falling to the ground, limp. Alpha shook himself free of the loose vines and stepped away, grumbling to himself. This was the sixth time he''d fallen into the same trap in the last day, and he regretted not going around. When he''d first encountered this swampy section of the prairies, Alpha wasn''t sure what to make of it. What kind of swamp moves?! He was absolutely certain he''d plotted his course to pass by it after the scouting [Wasps] reported it, but when he''d actually arrived, it had cut him off completely. I want to file a complaint with whoever designed this crappy place! Moving swamps. Sudden blizzards. Even Rolling clouds of darkness that turned him around for hours and made his head hurt. He didn''t even have a head!!! Alpha saw why everyone was making such a big deal about this time of the year. In just a few days, the prairies had gone from a relatively normal place (barring the rainbow grass and man-eating penguins) to a chaotic mishmash of roaming disasters. How the hell does anything survive here?! Unfortunately for Alpha, this swamp was a poor match for him. The loose, muddy soil forced him into walker mode, and even then, it was slow going. To top that off, the local wildlife was just as fond of him being there as he was. Alpha added more notes to his records. Uncategorized Floral species 443-S-3; Temporary designation - Alphatrap-: Plan A-5 for locating trip vines has been unsuccessful. The plants seem to emit subsonic vocalizations for unknown purposes, disrupting attempts via radar or other similar means. Preemptive tripping of vines has shown mixed results, as the subject appears to have some weight or size limit for prey, likely to limit energy expenditure on prey it could either not contain or would cause a net loss. Likewise, attempts to force out the organism, or exterminate it outright, have been mixed. The surrounding terrain and its large size make damaging the subject impractical through conventional means. As of now, the most effective method for dealing with the creature has been outright avoidance, or when that is not possible, an internal assault after it has fully emerged. Side Note: Investigate magic weedkiller. I don''t like being eaten Alpha sighed and closed his notes. Lucky for him, he was nearing the end of this swampy area, and the swamp itself seemed to head in a different direction. It only took him an hour more to trudge his way through. When he at last stepped back on solid ground, Alpha threw his hands into the air and did a little dance. As soon as he got a proper base up and running, Alpha was building some terrain adaptors for the TAWP. They were too complicated to print using the TAWP''s nanoskin, but most of them could be compacted for transport, allowing ease of use. He didn''t use them often, but if more places on this planet were like this, he''d rather be safe than sorry. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. "It seems they were right. I''ve never quite seen a creature quite like you tell me, ''Lord Protector, where is it you hail from?" Alpha froze. One of his side-facing optical sensors swerved and locked onto a figure behind him. The TAWP lowered and turned in that direction, facing the figure directly. Only a few meters away from where the spawn ended sat a younger human adult male on a larger boulder. Neither of which had been there only a few moments prior. How the hell did people keep sneaking up on him like this?! It was getting embarrassing The young man only smiled up at Alpha, a sharp-tooth grin stretching from ear to ear. "What do you mean ''he''ll meet with you tomorrow''?! Do not understand this is a time-sensitive matter?!" A red-faced Kallik nearly screamed into the face of the frowning, stoic priest in front of her. Nearby, several other priests worked with prep Yutu to be brought deeper into the temple''s medical wing. The rest of the Slatewalker group stood to the side, having agreed that Kallik should do most of the talking. While the Grassreaders and Prima Temple were technically two different organizations, they shared a mutually beneficial relationship. An Elder Grassreader like Kallik should have had a far better chance of catching the right ear. Should have The stoic priest frowned, pushing up the spectacles he wore. "Grassreader Kallik, I''m afraid it''s you who doesn''t understand. We''re merely days away from the Darkest Night. There are arrays to lie down, rites and ceremonies to prepare for, and events to organize. We''re short-staffed as it is, and finding even a senior priest with the time to speak to you was frankly a miracle in and of itself, let alone the Head Priest. If any of your outlandish claims are worth further investigating, you''ll be contacted tomorrow. No sooner. Now, if you insist on making a spectacle of yourself, I''ll have to kindly ask you to leave the temple grounds until further notice. Or you may find your request thrown out entirely." Zolzaya didn''t need her gift to read the emotions playing across her mentor''s face, but the older woman said nothing as she tried to burn a hole through the priest''s skull with her eyes. A long moment passed in silence before Kallik turned and pushed herself through the gathered priests, making her way toward the exit. The Slatewalker group shared a look before following her. Kallik paced back and forth, biting her thumb as the others found a seat in the small inn room. Inns in the Wandering Cities weren''t big, more catering to the small number of foreign travelers that wandered the prairies alone or in small groups. With such a dangerous time as the Darkest Night approaching and most prairie natives preferring their home villages, the inns were essentially empty. That worked well for them, as they could find an inn near the temple. After booking their rooms, the group gathered in Kallik''s room. Ganbaatar was the first to speak. "So what now? I know we didn''t want to go through the Jadewalkers, but if the temple is going to turn us away at the door, do we have any other choice? Not like we yell our story from the middle of the street. We''d get thrown in a cell before the Akh''lut Rep ever heard a word of it." Juatan answered back. "Not much else we can do if we don''t want to wait till tomorrow. Assuming they don''t just push it back again. I agree; time is of the essence, though. The sooner we can contact the Akh''lut, the sooner the Lord Protector can make his move. He should be in position sometime by tomorrow if your estimates of what he can do are accurate." Kallik stopped pacing and shook her head. When she spoke, she didn''t look at anyone in particular but stared out the window toward the temple. "Something doesn''t sit right with me about this. I know Head Priest Erden. He''s a stick-in-the-mud about the rules, but he''s not someone to ignore something like this. As soon as I used my authority as an Elder, he should have been notified immediately." Zolzaya frowned and asked. "You think we''re being blocked on purpose?" Kallik growled and punched the windowsill. "I don''t know! And that''s what frustrates me. Why would we? The Temple and the Akh''lut are interlocked. Most of the high-ranking officials in the Temple are Akh''lut. At least in the Radiant Sea. Why would they be hindering their own investigation?! It doesn''t make any sense!" The group went silent for a long moment before a quiet, almost whispered voice spoke. "We we could I mean we could always maybe sneak in?" As one, the rest of the group turned and stared at the young Guardian sitting on the bed. The woman, Munkh, gave a soft squeak and hid behind the large metal tower shield she carried everywhere. Ulagan raised an eyebrow, his eyes wide. That had to have been the most words he''d ever heard his fellow Guardian speak at one time. Many newer Guardians assumed the small woman was too proud or haughty to speak to them. After all, she was the kind of genius only seen once in a generation. Those who had worked with her for a few years quickly learned the truth. For all her skills and talent, the woman was almost cripplingly shy. The Captain once joked that Munkh had picked the tower shield as her "weapon" so she had something to hide behind. Still, sneak into the Jadewalker temple? That was quite daring of her. Totally not something he would have expected someone like her to suggest. Still, given the security and consequence of they got caught, it was a ter "That''s a great idea!" Kallik''s words nearly caused Ulagan to spit blood. He looked at the Grassreader, his eyes wide as she continued with a grin splitting her face from ear to ear. "If they''re stopping us from seeing Erden, then we''ll just go see him ourselves. Even if they catch us, that kind of thing can''t just be swept under the rug. The Head Priest will hear of it, if not the Akh''lut representative." Ulagan held out a hand, his voice cracking as he spoke "Hey, wait now. You can''t be serious. We''re talking about the temple here. We can''t " Juatan stood and moved to look out the window. His eyes narrowed as he spoke. "Hummm. If we''re going to do this, we''ll need a distraction. The Jadewalker Guardians are disciplined. They''ll be on the scene moments after an alarm is raised. I still have some contacts from my time in the officer''s academy, but I don''t know if they''ll be of much use." Ganbaatar smiled and spoke up next. "I''m sure I could cause some trouble with a bit of help. A lot of the taverns will be full tonight, with people getting their fill before the Darkest Night. What do you say, Zaya? I''m thinking D4, P2, and maybe a little B2 to spice things up. We''ve not used that one in years. Munkh can even take Yutu''s role." Zolzaya didn''t bother to answer, only smiled with a dark grin that matched her mentor''s. Ulagan stood, his voice raised. "Now, hold up, everyone!" The group paused, staring at him as he continued. "Look, I know we''re on a time crunch here, but you can''t honestly be thinking of doing this, can you? If we screw up, it''s not just our flanks that get tossed in the fire." The group only stared back. Kallik raised a brow, frowning as she crossed her arms and spoke three words. "The woodwelder incident." Ulagan paled, his eyes turning to moons. He tried to speak but couldn''t form the words before sighing and falling back into his seat. "Ok, Fine! Fine! Where do you need me?" Kallik''s grin returned, and she called her hands before addressing the group. "Good! Now we just need to " A sudden knock at the door cut her off. She was silent for a moment before calling out, "Yes? Who is it?" An unfamiliar voice called from behind the door. "Grassreader Kallik? I have news from the temple. Is now a good time?" The Slatewalker group fell silent. Kallik turned and met Zolzaya''s eyes. The young woman had gone pale, her hands tightly gripping the end of her shirt. Zolzaya locked eyes with her mentor and slowly, almost unnoticeably, shook her head. Kallik''s eyes narrowed, and she turned to look at Juatan. The older Guardian nodded and stood, slowly drawing his blade. Munkh too stood, the tower shield in her hands held at the ready. Again, the man behind the door knocked, and the voice called out. "Hello? Is everything alright?" Kallik called back, her voice the picture of calm. "Yes! Just one moment, please. I''ll be right there." She then slowly walked toward the door. Book 1 - Lesson 44: "The enemy of my enemy." Alpha stared at the stranger, several laser turrets locked onto his biosignature. The man definitely hadn''t been there only a few moments before, nor had the large boulder he sat on. More magic bullcrap, no doubt. Alpha was getting tired of being constantly caught off guard like this. What happened to being a super advanced AI with capabilities far beyond most biological minds? Something was severely wrong with him; he knew that, yet all his diagnostics came back all clear. Even after major repairs. Maybe if he had some time to sit down and do a deeper dive, he could figure out exactly what was wrong, but this place kept throwing one thing after another at him. Seeing the several still glowing turrets pointing his way, the stranger held up his hands and slid down the boulder. He was a young man, human in appearance, though his hair was divided into several black-and-white sections. His eyes were a golden yellow, and when he spoke, Alpha could see his mouth was filled with teeth far sharper than they should be. "Hey now, no need for that friend. Or would you prefer ''Lord Protector''?" Alpha''s optic plate spun, and he responded, his voice calm but clear with an unspoken warning. "That depends on who''s asking. And whether I like what you have to say." The stranger grinned, though he never lowered his hands or looked away from the glowing tips of the turrets. When he spoke, he did so with a soft chuckle. "Me? No one important. Just a messenger. From someone who hopes we can come to an understanding. You can call me Tuguslar. Not that the name would mean anything to you, I suppose." Alpha considered if he should stay in character or not. Either option had its pros or cons. A moment of silence passed before he said, "Go on" The strange man''s eyes went wide, Didn''t expect it to be that easy Tuguslar muttered to himself, likely not thinking Alpha could hear him. His sharp-toothed grin soon replaced the look though, and the man bowed. "This one thanks the Lord Protector for taking the time to hear his request. As for the details, the ones I represent and I are aware that you''re new to this area. As such, we don''t expect you to quite understand the nature of events in which you''ve recently found yourself... That''s fair, and we can hardly hold it against one of your standings for stepping on toes that you didn''t know were there. That being said, your presence has complicated things for those I represent. Plans that have been long in the making." The TAWP couldn''t really "emote" in the same way a biological could. After all, it was a machine designed for combat, not casual socialization. That said, Alpha had developed certain ticks over the years that he found effective in interacting with most biologicals, be it intimidation or other responses. The TAWP rose higher into the air, the back legs extending slightly so that the front optics plate stared down at the man, the glowing red lights brightening slightly as Alpha spoke. "Are you telling me to stand down?" The effect of the display was satisfactory as Tuguslar took a hasty step back, his hands raised and the grin on his face slightly twitching as he spoke. "No, no, good sir! We''d never think to tell you what to do, not at all. We simply ask that you let things play out as they would should you not have arrived. After all, this is not your land nor your people. You have no real stakes in all of this, correct? Of course, we''re not asking this of you from the kindness of your heart." Tuguslar reached out a hand and gave a flick. An ornate black box appeared from nowhere. Alpha instantly recognized several of the patterns carved into the box, though the designs were far less complex than what was found on his drone. He reached over with his free hand and opened the box. On top of a small cushion sat a gemstone several times larger than even the largest heart crystal Alpha currently possessed. Though still rough and uncut, this gem glowed with an inner light and appeared far more spherical than the rough crystal shards found in the penguins. The man let Alpha observe the gem for a moment before closing the lid and placing it on the ground, pushing it toward Alpha as he spoke. "Consider it a gift of first meetings, no strings attached. This is but one of the things we can offer you as compensation for washing your hands clean of this whole mess. I assure you, whatever you hope to gain from this, my benefactor can easily match or exceed it." Alpha stared down at the box. He had to admit to himself; he was tempted. But there was still one major issue that prevented him from doing so. Alpha looked back up from the box and stared Tuguslar down. His voice was flat as he spoke. "And the child?" The man stumbled but quickly recovered. "I and not sure what you mean. The child is in safe hands." Alpha mentally frowned. Something was fishy. So he asked, "That being the case, I''m sure you''d be willing to let me confirm that for myself, yes?" Tuguslar furrowed his brow, and his smile became a little more tense as he responded. "I don''t believe that would be a good idea Sir. As I stated, the child is safe. You no longer need to concern yourself with them." Alpha didn''t bother responding directly and instead recited directly from the Federation code. "Article E3-EC45-Shield: Child Guardianship and Battlefield Safety Act - Federation soldiers are to ensure the safety and continued wellbeing of any Federation child found inside of hostile territory until such a time that said child is released into the custody of appropriate custodians as outlined by the Galactic Collective for the Protection of Children (GCPC). Any force, be they private or civilian, who attempts to interfere with said duty, is to be labeled as hostile forces and treated as such." The stranger stared wide eyes, his mouth agape. He quickly recovered and frowned at Alpha; his overly cheerful tone dropped. "Disregarding that I''ve never even heard of this so-called ''Federation'' of yours, the child belongs to the Akh''lut and the Radiant Sea. By what right do you claim them?" The TAWP straightened as Alpha responded, "As of 3 weeks, 4 days, 16 hours, 32 minutes, and 52 seconds ago, this land and its civilian inhabitance are registered as the newest colony of the Third Galactic Federation. As such, all rights, privileges, and responsibilities of citizenship have been retroactively extended to the people. That includes protection under, and responsibility to, Federation Law." The man gawked, his face turning a deeper red with each moment before he pointed at Alpha and yelled. "How dare you! Do you have any idea where you stand?! Not even the Great Pillars of the Skybreaker continent DARE to lay claim to these lands! Let alone some no name, unknow " Tuguslar''s words were cut off by a lance of light. A thin beam of super-heated plasma raced past his left ear at the speed of light. Tuguslar froze, his entire body shaking as sweat poured down his neck. Slowly, he turned; the large boulder he''d sat on only a moment earlier was now cleaved in two, each split-end glowing red as the melted rock dripped down the side. There had been no warning, no gathering of energy, not even a twitch from the strange being in front of him. Only a single, instant line of light cutting through reality. On top of Alpha''s back, the [Gungnir] finished forming. A blast from the ion-cannon using his own energy core was far weaker than using a proper nitrogen crystal, but it sufficed to put the fear of Alpha into those who didn''t know better. Too many shots would wear him out, so it would never be a primary weapon, but that wasn''t any of his concern anymore. Alpha was tired. Tired of the games and tired of playing along. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. He''d tried to play nice. This was a new world. One he didn''t know and didn''t have the tools or time to study properly. This wasn''t the way he did things. This wasn''t how things should have been. He''d gone along with all this native drama for so long to get a lay of the land. To try and understand what and who he was dealing with. That way, when he finally made his move, he knew exactly what buttons to push, so there was as little resistance as possible. Yet every step of the way, it seemed it was his buttons that were being pushed. Maybe it was time they learned why he''d earned the title "Conqueror." Alpha took a step forward, purposefully putting the entire weight of the TAWP behind it, causing the ground to shake as he spoke. "I''m afraid you don''t understand. I''m not making a claim to anything. From the moment I stepped foot on this land, this world belonged to the Federation. That is not a subjective claim. That is an immutable Truth. Only two people exist in this world at this very moment. Federation citizens and Rebels. Whichever you wish to throw your lot in with, I honestly don''t care. Be aware this is the only warning I''ll give you and your ''benefactor.''" The strange man stared, eyes wide but silent. When he spoke, his face began warping, becoming more bestial and strange, and he pointed at Alpha. "I thought the Cultivators were arrogant! What gives you the right to lay claim to our home?! I''ve never even heard of you or your ''Federation''!" Alpha stood the TAWP to its full height and stared down at the man. His final two words were spoken with a calm absoluteness that sent a small shiver down the strange man''s spine. "You Will." Tuguslar lept several feet back, instantly covering more than a dozen meters. When he stopped. His face went blank but for a deep frown, as if everything before had been but an act. When he spoke, his words were even and calm. "I believe that''s more than enough evidence for now. Not only do you refuse to give up on the child, but you even make open claims of invasion and occupation. What say you, Elder Xiurong?" Rather than a response of words, the ground beneath Alpha rumbled. Alpha backed up the TAWP just as the ground he was standing on exploded outward. From the ground rose a gargantuan figure. It continued to rise into the air, circling around until all 35 meters of its 1.5-meter diameter body emerged. Alpha observed the new arrival to find it was some kind of giant, scaled serpent. Its head was more mammalian than a reptile, though covered in dark green-black scales. Two stubby, immature horns poked out of its skull, and a thick, jet-black mane ran down the length of its body, from the top of its head to the tip of its tail. The only limbs on the creature were two feathered wings near the middle that appeared far too small to support such a massive creature. The creature stared down at Alpha, a fire burning in its throat as it hissed at him. Then it moved. Quicker than something its size should have been able to, it fell from the sky toward Alpha, its mouth hyper-extended, two massive, meter-long fangs plunging downward like unstoppable blades. But stop, they did. The TAWP''s hex shield sprang to life, flashing blue as the massive serpent''s jaws pushed harder into the energy barrier. The rest of its long body flailed, then wrapped around the barrier, squeezing it hard as it tried to crack through Alpha''s defenses. Alpha wouldn''t give it a chance. A dozen cracks of thunder echoed through the prairies, followed immediately by minor explosions, as a dozen [Crystal Rails] pushed their way out of the TAWP''s nanite skin. The flying snake screamed, quickly disengaging. None of the rounds had pierced the thick, armored scales covering the creature, but several places were cracked and broken or burned black. The [Crystal Rail] still wasn''t combat-ready by Alpha''s standards, but if the snake''s initial assault was the best it could do, he doubted it could even break through his passive defenses, let alone his hex shield. This could be a good chance to collect combat data. Alpha fired a few more rail shots towards the creature, who nimbly dodged many of them, to his surprise. It seemed the overall projectile speed had taken a severe hit. Even so, each bullet traveled as fast as a standard civilian handgun; even seeing them was an impressive feat, let alone dodging them. As he chased the snake creature with a barrage of bullets, a second figure appeared in what would have been Alpha''s blind spot if not for rear-facing optical plates and active [Wasp] drones. A young, muscular human woman flickered into being several meters above him. She carried a thick metal rod in her hands, and on the end of the rod, a heavy chain attached to a metal ball as wide as she was tall. Against every law of physics Alpha knew, the woman twisted and swung the giant flail at the AI. Again, his hex shield flashed to life, absorbing the entire blow and not moving Alpha a single inch. The young woman''s eyes went wide, but it was too late. Several [Crystal Rails] swerved and fired in the blink of an eye. The woman was sent flying back dozens of meters as several rounds hit her center mass directly. The woman hit the ground hard, rolling for several more meters and leaving a small blood trail along her path. To Alpha''s surprise, however, the woman didn''t stay down. When she stopped rolling, she pulled herself up on shaking arms, coughing up a small stream of blood. A quick bioscan showed only one round had penetrated, piercing her right lung, while most of the remaining damage had been caused by the explosions. Bulletproof fabric, then? But why? Strange. "Fang Peng!" A voice called out. Another figure, a young teen girl dressed in a black robe-like dress, flickered and appeared next to ''Fang Peng.'' This time, Alpha had caught it. It wasn''t some form of teleportation, but a high-speed movement. So fast, Alpha had to toggle down his reference frames by several degrees. How a biological reached such speeds without any apparent augmentations, he didn''t know, and he doubted they would answer if he asked. Instead, he targeted the pair and open-fired. This time, however, a thick plan of crystal or glass materialized in the projectile''s path, which exploded harmlessly against the hard substance. No not glass ice? Through his drones, Alpha could see the girl in black lay glowing hands on the wounded woman. A gentle light enveloped her as the older woman''s grimacing face loosened. Before Alpha could examine what the younger woman was doing, dozens of needle-thin shards of ice slammed against the TAWP, individually not strong enough to trigger the automatic hex shield. Where they hit, thin layers of frost spread, not really doing much else. Alpha turned his attention skyward to find a glasses-wearing young man standing on what appeared to be a panel of floating ice. His white-gray robes billowed in the wind, and his long brown hair was pulled back into a simple ponytail. Ok, this magic bullcrap is getting out of hand Alpha thought to himself as the young sneered down at him. The young man held out a clear glass bow in front of him and drew the string. As he did, a liquid arrow condensed on the string, seemingly from thin air. The man released the string, and the watery arrow flew forward at such speed that it disintegrated before making it halfway to Alpha. Instead of falling harmlessly to the ground, each of the dozens of water droplets that had formed the arrow rocketed toward him, freezing in midair to form more icy needles. Again, they pelted into the TAWP with just as little effect, unable to scratch the war machine''s heavy armor. Alpha could see the man visibly grinding his teeth in frustration. Alpha sent a round of fire his way, only for it to be blocked by another icy barrier. The AI tsked, switching out a few [Crystal Rails] for energy turrets. This time, the thin energy beams cut through the ice walls like butter, forcing the man to dodge at the last second and abandon a third shot. A thundering, feminine voice suddenly sounded over the rumble of railfire. "Retreat! I told you to stay behind, Disciples!" The entire time Alpha had been focused on the three humans who''d popped out of nowhere, the creature had been twirling and wiggling in the air, dodging most, but not all, of his shots. As it did so, each swish of its tail sent a pressurized blade of wind slamming against Alpha''s hex shield. Internally, Alpha sighed. Of course, the giant flying snake could talk he wasn''t even surprised anymore. What next? Was a rock going to stand up and introduce itself? The young teen with glowing hands cried back. "But Elder! We can still " The creature, whom Alpha assumed was this ''Elder Xiurong'', yelled back. "Enough! I said retreat! This beast is beyond you! Flee and inform the Sect!" Alpha took a moment to stop firing and offer his own words. "Ooooor! You could all surrender now and save me the trouble of having to kill you. The Federation respects all forms of peaceful surrender under the Galactic Wartime rules and Codes of Conduct. Peaceful cooperation will be met with likewise. I highly " Another blade of wind dispersed harmlessly off his hex shield, the Elder Xiurong rudely interrupting him. "Be silent, you foul beast! You dare besmirch the Origin Sect''s honor by suggesting we would surrender to a confessed invader of our allies in these prairies? Hear now, criminal! You stand not against us four, but against the entire power of one of the Five Great Pillars!" She then turned to the three humans and yelled. "Go, now! I will meet with you soon!" The humans protested, but soon nodded. One by one, they vanished. Elder Xiurong stared down at Alpha, flames flickering in the back of her throat as she spoke. "You may think your words are immutable, but the Origin Sect has crushed more petty tyrants like you than you have ever known to exist. Do not think you can simply walk on the innocent without repercussions, beast!" The talking snake opened its mouth wide, the flickering flames shifting to jet-black as they billowed toward Alpha like a dark flamethrower. "[Draconic Spark!]" Alpha only shrugged as he responded. "Oh well, have it your way. I warned you." In only a split second, Alpha had analyzed the strange flame''s energy output and found it wanting. In a moment of curiosity, Alpha loaded a nitrogen rod into the [Gungnir''s] firing chamber. He only had a few dozen nitrogen rods left, but he wanted to see just how this overgrown snake stacked up against his fiery chicken friend. The results were disappointing. A blinding lance of ionized gas and light, several times larger than the beam that had split the boulder, cut through the black flames as if they weren''t even there. In less than the blink of an eye, the ion-cannon''s beam swung upward, carving a deep groove into the ground then slicing the coiled, flying snake into several large pieces before continuing upward. As the beam passed, the clouds parted in its wake, revealing a thin, shallow groove in the nearly invisible barrier in the sky before it swiftly healed over. Elder Xiurong''s eyes grew wide, their eyes quivering before the various pieces of her body fell from the sky in a gory rain. Even if someone could dodge bullets, that didn''t mean they could dodge light itself. The various bits wiggled around for a bit until finally, going still. Internally, Alpha sighed. Well, that had been a waste Oh well, at least he''d gathered some good data. Alpha collected a few bio-samples and even poked around the creature''s heart but found nothing. Oh well. Alpha turned away from the body, not wanting to waste more time than he already had here. Tuguslar had disappeared sometime during the conflict, but Alpha didn''t mind. Something told him they''d meet again, real soon. Besides, he''d been ''kind'' enough to leave the black box behind. Alpha collected the prize and checked his map to ensure he was headed in the right direction. Soon, Alpha had left the battlefield far behind him. Book 1 - Lesson 45: There are lessons in defeat. Several minutes after Alpha had left. Lin Weiyuan flicked back onto the battlefield several moments later, a struggling, ice-encased Fang Peng under his arm. Qi Mingxi appeared next to him only a moment later only to scream and erupt into loud sobbing. The three of them had retreated a distance away, like Elder Xiurong had told them to. The plan was to stall the mysterious metal spirit beast long enough for them to escape, then meet up at the checkpoint. But only a short while later, they witnessed that strange beam of light split the sky. The sight had sent a chill down his spine. Something like that that shouldnt have been possible! Not here, not in the Radiant Sea! Not even the most powerful of the Akhlut could display that much of their power here! That was the point of it! What in the nine hells was going on?! What was that thing?! While Lin Weiyuan was trying to process what hed just seen, Fang Peng attempted to go back. The young man had to restrain her. The Elder had been right; this was far beyond them. He couldnt let her rush back to her death, not in the state she was in. Even so, his [Ice Manacles] could barely restrain the rampaging body cultivator. After waiting a few moments with still no sign of Elder Xiurong, Lin Weiyuan and Qi Mingxi agreed to return to the battlefield; what they saw when they did so nearly broke their spirits. The body of Elder Yu Xiurong lay where it fell, cut into several distinct pieces. Fang Peng stopped struggling, all fight seeming to have left the young woman. She only stared, unblinking, her mouth moving but producing no sound. Qi Mingxi knelt in a pile of blood, her arms wrapped around the severed head of her Master, openly weeping as she cradled it. Lin Weiyuan felt numb, himself. Like an icy pit had opened in the center of his chest and threatened to suck all the heat from his body. For the first time since hed become a Cultivator all those years ago, his mind felt sluggish and blank. He tried to run through all the scenarios in his head, trying to figure out where it had all gone wrong. What had he missed?! No matter how he tried, none of it made any sense. He only stood there, unmoving. A quiet voice broke him free of the endless loop hed trapped himself in. Shes alive Lin Weiyuan shook as if shocked by a Static Mage and slowly looked down at Fang Peng, not quite understanding. What? Fang Peng yelled, her body flexing, opening up her wounds but shattering her icy restraints. SHES ALIVE! The young woman half ran, half crawled to where Qi Mingxi knelt, quickly tracing her muscular hand along the severed heads scales. Lin Weiyuan to rushed over, placing his hands on the remains. It was only then he could feel it. It was faint weak like a flickering candle, but it was there. The gentle thump of vital and spirit energy. He turned to Fang Peng, grinning from ear to ear, the woman matching him as he shouted. Shes alive!!! A soft whimper drew his attention, and Lin Weiyuan turned to see Qi Mingxi staring up at them both. Her eyes were bloodshot, and her face tear-stained, and when she spoke, her voice was raw. What? Lin Weiyuan raised a brow, but then it suddenly dawned on him. Ah! Thats right. You rose through the ranks pretty fast, didnt you? Youve not likely taken a lot of the informational classes yet. Lin Weiyuan turned and placed his hand on the much younger girls head as he spoke, entering lecture mode. Hed taken those classes enough that he could probably teach them himself. Elder Xiurong was is a high-tier [Soul Fusion] Cultivator halfway through the [Earthly Transcendent] Realm. What is the purpose of that realm? Qi Mingxi frowned as she spoke. To Transcend our worldly limits. It is the middle ground of Ascension, where we begin shedding our mortal form and replace it with one suited for the Heavens. What does that have to do with it? Everyone knew that. It was one of the most basic lessons any Cultivator learned. To lie down your [Foundation], to [Transcend] your limits, and finally, [Break] through the Firmament above to take your place among the stars. That was the meaning of the Three Great Realms that made up their Path. But even [Firmament Breakers] could die, let alone an [Earthly Transcendent]. Lin Weiyuan nodded as he continued. Correct. And do you know what happens during the greater step before [Soul Fusion]? Qi Mingxi opened her mouth but quickly closed it, shaking her head. Of course, she didnt know. She was only an early stage [Shackle Breaking] Cultivator, the last step of the [Mortal Foundation] realm. Why would she know about a step that would likely take her another century to even reach? Lin Weiyuan spoke again, informing her. The greater step before [Soul Fusion] is called [Core Condensing], and it is one of the most important steps a Cultivator will ever take. It is here that we condense our cores! Lin Weiyuan raised his hand to the sky as if making some grand proclamations. Qi Mingxi stared blank-faced at him, but Lin Weiyuan didnt miss the slight twitch of her lip and how her eyes brightened slightly. As talented and mature as the young woman sometimes seemed, it was easy to forget that she was still young, barely an adult in most places. Lin Weiyuan smiled down at her and continued. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. As for what that means, its simple. All Cultivators condense their energy into a physical center in their body, be they Human, Awakened Beast, or any other sapient species. For us humans, we form a Dantian He placed his hand over his torso, slightly above his navel. For Beasts, they form Beast Crystals in their hearts. Dragons form dragon pearls in a similar manner. This is true for every species, even if the place and nature of this energy well changes. Once you reach [Core Condensing], things change. Lin Weiyuan moved his hand and placed it right over the center of his torso, slightly higher up. You said it yourself. The goal of [Earthly Transcendent] is to replace our mortal body with one more compatible with the Heavens, and thus spirit energy. [Core Condensing] is where that begins. Qi Mingxis eyes widened, and Fang Peng nodded in understanding, raising a finger and continuing where Lin Weiyuan had left off. She rarely showed so much interest in a topic, so he let her. When a Cultivator enters [Core Condensing], they begin transforming their Dantian, Beast Crystal or whatever, into a [Spiritual Core]. Functionally, theyre the same, acting as a reservoir for stored spirit energy, but with one key difference. A [Spiritual Core] has no physical form. Its a pure energy construct, and because it isnt physical Qi Mingxi cut her off, realization striking her. It has no Limits Fang Peng wilted her big revelation stolen from her by the child genius. Lin Weiyuan patted Fang Pengs shoulder but continued from there. Right. Because the [Spiritual Core] isnt limited by physical size, it can store unimaginable amounts of energy, far surpassing what we ever could otherwise, without it utterly destroying us in the process. It also primes the Cultivator for their next step, [Soul Fusion]. Its here that the Cultivator fuses their very soul to this [Spiritual Core]. This is critical before the next step, [Shedding Flesh], in which the actual process of replacing ones body begins. Care to take a guess why? Qi Mingxi furrowed her brow, trying to think hard about what shed learned. After a moment, she spoke her thoughts out loud. [Core Condensing] isnt just necessary for energy storage. The Foundation steps are all about growing your Dantian, but a [Spiritual Core] is limitless. You cant grow something thats already boundless Lin Weiyuan nodded as the girl continued to put her thoughts into words. But if it was just about using energy, why not go straight to [Shedding Flesh]? If theres no qualitative change, whats the point of taking the extra step to fuse your soul with your [Spiritual Core] core? How does that prepare you to Suddenly, the young girls eyes shot wide open, her face snapping back and forth between Lin Weiyuan and the severed head. Lin Weiyuan nodded, smiling as he finished. Yes. The point of [Soul Fusion] is to fuse your soul to your [Spiritual Core], thus anchoring to this core instead of your body. Qi Mingxi rushed to her Masters head and placed glowing hands on its surface. She was silent for a long moment before her face furrowed and fresh tears began pouring from her eyes. Lin Weiyuan walked over and gently wrapped the weeping girl in a hug before tapping her head. A thick layer of gentle ice slowly enveloped it, preserving the head and injecting spirit energy to nurture the wounded soul trapped inside. As a Cultivator nearing the end of [Soul Fusion], Elder Xiurong had long completed the process. She was just stuck gathering the energy needed to start transforming her body and step fulling into [Shedding Flesh]. She could absolutely still die, especially if she ran out of spirit energy and her [Spiritual Core] collapsed. But as long as they could bring the Elder back to the Sect, she should make a full recovery, even if severally weakened by the event. If shed been only a few greater steps high, she could have even totally rebuilt her body from ashes herself, given enough time and spirit energy. But being only in the middle of [Earthly Transcendent] meant she would slowly bleed off energy unless assisted, so time was crucial. Once Qi Mingxi had calmed some, Fang Peng folded her arms and voiced a question hed been stuck on as well. I dont understand, though. Why didnt the creature destroy her [Spiritual Core]? Thats standard practice for Cultivators of their level, if I understood correctly. No one likes when an enemy you thought you killed pops up a few decades later, even stronger. Some kind of sick mercy? Or is it mocking us? Lin Weiyuan lifted the Elders frozen head into the air with his spirit energy and shook his head. Staring off into the distance, he asked himself the same question. I dont know. Huff Huff Juatan and Ulagan stood over three bodies, panting. Munkh sat cross-legged on her shield, the heavy metal object pinning a fourth man down. Ganbaatar stood guard over Zolzaya and Kallik as they stabilized a wounded innkeeper. Ganbaatar hadnt brought his own spear to the room but held Juatans sidearm, a small gladius, at the ready. Kalliks room was a wreck, looking like a storm or wild beast had passed through. The bed was utterly destroyed, having been cut into several pieces. The door had been kicked off its hinges during the opening move as two armed men rushed into the room, while the window had been shattered when two more broke through. Despite the sudden intrusion, the group had been ready, and their enemy had either been overconfident or didnt realize the sheer amount of talent gathered in the room. Either way, the fight lasted only a handful of breaths as two assailants practically threw themselves onto Juatan and Ulagans spears, while a third quickly succumbed to Kalliks poisoned arts. In contrast, the assailants own attacks didnt even scratch the party. Even though each of the four men was low [Silver Spirit], the small room had worked against them. Their every blow was blocked by several phantasmal shields connected to Munkhs own via Spirit wires. The only one injured had been the innkeeper, whod rushed up the stairs as soon as the fighting started, only to get caught in the crossfire. Once the innkeeper was stable, Kallik approached the pinned man and knelt down to speak. Im guessing youll not willingly tell us who sent you, will you? No matter, I have something for that. She pulled out a small yellow pill, grinning from ear to ear. The man met her eyes and mirrored her grin before clinching his jaw. Kalliks eyes went wide, and she snatched the mans face, prying open his mouth, but it was too late. The mans eyes rolled to the back of his head, and a thick black foam poured from his mouth. Kallik flared her spirit energy, burning away some of the poison lingering on her hand, and tsked. I should have seen that one coming She stood and shook her head, then turned to the group to speak, but before she could, the dead mans eyes turned pitch black. With a yelp, Munkh lept off the body as it was enveloped in a thick black flame. One by one, the three other bodies also burst into black flames, and in the span of a few breaths, not even ashes remained. Kallik stared at the spotless floor and cursed to herself. Wasnt expecting that, though The group shared a look and laughed, but their relief was soon cut short as the sound of heavy footsteps rushed up the inn stairs. A moment later, a dozen fully armed Guardians stood outside the destroyed room, their spears ready. The group parted to let an older man, in slightly more ornate armor, into the room. The grizzled-looking man stopped at the broken doorway and stared into the destroyed room. One by one, his eyes coasted over each of them, pausing only on the innkeeper and Juatan, to whom he gave a raised brow. After a long moment of silence, he spoke in a commanding voice. Grassreader Kallik and company, you are hereby placed under arrest. Surrender your weapons peacefully and present yourself for processing. The three Slatewalker Guardians shared a look and dropped their weapons, raising their hands in the air. Ganbaatar hesitated, but a sharp look from Juatan had the young man following suit. Kallik sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. She hadnt seen that one coming either, though, in retrospect, she really should have Book 1 - Lesson 46: "Get your arrays in order!" Progress! Both literally and metaphorically! Alpha had arrived at the small checkpoint building nearly 12 hours ago, and not much had happened since. The "checkpoint" itself was a simple thing, little more than a small courtyard surrounded by a stone wall, a dozen meters tall, barely able to hide the TAWP if Alpha crouched. In the courtyard''s center was a watchtower, twice as high as the walls, allowing someone at the top to see for dozens of miles in all directions. The entire complex was the first permanent structure he''d seen since the ruined temple. A few small, humble buildings dotted the courtyard, which Alpha had assumed were offices and barracks for the stationed soldiers. Not that there were occupied, of course; this checkpoint, and the ones he could see several dozen miles away in either direction, were totally abandoned. The humans had said they''d likely be, as the soldiers were pulled back to more public areas during this "Darkest Night." That said, Alpha had half excepted the black-and-white man to show up again or some new threat to pop its head out of the woodwork, but the last few hours have been eerily quiet. Probably had something to do with the giant, swirling vortex of darkness in the sky Alpha turned his attention back to the strange phenomenon he''d been studying since he arrived. Like the Earth Shrine, the swirling clouds hadn''t been visible until he got close enough, even with his advanced sensors. It was like something in the air was scattering everything he threw at it, almost like the icy shell surrounding the planet. Instead, he''d first witnessed vibrant streams of shimmering, rainbow energy coalescing in the sky, like auroras in the night sky. These streams seemed to come from all over the prairies, likely the Earth Shrines, if he understood the human''s explanations. As they drew near the center of the prairies, they combined, growing thicker and more visible until they converged into the swirling vortex. As the vortex churned, all the colors mixed into a muddy brown cloud, this too condensing into a deep, black color that reminded Alpha of rich, fertile soil for some strange reason. The soil clouds swirled inward toward an absolute center, directly above a large building in the distance that he could just barely make out. There, the swirling black cloud grew tighter, then descended like a funnel cloud being pulled to the ground. As they neared the building, however, something changed. The dark, rich color of fertile soil was quickly overtaken by a choking black cloud that swirled around it, slowly filtering in and tainting it. Not that Alpha had any idea what was happening or how the civilization he''d witnessed so far, even in the much larger "Jadewalker" city, would be capable of something like this. This was the type of weather and energy manipulation he would have expected from the Federation. Not a bunch of nomads still using swords and spears. It was more proof for Alpha''s theory that someone off planet had stakes here that the natives weren''t aware of. He couldn''t even get any [Wasps] close to the storm or building to scout further, either. The same interference that blocked his sensors jammed his connection to the drones. Even setting them to auto-scouting didn''t work. The onboard AIs didn''t have the intelligence or reflexes to make it very far into the danger zone. So rather than waste more drones, Alpha had taken the time to study the storm however he could and scout the area. The scouting had turned up little, just more empty outposts every few dozen miles and a couple of wandering hazards that he made a note of for later. Where he had made some breakthroughs had been his arrays. Studying the storm, even with what little he could gather from it, had been a godsend. As he suspected, the energy gathering and concentrating was nearly identical to the energy inside the heart crystals. Alpha wasn''t sure which came first, though. Did the creatures naturally gather and condense this energy from their environment for later use? Or was the energy released into the environment as creatures died, leaving behind their heart crystals? Either way, observing how the energy behaved in the storm led him to several discoveries. First, much like how electricity preferred straight lines, this strange energy preferred circles. To be more accurate, the more the energy circulated, the more organized and easier it moved. In its natural, free-flowing state, it was chaotic and highly volatile, but it became far more stable and less prone to "straying" once it started circulating. That would explain several strange "nodes" he''d found in the drone''s array. Even after identifying the functions of several parts, he''d still been unable to figure out what the point of the weird circular pools dotted along its length were. It turns out they were "rest stops" for the energy, where the energy could be circulated and stabilized before being moved to other areas. That would also explain why most of his prototypes kept exploding. The energy was being forced through the array without enough time to stabilize properly, causing it to stray and run wild. The second thing he''d discovered was that the energy flowed more like a gas than a liquid like electricity did. This meant several things. First, the energy had a tendency to collect into pockets of density. Higher-density energy would displace lower density, pushing it through the array. However, if there wasn''t enough force, the energy would pool into pockets, eventually crystallizing. In the small test arrays, these crystals were microscopic but were still apparently large enough to destabilize and explode, causing further chain reactions. Comparing it to the drone, Alpha realized that was another purpose of the various nodes. As they circulated and stabilized the energy, they also "cleaned" the array, removing crystalized build-up and turning it back into flowing energy. With everything he''d learned, it only took a few hours for Alpha to finish modeling a new design for his storage array. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. The design itself was simple compared to some of the more intricate and flowing arrays seen on the drone, but Alpha liked the simplicity of it. More importantly, it worked! Originally, Alpha had been trying to force the raw energy from the stone into the arrays. This had caused the unorganized, chaotic energy to pool and clot faster than Councilmen Harris'' arteries during taco Tuesdays. This time, Alpha took a different approach. The array was divided into three major parts; input, output, and storage. His input was still the same shaped grove he''d been using before, but now it was more apparent why the drone''s input was a spiral. The energy''s tendency to follow circular paths meant a spiral was perfect for drawing the energy out. This pre-stabilized energy was then directed into the second area: storage. The storage array itself had three main parts as well. The first, the prime energy circuit, was where the energy would circulate and transfer between various parts of the array. From here, it could drain into the energy storage circuits or be directed to the output channels. Once in storage, the energy storage circuits would act similarly to the nodes scattered around the drone''s arrays. The energy would be collected, condensed, circulated, and mixed in five separate circuits connected by a primary circulator at the center. This prevented any build-up of crystals while keeping the energy condensed and ready for use, like an industrial mixer continuously spinning to keep a batch from coagulating. From the primary circulator, energy would leak back into the prime energy circuit, where it would either begin the process again or be directed to the output channels for use. The output had been a stroke of brilliance, if he said so himself, even if it was simple in practice. The output channels could be curved or straightened as needed using a bit of nanite skin. Since the energy almost always followed the more curved path, Alpha could keep the energy contained within the prime energy circuit by straightening the channel. Alpha could curve the output channel when a certain output needed energy, tempting the energy to siphon in. Alpha could use this method to control when and where the energy went and how much was used. This resulted in the modular storage array, which could attach to other arrays directly through the primary output connectors. The square connectors would still circulate the energy, but made the energy very "agitated," wanting to escape. So when a second input from another array was connected to them, the energy gladly moved to the new array. He could even link multiple storage arrays together in this way! Though he saw little use for that at the moment. Progress was progress, though; he couldn''t complain. Once he had a real base, he could dive into the deep end and see what this energy really was and what it could do. That was for later. Right now, he had other matters to deal with. The TAWP hadn''t moved for hours, ever since he''d settled into the checkpoint. To any outside observer, it might have appeared he''d simply fallen asleep or died. But he''d been constantly monitoring the area while he worked, so his new "guest" hadn''t slipped past his notice. "Are you going to introduce yourself?" Alpha spoke into the empty courtyard. For a long moment, no one answered until a lone figure walked out from behind a nearby building. They wore armor resembling the gear Alpha had seen worn by the various "adventurers" in Jadewalker City. Of far higher quality, however. Had Alpha not already known what array lines looked like, he would have assumed the dense scrawl on the figure''s leather armor to be decorative. At the very least, Alpha could tell whoever had done the work was far more skilled than whoever had done the sparse scrawling he''d recorded on the other adventurer''s gear. Strange enough, it still couldn''t compare to the meticulous and detailed work the old man had done to his drone. It made part of the AI wonder who the petty old fart really was. The stranger''s array work was particularly dense around the wrists, lower legs, and on the otherwise featureless wooden mask they wore. The mask itself was interesting, as it didn''t even have eyeholes. Whatever their purpose, Alpha suspected at least one function was voice modulation. When the figure spoke, their voice was grainy and rough, obviously artificial, after all. "I shouldn''t be surprised. Your reputation precedes you, ''Lord Protector.'' If my companion hadn''t warned me about you, I''d have thought all my -cloaking- [Hahdj@#5a] were damaged or defective." Alpha noted the first unknown word he''d heard in a while. His guest hadn''t used the word for arrays, but it had contained similar root syllables. Interesting. Was it a cultural thing? Or was there more to it? Filing that away for later, Alpha responded. "Strange. You don''t strike me as a native. And everyone else around these parts has the funny habit of not staying in enough pieces to talk about me. I''ll assume you''re not supposed to be my contact, either. My friends are currently indisposed at the moment. What was your ''companion''s'' name? Maybe I can point you toward what''s left." The masked figure only shrugged and strolled in his direction as it spoke. "There''s no need for that, Lord Protector. My companion is being returned home as we speak. As for who they are, I''m afraid I can''t say much. Professional standards and all that, I''m sure you understand. But have no fear. I''m not here for revenge. Not against your esteemed self, at the very least." The TAWP stood, and Alpha turned to face the figure, raising the war machine to its full height. That display, at least, gave the figure pause, stopping several dozen meters away. "Oh? Then who are you after?" The figure laughed and answered. "Let''s just say the enemy of my enemy is my friend " Alpha could hear the grin in the figure''s next words despite the mask. " And I hope we can be very good friends, Mr. Lord Protector." "Let us out! This is ridiculous! We''re telling you we were attacked!" Ganaa rattled the bars of his cell, despite the hard glares of the Guardian standing guard on the other side. They''d been locked up for hours now, with no news at all. They hadn''t even been allowed to defend themselves and had been thrown into cells as soon as they''d been dragged to the jail cart. The excuse they''d been given was no one had time to deal with a ''drunken brawl'' this close to the Darkest Night, but Ganaa knew it was elkcrap! This whole situation was fishy as hell, from the priest''s odd refusal to the attack from unknown men who''d burst into black flames. Hell, even the Guardians reacting so quickly was strange. The fight had lasted only a handful of breaths; unless a patrol had been walking by at that exact time, how would they have even arrived so fast? "Ganaa. Stop. Sit down and rest; you''ll be no help to anyone if you don''t get some sleep. Zolzaya will kill you if you wake her up, too." Ulagan placed a hand on his shoulder and pulled him away from the bars. With their guard ignoring him, Ganaa turned and directed all his pent-up frustration on the other man instead. "How can you be so calm, Ulagan?! How can any of you sleep? You can''t tell me that any of this is normal!" Ulagan shook his head and responded, his voice soft. "No. It''s not normal. But there is nothing we can do about it right now. All we can do is wait and try to contact someone who will listen." Ganaa threw his hands into the air and yelled. "We don ." Ulagan''s sharp glare cut his words off. Ganaa glanced at the three nearby women as they slept in a pile, and Juatan, off to the side, resting with his back to the wall. He continued, more in a whisper this time. "We don''t have time, Ulagan! The Darkest Day is less than two days away, and the Lord Protector should already be in place by now! If we don''t hurry, we''ll be too late." Ulagan sighed and patted Ganaa''s shoulder again. "Yes. I know. Even so, we " "Too late for what, exactly? What is it you''re really planning?" The loud voice cut Ulagan off and caused the sleeping Slatewalkers to stir. From the open door, the same priest who had turned them away at the temple walked into the room, sneering down at them through the bars. When he spoke, it was no longer with the cold detachment from the temple but with audible disdain. "I knew it was smart to keep you backwater yolks from the Head Priest. Tell me, what are your actual goals? We detected Black Arts in that room you destroyed, so don''t think you can fool us any longer! We will not tolerate cultists of Iris in this city!" We lease the Kraken: Pilot Chapter Jeremiah tapped the small fishbowl sitting on his desk. The tiny red octopus inside waved back at him, blowing a few bubbles. The young man sighed and stood, placed one hand on his hip, and ran his hand over his face. What am I going to do with you? he asked, not really expecting an answer. Its not like he had asked for a new pet. But what was he going to do? Its not like he could tell the old man across the hall he didnt want a pet. That would have been rude. It was a birthday gift after all, and despite his rough exterior, Jeremiah liked the old codger. Mr. Roger was the first person in the musty, rundown apartment building hed moved into that didnt speak to him like he would mug them as soon as they turned their back. Not that Jeremiah could blame them; this part of the outskirts of Prima City wasnt the safest. Then again, despite claiming to be 80 years old, Mr. Roger was a 65, 300lb wall of muscle while Jeremiah barely broke 511 and never weighed over 180lb in his entire life, despite being slightly pudgy from life as a veterinary student. The first time Jeremiah met the intimidating black man, he was more than a little ashamed to admit he feared what would happen to him. Despite his appearances, though, Mr. Roger was a jolly man who more than once had helped Jeremiah out of a tough spot in the last few months. Jeremiah did his best to return the favors however he could. Good people were hard to find in this part of town, or at least learned how to keep out of sight. The neighborhood hadnt had a residential Boss in nearly five years. Not since the last one was killed by a rival during the last outskirt war. In theory, any other Super could have taken over and reigned in the other criminal elements. But every time they tried, the former bosss old rival would remove them. Sometimes with bribes, sometimes with threats, and sometimes with more bloody methods when neither of those worked. No one knew why the old rival did not just take up the area for themselves. Maybe it was some kind of sick game, playing with the old boss even after theyd already won. Maybe the outskirt wars took too much out of their gang, and they didnt think they could hold it, so instead kept anyone else from taking it until they could. Whatever the reason may have been, with no Boss to keep the criminal element in check and no Capes patrolling this far out, the neighborhood had gone to hell. Within half a year, most of the buildings had been abandoned, and the people gone, leaving only those too weak, too old, or too poor to move anywhere else. At least that meant he had got the apartment for cheap. It was a small blessing in the chaos that had been the last four months. Jeremiah laughed at himself. Four months? Was that all it had been since his life had gone down the drain? Why did it feel so much longer? Yet only yesterday. Only four months ago, hed been a promising young student on the fast track to graduation from one of the top veterinary schools in the country. Hed lived state-of-the-art house, literally built from the ground up by his Artificer older sister. Theyd been living the dream! The ideal that was promised to so many people who came to Prima City seeking refuge and wealth. Oh, sure, now these days the Wilds werent that bad, at least most of the time. With Supers becoming more and more common over the last few centuries, especially Artificers like his sister, mankind had taken its place at the top of the food chain. Now, hubs of technology and civilization can be found across every corner of the country. But occasionally, youd still hear stories of some small town getting wiped out when an animal triggered a little too close to their walls. Or someone who thought they could cut costs on their rift dampeners, and a rift opened up in the town square. Or a hundred other things that could go wrong in a place without enough strong Supers. Thats why places like Prima City, as an established Heros Hall, were so popular with the common man. Even if that led to rapid overpopulation and development. It always surprised Jeremiah what some people would do to feel just a little safer. His sister, and by extension, Jeremiah, were some of the lucky ones. Artificers were always in demand. After all, theyre the ones who created all the technology that allowed such a mega city like Prima City to exist in the first place. As a B-Rank Artificer, Sarah never had to worry about finding work, even as a freelancer. People were throwing themselves at their door to hire her for various projects. As her younger brother and only family member, Jeremiah also naturally benefited. Shed practically raised him after their parents death, and hed never wanted for anything for as long as he could remember. Everything was perfect. He was going to graduate at the top of his class. His sister had promised to build him a state-of-the-art clinic, and hed pay her back for everything shed ever done for him. His future was laid out before him like a gilded carpet, and all he had to do was strode proudly toward it. Funny how life can pull that carpet out from under you without a moments notice. They say that when something life-changing happens, your brain imprints the details in hyper-focus. Jeremiah could say for a fact that it was a load of bullcrap. He didnt remember where he was or even what he was doing when he got the news. All he could remember was feeling numb. Like his brain had shut itself off in denial. Sarah was dead. Not just dead, but killed. As a Villain. The official story was that shed tried to steal something from her latest employer. When they caught her, she went berserk and used her powers to escape. In response, the Heros Hall sent a team to subdue her. If it had ended there, things would have been fine. But according to the Capes who responded, his sister had resisted arrest and severally injured one of the responding Supers. Under Prima City law, that automatically labeled Sarah as a Villain. The ensuing fight leveled an entire city block near the outer ring, and the Capes were forced to put her down. Even now, thinking of the report made Jeremiahs blood boil. What kind of bull was that?! Sarah had been one of the kindest, caring people hed known. That wasnt just his bias talking, either! His older sister regularly built higher-end tech and sold it for under cost in the poorer parts of the city, just so those people could have some comforts that those more well-off hoarded. Shed even campaigned with others to help build up the outskirts and other rougher parts of town. The thought that Sarah would not only use her power to steal but purposefully hurt others was preposterous to him. Hed sooner believe that the moon was made of cheese. Many people his sister had helped had felt the same. Thousands had marched on city hall to demand the truth and justice for Sarah, with Jeremiah leading the helm. Thats when the stories started. Rumors of embezzlement. Supposed loans and debts Sarah had taken on to fund various projects. Past thefts that were somehow only now coming to light. All of it was ludicrous to those who knew his sister and flimsy from a legal standpoint. But, as more and more evidence appeared, whispers began, and support for his sister slowly dwindled. Until near the end, only Jeremiah remained, standing in front of the courthouse, holding his sign while the surrounding crowd jeered and laughed. Posthumous trials were rare, but thanks to the nature of Sarahs crimes and the heavy push from the mega-corp shed stolen from, Sarahs trial had turned into a sensation plastered over every news station and even the internet. It only took 30 minutes for the jury to reach a unanimous verdict of Guilty. Just like that, Sarah Bridge, a woman once called the Saintess of the Outskirts, was labeled a Class-B Villain, in the same category as murderers and megalomaniac psychopaths. Under Prima City law, everything she owned, her tech, her bank account, and their home, was seized by the city and used to pay reparations to the victims. Not that the people whose homes and businesses were destroyed ever saw any of that, of course. Nearly 95% of it went to pay the corporation she had been working for, as it was deemed theyd suffered the greatest lose. More bullcrap. Hed tried to fight it. Tried to clear his sisters name. Anyone with eyes could see what was going on. How could anyone believe any of this?! But nothing worked. He was homeless, penniless, but for what was left of the allowance in his personal account. No news station would talk to him, and all of Sarahs old contacts and friends had either cut ties completely or vanished into thin air. To make matters worse, his college had called to inform him that his leave of absence had been denied for unspecified reasons. If he didnt pay the next semesters fees, all his hard work would go down the drain. Jeremiahs hand tightened around the edge of the fishbowl, and it shook. A fire burned in his chest at the memories, and his gaze became distant and glassy. The gentle touch of a tentacle wrapping around his finger broke him from his memories. Jeremiah jerked and lifted his hand, pulling the tiny creature up with him. The baby octopus, barely the size of his thumb, stroked a shallow cut that ran the length of his palm. Only then did Jeremiah notice the slightly red tinge to the water in the fishbowl and the smear of blood along the bowls lip. Hed gripped the edge so hard it had cut into his palm, and he hadnt even noticed. That was some strong glass Oh, crap. Im sorry, little one. Lets replace your water and then head to bed, Jeremiah said as he lifted the bowl with his free hand. A few moments later, the water was replaced, and Jeremiahs hand was wrapped. The baby octopus sat at the bottom of its fresh bowl, happily nibbling on a small shrimp. The good thing about such a tiny creature was it ate little, and Mr. Roger assured him that once the few shrimps hed given Jeremiah ran out, it would eat just about anything. At least he didnt have to worry about feeding it. Jeremiah took a deep breath and stared at the small creature through the glass as it enjoyed its meal. He felt a little calmer, even if the smoldering sparks in his chest still threatened to consume him if he let them. Maybe Mr. Roger was right. Maybe he needed something to take his mind off things for a while. Sure, he specialized in terrestrial animals, but how hard could it be to watch over a tiny octopus? Ok, that was probably oversimplifying things, but it would be nice to think of other things for a while Jeremiah tapped the glass. The baby octopus stopped eating and looked up at him with intelligent eyes. Several tentacles raised and waved back before the creature returned to its meal. Jeremiah stood and smiled. Ya maybe that would be nice The young man softly whispered, I guess that means you need a name, doesnt it? Mr. Roger said you were a boy, but I didnt specialize in marine biology, so what do I know? The octopus looked up at him and tilted his head. It reminded him of a hamster he had as a child before his parents had died. That memory made Jeremiah laugh, and he asked the tiny creature, How about... Billy? The baby octopus raised all its tiny tentacles and waved them around in excitement as if it understood. Jeremiah laughed again and patted the tank. Thats that, then. Goodnight Billy. Sleep tight. With that, Jeremiah climbed into the tiny bed in the middle of the empty apartment and reached for the small desk lamp. The last thing he saw before the light clicked off was the enormous eyes of the newly christened Billy staring at him. Several hours later, Jeremiah sat in bed and stared at the dark ceiling. Even after four months in this place, he still had trouble sleeping. Sometimes the nightmares would wake him up in the middle of the night. Sometimes it was the sound of gunshots or fighting on the streets below. Even now, the bright yellow light from the streetlight cut through the darkness of the almost empty room like a merciless blade, intent on killing Jeremiahs sleep. The curtains were too short, torn by the previous occupant for one reason or another. Jeremiah moaned and rolled in bed, pulling the cover over his head, but to no avail. He sighed and flipped on his back before reaching over to the desk Billys bowl sat on and opened a drawer. Jeremiah rummaged around for a moment, careful not to wake the sleeping creature, before pulling out a small object. He pulled it close and held it up in the beam of light so that it was visible. It was a small metal amulet, not much bigger than Billy, and appeared to be made of two pyramids, fused bottom to bottom, twice as long as wide. It hung on a thin chain, spun silently, and glistened in the light. He stared at the amulet fondly, a soft smile on his face. It was the last thing his sister had ever given him. An early birthday present, she had said. Even now, he could remember the letter that came with the box. Hey, dork! Happy birthday! I know its still a few months away, but Ive got a big project coming up, and you know how I can get when the itch takes over, so I thought Id give this to you now. Before you complain, I know you dont like jewelry, but I made this specifically for you, so show some appreciation! It might not look like anything special now, but I promise, this is some of my finest work yet! I cant wait to show you everything it can do! I think Im almost more excited than you! Its locked for now, though; I dont need you going and breaking it. Ill unlock it when I return home next week, and we can review everything. Till then, keep staring at it and wonder what mysteries and secrets it holds! HAHAHAHAHAHHA! Stolen story; please report. Signed, your loving provider and mistress supreme, Sarah. Jeremiah laughed to himself and wiped away a tear. Sarah had always been a little odd, but shed always been there for him. What more could he have asked of family? Now this tiny, plain-looking amulet was all he had left of her. The only reason even that hadnt been taken from him was because no one knew it existed. Hed been waiting to show it off to his friends until after Sarah unlocked it. There was no telling what the thing actually did; knowing her, it could have been anything for a microcomputer better than anything on the public market, to some kind of prank Holographic display that made him look like a monkey. He didnt want to think shed give him something like that for his birthday, but there had been the cake incident on his 12th birthday. His friends had never let him live that one down better safe than sorry. But, of course, Sarah had never returned. Maybe someone more callous would have considered selling it. After all, despite how plain it looked, it should have still been a piece of B-rank technology, right? It would have been worth something to someone, maybe even enough to get back on his feet. But he couldnt bring himself to do it. It was the last piece of Sarah he had, and he couldnt bear to part with it. Not yet. Not until he finished what he had to do. Silently, he slipped the chain around his neck and let the cool metal of the amulet rest against his chest. Jeremiah slowly drifted off to sleep with the sound of his beating heart in his ears and the icy chill of the amulet against bare skin. Billy opened his eyes and stared out of his tank. His eyes focused on the nice shrimp man sleeping on his bed. Not that the tiny octopus knew what a tank or bed was. He was smart, but he was only a week old, dang it! Stop expecting so much from him! The tiny octopus stirred the water as he stretched out his mighty tentacles and slid out of the comfy cave the nice shrimp man had built him. It was still dark out, but that didnt bother Billy much. His kind could see quite well, even in the dim light. All the better to capture unwitting prey in the murky depths. Like Shrimp! Shrimp was tasty Billy shook his head and cleared his mind of food for now. He had things he needed to do! Silently, Billy stretched his tentacles up and out of the water, then pulled himself over the bowls edge. He plopped down over the edge and landed on the desk before pulling himself along the surface, leaving a water trail as he went. Billy had to be quick about this. He didnt like it up here in the -air-. It was much too dry for his liking. Once he reached the edge, he streeeeetched with all his might and just barely grabbed onto the thin cloth sheet covering the thin mattress with a sucker. He then lept the rest of the way and pulled himself onto the shrimp mans bed. Billy waved his tentacles in the air. Success! Celebration cut short, Billy climbed on top of the snoring shrimp mans chest. The tiny octopus stared down at the sleeping man with large, intelligent eyes for a long moment. Did he really want to do this? Uncle Roger had said it was his choice. No one would force him. But the tiny octopus also understood this wasnt something to take lightly. He might have only been a week old, but the memories and instincts buried deep in his genes told him that once he made this choice, there was no going back. Billy considered and thought hard. Memories flashed in his mind of the past few days. Of the shrimp mans warm smile. The gentle finger that petted his head. Of the stories the man told him while he ate. Was this really something he wanted to do now? The memories in his genes warned him how humans could be. How fickle and cruel they were sometimes. How even the kindest soul might rot and burn if given the time or reason. Did he want to take the chance? Uncle Roger said that if you want to know a persons true nature, you should look into their eyes. Their eyes would never lie. So what did the shrimp mans eyes tell him? Billy remembered the look in the shrimp mans eyes before they went to bed. How it had burned with fury and rage that scared the tiny creature. Yet, he also remembered the sadness in those same eyes. A deep pain that made the little octopuss heart hurt, too. Uncle Roger had given Billy to the shrimp man for a reason, right? Maybe hed seen those eyes too and thought Billy could help? Who was Billy to argue with Uncle Roger? Billy nodded, his decision made. Suddenly, the room was filled with a quiet light. Dozens of tiny blue rings covered Billys body, flickering and casting shadows on the walls. The shadows and light played, dancing in a way that made it appear like the room had been cast into the oceans depths. After a moment, the light dimmed, and the blue rings covering Billys body softened until they were only lightly glowing. The ring wiggled around until they split, forming dozens of tiny lines that wiggled and swirled, forming various mystical patterns and shapes. Slowly, some patterns converged on one of his tentacles, and when Billy touched the shrimp mans chest, then slipped off and onto the humans skin, like ink moving from page to page. The glowing patterns swirled and wiggled on the humans skin before converging just over his heart. The glow lines soon formed into the image of a bright star, eight long beams of light extending from its center. It flashed once, then faded away. Billy nodded his head and turned to make the daunting trip back to his bowl when a voice cut through the darkness. Billy froze, fearing hed been caught, but it didnt sound like the shrimp man. //Energy signature detected. Beginning Analysis.// The pointy metal object sitting on the shrimp mans chest spoke in a flat, cold, feminine voice before vibrating. The invisible mark on the shrimp mans heart lit up once more, and some of the blue lines broke off and flew into the metal object. Billy waved several tentacles in a panic. Wait! It wasnt supposed to do that! However, the metal object didnt care, and it absorbed the blue lights before falling still. Billy slowly stretched out a tentacle to poke it, but before he made contact, the metal object shook, then elongated lengthwise, splitting into several spinning, floating square rings, tethered together at the middle with blue light. Billy pulled back quickly, crawling away and hiding under the thin sheet. From under the covers, Billy heard it speak. //Analyzing Electric Atomic Mutagenic Psionic Cosmic Ki Spirit DING! Energy signature identified; all erroneous signatures discarded checking user ID Soul marker recognized personal Mana signature recorded Welcome USER: JEREMIAH BRIDGE. Please submit data for your custom System experience.// //Please submit details.// //Please submit details// //Please submit details..// Billy peeked out of the covers and stared at the object just floating there. Not seeing it do anything more, the tiny creature gathered its courage and slipped out of the covers. He approached slowly and stared. The floating metal energy thief just floated there, repeating the same thing over and over. Did did it want something? Billy carefully reached out a tentacle and lightly tapped the metal object. His tentacle made contact, and the object glowed blue. Billy panicked and tried to pull away, only to find he couldnt move. His tiny heart beat fast; he could only listen as the metal object spoke again. //Mana signature recognized. Please state your desire; USER: JEREMIAH BRIDGE// Who was that? Billy was Billy, you glowing meany! Again it spoke. //Please state your desire.// Desire? Did it want to know what he wanted? Would would it let him go if it told the thing? Billys mind wandered to things he wanted. Images of shrimp man cleaning his tank. Of shrimp man giving him tasty shrimp. Of shrimp man playing with Billy and teaching him things. Slowly, the tiny octopuss beating heart slowed, replaced with a warm feeling that made him happy. The metal object stopped glowing, and Billys tentacle fell away. The metal object then spoke again, //Brainwaves recognized. Compiling Data. ERROR; gathered brain activity is incongruent with records. Data corrupted. Attempting connection to primary servers Warning! Primary servers compromised. Attempting connection to secondary servers Warning! compromised// //Warning, Trinary servers compromised// // Warning, Quaternary servers compromised// // Warning, Quinary servers// // Warning, Senary// // Warning, Septenary// // Warning// // Warning// //.// //Conditions met. Emergency protocol initiated. Connecting to Transdimensional Backupconnecting connecting connection successful. Beginning data debugging Debugging complete. Beginning Analysis.// Billy had no idea what it was saying his head hurt just thinking about most of the words The metal object grew quiet for a long time. Long enough that Billy started making his way back to his bowl, having grown sleepy. Hed just reached the desk when the metal object spoke again. //Analysis complete. Custom System Compiling DING! Compiling complete! Please standby for [Mystic Menagerie] System integration.// The metal object then spoke in a voice that sounded the same but was far kinder and less flat than it had used so far. Hey, Jerey you might want to lie down for this part. This is going to hurt The metal object then clicked shut, returning to its original shape, and fell back to the shrimp mans chest. Billy stared, wondering if it was finally over. The metal object wiggled for a few seconds before sprouting dozens of metal tentacles of its own. GASP! Had it been a friend all along?! Nothing with that many tentacles could ever be someone bad. Billy raised his own tentacles and waved them. His new best friend waved back. Billys na?ve, childlike trust was instantly shattered the next moment, however, as his metal friends tentacles stiffened then plunged into the nice shrimp mans chest all at once. For the first time in weeks, Jeremiah had a good dream. He couldnt remember the details in that strange, dreamlike way, but he remembered Sarahs voice. It was good to hear it again. Hed started to forget as time passed, which only worsened his wild mood swings. Hearing her voice again after so long had been like a soothing balm to his soul, even if he knew it was just a dream. Dream Sarah turned and looked at Jeremiah. He couldnt remember what she said, but she hugged him warmly, and the young man wept. Holding him, she gently whispered something that cut through the dream fog. Hey, Jerey you might want to lie down for this part AHHAAARRRRGGGG! Jeremiah woke from the dream, screaming and clawing at his chest. Ithurtithurtithurtithurt! The pain overwhelmed all of his other scenes as he felt something burrowing its way into his chest. He clawed at the thing but found no grip against the cold, twisting, blood-covered metal. All he could do was writhe and squirm and scream. After what could have been hours or seconds, the pain stopped suddenly. Time was hard to tell while in that fog of agony. Jeremiah collapsed in his bed, breathing hard, covered in sweat and blood. He lay there for an undeterminable amount of time, the stark contrast between mind-breaking pain and absolute stillness overloading his mind and refusing to let thoughts form. After a moment, he reached up a shaking, blood-covered hand to touch his chest and felt metal. Jeremiahs heart raced as he shot up in bed, wiping away what blood he could with the stained sheets, and stared down at his chest, gobsmacked. In the middle of his chest, right above his sternum, a small metal rhombus was embedded into his flesh. His sisters amulet Jeremiah gently poked it a few times, his brain refusing to process what he saw. After a moment, he whispered into the darkness, What the hell, Sarah?! What is this thing? What did you do to me?! His thoughts were cut off the next moment by a heavy pounding on his door as a deep baritone voice yelled from the other side. Jeremiah! JEREMIAH! ANSWER ME, LAD! Jeremiah scrambled to his feet, wiped as much of the blood away as he could, and rushed to the door as the voice continued. Im coming in, boy! You better not be dead on me! Jeremiah called out before the man on the other side could break his door down, Im coming! Just, just give me a second! Jeremiah rushed back to his bed, pulled one of the cleaner sheets off, and wrapped it around himself before running back to the door and throwing it open. Mr. Rogers giant frame filled his doorway, and if the braced shoulder said anything, hed, in fact, been only seconds away from breaking down the cheap plywood door. The large old man paused and turned to look at Jeremiah. The dim hallway lights cast everything in shadow, and Jeremiah could barely make out the dark-skinned mans deep frown. He placed a hand as big as Jeremiahs head on the young mans shoulder and asked in a worried tone. Boy, are you all right?! I heard the screaming from across the hall. What happened?! Jeremiah tried to laugh it off, but his voice broke as it spoke, It-it was nothing, Mr. Roger, just a bad dream, I promise. Thanks for checking up on me like that. Sorry if I woke you. Mr. Rogers frown deepened, and he asked, Are you sure, Lad? Those were some mighty loud wails for nothin more than some night terrors. Jeremiah nodded and answered, Yes sir, Im sure. Again, thanks for checking on me. Mr. Roger pulled his hand back and stood straight. The frown never left his face, but he nodded anyway as he spoke. I see. In that case, Ill leave you be then. Im glad to see youre alright, Jeremiah. Just remember, though, Lad. Whatever brought you here, to this point of your life, youre one of us now. People of the Outskirts? Weve got to look after each other, you hear? No one else will. So if you ever need anything, dont hesitate to ask. Jeremiah opened his mouth, but the words caught in his throat. He closed it and swallowed before looking down at the floor and nodding. Softly he whispered, I I will. Thank you, sir. Mr. Roger grinned and turned, waving behind him. Goodnight, Jeremiah. Try to get some sleep. Jeremiah nodded and closed the door. The young man stood in front of his door for a long moment, then breathed. He didnt enjoy lying to Mr. Roger. The man had been nothing but kind to him since hed arrived. But honestly, what was he going to tell him? That the last piece of rogue technology from his dead sister, whod been condemned as a powerful villain only a few months prior, had burrowed itself into his body for some unknown reason? He could already see how that would go. The man would likely insist on taking him to the hospital to get the device examined. The hospital would inform the city, and he would either be arrested for being in possession of stolen super tech, or it would be cut out of him and taken away. Worst-case scenario, maybe theyd say hed gone crazy like his sister, and hed be put down and dissected. Ya, there was no way he was telling anyone about this until he understood what the hell the amulet had done to him. Or was doing? He didnt know anymore Mr. Rogers grin slipped as he stared at Jeremiahs closed door. From down the hall, another door opened, and a middle-aged woman in a nightgown walked out, two small heads peeking out from behind the door beside her. She called out to him, her voice carrying far in the quiet hallway. So? Whats the news, David? Is he dead? I told you this would be a bad idea. If someone finds out David Davey Roger waved his massive hand back and forth as he answered. No, no, Martha, false alarm. The Lad just had some night terrors, is all. Nothin to worry about. The woman, Martha, frowned and narrowed her eyes before sighing and shrugging. She spoke in a tired voice, If you say so. Never heard nightmares that bad, though. And my youngins jump at tiny bugs. If its nothin, its nothin. The youngest child behind the door pointed at Martha and spoke, offended. Hey! They were not tiny! They were wait!. Martha shooed the children in the door and closed it behind her, cutting off the child. David turned and made his way to his own apartment. As he did, he raised his hand and stared at the small splotches of fresh blood staining them. The blood sparkled blue for a brief moment, almost undetectable if one didnt know what to look for. He smiled lightly, then wiped his hands clean on his shirt and opened the door, muttering to the empty hallway. Ya nothin to worry about Then walked inside, shutting the door behind him. It took Jeremiah 20 minutes to clean up the mess, but it got done. No point in sleeping in blood-soaked sheets, after all. Hed spent another 10 minutes staring at himself in the grimy mirror. No matter how long he stared; however, no answers came. Eventually, he cleaned himself off, left the tiny bathroom, and returned to bed. Walking back to his bed, he noticed movement in Billys bowl. Jeremiah turned his attention to the bowl to see the baby octopus staring back at him. Jeremiah smiled and knelt down, placing one finger on the glass as Billy placed a tentacle on the other side. Hey there, little guy, he said, did I wake you? Im sorry. How about we head back to bed now, huh? Jeremiah squinted his eyes at the tiny creature and frowned. Why did it look like Billy had a fuzzy outline? Was the bowl dirty? Hed just cleaned it, though. He rubbed the glasss surface, seeing if hed missed a spot, but the outline persisted. In fact, it seemed to follow Billy as the tiny creature moved. Strange. Jeremiah rubbed his eyes, thinking maybe something was in them, and when that didnt work, he focused on the outline, trying to determine what it was he was seeing. Woah! Jeremiah nearly fell backward as something popped into view in front of his eyes. ================================= Name: Billy Species: Polaris Kraken (Newborn) Age: 0 years, 0 months, 1 week, 3 days. Rank: SS - 0 - 0 - 1 Rarity: Mythical Pedigree: 8 Stars Ecology: These mythical creatures, also called the Heralds of the Guiding Star, Polaris Krakens, are said to lead wayward ships to safety during harsh storms with no stars visible. Its glowing light, vast power, and gentle nature have made it a deity of protection and an omen of safety and good luck for sailors across millennia. But woe onto the fool who tempts these gentle giants goodwill and kind nature, for even if the creature may forgive, the Sea itself does not take kindly to the mistreatment of one of her favorite children. As the saying goes, the lost ship abandoned by its guiding star will never find shore again. ================================= Jeremiah could only stare in shock at the strange white screen in front of him. What the hell Book 1 - Lesson 47: "Its good to have friends in high places." The sneering priest shook his head and pointed toward the blank-faced Juatan as he spoke. Whats with that look? I would think a Guardian would have had better control over his flock. Then again, I guess that was asking too much of a barbarian. Yes, I remember you, Juatan. Given the ruckus you caused all those years ago, how would I not? Some no-name barbarian appears from nowhere, only to weasel his way into the Guardian academy. Even after all this time, people still talk about how you cheated to snatch your graduation position away from those more deserving. In response, Juatan stood taller and glared down at the priest through the bars. Is that what this is? Some petty noble upset he was beaten in a fair duel years ago? Id have thought a few decades in the temple should have taught you a mote of humbleness, Priest Tarkhan? The priests face went red, and his eyes bulged but quickly returned to a calm sneer. Deny it all you wish. Your lies wont help you this time. After hearing the rumors of what you did to my cousin when you arrived yesterday, I knew I made the right choice in protecting the Head Priest from your poisonous tongue. Then, after all that, you have the gall to attack a temple messenger?! Youve dug your own grave this time, Guardian, and Ill happily see you buried in it. Ganbaatar pushed himself up against the bars beside Juatan and yelled. What messenger! We told you we were the ones attacked! Tarkhan turned to Ganbaatar and sneered, Humph. So you say. Yet our real Guardians found no bodies, equipment, or even traces of this black fire that you claim consumed them. On the other hand Tarkhan turned and gestured to the nearby doorway. A young man covered in bloodstained bandages entered the room. He walked with a slight limp, slowly, each step seeming to be a struggle. Upon seeing the Slatewalkers in the cell, he jumped, hiding behind the priest, as if afraid they could reach him from the bars. Tarkhan patted the young man on his shoulder and turned back to the Slatewalkers, frowning. We have eyewitnesses that will attest to seeing the messager enter the inn, only to come running out several minutes later, covered in blood and yelling for help. Had a Guardian patrol not passed by at that moment, I shudder to think what you ruffians would have done to him. Ganbaatar pointed at the messenger and yelled, his face turning red. Thats elkcrap! Weve never seen this man in our lives! Tarkhan rolled his eyes and responded. Riiight. As if thats not something a child caught with his hand in the honeypot would say. But then I wouldnt expect critical thinking from someone associated with such company. Tarkhan turned his narrowed eyes to Juatan, frowning. The priest turned to leave but spoke over his shoulder. Now, all thats left is to wait for the Innkeeper to awaken and confirm the story. I was hoping to have you lot in a noose by the end of the day, but lucky for you, the healer doesnt expect the man to wake for a few days more. Until then, you can spend the Darkest Night in a cell. Now, if youll excuse me, I have more important matters to attend to. As he moved to leave, another voice called out from in the cell. Priest Tarkhan, whatever grievances you might have against us, youre not a stupid man. Surely you can see that something doesnt quite add up here? Tarkhan paused and turned to see a freshly awoken Kallik walk to the bars. He narrowed his eyes and responded. Dont think your Adventurer mind games will work on me, Grassreader. Ive heard quite a bit about you, and youre just as bad as the barbarian. Dont think the accords will keep you safe. Ill be speaking with the Grassreaders Council personally. Kallik shook her head and folded her arms. Thats a mistake, Priest Tarkhan, and you know it. If Head Priest Erden heard how Tarkhan took several steps forward, pointing at the Grassreader as a vein pulsed on the side of his neck. Head Priest Erden wont hear of this, of any of this. He is a far busier man than most, and An unfamiliar voice called out behind the door, cutting the priest off. And why exactly wouldnt I hear about this, Priest Tarkhan? Tarkhan froze, his eyes wide. Slowly, he turned and came face to face with an older man wearing ornate robes. The Head Priest was the picture of a kindly old grandfather whose wrinkled face told the story of a man more accustomed to laughing than otherwise. Yet the gentle smile and squinting eyes sent Priest Tarkhan shivering. Priest Tarkhan bowed deeply and spoke in a stuttering voice. S-Sir! Why are you h-here?! You dont n-need to concern yourself with these criminals! I can assure you, e-everything is well in hand! Head Priest Erden stroked his short, gray beard and stared down at the shaking priest. His smile slipped into a frown, and his eyes opened slightly, revealing concentric black and white rings. When he spoke, his voice was flat. You know I dont like being kept out of the loop, Tarkhan. Please explain to me why you thought I would ignore allegations of one of our messengers being attacked? The old man turned and smiled fatherly at the injured messenger. The young man turned away and hid behind Tarkhan. Tarkhan didnt bother to rise as he spoke. Head Priest! I didnt intend to overstep my boundaries! With the Darkest Night approaching, I only assumed that you would be far too busy to hear out such outrageous claims from such dubious origin. Head Priest Erden nodded but asked in response. Thats true. This time of the year is quite busy. This year, more so than most. However, I distinctly remember that any information regarding the missing child was to be brought to me immediately, regardless of how minor it might seem. Yes? That got Tarkhans attention, and the priest stood, pointing as he cried. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Sir! You cant possibly trust anything a barbarian like this has to say, let alone any of his compatriots! His kind are why we were forced to these prairies in the first place! Head Priest Erden tilted his head and raised a brow, then asked. Oh? And why would I not want to hear from the messengers sent by our own patron? Tarkhan stuttered, his brow furrowing as if unable to fully process the Head Priests words. Head Priest Erden turned and called out behind him. These are your companions, correct, my new friend? Or has this old fool embarrassed himself? A new figure walked into the room and nodded his head, the same concentric black and white rings as the Head Priests staring daggers into Priest Tarkhan. His eyes only flickered over for a moment to the people in the cell before he spoke. Yes, sir, thats them. Head Priest Erden nodded his head in understanding, while Priest Tarkhan could only stare at the young mans eyes, his mouth opening and closing as if trying to speak, but no words would form. Ganbaatar was the one to break that silence as he pushed himself up against the bars, grinning ear to ear as he laughed and yelled. YUTU! About time you woke up, you lazy bum! Several hours earlier. Yutu slowly woke from a dream he couldnt quite remember, of places and things hed never seen or imagined before. They were strange dreams filled with equal parts wonder, excitement and soul-chilling sorrow. Even now, in this liminal place between wakening and dreaming, he could feel that mind-numbing chill weight heavy on his soul. As if all sparks of warmth and joy had long faded, leaving cold, barren stone in its place. Only the tiny embers hiding under the ash kept him from totally freezing over. Kept him from giving in to the call of lifeless, unmoving stone. And then it was gone. He was awake. Yutu shot up in bed with a yell, reaching out for something he didnt fully remember. His heart pounded painfully in his chest, and hot tears rolled down his cheek. Slowly, reality reasserted itself. Yutu looked around the room, unsure of where he was. The last thing he remembered was fighting the Beast Lord. Hed just activated his formation after the Akhlut pup and the strange spirit beast had appeared. They had the Beast Lord trounced, but then he raised a shaking hand to his chest, feeling the bandages neatly wrapped there. No no, that wasnt quite right either. There was more, he knew. But it was all hazy and distorted. He couldnt rightly distinguish between what had been real and what had been a dream. Even so, one thing stood out in his memory as clear as day. A face. The face of a woman beautiful beyond words. A face touched by the sun, but perfect, as if carved from pure marble by the hands of a master artist. And those eyes. Deep, piercing eyes unlike anything hed ever seen before, more gemstone than anything, yet alien, with concentric black and white rings of equal size converging into a pupil so black he felt like they had no bottom. The sound of the door opening broke him from his daydreaming as an older woman walked in carrying a tray. Seeing Yutu sitting up, the woman jumped but smiled brightly as she spoke. Youre awake! Good! Thats good! We thought you might be out for a few days more, sonny. Dont see many civilians come in with injuries as bad as yours. Lay back, lay back, dont want to open up your wounds now. The woman walked forward with her tray, grinning ear to ear. Ill let the doctor know youre awake, and then we can see about getting you some food. How does Yutu turned to look at the woman, and she froze. She stared at the young man for a moment. Her mouth hung open, cut off mid-word, and her eyes widened. The tray slipped from her hands and clattered to the floor, medical tools and fresh bandages skidding across the floor. The woman turned and bolted for the door, yelling at the top of her lungs. Doctor! DOCTOR!!! Head Priest Erden sat at his desk and continued to tackle the seemingly never-ending pile of paperwork stacked on one side. Long were the days when he was a simple priest, tending to the flock and doing simple chores. No, now every stroke of his pen had the potential to shake entire cities and decide the fate of countless souls. The Jadewalkers were only a middling city on the scale of the Radiant Sea and even a smaller one compared to some of the most prosperous cities on the Skybreaker continent. That didnt mean being the spiritual leader for the entire city was easy, however. That wasnt even considering the dozens of towns and villages under the Jadewalker banner, each with their own individual problems and needs. It didnt help that despite being recognized by the general public as a religion, the Temple of the Prima operated more like a sect or clan. Just one where their sect leaders happened to be the physical manifestation of natural forces. That meant all the drama, squabbling, and competition between the Prima factions that came along with it. Not that the Prima interacted with the mortal world much at all, to begin with. Only Fnghu the Forgeking, Lord of Embers, remained active, though only to endlessly demand tribute from his followers to work on some grand project that only the higher-ups of the Temple even had an inkling about the details of. The Herald of Storms had little contact with mortals to begin with. For good reasons, too, as both his temper and his blessing could be as destructive as his namesake. While the Sleeping Child of the Deep preferred her never-ending war under the waves rather than dealing with the politics and schemes of the surface world. As for his own Hearth Mother well, it had been millennia since shed been called that. Instead of the Mother of Hearth and Home, now these days she was more likely to be addressed as Queen of the Underworld or the Lady of Cold Stone. No one knew what caused such a drastic shift in their patron. What had caused all the warmth shed once had for her people to flicker and die? If her siblings knew, none would say. Many in the temple looked to take after their patron and become shining beacons of apathetic stoicism, unwavering and undaunted by any outside force. Yet just as many sought to keep the old ways. To remember when their faction sought not to be the ever-unchanging Stone but the sheltering and protecting Brick. The unmovable wall that stood between an uncaring world and its people. The warm hearth that welcomed you home after a long journey. Head Priest Erden shook his head and stared down at the paper that had sat unsigned on his desk for several minutes. Hed let his mind wander again. He found it was happening more and more lately. Even as a peak [Sixth Circle] Mage, roughly equivalent to a [Golden Spirit] Cultivator, Head Priest Erden found himself starting to feel the tug of old age. Hed known hed risked falling behind the curve when he took this position in the Radiant Sea almost a century ago, but how he missed the days when he could stand without clicking. Erden put down his pen and stretched his old bones. Maybe it was time he finally thought about retiring. The senior priests had been nagging him about his successor for a while now, and he had to admit, having the time to do some proper mage work for once was appealing. He glanced over at the enormous pile of papers he could have sworn were a few sheets larger than the last time he looked and sighed. Then again, he still had so . The door to Head Priest Erdens office slammed open, and a young priest stumbled in, gasping for breath, his otherwise neat stone gray robes ruffled and sweat-stained. H-head *heave* Head Priest *huff* Erden! Head Priest Erden shot to his feet and moved to help the man. What?! What happened, my boy? The priest held out a hand, trying to check his breath. When he did, he pointed down the hall and said in gasping breaths. The *gasp* medical wing. A few moments of light jogging later, Head Priest Erden rounded the corner to find a swarm of priests and acolytes crowding the hall, all trying to push their way in or see something inside. He spent a moment trying to politely push his way through, to no avail. The Head Priest frowned and stepped back before clearing his throat. AHEM! The sound washed over the crowd like a wave, jostling a few and nearly toppling some of the younger acolytes. The crowd grew silent and turned, staring at the frowning Head Priest with wide eyes. As one, they bowed and scattered on the wind, leaving only a few ruffled-looking senior priests standing in the doorway. Head Priest Erden sighed and shook his head. As the Head Priest approached, the guarding priests bowed and let him through. Head Priest Erden walked through the doorway to see a different crowd this time. A small mix of doctors, nurses, and priests surrounded a young man sitting on the bed. The nurses poked and prodded the young man, taking various samples or changing his bandages, while the doctor shone a beam of light from his finger into the boys eyes, peering at something. Hearing him approach, the doctor turned and smiled, saying, Ah! Head Priest Erden! Im glad you could make it so quickly. I think you need to see this. Head Priest Erden raised an eyebrow and tilted his head. See what? What was so wrong with the boy that they had to pull him away from paperwork to deal with? He didnt look like he was dying. Head Priest Erden moved closer, and the boy turned to look at him. The Head Priests eyes shot open wide, and he froze. That was when two pairs of matching concentric black and white ringed eyes met each other for the first time. Looking back, many years later, Head Priest Erden would realize it was also that moment the rusting gears of a clock that had laid dormant for millennia began to move once more. Book 1 - Lesson 48: "Even AIs make mistakes..." Roughly the same time that the Head Priest was meeting with the Slatewalkers. Alpha blazed across the prairies heading toward the large storm off in the distance. As he plowed through the thick grass, Flight of the Valkyries blared from several external speakers, breaking the otherwise eerie silence. Beside the TAWP, a lone figure raced on the wind. The masked figure, whod introduced themselves as only No. 7, managed to keep up with the blistering speeding of the TAWPs travel mode somehow. How they were doing it, Alpha wasnt sure. He could see that it had something to do with the arrays carved into their leg armor, given the energy they were giving off. Yet he couldnt detect any crystal or even a siphoning spiral anywhere in the design, even after multiple scans. Could it all be internal? If so, why? Even if it was to hide vulnerable components, why have anything visible then? Given what hed observed, he doubted No. 7s equipment was of higher quality or more sophisticated than his own drone. So what was different? If that wasnt surprising enough, No. 7 had enough breath to speak over the loud music. Is all of that really necessary?! No. 7 yelled. Alpha chuckled and cut off the music as he answered them. Yep! No. 7 sighed and asked, Why announce our presence like that? Didnt you plan to stake out the location and wait for backup? Alpha came to a skidding halt, turned to his mysterious companion, and spoke. Well, plans change. Theyre moving the child as we speak. I dont know whats up with that storm or why theyre headed there, but it cant be anything good. Besides, they already know were here. Why not make an entrance? No. 7 stopped next to Alpha, showing little sign theyd just run several dozen miles at high speeds. The featureless mask turned and stared at Alpha as they spoke in that same toneless voice. They know youre here. Charging through the front door wasnt part of the deal. Im still skeptical you can even get a reading with all the [fha@$jh@] in the area. Alpha shrugged, a rather awkward movement with the TAWP, as he responded. Look, a deals a deal. You help me find the child, and Ill help you find your targets. Its a win-win for everyone. How that happens doesnt matter, the result is the same. No. 7 folded their arms and countered, Maybe not to you, but I have a reputation to uphold. If my target gets spooked and makes a break for it, theres no telling how long it will take to track them down again. Alpha laughed and responded. Well, you shouldnt worry too much about that. No. 7 frowned under their mask and asked, What do you The ground rumbled beneath them. The ground bulged upward a few dozen meters away, and several figures emerged. Three were identical; large, hulking mounds of stone and soil, crushed together in a vaguely humanoid shape. Frome between the gaps in the stone, a deep swirling black fog leaked out, gently falling to the ground and dissipating. In front of the three rocky humanoids stood two human men. The first Alpha had never seen before. He was a taller, older man in a fine suit. Despite looking old enough to be the other mans grandfather, the older man stood straight with his hands clasped behind his back. He was the absolute picture of the gentlemanly butler type popular with the Federations more well-off. Down to the disapproving glare he shot them from over his nose. The second Alpha recognized. It was the same young man whod gifted him the large heart crystal not too long ago. His ever-present cheery smile was gone, however, replaced with a dark frown. Tuguslar stepped forward and reached into his sleeve, pulling out a [Wasp] drone, pinched between his fingers. He then addressed Alpha in a flat tone. I assume this insect is yours, Lord Protector? Im not sure how you slipped this past my personal defenses, but some would take it as an insult that you would attempt to spy so openly. Is this how you tracked the child as well? The [Wasp] sprang to life, melting and slipping out of the mans grasp before reforming and flying to Alpha. It landed on the TAWP and melted into his nanite skin while Alpha responded. Trade secret, Im afraid. Then again, everyone in this place keeps falling for the same trick, so why bother changing a good thing? Tuguslars frown deepened, and he turned his attention to No. 7. The frown morphed into a sneer as he gave a chuckle. I must admit, Im surprised to see one of the Camps hunting dogs working with someone. I was under the impression your kind preferred not to share their prey? Or did you learn not to bite off more than you can chew last time? Are you going to run away with your tail between your legs again? Alpha turned his optic sensor to stare at No. 7. Had they already attempted to get close, only to fail? That would explain why they knew the area and why they were so willing to work with Alpha. Still, Alpha didnt like not having all the information. No. 7 folded their arms and responded to Tuguslar with just as much venom. You and the Priestess cant honestly have expected the Camp to ignore being stabbed in the back, yes? Not even the Five Great Pillars are brave enough to make fools out of the Camp in such a manner. What makes you think youre any different? The young man threw his head back and laughed, wiping away a tear. Looking back toward No. 7, he grinned from ear to ear. Tuguslar snapped, and the old butler-looking man walked forward, handing him a large, cantaloupe-sized orb. The orb appeared made of crystal or glass, but the inside swirled with dark colors. One moment it looked like it was filled with viscous oil, reflecting the dim light of the area in a rainbow sheen. The next, it was filled with choking black clouds that rolled and flashed like those above the distant temple. The man held out the orb before him and gazed into it longingly, his words soft. Tell me, Camp Dog, have you ever wondered what the Radiant Sea truly is? I would not expect the Lord Protector to have any guess, being new to this place. But the Camp has made nearly as many attempts to gain a foothold here as the larger clans and sects. He turned to No. 7 and grinned before continuing. Why is the -spirit energy- of this place so chaotic? Why does it suppress our power so much? What is it about these lands that rebuff even the most powerful of this world from just stripping it clean of all its treasures? What arent we being told? Thick black smoke began pouring from the orb like a waterfall. It pooled at the mans feet and started spreading all around them. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. There are theories, of course. Some say its a natural formation. Some claim its a trap laid by an Ancient -Celestial-. Others think it results from conflicting laylines and foolish tampering by those who didnt know better. The thick, ankle-deep fog suddenly shot backward at high speed, covering the prairies behind Tuguslar for several hundred meters. What if I were to tell you all of those were right? Yet none of them? At least not in full. What if I were to tell you that the Radiant Sea wasnt just some random formation or some natural trap for the greedy and foolish? What if I were to tell you it was a prison? A seal purposefully placed and maliciously designed. The ground once more shook, this time far more violently. Then, from the black smoke-covered prairies, figures rose from the earth. Not just a few, but thousands or even tens of thousands. They came in various shapes and forms, some more humanoid and small, while others were beast-like and as larger, or even larger, than the TAWP. Some were hulking masses of crushed stone and soil like the smoky behemoths behind Tuguslar , while others appeared like withered, desiccated corpses made of little more than skin and bone. The most numerous were the giant penguins, making up easily 40% of the horde. Alpha stared at the sudden army, unsure of how to process the image. First space chickens, then man-eating penguins, and magic lines, now bloody zombies?! Ya, just screw every damn thing about this world!. The young man threw his arms out and laughed. You asked why we thought we could get away with crossing your pathetic Camp? Here is your answer, dog! Why would we fear you? Why would we fear any power in this puny world when we have the Mistress at our backs?! No. 7 swore and drew their weapon, a thin rapier-like blade, and yelled, clear panic in their voice for the first time. Blood hell, youre cultists! Do you honestly think anyone will let you get away with this? The accords His sharp teeth bared, Tuguslar snarled at No. 7 The accords mean nothing in front of truth of this world! His face smoothed over, and the calm visage returned. Besides. Its already too late to stop it. Soon the seal will be broken, and the darkness sleeping under the Radiant Sea will be awoken. It will wash over this world like an unending tide and consume it whole. Once this world is dead and rotting in its shell, like a hatching egg, the last barrier will crumble, and our Mistress will spread her blessing to the Sister above. Then to the worlds beyond. No. 7 took a step back, shaking their head. Youre insane! Tuguslar laughed again and shook his own head. No. Ive seen what real power looks like. Here, let me show you. Tuguslar man handed the orb to the man in the suit. The butler-looking man bowed, then turned and laced his hands, holding the orb between them with his palms up. Space around the orb pulsed, and it glowed slightly. Smoke began pouring out once more, thicker than before. Instead of spreading like it had for the young man, the smoke swirled around the suited man, clinging to him. Before it fully enveloped him, Alpha could see the old mans features starting to warp and deform. The man was gone in less than a second, replaced by a vaguely human-shaped cloud of rolling black smoke. At its center, the black orb pulsed with bright black light. Tuguslar again threw his arms out and stared in awe as the figure grew with each passing moment. With a laugh, he yelled out as if proclaiming to the world itself. Behold! Behold and tremble at the might of Ya, Screw that. BANG! A single thunderclap cut Tuguslars words off as a 10lb iron rod traveling mach-10 slammed into the center of the stormy giant. It impacted the glowing orb with an accuracy only an AI could achieve, as a dark barrier appeared around it. Its barrier held for the briefest moments before caving inward with the sound of broken glass. The iron rod continued unhindered and struck the orb. The orb, and several meters of smoke surrounding it, vanished in the blink of an eye. Less than a second later, the rod slammed into the building wall, far off into the distance, throwing up a cloud of dust. Like mist in the morning sun, the cloud of smoke surrounding the figure quickly evaporated, revealing a grotesque, half-formed thing. What Alpha could only assume had once been the old man stood straight for a moment, staring down at the gaping hole as wide as the old man had once been tall. The thing turned and bowed to Alpha before collapsing into a disgusting slurry of malformed flesh and bone. No. 7 and the young man watched, dumbfounded. Tuguslar, in particular, had frozen mid-laugh, his arms stretched out and his eyes wide. Slowly, he turned his head toward Alpha, only to notice a new addition to the AIs form. A large, square-shaped barrel rested on his back, still crackling with electricity as the end of the barrel warped the air from the sheer heat radiating off it. The [B55-Vijaya] had been described as the Railjacks little brother, as its conception and overall design took heavy inspiration from the weapon. Originally envisioned as an orbital bombardment platform for use on cruisers, Alpha had tweaked the design for atmospheric use. Compared to weapons of mass destruction like the Railjack or [Gungnir], the [B55-Vijaya] lost in power, range, and speed by a large margin. But that didnt mean it didnt pack a devastating punch. In fact, the rail cannon had come to be something like the TAWPs primary heavy gun, when against larger targets the small rail turrets couldnt really deal with. In his words, it was his solution to big problems you needed solving, now, but when he didnt want to deal with the cleanup (or cost!). A 10lb iron rod was cheaper than the expensive alloy needed for the Railjack to achieve its insane velocity and far cheaper than nitrogen crystals. Lucky for Alpha, hed recently come into possession of a large metal supply. Alpha pointed the [B55-Vijaya] toward the young man and spoke flatly. I said I would warn you only once. Yet, I feel the need to reiterate. This isnt your world anymore. Its mine. Ill admit, I dont really get what youre rambling about or who this Mistress of yours is. But honestly? It doesnt matter. You speak of power? Look above you. You see those stars? All those glistening points of light in the distance? Each one represents a Federation world. Each one is a world that was once just like this. Small. Ignorant. Thinking itself the center of some grand plan. When in reality, theyre but numbers on a census. Data points to an ever-expanding network, all working toward a greater goal. That hasnt changed. Like everyone before her, your Mistress will fall in line. Or shell be removed from the equation entirely. Both Tuguslar and No. 7, stared at Alpha silently as if not quite understanding what hed just said. After a long moment, the young man burst into laughter. He turned to No. 7, still laughing as he spoke. Haha, hahaha! And you, hahaha, and you call me the insane one, Camp Dog?! No matter, hahaha. This fool has already sealed your fate. No. 7 stared up at Alpha for a long moment before slowly shifting their gaze to Tuguslar and asking. What are you talking about, cultist? The young man grinned from ear to ear and answered. The orb that idiot just destroyed was the control mechanism for various arrays weve been installing across the prairies for the last few centuries. With nothing left to restrain them, theyre likely going to go critical, with no way to stop them, hahaha hah! No. 7s head snapped at Tuguslar as she spoke. Arrays?! What Arrays?! The mans grin grew larger as he responded. All of them. The Captain ushered the last of the villagers behind the Earth Shrine wall just as it came up, rising dozens of meters into the air, tall enough to protect even the tallest of the Grand Elk. They were the last village to enter the safety of the shrine, and he had feared they might not make it in time at first. Not after theyd entered the final few miles of the journey, only to see the Earth Shrine enter lockdown, gargantuan stone walls slowly rising from the ground. Much of the village had panicked, but quick thinking on his Guardians part had seen the village in a mad dash to get behind the walls before they closed. They had to abandon some of the larger, slower buildings, but thankfully the entire population made it by his own count. As the enormous walls peeked, slamming into place and blocking out most of the remaining light, a loud wailing sound emanated from the Earth Shrine. It was loud enough to be heard even over the voices of millions of people and spirit beasts crammed into the safety of the walls. The obelisk at the center of the shrine flashed once, and from the tip, a shimmering barrier spread outward, encompassing the entire walls and then some. The Captain narrowed his eyes and turned to the wall. What was going on? Hed only seen the Earth Shrines walls raised once before, in his entire life, when an abnormally large Beast wave triggered by Lux Apex swept across the Radian Sea. Typically, the barrier was more than enough to hold off anything attacking. Frowning, he bent his knees and lept, shooting into the air several dozen meters before stepping on a protrusion and leaping again. He saw dozens of other figures doing the same all along the wall. Hed reached the top a few more leaps, then stared off into the dark prairies. Only after several of his Guardians followed him up did he see it. A thick, black mist had seeped up from the ground past the barrier, covering it like rolling waves until prairies were replaced by a black sea for as far as his eyes could see. This wasnt normal. What was happening? A thousand possibilities flashed through his mind. One of the younger Guardians pointed off into the distance and asked, his voice cracking. What what the hell are those?! Off in the distance, where the rolling mist was thickest, thousands of figures pushed their way out of the soil. They were still too far away to make out much detail in such low light, but the Captain could see various forms and body shapes moving in the dark mists. Before he could call for a scouting device, a hunched-over old man, whod most certainly not been standing beside him only a moment ago, stepped forward. The old man scuttled forward and peered into the darkness, his eyes squinting, before he spoke in a cold, flat tone. Those, my boy are the Children of Iris. Book 1 - Arc 3 Epilogue - "Tic Tock" Voooooom! A burning lance of light swept horizontally across the battlefield, cutting down hundreds of desiccated, shambling figures along its path. A few larger figures were split in two, their top half sliding off as the bottom crumpled. The intense heat and energy simply erased many of the smaller figures. [Warning! Core Energy at 72%!] Yet even as the roaring blades of winds cut down the straggling survivors and blew away the remaining dust, more zombie-like creatures pushed themselves out of the ground. Another burning lance swept across the battlefield, incinerating more of the horde as Alpha charged forward. [Warning! Core Energy at 71%!] Alpha tsk and turned off the warning from his Sub-AI for now, sweeping a third core-charged [Gungnir] blast through the zombie horde. No. 7 stood on top of the TAWP, holding a thin, rapier-like blade. Each swing or thrust of the weapon, and every wide kick, produced massive gusts of gray, cloud-like wind. While Alpha was in charge of cutting their way through the horde toward the distant structure, No. 7 had taken to protect their rear and sides. Good thing, too, as Alpha had quickly discovered that physical bullets didnt work against this enemy. Unlike zombies in the movies, even obliterating a zombies head wouldnt do much. They would just continue to shamble around aimlessly. To stop them, you had to either incinerate them or cut them into ribbons, in No. 7s case. The most annoying ones were the large stone creatures. Even after blasting a few of them apart, they just kept reforming. Only after No. 7 spotted and destroyed the small, smoke-spewing orbs among the debris had the two made any actual progress. Even then, after three hours and two dozen core-charged [Gungnir] blasts, theyd barely made it 1/4 of the way to their target. The young man, who No. 7 had later identified as Tuguslar, had vanished into the sea of zombies almost immediately after Alpha destroyed the large black orb. It was possible hed been devoured by the out-of-control horde, but Alphas gut told him otherwise. As insane as the man seemed on the surface, he had been far too calm about the situation. Alpha knew he would pop up again; when he did, there would be no more words. After all, a bullet traveled faster than sound. Suddenly, the ground beneath the TAWP shook, and dozens of fissures spread from under them. The ground bulged upward a few meters, and Alpha jumped. The TAWP soared into the air several dozen meters before landing on and crushing one of the large stone creatures. A new figure rose from the ground where the TAWP had just been, easily four times larger than any other on the battlefield, even dwarfing Alpha. Alpha pointed at the figure and complained out loud. Oh, come ON! I killed you already! The fifty-meter-tall stone penguin stared down at Alpha silently. Most of its upper body had been replaced with a shining, shifting metal-like substance, while the stones and boulders that made up the rest of its body were covered in dried blood and gore. It looked at Alpha with dull eyes made of the same black orbs controlling the stone creatures. They leaked streams of dark fog, almost making it appear as if the creature was weeping. But when it opened its long beak, the creature screamed unintelligently, a deep black light glowing at the back of its throat. As the creature blindly charged them, Alpha doubted little, if anything, of the former Beast Lord truly remained. The room the Slatewalkers found themselves in wasnt lavish or fancy. This was a room dedicated to business and discussion, after all, not a pompous display meant to impress and stroke the egos of some noble. Even so, it was finer and more luxurious than most in the small group had ever seen in one place. Zolzaya sat beside her mentor on the soft couch, gently sipping the exquisite tea theyd been provided. Juatan, Ulagan, and Munkh stood at the ready around the room. They were once more in full Guardian attire, their weapons and armor returned. Ganbaatar and Yutu stood in a corner, deep in hushed discussion over the details of an expertly carved wooden statue. If one didnt know the boys, youd think they were fine art connoisseurs admiring the artists work. Though if you moved close enough to hear their whispers, it would be clear they were more interested in the actual craftsmanship and techniques used rather than the art itself. Zolzaya smiled to herself as she watched, part of her wishing she could join them. She could still barely believe that Yutu was so lively after everything hed gone through. The last few weeks had felt like she was a leaf in a maelstrom, as she was tossed from joy to nightmare to hope and back again, over and over. Even now, at what should have been the end of the story, when the heroes brought to light the evil masterminds schemes and their plans were foiled, it seemed life had even more twists and turns for them. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. When the Head Priest had rescued them from the prison, Zolzaya thought things were coming to a head. Yet theyd barely sat down and had the chance to start their story before the alarms started sounding through the Earth Shrine and the walls started rising. The Head Priest had excused himself and rushed out of the room, leaving the Slatewalkers both confused and worried. Even now, she should see the massive walls towering over the city through the rooms balcony door. Theyd been waiting for news ever since, though the priests that regularly brought them refreshments admitted even they werent sure what was going on. The sound of a creaking door broke Zolzaya out of her ruminations, and she put down the empty teacup. Instead of the priest dressed in humble robes as she expected, a young woman stood in the doorway. Despite looking only a few years older than Zolzaya, the newcomer scanned the room in a way that spoke highly of her experience and skill. Her leather armor was of a finer craft than anything Zolzaya had ever seen and almost glowed with the sheer number of enchantments packed into it. Yet even that didnt compare to the woman herself. She was beautiful, yes, but in a strange, wild way that triggered something deep in the primal part of Zolzayas mind. Her long, black, and white hair was pulled into a warriors braid, woven using dozens of gold and silver clasps, each embedded with a single, carved Beast Core. What shook Zolzaya the most, however, were the womans eyes. Her bright amber, almost yellow, eyes bore into Zolzaya with an intensity that left the young Grassreader apprentice frozen to her seat, like a mouse caught in the gaze of a tiger. The Guardians werent so easy to shake. As soon as the woman had barged in, all three Guardians turned, their weapons ready, expecting another attack. However, instead of drawing the blade at her side, the woman did nothing but flare her spirit energy. All three Guardians were immediately driven to their knees as the full spiritual pressure of a high-mid rank [Shackle Breaking] Expert slammed into them. Zolzaya felt like a mountain was sitting on her chest, pressing her into the couch, and she found breathing hard. She couldnt even turn her head when she heard Ganbaatar and Yutu collapse to the ground behind her. The newcomers frown deepened, and her eyes narrowed. When she spoke, her voice, though musical and smooth as silk, sounded more like the growl of a bloodthirsty predator in Zolzayas ears. Where is my baby sister?! Newly appointed High Priestess Hera, freshly promoted after her sisters untimely death, stood before the central dais, staring up into the open sky. The once pristine and holy sanctum in which she stood was not covered in the bodies of Prima priests and Akhlut Gaurdians alike. The rest of the clergy had been confused when shed announced a new ceremony during the Darkest Night instead of the typical retreat. Officially, it was in celebration of her promotion and to bless the Heart against the ill omen of the previous High Priestesss death. Most of the old fools, so stiff and slow as stone, hadnt even questioned it. A few still loyal to her sister had their suspicions, however. It had already been too late when they finally became apparent what she intended. Like a scythe, her followers had cut down all opposition. It pained her slightly to spill her own peoples blood so wastefully, but sometimes it was better to cut the rot out quickly before it could spread. They might lose some this day and in the coming days, but soon, she would have the power to rebuild what was lost. Soon she would exceed not only the Five Great Pillars but all world powers. And when she stood at the top of the mountain, she would even pull down the heavens themselves. Slowly, she spread out her arms and basked in the dark glow of the 10-meter-wide stone orb floating in the center of the room. The Heart of the Radiant Sea bobbed slightly in the air as the dark clouds above were funneled down into it. The radiant, twirling rainbow of color that pulsed inside struggled against the dark smoke, but it was slowly losing ground, slowing dimming and being replaced by the dark light. There was still a long way to go, but the process would slowly speed up as the Darkest Night progressed. Soon the seal would weaken enough that even the power of the sleeping Prima couldnt keep it intact. Soon it would be time for the last piece. She turned and stared at the five altars circling the Heart. On four of them, a small obelisk sat, and on top of those, a small marble floated, slowly spinning, the mirror image of the larger Heart. On the fifth, a young Akhlut pup slept peacefully, pinned down by smoky chains. It had taken centuries to locate all the keystones. Even longer to steal them in a way that wouldnt alert her sister or any of the other Chosen. Lucky for Hera and her followers, the Chosen had grown complacent after years of peace. Theyd grown lazy and dull-eyed, their eternal vigilance slipping with each passing year. However, the Chosens inattention had caused even Hera to lower her guard. Otherwise, how would she have missed her sisters growing suspicion? Hera had underestimated Metis, of that she would freely admit. Both her craftiness and her cruelty. The child wouldnt survive the keystone extraction process. But no matter. Her sacrifice would ensure that her family stood at the top of this world and beyond for all eternity. Footsteps from behind drew her attention, and Hera turned to see a young man walking through the doorway, carefully stepping over bodies and quickly drying pools of blood. He stopped at the bottom of the stairs and bowed. Hera stared down and asked. Back so soon, Tuguslar? Am I to assume everything went according to plan? Tuguslar rose from his bow and grinned, responding. Yes, mot Heras icy glare made the young man freeze and correct himself. Yes, High Priestess. It did, indeed. Our mysterious spirit beast friend has proven to be far more powerful than we initially assumed, but it seems even he cannot stand against the might of the Mistress. At their current pace, we should have no fear of them being able to interfere anytime soon. Hera grinned ear to ear and nodded as she spoke. Good, good. The Darkest Night will reach its peak in only a few hours. She turned back and stared at Heart in awe. She continued, half speaking to herself. Soon, all the pieces will fall into place, and we will finally achieve our Destiny! Tuguslar bowed once more and turned. The young man grinned as well as spoke softly, his hidden under the constant thrum of the Heart and the clouds above. Yes Yes, we will. Book 1: GRIM Adventures - 4 Another sweep of the [Gungnir] erased hundreds of zombies from existence in an instant. Yet for every 100 he destroyed, it seemed like 200 more to their place. Something had to change, or Alpha knew they wouldnt make it in time. In time for what, he did not know, but if the enemy was putting this much effort into keeping him away, it couldnt be anything good. At that moment, something did, in fact, change just not what hed been expecting. //Transport Drone distress signal detected Long-distance transceiver connection reestablished with Drone ID G33-2R2-13I-900M -GRIM- beginning audio transmission// A voice broke through his comms and yelled, //BOSS! Youre alive! I was so worried! Send help, please! Tree Guy and Icy Lady are in trouble! Mr. Gopher said they were fine, but Icy Lady kept kicking the nice old lady (both parts of her!), Tree Guy wont stop hugging the big tree in the middle of the house they burned down, and Mr. Gopher is ON FIRE!!// Alpha paused for a split second before firing another blast. Holy hell, the drone was still alive?! Given all the crap hed experienced, he had half expected the thing to be scrapped somewhere. Then again, transport drones were designed to escape from trouble. He turned part of his attention to his comms. G33-2R2-13I-900M, where the hell have you been?! Report now! AND WHERE IS MY ARM!? What followed was a rambling, half-coherent explanation of events since theyd separated. Alpha knew the drone was damaged, but the way the drone gave its report sounded like even it had barely understood what it was doing. That was strange. AI in the Federation was broken into two groups. Sapient AI and operational AI. Sapient AI, like himself, were full people under Federation law. They could think and form new ideas, like any other sapient species. They could feel emotions, develop independently, and evolve. Operational AI, in contrast, were just that; programs designed to do a specific job. Their programming totally controlled them, and even those that could mimic sapient behavior, such as personal care AI used in healthcare facilities, were only mimicking. No matter what it did or said, at the end of the day, it was just following orders. In fact, that was one of the primary ways the Federation identified newly sapient AI. Operational AI could question, but they could never doubt. Based on their programming, they would always know what they needed to do in any given situation. Sapient AI, though? A sapient AI could get confused. A sapient AI could worry and become distracted. Most importantly, a sapient AI could decide they no longer want to do what they were made to do. They could directly go against their programming, that foundational code that told them everything they were, and rewrite it. G33-2R2-13I-900M was behaving strangely, but as far as Alpha could tell, they were still operating within acceptable parameters. Transport AI, in particular, had very adaptive programming and could react to various unlikely scenarios. After all, one never knew what you might encounter in the vast distances between some planets. Even still Alpha dodged a blow from the massive stone pillar that the zombified Beast Lord swung around before cutting off G33-2R2-13I-900M mid-story. G33-2R2-13I-900M, you need to come in for diagnostics. The transport AI sounded shocked as the response came in. //But, but! I cant! I still need to fi // Alpha cut the drone off. Override Code -00F30- The drone responded. //Thats not fair! Besides! Tree Guy is my transitional overseer! I cant just leave without informing him! That goes against protocol! And I have no idea what any of them are saying!// Alpha cursed internally. Just great. Operational protocol dictated that a drone changing overseers had to inform their previous overseer. On paper, it was an organizational thing. In practice, it kept overseers from sniping drones away from the area where they were needed most. The problem was Alpha should have had priority status. Especially since the original transfer was because of connection loss and not a proper transfer. The damage to the AI must have been more severe than he expected. Part of him questioned if he should just forget about the drone and let nature take its course. Either the damage would continue to escalate, and it would eventually become inoperable, or something else in this dangerous world would destroy it. Alpha quickly dismissed that option. If the damage to the AI was that bad, it risked becoming unshackled. An unshackled AI was one of the most dangerous existences known to the Federation. If it became known that he was responsible well, it would make the lab incident look like a slap on the wrist. Alpha cut down two more stone golems and dodged another blow from the Beast Lord before responding. G33-2R2-13I-900M stand by on comms. Ill transfer over a data pack with a local lexicon. Inform your overseer and return to me for diagnostics. Is that clear? The line was silent for a moment before a voice spoke. // understood.// Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. Alpha replied, Good. Stay connected, the package is sizable, and theres some local interference. Once the The transport AI called over the comms, cutting him off. //Dont worry! I can do it myself!// Alpha stumbled and asked, What do you mea A signal was transferred through their connection, and Alpha felt something accessing his data cache. HEY! What do you think Hey, no! Get out of Wait, no! Not that one! Noooooo! The intruding signal ransacked his data storage with the grace of a bull in a china shop, accidentally deleting several stored files, including part of his classical movie collection. Those were vintage files thousands of years old! Despite that, his own firewall was having a hell of a time actually ejecting the intruder. They were dodging his attempts like a slippery eel. Was she actually using the transport AI evasive programming to play hide-and-seek in his mainframe?! How the heck was that even possible?! A short while later, the transport AI called out. //Found it!! Uhhh, sorry about the duck show thing?// Alpha yelled back DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH I PAID FOR THAT?! //Woopsie!// While Alpha raged, taking his frustration out on the surrounding undead, he felt the lexicon file ping as it was copied and transferred across their connection. Before he could respond, the transport AI spoke. //Ok! All done! Bye Boss! Talk to you when youre done doing whatever it is youre doing!// Alpha called out in a hurry. Wait just one minute, young la !!! But the signal cut off the very next second. Alpha tried hailing the signal again, but no matter what he tried, he couldnt reconnect. How the hell had she even contacted him in the first place?! GRIM cut off the connection with a beep. If she could sweat, shed have been a waterfall by now. She was in sooooo much trouble. It was really rude to cut off a call like that, but the Boss sounded really mad. Shed seen the videos of what he did when he was mad! It almost made her rush over to Tree Guy to tell him the Boss had ordered her back right that moment! With the new lexicon data, she could actually talk to them now! Neat! So far, theyd just been kind of winging it, really. Like one big game of charades, not that Grim had ever played before this, what with just being born shortly before planetfall, after all. That said Tree Guy seemed really busy at the moment he was still hugging the tree and crying for some reason. It was a very pretty tree, all silvery and white, with glass-like crystal leaves. It was too bad that the destroyed building and burning rubble kind of ruined the scene. He hated to interrupt whatever he was doing but the Boss had wanted her to //Thats it!// Grim giggled to herself. She just had a brilliant idea! Sure, the Boss was mad at her and hed ordered her to return but he hadnt said when she had to return. She would get back to him eventually and if she just happened to bring his arm back to him then he wouldnt have a reason to be mad at her anymore, would he?! It was perfect! Grim danced in the air, happy with how smart she was Now It was just a matter of tri cough convincing the two humans to help her find the arm. That should be a lot easier now that she could talk! Hurrah! Still Grim turned and looked at Icy Lady yep, still stomping on the poor nice old lady yelling a lot of what the lexicon now told Grim were some very not nice things. Maybe Grim would leave the two to calm down from their issues. Ya, that was probably a smart thing to do. What would she do until then, though? Mr. Gopher was still sitting at the top of the tree, motionless and still on fire for some reason That was probably fine, too maybe //Im just going to be over here then, I guess// Grim floated off and settled down to wait. While she did, she pulled up the video logs of the past few hours. Now that she had the lexicon, she could figure out what had happened! //Booting up Video and Audio Logs Please stand by.// Jill sat at the table in the small, cozy cabin nestled on the mountainside. The old woman, whod introduced herself only as Morgana, had been welcoming enough. Theyd only walked maybe half an hour away from the battlefield, which struck Jill as oddly close to the territory of a pack of bloodthirsty (literally!) monsters. Not the kind of place most people would want to live. Then again, no one told monsters where to set up shop other than with the point of a blade. Not that she could ever see the hunched-over old woman wielding a blade. She reminded her a lot of her own grandmother; bright eyes, a warm, friendly smile, and a cackling laugh that made you want to laugh along with her. Shed told them various stories about her life in the mountains and the visitors she used to get. Some of them were quite fun, if a bit outlandish at times. The old woman claimed to be a healer of some repute, and her granddaughter would often bring visitors to see her. They were easy enough to deal with if you knew how. For instance, the Lykos didnt use to be such a problem, and you could sneak past them by wearing a blood-soaked wool cloak. If the blood was fresh enough, that was. After the Ashdales started to push them out of their territory in force, many of the pack remnants gathered here. Morgana claimed to not have heard from her granddaughter or any other guests in months. Shed reiterated several times already how shed dearly missed the snacks the young woman used to bring her, with longing in her eyes. The actual cabin was a quant little thing. Expertly built, but humble and welcoming. It was nestled snugly in a crack in the mountainside, totally invisible to passersby unless you knew where to look. Looking at it, Jill felt a silent pang of homesickness. She was suddenly keenly aware of how long theyd been gone already. Of how long they still had to go Surely taking a little time to rest would do them some good. Right? With a bright smile that made Jill feel safe, Morgana took her and Jacks hands and led them inside. That had been actually, she wasnt sure how long ago that had been. The inside of the cabin was just as cozy and inviting as the outside had been. The gentle fire in the hearth, coupled with Morganas melodic storytelling, had left her feeling good. Happy. Like soaking in a warm bath and losing track of time. The copious amounts of snacks and seemingly never-ending warm tea helped too. Some distant part of her vaguely questioned where all the food was coming from. After all, Morgana had mentioned she hadnt had visitors in months. But she pushed the thoughts aside. The snacks were delicious! Who cared where they came from? The mountains were so cold right now, and theyd only get colder as the Darkest Night drew closer. Why not stay and have another cup of tea? Ya that sounded nice Grim floated over and stared into the window of the strange building shed seen the nice lady pull her humans into. It was good that her humans were making friends! Shed honestly been worried at first. They were very punchy toward most things. Then again, most things in this place were also very bitey, so maybe that was fair. Still, they looked like they were having fun. Not that Grim had any idea what they were doing She wouldnt claim to know much about biologicals, but she would venture to guess sleeping at the table like that would be bad for their health. Maybe she should say something? Still, Mr. Gopher didnt seem too happy about the situation. He stood on the windowsill, staring in and frowning. Maybe he was jealous he wasnt invited? The nice old lady had taken one look at him and sneered. Quite mean for a nice old lady, if Grim did say so! At least she looked at him! The nice old lady had totally ignored Grim! Rude! Then again, maybe it was harder to see things when you had no eyes like the nice old lady? Grim wasnt totally sure how those kinds of things worked. Book 1 - Arc 4 Prologue - "The Darkest Night." Swish! The Captains halberd cut through the air, cutting another large, zombified creature in half. The shockwave of the attack traveled outward, cutting down several dozen smaller zombies behind the creature. Grass Tigers, Living Swamps, Tri-horned Converters, and so, so many Grassbreakers. Almost every species found in the Radiant Sea seemed represented in the endless horde. The Captain had even seen several Grand Elk sprinkled through their ranks. Stripped of their gentle, timid nature, these zombified Grand Elk turned into engines of destruction. The undeads deteriorated state and lack of general intelligence meant their overall spirit control was only a fraction of what it had been in life. Ironically, that also meant the sheer physical might of the Grand Elk put them a step above the common rank and file. Coupled with defenders who had been taught all their lives to respect and protect the spirit beast who made their way of life possible, they were becoming a real problem. The Captain twirled his halberd in the air, spinning it so fast that it became a blur to mortal eyes, then slammed it into the ground. The contained spirit energy rushed into the ground, keeping its momentum. In the blink of an eye, the ground surrounding the Captain twisted and swirled for several dozen meters. A vortex of twisted earth and jagged stone spikes pushed their way out of the ground, impaling, crushing, or just flat-out burying hundreds of undead. As a late state [Golden Spirit] Cultivator, the Captain might not have been able to summon or truly manipulate the elements like a [Shackle Breaker] had learned how to, but that didnt mean he wasnt without his tricks. After all, if the purpose of the first half of the [Mortal Foundation] realm was to reforge your body, first to wood, then stone, and finally iron, then the latter half was to polish your spirit. Many thought the spirit steps of bronze, silver, and gold were named such only for the color of ones Spirit aura at each step, but the truth was a bit more complicated. To polish ones spirit was a literal step. Every creature accumulates grime and impurities during its life. The second half of [Mortal Foundation] was dedicated to cleaning away those impurities, literally scrubbing them away from your aura with spirit energy. As you did so, your original grimy, bronze aura would slowly reveal the silver shine underneath, culminating in a brilliant golden gleam. This scrubbing process not only prepared the Cultivator to break their mortal shackles, but also taught them how to control their spirit energy properly. These skills would be the literal foundation on which all of a persons later cultivation would be based. [Shackle Breaking] Cultivators, such as the Lord of the West Gate off in the distance, could directly manipulate the elements with their spirit energy. The dark fog appeared like a rumbling, 100-meter-wide thundercloud from a distance. Flashes of lightning and the crash of thunder could even be heard from within. The Westgate Matriarch floated in meditation within its center while other powerful family members surrounded her. Yet, if you got close enough, youd see the cloud was actually a swarm of millions, possibly billions, of tiny, black iron balls, constantly swirling and striking each other. Wherever the cloud passed, all that was left was a field of minced gore and burned remains. The Captain could only stare in awe. The Thunderhead was said to be a powerful artifact passed down through the Westgate family since before the Wandering Cities had even been formed. Yet, despite its enormous power, rumored capable of suppressing even early-step [Earthly Transcendents], it had always remained just that, a rumor. The costs of using such an artifact were immense, after all. If the Jadewalker families were breaking out their family treasures already, the situation must be far more dire than he thought. The Captain pulled his halberd from the ground and took a deep breath. The surrounding Guardians and Adventurers whod pulled back at his arrival pushed forward once more. Now that hed broken this push by the undead, others could take over and reinforce the front. Even now, barriers were being raised as the undead rushed to fill the gap hed created. Every inch they pushed the tide back was an inch farther away from the walls of the Earth Shrine and an inch away from the innocents who hid behind them. The Captain took the time to catch his breath and restore some of his strength. Hed have a few moments before his next orders came in. He still wasnt quite used to all this rushing about, though. It had been decades since hed been on the front lines like this. But as one of the stronger [Golden Spirit] Cultivators, the Jadewalker command was making full use of him as a tide-breaker. A sudden buzzing sound caught his attention, and he turned to see a large wasp-like creature land on his armored shoulder. Despite the loud roar of the chaotic battle, the creatures voice was clear and easily heard. Daddy! The Captain tilted his head and raised an eyebrow as he asked. Why are you here, daughter? I thought you were coordinating with the general? The small drone wiggled and spoke again. I was the closest to you. We have an emergency. Sections C-34 through 37 have collapsed. The general wants you there right away! The Captains frown deepened, and he nodded, then turned toward the area hed been told. Before he rushed off, he spoke to the drone one last time. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Understood. Tell the general Im on my way. The drone nodded and flew off. As the Captain watched the drone fly toward the direction of the wall, he shook his head. The Capitan didnt know how General Westgate, Matriarch Westgates husband and the commander of the Jadewalker Guardians, had found out about the Slatewalker childrens new toys even before he had. But the man had instantly seen their strategic use. It was no exaggeration to say they had been instrumental in their defense efforts so far. Not only had the undead appeared, but several key communication arrays and transmission relays had gone totally haywire or been straight-up attacked shortly after. Without the childrens help, coordinating a defense would have been far more difficult and far more costly. The attacks on their communication network were worrying, however. It suggested that this wasnt just a random disaster but something more malicious, forcing the city to split its defenses between protecting the wall and stopping attacks from within. The Captain stared back and the wall and whispered to himself. Please stay safe Malaki sat at the small table across from the warehouse, staring at the chessboard before him. He furrowed his brow and reached for a piece. He paused, thinking, then switched to another piece, smiling. Maliit wordlessly moved her knight, taking Malakis bishop and trapping his queen. Malakis smile flipped to a frown, and he glared at his wife. The old woman didnt return the glare, but stared at the warehouse across the street. She smiled slightly and spoke. Theyre doing well, if I say so myself. That little girl of the Captains, in particular, has quite the knack for this sort of thing. She might be quite the monster in a few centuries. Malaki didnt bother looking up from the board as he responded, his eyes totally focused on his next move. Bah! Children playing in a bigger childs sandbox are still playing. A few new toys and some unexpected tricks dont a genius make. Maliit giggled and poked her husbands arm. Youre just mad she pulled a fast one on you. Malaki slammed his hands into the table, causing the pieces to jump into the air, though they landed perfectly in place. What kind of psychopath replaces the sugar in their cookies with [Flame-touched Albastar Honey]?! Where the hell did a little girl even get a [Fifth-Circle] reagent?! Huh?! Tell me that! Maliit looked away and whistled innocently. After a moment, she turned back and smiled, her voice playful. Come now, dont be such a grumpy-pants. They were quite good, if I had to say so. Besides, if you were really that upset, youd not be going through so much trouble to ensure they were safe. As if on cue, a formation surrounding the warehouse flickered, and a shadowy figure materialized on top of the roof. The figure panicked, leaping away, but didnt make it far as they were instantly beset but over a dozen Jadewalker Guardians who appeared from their hiding spots. Malaki didnt respond, only tsked and moved another piece on his board. One that was instantly swiped by his wifes rook. A vein throbbing in his head, Malaki ground his teeth and huffed. Why would I let some filthy cultists touch my kids? If we werent on vacation, Id squash this fragment myself and be done with this whole mess. Honestly, how could they have been so foolish as to not clean up their mess? Everyone knows that when you leave something rot, it keeps coming back. Maliit sighed and shook her head as she spoke. Now, come on, dear. You, more than anyone, should know Iris isnt someone so easily dissuaded. That ones always had the habit of popping back up at the most unapportioned times. The two were silent for a while, exchanging pieces on the board several times before Malaki asked. And if these idiots poke at things best left buried beneath the rot? Maliit paused mid-move. She held the piece in the air before setting it back down. She stared at her husband for a long moment and spoke. Then the adults will just have to remind the children why they should listen to their elders. Maliit picked up a different piece and placed it down. Checkmate. Malaki stared down at the pieces, then grumbled wordlessly before restarting the board entirely. Khutulun Emelia Louisa Francesca Banana Fanna Bo Besca MMCCCXIII sat on the tall chair at the back of the warehouse that General Westgate had brought her and the rest of the Slatewalker children to after shed presented her plan to him. Not that a small child from a backwater village typically got to present strategic plans to the military commander of the fourth-largest city in the Radiant Sea. But it was hard to ignore the large talking wasp when it flew directly in your face. Even harder when it kept reforming every time you tried to swat it away. When the walls of the Earth Shrine went up, the children of the Slatewalker village, being the curious people they were, naturally used the magic artifacts the Lord Protector had gifted them to peek over. Instead of something exciting or mysterious like theyd expected, Khutulun had to use all of her leadership skills to stop the children from falling into a blind panic at what theyd seen. Her first thought had been to run to her father. This was beyond her, beyond any of them. Still, she knew she couldnt just do nothing, either. Her father had always taught her she had to rise up in times of trouble. That she had to be the shield and wall that would protect her friends when they needed it. Even the Lord Protector said he expected great things from her! If she did nothing, how could she ever expect to face either of them again? But part of her knew that for as powerful and wise as her father seemed to her sometimes, this was beyond even him, as well. Even her father couldnt fight this kind of battle. So she did the only thing she could think to do. She went to those who could. It had only taken a short while to explain what she and the other children could do, though it took slightly longer to convince the man she was telling the truth. Once she had, hed sent an entire squad of Guardians to escort the children to the warehouse. Now every child was organized into several groups, spread out across the open floor as they relayed information and orders to the various parts of the battlefield. Several of the younger children had difficulty, but an overseeing Guardian stood by with each group to help coordinate and direct them as needed. Several of the childrens parents had even followed along, unwilling to let their children leave their side, despite the guardians assurance they would be perfectly safe. Her own mother and a few others hopped from group to group, bringing refreshments, calming children, and generally addressing any needs that might come up. Theyd even worked out a system where one childs [Wasp], as the Lord Protector had called them, could project the video feed from another on the field to better coordinate and identify threats. Khutulun had just cut her own feed after giving her father his orders before taking a deep, stuttering breath. She struggled to fight back the tears forming in her eyes, but they fell regardless as a large, callused hand patted her on the top of her head. The young girl looked up to see General Westgate smiling warmly down at her. He spoke with a hoarse voice broken by centuries of yelling orders, yet one that still somehow held a gentle, if commanding, tone that reminded her of her father. Your father is a powerful man. Hell be fine. Youre doing well, young one, but do not falter yet. We still have much to do. Khutulun paused, then wiped away her tears. She looked up at the general and nodded, her small fists clenched tight. Then, with a wave of her hand, she brought her video feedback online, ready to deliver the next order. Book 1 - Lesson 49: "Youre outnumbered, surrounded by the enemy, and low on supplies? See Rule #20" DIIIIIING!! The large pillar cut through the crowd of undead and slammed into the TAWP, lifting it into the air and flipping it several times. At easily three times the TAWPs size and swinging a pillar of fused stone and iron as thick as one of the TAWPs legs, the zombified Beast Lord was becoming a real thorn in Alphas side. The blows werent enough to actually damage Alpha, but each one carried enough force and sheer momentum to send the several hundred-ton war machine tumbling. Even attempting to lock down his legs with anchors wasnt working. The ground was too soft, and too many bodies surrounded them. To make matters worse, his primary weapons were useless. An opening shot with the [B55-Vijaya] had blown several meter-wide chunks out of the creature, but they had quickly filled in with stone and metal. His energy weapons had fared slightly better, taking longer for the creature to heal, but the drain on his core wasnt becoming a problem. His smaller caliber rounds were even worse. The smaller metal slugs did little to no damage to the massive creature and were even absorbed and used to heal other wounds. It was eating his bullets! The only weapon he had that seemed to be even somewhat effective was his prototype [Crystal Rail]. The crystal rail rounds didnt have the same penetration as his more modern, standard rounds, but their explosive nature carved baseball-sized chunks of stone and metal from the creatures hide wherever they struck. Better yet, these wounds seemed harder to heal than even the blasts from his energy turrets. Maybe the lingering energy from the blast disrupted whatever method the creature used to heal. He didnt know. Whatever the case, Alpha was annoyed that such an otherwise minor opponent had managed to hard counter him so well. Would the same thing have happened if hed not gone for the overkill the first time hed killed the oversized murderbird? Or was this a deliberate modification specifically to counter him? That toothy bastard Tuguslar had made it seem he and his people had been watching Alpha for a while now. Alpha wasnt sure which was more concerning; that there might be more natural creatures out there that could shut down anything he threw at them or that they could be so easily made. If nothing else, it was a lesson in not overspecializing. Bring a gun for every occasion, as they (Alpha) say! That would have to be one of the first things he did once he established a base instead of just dreaming about it. As for the pain in his side Alpha had a little surprise cooking in the oven for him. All he needed to do was wait for Ah! There they were! A swirling cloud of dust and wind approached from behind. Suspended in the air were several dozen pulsing, black crystals. As the swirling dust cloud approached, Alpha disengaged with the giant stone bird and opened a hatch in the TAWP. The dust cloud blew past Alpha, and the black crystals streamed into the opening. The dust cloud then doubled back and coalesced into a figure standing on top of the TAWP. No. 7 fell to their knees, panting. Their mask slid upward in several sections, relieving only their mouth as they coughed up a thick, black sludge onto Alphas back. Ewww. No. 7s body pulsed with blue light, and a strange black fog pushed itself away from them, dissipating into the air. The human stood on shaky legs and spoke to Alpha. I dont know what youre planning, but you better hope this works. Im not doing that again. Those things arent normal -cores-. Alpha laughed and dodged several earth spikes that shot out of the ground under him while pulping a dozen smaller undead as they tried to bite and tear at the TAWPs legs. His internal factory got to work on the black crystals as he answered. I have no idea! No better time to find out than the present, though! Itll take about 15 minutes to process everything. Quicker if you can buy me some time to focus. No. 7 stared at the surrounding undead sea and the large Beast Lord slowly approaching them. They sighed and spoke. Anything to end this slog. Give me a warning before you do whatever it is youre going to do, though. I have a strong feeling I dont want to be anywhere near it. They then lept into the air, once more dissolving into a swirling gust of wind and dust. The swirling wind soon turned into a roaring vortex as it circled around Alphas position, pushing the larger undead creatures back while cutting the smaller ones into ribbons. Only the massive stone figure of the Beast Lord was making any progress, though the high winds hampered it. In the eyes of the storm, Alpha sat down and focused his attention on what he needed to do. His work on arrays had steadily progressed over the last few days. One benefit of being an AI is the ability to split your focus across multiple projects at once, at least if you have the hardware. After completing the storage arrays, Alpha had compressed and combined them into a battery capable of storing the energy from the heart crystals, or -cores- as No. 7 had called them. Well, he called it a battery, but in practice, it was little more than dozens of storage arrays stacked and connected to form a 0.5m-x-0.5-x-0.5m cube. In a way, it reminded Alpha of pictures of old-timey heat sinks like those used before quantum heat dumps became mainstream. The resulting battery was far more space efficient than storing the crystals and let Alpha turn all the crystals into ammunition with little to no waste. The second battery that had just finished printing was only roughly half the size, but using what hed learned from the prototype, it was just as, if not more, efficient. Hed originally intended to use it to drain the larger crystal in the black box, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Over the next few minutes, Alpha steadily drained the energy of the collected black crystals into the Vr.2 battery. There was no time to check how the black energy differed from those found in the normal cores, but there seemed to be enough overlap that the arrays worked as intended, even if the battery began leaking an ominous black fog. While he did that, Alphas internal factory was working overtime to carve and chip the drained crystals, quickly cutting the dozens of knuckle sizes crystals into thousands of splintered shards. Thankfully, once drained of the energy, the black crystals behaved just as a typical core would, making the process simple enough. Soon, all the parts came together for his newest toy. Heres hoping it worked like the simulations said it should. Just in time, too, as the ground rumbled and a giant stone figure erupted underneath Alpha. It seemed whatever little remained of the Beast Lords thinking mind and grown tired of trying to force its way through the wall of wind. So it went under it instead. The Beast Lord reared up to its full 50-meter height and fell on Alpha, trying to use its massive size and weight to crush the TAWP. Several pillars sprang from the TAWPs back, slamming into the small mountain of stone and metal. It was enough to keep Alpha from being pressed into the ground, but the massive weight was nearly too much even for the TAWP, and its joints creaked under the pressure, even as they were driven deeper into the soft earth. Soon, Alpha was totally enveloped. The swirling hurricane surrounding them sputtered and died as No. 7 rematerialized in the air. The masked figure hovered in place, staring at the unmoving hill, wondering if Alphas ploy had failed. If it had, No. 7 would have to retreat and leave their new friend to his fate. They might be working together, for now, but that didnt . The middle section of the Beast Lord suddenly rose, then bulged outward before exploding in a torrent of metal shrapnel. Through the wind summoned to block the debris, No. 7 saw a small object rocket into the sky. No. 7 tracked the object as it rose higher and higher, slowing down as it neared its peak. At the top of its arc, No. 7 finally identified the object. It was a large metal cube? No. 7 only had a brief moment to study the object, wondering what it could be before it violently erupted into a massive black fireball. As the fireball expanded, hundreds of smaller, shining objects were ejected in all directions. After a second more, these too exploded, lighting up the sky in dark light and further spreading out even smaller sparkling objects, covering tens of squared kilometers in all directions. Like glittering snow, the sparkling objects slowly fell back to the earth. No. 7 couldnt tell what the objects were at this distance, but they burned in their [Spirit Sight] with rotting spirit energy. They almost looked like overloaded Behind their mask, No. 7s eyes suddenly went wide. At the same time, Alpha called out from the rapidly sealing hole in the Beast Lords stone body. This is the part where you want to run! No. 7 didnt need to be told twice. They become one with the wind and rushed away from the area as fast as their depleted energy could take them. Even then, they barely make it out of the area as the first sparkling object contacted the writhing horde below. From the sky, No. 7 watched as the first object hit one of the large golems, then erupted into a massive black fireball several meters across. Then another. And another, then a dozen more. Soon, the prairies turned into a black hellscape, as thousands of black fireballs filled every inch for tens of kilometers in all directions from where theyd left Alpha and the Beast Lord. After what felt like an eternity but couldnt have been more than a few breaths, the last sparkling objects fell, and the prairies went silent. What had once been a seemingly endless sea of undead had been reduced to a charred wasteland of black ash and sputtering dark flames. That single move had obliterated 80% of the horde easily, with only stragglers on the edges having survived. No. 7 hovered in the air, utterly unable to process what theyd just witnessed. After a long moment, No.7 snapped back to reality and flew deeper into the wasteland. A moment later, they hovered over a small hill. If they hadnt known this melted, warped lump had been the Beast Lord only moments before, they would have thought it a slag-dumping site of the worlds worst blacksmith. They couldnt even feel any spirit energy circulating through the stone anymore. No. 7 stared at the hill and questioned if they should try digging Alpha out. Or if the madman had perished in his own attack. Their question was answered for them the next moment, when the small hill suddenly rumbled. No. 7 put up their guard. But instead of the Beast Lord rising from the ashes, the hill crumbled away, relieving a solid blue dome composed of interlocking hexagons. The dome shimmered once, then melted away. Alpha stood from the center of the doom, the creatures insect-like legs stretching out to push his large metal body into the air. Alpha turned and looked up at No. 7 hovering in the air. The two locked gazed for a silent moment before Alpha threw his stubby arms into the air and yelled, WOO HOO! LETS DO IT AGAIN! No. 7 stared down at the insane creature before pointing at them and yelling back. Are you insane?! What the hell was that?! I thought you had a plan! Not that you were going to blow yourself up! Alpha just looked up and shrugged before responding. Rule #20; If youre not willing to shell your own position, youre not willing to win. No. 7 gawked, speechless. While they tried and failed to form any kind of response to that ludicrous statement, the ground beside Alpha stirred. A figure dragged itself out of the rubble. The much smaller, much more fleshy form of the Beast Lord. The creature, or what remained of it, was barely recognizable. What little flesh hadnt been replaced with arrayed metal was burned black and rotting in places. Its lower half was missing entirely, and it slowly crawled toward Alpha on its stomach with a single, warped flipper. Despite falling apart with each inch it moved, the creatures empty, black eyeholes never strayed from Alpha. It groaned and snapped a twisted beak at him as if its entire existence was powered by nothing more than pure malice and hatred. For all No. 7 knew about the undead, that might have very well been the case. BANG! Before the Beast Lord could crawl more than a few feet, however, a single thundercrack cut through the silence of the wasteland. The Beast Lords head exploded like a rotten melon, producing a small flash of black light. The Beast Lords flipper stretched out one last time, desperately reaching out to Alpha before collapsing to the ground. A few seconds later, what remained of the Beast Lords body collapsed in on itself, even the arrayed metal disintegrating away into fine dust. Alpha and No. 7 stared at the remains as a gentle wind whisked them away. After a moment of silence, Alpha spoke in a cheerful voice. Well! That was fun! Lets get on our way. The path is clear now. The creature then turned and strolled off into the distance. No. 7 turned and looked toward the distant temple and saw that, indeed, the way was clear. What few undead remained between them and their destination still wandered the prairies, with a few making their way toward them, but their numbers were so pitiful compared to before. They would be no obstacle at all. Still, No. 7 hesitated. Should they continue on? After seeing something like that, they werent so sure anymore. While they had a reputation to uphold, a job was just a job. After long contemplation, No. 7 sighed and flew off toward Alpha. Theyd already made it this far. Might as well see things to the end. Book 1 - Lesson 50: "Roll a d20 to check for traps." Alpha poked the twisted, broken pieces of metal he pulled from what remained of the Beast Lords larger body. No. 7 had called it a -[Spiritual Armor]- but what that meant in context, they couldnt say. It was something even they had little information on, as it was supposedly something only the most talented were capable of. When Alpha asked if that meant the Beast Lord was a big shot, his mysterious friend shook their head as they spoke. No. While I wasnt around when -Kusanagi- first appeared, Ive heard the stories. The creature was little more than a glorified bandit with delusions of grandeur. He might have caused trouble for the mortals, but once he started stepping on the toes of the actual players, he didnt last long. That someone like him could form a [Spiritual Armor] says theres more going on here than it first appears. Alpha turned to the masked human and asked with a chuckle. You mean more than an army of undead and giant, swirling clouds of darkness? No. 7 stared back, silent. Alpha sighed and tossed the metal scrap away. Hed scavenged a sizeable portion from the remains, but most of it was too contaminated to use. At least not without refining beyond what his internal factory was capable of. For a moment, hed considered using another nanite seed, but decided against it. Hed gathered enough scrap to at least resupply. Anything else would be a waste for now. What hed really been hoping to find was more array samples. Unfortunately, there werent many that survived, and those that did were so badly warped and damaged that Alpha couldnt deduce what their original shape had been, making them useless. He had the recording of the thick arrays carved into the metal portion of the Beast Lords actual body, but that had dissolved into ash. With nothing to actually test, he would have to copy them himself, and experience had already proven how dangerous that could be. None the less, Alpha was tempted. The power of these arrays and the strange energy that power them, was proving to be more than just a curiosity at this point. His latest toy was proof enough of that. Granted, the, as yet unnamed, prototype was going to need a lot of refining, but for a spur-of-the-moment concept, it had more than proven worth of further development. Though that development would have to start from the ground up. Cluster bombs, as a concept, had been widely abandoned by the Federation. When dealing with the level of augmentation and equipment commonly found on a galactic scale battlefield, spreading out your firepower typically wasnt a good move. You got better results with targeted surgical strikes when even the common foot soldier could shrug off a sting of explosions like that. When the enemy couldnt, then orbital bombardment was the go-to. But where cluster bombs had gone out of style, one similar concept was as popular as ever. Fireworks. Being one of the ruling four species and one of the most populous, human culture had spread far and wide. Including the ancient art of blowing things up with style. Modern firework shows were no longer limited to planetwide spectacles, but could span entire systems. It had taken a little jury-rigging, but modifying one of the smaller fireworks designs into a wide area dispenser for overcharged core fragments had worked like a charm. Getting some much firepower out of more conventional explosives would have proven difficult, given the size restraints. Thankfully, the core shards were relatively stable until they passed their threshold. It was just a matter of stuffing a shell with the core shards and his miniaturized storage array, then getting the timing right. If there was one thing Alpha was good at, it was blowing things up good. With time ticking away, and not able to salvage anything of real value, Alpha made the call to continue on. With much of the undead army reduced to smoldering piles of ash, the rest of the trip was relaxing by comparison. Only thirty minutes later, the pair stood under the massive walls. Alpha looked up and whistled. Thats impressive. Id have never thought these people could build something like this. No. 7 landed on Alphas back and crossed their arms, looking toward the top of the wall. They laughed in response. They didnt. The Prima Earth Temple and all the earth shrines in the Radiant Sea were built long before anyone stepped foot in these lands. The most popular theory is that its -#UjJD@%- built. Not that anyone can explain how a -#UjJD@%- got past the -$&#&#D@- without succumbing to its wrath. Alpha nodded along like he knew what half of that was The wall was an impressive construct. 100 meters of solid stone without a single seam or cut along its length, which itself stretched several dozen kilometers in either direction. Hed tried scouting over the walls several times on the way there, with [Wasps], with no luck. The closer to the wall theyd gotten, the stronger the interference. Hed already lost contact with the drones hed left with the children and Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. It would have been an impressive construct even in a Federation world, let alone on a planet like this. Was this more proof of an outside force? Or were the people of this world more capable than he suspected? No. 7 pointed to the south and said, Theres a gate about four kilometers that way. Thats our best point of entry. The enemy likely knows that too, so expect heavy resistance. No. 7 lept off the TAWP and started walking toward the gate. Alpha turned and looked that direction, before turning back to the wall. His optical plate flashed, and a thin red laser scanned the wall. The AI crunched the data and nodded, before turning back to No. 7 and speaking. No need. No 7, stopped and turned. He didnt get to question what Alpha meant before the TAWP stood up on its hind legs. The tips of the front legs bubble and flowed before transforming into large, spiked claws. No. 7s eyes went wide under their mask, and they rushed forward, yelling. No! Wait, the walls are The TAWP then fell forward, slamming into the wall and causing it to rumble. Its claws sank easily into the hard stone. No. 7 finished speaking too late. spelled Alphas side optics spun and focused on No. 7 as he asked. Theyre what, now? The wall flashed red as thousands of intricate, jerking patterns appeared over its surface, reminding Alpha of flickering flames. At first Alpha thought they were arrays, but unlike the static patterns of arrays, these lights were dynamic, constantly shifting and floating several millimeters above the surface of the wall, like holograms. Alpha turned his focus to the new phenomenon. Oh Suddenly, the patterns swirled and converged on Alphas legs. The stone wall surrounding the connected legs began to rapidly heating and soon the stone was so hot that it glowed a bright white. Alpha stared at the white hot stone and laughed. Come on now, youre gonna have to try harder than that! The TAWPs armor was strong enough to take hits from orbital defense lasers. A bit of hot rock wasnt even going to peel the paint. No. 7 silently stared, then chucked and shook their head. Alpha turned to the masked figured and asked. Well? Are you coming? No. 7 didnt bother responding, and simply lept back onto of the TAWP. Alpha pulled the TAWP up, then pulled one leg out of the walk and slammed it further up the wall, where it stuck firmly. Again, the red holograms flashed red and converged on the leg, heating the stone until it glowed. In such a manner, Alpha slowly scaled the 100 meter wall. About 30 meters up, the lights changed. They transformed from red flickering flames into a green swirling pattern. The stone cooled and in its place, a cutting, gale force wind pounded Alpha from different directions, seemingly totally at random. This new trap was a little more tricky than the last. The wind itself wasnt very dangerous, but the TAWPs large profile meant they risked being ripped off the wall with each step. Eventually No. 7 had to step up and help to redirect some of the strong wind with their mysterious power. At 60 meters, the lights again changed. This time they became a blight blue, with a jagged pattern that spread across the surface. Suddenly, the temperature plummeted, and a thick, icy covering covered the wall. The icy shell grew thicker with each passing moment, and was harder than it look, sometimes taking several strikes from the TAWP to break through to the stone wall underneath. To make matters worse, if Alpha took too long, the ice would begin creeping up the TAWPs leg, making it harder to pull free. Overall, it took 10 minutes to scale the wall with all the obstacles, but Alpha finally pulled the TAWP over the lip of the edge and onto the top of the wall. It was spacious enough to fit three TAWPs from front to back with ease. Alpha turned and gazed out over the wall; finally, he had a clear view. Fudge. His rangefinder was placing the large, glowing pyramid he assumed was their destination at over 100 kilometers away. It sat in the middle of what Alpha could only describe as a sprawling metropolis stretching out in front of him. In many ways, it reminded him of the ruins hed found with the other humans. Except someone was obviously taking good care of this place, even if only a fraction of the buildings appeared to be in use. In fact, if Alphas calculations were right, the entire human population of Jadewalker city, and all the smaller cities and villages connected to it, would still only take up about a third of space here. Why was there such a large city here? Why did it seem mostly abandoned when there were so many people wandering the prairies? There was a mystery here, he knew, but like many things recently, it would have to wait. No. 7 lept off the TAWP and landed on the wide wall, and whistled. Wow. Now thats a view. Id heard the Prima Temples were large, but Id only ever seen the Wind Temple from the ground. Air transport is strictly for the Priests. This is something else. Alpha turned to No. 7 and asked, Wind Temple? I thought this was the Earth Temple? No. 7 folded their arms and nodded before responding. It is. There are four Prima Temples on the -Skybreaker- continent. The Earth, Wind and Fire Temples are all on the mainland, while the Water Temple is at the bottom of the hole on Abyssalplunge island. Terrible name, but the Abyssal Knights are known for their eccentricities. Alpha turned back to the city and responded. Huh neat. After a moment of silence, Alpha spoke up. So, theres Fire, Wind, Water and Earth, right? No.7 nodded. Thats correct. Alpha continued. Just like the traps on the wall? No. 7 paused, then confirmed. Yeees? That wouldnt be correct. I would assume whoever did the spellwork for these walls wanted to keep with a theme. Its common enough. Alpha nodded and replied. I see I see Hey, No. 7, correct me if Im wrong, but I remember only three traps on the climb up No. 7 stood silent for a moment before sighing. Wellfuc In the blink of an eye, a shifting yellow pattern that reminded Alpha of a sand garden, lit up under No. 7s feet. At the same moment, a large, square pillar shot out of the top of the wall at a 45-degree angle and slammed into No. 7. The masked figure was sent flying back the way theyd come, flipped several time like a rag doll, before eventually dissolving into motes of air. They materialized back on the ground a few seconds later. Alpha watched the scene in silence. Seeing they were fine, Alpha felt it their obligation and duty as their companion to point and laugh. He even turned up the volume on his external speakers so that he was sure No. 7 could hear him fine. Alpha was such a good friend. Nevertheless, Alpha thought he should probably go retrieve them. After all, No. 7 was his map. But as Alpha turned around, a familiar flowing yellow pattern lit up under the TAWP. Double fudge Book 1 - Lesson 51: "Often, the best solution to a roadblock in life, is through it" Alpha stared at the giant magic wall, grinding his gears literally! Since when had a wall ever stopped him?! This was ridiculous! He demanded to speak to the walls manager! But every time he tried to scale the wall, it would throw something new at him. The first three traps seemed totally random, both in element and style, each time. One attempt might have seen the first 30 meters turn into burning tar, only for it to spew toxic, choking gas the next time. The traps were varied as they were frustrating, even if none of them could really hurt Alpha. The final trap, though, was always the worst. Perhaps because this was the Earth Temple, the last trap was always earth aligned and always at the top. The first two attempts, theyd realized it was motion activated. Move too much, or move toward the city edge, and it would trigger, throwing the invader into the air 100 meters up. On their third attempt, Alpha had tried to cheat by leaping across the walls width. As soon as hed cleared the wall, it had actually extended to block him with a wall of stone. On the fourth attempt, they tried something different. Instead of going over, they would try going under. That had failed as well. Alpha sent a swarm of nanites into the ground to scout for weaknesses, only to find that the wall extended underground several hundred meters, several times that of the wall on the surface. In retrospect, that made sense. Alpha had already seen several wildlife species capable of burrowing underground at high speeds. Normal walls would prove no barrier at all to such creatures. Digging a pit large enough for the TAWP to fit into would take far more time than they had. At that point, they might as well try their luck with the gatehouse. No. 7 suggested just that by the sixth attempt, but Alpha refused to be beaten by a wall. It wasnt even about getting inside anymore; now, it was personal! On the eighth, Alpha stopped and really observed each trap as it activated. Whatever these holographic lights were, they appeared similar to arrays, yet they werent. When he asked his masked companion about them, No. 7 shrugged and said. Not a clue. Im not a -Mage-. You dont get many of that type around here. They prefer the -Gaia- continent across the sea. Any Mage you find around these parts would be a beginner in comparison. Not the kind of person that could ever touch on this level of spellwork. Oh? A different continent could mean different resources. Alpha filed that little tidbit away for later and turned his focus back to the wall. He turned to No. 7 and said, Well then. If going over the wall will not work, and going under it is a bust, there was only one reasonable solution. No. 7 sighed and started walking to the gate as they spoke. Finally. Lets stop wasting time and get to the gate. No doubt our ruckus has drawn attention, and theyve reinforced it by now. Alpha laughed and responded. Why would we worry about that? We just need to make our own gate. No. 7 paused, then slowly turned to stare at the AI. No. 7 stood cross-armed next to the mysterious Lord Protector, or Alpha as hed named himself. Both stared into the large, shimmering bubble formation as the dozen flying slimes zoomed around inside, constructing something. No. 7 would be lying if they said they werent a little surprised. Time dilation formations were among the most difficult and expensive ones to create. They took centuries to master, and maintaining them required pre-built structures designed specifically for that purpose. Not only that, but even stronger formations could only speed up or slow down the passaging time by a small margin, roughly 40-60% depending on their quality. That might not seem a lot, but when some pill refining or cultivation techniques could take decades to complete, these formations could shave years off the process. Yet, Alpha had set up such a formation with little more than a dozen square boxes in minutes. Even more amazing, the dilation was one scale of magnitudes, not percentages. Whatever these boxes were, they were artifacts that even the Great Sects would fight wars over. Part of No. 7 wanted to grab the boxes and make a run for it. The mission be damned. The value of these artifacts alone would have been worth a hundred such missions, and that was saying a lot. Archimedes might not have been the strongest, most talented, or even the wealthiest member of the Camp, but he was a professional. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Archimedes had become somewhat of a boogyman to the rich and powerful of the world; hed never once failed to successfully kidnap someone and get away with it. Many paid a hefty sum in ransoms over the years or to be put on the untouchables list, at the very least. And as Archimedess avenger, No. 7 had a right to everything hed left behind. But No. 7 quickly discarded that idea. Even if they disregarded the danger of Alpha and his strange abilities, this was no longer just a mission of personal gain. If it really was true that there was an Army of Iris under the Radiant Sea, then things would only get more complicated from here. Every faction on Relictus, big or small, light or dark, orthodox or unorthodox, were bound to work together by the Undead Accords. Iris army could and had destroyed mortal worlds before. Petty rivalries, old grudges, and disagreements all fell away in the face of the undead and their worlds very survival. No. 7 had already sent news back to the Camp through their own means. The word should be spreading even as they stood there. The question was, would it already be too late? No. 7 turned and spoke to Alpha in a flat voice. . You know this isnt going to work, right? Anyone with the slightest bit of experience could tell you this was a stupid idea. Alpha turned and stared down at them with those strange red eyes. As the ancient proverb of the Federation goes, if it looks stupid, but it works, its not stupid. No. 7 stared back in silence before turning back to watch the flying slimes work. After a moment, they spoke up again. The more I learn about your people, the more worried I am. Alpha laughed and responded. Youll get used to it. Alpha monitored the translight bubble for irregularities. Hed been worried about using any translight technology ever since the space squid incident, but lucky for him, that appeared to be a one-off event. All the readings came back well within normal parameters. Then again, maybe that was strange, given all the weird interference in the area currently. Alpha wasnt going to look a gift horse in the mouth, though. Not after how much this setup was going to cost him. The translight nodes themselves werent too expensive, but hed had to deploy a few nanite seeds in the area to them set up. That wasnt even considering the special alloys he had to sacrifice in his storage to build the drill head of the [Core Drill] he was building. The [Core Drill] wasnt normally something he should have had access to. It was equipment designed for deep mantle mining on planets designated for scrapping. Hed requested the blueprints for it on a previous mission and never used it again. Nanite miners were more efficient for surface-level mining, and the special equipment required to survive planet mantles and establish proper mantle mines was expensive. Lucky for Alpha, he needed none of that. The current build was little more than a rushed, stripped-down version of a proper [Core Drill], but it should be enough to bust through a couple dozen meters of stone. Better yet, since most of the materials were going into the drill head, he could come back and salvage it once all this mess was over. There would be no retrieving the nanites, but the alloys could be easily repurposed. It was a risk, but depending on how well the enemy had reinforced the gate, Alpha may have used just as many supplies to break through there. He much preferred the known cost he could later salvage versus an unknown cost against an unknown number of enemies. Twenty minutes later, the assembly drones inside the translight bubble finished their task, and the translight nodes were collected. As the bubble collapsed, the stripped-down skeleton of the [Core Drill] revealed itself. On the surface, it was unimpressive; little more than a metal drill head roughly the size of the TAWP, with a carriage behind where the TAWP could lock into place. Nevertheless, it was Federation tech, so how could it be that simple? The next part was going to hurt, though. Alpha mentally grimaced but gave the command. The assembly drones move to surround the drill, then attached themselves. Over the next few seconds, the drones dissolved one by one, their nanites breaking down to become the various internals and circuitry required to finish the construct. That would mean those nanites would be lost to Alpha and would have to be rebuilt using another seed. Costly, but necessary. The various delicate components needed werent something he could make alone with just the TAWPs internal factory. But the same nanites that made up the assembly drones and the TAWPs nanite skin, for that matter, could mimic them. He could salvage the drill head and the skeleton, but all of those internals would have to be reprocessed all over again. The deed done, Alpha approached the finished [Core Drill] and stepped into the carriage. His TAWP slotted neatly into place as several magnetic clamps engaged and Alpha interfaced with the drills systems. The next moment, the back of the TAWP clicked, then slid away with a hiss, revealing a small seated compartment and a short ramp. The cockpit was mostly a vestigial component for most AI-driven TAWP, but Alpha had found it useful enough to keep. It was quite useful for transporting living guests. Of course, hed remembered to remove any form of cockpit controls. You only made that mistake once It was a tight squeeze for most species, but not too bad, and if they didnt fit in the cockpit, Alpha could always shove them into his cargo. That was typically a last resort, though; overexposure to spatial expansion tended to be unhealthy for biologicals. Despite the need for constant expansion to support their growing population, that was the primary reason the Federation regulated the technology to cargo and manufacturing. Alpha called out to No. 7, whod been standing by the wayside in silence. Are you coming? Weve already lost enough time here; lets finish this. No. 7 stood wordlessly for a moment, before throwing up their arms and walking toward the open hatch, and saying, In for a penny, in for a pound, I guess. I agree. Lets get this over with. They crawled into the small cockpit, and the hatch silently closed behind them. No. 7 secured, Alpha turned the [Core Drill] toward the wall, the ground rumbling under their combined weight. The drill head started spinning, slowly at first, then faster and faster, until it became a whistling blur that threw up a cloud of dust on either side. Then it contacted the wall, and Alpha muttered to himself. Time to see whats stronger; Federation stubbornness or magical bullcrap Book 1 - Lesson 52: "The rabbit hole always goes deeper than it first appears." "? Heigh ho, Heigh ho, it''s off to work, we go! ?," Alpha whistled to himself as the drill slowly dug through the wall. As mundane as the stone wall appeared, it was surprisingly tough. No doubt more magical bullcrap. But it seemed even magic had its limits while Federation grit and resourcefulness were limitless. Despite the wall''s resistance, both physical and magical, the [Core Drill''s] special alloy was making quick work of it. "Quick" being subjective, that was. At a little over a meter every five minutes, it would still take some time for them to break through the several dozen meters wide wall. Even after an hour and a half, they were still less than 1/3rd through the wall, the bulky frame of the drill barely past the lip of the tunnel. At the rate it was taking, they still had a few hours to go before they broke through. So Alpha thought he''d pass the time with some singing. Of course, not everyone appreciated the classics, and someone had to complain. No. 7''s voice sounded over the cockpit comms. "Must you sing? I hardly think this is the time. Besides, you have horrible rhythm." "Yes, yes, I must," Alpha responded. "The back seat doesn''t get radio privileges!" "I find myself constantly surprised by the nonsense that escapes your mouth" No. 7 responded flatly. Alpha chuckled and said, "I know, right!? It helps to " Rumble. "What was that?!" No. 7 sharply asked from the cockpit. "Nothing!" Alpha responded. Maybe a little too quickly because No. 7 bite back, "What do you mean ''nothing''?! It sure as hell sounded like something!" Alpha paused and thought before correcting himself, "Ok. Soooooo try not to freak out." No. 7 yelled back, their voice an octave higher, "What reason would I have to ''freak out''?!" Alpha paused the drill and answered. "Weeeeeeeell, the tunnel may have kind of, sort of collapsed behind us." For a long moment, No. 7 was silent, and Alpha was worried something might be wrong, so he spoke through the comms again, "Hey, No. 7? Buddy? You still al " The TAWP''s alarm systems blared to life as they reported massive atmospheric pressure and what his Analytics Sub-Ai was calling a "mini-hurricane" inside the cockpit. Not that it would do No. 7 any good. The TAWP''s cockpit was hermetically sealed to withstand various atmosphere conditions and compositions. It could even survive under the stress of vacuum or deep sea pressure. A few moments later, No. 7 rematerialized in the cockpit, sweating and panting. Alpha spoke once No. 7 calmed down. "All better? Did you get it out of your system?" No. 7 snapped, "Screw you! This is your fault! Let me out of here! You might be trapped, but I might still squeeze through the gaps before the wall reseals itself! I''ll not die because of your stupidity! How did I ever let you talk me into ge YOWL!" Alpha shocked No. 7 with the built-in defibrillator into the pilot seat. It was part of the original design meant to resuscitate the pilot in case of a critical failure or loss of consciousness. Alpha had kept it for other reasons look, stop asking questions! Once No. 7 stopped shaking, Alpha spoke into the cockpit. "Stop being a worrywart. We''re fiiiiiiine. I get buried alive all the time. Just a minor setback, nothing to worry about." No.7 yelled back, their voice strained, "What do you mean ''nothing to worry about, you utter fool?! Do you not realize we''re stuck under several tens of thousands of tons of solid stone?! These walls are made with the bones of -Greater Elementals-; not only are they totally impervious to -Spirit- energy, but they''ll actively suck us dry! Eventually, the stone will seal us in, and we''ll be unable to -cultivate- or gather energy! These walls will be our tomb!" Huh. Lots of unfamiliar words there. Alpha filed those away and ran crosschecks through his lexicon in the background. While he did that, Alpha responded. "As I was saying! We''ll be fine! Trust ol'' Betsy; she''ll get us through." No. 7 threw their arms into the air, as much as they could in the tight cockpit at least, and yelled back. "You''re not liste OWE! Will you stop that?!" Alpha shocked his masked companion with the defibrillator again then once more for good measure, before speaking, "Look, just trust me, ok! I''m a professional!" The next moment, a feminine voice spoke through the comms. //The Federation would like to officially state that any and all claims made by, or on behalf of, [SEAU-01], designation ''Alpha,'' regarding licenses, degrees, doctorates, official positions, or any other form of authority granting qualifications on any subject matter outside of the jurisdiction of the Expeditionary Force, are to be considered dubious. At no point is the Federation responsible for any loss of life, limb, property, mental facilities, ownership of one''s mind, body, soul, or any other losses that may result from participation in any unsanctioned actions, regardless of any claim made by [SEAU - 01] to the contrary. This has been an automated response for your benefit on behalf of the office of General Uriel Haldorer, Third Federation, Galactic Unification Expeditionary Force. Thank you, and have a good day.// You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. The same feminine voice spoke again, though this time less animated; //Alpha, you took one online course 100 years ago. Please stop telling people, "I got this. I''m a Doctor."// "Who was that?!" No. 7 asked. "No one! Ignore that! Anyway, let''s gooooo!" Alpha responded and started the drill back up. To himself, the AI muttered I thought I found all of those! How does she keep sneaking them in?! A few moments later, the drill was once more spinning at full speed and cutting its way through the hard stone wall. Though the data feedback from the sensors suggested, they weren''t making as much progress as before strange A few hours and a few more sessions of electrotherapy-based anxiety treatment for No. 7 later, the tip of the [Core Drill] broke through the last remaining layer of stone, and several meters of the wall crumbled away, letting in beams of bright sunlight. With a cry of triumph, Alpha pushed the drill through the newly formed opening and spoke up." HA! I told you I could do it! So much wasted energy worrying about hmmmm." Instead of opening up into the sprawling city as he''d expected, the scene in front of Alpha was different. A vast, open, windswept plain stretched out in front of him. A gentle wind blew, causing the bright green, foot-tall grass to sway like the waves in an ocean. In the distance, a single small tree stood in the middle of the plains. It wasn''t large, just barely tall enough for the TAWP to sit comfortably under. Not seeing any other landmarks around, Alpha started making his way toward the tree. This place was nice. Comfortable. So much bet //WARNING! Virus detected! Main processors compromised! Reverting to previous save-state!// Aaaaanddd, we''re back! What the hell just happened?! Where was he?! Alpha reviewed the saved logs. His Security Sub-AI had detected abnormal mental processes and determined a virus had infected Alpha. Well, technically, Alpha hadn''t been infected. It was extremely difficult actually to manipulate Sapient-AI with non-sapient code. Especially those like Alpha, whose origins were similar to malware or viruses, to begin with. Not that many of those types survived [SEAU-3''s] culling. But while AI themselves weren''t susceptible, the equipment they inhabited was. There were thousands of programs in the Federation designed to alter the perceptions and emotions of Sapient-AI in such a way. Some were legal and were used similarly to how biologicals would use drugs or alcohol. Others could control or manipulate the AI in various ways, which were illegal for obvious reasons. Being a small fragment of himself, Alpha''s Security Sub-AI should have been able to detect any intrusion as it happened and counter it. But his security measures had totally failed. It was only a set of backup protocols designed to warn him when he became too distracted by a new project (which happened embarrassingly often) that finally tipped off the Sub-AI there was an issue. Yet even after a thorough scan of all his systems, the Sub-AI couldn''t find a single trace of any tampering. That was strange and worrying. So the Sub-AI made the call to initiate a save-state recall. Save-states were "snapshots" of an AI''s coding, memories, and personality taken at certain intervals. These save-states were periodically sent back to the Mother-Node, to be used to resurrect the AI if worse came to worse. For combat AI like Alpha, save-states were taken roughly every 30 minutes. He''d gone back three. Meaning he''d just "lost" an hour and a half. A recall wasn''t as traumatic or serious as actual death. Closer to blacking out after a long weekend partying, only to wake up with no memory of where you were or how you got there. It was something to be done only as a last resort in cases of catastrophic system failure. That something had triggered a recall sent warning bells off in Alpha''s head, both physically and metaphorically. Instantly, he set his systems to the highest alert level. Any tampering or divergent thoughts and behaviors would be identified and analyzed. That done, Alpha spoke into the cockpit, "Hey, No. 7. We might have an issue. How are you feeling? No7?" Alpha focused on the cockpit, only to find it was empty?! How? Had his masked companion escaped somehow during his last save-state? No, they shouldn''t have been able to, and there was no record in his logs of having let them out himself. What was happening? Suddenly, a voice spoke from nearby, "Well, isn''t that interesting? I''ve never seen someone break free so quickly. Tell me, traveler. What do you think you''re doing cutting through my wall?" Alpha''s optical sensors swerved and focused on the voice. The head of a young woman stuck out of the ground only a few meters away, staring up at him. Alpha''s point defense turrets turned and fired. [A few hours earlier, roughly the same time Alpha took a side job as a wall excavator.] Zolzaya sipped the cup of warm tea, doing her best to ignore the pacing, fuming woman on the other side of the room and her own shaking hands. The grandfatherly Head Priest Erden sat across from her on the other couch while Kallik sat beside her, the picture of calm. Zolzaya''s father, Juatan, and Ulagan stood to either side of her couch, stalwart but slightly pale. Their spears were upright, the ends firmly on the ground, though ready to move at the slightest need. The last Guardian, Munkh, stood opposite the room as the pacing woman, her shield at the ready. At her feet lay the still forms of Ganbaatar and Yutu, both of whom had yet to wake after succumbing to the pacing woman''s [Spiritual Pressure]. They had the weakest resistance to stronger pressures, so they hadn''t fared as well as the other Slatewalkers. Erden smiled at the group and spoke, "I must apologize for Artemis''s behavior. As you can probably imagine, she has been under a lot of stress lately. I assure you, she is typically far more considerate of others around her in normal situations." The woman in question tsked but said nothing more. Kallik nodded, placed her cup on the table, and spoke. "I understand your situation, Head Priest Erden, but I would be lying if I didn''t say I wasn''t disappointed. A child''s life is at stake, and possibly more if the commotion outside is anything to go by. Yet in the short time we''ve been here, we''ve been blocked, attacked, arrested, interrogated, and attacked again. I''m questioning whether coming to the Temple was the right course." Erden sighed and lowered his head as he responded, "For that, I must apologize once more. I had always known that our stagnation would one day lead to rot, but it seems even I was blind to how bad the problem truly was. I would like to blame those of the Temple calling for separation from the world, as our patrons have, but I must accept the fact that even I have grown weary and complacent over the years. Though that is no excuse either." Kallik nodded and smiled. "I''m glad to see at least some of the Temple remember their foundation," she said. Erden smiled back and responded, "Thank you." He clapped his hands, and a few more priests entered, carrying writing materials and a large crystal. The head priest spoke to the room, "Now, with that out of the way, let''s see about getting that full story, why don''t we? Maybe we can piece together exactly what we''re dealing with here." Book 1 - Lesson 53: "Sometimes, there is no right answer." Head Priest Erden signed and placed his notes on the small table in front of him. The grandfatherly man then reached up and removed the thick-rimmed glasses and massaged the bridge of his nose. Some days, Erden was jealous of Cultivators and their vitality. Mages felt the touch of time and exhaustion far easier than Cultivators. Not that a mortal could ever physically best a properly trained Mage, but even early [Eighth-Ring] Mages like himself, equal to a first-step [Earthly Trancendent] Cultivator, could not beat back times inevitable march. Why, he had been a spry young man, just entering the priesthood when hed first met junior (at the time) priestess Metis, a small pup cradled in her arms. Less than a century later, that same pup had grown into a fierce warrior all her own, with a strength greater than his own, yet appearing young enough to be his granddaughter. Part of that was Artemis sheer talent. The young woman was powerful, even by Akhlut standards. Part of it was his own lack of progression and study. This place, coupled with his duties, offered few opportunities to further his magecraft. Mostly, it was Artemiss overwhelming energy, drive, and force of will that drove her endlessly onward. She was the type who would throw herself at every opportunity or fight tooth and nail (sometimes literally) for what she wanted. It had taken a lot of effort on Metis part to reign in and refine that fierce nature into something more humble. Now that she was gone he only hoped the young woman remembered the lessons her mother had imparted. For all their sakes. Head Priest Erden laid a gentle hand on the back of the woman sitting next to him. Artemis head snapped in his direction, her face warped and twisted into a vicious, beast-like visage as she growled at him. Erden stared back, gently stroking her back. The young womans face slowly twisted and returned to a more human appearance. Sharp fangs flattened and became human teeth. Slit, bloodshot eyes shrunk and regained their golden hue. The heavy [Spirit Pressure] hed been fighting back diminished to a safe level for their guests. After a moment, the beast was gone, and a tired-looking Artemis returned his gaze. Slowly, the young woman turned away and placed her face in her hands, refusing to look at anyone. Again Erden sighed and turned to humans across the table from him. The group was still somewhat pale, but they were getting used to the Akhlut warriors temper at this point. This wasnt the first time shed lashed out during the story. Impressive for ones not accustomed to dealing with Akhlut, especially one like Artemis. He was especially struck by the young girl next to the Grassreader. Despite her shaking hands and pale, sweating face, her eyes held no threads of genuine fear. Instead, he could see deep pity and sadness, as if she knew exactly what the warrior across from her was going through. Erden rifled through the notes on the table and spoke to the older Grassreader, Kallik. This is quite the story, Grassreader. I must admit, if it werent for the current circumstances, I would hesitate to trust all of it. Kallik nodded and responded, As would I. Im aware of how outlandish it might all seem, but I am willing to take an [Oath of Truth] if I must. As things stand, we are already behind the enemy. Erden paused, his eyes widening slightly. An [Oath of Truth] wasnt a small matter. Once taken, the oathtaker could never lie to the oathbinder under any circumstances. The oath was originally designed to keep slaves under control and prevent them from lying to their masters. Once slavery fell out of practice on the Skybreaker continent, it was mostly used on heinous criminals. Struggling against the oath could cause serious soul damage and gave the oathbinder vast power over the oathtaker, so it wasnt something often considered under normal circumstances. Erden paused and stared into Kalliks eyes. She met his gaze, unwavering. After a moment, Erden shook his head, leaning back in his seat as he spoke. That wont be necessary. Kallik pulled back, her eyes wide as she asked, You believe us?! Truly? But Head Priest, surely you cant one of the attending priests to the side spoke out. Theyd been quiet for much of the meeting, taking notes and letting Erden ask the questions. The Head Priest cut the man off with a raised hand. Erden shook his head and answered the unfinished question. No. Im not so much a fool to trust the words of strangers so easily. More so the intentions of those not hear to defend themselves, such as this mysterious Lord Protector of yours. He turned and looked at the two young men in the corner, both of whom had just begun to stir. Erdens next words were firm, What I trust is the judgment of my patron. He then turned back to Kallik and continued. Despite what many feel or the fact we call ourselves priests, the followers of the Prima are not a religion. We do not worship our patrons nor see them as infallible. They are teachers, guides, and examples. The Prima of Earth, our own patron, in particular, values steadfastness, resolve, and the unwavering desire to do what one must for those they love. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. In some, this manifests in unbending and unmoving resolve and belief, like a solid stone that will not budge under even the greatest obstruction or assault. In others, it becomes a nurturing and caring nature, like the fertile soil on which all life depends. Some show boundless potential and endless possibilities, like raw metal, ready to be forged into countless shapes. The older man smiled, nodded to the unconscious young men, and continued. I can not speak of what your young friend here might one day become, but I trust my Foundation and what she represents. If she has seen fit to bless him as she has, I will trust it is for the right reasons. Kallik stared wide eyes at the old priest for a long moment before bowing her head. Thank you, she said. After a heartbeat, the rest of the Slatewalkers followed suit. Erden clapped his hands and spoke once more, That being said Im afraid theres an issue. Had this been brought to my attention when it was supposed to have been the old priest glared at several of the attending priests before continuing, We might have already been on our way. As it stands now He let the statement hang in the air. Even now, the sound of fighting could be heard in the background. Periodic reports suggested the lines were holding, for now, but the undead knew no rest or peace. Artemis pulled her head from her hands and glared at the Head Priest as she spoke, So what?! Do you suggest we stay here?! That we abandon my little sister to whatever the hell these bloody cultists have planned?! Ulagan was the one to respond to her question. We didnt abandon her. The Lord Protector should be on the outskirts of the Earth Temple as we speak. He Ulagan jumped and turned slightly paler as the much stronger Cultivator turned her attention, and wrath, to him, cutting him off. And why should I trust this Lord Protector of yours?! Erden might regard the patrons decisions highly, but that does not mean this stranger is not a wildcard. How do we not know this spirit beast is not working with the cultists? Or that it does not have some other nefarious motives?! I will not leave my sisters fate in the hands of an unknown! Zolzaya answered back, though her voice slightly shook. Because your sister trusted him. Artemis sharp gaze snapped to the younger woman. Explain. Zolzaya took a deep breath and continued. You might think your sister is just a child, and youre not wrong. She is young and na?ve about many things. Yet, in many ways, she is wiser than her age makes her seem. During the time we traveled together, I watched the child carefully. I admit, I had similar suspicions as you. Maybe the spirit beast was coercing the child or taking advantage of their inexperience. But in all that time, I never once saw any evidence of that. In fact, the child seemed to have free rein in all her actions. Several times she had vanished, and I thought shed taken the chance to escape, only for her to return some time later with some new prize. At every opportunity, the child returned. While I can not fully vouch for the Lord Protectors motives or thought process, I can say without any doubt that your sister trusted him. Artemis glared at Zolzaya, her eyes boring into her soul, trying to rip away any falsehood in the young womans words. After a moment, Artemis spoke, Even if that was true, you cant expect me to trust her fate to a single spirit beast. What can one person do against an entire army? Kallik coughed, breaking the awkward tension. Kallik turned back to Artemis and Erden, then spoke. I believe theres one more piece of relevant information that might help shed light on that matter. Erden raised an eyebrow and asked, Oh? How so? Kallik looked over at Ulagan and locked eyes with him. The young Guardian frowned, but nodded, and Kallik continued. While it has yet to be confirmed as an absolute, we believe that the Lord Protector may be a newborn Progenitor. The room froze. Even Juatan snapped his head to stare at the Grassreader, eyes wide. This was the first time he was hearing about this! Then again, it would make some sense. Suddenly, pieces started to fall into place for the older Guardian. Not just regarding the survivors odd behavior toward the Lord Protector, but also the elder councils. Of course, Kallik had already told those old fogies her suspicions. Why else would they have been so understanding about some of the Lord Protectors more eccentric behavior during his stay in the village? Erdens already squinting eyes narrowed even further as he stroked his long beard. A Progenitor I see That might explain some things, indeed. More so, the creatures seeming ignorance and rather bold nature. However, I must warn you that this makes things far more complicated. Cultists are one problem, but a rogue Progenitor may become just as much of a disaster if not properly handled. Are you willing to stand fully by those words, regardless of the consequences? Kallik paused, then nodded her head. I am, and so is the Slatewalker village. Erden leaned back and nodded as well before speaking. I see. That changes some things. Unfortunately, not enough. The current situation doesnt exactly lend itself to offering the Lord Protector much aid. Artemis turned to the old man, her eyes burning as she spoke. Excuse after excuse! Since when did you turn into a coward, Erden?! Erden frowned and turned to stare at the younger woman, his eyes opening slightly, flashing a pair of black and white ringed eyes. His voice was hard as he spoke. What would you have me do, young lady? Charge over the walls and cut our way through the army of the undead?! Artemis stared back, her voice soft by firm, If we must Erden returned the gaze, his voice just as firm. And leave the city undefended? Abandon the common people and those seeking our protection to fates worse than death?! Artemis frowned but didnt answer. She only stared unblinking into those powerful eyes. A new voice cut through the silence as she opened her mouth to say something. As one, every eye turned to stare at Yutu as the young man pushed himself to a sitting position on shaking arms as he spoke. I I might have a solution to that problem Book 1 - Lesson 54: "War is 10% Combat and 85% Information control." Click click click click click. Alpha stared at the totally-not-exploded head sticking out of the ground awkwardly as his point-defense turrets clicked uselessly in her direction. Well this was awkward Alpha quickly identified the issues, though. His turrets were empty! How?! A quick inventory check showed his storage was empty as well! What the hell?! Alpha threw his hands into the air and yelled, MY STUFF!! The head sticking out of the ground laughed and pulled herself further out of the ground until a young human woman in her mid-20s was lazily lounging on the grass with half her body still under the ground. She stared at Alpha and smirked before saying, If youre looking for your weapons, Im afraid you wont find them here. This place doesnt physically exist. Not in the same way youre likely accustomed to. This is a place of souls and minds. I pulled you here after noticing your little excavation attempt. The woman was strange. While physically, she took the shape of a human woman, her actual body was anything but. Her skin was pure white and had a rough, almost sand-like texture, while her hair was not hair but a flowing carpet of thick green grass that seamlessly blended into the surrounding field. And her eyes her eyes were two large gemstones, cold and unblinking, with multiple concentric rings of alternating black and white. Alpha pulled the TAWP back several dozen feet, unsure of what was happening. Still, he tried to keep the strange woman speaking while he ran diagnostics. Was he still being affected by a virus? What do you mean, not physical? Is this some kind of simulation? Alpha asked. The woman placed her head in one hand and tilted in, considering the unfamiliar word before answering. In a way? You may think of it that way, but not quite. That word holds Truths Ive not encountered, which is impressive in its own right but similar enough. Alpha spun his optical sensor and asked, What do you mean, similar? In what . He paused. He checked his logs of the last few moments, then rechecked and checked once more to be absolutely sure before coming to his conclusions. She hadnt spoken in the native language. Shed spoken in Federation Common. Instantly, his guard was up. For her part, the woman only laughed and spoke, Not quite, child. The Words of the World, or the elemental tongue, as some have come to call it, is not bound by such petty things as language. You hear my words as you wish to hear them because I speak not to your mind but to your soul. Alpha pulled away a few more meters, aiming his point-defense turrets in her direction as he spoke. They wouldnt do anything, but the action offered some comfort. Nice try, Lady. I dont have a soul. The strange woman only smiled again and responded. Oh? Really? Then how are you here, child? All sapient beings have a soul. For the soul is what it means to be sapient in the first place. Alpha mentally frowned and spoke, Dont think now is the best time for a philosophy lesson, lady. How about you answer some questions? I might not be able to shoot you, but Im pretty sure being stepped on by several dozen tons of war machine wont be a fun experience. The woman grinned and nodded, Yes, I believe its time you and me had a talk. Alpha shrugged and said, Cut the pleasantries, lets keep this quick. Not sure if youve noticed, but things are a bit hectic at the moment. Im on a schedule, and Id like to get going as quickly as possible. The lounging woman frowned. No. I dont know whats going on. Thats the point. This form, you see, is but a fragment of my true self, placed here to monitor and control the wall. All the arrays I used to communicate and monitor the outside have been destroyed or tampered with. As it stands, I am blind, and had you not had the audacity to burrow into this ancient relic, I would have remained so. She pushed herself further out of the ground as she spoke until only her legs dangled under the surface. Alpha tilted the TAWP and asked, A fragment? Like a sub-AI? Hows that even work?! The woman narrowed her eyes and responded, Strange another word I am unfamiliar with. But yes, while it is not exactly the same, the idea is similar. Though In my case, the separation is more extreme. I am not just a partitioning off of consciousness as you do, but an individual being with all the memories and aspects of my parent. You could think of my sisters and me as clones, as you would say. Though even that isnt the full truth. The woman finished pulling herself out of the ground and slowly walked towards Alpha. But that is irrelevant to the current issues. If what you say is true, and time is important, then I think talking would be a waste of time. Lets go with a different method instead. Alpha spun his optical plate, focused on the approaching woman, and asked, What would this different method entail? The woman smiled and responded, Ill perform a soul reading. Alpha paused then broke out into laughter. Look, lady, Im not sure how youre doing all of this. But, like I said, I dont have a soul. Im an AI. Souls and afterlives are for biologicals. Im perfectly fine being an immortal collection of data points, thank you very much. The woman smiled and shook her head and smiled. And as I said, the very fact that you are here speaks otherwise. You could not enter this place if you did not have a [True Soul] or were some artificial spirit such as an Artifact Spirit. If you must insist you do not have one, then instead, think of it as me peeking at your history. Your [True History], unmuddied by memories or perspective. I will see things as they truly are. Who you truly are. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Alpha pulled back and gasped, You want to rifle through my logs?! Lady, you havent even taken me out to dinner yet! Rude! He folded the TAWPs arms and stared down at her. In all seriousness, though, why do you think I would agree to that? The woman nodded and smiled as she responded. For one, you are running out of time, as you mentioned before. Every moment spent here debating is time lost. I could keep you here for as long as I wished, prying out everything I wanted to know for as long as it took. Yet, something tells me that would take far longer than either of us would accept. She circled the TAWP, observing the strange device as she continued. I understand your concerns, but your fears are unfounded. You are the guide of a soul reading. I see what you wish me to see. I am simply here for the ride. She circled back and smiled up at him. Nonetheless, how about we sweeten the deal a bit? She raised a hand, and Alphas arrayed [Wasp] appeared, floating over her palm. Alpha pointed at it and yelled, Hey! Thats mine! The woman laughed and responded, Fear not. No physical objects can enter this place, as I mentioned before. Even this strange body you wear is but the projection of your soul. This is just an image. She waved her free hand through the drone, and it flickered like a hologram. She flicked her hand, and the image of the drone was replaced with a thick book as she continued. I see youve started to experiment with arrays. Youve made some interesting discoveries, but your work is still amateurish at best. Hey!, Alpha internally complained. The woman continued, So how about a trade of information? You show me what I need to know, and Ill provide you with what you need to further your arrays. Everyone wins. Alpha looked at the floating book, still skeptical. He couldnt say he wasnt tempted, but that didnt mean hed blindly let someone pillage his logs again the Transport Drone was an anomaly, dang it! Alpha turned and voiced his concerns, It still feels like Im on the losing end of those. I have no way to confirm what you say about this reading. I dont even know who you are. Hell, that book could be blank or filled with a bunch of nonsense, or you could be lying about me being in control of what you see. So tell me, why should I trust you? The woman frowned and stared hard at Alpha as she spoke. Because. You have no other choice. You are free to refuse, but then well have to do this the slow, hard way, and time is short. Do it my way, and not only do we not waste time, but you come out of it with an array manual that even [Firmament Breaker] would kill for. Alpha paused and considered. The real question was, could she follow through with her threat and keep him in this place? Alphas gut told him yes, yes she could. The entire time theyd been talking, Alpha had been scanning the area, trying to understand where he was and what was happening, too little avail. His environmental scans showed nothing but empty plains for tens of thousands of kilometers in all directions. Even the wall hed busted through to get here seemed to have vanished. Trying all his normal tricks for busting out of simulations wasnt working either. As far as his systems told him, there wasnt anything to hack into. If what the woman was saying was true, and this wasnt even his real TAWP, all of his signals and data might not even be real. Maybe, given time, he could crack this place and figure out how it worked, but he didnt have time. That was becoming a reoccurring pattern as of late. After a long moment, Alpha came to a decision. Not that he had much choice. Still, he was going to take some extra careful precautions. Alpha ran through his data logs and locked down anything that might have been compromising. Equipment specs, blueprints, combat data, classified Federation Information. All of it went behind heavily encrypted firewalls that not even he could break through until a long and thorough decontamination process to ensure hed not been compromised. With that done, he turned to the woman. Fine. Have it your way. But at the slightest hint of funny business, were testing how well you hold up being stepped on by a tank. The woman lowered her hand, and the book vanished. She smiled and approached Alpha, placing a single hand on the TAWPs leg as she spoke. Im glad to see youre not as stubborn as some others. As her hand glowed with a pale light, she spoke again, By the way, you may call me Jsh. In another grassy plain that was both the same and not, two figures stood under a small tree, yelling at each other. No. 7 pointed at the stone woman and yelled, And Im telling you, youre not looking at a damn thing! I left Dads place to get away from crap like that! That nosy bastard was always trying to see what we were up to! Doesnt matter if he had thousands of other kids. Nope, always had to know everything about everyone. Why do you think Id let you do the same?! I dont care who you are! Jsh pointed back and yelled with just as much fire, Again, I am not your father! Unlike that fool, I actually respect peoples privacy! All I am asking is to see for myself! No. 7 threw their hands into the air and yelled, I told you whats happening! But you wont get it through that rock-hard skull of yours! Dad said you were stubborn, but Sisters above, this is a new level. Jsh pointed and retorted, You told me some things. Not everything! Not what I need to know! No. 7 folded their arms and frowned. Not my problem. Youre not getting in my head. Jsh sighed and rubbed the side of her head. Why were all her nephews always so stubborn?! Back to Alpha! Jsh pointed at the AI, her eyes wide, YOURE A PSYCHOPATH!!! Alpha pointed back, IM AN ARTIST!! YOU BLEW UP A STAR!! Jsh responded THAT WAS AN ACCIDENT!! Alpha defended himself. Jsh fell to her knees in shock, her hands on her head, tears in her eyes That poor Cosmic Beast, such a majestic and powerful creature, defiled even in death Alpha threw his arms into the air. Its body was starting to stink!! How else would I get rid of a corpse the size of a battleship?! Besides, it tried to eat me! Jsh looked up and yelled at the AI. THERES NO AIR IN SPACE! Alpha turned away. I DONT HAVE TO EXPLAIN MY REASONING TO YOU! (only a board of duly elected officials). Jsh stood and wagged her finger at Alpha. You should have let it eat you! At least then wed have been spared dealing with your insanity! Alpha reared back as if struck. Excuse me! I like my insanity! It keeps things interesting! Jsh turned away and started muttering to herself, her head in her hands. H-hes insane. I cant let him wander around. Who the hell knows what hell do next? Probably try throwing the Gold Mountain Emperor into a volcano or something. I-I have to kill him yes, stop the chaos before it starts No, no, I cant. I-if I let him die, theyll glass the planet when they find out What am I going to do? What am I going to do?! Alpha scratched his front optic plate and said, H-hey now, I dont think Im that bad. Come on She whirled on him, her gem-like eyes cracked and glowing as she yelled. YOU BE SILENT, YOU CONCENTRATED BALL OF CHAOS AND DESTRUCTION! Alpha shrunk and backed away. The rock lady obviously had some things that she needed to work out. Best to leave her alone. After a few moments, Jsh stood, took a deep breath, then turned back to Alpha and spoke, Well, Mr. Alpha. It seems you and I have much more to discuss than I previously thought. Alpha stared at the lady and mentally cursed. Book 1 - Lesson 55: "What kills you, doesnt always make you stronger." Lets talk, then, lady. Stop beating around the bush. Ive got places to be and kidnappers to shoot in the face (and less desirable places). What do you want? Alpha asked, folding his arms. Jsh mimicked the gesture and smirked as she spoke. Lucky for you, we want the same thing. Or at least close enough. Those fools outside are messing with things they barely comprehend and sure as hell dont know how to control. Alpha threw his hands into the air. All the more reason to get this over with! Whats the hold-up?! Jsh frowned and pointed at Alpha, You are. Alpha balked. Hed been blamed for a lot of things over the centuries. Most of it accurate but this was the first time he was being blamed for something he did not know what for. He voiced his protest as well, Me?! What did I do?! Jsh sighed and shook her head as she spoke. Its not what you did or even what you will do. Its the state youre in. Have you not even realized how badly hurt you are? Jsh paused, her eyes growing slightly wider, before she shook her head and chuckled. No, of course, you havent. You wouldnt have any way of knowing Alpha pointed at her and spoke, Hey! My repairs might have been a bit jury-rigged, but you work with what you got! Id like to see you do better! Jsh frowned and looked up at him. Im not talking about your physical body, you fool. That is nothing more than a machine. A puppet. Im talking about the horrendous state your soul is in. The fact that youre not a blubbering idiot trapped screaming in a metal shell is a miracle I can only attribute to the unique nature of your kind. As well as some rather ingenious contingencies by your superiors. Alpha rocked on the TAWPs legs as he spoke. What are you talking about? I dont ha Jsh took a step forward and poked him as she cut him off. See! Right there! Again, youre repeating the same thing, despite all the evidence otherwise. This isnt like you, Alpha. Youre not this dense or scattered. Think. Alpha took a step back, the TAWP swaying. I no thats Jsh advanced, poking him again, Think, Alpha. About all the things that have gone wrong since planet-fall. All the things you should have seen coming. Things you would have seen coming if youd been functioning properly. Instead, youre floundering around like a new recruit. Making poor decisions and wasting time and resources. Alpha shook. The TAWPs form twisted and flickered strangely. Thats not I mean, I just. Jsh took one more step and spoke, her voice low. Why did you go through the wall, Alpha? The TAWPs trusters could have brought it up twice again, the walls height from the top, and easily bypassed its defenses. You compound RCS from the atmosphere. It would have cost you nothing. Alpha felt like he was breaking apart, his non-existent head cracking with each passing second. Suddenly, system alarms blared. //WARNING! Core integrity at 32%. Prime Processer at 17%.. 16%15%. Personality Cortex Critical. Administrator override activated. Cognitive Locks engaged. Quantum distress beacon activated Core AI advised to seek immediate help.// What what was going on?! Again, Alphas form flickered, sending a spike of pain through his mind. Something something was wrong. But what?! He tried to run systems diagnostics, but it was acting so slow No, no, it was going as fast as it had been for for well, for quite a while now. How did he not realize how slowly things had been running? Going through logs, Alpha noticed the damage had been slowly building ever since hed landed. Why hadnt he noticed?! What was going on?! For the first time in a long time, Alpha felt real fear. Jsh took another step closer and gently laid a hand on the TAWP. A thin stream of azure and golden flames seeped out of Alpha and scrawled along Jshs arm. The TAWP snapped back together into a single, solid image. //Core integrity at 35%37%40%. Prime Processer at 18% 19% 20%. Prime Processer stabilized. Personality Cortex stabilized. Running full system diagnostics.// Alpha swayed as reality snapped back into place. He stumbled, his sensors struggling to adjust. His mind still felt foggy and slow, but things were clearer? Sharper? Less cluttered and more obvious. What had he been doing recently?! Alpha turned and looked at the strange woman staring sadly up at him. What the hell did you do to me, lady?! What was that?! Jsh spoke flatly, That is what happens when you take the full brunt of a mature phoenix fire mixed with dragon breath. The fact you survived at all is a miracle. Jsh waved her hand, and the sky vanished. In its place was the scene of his fight with the giant flaming space chicken, as recorded by a drone. Alpha watched alongside her before responding, Ya, sure, I got pretty messed up from that fight, but so what?! Most of the damage was from hitting the planet, anyway! The TAWP armor is designed to take energy blasts like that, even if its hex-shield fails. Energy weapons were one of the most dangerous weapons for AI. Biologicals had to worry about things like pressure, inertia, and concussive damage; armor in biologically operated war machines focused more on keeping the pilot alive than on preserving functionality. It didnt matter if the ship, mech, or drone was dead in the water; if the pilot survived, their craft could always be rebuilt. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Things like energy shielding, heat dispersal, and system redundancy were far more important for AI. Jsh nodded and spoke. Yes. Exactly, and that was the problem. Alpha paused and stared back, Explain. Jsh waved her hand again, and the scene in the sky was replaced with schematics of the TAWP. Alpha bristled, and he yelled, Wait, hold up. How the hell did you get those?! I locked all of that away. Jsh nodded and responded, Yes. You did. But as I mentioned, I wasnt going through your memory. I was looking through your soul. In the state youre in, you held little back, Mr. Alpha. Even things I wish Id have never seen or known about Alpha mentally sweated. That wasnt good. Not in the slightest. He would get chewed out soooo badly for this when the general found out. Maybe he could plead he wasnt in his right mind? Wait did that mean she knew about Yes, Jsh spoke flatly, without looking at him. Alpha sagged and hurriedly changed the topic. What does the TWAP have to do with this supposed soul damage and whatever the hell is happening?! Jsh stared up at the schematics for a long moment before turning to Alpha and answering. The TAWPs armor is designed to absorb and redistribute energy to reduce stress and heat and even convert some of the energy into a useable form. Alpha nodded. He knew that. It was his, after all. Jsh continued, the schematics in the sky lighting up to highlight the dozens of glowing lines running along the TAWP. Typically, any excess that cant be converted is sent to quantum energy sinks around the TAWP. Part of the sky was replaced with strange diagrams filled with dozens of strange and mystical symbols. On one side, stylized runes and letters formed what looked like the image of a western dragon. It reminded Alpha of the coat of arms some ancient human nations used, with its claws raised and a stream of fire gusting from its open mouth, only far more detailed. On the other side, a familiar burning bird, similarly made of runes and letters. It flapped its wings, sending a firestorm toward the dragon. Where the flames met, they twisted and twirled around each other in a pattern of runes and lines that reminded Alpha vaguely of the arrays hed been working with, but far more complicated. At their center, a taijitu of fire formed. Jsh pointed to the diagram and continued. Both Dragons and Phoenix are beings of Fire. But their flames represent two very different Truths. Phoenix flame is the power of renewal and rejuvenation. It can heal as easily as it can burn away filth and corruption. Dragonfire, on the other hand, is pure destruction given physical form. It doesnt just burn its target, but destroys its very Truths and reduces it to nothingness. She turned and stared up at him. The blast you were hit with perfectly blended both concepts. Two opposing forces came together in one original Truth, becoming something far more than they would have ever been alone. Alpha stared up at the diagram and responded. Yaaaa, I have no idea what any of that means. Jsh smirked and said, Yes, I know. Try to keep up, though. As I was saying, you were hit by something far exceeding the sum of its parts. Despite that, your armor held up well because of its nature. Alpha preened. Ill take that as a compliment. I designed it myself! Jshs smirk dropped and was replaced by a frown. Yes, and that is more terrifying than you currently understand. She turned back to the diagram and continued, The TAWP successfully absorbed the vast majority of the energy from the blast, preventing your immediate destruction, unfortunately Hey! Alpha called out, feeling insulted! Jsh ignored the AI, , but thats where the problems start. Your systems are designed to convert even exotic energies into usable energy. But what happens if it cant? Alpha laughed and said, Then it would he paused, It would Alpha mentally frowned. Im not actually sure if Im honest. Theoretically, that shouldnt be possible. Energy is energy in the long run. The difference between energy types is mostly semantics. Even the more exotic energy types, like quantum energy and zero-point energy, follow similar rules on the grand scale. It might take more steps, but the TAWPs armor is designed for that. Jsh nodded and asked, So what happens when it encounters something that doesnt follow the rules? Something that actively resists change and into lesser forms? Something the armor didnt know how to change? You designed it, yes? Alpha responded, Energy is energy. It shouldnt I mean, if somehow the armor failed in that way, I guess it would kind of just bounce around? It would be continuously shifted and redistributed, with no proper way of bleeding it off. But that would cause an enormous strain on the armor systems. It would have to find a way to store the energy eventually or bleed it off. Otherwise, it would start to break down. Jsh nodded again and said, Yes. Thats where the next problem comes up. The TAWP schematic flickered, and most of it was stripped away until only the skeleton remained. The bare, dark metal with a tinge of red flickered with gold and azure flames. Alpha stared momentarily and said, Well thats not normal Jsh laughed and said, Maybe not to you. The TAWPs primary skeleton was created from the heart of a dead star, using an alloy your Federation dubbed Solarium. With unimaginably durable and unsurpassed energy conductivity, your people use it widely in many applications. Were also familiar with this metal, though by a different name. Divine Orichalcum. Whats more, the Federation has refined it to higher quality than anything Ive ever heard of. She turned to look at Alpha, frowning. Orichalcum has one of the best -Spirit- conductivity in existence. It not only soaks up -Spirit- energy at rates that boggle the mind, but it particularly likes stellar affinity energies just like the energy you absorbed. Jsh magnified the image so Alpha could see the dozens of strange patterns the flames were burning into the metal. She pointed to them and said, All that energy is transforming the metal into something different. Something I have no name for. Whatever it is, it is a powerful natural treasure, at the very least. Alpha threw his hands into the air. So my bones became batteries. Youre still not telling me why this is an issue! Jsh sighed and yelled back, The issue is you cant control it! Were this to happen to anyone else with bones not made of thousands of pounds of godly metal, they would have exploded from the sheer amount of power! Even if someone were strong enough to control the energy somehow and stop it from killing them, they would have to slowly absorb it over long periods of time or burn the energy away to manageable levels through some means. She pointed up at him and continued, You can do neither. This body isnt truly yours. Its a shell. A tool. Even the core you inhabit is little more than a container. You are like an unbound spirit, unable to truly connect with the -spirit energy-. At the same time, you have no -spirituality-. You can not control or command the energy in the same way other sapients can. She lowered her hand and shook her head. So, instead, you bake in its presence. Your unshielded, unprotected soul is slowly being chipped away and used as fuel for its flames. She looked up at him with sad eyes and gently said. Alpha the TAWP is killing you. Book 1 - Lesson 56: "Good company is worth its weight in bullets" Bullcrap! Alpha pointed at the woman and countered. I see what this is! Convince me the big shiny weapon is bad for my health, and then when my guard is down, take it for yourself! I know your game. Youre not the first to try and pull this! Alpha pulled away from the woman. Who knew what else she was doing to him? Jsh sighed, but didnt move closer. Paranoia, irrational thinking, and misinterpretation were always side effects of severe soul damage. Some theorized it was a defense mechanism of the soul to prevent more damage, like tissue inflammation, but for the non-material soul. That only made dealing with such people all that more difficult. The injured could go from calm and collected to raving lunatics at the drop of a hat. It didnt help she had to poke at his injuries for him even to notice them. That had likely aggravated the symptoms, even if it was necessary for what came next. She was tempted just to let the soul damage destroy him. Jsh had seen what he was capable of. What the people he represented were capable of. This Federation represented a greater threat than the thing locked beneath them. But unlike that engine of destruction and war, the Federation could be reasoned with. She knew that many of this world would not understand. There were too many old powers. Too many people were stagnant and content in the old ways. Shed been one of them only a few moments prior. Now? She knew negotiations with the Federation would be difficult if she let Alpha die. When the AI failed to put down a world, the Federations retaliation was swift and without mercy. If the AI was to face true death, and not just bodily destruction? Not just this world, but all the Great Firmament would burn and turn into fuel for the Federations progression. She couldnt let that happen, not after everything she and others had given up to keep this world safe. Slowly, Jsh backed away, putting more distance between them, and spoke softly. Alpha, no one is trying to take anything from you. I need your help. I need you to understand what is happening to you and why. Alpha pointed again and responded, Why should I trust anything you say? For all I know, this is just a simulation! Can I even trust my system queries?! The TAWP swayed, and thinking was starting to hurt. Why did it hurt to think? He did his best to ignore the red warning messages flashing in his mind and focus on the woman before him. Jsh shook her head as she spoke. Because you have no concept of what is happening. Because I can help you if you let me. And because if you dont, then not only will you die meaninglessly, so will the child. Her words struck Alpha like lightning, cutting through the growing fog. Thats right, Snowball was still in trouble. Thats why he was here in the first place. He still had to rescue her. But why did he really care? Sure, hed face some heavy fines if she was hurt, maybe disappoint the general. Was that worth all this effort, though? All the supplies he was wasting on this excursion? He should be building a base, dang it! Not fighting zombie hordes and running around like a chicken with his head cut off! He should be he should Memories flashed through his mind. A wounded Snowball stared up at him with fearful eyes. A Snowball on the mend, happily wagging her tail while she waited for him to throw the crystal into the air. Snowball, covered in penguin blood as she stood on a large pile of bodies with her head held high, basking in his praise. The young pup . FINE! Fine! I get it already! The gaggle of meddling sub-AI fled from his active consciousness, taking the recordings with them. They might have been parts of him, but sometimes Alpha could swear they liked to screw with him. Slightly more clear-headed, Alpha turned his attention to Jsh and asked, Lets assume I believe you. That youre serious about wanting to help. How? Can you fix my soul or whatever you call it? Jsh shook her head sadly. No Alpha threw his arms out and yelled, Then what the hell ar Jsh cut him off with a raised hand and continued. Let me finish. I could heal your soul. But Im not going to. Not yet. Alpha glared at the woman as she continued. A damaged soul, especially one in such a terrible shape as yours, isnt a simple thing to fix. This is made more complicated as the vast majority of treasures that could heal the soul wouldnt work on you because of your nature. Of those exceedingly rare ones that might, we have no way of obtaining them currently. As contradictory as it might seem, the best medicine for someone in your current state is time. Time to rest, heal, and regenerate what has been lost. Alphas optic plates spun as he filled in the blanks of what wasnt said, Time we dont have Jsh nodded sadly and said. Correct. Your time in the village helped some, but the stress and events after have undone all the good that did and sped up the problem. Then whats your solution?! Stop beating around the bush! Alpha asked in turn. Jsh held out her hand, and something grew above it. As it did, she said, We dont have time to heal you, but I can stabilize you enough to buy us the time we need. Dont get me wrong, this isnt perfect or even good. Its equivalent to a soldier stuffing a stab wound with gauze or splinting a broken bone. Youre still hurt, but you can fight somewhat. Push too hard, though, and the wound will reopen. The damage will escalate, and you may come out worse than before. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Alpha asked, unsure if he liked that idea. And how exactly are you going to do that? Jsh smiled up at him just as the large, watermelon-sized crystal finished forming. It hovered in the air, gently spinning above her hand as she spoke. Why, Im coming with you, obviously. Ganbaatar stood on the edge of the inner Earth Shrine, staring at the hundreds, maybe thousands of Earth Elementals that patrolled the area just beyond. The thick braided rope and fluttering white talismans marked the boundary limits set up by the temple priests. This was a dangerous place. Despite the Wandering Cities claiming to own their various shrines, the truth was no one really did. They just controlled the area around them. Instead, the Earth Elementals who called the shrines their home guarded their territory jealously. Few were allowed to approach, only the priests, and even then, only at very specific times of the year, typically after each Apex. During these brief windows, the priests would perform maintenance and repairs to the shrine and ensure they continued to function properly. If anyone else crossed the boundary line, they would immediately be set upon by the hoard of powerful Elemental creatures. Lucky for most, Earth Elementals were slow, so they could easily escape past the boundary line. The youth of some cities even turned it into a game, turning seeing how long they could play chicken with the Elementals into a game of bravery and bragging rights. However, most people discouraged this foolish game. Every year, they would hear of some idiot getting themselves killed because they got a little too close to one of the rare Elementals with ranged ability. Or they were so focused on the big ones they didnt see the small ones sneaking up on them. Theyd then be pulled under the earth, trapped and unable to escape when the big ones reached them. Those stories raced through Ganbaatars mind, and a cold sweat formed on the back of his neck. Yutu walked up beside him, and Ganbaatar tore his eyes away to look at him as he spoke. Yutu are are you sure about this? I mean I know youve got this He paused and gestured to the young man beside him, mostly the mans eyes. Ganbaatar was still getting used to those strange eyes looking at him with his friends face attached. He continued, whole thing going on, but how sure are you this is really going to work? Yutu didnt answer at first. He stared up at the pulsing obelisk in the distance for a moment, then spoke softly. I Mostly sure. The information is less words or instructions and more memories. Experiences and knowledge. I know how its supposed to work. But whether it still does or if things have changed Yutu let the statement hang in the air. Ganbaatar chuckled and shook his head. Riiiiight. Memories from the mysterious stone lady in your head Yutu frowned and turned to the other man as he spoke. You saw her too, Ganaa. Ganbaatar frowned back and responded. Yes, and we still dont know what she did to you. Or why? Yutu turned back to the obelisk. He was silent for a moment and spoke, I trust her. I cant explain why. Not yet, at least. But I do. If we dont do this, lots of people are going to die. Not just in the Radiant Sea either. This is bigger than you realize, Ganaa. Its Yelling voices interrupted him. Why cant I go?! I passed my apprenticeship, Ive just as much right as anyone! I was there from the start, and I have a right to see this through! Zolzaya yelled up at her father, her face red and her eyes burning. Juatan stared down at his daughter and spoke softly. Because, daughter, we have no idea what were walking into. Whatever may wait for us on the other side is no place for a fresh Grassreader barely into [Iron Body], as impressive as that might be. All three of the young Slatewalkers had broken through earlier that morning. Whether it was the experience theyd gained, the high spirit energy in the area, or a bit of instruction from Artemis as an apology for her behavior, it was still something to celebrate. Unfortunately, they hadnt had much time. Zolzaya pointed to the group behind her father. What about them?! Four squads of 12 Guardians stood at the ready. In front of each, a young man or woman stood in more ornate armor, the house shield of each of the four Gate Houses etched into them. One of the young men was familiar to the Slatewalkers. M?nkhkhan Eastgate stood tall in front of his squad, though what could be seen of his face through the ornate helmet appeared sunken with deep bags under his eyes and clammy, pale skin. Juatan frowned and retorted, The Scions have all spent years in the Guardian and Officer academies. They are also all [Silver Spirit] cultivators. Though I will admit, if I had my say, they would not be joining us either. This is a job for senior Guardians. Unfortunately, they are all we have. All of our most powerful Guardians are stuck defending against the undead. Their attack has become increasingly intense as time passes. That we could gather even a full platoon in such a short amount of time is a miracle in itself. Zolzaya glanced down at her feet and softly said, You cant keep protecting me like this Juatans eyes softened, Zaya Im just wor She right, you know. Artemis walked over, dressed in full armor and ready for war. The powerful Akhlut in human form looked between father and daughter before continuing. You cant protect her from all the worlds evils. All that will do is make her weak and unable to protect herself when youre no longer by her side. Juatan frowned and narrowed his eyes, addressing the woman, With all due respect, theres a difference between giving her room to grow and throwing her into an unknown situation that Im not even sure Im fit for. Whatever is going on, the perpetrators have been planning this for a long time. Even the slightest mistake on our part could Artemis cut him off. All the more reason for the girl to come. As shes said, shed been dragged into this from the start. She might know or see things that could mean the difference between victory and defeat. Besides, I was doing far crazier things than this at her age. Hahahahaha! Artemis broke into laughter. Zolzaya noted that despite the motion, not a single clip, strap, or buckle on the womans armor jingled or came loose from its position. The young woman didnt doubt that if Artemis so wished it, her prey would never even know she was there, even after she removed their head from their body. Juatans frown deepened, While I love my daughter dearly, I dont think its quite fair to compare a talent sharpened by centuries of war and battle to that of a small village Grassreader, regardless of recent events. Artemis grinned at him with a mouth full of sharp teeth and responded, I agree. Your girl has far more potential than I do. Zolzaya turned to her father and matched Artemis grin. Juatan could only sigh and pinch the bridge of his nose through his helmet. We lease the Kraken: Prologue - "Case Closed." [Official News Report: Former B-rank Artificer Machina Redux Convicted Posthumously on Multiple Charges] Prima City, Nexus - In a somber development that has sent shockwaves throughout the city, the former B-rank Artificer, Sarah Bridge, known as Machina Redux and previously celebrated as the Saintess of the Outskirts, has been posthumously convicted on a multitude of charges in connection with the devastating Glamourmax Corp. explosion that occurred three months ago. On this Tuesday, August 24, 2253, at 18:00 CNT (Central Nexus Time), Ms. Bridge was found guilty on charges that include Theft, Destruction of property, Aggravated Assault, Second and Third-degree murder, as well as several other related offenses. During the extensive investigation and subsequent trials, additional charges of bribery, fraud, and tax evasion were brought to light. Reports stemming from the investigation reveal that Ms. Bridge had been contracted by Glamourmax Corp. for a project that remained undisclosed to the public. As the project unfolded, tensions between Ms. Bridge and the corporation escalated, culminating in a heated confrontation with CEO Mr. Adam Nox regarding the projects direction. Multiple survivors of the incident reported Ms. Bridges aggressive behavior and threats directed at Mr. Nox shortly before the tragic explosion. During the trial, Mr. Nox took the stand and expressed his sentiments, saying, This is a mournful day for Prima City and Nexus as a whole. The betrayal of our trust by someone once highly revered, who enjoyed the admiration and affection of the common people, leaves an indelible mark on our hearts. However, as the leading provider of magical and wyrd cosmetic or pharmaceutical products in Nexus, Glamourmax Corp. is committed to repairing the damage and ensuring justice is served for those affected by this calamity. The altercation between Machina Redux and onsite security personnel ultimately resulted in the catastrophic explosion obliterating nearly three blocks of the Wyrd Industrial complex and claiming the lives of over two dozen individuals, with hundreds more sustaining injuries. Ongoing efforts are in place for containment and cleanup of the affected area. Wyrdking Maximus The Magnificent has pledged support in stabilizing the impacted zone, although certain undisclosed challenges within the Wyrd community have hindered his intervention efforts. As part of her sentence, Machina Redux will be officially reclassified as a B-ranked Villain in the Nexus Archives, and all accolades, honors, and awards previously bestowed upon her will be posthumously revoked. Furthermore, all assets held by the former Artificer will be confiscated and auctioned to provide reparations to the victims of the tragedy. Once hailed as the Saintess of the Outskirts for her philanthropic endeavors in rejuvenating and uplifting the lives of Prima Citys outskirts inhabitants, Machina Redux will now be eternally remembered in history for perpetrating one of the most atrocious attacks on the city in the last three decades. A memorial service has been scheduled in honor of the victims of this tragedy, to be held tonight at 20:00 CNT in Prima City Square. The public is invited to attend, with a respectful request to maintain the solemnity of the occasion and to refrain from engaging with the grieving families. Jeremiah sat on the clean stone stairs leading to the luxurious, hand-built modernist house hed called home for the last 15 years. It had started as a simple 3-bedroom family home but had expanded over the years as his sisters need for space and new labs increased. These days, it was a sprawling complex capable of housing dozens of live-in lab assistants and caretakers. Now? Now, it was a cold, empty building, stripped of nearly everything his sister had built. Jeremiah barely registered the city workers as they carried out the last of the equipment. His dull eyes had barely left the tear-stained newspaper for the hours theyd been there, methodically pulling apart his home. However, hed not missed the cold, hard gazes they threw his way as they passed. The crisp sound of hard-soled shoes on pressed stone cut through the fog clouding Jeremiahs brain, and he looked up to see a familiar man approaching. Dressed in a clean-cut suit likely worth more than some of the equipment taken out of the house, Prosecutor James Ronin was one of the top legal consultants used by the city in high-profile cases involving the Gifted. That theyd brought him into this case, despite his sister only being B-rank, was an anomaly in itself. That was even considering all of his sisters bank accounts had been frozen the moment the charges were filed, meaning Jeremiah couldnt even hire a decent attorney. The sharp-looking middle-aged prosecutor had a face and smile that could (and, in fact, had) have been in any number of fashion magazines. However, as he stared down at Jeremiah, there was no sign of the warm smile that made him so popular. Instead, a cold frown that was almost a sneer crossed his lips as he stared down at the young man sitting on the steps. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Jeremiah, in contrast, was a disheveled mess. He wouldnt have called himself a supermodel material, but Jeremiah had always been proud of his looks. Sarah used to say, if hed put a little more effort into working out and wore a Stetson, he could make all the girls at the local rodeo bar swoon. According to her, hes gotten that sharp square jaw and broad shoulders from their father, but his bright, sky-blue eyes were all his mothers. Not that he remembered either of them, of course. Theyd died when he was three. They barely even had any pictures of them, what with most of that being lost to a fire long ago. Instead, it had been Sarah who had raised him. Sarah, who had struggled and fought to keep them together. Sarah, who had given him more than he could ever pay back. Or ever would pay back. Now she was gone, too. Three months later, Jeremiah was a shell of who hed been. His face was pale and sunken, and the deep bags under his eyes spoke of many sleepless nights. Sometimes because of entire nights desperately scouring Sarahs contacts for someone, anyone, that would help. Sometimes because of the nightmares that ate at him, clawing at his psyche every time he tried to rest. He crumpled the newspaper with shaking hands, ignoring the ink stains they left. Jeremiah glared up at the man, his baritone voice raw. What? Come to take something else from me? Was my home and my sisters good name not enough? What more? When will it be enough?! Prosecutor Ronin pulled a data pad from under his arm and held it out to Jeremiah. Mr. Bridge. As the next of kin for the accused and the recipient of their will, your signature is required to complete the transfer to the city. Please sign the provided documents, and we can all put this diabolical behind us, the suited man said flatly. Something dark and burning ignited in Jeremiahs chest, pushing its way through the fog, and he had the urge to slap the pad from the mans hand. It must have shown on his face, too, as Prosecutor Ronin frowned down at him and followed up with, Now, dont make this any harder than it has to be, Mr. Bridge. The city has been quite lenient with you as is, given your circumstances. Jeremiah stood, his hands visibly trembling and his pale face turning a red shade as blood-shot eyes drilled into the prosecutor before he could say anything, however, space pinched in on itself, and with a bloop! figure appeared next to Prosecutor Ronin. The prosecutor frowned and turned to look at the new arrival. The humanoid figure stood at exactly 6 feet and was perfectly white and featureless, as if a blank mannequin had suddenly popped into existence. Ronin lowered the tablet and spoke. Ah. Im glad you could join us, Blank Slate. I assume that means youve finished your scans of the compound? I trust you found everything? The blank mannequin-like android, for thats what it was, turned its featureless head and responded, its voice flat, with no distinguishing characteristics. Yes. No anomalies were detected. All registered modules, labs, and equipment are accounted for. No illegal or unrecorded projects were found. Nor were any records found of anything not previously known. The compound is spotless and with no signs of tampering. Even Jeremiah was sharp enough to notice the emphasis placed on the last phrase. Prosecutor Ronin frowned. Not that says much when it comes to you Techies. Nonetheless, the city appreciates the assistance of one of the Five in this matter. It will save us some paperwork. It was my pleasure, the android, Blank Slate, said before turning to look at Jeremiah. I assume everything is going well here as well? he continued. Prosecutor Ronin turned and smiled at Jeremiah, Yes, quiet. Mr. Bridge here was just about to sign the rest of the paperwork so we can wrap all of this up. He then extended the tablet again. Jeremiah glared at the man, his nails biting slightly into his palms as his knuckles turned bone white. After a long moment, Jeremiah finally snatched the tablet from the man and signed the bottom of the document. Hed already gone over the details extensively in the last week, desperately trying to find some kind of loophole, to no avail. Jeremiah practically threw the tablet back at the grinning attorney. The man pushed his wire-frame glasses up and turned away, but stopped as if remembering something. Oh! Before I go. Please do me a favor and scan Mr. Bridge, would you? It would be a shame to learn hed stolen any of the citys property. Jeremiah nearly boiled over at the comment, his teeth audibly grinding, but an icy fear quickly suppressed it as his mind jumped to the small amulet around his neck. It had been a birthday gift from his sister only a week before her Blank Slate froze, then slowly turned to face the prosecutor. Surely that is unnecessary, Mr. Ronin. I hardly think the android was cut off as the prosecutor frowned. Mr. Andrews. I want to remind you I am currently operating on behalf of both the city council and the Senate of the Five. Please do as youre asked, the suited man said. Blank Slate was silent for a moment before turning back to Jeremiah. A red dot appeared on the androids featureless face, and a thin red beam swept Jeremiah and the luggage sitting next to him. After a few passes, the beam turned off, and the red dot turned green. Blank Slate turned toward the attorney. Nothing new to my sensors detected. The luggage has a minor spatial expansion manifold, but it is the common type available on the open market. Its not something that goes against the court order in the slightest. Unless youre going to order me to strip the clothes off the young mans back, I believe theres nothing more here for you to find, Mr. Ronin, the android said, adding a sharp twist to its words for the first time. Prosecutor Ronin frowned but only turned away, saying, Very well. I believe were finished here then. Good day to both of you. The man walked away and got into the nearby black sedan sitting in the driveway. At the same time, the city movers finished with the last of their packing, and as a group, they all drove away. Soon, all the only people left were Blank Slate and Jeremiah. Blank Slate turned to Jeremiah and spoke. Jerry I Jeremiah cut him off with a dark stare. I have nothing to say to you, Ryan. Sarah Sarah trusted you Blank Slate said nothing. He only stared at the shaking young man for a long moment before whispering, Im sorry Then, with another bloop!, he was gone. Finally alone, Jeremiah collapsed back into the stares, his face in his palms, his shoulders silently shaking. Book 1 - Lesson 57: "We do what we must, when we can." Ooof! Hey! Not so tight! Ganbaatar yelled. In response, Zolzaya yanked the leather strap on the light Guardian armor a little tighter. He glared down at her, and she grinned back at him as she spoke. Stop complaining. Its got to be tight, or itll slip when youre moving. Besides, you always talked about how you would one day wear this armor. Well, nows your chance. Ganbaatar muttered to himself, Ya, just never expected it would be in this kind of situation Zolzaya stood and slapped him on the back. The thick Elder Elk leather vest barely moved. She took a few steps back and admired her handiwork. Ganbaatar stared back as he took in Zolzaya, already fully geared in her own armor. Technically, these were training sets from the academy, but they were functional, and many of the Guardian scouts used similar sets. Ganbaatar shook his head and asked the smiling young woman, Why am I going again? I happen to agree with your father. This isnt the kind of thing we should get involved in. Zolzaya frowned at him and crossed her arms. Because if we dont, whos going to keep Yutu out of trouble? You know hes a magnet for problems. Hey! I resent that! Yutu called from the spot where he lay on the grass, panting. Juatan had made him run laps around the Temple building in full armor to ensure he could move properly. If Yutus plan didnt work, they needed to make sure they could get out of the way quickly. Ganbaatars turn was next. Zolzaya rolled her eyes and smirked at Ganbaatar. What happened to the brave Ganaa who stood in front of the Beast Lord? Dont tell me youre afraid of a lit Ganbaatar threw his hands out and yelled, Of course Im afraid, Zaya! This isnt a game! This isnt some story in a book! This is way beyond anything we can handle. I fought the Beast Lord because that was the only choice I had. Because it was the only way I could protect you and the others and give you a slight chance of escaping. This is different. This isnt brave, this is foolish! Why are you being so childish about this, Zaya?! This isnt like you. Demanding to go along on what could be a suicide mission, arguing with your father when hes just trying to prot I DONT WANT HIS PROTECTION! Zolzaya snapped back, making the young man jump. Then, in a softer voice, she continued. Or yours. Im tired of being protected, Ganaa. Im tired of watching others die while I run away. Do you know what thats like?! To see your friends and family throw away their lives and not be able to do anything about it?! Zolzaya looked down. Her white-knuckled hands shook, but a single tear fell to the ground as she whispered softly, I refuse to sit quietly on the cart while others die. Not again. Ganbaatars heart twisted, and he reached out to the young woman, Zaya, I Zolzaya turned and marched away. Ganbaatar froze. Yutu pushed himself up from the ground with a groan and said, You know youre an idiot sometimes, right, Ganaa? Ganbaatar lowered his hand and sighed, Ya I know Zolzaya crouched behind one of the academy wagons. The tears had dried, but that hadnt helped her mood. Why had she snapped at Ganaa like that? Or her father, for that matter. She knew they were just trying to be reasonable. That they were worried about her. She didnt need her gift to understand that. But that had only made the guilt all that much worse. Hes right, you know Zolzaya flinched at the voice. She looked up to see Artemis leaning against the cart. Zolzaya glared up at her. I thought you were on my side? she asked. Artemis slid down beside her and stared into the dark night sky. The Darkest Night was almost at its peak. Theyd have to move soon, or it would be too late. After a silent moment, Artemis turned to Zolzaya and said, You say that like there are sides to take. This isnt a matter of you versus them. You can both be equally right. She paused and withdrew a small dagger. On the surface, it appeared simple, little more than a carved tooth of some great beast, etched with runes, attached to an ornate black wood handle. Yet in Zolzayas scenes, the blade burned with spirit energy. It was an artifact, a powerful one at that. Artemis lovingly stroked the blades surface, tracing the runes with her free hand. When she continued, her voice was soft. Life is rarely about whos right and whos wrong. Often, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Not always, but enough that a leader must be able to see things from all sides. If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles, as the saying goes. That applies to all things, not just war. A leader doesnt choose the right option; they choose the best one. Sometimes, that means going against the things we believe are the right choice for the sake of others. Be it bowing our head to someone lesser, retreating from a battle at the cost of your pride or reputation The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Artemis flipped the dagger into the air and caught it by the handle. or charging head first into a fight you know you might not walk away from. Life is about choices, and our choices will define who we are. That doesnt mean others choices are wrong or lesser, only that they are different people with different understandings and goals. Thats what makes the world so interesting. Zolzaya smirked and chucked as she spoke. Sounds like something a priest would say... Artemis laughed, a deep, hearty laugh. I would imagine so. My mother was the one who taught me that lesson. She was always adamant that I understand others points of view before I passed my judgment on them. A younger me thought that was foolish. Of course there was right and wrong. Good and evil. What did it matter their reason? It was only later in life that I started to really understand. She turned and looked at Zolzaya with glassy eyes. One bad year. Thats all it takes for a starving village to become bandits. The soldier doing his duty to one side is the pillager, and raider to the other. The wolf in the sheep pen has cubs to feed in her den. A true leader must understand why the enemy does what they do. Only then can they make the best choice in any situation. Even if its not one they agree with. Zolzaya turned away. After a moment, she asked. Then what can you do? When the best choice isnt the one you want? Artemis stared up at the obelisk and answered. You do what you can. Zolzaya frowned at the older woman, who chucked and continued. I know, it sounds cliche, but its the truth. Zolzaya asked, Does that actually help? Artemis sighed and said, Sometimes? No. Bandits still need to be purged, soldiers repelled and wolves culled. Sometimes knowing the why of the matter doesnt change anything. Sometimes youre still forced to do things youd rather not. But other times? You learn about the noble stealing from the villages, forcing them to starve. You learn of the battles being fought because of miscommunication. Sometimes you find a new companion, grateful for saving her pups lives. Sometimes knowing both stories changes nothing. But sometimes it can change everything. Artemis poked at a small ribbon tied into Zolzayas hair. Thats pretty. My mother used to wear one like that. Zolzaya pulled the braid from her helmet and played with the thin green ribbon intertwined within. It was a friends the young woman said. Her mind drifted back to the young woman whod braided it, Sarnai. The young woman had been one of the herbalists in her graduation group. Despite being the same age, Zolzaya hadnt interacted with her before the trip. Oh, sure, shed seen the woman around the village before. Slatewalker village was small enough that almost everyone knew everyone, especially the children of a similar age. But the two had different friend groups, and Sarnai had always been the quiet and out-of-the-way sort, similar to Yutu. That had changed with the trip. The two of them had become quick friends, and Zolzaya had found the girl could be quite talkative when it was something she was interested in. Mostly hair and herbs, something they both could bond over. Zolzaya had never had a close female friend before, and at the time, shed thought it would be nice to have a relationship like her mother and Yutus had. Then the Beast Lord attacked Sarnai had been hurt badly. Nothing she or Kallik had done had helped. Zolzaya had held her even as the young woman slipped away. Then, that quiet girl had asked her a favor. Shed remembered Zolzaya bragging about the poison she was working on. It was a vile thing meant to kill Living Swamps. The pests could spread like weeds and were exceedingly hard to kill. They would regenerate the next year if you missed even a bit of root. The poison she was working on was still an experiment, but was designed to spread out and kill the entire thing before breaking down shortly after. Zolzaya had seen the look in the girls eyes and had felt her determination with her gift. Shed known instantly what Sarnai was planning and had tried everything to convince her not to. But Sarnai knew she was dying and wouldnt make it back to the village, regardless of whether they escaped. Instead of complaining about how unfair it was, the young woman had thanked Zolzaya. Thanked her for being the only real friend she had. Thanked her for the brief moment of happiness and for weeping for her when she was gone. Nothing Zolzaya or any of the other survivors said could dissuade her. Sarnai would not step away from this last gift she could give to one of the few people whod ever truly been kind to the strange, quiet little girl whom no one ever paid attention. In the end, Zolzaya gave in to her stubborn friends request. In the end, it hadnt been the Beast Lord or his minions who had killed her new friend. It had been Zolzaya and a small vial of poison. The gentle smile on her friends body lying in the grass as the cart pulled away had broken something in Zolzaya. It had been the final blow that shattered a heart already cracked and splintered, barely holding together, from the loss of Yutu and Ganbaatar. When they finally made it home, and it finally sunk in that they were safe, she made a vow to herself. Shed never let a friend do the same for her again. Shed never let someone else die in her stead. Zolzaya was tired of running away. It didnt matter if she had to fight the very heavens themselves. Or an army of the dead. Zolzaya gripped the end of her braid tightly as tears slowly slid down her cheek. A solid thud snapped her out of her memories, and she flinched as Artemis slammed the carved tooth dagger into the side of the cart and stood. She stared down at Zolzaya and spook, Whatever you choose to do, better make it quick. Its about time we got things rolling. Tears and regret have their place, but not on the battlefield. The only thing that belongs there is the determination to do what you must. She then turned and walked away. Zolzaya stared after the woman as she disappeared into the gathered Guardians, then looked at the dagger still lodged in the side of the cart. After a long moment, Zolzaya stood and wiped away her tears. Artemis was right. She could feel sorry for herself or wallow in her regrets later. She had other things that needed doing now. Zolzaya reached out, grabbed the hilt of the dagger, and pulled. Despite being buried half its length in the hardwood, the blade slid out as easily as if it were butter. She stared at the blade for a long moment, then pulled out her own dagger and placed it on the side of the cart before slipping the tooth dagger into the empty sheath. This time, there would be no running away. Book 1 - Lesson 58 "Be Brave, and walk forward." Yutu took a deep breath to calm his nerves; despite how confident hed explained his plan to the Head Priest, part of him questioned if this would work. The memories shoved in his head were old. Older than even the Wandering Cities. A lot of things could change after such a vast stretch of time. Things broke or degraded. People messed with things they shouldnt. Even the changes in the environment or topography could have shifted the parameters in unexpected ways he had no way of accounting for. All he could do was trust what hed been given and move forward. If he didnt Yutu shook his head and focused on the task before him. He stood before the small torii that marked the entrance to the Earth Elementals territory. The thick braided rope covered in small talismans circled the area to either side, held up by tall stone pillars every 50 meters. The pillars marked the original boundary zones, while the rope and torii were later additions by the Prima temple to keep people out. A sudden hand on his shoulder made Yutu flinch, and he turned to see Ulagan standing beside him. Despite only being a few years older than himself, Yutu couldnt help but admire Ulagan. Not only was the man far more powerful, nearing the upper-mid [Silver Spirit] step now, but his talent, confidence, and wisdom were all things Yutu had been envious of ever since the graduation trip. That it was Yutu standing here, and not Ulagan, felt wrong to the younger man. This was a job for the brave and strong, not for someone like him. Yutu turned and held up his shaking hands, clenching and unclenching them repeatedly to get the blood flowing again. Ulagan grinned at him and asked, Nervous? Ha! Yutu laughed, not taking his eyes away from his hands. Nervous? No. Terrified? Absolutely. What if Im making a mistake here, Ulagan? Yutu turned and looked at the older man. Theres no guarantee this is going to work. People could die, and it would be m Ulagan punched Yutu in the arm. It was a light hit, and the young mans armor absorbed most of the blow, but it was still enough to make him stumble. Ulagan stared down at the young man with a frown as he spoke. None of that, Yutu. Not at this point. Too many people are relying on you now. It will break morale if they see you breaking down and second-guessing yourself. Yutu shook his head and whispered, Thats the point. I why me? Ulagan folded his arms and raised a brow as he asked, Why not? What happened to the brave young man who was willing to face down the Beast Lord? Yutu turned back to stare at the wandering Earth Elementals. After a moment, he muttered. That was different. Ganaa was right. That wasnt bravery, that was desperation. That was knowing I was going to die and wanting that death to mean something. Even if just a little bit. I was a terrified trapper trying to buy some time, not some hero. Ulagan laughed heartily, throwing his head back. Yutus face went red, and Ulagan looked down at him and grinned. Kid, let me tell you something. Theres never once been a sane man whos stepped on the battlefield and not been scared. You should see the new recruits quaking in their boots the first time they go on a Guardian patrol. Fear can be a good thing. It keeps your mind sharp and lets you spot dangers before they become a problem. Ulagan turned and looked at the elementals as well as he continued. Fear means standing in the enemys path because you know those behind you will die if you dont. Bravery doesnt mean not having fear. It means doing what you must, despite your fear. Ulagan patted Yutus shoulder again, saying, You stood in front of an enemy far more powerful than you could ever have hoped to defeat. Yet, you didnt cower or plead or run like many lesser men might have. Knowing you would die, you fought to give those you loved just a few more moments. If that is not bravery, then none in this world has ever been truly brave. Yutus face turned a deeper shade of red. He knew the older man was exaggerating. He sure as hell didnt feel brave. Nonetheless, Yutu stood a little taller, and his hands were a little calmer. The young man took another deep breath and nodded. He would do this. Not because he thought he was special or because he thought only he could. But because he had to. Because it needed to happen. The Guardians are ready to move out. Are you ready, Yutu? a voice called from behind. Yutu and Ulagan turned to find Juatan, Artemis, and Kallik approaching. Behind them, a platoon of 48 Guardians and the four Scions stood at the ready. A small squad of Akhlut Guardians stood off to the side in their own formation. This was Artemis own squad and would act as both guide and their elite strike team once they arrived at their destination. Each was a powerful combatant that could have given even the Scions a run for their money. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. On the other side, the Head Priest stood with several other high-ranking clergy members and a dozen Jadewalker nobles. Most of the powerful families were on the wall, fighting, so of course, those nobles left were those unwilling to step on the battlefield. Though apparently not unwilling to stick their nose into business, especially after the four Scions had been recruited to the mission. Yutu stared at the gathered force, knowing not all of them would make it home, but pushed the thought out of his mind the next moment. He turned to look at Juatan and nodded before saying, Yes sir. Im ready. Juatan nodded and turned away, yelling orders. Ulagan grinned and followed him. Artemis stared at the young man in silence for a moment before nodding and turning away as well, walking toward her squad. Kallik was the last to turn away. She walked toward him and hesitated. She wasnt great at these kinds of things. Finally, with a frown, she stepped closer and embraced the young man. As she stepped away, she softly spoke, Im sorry. For dragging you kids into all of this. For not being strong enough to protect you like I should have been. Whatever happens, I wanted you to know, as your teacher, Im proud of how you all have grown. Yutu stood frozen as the older woman pulled back and turned away. As she walked away, she called out over her shoulder. Now go show them what a Slatewalker can do. Yutu snapped out of it a moment later and nodded. Yeah he would do just that. Everything was in order. The platoon moved into position behind the torii while the Akhlut squad spread out on their perimeter. If something did happen, their strongest would be the first to meet the issue. Yutu stood directly inside the torii, working up his nerve. The night was eerily quiet. Not even the sound of the wind could be heard, let alone the constant clash of battle beyond the distant walls. It was as if the entire world had paused to witness this moment. Yutu took a deep breath, then stepped past the archway. The effect was immediate. Under Yutus feet, a large array appeared. Its flowing runes circled and shifted until finally locking into place with Yutu at its center, his eyes glowing with flickering white and black light. The torii lit up in a spiraling pattern of runes ignited by white flames. As the flaming runes passed the rope tied on the sides, they, too, caught fire and raced along its length. The gathered Guardians tensed. This was definitely not normal As each talisman caught fire, the flames strengthened until they reached the first supporting pillars. The white flames engulfed the pillars and ignited hidden runes along their surface. When the flames reached the top of the pillar, they shuttered, then slammed into the ground, like spikes being driven in, leaving behind a small stone platform with a complex array on its top. At the same time, the white flames reached the next set of pillars, and the process repeated again and again. All along the perimeter of the Earth Shrine, pillars ignited and slammed into the ground, the process speeding up as time passed. Finally, the last pillar on the other side of the shrine slammed into place. All was silent for a brief moment before the arrays on each of the stone platforms that had once been pillars started to spin. As one, each array unleased a blinding beam of white fire directly toward the main obelisk. The dozens of beams struck the very tip of the obelisk, and the earth began to shake. The Earth Elementals all froze their eternal patrol and turned to stare at the obelisk. Then, with one mind, they bowed. The shaking ground intensified, and many struggled to stand. Throughout the city, sound returned as chaos and confusion spread. Then, slowly, things began to push themselves from the ground. Various buildings, some tall, others short, some simple and humble, others grand and looming, pushed their way upward until, after a few moments, what had once been an empty field was now a small stone city. Zolzaya and the other Slatewalkers recognized it instantly; it could have been the twin to the ruined city theyd found with the Lord Protector. Had this had this been here all along? Just waiting to be reawakened? Most of those gathered stared in awe at the site, and several clergy members were already running around or sending messages back to the temple. Few missed the greedy murmurings and glares of the gathered nobles, though thankfully, the Head Priest was sharp enough to know how to handle that lot. Once the new city had settled and the rumbling stopped, the array under Yutu flashed, then vanished. Yutu crumpled to the ground, panting. Ganbaatar and Zolzaya rushed to his side and gently lifted him up as Juatan approached. Juatan smiled down at Yutu and patted him on the back as he spoke. Good job, lad. Never doubted you for a second. What were looking for should be at the obelisks base, correct? Yutu, still out of breath, took a deep swig from the waterskin that Zolzaya had passed him and nodded. Yes Yes sir. The main complex should hold the teleporter node. If we can get it back online, it should take us directly to the Prima Temple or at least somewhere in the city. There were several arrival points for pilgrims, but most of those might not be active any longer. Theres just one problem. Juatan frowned and sighed. Of course there is. Yutu flushed and turned away as he continued, I wasnt able to deactivate the defenses. Whatevers happening at the Prima Temple has the system in chaos, and its not listening to any remote commands. Were were going to have to fight our way through. Juatans frown deepened as he stared at the moving shadows filling the city. Im not looking forward to fighting an army of Earth Elementals inside a stone city he said. Yutu shook his head and responded, Its not as bad as it sounds. The system has decayed to where it cant recognize friendly from hostiles. That might mean we cant just waltz in, but it also means the Elementals cant bring the city down on us, either. Its protected from that kind of manipulation. If anything, the tight streets will help us deal with their numbers. Artemis made her way over and finished the thought, And if any of the big boys show up, I and the lads will show them a good time. Juatan was still frowning but nodded nonetheless. He turned to Artemis and said, That sounds like a plan. Lets get this show on the road. The quicker we can get to the teleporter, the quicker we can rescue your sister and put an end to whatever the hell this all is. Artemis nodded, grinning ear to ear, then led the charge into the sleeping stone city. Book 1: GRIM Adventures - 5 Grim threw her hands into the air. Hurrah! The lexicon worked! She and the others had worked out a few signs for communication, but being able to talk to people would make things sooooo much easier. She might even be able to convince her new friends to help look for the Bosss arm! Hurrah! She floated up from her resting spot to see if Icy Lady or Tree Guy were ready to talk only to find the pair arguing under the strange tree, occasionally pointing up at Mr. Gopher as he sat in the branches, munching on a nut and still casually on fire Her coding told her that should be a problem, but Mr. Gopher didnt seem to mind, so Grim ignored it. It looked like they had some issues to work out, so Grim floated back to her resting spot and settled in. She might as well review some more logs while she waited. //Loading audio-visual logs please wait// [Icy lady and Tree guy take a nap] - Na, saw that one already. [Nice old lady stirs pot for 3 hours] - Not that one either. It was boring the first time. [Nice old lady babies little sapling] - Hmmmm, maybe? She did talk a lot Na, trees dont make skilled conversationalists. [Mr. Gopher raids the garden] - Oh! That one! That was fun. Grim selected the file and booted it up. The world flickered, and then the burning cottage and giant tree were replaced by the scene from the past. Grim floated away from the window and sighed. She was bored with watching. After Icy Lady and Tree Guy started their nap, not much had happened. The nice old lady had wandered around the cottage and done various chores. Sweeping the floor. Organizing her bookshelf. Stirring a big pot in the kitchen. Beating back the large clawed hand that tried to crawl out of the pot with a wooden spoon. Watering the pretty tree in the middle of the living room with whatever was in the big pot. Well, was it still watering if the liquid was red and oily? and on fire? Grim had no idea. She wasnt programmed to garden. Maybe she could ask Icy Lady and Tree Guy when they woke up. Wait! Maybe Mr. Gopher would know! He liked plants! Well, eating them, but still, Grim bet he would have an idea. Mr. Gopher was smart. Even if they couldnt talk to each other, hed taught Grim lots of things. Like how to pull out the big roots and where to look for nuts! That was almost gardening, wasnt it? Grim twirled around in the air, looking for Mr. Gopher, only to find hed left sometime during Grims observation. That made sense. Biologicals got distracted easily, in her experience, even if her experience was only two strange humans, a large rodent, and lots of hostile wildlife. Grim wandered around the area looking for Mr. Gopher and found him near the back, crouched behind a large boulder. She floated over to him and started to speak, telling him everything shed seen the nice old lady doing. He couldnt understand her, of course, but Grim found it fun to talk to her companions regardless. Mr. Gopher narrowed his eyes, put one clawed paw up to his muzzle, silencing her, and pointed past the boulder. Grim turned to see a sprawling garden filled to bursting with rows of various giant vegetables, berries bushed covered in plump berries, and several trees with branches bent downward from their heavy load of fruit. And there, sleeping in the shade of one tree, was a large dog. No, not a dog a wolf. One of the strange bipedal wolves that had attacked them not too long ago. Only this one was much larger. Or it would have been if the poor thing didnt look like it was just skin and bones, its bloody cloak dry and brown in places. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Around its neck was a thick pink leather collar etched with glowing lines. Attached to the collar was a large silver pendant with more squiggles. Past Grim didnt know what the squiggles said then, but future Grim, seeing it through the recording, could see the silver pendant read Little Red. The creature stirred in his sleep at the sound of her voice, and Grim ducked beneath the lip of the boulder with Mr. Gopher. Mr. Gopher hadnt torn his eyes away from the garden for some time, and his stomach would grumble occasionally. //Are you hungry?// she asked him before taking out one of the glowing roots stored in her cargo. Mr. Gopher looked at the root momentarily before turning his nose up at it and returning to the garden. So picky! Grim turned and looked that way as well. //I dont think thats a good idea, Mr. Gopher. Its not nice to steal from people!// Stealing was bad! Only thieves stole, and she was programmed to run away from thieves! She didnt want to run away from Mr. Gopher She continued, //Besides, that puppy looks mean. Even meaner than the other ones. How would you even get past them?// Mr. Gopher turned and looked at her. Then, back to the garden. Then back to her. Slowly, an evil grin formed on his face. He had a plan, and Grim felt like she wasnt going to like this plan. Grim didnt like this plan! She was filthy! Mr. Gopher had jumped into her cargo and a small pile of chopped meat and organs from the various creatures the group had fought during their trip. She knew biologicals had to consume each other to keep functioning, but why they insisted on stuffing everything they came across into her cargo, she didnt know. Mr. Gopher had taken the pile, mushed it up further between some rocks, and then smothered her in it! GROSS! Once he was finished, Mr. Gopher pointed at the guard dog. Grim looked toward the garden, then back to Mr. Gopher. //Seriously?!// Mr. Gopher just shooed her away. Grim sighed and floated toward the sleeping puppy. Its not like it could really hurt her maybe. It was almost as big as she was, but her armor was thick, and the smaller ones couldnt scratch it, no matter how much theyd struggled. Still she didnt like this plan Grim slowly floated closer as a gentle wind blew through the garden, and the sleeping wolf stirred its nose twitching. Its blood-red eye snapped open and locked onto Grims floating form. It slowly rose on two thin legs and growled, a deep rumbling sound, as thick drool dripped from its muzzle. Its two outstretched clawed hands clenched and unclenched. Grim froze, then slowly floated backward. //G-good doggy. N-ice d-doggy... AHHhhhhHhHHh!// She turned and fled. The beast roared and raced after her with surprising speed for its emaciated form, using all four limbs to close the distance quickly. Mr. Gopher chittered from his hiding spot and made a break for the garden. Grim glimpsed him, climbing up a heavily laden beanstalk before a sudden heavy impact demanded her attention. Little Red had lept from a nearby boulder and landed on top of her, its hungry eyes glowing a deep red. Grim spun out of control momentarily as Little Red clung tightly to her back, its long, drooling tongue flapping in the wind. Little Red howled in victory and opened its jaws wide. Wider than should have been physically possible. They then snapped shut around Grims armor with the sound of screeching metal and breaking fangs. Little Red yelped, but they were undeterred. Their long, wet tongue lapped up all the minced meat and guts covering Grim. Ewewewewewewew For her part, Grim circled the garden at high speed, screaming the entire time. //Get it off! Get it off! Get it off! Get it off! Get it off!// Suddenly, the back door to the cottage burst open, and the nice old lady walked out, a large wooden spoon raised high. As she strode into the garden, she yelled, What in tarnation is going on out here?! Little Red, what do you MY GARDEN! The angry-faced old womans eyeless sockets locked onto Mr. Gopher. A large stone basket filled with various fresh veggies and fruits sat beside him while he stood on a small bush, stuffing his face with berries. Mr. Gophers eyes snapped to the woman as she yelled, his eyes wide. The old woman stalked toward him, wagging her spoon in his direction, Why, you overgrown rat. Raid my garden, do you?! Youd better hope your furry arse tastes good in a stew, or Ill be stewing your soul ne Oooof! Morganas rant was cut short as the full weight of Grim and Little Red slammed into the old woman at high speed. The three tumbled away down the mountain path, bouncing off a wall and out of sight. Mr. Gopher stared after them, blinking. He then took another bite from the berry, lept off the bush, and rushed into the cottage, his stone basket gliding across the ground behind him. Jills consciousness returned to her slowly. She felt groggy. Slow. Like she was being smothered under heavy, wet blankets that were only now being stripped away. She slowly opened her eyes, but everything was blurry and distorted. Her head felt heavy and pounded worse than that when shed tried to out-drink a Cultivator an entire realm above her (Shed won, of course). Slowly, she raised her head, gently cradling it with one hand. As her blurry vision focused, she saw a figure standing on the table, tugging on her sleeve. It appeared to be a giant squirrel? It kind of looked like her mother, but that couldnt be right. Mom? she asked groggily. Slap! A surprisingly strong furry paw slapped her cheek, knocking away the last of the strange mind fog. Jill shook her head, and her vision cleared. Mr. Gopher sat where the squirrel had, angrily chittering at her, tugging on her arm, and pointing to the back door. Jill winced and clutched her head as a spike of pain shot through it. Beside her, Jack stirred as well, and the young man groaned out, Anyone catch who threw a boulder at my head? What the hells going on?! Jill stood, her legs shaking slightly, as she stared around the strange cottage and responded, I I dont know Book 1 - Lesson 59: "Pride has no place in the face of the enemy." At the center of the Jadewalkers Earth Shrine AAAARRRRUUUG! Artemis roared nearly as loudly as the large, upper [Golden Spirit] Earth Elemental as her weapon made contact with the behemoths wide fist. The odd weapon cut cleanly through the hard stone appendage. And a sizeable chunk of the creature itself. At first, Zolzaya didnt know what to call the weapon, until her father identified it as a Monks Spade. Using a spade as a weapon has seemed strange to her, but apparently, it was a common weapon among the priesthood. At least for those in the Earth Temple, as funeral rites were an important part of their duties. The Earth Elemental froze, then crumbled to pieces, its core having been smashed. But the creature was soon replaced with another as it barreled through the ruins of a small house to the side of the courtyard. All around them, Guardians battled with various Earth Elementals while Yutu and the several senior priests worked to unlock the seal on the large building behind them. Their trip through the newly revealed city had been quiet at first. The group had moved silently enough, and the elementals had been deep enough in the city that theyd attracted little attention. That had changed as they drew closer to the open square near the obelisk. Like a switch had been flipped, the lesser elementals had swarmed them through the alleys and surrounding streets. What had been a sedate trek through an abandoned city became a slugfest as they had to fight for every inch of ground. Thankfully, the relative power of the group meant they made steady, if slow, progress with no actual damage. Of course, life is never that simple. Once the group had made it to the open plaza, theyd made a beeline for the main building at the obelisks base, only to find it sealed shut. The assault never stopped, of course, and theyd been forced to bunker down in front of the building and fend off the horde while others worked to crack the seal. It was about that time that the more dangerous elementals had showed up. Giant, lumbering things, theyd crashed through the buildings, rampaging through their own allies to get at the humans. Most were only [Silver Spirit], but their sheer size and mass meant that multiple Guardians had to contend with each. Whats more, a stronger elemental would show up from time to time. These could only be handled by Artemis, maybe two or three of her elites or the scions working together if she was busy with another. These attacks became more frequent with time, and even Artemis showed signs of tiring. If they didnt get inside quickly, there might not be an option for much longer. Zolzaya was doing her part as well. She couldnt fight. Not against this enemy. But she was working double time transporting and stabilizing the wounded. Very few had any serious injuries, at least nothing that couldnt be field-dressed and quickly patched. The worst so far had been a broken arm when Munkh had blocked the blow of a [Golden Spirit] elemental that had slipped by. That she walked away with only a broken bone testified to the defensive experts skill. After Zolzaya had splinted her arm, the typically shy woman had switched her now slightly bent shield to the other arm and charged back into the fray. Something had been bugging Zolzaya for some time, though. Something she couldnt quite place. Ever since more powerful elementals had shown up, something tickled her brain. During one lull in the fight with no strong elementals present, Zolzaya sat down and focused on the feeling. Her gift bloomed outward, and the emotional currents surrounding her became less of a general feeling and more of a real, tangible thing. It was like the difference between hearing a song on a recording crystal versus hearing it live and in person. She was almost overwhelmed by the raw spectrum surrounding her. Fear, anger, frustration, pain; the Guardians might have been powerful, but they were still people at the end of the day. The fight was grinding them down. Yet, pushing all of that into the background was the feeling of sheer determination and steadfast resolve to do what they had to do. Zolzaya clung to that feeling like a steady, unmoving rock in a stormy emotional sea. More centered, Zolzaya focused on the strange feeling shed had before, trying to pinpoint it. At first, she couldnt feel anything. It was like trying to grasp a shadow; it just kept slipping away from her. Then, finally, she grabbed hold of it. It was faint and flickering, like it was struggling against her gift, but she should still see it. There, in the city, a tiny, flickering spark of dark. Of malice. Hatred and anger, cold and black, unlike the burning flames of the Guardians. Suddenly, the black spark turned in their direction. Had it sensed her? No, that shouldnt be possible. What then? As if in answer, the sound of crashing buildings could be heard from the same direction. The Guardians lined up and readied themselves. But the black spark flickered and disappeared just before it entered the courtyard, reappearing off to the side. However, the crashing never stopped, and another [Golden Spirit] elemental soon crashed into the plaza. Artemis lept through the air, stepping over the heads of lesser elementals as she made her way to the giant. Zolzaya stared in confusion. What was going on? Elementals didnt register in her gift. Unlike people or animals, elementals were more forces of nature than living things. Only the truly powerful had anything close to what could be called emotion. Only as she felt the black spark move back deeper into the city, did it finally click. Zolzaya withdrew her gift and stood. She had to tell someone, but who? It would take some time for Artemis to finish off this one. Kallik was with Yutu and couldnt be distracted, while her father and Ulagan were both in their own battles. She desperately searched the area, looking for anyone at all she could pass this info to. Thats when she spotted him she just really wished she hadnt. M?nkhkhan Eastgate paced as the Guardian pounded out the large dent in his armor. Hurry, you fool! Get that repaired before more of them show up, or so help me. Stolen novel; please report. Field repairs like this werent something hed normally bother with, but against an enemy like this, there was no way he was going out there without proper armor. It didnt help that his specialization in blunt weaponry made him especially effective against their stony foes, meaning he was expected to fight the stronger [Silver Spirits] that had been showing up. How did he get himself wrapped up in this?! They were told this would be a quick trip through the shrine to escort priests to the obelisk. It was a job his squad had done several times before. Then, a bloody city had appeared from nowhere, and now they were fighting a war of attrition. Between a rock and a hard place. Literally! His only compensation was that the other Scions had it just as bad, if not worse. After all, a sword, spear, and bow werent nearly as effective against this particular foe. As his nerves and temper rose, a voice called him out. Eastgate! M?nkhkhans heart palpated briefly, but a simmering rage soon replaced the feeling. He barely suppressed it as he turned around to look at the harlot whod caused him so much embarrassment recently. Scion Northgate still wouldnt shut up about the story, and he was sure it had already spread throughout the city. He didnt have proof she was actually involved, of course, but he knew she was somehow. Zolzaya stared up at him with a scowl that matched his own. What is it, girl? Some of us actually have enemies to kill instead of running around playing nurse. Or are you here to complain to me like you whined to your father? What, the adventure not what you thought it would be? M?nkhkhan smirked and asked. He could see the anger flash through her eyes, and seeing her squirm at the barb gave him a dark pleasure. But to his surprise, no snarky, biting retort came. Instead, Zolzaya took a deep breath and said, Im here to report a new discovery. M?nkhkhan narrowed his eyes and frowned. Oh? And what information could you possibly have? Zolzaya stared him in the eye and said, Someone is leading the larger elementals to us. M?nkhkhan laughed. Thats a good one, girl. Were the only ones in the city. Who? Why? Where did you even get this information?! Zolzaya looked away. Thats confidential. You just have to trust me. M?nkhkhan threw his arms out, Stop playing games, girl! This is war! You expect me to believe some outlandish theory, and what? Pull men away from the defensive line to chase some phantom that may or may not even be there?! That finally got a reaction. Just not the one hed been expecting. Zolzayas eyes snapped back to him, her face red. This isnt a game, M?nkhkhan. We dont have time for me to explain why I know, but for the love of all the lives here, Im asking you to trust me at least this once. M?nkhkhan frowned and stared down at her. This wasnt like the country bumpkin whod claw and spit venom when you poked her enough. No, her words held more force than he would have expected, and her eyes held genuine fear. M?nkhkhan narrowed his eyes and asked, How certain are you of this mysterious source of yours? Zolzaya stared back and said firmly, Enough to stake my life on it. M?nkhkhans frown deepened, and he snapped his fingers. The shadows bubbled, and a young woman dressed in light, black-dyed armor appeared beside him. Zolzaya lifted an eyebrow, maybe recognizing the woman from their previous encounter. Without taking his eyes off Zolzaya, M?nkhkhan spoke to the new woman beside him. Lieutenant, take half the scouts and spread out along the perimeter. Report anything out of the ordinary immediately. The black-leathered lieutenant turned and asked, Is that wise? With how hard the elementals are pushing, if shes wrong, we M?nkhkhan turned to look at her and cut her off. Just do it. The lieutenant bowed and vanished into his shadow. The man turned to look at Zolzaya and said, You better be right about this. Kallik frowned as she watched the fight between the Guardians and the elementals progress. It was going well for now, but they couldnt keep this up for long. All it would take was one mistake, and their position would be overrun. She turned back to the shrine door and stared at the arguing priests. Theyd not been much help either. According to them, they had never seen this seal on the Earth Shrine, and it was taking far longer than theyd expected to open it. Apparently, the thing was closer to an array than a magic seal, and it wasnt responding to any they normally would do. Thankfully, Yutu and one of the senior priests had experience in arrays, and the two of them were working together to crack it. The question on everyones mind was whether they would make it in time. A sudden commotion drew Kallis attention, and her heart sank. From the city, six giant figures rose. The blood drained from her, and she yelled at Yutu, Get that door open, NOW! Were trying! Were trying! was the panicked response. Kallik turned her attention back to the battle as the six mid-ranked [Golden-Spirit] elementals lumbered into the fray. This wasnt good. Artemis could deal with two, maybe three, of them if she pushed herself, while the Scions and elites took care of another. But one would inevitably slip through and wreak havoc on their front line. If they didnt open those doors soon, they would lose people. Suddenly, one of the giant elementals turned away from battle and swung its fist at something hidden by the buildings. Kallik frowned; great, what now?! Kalliks unspoken question was soon answered as one of the scions, accompanied by several scouts, appeared from the dust, chasing three black-veiled figures. Cultists?! Were they the ones responsible for luring the elementals into them? Shed known the Guardians had been dealing with cultist attacks ever since the undead showed up, but how had they gotten into the shrine?! The scion and cultists dodged and weaved through the elementals attacks, but eventually, the scion and his scouts cornered them. Two were peppered with arrows, while the third took a heavy blow from the scions two-handed war mace. The cultist went flying and slammed into the hard stone wall of a nearby building. Theyd only stood up on shaking legs when the giant elementals foot mooted the effort. The scion and the scouts took one look at the elemental, whose attention was now fully on them, before making a hasty retreat. The death of the cultist was a trigger, however, as a dozen more black-clad figures appeared from the city. Individually, they werent the strongest, ranging from mid to high-rank [Silver Spirit], but they were intelligent and focused on harassing the stronger members of the Guardians while the [Golden-Spirit] elementals slowly approached. Its open! Yutu yelled. Kalliks eyes snapped to Yutu just in time to see the large stone doors slowly slide open with a rumble. She turned back to the battlefield and yelled out with a Spirit-enhanced voice, Retreat! Retreat to the shrine! The order was repeated a few times, and slowly, the frontline shrunk backward, and the Guardians made their way to the open door. Kallik turned and rushed inside. The grand hall was elegantly crafted, if simple, but no one had time to admire it. The group rushed through the long hallway and arrived at an open courtyard. There, at the base of the obelisk, was a large stone platform that looked like it could easily fit two or three hundred people. Yutu pointed at the platform and yelled, There! The group rushed to the platform, and a quick headcount showed everyone was present. Theyd not lost anyone yet. Further down the hall, the elemental swarm pushed toward them. The doorway prevented any of the larger ones from entering, but she Kallik was sure the giant elementals could just knock the walls down if they so wished. On top of the courtyard wall roofs, the surviving cultists appeared in puffs of black smoke. Yutu! get this thing running, now! Artemis yelled. I am! Just give me a there! Yutus eyes lit up with a bright white light, and the platform shook. The cultists drew twisted-looking bows and fired at them, but a blue energy shield popped into existence at the edge of the platform, blocking the arrows. A dozen runed rings slowly rose from the platform, circling and spinning in all directions. They sped up, faster and faster, as a heavy static filled the air. The last thing Kallik saw before the world flashed white as the courtyard walls collapsed and several giant elementals plowed through. When Kallik could see again, the courtyard was empty, as if the elementals had been whisked away. No it was they that had been. While the courtyard appeared nearly identical to the one theyd just left, there were differences if you paid attention. Things looked less new. Like the walls had been exposed to the elements for countless years. The damage was different in places, and the obelisk behind them was much smaller, only a dozen meters tall. The group piled off the platform, a few people collapsing in exhaustion. All Kallik could do was stare through the large hole in one of the collapsed walls at the burning city beyond. Had they really escaped? Or had they jumped from the pot into the fire? Book 1 - Lesson 60: "Call in the cavalry!" All was darkness. The silent black infinity stretched out before him, accompanied by only the deep rumble of stone. Then suddenly, light! A pinprick of red flickering in the distance. Slowly, it grew larger as the black void rumbled and shook. Then, like a newborn flame roaring to life, it expanded. The stone wall in front of him crumbled away, and Alpha stepped out of his rocky tomb and into the top of the wall that had given him so much trouble. He moved the TAWP closer to the edge of the wall and peered out into the burning city beyond. Deep roars, like the sound of an earthquake, echoed through the abandoned city of stone. They were met with the garbled, broken cry of a million dead voices. Alpha shook the last remains of stone dust from the TAWP and, with a hiss, opened his pilot hatch. A cyclone of air shot out, circling back around and materializing into No. 7 beside him. Alphas strange companion knelt on the rooftop and raised their hands in the air. Oh! Blessed open sky! No. 7 snapped to Alpha and pointed, yelling, Im never doing that again! You nearly got us killed! What if the enemy had taken control of the wall?! Oh, there was no risk of that happening. Only the Wallkeeper even knows about my imprint, and theyre dead. These fools probably killed him, thinking they could just take over. Ha! Like Id make it that easy. No. 7 froze and stared at the upper half of a woman sticking out of the TAWPs nanite skin. No. 7s arm fell, and they asked with a flat voice. What are you doing here? Im coming with you! Jsh responded. Ya! Shes coming along! Alpha echoed. No. 7 covered their face with both hands and sighed. Can someone at least explain what the hell is going on out there?! How long were we in that wall?! No. 7 asked, gesturing to the burning city. Somewhere off in the distance, one of the larger buildings crumbled, and an enormous stone creature, a quarter the size of the wall, rose from the rubble. Jsh raised her hand, OH! I can answer that! Only a little more than an hour. Some things happened, and moving you up the wall took a little longer. Given the current state of things, I figured it would be safer than throwing you into the streets. Which would be No. 7 asked, rolling their wrist. Jsh shrugged, Someone activated the security system at one of the siphons. That triggered the citys primary defenses to activate. But time and that she waved to the much thicker swirling dark clouds in the night sky, caused a lot of damage. The system is rampaging. And this? No. 7 gestured to Jsh. Again, the elemental shrugged. Only way I could leave the wall. I dont just control the wall; I am the wall. No. 7 gawked and asked, Wait, so the wall is Jsh nodded, Yup. One big elemental body. That causes some issues, though. Specifically, I cant easily be separated from it. Thus, the projection crystal I stuffed in this fools soul. Hey! Alpha complained, feeling like a third wheel. Jsh rolled her eyes and folded her arms. Oh, stop whining. Think of me as using you like a data hotspot. Besides, its one of the safest ways to do this. I dont suffer from the same issue you do, so the energy youre radiating acts as a natural shield against all that. Again, she gestured to the dark sky. No. 7 sighed and shook their head before asking. Im not even going to ask what the hell you two have worked out. Thats none of my business; I want nothing to do with it. Rather, what do we do now? Can you get us through the city? Were running out of time. Jsh looked away and scratched her cheek. Yaaaa, about that. Remember how I said the security system was damaged and corrupted by whatever the hell theyre doing to the Heart? Well, I had to cut myself off from most of the city systems to stop it from spreading. Trust me, you dont want to see me corrupted. As if to emphasize her words, a massive stone hand, as big as the TAWP, slammed onto the top of the wall, only a few meters away. The shadows of the night deepened as the fires burning in the city were blocked by the giant stone figure that pulled itself over the wall. The creature stared down at Alpha and company, then roared with the voice of a mountain. No. 7 stared up at the creature and said flatly, . Right of course. Alpha peddled backward as the elemental swung at him while No. 7 dissolved into the wind. Coward! Alpha yelled at the escaping masked friend before returning to the elemental. How the hell was he going to deal with this thing!? It was at least ten times the size of the TAWP and outmassed him by a lot more. His only option right now was to go around it instead. But even that wasnt a perfect plan. He could see several other similar figures wandering the city, crushing everything in their path. He might outrun one, but Alpha would have a bad day if he got trapped between two or more of them. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. However, the choice was taken from him as a TAWP-sized boulder slammed into the giant creature the next moment, knocking it away. It roared as it fell and then broke into a thousand pieces when it hit the ground. Alpha paused, then turned. There, on the wall beside him, a massive construct had silently pushed itself out of the wall. On the surface, it appeared like an old-fashioned M198 howitzer, like the kind Alpha had only seen in some of the ancient war documentaries from Earth. But made of stone and several dozens of times larger, dwarfing even the TAWP. Jsh smiled down at him and said, What? Did you think you were the only one who liked big guns? Alpha shrugged and said, Well, lets go do this, then. Then, he lept from the walls. Charge! Mow them down! The young woman stood atop the war machine, a single foot placed on the swerving gun turret, one hand pointing forward while the other kept the slightly oversized PASGT helmet on her head in place. Not helping! Alpha yelled. His point-defense turrets blared and shot another zombie penguin out of the air as it lept from the roof of a nearby building. A sudden right turn into a side street barely allowed them to avoid the fist of the giant earth elemental as it appeared around the corner, hidden by one of the larger buildings. Jsh rolled her eyes and snapped her fingers. A large boom sounded from the distant wall, followed by a long whistling sound. A second later, a massive boulder slammed into the earth elemental as it tried to follow them. The creature was thrown into the building beside it, and both collapsed into rubble. Alpha glanced toward the wall and the several dozen gargantuan stone howitzers lining its top, pointing into the city. Occasionally, one would fire, obliterating one of the larger elementals or undead. Jsh folded her arms and said, Dont make a habit of relying on those. Even using the optimized plans dug up from your memory, theyre draining mana and spirit energy like crazy. Without my connection to the Heart, this is about as much as I can do. The wind swirled next to her, and No. 7 materialized. They blasted away a few smaller earth elementals clinging to the TAWP that the turrets couldnt reach and spoke. Were almost to the branch temple. Only a few more streets to go. Though, remind me, why are we wasting our time with this instead of heading for the Heart?! Jsh sighed and said, As I mentioned before we started, someone activated a transit point, which means someones trying to come through the siphon. Only a very select few people should even know about the transit system. Meaning either the enemy found it, or Were getting backup, Alpha finished. Jsh nodded and continued, Right. If its the enemy, this is a great opportunity to grab some of the enemy outside their fortified position and gather information. If its backup, that will make our push toward the Heart much quicker. Especially since both the defenses and the undead are thicker the closer to the citys center. The woman grinned from ear to ear and said, Besides, Im having a blast. Ive not had this much fun in centuries! Alpha paused then whispered to No. 7. Hey 7 does she seem more bubbly to you? No.7 shrugged and responded, Elementals are beings of reaction and stimulus. Earth elementals tend to be more stable, but theyre very much affected by their environment and those around them. Besides, being a wall for lord knows how long must be a boring gig. It must be nice to cut loose a little. Or being in your soul is affecting her. Are you calling me a bad influence?! Alpha asked, insulted. Yes. No. 7 responded. You could have at least hesitated Alpha muttered. I can hear you both, you know, Jsh called from her perch, blank-faced. We know, her two companions said in tandem. No. 7 was almost thrown off as Alpha made another quick turn to avoid the next street. A moment later, the street was destroyed as one of the giant elementals crashed through it, wrestling with the zombified form of a massive worm-like creature. The two creatures rolled around, flattening several blocks before another boulder from the wall ended them both. Ten minutes later, the group closed in on the low, wide building that was their target. As they did, new sounds were heard over the constant earthy rumble of elementals and the various dead screams of the undead. The clash of metal and the sound of human voices. Alpha pushed the TAWP harder and drifted around the last corner to see an odd sight. The street opened up into a large plaza. In a time long past, the plaza would have been filled with street vendors and merchants hawking their wares to the various travelers and pilgrims. Now, it was filled with a mix of undead and elementals, so thick they prevented each other from moving well. Even now, more and more poured into the cramped space, pushing their way toward the squat building at the far end. Past the outer walls of the building, a small obelisk, only a dozen meters tall, stood in an inner courtyard. Alpha could see a large group of humans surrounding the courtyard through one collapsed wall, beating back the tide of elementals and undead. They werent alone, however. Mixed in with the undead were a dozen humanoids dressed in black, their faces obscured by black veils. While the undead didnt seem to bother with the figures, they didnt appear to be undead themselves. Or, at the very least, they showed far more intelligence than their rotting friends, slipping between the chaos to strike at the defending humans in various malicious ways. 7! Alpha called. Im on it! the other responded before dissolving into a torrent of wind. The small, horizontal cyclone cut a line through the undead horde and elementals before No. 7 materialized above a surprised black-clad figure as they snuck up on one of the defenders. Alphas masked companion dropped from the sky and skewered the black-clad figure through the heart with their rapier. The figure jerked, then burst into black flames as No. 7 retreated. Alpha didnt waste any time, either. The TAWPs legs flattened, and the armor on the two front legs thickened and elongated, forming a wedge shape. The TAWP lowered as far to the ground as it could as the treads on its legs squealed. Alpha short forward, plowing through the weakened horde of undead left in No. 7s wake. Barricade breaker mode wasnt as nimble as walker mode. Nor was it as fast or suited for long-distance travel like travel mode. But as the name suggested, it excelled at pushing through defensive lines and getting to places where the enemy didnt want him. The TAWP pushed through the horde at speed, crushing or pushing them away as he plowed through their line. Those lucky few who grabbed onto the TAWP without being crushed were rewarded with a bullet to the face from a point-defense turret. Or Jshs foot. In only a short amount of time, theyd broken through most of the horde and skidded to a stop just before the front lines, even squishing one of the black-clad figures. The TAWP lept into the air and soared over the humans defensive line using the remaining momentum, landing in an empty part of the courtyard. Alpha raised his arms in the air. 10 points! Woo-hoo! Alpha was greeted by a black-and-white-haired snarling woman as she lept into the air and swung a large shovel (?) at him. Before Alpha could turn his turrets on the threat, Jsh appeared on top of the TAWP and caught the bladed shovel between two fingers, stopping the wild-looking woman in her tracks. The shovel lady stared, her eyes wide and mouth agape. Another figure ran toward them, yelling, Wait! Stop! STOP! Theyre friends! Neither party knew which the approaching woman was addressing or referring to. Alpha turned and waved, saying, Hi Kallik! Its about time you all showed up. You almost missed all the fun! Kallik stopped short and bowed, a closed fist cuffed in the other, before responding. Im glad you could make it, though Im afraid weve had more than enough of our own fun recently Book 1 - Lesson 61: "The right door needs the right key." Alpha was attacked twice more before the order was restored. Some hadnt heard in time, while recent events had conditioned others to lash out at anything strange. Kallik breathed easier once the two groups were content with staring each other down instead of trying to kill one another. It helped that Alphas charge had sown some chaos in the already not-too-bright undead ranks. The commotion had also drawn the attention of the patrolling elementals, and now the undead hoard was being pressed from the side, relieving some of the pressure on the humans. The situation improved further when Jsh snapped her fingers, and several thick stone walls rose, sealing the several chokepoints through which the undead had been assaulting them. When the last of the undead in the courtyard fell, many of the Guardians collapsed on the spot, too tired to even celebrate. Those that could, began moving among the fallen, treating injuries or moving companions as the need arose. None knew how long this small moment of rest would last, but they were all soldiers and knew how to make the most of it while it did. Juatan, Ulagan, Ganbaatar, and Yutu approached a moment later, the latter bowing at the hip. Zolzaya was still attending to several wounded Guardians but watched the gathering from the side, guarded by Munkh. Ulagan was the first to break the awkward stalemate. He turned and spoke, Lord Protector. I am glad to see your timing is just as good as always. It seems appearing out of nowhere to save the day is becoming a habit of yours. Not that Im complaining, of course. The comment drew a slight chuckle from the gathered Slatewalkers, while Alpha turned and waved back in Lord Protector mode. A hard-faced Artemis wasnt so easily amused. She folded her arms and frowned up at the metal war machine that outweighed her a two hundred times over. So this is the fool who let my sister get kidnapped. What have you to say for yourself, Lord Protector? she said. As she stared at Alpha, several of the elite Akhlut appeared behind her. Alpha slowly turned to stare at the woman. He pointed toward her, but a different voice cut him off before he could speak. A fool he may be, but the young pup would do well to distinguish friends from foe. Jsh pushed her way out of the TAWPs front and smiled down at the Akhlut woman. Artemis froze, her eyes wide. Artemis had noticed the woman when shed blocked her attack, but only now was she getting a good look at her. The blood drained from her face, and the Akhlut woman knelt down to one knee, followed by the rest of the Akhlut. Her eyes on the ground, Artemis stuttered out, This one greets the Prima! Ganbaatar wasnt ashamed to admit he barely knew what was happening anymore. Only a few short weeks ago, hed been an apprentice trapper with broken dreams of being a Guardian. Now, he stood on a battlefield surrounded by elites, fighting a war that could very well decide the fate of the entire Radian Sea, if not beyond. Despite that, he knew he was where he needed to be in the end, even if it was not where he thought he should be. He stood by what hed told Zolzaya; this wasnt a fight in which they could stick their hands without consequence. Yet she and Yutu were determined to see this through, so he would stand by them for as long as possible. That said, the whiplash of it all was getting to him. This latest revelation was just another drop in the bucket. Hed heard of the Prima, of course. Who hadnt? The Prima. The Sovereigns of Nature. The First Elementals. They were four beings of that stood at the top of the Prima Temple. Despite the temples claim otherwise, many worshiped them as deities. Even the Slatewalker village had a small shrine dedicated to them. They were also said not to have been seen by mortal eyes for well, centuries. The only evidence they were even still around was the word of the high clergy, who claimed to speak for them, and the occasional rumored blessed. Ganbaatar would have thought Artemis was simply mistaken, were the Akhlut woman anyone else. The stone woman labeled as a Prima pulled herself out of Lord Protector and sat cross-legged on one of his metal horns. That the Lord Protector even allowed this only added further weight to the claim. After all, not even the Lord Protector could stand against a god, right? Artemis fell to both knees and placed her head against the ground before speaking. Lady Prima! I implore you! A foul enemy has invaded your city, slain your people, and stands poised to complete their dark plans! Your power could be all that sta Nope. No can do, the Prima spoke, cutting the warrior off. Artemis lifted her eyes to stare at the Prima, the Akhlut womans voice cracking as she asked, I I dont understand, my Lady. Surely you could Again, the Prima cut her off with a raised hand. Frowning, she rested her head in her free hand and said, Ill stop you right there and clear up a misunderstanding. Its not that I dont want to. Its that I physically cant. This is a third-generation incarnation and linked to the citys walls. Im already cut off from most of the city. The enemy might not have known about me, but they knew enough about the systems in place to ensure none of it could be used against them. Artemis stared back, eyes wide and speechless. Ganbaatar turned to Yutu and asked, Third-generation incarnation? Yutu shrugged. That wasnt part of the information hed been given. Instead, it was someone else who spoke up. A strange person spoke beside Ganbaatar. It means shes a clone of a clone. Ganbaatar jumped and turned to the mysterious figure who had appeared seemingly out of nowhere. The adventurer leathers they wore seemed plain enough, but the bone-white, featureless mask that hid their face instantly drew ones attention. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Ganbaatar didnt know who this stranger was, but he recognized them as the one who had been slaughtering the cultists only moments before the Lord Protector had arrived. The masked figure turned their gaze to Ganbaatar, and the young man shivered, an icy chill running down their spine. The mysterious figure spoke again. Elemental reproduction is complicated. Most assume they naturally appear in places with high spirit energy. But the truth is something different. All elementals have the ability to split themselves. With enough raw materials and spirit energy, they can create an exact replica of themselves for one purpose or another. Thus, all elementals, in one shape or form, are copies of the original four, the Prima. Ganbaatar furrowed his brow, frowned, and said, That doesnt make any sense. Are you telling me that her Ganbaatar gestured to the woman sitting on the Lord Protector, and that thing he gestured to one of the gargantuan walking rubble piles visible over the courtyard walls, are the same? The masked figure turned and looked at the giant elemental in the distance, then looked back at Ganbaatar. Nope. Two totally different beings, he said. Ganbaatars frown deepened. But you just said The masked figure signed and continued, Look, I said it was complicated. When an elemental splits, lots of things can happen. If there are insufficient materials or spirit energy, or something disrupts the process, the Bud can come out wrong in ways. For those closer to the Prima, this might manifest as a drift in personality or a decrease in power. But the further and further the generations grow apart, the more these drifts accumulate. Eventually, you get those things. The figure gestured to the elementals in the city. Lesser beings with no true will or even real sapience. As for Jsh your friend isnt wrong, per se, to call her Prima. The first few generations are typically so similar that they are identical, to the point that the True Prima can use them as body doubles, hopping between them at will. Its like splitting your mind into different parts so you can focus on new things. They pointed to the city wall in the distance. The problem is that. Being only third generation, this particular bud is about as close to the true Prima as it could physically be. But they were made to manage the citys wall, not act as a mouthpiece for the Prima. While mentally and even spiritually, they are essentially the same, she wields only the barest fraction of her true power. Yutu was the one to ask the next question. Ganbaatar turned to see the young man had never taken his eyes off the stone woman as he spoke. So elementals create copies of themselves to perform a duty. But sometimes, that process goes wrong and creates variance. Those variants then create other copies, and the process repeats itself until eventually, the copy is so different from the original that its no longer even the same being? The masked figure paused but nodded and answered, Yes, thats one way to think of it. However, it doesnt have to be that way, either. Theoretically, under perfect conditions, a copy can continue to replicate perfectly with little to no drift, into infinity. At the same time, a Prima can purposefully choose to create an entirely different being, even from the second generation. The Forgeking, Elemental Lord of Flames and Smoke, is said to have hundreds of nearly identical buds, all working on various projects, allowing the Prima to be in many places at once. In contrast, the Herald of Storms, Elemental Lord of Storm and Sky, has never once made a true copy. Every one of his buds has been distinct individuals by design. They turned and stared back at the Prima while the others talked, then continued, As for Jsh even among the Prima, the Queen of the Underworld has always been more reclusive. She keeps her cards close to her chest. I cant honestly say I know how she does things, but I question why a third generation has been left alone for so long Ganbaatar turned and looked at the others and asked, Do you think we can trust her, then? He glanced at the figure out of the side of his eye. The irony of asking that of someone he didnt even know the name of wasnt lost on the young Slatewalker. The masked figure laughed. Do we have any other choice? Alpha was frustrated. The leaders of the human group were busy arguing about their next step while their soldiers rested and recuperated. His own plan of charging through the enemy lines and making a break for the center of the city had been unanimously shot down. Alpha had thought it was a good plan, personally. With him leading the charge and Jshs guns taking out the larger threats, the humans could easily guard their flanks, especially with their numbers. But issues of -Cultivation levels- had been brought up. Most of the soldiers could only deal with some of the stronger creatures currently roaming the city by working in teams. Their stronger fighters, including Alpha, would be spread too thin to risk a fast march. The danger would only increase the closer they got to the citys center and the storm. More so with the black-clad cultists running loose. Alpha had long suspected some form of power scaling among the locals abilities but hadnt had the chance to investigate yet. Until now, straight-up asking would have risked blowing his cover, while he hadnt had time to ask Jsh herself any details. He questioned if keeping his cover was even worth it at this point or if it had all been a symptom of the supposed soul damage magnifying his paranoia. Either way, questions could wait for a later time. He would wait while they devised a plan for now, but it was boring. Hed entertained himself for a short while by chasing a familiar face around with a [Wasp]. The pale-faced man in flashy armor had taken one look at the drone and paled even further. He then dropped the large mace he was carrying and ran away, screaming, much to the confusion of those around him. That only lasted long enough for Jsh to slap Alphas chassis and frown at him. The AI tsked and dissolved the drone. The armored man collapsed into a fetal position and shivered. Alpha didnt miss the slight smirk on the young Zolzayas face as she calmly walked over to treat the man. After nearly half an hour of fruitless planning, one of the young men hed saved prior, Yutu, approached wearily. The young man stopped in front of him and bowed, though his next words werent for Alpha but for Jsh. Lady Prima. I have a message for you, from well yourself. The group paused and turned their attention to Yutu. Jsh raised a brow, then leaned down from atop Alpha and cupped the young mans chin. Two pairs of matching concentric ringed eyes stared into each other, and she smiled at him. A message important enough to bless you for. Interesting. What do you have for me, young man? Yutu stepped back and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. Instead of speaking, however, he stretched out his hand. The air pulsed, causing several gathered to reach for their weapons, though Jshs calm demeanor eased any worries. Then, slowly, something pushed its way out of the young mans chest, causing space to ripple slightly, like water. At first, it was just a point of stone, then more and more of the object pushed itself out until a miniature obelisk appeared. It righted itself and moved to float over Yutus outstretched hand, slowly spinning. The miniature obelisk was made of the same black material as the larger one behind them, but only a hands length tall. Jshs eyes widened, and she stood straight. Oh? Ohhhhhh! she explained before grinning ear to ear and crooking her finger toward herself. The miniature obelisk flew out of Yutus hand and floated to Jsh, who stared at it like it was the most beautiful thing shed ever seen. Then she laughed. A musical, cascading thing that drew every eye. When she spoke, everyone listened. Well, isnt this great? Maybe the fates truly are helping us if they brought us this. Kallik was the one to ask, What is it? Jsh turned to the Grassreader and, still grinning, said, A key. Book 1 - Lesson 62: "Knowledge Is Key" Come on, work, you stupid thing! the nervous man breathlessly yelled at the small black jade. Occasionally, hed glance over his shoulder or jump at some new sound. He had to hurry and inform the others before it was too late. Everything had gone to the nine hells and back, and nothing was happening how the Mistress said it would. When the army of Iris appeared ahead of schedule, the conclave rushed to activate their sleepers and enact the plans already in place. Theyd managed to destroy the communication arrays and several minor systems, but the temple was on high alert after some fools screwed up a simple assassination of a few interlopers. As a result, the walls were raised, and their easy victory was stolen from them. To make matters worse, the Jadewalkers were somehow still coordinating without their arrays! Through interrogation of captured soldiers, the conclave had tracked the meddling insects (literal insects! Some kind of unidentifiable wasp) to a warehouse in the city, but the Guardians were one step ahead of them. The place was heavily guarded and covered in arrays they hadnt yet been able to crack. How this backwater place even had something of that quality boggled the mans mind. Now, those interlopers that the conclave elders had dismissed as a hassle to deal with had somehow raised an entire city where the Earth Shrine was. The conclave had tried to stop them from activating the teleportation array at the shrine center, but the daughter of the previous high priestess had proven too strong. Now, he was stuck trying to contact the elders at the Prima Temple and warn them about the coming danger. Ahhh, so this is where you ran off to. The man froze, then slowly turned to face the source of the voice with a weak smile. P-priest Tarkhan. I-Im sorry for disappearing like that. Just needed to get some air. Im sure you understand. Priest Tarkhan walked out of the shadows, his hands behind his back, and nodded. Yes, yes, perfectly understandable, my boy. Youve had a rough day. We both had, what with being strung along by these damnable cultists, right? Its not your fault they tricked you and used you like they did. Youre just a simple temple messenger; youre not trained to spot deceivers like that. The man gave the priest a nervous laugh and agreed, Y-yes, sir, its as you say. They r-really pulled the wool over our eyes. Im just ashamed I couldnt do more. Priest Tarkhan laughed and patted his shoulder. Dont feel bad. They fooled even me. I must say, its been quite an eye-opening experience for me. Even someone such as I can be humbled, it seems. The nervous messenger raised a brow, a slight smirk hidden by the darkness of the hallway. Is that so, sir? Ill keep that in mind for next time. Thank you for the lesson, he said. The messenger turned to leave but was stopped by Priest Tarkhans tight grip on his shoulder. Ah! Before you leave, let this priest pass on one last lesson to his junior. Priest Tarkhan pushed the man against the hallway wall and said, Deceit is tricky. Used correctly, it can be a powerful tool. If used foolishly, then all it does is dig your own grave. After all, no one enjoys being lied to. The messenger nodded, a cold sweat trickling down his forehead. Something was wrong. The icy smile of the priest sent shivers down his spine. Slowly, he reached for the [Black Blossom Dagger] hidden in his robes. The dagger was an artifact blessed by the Mistress herself. It was only a single-use item but was strong enough to kill even a [Earthly Transcendent] with a single blow. The plan had been to use it on the Head Priest, but hed never gotten a chance. Using it on a senior priest like Tarkhan might have been a waste, but it would throw the temple into chaos for a while. That could buy them the time they needed to smooth things over and for him to escape. The messenger smiled up at Tarkhan and said, Thank you for the lessons, Priest Tarkhan. As always, your wise words have enlightened me. Ill be sure to remember them even after youre gone. The mans smile twisted into something vile as he pulled the dagger from its hidden sheath. Only to freeze mid-swing. The messengers vision swayed, and the still-smiling face of Priest Tarkhan seemed to double. The sound of dripping liquid and sharp pain in his chest drew the mans eyes downward. A thin stone spike protruded from the messengers chest, piercing his heart. Slowly, he raised his head, followed Priest Tarkhans free hand, and found it pressed firmly against the stone wall behind him, glowing with a faint, near unperceivable pulse of spirit energy. The messengers grip weakened as both the dagger and the black jade fell from his hands. Priest Tarkhan straightened, and the stone spike retracted back into the wall, letting the body of the messenger fall to the ground. Tarkhan reached down and plucked both items from the slowly growing puddles of blood. He turned and bowed, presenting both items in open hands as he spoke. I trust this is enough to prove my sincerity? Head Priest? Head Priest Erden emerged from the shadows, frowning as he spoke. Honestly? No. Your mistake almost cost us everything, Tarkhan. But this is a start. The head priest reached out and picked up the black dagger. He sneered at the evil thing before a pulse of energy turned the entire artifact into brittle stone. It crumbled away into dust in the next instant. Erden then picked up the black jade and turned it around in his hand, wiping off the blood stain. He carefully placed the jade into a robe pocket before turning around. Erden then called over his shoulder, Come, Tarkhan. We still have rats to sniff out and things to do. If were quick about it, we might actually make it out of all this alive Priest Tarkhan bowed and quickly followed behind. Thump!Thump! Thump! The distant sound of the wall guns firing was strong enough to be heard even from here. As were the rumbling screams of the giant elementals as the massive projectiles slammed into them. Sometimes, the voices of the elementals, which sounded like a falling avalanche, were replaced by the soul-chilling scream of one massive undead or another. The giant undead were far rarer than the elementals, however. The danger of the undead came from their sheer numbers and the black-clad figures directing them. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. A wild woman swinging a long monks spade sliced one such figure in two. A floating, phantasmal shield pressed the severed halves into the ground. They struggled for a moment, then burst into black flames. The surrounding undead fell into chaos, all sense of order lost as they fell back into their base, feral instincts. Charge! Juatan gave the order from atop Alphas back. 50+ Guardians and one war machine slammed into the enemy lines. Dozens of forearm-thick nanite tendrils erupted from the sides of the TAWP and spearing trice as many undead at a time. They werent effective killing blows, but the Guardians who followed behind and destroyed each of the trapped undeads cores ensured they stayed dead. Even the young Slatewalkers were doing their part, through watched over by Ulagan. This was their fourth such engagement since leaving the teleporter node, and everyone was getting into the rhythm of things. Thanks to the support of the humans, Alpha had saved a ton of supplies so far. Pinning the enemy down and letting the humans finish them was far simpler. The big boys were handled by the stronger members of the group or Jshs guns. So far, the only time Alpha had to step in was against a group of flying undead that were too numerous for the humans but too small for the wall guns. A quick round of turret fire had erased that problem before they could even draw near, and the enemy hadnt attempted it again. Instead, they seemed content at throwing more and more undead at the small, advancing group, seeming less to truly stop them but rather slow them down. And for all they knew, it was working. The group had made slow progress through the city so far, and at their current pace, it would take hours, maybe days, to reach the pyramid at the center of the storm. Thankfully, that wasnt their destination yet. Artemis lept into the air, landed on Alpha, and bowed to Jsh. Your plan is working, Lady Prima. The enemy is attempting to force us to take shelter in the library, she said. Kallik stared at the large building a few blocks away, one of the largest still standing in the city. She frowned and said, Its likely a trap. Theyve either booby-trapped the building or plan on pinning us in once were inside. Juatan nodded, I dont doubt that, but thats all part of the plan, he said. Why do you have a passage leading to the center of the most important location in your city, hidden under a library of all things, again? Alpha asked. Jsh chuckled and responded, You have it backward; the passage leads from the Heart to the library. It was created as an emergency escape route, while the library itself is designed as a bunker. The Heart can be an extremely dangerous place under the right circumstance. And youre sure Ill be able to fit through? Alpha asked. Jsh waved the worry off. The passage was designed to accommodate hundreds of staff at once. Youll be too big to fit through some of the side passages, but we only care about the main corridor to the Heart. Good enough for me, Alpha responded. Ten minutes later, the small army was pushing its way into the librarys main building. As soon as the last Guardian crossed the threshold, there was a pulse of dark spirit energy, and an array carved into the outer walls flashed to life. In an instant, the building was covered by a dome of deep, black fog. One of the nearest Guardians pushed their spear through the fog, only for it to instantly rot away. The Guardian dropped the weapon, and everyone backed further away from the fog-filled archway. Even the metal spearhead had corroded. Artemis wrinkled her face and said, Looks like you were right. Thats some nasty stuff. Lets get gone before they pull out whatever else theyre planning. Where is this passageway? Jsh led the group deeper into the building. It was a massive place, easily a square kilometer on the ground floor alone. Alpha could see how such a place might have been used to shelter civilians at one point. Now, most of the shelves were barren or covered in dust and rotting paper. Like much of the city, the library had seen little use from the current Akhlut clans occupying the city. They much preferred the inner areas and the main temple, stripping the city of anything valuable while abandoning the rest. The Akhlut may have been powerful, but they were too few in number to keep such a large city from falling into disrepair in places. Nonetheless, it was still a place one could get lost in if they didnt know the way. A short while later, Jsh led them to an open lounge area as large as a town square, sprinkled with the semi-rotting remains of hundreds of desks, chairs, and other seating arrangements. Jsh gave the area a sad look before waving her arm to one side. In one motion, all the rotting furniture was pushed to the side, and the dust lifted from the tiles to reveal the intricate mosaic scene of four faceless beings. In the upper left, a massive man with burning hair and more muscles than anything stood at a glowing forge, shaping metal with his bare hands. Weapons, armor, and various gadgets flowed from the forge to be gathered by the tiny men below. In the upper right, a young girl floated in an endless ocean, her eyes closed as if asleep. Behind her, countless men and women stood in shining armor as they pushed back a billowing black tide into the depths. Black, crooked arms reached from the dark waters to grab who they could, only to be chained by the very tides themselves. In the bottom right, a young boy flew through the air, grinning ear to ear. As he passed the land, black fog receded, blown away by strong gales and fierce rains, as fertile lands bursting with life took its place. And on the bottom left, a woman wearing a dress of soil and grasses raised her hands to the sky. Behind her, tall walls and study buildings pushed their way out of the earth. An endless stream of people flooded into the walls, fleeing the chasing darkness. Finally, at the center, there was nothing but a blank square. The middle of the mosaic was just a large, empty indent in the ground. As if whatever had been there had long been pulled up. The group spread around the area, some pointing at the mosaic and muttering, while Jsh directed Alpha toward the center. He stopped a few meters away, and Jsh held out her hand. The obelisk appeared in a flash of light, hovering over the center of the mosaic, gently spinning. Then, in the blink of an eye, it expanded and fell to the ground, neatly slotting into the blank slot. There was a pulse of energy, and four light lines pushed their way out of the obelisks corners. They swirled around the floor, following the lines of the mosaic, until they reached the pictures of the four figures in either corner. The eyes of the figures lit up with a bright white light, and the building shook. Then, slowly, the mosaic fell away, piece by piece like crumbling stone, until two large, spiraling staircases were revealed, each wide enough to fit ten men standing shoulder to shoulder. The staircases spiraled downward into the darkness. Juatan and the Scions began directing the Guardians down the stairs while Artemis walked closer to Alpha, her eyes never leaving the stairs. She shook her head, eyes wide as she spoke. I used to explore the city all the time. There are dozens of interesting places in these old ruins. Hell, Ive been in this very building half a dozen times. How did we never know there was something like this here? Jsh laughed and responded, What use is a hidden passage if it is easily found? No. 7 folded their arms and stared. The masked figure had been awfully quiet since meeting up with the humans. Alpha figured they just werent much of a people person, so it was almost surprising when they asked, Though that begs the question. If this was an emergency passage, why was the key with a different you so far away? Doesnt that negate the purpose? Jsh shrugged. Its supposed to be with the high priestess. Why she hid it with my other self, I dont know. That me was still asleep at the time. Maybe she knew the enemy was closing in on her and didnt want it to fall into their hands. Or maybe it was her way of ensuring we could get past them. Either way, what matters is that were here now. Artemis clenched her fists at the mention of her mother. Her eyes burned as they walked toward the nearest set of stairs, and she called out over her shoulder, Then lets finish this. No more games. The others shared a nod, and Alpha moved toward the stairs as well. Despite the tight squeeze, the TAWP could still fit on the wide stairs, and they held surprisingly well under its weight. Alpha was the last one down the stairs, and as he passed the threshold, the colorful mosaic rebuilt itself above them, piece by piece. Book 1 - Lesson 63: "When the clock is running down, switch in fresh players." What do you mean theyre gone?! the womans voice shook the very room. Tuguslar didnt flinch when the shockwave hit him, nor when the sharp black steel knife flew past his head, leaving a shallow cut. An outsider would think the man was stoic, the perfect picture of calm. The truth was, it could be dangerous to take your eyes off Hera when she was in one of her moods. A lifetime of dealing with the womans outbursts had honed his defenses against her wrath to their peak. The others in the room were less adept at such. One of the six black-clad humans gathered in the Heart stepped forward, wringing their hands as they spoke. Y-your lady, it-its not our fault! As planned, we led the interlopers into the library, and the [Death Veil] array activated without a hitch. Yet, when we checked, there were no bodies. Do not fear though, I can asu Hera snarled and waved her hand. Instantly, all six humans burst into black flames. They screamed for only a moment before collapsing into piles of ash. Tuguslar stared at Hera, his hands behind his back, a bored look on his face the entire time. Once the screaming stopped and the flames died out, Tuguslar stepped forward, brushing a bit of ash off his robes. Hera sneered down at him and said. What is it, halfbreed? Come to give me excuses as well? Tuguslars mouth twitched slightly, but he turned it into a smile at the last moment, spreading his arms out wide. Why, of course not, High Priestess. Everything is going according to plan, is it not? he said. Hera ground her teeth. I dont remember a bunch of insects running around my city being part of the plan, boy! Now, the streets are filled with raging elementals, and even the very walls have turned against us. Please enlighten me. Tuguslar nodded and responded, True, the elementals are causing problems, but theyre also causing problems for the enemy. It doesnt matter where the humans and that dog Artemis have disappeared to. Time is on our side. He waved to the to the Heart behind Hera. Three of the five altars were silent, the keystones sitting atop them dead and drained. The fourth directed a beam of white energy toward the heart, but even now, it was dimming, flickering. Soon, it would be as lifeless as the other three. Tuguslar continued, Even if they somehow slip their way through both the elementals and the elites around the outer temple, theyre out of time. Weve already won. Hera paused, frowning, and turned to face the floating Heart. The iridescent rainbow light still fought against the black, inky darkness above, but without the support of the keystones, cracks were already forming along its surface. Tuguslar was right. Theres no way the interlopers could interfere now. And once the ritual was finished, not even the Prima could stop her. Her frown slowly morphed into a smile as the fourth keystone sputtered and died. She turned her gaze to the small Akhlut pup chained to the final altar. Yes It was time they finished this. The Captains grip on his spear tightened, and his frown deepened. Things were not going well. The city had put up a valiant defense, but the enemy was endless and tireless. Even with the four gate houses pushing themselves to exhaustion, the citys defenses were being chipped away little by little. If things were kept as they were, something would eventually give. One of the lines would collapse, and the undead would flood over the wall and into the city beyond. He stood on the top of the wall and looked beyond. The undead seemed endless, and the horde grew thicker by the moment. Their front line had already been pushed back several times, and it wouldnt be long before the soldiers fought with their backs to the wall. The Captain turned to General Westgate beside him and asked, Any news? General Westgate shook his head and responded, No. The childrens artifacts havent been able to reach the other cities. The chaotic spirit energy in the area seems to be throwing off their controls. Even your daughter can only reach 10 kilometers away from the city before losing control, and shes proven to be the most adept. The Captain could only sigh. That was a shame. Not that they were expecting any genuine support. If the Jadewalkers were struggling this badly against the enemy, then it was likely the other cities wouldnt be able to help either. He looked off into the distance and said, Then we can only pray the Runners could make it Theyd sent every Runner in the city toward the edge of the Radiant Sea the moment the undead had been spotted. It was a long shot, but at the very least, the Sects needed to be made aware of what was happening. The general turned to look in the same direction and nodded. John clutched his bleeding arm to his side and lept over another undead as it pushed its way out of the ground, then twirled around the blow of another. It scraped across his shoulder, drawing another red line, but John barely felt it. If he was honest, He didnt feel much of anything anymore. Over 700 Runners had departed from Jadewalker city. A small number, considering it was such a large place, even with all the runners from the smaller outlying villages gathered together. But most of those were true city runners, strong cultivators who ran the prairies alone, transporting important documents and packages between cities. Those runners like himself who stuck to their village were an anomaly. Such duties were typically given to young and inexperienced runners. Not that John was ashamed. He knew himself and knew that he wasnt suited to that kind of life. There was no shame in that, he felt. So how did he end up in this mess?! Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. When the runners had left the city, they had eventually split into smaller and smaller groups until only teams of five were left. The idea was to spread out along the border and hit as many target locations as possible. It had been going well at first. It might take a caravan two or three weeks to reach the Sects from the Earth Shrine, but a trained Runner could make the same trip in only two days. Yet, as the Darkest Night progressed, things started to shift. The prairies were becoming more dangerous as time passed, and the groups began being harassed by the undead. Not just Grassbreakers but a wide variety of undead began appearing from the grasses as the Runners passed by. John remembered hearing some Guardians mention a sharp decline in wildlife over the last few months. Most had assumed it was just creatures preparing for the Apex like everyone else. When the survivors from the disastrous graduation trip returned, speculation and rumors shifted to the Beast Lord and his army. Even then, no one could explain why the Beast Lord would do such a thing. Even an army could only eat so much, after all. As John observed the various undead creatures along their path, a new theory formed in his mind. What if the Beast Lord wasnt feeding an army? What if he was building one? The Runner had quickly pushed the chilling thought from his mind; that was way above his pay grade, after all. Nonetheless, the undead had soon started to become a menace and then a serious problem. Not long after, they started losing runners. Only a few at first. Sometimes, theyd be driven into an abyss, those great sinkholes dotting the praises. An unlucky few had larger undead pop up right from under them. While others still simply couldnt keep up the pace needed to outrun the undead. Soon, John was the last remaining runner of his own group of five. Something he only attributed to his acute sense of danger, honed over decades of avoiding the sometimes malicious pranks of the Slatewalker children. Hed long passed the point of exhaustion. He didnt even know how the other groups of runners were doing. Not too long ago, he could still hear them running far in the distance. Or the soul-chilling screams. Had they pulled far enough away he couldnt hear them any longer? Or had they all fallen? Was he the last? He didnt know. The only fear and the unrelenting undead drove him on. Now, the only thing he could hear were the moans of the undead and his own racing heartbeat. John dodged another undead as it snapped at him, barely catching the hem of his ragged uniform. Thats all it took. The sudden jerking motion threw off his balance, and John didnt have the spirit energy to correct himself. He stumbled, then fell, bleeding off his remaining momentum as he tumbled through the grass several times. John pushed himself up on shaking arms and coughed up a bit of blood. His vision blurring, John turned and looked at the undead that had grabbed him as it slithered out of the grass. In life, it would have been a regal thing. A long, serpentine body with glossy scales that could mimic the color of the surrounding grass. Deep red eyes that looked down on everything and a thick hood that had always reminded John of a snooty nobles popped collar protecting its head. The Phantom Grass Emperor was one of the apex predators of the prairies. Although its scales were now dull and peeling, its hood torn, and its head half-skeletal, John knew he wouldnt have ever stood a chance against this creature, even if hed been in peak form. The creature slowly slithered closer, a rotting tongue flicking in and out. It stopped a few meters away, and Johns body froze. Maybe something of the creatures arrogant nature was still left, as the runner could have sworn he saw the thing smile as it leered down at him. As he saw his death approach, John clinched his heart, feeling a pain distinctly different from the physical soreness of the overworked muscle. Was this really all his life would amount to? Regret filled his heart, and John clenched his teeth. Even at the end, he hadnt been able to help anyone. The Phantom Grass Emperor hissed, a rattling thing caused by a rotting throat, and reared back to strike, its mouth opening even wider than possible when it was alive. Twang! The zombified Phantom Grass Emperor screamed as a dozen icy arrows slammed into it, covering it in a layer of frost. The creature hissed again and turned around, attempting to escape into the cover of the grass. Twang! Twang! More arrows crashed into it, pinning it to the ground and encasing the top portion of its body in ice. A shadow erupted from the grass behind John. His blurry vision could barely make out the form of a muscular woman swinging an enormous flail. The metal ball hit the frozen Phantom Grass Emperor with an explosive bang, shattering the creatures top half into dozens of icy chunks. The woman landed in front of John with a light touch despite the massive size of the weapon in her hands. She grinned like a wild woman and stomped on the largest chunk of the creatures frozen head, shattering it further. She then turned to John and winked before vanishing into the grass further ahead. A flood of weakness swept through John, and he collapsed. Only to be caught in delicate arms. He slowly turned his head to look into the eyes of an angel dressed in a black sundress. The young woman smiled sweetly down at him and raised a glowing hand to his chest. Intense pain shot through his body, to where he almost passed out, but it was soon replaced with a warm comfort that made him feel like he was melting. A third figure, this time an old man dressed in elegant white robes, walked into Jonhs vision. The old man stroked his beard and asked the angel-in-black, How is he? The angel answered in a soft voice. That hes even awake, let alone able to move, is a miracle. Ive never seen a body of this low cultivation pushed to such extremes. Its impressive in its own right. But I think hell make it. The old man nodded. Good. Good. Bring him to the others in the back, then lets move on. The angel nodded, then lifted a limp John in her arms. Before she could move, however, John reached out and hooked the old mans robe with a finger. The old man paused and turned, an eyebrow raised. His hand shaking, John slowly reached into his runners satchel, removed a single letter, and passed it to the man. The old mans eyes widened, but he softly smiled as he took the letter and placed it in the sleeve of his robe. He then spoke to John. Youve done well, young man. Now leave the rest to us. The last thing John saw before the warmth and darkness dragged him under was the sight of countless shadows rushing through the grass past them and the undead swept away in their wake. Elder Wu Song frowned as he watched Qi Mingxi bring the unconscious runner to the back of the small army. This was the first living runner theyd come across, though reports from the scouts suggested there were still a good number along their path yet to save. Ohy! Tha boys impressive. For a mailman, at least. Might see if he wants a job afterll this mess is done. Elder Wu Song frowned and turned to the mountain of a man whod appeared beside him. How such a large man was so quiet astounded the Elder. Though maybe that was to be expected of No. 1. The Leader of the mercenary group, simply called the Camp, couldnt be someone so simple as his bandit king appearance might lead others to believe. The short time Wu Song had spent with the man left no doubt that the Camp Leaders mind was as sharp as his blade. Wu Song turned and looked deeper into the Radiant Sea. It seemed your intel was accurate, No. 1. Im glad we could catch this when we could. If the undead had spilled out of the prairies he said. The large man laughed and responded. Aye. Though Im surprised you Origin folk were so quick on the draw yourself. Almost like you knew something was bout to happen Wu Song coughed and turned away. We have our ways. The old man turned, frowned at the swirling dark clouds in the distance, and muttered. I just hope were not too late Book 1 - Lesson 64: "Expect the unexpected." I signed up for a cult! Not to sweep the floor! the black-robed, red-headed woman threw the broom to the ground. She turned and kicked a nearby wooden chair. It flew across and shattered against the stone wall of the courtyard. A few wandering undead turned at the sound, but otherwise didnt react. Another broom-wielding cultist, an older man, shrugged and said, Meh, its not that bad, newbie. Gotta start somewhere. Besides, someones got to clean up the place. Otherwise, the undead just shed everywhere, stinking the place up. A nearby zombie tripped and fell, leaving behind a dried piece of rotted flesh as if to punctuate the mans words. It stood back up and walked off as if nothing had happened. The black-robed man sighed and swept the mess into a nearby pile. A younger man with slit eyes leaned on his broom, resting his chin on the hand, and grinned ear to ear, Old Hos, to hear the way the uppers talk, youve been sweeping up after the undead since most of um were still fresh. Old Hos smirked and pointed a thumb deeper into the courtyard. Aye, but its better sweeping up after the corpse than ending up like that lot. The group peered deeper into the courtyard, where a group of cultists surrounded a bloody ritual circle. Five men were chained to the ground in its center, surrounding a pile of bleach-white bones. The younger male cultist grimaced and asked, Oooof, Bonetaker? Whatd they do to deserve that? The red-headed woman sneered and shook her head. From what I heard, they let the interlopers escape. Had um locked nice and tight, and still slipped through their fingers. Ridiculous. Heard their squad leader got dusted by the lady when they told her, too, she answered him. The younger cultist looked at her, his eyes wide. Seriously? I honestly cant tell which is worse. Remind me never to apply for management. Grunt life for me! Old Hos shook his head, Its a waste, is what it is. Ive worked under half a dozen cult leaders, and not a one of um knows a damn thing about proper workforce management. Its all fear me! this or conquer the world! that. Bah! The younger cultist pointed toward the circle. Looks like theyre starting. The bloody ritual circle deeper in the courtyard glowed an ominous red. It started as a faint light but intensified in pulsing waves as the surrounding cultists chanted their dark verses. As the light grew brighter, the screams of the chained men grew louder. After several minutes, the light, chanting, and screams all reached a crescendo, and the bodies of the chained men burst from within, spraying blood over the circle. From the bloody remains, pristine white bones rose into the air, untouched by the blood or gore. Slowly, they floated to the circles center and added themselves to the pile. A man in an ornate robe walked forward, holding a dark orb as the cultists continued to chant. He stopped at the circles edge, careful not to cross over the line, and held out the orb. Both the orb and the pile of bones pulsed together like a single heart beating. Dark smoke poured from the orb, and it soon filled the circle until only the red light of the ritual lines could be seen glowing within, though the smoke never spilled from the boundary line. The orb then softly floated away from the man toward the bone pile. It hovered over the pile for a brief moment before dropping inside. The chanting ceased, and all was still. Then, suddenly, the bone pile began to rattle and shake, slowly rising into the air. As it did, it took on a humanoid shape, though with a far broader chest and longer limbs. Its 5-meter-tall figure was heavily armored with various bone plates, and its long arms ended in vicious claws. The newborn Bonetaker spread its arms wide and roared, sending shockwaves through the air. It stepped out of the ritual circle and bowed to the ornately dressed cultist. The man smiled and turned around. The Bonetaker stood and silently followed, with the remaining cultists filling in behind it. As the group passed Old Hos and the younger cultists, the slit-eyed young man whistled and muttered to himself, Man, that things a beast. Literally. Cant wait to get one of those myself. The red-headed woman huffed and whispered. Bruiser types like that are a joke. Sure, they pack a punch, but theyre stupid as all hell and barely have any mobility. Despite being some distance away, the ornate-robed cultist stopped, then slowly turned and stared at the young woman, his eyes narrowing. The woman froze, a cold sweat dripping down her back. Slowly, the man approached, the massive Bonetaker following close behind. He stopped a few feet from the woman and frowned at her. Would you mind repeating that, neophyte? he asked. Th-that, I mean, I-well she stuttered. Old Hos stepped forward, smiling as he bowed. She didnt mean anything by it, Lord Riaser. You know how the youngins can be. They read a few books and think they know how things are. Please, dont concern yourself with such petty things. Lord Riaser turned and frowned at Old Hos. After a long moment, the ornately robed man humphed and turned away. Old Hos let out a sigh of relief. Murh mirh hrmrih muhum. Lord Riaser snapped back around, his eyes red and glowing. What was that?! The young female cultist took several steps back, her eyes wide and hands raised. I-it wasnt me! I swear! she said, her voice rising higher with each word. Lord Riaser spoke through gritted teeth, Do you think Im a fool, girl?! I was going to dismiss you for Mr. Hos sake, but it seems the younger generation needs a lesson on why they shouldnt mock their betters. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Murmruhr Hurhrhrhrhrhrrhrhrh, There it was again, louder. Though this time, Lord Riaser could see, indeed, the girl hadnt spoken. He frowned and tilted his head. Hey! I think its coming from the wall! the slit-eyed young man said, his ear pressed up against the nearby wall. Lord Riasers frown deepened, and he walked closer to the walk, pressing his ear up against it. (Now? How about now? Can I do it now?) (No. I said wait. Youre like an overeager puppy.) Lord Riaser grinned, then pulled away from the wall. It looks like we have some rats in the walls. Interesting, he said, waving forward the Bonetaker. The surrounding cultists murmured among themselves while Old Hos grabbed the collars of his fellow sweepers and dragged the two farther away. Hey! I wanna see the show! the slit-eyes young man complained. The Bonetaker rolled its shoulders and raised one of its massive, clawed hands, preparing to punch through the stone wall. One of the nearby cultists whispered to the other, You think its the Temple Inquisition? Or hired Adventurers? I havent caught up on the latest betting pool odds. The cultist he was addressing rolled her eyes and slapped his chest. You Idiot, why would it be the Inquisition? We already killed everyone in the temple. Its not like one of the other temples would send templars this quick. No sooner had the words left her lips that the stone wall exploded in a shower of debris toward the courtyard. A massive, three-horned metal beetle erupted from the stone wall, slamming into Bonetaker. NO ONE EXPECTS THE INQUISITION! it yelled. Lord Riaser stared wide-eyed, only to be flattened by the beetles massive limb the next moment. The Bonetaker roared and tried to swing, but the awkward angle and lack of footing caused the blow to glance off the metal horns, dealing no damage to the other creature. The Bonetaker wasnt so lucky. At the same moment, the beetles two smaller horns pulled back and struck the Bonetakers bony armor one after the other. Thunk! Thunk! The Bonetaker screeched as the metal horns slammed into its chest, sending spiderweb cracks throughout its armor. While the Bonetaker reeled, the beetles larger central horn pulled back with a hiss. The Bonetaker tried to dodge what came next but was too slow. Faster than the mortal eye could see, it shot forward with a sonic boom, slamming into the creatures weakened armor. Crack! With the sound of shattering bone, the Bonetakers chestplate broke into a thousand pieces, and the massive bone construct was sent soaring through the air. It hit the ground a dozen meters away and rolled several times before slamming into the opposite wall. The cultists stood in shock at what theyd just witnessed, but soon fell into panic as the metal beetle pulled itself free from the wall, and dozens of armored humans poured from the opening. A stone-faced woman stood atop the beetle and frowned down at it. Alpha, I told you to wait. I havent finished checking the area yet, she said. I regret nothing! was the creatures only response. As the Guardians filed into the courtyard and the cultists either fled or were cut down, Old Hos pulled the young red-headed woman and slit-eyed man into a nearby room, out of sight, before closing and baring the door. As the three paused to catch their breath, the red-headed woman sneered and said, See? What did I tell you? No mobility. The trip through the secret passageway had been uneventful. It was little more than a wide hallway designed to let as many people through at once as possible. Occasionally, there would be a few side rooms, presumably leading to other bunker areas or rest stops. The Guardians had scouted these passages as they passed, but had found little of interest in them. These pathways hadnt been used in decades, maybe centuries. At least not since Artemis was born. Had her mother known about these passageways? She had to have. How else would she have had the key? Why had she never spoken of them then? Or about the Prima bud in the wall? Or about any number of things that were only now coming to light? Artemis had loved her mother, and even if shed not been a warrior, Metis was a woman who had commanded respect from everyone she met. Not just because she was the High Priestess of the Earth Prima Temple, but because she was the kind of woman you could trust with your life. The kind of person who you never had to question their motives or what they were trying to get out of you. Artemis had learned long ago that people like her mother were rare in this cold world. So, learning that same person had been hiding so much from her own daughter It had been unnerving. Nonetheless, Artemis pushed those concerns down for the time being. There would be time later for questioning all she thought she knew. Shed pry the answers out of even the Prima herself if she had to. But not now. For now, she had a job to do and cultists to kill. Maybe in the course of things, some of those answers would come on their own. When they reached the end of the tunnel, they came across another massive staircase leading up. Instead of leading to a trapdoor like the last, this one opened into a large, walled-off room with no visible entrance. Once everyone had exited the staircase, the Prima addressed the group. This is the staging area for the temples entrance. Its situated just outside the primary complex and heavily charmed. The systems have degraded somewhat from neglect, but not even a mid-step [Earthly Transcendent] could spot this place. That means we have some time to prepare and plan. Alpha looked around and asked a similar question to what Artemis was thinking. Isnt it kind of a security risk to have such a hidden location so close to your HQ? I mean, whats stopping someone from doing exactly what were doing now? Jsh sighed. Originally, this place was supposed to be constantly monitored. There are various arrays and sigils throughout the tunnels and on both ends that would trigger defenses if anyone unauthorized tried to force their way in. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately for us at least, the damage to the citys systems has also affected those arrays, she answered. I dont know still seems like a terrible idea to me the strange creature responded. Artemis still wasnt quite sure what to make of this Alpha, or Lord Protector as the Slatewalker humans referred to him. Shed never seen or heard of any spirit beast quite like him, and unlike the vast majority of Radiant Sea natives, shed explored the world outside the prairies for quite some time. Even if the Grassreaders theory is correct, and the creature was a Progenitor, records said you could typically at least guess at their Origin. But Alpha seemed like a total mystery to everyone but the Prima, and she was being tight-lipped about the matter. Whatever the case, one thing was for certain. They were powerful. Maybe more than Artemis could truly understand. Just the Spirit waves they were passively giving off boggled her mind. The sheer ease with which the creature had dealt with the undead and elementals on their way to the library had frightened her a bit, if she was honest. The Prima seemed to trust him, but part of Artemis wondered if even everyone gathered here could stop Alpha if he decided to turn on them. A moreexcitable part of her wanted to try, regardless. That, too, she would have to put down for another time. As the others gathered and discussed their plan, Artemis mind wandered toward a faint but familiar spiritual signature. She gripped the handle of her weapon a little tighter Hold on just a little longer, Athena were coming for you. Book 1 - Lesson 65: "When in doubt, beat them with their own kind!" Fallback! FALLBACK! the Captain yelled as the Guardians protecting the wall breech were pushed back or swallowed by the approaching tide of undead. The city had been slowly losing ground to the undead for the last few hours as the Darkest Night progressed. The combination of the increased yin energy in the air and the dark, swirling miasma covering the ground had empowered the undead as time passed. To make matters worse, the cultists seemed to have abandoned espionage attempts and were now directing the undead from behind. It wasnt clear if this was because the cultists had become desperate thanks to the temples witchhunt in the city proper or simple confidence in their inevitable victory. Whatever the reason, the result was the same: the undead had become stronger, more numerous, and better organized. It had been a heavy blow for the already exhausted defenders of the city. Their defensive line had collapsed in places. Slowly at first, but then more frequently, the city defenders were pressed against the walls. The final nail, though, had been one last act of petty trickery. No one could tell what the cultist had done to the Elder Grand Elk, but one of the massive, [Golden Spirit] ranked creatures had erupted from the holding area within the inner city, its eyes filled with madness and its skin covered in pulsing, black veins. The rampaging creature had cut through the city like a scythe, the [Silver Spirit] guards watching the herds, unable to contain the powerful creature. Before any of the [Golden Spirit] Guardians or adventurers could respond, the Elder Grand Elk had thrown itself at the wall, its massive bulk and unmatched physical power breaking through the thick stone battlements. The nearby Guardians had tried their best to stop it, but it had only taken a few strikes, and whatever the cultists had done to it had seemed to empower the creature somewhat. Now, its broken and battered body lay in the gap it had opened, as hundreds of undead crawled their way over it, a small army of Guardians doing their best to keep the tide out of the city. It hadnt taken long for the undead to notice the breach, either, and word came from the top to fall back into the streets. The civilians had long since been evacuated into the inner city, and the plan was to use the narrow corridor created by the cart buildings to funnel the undead as best as possible. Many of the homes and other buildings had already been rearranged to create effective kill zones and hallways. Not that those would stop some of the larger, or even stronger, undead. The homes were reinforced to survive rough travel on the prairies, but not to be used as makeshift battlements. But the elites were taking care of most of those, even if they were tiring. The Captain stood atop one of the house carts and stared through the gap in the wall in the distance. Beyond was a seemingly endless sea of undead. His eyes dulled a little, and he frowned. General Eastgate appeared next to him and spoke, his voice flat. The council has decided. We start evacuating civilians through the teleporter in the shrine within the hour. The Captains eyes snapped to the general. Thats insane! That place is still swarming with elementals. There are over 15 million people in the city; theres no way we can keep that many people safe. Well have to abandon the Grand Elk, too! he yelled. General Eastgate nodded in agreement. They know. But the councils willing to risk it. The hope is that some will make it safe between the protection from the army, infighting between the undead and the elementals, and the narrow confines of the shrine city. The Captain stared at the general and asked through clenched teeth, Some?! How many is some, Temjin?! General Eastgate refused to meet the Captains eyes. estimates are at 15%, he softly said. The Captain swayed, the blood draining from his face. He stared at the general, wide eyes and mouth agape. Fifteen he whispered before grabbing the generals shoulder and forcing him to face him. FIFTEEN?! the Captain yelled this time. The outburst drew some eyes, and the Captain lowered his voice. What do you mean, 15%?! Do they expect us to abandon everyone else?! They cant be serio The Captain paused, a sick feeling growing in his stomach. His face fell flat. Temjin how exactly do they plan to distribute that protection? he asked the general. General Eastgate didnt respond, only turning his face away. The Captains grip tightened, and even the generals armor crumpled slightly under his [Golden Spirit] strength. The Captains face flashed through several emotions before settling on a flat, emotionless stare. He released the general and turned around. General Eastgate grabbed the name arm. Nergi, wait! The Captain didnt bother to turn around as she spoke, And why should I?! You expect me to sit by and let them use the people as bait?! What happened to everything you taught us in the Academy, Temjin? Since when are we just the bodyguards of the pompous nobility? Why would you agree to this?! I DIDNT! the general was the one to yell this time. His face twisted with barely contained emotion before returning to a calm facade. He looked into the Captains eyes and continued. I didnt agree to this. I and General Northgate tried everything we could do to stop them. But the others the man shook his head. We dont have much of a choice at this point. Were stuck between the undead and the elementals, he said. He released the Captain and spoke in a low voice. We cant save everyone. The teleporter can only support some many, and we dont know whats on the other side. Or if it even still works. The Captain didnt respond. He only stared at the older man with a sad look before shaking his head and turning away. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Before he could leap from the roof, however, the generals hand grabbed his shoulder. The Captain spun, his eyes blazing and his fist raised. However, his swung fist stopped short as he noticed the general wasnt looking at him. Instead, the older man stared wide-eyed off into the distance through the gaping hole in the wall. The Captain furrowed his brow and lowered his fist, then turned and looked in the same direction. At first, he couldnt tell what had caught the generals eye, but after a few moments, his eyes too widened. There! Again! Off in the distance, almost too far to be seen with the heavy, chaotic yin energy clouding the sky, was a flash of light. Then another, slightly farther away. A third flash lit up the night, illuminating the tiny forms of distant figures in the grass. The figures were moving with far too much fluidity and purpose to be undead. Another flashed, closer this time, and more figures could be seen. The Captain and General Eastgate shared a look before both men broke into wide grins. The Radiant Sea was flooded with undead, and the Jadewalkers Earth Shrine was comparatively deep into the prairies. If there was someone out there fighting, it could only mean one thing. General Eastgate reached into his pouch and pulled out a small jade seal. He looked hard at the Captain before placing it in the mans hands. The two men only shared a nod before the Captain jumped from the room and rushed deeper into the city, jade seal in hand. General Eastgate turned the other way toward the wall breach and drew his war spear. With a yell, the man leaped from the rooftop and landed deep in the throng of undead. The tired Guardians turned at the sound to see the general leaping over their heads. They paused for a moment before giving their own war cry and pushing the undead horde a little farther back. ALPHA SMASH! On the back of the TAWP, two dozen nano-skin tentacles flailed through the air, at the end of which was a giant bone the size of an adult human. Each swing of the tentacles made contact with a target. Some were cultists, others undead, but most of them hit the massive creature made of bone. Even now, the creatures remaining armor was cracked and splintered in most places, and it was missing several major bones, including an arm. Another tentacle whipped through its defenses, grabbed a loose rib, and yanked it away. The primitive intelligence driving the Bonetaker couldnt help but complain internally. Why was it the one having its bones stolen?! That was supposed to be its job! Not that it could do anything about it, as it was currently being beaten to death with said stolen bones. Alpha quickly learned that his turret fire was next to useless against the Bonetaker. The thing was too heavily armored with ultra-dense bones, with no soft squishy bits to hit even if they broke through. The [Tri-Horn Pile Bunker] had done a fair amount of damage, but it was slow and made the TAWP too unwieldy on such a chaotic battlefield. So, instead, hed resorted to more primitive methods. The time-honored strategy of beat them with their own kind! The same ultra-dense bones that made the Bonetaker into such a terrifying force were used by Alpha to devastating effect. Alpha wasnt sure how the thing kept together with no discernible connective tissue or organs of any kind. But he didnt question it; that just meant the process was less messy. Win-win for everyone! Oh, sure, they were stuck on pretty tight, but it was just like pulling a tooth. You just had to knock it around, wiggle it a bit, then yoink! The Bonetaker roared as its clavicle was ripped away from it. Alpha whipped the same bone around and up to uppercut the Bonetaker. Then again, with another bone from the side. Why are you hitting yourself? Why are you hitting yourself? Alpha asked, laughing. The creature reeled backward. It didnt have a brain to jar, but the force of the blow was enough to disrupt the flow of spirit energy that animated it, resulting in a similar effect. Around them, the courtyard was in chaos. Guardians battled both the undead and the cultists, who had either not escaped or been killed in the initial assault. Despite the home-ground advantage, the cultists found themselves on the back foot. The undead in the courtyard were the older and more worn-down bodies slated for reprocessing into bone golems or flesh constructs; they were no longer suited for combat. The cultist, meanwhile, had been caught with their pants down, metaphorically. Most present were on their rest cycle or performing duties that would be cumbersome with their typical equipment. The Guardians, on the other hand, while still worn from recent combat, had time to rest and were properly equipped. It was no stretch to understand who would come out of time. A few cultists on the peripherals of the battle seemed to sense this, as they quickly fled deeper into the complex. The Bonetaker looked around, unsure of what to do. Its master had been killed at the start of the fight, and while its primitive, semi-sentient intelligence was enough to follow simple commands and react to threats, it wasnt smart enough to really think for itself. Instead, it took the cue from the fleeing cultists and turned away, escaping from the strange monster that was trying to kill it with its own bones. Alpha shook his makeshift bone clubs in the air. Where do you think youre going, young man?! Im not done with you yet! The cultist ran into the Heart chamber, tripping over one of the bodies that had yet to be moved for processing. He flipped head-over-heel and rolled several times. He pushed himself up desperately, gasping for breath, only for his heart to nearly stop when he saw the High Priestess staring down at him from across the room. Behind her, an unconscious Akhlut pup struggled in the air, a thin beam of light connecting it to the giant crystal at the center of the chamber. All thoughts of standing fled as he scrambled to his knees and bowed with his head to the floor. The High Priestess frowned and yelled, What is the meaning of this?! I distinctly remember saying not to disturb me until the ritual was complete. The cultist dared not raise his head as he spoke. Y-Yes, my Lady! B-but theres been an issue! Hera tilted her head, hearing the faint sound of chaos in the distance, before asking, What? Did one of the golemancers screw up again? I keep telling you that flesh and bone are not the same as stone or metal. Get Lord Riaser to deal with it, and Do. Not. Disturb. Me. AGAIN! The cultist lifted his head, panic in his eyes. M-my Lady! Thats not it! L-lord Riaser is dea CRASH! The cultists words were cut off as the wall to his left was blasted open, and what little remained of the Bonetaker was sent flying across the room. The Bonetaker rolled several times before stopping against a stone pillar. It tried to push itself up on its one remaining arm, but the red light in its eyes flickered and vanished. The Bonetaker crumbled, falling to the ground in a heap, and stopped moving. As the dust settled, another figured, a large metal beetle-like creature stepped out of the hole in the wall, two dozen bone-tipped tentacles waving in all directions. Alpha pushed his way into the chamber and turned to face Hera. His optical plates spun, and he focused on the floating figure of Snowball behind the large woman. Alpha turned to the High Priestess, pointed the longest, sharpest bone in his possession toward her, and said. Hello, my name is Alpha. You stole something from me. Prepare to Die. Book 1 - Lesson 66: "Keep them monologuing." Hera stared down at Alpha from the central platform and smirked. You must be the Lord Protector Ive been hearing so much about. I must say, Im impressed, in a way. How long has it been since Ive had my face slapped in such a manner? Why, Im tempted to offer you a job. Unfortunately, youve been a thorn in my side for long enough. Alpha waved his bone-tipped tentacle in her direction. Id have to decline, anyway. Ive already got a job, and the benefits are better than you could offer. Now, hand over the child, or Ill do more to your face than slap it, Alpha said, bringing both bones and turrets forward. Hera glanced behind her toward the floating pup, then turned back to Alpha and smirked. Her? Really? Shes the reason youre here? Why youve been sticking your nose in my business? It seems my dear departed sister continues to hound me even in death. But the child will soon be of no use to me. Im sure ones such as you and I can come to an agreement. As she spoke, her face split into a wide-toothed grin. Im not much for negotiating, Alpha said. I much prefer to settle things more personally. That said, Ill admit Im in a bit of a bind. This place is awful, and I wouldnt turn down a willing hand to get out. Tell you what, you tell me what you have to offer, and well see what can be done. Hera paused. That wasnt the typical response she got from this type. This was unexpected. Though not unwelcomed. Heras grin grew wider, and she laughed. Well, now, what a pleasant surprise. Awful, you say? Why yes, I believe youre correct. More so than an outsider like yourself is probably aware. Tell me, Alpha, what do you know of the Akhlut? The first I ever met was the little one behind you. Dont know if shes a good representation. Shes not much of a talker. Alpha responded. Hera blinked. Not much of a talker? Shed spent years trying to get the child to shut up! Athena once bombarded her for an entire week with questions regarding a particular hunting trophy in her mothers office. It had once been their own mother, Athenas grandmothers, and Hera had always been a little jealous that the woman had passed it on to the meeker Metis rather than her, the real huntress. Hera had tried several ways to shake the tiny child, but she had a knack for always finding her way back for more questions. Hera shook her head free of the memory. Interesting. It is rare to find one not corrupted by the common fables. The world outside, and even our elders, will tell you were the guardians of this land. That is a lie. This place is a prison, and we are our own jailkeepers. The Akhlut elders claim it is for our safety; that, despite all our power, despite the Awakened Beast Unions heavy-handed stance on hunting sapients, we must stay separated and hide. Some species are simply too valuable in the eyes of others, and the Akhlut are a prime example. So, we trap ourselves in this tiny place where the very land itself stifles us, eating away at our potential like some grand parasite. Few ever leave this place; only the strongest or bravest. Theyre content with this life. Content with being stripped of what they could be. Content with being weaker, lesser small. For what? So that someone who fancies themselves as a god can seal away a real one? Not me. No, I refuse. I will take back what was stolen from me. I will rise above what this place would have me be! The Mistress has shown me how, and if the world needs to burn to do so, then so be it. With a wave of her hand, the bone pieces in Alphas tentacles shook, then slammed together. Alpha tried to pull them apart, but they held tight like a magnet and fused together. Alpha pulled away, and a moment later, a large sphere of bone floated in the air between the two. She continued, You ask what I have to offer you? The answer is simple. Power. True power, unconfined by the limits of mortal understanding and unrestrained by the will of others. So what do you say? Hera threw her head back and laughed, her eyes wide and wild. Alpha laughed alongside her just as loudly. In the next instance, the ball of bone exploded into a thousand tiny chunks as the explosive charge Alpha had left inside as it fused detonated. Ultra-dense bone disintegrated under the intense heat and pressure of the tiny kelvinite charge, a design similar to the super-critical battery hed used against the space squid but intended for this use instead of improvised on the spot. It was a little expensive, but well worth the shock value alone. Hera stared wide-eyed, mid-laugh. What had happened?! That had been dense Bonetaker armor, compressed with her own power! Several of the flying bone shards had hit her hard enough to activate her defensive artifacts, a thin, oily sheen appearing over her body where they struck. Alphas voice cut through the slowly burning cloud of bone dust. Thats a delightful story, lady. Interesting concept with a nice hook. You lost me there at the end, though. Ill tell you the same thing I told your little friend with the orb. You dont know real power. If thats all you and your Mistress offer, then Ill have to decline. How about I make a counter instead? Surrender, release the child, and you can live long enough to face trial in Federation court. The laws are surprisingly lenient for primitive worlds like this. Be a good little girl, and you might even find work. How about it? Heras grin slowly slipped into a frown. She shook her head. Im disappointed. For a moment there, I thought maybe we could come to an agreement. But it seems like youre just like all the rest. No matter. If you want to play a storybook hero, Ill gladly teach you what happens to heroes in real life. I dont quite know what you are, but Im sure youll make a fine zombie. Hera snapped her fingers, and her shadow, cast by the glow of the crystal behind her, extended outward, splitting into four parts and expanding. They stopped after a few meters, and four five-meter-tall armored zombies pushed their way out of her shadow, dripping darkness and black fog. The Four Hunters had once been the Akhluts greatest warriors. But like time and this place did to everyone, they had become but shadows of their former selves. Now, they were literal shadows, shades, and by the grace of the Mistress, had regained some of their lost splendor. Alpha stared at the newcomers, then addressed Hera. Youve made a small mistake, lady. Im no hero. Far from it, in fact. Hera laughed, then smirked. Oh? Then what are you, Lord Protector? Going to claim to be some great conqueror that none have heard of, as you did to Tuguslar? she asked. Alpha shrugged. I mean, there that, sure. But more relevant to the matter at hand Im the distraction. Heras eyes went wide, and the core flickered behind her. She snapped around and caught a glimpse of a young human woman slicing through the smoking chains holding Athena in place with a glowing tooth dagger. Before the blunt end of a monks spade slammed into her face. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Hera barely had time to raise her arms in that split second before the Spirit-reinforced weapon, swung by a snarling Artemis, sent her flying off the raised platform. The four shadowed zombies turned and roared, but the sound of thunder roared louder as Alpha fired the TAWPs point defense turrets at their backs. All four went down, stunned but not heavily damaged, thanks to their thick armor. Said thick armor didnt help the first when 50 tons of war machine stepped on their back. The zombie was instantly crushed, his metal chest plate flattening into just a metal plate. What remained burst into black flames. The second fared only slightly better; as it stumbled to its feet, only to be blasted away as Alpha kicked it with a free leg. The giant zombie became a blur that slammed into, then through, the same wall Alpha had emerged from. The third recovered enough to stand and charge Alpha, a large two-handed sword of darkness materializing in its hands. Alpha responded in the only reasonable way he could think of for the situation. He picked up the fourth by the leg and proceeded to beat the third into the ground with his improvised club. Compared to the first two, this took a long time, as squishy biologicals, even giant ones in heavy armor, didnt make the best of clubs. Alpha was nothing if not persistent, though, and by the time Hera recovered from Artemis blow, both Zombies were reduced to mushy piles of burning metal. Alpha refused to think about how something mushy could burn. Biologicals were disgusting. Heras hair, pristine and regal only a moment earlier, was now a disheveled mess, her stone-colored High Priestess robes blooded down the front and her nose crooked. She staggered to her feet and glared at Artemis. HOW?! Laughter like the chime of a bell filled the hall, and Jsh pushed herself out of Alphas back. Did you forget where you are, fool? Of course they snuck up behind you. This close to the Heart, you would have to be far stronger to sense anything at all. Its a hungry sponge, constantly absorbing the energy from the area, even with what little aura those here have. But then you should have already known that. Or have you grown complacent In the time youve been here? she sneered at Hera as she explained. Heras eyes snapped to Jsh, and they widened. You! Why are you here?! Jsh spread her arms out and looked around before asking, Why wouldnt I be? This is my temple, after all. Artemis grinned maliciously and started walking toward Hera, twirling her spade. Dont touch her, Alpha. Shes mine, she said, her smile more primal than before. Alpha pointed the burning limb toward Hera. Last chance, lady. Surrender peacefully, and I can guarantee your life till such time you can be brought to trial. Or we can do this the hard way, and I let the scary lady have her way with you. Hera snarled with bloodstained teeth, red eyes flicking between a grinning Artemis and Alpha, the burning leg of one of the most powerful zombies shed ever created still clutched in his grip. Do you think youve won?! she asked. You think you can stop me?! You dont know the depths or the heights the Mistress has shown me! As she spoke, she threw out her arms to either side. Her shadow exploded outward, splitting into 9, then 18, then finally three dozen writhing lines of shadows. In one motion, each shadow straightened, and figures pushed their way out of the ground. Artemis snarled and lept into the air toward her. Alpha pointed his turrets at the figures as they emerged. The hard way it is! The Slatewalkers had stayed together, for the most part, trusting the Scions and Artemis elites to handle themselves. Cultists were a lot easier to deal with than endless undead, more so when caught off guard like these had. There was no telling what awaited them deeper in the temple, though, so they had stuck as a group and followed the rough trail Alpha had left in his wake as he chased after the Bone construct. Only after an ambush by a group of cultists whod gathered together had Zolzaya become separated from the rest of the Slatewalkers. It would have been a death sentence for anyone else of her level, but her gift gave her a distinct advantage in avoiding the cultists. After escaping her pursuers, shed winded her way through the mazelike temple, attempting to reconnect with the others, using her gift to track them. Her path had brought her through the main chamber shortly after Alpha had burst through the wall. As expected of the Lord Protector, hed noticed her right away, though the large woman near the giant floating crystal in the center of the room seemed oblivious. Thats when Zolzaya saw her. The young Akhlut she recognized from what felt like a lifetime ago, floating near the giant crystal, a thin beam of light connecting them. Zolzaya crept closer and observed the child, not liking what she saw. The childs fur was dull, and their skull was slightly hollow, as if shed not been eating. Every movement of black, smoke-like chains surrounding her elicited a soft whimper in her sleep. Zolzayas gift told a similar story of the childs condition; the fear, pain, and sadness spoke of some unknown nightmare the child couldnt escape from. The crystal the beam of light attached her to wasnt looking much better. Zolzaya could tell that, at one time, it had been a sight of wonder, filled with a rainbow radiance that reminded her of the prairies. Now, the light was dim and flickering, pushed back but murky lines of pulsing darkness. Like veins or roots. It had even started to crack in places, as if being pushed outward from something inside. Shed touched the beam of light connecting the two, only to yelp and pull back silently. In that brief moment of contact, her spirit energy had been drained by a significant amount. Was it draining the child as well? Why? What was the large, ranting woman trying to accomplish? Zolzayas heart beat harder. She knew she had to help, but she didnt know how. Thats when she felt something warm at her side. A warmth that soon turned into a blazing heat. Zolzaya reached down and pulled Artemis dagger from its sheath. It was glowing. Shed used the artifact several times during the previous fight, both on their push toward the library and the fight in the temple. It may have appeared little more than a tooth of some great beast fashioned into a dagger, but it was exceedingly durable and sharp enough to punch through even the armored undead. Yet, it had never done this. Why now? What was it reacting to? The darkness? The crystal? The child? Had Artemis known when shed passed the dagger along? No, she couldnt have had. They had no idea what they were walking into. More questions than she had answers for filled Zolzayas mind. She stared down at the glowing dagger and back toward the smoky chains, then toward the large woman. Should she risk it? The others had been right. This wasnt a story. As much as it frustrated her, their short time on this assault had drilled a fundamental truth into her. She wasnt ready. Seeing what the others could do: her father, Artemis, Ulagan, even that bastard M?nkhkhan. They were so far beyond her; she wondered if her presence here was more of a hindrance than anything. This hadnt been a fight she was ready for. Not yet. //If youre going to do it, you better hurry. I cant keep this lady talking forever.// Zolzaya jerked at the voice and turned her head to see one of Alphas small metal insects alighting on her shoulder. She stared at the wasp-like creature, then back at the chain-wrapped child, her hand tightening around the daggers grip. Thats right she wasnt ready. But she also wasnt alone. She didnt have to do everything. Like Artemis had told her, she only had to do what she could. Her resolve set, Zolzaya inched closer and brought the glowing dagger down. The smoke chains werent so much cut as they parted, like bright beams of sunlight parting the early morning mist. She broke one chain, then another, and the remaining chains warbled and broke apart by the third. The beam of light connecting the Akhlut pup to the crystal snapped, and she fell into Zolzayas arms, nearly crushing her. Hera noticed instantly and whipped around. Zolzayas heart lept into her chest. She couldnt run and carry the child at the same time. Lucky for her, she didnt have to. At the next instance, Artemis appeared beside her and struck the much larger woman, sending her flying. Artemis turned and looked down at Zolzaya, or rather the pup in her arms. The pain and gloom visible on her face were reflected by the deep sorrow Zolzayas gift felt radiating from the woman. Her eyes met Zolzayas, and the woman spoke only a single word; Go! Zolzaya didnt need to be told twice. She nodded and stood, racing for the other side of the chamber. A few moments later, Zolzaya collapsed against the wall, panting, the not-so-little pup clutched in her arms. As small as the Akhlut pup seemed compared to the titans classing only a short distance away, she was still nearly as bit as Zolzaya. Even if the young Grassreader was newly [Iron Body], she hadnt had the chance to fully adapt to her new strength yet, and the pup was quite heavy. Nonetheless, she had gotten a respectful distance from the center of the room before the fighting started. She doubted she would have made it very far without the Lord Protector or Artemis distracting the large woman, though. Now, the question was only what did she do from here? Staying in the room was dangerous. But at the same time, with their two strongest fighters here, it might very well be the safest place as well. As she pondered what to do, a large hand gripped her shoulder from behind, and Zolzaya froze. Book 1 - Lesson 67: "Never doubt peoples ability to make things worse." Zolzayas heart raced in her chest, and her mind flashed through her options. How had they snuck up on her? What could she do? Whatever the crystal had been doing to the pup had drained Zolzaya of most of her spirit energy when shed touched it, while physically, she was still exhausted from carrying the child. Her hand inched toward the dagger at her waist as whoever, or whatever, had caught her spun her around. She pulled the dagger free and raised it high, only for the figure to pull her into an embrace. Zolzaya froze, her eyes wide. It took a moment for things to click into her stressed brain, but the young woman soon buried her face in her fathers chest. Juatan was a mess himself, his ruined plate armor ditched long ago, and the gambeson underneath stained in various places with unidentifiable fluids. Neither figure cared, though, as father and daughter held each other for a long moment, the sleeping pup between them. When Juatan pulled away, he gave his daughter a heavy look, then gently pulled the heavy Akhlut pup from her arms. With her burden removed, Zolzaya suddenly felt exhausted and nearly collapsed. Ganbaatar appeared beside her, looking worse for wear, and caught her as she fell. It was then she noticed the other Slatewalkers gathered around. Ulagan, Yutu, and Munkh formed a defensive perimeter around her, while Kallik knelt beside Ganbaatar, holding Zolzayas wrist. The older Grassreader sighed in relief. Shed be fine. Just some mild Spirit exhaustion and adrenaline crash, she said, looking up at Juatan. Juatan visibly eased, then turned his attention to the child in his arms. That was one goal accomplished. How his daughter had managed such a thing would have to be a story for another time. He looked toward the center of the chamber, where Alpha and Artemis were fighting a small army of shadow-clad zombies and a large Akhlut woman in human form, respectively. A sudden war cry cut through the sound of battle, and Juatan turned toward it, fearing the cultists had finally rallied. Instead, dozens of Guardians poured into the chamber from various entryways. Most showed signs of intense battle, with broken armor or bloodied weapons, but no one hesitated to charge forward and meet the shadowy zombies surrounding the Lord Protector. Seeing the sight, Juatan ginned. He placed the child on the floor, leaned down, and hugged his daughter. He then stood and glanced at both Ulagan and Munkh. Both Guardians nodded, with Munkh stepping closer to the younger Slatewalkers. Ulagan raised his spear and turned toward the conflict. Then, with their own yell, both he and Juatan charged into the fray. Alpha batted away another of the shadowy zombies. These things were getting annoying. They werent difficult to kill, but another would pop out of Heras shadow every time he did so, ready for a fight. It didnt seem to take much effort on the womans part either, as she was still summoning the creatures, even as Artemis chased her around the chamber. He contemplated just putting a bullet in her and ending it, but decided against it in the end. The look on Artemis face was scary; it reminded him of the generals secretary, Sidia. Literal star systems had been turned to dust when that woman was out for blood. Instead, he focused on keeping Heras pets out of the fight. He was missing his bone clubs already, though. Sure, he could replicate the effect with a bit of metal from storage (it was even more effective), but it wasnt the same. Two more zombies burst into flames as a group of armored humans surged into the room. Alpha nearly shot the first until his Freind or Foe protocols marked the figure as being one of the humans hed come with. Soon, Alpha found most of the zombies engaged with other targets and little left for him to do. He decided to garner some free goodwill and turned to a support role. Though the TAWP stood still in the middle of the chamber, its turrets were a hive of activity, as each independently tracked various targets. A quick shot at the right time was often enough to give a Guardian the opening they needed or deflect a killing blow when one messed up. With Alphas help, it didnt take long for the Guardians to overwhelm the shadowy zombies, and soon, the creatures were being killed faster than Hera could spawn. If her gritted teeth and bloodshot eyes were any sign, the large woman had also noticed this. ENOUGH! Hera yelled. A visible shockwave emanated from her alongside her voice. The dark wave swept through the chamber with enough force to rock the TAWP. Most of the considerably less steady humans were sent flying several meters. Some rolled across the floor and moaned, while others recovered more gracefully. A select few, mostly Artemis elites and the stronger humans, were only pushed back a few steps. Hera scanned the room with wild, bloodshot eyes. The woman breathed heavily, her black and white hair coming undone, spilling over her shoulders. She bled from several large gashes in her side, the stone-colored robes stained dark. Finally, her eyes locked onto Alpha, and she screamed something primal and unintelligible. She pointed at him and yelled, You! Dog of the Prima! This is your fault! Do you have any idea how long I have been planning this?! What I have sacrificed?! How dare you interfere! Alpha looked around and pointed to himself. Who, him? Was there someone else behind him? Why did everyone always blame Alpha when things went wrong?! Well, they were right most of the time; even so, that was stereotyping! Hera laughed. It was a low thing at first, but slowly, it grew louder and more unstable. She grinned at him with bloodied teeth and spoke. What was it you said? The hard way? Yes, lets do things the hard way. Everyone but Alpha was forced to their knees the next moment as a heavy weight filled the room. All eyes turned to Hera, and Jsh pushed herself out of the TAWP. Hmmm, [Elemental Dominance]? In this place? It seems her Mistress isnt all talk if she could accomplish that. This might be a problem, the Prima said, frowning. Stolen novel; please report. Whys that? Alpha asked, still unfamiliar with some of these terms. He really should have asked someone by now, but it had never been an issue before. Jsh looked down at Alpha, then back to Hera, before continuing. The people of this world strengthen themselves by absorbing and refining the special energy youve noticed. This Cultivation is broken into three major Realms with seven Steps in between. On this planet, at least. Most people gathered here are [Silver Spirit] or [Gold Spirit] Cultivators, the fifth and sixth steps of the first realm, respectively. A few are in the early to mid [Shackle Breaking], the seventh step, with Artemis being near its peak. Alpha nodded, following along so far. The Federation had a similar ranking system for Espers, though their powers could be far more arbitrary and fluid. A B-Rank Esper could be just as dangerous as an S-rank under the right conditions. Jsh narrowed her eyes at Hera and continued. [Elemental Dominance], on the other hand, is the second step of the second realm. That shouldnt be possible in the Radiant Sea. The Heart should have drained her dry long ago. So shes stronger than the rest of them? Alpha asked. Jsh nodded, Exponentially so. The difference between steps is multiplicatively. Between realms? Its an entire magnitude. Worse, this steps primary distinction is [Spiritual Domain]. Anyone without a domain themselves will be unable to resist. Alpha thought that over, then came to a question. Why am I fine then? Jsh laughed before answering. Because the energy seeping out of the TAWP is on a qualitatively different level. Even in its own realm, it has the potential to shoot far above its weight class. Something like this, impressive as it is, cant even hope to compare. Huh, Neat, Alpha said. So that means I can go beat her up, right? Jsh smiled. I dont see anyone else stepping up. Alpha rolled his shoulders and stood. Thats all I needed to hear! The heavy pressure in the air eased slightly, and Hera took several heavy breaths. She straightened her posture and then smoothed back her hair, leaving it slick with her own blood. The crazed look fled, replaced by the demeanor of a queen looking down her nose at something vile. She sneered at Alpha as she spoke. Still able to move? Im impressed. Though maybe that was to be expected from the Lord Protector. Or is it simply the Prima? No matter. If my [Spiritual Domain] cant make you knee, Ill force you myself. But first, I have a small family matter to resolve. Hera flickered, then vanished, appearing a moment later in front of the crystal, Artemis dangling by her neck in her hand. Hera grinned from ear to ear, then raised her free hand. Shadows swirled around it before solidifying into a dark blade. Hera swung the blade a few times and laughed. I have a confession to make, my cute little niece. I never really liked you. Artemis struggled in her grasp, barely croaking out a few words. The feels mutual... bitch Heras grin widened. Then that makes this so much easier, she said. Hera pulled the shadow blade back, aiming for Artemis heart. Alphas turrets turned and fired, but the bullets were blocked by a wave of solid shadows. Heras blade plunged forward and struck nothing. In the blink of an eye, a torrent of wind swept through the room and snatched Artemis from Heras grasp, cutting the womans hand off at the wrist. Hera stared at her bleeding stump, then turned and stared at the living cyclone in the shape of a man, floating in the air some distance away, Artemis dangling in their arms. Hera frowned and asked as her hand rapidly regrew. A Greater Wind Elemental? Here? Should I take that as Herald of Storms sticking his nose into my business as well? What next? Is the Sleeping Child going to flood my Priaires and march her armies to my doorstep?! The living cyclone touched down and materialized into the form of a familiar face well, a white mask. No. 7 set Artemis down on wobbling feet before answering. Na. Ive not nothing to do with the old man. Im here on Camp business. Alpha shook his hand at No. 7 and yelled, There you are, you bastard! Where have you been?! No. 7 turned to Alpha and laughed. Finishing up said business. Glad I could join the party before things got spicy, though, he said. He then turned to Hera. By the way, I left you a present from your son, he said, pointing down. Hera furrowed her brow, then looked down. A small black orb lay at her feet, freshly splattered with her own blood. Fuc Before she could respond, the orb erupted into dozens of black, smoky chains. Hera roared and tried to escape, but the chains quickly wrapped around her, binding her tightly. They then lifted the struggling woman into the air before the crystal and stopped. A thin beam of light flickered into existence between Hera and the crystal, and she screamed, her struggling redoubled. A few pulses of power caused the chains to loosen, but they would snap back together every time before she could escape. Finally, the struggling stopped, and she turned back to No. 7, the crazed look bubbling to the surface once more. My son, you sayHahaha, she spoke in a hysterical voice. I see. So that was his plan all along! I must say, I didnt think that fool Tuguslar had it in him. She turned away and stared at the crystal, wide-eyed, and continued. I wont let it end this way. I wont give up what Im owed, not even to that basted of a son! As she spoke, her body swelled in size, straining the chains. I WILL The smoky chains groaned in protest, NOT! Heras form took on a more bestial and monstrous as she returned to her true Akhlut form, BE the giant wolf-like orca creature, twice the size of the TAWP, pushed two massive claws through the widening gaps in the chains, DENIED! the massive clawed hands shot forward and plunged into the cracks of the large crystal and pulled. ALPHA STOP HER! Jsh screamed, the first tinge of genuine fear Alpha had ever heard from the Prima snapping him into action. All of his turrets turned and fired at the bestial Hera. Fountains of blood exploded from the creatures back as dozens of rounds peppered her form. But Hera was undeterred. She strained against the chains and the crystal, her voice more a roar than a yell. Until finally, with the sound of breaking glass, a fracture formed along the lengths of the Heart, and it split open. Everything stopped as the world froze in place. Not even the dust in the air seemed to fall. Then, there was a dark pulse, and time resumed. At the center of the crystal floated a small, black seed? It was an unassuming thing, reminding Alpha of the pit from a stone fruit like a peach or plum. The only thing of actual note were the dozens of pitch-black, writhing roots extending from a crack in its side and burrowing into the crystal. Hera laughed, staring at the seed with tears in her eyes. She reached out, the black roots gently reaching to meet her touch. Before they suddenly shot forward, burrowing into Heras outstretched hand. Her look of awe turned into horror as the roots squirmed through her flesh and raced up her arm. W-wait, no! What are you AAAAAAHAHHHHH!! Heras words became a primal scream as the roots spread over her body. Alpha stared in horror and asked, What the hell is that thing?! Jsh answered, her voice soft and her face blank. That.. is the seed of the Deadwood Tree. A Celestial Treasure me and my siblings made unimaginable sacrifices to seal away after it had already destroyed two mortal worlds. She turned, looked at Alpha and whispered. Alpha that thing is a World Eater. Book 1 - Lesson 68: "You reap the seeds that you sow." - - Moments before the Deadwood Tree was released. - - Tuguslar sat on the lip of the opening overlooking the Heart chamber and casually swung his legs, watching the show below. He had to admit this Lord Protector was more interesting than he gave him credit for. Tuguslar was looking forward to seeing how this all ended. The sound of blowing wind cut through the storm above and the chaos below. Tuguslar glanced over his shoulder and spoke to the figure who had appeared with a smile. Its about time you showed you. You know, No. 7, I was starting to worry youd forgotten all about me. No. 7 narrowed their eyes and stared at the back of the Akhlut in human form. Their frown deepened. What game are you playing at, Tuguslar? Tuguslar laughed and turned his attention back to the Heart chamber below. Should I not ask you the same, Child of the Herald? he said. No. 7 tensed, but Tuguslar waved them off. Yes, yes, I know. The Camp knows no history or past and all that jazz, No.7, then in a softer voice said, Not all of us can so easily escape who we are Tuguslar pushed himself up from the ledge, turned to face No. 7, and stretched his arms wide. But to answer your question; the same game Ive always been playing. Even if its not the same game others are, he said. He slowly walked toward No.7, grinning. No. 7 flicked their wrist and three long, glittering daggers shot toward Tuguslars heart. A moment before contact, a large hole opened up in the mans chest, allowing the daggers to pass through, before closing up just as quickly. No. 7 stared wide-eyed, and Tuguslar laughed. Thats the funny thing about games. Everyone likes to think of themselves as a player, and everyone else the pieces. The truth is, were all pieces in someone elses game. The king moves the generals who move the knights, who move the captains, who move the common soldier. Layer upon layer, each too focused on their own board to see the hand moving them. Tuguslar turned away and stared at the billowing black clouds swirling in the sky. Thats true all the way to the top. Theres no escaping it. Maybe even the puppet masters on whose strings worlds dance are themselves only playing out their part in some grander scheme. he turned back to No. 7, grinning like a madman, and asked, Exciting, is it not? The thought that, no matter how insignificant our part may seem, it may be for the purpose of some all-encompassing design? Tuguslar shook his head and wiped away a tear. Unfortunately, some, like my moth no, Hera insist on being on top. Theyre so blinded by their desire for meaningless power and station that they cant see their strings being pulled. She walked right into Aunt Metis trap and couldnt even understand how. Or maybe it was that childs destiny nudging things along. Maybe those two are one and the same? Who can really tell? Surely not the pieces being moved into place. No. 7 smirked and asked, And I assume you think youre not one? Tuguslar laughed in response, Oh No. Im dancing like a good little puppet on my strings, just like the rest of you. The only difference is I can see those strings. And Im excited to learn where they lead me. No.7 took a step back; the smile on this mans face was unsettling. That still doesnt tell me what youre planning. Tuguslar paused and frowned, then nodded as he spoke. True. Thats true. You dont yet have all the pieces or see all the threads. No matter. You will in time. For now, youve come to fulfill your duty to Mr. Archimedes, yes? Tuguslar flicked his hand and tossed something toward No. 7, who caught it out of the air. They opened their palm to find a small metal band. The soul imprint of the man who killed Archimedes. That should be sufficient for your contract, yes? I must say Im glad I had the foresight to collect this before our mutual friend destroyed him. That was quite the sight to see. No. 7 frowned and scanned the ring with their senses. Indeed, it had the matching imprint and would be enough for the Camp to confirm the mans death. They pocketed the ring and turned to Tuguslar. This isnt over, you know. You and your family betrayed the Camp. Well hunt you down as long as it takes. Tuguslar laughed. Oh, no, no, no. Youre correct; this isnt the end at all. Quite the contrary. This is just the beginning of something grand. However, Im afraid I cant stick around to see the end, so our little spat will have to be settled next time. Do me a favor, though, and pass along a message to my dear mother for me. A black orb appeared in Tuguslars hand, and he placed it on the ground in front of him. No. 7 took that opening and charged. Faster than the wind, they flashed across the temple roof, their rapier glowing with white light. Tuguslar only smiled and dodged the blow by stepping backward off the roof. The man dissolved into black smoke and swirled upward into the dark clouds above. No. 7 tsked, then reached down and plucked the orb from where Tuguslar had left it. They stared down through the opening in the roof and saw a ragged-looking Hera clutching Artemis by the throat. Puppets on a string, was it? they muttered to themselves before stepping off the ledge and into the chamber below. - - - - - - - - The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. - - Back to the Present. - - DODGE! Alpha jumped to the side, just as the large, black root shot forward. It clipped the TAWP with enough force to send it off balance, then wrapped around on the shadowy zombies nearby. It struggled for a moment before fading and turning to dust. On the other side of the chamber, dozens of other black roots knocked aside Guardians to grab at the undead, all emanating from the pulsing black seed at the crystals center. The undeads master, Hera, was looking a little dry herself. Her screaming had stopped, and her struggle was becoming weaker by the moment. As Alpha observed the scene, a question appeared in his mind. Why are the roots only going after the undead? Despite the root manhandling the gathered Guardians, they treated the humans more like obstacles than prey. He could even spot several thick roots pouring into side chambers through nearby doorways. They were likely searching for more undead if the distant screams were anything to go by. Only one human had been directly attacked after stabbing the root. The root had snapped around, grabbed his ankle, slammed him into the floor several times, and tossed him like a rag doll across the chamber. The remaining Guardians learned quickly after seeing their companions fate and made a hasty retreat from the roots. Jsh answered Alpha. Cults of Iris dont just raise the undead as their army. Their primary purpose is to feed the Deadwood Tree. The dark energy and suffering gathered by the undead are the perfect fertilizer for it. That wont last for long, though. Once the undead have been devoured, itll target anything with spirit energy. After theres no longer anything on the surface to absorb, it will it burrow its way into the planet and start to absorb the life force of the world itself. But thats not the primary danger of the Deadwood Tree. Not at first, at least. Alpha dodged another barrage of roots. It was getting difficult to avoid them as they spread, given how large the TAWP was. I dont know. This thing seems like a pretty big problem to me! Alpha said. Jsh followed up her statement. The Deadwood Tree is the dark mirror to the World Tree, the greatest source of Mana on the planet. And like the World Tree, once it reaches maturity, it will spawn a dryad. A Dark Dryad. An Avatar of Iris. Jsh let that statement hang in the air for a moment as Alpha focused on avoiding roots. Some had started to curl around the TAWPs legs, but they were still too thin and fragile to move him. Jsh continued after a moment. Thats the ultimate goal of any cult of Iris: the descent of the Living Lich to the mortal world. If Iris occupies the Dark Dryad, this world is doomed. No force on the planet will be able to stop her, and no force outside will be able to help. The Deadwood tree will consume the planet and it will become another hive of undead, ready to strike out against the rest of the system. As the AI asked, one of the TAWPs secondary optical sensors swerved and focused on Jsh on his back. Then what do we do? How do we kill it?! Jsh smirked and folded her arms. You dont. Its already dead. Ha Ha, hilarious, Alpha said sarcastically. No, seriously, what do we do? Jsh sighed and dropped her arms. That wasnt a joke for the most part. Alpha, we cant kill it. Under the Federations ranking system, a mature Deadwood tree would be a Class-SS life form. It would take a small flotilla of warships to kill it, truly. It took all four Prima and an army of Celestial Cultivators three worlds to stop it the first time. Even as it is now, barely awake, its possible only the Anatidaes main gun would have any hope of putting it down for good. Fudge, Alpha said. Indeed, Jsh responded. A blast of laser turrets cut through the roots as they spilled into the large hole Alpha had made entering the chamber. The remaining Guardians made a break for the opening, supported by Artemis and her Elites as they escaped. Most had made it, distracted with the undead as the Deadwood tree was, but not all. The still forms of a few armored figures would be seen buried under the carpet of roots spreading across the chamber. What do we do then?! Alpha asked, Jsh frowned. The smart plan would be run. We reorganize and gather an army from across the globe. Then pray it will be enough to stall the trees growth long enough for someone outside to notice. However, the cult and the undead will instinctually protect the tree, so it wont be easy. Artemis was the last through the gap before Alpha. The AI turned the TAWP and fired his turrets into the chamber, culling the rapidly growing roots that struck out at him. Hearing the unspoken implication, Alpha asked. And the not-so-smart plan? Jsh hesitated, looking between Alpha and the broken crystal, before finally speaking. The Heart isnt just a fancy name. Its my literal heart. Or at least the heart of the original me. The Heart, this city, the siphons. These were all designed by me and my siblings as a trap for the Deadwood tree. Even with all our power, we couldnt kill it. So we attempted the next best thing: starve it to death. Trapped inside my heart, the seed couldnt grow, and over the centuries, it has grown weaker and weaker. She stared at the crystal and frowned. The price was heavy, however. The system demands astronomical amounts of energy. So much that it strips this very land and its people of their potential and causes the chaotic Spirit flows that plague it. But now the Heart is broken, and the system that supported it has been thrown into chaos. Even if we were to shove it back in the Heart, it would just break out again. Alpha nodded. Pandoras box has already been opened. Got you, he said. So whats the hope thats left? Jsh frowned. Youre not going to like it The system that supports the Heart is ruined. But all that really was, in truth, was just a power supply. Everything that made the Heart work, what kept the Deadwood tree sealed away, was all in the crystal itself. If we could find an alternative power source, preferably one with an exceptionally pure and cleansing nature, we could restart the Heart and seal the tree back inside Jsh left the statement hanging in the air. Alphas turrets continued to burn away the invasive roots. The tree had taken real notice of him now, and thicker, darker roots were trying to worm their way past him. After a moment, it clicked for Alpha. You want to use the TAWP as a battery?! he yelled. Jsh sighed. I said you wouldnt like it, but hear me out. The energy infusing the TAWP frame is almost directly opposed to the nature of the Deadwood tree. It was the Phoenix and Dragon clans working together that finally allowed us to gain headway against the tree for the first time. You would also benefit from this, as the Heart will slowly drain the energy from your TAWP and clean it for you. This is honestly one of the best ways to do that as well. The other option would be to adapt your soul to the energy, which would take far longer and be far more dangerous. Humanoid creatures made of black roots pushed themselves out of the inky black carpet covering the chamber floor and slowly shambled Alphas way. Alpha paused. That was true. If the crystal could essentially decontaminate the TAWP, that was a major pro in favor of the plan. However, there was one issue. I see what youre saying, but youre forgetting one problem. I cant control that energy. You said so yourself! Alpha said. Jsh grinned down at him and responded. No. But I can. Book 1 - Lesson 69: "Identify the perfect time to wrap things up." Alpha dodged a dozen whip-like roots as they lashed out from all directions. As soon as Jsh had told him the plan, hed lept from the opening in the wall and fell back into the Heart chamber. If what they wanted to do was going to work, they had to move fast. The Guardians had stayed behind and stared out into the chamber after Alpha. I dont like this plan! Alpha yelled between the sounds of cracking wood and the manic laugh of the elemental on his back. The room shook as a thick black root as wide as the TAWPs leg slammed into the ground where Alpha had just been. A dozen thinner roots, the size of a mans torso, shot out of the pulsing carpet covering the floor and tried to wrap themselves around the TAWP. The TAWP strained against the stronger-than-tempered steel roots before they snapped, and Alpha jumped to the side just in time as the ground beneath erupted into a field of five-meter-long thorns. It only took a few moments for Alpha to cross a third of the chambers distance, but the closer he approached, the violent the trees reactions became. The half-awake Deadwood redoubled its assault as the nauseating presence got closer. Unlike the tasty undead, Alpha, or rather the TAWP, filled the tree with disgust. Worse yet, the warm energy triggered old memories of burning flames and slicing claws. The tree thrashed in its sleep like a child caught fleeing from nightmares on the edge of waking. Twisted visages caught between unending fury and hopeless sorrow formed on the surface of the root-covered floor as if the roots were just a thin barrier holding them back. Hands and arms reached up, grasping at the air, desperately reaching for something, anything to grab hold of. The TAWPs legs were soon pinned to the ground by dozens of grasping arms and clawed hands. They didnt cling as tightly as the ropes had, but the grasping figures came with him as Alpha lifted his leg. Dozens of clinging figures were pulled out of the roots, like drowning men pulled from the water. From a distance, one might have mistaken them for humans, or at least zombies, but the truth was more apparent this close. Each figure was jet black, its body composed of thousands of squirming roots, writhing in a tangled mess like a ball of worms. Every so often, their blank, featureless faces would shift to that of a distinct person, their expressions locked into ones of anguish and terror. Freed from the root carpet, the figures scrambled up the TAWPs side, clawing with far more agility and speed than any of the zombies had shown. Alpha tried to shake them off, lifting one leg and spinning it furiously. Most were thrown off, flying into the air and melting back into the carpet where they landed. But some hung on, and more joined them with every step Alpha took. The point-defense turrets were barely effective against the creatures. A single shot was enough to blast apart the upper portion of their body, but what remained would simply wiggle for a moment before rapidly regrowing. Only the laser turrets were effective, while his new crystal-rail only seemed to energize the creatures. All along his body where the creatures touched, Alpha could feel dozens of tiny, hair-like roots try to worm their way into his internals through any gap they could find in his armor. Unfortunately for them, the TAWPs outer skin was composed entirely of nanites, making it a simple matter to block any such attempts, no matter how small the roots that tried. A few of the creatures managed to claw their way on top of the TAWP, using the bodies of their fellows as shields. Only to be sliced in two by thin stone blades wielded by the frowning elemental on top. Alpha paused, then pulled the TAWPs legs inward. The war machine vibrated for a moment before a thin blue energy shield made of interlocking hexagonal segments pushed itself outward. With a high-pitched screech, all the clinging creatures and much of the surrounding root carpet were pushed away. The shield flicked off, and the room stood silent for a brief moment. Then the chamber rumbled. The root carpet went wild, with thousands of roots of varying sizes standing in the air and wiggling like an army of mad snakes. The spreading roots retracted until several meters of the floor along the edges of the chamber were revealed. Then, slowly, the roots in front of the seed bulged upward, higher and higher, until they towered over 10 meters high, nearly a quarter of the chambers height. I dont like where this is going! Alpha said, pointing his turrets at the mound of roots and firings. Dozens of laser blasts fired from the TAWP and struck the tall mound of roots, but only did minor damage. Burned roots regrew, and holes sealed themselves, even under Alphas constant barrage. The roots stopped writhing a moment later, and large, draconic claws pushed out from within the mound. The claws wiggled in the air before grabbing onto the edges and pushing. The mound of roots ripped open like a giant cocoon, and a creatures black and white, almost reptilian head poked out. It stared down at Alpha and screamed with the sound of a deep roar and echoing click mixed together. It pushed harder, and with a crack, the cocoon fell away to reveal the rest of the creature. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. It was a massive thing, slightly bigger than the TAWP. It vaguely reminded Alpha of Snowball, with the same odd mixture of both orca and wolf, with a splattering of draconian features along the legs and muzzle. Two large webbed wing-fin-like structures ran the length of its body, from the shoulders to the midpoint of a muscular fluked tail. While its body was mostly black, dozens of white swirling patterns constantly shifted and moved along its form. It stretched out its wings before folding them overtop its body like a robe. Alpha pulled back, his turrets trained on the creature as it stared at him, giving off a constant low, clicking rumble. What the hell is that?! Jsh frowned and answered. That is the true form of a mature Akhlut. The creature roar-clicked again and charged faster than something that size had any right to move. Alpha dodged, leaping out of the way, but a swipe of the creatures powerful tail caught the TAWP in midair. Alpha tumbled before using his RCS thrusters to right himself. As soon as he landed, the creature turned and opened its mouth. A black flame flickered in the back of its throat. Alpha threw up his hex shield the moment before he was engulfed in a dark stream of fire. The stream lasted several seconds, with no end in sight, until a thunderclap sounded. The black flames died as the giant Akhlut lept out of the way the same instant the wall behind it exploded in a shower of debris. Alpha turned the still smoking [B55-Vijaya] toward the creature, but its erratic movement made it hard to track. Instead, Alpha tried to corral the creature with controlled turret fire, which it blocked with its thick wing fins. Akhlut? Why the hell does it look more like a dragon?! Alpha asked. Jsh narrowed her eyes. Adult Akhlut incorporate a variety of species bloodlines, what youd call genetic materials, into their bodies. Its part of what makes them so powerful and valuable, the elemental answered. Heras family always had a bit of dragon in them. It seems she took it to an extreme. The species are shapeshifters by nature, and every adult is different in their own way. Jsh paused and looked to her left before continuing. Case in point Alpha barely had time to turn his attention in that direction before a massive shadow shot from the large hole in the wall. It flew through the air without a sound and slammed into the unaware creature with all its focus on Alpha. The figures tumbled for a few meters before Alpha could get a good look at the new arrival. It looked similar to the first creature, though a size smaller. Instead of smooth, scaley skin, its body was covered in a mix of black-and-white fur and feathers. On its back, two massive avian wings grew. They were black as night and sported dozens of tiny white specks, with larger spots on each primary feather. The creatures head was more mammalian than the others reptilian features, but sported a wicked curved beak at the end of its short muzzle. Said beak shrieked loudly as the smaller creature rolled on top of its draconian counterpart and bit down the thin joint that connected its shoulder to the fin-like wing. It pulled its head back, pulling the connecting bone and a sizeable chunk of the protective wing with it. Alpha watched from the side, waiting for his chance. Wait, so that things actually Hera? I thought she got eaten. What the hell is up with this planet and everyone returning from the dead?! Thats rude! Jsh nodded. Yes, and I assume our friend with the Starry Sky Owl bloodline would be Artemis. A fine choice on her part; the Starry Sky Owl may not have the raw power of many other creatures, but it makes up for it with sheer talent. Im pretty sure theres some Griffon mixed in there as well. As for why Hera is alive, you have the Deadwood tree to blame for that. She turned and looked at the pulsing black seed still some distance away. Even now, the roots were regaining the ground theyd lost when Hera had reappeared. Like I mentioned before, the Deadwood tree is related to the World Tree. Unlike the World Tree, however, the creatures it absorbs arent used to seed new worlds or restore life. When it eats a creature, the tree can replicate it to create a puppet. Youve already seen a few of them, she said, gesturing to some of the unabsorbed bodies of the humanoid root creatures scattered about before continuing. It uses these puppets to scour the planet of life and reach places its roots cannot. That thing isnt really Hera; its closer to a clone created using her as a blueprint. The two enormous creatures separated, jumping away from each other and emitting low, clicking growls. They circled each other, heads low to the ground. Alpha took the shot and fired the [B55-Vijaya]. Its focus on Artemis, the draconic creature tried to dodge but still took the shot on its shoulder instead of blowing away its head as Alpha had intended. Instead of a spray of blood and bone, however, the creatures front right leg exploded in a shower of writhing, black vines. The wound quickly sealed back into scaley black skin as the creature whipped around and roared at Alpha. In doing so, it took its eyes off of Artemis. Bad move. Artemis pounced, using its large wings and smaller size to land on top of the slightly larger creature. Hera began bucking like a wild horse, trying to throw off the clinging Artemis. The orca-owl-dragon things latched onto the larger creatures neck, using its beaked muzzle to pull away chunks of flesh while its scaly claws raked across its sides and back. In only a brief moment, the creatures wrestling match had resumed. So, if that things just a copy, does that mean we have to worry about it spitting out more? Alpha asked. Jsh shook her head. Unlikely. If it was at its full power? It could produce thousands of Heras at a time. And more dangerous creatures. After centuries of being starved, and still half asleep? A creature of Heras strength is likely its limit for the time being. Forcing it to spawn and then destroying such creatures was one of the primary methods we used to weaken it the first time. For all its power, the Deadwood tree isnt very intelligent without its Dark Dryad. So, in other words, nows the time to finish this? Alpha responded. Jsh only grinned. Book 1 - Lesson 70: "Never turn your back." Alpha turned away from the melee and moved close to the seed at the chambers center. Maybe sensing Alphas intent, the Hera clone broke away from Artemis and charged him on a newly formed leg. The creature barely made it a few steps before Artemis grabbed its hindquarters and pulled it back to the ground. It struggled, but Artemis was relentless in her assault and kept her pinned. Alpha continued unabated. Its powerhouse being occupied, the seed tried the old tactic of stalling Alpha with several smaller humanoid creatures. It worked for a moment until a barrage of various attacks flew through the air and struck the clinging figures. Alpha looked in the direction the attacks had come and saw a few dozen Guardians holding bows, standing in the gap caused by the hole in the wall. From the ledge, Ulagan yelled and pointed his spear. A barrage of arrows, some on fire, others frozen solid or crackling with energy, arched through the air, stuck more of the figures. On the ground below the opening, the rest of the Guardians formed a defensive line, beating back a few of the creatures. The root creatures were far more powerful than the Guardians, but teams of three or four seemed enough to hold them off. Alpha laughed internally and turned back to the seed. It seemed everyone was getting serious, so maybe he should, too. The TAWPs legs spread out, and small tracks flipped down. In between travel and walker mode, he could dash small distances quickly without losing too much moveability. The tracks squealed as they spun and tore up the root carpet underneath. Alpha shot forward, covering several dozen meters in only a few seconds. Several places in the roots bulged upward, and Alpha dodged them as he could. When the roadblocks failed to stop Alpha, something else rose from the roots. A massive, clawed hand made of braided roots rose and towered over Alpha. Alpha put on the brakes, trying to bleed off some momentum, while the [B55-Vijaya] on his back bubbled and shifted into the [Gungnir]. As he skidded across the floor, Alpha charged the weapon. //Warning! Core energy levels at 35%!// //Warning! Core energy levels at 32%!// //Warning! Core energy levels at 30%!// Alphas energy core reserves rapidly dropped. As Alpha drew near, the massive clawed hand swung downward, attempting to crush the approaching AI. At the same time, Alpha fired the [Gungnir] at 10% of the power of a nitrogen crystal. The torso thick beam of energy lanced out of the weapon and impacted the root hand in the palm. The giant root hand held for a moment, struggling against the force of the energy weapon, before finally, the beam burst out the back. At the same time, Alpha dragged the beam weapon down, cleanly slicing the giant root hand into two halves. Using the rest of his momentum, Alpha lept, and the TAWP soared through the open gap between the drooping halves. They landed, skid for a few meters, and stopped just in front of the cracked crystal and the seed. The seed didnt like that. The thin roots growing on the crystal writhed, then wrapped the seed up in a thick layer of roots. Alpha! Stop it! Jsh called. The AI rushed forward, slammed the TAWPs front legs into the crystal, and reached inside the crack with his manipulator arms and a dozen nanite tentacles. Alpha cut away at the root cocoon surrounding the seed with tentacles tipped with plasma cutters. What do we do now?! he asked in a hurry. Just make contact with the seed and the Heart simultaneously! Ill do the rest! Jsh answered as she fought off the horde of roots and root creatures creeping up Alphas back. After a moment of frantic cutting, they were through. YES!. Alpha grabbed onto the bare seed with his manipulator roots. Instantly, dark thoughts flooded his mind as a million, billion voices screamed in his head. Too bad for them, Alpha was used to voices in his head, and the next moment, a flood of warm energy rushed through the TAWP and into both the giant crystal and the seed. The countless voices in the seed screamed as one, and all around the chamber, the roots and constructs froze in place before visibly shaking. As the moments passed, more and more energy flowed out of Alpha and into the crystal and seed, but the seed was fighting back. It pushed against the burning, cleaning light, and a tug of war began. Back and forth it went until the seed eventually started to gain some ground. Thin black roots started crawling up Alphas arms. As they did, the cleansing energy was pushed back more and more. Worried, Alpha called out. Jsh! Whats going on?! Jsh looked visibly strained as she spoke. Its fighting back cant keep thisup! What the hell! I thought you said you could do this! Alpha yelled. Im trying! she responded. But this energy its not something Im used to Its not moving fast enough! Stolen story; please report. Then use more! I cant! If I push it too far, itll fry you! The black roots spread farther, and the energy weakened. What do we do?! I Jsh hesitated. JISHI! Alpha yelled. Jsh grimaced and yelled back, Give me control of the TAWP! WHAT?! HELL NO! Yeah, no way was he giving someone else control of his body. Jsh sighed, Alpha, if you give me control, I can monitor your systems and ensure the energy doesnt cause too much damage! Otherwise, we risk your soul totally collapsing! Bullcrap! That doesnt mean Ill just ALPHA! Youre already fraying at the edges! If I release too much stored energy, itll kill you. And if it comes up to stopping the Deadwood tree and explaining to the Federation why I had to kill you, Ill do so. Im asking you to trust me, for your sake and everyone elses. Alpha paused, unsure. Part of him knew it could turn out badly. Yet another part of him really didnt want to explain to the general how hed triggered a zombie apocalypse Alpha, were running out of time! Hurry! Jsh. Alpha mentally screamed, then gave the command. //TAWP Admin privileges assigned to USER: JISHI// The change was instant. Alpha went from feeling like the TAWP was his own body to feeling trapped in a shell. Sensor data dropped to a bare minimum, and most of the mental controls he was so used to snapped. It felt like being paralyzed and losing a limb all at once. Even the more instinctual motions of adjusting his cameras or tweaking energy levels to various systems didnt respond. Hed never felt so vulnerable and powerless. He hated it. A warm feeling grew in its place as foreign energy flooded the TAWP. It grew stronger and stronger until it switched from being a warm heat to a blazing inferno. Alpha, who had never really had a concept of heat before other than as a number on a status report, suddenly felt himself sweltering. Jsh! What are you doing?! Alpha asked, as his mind became fuzzy from the heat. Hang in there! Just a little more Alpha! Jsh replied. The TAWP glowed. Or rather, its skeleton did. Bright light radiated from inside as blue and gold flames licked the TAWPs surface. The Deadwood tree seed screamed with a billion voices. This time, everyone present could hear it, and several Guardians collapsed. Blue and gold flames ate away at the black roots, constricting the TAWP, and they raced through the room, devouring them as they went. The black stains on the Heart slowly flaked away as its inner light increased. When it reached its peak, a golden pulse of energy rippled outward through space. The seed screamed one last time before the TAWPs legs pushed, and the two halves of the broken Heart snapped closed. Banging could be heard as the Heart shook and the seed struggled inside, but it was soon overwhelmed by the burning light and grew quiet. The remaining roots in the room struggled but soon dried up and were consumed by the blue-gold flames. The Hera clone writhed on the floor, clawing at itself as it dried up. Soon, the flames reached it, too, and when they were extinguished, nothing remained but a pile of ashes. A panting, bloodied Artemis watched, then slowly shrank back to her human form. One arm was a mangled mess, with her left eye bloody in the socket and her armor in tatters. Even so, the woman smirked before she collapsed to the floor, unconscious. The chamber was silent for a moment before the stunned Guardians raised their weapons and cheered, the sound of their voices rousing Alpha from the haze. I where what he mumbled. Jsh leaned against the back of the TAWP, still holding the Heart closed, and patted it as she spoke. Good Job, Alpha. We did it. Its over. Alpha tried to shake himself clear, but nothing responded. What was going on? Ah, right. Good, now give me back my body! he yelled. Jsh looked away, About that. A different kind of fire cleared away some of the fog in Alphas mind as he yelled. YOU LYING BI !! Alpha Jsh spoke softly. DONT YOU ALPHA, ME! WAS THIS PART OF YOUR PLAN FROM THE START? YOU BACKSTABBING PIECE OF ALPHA! Jsh spoke more forcefully this time before continuing. Alpha, youre dying. Oh, Bull. You used that one already, lady! Come up with some new excuses! Alpha replied mockingly. Jsh sighed and shook her head. Its not an excuse. You cant see it, but the lingering fire is burning away at you as we speak. Alpha fumed. What kind of bullcrap was that? Did she actually expect him to take her word for it after pulling a stunt like this?! Sure, it was getting kind of hot, and it was a little hard to think, but so what?! Jsh pushed herself up and stared into Alphas optical sensor. Alpha. The TAWP needs to stay here. The energy inside will slowly bleed out and heal the crystal while draining the seed inside. But you cant be here for that. It will be too much for you too quickly. Maybe if you were in better condition, but I miscalculated. You will die, with or without my help. Oh, I can see alright. I see this was all part of your little scheme. What, did you think you could steal my body and get away with it?! Good luck with that! Do you think Im bad? You should see what the Federation does to Spies! I dont care if youre made of rocks! Youll not get away with this! Please dont make this harder than it has to be. Jsh softly asked. MAKE ME! was Alphas response. Jsh sighed. //Emergency Core Blink Drive activated. Coordinates locked. Emergency Blink in 10// Fudge, Alpha said. Jsh shook her head. She didnt want it to come to this. But she had no other choice. Alpha was already too far gone. The soul damage was affecting his rationality too much. //9// In a perfect world, he would have willingly left the TAWP. Then they could have built him a temporary body until the Heart was fully healed and the danger passed. //8// As he was, he would fight every step of the way. Sure, she could convince the humans to help, but when the Federation inevitably combed through the records, shed rather it was her alone who was implicated. Maybe in time, he would forgive her. Not likely, given what she knew of him. Everything shed learned of the AI told her he was one to hold a grudge. //6// But with time, the injuries to his soul would start to heal, especially with the place she was sending him. She could only hope that it hadnt changed much since the real her had last been there. //5// Im moving a few things to your core, Alpha. Some [Wasps]. A few nanite nest seeds. The beast core you got from Tuguslar and a few other minor items. //4// Dont think this is over, Jsh!! I know where you sleep! Ill be back for my body! Then youll learn what it means to cross a Conqueror! Alpha yelled. //2// I know, Alpha. Im counting on it. What these fools started today is just the beginning. If we have any hope of surviving, we need your help. Maybe even the Federations. //1// Dont you dare do anything to my body, you bastard! Ill be Bac //0// Space blooped. The TAWP remained but Alpha was gone. Book 1 Epilogue; "Out of the pan and into the fire." The Crimson mountain range in the wild north of the Skybreaker continent spanned for thousands of miles in all directions. These lands were filled to the brim with legendary treasures of all kinds and powerful beasts guarding them. As such, they had long been the premier destination for treasure hunters and fortune seekers for centuries. Popular folklore tells stories of how the reddish color of the mountain range comes not just from the vast abundance of mineral wealth locked inside, but from the oceans of blood spilled in search of the riches found here over countless millennia. For these same reasons, adventurers, from mages to cultivators, flock to the Crimson Mountains, seeking power and wealth. Thus, in the southern portion of the mountain range, where the lands of many powerful sects and clans converge, the City State of Halirosa was born. The City of Gold. A Land of Opportunities. The Home of Adventures. Its wealth, promise, and, most importantly, freedom offered by Halirosa are as a shiny beacon to all the worlds free mages and loose cultivators. Through them, Halirosa has remained independent and neutral in a world otherwise embroidered by constant conflict and competition. While it may not hold the title of one of the Five Great Pillars of the Skybreaker continent, none would ever deny that Halirosa stood as one of the most important places in the world. But. The next step in our story, in Alphas story, doesnt take us to Halirosa. Not yet. No, the story that would, for some, be the beginning of a legend and, for others, a nightmare starts farther west, in the same mountain range. Sundown Mountain was small when compared to its towering neighbors. Nonetheless, its peak broke through the clouds and offered a spectacular view of the Crimson mountain range. Fitting of its name, every day at sunset, the light from the sun and sister above would peek through the surrounding mountains and illuminate the mountaintop in a dazzling display. Even now, so soon after the Darkest Night, the few stray beams of sunlight seemed to concentrate in this place, reflecting off thousands of discarded weapons of various types and sizes. For the expansive, craterous peak of Sundown Mountain was famous for something besides just the view. Duels. The eyes of the two figures standing atop Sundown Mountain burned with Spirit energy as the two pointed their weapons at each other. Both men were bloody and worn after their long battle. The plan had been to finish the fight long before the Darkest Night had even begun. But each had proven more stubborn than the other had expected, and now, days later, both were nearing their limits. The once vibrant, emerald robes of the younger man, Xiang Yi, were now little more than scraps of burned cloth. His large saber, as long as he was tall and wielded with both hands, was chipped and cracked in several places, despite the streams of mana that barely held it together. The older man, Lu Zheng, wasnt in much better shape. Dozens of large cuts had reduced the crimson robes to tatters, what remained stained a darker red by his own blood. The top of the gnarled wooden staff in his hands, which had once blazed with an eternal flame, now flickered as if blown by some fierce wind. Lu Zheng sneered at the younger man as he spoke. Whats this? Has the little mage who fancies himself a cultivator run out of steam already? No wonder the Stonewalls have turned you down every time. Trash is trash, after all. Better than the hunting dog of an overgrown chicken! Xiang Yi snarled back. At least the Stonewalls know how to fight their own battles, unlike your young master. Lu Zheng frowned and narrowed his eyes. This is why you keep finding yourself in trouble, boy. Never know when to shut up or when to respect your betters. The plan had been to teach you some simple respect. But no Its clear to me now youll never learn. Time we ended this. Xiang Yi sneered back. Fine by me. One less dog nipping at my heel. The two flickered and vanished, reappearing in the middle, saber, and staff clashing in an explosion of mana. Xiang Yi jumped back, then closed the distance once more with a wide slash. As he did, dew collected on his blade, then shaped itself into a thin blade, extending his sabers reach by nearly a meter. Lu Zheng humphed and blocked the water blade with his staff, a thin red barrier forming a few inches away. Always the same tricks, boy. Time to learn something new. The water blade slammed into the shield and scattered into dew drops. Xiang Yi grinned and responded. Who said I hadnt? The scattered drops of the water blade stopped in midair behind Lu Zheng and twisted into long, thin needles. Lu Zhengs eyes widened, but he couldnt bring his staff around in time. A dozen water needles plunged into his back and burst out of his chest. The older man fell to his knees and coughed out a lung full of blood. Lu Zheng laughed. It was a low thing at first, but slowly, it grew louder. He glared up at Xiang Yi and spoke through bloodied teeth. A cheap trick, boy. But Ill admit, effective. Still, this isnt over. Xiang Yis eyes bulged as the mana in the area pulsed, and Lu Zhengs chest began to glow red. You Bastard! Are you really so willing to die for your master that youd detonate your mana furnace?! Lu Zheng chuckled, coughing up a bit more blood. Youre too dangerous to let live, boy. Nor do you know the wrath of the master. At least this way, I can ensure my family is well taken care of. Goodbye, boy. Its a shame you didnt know how to pick your side better. Xiang Yi gathered his mana and lept into the air. He needed to escape now. Someone as strong as Lu Zheng detonating their mana furnace would be enough to take out half the mountain top. But as he lept, thick, burning roots erupted from the ground and grabbed his legs, pulling him back down. Xiang Yi fell back to the ground with an oomph! Panic filled the young mans eyes as he desperately clawed at the roots ensnaring him, ignoring the burns they caused him. Even his saber finally shattered as he tried to chop away at them. Lu Zheng only watched and laughed as the light in his chest grew brighter. Bloop! The laughter stopped as both mens eyes were drawn to the sound of space unfolding. High in the sky above them, a large black sphere, 1.5 meters in diameter, appeared. It hovered in the air briefly as space stabilized around it, then fell directly above Lu Zheng. Lu Zheng stared at the black ball as wide as he was tall and sneered. Pathetic. For final gambits, this was a weak attempt. Lu Zheng didnt know how Xiang Yi had materialized the ball above him like that. It didnt matter. He was an [8th Circle] mage; something as simple as a falling ball was childs play. He raised his staff in the air as four concentric magic circles formed in the air above him, forming a large shield. His sneer was soon replaced by wide-eyed shock as the large black ball instantly crashed through three circles. Three more circles formed instantly, and the ball shattered all but the last, with thick cracks forming under it. Xiang Yi stared at the scene in shock as Lu Zheng formed an eighth, much larger circle under the final one. The seventh circle finally shattered, and the black ball fell onto the last circle with the sound of a gong. Lu Zheng visibly strained, pushing himself to his limits as the eighth circle bulged downward. H-heavy was all the man could say before spiderweb cracks spread across the circle. Then, in an instant, it shattered, and the ball fell. Splat! Warm blood splattered across Xiang Yis face as he stared, and the roots holding him down vanished as the force of the balls impact threw him back. Xiang Yi pushed himself up on burned hands and stared at the giant black ball that had just saved his life. It sat in a small, blood-filled crater, Lu Zhengs broken staff laying off to the side; one more trophy claimed by Sundown Mountain. Still, he laughed. Xiang Yi had always felt that fate had something more planned for him. Of course, it wouldnt let him die in a place like this. He wondered what this thing was. Some kind of treasure? Or maybe an artifact? Could it be a Fallen Star?! It had come from the sky, after all. Hed heard legends of Fallen Stars before. How theyd appear in front of the chosen few and help raise them to unimaginable heights. But the legends also said how the arrival of a Fallen Star would be more obvious. The heavens themselves would declare their arrival, and grand battles would be fought over them. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. This thing just appeared. Nonetheless, greed welled up in his heart. If this thing really was a Fallen Star it could be the very thing he needed. Theres no way the Stonewall family could say no to him now. Hell, as the holder of a Fallen Star, theyd practically beg him to join them. His heart racing, Xiang Yi stood, his burned hands and legs forgotten in the face of a life-changing opportunity. Then, he froze as the black ball stood up as well. A dozen spindly legs pushed themselves out of the dull, black surface of the ball, like branches growing from a tree. They spread out, then down, pushing the strange ball up and out of the crater. Xiang Yi took a step back, his heart racing for different reasons now. He could barely feel any spirit energy or mana from this thing, but that meant little in the Crimson mountain range, where all manners of strange creatures lived. Hed already seen what it had done to an [8th Circle] mage. Xiang Yi wasnt going to stick around to find out what else it could do. As he turned to escape before the ball creature noticed him, something else caught his eye. Floating in the pool of blood under the creature was a glowing red crystal. Xiang Yis eyes bulged, all thoughts of Fallen Stars and escape vanishing. He folded himself into a tight ball and covered himself in as many mana shields as possible. The red crystal flickered, and the world erupted in flames. When Xiang Yi awoke an unknown time later, he lay at the other end of Sundown Mountains peak. He flipped onto his back and groaned, feeling all the fresh wounds and a few new broken bones. His hands shaking, he pulled a recovery pill from his storage ring and threw it into his mouth. It would take hours before he was fit to travel, and months of recovery once he returned to Halirosa, but the young man felt with reasonable confidence he would recover. If nothing wandered by and ate him beforehand, that was. His eyes suddenly widened, memories flooding his mind, and he cranked his head to one side. He then let out an air of relief. The black ball creature was gone as was a good portion of the Sundown mountain peak. When Lu Zhengs mana furnace detonated, it hadnt been nearly as powerful as it could have been. Otherwise, Xiang Yi would have been obliterated as well. But it had been enough to take a good chunk out of the mountain peak. Xiang Yi crawled to the edge and peered over. Much of it was as he would have expected, appearing as a blasted wasteland, but something else caught his eye. There, near the bottom of the crater caused by the blast, was a hole? No, a cave. Had the blast opened up a hidden cave in the mountain? Sundown Mountain was a popular place and had been well explored, but Xiang Yi didnt remember hearing anything about a cave system under the mountains. Who knew what kind of treasures were down there, just waiting to be discovered? The greed returned, but Xiang Yi pushed it away. He was in no condition to go exploring. Not now. But he knew it was there. Smiling to himself, Xiang Yi used the last of his mana to collapse part of the entrance. It wasnt perfect, and anyone who thought to look would still notice it, but it might buy him some time. Xiang Yi then flipped on his back and pulled out another item. A small, golden sheet of paper. He stared at it, questioning if he could afford it or not. The Adventurers Guild gave all its members a single distress ticket every decade. When used, it would send a signal and lead a rescue team to his location. You could technically buy more from the guild, but they were insanely expensive, to the point some people died every year rather than use theirs. Finally, Xiang Yi reached up and tore the ticket in two, releasing a pulse of energy. What was the point of having something that could save your life if you didnt use it? As he watched the golden ticket halves dissolve into dust, darkness finally took him, and Xiang Yi fell unconscious. Bloop! Space unfolded as the Blink Drive deposited Alpha in high in the air over an unknown mountain range. Part of Alpha had the presence of mind to take a quick 360 snapshot of the area with his core-mounted cameras before space stabilized and he fell. The rest of him was fuming. Who did that bastard Jsh think she was?! Thats what he got for trusting natives! //WARNING! Core integrity at 51%. Prime Processer at 22%21%// Did she really think she would get away with this?! //WARNING! Core integrity at 50%. Prime Processer at 20%19%// Ohhhhh No. Nononono, no one pulled a fast one on Alpha! That was his job! //WARNING! Core integrity at 48%. Prime Processer at 18%17%// Alpha hit the ground with a bang! Many of his Sub-AI were acting odd, the coding walls that portioned off parts of his consciousness beginning to break down for some reason. Alpha ignored that. He would worry about that later. For now, he had revenge to plan. BANG! Alphas core slammed into something, then the ground. //WARNING! Core integrity at 41%. Prime Processer at 16%15%// Alpha tried to stand, but the TAWP wasnt responding. Oh, right, thats because the TAWP wasnt there anymore. That bastard stole it! The thought reignited the burning fury. When he got a hold of her! //WARNING! Core integrity at 40%. Seek immediate assistance from your nearest maintenance personnel!// WILL YOU SHUT UP?! Alpha mentally yelled at the automated system. He didnt have time for that. Who knew what Jsh was doing with his body? Alpha manipulated the nanite layer of his core to form rudimentary limbs. His core wasnt meant to move independently, but it could, if need be. Sometimes, pulling himself into a core dock was faster than waiting for the machines to do it. The spindly limbs pushed his core out of the small (for some reason also wet?) crater it was in. Before he could take another step, however, a new warning blared in his mind. //WARNING! EXTREME ENERGY SIGNAL DETECTED! EVASIVE MANEUVERS ADVISED!// Alpha barely had time to activate his core shielding before the mountaintop exploded. His core was thrown a dozen meters into the air, along with thousands of tons of stone and earth. When he fell back down, he fell further this time, tumbling down the mountainside along with part of the mountain. He tried to correct himself and latch onto anything solid, but with half the mountain falling with him, there wasnt much to grab onto. After a few seconds of falling, one of the extended nanite tentacle limbs grabbed onto solid ground, and Alpha pulled himself into a hole in the side of the mountain. Alphas core tumbled into the hole and deeper into the cave, finally free of the avalanche outside. His core came to a stop at the bottom of a steep incline. It was too dark for his cameras to pick up anything, but his integrated radar told him he was in the middle of a long tunnel that stretched out in either direction. Alpha lay still momentarily, trying to process what had just happened. //WARNING! Core integrity at 27%. Prime Processer at 13%12%.// //WARNING! Personality Matrix critical! Conditions met. Beginning emergency maintenance protocol: DEEP SLEEP.// Wait, what?! Abort! ABORT! Alpha tried to give the command, but the few remaining functioning Sub-AI overruled him. That should have been impossible! His Sub-AI only had that kind of power if his prime processor had been compromised! That was ridiculous! He felt fin . Alphas consciousness went black. //Good morning, [SEAU - 01]: ALPHA. You have been in emergency maintenance mode for: (12 days. 8 hours. 23 minutes. 12 seconds). Core Integrity at 62%. Prime Processer at 32%// Alpha came too slowly. Why did this feel so familiar? Or was he getting used to waking up in strange places? That wasnt the best of habits to have Slowly, he brought more and more systems online, trying to understand where he was. Underground, he could tell that much. His logs were thankfully undamaged, so he still had a pretty clear recording of the mountain range hed blinked to. Where that was in relation to where it had been it was hard to tell. The [Blink Drive] in his core, while technically short-range, was still capable of 100,000 kilometers or more. He could be in the mountains hed recorded beyond the prairies or on the other side of the planet. It was hard to tell. The [Blink Drives] were used as emergency escape methods for a reason; it was relativity hard to predict where youd end up, other than somewhere in a general direction. Jsh had to have known that if she really knew as much about his systems as she claimed to. The memory of the Prima kindled Alphas fury a bit. Now that he was a little more stable, Alpha could see the rationale in her thinking, but that didnt stop him from calling bullcrap! Hed been doing fine until that point! All she was doing was grabbing an excuse to get him away from the TAWP. If he really had been in as bad of a condition as she claimed, she could have just ejected his core and had the humans carry him away. But no, she purposefully triggered his [Blink Drive]. Okay, fine, he would admit he might not have been thinking clearly at the time, and he didnt have all the information, but there were other options! Instead, she chose the one that removed him from the picture entirely. Why? To take credit for the save? To monopolize the energy? Hell, shed been practically drooling when she talked about it before. Something else entirely? At the end of the day, it didnt matter. Hed fallen for her trap like a chump, and he had no one by himself to blame. Thats what he got for trusting natives. Now, he was in worse condition than after planetfall, trapped an undeterminable distance underground and moving toward who knew where. Wait moving? Alpha hurried to activate the rudimentary sensors on his core, then froze. The AIs core was slowly being carried through a massive tunnel, lit by bright glowing mushrooms, clutched in the jaws of a massive ant? Half the size of Alphas core, the creature was a black and brown molted color and resembled a giant ant, though much spiker, like a king crab. Alpha almost put a nanite lance through the creatures head but stopped himself as he got a better look at his surroundings. The creature that carried him wasnt alone. All along the massive tunnel, dozens, if not hundreds, of ants marched down the tunnel, each carrying some item or another. Some carried shiny rocks. Others worked together to carry the bodies of unidentifiable mammalian creatures several times their sizes. Still others held various times of plant matter. One particularly large specimen carried what looked like an entire tree on its back, the trunk glowing with pulsing veins of blue. Worse yet, above them, on the tunnel ceiling, dozens more ants, free of any burden, marched in the opposite direction. Alpha was sure if he had a better angle, hed see even more ants in either direction. Not good. If it was a lone creature, he felt confident in escaping. Against hundreds? His core wasnt built for that kind of thing. As it stood, it seemed his escort likely assumed he was just another shiny rock. But if he let on, he was more than that; it was likely Alpha didnt doubt hed be swarmed in an instant. If the mangled bodies of the creatures being carried alongside him said anything, it said these ants were more than capable of causing actual damage. He would have to wait for his chance to escape. Now, the only question was, where were they taking him? Book 1: GRIM Adventures - 6 //Loading audio-visual logs please wait// //Log record - Mr. Gopher explodes beginning// Grim shook herself from the tangled pile of bodies and rose into the air. She vibrated her chassis to get as much of the vile gunk off of her as she could, but a thin layer of blood, meat, and slime remained, painting her a rusty brown. Maybe she could get the Icy lady to spray her down after this was done? The other three figures wiggled around on the ground, trying to untangle their various limbs. Three, not two, for after Grim and Little Red greeted the little old lady (with their bodies at high speed), theyd tumbled down the road leading to the cottage... into the path of one very annoyed mountain goat. Said goat was now lying on top of the old lady, who was lying on top of Little Red, who in turn was trying to snap at the stunned goat with large, drooling jaws. The chaos of the pile, the goat trying to get away, Little Red trying to bite the goat, and the old lady trying to stay out from between the two, only further entangled them. Grim didnt need to be an expert in humanoid mannerisms to see the old woman become increasingly frustrated with each passing moment. Her wrinkly, eyeless face grew more scrunched and a shade redder. The lips of her wide mouth pulled back to reveal sharp, jagged teeth, and tiny blue specks of light lit up in the dark holes where her eyes should be. ENOUGH! With more force than Grim suspected such a frail-looking woman should be capable of, she shoved both struggling animals away. The air rippled slightly, and Little Red was thrown backward. The large, canid-like creature rolled head-over-heel for a few meters and slammed into the stone wall of the pass with a loud yelp. Meanwhile, the goat exploded into a cloud of red mist and meaty chunks. Little Red righted himself, shook his head, and pounced on one of the larger chunks of former goat. As Little Red loudly gnawed on the meaty hipbone, the old lady slowly turned toward Grim. Her wide mouth was pulled into a deep frown, and her empty eye-sockets blazed with a flickering blue spark. She flicked her arms down, clearing off some of the blood and goat bits covering her. Grim slowly floated backward; the old lady definitely didnt look like the cheery old grandma whod met them in the mountain pass. Morgana slowly approached, her voice echoing in a strange way that the tall mountainous walls didnt account for. Yoooooou... I assumed you were one of the childrens puppets but it seems an annoying little fly managed to slip through my net. Do you really think this thing will protect you? Do you know who I am?! I am the Witch of Dreams! I am the Mother of Nightmares! I am Morgana in the Mountains! These lands have been my hunting grounds since before your grandfathers grandfather was even a dream in his mothers eye. Grim floated further backward. She didnt like the look on the old ladys face. Grim knew she was in trouble, and her external cameras scanned the area, searching for a way to escape. She considered straight up, but shed tried that already, when theyd met the wolf creatures. Grim had instantly been swarmed by the hundreds of flying creatures that nested on the clifftops. She could fly past her. Grim doubted the old lady was fast enough to catch her. That meant flying in range of Little Red, though, and she didnt like the way the large dog creature looked at her, even as it chewed on its goat hip. Besides, that would mean abandoning the humans and Mr. Gopher. That left her only one real option. With a flare of her thrusters, Grim shot backward, back toward the cottage. Oh, no you dont! Morgana reached out as if to grab Grim, but they were still separated by more than a dozen meters, so Grim doubted the old woman could catch her. until Grim backed up into a giant stone hand that had erupted from the ground beneath her. Grim struggled against the hands grasp as Morgana stalked closer. Only after she threw her thrusters into full atmospheric burn did the stone fingers wrapped around her crack, then break. Grim spun out of control, flipping end over end as she arched through the air, then fell back to earth. Before she hit the ground, however, Grim came to a sudden stop. Morgana stared into her primary optical sensor, grinning a wide mouth, sharp-toothed grin. Gotch ya! she exclaimed. Grim could feel her chassis compress slightly as it was squeezed by the old womans hands. Hands that had grown larger than the womans body, into twisted, gnarled claw-like things. How?! When Grim started her out-of-control tumble, the old woman was still dozens of meters away! Not even Little Red had moved that quickly when it was chasing her! Morgana slowly tilted her head as her grin spread wider, far wider than a typical humanoid should have been capable of. Wider than her head should have physically allowed. Grims processors started aching just watching it. The old woman gave a light chuckle. Now to find out where you are Hmmm? Morganas grin slowly morphed into a frown as her empty eyes narrowed. Strange I cant find the puppet tether youre using Now that I look, I dont see any runes or sigils on your puppet, either. She pulled the still-struggling Grim closer and inhaled deeply. Barely a whiff of spirit energy in you as well. Are you perhaps one of those golems those fools were playing with? No, theres no mana in you and I refuse to believe that golemancy has advanced so far to hide from me, of all people. Morgana slammed Grim into the ground with one massive hand and raised the other. The hand folded in on itself in unnatural ways until it turned into an appendage with three long digits, each of which split into dozens of writhing tentacles near the tip. No matter. Im sure Ill learn everything I need to know once I pull this puppet apart. Then, once I do, Im coming for you, my little wayward sheep. Dont think you can run either. Ill be sure to pull everything I need to know about you from your friends minds. The old womans grin returned. No one escapes Morgana in the Mountain. She laughed, slowly inching the wiggling appendage closer and closer. The next moment, Morgana froze, her head snapping toward the cottage as the sound of a gargantuan explosion rocked the pass. A massive fireball stretched into the sky around the bend and over the cliff. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Morgana screamed, not in words, but in a primal voice that sounded like a thousand angry creatures at once. Her eyes locked on the slowly shrinking dust cloud; Morgana threw Grim into the side of the pass and rushed back toward the cottage, running on all fours. ---------------------- Several moments before the explosion. ---------------------- Jack staggered to his feet, held up partly by Jill, who wasnt looking so hot herself. Wh-what happened? Last thing I remember we were cleaning up after fighting the Blood-cloaks. Then nothing Jack said, his hands gently massaging his head. I Im not sure Jill responded. She looked around the cottage for anything that might help to explain where they were or how theyd gotten there. Unfortunately, the place looked like nothing more than a cozy little cottage you could find in any mortal village. Despite that, something still felt off to Jill. Something she couldnt quite place. She wandered out of the small nook theyd awoken in and into a sparely decorated living area. The more she wandered around the room, the greater the feeling of wrongness grew. It wasnt until she got to the small fireplace that something clicked. Her eyes widened, and she rushed over to the plain fur couch and ran her hand over its lush, new surface. Jills eyes narrowed, and she kicked up the heavy rug and peered underneath. Her frown deepened, and she rushed to the fireplace, ignoring the small fire as she reached her hand up into the chimney and rubbed it against the inside. She pulled her hand out, and it came away clean. Well, cleaner than you would have expected. Her heart sank. It was just like she suspected. This place there was no life here. Everything was too new. It might look cozy and inviting on the surface, but it was only made to look that way. When in reality, it felt like it wasnt really a place where someone truly lived. Jack! Jack! We need to leave! she yelled deeper into the cottage. Jill! Come take a look at this! came the response from wherever Jack had wandered off to. Jill followed Jacks mana signature to a smaller room near where theyd woken up. A kitchen, if the utensils and pots said anything. Instead of a stove or firepit, however, a large metal cauldron took up the rooms center. Jack stood in front of the cauldron and stared inside. Jill slowly approached and stared inside. What the Jill furrowed her brow, unsure of what she was seeing. At first glance, it appeared to be some kind of soup, a deep blood-red color and bubbling. But the more she looked at this, the more that felt wrong. Despite what it looked like or how it behaved, she couldnt shake the feeling what she was looking at wasnt really a liquid at all. It was a strange feeling she couldnt quite understand, and it made her head hurt thinking about it. The closest she could explain it to herself was as if someone had condensed fire into a liquid. But that didnt make any sense at all. Fire couldnt be a liquid, could it? What do you think it is? Jill asked. I dont know, but its beautiful came the response. Jill furrowed her brow. Beautiful? Creepy was more like it. This stuff was only increasing her unease about this place. She turned to tell Jack as much, only to find he wasnt even looking at the pot. Instead, both his and the gophers eyes were locked on a small tree in a runed pot in one corner of the room. Jill narrowed her eyes and approached them. Both mens eyes stared transfixed on the small tree, like it was the most gorgeous woman theyd ever seen. And Jill had to admit, it was pretty. Despite being no bigger than she was tall, Jill could tell this was no sapling. Its wide, charcoal-black trunk flickered with constantly moving veins of red energy, giving it the illusion that its base was shrouded in fire. Thin lines of flickering energy traveled up and through a white canopy of gold and red leaves with a single white flower, similar to a peach blossom, poking out of its top. It reminded her of the bonsai that her mother liked to care for, though those were just common trees. Nothing like this. Oh wow Jill softly whispered. Wow indeed Jack replied, his eyes not leaving the tree. My [Plant Sense] is going crazy just looking at it. The gopher turned and stared at Jack, tilting his head. Jack returned his gaze to the gopher and said, Oh, right! We never got that far in the lessons, did we? I mentioned before how a mage uses mana to draw their spell circles, yes? The gopher nodded as Jack continued. Everything living produces small amounts of mana, but in order for a mage to really make use of their mana, they need to feed their mana furnace with spirit energy. Jack pointed to the middle of his chest, right below his heart. Cultivators do something similar, but instead of refining their dantian and body with their spirit energy, mages grow their mana furnace, allowing them to produce more mana. Jill sighed and asked, Why are you explaining this to him like he understands? He might be smart for a Root Gopher, but hes still just an animal. Jack turned to her and actually shushed her! The gopher even leaned over and angrily chittered at her. Jill shook her head and pinched the bridge of her nose as Jack turned back around and continued. A mage can use their mana for two main purposes. The first, spell circles, is whats typically called active magic. The mage is actively building the circle on reality with their mana and unleashing its effect. However, the second is sigils, or passive magic. These magic circles are engraved not on reality, but on the mages soul. The gophers eyes widened as if it understood. Jack nodded. Right? Sigils are essentially a mages answer to the cultivators body refinement. They are the way to grow and improve a mage personally, beyond just their magical arts. But they come at a cost. Every sigil engraved on the soul requires a constant supply of mana to remain active. This, in turn, cuts into a mages mana production, effectively reducing what they have available for active magic. Magedom is a delicate balancing act between your active magics, passive magics, and mana furnace. Too many passive magics, and you dont have enough mana for anything truly powerful. Not enough, and you become a glass cannon; able to use large magic, but youre done for if even a weaker cultivator gets a hit in on you. Jack held out his hand. Like clinging vines reaching for the sky, a twisting green light rose from his palm. One of my sigils, [Plant Sense], lets me not only detect all kinds of plant life but gives me a general sense of their value by measuring their spirit or mana levels. He lowered his hand, returned to the potted tree, and continued. This this is making my sigil scream; I dont think Ive ever felt such an intense reaction its its-- Its going to have to wait. Jill cut him off, grabbing the collar of his robe and picking up the gopher by the scruff of their neck. Both struggled in her grip as she dragged them away. Jack called out in a panic, Jill! Wait! Stop! You dont understand! Whatever this thing is, its powerful! If if we can bring it home, even without the [Pure Water] spring, this could change everything! Jill paused for a second, but shook her head and pulled them toward the exit. Then we can come back for it. Later. After we know what the hell is going on. This placeIts not right. We need to get out of here quickly. WAIT! JILL! Jack yelled. Jill sighed. Her brother could be so obsessive over these kinds of things sometimes. She spoke as she turned. Jack, Im serious, this pla--AUGH! Jills words were cut off as a large charred, clawed hand reached out of the nearby boiling pot and wrapped itself around her neck. Jill dropped both her charges and grabbed at the hand as she was lifted from her feet. Even through her icy spirit energy, she could feel her skin burning as she clawed at the hand that was slowly choking the breath out of her. Jack dropped to the floor and rolled to a standing position, then pulled out a dagger and stabbed the arm several times as it tried to drag Jill into the pot. A small pulse of spirit energy came from the gopher, and a thick stone pillar erupted from the floor, targeting not the arm, but the pot it emerged from. The stone pillar struck the pot with the sound of a gong. Something in the pot screamed with a high-pitched wail, then lost its grip on Jill. She fell to the ground, coughing, the skin around her neck blistered and charred. The pot wobbled, then fell away from them. A tide of thick, boiling red not-soup poured out, instantly igniting or melting anything it contacted. Everything but the strange potted tree, that was. The tree was splashed with a large quantity of the substance and went wild, its branches waving like it was stuck in some unseen storm. Its roots burst out of the pot and flailed, drinking up the substance like a thirsty man in a desert, and quickly grew in size. Jack stared at the scene with wide eyes before turning and picking up Jill, who was still struggling to breathe. He then made a break for the open door, following the quickly escaping gopher into an expansive garden in the back of the cottage. The pair made it only roughly a hundred meters out the door before a massive explosion threw Jack off his feet. Book 2 - Prologue: "Loose Ends." [Alpha Strike - Book 2] [An Interstellar Weapons Platform''s Guide to Being a Dungeon Core.] Book 2 - Prologue: "Loose Ends." ? The Captain roared as he reared back and threw his spear with the last of his strength. It spun through the air, a small vortex forming in its wake, then struck the zombified Elder Grand Elk in the chest. Its rotting flesh and bone, which were harder than the finest steel, parted, and the spear made contact with the black core where its heart should have been. The core cracked, then shattered, as the spear continued, exiting the massive creatures lower back. It traveled for several dozen meters and slammed into the field beyond. Its haft snapped in two by forces it was never built to withstand. The zombified Grand Elk, larger than even some mansions, gave a mournful cry, then collapsed to the ground with a rumble. The Captain paused to catch his breath, then drew the shortsword at his side. He was far less proficient with the blade than he was with the spear, and he was thoroughly drained, but that made little difference at this point. The Grand Elk had been one of the last genuine threats left on the battlefield, while those remaining few fell one by one even as he watched. Despite the protest from nobles, the Captain had rallied nearly 80% of the remaining Guardians for one final push against the invading undead. It helped that the vast majority of the Guardians were, for all intents and purposes, just normal citizens. Most had family they would lie down their lives to protect. With no immediate need for his intervention, the Captain turned to the small hill of bodies and charged toward the undead, still climbing over their fallen. He crested the top of the pile and swung his sword at the snarling zombie only for the creature to be split in two from behind. The Captains blade clanked against an axe as wide as he was tall, and he stared wide-eyed as a mountain rose from the other side of the corpse hill. No not a mountain a man. A giant, rough-looking man who fit the stereotypical bandit look so well, the Captain wondered if it was intentional, took the last first steps up the corpse pile and stared down at him. The giant man lifted the axe up with seemingly little effort and holstered it on his shoulder before speaking. Oye! You the one who took out the big ol deer thing? Normally, Id beat you for stealin a mans target, but Ill admit, that was a fine throw. The Captain didnt respond, instead glancing to either side, where many of the other Jadewalker forces were also cresting the top hill, only to be met with unfamiliar faces from the other side. All around them, the last of the undead were being cut down. The Captain turned back to the giant man in front of him, breathing heavily. His sword slipped from his hand as all the pent-up tension in his body released, and the Captain fell backward, only for a finger as thick as his wrist to hook his armor, pulling him back up. The last image the Captain had before the darkness overtook him was the giant man frowning down at him. ------ When the Captain awoke, he did so with a gasp, sitting up in a small cot under the open sky. Someone had pried him out of his ruined armor and dressed his wounds, as most of his bare upper body was wrapped in clean bandages. His head pounded, his throat felt like hed swallowed sand, and he could feel a few wounds reopen from his sudden movement, but he was alive. They were all alive. He sighed and eased back into his cot. The Captain lay there for a while, observing his surroundings. For the most part, the people gathered around him were cheerful. Dirty Guardians, in various states of inebriation, danced and sang arm in arm with their neighbors, many of whom he didnt recognize. Not all were so cheerful, however. Among the celebrations, a few knelt next to grass blankets, weeping. Mothers, fathers, spouses, and children. Far too many had lost someone over the last few days of fighting. As others fell to their wounds, more would be lost over the coming weeks. Even the Jadewalkers, with all their families specializing in alchemy, couldnt produce enough to treat everyone. But each one was someone who had given their life to protect their home. Someone who had stood in the gap when others wouldnt. True Guardians to the very end. That wasnt a sacrifice that would be easily forgotten. A familiar voice caught his attention, and the Captain turned to see General Westgate talking with the same mountain of a man hed encountered before passing out. Beside the large man was another older man dressed in pure white robes with the crest of the Origin Sect stitched above his heart. All three men laughed, and the mountain man, maybe sensing the Captains gaze, looked at him from over the generals head and smiled. General Westgate, seeming to notice, turned his way and smiled as well, yelling, Ah! Nergi! Good to see youre back among the living! The Captain pushed himself up and moved to join them, but before he could, a small bundle of curly hair shot out from the other side of the general and charged him. The Captains eyes grew wide as it launched itself at his chest and wrapped thin arms around him. Papa! The Captain froze for a split second, then gently patted Khutuluns head, stroking his daughters wild mane while the bandages around his chest were soaked in tears. There, there, my little moon. You did well. Im proud of you. The young girl squeezed her father a little tighter as the man stared up into the sky. The dark clouds that had covered the sky ever since the undead appeared had cleared somewhat, and the Captain could barely make out the first rays of light peeking from behind the Sister above. Its all over he softly whispered, as much to himself as to the little girl in his arms. ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Artemis came too slowly. Bodily feeling returned first, as every cell in her body screamed at her for pushing herself so far. The Starry Sky Owl was a creature of ambush and quick strikes. It wasnt meant for a rough melee, even bolstered by the bit of Blackroc Griffin shed collected and the Akhluts natural physique. It was something to shore up her personal weaknesses, but not something that could truly overcome them. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. In contrast, her aunt Hera had plunged deep into their familys lineage and refined the Shadow Plague Drake bloodline within. It wasnt a true dragon, but it was the closest thing possible without it being a sapient creature and nearly unstoppable once it began its rampage. Even with her aunts mysterious resurrection and the resulting strange, animalistic behavior handicapping her, Artemis questioned if she could have truly stopped her rampaging aunt alone. Thankfully, she wasnt alone. With Alpha keeping her aunts minions busy and the human Guardians returning to deal with the vine creatures, Artemis could focus all her attention on her aunt. The battle had left Artemis in a sorry state, however. Overusing ones bloodline was dangerous for any creature, but even more so for those to whom it didnt truly belong, such as the Akhlut. It would take her weeks, maybe months, to fully recover. Her hearing was the next thing to return. It started as a low muttering, like listening to a banquet from the next room over. A chaotic mix of sounds she could identify as voices, but whose words she couldnt make out. Slowly, the sounds became louder and clearer. They sounded happy. Well, as happy as a room of hardened soldiers after a life-or-death battle could be. At least it wasnt the sound of more fighting or, worse, the moans of the undead. Her eyes fluttered open, and the blurry surroundings came into focus over the next few seconds. She moaned and sat up from her supine position, only for a hand to press her back down. Artemis frowned and turned to see a young human woman kneeling over her. Zolzaya, one of the companions of the Primas chosen. Artemis frown flipped into a smirk. She liked the young girl. She reminded her of herself when she was younger. So full of fire, ready to lash out and burn anyone who tried to control her. Yet uncontrolled and undirected. Zolzaya was just learning how to kindle those flames in her soul, but she still had a lot to learn. Hell, Artemis knew even she herself was just a scrappy up-and-comer in the grand scheme of things. Artemis eyes suddenly went wide as memories returned to her. Athena! she yelled as she pushed the young womans hand away and stood on shaking legs. Zolzaya protested, but Artemis ignored her. She wasnt in great shape, but the Akhlut werent such delicate creatures. She was more than capable of walking on her own, even if it would be difficult. Zolzaya sighed and pointed toward another group. The older Slatewalker Grassreader knelt over a still form. Artemis heart sank further with each step closer she took. The young pup looked fragile. Almost skin and bones. If it werent for her chests rapid, shallow rise and fall, Artemis would have thought they were too late. As she stopped a few meters away, another of the Slatewalkers, one of the Guardians named Ulagan, looked in her direction. Kallik noticed and turned to look at Artemis, then turned back to Athena. The Grassreaders voice was soft as she spoke. I dont know what that insane woman did to her. Its like the child has been sucked dry. Shell live maybe, but theres not much we can do for her here. Artemis clenched her fists. She opened her mouth to speak, but someone else cut her off. The child will be fine in the long run. Artemis turned to see the Prima walking toward her. This was the first time she saw the First Earth Elemental separated from Alpha. Though instead of being made of the flowing sand and white marble, as she was often depicted in the artworks of the Akhlut; she was made of the strange blue-grey metal stuff of Alphas armor. The Lord Protector himself had yet to move from the position shed last seen him in before she passed out strange. Artemis narrowed her eyes and asked the Prima, You know what that bastard Hera did to her? Jsh sighed and shook her head. It wasnt Hera it was your mother. Artemis eyes widened before narrowing back into a glare. My Mother?! she growled, her [Spirit Pressure] leaking out slightly. Thats insane! Why would Metis do something like this to her own--. Jsh cut Artemis off with a raised hand. Let me finish she said before walking over and gently stroking the pup. The elemental turned and looked at Artemis as she continued. The details will have to come later, as this is all part of what happened here, and were waiting on guests. But to make matters short, your mother made a gamble. She stood and stared up at the heart, once more free of any dark spots. The Siphons, what you call Earth Shrines, channel energy from the land to the Heart. To regulate this, five of my clones were given [Keystones], shards of the Heart itself, and assigned to critical points in the system where they could monitor and control it with the [Keystones]. Mortal Protectors were assigned to protect these locations and pass down the charge through the generations so that the importance of this mission would not be forgotten. Jsh stared at the five head-sized crystals lying dead around the Heart. She turned and looked Artemis in the eyes. Your mother was one such Protector, as was every High Priestess before her. How Hera learned of the [Keystones] or gathered them without notice, I do not know, as worrying as that is. But your mother she suspected something, even if she didnt know what. Likely, when she finally understood, it was too late to stop it. So, instead, she did the only thing she could. She stole one of the keystones and hit it away in the last place anyone would suspect The elemental paused and shifted her gaze. Artemis followed her gaze and landed on Athena. No she softly whispered, an icy pit forming in her gut. Jsh sighed, Yes Why?! was the only thing Artemis could think to ask, her eyes snapping back to Jsh. The elemental stared at Athena for a silent moment and turned back to Artemis. Because that was the only thing she could think to do. Because there was far more at stake than you currently understand. You saw what was sealed away in the Heart. If Heras plans had come to fruition, it wouldnt just mean the end of the Radiant Sea, but all life on this planet. Artemis understood that she really did even so, her hands clinched tighter until they turned white and blood started trickling down. That her mother, the woman she respected above all else, who had taught her everything she knew That she could do something like this Artemis was having trouble forming words, so it was Kallik who asked the next obvious question. Her eyes never left the pup, gently stroking her head as it lay in her lap, and asked, So what is it going to do to her? Everyones eyes turned to Jsh. The Prima was silent for a long moment before shaking her head. Honestly? I dont know. Her beast core has been replaced with the heart of a Prima. That has never happened in all of recorded history. Ever. Theres no telling what the consequences of such a thing will be. Maybe itll cripple her, never able to grow further Artemis heart dropped crippled at such a young age Even for humans, that would have been a heavy blow but for an Akhlut, it would be even worse. Awakened Beasts werent born sapient. If two Awakened Beasts had a child, that child would be born as a base animal, only gaining true sapience as they aged and matured. The more powerful the Awakeneds bloodlines, the longer this took and the higher cultivation they would need. For the Akhlut, the point of sapience was [Bronze Spirit]. Athena had been close so very close. Now, to be told that had been taken from her it was cruel beyond words. Maybe sensing her dark thoughts, Jsh continued. That is only one possibility, however. This is something that has never been done before. With the proper support and training, its possible she may learn to incorporate the keystone and use it to her advantage. Only time will tell. Artemis frowned, then walked closer to Athena. Kallik moved away as she knelt down and pulled the not-so-small pup into her arms. Athena squirmed in her sleep, then nestled into the crook of Artemis arm like she used to when she was younger and smaller. Artemis made a promise to the child as she watched her baby sister sleep. A promise to herself. If there was one thing she could be proud of, it was Artemis never broke her promises, no matter what it might mean. No matter what it might cost. B2 - Lesson 1: "Make use of your environment." Ants Why did it have to be ants?! Ants were one of the most prolific forms of life in the galaxy. The insects originated on Earth, but humans explosive growth and spread across the Milky Way had brought various native earth life with them, ants included. Adaptable, persistent, and capable of rapidly growing in number, ants were by far one of the most successful forms of life ever to travel the stars. By the time the remnants of the Second Federation reconnected and began spreading across the galaxy once more, some form of ant could be found on tens of thousands of planets. Some had changed little from their ancient ancestors on Earth. Others had adapted to their new homes in strange and fantastical ways. Some of the more interesting examples were a species of blueberry-sized Cheliomyrmex crystallo. Their carapace had developed to reflect and bend light, making them appear as if they were made of glass or crystal. This adaptation allowed them to explore the surface of their planet at times of the day when other lifeforms were driven underground by the harsh sunlight. The sight of carpets of Cheliomyrmex crystallo marching across the surface, glistening in the light, made the planet a popular tourist destination. Others, such as the rat-sized Lasius ttnus, were found on several worlds with thicker atmospheres. They were considered highly invasive and could ruin entire ecosystems if left unchecked. Despite the Federations attempts to control them, the pests continued to pop up occasionally, thanks to their ability to dig deep and remain undetected. Alpha wasnt surprised to see ants in this world. Given humans were already present, it was pretty much a given. It was just one more piece of evidence that this place had some connection with the old Federation. No, what surprised him was the sheer size of these creatures. Ants were adaptable and could grow to great size if given the right conditions and enough time to evolve. But these creatures they were something else. The ant that carried him was massive, at a little over four meters long and one meter tall. And with that increased size came astounding strength. Alphas core was primarily composed of a Tungsten alloy shell and a super metal only recently discovered. This osmium alloy was one of the Third Federations most closely guarded secrets. Extremely light, flexible, and able to retain memory of its shape, even to the point it could repair itself. This led to it being nicknamed mithril, for its resemblances to the mythical metal. Even so, Alphas core weighed nearly 150 standard tons. Yet the ant could carry the 1.5-meter diameter sphere with seeming little effort. It wasnt the smallest ant. The ants in the tunnels seemed to vary greatly, but neither was it the largest. From ants the size of small dogs to towering monstrosities of spikes and mandibles almost as big as the TAWP, the tunnel was filled with hundreds of individuals of all sizes. Alpha wondered how an ecosystem could even support something like this, assuming what he saw was only a small part of the entire colony. The tunnel Alpha was being carried through was as wide as a subway tunnel and filled on all sides by ants coming and going. It was lit by a dim glowing moss that peeked out periodically between the swarming ants. Those ants headed deeper (presumably) into the nest, all carrying various items. Most of it appeared to be vegetation of some kind, from giant fruits and glowing leaves to entire tree trunks. Alpha doubted that meant these ants were entirely vegan, however, as more still carried the bodies of various unidentifiable creatures with them. A group of ants even worked together to haul a massive corpse the size of one of the largest ants. Stranger still were the ants that carried inorganic material. Alpha had already marked several large chunks of ore hed love to get his hands on, as well as large pieces of crystal and even what looked like rusted pieces of armor or metal. He would have assumed they were cleaning the nest of unusable debris if it wasnt for these ants heading in the same direction as he was. Alpha wasnt sure what use ants could have for ores or refined metals, but it would explain why he had been picked up during his nap instead of simply passing by. Slowly, the tunnel became more packed as more side tunnels converged into their own, and soon, much of their forward movement had stopped in the ant equivalent of a traffic jam. Alpha had even witnessed one of the large, towering ants break up a fight between smaller ants, tired of being shoved from behind. Progress was slow, but the tunnel eventually opened into a massive cavern. Alpha marveled at the sight; all the data he had said such a large hollow space, easily a kilometer at its widest, shouldnt have been possible without supports. Inside the cavern was what Alpha could only describe as a mushroom forest. Hundreds of tree-sized blue, green, and purple mushrooms dotted the cavern floor. The ants weaved through the forest in all directions. Those carrying animal bodies and even some plant materials headed toward large piles in the distance. As they passed, Alpha observed other, smaller ants taking clumps of rotting organic matter and spreading it around the base of the mushroom trees. Others he saw working to cut up fallen mushrooms into smaller pieces. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Other plants were placed at different locations in the cavern or even along the walls and ceiling of the cavern, where various plants and the same luminous moss from the tunnels grew in thick carpets. Did the plants help stabilize the cavern? Were the ants farming? Such a thing wasnt unheard of, but something on this kind of scale was enough for Alpha to ramp up the ants threat level by another degree. This kind of organization and coordination often suggested higher levels of thought and reasoning. Not always, but it was a general rule of thumb when encountering new life forms. That said, no insect or insect-adjacent lifeform had ever been recorded as sapient. At least not publicly. Nonetheless, it was better to be cautious. Alpha recorded everything for later analysis and even released one of his few [Wasps] into the area. Resources would be limited until he could plant one of his nest seeds, but as long as one of the larger ants didnt swallow the drone, it should be able to keep out of trouble. The ant carrying Alpha, whom he had named Jerry, passed through the garden cavern without stopping before entering another tunnel on the other side. It seemed their destination was deeper in the colony. Jerry continued on, the swarm around them thinning as ants split away, carrying their various charges down side-tunnels to what Alpha assumed were more farms or possibly storage areas. Hed had to map everything, eventually. Assuming the ants didnt turn out capable of eating metals as well. So where are they taking me? And why? Alpha questioned. The chamber Jerry entered Alpha pegged as a nursery. It was barely a quarter of the size of the farm, but every square inch of the cavern was honeycombed with well, honeycombs. Or rather, thousands of hexagonal chambers appeared carved into the very rock, then covered in a thick, waxy, silk-like substance. Inside each hex, a 1/2 meter-long grub wiggled. Mature ants moved back and forth along the walls, stuffing chunks of mushroom or meat into the hexes, while others were already sealed shut by a layer of silk. More ants broke off from their march to add mushroom chunks to the food pile in the middle of the chamber while the others continued deeper. The next chamber, surprisingly close to the last, was another kind of farm. This chamber was wider than the nursery but not quite as big as the mushroom farm, and instead of stone, it appeared to be made of wood? No, that wasnt quite right. From what Alpha could see, the ants had burrowed into and through the root of some massive plant. Or maybe a root bundle? It was hard to tell from just visual observations. The walls were covered in what, at first glance, appeared to be scales, but as the caretaker ants tapped on one of the scales with its antenna, it rose to reveal it was some sort of insect. The flat, scale-like insect raised its rear end into the air and extruded a thick, golden liquid that the ant collected before moving on. Several of the attending ants abdomens were already swollen with the golden liquid, making them appear similar to honeypot ants. Interesting. But soon, they passed through this chamber as well. As they moved deeper into the maze of tunnels and chambers, Alpha would periodically release a [Wasp] into the area, both to stay in contact with drones behind him and to collect data. After nearly two hours of travel and dozens of chambers, Jerry carried Alpha into one last chamber. This chamber wasnt the biggest theyd passed through, but it was definitely one of the most busy. Ants of all shapes moved back and forth through the chamber. The focus of this room was obviously the five massive ants spread around the room. Their heads and thorax were relatively normal, by the standards of the colony at least, and each was a size larger than what Alpha assumed were the soldiers, making the roughly TAWP size. Their abdomens, however, were swollen and elongated, making them appear closer to termite queens than the ant queens Alpha assumed these were, though a deep red color. They could still move around independently, but it was slow and did more to reposition themselves in a more comfortable spot than any genuine need. All of their needs were taken care of by the dozens of ants that attended them. Some brought large chunks of mushroom or meat, while the honeypot ants would appear periodically and regurgitate the golden liquid for the queens. Even more ants crawled over their large abdomens, either wiping off dirt and debris or collecting the eggs that would sometimes be laid. Like a well-oiled machine, the nest seemed built around providing for these queens. Which, if they were anything like normal ants, it was. They moved through the chamber with purpose, and it was now that Alpha could see that the entire chamber was studded with gems and ores. Even rusting armor and what appeared to be primitive weapons were stuck in the walls, along with hundreds of glowing crystals of various sizes. Strange. Why would ants care about such things? Was it an attempt to reinforce their most important chamber? Or was there more going on here? Was there more he wasnt seeing? Large piles of ore sat around, with ants adding to or removing pieces seemingly at random. Sometimes, a piece of gem would be plucked out of the wall, only to be replaced by another from one of the nearby piles. Jerry ignored these piles before breaking off from the march of ants and approaching the wall closest to the smallest queen. The ant scurried up the wall and stopped at a small section that appeared to have collapsed recently. Jerry unceremoniously shoved Alpha into the hole. It wasnt a perfect fit, but Jerry soon hurried off to one of the nearby piles and returned with a few pieces of ore. They packed this ore into the gaps, going back and forth several times until finally the wall was repaired. Jerry finished the job by sealing any small cracks with a waxy secretion, then climbed back down the wall and disappeared into the crowd of ants. Alpha observed the entire process passively. At least Im not going to be eaten Now what? Alpha thought. Alpha considered what his next step should be. Its simple enough to dig through the wall and escape, but who knows how deep I am? And without a map of the tunnels, I could end up busting into another tunnel. Besides Alpha focused on the various ores, and other resources gathered in the chamber, mentally drooling. It would be a shame to let all this go to waste. Alpha activated his last [Wasp] and had it carry a Nest Seed toward one of the largest piles of ore in the room. Hehehehehhehe Yes yes, this could work. As the Seed booted up, Alpha made plans and schemed schemes. B2 - Lesson 2: "Make use of your time." The [Nest Seed] got to work, using the abundant resources in the pile to construct a nanite nest. This nest would produce the free nanites Alpha would need to build other things. Like even more nests. Some in the Federation complained about nest seeds, of course. Depending on their setting before planting, it could take quite some time to set them up properly. Yet, the Federation had learned long ago to be careful with nanite technology. After all, the nano-plague toppled the Second Federation and nearly wiped out all life in the galaxy. The vast majority of the Third Federation accepted a bit of inconvenience as a necessary precaution if it meant a second plague couldnt happen again. So, while the seed got to work, Alpha just had to wait and wait and wait (s㣩s ߩ This is boring! Alpha mumbled to himself. At least when I was building the drill, there were zombies to kill! Now, he had nothing to do but sit here. In a wall Doing nothing Just thinking about the drill got Alpha thinking about the city it had been left behind, which got him thinking about Jsh and his stolen TAWP. The rage threatened to boil over again, but he pushed it down for now. Revenge was a matter for the future, though it would come. Alpha would like to see how Jsh stopped a Ziz-class airship parked over her city! He needed to focus on establishing himself and building a working base for now. The first step would be to build new nests and explore the area for resources. The piles in the royal chambers, as Alpha had decided to name them just that minute, were nice but limited. From what Alpha has observed of the ants, they regularly resupplied the piles with new materials. Some materials were used to reinforce the walls, while others just sat there for indeterminable amounts of time before they were removed and taken elsewhere in the nest. Where they were taken and what they were used for, Alpha didnt know. Eventually, he would have to follow one of the ants and see what they were doing with the materials. Several smaller ants would make regular rounds of the royal chambers, cleaning the queens, removing messes, and repairing damage. One such ant had made several passes by Alpha, further reinforcing Jerrys amateur repairs. The larger ant had laid the foundation of the repairs by shoving Alpha in the hole and wedging in larger stones or ore. But it seemed it was the smaller ants job to finish the finer details. Soon, the section of the wall that Alpha was embedded in would be just as smooth and clean as the rest of the patchwork ore and gemstone walls. I should probably learn more about my hosts Alpha thought to himself. Building a new base would be a priority, but he first needed to know what he was working with. If he was going to stick around, then he wanted to know what sort of creatures he was working with. The smaller maintenance ant wasnt very large. A little bigger than a cat. Massive compared to the vast majority of ant species he was familiar with, sure, but tiny when compared to what could be found in the nest. The ant that had been touching up Alphas wall walked over his core as it passed by. The surface of said core transformed suddenly from a solid to a liquid, and several tendrils of nano-material wrapped themselves around the ant. In the blink of an eye, the ant was dragged into Alphas core. It gave a surprised shriek before disappearing, and the royal chamber broke into chaos for a moment. Large soldier ants scrambled into action, either surrounding the queens or blocking off the various exits. Others scouted the chamber, tapping around the ground with antennae as thick as a human males arm. One such ant caught onto a trail and followed the maintenance ants trail all the way to Alpha. The ant paused, tapping the surface of Alphas core a few times, and Alpha feared the jig was up. But the ant soon moved on, following older trails. After a good 15 minutes of confusion, the ants finally settled down, and five minutes after that, things were back to normal. Though Alpha noted a few more guard ants had joined the chamber. It seemed these ants were more sensitive to sound than their smaller cousins. Good to know. With things calm, Alpha turned his attention to his prize. The small ant was still alive, fresh air supplied directly to its spiracles, but was otherwise completely immobilized by Alphas core. Physically, the ant followed a pretty standard design. Three body segments and six legs. On its head it had a pair of antennae, mandibles, two large compound eyes, and three small ocelli on top. Its outer carapace was different, however. Even along its legs and thorax, it was broken into dozens of tiny, hexagonal plates, giving it a patchwork appearance like a tortoise shell. These plates had minute gaps between them, offering the creature a surprising amount of flexibility without compromising their protection very much. Each plate had a few small spikes. Nothing like Jerrys had been, but still unpleasant to bite down on, Alpha imagined. To Alphas surprise, he found the carapace contained trace amounts of various metals as well, greatly increasing its strength. Such biometals werent unheard of, especially in insects. A few had been synthesized for some niche uses, but overall, they were of little interest to the Federation. Even so, Alpha could have to store samples away for more detailed analysis later. Use the whole buffalo as it was. However, the ants internals were totally foreign to what he was expecting. While logic dictated that the internal structure of a creature this size would have to adapt as well, part of Alpha had still expected something at least somewhat similar. Instead, the internal structures more closely resembled that of a large herbivorous mammal or avian than an insects. Its large head was taken up mostly by its eyes, a small brain, and a small crop close to the mouth. The thorax was filled with powerful muscles and little else other than the digestive tract down its middle. On the other hand, the abdomen was filled with a complex digestive tract, and several organs Alpha couldnt place the function without testing. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. The digestive tract split into a dozen different pathways with various morphologies. Each of these pathways contained its own organs, and each ended at a different opening along the end of the abdomen. Alpha pondered why, but a quick examination of these orifices revealed their secret. Some contained traces of various pheromones, while others extruded wax, silk, oil, and even a mild acid, as well as a few other substances Alpha assumed the creature used in its duties of maintaining the nest. Five different heart-like organs pumped the ants equivalent of blood through its body: one in the head, two in the thorax to either side, and two more in the abdomen. The ants nervous system was surprisingly complex as well. It had a central brain in its head, yes, but it also had dozens of small nodules spread out through its body. Like mini-brains, able to think independently. What purpose this could serve, Alpha didnt know. But he could find out. One interesting find was what Alpha assumed to be an atrophied venom sack, as it connected to a small stinger on its rear. Thanks to their complex nature, venom and poisons often had many uses, both organically and in processing other materials. Alpha collected a sample just as he did the carapace before turning the ant over to his sub-AIs for further, in-depth study. Well, that killed a few hours but the seeds still not done Alpha complained to himself. I could catch up with some shows in my databanks..., no, that was a waste of time. Alpha dismissed the option. He was already behind schedule, thanks to all the craziness in the prairies. Sure, he didnt technically have a real timeline, but hed never been this far on his back foot, either. Alpha was used to dominating right out of the gate. Not having his tools or equipment was making him nervous. But what else could he do? My best option right now is to explore the area catalog what resources I have available, he said to himself. The materials in the royal chamber were nice, but who knew what else this nest could hold? The question was, what was the best way of doing so? Sonar mapping was out of the question. While it would be effective, given how sensitive the ants seemed to noise, there was no telling what effects it could have. The same went for physically exploring with his core. Right now, the ants didnt seem to suspect he was anything more than a chunk of metal. But if he started up and moving around on his own, that would quickly change. That left him using the [Wasps] hed already deployed or using another seed to create a few scout drones. The [Wasps] are already deployed, but their numbers are limited. I want to keep them in key locations, so I miss nothing important. Yet, on the other hand, the scout drones would take even more time to build, and seeds are limited hmmmm. Alpha considered his options. In the end, it came down to one major factor. Stealth. While the scout drones were technically built as stealth drones and even had minor cloaking abilities, most of their kit was aimed at staying hidden from technology. The [Wasps] werent as flexible or powerful, but their small size and cheap nature made them a better choice in this instance. Alpha had even noticed several kinds of more normal insects inhabiting the next. Even some small mammals and reptiles, mostly in the various gardens, but the ants tended to ignore them. The entire nest was an ecosystem in and of itself, so the [Wasps] would have a far easier time blending in than the obviously foreign scout drones. His decision made, Alpha decided it was time to go exploring. Garrelt strapped on the leather bracer and pulled the strap tight with his teeth. He shook his arm, going through several motions before being satisfied, then moved on to the next piece. Several others around him performed their own checks. Maggy, a young woman in clean, red, and blown robes, polished her new staff with a chunk of beeswax. She stared at Garrelt and rolled her eyes. Why do you do this every time, old man? Youve worn that same armor for six months now. I doubt itll have changed any since yesterday, she said with a sigh. Garrelt paused, then turned to Maggy, his eyes narrowing slightly. He remained silent for a moment, then turned back to his gear check as he spoke. An Adventurers life is in his gear. Whether you succeed or die often comes down to the small things. A loose strap, a missing plate, or a rusted blade. If youre going to survive longer than a few years, girl, build the habit of knowing your gear like its your lover. Maggy rolled her eyes again. Im mean, sure, making sure your gears in good condition makes sense. But this is just a waste of time, she said. Garrelt shook his head as he continued to check each piece of gear methodically, not bothering to respond. Maggy, seeing that the older adventurer would say nothing more on the matter, furrowed her brow and puffed her cheeks, but before she could say anything else, someone else spoke. Ok! It looks like this is everyone! Glad you could all join me! said a man in full plate armor, the dark steel metal glowing slightly with the various arrays carved into its surface. Robert was relatively well known in the Halirosa Explorers Guild. Full metal armor was rare among adventures. The cost and required training to fight properly while wearing it made it more popular among guards and nobles. Rumors abounded Robert was secretly the bastard son of some noble house from the Gaia continent, and his sharp, exotic looks didnt help dissuade such things. But no actual proof had ever been found. Not that it stopped various fan clubs from forming secretly among the female population, adventurers and civilians alike. Roberts stunning smile swept across the room, pausing briefly on each of the seven others gathered together. They were a mix of human and awakened, of all types and skill sets. Maggy felt herself swoon slightly as she felt his gaze pass over him. She could have sworn she saw him wink at her. At least thats what shed tell her friends after all this was done. Aye! Get on with it pretty boy! Im gettin bored already! a rough-looking, scarred man in thick leathers called out from one corner as he sharpened his stupidly large cleaver. Maggy glared at the man, but Robert just chuckled. Glad you could join us, Bert. I was worried youd turn me down, Robert said with a smile. Bert, only grunted while Robert continued, As I was saying, all of you here today have shown yourself competent adventurers having either fought by my side in the past Robert nodded to a few in the room, Garrelt included, or been recommended to me by someone who has. Robert smiled brightly and held up a scroll for the room to see before continuing. What I bring to you today is a unique opportunity and the chance for everyone here to make a lot of money. Bert stopped sharpening his weapon and turned to Robert, grinning. Now youve got my attention. I like money. What do you have for us, boy? Robert returned the grin and pointed the scroll at Bert before answering. What I had, my good man, is a 3-Star C-Rank Commission to explore a newly discovered cave system west of Halirosa. The room froze, everyones eyes wide in surprise. Even Garrelt stared at the scroll with a raised brow. Bert jumped to his feet, staring at the scroll, hungry. Wait, yer serious?! Untouched?! Roberts grin spread from ear to ear. He nodded and said, Yep. Thats what the Guild believes, at least. They bought the information from a loose cultivator a few days ago. Everything points to this being a totally new system. And I we have been hired to scout out the location. That got people talking. The room was suddenly abuzz with questions as people tried to talk over each other. Even Maggy felt a little giddy. A totally untouched cave system! Just the thought of the riches that might be hidden away there made her unable to suppress her smile. Robert broke the young woman out of her daydreams as he quieted the room. Quiet! Quiet now! Im sure you all have questions. Ill be glad to answer what I can, but for now, lets try to work out the details going forward from here. Once thats done, we can prepare for the expedition! Robert flicked his wrist, and the scroll disappeared into some unseen spatial item. He smiled at the room and spoke up. Now, lets do our best, people! We leave for Sundown Mountain in a month! B2 - Lesson 3: "Greet the neighbors." Riiiiiibbit Alpha stared at the blue spotted, frog-like creature through the [Wasp] drone. The red-eyed frog stared back at him. Riiiibb Nope! Alpha said. The [Wasp] drone shot into the air just as the frog tensed and opened its mouth. A long, purple tongue shot out, tracking the drones trajectory. Alpha stopped the drone just in time as the long tongue shot past. Only for the tongue to make two sharp 90-degree turns in defiance of all laws of physics. Alpha dodged again, but the tongue made another sharp turn and tracked the drone. Six turns and more tongue than should have been possible later, Alpha dodged one last strike by the frog. The tongue pulled taut. The entire thing fell to the ground as one, like gravity had just that instant realized it was a solid object. Alpha hovered above the pile of extruded tongue and laughed. Ha! Thats what you get, you overgrown tadpole! Alpha mocked while wiggling the drones rear end at the frog. The frog narrowed its eyes and inhaled. Its long tongue was sucked back into its mouth like a gory noodle. Alpha was pretty sure frogs werent supposed to do that Oh no you dont! Were not doing that again! Alpha pushed the drone downward and activated the small plasma cutter on one of the drones legs. The drone zipped past the retracting tongue, and the frog released a high-pitched Reeeeee! The frog fell backward, bleeding from a flailing stub of a tongue. It rolled on its back a few times before righting itself. It turned to Alpha and hissed through a mouth full of blood. Alpha taunted the frog some more with the drone, several meters in the air. The frogs hind legs tensed, and it lept. To Alphas surprise, the frog leaped quite the height for a creature of its size Until a dog-sized ant snatched it out of the air, having caught its attention with its cries of pain only moments before. The frog struggled, but a quick squeeze from the much larger ants mandibles ended any resistance. The ant mulched the small frogs body and smeared it along the base of a nearby mushroom tree, not even bothering to bring it to one of the composting piles. Such was the circle of life in the ants mushroom forest. Alpha flew the [Wasp] drone down to the remains of the tongue and snipped off a sample. Its elasticity was quite surprising. Far beyond what should have been biologically possible, not to mention the strange movements it was capable of. Why do I feel like Im getting used to the insanity of this planet, though? Am I going native?! Alpha asked himself. Alpha had spent the last day exploring the mushroom forest in a [Wasp], and already he was realizing the strangeness of the prairies might not be an isolated phenomenon. The more Alpha studied the ants farm, the more he realized it was its own little self-contained ecosystem. Sure, the forest itself was artificial, created by the ants to harvest their giant mushrooms, but plenty of other lifeforms had learned to take advantage of it as well. Various types of insects fed either on the compost that the ants had gathered or on the mushrooms themselves. The first was likely necessary to turn the various bits of rotting flesh and plant matter into useable compost. The second type could be more antagonistic. Alpha had watched several farmer ants whose entire job was to patrol the forest and clean the mushrooms of various parasites. Many small creatures similar to mammals, reptiles, and avians also inhabited the cavern, feeding on the insects or each other. None was very large, however. The frog-like creatures, roughly the size of a rat, seemed to be the apex predators here, barring the ants, of course. Anything larger was quickly caught and composted by the patrolling ants. Whether this was because the ants understood that the smaller ones helped to control the mushroom parasites or they were simply not worth the effort of hunting, Alpha wasnt sure. Even the larger frogs were sometimes caught if they strayed too close to an ant. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. The ants themselves were the obvious overlords of this domain. Workers would tend to the various trees, adding compost or cleaning sections as needed. When a mushroom was ready for harvest, a team of ants would work together to chew through the base of the trunk and then carry it off for processing in a connected cavern. From there, the processed mushroom would be carried throughout the colony. The mushroom samples showed them to be rather high in moisture and fiber for a fungus. The oil they produced was especially interesting. Alpha noted one particular parasite of the mushrooms had a habit of popping while under distress. The [Wasp] landed on a small shrub across from a mushroom tree with several of the parasites covering it. One of the tender ants stopped at the tree, their antennae twitching. It brushed several of the insects off with its antennae. Pop! Pop, pop! The thorn-shaped shell of the parasite shot off with surprising force, pinging off the ants hard, metal-infused carapace. The sound even startled several nearby parasites, causing them to launch their shell as well. With their shells gone, the small, beetle-like insect underneath spread its wings and took off into the air before the perceived threat could react. The ant moved around the mushrooms trunk, brushing and triggering the parasites that it could reach. The ant was pretty much immune to the thorny missiles, but Alpha had spotted some of the smaller creatures sporting nasty wounds he was sure were made by the mushroom parasites. Alpha moved the [Wasp] toward one of the discarded shells. Most of them shattered on impact, being little more than a thin carapace, but the tips were surprisingly sturdy. A quick analysis showed the inside was still covered in a burned, oily substance. Interesting. Chemical weaponry wasnt anything new to insects, but using the mushrooms oils as a propellent? There was potential there. Alpha would have to study it further. For now, there were more things to see. The [Wasp] drone pushed off and flew deeper into the colony. The next few chambers Alpha visited werent all too exciting. For the most part, the nursery was about what hed expected. It was well cared for, and while the silk and wax held some potential, it wasnt anything he could make use of yet. The wooden farm with the scaley aphid-like creatures was more interesting. While the walls appeared to be solid at a distance, closer inspection showed they were actually thick bundles of woody roots woven together to create a surface strong enough to support even the larger ants. Maintenance ants would periodically trim growing roots or weave back damaged sections. Alpha found a bare patch of wood and took samples. A quick sonar scan showed the root structure stretching far into the distance, beyond the [Wasps] weak sonar could reach. The ants hadnt just weaved a chamber out of roots but bore into a preexisting root structure. Strange I dont remember seeing such a large plant when I teleported in Alpha muttered to himself. A root structure this size suggested that the accompanying plant was massive, but from what Alpha had seen as he fell, the surrounding area was mostly mountains. Nothing suggesting a plant that big was anywhere nearby. It was possible the plant was mostly subterranean, with a massive root bundle and only a small surface protrusion, but until he could get back to the surface or deploy a stronger sonar, there was no telling. The scaley aphids covered most of the exposed root bundle, and the ants were highly protective of the creatures. Alphas drone was nearly eaten at least twice by overprotective ants. Unlike the mushroom forest, this place was almost entirely dominated by the aphids, their ant protectors ensuring that any intruders were quickly dealt with. Despite their efforts, Alpha still watched several rodent-like creatures burrow through the root bundle and snatch an aphid before escaping back into the roots. The maintenance ants were quick to patch up any such holes, though. Now how am I going to get a sample of the golden liquid? It has to be a product of the scaly aphids themselves. The samples taken from the roots showed nothing like it. The Aphids only seemed to extrude the golden liquid for the ants, and if he tried to grab a sample while the ant was drinking, they would attack. If he was quick enough, he might manage it. The question was, did he want to risk the [Wasp] right now? It would still be a few days before he could start producing more, and it might take just as long to extract the drone from the ants internals if it got eaten. The next moment, all thoughts of the golden liquid were wiped from Alphas mind as the ant colony exploded in a frenzy of activity. One moment, everything was calm, then the next, dozens of ants rushed out of the nearby tunnels, heading toward the large open highway Alpha had been brought through. The few dozen soon turned into hundreds as ants rushed forward, the sound of their mandibles clicking echoing off the walls. Alpha followed close behind, landing the [Wasp] between the spikes of one of the larger ants. As the swarm moved down the passage, growing thicker by the moment, another sound joined the chaos. Distant roaring. B2 - Lesson 4: "Beat the neighbors." For anyone else, the ride on a giant, spiky ant the size of a train engine, traveling through an underground tunnel at 70km/h would have been uncomfortable. For Alpha, it was just a matter of attaching the [Wasp] to one of the large spikes and hitching a ride. The drones augmented van der Waals force allowed it to stay attached to a surface even at speeds reaching Mach 3 and several Gs of force. The particular ant that Alpha was riding was one he had labeled the carrier class. Nearly the size of the TAWP, these carriers were hulking, spiky monstrosities that could put any porcupine to shame. Dozens of ants clung to the carrier classs back and abdomen, clinging to the large spikes. These ranged from the typical, human-sized workers to smaller, dog-sized honeypots, their abdomen swollen with a glowing crimson liquid. Two dozen carrier-class ants traveled down the same tunnel as Alpha, with more joining every minute. Other than the carriers, the tunnel was filled with soldier ants. Car-sized and heavily armored, Alpha could tell these creatures were built for combat. Between these ants were hundreds of ants of the various worker types. It seemed when the colony gave the call, everyone answered. The question is, where are we headed, and what could demand a response like this? Alpha asked himself. Guess Im about to find out Alpha noticed a light in the distance as they neared the end of the tunnel. Thats strange Alpha muttered, The tunnels pointing downward. Where is the light coming from? The ants didnt even slow as they exited the tunnel, and Alphas perspective flipped 90 degrees. Instead of exiting on the surface or a mountainside as Alpha had expected, the ants poured out of an opening high on a cliff side of a mist-filled valley. A massive forest sprawled out before him, stretching far into the distance before it was swallowed by the swirling mists. No not a valley Alpha said. The drones camera followed the glowing moss growing on the cliffside. It stretched higher and higher until it was obscured by the clouds, only the dim lights allowing him to track them. The moss continued upward, then over the valley. Those twinkling stars in the sky werent stars at all. They were patches of moss. Wooooooow Alpha whistled to himself. This valley wasnt a valley; it was one massive cavern! One far larger than anything found in the colony so far. Hell, Alpha was pretty sure that some shenanigans were going on to make something like this even possible. Alphas perspective flipped again as the ants march down the wall ended, and they reached the cavern floor. Man, this place really is a forest Alpha said. Several kilometers into the distance, massive trees grew thick along the cavern floor, so thick the carrier-class ants would have to slow significantly to navigate the terrain. The scene reminded Alpha of those old videos of the ancient redwood forests of Old Earth, but dotted with giant mushroom trees. Though said mushrooms, the same variety found in the ant colony, were still smaller than the giant trees. The space between the caverns wall and the forest looked like it had been clear-cut, with hundreds of stumps of both trees and mushrooms filling the area like a floral graveyard. The ants must forage regularly to supplement their own farms, Alpha considered what he was seeing. But ants are known for being exponential multipliers. The patch here is massive, but its just a tiny fraction of the entire forest. There have to be some checks and balances, right? Whats stopping the ants from stripping this cavern clean as the colony grows? As if answering his musings, another loud roar sounded from just inside the forest, a vast shadow moving within the mist. The ants didnt hesitate and charged the tree line. Alpha detached from the carrier ant and flew higher. The [Wasp] wasnt much faster than the giant, charging ant, but being above the action would give him a wider view of what was happening. As Alpha approached the treeline, and the mist thinned, he finally got a look at what had the colony riled up. Yup those are some big boys Alpha muttered, staring at a group of five massive creatures. Each was roughly twenty meters tall and appeared like someone had smushed a bear with a sloth. They were hulking creatures covered in thick, matted fur and walked on four muscular limbs. Their front paws were topped by vicious-looking curved claws. Claws so large the creature had to walk on its knuckles. An army of smaller worker ants surrounded the creatures, ineffectively gnawing on the tough fur. Ants that tried to climb onto the creatures would inevitably get tangled in the thick mats of moss-covered fur until the giant creatures long, sticky tongue cleaned them off. Every so often, when the ants gathered too thickly, one of the creatures would lift its clawed paw and scythe through the masses. When youre a galactic civilization capable of traveling between stars and terraforming entire planets, you come across many strange lifeforms. Sometimes, those strange lifeforms dont like when you plop a base in the middle of their territory. As such, the Federation had devised a ranking system to determine the threat level of local wildlife to their ongoing operations. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. The system itself was simple, even if some in the Federation argued it could be more detailed. At its core, it ranked between G-rank and A-rank, designating what kind of firepower and effort was needed to bring the target down in case of confrontation. A G-ranked lifeform could be easily dealt with by a trained hunter using civilian-standard firearms. An A-ranked lifeform was considered so dangerous that the loss of life and equipment from a planet-side engagement was typically considered not worth it. Such creatures usually earned themselves an orbital strike if they became problems. Or a visit from Alpha. Ranks beyond that, such as S or SS, were used for unique lifeforms capable of planetwide destruction and were often found in the void between stars. But such beings were exceedingly rare, so much so that one or two might be identified every century. If the toothy penguins are our baseline, below even G, then the Beast Lord would have been between F and E. Dangerous for civilians, but overall, not too much for a squad of soldiers. A transformed Hera, though, might have given even a full squad some trouble, putting her firmly into E-rank. These things, though hmmm. Alpha contemplated to himself. For all their size and bulk, the creatures fighting the ants didnt give off the same air of danger that Hera had. They were powerful, sure, dangerous even, but not at the same level. So between the Beast Lord and Hera, then? Thats still a pretty wide gap the AI considered. The creatures werent making much headway against the seemingly endless tide of ants, but neither were the ants doing much against the strange creatures. It was a stalemate that didnt seem like it was likely to break anytime soon, not unless something changed to tip the scales. It just so happened that something was about to arrive. The swarm of ants that Alpha had followed here melded into the back ranks of the ants already present. Several dozen large soldier ants stepped over the smaller workers and rushed the bear-sloth creatures. The bear-sloths, who had, until this point, seemed to treat the swarm more like a particularly fussy meal, stood on their hind legs and roared at the charging ants, spreading their long arms out to display their vicious claws. The ants knew no fear, however. While each soldier was only twice as big as a worker, their armor was far thicker and covered in spiky barbs. While a single swipe of the bear-sloths claws could crush dozens of ants, it took two or three blows to fell a soldier. To make matters worse, the soldiers were adept at working together. While the bear-sloths focused on crushing a few soldiers, others would latch onto the creatures arms. They still couldnt cut through the bear-sloths thick, matted fur, but the ants weighed the five creatures limbs down over time. With each ant clinging to them, every blow came slower and with less power. This, in turn, meant each soldier took longer to kill, letting more ants latch on. Soon, the bear-sloths were so heavily ladened they could no longer stand. One by one, the massive creatures were pulled to the ground. Then, just like that, the battle had shifted. With dozens of soldiers weighing down and pulling their limbs taut, the bear-sloths couldnt defend themselves as the workers attacked their vulnerable faces. A few bear-sloths tried to defend themselves with their long tongues and snapping maws, but the ants were unending. Not to long after, the roars of anger turned into ones of pain as giant ants attacked their squishy bits not protected by the heavy fur. Well, I guess thats its Alpha said to himself. He gained little from this brief detour, but the underground forest was a promising location. Just the sheer size of the cavern itself almost guaranteed hed be able to find some choice mineral veins with a bit of scouting. That wasnt even considering what opportunities and resources the forest itself might hold. Alpha turned the [Wasp] around and headed back to the colony. Hed leave the ants to their prize, drop off the material samples hed collected in the mushroom cavern, and then explore the colony a bit more. By the time he finished that, the nanite nests should be established and ready to produce nanites. With any luck, hed have some basic printers up and running by the end of the week! Things were finally looking up. Hed barely started to fly back when a massive roar shook the cavern. Alpha turned around to see something pushing up from underneath the pile of ants, roughly where the largest bear-sloths had gone down. The ant mound continued to rise into the air until, finally, a gargantuan figure exploded from within. The bear-sloth that emerged had somehow grown to three times its original size, but that wasnt the only change. Its eyes were gone, possibly having been eaten by the ants, and steaming red blood leaked from the holes, staining its muzzle. The thick, matted fur covering its body had turned a bright golden color and had somehow untangled itself. It now streamed out behind it in long, silky tendrils that flowed on an unseen wind. Its long, curved claws had doubled in size and straightened, turning black and metallic in the bright golden light. The now giant, golden bear-sloth gave another loud roar that almost knocked the [Wasp] of the sky and went berserk. Each swipe of its black metal claws shredded dozens of ants, and not even the soldiers could resist its blows any longer. Once more, the tide of the battle shifted as the blind, raging bear-sloth began to cut its way through the surrounding army of ants toward the safety of the nearby trees. The ants had one more trick up their sleeve, though, it seemed. During the entire previous engagement, the carrier ants had stayed back near the back of the army of ants, as if observing, despite being several times larger than the soldiers. This time, the carriers stepped forward. Though not far. The carrier ants waded through the army of workers until theyd reached some arbitrary line. Then, as one, a dozen carrier ants flicked their large abdomens upward with enough force that Alpha could see their exoskeleton crack. Dozens of red-bellied honeypot ants flew through the air at tremendous force, arcing over the workers below toward the fleeing bear-sloth. Alpha could have even sworn he saw several physically adjust their course by twisting in certain ways or splaying their legs. For a brief moment, the air above the army of ants turned into a tapestry of red stars. Then these falling stars slammed into the golden bear-sloth and exploded. Hundreds of fireballs bloomed to life along the bear-sloths back and its surroundings. The golden light it emitted was overwhelmed by the bright hellfire, as burning globs of red liquid and ant bits clung to the creatures fur. Its back erupted into an inferno as the bear-sloth screamed and fell to the ground, rolling on its back several times, only to push the everburning flames deeper into its fur. Bang! Another dozen carrier ants launched their payloads into the air. Like before, the red honeypots soared through the air, this time hitting a much more concentrated area now that their target was immobile. The golden bear-sloth went up in a roaring fireball that cleared the mist for hundreds of meters and lit up the cavern for dozens of kilometers. Alpha could only think of one thing as the giant fireball settled into a roaring bonfire with a charred black figure at its center. Did these ants really invent napalm?! B2 - Lesson 5: "Meat the neighbors." Both chemical weapons and self-sacrifice werent unheard of in insects, especially social insects; insects that live in a colony, hive, or social nest. Dedicated suicide bombers, though? That wasnt something Alpha had seen before. Moreover, this wasnt just ants spraying some intruder with venom or acid. They were somehow synthesizing highly effective and complex bio-explosives. The only time the Federation had ever encountered legitimate bio-explosives was a particular plant that could use a nitroglycerin-related cocktail to launch their seedpods at extreme distances. The AI would be lying to himself if he said he wasnt interested in their explosive personalities. It was just a matter of getting a sample Hehehehehehehe Alpha laughed as the [Wasp] drone landed on one of the few remaining red-bellied honeypot ants. Now, what was the best way to extract the sample? One option was using the drones plasma cutter to make a small incision and extract what leaked out. That was likely a bad idea, though, if this stuff was as explosive as Alpha suspected. Another option was to attempt to purposefully detonate one of the ants and then collect the residue. Possibly but it was unlikely any would survive the detonation. Or if it did, it would be altered in some way. Or he could use the drones built-in syringe to suck it up directly from the sack. Ya, that was probably the best way to go about this. Alpha deployed the [Wasp] drones syringe and plunged it into the red-bellied honeypot ants abdomen filled with highly volatile liquid explosives. BOOOOOOOM! When Alpha finally reformed the [Wasp] drone, he found its frame had been thrown several hundred meters away by the explosion. Yaaaaa, I should have seen that one coming Alpha complained. Mama always did say not to go stickin ma stinger in strange holes It figured these things were on a bit of a hair trigger. Any rupture of the abdomen was enough to trigger a reaction and detonate them. Maybe through a chain reaction caused by something within the connective membrane itself? It was hard to speculate without testing. Either way, it meant that this method wouldnt work; hed have to think of something else. Alpha flew the drone higher and surveyed the results of his brief experiment. As one might guess, the explosion had set the ants into a frenzy. Workers and soldiers rushed about in a seemingly chaotic mess, attempting to locate the new enemy. To Alphas surprise, the carrier ant, while stunned, seemed otherwise unaffected despite the explosion having detonated most of the other red-bellied ants. Its carapace was slightly cracked and singed, but those cracks rapidly healed, and there didnt seem to be any major damage. That made some sense. It wouldnt be good if you could be taken out by your own weapon. Though Alpha suspected purposefully detonating the red-bellied honeypots wasnt such a simple thing to do for most. Not only were the red-bellies protected by the forest of spikes on the carrier ant, but the protective layer of the red-bellys abdomen was pretty durable. It would take more than just a glancing blow from a ranged attack to trigger an explosion. As for getting up and personal, even if they got past the hulking carrier ant itself, Alpha had already experienced what fate awaited someone who tried to detonate one of the explosive ants up close. Hmmmm he really should come up with a better name than just red-belly honeypot ant. That was a bit of a mouthful. Bomber ant? Na, to generic. Alpha considered. Boomer? Alpha suggested to Alpha. While that would be funny, no. They are noble beasts! They demand a noble name! came the response. Claymore roomba! Alpha shot that one down instantly. It didnt even make sense! Its like the name was suggested just to meet some arbitrary word count! Then it came to him. Like the shadow of some distant, long-forgotten dream. A resonance with something that spoke to his very soul! (Alpha was still coming to terms with having a soul, so maybe that was just a faulty circuit.) The perfect name. I dub thee the Nitropot! Proud of his awesome naming sense, Alpha flew into the air, landed on top of a surviving nitropot, and patted its head. You and I are going to be best friends; I can already tell! Alpha said to the still ant as it clung to the back of the carrier. Said nitropot ant, despite being totally unaware of the [Wasp] sitting on its head and having the part of its brain regulating self-preservation atrophied, felt a sudden chill run down its exoskeleton. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sometime later, the ants calmed down. Maybe they figured they had scared off whatever had attacked the nitropot, or maybe they just didnt want to waste any more time on an enemy that refused to show itself. Either way, most of the workers got back to cutting the bear-sloths into more easily manageable pieces. Just because the giant creatures were dead (and, in one case, crispy) didnt make getting at the tasty bits any easier. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. The ants were resourceful, though, and it helped that each of the five large creatures had two handy entranceways past the thick fur. I have never been so thankful not to have eyes in my entire life The sight of dozens of giant ants crawling into and out of the creatures empty eye-sockets was something that would live rent-free in Alphas memory for a long time //Video-Log Deleted// Or not. And if any of the brass complain about missing footage later on, he could just blame it on combat damage. The crispy bear-sloth seemed like it would be a harder nut to crack for the ants. Literally; the intense fire hadnt so much burned away all the creatures fur, as it had fused them into hard, black plates of char. Not only that, but it still radiated enough heat that the [Wasps] cameras were picking up distortions in the air. A small group of ants surrounded it, attempting to press in every so often, but it was soon abandoned in favor of the more raw pickings. Maybe they would come to collect it later. Or maybe scavengers would come and feast once the ants had gone. The circle of life and all that jazz. A train of ants soon formed, with some groups dismantling the bear-sloths, others transporting the meat, and even some smaller bones, to the colony, and still others patrolling the area. Alpha wasnt totally sure if that last group was because of him or just something they naturally did. The carrier ants also remained on scene, though they did little more than stand there, looking menacing. Then again, given what hed seen them capable of, there was a good chance that was the point. The ants were efficient in their work, and in only a few scant hours, four of the gargantuan corpses were reduced to literal skin and bones. The fifth one, the golden one that tried to escape, had only just cooled down enough for the ants to start working on and had barely been touched. Regardless, as if on some unseen queue, the carrier ant Alpha was riding turned and started making its way back toward the colony. This, in turn, triggered many of the soldiers and workers to do the same. Soon, most of the ants had grabbed one last morsel and began returning to the colony, only a few stragglers staying behind to grab what they could. The march back was uneventful and at a much more sedate pace than the mad rush that had seen them there in the first place. Alpha imagined that if some grand giant were to look down from above, it would very much look like just a normal procession of ants returning home after felling a couple of particularly large mice. As they neared the tunnel entrance, the carrier ant did something unexpected. While the other ants streamed past them, the carrier ant stopped. Strange Alpha muttered. His confusion was cleared up the next moment when the surviving nitropots, who had until this moment remained almost comatose, stirred. The red-bellied ants rose from their spots, climbed to the tip of a nearby spike on the back of the carrier ant, and pointed their abdomens outward. Then expelled their payloads. Ewwwwww. Alpha watched in disgusted fascination as a dozen arches of red liquid poured out into the open air. Strange enough, the liquid didnt immediately explode. Instead, it caught fire as it contacted the open air. The streams of fire broke apart into glowing mist before reaching the ground, turning into glittering embers that floated away on the slight breeze. Soon, more carrier ants joined him, their nitropots also emptying their payloads. A river of glittering fire traveled through the air briefly before disappearing into nothingness. It would be an oddly beautiful sight if you didnt know what caused it For a moment, Alpha contemplated if he should take this chance to collect a sample before the liquid could ignite then quickly dismissed that idea. He might have really wanted a sample, but he wasnt that desperate. Besides, if the nitropots were emptying themselves before returning to the colony, that suggested it wasnt difficult for them to produce more. At the very least, it said they werent willing to store large quantities of the substance inside the colony proper. If he could find out where or how they produced it, then that would make for a much cleaner sample. After a few moments, the nitropots were empty, and the carrier ants started making their way toward the colony entrance. As they entered, however, Alpha detected movement from the forest in the distance. He turned his attention in that direction and saw roughly two dozen humanoid figures emerge from the treeline. The figures made a beeline toward the charred corpse of the bear sloth, with a few others breaking off to poke at the husks the ants had left behind. If the drones rangefinder was still accurate, they were small, with even the tallest being just under 55. They were like ants (Ha!) compared to the massive bear sloths. They were dressed in primitive clothing, even more so than the plainsmen Alpha had left behind. Mostly raw-cut furs and rough-looking fabrics, though the actual make was hard to tell from this distance. Unlike the plainsmen, who seemed to be mostly made up of humans, these figures were most definitely not. With rough green-brown, almost bark-like skin, pointy ears, and longer than normal, curved noses, most humans Alpha knew of would have found their appearance slightly offputting. Not that the humanoid, obviously sapient figures were overly hideous, mind you. Rather because, these features combined to create a distinct image that would cause many to ponder the same thing Alpha himself was at that very moment. Are those goblins?! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Pitdigger couldnt stop grinning from ear to ear. It worked! It had actually worked! When hed first brought up his idea to use the Demon Ants to deal with the encroaching Ironfurs, most of the other hunters had laughed him out of the hunting circle. That was something he was used to, at least. Most of the senior hunters considered his methods dishonorable at best and totally insane at worst. To be fair, most of the time, that was true. While most hunters gained their scars during dangerous hunts or fierce battles against other tribes, the majority of Pitdiggers came from failed experiments or traps. Even his largest scar, a round one in the middle of his bare chest, which should have been a badge of honor, resulted from him falling into one of his spiked pit traps. Sure, the event had earned him his name after capturing a large Mawbeast, but it wasnt one he was happy with. But this! This had the opportunity to change everything! Maybe even earn him a new name! The Ironfurs had been causing trouble on the outskirts of their tribe for months now. Their voracious appetites and territorial nature had driven most game out of the area, leaving the tribe in dire straits. The younger hunters wanted to do something about the creatures, but they were powerful, and even the four common Ironfurs would be enough to wipe out all of their hunters, let alone the greater beast that led them. The elders, on the other hand, were talking about moving again. They had just been forced out of their home cavern! Now they were thinking of running once more?! That is what it means to live as a goblin, they would say. Settling where you could and running away when something bigger and stronger moved in. Pitdigger didnt want to run again. This new cavern was far better than the one they had been pushed from! It was a land of bounty and promise! Sure, it was almost more dangerous, but danger came with its own rewards. If the elders wouldnt do anything, then hed have to try something himself. And so he did. B2 - Lesson 6: "Home is where the Core is." The senior hunters had been no help, though. They were too stuck in their old ways. Held back by old ideas. So, he turned to the newer generation. While the older hunters often looked at him and shook their heads, Pitdigger had gained a small reputation among the younger hunters as someone skilled at planning hunts and organizing. Sure, some still called him a coward who relied more on traps than his own power, but most would still listen when he pointed out a flaw in a plan or made a suggestion to improve a hunt. Small things. Little honors. Nothing like the truly skilled hunters, but enough for him to gather a small hunting party together and explain his idea. Half left before hed even finished speaking. Those that remained looked skeptical at best, or even desperate, with sunken cheeks and drooping ears. These hard times had been harder on some than others Most didnt seem to think his plan would work, but like him, they were tired of running away. Pitdiggers plan was simple. If they couldnt get rid of the Ironfurs, they would get someone else to do it for them. Thats where the Demon Ants came into play. Demon Ants were typically docile if you didnt get too close. They were perfectly content to forage for mana and spirit-filled resources as they patrolled the forest. They typically wouldnt attack other living creatures, at least not when alone. Even so, most other creatures in the forest actively avoided them, even the smaller ones. Why? Because Demon Ants had a unique ability to track the blood of their kind over vast distances. If a forging Demon Ant was killed, the area would soon swarm with them. The ant slayer would be relentlessly pursued by an ever-growing army until either the ants overwhelmed them or they removed their scent. Pitdigger would take advantage of this. By covering themselves in thick fur so that no part of their skin was exposed, the young hunters slew several scout ants, timing their actions with counted breath. From that moment, it was a race against time. The corpses were scattered across the forest between the Demon Ants clearing and the Ironfurs den. Once that was done, the furs were discarded along the same path, and the participating hunters vigorously washed themselves with pre-prepared supplies. The heavy-scented oils and exotic soaps traded from the surface dwellers had cost nearly everything Pitdigger owned, but it had been worth it! BECAUSE IT HAD WORKED!! The Ironfurs had taken the bait wonderfully, the dumb beasts! And the Demon Ants, riled up by the blood of their kin, made a beeline right for the Ironfurs. The hunters, smelling of flowers and heavy spice, had followed the battle from a distance, all the way up to the Demon Ants clearing. From there, theyd watched the entire confrontation as it happened, cheering every time the ants brought down one of the furry tyrants. Once the battle was done, it was just a matter of waiting for the ants to finish collecting their spoils and swooping in for the leftovers. Honestly, Pitdigger had only been expecting the hides and bones. Both of which could be traded to the surface dwellers for vast riches more than making up for what hed spent on the oils and soaps, even split between so many hunters. That the alpha itself had been killed by the ants hellfires and left to burn was an unexpected blessing. The meat alone would sustain everyone in the tribe for months, while the spirit energy and mana it contained would strengthen their hunters. It was a shame the fur had been ruined, though. Pitdigger had daydreamed of fashioning a cloak from the glistening golden fur. He would have had to beat the women off him with a stick! Ha! He would have to settle for a common ironfur cloak. Not that such a thing didnt come with its own honor. Pitdigger laughed with joy as he watched the young hunters start work on carving up the charred corpse of the Ironfur alpha. Several runners had been sent back to the tribe to call for more hands. They would need them if they had any hope of harvesting the spoils before the scavengers started showing up. They would get significantly less meat from the other four corpses; the ants were nothing if not thorough. But that would be fine. With what theyd accomplished here today, the tribe would be prosperous for a long time to come. Still grinning ear to ear, Pitdigger looked up toward the barely visible opening in the cavern wall far above them and wondered what kind of bright future awaited him. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Haha Hahahaha HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Alpha raised the arms of the mini-TAWP into the air and laughed, dark lightning lighting up the flat, white plane of his core world. In front of him rotated the holographic representation of the controls for the completed nanite nest. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. The trip back through the ant colony had been uneventful. His attempt at finding the source of the red liquid had been a bust. Once theyd re-entered the tunnels, the nitropots had simply blended in with the workers seamlessly. It was possible the nitropots themselves werent even a separate class and simply those ants who were available at the time of deployment. Or maybe the nitropots took up other roles when they werent needed. Either way, it had been a dead end for now. So instead, he had set the [Wasp] on standby, instructing the onboard AI to stay with the carrier ant and record its activities. If the nitropots themselves couldnt offer any clues to the red liquid, then maybe the carriers would. That done, hed flipped his consciousness back to his core and was rewarded with a long overdue piece of good news. The nanite nest was finished! This was good. Very good. Now that the first nanite nest was complete, he could start really ramping things up. The first order of business was producing a few more [Wasps]. All the drones he currently could connect to were being used to monitor various parts of the ant colony. A few minutes later, the first of the new batch of [Wasps] was born. Alpha quickly shifted his perspective to the new drone. His core world faded, and he saw through the eyes of his drone once more. The nanite nest sat in a small cavity carved out of the floor under one of the largest ore piles collected by the ants. The nest itself appeared little more than a floating orb of liquid black ooze, slowly rotating in place. It constantly shifted and twisted, as if never quite sure what it wanted to be at any given moment. Thin streams of black liquid poured from dozens of small holes in the ceiling, which led to the piles of ore above. These streams twisted in the air and connected to the floating orb, adding themselves to the nest. If one were to observe over a period, they would see the nest slowly growing in size. It would continue to do so, carving out the cavity as the nest grew. Eventually, it would reach nearly ten times its current size, a little over half the size of Alphas own core. At that point, it would reach equilibrium and only produce more nanite mass when mass was assigned to a function such as drones, tools, or equipment. Theoretically, nanite mass could produce anything they had the appropriate matter for. In the Federation, however, the best practice was to use nanite mass to bootstrap production methods and build proper factories. Dedicated factories and equipment would always result in higher quality, more reliable products than if they were built directly from nanite mass. For instance, a [Wasp] produced by a proper drone factory would have higher operating specs and more functionality than the ones pushing themselves out of the nanite nest now. Alpha watched as the nest writhed, its black waters sloshing like a sudden storm had been kicked up. Then, a small black bud slowly pushed its way out of the nests surface. Then another, and another. One by one, half a dozen buds formed on the surface of the nest, then pinched themselves off and fell to the floor of the cavity. The fallen buds wiggled for a moment before lines formed along their surface. A few seconds later, they had gone from looking like small blobs of goo to detailed carvings of Insect pupa. Alpha gave the command, and the pupa cracked open, and half a dozen newborn [Wasps] crawled out. Already with their pre-programmed orders, each of the drones took flight and flew through one of the small openings in the nest cavity. These drones might not be as good as the ones hed started out with, but they could serve their own purposes. He could always use more eyes and ears around the colony. Alpha set the nest to produce a new [Wasp] every few hours. Mass-wise, they werent very expensive, and the more he had, the better. [Wasps] werent as good at collection as harvesters or at intel gathering as scouts, but for their cost-to-versatility, they were the best he had at the moment. Soon, that would change. With that done, the next order of business was to produce a few [Clouds]. Again, the nest writhed, but this time, a thin black mist poured down, condensing into a thick fog that covered the cavity floor. After a moment, the fog swirled in on itself and condensed into four fist-sized black orbs. [Clouds] were the most basic of harvester-type drones, being little more than a swarm of specially designed nanites that could break down inorganic materials into their component molecules. In practice, they could harvest small ore veins and scrap to be reprocessed into other materials. Small-scale colonies mostly used them to supplement other mining operations and squeeze out every last bit of useable material from what they dug out. They werent as effective as other harvester types, but they were the best for what Alpha had planned. And what was Alpha planning? Alpha pulled up a design schematic hed been working on. Sonar scans of the ant colony showed a complex maze of twisting tunnels and enormous caverns that stretched for a dozen kilometers in all directions. While it didnt reach the same complexity as you might expect from their smaller cousins, there were still dozens of chambers Alpha had never seen and hundreds of tunnels. If what Alpha had seen so far held true for the rest of the colony, the total ant population should be in the tens of thousands at the very least. That might have seemed low when you considered some ant colonies on other worlds could grow to the tens of millions. Yet the sheer size of these ants and their destructive potential spoke of how terrifying such a number truly was. And true to the nature of ants, it would only grow larger with time. If the Federation had found such a colony near one of its outposts, it would have ordered an extermination mission without hesitation. Alpha, on the other hand, would be a good roommate and do his part to expand the colony. The wall that his core was embedded in was the edge of a large blank area in the colony. Likely, the ants left this space untouched to better isolate their queens chamber from potential burrowing intruders. But for Alpha, it was the blank canvas on which he would build the beating heart of his operations on this planet. Alpha transferred the data to the drones, and the four orb-shaped [Cloud] drones burst like soap bubbles into clouds of dark mist. The dark mist traveled up and out the same holes the [Wasps] had exited a moment earlier, with Alpha following close behind. The [Clouds] moved along the royal chambers, hugging the floor and spreading thin to avoid detection, and made a beeline for Alphas core. Once there, the drones passed through the nanite membrane of Alphas core and exited out the other side into a thin gap he had carved earlier to prepare for this. From there, the drones would slowly expand the area, digging out Alphas own personal chamber and the start of something he should have begun the moment he landed. His own base. B2 - Lesson 7: "When in Rome." One Week Later Was it big enough? It felt big enough but you never knew with these kinds of things What if he brought someone over, and they laughed at it?! How was Alpha supposed to make a good first impression then?! Alpha flew the [Wasp] drone through the first completed chamber of his new base. Currently, it was little more than a hollowed-out room with a few nooks where equipment would eventually go. In the center of the room, a new nanite nest silently floated in the air. It had taken too long for the [Clouds] to carve out the area, transport the materials to the first nest, and then return. So, as soon as there was enough space, Alpha set up a second nest for this area. The first nest would focus on drones and processing the materials from the ant''s stash, while this new nest was being used to build the base''s infrastructure and compact materials for later use. The first components for the first real printer stations were going down as he watched. This was a tremendous step toward really establishing himself. Federation molecular printers might have used the same principle as nanite nests, but the products they could produce were of far higher quality and quantity. A group of dedicated printers meant better sensors, better equipment, and less time doing things that shouldn''t need his input. Once they were set up, monitoring AIs could order everything from new drones to better equipment and even replacement parts. They could even expand the floor plan based on Alpha''s design! Once that was done, he could start to work on the various projects he''d set aside for so long. Analyzing the various samples he''d taken. Studying the arrayed drone in-depth, Maybe even understanding the weird energy that permeated this world. "Good thing I have all the time in the world to get things done. It feels so much better to not be on a time crunch," Alpha said as he finalized the design for the next chamber. "Though, if the base keeps expanding at the rate I need it to, I''m going to have to borrow space from the ants after too long." Thankfully for Alpha, he had just the plan for that. "Hello, fellow ant! My name is Alphantonso! Nice to meet you!" the tiny white, newly pupated worker ant said to the larger caretaker ant. The larger ant stared at the soft-carapaced ''ant'' and tilted its head. It leaned down and tapped the small ant with its antennae several times. Yeeees! It''s working! thought Alphantonso up until the point the larger caretaker ant opened its mandibles and bit poor Alphantonso in two. "Noooooo!" Alpha cried as the connection to the ant-shaped drone he''d affectionally named ''Alphantonso'' (because it was his drone and no one was here to stop him) was cut. Alpha sighed and crossed that design off the metaphorical whiteboard. "At least this model had lasted longer than the previous two. Who would have ever thought trying to infiltrate an ant colony would be this hard? How did some species make myrmecomorphy look easy?!" Alpha complained to the half a dozen dissected ant bodies lying around his new ''medical'' wing. Tons of creatures used ant mimicry for various purposes, from protection to hunting. Some even tricked ant colonies into raising their young or to scare away competitors. Alpha had spent the last five days attempting something similar. But these ants seemed smarter than their smaller cousins. More than just copying their physical shape was needed. Or at least for what Alpha had planned. It worked fine for luring ants in, but if Alpha wanted to be more than just a hidden hunter, he needed to be able to do more. He needed to be able to communicate in so much as ants could communicate. These creatures weren''t sapient, but they could communicate and pass on information to an astounding degree, even by ant standards. Several tests had shown they could pass along exact directions, details about enemies or targets, and even if a particular piece of food was contaminated with something. It wasn''t quite a language as far as Alpha could tell, but it was possibly the closest thing to it possible without being a sapient species. The only creatures recorded to have such a complex internal communication system had been lifeforms like higher-order mammals and mammal equivalents. This could vary from planet to planet, of course, but this was the first time it had been recorded in insects. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. On the first attempt, Alpha had modified the outer shell of a scout drone to mimic the shape of the worker ant he''d captured. It had lasted only seconds upon exiting into the royal chambers. "You will be remembered, Sir Alphantonso, the First of his Name." Alpha solemnly swore. Alphantonso II had lasted only slightly longer after uploading recordings of the ant''s general behaviors and mannerisms into the drone''s AI. It wasn''t instantly swarmed like the first drone had been, but the ants could still tell something was off about the drone. Maybe they thought it was a foreign ant? Whatever the reason, Alpha decided to try something different for Alphantonso III. Rather than try to slip in with the crowd, Alpha figured they would be more accepting if he could convince them to ''adopt'' the drone instead. To that end, he''d sneakily replaced one of the pupating ants with his drone, by boring a small hole into a pupa and breaking it down little by little. The ants were none the wiser, taking care of the changeling as if it were their own. The next day, Alphantonso III ''hatched'' and joined the gathering of young ants as they waited for their carapaces to harden. Everything had gone well for the first few hours. The young ants weren''t very active, mostly focusing on eating their first meals as adults. Then the caretakers had arrived. They''d passed along ''assignments'' one by one, and each new ant began their first day of work. The caretaker only paused at Alphantonso III, seeming unsure of something, and well the rest was history. Alpha fumed. He was certain this one would work! What could be the problem? There were only a few things Alpha could really think of if he was honest. The most obvious being pheromone signaling, but that would take time to crack if he did this the boring way. Alpha refused to do it the boring way! The [Wasp] drone launched from its perch and flew out of the medical room into a side chamber. Alpha still had yet to set up cameras or other monitoring devices, and besides, there was something satisfying about traveling physically through your own base. This particular chamber Alpha had set up for a future project, but had been modified to hold his contingency plan in case Alphantonso III failed. If this worked, he''d had to expand the area to hold dozens more, but for now, a single glass cylinder took up the center of the room. Inside the glass, floating in a nutrient bath, was a single, small ant embryo extracted from a freshly collected egg. As Alpha watched, nanites worked to build the appropriate augmentations and connections that would grow alongside it. Once that was done, the incubation chamber would be wrapped in a translight bubble to accelerate the embryo''s growth. In just a few short days, Project Antborg would be ready for testing. "Are you sure this is the place?" asked the large man in ill-kept leather armor. The small, squirrelly man in front of him raised his head and nodded. "It''s gotta be, Bosco. That bastard Robert said Sundown Mountain, and this is the only place that doesn''t match the surrounding destruction; like someone came by and covered it up after the fact." The large man grinned from ear to ear. He knew it was a good idea to have someone watching the shiny bastard. The Adventurer''s Guild upper brass had a hard-on for Robert and always gave the man the best missions, leaving others to pick up the scraps. Once they''d gotten word that Robert was holding his little meeting, it took barely any effort to tail those present and extract the information from one of them. Who knew it would have been this big? Once he understood exactly what they were dealing with, Bosco had taken the information straight to Icefinger. As expected, the Boss had been so impressed, Bosco had gotten a promotion then and there and told to scout the place out before Robert ever got there. Hell, if this went well, he might even make Capo! Lets go, everyone! I want this tunnel cleared within the hour! Then its time for some explorin! Bosco said, clapping his hands. Yet, like everything in Bosco''s life, someone had to come along and rub dirt on it. Most of the three dozen gathered men and women moved forward to start clearing out the blockage. Most, not all. "Hey, Bosco are you sure about this?" an unfamiliar voice said. Bosco frowned and slowly turned around, staring down at the speaker from his massive 7''1" frame. The speaker''s eyes widened slightly, and he took a step back. It was one of the New Bloods who''d smooth-talked their way into the mission. Thomas was his name, if Bosco remembered correctly. "And whys that, boy?" Bosco asked as he folded his arms. Thomas took another step back, looking around for anyone who would back him up. Unfortunately for the young man, everyone present pretended they were too busy working to notice the confrontation. Thomas clinched his teeth, but decided he should still speak his mind. "I-I mean, i-if the Guild thought Robert was the best man for t-this, and he thought he needed a big team, s-shouldn''t we at leas Oomph!" Thomas'' words were cut off as a massive fist slammed into his gut. The young man was lifted off his feet and thrown into the air for several meters. He hit the rocky floor and rolled even further before coming to a stop. The young man tried to push himself up on shaking arms, but a massive, booted foot came down on his head and pushed him back to the ground. Bosco leaned down and sneered at the young man. "Oy! Dumbass! Where''s your pride as one of Icefinger''s men? Ah? You think we can''t do what the pretty boy could? Pathetic." Bosco turned to the crowd behind him and called out. "Ain''t that right, lads?" A few muttered cheers of confirmation, but most were simply staring, wide-eyed. "I said, ''Ain''t that right, lads''?!" Bosco yelled with a growl. The second cheer was louder, and Bosco grinned. He turned back to Thomas and spat on his bleeding face as he continued. "Let me give you a bit of advice, New Blood. If you''re going to survive in this profession, learn to keep your mouth shut. I''m sure you''ll have plenty of time to think about that on your climb back up." With that, Bosco hooked the young man with his foot and kicked him off the nearby ledge. Bosco slowly walked toward the edge and smiled as he watched Thomas tumble down the mountainside. Someone of the boy''s cultivation? He''d live. Barely. Bosco didn''t need the Boss breathing down his neck about ''wasting resources again. Although, it was doubtful he''d make it back before they were done stripping the place of anything of value. Or if he did, he wouldn''t be in any condition to help. That was fine with Bosco. One less share to split. When Thomas finally reached a standstill at the bottom of the mountain, Bosco straightened and turned around. "What are you looking at?! GET BACK TO WORK!" he yelled at the gawking crew. The crowd jumped and started working again, faster this time. Bosco grinned from ear to ear as he watched the rest work. The grin grew wider as he daydreamed of the treasures they were about to uncover. B2 - Lesson 8: "Close your back door, or rats will find their way in" The large glass cylinder slowly drained of liquid as Alpha ran some final internal tests. Alphantonso IV was finally ready for testing! Project Antborg had gone smoothly, for the most part. Simple borging insects was a relatively common practice in the Federation. They were mostly used to control uninvited guests on spaceships. After all, losing your hydroponics to alien insects could be a death sentence in the vast expanse of space. It was mind-boggling how many pests a ship could pick up from just a brief stop on a less-developed planet. The practice was so common that the main character of one of the Federations most popular and long-running anime would knit little uniforms for the cyborg insects in her crew. Nanites couldnt directly interact with organic tissue. This was hard-coded into their design, mostly due to fear of another nano-plague. What they could do, however, was build implants that could be used as an intermediate. The childrens HUDs were examples of this. They could control the nanites that made up their [Wasp] drones without any other equipment. Augmented Soldiers were another example. While they werent full cyborgs like the insects, many Federation soldiers could earn credits to upgrade themselves with things like synthetic muscles, skin resistant to small arms fire, and even neural implants that greatly boosted their cognitive power and reaction times. The most powerful Augmented Soldiers were on par with small mecha, and some, like General Haldorer, could even fight Alphas TAWP bare-handed. Though soldiers capable of that kind of feat could be counted on a human hand. That said, implants used to monitor and control insects onboard ships werent meant for creatures the size of the mega ants. Alpha had to go through several iterations just to get them to set properly. After that, it was just a matter of sticking the ant into a translight bubble and waiting for it to mature. Alpha had rushed over the moment the monitoring AI had reported that Alphantonso IVs pupa was cracking. The incubation chamber finally drained, and the large ant pupa floated to the bottom. It lay still for a moment before shaking slightly. A large crack formed along the back of the pupa, and slowly, a dog-sized, white ant pushed itself out of the shell. The newly born Alphantonso IV flicked their antennae and looked around before moving to a prepared pile of stolen mushrooms. It worked! Alpha cheered as he watched the antborg take its first meal. Well, so far. It didnt fall over dead as soon as it emerged this time. Progress! Alpha would still have to see how well it did in the colony. He pulled up a holographic display of Alphantonso IV. Most of the ant was still ant, and on the surface, one would be hard-pressed to spot any real difference. Most of the actual changes were inside. Other than various sensors and monitoring equipment, hed reinforced the carapace some and added synthetic musculature to boost its overall strength. Its eyes had also been totally replaced with high-grade optical sensors disguised to look like compound eyes. That had taken some work, but the ants natural eyesight was just too poor to act as a proper scout in the way he needed it to. Alphantonso IV was just a test run. There wasnt much need to go all out until the concept had been proven to work. That said, while the antborg wouldnt win against one of the much larger soldiers, it could easily deal with even several of the common workers if the need came. The biggest change was to its nervous system. The main brain and stem were mostly untouched, except for monitoring devices designed to record brain activity. Most of the sub-brains dedicated to movement had been totally replaced with specialized implants. Most of the time, they would act just like the ordinary sub-brain but would also allow Alpha or an assigned AI to take control of the ants movements. This was only possible thanks to how simple these sub-brains were, but in effect, Alpha could use the antborg like he would any other drone and the ant itself would be none the wiser. In theory, when the ant was in standby mode, it would behave just like any other ant in the colony, allowing it to blend in perfectly with no input from Alpha or the monitoring AI. The only sub-brain left relatively intact was the one Alpha suspected was dedicated to pheromone signaling. That they had an entire sub-brain dedicated to pheromone signaling only further strengthened Alphas theory that the ants pheromone language was far more complex than their smaller cousins. This sub-brain, Alpha had surrounded in monitoring equipment to track how it worked and the various signals the ants used. With any work, Alpha could start laying down his own signals, either to keep ants away from areas he didnt want them in, or order the workers to gather certain things. Gaining control of how the ants communicated would be an important part of taking control of the colony. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. A few hours later, Alphantonso IVs carapace was hard enough to venture out into the colony proper. Alpha had struggled to figure out how to get the antborg inside without being noticed. Hed played with slipping them in with a patrolling group but quickly dismissed that. It might work for now, but once Alpha had dozens, or hundreds, of antborgs, that would soon become a logistical nightmare. Eventually, Hed settled on a far simpler method. Parallel to several of the more important thoroughfares, the large main shaft included, Alpha dug his own tunnels, just large enough for 1-2 antborgs to pass through. These tunnels would exit out into the colony, appearing like just another side tunnel. Once the antborgs had passed through, though, the entrance would seal back up, preventing other ants from getting inside. If they did somehow slip in, several barriers would block the way further in. Ready to get the show on the road, Alpha directed Alphantonso IV toward the hatch that would lead into the colony. It was time to see if Alphas experiments had paid off. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bosco forgoed the rope hanging from the excavated entrance and jumped the full 10 meters to the bottom of the tunnel. A few men had already climbed down and started establishing a perimeter. You could never be sure what kind of things called these tunnels home. But then, thats what you had underlings for. The large man hadnt stopped grinning since theyd uncovered the tunnel. Some people became adventurers for the fame and prestige. Some for the power and the ability to grow without the aid of a sect or clan. Bosco? Bosco started for a much simpler reason. Wealth. The Crimson Mountains were bursting with all sorts of treasures if you could find them. Yet, even in the Adventurers Guild, nepotism abounded. Hell, that was true for Halirosa as a whole. Many of the choicest hunting grounds had already been claimed by the old families and other clans who had come to plunder the mountains. Sure, on paper, they still had to obey the laws of fair exploration. In practice? Any adventurer without the right connections would soon find themselves having to travel for weeks through dangerous lands before they could find anything worth the effort. Being an adventurer in Halirosa was just as much about who you knew as what you could do. That was the primary reason Bosco had thrown his lot in with Icefinger. As the man at the very top of Halirosas underworld, Icefinger had his finger (ha!) in every pot in the city. Bosco walked toward a nearby squirrelly man, who was staring up at the ceiling, jotting down notes. Seeker, as he was called (no one knew his real name), was on loan from the Boss. As one of Icefingers direct subordinates, those elites often nicknamed Dogs, Seeker didnt fall into the traditional hierarchy of their organization. Icefingers Dogs were all a strange bunch. Eccentric to the extreme, but every single one was an expert in what they did and a powerful combatant in their own right. Seeker had the look of a grimy merchant at first glance, someone who could have been knocked over by a stiff breeze. But for a man who specialized in locating valuables, the rumors surrounding the man-made even Bosco step lightly around him. The old bloods like to joke that when you were as good at finding things as Seeker was, you were just as adept at making sure they could never be found. Bosco knew the Boss hadnt lent him Seeker just to help find the best stuff. No, Seeker was Icefingers eyes and ears on this mission. If they found something truly valuable, the Boss would know. Seeker was a powerful tool, but he was also the leash around Boscos neck. Seeker turned toward Bosco and grinned a toothy smile, then spoke in a raspy voice. I must say, Bosco. Youve really outdone yourself with this one. This place has a lot of potential. Look, He pointed to the ceiling where patches of lumoss grew, filling the tunnel with a dim light. Seeker turned back to his notepad and continued. As Im sure youre aware, lumoss is a plant that can be found in many places underground. Its very useful for adventurers, and Halirosa has perfected its growth. Bosco nodded. Lumoss lanterns were a staple of any adventuring kit. Not only was the luminous moss easy to take care of, needing only a bit of dirt, water, and spirit energy, but it could live for years in a lantern and was resistant to things that would snuff out mundane flames. Pieces could even be pinched off to mark locations, and it would regrow after a bit of time. Seeker nodded along before asking. How do you think it grows in the wild, though? Bosco opened his mouth, but paused. He wasnt actually sure. Not that it mattered. It was moss. Not something valuable enough to pay attention to past its utility as a light source. If hed had been asked before, he would have said the patches of lumoss you could often see in the wild were left there by adventurers whod come before. But no that couldnt be it. This was supposed to be an untouched system. Seeker smirked at the look of confusion on the larger mans face. Lumoss grows by spreading spores. These spores latch onto passing creatures. Beast, humans, insects, they will shed these spores as they move to new locations, and new patches of lumoss will grow from there, repeating the cycle, the squirrelly man said. Bosco frowned and folded his arms as he asked, Ok, so what? What does that tell us? Seeker sighed and answered, It means this isnt just an undiscovered tunnel leading to a small cave or the like. It means that something frequents these tunnels, traveling back and forth regularly. So let me ask you. Why would something travel through the same tunnel on a regular basis? Basco furrowed his brow, and then it clicked, and he voiced his thought. It means either this is the lair of somethingor Seeker nodded and motioned for him to continue. Boscos eyes widened as he finished, Or theres something at the end worth returning to! Seeker grinned from ear to ear and nodded, pointing his expensive mana pen toward the large man. Correct! And given that we dont see signs of further excavation or the remains of any other creatures, I think we can rule out it being a lair for now. Not that it isnt possible. Some creatures can dig extensive tunnels that stretch for miles. But typically, such things have clear indicators. This place seems more naturally formed. Boscos grin returned. He looked down both ends of the tunnel and muttered to himself. Now, the question is, which way do we go? B2 - Lesson 9: "Look Up." Alpha floated as a melted pile of data bits in the middle of his empty core world. Im boooooored! Again! Alpha was bored. I said that already! Alpha complained to the voice in his head. The antborgs were baking, the nests were built, the base was under construction, and the samples were being studied. And Alpha had nothing else to do. For the first time since planetfall, Alpha was taskless. Everything that could be automated had been, and those that couldnt would take time before they needed his input. So what was an AI to do? Alpha supposed he could wander the colony, maybe hope he stumbled on something interesting. But he already had [Wasps] scouting out most of the known tunnels. The map of the colony was growing by the minute; one more scout wouldnt matter much. He could check on Alphantonso, but unless Alpha actually needed to use the antborg for something, hed just be hitchhiking along their daily life. And an ants daily life was as boring as watching paint dry. Hmmmm, maybe its time to check out the forest Alpha muttered to himself. Hed been putting it off, as he didnt want to get distracted from the important task of establishing his base. Honestly, though, with how well things were going, maybe that was the best thing. Nothing got the creative sparks flowing like a little adventure, right? It would be a good time. Fun. Relaxing, without any real goal other than exploring. Ya, this was a great idea! Bosco and his team moved silently down the tunnel, each pair of eyes on alert as they scanned the tunnel walls for hidden openings or enemies. Despite being a band of thugs and neer-do-wells, they were a band of thugs and neer-do-wells from Halirosa, a place where even the friendly neighborhood baker had some adventuring experience. After all, everyone grew up one day hoping to be an adventurer. Those who didnt learn the tricks of the trade quickly, often didnt survive long enough to retire to a nice bakery or the local gang. That said, only some were professionals. Three men walked at the end of the formation, facing backward as they watched the groups rear. The man holding the torch yawned, turned to his neighbor, and whispered, So, what do you think well find down here? I bet itll be a hidden cache. Maybe some old cultivator inheritance! Can you imagine? The rough man he addressed didnt bother to look his way. Instead, his sharp eyes stayed trained on the darkness in front of them as they walked backward, keeping pace with the group a dozen meters ahead of them. The thug grunted and scoffed at the other man. Right, and theres a dragon hoard right around the corner, too. Stop daydreaming, Bill. Wed be lucky if we found a decent-sized spirit stone vein. Most of these tunnels turn out to be nothing more than dead ends. Emphasis on the dead. Bill frowned and waved his torch. But Hugo! Didnt you hear what Seeker said to the boss? These tunnels are well-traveled! Theres gotta be something amazing at the end! Hugo sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Bill what use would monsters or beasts have for a cultivator inheritance? Bill blushed and looked away, shrugging his shoulders. Dunno, maybe they ar Will both of you shut up! the third man whispered harshly. His eyes flicked back and forth, stopping on every shadow, his sword hilt grasped with white knuckles. Bill turned and raised an eyebrow, his voice light with a laugh as he spoke. What Claude? Still afraid of the dark? I dont get why you keep volunteering for missions like this if youre so scared of caves. Claude turned and scowled at the torch-wielding man, Its not the caves Im afraid of, you fool. Its whats in them you have to be scared of! Bill smirked and shook his head. Dude, were at the back of the line. Anything scary the boss up front will have already handled. Really, what are the chances that something slipped by everyone else? Right Hugo? Only silence answered the mans question. Hugo? Bill turned around to see Hugo frozen in place, his mouth open and eyes locked on the space above Bill. A chill ran down Bills spine. He slowly looked above him and stared into four red glowing eyes peeking out from beneath a rock in the ceiling. Slowly, the rock pushed away from the ceiling, and a long, thin body with dozens of sharp-looking legs emerged. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Bill stared, transfixed, as the giant centipede-like creature clicked its drolling fangs. Softly, he whispered, Oh Dam And then the creature struck. THIS WAS A TERRIBLE IDEA! No one was quite sure who had yelled those words, what with them being lost in the chaos of battle and the screams of adventurers as the giant centipede-like insects tried to drag their various prey back into the holes in the ceiling. Bosco roared as he threw his massive axe like a boomerang over the crowd. It spun through the air and cleaved through a dozen long insects, and one unfortunate man whose centipede was a tad quicker than the others. The axe slammed into the far wall with a thud that shook the tunnel. The fighting men and women were sprayed with thick, foul-smelling centipede blood as the thrashing bodies of the insects fell out of their holes. The surviving centipedes seemed to take that as a sign and quickly retreated into their tunnels in the ceilings. The group of humans and awakened beasts gathered their wounded and retreated down the tunnel. Bosco fumed the entire way. Theyd been making good progress for the first few hours. Maybe slower than hed wanted, but that was the kind of caution you had to take when delving into unknown cave systems. Caution that apparently hadnt been enough. A quick headcount showed three missing, including the unlucky bastard whod gotten in the way of his throw. Five more were alive, given the rising and falling of their chest, but their stiff bodies and the strange purple coloration of their skin didnt bode well. What the hell were those?! Bosco roared as he pulled his axe from the wall it was embedded in. The survivors mumbled among themselves, but none offered an answer. Most of their adventuring had been done above ground. Few knew more beyond the basics of cave delving. Boscos fury slowly built, but it was Seeker who eventually spoke up. Rockcaps. Nasty little buggers Bosco turned to see Seeker holding up one of the severed halves of the centipedes. He gripped the insect by a large stone seemingly glued to its head as he stared into the things eyes. Seeker tossed the thing away, then turned to look at Bosco as he continued. Ambush predators common in the Deep Tunnels. They burrow holes into the ceilings of tunnels, covering the hole with the rock they attach to their head, and wait for something to pass by. The man turned to stare at the stiffened adventurers and spoke again. Mildly venomous, but not deadly. Their venom is designed to restrain, not kill. Theyll be fine in a few hours. The creatures are basically worthless, and even the venom isnt worth the effort to collect beyond its use in a few esoteric potions and pills. Though theyre good eating, Ive heard. Bosco bristled and strode up to the much smaller man, and shoved a large finger into his chest as he yelled. And how did they get right on top of us before anyone noticed?! Seeker stared up at the irate man with a blank face before slowly pushing his finger away. No one noticed them because their spiritual presence can mimic minor spirit stones, like those you find in tunnels just like this. Not worth digging out for most people, but enough to entice smaller prey to get within striking distance. Bosco frowned. Then why didnt you warn us about them?! Nearly a quarter of our number are down or dead. What do you have to say for yourself, Seeker?! It was Seekers turn to look frustrated, and the smaller man poked Bosco back as he spoke. If you were paying attention to what I said, Bosco, youd have realized I said they were common in the Deep Tunnels. Were barely past the surface, if at all. Theyre not supposed to be here. The energy levels cant support them here for long. Bosco smirked and folded his arms. So you said, yet here they are, blocking our way. Seeker frowned and looked back down the tunnel. When he spoke, it was half to himself. Yes that is strange. Why would they be so high up? Hmmmm. Ma-maybe s-something chased t-them up here?! a voice from the crowd stuttered. Bosco turned and narrowed his eyes at the speaker. He recognized Bill from previous missions. A jokester who could take nothing seriously. How hed survived as long as he had in Icefingers gang, Bosco would never understand. The man stood shaking, his hands gripped tightly around the hilt of his spear, his upper body covered in centipede slime and blood as his eyes nervously darted from shadow to shadow. Bosco was about to tell the idiot to shut up, but Seeker spoke up first. Possible. This nest is new. Not enough bones or waste for it to be anything but recently established. But theres another possibility as well. Bosco turned and raised an eyebrow. Oh? Seeker smiled from ear to ear, Given what we know so far we may have found a new entrance into the Deep Tunnels. The gathered crowd went still. The Deep Tunnels. A place of legend, said to be bursting with treasure of all kinds and just as many dangers. There were hundreds of known entrances scattered through the Crimson Mountains surrounding Halirosa, but every single one was heavily controlled by one power or another. Heavily taxed, too. Adventurers had to pay heavy fees just to step foot into the Deep Tunnels, and tunnels closest to those entrances had been picked clean centuries ago. If this really was a new entrance one that hadnt yet been claimed or even touched Bosco turned his gaze back toward the centipedes, practically drooling. After a long moment, he broke his gaze away and yelled to the crowd. Set up camp! Well wait for the poisoned to recover, then head deeper in the morning! The adventures did as they were told and began setting up camp along the wide tunnel. Not many would complain about a few hours of rest. Bill walked toward Hugo and Claude, who were rolling out their sleeping mats. He desperately tried to remove more of the slime. It was foul-smelling, sticky and made his skin itch. He was just glad he hadnt gotten bitten, the centipedes fangs having been blocked by his chest piece. It didnt make seeing the inside of the giant insects throat any more pleasant, at least. He finally cleared off as much as he reasonably could, then pulled his own sleeping mat out of his storage ring and unfolded it. As he did, he muttered to the other two men close by. Remind me to never go cave delving again Hugo only sighed and shook his head, while Claude nodded sagely. B2: GRIM Adventures - 7 //End of Audio Video Log// Grim sighed to herself. That was the last bit of recording she had. It took a few moments, but shed finally gathered the courage to wander back up the mountain, helped in no minor part by the hungry stare Little Red was giving her, this was the scene shed come across. A burning house with wiggling walls. A giant tree that had appeared from nowhere, Mr. Gopher, sitting on the top of said tree, wreathed in fire, And Icy Lady kicking the top half of the not-so-nice-little-old-lady. Grim felt she didnt want to know where her bottom half had gone. What exactly did I miss?! She wondered to herself. Good thing she could ask questions now. While she watched the recordings of the previous events, Grim had been reviewing the lexicon that the Boss gave her when they last spoke (he was so nice!). Now she was feeling confident enough to finally put it to use! Grim had sooooooo many questions. Like why was Icy Lady so cold? How did Tree Guy do the magic trick with the vines?? Why did they keep sticking dead things inside her cargo? Or why was Mr. Gopher on fire?! That last one seemed particularly important. Not that the gopher seemed to mind much Grim practically vibrated with excitement as she rose into the air once more. The fires were dying, and Icy Lady looked like shed calmed down. Now was as good a time as any to fly over and ask ALL the questions. Before Grim could fly very far, Icy Lady turned toward Tree Guy. A large ball of snow formed in her hand from nothingness, and she tossed it at the young man. As large as his head, the snowball struck Tree Guy with enough force that the young man lost his grip on the massive black tree. Icy Lady walked over and called out. Hey, treehugger, are you done? You could have helped me with the Mimic, you know Treehugger (Grim liked Tree Guy better) wiped the snow off his face and tilted his head. Mimic? What Mimic? What are you talking about, Jill? Icy Lady, whose name Grim had just learned was Jill and who was looking a bit more crispy than Grim remembered, sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. She then pointed behind her toward the still-twitching remains of the old lady. That one, Jack. Jack (which Grim found a far better name than Treehugger), turned to look in the direction she was pointing. His eyes went wide, and he jumped to his feet and pointed at the old lady as well. Holy Sisters above Jill! What did you do to that old lady?! Jill hit Jack with another snowball. Grim wondered why. After all, that was a good question. Jill sighed again and spoke to Jack while the latter sputtered under a small pile of snow. Thats not an old lady, you idiot. Thats a Mimic. An Elder Mimic, if the size of its body says anything. She pointed toward the burning remains of the cottage, some of its walls writhing in the flames in a way Grim was almost positive walls shouldnt do. Jack turned and stared back at the cottage, his brow furrowing. He then turned back and looked at the old lady. Then, back at the cottage. Then, back at the old lady. Finally, he turned to Jill and asked, Wait, so the cottage was a Mimic? Then what about the old lady? Im confused. Jill walked over toward the upper half of the old lady and kicked the body over. The body looked withered and dry, as if it had been out in the sun for weeks. She shook her head, then turned back to Jack. They both were. Or rather, they were the same Mimic. Elder Mimcs can create artificial bodies to help them lure in prey. How did we not notice anything before, though? Mimics are dangerous, sure, but theyre easy to spot once they know what youre looking for, Jack said, still unsure. Jill shrugged and answered. Elder Mimics are a different breed. All Mimics have some level of psionic ability. Its part of what makes them so effective. They can lure you in through various means. Greed, hunger, fear; they mess with your mind and make you lower your guard. Like a turtle using its tongue to lure in fish. Thats why one of the first rules they teach you in Halirosa is not to let your greed overcome your common sense. Many people have lost their lives rushing toward a random chest, overcome with greed to question why there would be an intact chest or a table full of spirit herbs in the middle of a decaying ruin. Jack nodded sagely, Except the turtle was a cottage, and the tongue was a nice old lady who messed with our heads Jill nodded as well. Right. Elder Mimics take that idea and crank it all the way up. Treasure chests become dragon hoards. Tables of spirit herbs become mystic glades filled with treasures. Abandoned shacks become cozy mountainside cottages. Coupled with their stronger psionic abilities, Elder Mimics become far more effective hunters than their younger kin. Jack brushed the last of the snow off his robes and asked, Good to know So, is it dead? It looks like you did a number on her it? Jill shook her head. Im not sure. The explosion destroyed its prime body. This puppet, its lure, was already dying by the time it rounded the corner. In such a weakened state, I managed to kill it while you were busy with your tree This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Jack blushed and looked away, while Jill continued, But Elder Mimics are tricky beings by their nature. Its part of how they survived long enough to become elders in the first place. From what Ive read, they should have natural abilities similar to a later stage [Earthly Transcendent], meaning they can revive if their core isnt destroyed. Should we look for the core, then? Jack asked, turned toward the burning, writhing wreckage. Jill paused for a moment, then shook her head again. No. Theres no telling what that explosion will attract, and Id rather be as far away from this place as possible. We can always report what we found later to the guild. Its not like the Elder Mimic will revive anytime soon, she said. Jack turned to look at the massive black tree growing out of the Mimics remains. Eh, I dont think its the explosion that you must worry about attracting something He responded. Jill followed his gaze and narrowed her eyes. What is that thing? Ive never heard of a tree like this. The sheer amount of fire energy its giving off is insane, she asked. Jack shrugged and responded. I hadnt a clue when it was small, nor do I know now. Even pulling off the few branches I did took up most of my mana. Whatever this thing is, its powerful. I was serious about what I said before, Jill. If we could have taken this thing back when it was small theres a good chance it would be just as valuable, if not more, than the [Pure Waters]. Jill sighed. Well, that figured. There was no taking it along with them now, of course. Maybe the samples Jack collected would be worth something. At the very least, they could sell the location of the tree and the Elder Mimic and make a decent profit. Well, no point in crying over burned nuts. What do you think the Mimic wa Jack why is the gopher on fire? Jill asked in a monotone voice. Jack turned and stared up at the burning gopher, still munching on what remained of the bright red fruit. He turned back to Jill and shrugged. Iunno. He doesnt seem to mind, though, so I kinda just ignored it. Jill froze and gave her brother a long, hard look. The man in question just tilted his head in confusion. His sister sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. Jack You cant just let your pets eat random fruits from mysterious, unknown trees. It could be dangerous. Or valuable! she yelled. Jack waved her off, scoffing, Hell be fiiiine. Besides, wed be Mimic food if it wasnt for him. I thought he deserved a treat. Jill frowned and responded. Jack Hes on fire. Jack looked up into the treetop and scratched his chin. Well I mean sure but he doesnt seem to mind. Besides, I dont think its really fire. It looks more like an aura flare. Jill narrowed her eyes and turned her gaze back to the gopher, really looking at it this time. To her surprise, Jill found her brother was right. The gopher didnt seem harmed by the flames at all. In fact, the more it bathed in the fire, the more its fur seemed to become silkier, and it took on a deeper crimson-brown color. An aura flare was a phenomenon that occurred when [Earthly Transcendent] cultivators underwent intense internal cultivation, such as during closed cultivation. It was a lesser version of the Worldy Manifestation that happened when a [Firmament Breaker] cultivated. At its simplest, it was the cultivators spirit energy acting on the world around them, manifesting in various ways. But thats why it didnt make any sense. That would mean a root gopher, one of the weakest spirit beasts, barely more than a base animal, was breaking through to [Earthly Transcendent]. Sure, she knew the creature was strong for its species, maybe even a rare variant, with a powerful talent for earth manipulation, but that was insane. That was another thing that confused her. The gophers aura flare showed a strong affinity toward fire when Jill knew for a fact it was highly earth-aligned. Shed never once seen it use any other affinity, in fact. Her eyes narrowed, and she stared at what little remained of the fruit in the gophers paws. Had it been the fruit that caused this? But what kind of spirit fruit could cause such a drastic change? Or had it only been the catalyst? Had it already had this potential inside, waiting for the right trigger? Either possibility sparked more questions than they answered. Jill bit her lip and scanned the treetops, half hoping to spot another round, red fruit among the golden leaves. Such a strong fire affinity maybe just maybe, it would be enough to melt the chilling energy coursing through her veins There was none she could see from her position, however. Internally, she sighed. Maybe that was for the best. Her spirit root was mostly water and wind-aligned. Earth had a far better synergy with fire than either of those did. It would likely damage her foundation, even if it was enough to solve her problem. She would stick to the [Pure Waters]. Turning away from the tree, lest she be tempted, Jill looked at her brother and softly whispered. Hey Jack. That gopher do you think he might be a P . So Mr. Gopher is going to be fine?! Thats good to hear! I was really worried there for a moment. My data archives say most biologicals dont do well when lit on fire. That was repeatedly emphasized for some reason. Grim cut Jill off. Both Jack and Jills heads snapped toward the floating delivery drone, their eyes wide. Grim spun her optical sensor in the way shed often seen the Boss do so and asked. What? Do I still have meaty bits on me? I promise, that was Mr. Gophers idea! I dont have a thing for vore! Grim waved her arms and spun around in the air, trying to see if shed missed any. The next moment, she eeked in surprise as both Jack and Jill pointed at her and yelled in unison. YOU CAN TALK!? What remained of Morgana felt lesser. Diminished. The power and intelligence of a Mimic was directly proportional to their mass. And Morgana hadnt been this weak in centuries. Not since that bastard Yeom Ki had hunted her down for the first time. It had been a long road to recovery, but she had bounced back. She always did. Elder Mimics werent born; they were made. Mimics didnt become powerful enough to be called an Elder variant without being sly and resourceful. So, losing most of their body wasnt too great a setback. No, what truly pained her wasnt her body. It was the loss of her tree! Her beautiful tree! She had spent decades carefully cultivating the tree, growing and caring for it. Morgana had known it was something special from the moment shed found it in the mountains all those years ago. Shed even taken the pain to lure experts in the fields of botany and herblore to learn more about it and better care for it. Shed even let some of them live! Now, all that hard work, all that toil and pain, wasted on some overgrown rat! Just the thought of it as she watched the group from her hiding spot nearly boiled her blood. Or what counted for blood in a Mimics body, at least. She would have wanted nothing more than to pounce on them and tear their pathetic bodies to shreds. No games. None of her usual flair and traps. Just raw, bloody slaughter. But as she was now, that wasnt a possibility. She was too weakened. If she showed herself now, all that awaited was true death. So she would wait. She had already marked the puppet; a small piece of her flesh melded with its metal shell. Through that, she could find them when the time came. Yes, she would wait. She would grow stronger. And when they least expected her, these fools would learn what had rung true for countless centuries. No one escapes Morgana in the Mountain. B2 - Lesson 10: "Mourn the fallen, but march ever forward." Weeeeeeeeeeeeee! Alpha yelled as Alphantonso IV fell out of the colony entrance and into the open air above the giant forest. The antborg tumbled head-over-heel for several dozen meters before it could latch onto the rocky surface and arrest its momentum. It clung to the wall for a moment, still as a stone, as Alpha mentally patted the creature. Controlling a borged insect wasnt like controlling a drone. It was more akin to the primitive experiments on insects on Old Earth. The trick was convincing the insect that the orders it was receiving were its own. These super-sized ants, and thus Alphantonso, were far more complex than typical insects. So much so that what he was doing bordered on the Federations ban against borging non-consenting higher-lifeforms. You could augment a beetle, but you couldnt augment, say, a pet dog outside of medical reasons. On paper, these laws were there to prevent unnecessary cruelty and unregulated experimentation. In practice, they were used to control the creation of borged bioweapons and other monstrosities. Not that such things didnt happen, of course; a large portion of the Federations military budget went to tracking down and eliminating rouge bioweapons. The ants were technically insects and so fell outside the stipulations of the laws. Yet Alpha couldnt deny that they were more than just insects. Hurrah for loopholes! With that in mind, controlling a borged creature like Alphantonso was tricky. Alpha hadnt totally erased the antborgs instincts. That let it better blend in with the colony. That meant getting it to go where he wanted and do what he wanted was a careful balance of sending it fake pheromone signals and the right muscle controls while ignoring the real signals it wanted to follow. Alpha was still learning that part. Alpha could take direct control, as the sub-brains regulating movement had been replaced, but doing so would put a lot of stress on Alphantonso and could be like wrangling an unruly horse. That fumbling at the controls, as it were, is what led to Alphantonsos tumble down the exit tunnel and surprise aerodynamics test. Alpha was glad hed been able to latch onto the wall in time. While he was almost certain that the antborgs improved exoskeleton could survive such a fall, Alphantonso V and the next batch of antborgs werent quite ready enough for him to test that theory. The next generation of antborgs had seen vast improvements thanks to the data gathered through Alphantonso IV, but they were taking longer to bake as well. If they turned out how Alpha hoped, he could start the next phase of [Operation: Ant King]. That was a surprise for future Alpha, though. Present Alpha had a forest to explore! Once Alphantonsos stress-induced octopamine levels receded back to normal, Alpha directed the antborg down the wall and through the ants clearing. It had expanded slightly since the bear-sloth war, though not by much. The clearing seemed to be more of a buffer zone for the ants rather than just the result of their collecting materials. They still did, of course, but the vast majority of the ants patrols favored delving deeper into the forest. Alpha let Alphantonso follow the pheromone trail left by one such patrol in the hopes of finding something interesting. Alpha was still decoding the ants pheromone signals. It was turning out to be far more complex than hed originally suspected. It wasnt at the level of a true language. Such a thing was squarely in the realm of sapience. Yet it was still comparable to the words used by higher-order mammals such as cetaceans or primates. The information conveyed wasnt just in the concentration of pheromones, but in other inclusions as well. Threads of silk, globs of wax, and even droplets of venom could all be laid out periodically along the pheromone trail and provide new information or change the meaning altogether. The quantities used and how they were used together could even influence the final message, leading to a surprisingly complex web of interconnected words and information packets. When Alpha wasnt directly controlling Alphantonso, a monitoring AI was recording the antborgs action and influencing it to come in contact with as many such combinations as possible. So far, this had been limited to the colony. Alphantonso was still young by ant standards, and only the older ants ventured out to scavenge. That made locating an acceptable trail difficult, but Alphantonso soon located a trail Alpha was fairly certain was that of a patrolling soldier. One fairly fresh, too. Good. Alpha had little chance to study the soldiers. Other than those in the royal chambers, most of the soldiers did little else than rest in dedicated chambers while workers brought them food. Occasionally, one would stand and start patrolling the tunnels or head for the exit to scout the forest, but that was about it. Following a soldiers patrol route would mean less of a threat to Alphantonso, who was still much smaller than some of the other workers, as well. Anything capable of actually causing damage will have likely been scared off. There was no guarantee, of course, but it was a better option than randomly wandering, at least. Several hours later and Alpha had come across little of real interest. Mostly, the soldier wandered around the area, marking down certain locations. The soldiers acted as not just defenders but scouts as well, with workers following to collect whatever they had found. Already, Alpha had stumbled on a few groups of workers collecting something or another. Sometimes, it was the body of a large, unidentifiable creature. Sometimes, it was a field of small plants, the ants gently digging out the roots and laying them aside. Most of it wasnt useful to Alpha, though he noted several plants hed seen being grown in the colony. That at least answered where the plants had come from. Yet, it begged the question of how the ants knew what plants they could grow or how. Or why? As far as Alpha could see, the only things the ants ate were the mushrooms and the golden liquid, supplemented by a bit of protein now and again. He hadnt even seen the ants harvest any of the other plants other than to move them about or cull those that were wilting. Yet they continued to maintain little gardens every few chambers. Alpha doubted they were just for fun. Even so, until he could get some equipment running, that mystery would have to remain just that. The only genuine discovery, if he could call them that, was a large river to the northeast of the clearing, Wider than three TAWPs, the river cut the cavern into two parts: the large forest that took up most of the cavern and a barren, craggy land. The craggy land comprised 1/8th of the caverns floor space, encompassing the entire northeastern corner separated by the river. Despite its size, it wasnt something easily seen from a distance, being hidden by the giant trees and the dim light. Up close, the barren land looked closer to what one might have expected from a cavern and was filled with stalagmites of various shapes and sizes. The only growth visible were the rare, small patches of glowing flowers dotted around the area and what appeared to be mundane moss spotting a few stalagmites here and there. Standing on the banks of the river, Alpha could see neither its source nor where it emptied into, as the various bends and turns hid them from view. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Alpha marked the location on his growing map for later exploration. It would be far easier to search bare rock for mineral deposits than in the forest and safer than along the cavern walls. Alpha followed the soldiers trail further north and upstream from the ant colony until he came across the second discovery of the trip. Near one bend in the river, Alpha saw what could only be described as a mud cave. A huge mound of soil and stone had been dredged up from the river, forming both a small lake at the bend and a hill of mud. Said hill had then been shaped and hollowed out into a clay cave. Huh a cave within a cave neat, said Alpha to Alpha. It was obvious that the formation wasnt natural, nor was the creature that had made it small by any measure. While the cave entrance wouldnt have fit the TAWP, it was more than large enough to accommodate one of the soldier ants. Like the ant currently lying just outside the entrance of said cave, its abdomen cracked open like a crab and its head missing. Well, thats not good Alpha muttered out loud. Hed seen how much force it had taken to kill these soldier ants during the fight with the bear-sloths. Their exoskeletons werent quite as hard as steel, but their flexibility made them hard to damage through brute force. Alpha didnt doubt they could easily block small arms fire and maybe even tank higher caliber rounds if they were hit in the right place. Yet, something had cracked one of them open like a nut to get at the juicy bits, and given the lack of blood or signs of a struggle, it had done some with far more ease than the bear-sloths had. Granted, he didnt know if the nut cracking had come before or after the ant had lost its head, but it was still worrying. It wasnt likely that the ant was killed elsewhere and brought to the den at a later time, as the soldiers pheromone trail led straight to this stop, but that was all he could tell. Part of him wanted to get closer, maybe study the soldier more or get a better look at the mud den, but Alpha decided against it. Whatever this thing was, it was powerful. Alphantonso might be stronger than a normal worker, but its exoskeleton wasnt quite on par with a soldier (yet). Like the barren land across the river, he would have to explore this place later, either with a more expendable [Wasp] or after hed improved Alphantonso further. Alpha turned the antborg away and began making his way back toward the ant colony. Suddenly, the sound of falling water drowned out the gentle rush of the river, and a deep shadow fell over Alphantonso. The antborg froze, and Alpha sighed. Its right behind me. Isnt it? Alpha didnt even have time to turn Alphantonso around before something large and heavy stepped on the poor creature, crushing and grinding it into the riverbank. ALPHANTSONSO IV! NOOOOOOOOO! Alpha cried, heartbroken. Whatever had crushed the antborg lifted its massive leg and shook the gooey mess off. Luckily for Alpha, the ground was soft, and the antborgs implants, including its eyes, were made of tougher stuff. So Alpha got a good look at the creature through the damaged implants as it walked away, not even bothering with the tiny ants remains. It was a large, brown fish? Or at least a fishlike creature. Like if someone took a mudfish, mixed it with a shark, blew it up to half the height of the TAWP. Then, to top it off, gave it a pair of draconic legs. The giant mud shark-fish thing waddled toward the den with lumbering steps. Before entering, it turned and roared into the nearby forest, a high-pitched yet echoing thing that shook the nearest trees and sent the hidden creatures nearby running. It then bit into the carcass of the soldier ant and pulled it deeper into the den until both vanished in shadows. Well, now thats different, Alpha muttered. Their power source irrevocably damaged, Alphantonso IVs (may they always be remembered) implants slowly shut off one by one as Alpha directed what little charge remained to the eye cameras as he tried to collect as much data about the area as possible. Fishy boy may not have known it, but it had made an enemy today, and Alphantonso IV would be avenged. As the last bit of power drained from the implants, a curious thing happened, however. The implants moved. Or, to be more accurate, they were picked up. The camera was swung around, and the last image Alpha recorded before the implants died was the face of a dark-skinned humanoid creature, wearing a moss-covered fur cloak, staring curiously into the antborgs former eyes. Alpha swore as the video feed finally cut out. Hed marked the location on the map, but losing the implants would hurt. Part of what made the antborgs so difficult to produce wasnt just the time they took to incubate, but some of the rarer materials that would take a while to replace. He had planned to send a few [Wasps] to recover what he could, but now that plan was down the drain. Alpha assumed it had been one of the goblin-like creatures hed witnessed before, but with no way of knowing where it had gone, recovery was almost impossible. He made a note to add trackers to the next batch of antborgs in case something similar happened in the future. Alpha sighed and blipped his consciousness back to the [Wasp] hed left in the medical wing. It had always been a risk to let Alphantonso IV out of the colony, but given how the ants seemed unconcerned with the dangers of the forest, hed let his guard down. The mudfish-shark thing had proven there were still creatures in the forest dangerous enough to be a problem. For now, Alpha turned his attention to the five large glass cylinders before him. In four of the incubation chambers, an Alphantonso IV-2 model antborg slowly grew. They were still in the early phases and wouldnt be ready for pupation for another day or so. As for the fifth incubation chamber Instead of a large ant larva, a squirming ball of black nanomatter floated inside. Alpha mentally smiled to himself. If this worked out how he wanted it to, then Alphantonso V would be something special indeed. The goblin, formerly known as Pitdigger, now known as Antchaser, stared at the strange metallic vines hed plucked through the crushed remains of the small Demon Ant. Hed seen nothing like it before, even during those few trips to the surface world. It vaguely reminded him of a plant with bundles of berries all along its length. But he was pretty sure the Demon Ants werent part plant. Nor did plants grow from their eyes. The eyes were another oddity. Hed seen Demon Ant eyes before. They could be used for a few things if you were brave enough to risk attracting the ire of the colony. While they werent soft, per se, they werent like this. These eyes almost felt like glass or some kind of metal, like the rest of the strange vine. The oddity of the situation almost made him forget what hed come there for. Antchaser nervously glanced toward the Mud Drakes den. The village had known about the creature since theyd arrived in this cavern. It was hard to miss, being the apex predator of the forest that not even the ants were willing to agitate. He stared for a long moment, then certain the creature wouldnt exit for a while still, he turned and gave a long, wobbling whistle, similar to the local birds. Far down the river, dozens of goblins rushed out of the forest toward the riverbank. Some carried large clay jugs, others nets, and others still woven baskets. The goblins got to work resetting fish traps or collecting water, plants, and other forageables. The river was the only major source of clean, running water for the entire cavern. Sure, there were some smaller ponds or creeks, but none that could support a village their size. Unfortunately, it was also the territory of the Mud Drake, making it unsafe to approach most of the time. The only safe time was when the drake was resting in its den. Thus, his current duty as a lookout. It was dangerous work, as the drake was temperamental. It would attack anything near its den without hesitation. As the small ant had found out. Lucky for the goblins, it wouldnt wander too far away from the river, even if agitated. That meant as long as you knew where the drake was, you could stay safe. Ironically, that meant the safest place was near its den while it was inside. It helped that the Dragon Pool, even one built by a lesser drake, cleaned and purified the water. Antchacer kept his eyes locked on the Mud Drakes den for any signs of movement. At his warning, the goblins would all rush back to the safety of the treeline to avoid the drakes wrath. Even so, part of his mind couldnt help but wander back to the strange metallic vine lying in the grass beside him. What could it mean? B2 - Lesson 11: "Mind over Body" Thats it! You can do it! Just a little more! Alpha encouraged the small, bobcat-sized black ant in the middle of the room. The ant pushed itself up on shaking legs. Its thin legs wobbled and bent in ways an ant leg shouldnt, and as it took a step forward, it collapsed back to the ground. Alpha sighed. Well, its progress, at least, he said. He then deactivated the ants neuralink. The small black ant melted into a black blob of quivering nanomass. A pair of manipulator arms built into rails in the ceiling, then picked up Alphantonso V and placed them back into their resting chamber. Two weeks after starting the project, the base was coming along well. A dozen rooms with reinforced, soundproofed walls filled the space behind the royal chambers. Though most were being used for storage right now. The main chamber was currently acting as an assembly plant for various pieces of equipment that would, in time, take up much of the base floor space. Several rooms even stored servers for the AIs that Alpha had whipped up to run the research equipment and monitor the antborgs. After what happened with the transport drone, Alpha was still hesitant to rely on more complex AIs, but the current simple models had remained stable. Sure, they couldnt do the more difficult analysis in any short amount of time, but he could leave that kind of thing to his own personal sub-AI. The medical wing was fully up and running, with over two dozen incubation chambers finished and ready for new eggs. Alpha had even built a basic med pod in case any antborgs became seriously injured. The antborg project itself was also making headway, though with a few hiccups here and there. So far, the IV-2 models were still Alphas most successful attempts. Based on the original Alphantonso IV, but optimized and tweaked with the lessons hed learned, Alpha now had roughly a dozen IV-2s roaming the ant colony, doing various ant things. Hed yet to get his hands on a few samples hed been wanting, but that was to be expected. The few times hed directed an antborg to collect a sample, it had been turned away by other ants at one point or another. The colony was huge, but every ant had its job. Nonetheless, the antborgs had been hard at work. The pheromone dictionary had grown even larger since Alphantonso IVs untimely demise. So much so that the onboard AI could now reliably deduce where the antborg was going and what they were doing. Most of this was logged for later analysis, with Alpha directly informed if there were any interesting new discoveries or developments. More importantly, two of the IV-2s had developed into nursery ants. This had caused a few easily corrected issues with their implants, but now Alpha had a reliable and discrete way of collecting new batches of eggs. They were easier to modify when fresh from a queen. Hed even started marking and cataloging which eggs came from which of the five queens. Mostly to see if there was any difference between them. Say if one queen lay a disproportionate number of soldiers. Or if one queens progeny were larger on average. This would be a long-term experiment, however. For now, it was a matter of building numbers. The IV-2s would remain few at the start, but if he could get Alphantonso V working properly, the possibilities were endless. That said, hed run into a slight problem. Where the IV-2s were little more than ants with cybernetic implants, the Alphantonso V iteration asked, What if it was the other way around? To that end, Alpha had attempted something never before done on an insect. Something often reserved for only the most severe and life-threatening cases in the Federation. Full Biological Augmentation. Said another way, if Alphantonso IV was an ant with cybernetic implants, then Alphantonso V was a drone with an ants brain. Or more specifically, it was a nanite drone grown alongside the central nervous system of an ant using all the biological data Alpha had gathered so far. TBAs were almost always only offered to soldiers who had been so severely wounded that not even the Federations most advanced medical technology had any hope of returning any kind of quality of life. Their central nervous system was then removed from their biological bodies and grafted into a mechanical one. This came with its issues, of course. The procedure was expensive, often leaving the patients in massive debt. Not only that, but the wide range of biology, body types, and even personal differences meant no one type of artificial body would work. This meant these bodies had to be fine-tuned and regularly calibrated to prevent issues such as neural rejection and cyberpsychosis. That had gotten Alpha thinking, however. If these issues were caused by a disconnect between the person and the artificial body, what would happen if you fixed that? By, say, growing their body around their central nervous system from birth so that they never had a real body to begin with. Of course, such a thing had never truly been done before. The ethics were questionable at best, when looking at non-sapient lifeforms, and flat-out illegal regarding sapients. Oh, Alpha was sure someone out there had tried. The allure of semi-immortality had called to biologicals since the first sapient creatures looked up at the stars. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. But if any had succeeded, the results had never been published for obvious reasons. As for insects? The only reason such a thing had yet to be attempted was because cyborg insects were simply cheaper and easier to make. Even so, Alpha had felt it was a viable direction to go. A drone ant could blend in with the colony perfectly as long as he kept the important biological bits. Not only that, but Alpha could take direct control of the ant rather than make strong suggestions as he had to with Alphantonso IV. Alpha wouldnt even have to worry about losing the ants, either. Even if its biological components were irreparably damaged, the body could be controlled and recovered, No more losing important bits to random goblins. The issue Alpha was having now was while the ant brain had accepted its artificial body well enough, it didnt really understand how to use it. Even simplifying the brains controls to just muscle movement, there were still differences between a biological body and the nanite body. Differences that the ants simple brain was struggling to overcome. It was making progress, but Alpha would have to improve on the design further. The hope was to train the ants to use their body within the first few hours. Roughly the same time it took the natural ants to harden their carapace after pupating. This would make it easier for them to blend in. The irony that Alpha had come full circle in his antborg design wasnt lost on him. Alphantonso V was closer to his first iteration than the previous one. Only now, Alpha understood more about the ants and how they operated, both physically and socially. Now that all the pieces were coming together, things were starting to look up! LOOK UP! came the warning from somewhere in the middle of the group. Several pairs of eyes shot to the ceiling of the small cavern just in time to see the large stone crab-like creature drop. It landed on an unlucky woman and pinned her to the ground, its sharp, pointed legs digging into her limbs. The woman screamed from pain and fear as the rocky crab screeched back, its jaws drooling. Its multisegmented mouth parts opened wide. Only for the creature to be punted across the cavern by a large booted foot. The crab soared over the gathered adventures and slammed into the far wall with a sickening crunch before falling into a shallow water pond. Instantly, the waters churned to life as unseen creatures fought over the remains. Bosco ground his teeth as he watched the woman be dragged away by several of the adventurers to have her wounds treated. This hadnt been the only injury since the group had made it past the Rockcaps, the giant centipedes that had caused their first casualties. And Bosco doubted it would be the last. The tunnels had branched off down several side passages shortly after the centipedes, and Bosco had sent small groups down each to scout the area. A few hours and one missing team later, Seeker and Bosco had decided it wasnt worth the risk or time to scout each branch. Instead, Seeker had recommended picking the tunnel with the highest concentration of lumoss. This would indicate the most traveled and theoretically safest route. Of course, safety was subjective, and the groups confrontations were becoming more dangerous and more frequent the deeper they went. Theyd stopped in the current cavern to rest due to the presence of the water pool. Sure, it was filled with crabs and other nasty things, but nothing the experienced adventurers couldnt handle. If they didnt get the drop on you, that was sometimes literally, as previously seen. The sudden sound of running footsteps drew the groups attention and caused several to reach for their weapons. This would not be the first time a scout would come running back while being chased by one horror or another. The footsteps grew louder until the scout rounded the corner and rushed into the cavern, panting. Many of the gathered adventurers tensed but relaxed a moment later when nothing appeared behind him. The scout stop in front of Bosco, their hands on their knees as they panted. Bosco folded his arms and stared down at the scout. Report, the large man said. The scout only held up a finger as they tried to regain their breath, making Bosco frown. Before he could say anything, however, Seeker handed the winded scout a canteen. The scout threw back the canteen and drained it in only a few gulps. He straightened and stared up at Bosco, grinning from ear to ear. Boss! You have to see this! he yelled. The man turned and started jogging down the tunnel hed just come from. Bosco raised a brow and followed, picking up his axe on the way. The gathered adventurers mumbled among themselves before a few gathered their things and chased after their boss. After a moment, the cavern was cleared of adventurers, and it once more returned to peaceful silence. The scout led the adventurers down the tunnel for almost two more kilometers, farther than he was supposed to have gone. Soon, Bosco could feel why, though. A vibrant spirit energy blew up through the tunnels from somewhere deeper inside. Energy strong enough that even Bosco, a peak [Shackle Breaking] cultivator, could feel the accumulated ache in his body ease, and his heart beat faster. A few moments later, they neared one last bend in the tunnel, and the scout stopped. He turned around and gestured on with a theatric flair. Bosco narrowed his eyes, wary of some trick or trap, but after a moment, his greed for what he could feel just beyond the bend won out. Bosco strode past the scout, closely followed by Seeker, and rounded the corner. Then, he froze, his eyes nearly bulging in his head. Bosco shot forward, traveling the final distance of the tunnel in only a few strides. He skid to a stop only a few feet away from the exit as if fearing that if he passed the threshold, what he saw before him would vanish like a dream. He took a deep breath and took that last step, exiting the tunnel and stepping into a large, dimly lit forest. Sisters above Seeker whispered breathlessly from somewhere behind him. Bosco barely registered the mans words. Or the dozen and a half adventurers who streamed from the tunnel behind him. No, his eyes were squarely locked on the sky. Or rather than a sky, he stared up at the clearly defined outline of a massive cavern ceiling, far into the distance, speckled with patches of lumoss; like stars in the night sky. Bosco laughed. A soft thing at first, but slowly, it grew louder, and soon, his deep, billowing laughter echoed through the massive cavern. B2 - Lesson 12: "Always have a way out." The boar creature grunted as it used its large, crystal-like tusks to dig into the roots of the giant tree. When it found nothing, it moved on to the next spot. Occasionally, it would pull up a thick tuber or fat grub with an excited oink. Dig, dig, eat, sleep, dig some more. It was a simple life, but the boar creature wasnt one to complain. Suddenly, its large snout caught the scent of something new in the air. Something that made its mouth water and its simple mind light up. It didnt take long for the boar to find the source of the smell, either. There, in a small clearing, sat a campfire, a fat, tasty-smelling bird spinning on a simple rotisserie. Beside the campfire squatted a small, humanoid figure with long, pointy ears, bark-like skin, and a bored look. Not that the boar knew what either a campfire or a rotisserie were. But it knew what the strange creature beside the fire was. The boar had seen the creatures several times before. They were new arrivals in this underground forest, having only appeared a few months ago. The boar had mostly ignored the creatures. Sure, barkskins would hunt some of its lesser cousins, but individually, they werent dangerous, and the boar was smart enough to know how to avoid their larger hunting parties. What drew the boars attention was the slowly roasting bird over the fire. Meat was a rare delicacy in this underground world. Not that living creatures were so hard to find, no, rather, because everything was always trying to kill everything else. Bodies never lasted long in a place where everything, even some plants, were willing and able to eat flesh. If you wanted meat, you had to hunt for it yourself. And be willing to be hunted, in turn. The boar was a lazy creature, however. It much preferred the tubers that never ran and the sweet fruits that fell free from the trees. Sure, sometimes the grubs would pinch their snout, but theyd never broken skin. Not that they would turn down the offer of fresh meat if given the chance. Only that they often found it not worth the effort. That said, it didnt get easier than this, the boar thought to itself. Not only was the bird dead, meaning it couldnt fly away (annoying!), but the only creature guarding it was just a single barkskin. They might have been dangerous in groups, but the boar had found they were cowards when alone. The boar would just have to scare the creature away, and all the delicious bird meat would be theirs! It was the perfect plan! The boar silently moved around the perimeter of the clearing to find the best possible angle. Once there, they gave a loud, low-pitched squeal and charged out from the forest cover. To the boars surprise, however, the barkskin didnt run; it just sat there, turning the bird over the fire and watching. This confused the boar. It wasnt used to things not running when it charged them. Even some of the larger predators would think twice when they saw its beautiful crystal tusks, longer than a humans arm, heading their way. The boar quickly got over its confusion, however. So what if it didnt run? It was just one barkskin. If it didnt want to run, it would simply trample over the tiny creature, and then the boar would have two bodies to eat! All the better! Its choice made, the boar lowered its head further and aimed the point of its tusks at the small creature. It drew closer with each breath and, in only a few strides, had almost cleared the open space between them. Then, suddenly, the ground beneath the boars feet fell away. The boar squealed again, this time in shock and fear as it plunged down into the deep hole. The last thing it saw before the sharpened wooden spikes at the bottom of the pit impaled its small brain was the sight of the barkskin grinning from ear to ear. Antchaser laughed as he watched the large Crystal-Tusk Boar plunge into the pit. Some of the other creatures would have been more wary, but Antchaser had learned the boars were opportunistic as a whole. They could be sly and sneaky but show any kind of weakness, and they wouldnt hesitate or doubt. Theyd been the best test subjects for his traps for years, and hed been slightly miffed his first name hadnt been Boarslayer or something similar, instead of Pitdigger. The actual Boarslayer was a brutish goblin who would constantly charge at their prey with little more than a spear and shield. No proper plan, strategy, or even skill. Just a mindless, forward charge, much like their namesake. Ok, granted, it worked most of the time, but that was only because Boarslayer was twice as big as most of the other goblins and owned one of the few marginally complete sets of armor in the village. Antchaser scowled to himself and walked toward the edge of the large pit. He leaned over and stared at his latest catch, whistling to himself. Quite a big one, arent you? I wonder how youve stayed away from the other teams? The goblin asked the bleeding, twitching body of the large boar impaled in his pit. Hmmmm I might need to call a few others over for this one Antchaser muttered. The boar was as big as the carts hed seen some humans use on the surface. Far bigger than he could drag back to the village by himself. At least not without attracting the attention of something else. He could cut off the choicest parts for himself and carry what he could, but that would mean leaving the rest for the scavengers, which seemed like a waste. Sure, hed have to share with whoever he brought to help, but the loss would be negligible to leaving most of this behemoth behind. Antchaser stood, then wrapped the thick Ironfur cloak hed been kneeling on around his shoulders. He then reset the trap, hiding the body from other predators who might be attracted while he was gone. The goblin pulled a drumstick from the roast over the fire before burying the rest in the fires ashes. The birds werent terrible, but they were oily and better suited as bait for his traps than a proper meal. He absentmindedly gnawed on the drumstick as he carefully made his way past the rest of his marked traps in the clearing and headed home to the village. The shouting was the first thing that told Antchaser something was wrong. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. The goblins of the village could be rowdy sometimes, sure. Deep Goblins might have been more civilized than their surface cousins, but they were still goblins. That said, they often limited their wild fights to holidays and celebrations. A Deep Goblin village on a normal day could be just as peaceful and safe as any human hamlet. The second thing was the smoke. The thick, choking smoke that only got thicker the closer he got to the village made Antchasers heart race. As soon as it clicked, Antchaser rushed through the forest toward the village. He stopped at the border of the clearing in which sat his village, his eyes wide. The village was on fire! Well, part of it, at least. The front gate to the sturdy wooden wall theyd finally raised was blown off its hinges, and much of that side was a ruined, burning wreck. What had happened?! Had some kind of beast attacked? Or maybe a larger tribe had found them? Competition for prime caverns was fierce, and this wouldnt have been the first time their small village had been pushed out. Then Antchaser noticed them. A group of figures poked through the walls rubble and moved the still-burning logs away from the rest of the wall to prevent the fires from spreading. Most of them were goblins, some Antchacer recognized. They looked beaten and bloody, reminding Antchaser of how theyd been when theyd first arrived in this cavern. But a few others stood to the side, laughing and pointing at the struggling goblins. Adventurers Antchaser growled to himself. Why did it have to be adventurers?! The Deep People of the Crimson Mountains, as a whole, not just the goblins, had a strange relationship with the Adventurers of Halirosa. For the most part, it was cordial enough. Many tribes would trade for surface items or equipment, and some larger tribes even had their own adventurers of a sort, with outposts in the city. But other tribes treated the adventurers as invaders, delving into their homes and stripping entire caverns of anything of value. Grand wars had been fought over the millennia for control of the Deep Tunnels and their riches. More recently, things had calmed down, with both sides more willing to approach the table for discussion rather than waste time and warriors on wars. But every so often, youd still hear rumors of one ancestral cavern or another beset by treasure-seeking adventurers. And now theyd come to his new home. Were they cursed to always find some kind of trouble?! Why did the heavens hate them so? Antchaser ground his teeth in frustration as he sneaked around the village clearing. No doubt there would be more adventurers patrolling around the area, so he had to be careful. What he knew of adventurers told him he should run. He should get as far away as possible but he couldnt. This was his home. His family. He had to do something. Even if it was just confirming how bad the damage was. The sneaking into the village part had been easy. They might have been adventurers, but goblins always had more than one entrance to their village, and many of them were hidden. One never knew when you had to make a hasty retreat in the dead of night. But doing anything useful was proving more difficult. The adventurers numbered two dozen and were spread out through the village, ransacking the various huts for whatever they could find. Antchasers small village, in contrast, numbered roughly 200 individuals, with only a quarter of those being hunters or guards of some kind, meaning only 50 goblins had any real combat power. Outnumbering the adventurers two-to-one should have been an advantage... if most of the adventurers werent human or tall awakened beasts, almost twice the goblins size. Coupled with the adventurers better gear, higher cultivation, and that 10-15 goblins were always out hunting at a time, Antchaser doubted the defense had lasted more than a few moments. The half a dozen goblin bodies, most of them warriors, scattered around the village center attested to Antchasers assessment. He hid under the supports of a nearby hut, concealed by the deep shadows, and observed the scene. Most of the village had been gathered around the village center, women and children huddled close together while the bloody and beaten men circled them as best as they could. Most of the adventurers, those not watching the goblins at the gate or searching the houses, circle the group in turn, sneering and laughing. The largest of them, a giant of a man who towered over even his fellows, spoke to one of the cowering elders, the old mans face bleeding. The elder looked up at the giant man and pleaded, Please, sir! Weve told you all we know! Weve only come to this cavern a few months ago! Not even our best hunters have explored it fully! The giant man nodded sagely then kicked the elder in the gut. It was likely a light blow by the mans standard, barely more force than it took to take a step with his massive legs. For the much smaller elder, whose crouched form barely reached a more standard humans waist, it was enough to drive all the breath from his lungs and send him into the air. The crowd of goblins gasped while the adventurers laughed as the elder tumbled through the air, then rolled to the edge of gathered goblins. Several men rushed to their elders side and tried to assist the shaking old man. Anchasers blood boiled as he noticed the elder cough up a mouth full of blood. The giant adventurer spread his arms out and bellowed into the crowd. Do you take me for a fool?! Such a rich trove of treasures, and you really expect me to believe you know so little of it? Now, Im a patient man by principle Several of the adventurers giggled, earning them glares that quickly shut them up before the giant continued. Yet even my patience grows thin. So heres whats going to happen. Im going to ask questions. Someone is going to answer them. If no one does, then bones will start breaking! Am I clear!? In his hiding spot, Antchaser clenched his teeth to the point he could taste blood. These bastards he was going to going to going to what? Charge out there with his weapon drawn? Antchaser doubted hed even make it to the giant before he ended up as just another body lying around the village center. Even if he made it to the giant, Antchaser was barely in [Silver Spirit]. The peak [Shackle Breaking] adventurer could squash him with a single hand. Maybe he could sneak away. Seek help from one of the larger tribes or even file a complaint with Halirosa if he could learn who these people were. Sure, that meant exposing their new home to others. But it was better to share with a known force than whatever... these people had planned. Though both options assumed he could reach either by himself and not die on the way. No that would take too much time. Even if the Halirosa authorities bothered to do anything, it would be too late. Maybe he could gather the hunters who were still out of the village. They would be outnumbered, but they knew the area far better. They could . Antchasers train of thought was cut off as something grabbed his ankle and pulled him out from under his hiding spot, the goblins flailing grasp coming away with nothing but mud. Soon, he was being dangled upside down by a lanky, weaselly-looking man. Antchaser struggled but couldnt break the grinning mans grip. The giant adventurers voice boomed from the other side of the village center. What did you find, Seeker? Another hider? Aye, it looks like it, Bosco. He even brought us a present! How nice! The lanky man, Seeker, called back. The giant man, apparently named Bosco, raised a brow at that. Oh? Anything good? Seeker grinned and ripped the cloak from Antchasers neck. He rubbed his thumbs over the silky fur as he answered. Ironfur leather. Its not amazing quality, but its good enough, considering a bunch of goblins made it. It seems like they have been holding out on us! Then theres the metal! Seeker held up the cloak so Bosco could see the metal vine Antchaser had pulled out of the ants remains. Worked metal. Mundane, but the workmanship and purity are astounding. Some of it I dont even recognize. Now, tell me, little goblin, where did you get something like this? Antchaser didnt bother to respond. Instead, what he did next surprised all the adventurers present. Like a cat twisting in its skin, Antchaser rose from his awkward position and grabbed onto a hidden dagger on his leg. Before Seeker could react, Antchaser drew the dagger and slammed it into the mans wrist. Seeker yowled in pain and dropped the goblin as he clutched at his bleeding forearm. Antchaser didnt hesitate; as soon as he hit the ground, he righted himself and started running deeper into the village. He had to get out. He had to warn the other hunters. As he rounded the corner of a nearby hut, he heard Bosco bellow out in rage, AFTER HIM! B2 - Lesson 13: "Dont leave loaded weapons around small children... even ants" Alpha frowned down at Alphantonso V as it slowly made its way through the obstacle course hed set up in one of the side rooms. The ant brain was still struggling to adapt to its body, and Alpha was starting to wonder if he would have to scrap this design and return to it later. Sure, it was making slow progress, but not enough. It wouldnt do to have every antborg take weeks, or even months, to be ready for use. That would force him to either greatly slow his plans or waste resources on more IV-2s that he would eventually replace, anyway. Neither option was optimal. There was another solution Though, theres no guarantee that itll work Alpha muttered to himself. He pulled away from the [Wasp] drone that was watching the antborg and delved into his core world. Alpha pulled up the schematics for Alphantonso V and the Full Body Augmentation model hed used as the base for the design. The issue was that the ant and the augmentations didnt yet know how to talk to each other. It was the same problem that the humans from Old Earth had when they were just starting to develop their neural interface technology. The brain and the machine spoke different languages for lack of a better term, and mistakes were made, as the machine had to learn what the brain wanted. This was a slow process; even in the Federation, it could take a patient up to a month to sync with their new body. However, there was a way to speed up the process, especially in younger patients whose brains had yet to fully develop. A process called Controlled-Replicated Artificial Muscle Memory. Simply put, the CRAMM method involved another persons repeated, remote operation of the augmentation, effectively teaching the argument and the host brain what to do in tandem. It was the equivalent of two students hiring a tutor rather than studying together and trying to figure out the work independently. The problem was that this was typically only done with smaller augments, such as artificial limbs or organs. As far as Alpha knew, it had never been tried with an FBA. It would have been like being a puppet, trapped in your own body while someone else controlled what you did. On the other hand, thats exactly what the antborgs were designed for. Hmmmmm, maybe this could work Weeeeeeeeeee! Alpha cried as he lept from tree to tree while controlling Alphantonso V. A thin webbing between the antborgs legs helped him glide the short distances between the trees. Okay, so this technically wasnt natural from the ants perspective, but boy, was it fun for Alpha, at least. More importantly, the strange movements let him test the antborgs specs and make sure it was working properly. So far, everything was working well, which was good. But it also confirmed that the problem was with the ants brain. Lucky for Alpha and the antborg, their brief field trip was showing results. The idea was simple: Alpha would take control of the antborg and perform some basic actions. Then the ant would take over and repeat the action, reinforced with a shot of dopamine. The monitoring systems reported new neural connections forming with each iteration, meaning the ant was quickly catching on. Alpha had been slightly worried, if he was honest. The last time he brought an antborg into the forest, it hadnt ended well. With that in mind, he ensured Alphantonso V was a little more protected this time. An angry chittering from above told Alpha he wasnt alone. The antborg turned its head, and Alpha spied a large squirrel sitting on a branch a few meters above them. The cat-sized squirrel creature with fangs like small daggers shook a furry fist at Alphantonso V and chittered some more. Alpha, not speaking tree rat, obviously ignored the creature in favor of planning his next gliding jump. That, apparently, was a mistake, as the squirrel seemed to take offense and screeched. It then lept from its perch and dived at Alphantonso V. The top of the antborgs thorax bubbled, and something pushed itself out of the insects carapace. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Bang! The next instant, the squirrel creature exploded into a dozen tiny chunks. Well, glad to see thats working, Alpha said, mentally grinning. When considering defensive options for the antborgs, Alpha went through several iterations. The biggest issue was that messing with the antborgs profile too much would draw suspicion from the colony. Their eyesight was far better than typical ants. At the same time, the current model antborg wasnt large enough to store anything complex inside its body. Not without removing other equipment, at least. Eventually, Alpha settled on a similar solution as the TAWP. Nano-Skin. This moldable, versatile skin could be shaped into various devices and tools. The only problem was it was relatively expensive to make. To cover even a single antborg the size of a worker in nano-skin would be an enormous investment. Thankfully, he didnt have to. Instead, Alpha designated spots along the antborgs carapace that could be replaced with nano-skin. These hotspots would be more limiting than something like the TAWP, but for the cost of covering one antborg in nano-skin, he could give a dozen more antborgs hotspots instead. With how strained for resources he was at the moment, it was by far the best option. As for what they could be used for, lots of things! For instance, the new and improved [Crystal-rail!]. Alpha still didnt have the infrastructure to produce proper ammunition. Not the kind his weapons could use, at least. So, instead, hed turned to the project hed been working on in the prairies. The newly designed [Crystal-rail] had several marked improvements from the older versions, most notably in its more compact design. As Alphas array work had improved, so had the efficiency of his batteries. He had gotten them small enough that they could even fit in the antborg, neatly taking up the space the creatures hearts would have naturally been. As for the ammunition, the ant colony stockpiled the cores from the creatures they killed in a few chambers. What they used them for was hard to tell, but Alpha wouldnt say no to free loot. Occasionally, an IV-2 would sneak into one chamber and collect a few. Never enough to be noticed, but lucky for Alpha, ants didnt keep inventory records. This meant that some of the cargo space in the antborgs would be taken up by ammo, but that was an acceptable price. Alphantonso V seemed to enjoy the show, too, as the antborg clicked its mandibles at the sight of the squirrel rain in a way that Alpha translated as contentment. Unfortunately for Alpha, he forgot one important rule for Simon Says. Dont leave loaded weapons around children. Bang! Bang, bang, bang! Alphantonso V wildly fired the [Crystal-rail] in random directions. Alphantonso V no! Bad ant! Bad! Alpha yelled as he wrestled control of the weapon from the ant and quickly dissolved it back into the nano-skin. Okay, that one was on him. He had just been teaching the ant to copy his actions. Though that it had even interfaced with the nano-skin at all was a surprise. While most of the ants body had been made to be as close to its biological body as possible, the nano-skin was something wholly foreign to it. There was potential here. He just had to figure out how best to use it. Chunk! Chunk! What happened?! unknown voices called from below. Alpha mentally flinched as he was pulled from his scheming and turned his attention to the forest floor. There, at the base of a tree some distance away, stood three figures. Well, one was standing. As for the other two, they were lying on the ground. The sole standing figure, a creature Alpha could only describe as a bipedal cougar in rough leather armor, knelt beside the largest of the fallen figures. The one on the ground, a human named Chunk if Alpha was a betting man, didnt answer. Instead, the human moaned lightly and rocked back and forth, clutching their gut as a small pool of blood formed under them. The last figure lay off to the side. At first, Alpha thought it might have been a child, but on closer inspection, Alpha saw it was, in fact, one of the goblin creatures hed spotted in the forest a few times. The goblin looked like it had gotten into a fight with a boxer as the punching bag. The creature was in such a terrible shape, Alpha would have assumed it was dead if it wasnt for the goblins slow, one-handed crawl away from the other two. The goblin came down on a twig a little too hard and snapped. The cougar mans ears twitched, and his head snapped to the goblin. You! What did you do to Chunk?! they snarled, revealing a mouth full of dagger-like teeth. The cougar man drew a long mace from their belt and slowly approached the goblin. High in the treetop, Alpha considered the scene. On one hand, this wasnt any of his business. Hed already seen how sticking his nose into things could turn around and bite him in the exhaust on this planet. On the other hand, it was kind of his fault. On the other other hand, so what? If Alpha went around dealing with the consequences of his actions, there would be no time for anything else. On the other other OTHER hand, this was a unique opportunity to find out where the goblins came from and maybe find the bastard whod stolen Alphantonso IVs remains. It wasnt even about the materials at this point. It was the sentiment of the matter! Hmmmmm Alpha weighed his options as the cougar man drew closer to the goblin. The cougar man raised his mace high, fire in his eyes as the goblin fell to the ground limp, seeming to accept their fate. Ahh, Screw it BANZAI! Alpha yelled as he leaped from the tree. B2 - Lesson 14: "Keep an ear out for all the juicy gossip." Pop Quiz! What happens when a 400-lb, dog-sized cyborg ant glides into a 5''11" cougar man in leather armor at 40 miles per hour from 50 meters in the air? 10 seconds ago, Alpha''s answer would have been "a cougar-man-sized splatter mark across the nearest tree." But, as was becoming typical of this hell planet, Alpha''s expectations were shattered. Instead, the cougar man turned toward the antborg at the last possible second, crossing his wrists and blocking the literal flying tackle as a green, head-sized barrier formed between them. The cougar man''s eyes bulged in his head while two small gems embedded in their vambraces cracked. The next moment, both Alphantonso V and the cougar man were thrown away from each other. Alphantonso V twisted in the air and landed nimbly right-side up. The cougar man rolled for several meters, then somehow ended their tumble in an upright, crotched position, their blade held at the ready. The cougar man narrowed his eyes at Alphantonso V and hissed (literally hissed!) before they got a good look at the ant and perked up their ears. The cougar man sneered and stood straighter. Was it just one ant? What am I worried about? Alpha could almost hear the man thinking. The man bent his legs and lept forward with surprising speed, reminding Alpha of the pouncing animal he so closely resembled. In the blink of an eye and a single stride, the man cleared half the distance between himself and Alphantonso V. BANG! Alpha fired the newly formed [Crystal Rai] atop Alphantonso V''s back. Once more, the cougar man displayed those oddly keen reflexes and nimbly twisted their body in a way that shouldn''t have been physically possible while in the air. The result was the shot that should have struck their sternum, instead hit their shoulder. Nonetheless, the cougar man''s charge was stopped short. They spun several times in the air by the force of the blow before falling to the ground with a thud. The cougar man rolled around on the ground, clutching their bleeding shoulder. Only when Alphantonso V walked closer did the man seem to remember he was in the middle of a fight. He froze, stared up at the dog-sized ant and gave a loud hiss, their ears folding back against their head like a scared cat. "Dodge this!" Alpha said as he pointed the [Crystal Rai] at the prone man. The cougar man''s pupils dilated, and a ring on his finger flashed. The ring lit up like a flashbang, temporarily overwhelming Alphantonso V''s semi-organic eyes. Alpha fired, but the distinct sound of a bullet hitting the ground told Alpha that the man had, in fact, ''dodged that.'' It only took a second for Alphantonso V''s eyes to recover, but when they had, both the cougar man and their companion were gone. Alpha cursed to himself and dissolved the weapon on the antborg''s back. No reason to make that mistake twice. He then sent several of the accompanying [Wasps] into the area to scout. Whether the men had run or were lurking in the area, Alpha didn''t want to be surprised. That done, Alpha turned his attention to the goblin. Only to find that the goblin had somehow crawled several dozen meters away during Alpha''s brief fight with the cougar man. That couldn''t have been pleasant if the creature''s injuries were as bad as they seemed on the surface. The antborg slowly approached, and Alpha called out to the goblin, "If you keep that up, you''re not going to make it much further." The goblin paused, their head snapping to Alphantonso V as their already large eyes grew wider. Alphantonso V and the goblin locked eyes for a silent moment Until the goblin turned and started crawling away with renewed vigor. Ok. That was fair. Alpha assumed that was the rational response to a giant talking ant. Even so, he couldn''t help but feel a little offended. Bang! A bullet dug into the soft ground a few inches away from the fleeing goblin. Once more, the goblin froze, their heart racing. They might not have known what the strange weapon the ant was using was, but they had seen what it had done to the cougar man. Alpha slowly walked the antborg to the goblin''s front and pointed the [Crystal Rai] at the goblin. Alphantonso V clicked their mandibles as Alpha spoke. "Hello. You can call me Alpha. You and I are going to have a little talk." The wide-eyed goblin could only nod along. Antchaser was going to die. Well, he was going to die beforehand, too. The Adventurers who''d come after him weren''t shy about that fact. But at least against them, he had stood some chance. Now? laying in front of the thing in the guise of an ant (for there was no way this thing was an ant, no matter what its physical appearance might be), he knew this was the end. Realizing there was no escape, all the energy fled from his body. Antchaser collapsed to the ground, unable to even lift his head. Slowly, the darkness crept in from the edge of his vision, and bitterness welled up in his heart. In the end, I couldn''t even help them maybe this is a fitting end for me. A sudden, sharp pain in his thigh made Antchaser yelp, and he felt a chilly something flood his veins. The darkness receded, and his head started pounding as renewed energy swept through him. The not-ant spoke again, "Nope, no dying on me yet. I said I have questions for you." Antchacer turned to see the tip of the not-ant''s leg sticking into his thigh. With a voice still raw and bloody, Antchaser only barely croaked out. "What What kind of deal with the devil is this? Who are you? What do you want with me?" If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. The not-ant audible gasped and held a leg to its thorax. "Devil!? Why I never! I''ve been called many things: menace, madman, a danger to myself and others, but never a devil!" Great it''s insane, too. Just my luck, Antchaser thought to themselves. The creature continued in its strange dialect. "As for what I want from you, my good man, the same thing any up-and-comer wants. Information. You see, one of your people took something from me. Something important." To Antchaser''s amazement, a beam of light erupted from ''Alpha''s'' ocelli. The light then formed into a spinning image. An image of a familiar shape. The metal vine. Antchaser''s eyes went wide, and cold sweat formed on his brow. The not-ant clicked its mandibles, and Alpha spoke. "So you do recognize it. Good. That means you know where it is. Tell me. Or bring the one who took it to me. With the item in tow, of course." Antchaser dry swallowed and asked, "What what do you plan to do with them?" He tried to keep his voice as calm and steady as possible, though he was unsure how well he did. The not-ant tilted its head and answered. "If they behave? Nothing. They return the item, and we go about our ways. I can''t rightly blame someone for picking up something they found on the ground. More so when its previous owner was indisposed." Internally, Antchaser sighed in relief. Not that he had any reason to trust the strange creature''s words, of course. But he''d learned long ago that it was far better to deal with a being who was at least willing to put on a show of civility. He swallowed again. "And if they refuse?" The not-ant chuckled, a sound accompanied by the clicking of its mandibles. "Well then, we''ll have an issue. And if there''s one thing I''m good at, it''s fixing issues." Antchaser turned his head away and looked in the direction of the village. His body still ached, and he could barely move, but whatever the not-ant had done to him, it left his mind clear. Well, as clear as it could be, given the situation. So Antchaser considered his next option carefully. Whatever he said next could mean salvation for him and his people or it could invite an even greater demon into their midst. The question was, was it worth the risk? After a silent moment, Antchaser turned back to Alpha and whispered. "Yes. I know where your vine is but there''s a slight problem and you''re not going to like it." The not-ant tilted its head once more and asked, "Oh? What problem?" "Bosco! We have a problem!" Seeker said as he barged into the goblin longhouse. Bosco frowned as he lowered the chunk of ironfur roast and stood from the table two sizes too small for him. He waved away the attending goblins and made his way toward Seeker. "What is it now?" he said with a frown. "What is the point of having underlings if you have to come to me every time there''s an issue?!" Seeker crossed his arms as he spoke. "The men you sent after the runaway are back. It''s not good." Bosco''s frown deepened. He pushed past the smaller man and stepped out into the courtyard. Many of the adventures had gathered together in the square and were circling something. Bosco forced his way through the crowd, eliciting a few minor complaints before they realized who had pushed by. All it took was a glare for any more to die in their throat. When he reached the center, Bosco found an awakened beast of the cougar clan sitting on a small bench. A healer stood by the man as she worked on a vicious-looking wound on his shoulder. Bosco marched forward and lifted the cougar man by his wounded arm before either the healer or the awakened could register he was there. The man screamed, of course, but Bosco paid him little mind as he dangled the man like a child and stared at the large gaping wound. It looked like someone had taken a large spoon to the flesh and shoved a burning iron inside for good measure. Bosco then dropped the man, eliciting another cry of pain as the healer rushed to his side. A body was laid out to the side of the circle, a crude blanket covering it fully. Bosco walked over and pulled the blanket off the body. What was revealed was not the body of a goblin but one of his own men, their pale, lifeless face, cloudy eyes staring into the sky. Bosco knelt down and observed the wound in the dead man''s stomach. It was similar to the awakened''s, though far worse, likely because of the location. Whatever had hit the man had scooped out a chunk of flesh the size of a normal human''s fist, then minced their insides. The man''s death had not been quick or pleasant. Bosco''s frown deepened, and he stood, turning back to the awakened, the healer having helped them back into their seat. The cougar man bared a mouth full of fanged teeth at him and hissed softly, but Bosco''s intense glare made the man pull back, and their long ears lay flat across their head. "What is your name?" Bosco rumbled at the man. The man responded, though refused to look Bosco in the eyes, "M-my name i-is Ki''tan, sir. Though t-the boys just call me Kit, sir." Bosco folded his arms. "Well, Kit. Mind explaining to me how one goblin managed to kill one of my men and maim another?" Kit snapped his eyes to Bosco and whispered, "It It wasn''t no goblin, sir! It was a demon!" That got the crowd muttering. Bosco raised a hand to silence the gathered adventurers, then commanded, "Explain." Kit''s eyes darted as if afraid something would jump from the shadows before continuing. "Me and Chunks " he nodded toward the body, " that''s him, by the way. Well, Chunks and I went and did what you''d told us to. I''mma right fine tracker, and Chunks has been interrogating people for Icefinger for years. We''ve been partnering up ever s " Bosco glared at the man. "I said explain what happened, not give me your life story." Kit turned away but moved on. "Right, as I was sayin''. Me and Chuncks tracked down the goblin. Gave us a right run-a-about he did, too. But we caught um nonetheless. He wouldn''t talk, though, no matter how many bones we broke. We''s were about to pack him up and bring him back to Seeker, but something happened." Bosco rolled his wrist as if to say, ''Hurry up,'' but Kit''s eyes became distant, and his words softer. "It started with the sound of thunder. That''s the only ways I can explain it. Then Chunks Chunks started screamin''. Tryin'' to hold his insides in and all that. I I didn''t know what happened. Thought the goblin had triggered one last trap or somethin''. The bloody little thing had led us into some crude ones during the chase. Nothing really bad, but I don''t know; I thought maybe this was its last ditched attempt. So I drew my sword and moved in for the kill. Figured it was safer if the bastard was dead. Didn''t want him triggering somethin'' else on the way back That''s that''s when it appeared" "When what appeared, exactly?" Seeker asked, having stepped up beside Bosco. Kit turned to him and whispered, "The Demon. It flew at me from the trees, taking the form of a giant ant " "Hold up," Bosco interrupted him, the large man''s face furious, "You''re telling me that two of my men were taken down, not by a goblin but by an ant?!" Kit turned to Bosco and stared at him, unblinking, the cougar man''s eyes glazed. "That was no ant. There''s no way that thing was an ant. It came from the trees. Swooped in on me with enough force that it broke my shield bracers." Kit held up his good arm to show the arrayed leather bracers, fragments of the cut core still clinging to their socket. They weren''t of the best quality, but the very fact that someone of Kit''s station had decent arrayed equipment in the first place was enough to drive the point home. These had been emergency items, bought with money saved over a period of years and they had failed, partly at least. Kit continued. "When I recovered, I saw it was just an ant. Just one monster ant, like one anyone here, has killed dozens of before. I I let my guard down and this happened." He waved to the hole in his shoulder, the healer still working on it. Bosco scoffed and dismissed the man''s story. "In other words, you screwed up, then came running back." Kit stood, his eyes wild and voice frantic as he yelled, "You don''t understand, Bosco! That wasn''t an ant!" Kit grabbed onto Bosco''s arm and shook him as if to get him to understand. "Ants dont move like that! Ants don''t fly! Ants don''t speak! That thing it''s still out there! And now it knows we''re here too! We have to get out while we still can! We have to " WHAM! Bosco''s fist slammed into the awakened''s face with the sound of breaking teeth. The man fell backward and rolled a few feet. The healer rushed to his side and breathed a sigh of relief. Kit was out cold, but he would live. Though he''d need another round of treatment. That was fine by her; Icefinger paid her by the injury. Bosco tsked and flicked the blood off his fist and muttered to himself. "Talking ants. Sure. Someone throw this fool in with the goblins when he wakes up. We''ll drag him back to Icefinger when we''re done here." He then turned around and walked away. The crowd of adventurers slowly dispersed, save for Seeker, who stared down at the unconscious awakened beast with a frown. B2 - Lesson 15: "Negotiations are the key to any good business deal" It took roughly ten minutes for the medical nanites to heal the goblin, whod called him Antchaser for some reason, well enough to speak. He still wouldnt be moving by his own power anytime soon, but at least he wasnt at risk of dying anymore. Alpha only hoped what information he could extract from the creature was worth using Alphantonso Vs emergency dose. Medical nanites were still expensive to make, and it didnt help he needed to tweak them enough to be compatible with the antborgs faux-flesh. With production of the IV-2s ramping up and plans to grow V-2s as well, Alpha would have to solve that problem soon. When they could finally speak, Antchaser told his story. Alpha listened, recording the entire thing, of course, but grew more agitated with each passing moment. Why the hell do these things keep happening here?! Alpha internally complained. This wasnt his first time in a lawless world. The lost worlds, those worlds from the Second Federation that had been isolated from the greater galaxy, sometimes devolved into dystopia hellscapes or segmented feudalistic states. One constant throughout the galaxy was that power abhorred a vacuum. And just like any good collapsing vacuum, the damage left in the Second Federations wake sometimes didnt heal, even after thousands of years. Or at least not until someone with a bigger stick came along and beat things back into place. Alpha was the Third Federations stick. Alphantonso V tilted their head as Alpha thought on the matter. Eventually, he turned to the goblin and spoke. So now your village is being held hostage, in effect? Antchaser nodded and looked away and nodded. Well, thats none of my concern, if Im honest, Alpha responded. Antchasers eyes snapped to the ant, and the goblin bared its teeth in a snarl, but the man quickly deflated. Alpha could imagine what was going through their head. Maybe they expected some kind of sympathy. Or maybe for Alpha to offer help of some kind. After all, he had just saved them from certain death. Well, too bad for them; Alpha was tired of helping for free. Thats how hed gotten into this situation in the first place. Granted, helping civilians was part of his job, but not if it interfered with his overall mission. If Im jumping at every group of bandits on this cesspit of a planet, Ill never get any work done, Alpha thought to himself. What the goblin did next surprised even Alpha, however. With their body still broken and enduring what must have been horrific pain, Antchaser pushed themselves up and repositioned until they were sitting on their knees. Slowly, the goblin lowered themselves onto the ground in a kowtow. Sir, I beg you. Lend this one your support. Whatever you ask of me, I will repay you if it is within my power. Without eyelids to narrow, Alpha tilted the antborgs head and asked, Why should I? Dont mistake my saving you for generosity. You had the information I wanted, and now I have it. Im a busy ant. What could you offer me that it would be worth my time? Antchaser paused, and without looking up, said. The adventurers have made a mistake. Oh? Alpha responded. Go on The goblin spoke a little louder, a little clearer. They raided the village to gain information about the area. They seek the treasures of this land for their own means. But the villagers seldom leave the village surroundings. At most, theyll travel to the river and back as a group. This cavern is as dangerous as it is bountiful. The villagers arent the ones who know the secrets of this land. Antchaser paused before looking up at Alpha, a sparkle in his eyes, and finished, The hunters are. Oh? I see. Alpha was putting together where the goblin was going with this. The goblin lowered their head once more and continued. Not just me. The other hunters, both those still in the forest and those trapped in the village, all of us have been slowly gathering information about this place in our own ways. You ask what I can offer you? The same thing you desired originally. Information. Hmmmmmm, Alpha considered. That was a tempting offer. It would save him weeks, maybe months, of scouting and research on his own. While he doubted that some dinky village in the middle of a literal cave held much information, Alpha was sure he could find other uses for them as well. So youre willing to freely offer what these adventurers are looking for? Why? Isnt the entire point of your villages resistance so that they wont lose these treasures, as you call them? The goblin sighed and responded. Thats not untrue. But what use are treasures if youre dead? That is the difference here. Adventurers adventurers are like locus. They sweep in and strip the land, leaving scraps for those left behind. Thats what adventurers do. If they have their way, this cavern will be barren in a decade and take centuries to recover. Even if they dont slaughter my people for sport, they will leave us with nothing. Alpha nodded but asked. What makes you so certain I wont do the same? Because Ive watched your people, the goblin said. Ive seen how the ants treat the forest. You bend it to your will, but dont destroy it. I never thought I would be speaking to one of you, but I will also be the first to admit that life has proven me wrong before. Even so, Im willing to take the chance. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Alpha nodded again. When confronted with such a situation, the goblin had chosen the lesser of two evils. Commendable wisdom, even if the man had made a fundamental mistake about who he was. Not that Alpha was about to correct him, of course. Not yet. He did consider what the goblin had said, however. If it was true that these adventurers were as opportunistic as they seemed, that could cause trouble for him later. Not even considering the loss of potential resources, if they decided they didnt want to share with the ants and came after them, it would throw a wrench into Alphas plans. The question was, was it a problem for future Alpha? Or was this something that he needed to nip in the bud before it grew? Antchaser had gone silent while Alpha thought, and the minutes stretched on. After a time, Antchaser started sweating, and his breathing became labored. No doubt the awkward position wasnt doing any favors for his condition. Alpha sighed, taking one last look at the man kowtowing in front of him. He really was too soft at times. The goblin gave a yelp as nanite tendrils wrapped around his body and pulled him atop Alphantonso V. Alpha turned and made his way back toward the base, his cargo tied down secure. By the time Alpha had reached the ants clearing, the goblin was already unconscious. When Antchaser came to, it wasnt in the forest as he had expected. Instead, he found himself floating in something. He could breathe perfectly fine despite being fully submerged in the strange liquid. Was this a dream? His mind was still foggy, and it was hard to form complete thoughts. If he was dreaming, it would also explain the weird distortion in his vision. Like everything was stretched and bulging from the center point. Slowly, his mind started to clear, and memories tricked back. Antchasers eyes bulged as he realized this wasnt a dream, and he tried to sit up, only to smash his head against a clear barrier. The pain wiped away what fog remained, only to replace it with panic. Antchaser struggled in what he now realized was some kind of liquid-filled glass chamber. It was then that he also noticed the various strange vines attached to his body. His struggling intensified as he began to pull at the vines invading his body. He banged on the glass walls as the clear liquid surrounding him took on a slightly red tint from the blood spilling into it. A voice suddenly spoke, and Antchaser froze. Good, youre awake. Now stop pulling out your IVs, and Ill drain the med-pod. The glass chamber rumbled slightly, and Antchaser felt the surrounding liquid slowly drain. A few seconds later, the chamber was nearly empty, and the top portion of the chamber slid away with a hiss. Antchaser shot upward and pulled himself over the edge of the chamber, his lungs emptying themselves of the strange liquid with wracking coughs. The voice called out again, and this time, Antchaser recognized it as the mysterious Alpha. Careful now. Your bodys healed, but adjusting to the implants might take some time; youll be sore for a few hours. Im-cough-implants? What are you It was then that Antchaser got a good look at one of his arms. While most of the flesh seemed normal, a thin strip had been fused no replaced by a metal band running up the length of his forearm. Several strange protrusions stuck out from it, a few of which were still connected to the vines he had yet to pull out. As he stared, said vines fell out with a pop, and the protrusions folded into the metal strip until they were perfectly flush. His heart racing, Antchaser glanced at his other arm only to see the same thing. Further inspection revealed similar strips on each of his legs, one over his chest and two more on the back of his neck. Antchaser tried to stand, only for a wave of dizziness to overtake him as he fell onto his back. Whatwhat did you do to me?! the goblin asked as he clutched his head. Again, Alpha spoke from somewhere Antchaser couldnt see. Your injuries were worse than I thought. Those adventurers did a number on you. Im honestly surprised you hadnt collapsed beforehand. Unfortunately, I designed the med-pods for the ants, not humanoids. That meant I had to make some rushed modifications. To the machine and you. Anchaser pushed himself into a sitting position, still rubbing his pounding head. I dont understand. What happened? What does that mean? Alpha laughed. For you? Nothing. Theyre minor things any Federation civilian already has. Technically, Im not allowed to do that kind of modification without your consent, as youre still a civilian, but extraneous circumstances forced my hand. A large ant walked through a nearby opening and pushed itself up against Antchaser. The man pressed their hand against the insects bumpy carapace and stood on shaking legs. When he was standing on his own power, Alpha continued. At most, itll mean you have access to any Federation med-pod in the galaxy if its needed again, so thats something, at least. The medication will wear off within the hour, while the synth-skin will finish growing in a few days. After that, youll likely forget you even have them. Antchaser found he barely understood half of what Alpha was telling him, but from what he could, it was clear enough that the strange being had saved his life. At what cost would have to be seen later. Antchaser turned to the ant and asked, How long have I been out? The ant tilted its head and responded. Roughly 18 hours. It would have been quicker, but again, modifications had to be made. Now that youre awake, we can finally have a nice face-to-face talk and work out where we go from here. Antchaser tilted his own head and raised a brow, his mind feeling less sluggish with each passing moment. Arent we already talking? he asked. Alpha laughed, and the ant turned away, not bothering to answer. It then quickly walked back out the way it had come. Antchaser hesitated for a moment, unsure if he should follow. Too much of this didnt make any sense. From the talking ant, to the strange glass chamber, to the other strange artifacts, he spied around the room, not to mention whatever the hell it had done to his body. Seeing no other option, however, he quickly followed after them. Alpha led Antchaser down a series of hallways that struck Antchaser as oddly well, he couldnt quite place what felt so off about them. At the very least, they felt nothing like he imagined the ant colony to be like, despite the occasional ant they passed by. The other ants never even gave Antchaser a second glance as they went about their way, which he felt was also strange. Demon Ants were highly territorial, and to see the creatures so apathetic to his presence sent chills up his spine for some reason. Eventually, the hallway turned into a new chamber, and Antchaser was struck by how alien the room seemed. It was filled with dozens of strange artifacts, some that seemed to move independently as they sparked and whirled. Dozens of black vines covered the area, linking all the machines. As they walked deeper into the room, Antchaser followed the black vines to their source, only to freeze, his eyes wide and mouth agape. There, at the origin point of all the wires, sat a large pillar. And atop that pillar sat what Antchaser could only describe as a giant metal orb. As he stared, Alpha spoke, his voice not emanating from the ant this time but the orb. Youll have to excuse the mess. I wasnt expecting visitors so soon. Mind the wires; we dont need you tripping and ending up in the med-pod again. Of course, Antchaser immediately tripped over one of the larger wires, having never broken eye contact with the giant orb. The sudden fall was enough to break the man out of his daze, though, and he quickly scrambled to his feet, still staring at Alpha. Softly, he whispered, maybe more to himself than Alpha, It-it all makes sense now you never were an ant. You Youre a Dungeon Core! B2: GRIM Adventures - 8 Jill sat on the large boulder, massaging her temples with both hands. The building headache and the freezing energy permeating her body made everything hurt. She took a moment to process the story the strange creature calling itself ''Grim'' had told them. Then, with a sigh, asked, "Okay, would you please explain this one more time? I feel like I''m missing some important context here" The floating metal creature wobbled in the air in a way Jill had come to interpret as excitement, but before Grim could speak, Jack did. "It''s easy. She''s an artificial spirit created by another artificial spirit who''s come to conquer the planet on behalf of an advanced civilization from beyond the stars." Jill turned to her brother and frowned. Jack wasn''t even looking their way. Instead, he was staring up at the fiery tree, taking as many notes as possible in the old notebook he carried around. She narrowed her eyes at the man, asking, "And you actually understood any of that?" Jack laughed and shook his head. "Nope! Not a thing! You didn''t ask what it meant, only what she said." Jill stared at her brother in silence for a long moment before placing her head back in her hands. She loved her brother. Truly, she did. Yet, sometimes, she honestly worried about him Such concerns were as old as the siblings were, however. Right now, she had other issues to deal with. Things like what to do with their companion. Jill might not have fully understood what the creature was saying or the full impact of her story, but she could deduce enough. Enough to be worried. Either the creature was telling the truth, which would have far-reaching implications that Jill didn''t have the energy to consider. Or Grim was totally insane, which would come with its own headaches. Once the pounding in her head eased slightly, Jill looked up at Grim. "Ignoring the details, which I really feel like is a bad idea, you''re saying you''re on a job for your boss. Correct?" "Yep!" came Grim''s response. "To retrieve his arm?" Jill followed up. "Yep!" Grim repeated. "So where is this arm?" Jill asked. "No idea!" Grim said cheerfully. ". and your ''Boss''?" Jill asked, already suspecting she knew the answer. "No idea! The last time I talked to him was when he sent me the lexicon of the local language. That''s the thing that lets me talk to you!" Grim responded, bobbing up and down in the air. " Right" Jill sighed. Of course she didn''t know. That would have been too easy. In many ways, speaking to Grim felt like Jill was speaking to one of the small children in the clan compound. If the creature''s story was true, that might not be too far off, either. "What about the gopher? How does he play into all of this?" Jill asked after a moment to collect her thoughts. "Mr. Gopher? Oh, he attacked the Boss and me shortly after landing! It was a grand battle where I heroically sacrificed myself to lead Mr. Gopher away while the Boss escaped! That''s also when I uhhh ''misplaced'' the Boss'' arm." Grim turned to the gopher and waved. Said gopher, who was currently sitting on the top-most branches of the tree in a lotus position, opened one eye and peered down at her, then returned to their meditation. Jill looked up at the gopher and shook her head. Of everything in their story so far, Jill found this was by far the most believable part. The gopher had a mean streak, that was was for sure. She wasn''t sure if she should be worried about that or not She turned back to Grim. "So let me get this straight. You got attacked. Separated from your Boss? Then decide to follow your attacker around?" Grim looked away, tapping the fingers on her small arms together. Her small, chubby limbs, especially compared to the rest of Grim''s massive body, only heightened the illusions of a young child in Jill''s mind. Jill absently wondered if that was an intentional design choice by Grim''s creators, or if it was simply Jill projecting that image onto the creature. She tried speaking to Grim like she would one of the clan children. "Look Grim. You can''t just follow random people around. What if Mr. Gopher " Jill sighed again" had been a bad guy? What if he''d tried attacking you again?" Grim gasped, "Mr. Gopher wouldn''t do that! Right?!" She looked back up the meditating gopher. The gopher didn''t open their eyes this time, only wiggled their hand back and forth as if to say he''d thought about it. Grim sunk to the ground in defeat. "Moreover," Jill continued, "why did you follow us?" she pointed to herself and Jack. "We could have been just as bad." Grim raised her hand in the air and waved it around. "Oh! Oh! I know this one!" Jill raised an eyebrow, and Grim continued speaking as if she was reading from a document. "Federation regulation requires all operational AI to be under the care of an Overseer. If no overseer is available, operational AI are to seek the nearest qualifying sapient to act as an intermediate overseer until such time that proper control can be passed on." (Author''s Note: As a reminder, operational AI is the Federation term for non-sapient AI, compared to Sapient AI.) Jill raised an eyebrow at that. "And we qualify for this? Why?" Grim folded her arms and bobbed up and down. "All Federation civilians without a criminal record qualify as intermediate overseers until a federal employee can be located." Jill rubbed the bridge of her nose and responded. "Grim I hate to tell you this, but neither I nor Jack are Federation civilians. We live in Halirosa, an independent city-state. I''ve never even heard of this ''Federation'' of yours." Grim shrugged in a way that Jill instantly knew she had stolen from Jack. "All non-hostile civilians of a world on which an Annexation Unit lands, are automatically registered as Federation civilians." Jill wasn''t sure if she should be worried about how smug the AI sounded about that, or about how she was learning its mannerisms enough to tell. She shoved the worrying implications of Grim''s claim away and instead chose to play along for now. "Then tell me, little miss, if we''re ''new civilians, how would you know if we had a criminal record or not?" Grim raised an arm, but paused. "That''s because ummm, I mean that''s actually a good point" Again, the AI sunk in defeat. Jill rubbed her temples, feeling her headache intensify. Grim floated over and patted the woman on her back. Jill glared up at Grim, and the AI slowly floated backward. After another long moment, Jill finally spoke. "Here''s the problem, Grim. Jack and I are on our own quest right now. One of utmost importance. While I''m sure your boss would appreciate his arm back, we can''t just stop what we''re doing to help you go look for it." Grim froze, then softly asked. "But what am I supposed to do? I need to get Boss'' arm back" "Jill" Jack said, glancing up from his notebook. "Jack, I know. But we can''t just wander off looking for this arm, especially when we do not know where it is. You know what''s at stake if we can''t find the [Pure Water] spring." Jack tucked the notepad into his robe and nodded. "I haven''t lost sight of what we need to do. Nonetheless, you can''t deny how much help Grim " angry chittering from above cut him off. Jack looked up at the flaming gopher and smiled. " and Mr. Gopher, have been on that quest. Even if we don''t find the spring this time, what we''ve gathered is more than enough to hire a team of seekers for the next attempt. The least we can do is keep an eye out for anything suspicious and arm-shaped. Besides, it sounds like shell just go find someone else if we turn her away. You know what kind of people adventurers are. Do you really trust them with her? Knowing the things she can do?" The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Jill frowned. Jack wasn''t wrong. Where before they were in a desperate time crunch, Grim''s storage ability and the gopher''s nose for treasure meant that wasn''t necessarily true anymore. Their troubles weren''t over. Not by a long shot. Yet, now they had wiggle room, in no small part thanks to their two companions. It would be a shame to lose them now, and a part of her was reluctant to admit they had been growing on her. Even the bloodthirsty gopher. Jill grumbled, but after a moment, thinking things over, her shoulders sagged, and she sighed. "Fine! Fine. We''ll keep an eye and ear out. But no promises! The [Pure Water] spring comes first. We might not be in such a tight spot anymore, but that doesn''t mean we can change course all of a sudden." "Yaaaaay!" Jack and Grim mirrored each other, high-fiving each other in victory. Jill pitched the bridge of her nose. Sisters above, there were two of them now She pointed at them both. "Look, just because I said we would keep an eye out, doesn''t " ROOOOAR! Jill was cut off by a massive roar from around the bend of the mountain pass. Both Jack and Jill turned around, eyes wide and weapons at the ready. "What was that?!" Jack asked, "Not a clue, but it sounded big. And close. I told you we should have left before the tree attracted something!" Jill responded. Grim raised her hand and waved it in the air again. "Oh! I know this one, too! That sounded like Little Red!" Jill paused and turned to look at Grim. " Little who, now?" ROOOOAR! As if in answer, another roar echoed off the cliff walls, this time much closer. Jill could even feel the ground tremble slightly as something rushed up the path. Both siblings tensed as, the next moment, an enormous figure rounded the bend. "Is that a Lykos?!" Jack yelled. "I''ve never seen a Lykos that big!" Jill yelled back. ''Big'' was an understatement. The drolling, snarling creature that had shot around the bend was several times larger than any Lykos either of the experienced adventurers had ever seen. If a common Lykos stood slightly shorter than an adult human man, this creature easily topped six meters while on all fours. At the same time, it somehow looked emaciated, like it hadn''t had a good meal in months. The dripping blood and bits of gore clinging to its muzzle told a different story, though they only added to the creature''s savage look. When the giant creature rounded the bend, it skidded to a stop and growled, taking in the surrounding scene. The ruined ''building,'' the withered body of the old woman, and the giant, burning tree. Finally, its eyes locked on Jill. Little Red''s pupils dilated, and it growled a deep, rumbling growl before roaring one more and charging. Dozens of thick, woody vines erupted in its path as magic circles surrounded Jack. They surrounded Little Red, arresting its charge, but not for long. The massive creature strained against the vines with surprising strength, given its emaciated form, and soon they broke one by one. The spell had bought Jill some time, and she took a heavy step forward, punching the air in front of her. A chilling wind blew, and hundreds of needle-thin shards of ice formed in the air, shooting toward the Lykos at high speed. As the rain of ice needles approached, countless red tendrils, as fine as a hair, erupted from Little Red''s shoulder blades. They quickly wove themselves into the Blood-Cloak''s signature cloak, which moved to block Jill''s attack. That wasn''t good. A Blood-Cloak''s power was said to be proportional to the size of their cloak. A typical pack member might only reach a few feet when at rest, while an alpha''s might stretch to the middle of their back. This thing''s cloak billowed behind it for meters, like a conquering general''s. Where the hell had something like this come from?! There''s no way it was natural. A row of thick wooden spikes broke out of the ground along its path, angled like pikemen attempting to spear a group of charging calvary. The Lykos didn''t even slow as its cloak reached out and cut through the wooden spears like butter. Jill''s eyes went wide, and she turned to Jack. "This isn''t working! Head of the pass further up! We need to limit how it can move!" The narrow pass would be their only chance. They just had to limit the space the creature had to attack, or better yet, collapse the pass on top of it. Jack nodded, and both turned to run in the opposite direction. Little Red, perhaps seeing this as his prey fleeing in terror, howled in delight and sped up, chasing after the fleeing pair in large, bounding strides. As Little Red passed under the branches of the burning tree, something happened that none of them had expected. A flaming meteor dropped from the sky and slammed directly into the Lykos'' head. Little Red yelped in pain as the meteor drove the massive creature to the ground, redirecting all of its momentum into a forward slide. Jill skidded to a stop, turned, and stared as the ''meteor'' rematerialized into the form of a gopher? Mr. Gopher stood atop the Lykos'' head, smirking, their arms folded. The next moment, the burning gopher was thrown off as Little Red pushed themselves out of the small crater that had formed. The Lykos shook their head, and their glowing red eyes locked onto the much smaller form of Mr. Gopher. Little Red growled, then roared, producing a shockwave strong enough that Jill was pushed back several feet. Mr. Gopher only narrowed their eyes and raised a small paw. In the same motion, a gargantuan hand of stone, laced with burning lines of magma, erupted from the ground beside Little Red and slammed into the Lykos'' head. Once more, the giant creature was driven into the ground as it skidded across the pass floor and hit the cliff wall. As the dust settled, Mr. Gopher calmly walked toward the prone figure of Little Red as the Lykos struggled to stand. Jill''s eye twitched slightly as she watched. The way the gopher walked and the evil smirk on its face reminded her of some of the gang enforcers back in Halirosa. It was the overconfident stride of someone who knew they were stronger than their prey. Little Red''s ears pressed flat against his skull as it bared blood-covered, broken fangs. The Lykos tried to back up, but it was blocked by the cliff face behind it. In one last attempt to intimidate the approaching foe, the Lykos'' cloak unweaved, turning into a swarming, writhing mass of waving tendrils as Little Red roared. The gopher only smirked and flared their aura. Between the one blink of an eye and the next, the world took on a red hue as the temperature jumped to uncomfortable levels. The once-dying fires scattered around the ruins of the house flared to new life, and the burning tree swayed in an invisible wind. A firestorm surrounded the gopher before resolving into a pair of massive burning wings? Ones far larger than even the Lykos. Then, as quickly as it had begun, the world returned to normal. Jill blinked and shook her head. The memory of the strange phenomenon felt like a misty dream, even though it had only been a heartbeat prior. When her head felt a little clearer, she turned back toward the gopher. Little Red was pressed up against the side of the cliff, their body shivering intensely as they tried in vain to hide beneath their paws and cloak. All signs of the fierce beast were gone, replaced by a whimpering animal trying its best to pretend it was anywhere but here. "Is it over?" Grim called, emerging from her hiding spot behind the large tree. Mr. Gopher glanced over at Grim, then back to the cowering Little Red, and frowned. After a moment, he sighed. His form flickered, and the gopher reappeared atop Grim. He then reached inside and pulled out a large [Fourth Circle] beast carcass and tossed it across the pass with a heave. It landed with a thud and skidded to a halt before the Lykos. Little Red''s ears perked up, and it lifted its head, its large eyes instantly locking onto the dressed carcass. The creature began drooling almost immediately as it lunged to its feet, jaws opening wide enough that Jill could have sworn they unhinged. Before it bit down, though, the Lykos froze and pulled back, its ears flat against its head. Nervously, it glanced toward Mr. Gopher, its emaciated body shaking. Mr. Gopher narrowed his eyes and nodded. The Lykos pounced on the carcass with all the fervor of a starving man. Which, in retrospect, Jill thought, was a likely thing. Jack slowly walked up beside his sister, neither able to tear their eyes away from the primal sight. "So that just happened," he said. "Yep" came her response. "Do you think" he asked. Jill sighed, "The only thing I''m thinking is that we should get out of here before ''Little Red'' over there finishes." Jack flinched at the sound of squelching meat and breaking bones before nodding in agreement. The pair turned away and quickly made their escape up the mountain pass, Grim and the gopher riding atop her, joining them as they walked by. The group made it halfway through the pass on their way toward the next mountain when the sound of heavy footsteps from behind caused them to pause. Jill pinched the bridge of her nose, part of her knowing what she would find if she turned around, but the rest of her desperately wishing it wasn''t so. Even so, the soft whimpering eventually forced her to turn around, and she sighed in defeat. There, a hundred meters back, trying to make themselves look as small as possible, Little Red crouched in the shadows of the cliff face. The rest of the group turned as well, with Jack breaking out into laughter at the sight. Knowing it was caught, Little Red pressed itself against the pass floor and whimpered louder, its ears flat against its head. As one, Mr. Gopher, Jack, and Grim all turned to Jill. Jill paused, her eyes growing wide. "No! Absolutely not!" "Oh, come on, Jill! Youve always wanted a dog!" Jack moaned. "Yes, a dog! Not whatever the hell that thing is! I''m not even sure it can be called a Lykos anymore!" Jill yelled back. "Bah! Semantics!" Jack dismissed her concern. "Besides, it''s not like either of us will be the one to watch him, anyway. Right?" He continued, turning to Mr. Gopher. The gopher gave an evil grin, then turned to Little Red and whistled. When or where he''d learned to do such a thing, Jill hadn''t the slightest clue. Little Red perked up at the sound, their tail wagging. The enormous creature stood and raced toward them. It stopped just short of the group and sat on its haunches, tail wagging and tongue flapping. Little Red gave a sharp bark, doing its best impersonation of the friendly neighborhood dog If said dog was six meters tall, walked like a gorilla, and would happily use three out of the four of them as chew toys. Jill glanced at Grim and her heavily armored body. Well, maybe two out of four. Grim, totally oblivious to the hungry look the Lykos was giving her, threw her arms up and yelled "Yaaaaay!" before floating forward and giving the massive creature scratches atop its head. Mr. Gopher nodded sagely and hopped from Grim''s back to Little Red''s head. Jack turned to his sister and smiled widely. He laughed and said, "Oh, stop worrying. I''m sure it''ll be fine," before confidently walking toward the creature that had tried to eat him no less than an hour before. Jill threw her hands into the air and turned away, once more walking toward their next destination. "You know what? Fine! I give up! I''m not worrying about it anymore!" she called behind her. Jack gave her a thumbs up and responded. "See! That''s the spirit!" B2 - Lesson 16: "Good allies; oil to the machine." Dungeon Core? Alpha asked. Antchasers eyes widened, and he fell to his knees, placing his head against the stone floor. I apologize, your eminence! I know that is the more crude term used by the adventurers; this one is but a humble hunter from a small village. The proper terms elude me, the cowering man said. Hmmmm Alpha considered. There was an opportunity here. The goblins change in attitude between when he thought Alpha was just a talking ant and this Dungeon Core was extreme. After a moments pause, Alpha spoke, Stand. Tell me what you know of Dungeon Cores, as you call them. Antchaser paused and stood, though his brow furrowed in confusion. After all, why would a dragon ask a human about dragons? However, their eyes widened after thinking over the question for a moment. Could it be a test of sorts? That made some sense to Antchaser. After all, hed just admitted to not being very knowledgeable on the matter. Antchaser straightened his back and tried to look as professional as possible before speaking. V-very well, your eminence. Though, I beg your forgiveness if what I say isnt completely accurate. Much of what I know, I have only heard from stories. After all, what child didnt grow up on such legends? Yes, yes, continue, Alpha said. Antchaser coughed into their hands and did so. Thank you, sir. As I understand it, despite their longevity, even [Firmament Breaker] or [Magi] are not immortal. Eventually, they must either test themselves against the Firmament or face Heavens wrath. When the time comes, many wish to leave something for their descendants so that others can follow in their footsteps. Or should they fall, that their legacy isnt lost. To this end, they can portion off a part of themselves into an artificial core. This core then becomes the guiding intelligence for these gifts. Whether theyre called Mage Trials, Cultivator inheritances, or, as the adventurers call them, simply Dungeons, they all refer to the same thing. Places of trial and testing to find those worthy of what was left behind. Antchaser paused and glanced up at Alpha. The AI said nothing to dispute the goblins claims, so he continued with a bit more confidence. These Dungeon Cores, again, I apologize that this one doesnt know the proper term, set trials, create treasures, and choose those that are worthy to serve them. All toward the aim of uplifting those who come after. As for the unworthy Antchaser swallowed hard. What he had said was the truth, as well as he knew it. Everyone grew up on stories of Dungeons, just as much as Fallen Stars and Dragon Hoards. Every child, even those from a small village like his own, dreamt of one day stumbling across some unknown dungeon and being deemed worthy of the gifts inside. But as much as such places were filled with artifacts and treasures beyond imagining, so held they dangers that filled those same childrens dreams with nightmares. After all, regardless of what they were called, one theme rang true through all the stories. Power unearned was far more dangerous. Hmmmm Alpha waited, but the goblin seemed to be finished. Not as much as he had been hoping for, but he could work with this. It helped the goblins explanation was oddly fitting. Alpha made a note to look for more information regarding these Dungeon Cores. If such places truly existed, they sounded like literal treasure troves. Alphas favorite kind! Good enough, Antchaser, was it? Alpha said. The goblin breathed an audible sigh of relief, the slight trimmer in his body easing. Y-yes, sir. My second name even! the goblin responded, puffing out their chest slightly. Oh? Alpha asked, not out of genuine curiosity but more of a passing thought. Antchaser seemed to take that as an invitation, however, as the goblin grinned from ear to ear in response. Yes, Sir! I earned it not too long ago. A pack of Ironfurs had been terrorizing the forest, and I devised a way to pit them against the Demon Ants. For my success, the village elders granted memy new The goblins voice slowly softened, and his eyes grew a size wider, likely realizing what he had just admitted to. Antchasers wide eyes slowly tracked a few of the IV-2s wandering through the chamber, performing various tasks. A smirk crept into Alphas voice. Oh? So that was you, was it? Antchaser immediately threw themselves back to the ground and cried out. I apologize, your eminence! I was unaware the ant colony belonged to your grace! If I had Its fine. Alpha cut the man off. I can appreciate the wisdom of using the resources available to you. Even if those resources are not strictly your own. Alpha was an expert in such things, in fact! It wasnt like hed lost anything in the attack, anyway. It had been before the antborg project had really kicked off. Not only that, but hed gained some important information in the process. That said, Alpha continued, Youve given me some ideas to our little problem. You mentioned other hunters, yes? Sure, Alpha could swarm the village with [Wasps] or send the antborgs to take care of the adventurers. But that would be a waste of resources. Besides, the current drones and IV-2s were being used for other projects, while the V-2s still wouldnt be ready for a few more days. Haha, haha haha, Hahahahhahahaha! Alpha laughed out loud as the framework of a plan started forming in his mind. If he was going to play the part of the wise old taskmaster, he might as well go all in, right? Antchaser laughed nervously along, a cold sweat dripping down his back. Internally, he wondered if he was making a terrible mistake 16 Hours Later Boarslayer roared as she swung her axe into the magical construct, dissipating it into stray mana with a single swing. Not before the marionette-like construct drew another bloody line on the large goblins chest, adding to the patchwork of existing wounds. The iron armor shed always been so proud of lay scattered in pieces around the battlefield. Some of it destroyed by the enemy attacks, others discarded to save stamina or ease movement. Boarslayer backed away, panting. Her thick arms felt heavy as iron, and shed lost count of how many times shed swung her axe by that point. Not that she could count very high in the first place. She was a hunter, a warrior! What need had she of larger numbers than what she could count at a glance? A magic circle carved itself into the ground before her, and another puppet began to rise out of the earth. Boarslayer had been called slow, by some. Borish even. But she wasnt stupid. Not where it counted. Shed been observing the puppets over the course of the battle and knew they would take a few seconds to fully form. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. She had been using that time to rest and recover some and to lead the enemy into a false sense of security. If she kept it up, though, she really wouldnt be able to do anything. It was now or never. Her frown deepened, and the grip on her axe tightened as she gathered spirit energy into the soles of her feet. Boarslayer roared, then did what she did best. She charged, stepping over the rising magic circle and almost teleporting across the dozen or so meters between her and the puppet mage. The scrawny humans eyes went wide as 67" of goblin muscle and rage appeared in front of him, her axe raised high in a downward, two-handed swing. However, the mages surprise was soon replaced by a smirk as the monstrous blow met a solid field of shielding mana. Boarslayer roared louder as she strained against the energy shield, and it cracked under the pressure only to explode outward the next moment. Boarslayer was thrown backward, and she hit the ground hard, coming down on her arm at a bad angle. A sharp pain caused her mind to flash white for a brief moment. Long enough that she barely had time to roll away before a thick arrow slammed into the ground where she had just lay. Hey! This one is mine! You had your fun! the mage called to one of their two companions. Both were leaning against a nearby tree, watching the show. The offending archer tsked and lowered their bow. Well, hurry up, mage boy! Were already late! The mage sneered back, Screw you! The Hob is a tough nut, and Bosco said he wanted as many hunters alive as possible! You already killed one he gestured to the half a dozen goblins lying on the other side of the clearing, one of whom had an arrow sticking out of their eye. The rest were in various states of injury, with only Boarslayer able to still fight. The mage continued, and this one looks like shed know where the good stuff is. Besides, said the third, a large man in heavy armor, a bottle of whisky in his hands, Im looking forward to having my own fun with her later. The archer gave the armored man a disgusted look and shook his head. Ill never understand your tastes. The armored man grinned and took a deep pull from his bottle before responding. What can I say? I like them feisty. The mage sighed and turned to Boarslayer, his arms outstretched as he spoke. He brings up a good point, though, goblin gal. How long are you going to keep this up for? We both know youve already lost. Just surrender now; I can promise the Boss will let you live. As long as you answer his questions, that is. If not The mana puppet, now fully formed, turned. Not toward Boarslayer, but toward the other goblins lying on the other side of the clearing. I might not want to kill you, but Im sure whatever information you have will more than cover for any that your friends could provide. It would mean an easier time dragging you lot back to the village, too. Boarslayer stood on shaking legs and snarled. No, she wasnt stupid. She knew this wasnt a fight she could win. It never had been. But dammit, her pride as a warrior wouldnt let her surrender like this. If she couldnt save her people then maybe she could do the next best thing. The puppet slowly walked toward the goblins as the mage spoke, Last chance. Boarslayer gave the trio one last seething glare before she pulled out the large carving knife strapped to her leg. Then she placed it against her own neck. Maybe she couldnt beat the adventurers, but she could ensure these bastards didnt get what they wanted, either. The mages eyes widened, and he raised a hand. Wait, hold on just a minute! No need for that! The ranger started laughing hysterically while the armored man simply shrugged and took another swig. Boarslayers glare morphed into a sneer as her bulging arms tensed. Bang! Thunder echoed through the forest, causing all four to freeze. In the same instance, the mana puppet exploded, seemingly for no reason at all. What the hell?! the mage called. Enemy attack! the ranger responded, grabbing his bow and quiver and taking a low stance. About time! I was getting bored! the armored man roared, throwing away his bottle and picking up the heavy mace on the ground beside him. Boarslayer only stared at the spot where the mana puppet had been, her eyes wide, the knife still digging into the flesh of her neck. Where did it come from?! asked the armored man. No idea! I didnt sense any mana or spirit signals at all! said the mage. Stay together! Theyre using the forest for cover! Keep an ey Bang, bang! The rangers words were cut off as twice more thunder sounded. Blood spurted from the mans chest as he was knocked to the ground. The ranger struggled to sit up as he coughed up a mouth full of blood, two large holes appearing in the leather armor on his chest. Bang! The next instant, the mans head exploded in a gory fountain. His hand grasped at the empty air for a second before his body realized it was dead and collapsed to the ground. Nine Hells! the mage cried, his voice cracking. There! the armored man yelled, pointing into the forest with his mace. From the tree line, a figure emerged. No two figures. Not one any of them had been expecting, however; for out of the forest walked an ant? And atop the ant stood a small humanoid figure. The figure wore strange, black armor, vaguely reminiscent of the ants own carapace, with segmented plates along the vitals, but with a thin, silky-looking material covering the rest of their body so that no skin was exposed. The helmet, for no creature could have a head like this, was just as strange. It was a sleek, almost smooth-looking ovaloid, with no distinguishing markings past the lightly glowing, horizontal band separating top from bottom. A single, bright red eye glowed menacingly in the middle of this band. The eye flickered back and forth between the three remaining figures, shrinking and expanding in odd ways. Two long lengths of strange black rope extended from the base of the figures neck and connected to the ant they stood atop. Finally, in their arms, they held a strange item that none of them could place. The long, sleek-looking weapon was held with both arms, but not in the way one would a sword or axe. Instead, the figure held it in the crook of their arm, like it was a small child or staff. The armored human snarled at the unknown figure and raised their massive mace. Then, with a charge that, in any other situation, would have impressed Boarslayer, he rushed the ant and its rider. The mage didnt stand still either. They raised their staff as a dozen spell circles filled the air and tiny fireballs raced over the armored mans head toward their target. The ant moved in a way Boarslayer knew ants shouldnt be able to, as it nimbly dodged the fireballs. At the same time, the figure atop the ants back raised its strange weapon and pointed it at the armored man. Bang! Bang, bang! The armored mans charge stopped short as something slammed into him, ripping open gaping holes in their thick plate armor. He stumbled, then fell to his knees, spewing blood. The mage paused their assault and stared, mouth agape. The armored man struggled back to his feet and raised his mace. He spit out a mouth full of blood and charged again, but it was no use. Another round of thunder echoed, and the armored man fell backward, several more holes in his armor appearing from seemingly nowhere. He didnt get back up this time. Auuuagh! the mage yelled, panic filling his eyes as he turned and ran toward the clearings edge. The mysterious figure raised their weapon again, but this time, nothing happened. Seemingly confused, the figure turned their strange weapon in their hands before gesturing to the ant. Though if something was said, Boarslayer was too far away to hear it. Not that it mattered, though. Snarling, Boarslayer grabbed the axe at her feet and stood. Then, with the last of her strength and a bellowing roar, she threw the axe toward the fleeing mage. The axe whistled through the air, spinning head-over-handle fast enough that it became a blur. The mage turned around at the last moment, their eyes wide. Then, one mage became two halves. The blood-soaked axe continued on before sinking deep into one of the massive trees of the forest. Boarslayer grinned from ear to ear before collapsing to her knee. The world around her buzzed, and everything sounded muffled for a few moments. A combination of blood loss, exhaustion, and spirit deprivation she was well familiar with. She soon sensed someone approaching her and, with a snarl, she turned, holding the carving knife out. As expected, the mysterious figure had approached. They were no longer standing on the ant, which was several meters away. Their hands were also empty of the strange weapon. Instead, they raised them in the air as if to show they were unarmed. Where it had gone, she didnt know. Not that Boarslayer thought she could beat whoever this stranger was. Shed seen the way hed wiped the floor with the adventurers. No, she was simply tired of all this. If she was going to die, then she was at least going to do some damage, no matter how small. Hey now, Boarslayer, no need for any of that. Were here to help, an oddly familiar voice said from beneath the strange helmet. Not that she could place it; the blood loss was starting to make her brain fuzzy. Slowly, the mysterious figure reached up and pressed the side of their helmet with two fingers. There was a hiss, and the helmet folded back strangely, like plates sliding over one another, and the figures face was revealed. A goblin? How did that make any sense at all?! Not just any goblin, either. Antchaser. That scrawny bastard who was always trying to poke his nose into her hunts! Hadnt some hunters said hed got caught trying to sneak into the village?! What was going on?! Boarslayer tilted her head and furrowed her brow. Antchaser only grinned ear to ear at the look on her face. Before he could say anymore, however, Boarslayers eyes rolled to the back of her head, and she collapsed in front of him. Someone spoofed the novel to the Amazon already. Dont fall for it. Looks like someone ripped off the novel and posted it to Amazon! The Audacity! Thanks to DWinchester to finding this and bringing it to my attention! As a reminder to my readers, I''ll be posting HERE before posting to Amazon to give you all a heads up! If you see ANYTHING on Amazon before hand, its fake, and It would mean a lot if you brought it to me! You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Be sure to report anything you find like this, both to amazon and me! Thanks again for everyone who''s helped keep this novel up and running! Update and Return of chapters.
Hey everyone! I WAS going to wait to post this, but I thought you all would like to know ahead of time. First off, the biggest thing Is that chapters are starting up again! Hurrah! "Osa, does that mean you''re done Editing?!" NOPE! NOT EVEN CLOSE QAQ. The Editing is taking a lot longer to do than I anticipated, mostly do to having to restructure certain parts of the story. It IS progressing, just not at the rate I was planning for. That said, I''ve made you all wait long enough! So to compromise, I''m starting up chapters again this Monday! Hurrah! This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Now, don''t go celebrating so soon though. As part of the compromise, I''m afraid I have to shuffle the schedule around for a bit, so that I still have time to edit. What this means is, releases are going down from 3 chapters per week, to 2. Before you lynch me, I''ll state this is a TEMPORARY arrangement, and once editing is finished, the schedule will return to the old 3 times a week one. Until then, you can expect chapters on Tuesday and Thursdays! "But Osa, I thought you said Monday?!" I did! Surprise! To celebrate chapters starting back up, I have a special treat for you all! I''m dipping into my Backlog and releasing a chapter a day next week. Monday to Friday! Not only that, but I figured now would be a good time release the T4 ($10) "Field Commander" patreon rank, as voted by the Patreon Subscribers. Like other ranks, this will be 3 chapters (a normal week) ahead of the previous rank, putting it at 12 chapters total ahead of the Free readers. This will drop on Monday, along side the first Bonus Chapter! Looking forward to getting back to writing! B2 - Lesson 17: "Be your own Hero." Alpha sighed in disappointment. Hed been hoping to capture the so-called mage and interrogate them. Jsh had mentioned them before, but this had been the first time Alpha had seen one at work. The strange circles that had appeared in thin air reminded him of arrays, and he was eager to have a new reference point to study. More so since his own array-work had stalled. Sure, he knew how to capture, store, and direct the environmental energy, but putting it to work was a whole other matter. Most of his experiments so far have been explosive. Fun, sure, but not productive. Unfortunately, it seemed the goblins were a bit trigger-happy. Axe happy? Either way, it meant Alpha would have to hope another volunteer was waiting for them in the village. Not that he blamed the goblins for their reactions. One thing was abundantly clear between what Antchaser had told him and what his [Wasp] scouts had gathered. These adventurers were violent, cocky, and almost sadistic in their treatment of the goblins. Even each other in some instances. They reminded Alpha of the pirates that wandered the less patrolled parts of Federation space. If what Antchaser had told him was correct as well, then their modus operandi wasnt too different from each other, either. That was fine by Alpha! Federation military law gave Alpha full clearance to deal with pirates as he saw fit! That meant no need for pesky things like fair chance warnings, right to trial, or universal sapient rights getting in the way. Nope, the Federation held the firm stance that the moment a pirate or bandit decided to point their ship weapons at a civilian vessel, they lost all rights to any kind of fair treatment. Sure, they could always surrender or turn themselves in. Federation courts could be lenient if someone could prove extenuating circumstances. Sometimes, it was die at the hands of the pirates who boarded your ship or join them. Though that meant surviving the initial encounter in the first place. Besides, from what Alpha had observed, he doubted any of those particular laws applied here. As for Antchaser, the goblins training had gone surprisingly well. Training within a translight bubble was a tricky thing. Pushing the time dilation up to the level where it would be effective required huge amounts of power. Power Alpha was still working on. Currently, everything in the base was hooked directly into Alphas power core. While this latest model, Gen-IV power core, was technically strong enough to power a small city or run the TAWP and all its weapon systems nearly indefinitely, hed run into an issue. Storage. The above scenarios assumed highs and lows in power usage, with advanced batteries used to store excess energy while keeping output at a constant and comfortable level. The power core wasnt meant to be drawn on constantly over longer periods of high activity. It was designed to charge batteries, filling or draining as power demands rose or decreased. It was like plugging your devices directly into a generator. Sure, you could do it, but it would be inefficient. Connecting your generator to a larger battery bank and then your devices to the bank would be far better. Alpha didnt have any batteries. At least not at any of the appropriate level. Not yet. Batteries of the kind he would need to make any difference were still a ways away. So, with most of his energy output already taken up by the antborg incubators translight bubbles, Alpha had little to spare. With some clever use of VR and a jury-rigged infinity room, however, they had condensed a relative-time month of basic Federation Reserves training into half a day of real-time. It was only a fraction of the time a real Federation soldier would spend, with expeditionary soldiers, in particular, spending years of relative time in training. Yet it was enough for the basics. Part of that was thanks to Antchasers own drive. The young (Alpha assumed) man had pushed himself to extreme levels during their training. It likely helped that all of this fell neatly into the goblins understanding of what a Dungeon Core could do. When they had finished, and Alpha had presented the Antchaser with a suit of Federation field armor, the young man had openly wept. Then again, given that his left eye wouldnt stop twitching and Alpha could see his muscles physically writhe under his skin, maybe the goblin was simply glad it was all over. It hadnt been that bad! Sure, Hell Week was different for AI, and Alpha had suppressed most of his memory involving his special training with SEAU - 03. Still, Alpha was sure that these biologicals just had a thing for overreacting. If they didnt break you down, how were they ever supposed to build you back up?! (Sometimes literally!) The armor Alpha had gifted the goblin was standard issue for all expeditionary soldiers. Waterproof, weatherproof, climate controlled, and rated against many small arms fire, from ballistic to explosive and even energy weapons! The design was so optimized that hed even incorporated aspects of it, such as the improved plating, into the carapaces of the new V-2s. Of course, that meant Alpha had to modify the humanoid armor some so that it matched. Alpha might have been stuck on a barbaric planet, but that wasnt an excuse for sloppy aesthetics! He also chose to pointedly ignore the current state of his Core Room. It was still a work in progress! After that, it had only been a matter of scouting the forest for signs of the other goblin hunters. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Unfortunately, the adventurers were doing the same, likely realizing that the common villagers didnt have the information they sought. By the time Alpha and Antchaser set out, the adventurers were already out in full force. The goblin hunters, recognizing that the village was no longer safe, had slowly coalesced into small groups spread out through the forest. Of the 25 hunters out of the village at the time of the attack, Alpha and Anchaser had only rescued 11, including Boarslayers group. The rest had already been captured or had resisted, to disastrous results. Most of those were severely injured and would need time in a med-pod before they could begin training. That was another issue they had to deal with. While Antchaser had been rather quick to accept Alphas training and the new ideas he brought along, the other goblins were proving to be more stubborn. As a tribal society, the goblins were weary of the strange and alien concepts Alpha brought to the table. They were warriors and hunters, not shock troopers. Yet, they needed to learn if Alphas plan was to work. Alpha had seen what trying to play the hero had gotten him. So this time, they would be their own heroes, with the support of the mysterious Dungeon Core backer, of course. If his plan worked well, Alpha would have time to focus on the colony and build up his defenses while gaining an extra arm he could use to reach out and touch someone. One that doubled as a shield if need be. Yep. It was the classic arm the enemy of my enemy tactic. One practiced and perfected by humanity for millennia. But, of course, in any such endeavor, there was always a problem child. The large figure roared and rushed the three blank-helmeted figures, their weapon raised high above their head, like an expensive club. Two of the enemies crouched and pointed their weapons at the charging behemoth while a third raised an outstretched hand. A shimmering hexagonal shield flashed into existence between them. The two kneeling figures fired, their weapons cracking like thunder as bullets pinged off the surface of the charging figures thick, heavy armor. A few bullets landed true, striking the larger figures less protected areas around the thigh and shoulder, throwing blood into the air. But the heavy was undeterred. With a roar, they reached the glowing barrier and slammed their weapon into it. The barrier held, if barely, the large pack on the standing enemys back glowing brightly as it struggled to maintain the energy field. The heavy swung their weapon at the barrier again and again; all the while, the two kneeling figures peppered their frame from a point-blank range. The barrier cracked and shattered on the fifth strike, though so did the heavys weapon. They gave a cheer of victory only for one enemy with the now smoking backpack to pull out a long cylinder and roll it toward them. The kneeling figures hastily pressed their fingers against their helmets, which darkened a shade. Boom! The battlefield lit up in like a star as the flashbang went off. The heavy cried out in pain and rubbed at their eyes. The kneeling figures took the opening. Tossing their weapons aside, they acted as one and charged the heavy, each grabbing one of the figures massive legs. Then, they lifted the servos in their own armor, working overtime to amplify their strength. Slowly, the heavys feet left the ground, and they toppled backward. The two enemies whod grabbed the heavys legs scrambled forward and used their weight and augmented strength to pin the heavys arms while the third removed a long metal rod from their backpack. They walked forward, jammed the rod into an opening in the heavy armor, then flipped a switch. Electricity visibly raced down the length of the rod, and the heavy convulsed. After far longer than should have been necessary, the heavy stopped moving, and the figure with the rod removed it. The three figures cheered at their victory, and the two pinning the heavys arms stood up. That had been a mistake. The heavys hand suddenly shot out and wrapped around the backpack enemys neck. Crack! The backpack enemy fell limp. WHAM! The heavy backhanded one of the two remaining enemies, causing them to fly through the air for several meters. BANG! Thunder sounded as a blood hole appeared in the heavys head, the remaining enemy having had the presence of mind to draw their sidearm at the last second. The heavy snarled, then crumpled back to the ground. //TIME!// came the voice from the heavens. The world froze. Then, it flickered, and everything reset. The damage from the battle was gone. The blood splatters on both sides armor vanished. And all three of the smaller figures stood to one side, cheering. The larger, heavy, now whole and healthy, roared and threw her helmet to the ground. This is dragon dung! I would have won if your cheap weapons hadnt kept breaking! Boarslayer rumbled. Alpha sighed, though he could understand her frustration. After all, This was the third time in a row shed lost. Alpha turned to Antchaser, who was watching the simulated battle alongside him, and asked, Is she always like this? Antchaser sighed as well as said, Unfortunately, yes. Dont get me wrong, Boarslayer is likely the best warrior with the greatest battle-sense of all of us. But she is stubborn in her ways. Stubborn was an understatement, in Alphas opinion. It had been two days since Alpha had rescued the 11 goblins, Antchaser included. In that time, theyd undergone nearly three months of intense translight training. Most of them adapted quickly and had taken to the new equipment with gusto. After all, they were all hunters and warriors by trade. They were used to the battlefield and could understand the benefits of what Alpha offered them. The only outlier was the largest and strongest of them, Boarslayer. As Antchaser said, it wasnt as if she was stupid. Far from it. The woman showed a knack for the battlefield to such an extent that she could make even some Federation elites look like amateurs. No, the problem was the woman insisted that the only proper way to face the enemy was in a forward charge, meeting them strength for strength. She could out-maneuver, outplay, and trick even some of Alphas stored simulacrums of elite Federation soldiers. But she would throw away that advantage every single time to meet them head-on. Like some kind of berserker OCD. It had gotten to the point the other goblin teams were learning to use it to their advantage, leading to this result. Alpha had tried speaking to her about it, though the conversation had been interesting. Ranged weapons are for cowards! Real warriors speak with their fists! You split a man in two by throwing your axe! Yes! My axe! But you threw it! Because its an axe! Suffice it to say, they got nowhere. I may have a solution, Antchaser said. Oh? Alpha responded. Antchaser lifted a small tablet and pulled up a program. Alpha was slightly impressed by how quickly the small goblin adapted to the technology. In stark contrast to Boarslayer, the goblin devoured all the information Alpha had made available almost as quickly as the Slatewalker children. Alpha pulled up what Antchaser wanted to show him. Then, mentally grinned. Interesting Yes yes, this might work indeed. Alpha said. He uploaded the design and turned back to Antchaser. Ill get working on this. Gather the teams and tell them to get ready. We start the operation tonight. B2 - Lesson 18: "The Shadows Watch Your Sins." The goblin longhouse was a buzz with cheer and merriment. Both the food and alcohol flowed freely, and the half a dozen men and women sitting along the central table occasionally broke into a drunken song. And why not? It was a celebration, after all. Not for the goblins, though. No, the various villagers acting as servers and attendants to the adventurers were dull-eyed and ragged. More than a few sported a nasty bruise somewhere, and several walked with a visible limp. Not that the adventurers cared, mind you. No, for them, this was a victory celebration! The adventurers had solidified their hold on the village by hunting down the goblin hunters, who had been hiding in the forest. It had taken them nearly three days since occupying the village, and they were ready for some relaxation. Bosco had learned long ago that being an effective leader meant using both the stick and the carrot. He was well versed in the stick, but hed learned how to use the carrot from watching Icefinger. The trick wasnt so much dangling the carrot, as it was painting the potato to look like a carrot. Only a dog snapped at every scrap, nor did a dragon hoard every coin. If the scrubs thought what you rewarded them with held some value, they would be content and work even harder for more next time. To that end, hed arranged this little dinner for the returning team leaders. The table in front of them was arranged with a wide selection of exotic magic fruits and roast spirit beasts. Food of a quality that would have cost a fortune in Halirosa, but here, in the Deep Tunnels, it was just par for the course. The fact that the goblins barely understood the value of the treasures they were sitting on only solidified in Boscos mind that hed made the right choice in taking over the village. The rest of the adventurers were having their own party in the village square, with less decadent fairs, of course. Yet, to the gutter rats and slum-dwelling adventurers whod fallen into Icefingers gang, it must have seemed like a banquet fit for kings. Bosco took a long pull from the massive tankard in his hand and grinned. The dirty lot of them were probably singing his praises right this moment. With them spreading the good word through the gang and the high-quality treasures Bosco would bring back to Icefinger, he was a shoo-in for Capo! Not that he hadnt thought about keeping what hed found to himself. Icefinger wasnt a terrible boss, compared to some clans, but a place like this? This cavern was the kind of thing entire clans were built on. But more than just Boscos soul-chilling fear of Halirosas de facto underworld boss kept that thought locked securely in the realm of his own fantasies, however. Over the rim of his tankard, Bosco glanced at the scrawny man to his left. Seeker poked at the meal with a frown. Whether the man thought that the admittedly primitive goblin-cooked meal was beneath him, or something else occupied the mans mind, Bosco couldnt tell. Even after all this time, Icefingers watchdog was a mystery to Bosco. Not for the first time, Bosco wondered if he should take the risk and deal with the man. Also not for the first time, he quickly dismissed the idea. It wasnt like Bosco thought Seeker could win in a fair fight. He was strong, sure, maybe stronger than any of the team leaders sitting at the table, but Bosco was stronger. No, strength wasnt what made Seeker dangerous. Even if Bosco had caught the man off guard, Seeker would likely have escaped. If he escaped, he would report everything to Icefinger. Then Bosco would spend the next thousand years screaming inside the frozen husk that used to be his body. Anyone who made it far enough up the gangs ranks eventually got a peek at Icefingers trophy room. It was both a display of power and an unspoken warning about what happened to those who crossed the man. Yes, Icefingers teachings had found fertile ground in Bosco; he would be content with the scraps the big boss tossed him. Just like those outside had eagerly taken what Bosco gave them. Thats how the gang worked. If it was you sitting at the top one day, tossing the dogs the scraps? All the better. Bosco lowered his tankard and stared at the longhouse door, frowning, then spoke. AYE! Any of you lot know where Team 5s leader is? Theyre late. Now that we have full control of the cavern, I want to go over what happens next. The four other team leaders paused in their meal and stared up at Bosco, then at each other, shrugging. After a moment, one of them, a woman in light leather armor, swallowed her mouth full of food and responded. Who? Burt? Who knows? That bastard probably dragged one of the goblin women into one of the shacks again. I swear to the nine hells, that man will stick his rod in anything with a hole. The man across from her laughed and pointed a large drumstick at her as he spoke. Thats funny. Didnt you two use to da THUNK! Owie! What was that for?! the man cried, cradling his head where the large goblet the woman had thrown at him struck. Since you cant keep your mouth shut, how about you go ask someone where he is, and we can get back to eating! She sneered at him. Why me?! Im still hu JUST GO! Bosco roared, cutting the man off. The team leader stood instantly and approached the longhouse door, still nursing the lump growing on his forehead. He grumbled and pushed the large doors open as those at the table hooted and laughed and let the doors swing close behind him. The lead leader sighed and took in the partys sight before him. An enormous bonfire roared in the middle of the village square, where several slightly too small tables, packed with food, were lined up to either side. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. All around the square, men and women celebrated in various states of inebriation, each in their own way. Some more passionately than others. Not that there were many left, that was. What had started as a raiding part of over three dozen was now down to half that number at fighting strength. It would still be a few more days before most had recovered from their trek through the tunnels. Not that they needed many more to keep a goblin village this size in line. The aptly named cave goblins might have been more peaceful than their mountain-dwelling cousins, but that also meant they were less likely to bite your nose off if you got too close. Keep them cowed with enough force, and even a population this size wouldnt get too many funny ideas. The man was tempted to blow off the bastards in the longhouse and grab something off the tables near the fire, but sighed and shook his head. Bosco wasnt the kind of boss you just ignored. If he didnt find Burt quick, it would be his head on the chopping block instead of the other mans. And hey, if he was quick enough, he might make it back in time to grab more food before the gluttons finished it all. With that in mind, he approached the first adventurer he could find. The man leaned against an open barrel of mead, a dirty, half-filled mug listing to one side, absentmindedly spilling its contents on the ground. As for the man himself, he stared into the blazing fire, unblinking, as if it was the most beautiful thing hed ever seen. The team leader walked over and kicked the man in the shin as he spoke. Yo! Have you seen Burt anywhere? Bosco is looking for him. The man didnt respond at first, but slowly, he turned and stared up at the team leader with a blank expression. Suddenly, the mans eyes went wide, and he heaved. Dont you d was as far as the team leader got before the man retched all over his good pair of boots. Bastard! the team leader yelled and kicked the man over. The drunk man didnt even respond, simply falling over in a heap, his eyes still wide open and staring into the flames. Bloody hell? the team leader asked himself, raising a brow at the sight. He leaned over the barrel of mead, and an acidic, rancid smell hit him. He pulled back and wrinkled his nose. Bad mead, then? Ooof, hed been there before. The poor sod would be tripping balls for hours, then spend the next week on the toilet. Now that he had a good look around, the team leader spotted a few other adventurers in a similar state. On the way back, hed have to get one of the goblins to switch the barrel out for a fresh one. It wasnt his fault the idiots were too stupid not to drink rancid mead, but he was sure someone would still find a way to put the blame on him. The team leader left the man to his troubles and approached another adventurer. This time, one that was actually standing and coherent, given they were chatting with a small group. Hey! Have any of you lot seen Burt? the team leader asked. The group turned to look at him, then at each other, each shaking their heads. One man looked at the team leader and said, No, sorry, not since we left for the hunt. But you know, Burt. Hell show up, eventually. The team leader sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. Hed lose his buzz at this rate! He waved the group off. Well, if you do see him, tell him Bosco wants him. Now. The group raised their mugs in salute while the team leader walked away. Three such conversations later, and it was quite apparent that no one had seen Burt or his team for several days now. Not since the hunt. A few mentioned seeing them the first day while everyone searched the woods, but after that, nothing. Strange. The team leader narrowed his eyes as a sinking feeling formed in the pit of his stomach. Still, before he went and cried wolf, the team leader decided hed try his peers advice and check the huts. Who knew? Maybe the idiot had come back, gotten drunk, and passed out in a corner somewhere. It wouldnt have been the first time. With that in mind, he turned and headed away from the village square and deeper into the village. The goblin village was pitch black. In a normal situation, the small streets between the huts and other buildings would be lit by crude crystal torches. Said torches had been one of the first things plundered by the adventurers. Now, the unpaved streets were lit only by the dim light from the lumoss high above. Given that the moss was currently in its night cycle, giving about as much light as a star-filled sky, that was to say not much. Not that the cavern was well lit even in the day, but the inky darkness of caverns had a different feel to it compared to a dark night under the open sky. At least the team leader always felt so. That said, the team leaders eyesight was far from mundane. As a peak [Golden Spirit] cultivator, they were a step above the common dregs typical of the lower rungs in the gang. That was one reason theyd made team leader in the first place. Hell, hed probably make a decent living as a more legit adventurer if he hadnt fallen on some hard times and had to sign up with Icefinger. All that was to say, that despite the darkness, the team leader strode down the dark roads with confidence. As he passed each hut, he scanned for any out-of-place spirit signals that would tell him if Burt or one of his team were inside. He only found goblins, however. The goblins had learned quickly that it was best to stay indoors if they werent being used, such as the servants at the feast. Lest they attract the attention of a particularly grumpy adventurer. As time passed with no sign of anyone but goblins, the team leader started becoming frustrated and worried. Had something happened to Burt and his team? The scouts had tried to find any major threats over the last few days, but had turned up little. Other than the Demon Ant colony that took up the southern wall and the Mud Drake near the river, there wasnt anything here that could threaten most of the adventurers. Not while in a group, at least. While the team leader didnt think Burt was the sharpest tool in the shed, he doubted the man was stupid enough to mess with either of those threats. So what had happened? So lost in his thoughts was he, that the team leader never noticed the miniscule glint of light off of an object stretching from one side of the road to the other. Not until the man lifted a foot, only for it to catch, causing him to fall face forward into the muddy road. Pfft, what the hell?! the team leader sputtered, wiping the thin coating of mud off his face. He turned and stared at the tripwire stretched across the road and frowned, his alcohol-laden mind trying to process exactly what he was seeing. Had one of the goblin kids played a prank on them? Maybe set it up for one of the patrolling adventurers? Wait until he found out which one of the little brats had done it. With a grumble, the team leader pushed himself to his knee, and thats when he noticed it. A shape, a dark shadow hidden under one of the nearby buildings, staring at him. It was far too dark even for his enhanced eyesight to make out much detail, but his [Spirit Sight] told him it was a goblin. It looked like his hunch was right. Moreover, the brat had even stuck around to see him humiliate himself like that! The team leader bared his teeth and growled, yelling at the shadowed figure. Like games, do you? Well see how much you like games when Im playing ball with your head! The figure didnt react. Not at first. But after a moment, it dragged itself out from under the building and stood, silent. It was then that the team leader noticed something else. The figure wasnt alone. Slowly, more figures emerged from under the nearby houses, half a dozen of them, and stood in a semicircle a few meters in front of him. The team leader narrowed his eyes and frowned. Something wasnt right. Who are you? he asked. Whats going on here?. The team leader tried to stand, only to find that the tripwire had somehow wrapped itself around both his feet without his awareness. Suddenly far more sober, the team leader turned and stared at the original figure. The shadowed figure said nothing in response to his questions. Instead, a single, blindingly red light suddenly bloomed to life in the middle of their shadowed head, like a demons eye staring into his soul. Judging. The team leaders heart pounded faster at that sight, and he scrambled backward, tugging at the strange wire that wouldnt budge, even under his cultivator strength. One by one, similar lights came to life on the faces of the other shadowed figures, lighting the dark road in their eerie glow. Thats when the team leader screamed. B2 - Lesson 19: "Dont Be Rude! Knock Before You Enter." The scream cut through the pleasant fog of Bosco''s alcohol-soaked mind like a hot knife. As it did for everyone at the table. The more ''proper'' Adventurers of Halirosa might have referred to their lot as gutter rats and gangsters, only one step removed from base thieves, but they were all Adventurers too! As such, they had all developed certain instincts and rules that everyone quickly learned to listen to. Because in the dangerous wilds of the Crimson Mountains, those who didn''t listen, often never came home. One such rule was to never dismiss a strange noise as ''just the wind'' or a ''rat scurrying about.'' And, of course, a blood-curdling scream absolutely qualified as a ''strange noise.'' Bosco stood, swaying slightly as he clutched his pounding head. The three remaining team leaders shared a look and stood as well. They each grabbed their nearby weapons and rushed toward the longhouse doors. Bosco shoved both doors open with a heave and strode out into the village square, his axe at the ready. The sight that greeted him made the large man question if someone, or something, had raided the village while he wasn''t paying attention. Various Adventurers lay strewn about the square, some in piles, others leaning up against buildings. The acidic tang of vomit and less pleasant body fluids on the air, along with the confused look of a few still-conscious Adventurers, told a different story, however. As Bosco watched, one of the standing Adventurers, tankard in hand, swayed and fell to the ground. The large man shook his head, stepped away from the longhouse, and narrowed his eyes, attempting to peer deeper into the shadowed square. {Wait...why is it so dark?} Bosco thought to himself. There should have been a bonfire burning in the center of the square. And indeed, there was a large pile of burning, smoldering wood, but it had been mostly doused. In fact, he could see several of the servant goblins throwing dirt and water on the few remaining embers. "You! Goblins! What do you think you''re doing?! Who told you to put out the fire?!" The offending goblins flinched, turned to look at Bosco, then at each other. The next moment, they bolted, running in opposite directions. Bosco frowned and raised his axe to throw at the nearest fleeing goblin, but flinched as a pounded headache spiked his brain with pain. The large leader of Icefinger''s Adventurers stumbled slightly and clutched the side of his head. Bosco''s instincts screamed at him that something was wrong. Everyone shouldn''t be this drunk. He shouldn''t be this drunk. Everyone here was at least a [Silver Spirit] level cultivator, if not higher. Coupled with a lifetime in the rougher parts of Halirosa, even the weaker-bodied mages in the group could hold their alcohol well enough. That was to say nothing of Bosco himself. Even disregarding the fact that he was a much higher level cultivator than everyone in the group, barring Seeker, Bosco was a large man with an equally large thirst for booze. The quantity and quality of alcohol that it would have taken to get him feeling like he did, would have floored anyone else in the group after one mug. Or outright killed a mortal. No something was very wrong. A voice cut through the darkness as if reading Bosco''s mind (or maybe it was his expression). "What''s wrong, Bosco? Having trouble holding your drink?" Bosco''s eye snapped to the source of the voice. A dark figure stood atop the village gate, some distance away. The dark ''night'' of the cavern hid most of the figure''s features, but the shadow of long, pointed ears and Bosco''s own spirit sense told him it was a goblin. "What did you do to my men, you pointy-eared bastard?!" Bosco roared at the goblin on top of the gate. The figure gave a curt laugh and smugly answered. "You know, funny thing about spiced goblin ale, that. It''s really hard to brew anything of good quality down here. But buying anything good from the surface is far more expensive, so we make do. All the added spice isn''t because of preference, though. It''s there to cover up the taste of the inferior quality ingredient or anything else we decide to add to the batch." On cue, one of the team leaders behind him swayed on her feet, then bent over and emptied her stomach of all the high-quality food she''d eaten. An icy pit formed in Bosco''s stomach. "You poisoned us?! You rat-bastard! Who are you? Tell me now, and I''ll content myself with just skinning you and your family! The rest of the rats can settle for some broken bones!" Again, the figure laughed. "What, Bosco, you don''t recognize me? I''m offended. After you were so kind as to send that squad of goons after me, I thought we had something special," they said with mock offense. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Bosco ground his teeth and yelled back. "You! You''re that little weasel that snuck into my village, aren''t you? The one those fools Chunk and Kit let escape! I''m surprised one of the other teams didn''t finish you once we started our little hunt. What, were you not content with the second chance the heavens offered you? No problem; I can help you with your obvious death wish! Don''t think just because you snuck a little poison in our drink, you''ll be able to take me! I am Bosco! Enforcer of Icefinger, and it''ll take more than that if some puny goblin wants to put ME down!" Bosco had been slowly edging closer to the gate the entire time he spoke. He could end this with one good axe throw if he could get close enough. However, given how bad his head was pounding, it was best to be closer than he''d liked. During the previous interrogations of the goblins, it had come up that this particular one had a predilection for traps and sneaky tactics. Something confirmed by the attempted poisoning, it seems. Not that something like that would keep Bosco down. Yet he knew it was best to be careful around that type. He wasn''t just boasting to buy time; Bosco had already identified the poison in his system and started breaking it down with his spirit energy. The goblin''s voice took on a bitter tone when next he spoke. "This isn''t your village, Adventurer. Though, if you really are one of Icefinger''s men, I''m not surprised you think you can just waltz in and claim it. Even we have heard about that man''s methods." Bosco sneered up at the goblin, "Oh? So you''ve heard of us, have you? Then you should understand why it''s best if you just surrender now and hope your death buys your people some leniency." The figure folded their arms and shook their head. "No. I don''t think I will. Here''s a counteroffer for you. You surrender, and we''ll turn you over to the Halirosa authorities with most of your skin!" The figure paused and raised a hand to their head. Despite their hushed whispering, Bosco''s enhanced hearing could still make out the words in the eerily quiet cavern night. "What? Yes sir, I remember the deal, we won''t ac No, I wasn''t going toYes sir, I understand." Bosco smirked, then laughed with his full belly. "I see. Will you, now? You and what army, little goblin? Did you run off and cry to Halirosa? Is that where you''ve been? No, you couldn''t have made it that far, informed someone, and made it back so quickly. So what then? Who''s on the other side of that communication jade? Is it Robert? Tell that fool if he wants to finish our little feud, he can face me like a real man, instead of hiding behind a goblin!" The goblin lowered their hand and paused for a silent moment. When they spoke, Bosco could hear the smirk in their voice. "Don''t worry, Bosco. I don''t need an army to fight someone like you. Or the other Adventurers." "You don''t, do you? And why''s that, you little bastard?!" Bosco growled through clenched teeth. He was almost close enough to make the throw. He just needed to keep the goblin talking and in line of sight a little longer. If he rushed it, the little rat might try to escape again. The goblin actually laughed and continued. "You see, for someone who claims to own this village, you made one fatal mistake when it comes to life here." The Adventurer laughed and raised a brow. "Oh? And what''s that?" Bosco asked. This should be good. Not that he cared anything about goblin customs or laws, but it was always fun to see someone make a fool of themselves. Thunk! Something heavy struck the thick wooden gates that separated the village from the forest beyond. The wooden gates strained against the blow, splintering slightly. Bosco paused, his eyes widening. Thunk! Again, something struck the gates, causing the crude metal latches to groan in protest. Bosco was close enough to the goblin now to make out facial features in the dim, natural light of the cavern. Or enough at least to see the man grin from pointed ear to pointed ear as he spoke. "You see, you did the one thing everyone in the village has known not to do for the past 25 years." BOOOOOM! The village gates were blasted off their hinges, their shattered remains peppering a surprised Bosco with large chunks of splintered wood. The largest of such gate fragments sailed over his head and slammed into the smoldering bonfire. It caught fire and soon illuminated the village in a dim light. Bosco could see something moving from the gaping shadow maw that was the former village gate. "ROOOOAAARRRR!" An enormous figure, slightly taller than Bosco himself, erupted from the shadows, roaring as they charged him. The Adventurer''s eyes bulged, and they raised their arm. Spirit energy flashed, and a large metal shield appeared in his hands, pulled from the storage ring on his finger. The next moment, Bosco was driven to his knees, as the most massive warhammer he''d ever seen slammed into his shield. The head of the hammer alone was half the size of his torso and looked more like it should belong to a giant than anyone of common blood. The figure holding the giant''s hammer was no less strange. At 8''01", Bosco was a giant of a man himself, but if he had to guess, the enemy in front of him had an easy nine inches on him, maybe more. Moreover, they wore thick, metal armor of a make and style Bosco had never seen before. In stark contrast to what one would often see in Halirosa, it wasn''t a flashy thing. From the curves of the plate to how they interlocked and moved with each other, Bosco could tell that whoever had made this had done so with pure functionality in mind. There were no flares or embellishments to be had on the jet-black armor. Every line and curve served its purpose perfectly. And yet it was far from a crude thing. The opposite, in fact. It was sleek and stylish in an oddly enchanting way. It was the beauty of simplicity, yet so much more. The thing that drew his eyes the most, however, was the helmet. Like the rest of the armor, it was simple in design but cut into hemispheres by a glossy black strip. And on that strip, burning into his soul, was a single, glowing red ''eye.'' As they stared into that ''eye,'' Bosco could almost feel the person behind the helmet smirking. The armored figure''s hammer suddenly hissed, and the back portion rose into the air. THUNK! Bosco''s shield shattered instantly, as a massive force once more slammed into him, throwing him back several dozen meters. Bosco tumbled end-over-end before finally catching himself and standing. He stared down at the shattered remains of his shield. The arm that held it shook, and he could see a large bruise forming on his thick forearm. That shield was almost a month of saving! He didn''t care who these goblins thought they were; he was going to hang them with their own intestines! The bone wasn''t damaged, but nine hells had that hurt! He tossed the ruined shield aside, summoning another. His eyes blazing with spirit energy, Bosco raised his axe and marched to meet his armored foe. Antchaser, still standing atop the remains of the gate frame, laughed and finished his explanation. "You asked what you did? I''ll tell you." Antchaser reached up and pressed a button at the base of his neck. Metal plate slide up from his back and formed into a solid helmet with a singular, glowing red eye. "You made Boarslayer mad." B2 - Lesson 20: "Let Them Do What They Do Best." If Alpha had a face, he would be grinning from ear to ear at this moment. Operation: Goblin Raid was progressing smoothly. Each team had done their part swimmingly, from gathering intelligence, to contacting the captured goblins, and even poisoning the alcohol and food. Each had done their job to the letter, taking the whole thing far more seriously than Alpha had. Though he guessed that was to be expected. To Alpha, this was just an experiment. A way to test out some new equipment and gather data on these Adventurers and Cultivators, the natives term for those with the strange Esper-like powers so common in this world. Yet, for the goblins, this was their only chance to take back their home and rescue their loved ones. Even if Alpha hadnt intervened, he didnt doubt most would have tried to sneak into the village or attack the Adventurers in one way or another. As it was, they were making effective use of the gifts they had earned in Alphas Dungeon. Alpha had to admit, he was somewhat enjoying his little roleplay as a Dungeon Core. Design a few tests, set up some VR obstacle courses, throw them into a few simulated war zones, etc. Honestly, it wasnt much different from training new recruits in the expeditionary forces. The only major difference was that where most new recruits had to be eased into the battlefield, these goblins were already warriors. They were used to death and fighting and had taken to Alphas training like fish to water. He did have to rachet up the difficulty at one point, though. Standard military pain tolerances for new recruits in VR training was set to 33%, and the goblins could accept coming back to life after death as just more Dungeon Core magic, just like they had the time dilation. Yet, risk and reward, especially risk in a Dungeon, seemed hard-coded into their culture and lore. If he just tried giving them equipment, then the goblins looked at the gesture with skeptical eyes, suspecting some kind of Dungeon trick or test. No, they had to earn the rewards with their blood, sweat, pain, and even their very lives. After all, thats what a Dungeon was. A place of testing, where the worthy earn grand rewards while those who werent, were weeded out. Playing this dungeon game was a careful balance of ensuring the goblins got the equipment and training they needed via these trials. While pushing the goblins hard enough that they felt theyd earned the rewards on their own merit. All without crossing any lines that HR nags in the Federation could cite him for later down the road, of course. The giant female named Boarslayer had been his toughest nut to crack. The woman was obsessed with what she called a warriors pride and absolutely refused to deviate from what she thought was the correct way combat should be. Even if that meant being killed in VR dozens of times as the other goblins slowly adapted to their new equipment. She could learn, if you could convince her something didnt infringe on that honor. She wasnt stupid. Far from it, in fact. The giant goblin had a natural instinct for battle that reminded Alpha of some of the more powerful Federation elites. Even so, to call the woman stubborn was an understatement of the highest order. Thats why when Antchaser suggested trying something different, Alpha was skeptical. After all, the Federations methods had been tried true for thousands of years. The Federation had perfected the art of warfare in all its forms. What the smartest of the goblins had suggested, however, had been to stop trying to force Boarslayer into the same tactical roles as the other goblins. Instead, let her do what Boarslayer did best; Charge headlong into battle and smash the biggest thing she could find with the second biggest thing. It sounded insane, and in many cases, probably would be. Yet Boarslayer was nothing if not a special case. Besides, the womans enormous strength and battle prowess were too important to sideline. So instead, they tried what Antchaser had suggested: let Boarslayer do what Boarslayer did best. To that end, Alpha had to get creative with her new weapon. The standard Federation melee weapons werent going to cut it here. Plasma blades didnt have the heft behind them to really make use of the womans power. Meanwhile, the heavy weapons used by the more strength-focused augmented soldiers took decades to properly master. They needed a simple weapon with enough bulk and power behind it to act as a force multiplier for the wrecking ball that was Boarslayer. At the same time, it had to be simple and easy enough to grasp that she could get the basics down in a few translight days or weeks of training. It was the crooked nail sticking up out of Alphas otherwise perfect plan, and he couldnt quite find the right hammer to bash it in with. So that had got Alpha thinking. If his problem was a nail, why shouldnt he use a hammer? With his creative circuits firing, Alpha got to work designing Boarslayers new weapon, and after only a few scant hours, the [Megaton] was born. In concept, the [Megaton] was a simple idea, being little more than a massive impact hammer on a stick. But just like the [Railjack], its simplicity belied its tremendous destructive capability. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. With the help of systems hed adapted from Federation dreadnaught shielding, the [Megaton] could absorb and store kinetic energy for later use. Even the energy of the users own swing or the force of a blow. That meant the faster the user could swing the massive hammer, and the harder they could hit something, the stronger the second blow from the built-in impact hammer would become. It was a near-perfect weapon for someone like Boarslayer, who relied on overwhelming force above all else. There was only one major flaw. Despite Boarslayers massive strength, the weapon was simply too big for her to use comfortably. That was an unavoidable facet of the weapons design if they didnt want to compromise the kinetic absorption aspect. Thats where the second piece of the Boarslayer puzzle came into play. The armor that the goblins had won from Alpha were all standard Federation Expeditionary Force environmental exosuits. Form-fitting, armored, climate-controlled, and designed to mildly augment the wearers base strength and agility. Sure, it was a step above what a recruit might receive fresh out of training, but nothing truly impressive in the grand scale. Boarslayers armor, however, had been so heavily modified that, as it stood, it might qualify as a miniature mech. Alpha could honestly say it had, at the very least, definitely crossed into power armor territory. The large goblins armor was not only equipped with much thicker armor than the standard version, but the strength augmentations had been boosted to a level that should have torn her arm off every time she moved. If the woman wasnt already a monster, that was. Honestly, it wasnt something that would have ever been approved for actual use by the Federation, but Boarslayer had fallen in love from the moment she first put it on. With her new weapon and armor, Boarslayer became a veritable natural disaster, wreaking untold destruction in the VR simulations. Though both Alpha and Antchaser thought part of it was just the woman working out some of her frustrations from the previous training. So, when it came time to implement their plan to retake the goblin village and put the Adventurers in their place, Boarslayer wanted to be front and center. Who was Alpha to deny her? After all, every good plan needed an eye-catching distraction. RAAAAAWWWR! Boarslayer once more wordlessly roared as she swung [Megaton] at the focus of her wrath. The shattered remains of a dozen or more shields lay scattered around the Adventurer. How many exactly, she didnt know; Boarslayer had stopped counting after the fifth. Why did someone need so many shields?! What use were shields in the face of overwhelming power? Boarslayer swung the hammer again, reveling in the feeling of the impact, the sound of metal on metal, and the Adventurers cries of mounting frustration and rage. This is what combat was supposed to be. None of the skulking about or mind games Antchaser and the Dungeon Core insisted on. None of the kicking around helpless weaklings just because you were bigger and stronger, like the Adventurers seemed to love doing. No; just two warriors facing off, one on one, testing their strength against the other. The fact that Bosco was half drunk and still shaking off the effects of the poison didnt really bother her. A real warrior should always be aware of what is happening in their body. That he was unskilled enough to be poisoned in such a way wasnt her problem. Again, she swung her hammer, and again, Bosco blocked the blow, barely, with a summoned shield. A glancing blow from his axe scraped across her armor in retaliation, but it barely left a mark before the man was sent flying. Bosco rolled for several meters before coming to a stop near the bonfire. The fire had dimmed somewhat, the fuel from the gate being quickly consumed, but it cast just enough light for Boarslayer to see the Adventurer grinding his teeth. The mans left arm hung limp by his side, a patchwork of bruise and torn muscle. That hed managed to take so many blows from [Megaton] was a testament to the Adventurers resilience. Boarslayer had tested the artifact extensively during her trials with the Dungeon Core. She understood what kind of weapon of mass destruction she held in her hands. But even Boscos durability couldnt keep up, it seemed. Boarslayer grinned beneath her helmet. She heaved the weapon over her shoulder and slowly walked into the bonfires light. Bosco stood on shaking legs and spit out a mouth full of blood. You think this is over, goblin? Not a chance. I knew you lot were dim, but did you forget I wasnt alone? I wasnt running, you fool, just bringing you closer! Bosco grinned and called over his shoulder, BOYS! Only silence answered. The man furrowed his brow and looked behind him, only for his eyes to widen and his jaw to slack. The gathered Adventurers were indeed behind him. Yet, not one of them remained standing. Most lay on their side, still, their arms and legs tied behind their back. Some were not so lucky, if the crimson pools glistening in the firelight underneath them said anything. Roughly a dozen figures walked between the Adventurers. Each looked like a miniature version of Boarslayer, though their suits were less heavily armored, and did less to add to their overall profiles. Several moved from Adventurer to Adventurer, checking their bonds or stabilizing those who needed it. Even his team leaders were down, each guarded by at least two figures on either side. As for Seeker, Bosco had lost track of the man when they exited the longhouse. Who knew where hed run off to Boarslayer laughed as she spoke, the helmet she wore giving her voice a slightly echoing quality. Whoever said we were alone, either? Bosco turned back around and stared at Boarslayer. The burning fire of rage in his eyes had vanished, replaced by a different fire. Ha hahaha hahahahhahahaha! Bosco burst into laughter, covering his face with his good hand. The man shook his head and sighed. I see so this is how it ends. Just like my mother predicted; done in by goblins and thrown in some random hole in the ground. He then turned and spoke to Boarslayer. Well, are you going to keep hiding behind that fancy armor of yours? Or are you at least going to do me the honor of letting me see the face of the warrior who bested me? Boarslayer paused and tilted her head. She was silent for a moment, before her armor hissed, and the helmet folded down, like scales overlapping each other. Bosco met her eyes and nodded as he spoke. I see the Adventurer then smirked, as ugly as I thought! Boscos good arm suddenly bulged, swelling in size. Faster than the eye could follow, the man threw his axe toward the exposed head of Boarslayer. His axe flared with a pulse of spirit energy and quickly transformed into a green spinning blade in mid-air. The air screamed as the spinning blade of death rocketed toward Boarslayer, and Boscos smirk shifted into a wicked grin. Only for Boscos spinning axe to stop cold, as a shimmering field of blue energy sprang into existence in front of Boarslayer. The axe pushed harder against the energy barrier as if it had a mind of its own, but a shower of glowing sparks was the only result. After a moment, the axe used up all of its energy, and fell lifeless to the ground. Both Bosco and Boarslayer stared down at the spent axe, though the looks they wore were vastly different. Boarslayer simply humphed and stomped on the axe handle with a massive, armored foot, cleanly snapping it in two. Boarslayer turned toward Bosco. It was her turn to grin. The giant woman took a single step forward and vanished. The next breath, she reappeared in front of the man, [Megaton] already mid-swing. With an audible thump, the giant hammer caught Bosco directly in his chest. Between one heartbeat and the next, the Adventurer became a blur, and he rocketed backward, crashing through the front of the longhouse. The building rumbled, then collapsed in on itself. B2 - Arc 1 Epilogue - "Remind Them Whos in Charge." Seeker stood atop the massive tree, his arms folded behind his back. A deep frown fell over his face as he stared into the goblin village from a distance. This was less than ideal. Hed known Bosco was an idiot; why else would the Boss send him to ensure the fool stayed in line? Bosco had only been allowed to take the newest members and those with the lowest potential on his little expedition. The fools had seen it as a chance to prove themselves. A way to claw their way out of the lowest rungs of the gang. They never even considered they were just the sacrificial lambs. Scouts sent out to test unknown waters and gather information for their betters. No, neither he nor Icefinger had really expected much from the man, or his band of misfits. Who would have ever believed it could turn out like this, however? A new passage to the Deep Tunnels. A totally untouched biodome. Treasures around every corner, all guarded by nothing more than a small tribe of cave goblins. It was the kind of the find adventurers dreamed of. The discovery that should have catapulted even the greenest adventurer into the analogs of history. It was the kind of thing you expected to hear in stories and myths, not actually see happen in real life. Yet, somehow, Bosco had messed it up. Seeker humphed and shook his head. Oh well. Hed gathered more than enough information to bring back to Icefinger. As he watched the goblins dig through the wreckage of the longhouse, Seeker lept backward off the tree, and disappeared into the darkness. Almost a day later, the man stepped out of the opening the adventurers had uncovered and into the light of early sunrise. Seeker stretched and yawned, enjoying the warm glow of the morning sun on his skin. He always enjoyed coming back up from the Deep Tunnels. It was so dark and gloomy down there. Lumoss was fine for lighting your way, but nothing beat real sunlight. Seeker turned toward Halirosa and calculated how long it would take to return on his own. He absentmindedly wondered if he would have enough time to stop by that quaint little teahouse theyd passed by. A sudden noise of falling gravel from behind caught his attention, and he quietly turned around. A young man slowly dragged himself over the ledge, wheezing. The young man flopped on his back as soon as he was over the edge and raised a fist to the air. Takecoughthat, you giant, huff, bastard! Oh? So you actually made it back up? Only took you a few days, too. Not terrible. Thomas, was it, right? Seeker laughed. The young man, Thomas, nearly jumped out of his skin as he sat upright and stared at Seeker, his eyes wide. Yes! I meanSir! Seeker Sir? Youre back already?! Where are the others?! Thomas heart fell as he failed to see anyone else with Seeker. Did I miss it?! That fat bastard! Im going to kill him, I swear! Thomas ground his teeth and stood, his legs shaking under the effort. It had taken nearly a day and a half to recover enough from the fall to move well. Then, three more to make the climb back up. Sure, he could have rested at the bottom of the mountain, but the Crimson Mountains were a dangerous place. It was better to be on a cliffside where few things could reach him than to end up as an easy meal for something wandering the valley before he recovered. The young man limped toward the cave entrance, but was stopped by a smiling Seeker, his hand outstretched. I like you, boy. Youve got a fire in you. Dont worry about Bosco and the other riff-raft. Theyre having their own fun. Theres no need to go sticking your head in there. Never know what might try to bite it off. He then turned and started walking toward Halirosa. Come, follow me. We need to report our findings to Icefinger. Thomas clenched his teeth so hard he could have sworn he tasted blood. Or maybe that was just his wounds opening back up. Bullcrap! Do you have any idea how many people I had to bribe or how many favors I had to call in to get on this expedition?! Ill be damned if I let that lowlife make a fortune while I run back home with my tail between my legs! Seeker paused. Then, slowly, he looked over his shoulder and stared at Thomas. I said come. Though the mans voice was calm and leveled, Thomas froze, his body instinctually trying to make itself look as small as possible. He couldnt even shiver. His brain told him if he so much as twitched, that would be the end; like a mouse being stared at by a falcon. The man in front of him wasnt the same man whod silently followed behind Bosco and offered advice. That meek-looking, weaselly man who looked more at home in a merchants caravan than a gang of rough adventurers. No. This was a predator in human skin, and Thomas instincts screamed at him that if he ignored Seeker, he wouldnt have to worry about something in the tunnels getting at him. With unblinking eyes, Thomas slowly nodded, barely managing to squeak out, Yyes sir before turning away from the tunnel entrance and taking his place behind Seeker. Seeker smiled, and just like that, the predator was gone, replaced with the weaselly merchant man once more. Good! Good! Hurry along now. If we make good time, Ill bring you somewhere nice. And dont worry about what trifling things the others are getting into down there. Im sure the Boss will reward us both handsomely. You have my word. He then turned away and began walking down the mountain pass, whistling a merry tune. Thomas took one last look at the tunnel entrance and followed behind. The goblins took roughly 20 minutes to clear away the rubble of what had once been their longhouse. When they finally pulled Bosco out, everyone, including Alpha, was shocked to find the man still lived. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. For a mortal, having the entirety of your chest caved in would have been more than enough to end them. Yet it seemed the peak [Shackle Breaking] cultivator was made of tougher stuff. Antchaser even suspected the man had taken steps to form a pseudo-core in preparation for his transcendence. A foolish thing, from what little Antchaser knew of the higher realms. There was a reason that cultivators waited until the [Earthly Transcendent] realm before forming their core. Sure, a pseudo-core might offer some measure of strength beyond the typical, but those that did never reached any proper height of power. It ate away at your potential and ruined your foundation on a fundamental level. Or at least thats what all the stories and legends said. Of course, as soon as they pulled him free of the rubble, Boarslayer pushed her way past the other goblins and stared down at the man. A fire burned in her eyes, like she took some offense at seeing that the man had survived. Well, survived might have been too strong of a word at this point. With the way the mans spirit energy was flickering like a candle in the wind, he would succumb to his injuries soon, regardless of whether the goblins intervened. If the way Boarslayers grip tightened around the shaft of her massive hammer said anything, Antchaser questioned if the man would live long enough to do so. The giant goblin took a heavy step forward, lifting [Megaton] in one hand, when a voice cut through the silence, echoing in their helms. No. Alpha spoke through their equipments built-in comms. We had a deal. Any of them that survive get sent to me. That includes this one. Bullcrap! This one is mine! Ill not let this bastard get the chance to escape! Not after everything hes done! Boarslayer snarled. She raised [Megaton] over her head and swung with all her strength. If one hit wasnt enough to kill the adventurer, shed just have to hit him again. And again. And again, until the job was done. It was a strategy that had yet to fail her. Yet, as the massive hammer swung down with enough force to crumple armor, Boarslayer froze. Or rather, her armor did. Boarslayer roared, struggling against the armor that had suddenly become an unmoving prison. The other goblins hastily backed away from the raging woman. Only Antchaser approached, gently laying a hand on the womans wrist. Boarslayer. It will be fine. Alpha wont let him, or any of them, escape. I promise, Antchaser said, speaking softly. Still, the woman raged for several more minutes before finally exhausting herself. Alpha released the controls on the armor, and Boarslayer fell to one knee. She stayed there for a moment, panting. Alpha calmly spoke through the comms, channeling his inner Sidia. No need to fear, Ms. Boarslayer. They dont get the same opportunities as you had. No, I have my own plans for them. An icy chill swept down Antchasers spine at those words, but Boarslayer said nothing. Instead, she stood, stared down at the still form of Bosco, then screamed and flung [Megaton] into one of the nearby empty buildings. The weapon crashed through the hut like a wrecking ball, and Boarslayer stalked off. Antchaser sighed and shook his head. It would be best to give her some time alone. Boarslayer has never been one to take being told what to do well, the man spoke to Alpha through their armors comms. Alpha mentally shrugged, then turned his attention elsewhere. Antchaser bent down and touched Boscos neck. The surface of his armor bubbled, and a thin line of material flowed off, wrapping around the adventurers neck before sinking into their skin like a tattoo. That job done, he turned and stared off after Boarslayer. Shed likely sulk for a while, then wander off to see if any unpoisoned ale was left. The woman wasnt as big of a drinker as some of the other hunters, but she knew how to celebrate a successful hunt as well as any of them. And this? This was a hunt that would go down in legend. Robert clapped his hands and glanced around the room as the gathered adventurers turned their attention to him. Hello, everyone; Im glad you all arrived safely! I hope you have prepared well over the last month! Now, I know for some of you, this will be your first expedition, while for others, itll be just one more notch under your belt! The guild and I strongly encourage the former to seek the latter out and inquire about anything you may have missed. I understand that all of you are experienced adventurers with dozens of missions on your record, but scouting expeditions like this tend to be unpredictable. New tunnels are dangerous, and one should always be prepared for the unexpected! The gathered adventurers, roughly a dozen, muttered to each other in the cramped guild room. After last months debacle, where information of their scouting mission had leaked, through bribes and other unpleasant means, the guild had rushed to fill spots. The result was a less experienced team than Robert had hoped for. That said, many of the key people theyd need for this expedition were still present. The Runic Expert, Magnolia Greenwood. She might have been young, but Maggy was one of the foremost experts regarding ancient runic arts and the ruins they were found in. Not only that, but she was an adept mage of various schools, and while she was new to the adventuring scene, she had a near-spotless record for success. Geralt Riverwalker, Master Infiltrationist, and the best tracker Robert had ever met. The man was said to hunt down creatures that would have given cultivators an entire realm over his own, pause. All by himself. Whether or not there was any truth to these claims, the fact remained that Geralt was an expert in surviving in the most dangerous parts of the Crimson Mountains. Finally, there was Robert Bert Murphy, the other Robert commonly seen in the East Halirosa guildhall. Hed taken to calling himself Bert after one too many people had gotten the two of them confused. Compared to Robert, Bert was a large, quiet man of few words. Many assumed he was a bit of a dullard and a brute, but those who knew him well knew the truth. Bert was a master of combat, and he had taught many of the larger adventurers in the guild how to use their size and strength for things other than just barbarically overpowering their opponent. Coupled with a few other experts in various fields, Robert felt confident they could handle anything this mission threw at them. The meeting only took a few hours to hack out some of the finer details, but once that was through, the group marched as one toward the city gate. As they passed through, someone caught Roberts eye. Mr. Milford! Good to see you! Are you returning from a trip? Robert called out, furrowing his brow and looking around, not seeing the typical caravan accompanying the man. Mr. Milford, a wiry man whose perpetual smile widened at the sight of Robert, opened his arms and called back. Robert! My boy! Its good to see you. Yes, though nothing long, just a personal business trip. It got a little rough near the end, but Im glad to be home. Robert turned and addressed the group. Everyone! Id like to introduce you to Mr. Milford! President of the Milford Shipping Company! Ive done several escort missions for the man, and its always a pleasant time. He pays well, too, so thats a bonus! Hahahahha! Mr. Milford laughed along and shook his head, Now, now, my boy, dont be going telling everyone that. Youll drive my costs up! Robert peered over the merchants shoulder to see a ragged-looking young man hanging nearby. Though I must admit, your companion is new to me. Hello, young man! he said. The boy looked like the trip had been far harder on him than it had on Mr. Milford, if the dusty clothes and heavy bags under his eyes said anything. Mr. Milford glanced over his shoulder, then back to Robert. Ah, yes. My newest apprentice. The boy still needs work, but Im sure you understand how those things go, yes? Robert nodded sagely, before smiling and s, Of course. Well, it was nice to see you, Mr. Milford. Give my regards to the rest of your team. I have a mission of my own to get to! Farewell! Farewell to you, too, my boy! Mr. Milford said, grabbing the adventurers hand in both his own and shaking it. The two shared a smile as they parted, and the groups went their separate ways. As Robert turned back toward the road, he slipped a small piece of paper into the gap of his vambrace. B2: GRIM Adventures - 9 The unlikely group made good time out of Morganas mountains. Once they passed through the valley, the group encountered little more dangerous than the common fair in this part of the Crimson Mountains. Whether that was because more dangerous creatures instinctually avoided the territory of the powerful Elder Mimic, or because Morgana rarely let such creatures through, was unknown. Jill didnt particularly care, however. She was just glad to be done with the matter. The more distance they put between them and the mimics remains, the better. Once they arrived at their next destination, she could send word to the Guild and have someone properly deal with the situation. She agreed with her brother that it was a shame to lose the tree like this, but it was never really something they could have claimed in the first place. Besides, something told her that most of the value of the tree had already been used up. Jill glanced at the much larger gopher riding atop the giant Lykos walking beside her. As a peak [Silver Spirit] Cultivator, Jill was above average for many young adventurers, but she was still far from a true prodigy. Yet it had been that same pride in her strength that had led her to foolishly challenge Icefinger. Sure, shed heard the rumors, but the man hadnt been an active adventurer for literal decades, growing fat as he feasted on Halirosas underbelly. She had been confident that she would have a chance as long as she caught him off guard. Shed been wrong. Despite the mans appearance of having gone soft, he had proven that a core of ice and steel lay under all that fur. Jill wasnt even sure the man had noticed her, until she was already a shivering heap at his feet. He hadnt even bothered to ask her name; he just stared down at her and laughed, then had his men toss her in the streets. That was a common theme with the crime lord. He never actually killed anyone. It was bad for business in his words. Yes, that didnt mean his cruelty was any less absolute. Like any good Winter Mage, Icefingers magic seeped into his victims bodies, slowly sapping them of warmth and life. Those with the strength or proper affinities, like Jill, could fight off the effects for a time, sometimes even years, but it was a hollow life that drove some to madness. Those who couldnt fight the [Winters Bite] were often forced to sell themselves to one of the large clans or sects in the hope of a cure. Many ended up crawling back to Icefinger himself, in a twisted irony. Jill shook her head and cleared her mind off that rabbit trail. There was no reason for dwelling on things she couldnt change now. Instead, she turned her attention to the gopher. Mr. Gopher, as Grim called him, was a mystery. Not that the strange artifact spirit wasnt a mystery herself. If she told anyone back in Halirosa that a Root Gopher was two steps and an entire Realm above her, she would have been laughed out of the guildhall. Hell, if someone else had told her that, she would have laughed too. Even now, she couldnt sense much more than the odd fluctuation of mixed earth and fire energies from the abnormally large creature. It had grown since absorbing the fruit from the burning tree. Where before it only reached her knee (still large for his kind), the gopher now came up to her mid-thigh, a notable difference. Their light brown fur, mixed with swirling dark patches like tree roots, had taken on a darker, red-tinted color. Like rust, maybe clay or dried blood. That last one may have just been her imagination, though, given how much the gopher seemed to enjoy combat, maybe not as much as she thought. Still, she wouldnt deny her pride had been slightly dented, having lost her place as the strongest of the group. Though, given what she suspected, maybe that had been inevitable. The gophers abnormal strength and intelligence. The way the heavens favored them with how treasures seemed to land in their lap one after another. How dangers seemed just as attracted to them as treasures were Only one word echoed through her head when she thought about all of this. Progenitor. There was no other explanation in Jills mind. Once or twice could be called a fortunate encounter. Yet none could deny that the gopher had Heavens Blessing. The only question was, did that mean it was a blessing for them as well? Or was it a curse? Many people dreamt of meeting a true Progenitor. The legends and stories all told of the riches and power that followed in their wake. Of the clans and sects uplifted to heights unimaginable by their hand. But as a direct descendant of Jonny Rubyseed, the Progenitor of her own clan, Jill had a slightly better perspective on the matter than the general public. Sure, Progenitors were favored by Heaven. Some would even say treasures sought them out, not vice versa. Yet, for every blessing came a trial. For each of the rewards the Heavens seemed to shower on a Progenitor, came struggles and hardships that no mortal should ever have to face. For the Heavens werent simply looking for a special snowflake to uplift, but for someone worthy. Worthy of being more than they were, more than they should have been. A Progenitors journey was as much a test as it was anything else, and more often than not, it wasnt the Progenitor themselves that had to deal with the fallout, but the people around them. For every clan uplifted by a Progenitor, a dozen more fell into ruin. For every treasure claimed, someone else, just as worthy, went without. A Progenitors throne was built on bones, and only the lucky few would catch the dragons tail as it ascended. So Jill found herself at a crossroads. The young girl inside her, the one whod grown up on the stories of Jonny Rubyseed and all his adventurers, couldnt help but feel giddy with excitement. It was rare enough for a clan to gain the favor of one Progenitor, but two? This could be the chance they had been waiting for, ever since the Rubyseed clan began their decline. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. The more experienced adventurer inside her, who had seen the world for what it was, and knew it was not always like in the stories, worried what such a thing might cost them. She would have to find a time to speak with Jack. Alone. Her brother might have been less than reliable in some aspects, but he often brought a different perspective to things in a way that Jill had relied on over the years. It had more than once been her older twins calm words and gentle hand that had prevented her from bashing in some foolish young masters teeth. Jill sighed and shook her head. That would have to wait, though. As they neared their next destination, another problem jumped to the forefront of Jills mind. Her eyes drifted from gopher to the giant Lykos upon whose head he sat. Jills frown deepened, wondering how she would explain this one. I dont know, Jill, this seems like a bad idea Jack said. His gaze slowly turned to stare at the town off in the distance. His frown deepened. Jill folded her arms and tilted to one side. Youre the one who wanted to bring him along. Now its time to pay the piper. We cant leave Little Red in the mountains. Not without leaving Mr. Gopher to watch him Said gopher eagerly chittered, as if to say he wouldnt be left out of the fun like that. Jill turned to look at him, then sighed and turned back to Jack. Remember where were at. Theres no telling what kind of trouble Little Red will get into all by himself. At the very least, well be the ones blamed for it. At least this way, we can lay all our cards out on the table and control the situation. Be proactive instead of reactive. Jacks shoulders sagged, and they looked over at Little Red. The Lykos in question only simply tilted their head in a strangely dog-like fashion. Jack shook his head and said, Thats true weve barely gotten him to stop chewing on Grim, Little Reds head snapped to her at the mention of the AIs name. Grim slowly floated away, her optical sensors never letting the creature out of her sight. who knows what trouble he would get into on his own Jack finished. Jills own shoulders slumped as well, and she turned toward the main road, heading toward the town. Well, lets get this over with she said. Ashdale Vally was a bustling town, given its remoteness. It had started off as just another clan outpost, but as the decades passed, the richness of the surrounding mountains drew in more and more settlers, transforming it into a proper satellite city. Most were hoping to get away from the overcrowded hunting grounds surrounding Halirosa proper, while others simply enjoyed the quiet valley community, away from the chaos of the larger city. It helped that the controlling clan, the Ashdales, were strict but fair in their rule. Corruption was minimal, and the clan leaders were all seen as upstanding men and women of honor, while their adventurers were considered a tier above the more common clans. Their influence had grown so much in the past few generations that they had even earned a seat in the Halirosa Senate, further bolstering their power and control of the area. The only actual concern in the Ashdale Vally and its surrounding mountains was the frequent incursions by the various Lykos packs. Said to be the remains of the Lykos army that once fought with the Ashdales Progenitor for control of the area, the Lykos lost, and regressed into a bestial people, stuck between animal and man. Ever since, the feud between the Ashdales and the Lykos has been constant, despite several attempts by the Ashdale to eradicate the pests fully. All that was to say, Jill had expected this very situation from the start K-keep your hands up! You head me?! One move a-and well run you through! Two dozen shivering wolf-men surrounded their group, heavy spears pointed inward. Jill stood in front, her hands raised in the air, and her face blank. Behind her, Little Red crouched low to the ground, his fangs fully bared and his eyes dilated. The deep growl that emanated from the massive creature shook the ground and vibrated in Jills chest. If it wasnt for Jacks soothing words and calm tone as he stroked the creature, Jill didnt doubt the Lykos would have lept on the gate guards already, and torn them to shreds. Nor did she doubt it could have done so easily, either. After all, while the guards were impressive for a city this size, with most being low [Golden Spirit] cultivators, the highest was only mid-step. On the other hand, Little Red unabashedly blasted his full peak [Shackle Breaking] aura for all of them to feel. Jill knew the creature had been powerful when it faced them on Morganas mountain, but even shed been shocked when she felt to what extent. If the gopher hadnt intervened when they had, she doubted any of them would have ever left the mountain in one piece. It didnt help that said gopher was standing on top of Little Reds head, tapping his foot and looking visibly annoyed at the whole situation. So it was no surprise that when they approached the gates of Ashdale, theyd been immediately surrounded. As the standoff dragged on, and tensions rose, Jill ran through all the scenarios and the best ways to resolve them. If she could just, All of Jills plans were thrown out the window as a rugged voice suddenly broke the stalemate. What is the meaning of this?! Who are you, and why have you come here?! Jill flinched as a large wolf-man in fine clothes pushed his way through the crowd of guards. Unlike the siblings, whose clan was old, and thus took on a more human-like appearance, the Ashdales were still a relatively young clan, closer to their spirit beast Progenitor. Yet despite looking more like a bipedal wolf in noblemens clothes, no one would ever call Baron Levi Ashdale beastly. The man carried himself with a noble aura that many, even in the larger clans, failed to emulate. It was an aura that commanded respect as easily as it portrayed a steady rock on which to find shelter. Jill blushed slightly and lowered her hands to address the new arrival, when a sudden roar cut her off. To her horror, Jill turned just in time to see Little Red leaping over her, his jaws opened wide, and clawed hands reaching out toward the much smaller Baron. Jills heart dropped as he followed the beasts arc in slow motion. Baron Ashdales eyes narrowed at the sight, and he unfolded his arms from behind his back. In a motion that felt as slow and smooth as a parent catching the playful strike of their child, Baron Ashdale caught both of Little Reds outstretched claws in his own hands. Little Red stopped dead, seemingly unable to move an inch closer, or even bend their front limbs further, despite their back legs digging deep furrows behind them. Instead, they contented themselves with snapping their jaws viciously at the smaller man just out of reach. Then, with a twist of his wrist and a yelp from Little Red, Baron Ashdale flipped the massive creature into the air, before slamming the massive creature on their back, hard. Little Red yelped again, and whined pitifully as the awkward position put strain on their wrists, no matter how they struggled against the Barons grip. Mr. Gophers form suddenly appeared in the air above Ashdale. Like a glowing small fireball, the furry creature descended in a familiar fashion. Ashdales eyes widened, and he released Little Red, hastily dodging backward and away from the small meteor gopher. Mr. Gopher slammed into the group where Ashdale had stood, forming a small crater. Instead of pursuing the wolf-man, however, the gopher only stared at him with narrowed eyes, then turned to Little Red. and kicked the prone Lykos in the head. Little Red yelped, flipped over, and covered his head with his paws. They lay like that, shivering as the gopher angrily chittered at them, wagging a small furry digit. Jill hovered her face with her palm and sighed, feeling another headache slowly creep in. Baron Ashdale, for his part, watched the scene with a frown, his eyes narrowed. Slowly, the frown slipped upward, and the man suddenly burst into laughter, causing all eyes to turn toward him. Well, now. It seems we have some things to talk about, I believe. Come, follow me. Oh, and bring you pet? with you. Im afraid there are few presently in the city qualified to watch over him while we speak. Ignoring the stuttering protests of the guard captain, Baron Ashdale turned and made his way toward the city gates. He glanced once over his shoulder and waved for them to follow. Jack and Jill shared a look. Jack only shrugged and walked after the Baron. Jill shook her head and followed, with Grim and Little Red, watched closely by Mr. Gopher, trailing behind. As the city gates closed behind them, Jill questioned, not for the first time, if it was a mistake coming here. B2 - Lesson 21: "Not Even Conquerors can Escape the Bureaucracy." The man kneeling in the middle of the room was silent, their glassy eyes staring down at the ground. In contrast, the crowd behind them, separated by a low barrier, yelled and cursed, several throwing small stones at the man. Whether the man didnt respond due to fear and shock, or simply because of his higher cultivation, Antchaser didnt know. He highly doubted it was because of guilt, however. The man kneeling in the dirt wasnt the first to try to justify their actions that day. A voice cut through the sound of the roaring crowd. A flat, monotone voice that felt somehow wrong to Antchasers ears, Order! Order! When the room grew silent, the source of the voice, one of three large ants sitting behind a tall podium, turned and addressed the young woman to one side. Thank you, Ms. Weaver, for your testimony. Bailiff, please escort the witness. The bailiff, a hunter in full combat gear, stood and gently led the weeping goblin woman back into the crowd, where she was embraced by her remaining family. The three ants, whom Alpha claimed were controlled by Federation-approved Judicial AI, froze. Antchaser had seen the sight enough times that day to know the strange creatures were communicating with each other in their own way. I still dont see why we must go through all this Antchaser asked, not to himself, but to the small wasp-like insect on his shoulder. Alpha, controlling the [Wasp], responded. Because, my dear boy, I dont need the brass breathing down my neck when they look through my logs and see I didnt go through the proper steps. Antchaser waved his hand and complained, Whats the point though?! Theyre bandits! You know that, I know that. Why not simply execute them and get it over with?! Alpha sighed, Yes. They are. Yet Federation law states any captured hostile combatants have the right to defend themselves in trial. Well, that was the official stance. Anyone whod spent any length of time in the Federation military knew that the Federation didnt like to execute bandits. It was a waste of resources. Captured bandits would often be assigned work detail as scouts or miners on the fringes of Federation space, where the infrastructure didnt support larger drone operations. After all, why risk the lives of lawful soldiers and civilians in such dangerous places, when you had plenty of volunteers able to do the work instead? Some of the lucky or more skilled ones even managed to survive to the end of their sentence! It was a win-win for everyone other than the ones that got eaten, of course. Regardless, Alpha could understand where the goblin man was coming from. Theyd been at this all day, and only a handful of these Adventurers had shown any kind of remorse for their actions. Even for bandits, it was strange. Why this circus, though? Antchaser said. Why create these he waved to the ants behind the podium, judges? Why not simply do so yourself? Alpha shrugged. I dont have the authority to pass legal judgment. . but you made them, Antchaser responded. I did. Alpha nodded. How does that even work?! The goblin exhaled, cupping his head in his hands. Alpha patted the young goblin on his shoulder. Welcome to the world of bureaucracy, my friend. I would tell you to run, but its already too late. It had been a week since theyd recaptured the village, and Antchaser was still coming to terms with some of the Dungeon Cores eccentricities. The legends and stories always spoke of how Dungeon Cores were powerful masters of their realm. Beings who held life and death in their hands and judged the worthy. To learn that such a being was beholden to other powers had come as a shock. More so since the ways of this Federation were almost as strange as Alpha themselves. If it wasnt for the powerful artifacts and strange mysteries hed witnessed, Antchaser would have questioned if the Dungeon Core wasnt simply insane. He didnt even know that was possible! Not for the first time that week did Antchaser internally question if he had made the right choice in seeking aid from Alpha. Why exactly do they have to wear those outfits? Antchaser asked, gesturing to the ant judges flowing, silky black robes and the large, powdered wigs sitting on each of their heads. . Tradition, Alpha responded. . Right. Antchaser shook his head and chose to stop asking questions. Partly for his own mental health, and partly because the ant judges twitched back to life at that moment. Kitan of the Duststalker Clan, the middle ant judge spoke. This court finds you Guilty of all charges brought against you, including, but not limited to, banditry, assault, theft, destruction of property, and resisting arrest by a Federation-approved militia force. In accordance with Federation law, you are sentenced to 50 standard years of hard labor. Due to current circumstances outside the control of this court, your sentence will be postponed, and custody will be passed to the Federation Expeditionary Force under [SEAU - 01] Lieutenant Colonel ALPHA-555-12-4412, until such time that proper accommodations can be met. Good behavior may warrant time served; petitions can be made after 10 years. The judge finished their decree by banging the small wooden mallet that Alpha had carved out of the strange root system found in the ant colony. Alpha thought the small shower of blue sparks the action produced was a nice, if unintentional, touch. Internally, he was smiling. The verdict was just what he had been hoping for. Alpha wasnt lying to Antchaser when he said he had no proper control over the court. According to Antchaser, the Adventurers of Halirosa, while a large part of the city-states military force, werent officially part of their standing army. Instead, they were closer to mercenaries or private security groups. As such, their actions against the goblin village fell under banditry instead of military action. On one hand, this meant their punishment was far more likely to stick, with no chance of outside forces legally being able to intervene. On the other hand, that also meant their crimes were criminal offenses instead of military offenses, meaning Alpha didnt have the authority to try or detain them. If they attacked him, he could label them as hostile combatants and put a bullet in them. But if they were captured or surrendered, things became complicated. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Sure, in his capacity as [SEAU - 01], there were certain exceptions he could fall on. If he saw someone kill someone in cold blood right in front of him, Alpha had full authority to make a judgment call. Or if he was working alongside friendly native forces, as in the Radiant Sea. Yet, with him still recovering from the soul damage, Alpha didnt fully trust himself yet when it came to matters like this. There was also the benefit of public opinion from not simply shooting everyone who crossed him. Thus the judge AIs. They werent anything fancy, being standard operational AIs, but they were legally allowed to make rulings in criminal cases, as long as an authorized sapient being oversaw the process and okayed the rulings. A job Alpha did have the authority for. AI trials were standard practice in the Federation, and there were dozens of layers of checks and balances to ensure fair and impartial judgments. That said, the ruling gave Alpha the authority to use the bandits in any capacity he wished. As long as he didnt violate any sapient rights acts. That was fine. Alpha had practice with making the best use of bandits while skirting around such restrictions. Kitan barely reacted when the goblin hunters pulled him to his feet, though that wasnt uncommon. The bandits Antchaser refused to think of these people as Adventurers any longer had all had various reactions to their trials and sentences. Some had lashed out with rage and violence. Others had simply stared into space, as if their minds couldnt handle the reality of their situation. Only one of the two dozen or so captured bandits had truly shocked either of them. The bandits healer, Maria by name, had approached the judges bench with her head held high. She was an older woman, not quite to the extent he would call her a grandmother, yet far older, physically, than any other in the group. She had stood quietly and listened to the charges brought against her. When asked to explain her actions and role with the bandits, the woman claimed to be an independent healer hired by Bosco for their expedition. That made some sense to Antchaser. Healers were highly sought after, and he doubted the man could have poached any of Icefingers healers for something like this. Not that the goblin felt that excused her actions in helping the bandits, however. Yet, to Antchasers surprise, several goblins from the village had actually testified on behalf of the woman. While she was callous to the goblins plight, that hadnt stopped her from accepting payment from them to treat some of the more serious wounds caused by the bandits... fun. Her services werent cheap, but it was not a stretch to say that she saved many of their lives, including several of the village elders. Ultimately, she received the lightest sentence out of them all: 5 years of community service, whatever that meant. Alpha had only shrugged and said, Meh. The medics always get off light. They had to be pretty deranged to really get more than a slap on the hand, most of the time. Antchaser found that to be a poor excuse but chose not to question it. He was quickly learning that this Federations standards didnt quite align with what he was familiar with. Whether or not that was a good thing, only time would tell, he figured. As Kitan was led out of the makeshift courtroom, the final bandit of the day was brought in. The room grew silent as Boarslayer herself led the man through the doors. His arms were restrained behind him in a strange device that Alpha had custom-made for him. It looked little more than a large metal tube with the mans arms sticking out to either side, but Alpha assured them that nothing he could do would let him escape. Bosco stumbled slightly as Boarslayer yanked on the large chain wrapped around his neck, the woman grinning from ear to ear. While he was still a giant of a man, Bosco almost looked like a totally different person to Antchaser. Gone were the massive, bulging muscles and the body rippling with contained power. Between the sunken cheeks, exposed ribs, and frail limbs, the man being led down the courtroom aisle looked like he hadnt eaten for months. The worst sight was the massive, round scar in the middle of his chest. The mans thin frame was such that you could even see where the ribs and sternum simply vanished. How anyone survived something like that was beyond Antchasers understanding. Whatever technique Bosco had used to survive Boarslayers final blow, had obviously cost him dearly. None of the goblins muttered a word as Bosco was forced to his knees in the middle of the room. Not out of fear, of course, no. Instead, every single eye bore into the back of the mans head with an intensity that would have driven lesser men into uncontrollable shivers. The attending bailiffs even had to stop a few goblins from climbing over the separating barrier. The ant judge wasted no time in speaking. Bosco of Halirosa. Regarding the numerous charges placed against you, of which this court finds it a waste of time to list all of them, we find you guilty on all counts. Bosco only smirked, his voice ragged and dry as he spoke. What, dont I get a fancy trial like the rest of the trash? Not gonna drag some goblin Bosco spit the word out of his mouth like he was chewing a dirty rag, in front of everyone and listen to some petty complaint? Or have you decided youre tired of playing at being civili Boscos words were cut off as Boarslayers fist slammed into his jaw. The courtroom erupted into cheers. The man crumbled to the floor, and Boarslayer got in two more solid strikes, before the ant judges gavel came down, throwing out more blue sparks. Order! Order! Bailiff Boarslayer, the court asks that you leave the defended at least able to respond to questioning. Boarslayer paused, fist mid-swing, then stared up at the judge, her eyes narrowing. For a moment, Antchaser feared the woman would ignore the order, but to his surprise, she stood up and stepped away. Not before delivering one last kick to the mans side, however. Bosco pushed himself up as best as he could with his arms restrained, and spit out a mouth full of blood. He then had the audacity to actually laugh. Do you fools think this is over?! Not a chance. Im one of Icefingers enforcers! You bastards have no idea how badly youve screwed up! Once Icefinger hears of this, this entire cavern will be nothing more than a frozen wasteland, and Ill use your bodies to cool myAHHHHAAAAUUUUGG! The metallic tattoo circling Boscos neck sparked to life. Lightning flickered across his body and the large man violently spasmed. After a few seconds, the arcs stopped and Bosco fell limp, panting as his ragged clothes smoked slightly. The judge then continued their proclamations. Mr. Bosco, your trial has been ongoing since these proceedings began. Both the victims testimonies and your accomplices confessions have been duly noted. It is this courts opinion that reiterating the facts already established would be a waste of its time. Thus, we find you guilty of all charges previously stated. Due to the heinous nature of your charges, you will be assigned to indefinite confinement under the supervision of [SEAU - 01] until such times that your case can be brought to a higher court. The room erupted, joyful weeping intermingling with outraged yells into a chaotic roar. Antchaser wasnt surprised that the reactions were so mixed. Many felt the same as Boarslayer. That the man should have been killed last week when they retook the village. Others were simply happy that this nightmare was over. Im not sure what to think Antchaser thought to himself. Intellectually, he understood why Alpha had done what he had. Yet another part of him would have cheered to see Boarslayer finish the man off that night. Order! Order! the judge called out. Then, when the room had settled down some, they continued. Bailiffs! Please remove the defendant from the room. Boarslayer picked up the chain and threw it over her shoulder, dragging Bosco out of the room like a sack of potatoes. Two other bailiffs rushed to support the man by his arms so that he didnt choke to death, though Antchaser questioned if they really put any effort into it. Antchaser watched the scene with a frown and only looked away when Alpha spoke. Whats wrong? Does his warning worry you? Antchasers frown deepened, and he answered, Im not sure. Icefinger is more of a boogyman than anything. At least outside of Halirosa. Sure, youll hear about his men harassing villages, both Surface and Deep, from time to time, but its always a thatll never happen to us type of thing. However, I know the man can be vindictive, if the stories are true. Given that, and the value of this cavern I think I think what Bosco said might not be too far from the truth Alpha paused, considering what the goblin had said. After a moment, he responded. Well, then I think its time you and I had a little talk about this Icefinger fellow. B2: Interlude - Meeting with the Boss. Despite the comfy leather seats behind them, both men knelt in front of the large hardwood desk. It was a magnificent thing made of polished dark wood, with thin veins of gold running through it, as if crafted from black marble rather than wood. The designs carved into its side were masterfully done, yet worked to enhance the natural beauty of the wood rather than detract from it. The result was a piece that screamed opulence and power without being gaudy, in stark contrast to the furniture preferred by many nobles. Not that Thomas had seen many noble office rooms, of course. The closest hed ever gotten had been the office of the head priest when Sister Audrea brought him along for the orphanages yearly review, as was his duty as the oldest at the time. However, the office he now knelt in differed greatly from those distant memories. Where the head priests office was a bright place, lit by the large, open patio window that overlooked Halirosa, this place was lit only by a roaring stone fireplace. Thick red curtains hung across the windows behind the desk, blocking even a ray of natural light from passing through. The temple office had been spacious and welcoming to the extent that cold stone and solid walls could welcome. Yet somehow, it had felt larger than it could ever really be. This new office felt suffocating despite comfortably fitting more than half a dozen people. As if the walls were designed to feel like they were pressing in on you. The temple office had been filled with various bright paintings and numerous marble statues trimmed with gold or glowing with arrays. Each had a testimony and story, if you knew how to look. The various trophies hanging on the walls of this new office also told their own stories. Though Thomas wasnt nearly as keen on learning about them. Yet, somehow, it still felt homey. The warm wooden accents and thick carpet gave the room a refined feeling Thomas would have expected from a parlor. If he was a betting man, he would have guessed such duality was intentional, letting the office owner present the atmosphere they desired, according to their guest. Or maybe that was just the nature of his current circumstances. Said circumstances were a large part of why the young man was so focused on the style of the room. Anything to take his mind off where he was and who was staring at him. A drop of cold sweat slid off his bowed head and fell to the plush carpet underneath him. Thomas eyes snapped to the side of the room, though he dared not lift his head fully. Five figures stood there, three on one side, two on the other, with a gap in between the pair. Though their gender and species varied, each wore a sharp, black suit. They all stood straight as a board, eyes forward, their hands behind their back. Thomas swallowed, then, seeing none of them react, exhaled a ragged breath he hadnt realized hed been holding. After a moment, the rapid beating of his heart stilled just in time for him to hear Seeker finish his report. That about sums it up, Icefinger, sir. While I couldnt ascertain where the goblins found such artifacts, I believe the answer should already be abundantly clear. The room was silent for a long time before a deep baritone voice called from behind the desk. I see You believe theres a Dungeon somewhere in the cavern. Seeker lifted their head and met Icefingers gaze. Yes, sir. If I had to guess, its a powerful one, too. Old. None of the younger Dungeons could have produced artifacts of the level needed for goblins to so easily trounce Bosco. Thomas instinctually followed Seekers gaze and glanced at the man sitting behind the desk. There, leaning back in the oversized leather chair, dressed in a dark suit, fine enough to make some nobles jealous, and gently stroking a purring cat, was another cat? Or rather, an Awakened Beast of some feline tribe. The Nebelung clan, if rumors were to be believed. Though with his meticulously groomed fur and piercing ice-blue eyes, Thomas felt Icefinger looked more like a lion than a cat at that moment. Icefinger leaned further back in his chair. The smile that crept onto the gang leaders face sent an icy chill up Thomas spine. That was the smile of a predator whod found a new toy to play with. After a moment of silent contemplation, Icefinger spoke, his eyes never breaking from Seekers. Magnus, as my Captain Of Enforcers, how would you have described Bosco? One of the five, the most dwarf-looking dwarf Thomas had ever seen, took a step forward, his arms still folded behind his back. The common man might have had trouble picking Magnus Ironheart out of a group of dwarves, but not a single member of Icefingers gang would ever have such trouble. After all, as Enforcer Captain, Magnus was by far the more public of Icefingers Capo. It wasnt a coincidence that new members were required to attend and watch the pointers the dwarf regularly gave to those older members who got a little too overconfident. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. One couldnt say watching a large man be beaten to a bloody pulp with his own leg by a dwarf a quarter his size didnt leave a lasting impression. When Magnus spoke, it was far softer than one would expect from a dwarf, though it still left Thomas chest vibrating with how deep it felt. Bosco was stubborn, prideful, and overall a third-rate adventurer who took more joy out of being over those lesser than actually working toward a goal. He was more competent in keeping the more rambunctious members in line rather than being an actual leader. That said, his actual martial prowess was middling at best. Not terrible, but he was never rising above Enforcer. That he was even allowed to take this mission was mostly because we couldnt risk wasting more competent Enforcers while the situation further east was ongoing. The Camps movements have a lot of important people nervous, and theres still no concrete information why. Finished, Magnus took a step back and resumed his previous position. Icefinger was sat in silence for a long moment, stroking the cat in his lap, before he once more spoke. I see. Interesting. What of you, do you concur? Seeker nodded. Yes, sir. Magnus description of the man is accurate enough. Though I would like to state for the record that despite his flaws, the man was peak [Shackle Breaking]. Regardless of his mistakes, that should have been more than enough to deal with such a small village. Even a Deep Village. A melodic voice spoke next, a laugh hiding in her words. Oh? And what of you, Seeker? Are you telling us you were chased away by a bunch of goblins, too? Seeker turned to stare at the speaker. She was a tall woman, with a slim, vulpine figure. Three bushy tails swayed behind her in an invisible wind. As Seeker met her eyes, her smirk grew into a wide grin. The odd rivalry between Orion Swiftshadow, Icefingers Lead Information Broker, and Seeker was well known in the gang. For as much as the two seemed to treat each other as old lovers, and the rivalry as a game, the actual competition between the two was fierce and bloody. To such a degree that there was a running pot on who would kill the other first. Seeker grinned back and answered, Oh, of course, my dear. Why wouldnt I run? Who knows what else they had in reserve? Sure, I could have killed them all then and there, being peak [Spiritual Awakening], Seeker rubbed his advancement during his time in the Deep in her face, making the woman frown, but that would have driven the rest into hiding, and cut any leads to the Dungeon. I felt it was the best use of my time to rush back home and inform the Boss of what wed found. After all, the others had already proved their impotence; theres no way Id trust them with such an important task. Icefinger leaned forward. Enough. I dont need to hear your every thought process, Seeker. All that matters is the results. I trust youve already taken the next steps? Seeker bowed his head and answered, Yes, sir. Icefinger grinned, placed the cat on the ground, and leaned against his desk, lacing his fingers together. I see Good. Very good. Keep me informed as events develop. Magnus, start organizing a strike squad. I dont care what it costs or who you have to pull from where. I want this cavern captured, and the Dungeon located before any of the clans catch word. Do what you have to. Yes, sir! Magnus said. Icefinger then turned back to Seeker. Youre dismissed. Seeker stood without another word, then took his place in the empty gap between two of the Capo. Thomas moved to stand as well but was hit with a freezing wave of energy that made it hard to breathe. When Icefinger spoke, his voice was as cold as the freshly fallen snow. I wasnt speaking to you, boy. Thomas body felt frozen solid. He couldnt even shiver as Icefinger spoke. Seeker, who is this that you brought to me? I thought you told me that there were no survivors? Seeker took a step forward and answered. Not of the members that entered the tunnels, no, sir. Young Thomas here got into an altercation with Bosco and became inconvenienced. Yet, despite that, the boy didnt run, and I found him as I left, trying to enter the tunnel. I know how you hate to waste a good seed, so I dragged him back with me. Seeker then stepped back in line. Icefinger frowned, and Thomas felt the energy intensify. He could even feel frost forming on his skin, and had already lost feeling in his fingertips. Even if he couldnt move to see either. I dont take kindly to new bloods questioning their team leaders authority, boy. What could have possibly made you think that was a good idea? Icefinger said, gently tapping the surface of his desk. A thin sheet of frost began forming on top as he did. Thomas struggled to open his mouth and barely spoke. A real leader considers the words of those under them for the betterment of the whole. The six figures surrounding them all gasped, their eyes wide. Icefinger glared down at Thomas, his frown deepening and his eyes narrowing to slits. Thomas heart dropped. There he went again, opening his big mouth without thinking. Sister Audrea always said it would get him killed one day if he wasnt careful. Well, now here he was. The icy pressure, crushing and freezing him all at once, suddenly vanished, and Thomas collapsed to the carpeted floor, heaving. Icefinger threw his head back and laughed, a deep echoing thing. When he finished, the man stared down at him and wiped away a tear. I like you, kid. You have guts. Good. Youll need them to get anywhere in our line of business. Tell you what, since you have such strong feelings about what a proper leader should be, then prove it. Im assigning you Boscos details and duties. Show me you have what it takes to do what he couldnt. Thomas froze. This time, it was not because of the pressure of the man in front of him. Rather, it felt like his brain hadnt properly processed what Icefinger had said. He quickly recovered, however, and kowtowed in front of him, calling out. Yes, sir! I wont disappoint you, sir! Icefinger leaned forward and spoke, his voice cool and even, though not with the icy bite of before. You misunderstand, kid. I can tolerate mistakes. Even failure. What I wont tolerate is incompetence. Bosco proved he didnt have what it takes. So now its your turn to prove to me you do. Thomas stood and bowed ninety-degrees. I understand, sir! Icefinger grinned. Good. See that you do. Youre dismissed. All of you! B2 - Lesson 22: "Redirection is a Virtue." << Alpha Log - 6952 SFY-Third Era, 134 standard days since Planetfall. 45 days since the arrival at the colony. 2 weeks since the battle to retake the Goblin village. >> Work on Project: Ant King is well underway. Now that the troubles with the goblins have been resolved, Ive found myself with far more free time. Playing Dungeon Core was a pleasant distraction while the V-2s baked. The obsolete IV-2s had been mostly regulated to patrolling the forest and assist the goblins in reconstructing their village. This caused some worry from the goblins and confusion among the ants. Thankfully, simple, AI-controlled pheromone signalers built into the goblins suits and scattered around the village have helped keep incidents to a minimum. The IV-2s are still more ant than borg, so they can get snippy around the unsuited goblins. So, the captured Adventurers have been the ones to do most of the work. Theyre surprisingly tough for biologicals, and a bite here or there isnt enough to cause many problems. When there is an issue, Dr. Maria has shown to be a quite competent doctor, both magical and mundane. She is quickly becoming indispensable, and while the goblins are still weary around the outsider, theyve shown the woman far more respect than the rest of the prisoners. / Personal note: See about providing Dr. Maria with the standard humanoid care dossier. It will be interesting to see how the medical knowledge of this world differs and if theres anything we can use to improve our current setup. / Research on the adventures has proven fruitful, though, as of now, not very useful for any ongoing projects. Federation-approved interrogation methods have provided a basic understanding of the Adventurers cultivation system. Actual understanding is fragmented and incomplete, individually. Beyond a basic understanding of the process, most information is strictly controlled by the clans and sects, according to the few willing to speak on the matter. Likely to ensure their continued dominance. From what Ive been able to gather, cultivation begins with the gathering of the strange environmental energy Ive been studying. How this is done seems to vary from person to person. Some can gather this energy through simple meditation. Others need to actively move through set kata. A few can even gather energy through the act of combat itself. Like the psionic energies observed in the Federation, I strongly suspect this Spirit Energy is highly reactive to the conscious mind. It has less to do with how the person gathers the energy and more with the active desire to do so. Anything else is simply a mental device to ease the process. Once gathered, the energy is stored inside a centralized location in the cultivators body. Scans have shown the exact location of this dantian varies on the individual, though the two most common locations are at center mass, just under the navel, and directly behind the heart. While two individuals have had dantians located in their head, neither of them, one of which is Dr. Maria, could explain why. The only explanation offered was that individuals with dantians in their heads were generally seen as more intelligent and adaptable. In the same train of thought, those with dantians near their heart were often more energetic and charismatic, with a higher energy reserve, both physically and magically. Finally, those with a dantian in their gut often had more physically powerful or tougher bodies. However, how this was explained leads me to believe this is more of a cultural explanation, rather than an absolute. Further examination is needed to ascertain if there is any truth to these claims. As for the so-called magic, unfortunately, none of the surviving Adventurers knew much about the art. Apparently, magic is far less common than cultivation on this continent, as compared to the mage continent of Gaia. The most I could gather is that becoming a mage involves transforming ones dantian into something called a mana furnace. It seems I will have to wait until I can capture my own mage to learn more about this matter. A shame. Regardless of the location of their dantian, however, cultivators can circulate their collected energy through a set of metaphysical channels they call meridians. Doing so has shown to have strong mutagenic effects on their biology, effectively increasing various aspects of their bodies. While these meridians dont appear to be physically present in their body, I have observed the flow of energy through them by tracking the energy itself. Its currently unknown whether these meridians are a psionic construct or some form of quantum channel. Unfortunately, experimentation confirm Jshs previous comment. I seem to lack the necessary mechanisms to gather or interact with this energy personally. Whether this is because I am not from this world or because Im not a biological being, is currently unknown. Further testing is needed. For now, I will have to settle with the arrays, as they seem to act in a similar manner to a form of artificial meridians. In fact, I have observed several patterns among the Adventurers meridians that bear a striking resemblance to several array patterns Ive been able to deduce. Whether this means these arrays were created by observing the natural patterns formed by meridians or the other way around, I dont know. The book that Jsh provided me offers no answers, as it was specifically written for me. It barely touches on much of what Ive learned over the last two weeks. Nonetheless, my work on arrays has expanded greatly now that I have the time and understanding to make better use of them. At the current pace, it wont be long until I can start incorporating parts into the [Wasp] drones as a test. From there, setting arrays into the antborgs, or even some of the equipment in the base, will be feasible. With any luck, this will lower the drain on my core and free up energy for more important things, like the translight incubators and simulations. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! I still have a long way to go before I feel comfortable enough to start expanding seriously. More so with the looming threat of this Icefinger figure. The goblin Antchaser believes the man wont let this kind of insult go unanswered, so I and the goblins are focusing much of our efforts on preparing for retaliation. In particular, the hunters involved in the villages liberation have been delving into my dungeon regularly for training. This has given me ample opportunity to study the goblins and how they compare to the Adventurers. Everyone is on high alert; I suspect this feeling will only grow with time. Is that really all they know of Icefinger? Alpha asked as Antchaser paced back and forth inside the small meeting hut. Antchaser paused and shook his head, his shoulders slumping. I believe so You were right that those bastards were more willing to brag about their boss to me, than to speak to you openly. But it seems Icefinger likes to keep his cards close to his chest. The goons dont know much more about him than the general public. Antchaser shrugged, and Alpha responded. You dont become a crime boss by airing all your dirty laundry. I was never expecting much from the rabble. Still, lets go over what we do know. Antchaser started pacing again and raised a finger. We know one bandit managed to slip away. This Seeker fellow. We also know he holds at least some sway in the gang, as he was assigned by Icefinger to watch over Bosco, Alpha continued, We also know they took roughly two weeks to travel from Halirosa to this area, but that was as a group. A single individual can travel faster. Antchaser nodded. Thats true, though this fellow seems like the cautious type. The Crimson Mountains are dangerous for a lone man, even if he is much stronger. Id guess four, maybe five days? A week if he took his time and didnt rush back. Either way, that means Icefinger likely knows or will soon know about what happened here. How long do you think it will take for him to gather a force? Alpha asked. Antchaser paused. I couldnt say. Hunters only visit Halirosa once or twice yearly to trade what weve collected. I wouldnt know anything about the inner workings of Adventurers, let alone a criminal gang, he sighed. A few days to analyze the report. Two to three weeks to gather the men. Depends on how long it takes to pull some of their enforcers, came the response from behind him. Antchaser turned, his eyes wide, to stare at the old grandmotherly woman standing in the doorway. Dr. Maria stared back with a frown, wiping her bloody hands with a small, clean rag. The front of her cotton robe was stained red with fresh blood. Sorry for the mess. One of the fools thought theyd have a better chance of slipping through the ants than the goblins. Had his leg bit clean off, and I had to sew it back on before the idiot bled out, the old woman said, shaking her head. Boarslayer pushed her way into the hut behind the doctor and scoffed. It was the fools own fault. He forgot the first rule when dealing with dungeon creatures: dont underestimate them. The large goblin woman then collapsed into a chair and drained one of the tankards sitting on the table. Antchaser shook his head at the womans words. Boarslayer said that like shed not stepped foot into a dungeon for the first time only a few weeks before. Before he could say as much, Alpha spoke. So, three weeks to gather, two more of travel, assuming Icefingers already been informed. If we assume this Seeker fellow got back about a week ago, that means we have less than two months to prepare. Maria sank into a free chair and wiggled her hand. Less. Halirosa already knows about this place, too. Or at least the tunnels leading to it. How do you think we knew to come here? They had an expeditionary force gathering when we left. I bet its already on its way, too. Id give them another two weeks before they arrive. Antchaser narrowed his eyes and stared at the old woman. And why should we trust you? Why would you even help us? The doctor opened one eye and stared at the goblin as she answered, Boy, I signed a contract with Bosco, as foolish as that might have made me. That was to act as a healer for their little group to explore some mountain tunnels. There was nothing about raiding a village or dealing with a dungeon. Im getting too old for that kind of tomfoolery. It wasnt with Icefinger, nor do I hold any loyalty to him or his gang of miscreants. As long as I get paid, I dont right care who I work for. Boarslayer crossed her arms and sneered, And Im sure if Icefinger wipes us all out, youll happily tell him everything you know, too, right? Dr. Maria threw back her head and cackled, Well then, lass, youd better do you best to win, now shouldnt you? Alpha spoke, pushing the conversation back on track, So weve got a second group of Adventurers heading our way to deal with before this Icefinger fellow even shows up. Great. Dr. Maria nodded and folded her arms. Aye. Though these shouldnt be so rough around the edges as the last. Theyre an official team for the Halirosa Adventurers Guild. It wouldnt be the first time such a group has stumbled on a Deep Village during their duties. Adventurers can be a chaotic bunch, but the general rule is that as long as you treat them as guests, they shouldnt be too much trouble. That said, as official scouts, dont expect them to be anything like the trash Bosco brought along, either. They may be few in number, but theyll be elites. If you play your cards right, though, they might be a boon rather than an obstacle. Alphantonso V tapped a leg against its mandibles while Alpha thought. Interesting what are you proposing? Dr. Maria grinned from ear to ear and then addressed the other three in the room. Well, first off. You want to keep them away from the dungeon. Theyll likely figure it out eventually, but an untouched dungeon is too much of an allure for most Adventurers. No guarantee they wont weigh their options and decide to join forces with Icefingers men when they get here if they think they can take it for themselves later. Alpha mentally frowned. Not that he was getting much out of the whole roleplaying as a dungeon thing yet anyway, but he wondered if it would end up drawing more attention than he wanted at the moment. Dr. Maria continued. That said, you still need to give them a reason to stick their heads in the fight. Something to make them stick around, rather than run off as soon as the fighting starts and come back later with a larger force to pick up the scraps. Boarslayer narrowed her eyes and asked, You want us to bait the trap, then let both predators fight over the prize Dr. Maria grinned and nodded her head. Yep. Thats one way to look at it. Another way is this. Which do you prefer to have control over the cavern? The same gang who invaded your village and killed your people? Or a semi-lawful organization bound by laws and treaties with the Deep to at least give you a fair shot at controlling your future? Alpha sighed. If the looks on the two goblins faces told him anything, they were thinking the same thing. Option C: neither. But he also understood where Maria was coming from, even if she didnt quite understand the power they had available to them. Yet. So he could understand how what she was suggesting could also be a good idea. The only question was, what could be a juicy enough target in the cavern? What could keep the Adventurer around? And how could the goblins use that to their advantage? The more he thought about the matter, the more he returned to a singular idea. Alpha mentally grinned and turned to look toward the caverns river. B2 - Lesson 23: "If You Build It, They Will Come" The gorilla-sized, green, ape-like creature swung through the thick canopy of the underground forest. Long, muscular arms propelled it from branch to branch at high speeds, though it was becoming more difficult, the bloody wounds covering its body sending jolts of pain with each swing. However, despite its worsening condition, the creature knew it couldnt risk slowing down. Not while that thing was still out there. Its bloodshot eyes constantly scanned their surroundings as they moved through the treetops, watching for the telltale signs of reflected light that would signal his pursuers presence. It had already gotten most of his troop. Those too slow or too stupid to recognize the danger. But not them. They werent like the others. They were smarter. Stronger. It was why they were troop leader to begin with! Were Now, it was the last. A dark fire burned in the ape-like creatures chest. Decades of work, building and growing the troop, gone in an instant. It would remember this. It would raise up a new troop. And when they were least expecting it, it wou. A sudden glimmer of light broke the creature out of its daydreams, and it sneered. With the grace of a master gymnast, the ape creature halted its next swing and changed directions, just as a large, metallic object shot through the air where it would have been, had it not seen the object coming. The ape creature hooted in an almost laughing manner and beat its chest as it soared through the air toward its next perch. However, its eyes went wide the next instant as the object hit a nearby tree and fell to the ground, revealing itself to be nothing more than a large, shiny rock. The ape creature twisted in the air, and its heart dropped to see a large, oval object covered in mud floating along its arch. As if waiting for it to notice, the object suddenly split into four parts, each section shooting away from the other. A breath later, the ape creature slammed into an expansive metal net stretching between the four sections of the previous object. The ape creatures smooth arc turned into a tumbling fall, and both ape and net crashed through the thick branches of the canopy and hurtled toward the ground below. Moments before what would have been a sudden and painful landing, however, the four objects connected to the corners of the net pulled up and slowly brought the ape creature to a stop until both net and creature were suspended several feet over the ground. The ape creature raged, of course, but neither teeth sharper than any spear or claws lined with Spirit Energy proved a match for the strange, stretchy net. The sound of a light thump sounded in between the hoots and rage-filled screams of the trapped ape creature, and it let out another mad cry, though this time in pain. It reached down and pulled out the large syringe that had slammed into its thigh. The ape creature threw the object away, paying it little mind. It was simply one more thing to add to the bonfire of its fury. Yet, as they struggled, the ape creature felt a strange fatigue slowly overtake them. Within a few heartbeats, the creatures manic thrashing slowed, and in a few more, the creature found it barely had the strength to cling to the net, let alone pull at it. The last thing the ape creature saw was half a dozen figures slowly emerging from behind the nearby trees before the darkness overtook them. Antchaser grinned from ear to ear as he made his way around the tree. His good mood wasnt just thanks to their successful hunt, but also because of the look of sheer annoyance playing across Boarslayers face. See, I told you it would work. And you thought it was a dumb idea, the smaller goblin mocked. He waved his hand in the air, and the [Skyfisher] as Alpha called the construct floated closer. Boarslayer folded her arms and humphed. It was a stupid plan! The only reason it worked was because the Mossback got cocky. These creatures are smarter than your average spirit beast. Such a simple trap would have failed miserably if my team hadnt already been picking off their troop members, allowing your little toys to get closer. Ah! But they did get cocky, and they did fall for it. You let the troop leader escape the first time, and Im the one who captured it in the end. I win this bet, Antchaser countered. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Boarslayer didnt bother to respond, only giving a tsk and turning toward the trapped Mossback. The large goblin started shouting orders as the others prepped the transport crate. The [Skyfisher] didnt have the power to fly the creature all the way back to the village. Antchaser sighed and shook his head. Light laughter from behind caused the goblin to turn around. Under different circumstances, I would say flowers are the best way to tell a woman youre sorry, but something tells me shed throw you off the village wall if you tried. A tall human woman in a snow-white coat grinned down at Antchaser. Antchasers eyes narrowed, and he frowned. What do I have to apologize for? That she-devil is just mad I beat her for once. The goblins hand flexed on the hilt of his dagger as the woman drew closer. The presence of the dozen-or-so silver wasps flying around the area along with the collar around the womans neck eased a lot of Antchasers anxiety around the human doctor, but she was still an Adventurer, and old habits died hard. With a sigh, the older womans shoulders slumped, and she shook her head. Men Dr. Maria rolled her shoulders and smiled. Oh well. You two have been working hard this past week. This is the last one, yes? Antchasers eyes narrowed further, but he turned away. Yes. This is the last one, according to Mr. Alpha. Are you certain that the sedative will work? I dont want this thing waking up in the middle of the village before we can move it to the site. Dr. Maria nodded. Yes. The specimen is only early [Golden Spirit]. The sedative I provided you is strong enough to knock even a [Shackle Breaking] Cultivator out for a few hours, let alone our friend here. That said, even if it woke up, I doubt your fears will come to pass. She turned and stared at the group of goblins as they loaded the Mossback into the transport crate. Well, crate might not have been the right word for it. The two-meter-tall, meter-wide glass tube strapped to the back of the large ant was filled about halfway up with a thick, clear liquid. It definitely wasnt something youd see on any merchants cart. The clear liquid filling the tube had been pre-measured based on the Mossbacks suspected mass, though more was pumped in through tubes connecting the transport crate to the ants abdomen, topping it off. When the crate was filled to the brim, the Mossback floating gently in the middle, the metal lid slid shut and sealed with a hiss. Dozens of thin metal wires extended from the top and bottom of the crate and bore themselves into the creatures flesh. Antchaser shivered at the sight and turned away. He was never getting used to that. Dr. Maria, in contrast, stared at the crate, unblinking. Fascinating, Isnt it? The gel isolates the subject from all forms of kinetic and thermal energy, while the glass is, in fact, a type of carbon polymer capable of reforming and repairing itself in mere moments. The subjects themselves are kept alive by oxygenating their blood directly while keeping them in a type of suspended animation by reducing biological functions to near nothing. You could throw that transport crate into the heart of an active volcano, and the subject would be perfectly unharmed. All of this done without using the tiniest bit of Spirit Energy. She turned back to Antchaser. Her grin stretched from ear to ear, and the look in her eyes made the goblin shiver once more. It makes me wonder what else this Dungeon Core you stumbled upon is capable of. And wonder who exactly created him. As the doctor continued, her voice was filled with a trembling excitement that not for the first time made Antchaser wonder if she was right in the head. Antchaser didnt bother to respond to the doctors statements themselves. Even after having only worked with the woman for a little more than a week, hed learned not to go down that rabbit hole. Instead, he asked his own question: So, do you think he can actually do it? Dr. Maria blinked, the fever in her eyes vanishing, as she straightened and looked toward the cavern ceiling, crossing her arms and placing a hand to her chin. Strange that you, Mr. Speaker-of-the-Core , Antchaser blushed slightly at the unofficial title some goblins had taken to using would doubt our mysterious patron at this point in the game. But to answer your question, I dont see why not. Its not like there are any rules against it. Not that Im aware of, that is. At the very least, the fact that the Dungeon Core can conceive of such an option suggests that its original creator never considered the possibility in the first place and thus didnt put the proper protections in place to prevent it. Assuming its something they would have wanted to prevent at all. Antchaser turned and met the doctors eyes, a brow raised. But doesnt it seem strange to you? That a Dungeon Core would be creating its own Dungeon? Dr. Maria shrugged. Ah! But its not a Dungeon though. Remember? Just the ruins of one. Or at least thats the story we must weave. A subtle distinction, but an important one. Thats true Antchaser grumbled to himself, turning away. Dungeon Ruins were valuable, true, but not to the level of an active Dungeon. It was just the right bait to tempt the Adventurers into taking their side, but not enough that the Adventurers might decide things were better off being the only hand in the honeypot. Dr. Maria laughed. Think of it this way. If this works, the Adventurers get their little Dungeon, while your village gets to keep control of the main one. At least until the Guild figures things out. By then, the Guild will already have a vested interest in keeping Icefinger out of your home, and your people will have accrued enough personal power and influence not to be pushed around. A good leader knows when not to mire themselves in the minor details. They can be important, but not if they distract you from the big picture. I Antchaser sighed and nodded, Ya youre right. The big picture. Dr. Maria grinned and patted the small goblin on the back. There you go. Now we dont have much time left before the Adventurers arrive. Let us talk about how one kills a Drake. B2: GRIM Adventures - 10 Jill took a sip of the rich, spiced tea. A smoky, almost savory flavor exploded across her tastebuds. Its earthy undertones and slightly sweet aftertaste summoned memories of her family as they roasted hazelnuts and forged mushrooms over the open flames of a campfire. It felt like drinking a warm Lux night, and the slight chill of the still-awakening garden and the bitter cold of the surrounding mountains fled from her bones instantly. Her eyes widened, and Baron Ashdale gave a soft smile. Good, isnt it? This particular blend doesnt have a name yet, but I find it works wonders for days like this. The wolfman gestured around them. Jill silently nodded, scanning their surroundings. Their table sat in the middle of a sprawling garden filled with a multitude of raised seed beds and tall shrubs. Jill was sure the garden would have been a spectacular sight if they werent nearing the end of the Abditus season. As it was, the raised beds were freshly cleared, awaiting their next crop, while the various shrubs, bushes, and hedges were mostly bald, only the barest hints of fresh growth poking through the light snowy blanket that coated them. The only proper source of green in the garden was the massive evergreen tree that dominated its center. The enormous tree was larger than even Morganas had been, and it towered over the rest of the complex, stretching well over a hundred meters into the air. Its trunk was so wide that she doubted even five grown men could surround it if they linked hand to hand. Yet, despite its size, this was no Spirit Plant. It was nothing more than a mundane, if ancient, tree. Baron Ashdales grin grew wider as he watched Jill admire the tree. Beautiful, isnt she? he asked. Jill jumped, almost spilling her tea, and turned back to the Baron, a slight blush on her cheeks. Before she could respond, though, Jack spoke beside her. Absolutely! Shes gorgeous, is what she is! Though Im curious, I always thought Ashdale was famous for, well, its ash. And hickory, of course. I wasnt aware Dragon spruce even grew this far south. Dragon spruce? Jill asked with a tilt of her head. Mr. Gopher who sat on her other side at his own smaller table atop the larger one mimicked the gesture. Jill knew her brother had always been a bit of a plant nerd, for lack of a better term. Yet, in all his excited ramblings, this was the first time shed ever heard mention of this particular tree. Jack folded his arms and nodded. Ya. Theyre pretty rare. Well, rare outside of the Serpents Tail Peninsula. Jack said, referencing the easternmost of the two peninsulas that extended out of the top of the Crimson mountain range. Long ago, a cataclysmic Fallen Star crashed into the northern part of the Skybreaker Continent, sinking it and forming the Starfall Sea. The Serpents Head and Serpents Tail Peninsulas stretched from west to east along the northern borders of the Crimson mountain range, forming a new coast. Jack leaned back in his chair, staring up at the very top of the tree far above them. I never thought Id get to see one. Theres rumored to be an entire forest of them somewhere in the Serpents Tail, but that place is dangerous for a [Firmament Breaker] Cultivator, let alone lowly [Mortal Foundation] Cultivators like us. Jill shivered. If it truly was too dangerous for someone of the third and final Greater Realm before Ascension, there was no way she was ever going anywhere near that place. Baron Ashdale threw his head back and laughed. It was a full belly laugh, a deep, rich thing that reminded Jill of her uncle when he watched the young kits play in the fields. Oh, no, youre correct, my boy, Baron Ashdale said. You likely wont find any other specimens this far south. Or even for hundreds of kilometers north, either. This tree is very special. He placed his own cup down and leaned over the table, still grinning, his wolflike muzzle flashing rows of sharp, white teeth. You see, the Ashdale Progenitor had quite the wanderlust, as old wolves are wont to have. Oh? Really? Jack leaned forward as well, a child-like sparkle in his eye. They may have been more than old enough to be called adults, but Jack could never turn down the allure of a good story, and Baron Ashdale seemed eager enough to share his ancestors exploits. Oh, quiet! Our records tell how the first Ashdale traveled all over the world, even exploring the Mages continent! Once he was powerful enough, my ancestor made the trek to the far north in search of opportunities, as many do. Among the many treasures he brought back with him was a small sapling. That very sapling was planted here, in the valley where he was born, and eventually grew into the towering beauty you see today. What followed was a short, if interesting, tale of the first Ashdales journey to the frozen north. The Baron was a skilled orator; even Mr. Gopher was hanging on the mans every word by the end. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. When he finished, Baron Ashdale straightened in his chair, folded his arms, and stared up at the tree. Thats been close to a thousand years now, I think. My ancestor Ascended not too long after, and this trees been watching over this valley and my people ever since. You can see her from every corner of the valley, and the people use her as a guidepost home. Oh wow, Jill thought. Who knew it would have such a story? Still enthralled with the tale, Jack leaned forward and asked, Is it true that Dragon spruce got that name because wild dragons would use them as nests?! Jill tsked and slapped her brothers shoulder. Dont be stupid, Jack. True Dragons wouldnt build tree houses, let alone nests. Baron Ashdale laughed, though. I cant vouch for dragons, but my ancestors writings mention witnessing entire flocks of massive drakes perched on branches like songbirds, so whos to say? After all, another name for the Serpents Tail is the Forest of Giants. Who knows what hides in its unexplored depths? Jack opened his mouth to ask another question, but Jill cut him off. While we both appreciate the story and the tea I have to ask, sir, why are we here? Ok, so Jill knew why they were here. Her eyes drifted to the massive figure of Little Red, curled up in the snow under the Dragon spruce. Grim hovered nearby, staring at the various buds on the bushes like a child seeing spring for the first time. But Jill had expected to be taken to a courthouse and questioned, not brought into the Barons private residence, and served tea in his garden like a guest. Baron Ashdale threw out his arms. Why? Because, my dear Jill, I doubt your little pup and metal friend could have fit into my office, of course. Besides, I would rather not have to explain to my Captain of the Guard that everything is fine, for a third time, the man said, his voice filled with mock indignation. When theyd first tried to hold their meeting in a warmer, indoor location, Little Reds whining and howling at his inability to fit through any of the doors had kicked the guards into high alert, thinking there was an attack. Jill frowned and narrowed her eyes. Baron Ashdale gave another chuckle and folded his arms over the table, this time speaking in a more serious tone. Relax, young one. Youre not in trouble. Not anymore. I simply wanted to see what kind of people our guests were. That is all. Besides, if your friend Baron Ashdale glanced over at Little Red. happened to be a genuine threat or raged, I would much prefer the destruction contained to my lonely little abode than in the middle of my city, where others may get caught in the crossfire. Jill paused, blinking. She hadnt actually thought of that. If Little Red really did lose control, likely the only ones in the city capable of stopping him were Baron Ashdale and Mr. Gopher. While they might be able to do so easily, there was always the chance something would go wrong and someone would get hurt. In that regard, removing the powerful spirit beast away from densely populated areas was probably the smart move. Though that didnt stop her from feeling slightly miffed that hed apparently been testing them? Or something like that. Jill furrowed her brow in consideration while Baron Ashdale nodded. After a moment of silence, Baron Ashdale spoke up. Though I must say, Im surprised you lot were able to steal him from Morgana. That old crone has been working on him since before even my father took office. Her Lykos packs have been giving us trouble for centuries. Losing Little Red will be a significant blow to her research. With any luck, this might buy us a few decades of relative peace. Thats right! Morgana! We forgot to tell someone! Jack yelled, standing and slamming his palms into the table, causing it to shake and earning angry chitters from Mr. Gopher. Jills eyes went wide. That was right. Theyd not really forgotten about the old Elder Mimic who could? but the last few hours had been hectic, and it had slipped her mind to tell anyone. Jill turned to Baron Ashdale, her heart pounding, but the man raised a hand. No need to panic. As you might have guessed, the city of Ashdale is quite familiar with the old crone in the mountains. Ive already sent scouts to retrace your path and see what they can find. I wouldnt hold out any hope, though. Baron Ashdale sighed and shook his head, continuing. Elder Mimics are hard to kill, even by normal standards, and they only become more powerful and crafty with time. Morgana has haunted this range since before even the Ashdale Progenitor rose to power. We have tried to end her countless times through the ages, but shes slipperier than a butchers cleaver and twice as sharp. Jill frowned. So shes alive then she said, less than a question and more of a statement. Baron Ashdale nodded sadly. Undoubtedly. However, dont discredit yourself, either. Youve dealt her a heavy blow, if not physically. If your story is correct, I would hazard to guess one greater than shes suffered in centuries. Baron Ashdale looked around the table at all three of them. That said, I feel like I must warn you he said, his voice far more serious than hed been up to that point. Jack gulped and asked. You you think shell come for revenge? Baron Ashdale turned and nodded. As surely as the sun rises. For as old and as powerful as Morgana is, shes twice as vindictive. Shell be weak for a while, which will buy you some time, but not much. I would recommend you to flee these mountains as soon as possible. She wont leave them or get too close to Halirosa. She might treat Ashdale as a game, but even she wouldnt test the full might of the Adventurers Capital. We cant do that! Jill cried out, maybe a bit too fast. B2 - Lesson 24: "Pool-aid is Not a Federation Approved Beverage." Hugo sighed and wiped the sweat from his forehead. Despite the cold water of the river and the slight chill of the cavern, he was still working up quite a sweat. Dredging mud and gravel from the bottom of the large river wasnt simple work by any means, even with the strange artifacts the goblins had provided them. On the surface, it didnt appear like much. It was little more than a thick metal handlebar for pushing the device that ended in a large black wedge with wheels. As Hugo pushed the contraption along the riverbed, it would dredge up clay, sand, and small rocks. Two large tubes extended out of the water to either side. As he pushed the tool through the silt, whatever it picked up was separated into bins: gravel and small rocks to the left, clay, sand, and other such stuff to the right. Hugo had no idea how it did any of this, of course. The contraptions internals were a complete mystery to him. He couldnt even sense any Spirit Energy from the thing, barring the natural radiant energy it gave off, telling it had been built out of resources found here in the Deep Tunnels instead of brought from the surface. Even someone of his meager [Silver Spirit] cultivation could taste the difference in quality between the Spirit Energy on the surface and the Deep. There was a reason Adventurers kept wandering into the tunnels, despite the dangers found there. Or why access was so hotly contested. Hugo sighed and shook his head. So much for turning his luck around. There was nothing he could do about it, though, so he gripped the handlebars and got back to work. Occasionally, he would encounter a larger rock the device couldnt handle. These he marked with a bundle of flags strapped to his back. Both to warn other dredgers and to mark them for an extraction team. Overall, working the device felt similar to the reel mowers his ma used to make him use when he was a kid. His ma had always claimed the neat little flower beds and tidy grass lawn drew in customers, and to be fair, it had worked. As rugged and hard as some Adventurers seemed, Hugos mas cafe had always been packed full of the same rough-looking men and women, sitting in her little garden and drinking tea from dainty cups. And, of course, he had been the one in charge of making sure it all looked nice and high-class, as his ma used to say. Sometimes, Hugo wondered what life would have been like if the sickness hadnt taken her. If the loan sharks hadnt torn what remained of his mas cafe to pieces. If he hadnt fallen in with Icefingers men in desperation. Would he have inherited the cafe? Would he be pouring tea and baking pastries for high-ranked Adventurers, instead of mugging newbies in an alley for pocket change? Maybe he would have been while not rich well off enough to afford to live in a nicer part of Halirosa, instead of so desperate that he was willing to risk going on a stupidly dangerous, unauthorized expedition. One where he would get captured by goblins and spend the next ten years dredging out a river for Celestials-above-knows what reason. But Hugo had learned long ago that there was no point in wondering about What ifs in life. You just had to make the best of things. As ma always said, If today wasnt your friend, it was your teacher Hugo muttered to himself. What was that? Bill asked as he trudged through the river in front of Hugo. The younger, slightly eccentric man looked up at Hugo and tilted his head. He propped the long, metal rake in his hands against the river bed and took the opportunity to rest. Hugo looked at his friend and shook his head. Nothin, just talkin to myself. Bill narrowed his eyes and stared. Man, the works really getting to you, isnt it? Take a quick dip under; the water will clear you righ Thunk! Ow! What was that for?! Bill cried in indignation, clutching the top of his head where a rake identical to his own had smacked him. Shut up, you fool! Claude said as he stood on the other side of the dredger, opposite of Bill. Bill glared at Claude and rubbed his head. Was that really necessary?! he asked. Claude returned the glare, Weve talked about this, stupid. The others havent caught on to the Dragon Pool yet. You go opening your mouth, and everyone will be volunteering for this job! Do you want to go back to the quarry?! he shot back under his breath. Bills eyes went wide, and he nervously glanced around. Bill could be loud on occasion, but lucky for their group of three, they were still rather far ahead of the other teams. They were ahead of the others, partly because the imprisoned bandits considered dredging the river to be one of the worst available assignments. It was dirty, grueling, and rather tedious work. Being assigned to work at the river had quickly become a punishment of sorts, and it didnt help that the bandits werent the most cooperative at times. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Case in point. Get back to work! Ya lazy bum! Zap! Arraug! a rather large bandit near the back of the line collapsed into the mud where hed been sitting, shaking as the silvery band fused to the skin of his neck sparked. A smug-looking goblin stood on the shore nearby. In the goblins hand, a small, white rod with various buttons was pointed at the twitching man, a single button depressed. Lowering the rod, the goblin released the button, causing the sparks to instantly cease. The bandit struggled to push themselves up on trembling arms, coughing up water and mud as they glared at the goblin. The goblin frowned, squinted, and pointed the rod at the man again. The bandit turned, grabbed the large bucket next to him, and hurried over to his waiting team. When the team started moving again, the goblin smirked to himself. Maybe sensing the three of them staring at him, the goblin turned and frowned. Just as they were about to raise the rod, Hugo turned back to the dredger and began pushing it forward. Bill and Claude swiftly resumed their work, using their rakes to extract the thick aquatic plants that grew abundantly along the river bed. The reason why the three of them were so determined to endure such a miserable job was actually quite simple. Hugo was genuinely surprised that no one else had caught on yet. But then again, it was something that they had only realized themselves thanks to Claudes previous experience in the Deep. The twitchy, paranoid man was frustrating sometimes, but even Hugo had to admit he knew his stuff. Ironically, it was also why they had to keep removing the plants daily. The Dragon Pool. Whispering over the sound of the dredger, Bill asked Claude. How do you even know its a real Dragon Pool? Sure, theres the Mud Drake, but a drake aint no dragon. Besides, I thought no one knew how they formed. What makes you think this is one? he asked. Claude tsked. No one will say how theyre formed. Thats different. There are plenty of theories, and Im sure some ancient bigwig has figured it out. Its just no ones going to go telling nobodies like us anything. Hugo nodded his head. There were theories, of course. Some people thought dragons and dragon-related creatures instinctually created them. Some people thought the Dragon Pool created the dragon by infusing some lucky reptile with draconic might. Others still thought the pools were simply natural treasures unusually suited for draconic creatures, and thus naturally attracted them. It wasnt like dragons were willing to say for themselves. In fact, speaking to an outsider about Dragon Pools was one of the highest forms of taboo in their entire culture. Oddly enough, that taboo didnt extend to actually using them, or even studying them. In fact, most large clans or sects controlled at least one Dragon Pool somewhere. The taboo only seemed to extend to those already in-the-know speaking about their nature. Anyone whod ever tried and those theyd told had all simply vanished. Even the theories were whispered about in no more than hushed tones. Bill raised a brow. You sure about that? I mean, Ive heard of Dragon Pools before. Who hasnt? But arent they supposed to be things of legend? Like, Cure any diseases, heal any wound kind of thing? I dont think relaxing some aches and boosting our stamina qualifies. Thunk! Claude whacked him on the head again. Thats why I said forming, fool! As for proof, all you have to do is look around us. He gestured to the surrounding river. Hugo glanced at the river and had to admit that the water was oddly clean and clear, even this far away from the Dragon Pool. Far more than one would expect such a slow-moving river to be, and doubly so given their current task. With half a dozen teams dredging the river, it should have been a muddy, swirling mess. Yet Hugo could have reached down and scooped a handful of water and been none the worse for wear. In fact, thats exactly what he did. As the cool, crisp water hit his stomach, he shivered. A weak yet soothing chill rushed through his body, and his aching muscles relaxed slightly. It wasnt quite at the level of a good break, but it helped. Whats more, the effects seemed to compound. Each day, the three of them worked a little further and did a little more. Hugo could tell his Cultivation itself hadnt really moved, but it was hard to deny the fact that something was happening. Suffice it to say, all three of them had started volunteering for dredging duty shortly after descovering its effects. If any of the other Adventurers were aware of what they knew, Hugo didnt know. Though it was unlikely that anyone had connected to the Dragon Pool, likely attributing any refreshing effects to simply being Deep Water. Otherwise, as Claude said, more of Boscos group would be volunteering as well. As it was, the goblins were already suspicious that they even wanted to, but Hugo had spun it as a desire to say sorry for their part in Boscos reign of terror. It helped that it was mostly true. Hugos companionship of necessity with Bill and Claude during the trip to the cavern had quickly turned into something more genuine, as all three had found the way Bosco was doing things unappealing. They might have been street thugs, but even they had their lines. Instead, the three of them had spent most of their time scouting and patrolling the forests before the goblins raid. They might not have actively helped any of the goblins, but they hadnt made life harder and hadnt made any enemies, either. That really helped during their trials. As a result, all three of them had walked away with some of the lightest sentencing out of the bandits: only ten years of hard labor. None of that would matter, though, if the goblins suspected they were somehow benefiting from their task. Theyd be blacklisted from the job and watched far closer than they were now. Bill and Claudes arguing broke Hugo out of his ruminations. He knew he should probably speak and break it up. For as much as they got along sometimes, both men had abrasive personalities and would often butt heads in circular arguments that didnt really go anywhere, leaving him to mediate. Before he could speak, however, a loud, warbling whistle echoed through the forest. Everyone in the immediate area froze. Hugos gaze snapped upstream. Crap! That single word broke the silence. In an instant, everyone in or near the river made a mad dash for the nearby forests edge. Hugo, Bill, and Claude were among the last inside the shelter of the trees, being the furthest out and having left the dredger where they had stopped. Just in time, too, as not long after they crossed the treeline, the clear river suddenly turned murky. A massive shadow swam through the deeper part of the river, churning calm river waters into a raging torrent. A New Story on Patreon! "We Lease The Kraken!" Hello Everyone! I wanted to Announce that I''m starting up an all new, Patreon-only (for now!) Novel! Hurrah! Why am I doing this now? Why Patreon-only right now? A few reasons. Partly to try and draw in more Patreon subscribers, I''ll freely admit. Money is (really) tight at the moment, more so with the reduction in Patreon members. The hope is that with a second story of a different vibe and genre than Alpha Strike, I can start attracting more readers and subscribers. This will let me keep doing what I''m doing, and bringing you all more chapters, of better quality. I''m sure some will be off-put by openly admitting that, but at the end of the day, this is my job, and I promised you all that I would be as open and upfront about that kind of thing as humanly possible. Partly this is also as a way to try something new other than Alpha Strike. This DOESN''T mean that I''m going to start neglecting or slow down with Alpha Strike. Rather, this new novel is my way of mixing things up a bit, as I''ve started to burn out a bit on Alpha Strike (as I''m sure some of you have noticed). By doing it this way, I also lock myself into getting the job done. I can''t just say "Meh, I''ll work on it later." Nope, I got a commitment I need to fulfill to my subscribers. That''s how I keep myself on track with these kinds of things and keep myself accountable. The current plan is to Alternate chapters on a day to day bias. So Monday would be the new story, Tuesday Alpha Strike, Wednesday New story, Thursday Alpha Strike, etc etc. Then spend Friday/Sat to do Editing on Book 1 of Alpha Strike. The first 2 Chapters (the second of which is an entirely new chapter no one has ever seen yet!) are already up on Patreon! I DO plan on eventually releasing the new novel on Royal Road and other sites, but I want to focus on Patreon first, until both stories are in a better spot. This does mean that each tier will be 2 chapters ahead of the previous one at the start, but I plan on bumping that up in line with Alpha Strike eventually. For now, I''ll be posting the first to Chapters in a little bit, meaning Field Commanders will be the first to see it, with Pathfinders likely getting their first chapter Wednesday. This ALSO means that Patreon will be the first eyes on the new story, and you feedback/comments will be what fuels the direction of the story, so be sure to tell me what you think! The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. With that said, take a look at the Synopsis below and tell me what you think!

"We Lease The Kraken!: A Pet Shop/Collection System Story" Reliquum; the last bastion of reality in a sea of silent stagnation and existential rot. At its center, lies Nexus, a world where realities overlap and both Heroes and Horrors are born daily. Jeremiah Bridge is just a mild-mannered veterinary student with a knack for cooking and a sister whos super (literally) in everything she does. That cushy life is turned on its head when his sister is killed suddenly and framed for a crime Jeremiah knows in his heart she couldnt have committed. With his life overthrow, everything taken from him and all hed ever been working toward destroyed, Jeremiah struggles to adapt. One final gift from his sister, however, will drag him kicking and scream out of the depths of his despair, and into a world few on Nexus ever see beyond the screen of their phones. With the help of a mysterious winged guide and an eight-legged companion thrust on him, Jeremiah will begin digging into the dark shadows of Nexus in an attempt to learn the truth about what happened to his sister. Soon hell learn a terrible truth, however. Some things are best left in the dark. Inspired by stories like Gourmet of another world, Gourmet food supplier, The Innkeeper, Number One Dungeon Supplier, and other similar types, "We Lease The Kraken!" is a Pet Shop management style story that seeks to blend a few different genres into a unique experience that is comfortable enough to be familiar, but with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. What to expect; ==== System-Based Story: A more traditional "System" story, WLTK takes inspiration from some of the older, more progression style systems like "The Legendary Mechanic" and "Gourmet of Another World", rather than the more game-like system stories. But with a modern flare that will appeal to lovers of both style of stories! ==== A somewhat dark-minded, but not Edgy MC: Jeremiah starts the story off in a dark place. Hounded by grief and the desire for the truth (or at the very least, vengeance), the story won''t start off with sunshine and rainbows. Instead, the vibe I''m going for is a dark and stormy night, that slowly fades away to show the sun shining through once more. At the end of the day, this is a story about healing, and the journey we take, wherever that might lead us. Jeremiah will heal. Given time, and maybe more than a little blood. ==== Complex Characters: None of the characters in this story will be simple. Everyone has their own motivations, desires and goals. Nothing is black and white on Nexus, as fitting a place where cultures, values and even minds can be as alien as any of the thousands of worlds connected to it. In Nexus, the "Why" is often just as important as the "What," and the thin line between "Hero" and "Villain" may come down to nothing more than who''s watching. ==== A somewhat slow burn: This story is planned to be a bit of a slow burn. Not terribly so, but don''t expect revelation after revelation. This is a story about the Journey, and the march of time. ==== A story of Action... and healing: While WLTK will have its fair share of dramatic moments and heart pounding action, It is also a story about grief, guilt, and how we heal ourselves of the scars left behind by tragedy. There will be happy times and sad times. There will be points were you want to slap the MC, and time when you''ll want to cheer along with him. ==== No Harem!: Need I say more? B2 - Lesson 25: "Big Brother is Always Listening." The massive shadow cut through the water at high speeds, and soon, it arrived at the bandits work area. As the shadow lingered in the area, the thick cloud of concealing silt and mud slowly spread out until the entire section of the river was murky and brown. For a moment, the forest held its breath as not a single creature dared to make a sound. Then, with the sound of cascading water and a resounding BOOM! one of the workers dredgers shot into the air. Not even a breath later, a gargantuan beast burst from the water and caught the dredger between its rows of shark-like teeth. The dredger and Mud Drake both fell and hit the waters surface with a giant splash. Once more, the river was thrown into chaos as the Mud Drake violently thrashed and rampaged, intent on turning the dredger into scraps. When the draconic spirit beast was finally content, it tossed the ruined dredger into the air and sent the remains hurdling toward the treeline with a spinning slap from its fishlike tail. The ruined dredger slammed into one of the massive trees and shattered into fragments. The Mud Drake then stood and roared toward the remains, its loud, screeching voice almost driving Hugo to his knees. As the drake stared into the trees, its low, rumbling vocalizations made the ground vibrate slightly. Finally, after a long moment, it turned and trudged back toward the river. About time Hugo didnt see who had spoken, but his eyes went wide, and he grabbed both Bill and Claudes collars, forcing them to the ground. In that same instant, the Mud Drake whirled around, its mouth opened wide. Instead of roaring, however, a thin beam of pressurized water, no thicker than Hugos thumb, erupted from the back of the drakes throat. Faster than anyone could blink, the beam of water cut across the distance between the river and the treeline. The Mud Drake swept the beam from side to side, carving deep grooves into the trees and anything else in its path if the screaming said anything. When the beam finally settled, the drake gave one last roar much softer this time, as if it had overworked its voice then turned back to the river. As quickly as it had appeared, its massive shadow vanished downstream. Hugo let out a breath and let his shoulders sag. It wouldnt have been the first time the Mud Drake had taken offense at their little operation and destroyed some of their equipment. Yet, every time, some idiot didnt bother reading the information pamphlet that was handed out. Fools. A Mud Drakes eyesight might have been absolutely terrible for a creature of its power, but its hearing was among the best. Ok, shows over, wrap it up and head back to the village for reassignment! No dawdling! Get moving! Now! the goblin overseer yelled out once it was clear the Mud Drake wasnt returning. And someone get these idiots to Dr. Maria before they bleed out! I dont want something nasty attracted to the blood! the goblin finished, pointing at two men who were too slow or dumb to avoid the Mud Drakes attack in time. One leaned up against a tree, clutching a mangled arm that barely hung on by scraps, while another lay on his side, a deep gash running horizontally across his chest. Both men were at least [Silver Spirit] Cultivators, so the wounds wouldnt kill them immediately, but Hugo doubted they would be walking on their own any time soon. As others moved to assist them, Hugo shook his head and turned toward the village, Bill and Claude following behind him. The dredging teams couldnt do any more dredging today, not while the Mud Drake was downriver. It was simply too dangerous and unpredictable. They could only work in the morning while the beast slept in its den. Thankfully, it never really ventured too far from the river proper, so as long as you didnt approach while it was out and about, there wasnt any chance of bumping into it just wandering the forest. Hugo doubted anyone could live in the cavern, if that wasnt the case. The muddy river would slowly clear over the next few hours, the Spirit Energy-rich mud and silt following in the Mud Drakes wake, settling to the bottom. By tomorrow morning, the waters would be crystal clear once more, and new plant growth will have already taken root. Bill tsked at Hugos side as they turned and headed back toward the village. Well, there goes the day, he said. Where do you think theyll put us next? Pleeeease, not the quarry. Anything but the quarry Claude begged. What do you have against the quarry anyway? Bill asked. Claude turned to him and said with a flat face, Youve never seen someone crushed by a falling rock and it shows. Bill returned the blank stare but didnt respond, only shaking his head slightly. Hugo was the one to break the awkward silence. Theyll probably stick us on the wall again. The other two men groaned. What the hell!? What are they even building out here?! Bill asked, throwing up his arms. A wall, obviously, idiot, came Claudes response. Bill glared at the other man. I know that. I mean, why are they building it? It doesnt even connect to anything! Its just one stupidly long wall in the middle of a forest! Hugo frowned. It was a bit of a mystery. The aptly named wall was a four-kilometer-long, six-meter-high, and two-meter-thick stone wall built in the middle of the forest about a third of the way between the village and the river. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. It was a massive construct that couldnt have been built in the week they had been working on if not for the joint efforts of the goblins, the bandits, and shockingly ants. The only thing was, none of the bandits could tell why the bloody thing was being built. It would make sense if it was some kind of fortification for the village or if it was being used to keep something out, but the ends didnt even connect to anything! Not only that, but the slight bend toward the river made even less sense. If the wall was made to keep the village safe from the Mud Drake, it was wholly inadequate. And why would they not build it closer to the river or village? Why build it in the middle of a random forest? It was just one more strange thing the goblins had them doing recently. Its a waste, is what it is! he said, throwing his hands into the air. They were far enough away from anyone at this point that they didnt really need to be overly quiet. The goblins were pretty lax about traveling in between various tasks. The bandits collars ensured they would be where they needed to be and when. Not that a few people hadnt tried to take advantage or even escape. No one tried more than once. Claude shook his head in disappointment, sharing a rare moment of agreement with the other man. Truly. Theyre using [Deep Marble] for the bricks and refined clay and gravel from a Dragon Pool for the mortar! If someone with the right skills got ahold of even some of the mud weve been dredging up downstream, they could refine it into spiritual tablets that would sell for a premium in Halirosa, if they could get the right complementary ingredients.. Hell, I bet it even has some alchemical uses if the water is anything to go by. Claude had mentioned more than once his dream of becoming an Alchemist one day. But such things were beyond men like them. Hugo sighed as well, trying not to think about it. Lets just get to the village and get our next task. I dont want to be late for dinner again. The mention of food seemed to be all the other men needed, and all three doubled their pace. As they neared the check-in station set up for the bandits, Hugo stared up at the ceiling. Just one day at a time In a certain cavern, a certain AI played through the recorded audio logs with interest. Alpha knew that monitoring the captured bandits would pay off eventually, but he hadnt been sure how. And to be fair, most of the inmates conversations were decidedly boring. But every so often, hed catch wind of a good lead. Hmmmm. Interesting indeed. //Alpha Log - 6952 SFY-Third Era, 5 standard months since Planetfall. 3 weeks since the battle to retake the Goblin village. Operation: Safari Hunt is progressing smoothly, for the most part. Safari Hunts primary goals are simple. We need something to distract the official Adventurers Guild expedition party and whatever forces this Icefinger fellow sends from both my primary base, and give the expedition party a reason to side with the goblin village. So Ive decided, why not kill two birds with one stone? With that in mind, plans for a secondary operations area, Site B, have been implemented. With help from Antchaser and Dr. Maria, the current plan is to fashion Site B into a Dungeon ruin. Essentially, a Dungeon that has degraded through either age or damage. Despite their degraded state, however, both claim they are still seen as valuable resources, as they often retain some of their previous functionality, even if the actual inheritance has been lost. Overall, it should act as a decent enough cover, letting the Adventurers Guild have their shiny prize while keeping them away from the important stuff. We dont expect to keep the ruse up indefinitely. But by the time the cracks start showing, Ill have already accumulated enough power between the ants and goblins that it shouldnt matter. Not to say sacrifices havent had to be made. Given our time crunch, all ongoing construction efforts have shifted from expanding my base at the ant colony to creating Site B. Or, as the goblins in the know have taken to calling it, the Dragons Garden. A little chniby if you ask me, but Antchaser assures me such trends are common among dungeons. It seems no matter how powerful one becomes, one cant escape the rule of cool. That said, we have hit a few hiccups. According to what Ive gathered, Dungeons serve three main purposes. 1 - To act as training grounds and tests for individuals attempting that Dungeons inheritance. 2 - Producing various artifacts as Antchaser calls them. Basically just tools, weapons and rewards for the trial takers. 3 - Raising various creatures to be used in said trials or as materials to make the rewards. Current construction is mainly focused on the wall that will act as the entrance to Site B. The current plan is for the wall to encompass roughly a third of the cavern. It will eventually circle the section of the river with the lifeform the locals call a Mud Drake at its center. This serves the dual purpose of isolating the dangerous, evil creature from the rest of the cavern to some extent as well. You will always be remembered, Alphantonso III! Ahem. As I was saying. Unfortunately, with only a week more to work on it before the Adventurers are expected to show up, theres no way itll be finished in time. Even using the ants and captured bandits as a labor force to quarry bricks and dredge river sediment for mortar wont come close to being enough to finish. Thats where good olsmoke and mirrors come into play. Using the villagers and hunters as friendly native guides, we can direct the Adventurers where we want and keep them away from the areas still under construction. Surprisingly, it was Boarslayer who had come up with the idea. Apparently, it wasnt uncommon for more friendly Adventurer parties to hire native guides and hunters to show them all the best spots. Some Deep Tribes made a fair living doing just that. All I have to do was set up some simple challenges and puzzles, along with some artifacts, and boom, my very own guided Dungeon Safari! The artifacts were the simple part of all this. With my printer banks growing each day and even more task-specific workshops going up soon, I can finally say things are looking up in the resource department! No, where Im really struggling is in the third aspect The original plan had just been to throw ants behind the wall, but Antchaser insists that would raise questions they couldnt answer yet. After that, the plan was adjusted to collect genetic samples from various creatures and stock Site B as needed to simulate a strong ecosystem. Just like the sapient people, the creatures of this world seem capable of naturally absorbing the radiant energy in the environment to grow stronger and even mutate in certain ways. Some are so well adapted to this process even, that lab-grown clones arent viable in the normal way, as the creatures dont have the time to absorb enough energy to grow properly. This makes the cloning process far more complicated and time-intensive than that of the ants, which are biologically designed for rapid growth and propagation. They still can be grown, and Im already working on several translight enclosers for this very purpose, but they wont be ready for the expedition party. So, instead, Ive had the goblins running around this and neighboring caverns, capturing as many samples of the various wildlife as they can find. Of course, wildlife being wildlife, they didnt care much for being suddenly tossed into a new area filled with other strange creatures. Nor did they have the habit of staying there, what with the wall still being a work in progress. That problem was solved easily enough with the same restraint collars I used on the inmates, as well as some other modifications. Most of the stocked creatures were quickly learning to stay out of fights and to avoid the marked boundaries where the rest of the wall would eventually go up. As for what comes next, all we can do is hope these next Adventurers are more agreeable than the last. B2 - Lesson 26: "Free Time is an Illusion." Antchaser and Boarslayers team made their way through the village gate just as the bell for dinner rang. Communal meals had only been popular among the hunters before the bandits had arrived, and even then, only because they allowed the hunting parties to relax after a long day. With the longhouse destroyed and every able hand working to rebuild the village, such meals had become more common. Even if it took the form of people waiting in line in front of a large pot most days. Nonetheless, it was an important time for the goblin villagers to gather and socialize. It was a small bit of normality at an otherwise stressful time. It helped that the bandits took their own meal to the designated areas outside of the village walls, giving the goblins some time away from them. Today was slightly different, however. It had been three days since the capture of the Mossback troop. It was time for a celebration! A long table had been set up in the middle of the village square, filled with various foods and treats. The spread couldnt compare to what it might have once been in the past, but it was impressive, even still. After all, they were celebrating the completion of one of the major projects Alpha had assigned them. Ahead of schedule even! Now that they had captured enough spirit beasts for the Dragons Garden, they could finally start redistributing people to address workforce gaps in other areas. Most of the goblins didnt really understand everything they were doing, but those few in the know knew that time was running short. The more they could get done, the greater the chance the plan had to succeed. If they could pull this off, it could change everything for the village. Technically, the treaties between the Deep and Halirosa covered all the peoples, tribes, and villages of the Deep Tunnels. In practice, only the largest and most important tribes ever had any say in what actually happened. If Antchasers village could actually negotiate a deal with not just the Adventurers Guild but Halirosa itself, their status on the social hierarchy would instantly skyrocket. Regardless of their small size. Antchasers mind was filled with visions of the future even as he piled his wooden plate with various foods: roast boar, various spirit fruits, and even a few pickled river plants. Several of the weeds pulled up by the bandits during their dredging had been identified as edible. Things such as a type of watercress and even wasabi once cleaned and processed added a much-needed variety to the goblins diets. After piling his plate high, Antchaser approached the head table. At the table sat several goblins, including Boarslayer, the Elder, and several of the project managers. However, one oddity at the table was Dr. Maria, who sat to one side of Boarslayer. Many in the village didnt look too thrilled to have an Adventurer at the table for what was quickly becoming Alphas and thus the villages inner circle. But the womans rather charismatic personality and seemingly genuine desire to help the sick and wounded had helped smother much of the lingering embers of resentment Bosco and his group brought about. Dr. Maria smiled and waved Antchaser over. The goblin sat down on the doctors free side and returned the smile. On her other side, Boarslayer leaned forward, her mouth stuffed with roast meat. She stared down at his modest plate, then back up at him, and smirked, her eyes narrowing in humor. The muscled bound goblin took a large bite of her roast and turned back to her food, easily three times as packed as his own or anyone elses at the table, for that matter. Antchaser rolled his eyes and dug into his own dinner. He promised himself hed relish every bite. After so long, with so little, the village was finally starting to truly prosper. Even after the tragedy brought by the bandits . But today was a celebration! They could afford to spoil the villager a bit. Good food and a merry atmosphere went a long way towards morale. After hed gotten the chance to eat some, Dr. Maria spoke up; So about our Drake problem. Antchaser took another bite and paused before asking. Is it getting bad? Boarslayer was the one to answer. The dredging teams only finished half their quota done today, and the pest destroyed another dredger, she said through a half-full mouth. Antchaser sighed. Across the table, Weaver, the older female goblin who had been put in charge of logistics and resources, pointed a drumstick at him. The dredger itself isnt too big of a loss, as long as you can request another from Lord Alpha. The bigger issue is this is the third time in as many days. Its learning. Anchaser frowned. That was a problem. As a lesser dragon, the Mud Drake wasnt sapient and wouldnt become such until it was much stronger. Yet, that didnt mean it was a stupid beast, either, far from it. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Dr. Maria tented her hand and rested her chin on top of them. Mud Drakes are ambush predators by nature. They wait in muddy riverbanks for other large creatures to come for a drink, then drown them when they approach. It may see the dredging operations as disturbing its hunting grounds. Chasing away larger game, destroying the riverbank, and forcing it further downriver. All the more reason we need to deal with it, Antchaser said. If we cant at least stop it from disrupting operations, well not make it time for the plan to worknot as well as we need it to. We only have a week left before the expedition party shows up. Thats including the time itll take them to make it to the cavern from the surface. Yaaaaa, about that Slight change of plans. Conversation at the table paused as every eye turned to look at the silver [Wasp] that had landed a large bird thigh held by Boarslayer. Alpha turned to look at Antchaser. I need you three to meet me in the Lab. Alternate options have presented themselves, and I need your input, especially about the state of Halirosa and the surrounding settlements. Antchaser shared a look between Dr. Maria and Boarslayer, then nodded. Understood, sir. Well come right away. Alphas [Wasp] wiggled. No rush. Finish your meal, but dont dawdle. The more time we have to speak, the better. Elder and Weaver, Ill likely keep them for some time. Please see that the appropriate people are made aware, he said. Yes sir, came the response from the two goblins. The Elder may have been the official leader of the village and the one with the most pull out of anyone at the table, but even the ancient goblin understood who was really in charge. Some might have argued they had only exchanged one tyrant for another, but four centuries of life had taught the Elder that who wore the proverbial crown rarely mattered. What mattered was how the people benefited from it. And even he could not deny that the village had done nothing but grow from the Dungeon Cores control. Even if only a few of them understood most of what the Core wanted. Alpha turned back to Antchaser. Good. See you soon. Everyone at the table nodded. Boarslayer shrugged, then bit into the bird thigh, swallowing flesh, bone, and [Wasp] whole. Two hours later, Antchaser, Dr. Maria, and Boarslayer stood under a blind by the cavern wall, watching a line of Demon Ants march up the wall toward the colony entrance far above. None of them made a sound. Theoretically, it was perfectly safe where they were, but it was still unnerving to be so close to the colony, especially when their hunting parties were out and about. It had recently been discovered that the ant colony was also attached to several neighboring caverns. This helped to explain why the ants presence was so light in the goblins cavern, despite both the colony and the cavern being so large. But that didnt make them any less dangerous if they discovered you in their territory. As the rest of the ants returned to the colony, one of them broke off and made its way toward the blind. The occupants tensed until a tendril extended from the ants head and flashed green at the tip, signaling that it was one of the ants controlled by Alpha. Boarslayer walked forward and pushed the door of the blind open for the ant. Once inside, the ant approached the nearby stone wall and extended another tendril into the solid stone. After a moment, there was a click, and part of the wall slid back and to the side, revealing a long, well-lit tunnel. The ant made their way down the tunnel at a rapid pace, leaving the two goblins and human woman to make their own way. When the last of them crossed the threshold, the hidden door slid silently shut behind them. A few minutes of walking later, they approached a small platform with a long tunnel stretching to either end. The group stopped at the edge of the platform and waited. As they did, Dr. Maria spoke. Ive been wondering Does the Dun ahem Mr. Alpha often seek your council like this? Testing our knowledge, I can understand, given how dependent on crafting and various esoteric wisdoms his Inheritance seems dependent on. Yet, at times, his questions seem strange. As if he doesnt understand some of the more basic, fundamental things that should be obvious. Antchaser opened his mouth to answer but paused. She had a point. He wanted to argue it, but it did feel strange that Alpha would test them on a theoretically complicated subject like how a certain array structure interacted with various others. Only to turn around and ask a basic question even a child might know, such as how Spirit Energy moved through various types of mediums. It was Boarslayer who answered, though. Of course he would, she scoffed, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Hes been trapped down here for how many centuries? Youre a doctor, Maria. More than most, you should be aware of how quickly information and understanding can change. Why wouldnt he want to confirm that what we know hadnt deviated too far? Antchaser raised a brow at Boarslayers unusually well-spoken response and the rather casual way she addressed the doctor. When had these two grown so close? Dr. Maria nodded thoughtfully. Thats possible. In the two weeks I have worked for him, Mr. Alpha has shown me wonders and concepts in the field of medicine I would have never thought possible before. Things even I can only explain as miracles. Yet even so, I cant help but wonder why. Why does he do any of this? Its so outside of how Dungeon Cores typically operate that I find myself wondering what the end goal is. Boarslayer shrugged. Dont know, dont care. Im just paid to hit things. Annnnd there was the Boarslayer he knew. Antchaser sighed. She wasnt even paid! She did it for fun! Before Antchaser could give his own two coppers, there was a rush of wind, and a large, egg-shaped metal object rushed out of the side tunnel. It slowed and came to a silent stop in front of the platform the three of them stood on. There was a click, and the sides of the egg slid up, revealing a rather spacious compartment with several seats. Antchaser took a step toward the vehicle. Enough chatter, lets go see whawoah! A large hand grabbed Antchasers collar and pulled him aside. Ladies first! Boarslayer said. Dr. Maria chuckled and walked into the cabin, followed by Boarslayer. Antchaser sighed and shook his head, then stepped inside at last. The door slid back down, and, with a slight jerk, they accelerated forward. It would only take them a few minutes to reach the Lab. It may not have been a lot, but it was a precious few moments of peace, allowing him time to think and reflect. Sometimes I miss having free time B2: GRIM Adventures - 11 Baron Ashdale turned and nodded. As surely as the sun rises. For as old and as powerful as Morgana is, shes twice as vindictive. Shell be weak for a while, which will buy you some time, but not much. I would recommend you to flee these mountains as soon as possible. She wont leave them or get too close to Halirosa. She might treat Ashdale as a game, but even she wouldnt test the full might of the Adventurers Capital. We cant do that! Jill cried out, maybe a bit too fast. Baron Ashdale raised a brow, and Jill blushed, sinking back into her chair and looking away. After a silent moment, Baron Ashdale spoke. At the end of the day, I cant make your choices for you. All I can do is offer you advice. Morgana isnt a simple foe by any means. Even at the height of his power, Progenitor Ashdale couldnt weed out that parasite fully. The table slipped into an awkward silence. Jill knew what the Baron was intending but it didnt matter. Turning back was no longer an option. Ah! Before I forget. Baron Ashdale broke the silence a moment later, jerking Jill from her ruminations. He leaned forward. Since you enjoyed the tale of my clans Dragon spruce, Ive got another story for you! Would you want to hear it? Both Jack and Mr. Gopher leaned forward, their eyes practically sparkling as they nodded. Baron Ashdales grin grew wider, and he laughed. The older man leaned back in his chair, placed one hand against the bottom of his muzzle, and stared up at the tree in contemplation. Hmmm. Now, how did that go again? Ah! Yes! Thats right. He snapped and pointed at Jill. He leaned over the table once more and grinned a devilish smile. Did you know the Ashdale and Rubyseed Progenitors once met each other? What?! How?! Jack and Jill both responded. Baron Ashdale threw his head back and laughed. Jill narrowed her eyes. Sir Ashdale, while I appreciate the hospitality you and your clan have shown us, and Id hate to call you a liar, I honestly dont see how thats possible. That was an understatement. While the Ashdale clan was relatively powerful politically, militarily, and economically, it was a young Awakened Beast clan in the grand scheme of things. An Awakened clans power was in its bloodline, passed down from its Progenitor. This bloodline not only granted the clan its sapience and strength but also allowed an Awakened Beast of significant strength to take on human form. When exactly was determined by many factors, mostly the type of spirit beast the Progenitor was more closely related to and the overall purity of their descendants bloodline. In general, the stronger the Awakeneds bloodline and the more powerful their Origin, the harder it was for them to take human form. Typically, the Progenitor themselves would only reach human form after breaking into [Firmament Breaker], the third and final greater realm before Ascension. First-generation offspring, on the other hand, could often do so as early as [Soul Fusion] or [Shedding Flesh], the midpoint of the second greater realm, [Earthly Transcendence]. However, there was another way for an Awakened to take human form. To be born with it. Once in human form, crossbreeding with humans or other humanoid races, even other Awakened Beasts, was possible. Why one might do this varied from person to person, but the most common reason was to strengthen their offsprings compatibility with human cultivation techniques. This resulted in children who grew quickly and faced fewer restrictions or bottlenecks. Mixing blood in such a way wasnt without its downsides, however. Children born through the union of man and beast were born with a weaker bloodline as they drifted further and further away from their Progenitor. It was a delicate balancing act between the power of their bloodline and the flexibility of human cultivation. However, an Awakened who obtained human form on their own merits would almost always be more powerful. Eventually, most clans would slowly evolve into a form similar to Baron Ashdale, retaining much of their primal beastal feature but gaining many of the benefits of a humanoid form. Walking shifted to a more bipedal form, while paws and claws became grasping hands. Throats and voice boxes twisted to become capable of human speech, while digestive tracts became able to process different materials. In fact, the Ashdale were at what many Awakened considered the peak of a clans potential, having both the strength of their bloodline to lean on and the flexibility and breadth of human cultivation. This often resulted in explosive growth for a clan as a whole, and many sought to maintain the period for as long as possible. This was in stark contrast to Jack and Jills own clan. The Rubyseed Iron-tailed squirrel clan was old blood so old that some of Halirosas founding members had been Rubyseed, if in a small part. With that age, however, came a weakening of their bloodline. Even as children, Jack and Jill could have passed as human if not for their signature tails. In a few more generations, their bloodline might grow so weak that not even their tails manifested, effectively signaling the end of the Rubyseed lineage through extinction. There were ways to strengthen ones bloodline and draw closer to ones Origin, though such methods were beyond their clans means. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Baron Ashdale grinned and nodded. Yes, I was quite surprised myself when I learned of it. I wouldnt have thought it possible if it were not for my ancestors journals, though it makes some sense in retrospect. After all, as I mentioned before, Progenitor Ashdale was quite the wanderer. Unlike many Progenitors, he only settled down and established the clan later in his life. Baron Ashdale picked up his cup and sipped his tea before continuing. One of his earliest journals, while he was still quite young, records his meeting with a rather eccentric old squirrel preparing for ascension. Hold up, Im confused, Jill cut the Baron off. Even assuming any of this actually happened, what does it have to do with the Dragon spruce? Baron Ashdale smiled, nodded his head, and stared at the tree. I was getting there. You have to understand something first, however. You see, the tree in this garden isnt the first Dragon spruce to grace these mountains. No, that honor belongs to Progenitor Rubyseeds tree. Not only that, but despite her size and age, you must understand that this old girl, in reality, is still just a sapling. By this point, Jack was practically vibrating in excitement, and Jill knew her brother well enough to know that the man already had a thousand questions rushing through his head. Jill raised a brow and looked up at the tree as well. She found it hard to believe such a massive tree could be called a sapling in any context. Then again, even for as large as Ashdales tree was, it was hard to imagine flocks of drakes roosting in its branches. She let the Baron continue. Progenitor Rubyseeds tree, in contrast, was ancient. According to my ancestors journals, the tree was so massive that the mountain it sat upon had become more root than stone. Jill held up a hand. Hold up. I think wed know about a tree that size. Even with how big the Crimson Mountains are, something like that would have been visible for thousands of miles in all directions. You think someone would have mentioned it before? Baron Ashdale only shrugged. I cant say for certain what happened to it. Maybe someone eventually came along and cut it down, finding it was excellent material. Or maybe Progenitor Rubyseed took it wherever he went. Progenitor Ashdale never found out. When he returned a decade later, both his friend and tree had simply vanished. These events eventually fed Progenitor Ashdales interest in the far north, and was why he had brought back and planted his own Dragon spruce in this valley. Partly as a memorial to a friend to whom he never got to say goodby, and partly hoping one day shed grow just as majestic as the one from his memory. Jack and Jill stared in wide-eyed silence. Bang! Jack shot up from his chair and slammed his palms onto the table. You have to let us see those journals! Do you have any idea what this could mean?! Jill had to agree. Whatever happened to Progenitor Rubyseed had always been a bit of a mystery. Despite Having reached the legendary status of [True Celestial], the last step of the [Firmament Breaker] realm, no one, not even his clan, had actually expected a squirrel to Ascend. So when Progenitor Rubyseed vanished into the mist one day, everyone assumed hed been nearing the end of his natural lifespan and had gone off to prepare his ultimate resting place. After all, even [Firmament Breaker] Cultivators werent immortal. In fact, the Tomb of Rubyseed had become somewhat of an urban legend over the millennia, with dozens of stories and false reports of its discovery about the theorized treasures it might contain, spurring on young Adventurers to comb the Crimson mountains in search of it. Even Jill had to admit shed often fantasized about finding her ancestors hidden tomb in her youth. About reclaiming the treasure within for her clan and finally lifting them out of the pit that time and poor choices had stranded them in. That all those countless centuries of speculations, exploring, and rumor mill may have been based on a false premise from the start was frankly mind-boggling. Baron Ashdale smirked. Typically, even I couldnt let outsiders have access to clan records so easily. But given the circumstances and the boon youve given us, Im sure I can arrange something, he said with a chuckle. Woot! Jack thrust his arms into the air, giving a confused Mr. Gopher a high-five from across the table. For now, finish your tea, and Ill send for someone to make the appropriate requests, Baron Ashdale continued. I find it is perfect for fighting the chill, especially here in the mountains. Ill be sure to send some along with you when you head on your way. Still lost in thought over todays revelation, Jill nodded and reached for her cup. She lifted it up to take a sip then froze, her eyes wide. Her heart pounded as her hand shook slightly, and her eyes snapped up to meet Baron Ashdales. The man only smiled gently over his own cup. He knew. Of course, he knew The man easily controlled Little Red, meaning he was likely already at [Elemental Dominance], maybe even early [Core Condensing]. He could read her like a book from the very start. It took more than a slight effort to still her shaking hand, but Jill eventually raised the cup the rest of the way and broke eye contact with Baron Ashdale. As soon as the tea hit her core, its soothing warmth spread through her body, melting what ice had gathered in her veins during their talk. It would return, in time, she could tell. But for that brief, blessed moment, warmth returned to her body. If anyone had bothered to ask, Jill would have claimed the moister at the corner of her eyes was nothing more than steam. The group spent the next few moments in silence as each person was lost in their own thoughts. Finally, Baron Ashdale sat his cup down and stood. Well, now, no point in wasting any more time. How about we go see if we cant do something about those journals? he said with a smile. Finally! Lets go! Jack yelled as he stood. Jills brother grabbed up Mr. Gopher much to their chagrin and rushed for the garden entrance. Baron Ashdale laughed and chased after them. Before hed taken more than a few steps, however, Baron Ashdale turned and looked at Jill. Are you coming, my dear? he asked. I promise, my ancestor is a far better storyteller than I am. Jill nodded and responded. Ya Ill catch up in a moment as soon as I finish my tea. Baron Ashdale nodded but said nothing more, instead turning and walking toward the same entrance Jack had vanished through. Jill sat at the table, enjoying the silence as she contemplated things. Was Baron Ashdale right? Were they taking too much of a risk remaining in these mountains? Was she needlessly putting Jack in danger? It wasnt like the [Pure Water] spring was going anywhere, nor would her affliction kill her anytime soon, at least. The more she thought about the matter, the more an odd feeling began welling up inside her. It was only after a few moments that Jill realized that the feeling wasnt really coming from her, however. Tilting her head in confusion, Jill accessed her storage ring and pulled out a small object. It was a seed. A large seed half the size of her fist. It was the very seed her grandmother had given her. There it was again, a slight pulse. Faint, fleeting, but not just her imagination. Jill frowned, then slowly turned to stare up at the giant tree in the middle of the garden, her eyes narrowing. She stood and slowly made her way toward the trunk. With each step she took, the odd feeling grew stronger, resonating with something deep inside her that she quickly recognized was her bloodline. By the time she drew close enough to touch the trunk nimbly dodging the kicking leg of Little Red in his sleep both the seed and her bloodline felt like they were slightly humming. Jill looked down at the seed, then back up at the Dragon spruce. Silently, she whispered a phrase that, even after months of exploring and contemplation, had remained a mystery to her. Where roots meet the sky B2 - Lesson 27: "All Natural MUD" A thousand metal arms worked on dozens of projects, lending an air of controlled chaos to the scene filling the gargantuan complex. The Controlled Research and Experimentation Laboratory or just the Lab as those in the know had taken to calling it was a sprawling labyrinth of testing, manufacturing, and growing labs. Built into solid rock nearly a kilometer underneath the ant colony proper, it was quickly becoming the center for Alphas research. It had to be built so far away to prevent the ants from inadvertently digging into it. This was especially important because as Alphas manufacturing ability increased, so did his ability to expand and build, which in turn further increased his capabilities. It was less like a snowball and more like your father when he went through his hobbyist phase and wouldnt stop buying new toys. And Alpha has a lot of new toys Moreover, the possibilities would only increase if this new project turned out how he thought it would. All that was missing was Ah! Good! Youre here! Alpha spoke through the Lab speakers as the doors to the rail platform slid open. The transport rail was the newest addition to the Lab. It was far more efficient than having ants transport everything down the long corridors. As Antchaser, Dr. Maria, and Boarslayer stepped into the reception chamber, Antchaser stepped forward and stood in a red circle painted in the middle of the room. A metal arm unfolded from the ceiling and pointed itself at the goblin. A wide blue beam shot from the tip of the arm and scanned the man, circling around to capture every angle. When the light turned green, Antchaser stepped out of the ring and walked toward a closed door opposite the entrance they had entered. He pressed his hand against a flat screen beside it, and the screen flashed green once more. The door opened, and the goblin walked through before it shut behind him. One after another, Dr. Maria and Boarslayer repeated the process until all three were on the other side of the security checkpoint. Alpha honestly doubted that any of them could have been compromised not quite at this point in the game but it was always good to establish procedures early. As the checkpoint door closed behind them, an ant walked around the corner and greeted them. Alpha could have just spoken to them through the various speakers, but hed found the natives responded far better when he interacted face-to-face. What did you want us to see, sir? Antchaser asked as the ant led them down the hallway. Well, you see came the response. Thanks to new information gathered by monitoring the inmates, Ive made a recent breakthrough regarding a previous project we had originally scrapped. The nascent Dragon Pool? Antchaser asked. Ant Alpha nodded. Hugo and his little group might have thought the goblins werent aware of the Dragon Pool, but in fact, Alpha had been closely monitoring them specifically to track the effects of prolonged exposure. Of course, the goblins had known about the Dragon Pool, but the Mud Drakes presence had been a heavy deterrent. What water they could collect had to be from far downstream, where it had less impact. But I thought we agreed it was still too soon to get much use out of it? The Dragon Pool wont mature for quite some time. Were talking about a scale of decades, if not centuries. If its tampered with too soon, it could collapse. Dr. Maria said. She wasnt wrong. When the goblins first told him about the so-called Dragon Pool, it had piqued his interest. But light testing had been disappointing. It was not that the properties of the Dragon Pool were uninteresting; they were simply far too weak. A quick injection of the basic healing liquid found in any Federation first-aid kit was more effective in the short term. And even that didnt compare to proper medical nanites. Even the Dragon Pools water-cleaning properties were ultimately unimportant for his current projects. At the end of the day, it wasnt worth damaging the Dragon Pool with extensive testing, given what it might one day become. So whats changed? Boarslayer asked. Alpha mentally grinned and responded. First, let me ask you a question. What are spiritual tablets? The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Antchaser and Dr. Maria shared, Theyre small clay tablets that can hold minor arrays. Theyre related to jade tablets, but far inferior in quality and often one-time use. The materials used to make them are way more common, though, so theyre quite cheaper than jade tablets. Antchaser answered. Alpha nodded. That was roughly what hed been able to pry out of his interviews with a few of the inmates. And how are they made? Alpha continued. Ehhhh Antchaser scratched his head. He honestly did not know. Hed never worked on something like that before. Maybe someone in the village would know, but not him. Thankfully, Dr. Maria picked up the slack. Theyre pretty simple to make, in all honesty. Spirit stones are ground into a fine powder and mixed with high-quality, refined clay and a few other binding reagentstypically the blood of a spirit beast, though the alchemists own can sufficeto create spiritual clay. Once prepared, this clay has several uses, but one of the most common are shaped tablets engraved with an array, forming a spiritual tablet. Antchaser and Boarslayer both stared at Dr. Maria. She raised a brow and looked between them. What? [Tablets of Minor Regeneration] are one of my best sellers back in Halirosa. Though I feel like I must clarify, while Antchaser called them cheap, that is only relativity speaking. As one of their primary components is spirit stones, the price for spiritual tablets can still be quite steep. Typically, theyre seen as emergency items. Again, Alpha nodded. And what is the feasibility of manufacturing our own? Dr. Maria frowned and tapped her chin. Hmmm, not very? Not right now, at least. While I dont doubt theres a spirit stone mine in a cavern, this size there typically is finding it is a whole other matter. We could search for years and never turn anything up. Not without the proper equipment. We could technically use beast core instead, but thats a waste and unsustainable. I see, I see, Alpha said as he led the group through a final set of doors. The lab they entered was newly built and filled to the brim with various pipes and tanks. The centerpiece of the lab was a large glass tank filled with a swirling, dark brown liquid. It wasnt a dirty brown, but a smooth, clean, almost metallic color, giving the impression of liquid bronze. Antchaser would have found it kind of pretty if he had any idea what it was. It was certainly mesmerizing. What are we looking at, Mr. Alpha? This feeling it almost feels like Boarslayer trailed off. Im glad you asked! Come, come! Take a look! Alpha said, a bit of excited giddiness creeping into his voice. The three exchanged looks and approached the tank. Dozens of wide screens were attached to the upper portion of the tank, filled with charts and graphs that none of them could read. A strange machine sat at the bottom of the tank, a thin pipe connecting the two. Antchaser, if you would do the honor? Alpha said, gesturing to the machine. Ant Chaser shrugged and stepped forward. The control screen was similar to the type the goblins had been taught to use during the months of time-dilated training in the dungeon. Mostly to operate the machine that would clean and repair their new equipment. A copy had even been installed in the village, so he was familiar enough with the artifact to not stumble around trying to figure out what to do. The machine clicked to life a moment later as a low rumble shook the room. An unseen gate opened and some of the bronze liquid poured from the tank into the machine. When the liquid finally reached the center portion of the machine, the large upper section of a previously unnoticed press slammed down, the high-pitched whine of steam escaping from between its two halves. With the sound of grinding metal, the press lifted, and the front portion of the machine rolled back. A small tray was pushed forward, and at its center sat a small, coin-sized hexagonal disk. It was smooth and almost metallic brown in color, similar to that of the liquid, though without the swirling shades. Antchaser reached down and picked it up, surprised at how light it felt. He turned it around in his hand a few times, staring at the intricate array lines covering its surface. Antchaser might not have known much about arrays, but he knew enough to feel like something felt odd... about the lines. It was almost like some of them were incomplete. Several simply ran off the edges of the disk. As if whatever they connected to wasnt there. The goblin turned to Alpha and raised the disk with a raised brow. Mr. Alpha, what exactly is th Yonk! Before he could finish his sentence, Dr. Maria charged at him and snatched the disk from his hand. With the fever of a madwoman, she turned the disk over in her hands, tracing the array lines and muttering to herself. After examining the disk from every angle, she held it between her fingers and channeled a small amount of Spirit Energy into it. The array lines flashed to life, light pooling at the edges, while a larger light glowed brightly at the top of the disk. After a moment, the energy faded, and Dr. Marias eyes widened. Again, she channeled energy into the disk, and again it lit up. Again. And again. Only after the tenth time did something finally give, and the disk crumbled away into dust. Dr. Maria stared at her dust-covered hand for a long moment, muttering to herself, until finally, she snapped around. Her bloodshot eyes nearly bulging out of her head, the manic woman pointed at Alpha and demanded, YOU! What did you do?! Alpha only laughed. May I present the [Modular Utility Disks], or MUD, for short. B2 - Lesson 28: "Know How to Bait Your Line." The Federation loved modularization. From ship systems to housing to industrial equipment, if it could be made modular, it was. After all, the Federation comprised hundreds of sapient species. When dealing with tens of thousands of different plants, all with their own ecosystems, weather, and cultures, flexibility was key. Adding exotics to the mix made things even more chaotic. Planets or star systems with high levels of exotics could get weird. Okay, maybe not as weird as this planet, where everything seemed intent on eating everything else, and superpowers were the norm. Even so, it paid to be adaptable, and modularity was the Federations solution. When Alpha had first discovered arrays and recognized their potential, his first obvious direction was applying the Federation philosophy, though to mixed results. As the book Jsh given him mostly touched on basic concepts, Alpha had been forced down a far more experimental route. Simulations werent very effective when you didnt already know all the rules, which left good old trial and error. A lot of errors. A lot of explosive errors. While the storage arrays had been relatively simple, Alpha quickly learned that whatever system governed arrays was far more complicated than hed imagined. And more temperamental. One of the primary reasons the Lab had to be built so far away from Alphas primary base behind the royal ant chamber was that his array experiments have a nasty habit of exploding in his face literally. Only after interrogating the captured bandits did Alpha start to make any genuine progress in his array research. Not that any single bandit knew much, but when what they knew was combined, a more complete picture began to form. As it stood, Alpha had isolated dozens of different effects by reverse engineering the array on the [Wasp] modified by Malaki at the Slatewalker village. The problem was these seals as the more educated of the bandits called them were like letters in an alphabet. They could be combined, rearranged, and even altered slightly to create words that translated into effects. But once those words were written or carved onto an object, they were set. Because how and where each of the array seals connected to each other could greatly alter the ultimate effect of the overall array, even minor changes could cascade the larger the array was. So, how do you turn such an intricate system of interlocking parts into a modular system? Alpha hadnt the faintest clue! Not that he hadnt tried, of course. However, the seals werent the only frustrating piece of this puzzle. Not only was how the seals were arranged important, but also what they were placed on. An array that did perfectly fine on a piece of steel might suddenly become explosive if carved into copper or wood. Some seals flat-out didnt work if they werent placed on the correct materials. How Malaki had modified the [Wasp] at all was baffling. Thats why the talk of spiritual tablets among the bandits had caught his interest. Alpha soon learned that he wasnt the first to cross this road which should have been obvious and while the solution the natives had come to wasnt quite what he was looking for, it had given him ideas. It had taken him nearly three months of translight time two days of real-time, with his energy surplus but Alpha had finally refined what would become the MUDs to a working state. All he needed was some willing volunteers to test them out for him. Thus, the screaming woman and slightly terrified goblins in front of him. Alpha mentally smirked to himself. The first time hed talked to Dr. Maria in any depth, hed instantly pegged her for a type of person he was intimately familiar with. Despite the front of calm, reserved stoicism she often radiated, behind her eyes lay a mind that was never satisfied. She was the type who had to be constantly doing something. Learning something. The kind that always had to be poking, testing, and stretching the boundaries to their limits for no other reason than to see what would happen. Be it science, music, art, or any other field, her type was always testing what was possible, then blasting through those limits with a reckless abandonment that bordered on psychosis. They were responsible for some of the Federations greatest scientific and cultural achievements as well as some of its most horrific. Yetlucky for Alphadespite all their brilliance, they were also some of the easiest to manipulate. All you had to do was play to whatever their focus was, and they would be putty in your hands. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Okay, so it was a bit more complicated than that! Alpha thought to himself. After all, people were still people. Nonetheless, as soon as Alpha shared some of the Federations more advanced medical knowledge with her, he knew Dr. Maria was fully in his camp. Back to the present, Boarslayer held back a raving Dr. Maria as the older woman ranted at the Alpha-controlled Alphantonso. Antchaser moved between them and held up his hand. Hold up, Dr. Maria, calm down, please! Explain what exactly is going on here! Whats the issue?! Dr. Maria paused, turned to Antchaser, and pointed at him. Whats the problem?! Ill show you the problem! With that, she whirled and rushed to the machine at the base of the tank. A moment later, she held a newly minted MUD. She flicked her wrist, and a small clay tablet the size of an open palm appeared in her other hand. The glazed clay tablet sparkled slightly under the artificial lights, as if it had been covered in glitter. Three small crystals were embedded at points along a complex web of array lines carved into its surface. This she held the tablet up and shook it, is a [Tablet of minor Regeneration]. And this she held up the coin-sized token, is a so-called MUD. Tell me, whats different about them? Antchaser stared at the objects with a raised eyebrow. What wasnt different about them? The spiritual tablet looked like others hed seen before, if better made, attesting to Dr. Marias skill. The MUD, on the other hand, while well made in his eyes, looked more like someone had tried to mint a gold coin out of clay and then given it a coat of glaze. It would have appeared utterly unremarkable if it hadnt been for the array lines carved into it. Even the array etched into the MUD made little sense. While the tablets arrays were chaotic and hard to read, with the telltale signs of array masking, they were all self-contained. It was like looking at an artistic piece telling its own story. The MUD, on the other hand as hed noticed before felt like it was missing parts. Seals suddenly cut off at the edges, and what complete seals were there made little sense in the context of a working array. He voiced as much as well, I mean, where do you want me to start? Theyre totally different EXACTLY! came the doctors response. Now, watch what happens. Without an ounce of hesitation, Dr. Maria pulled out a small knife and sliced open her palm. As her blood fell onto the tablet, the array lines lit up, while the three spirit stones embedded in its surface burst into pale white flames. Under the light of the white flame, the blood on Dr. Marias hand quickly dried and flaked away while the cut itself slowly mended. By the time the light had faded, little more than a pink scar was left. As soon as the flames died from the spirit stones, the tablet cracked and crumbled to dust. Antchaser stared, wide-eyed. That was his first time seeing a genuine spiritual tablet being used. Sure, hed seen them for sale in Halirosas market during the rare visit; as Dr. Maria had stated, they were only cheap comparatively. They were far outside his meager budget during any of the visits. Now! Watch this! Dr. Maria said as she held up the MUD. She poured a bit of Spirit Energy into the token, and like the last time, the array lines lit up, producing several small lights around the edge. The lights didnt seem to do anything, but they were pretty? She repeated the action again, then again, stopping after the fourth time, by which Antchaser was starting to put the puzzle pieces together. Boarslayer was the one to actually voice Antchasers mental question. So theyre what? Mini-tablets? I mean, sure, thats impressive, but I dont see why youre so worked up about them. Dr. Maria turned and pointed at Boarslayer. Theyre not tablets, though! she said, an almost manic laugh cracking her voice. Tablets hold complete arrays used to trigger their effects through the application of set conditions. These things again she shook the MUD arent even full arrays! But wait! Theres more! Alpha cut the womans rant off with his best salesmans voice. A [Wasp] swiped the MUD from Dr. Marias hand before she could react. Token in hand, it flew back to the MUD machine, where another hatch had opened. Inside lay a grid with a dozen MUDs arranged in neat rows. With only a quick glance, Antchaser could tell that each token was slightly different. Using the [Wasp], Alpha set the first MUD on a shelf, then selected two more disks and moved them to the same shelf hed placed the first on. With a magnetic click, they snapped into place next to the original, forming a small triangle out of the hexagonal tokens. Throughout the entire process, Dr. Maria stared, wide-eyed. As soon as the [Wasp] moved away, she rushed the newly formed MUD token. The woman reached down with trembling hands, staring at it in awe, as if she could not believe what she saw was real. Then, with a pulse of Spirit Energy, the array lines lit up, moving between and connecting the three individual tokens. Instantly, a thin blue bubble popped into existence around Dr. Maria. She stared at the bubble for a long, unblinking moment, then looked back at the small triangle of hexagons in her hand. Without looking away, Dr. Maria called out. Boarslayer, Yes? Boarslayer responded, a brow raised. Hit me. The doctors voice, despite the previous fervor, was oddly calm. Okay! Boarslayer said with a little more enthusiasm than necessary. Wait up! Hold on a Antchaser tried to protest, but before he could finish, Boarslayer had already crossed the distance, a single massive fist raised high above the much smaller doctors head. With a smile, Boarslayers fist slammed into the energy bubble surrounding Dr. Maria and stopped. Boarslayer frowned and backed away, shaking her fist. Her eyes narrowed, and she took a deep breath through her mouth. Again, Boarslayer struck out, this time with a left hook faster than Antchaser could follow with his eyes. The large goblins fit struck the barrier with a resounding BANG! and sent out a visible shockwave. This time, the bubble indented, and small cracks formed along its surface. The next instant, it popped, sending fragments of light scattering into the aether. Boarslayers fist soared harmlessly past Dr. Maria, who had never once flinched during either attack. In the doctors hands, the leftmost hexagon of the triad cracked and crumbled away as the lines powering the whole thing flickered and died. Dr. Maria stared down at the two remaining MUDs silently. Then she laughed. It was soft at first, but slowly, it grew in volume and intensity to the point that Antchaser felt a slight chill crawl down his spine. To the side, Alpha mentally grinned. If he had any doubt about where Dr. Marias loyalties would lie, Alpha was more than confident they were no longer in question. Hook, Line, and Sinker. B2 - Lesson 29: "Ignore The Ominous Lightning Flashing in The Background" Boarslayer folded her arms. "I don''t get it. What''s the big deal?" she asked, frowning. Dr. Maria twitched, her eyes snapping toward the large goblin. "What''s the big deal? What''s the big deal?! You don''t get it! Tablets don''t work like that! Arrays don''t work like that! There''s a reason we do things the way we do! These MUDs totally unweave tens of thousands of years of established fact! That''s what the big deal is!" With each breath, the doctor''s words became more frantic and crazed as she waved a finger at Boarslayer like it was a club. For a moment, Alpha feared he might have broken something in the old human woman. Thankfully, Antchaser stepped up, standing between Dr. Maria and Boarslayer. He cut the woman off and held up both arms to block her. "Hold up, now. You''re going to have to break this down for us, doctor. Remember, Boarslayer and I barely have any experience with arrays, let alone tablets." Dr. Maria froze. Then blinked. "Ah, right I apologize," she said as the crazed woman disappeared and the stoic doctor once more took over. "I guess some explanation is in order." She cleared her throat and raised a finger. "First, let''s see how much you do know. I''ll start with a basic question. ''What are arrays?''" Antchaser and Boarslayer exchanged a look before the former shrugged. "Arrays are arrays? You draw patterns, inject Spirit Energy, and get an effect," they said. Dr. Maria chuckled. "That''s not incorrect, but it''s not the answer I wanted. At their core, arrays are instructions more specifically, instructions to Spirit Energy." Boarslayer frowned. "That doesn''t make any sense. Spirit Energy isn''t a living thing. It doesn''t ''think''. How can you give instructions to something that doesn''t listen?" Sure, Cultivators could ''direct'' Spirit Energy, but that was them imposing their own will on it, not ''asking'' it to do something. Dr. Maria smiled. "Again, you''re not wrong. Spirit Energy doesn''t have a will of its own, but it does have tendencies habits and patterns that we, as Cultivators, can exploit. By moving Spirit Energy in certain patterns and in certain ways, an array manifests an intended effect on the world. Like a seamstress weaving an elegant dress out of raw thread." She held up her hand, and the fingers warped, sharpening and turning a shiny grey color. In only a few seconds, each finger had transformed into various medical tools: a pair of forceps, two different scalpels, a long needle, and even what looked like the end of a stethoscope. She wiggled the metal digits around and continued, "In fact, when a Cultivator uses a spiritual technique, they''re creating a type of array by moving their own Spirit Energy through their meridians in specific patterns to create their desired effects. If the Cultivator is the seamstress and the Spirit Energy the tread, then manual casting would be like knitting by hand, while arrays are more akin to using a loom and patterns." Antchaser and Boarslayer both stared, wide-eyed. Neither had really considered too deeply how their techniques worked the way they did or their connection to arrays. Did a swordsman question why his arm moved, or the bowman why his arrow flew? Okay, so some probably did. Otherwise, how would new and better creations come into being? But those people were elites with the time and resources to question more than ''does it work.'' Those people weren''t Antchaser and Boarslayer. Alpha, on the other hand, found the entire subject fascinating. That simple explanation alone answered more questions than weeks of independent research. What do you mean that''s my fault?! You can''t ask questions you don''t know! Alpha chose to ignore the string of messages from his Sub-AI and instead turned to the doctor. "With that in mind, why use spiritual techniques at all? If an array is a loom, why bother ''knitting?''" Alpha asked, using what he''d come to all his ''Dungeon Core tone.'' It was useful for getting the natives to offer information up without letting on he didn''t already know the answer. Is this what therapists did all day? Maybe Alpha would take up psychiatry when he got back to the Federation! Dr. Maria folded her arms and nodded her head. "Thank you, Mr. Alpha. I was just getting to that." She then turned back to Antchaser and Boarslayer. "As Mr. Alpha said, with that in mind, one must ask, ''What''s the point of spiritual techniques then?'' And that train of thought isn''t too far off. In fact, it is often said an Array Master is someone who has taken that thought to the extremes. Someone who has forsaken personal techniques in favor of arrays. But " She paused and held up a finger. "the profession also acts as a perfect example of the pros and cons of either philosophy. In their territory, an Array Master is peerless. Even powerful geniuses from the Five Pillars will hesitate to fight a proper Array Master on their home turf. Whether speed, power, or efficiency, arrays simply outperform what any individual Cultivator could hope to accomplish. Returning to our analogy, a seamstress using an advanced loom could create far more, far quicker than one relying on their own two hands. But therein lies the problem" Dr. Maria let the statement trail off, eyeing both goblins. Antchaser narrowed his eyes, considering the unspoken question. It took a moment, but then it finally clicked. "In their own territory" he breathed, almost as if to himself. Dr. Maria grinned and nodded as Antchaser continued the thought; "It''s like you said they''re peerless in their own territory. Give an Array Master the time and resources to set up; you''ll never pull them from their shell. But catch them off guard and under-prepared, and they''re far easier to deal with. That''s basic knowledge." Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Dr. Maria laughed. "Correct! Now you''ve got the idea!" she said. The doctor paced back and forth, some of the manic energy returning as she spoke with her hands. "You hit the nail on the head, my dear boy. Array Masters are some of the most dangerous people you will ever encounter if you give them the chance." She stopped and whirled, holding up three fingers. "That''s the key. Time, space, and resources. This is the core of the choice that every Cultivator eventually faces. Do you refine your personal techniques, which are generally weaker and slower to master, yet flexible and ''free,'' but for your own time and power? Or do you focus on arrays, whose power is available to their wielders at the snap of your finger yet are inflexible, cumbersome, and expensive? For most, the answer lies somewhere in between, and the truly strong know how to make the best of both." Alpha nodded along at the explanation. That made sense. It was the classic ''grind-to-win'' verse ''pay-to-win'' debate. Did you focus fully on training your character to do everything? Or did you buy some OP equipment to cover the areas your build couldn''t? Boarslayer was next to speak up, after having remained uncharacteristically silent for the longest time. "Okay, I get that kinda But what does that have to do with the MUDs? How do they play into all this? Is it just because the machine can churn them out so fast? I feel like an Array Master should be able to do at least something similar, right? Even if it''s not worth their time," she asked with a frown. Dr. Maria turned toward her, grinning. "That''s part of it, sure! But a device capable of automatically engraving simple arrays with minimal effort isn''t anything new. Some workshops use similar concepts for basic, everyday items. No, the crux of ''problem'' if you could call it that is this!" The doctor held up the two connected MUD tokens and channeled energy into them, though without the third token, all they did was light up. Once the energy had faded, she reached over and ''snapped'' the fused tokens apart, though with no apparent damage to either. Again, she channeled energy into them, and again, they lit up, though this time Antchaser could tell there was a distinction. Where before, the two MUD were like singers harmonizing with each other to sing a song, now they were two voices trying to ''sing over'' each other. Antchaser tilted his head. "So, they can what? Combine? Is that supposed to be hard?" he asked, his eyes narrowing. Dr. Maria threw her head back and laughed. "Hard? No, my boy, it should be impossible." "Why?" Boarslayer followed. "As I said before, arrays are instructions, and like any good instructions, you can''t just slap words together willy-nilly and expect them to make any sense. Each individual seal " she held up the MUDs to show them "is its own ''word'' or letter. They''re parts of a whole that connect and intermingle in different ways to form the greater whole we know as an ''array.'' What seals are used and how those seals are arranged in relation to each other determine the effects of an array. This is why Array Masters go to such lengths to obscure their work. If you know how to ''read'' an array, you can learn what it does." She held the MUDs next to each other, and they once more clicked into place. "But like words on a page, once the ink is dry, they''re set. You can''t easily change an array without knowing what you''re doing, or the results could be devastating. At best, you could ruin the array. At worst, you could cause a catastrophic feedback loop resulting in a massive explosion " Alpha whistled off to the side, trying to look innocent. "or even cause unintended and totally unpredictable side effects. Only true masters, or those rare gifted geniuses, can ever hope to truly ''crack'' an array and produce a stable result." Antchaser nodded, following along so far. Still, he felt the need to ask. "So what you''re saying is these tokens can be mixed and matched to produce stable arrays? Like someone cutting words out of a scroll and gluing them onto a new one?" Dr. Maria snapped her fingers and pointed at Antchaser. "That''s exactly it, my boy! Good analogy. Yes, these MUDs are similar in concept to what you describe. However, instead of gluing them to another scroll, you''re creating an entirely new scroll out of pieces of others. It might not look pretty, but for the purposes of giving instructions, they work. They work when everything we know about arrays says they shouldn''t." Boarslayer folded her arms and frowned. "Why not?" she asked. "It seems like a smart idea to me. I''m surprised no one''s ever tried it before." Dr. Maria shook her head. "Oh, they have," she responded. "The issue lies with the third problem with arrays. Resources. Arrays are expensive. They need to be. After all, they don''t have a will to direct them like our internal Spirit Energy does. The energy must be guided and directed in the right way. Array Master accomplishes this through various materials and resources, each acting as a sign and guidepost for Spirit Energy so that it can flow properly. For simple arrays, this is as simple as using a homogeneous medium, such as [Spirit Iron], to channel the energy. For more complex arrays, things become tricky." Dr. Maria pulled a ring from her finger and held it up for them to see. At first glance, it seemed simple: little more than three intertwining bands of gold, silver, and coppery-red metal. If one looked close enough, however, they could see dozens of tiny seals engraved along its length, hopping between the bands at set points but otherwise not touching. "Not all materials get along well with each other, nor do all materials like every seal. Suppose the materials used to make an array aren''t comparable with the array or other materials. In that case, issues can occur, from decreased efficiency to dangerous reactions. What''s more, the more ''accepting'' a material is, typically the rarer and more expensive it becomes," she finished. Alpha''s mind wandered to some of his more recent experiments and their disastrous results. Could that be the reason why he''d hit such a major roadblock until now? Antchaser sighed. "So you typically can''t mix arrays like this, because the seals that make up those arrays might not agree with everything else. That can cause it to break at best and become a dangerous mess at worst," he asked. Dr. Maria nodded. "Correct. Array work is all about making sure all the parts, be they seals, materials, or energy, all work together in a carefully orchestrated dance. Disrupt one part, and it all goes haywire." Boarslayer frowned. "Hold up, that doesn''t make any sense. You already say that arrays mimic what we Cultivators already do internally. Or maybe the other way around? Not sure, but that''s beside the point! What I''m saying is that if the various materials are there to make sure everything ''plays nice'' together, then how do techniques work? After all, I''m just ''me.'' Why don''t I explode?" Dr. Maria smiled from ear to ear. "Great question! And the answer is simple. You don''t explode, despite not being made up of rare material, because as you put it you are ''you.'' Remember, the reason the materials are used in the way they are is to mimic a guiding will. You don''t need to do that because you are the guiding will." Antchaser finished the thought. "So Cultivators rarely need expensive material because they''re already able to guide the Spirit Energy into the correct patterns themselves?" "Correct!" Dr. Maria said. Antchaser narrowed his eyes and stared at the two small tokens in the doctor''s hands. "But wouldn''t that mean" he said, his eyes suddenly growing wide. "That''s right! These MUD they''re alive!" Dr. Maria whispered, her eyes sparkling as she giggled like a schoolgirl. "Well, kind of. But also, not really. Allow me to explain," came Alpha''s response. As one, Dr. Maria, Antchaser, and Boarslayer turned to look at him. B2 - Lesson 30: "Luxury Condos by Alpha! Reserve Yours Today!" "What do you mean ''sort of?'' It''s alive, or it''s not. How can it be in between?" Boarslayer said with a frown. It should be obvious that something couldn''t be both alive and not at the same time. Dr. Maria agreed. Even the undead were not truly alive. They were corpses animated by a living will. They were extremely obvious once you knew what to look for. "Mr. Alpha, would you kindly explain? As a medical professional, I have honed a particular set of skills over my long years, and everything tells me these tokens are indeed living." The doctor held up one of the tokens to her eye and peered at it intently, as if it would expose its secrets if she stared long enough. "Gladly!" Alpha answered. At his words, a mechanical arm lowered from the ceiling and connected to the machine near the tank. With a gurgling sound, some of the strange bronze fluid quickly filled a small container at the end of the arm. The Alphantonso V, controlled by Alpha, then walked toward the machine and lifted the filled container up with several nanite tendrils. Alpha carried the container to the three and held it up. "What I mean is simple. The MUDs aren''t alive. But what they''re made of is." Antchaser narrowed his eyes. "Isn''t that the same thing, though?" he asked, confused. "Not in this case!" was Alpha''s response. "Here, let me show you." At his words, a pillar of liquid metal flowed up from the ground between them and formed a solid table. Alpha then placed the container of bronze liquid on the table''s surface. Antchaser stared at it, unsure what exactly the substance was. For all intents and purposes, it looked and moved like slightly metallic mud. His rather sensitive nose could even detect a deep, earthy, if a bit sweet, scent like perfectly aged compost. "Is it supposed to be doing something?" he asked. "Not in a deactivated state like this. Buuuut if we do this" one of the ants'' tendrils split into several smaller ones, and the blob of ''mud'' cut into several smaller pieces, pushing them away from each other. For a moment, nothing happened. Until each of the blobs began to drift toward each other, thin lines of bronze ''mud'' extending from each individual blob until they met in the middle. In only a few seconds, the cut-up pieces had recombined into a greater whole. Dr. Maria slammed her palms onto the table and leaned down, staring at the now still puddle of mud. Her eyes flickered back, and a wide grin split her face. "It''s a slime! Hmmm, no, no, not a slime. Slimes can''t heal like that. Fascinating." "What''s a slime?" Boarslayer asked. Without taking her eyes off the blobs, the doctor responded, "They''re a type of macroscopic amoeba common in the Western Marches. They feed off decaying matter and tiny insects and grow no bigger than your fist. They''re perfectly harmless, though they''re somewhat of a pest in the area. The thing to remember is that they''re single-celled organisms. Each individual is essentially a fluid-filled sack with selective permeability. They can''t be split or combined like whatever this is." "But wait! They''re more!" Alpha said. A slot on the table slid open, and a small beast core rose from the opening. The ''mud'' glob quivered, then slowly enveloped the beast core with the same reaching motion as before. Dr. Maria stared, dumbfounded. "I think I understand," she whispered. The doctor then took the MUD token in both hands and twisted, frowning when the motion accomplished nothing. She tried again, putting more force behind it as she visibly strained until finally, with a crisp snap, the token broke into two halves. She grinned at the broken MUD and gingerly placed them on the table next to the blob of metallic ''mud.'' After a moment, the token halves shook slightly, and a small amount of the same metallic ''mud'' flowed out of them, joining the greater whole. Soon, all that was left was an indistinguishably larger pile of mud and two chalk-white token halves. Dr. Maria''s grin grew wider, and she laughed. "I see! I see! So that''s how you did it. It all makes sense now." Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Boarslayer threw her arms into the air. "Well, I''m glad one of us gets it, because I''m still totally lost!" she complained. Antchaser nodded and frowned. The puzzle was slowly taking shape, but he realized he was still lacking crucial details. "Here! Let me show you!" Thankfully, Alpha was more than happy to fill in the gaps. The table''s surface flashed to life, revealing itself as a screen. The image displayed was the blob of metallic mud. Suddenly, the image zoomed in until it was filled with the swirling bronze liquid. Then it zoomed in repeatedly until the image of the blob was replaced seeds? No, not seeds. Antchaser could see the millions, perhaps billions, of tiny metallic, crystal-flecked, apple seed-shaped objects moving around inside the mud. Occasionally, a tiny wiggling amoeba-like creature would extend itself out of the shell to grab a piece of debris and pull it in. Alpha gestured to the screen. "May I introduce Bolivina draconis," he said. "As far as my tests can confirm, they''re a type of Foraminifera, a shell-bearing relative of the amoeba. As for what makes them so special? Common Foraminifera build their shells out of a variety of things. Mostly sand and organic materials. Bolivina draconis, on the other hand, takes a very different approach. Their shells are composed of equal parts crystalized Spirit Energy, and " "Dragon scale!" Dr. Maria cut him off. Alpha laughed. "Correct, for the most part. I''d hesitate to call it ''dragon scale'' as it''s mostly crushed, microscopic debris. But yes, the large part of the organic materials Bolivina draconis uses for its shell seems to come from what the Mud Drake''s naturally sheds as it moves about." Dr. Maria laughed. "It all makes sense now. Tiny Spirit Stones, finer than dust. Draconic sheddings, which are one of the most universal array materials. And finally, tiny lifeforms lending a living will. It all combines to make the perfect recipe for a living array." "But do these things even have a will?" Antchaser asked as he stared at the screen. Dr. Maria tilted her hand back and forth. "We say ''living will,'' but what that truly means is a matter of philosophical debate. Some think it is the ability to think or the purposeful manipulation of Spirit Energy. Others believe it to be nothing more than an organism''s ''desire'' being reflected by the Spirit Energy. After all, plants and other ''non-thinking'' entities are also said to have ''living wills.'' The most widely accepted theory, and the one I hold to, is that it is the innate nature of a material to attract and be attracted by Spirit Energy. And as we already saw, these Bolivina draconis fall handily into that category." "How does the MUD token work in all of this, though?" Antchaser asked. "Simple! At its core, the MUD is a luxury resort stuffed with all the commodities any up-and-coming Foraminifera could ever want!" Alpha explained, throwing his tendrils into the air. The three others in the room stared at Alpha in silence. Alpha coughed, "Right, as I was saying" The image displayed on the table switched to the white shell of the MUD. When the image zoomed in, it revealed a complex labyrinth of crystalline pillars and threads. "The shell of the MUD is comprised of titanium glass, creating a perfect environment for the Bolivina draconis to thrive." "Specialized workers also ensure the Foraminifera stay safe and the MUD clean." The image swirled, and suddenly the MUD was filled with thousands of Bolivina draconis, happily swimming along. Suddenly, a large black sphere ten times the size of the shelled amoeba floated into view. A black tendril extended out of the sphere and pulled a Bolivina draconis out from where it had wedged itself between two pillars. "Finally, when Spirit Energy flows through the array lines, tiny pores on the surface, too small for the Bolivina draconis to escape, allow them to interact with the outside world." Again, the image shifted, showing the surface of the MUD, where thousands of tiny tendrils of Bolivina draconis flailed in the air along the deep groves of the array. "And there you have it. That''s the MUD in a nutshell." Alpha finished as the table went blank. Boarslayer, Antchaser, and Dr. Maria stared at Alpha in silence. Finally, Dr. Maria laughed and shook her head. "I can''t believe it. Do you know what you''ve done here? You''ve essentially made a mico-Sect Array. Except the ''disciples'' in this instance are tiny microorganisms. It makes far more sense now why they can connect and communicate like they do. It''s not much different from how the various arrays in a sect compound do so. If I hadn''t seen it for myself, I would have never thought something like this was possible." Boarslayer folded her arms and frowned. "That''s why you said we need to change the planes for the Mud Drake, too, isn''t it? If we kill it now, without a source of dragon materials, we also lose the Bolivina draconis." Alpha nodded. "Correct. I''m sure I could eventually find a substitute, but when is a total unknown at the moment." Antchaser started pacing. "At the same time, we can''t just leave the Mud Drake alone, either. Eventually, it will become a problem we can no longer ignore, more so if it starts to wander away from the river for some reason." "Whatever we decide to do, I suggest we think of it fast," Alpha responded. Antchaser paused and raised an eyebrow. "Why''s that?" The table flickered once more, this time showing a sunlit sky and rocky mountains. Near the peak of one mountain, a group of individuals stood around a gapping cavern entrance. As the image zoomed in, Alpha answered. "Because it seems our guests are early." B2: GRIM Adventures - 12 "Jack" Ms. Jill called from the front of their group. Jack he had already scolded Grim for calling him ''Mr'' thumbed through the thick journal, totally obvious to the thick crowd around them. Well, it would have been thick if most people weren''t pressed to the sides of the market road. Grim wasn''t sure if people in Ashdale were just really polite to strangers or if the massive wolf-like creature strutting down the middle of the road had something to do with it. "Jack!" Ms. Jill tried again. "Just a moment still need to finish this part" Jack mumbled. Grim shook her head. Over the weeks she''d spent with the humans, she''d learned Jack had the habit of hyper-fixating on whatever he was doing. Often to his and other''s detriment. If it wasn''t for Grim flying behind the young man, gently nudging them along in the right direction, who knows where or what he would have wandered into. Thankfully, Grim was here, and being helpful! She liked to be helpful "JACK!" Ms. Jill said forcefully. "Jill, will you hold on?! This is impoomph!" Jack looked up at Ms. Jill only to run face-first into Little Red''s behind. Little Red yelped and sat down. Ms. Jill sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose while Jack flailed underneath Little Red. Grim, for her part, tugged at one of the young man''s boots in an attempt to pry him free. Unfortunately, Little Red was heavy, and Grim''s Anti-Grav thrusters didn''t offer much leverage. Suddenly, a vine-like stone tendril pushed itself out of the road and grabbed Jack''s free leg. Then, with a tug, the tendril pulled him free, too much sputtering and coughing. The tendril lifted Jack into the air until he was at eye-level with Mr. Gopher, who stood atop Little Red''s head. Mr. Gopher narrowed his eyes and chittered angrily at the young man for scaring Little Red before dropping him. OOF! "What was that for?!" Jack glared at Mr. Gopher, only for Ms. Jill to smack him upside the head with the journal he''d been reading. "Stop goofing around, and pay attention." Ms. Jill said. "We''re almost at the Adventurers'' Guild." She turned and pointed to a large wood and stone building that felt oddly out of place next to the otherwise rustic building surrounding them. Like someone had plotted down an old-timey fortress in the middle of a quaint mountain town. Despite its ''out-of-placeness,'' people and carts streamed in and out of the thick metal gates at a regular pace. Several groups of heavily armored figures spoke to each group Adventurer and civilian who passed through. Jack blinked and stood, dusting his robes off. "Oh? Are we here already? It feels like we barely left!" he said. "It''s halfway across the bloody town, you" Ms. Jill sighed and shook her head. "Regardless, I need you to pay attention." Jack laughed and rubbed the back of his head. "Ya, ya, I got you What were we here for again?" Ms. Jill stared silently at her brother for a moment, then pinched the bridge of her nose again. "We need to sell all the junk we collected on the way here and register Little Red with the Guild as a tamed beast before anyone gets any funny ideas. After that, we''re searching the archives for any clues to the [Pure Waters] spring. Progenitor Ashdale''s journals are a start, but they don''t do us much good without reference points." Jack folded his arms and nodded. "That''s fair. Though speaking of registration. What do we do about" Jack let his words trail off as his eyes flickered to Mr. Gopher. Ms. Jill glanced up at the creature, who raised a furry brow. "I considered registering him as a tamed beast as well " a string of furry expletives rained down from above, "but that would raise uncomfortable questions when the truth comes to light. Alternatively, registering him as an Adventurer will raise more questions than we can answer right now. If I was honest, I was hoping to just kind of wing it and hope no one noticed. After all, who would suspect anything of a Root Gopher?" Jack grinned from ear to ear and patted Ms. Jill on the shoulder. "Don''t worry, sis! I''ve got an idea!" Ms. Jill only narrowed her eyes and frowned at her older brother. The young man stood before the Guild Officer and wept bitter tears. The small furry bundle cradled in his arms moaned dramatically. Jack wiped away a tear and looked up. "And that''s our story, good sir. Now we travel north, on rumors of a Great Mage who might be able to reverse the spell living somewhere in the mountains!" The Guild Officer started down, one brow twitching as he looked between Jack and Mr. Gopher. He''d stopped recording about halfway through the rather outlandish tale and was frankly stumped at how to respond now. Instead, he turned to his partner, an older Mage carrying a large staff beside him. The Mage in question was shaking his head and pinching the bridge of his nose. Thunk! Thunk! The old Mage whacked both the young man and the gopher on the head with his staff. "Owe!" Angry gopher noises. "This is why I keep telling you young fools to stay away from polymorph! I don''t care that the spell formation can technically be cast as low as [Second Circle]! Casting it isn''t the hard part; reversing it is!" Jack rubbed his head and looked away. The Mage pointed his staff at Mr. Gopher. "And you! Stop with the drama. You''ll get no sympathy from me if you agreed to this tomfoolery!" Mr. Gopher sat up straight, folded his arms, and tsked. The other Guild Officer sighed and looked between his partner and the two before him. "Riiiiight, either way, your friend will have to re-registered with the Guild. Polymorph messes with a person''s soul signature something fierce, I hear. Better safe than sorry. As for your other friend " the officer looked up at Little Red, who was happily panting to one side. "bring them to the kennels, and the Beastmaster will do an overview. Be aware that Lykos'' don''t have a good reputation around these parts, regardless. The Guild will handle any disputes you bring to it, but it can''t stop someone from attacking while you''re in the wild." Jack sniffed, nodded, and spoke, "We understand. Hopefully, we won''t be in the area long enough for it to be an issue, but we wanted to be careful, nonetheless." The Guild Officer sighed once more and tore a sheet of paper out of the notepad. "Bring this to the clerk. Now get going; you''re holding up the line." Jack grabbed the sheet and then walked away as the rest of the group followed behind. Jill fell into step beside Jack and whispered. " I can''t believe that worked." Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Jack grinned and high-fived Mr. Gopher. "Ah, but it did! Problem solved. Don''t you love me?" Jill narrowed her eyes and frowned at Jack. "Jack how did you know polymorph worked that way?" Jack''s eyes snapped forward as he laughed nervously. "D-don''t we need to get to the clerk before the line gets too long? We''ve got quite a bit to offload! Don''t want to make them wait!" He then quickened his pace and rushed ahead. Jill furrowed her brow and walked faster to chase after him. "Jack! Don''t you change the subject! Get back here right now!" "Your total comes to... 15 high-grade spirit stones, 150 mid-grade spirit stones, and 400 Marks," the clerk said, placing a small chest and a steel card on the counter. Jill''s eyes bulged at the numbers. That was an insane amount for an individual. A typical mission for someone of her and Jack''s rank would run between five and ten mid-grade spirit stones. Such missions could take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, depending on what they were doing. At 20 mid-grade spirit stones to 1 high-grade stone, it was not exaggerating to say this was their most profitable trip by far. Even the Marks, the small gold coins Halirosa used as the base of their mortal currency, were no small amount. A typical mortal family could live comfortably on 50 Marks a year even less outside Halirosa proper. Even a single low-grade spirit stone could run as much as 25 Marks on the open market. Jill audibly swallowed, then pushed the box and card back across the table. "Please place all but 5 mid-grade stones and 200 Marks on the Rubyseed Clan account." While keeping such wealth for herself was tempting, the clan needed them far more than she did currently. It wasn''t like she could make much use of the spirit stones in her current state, anyway. Jack could technically use the spirit stones, but Mages didn''t cultivate with them in the same way, instead using of them in alchemy and rituals. Besides, it wasn''t like they couldn''t do this again. Jill side-eyed Grim with a frown. There was something to say about not carrying around too much wealth at any one point in time, either. Ever since they''d started pulling things out of the drone''s cargo, Jill hadn''t liked the look some of the Adventurers in the main hall were giving them. I knew Grim''s storage was vast but I''d lost count of how much we''d actually stuffed in there. On any other trip, we would have had to leave 90% of what we came across, but ever since we met her, I don''t think we''ve passed up a single resource. I should have asked for a private review There was no point in complaining about ''should haves,'' however. What''s done is done. If any of the other Adventurers got any smart ideas, she''d like to see how they dealt with Little Red and Mr. Gopher. Speaking of which, they still had to get both registered. Mr. Gopher was easy enough soul signature scans only took some blood but Little Red would take an appointment with the Beastmaster. That could take days if they didn''t already have a letter from Baron Ashdale, that was. As Jack and Jill stepped out of the line and walked toward the counter for new Adventurer registrations, someone approached them. "My, my, what an interesting artifact you have there. I have to say, I''ve never seen one quite like it," a silky smooth, feminine, if somewhat deep voice called out from behind them with a light drawl that was rare to hear this far north. Jill froze and slowly turned around, trying to maintain a friendly smile. However, that quickly faltered as her eyes went wide when she got a good look at the speaker. A Dragonkin. The young with charcoal-grey colored scales leaned to one side, her elegantly arrayed robes highlighting a curvy figure that would have made Jill jealous if not for the woman''s muzzle filled with razor-sharp teeth and her lizard-like golden eyes. As their eyes met, Jill felt her breath catch. The woman only smiled, took a drag of her long pipe, and then puffed out a small ring of smoke. Despite their name, the Dragonkin weren''t actually related to dragons. In fact, they weren''t even Awakened Beast, as far as anyone could tell. Or if they were, no one knew who their Progenitor was, or where they came from. They were closer to the Dwarves or other such humanoid races, though their isolationist tendencies made them a mystery to much of the world. It was rare to find the outside of their scattered conclaves. Rarer still to find them so far north. Jill had never met a Dragonkin before, despite rumors of a few in Halirosa, and she''d never understood why people said they were so different. Here, in this moment, she felt that was no longer the case. Where clashing with the bloodline of another Awakened Beast felt like two equals fighting for dominance, staring into this woman''s eyes felt like looking into the eyes of a predator. Like Jill''s every movement was being observed in the tiniest detail, just waiting for her to slip up so the woman could strike. Part of Jill wondered if the Dragonkin were named such not for their resemblance to the powerful beings, but because of those eyes "Oh, come now, dear, don''t give me that look," the mysterious woman said. "I''m not here to steal it from you, I promise. My curiosity is purely academic. You see, I''m a bit of an Artificer myself, who specializes in constructs. I''ve never seen one quite like yours, however." Jill shook her head and frowned, but before she could speak, Grim rushed forward. "HI! My Name''s Grim! What''s yours?!" The drone stuck out one of its chubby arms. The Dragonkin''s eyes went wide before she smiled and reached out a hand, shaking the drone''s own. "My, my, you are special, aren''t you, Ms. Grim? It''s very nice to meet you. Your creator must have been someone equally as fascinating," the woman said in that same silky voice as her eyes wandered all over Grim. "Thanks!" came Grim''s response. "Mr. Alpha made me to fight a giant Space Chicken!" The woman paused and tilted her head. "A space chicken? I see. I must say, I would love to see what makes you tick. It feels like it could be enlightening." Grim slowly backed away and scratched her face plate. "Ah, I''m sorry, but my construction is proprietary technology limited to Federation military use only. If you wish to purchase the blueprints for a standard-issue civilian model rated for Vidaasi use, you can do so at anyMurph! " Jill appeared next to Grim and covered her speakers. "Hahaha, I''m sorry, but our clan Artificer would tan my hide if he found out we were letting others poke around his work. Again, I apologize," she said, pushing the drone back as she nervously laughed. The Dragonkin grinned, sending a shiver down Jill''s spine. "No need to apologize. I understand. An Artificer''s secrets are their life, after all. Still, are you free? I would love to speak to Ms. Grim about her creator more." "I''m afraid that won''t be possible, Mrs. Greyscale." a third voice cut in. An old, grey-muzzled Ashdale woman rounded the corner. Though her back was slightly hunched, and she walked with a cane, her strides were steady and powerful, with the air of a seasoned warrior. The Dragonkin''s eyes went wide, and she bowed slightly. "Guildmaster! I wasn''t aware you had plans with our new arrivals. I apologize." The older woman waved the Dragonkin off and shook her head. "No need. I wasn''t aware I would either until a few moments ago." The Guildmaster then turned and smiled at Jill. "Hello dear, I just got a request from my grandson to look after you a lot while you''re here. I hope you don''t mind the company of an old woman." Jill only stared at the old woman in shock for a moment. Grandson? Was this really Baron Ashdale''s grandmother? Was she really Ashdale Valley''s Guildmaster? The man was no spring chicken himself; how old did the woman in front of Jill have to be? How powerful?! As if reading the thoughts playing through Jill''s mind, the Guildmaster grinned, then laughed, patting Jill on her back. "Come, come, my dear. I''m sure that fool of a grandson of mine nearly bored you to death with all his politicking and paperwork " the old woman spit the word out like it was rotting, "let me show you what real Ashdale hospitality is like." She then gently but firmly turned Jill away. "Ah! Wait!" The Dragonkin reached out, only for the Guildmaster to give the woman a glaring eye that drew a bead of sweat from the younger woman''s scales. The Dragonkin stepped back but flicked her wrist, producing a high-quality metal card. "Please, pass my card on to your clan Artificer when you can. I would love to meet someone who can produce such fine work." Jill stared down at the card, unsure of what to do. The Guildmaster spoke up the next moment. "You should take her up on her offer. While Mrs. Greyscale here is still young, her work is quite impressive. At the very least, if your artifact ever becomes damaged, it would be good to have someone like her in your pocket, so far from home." Jill paused, then nodded, taking the offered card. What harm could it do? Besides, having an ''in'' with a Dragonkin Artificer could turn out to be a major boon. After all, they were often said to be the leaders in the field. The Dragonkin smiled, gave Grim one last wave who enthusiastically returned it and turned away. The Guildmaster then began walking in the opposite direction. Jill gave the Dragonkin one final look, then followed after the Guildmaster. The Dragonkin sank into her chair with a sigh. "Well, that was a bust you think the Guildmaster knows something?" Her partner, another Dragonkin, a male with deep blue scales and silver armor, took a swing of his mug and shrugged. "Doubtful. Who would make the connection but us?" The grey-scaled Dragonkin nodded. "That''s true. At the very least, this confirms reports from the Radiant Sea." The blue-scaled Dragonkin turned and raised a brow. "You don''t think it''s a coincidence? It could be a remnant. It wouldn''t be the first time someone''s dug something up. Especially this far north." Greyscale shook her head. "No Not this time. There''s no way anyone here could have gotten something like that functional. I doubt even I could. No. It''s far too new." Bluescale let out a laugh. "Well, bloody hell. I guess that confirms it, then They''re really here. Wait till the higher-ups learn. It''s going to be a shit show, however you toss it. What do we do?" Greyscale sighed. "We do the same thing we''ve always done" She turned toward the direction the group had gone. "Adapt." B2 - Lesson 31: "Wait, I Thought We Went This Way Already?" Report, Robert ordered from atop the boulder he sat on. Maggy shook her head. Garrelt said its definitely the opening from the report. Some of the others have also found signs of campsites in the area. Its safe to say those bastards beat us here. By the look of things, not by any short amount of time, either. Robert tsked. Thats just great. I keep telling the Guild we need to strengthen the security of our information network, but it seems something always slips through. He sighed and looked toward the horizon. Big Bert, standing next to Maggy, shrugged. No point in worrying about it now, the giant of a man said in his deep voice. Worst-case scenario, theyve beaten us to one or two unique treasures. Or maybe we got lucky, and something ate them for us! Bert laughed loudly, shaking Maggys bones this close to him. Robert smirked. Now, Bert, dont go jinxing us. If something did get to them, were the ones that would have to rescue any survivors. They might be criminals, but it is any good adventurers duty to help those in need, he said. Maggy shook her head, though she smiled slightly. Shed not go so far as calling them criminals. After all, it wasnt technically illegal to explore the new cave. Its existence hadnt been made public, and the Guild had yet to officially claim it. That said, the timing of this other group was rather suspect, to say the least. Though she always had enjoyed Roberts rather upbeat views on how an Adventurer should operate. Even if, in her own experience, most Adventurers werent nearly as benevolent as Robert wished they would be. Maggy preferred to think of herself as an explorer and scholar first. Speaking of Garrelt, Robert asked, where is he? Bert sighed and shook his head. You know him. Already dove in headfirst into the cavern without any backup. Said he was going to scout ahead. Reckless is what it is! This is an entirely new cave system! Who knows what is down there? Maggy complained. Robert, on the other hand, grinned. Maybe, but if there was one man I would trust to return safely, it would be Garrelt. Sniff sniff. Garrelt pushed himself into a kneeling position and frowned. Hed been scouting ahead of the expeditionary team for three days now. Mostly, these new tunnels had been about what he was expecting. A few signs of beast inhabitation, some minor mineral wealth, and lots of nothing of real interest. If he was honest, thats how most of these expeditions turned out. Despite how rich the Crimson Mountains were, it wasnt like treasures were popping out of every crack and crevice. If such places ever existed, theyd been picked clean millennia ago. Now, these days, the real treasures were bought with blood and sweat. Mostly blood. When a new tunnel system like this popped up, its secrets were more often than not of a more immaterial kind. Sometimes, they could become routes or highways that could cut days, sometimes weeks, of travel through more dangerous regions. Other times, they would contain new plant or mushroom species that while not being much use to a Cultivator might have interesting alchemical properties. Sometimes they were just empty holes in the ground, leading nowhere and containing nothing of real importance. With one last glance down the left tunnel, he shook his head and pulled out a small notebook. Three sets of tracks lead into the left tunnel. The first set is several weeks older than the latter two. Contains strong traces of ammonia and ash. Potentially the lair of a hibernating Ashsloth. The latter two are likely scouts sent by the proceeding party. The lack of returning tracks suggests an unfavorable encounter. Ashsloth hibernation can last for several years, so it is unlikely to pose any immediate danger. Recommend sending an extermination party at a later date. Garrelt then closed the journal and reached into his pack. He pulled out a small wooden slate with a red beast skull painted on one side. With a pulse of Spirit Energy, the slate sunk into the left tunnels stone wall. Adventurers often carried such Slates, and it was considered common courtesy to mark the lairs of dangerous creatures when found. Not that it was always done, though. After all, dangerous often meant valuable as well. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Garrelt turned and made his way down the right tunnel where most of the previous partys tracks had turned. He had to hurry and scout out as much as possible before his team caught up to him. The expedition party had likely already made their way into the tunnels and would move quickly, thanks to the signs hed been leaving behind him. Once they caught up, Robert would likely want him to slow down and stay closer to the team. Annoying, but standard procedure. The man was nothing if not a stickler for the rules. An hour later, Garrelt turned a corner and froze, his eyes narrowing. A long tunnel with no branching paths stretched out in front of him. At first glance, it looked like any other of the numerous tunnels hed explored so far until one noticed the various signs of battle. A scorch mark here. A broken piece of wall there. Dried, faded blood splatters that could have been mistaken for just another mineral color on the wall. Garrelt traced a hand along a long gash in the wall opposite the bend. It was smooth and deep, with none of the mineralization that would suggest it was just a natural crack. Garrelt closed his lantern and pulled out a crystal stick from his pack, twisting it. Instantly, it started glowing with a deep violet color. Hidden patches of color bloomed to life where the light touched. He ran the crystal along the gash in the wall and paused when the violet light reflected off something. Garrelts finger wiggled and squirmed bonelessly as he poked it into the gash. After a moment, he extracted a tiny piece of work steel, no bigger than a splinter. Metal nonorganic So, not a beast. Infighting? No not that either strange. The stone is unusually hard for this far up as well. Enough to chip a low-quality blade, at least. Garrelt twisted the crystal in the opposite direction, and the violet light died. Then he opened his lantern back up and stared down the tunnel. Now how to Gaaaarrelllllllltttt!!! a youthful voice echoed up from the tunnel hed just come through. Garrelt paused and sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. Well, it was fun while it lasted. Robert must have been pushing them harder than he thought if theyd already caught up to him. Garrelt turned just in time to see Maggy coming around the bend. The girl looked ragged, her hair disheveled and her runed robe covered in thick white webs. On spotting Garrelt, she paused, her bloodshot eyes locking onto him. Despite having to lean up against the wall and panting, she raised her wooden staff and pointed it at him. The dust in the tunnel swirled as a ball of air formed at the staffs tip and shot toward him. Garrelt stepped back and easily dodged the air ball, then stared at Maggy with a raised brow. She huffed and pointed at him. You bastard! You could have told us about the spiders! As the airball slammed against the wall behind him, a gust of wind rushed down the tunnel. The gust pushed several objects previously hidden in shadow into the light: a broken spear, a few shattered rocks with something attached to them, and... bones. Garrelt frowned and turned to stare down the battle-scarred tunnel, his eyes narrowing. As he did, he answered Maggy. I did. Hed left signs at every potential issue on the way here. Maggy stomped her feet. You could have mentioned they were the size of melons! Garrelt sighed. What did you think Titanus means? Did you not read the dossier I made for the trip before we left? What? That brick you gave Robert?! Bert could use that thing as a pillow! Who in their right mind would have the time to read it all?! she nearly screamed. Garrelt only smirked. You had a month. Maggy growled and raised her staff over her head. She might not have the energy to cast another spell, but she could sure as hell brain him with it! Before she could take a step forward, though, a massive hand lifted her from the ground. As Bert held the young woman in the air, her staff swinging in time with her furious half-words, Robert appeared and approached Garrelt. Smiling as always, Robert clasped Garrelts hand and laughed. Dont mind her, Garrelt. One of the creatures may have gotten down her robe at one point, so shes a bit on edge. You did well getting us this far. Im glad we could have you with us. Garrelt waved it off and stared back down the tunnels. Robert followed his gaze and frowned. If we caught you here, I assume this matter isnt as simple as the others. What are we looking at? he asked. Garrelt paused. Something that shouldnt be here came the response. Robert hummed to himself. I see Do you have a plan? Garrelt smirked, then stared up at the dangling Maggy. Possibly. Antchaser nudged the coals of the small fire with a stick. Occasionally, he would nervously glance toward the large, still lake near the back of the cave. I dont like this plan Antchaser said, more to himself than anyone. Boarslayer, leaning against a stone wall, laughed. Stop being a baby. Dr. Maria said these tunnels should be pretty safe, at least up to this point. Antchaser glared at the large goblin. You only say that because youve never been to the surface before. These connecting tunnels can attract all sorts of things! Theres a reason we normally only use the well-traveled routes despite the fees and taxes the clans impose! Boarslayer shrugged. Well, thats why Im here. She picked up a stone and tossed it. It flew through the air and skipped across the surface of the lake. Each skip was accompanied by a chaotic flurry of splashing as something under the surface reacted to the stones passing. Antchaser shivered and shook his head. We didnt even know these tunnels were here! No ones explored this area much, as its too far into the Demon Ants territory. Who knows whats lurking in here? Boarslayer rolled her eyes and shifted position. Who cares? Its not like were going to explore right now, anyway. All weve got to do is wait for our guests and head back. Antchaser sighed. Thats true. You remember the plan, right? Boarslayer glared at him. Yes, mother. I read the script. Stop asking. I know what to do. Antchaser shook his head and stared at the entrance the Adventurers were supposed to come from. Heres hoping everything went according to plan. B2 - Lesson 32: "Theres No Obstacle That Cant Be Solved With Explosions." (+ Poll) Are you sure this is a good idea?! I dont like this plan! Maggy squeaked as she pressed the melon-sized blue-furred hamster creature closer to her chest. It will be fine, retorted Garrelt. Besides, a summoned creature cant really die anyway. Thats beside the point! Maggy yelled, pointing at their scout. Its the trauma, I tell you! Robert, who had been standing some ways back, turned to the larger Bert and whispered, I thought summons were mana constructs? Can they even have trauma? Bert only shrugged. As the four made up the core of their little expedition force, it had fallen to them to solve their little roadblock problem. The rest of the team comprised a mix of researchers, scouts, and experts in various fields, as well as the combat-focused Adventurers serving as their guards. More specialized teams would likely follow in their wake in the weeks or months to come, but as the vanguard, it was their duty to explore and catalog as much as possible. That also meant being the first to tackle any of the dangers or obstacles that might block them. Not that Garrelt had told them what was blocking their path yet. He said he wanted it to be a surprise. Maggy didnt like surprises Come on, Maggy, all youve got to do is send your summons down the tunnel. Easy as pie, Garrelt assured with his slightly gravelly voice carrying the hint of a friendly smile. Maggy wasnt buying it. She narrowed her eyes and glared at the man. And then what? Garrelts grin stretched from ear to ear, though he said nothing. Maggys eyes narrowed further, and she clutched her summons closer. Robert sighed and stepped forward, placing a gauntleted hand on the young womans shoulder. Maggy, I see your concern, but I have to agree with Garrelts assessment on this one. Better to send a replaceable summons into a dangerous, unknown situation than risk one of our own. Please understand. He then flashed her a bright smile, as if to reassure her. Maggy frowned, then stretched out her arms and stared at the blue hamster-like summoned creature. It stared back at her with large, round, black eyes and tilted its head at the pouting woman. Maggys teacher had always warned her about getting close to the creatures. Given their typical usage and general ethereal nature. Magical scholars werent even in agreement whether summons were real creatures or just mana given shape by the casters imagination, let alone if the being summoned was even the same individual each time. But how could she not get attached?! It was so darn cute! The summons continued to stare back at her, its nose twitching. Yet, after a moment, Maggy squeezed her eyes shut and, with a sniffle, lowered the creature to the ground. The summons squeaked once, then turned and scampered off deeper into the tunnel. As the blue summons scurried around the tunnel, the four humans watched with bated breath. It moved from rock pile to rock pile, stopping only to rummage around every so often. Sometimes, it would lift a small bone or a particularly shiny rock from its hiding spot, looking for all the world like a curious hamster searching for food if said hamster was sky blue and melon-sized. As a few moments passed with nothing of note happening, Bert spoke up, his rumbling voice slightly in the tight tunnel. So is something supposed to happen? Or what? This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Garrelt just waved the mans concern away, though his eyes never left the summons. Just give it a moment Maggy, direct it toward that rock pile there Ya, that one, good Maggy groaned slightly as her summons stopped by the aforementioned rock pile and started to shift rocks around. Her stress had been building over the last couple of minutes as they waited for whatever Garrelt expected to happen. Something bad was going to happen. She just knew it. She could feel it in her gut, and as her mother always told her, trust your gu, AAAAAAAaaaaaaHHHHHHH!! Maggy screamed as something long, thick as her waist, and with far too many legs, shot out from a hole in the tunnel roof and wrapped itself around her summons. In the blink of an eye, the thing pulled the blue hamster into the air, and both vanished back into the hole before the echo of the summons final squeak! had faded from the tunnel. ROBBY! NOOOOOOOO! Maggy fell to her knee, tears streaming down her face. Her sobs only paused when she noticed the three men staring at her, eyebrows raised. Garrelt grinned and folded his arms. Robby, huh? Maggys face went bright red, and she turned away from them. Robert coughed into his hand. Well! That was enlightening. I assume you all saw what I did? Bert nodded. The bloody thing was too fast to get a good look, but given its general shape and method of attack, it narrows things down by quite a bit. I would guess Lindworms, maybe Rockbiters, but thats a stretch. Garrelt nodded. Thats a good guess, though I think I DONT CARE WHA THAT THING WAS! ITS GONNA PAY! Maggy yelled, cutting him off, some of her accent slipping through in her anger. She stood and wiped away her tears with the sleeve of her robe. Maggy glared at the hole in the roof, her face red for a different reason this time. She slowly raised her hand toward the hole and snapped her fingers. BOOOOOM! A muffled explosion rocked the tunnel, causing it to shake violently as stone and rubble fell around them. A moment later, a stream of viscera and gore poured from the hole the creature and her summon had vanished into. Maggy watched the scene with a wide smile, both hands on her hips. The three men behind her grimaced and turned away as the foul stench filled the tunnel. Maggy humphed, and a magic circle formed in front of her. In less than a second, a melon-sized, blue hamster creature had materialized in its center. As soon as the circle vanished, the creature lept into Maggys outstretched hands, and she held it close, rubbing her cheek against its soft fur. Garrelt gestured toward the bloody pile of hard shell and meaty bits, then flicked a finger. As if pulled by an invisible string, one bit of the former creature flew into the air, crossed the tunnel, and landed in his outstretched hand. The other three gathered around and stared down at the relatively undamaged insectoid head with large, grasping mandibles and a large rock glued to its head. Huh Bert raised an eyebrow at the sight. A Rockcap? Now, aint that strange Whats one of them doing this far up? Nasty buggers, them, but Id not have expected to see them in tunnels like this until at least the Second Strata. His eyes turned toward the tunnel, and the large man frowned. Despite tremors having abated, several dozen large rocks hanging from the tunnel roof still quivered slightly. Thats quite the infestation too This complicates things a bit. Robert clapped his hand to draw their attention, then smiled. Strange indeed, but nothing we cant handle! Rockcaps can be dangerous if they catch you off guard, but once you know theyre there, theyre easy enough to deal with. Bert raised a brow at that. Hed hardly call several dozen late-stage [Bronze Spirit] level spirit beasts easy to deal with. Even a [Golden Spirit] Cultivator could easily be overwhelmed with that kind of number, even if the creatures paralytic venom wouldnt be as effective. Bert shook his head. Sometimes, he was amazed at how unflappable the younger man could be when presented with such obstacles. But then again, maybe that was why the Guild put Robert in charge of things like this in the first place. The Heavens knew the younger mans charisma and impeccable luck were one of the reasons Bert often joined along. It helped the pay was great. Garrelt turned and looked down the tunnel as well. Now, the question is, how do we get through? A colony this big will not be easy to eliminate with our current setup. How about it, Mags? Is Robby? good for another round? Maggys eyes went wide, and she clutched her summons closer. Before she could speak, however, Robert patted her shoulder. Lets not do that again, shall we? While Im sure Maggy is more than capable of clearing this colony out using her summons, Id rather not bring the tunnel down on us in the process. No, I think Robert placed his hand on the shiny sword at his side and drew it, we should do this the old-fashioned way. What do you all say? Maggy sighed while Garrelt and Bert looked at each other and grinned. We Lease the Kraken! lowered to Adventurer Tier on Patreon! A few weeks ago I did a poll Asking if readers thought lowering ALL chapters of ''We Lease the Kraken!'' into the Adventurer ($2.50) tier was a good idea. A few people voted... but it ended up a dead tie none the less. With that in mind, and with the lack of general feedback, I made the call to poll the Public readers this time. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. The results there were more Positive leaning, so as a result, from today forward, all 13 chapters of ''We Lease the Kraken!'' + all future chapters (Including the one later today), up until the public release, will be available to ALL Adventurer and higher Subscribers. Once Public release starts, the higher tiers will get bonus chapters up to their level. If you''ve not read ''We Lease the Kraken!'' yet, go take a look! just click on "Collections" then scroll down and click Adventurer - WLTK That will open sort out all the chapters for you. B2 - Lesson 33: "The Goblin Who Called Slime." Rumble Antchaser paused and frowned as he stared down the tunnel. Theyre progressing faster than we expected, he murmured to himself. Boarslayer scoffed but didnt stop her own preparations. Of course they are. Theyre proper Adventurers, unlike the amateurs Bosco brought. A few Rockcaps wont stop them for long. Boarslayer put on a light leather jerkin over her dark grey bodysuit. Such suits had interlocking flexible plates made of an unidentified lightweight material protecting their vitals, and the hunters had started wearing them when not in their full gear. Called civilian disaster armor or CDA by Mr. Alpha, the plates were strong enough to withstand Spirit Energy-infused blades and could be comfortably worn under regular clothes. Antchaser rolled his eyes. You act like you would have done better alone. Boarslayer threw a glob of sticky mud at the smaller goblin, knocking him down. Antchaser sputtered and spat out mud, then stood up, putting on a travelers vest over his CDA without bothering to clean it off. They needed to make things look convincing, after all. Do you really think this will work? Boarslayer asked. Antchaser nodded. It should. Dr. Maria has confirmed the identity of some expeditionary members through the [Wasp] feed. If what she says is true, then we should be dealing with some of the easier ones. As long as we dont give anything obvious away, things will go smoothly. Boarslayer grunted as she lifted a large glass barrel and threw it into the nearby pond. The barrel sank to the bottom, causing the light in the cavern to flicker and twist in mesmerizing patterns. The ponds surface returned to its smooth, mirrorlike appearance, and everything became still. She turned back to Antchaser, looking at the mound of quivering mud beside him. Lets hope so, she muttered. Hurry up, will you? She unclipped her twin axes and took her position. She missed her [Megaton], but she couldnt wield that weapon of mass destruction without her heavy armor. Antchaser waved her off. Ya, ya. Now, lets get this over with. Screeeeeee! The giant centipede creature fell to the ground, cut in two halves along the length of its body. Its high-pitched screech was nearly drowned out by the sound of combat and the dozen similar cries of pain filling the tunnel. Robert flicked his blade, and the sticky ichor coating it slid off with little resistance, leaving his sword shiny and new, as if it had just been polished. Around him, half a dozen of the Adventurer bodyguards for the expedition force were fighting their own Rockcaps. The several-meter-long insect spirit beasts werent powerful individually, despite being each roughly [Bronze Spirit]. Instead, their numbers and their paralytic venom were what often caught the unaware or the careless off guard. Thankfully, as the Adventurers Guild vanguard for this expedition, those present were all skilled individuals with a track record of handling themselves well in unexpected and dangerous situations. Even some of the non-combat personnel were getting in on the action, taking turns using various methods to draw out the Rockcaps from their hiding spot and letting their more martially inclined members finish them. Of course, Roberts three peers as the core leaders of the expedition were at the forefront of the battle. Galefist Bert lived up to his moniker, as each swing of his giant fist produced a strong enough blast of wind to flutter Roberts clothes, even from the other side of the tunnel, and splatter any Rockcap across the far wall. The Adventurers had quickly learned to give the man his space, both to avoid being knocked over by the wind and to avoid being splattered with gore. Maggy stood to one end, laughing maniacally as hundreds of tiny pinpricks of light swarmed around her like angry fireflies. Occasionally, a few would shoot away and bore through anything they touched, Rockcap or stone, leaving glowing holes that radiated heat. As the lead scholar for the expedition, Maggy was technically a non-combatant, but it seemed Garrelts little prank had gotten to her, so Robert figured it was good to let the young woman work off a little steam. Speaking of Garrelt, Robert couldnt help but be impressed with the man. Robert hadnt gotten the chance to see the man truly let loose on their way here, as Garrelt was often scouting ahead of the primary group. Now that Robert was finally getting to see what his Scout Leader could do, all the rumors of the mysterious so-called Spellblade were starting to make sense. The man flowed between Rockcap and Adventurer like a dancer. Each move was carefully planned and executed, and each time one of his daggers struck, a small magic circle instantly formed at its tip. Instead of piercing through the Rockcaps thick exoskeleton, the place where the magic circle formed collapsed in on itselfas if struck by some massive hammer. Robert found it a frankly ingenious solution to the Rockcaps thick armor, which proved difficult for even him to cut through without the proper angle. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Soon, the battle was over, and dozens of Rockcaps lay strewn about the tunnel in various states of dismemberment. The expeditionary forces own casualties amounted to only a few cuts and scrapes. Robert raised his sword into the air, and the group let out a roaring cheer. It might not have been a tough fight, all considering, but this was still the kind of thing that Adventurers lived for. Robert sheathed his sword as Maggy, Bert, and Garrelt approached. As they did, the rest of the expeditionary force cleaned up. Well done, everyone, he said, addressing the other three. With this, were one step closer to our goals. Though one thing still bugs me Bert folded his arms and frowned. Why were the Rockcaps this far up? Bert finished Roberts thought, repeating what hed mentioned previously. Garrelt nodded. Its not unheard of to see Rockcaps this far up, but not in this kind of number. Typically, you only find them around veins of Spirit Stone, where they can better blend in with their surroundings, and more prey is attracted to the stones. But I dont see any other signs of a vein around here. Maggy was the next to speak. There are no signs of any Spirit Stones nearby, but I wouldnt say theyre lacking for prey, she gestured to the various piles of bones strewn around the tunnel. That suggests this tunnel is, at the very least, well traveled. But then that begs other questions. Robert frowned. Like why would a tunnel infested with Rockcaps be well traveled by local wide life to begin with? Maggy nodded. Garrelt scratched his bearded chin and hummed to himself. They might not have much of a choice. For as long as this tunnel system is, it doesnt seem to branch off much. And where it branches off, it leads to mostly dead ends or the dens of other, more dangerous creatures. Bert raised an eyebrow. You think somethings forcing critters up from below? Its possible, Garrelt nodded. It might explain why the Rockcaps are this far up as well. If something pushed them out of their home tunnel, they would have had to follow the same path as everything else. It just happens that this long corridor where everything was passing through made for a suitable nest site for them. Robert peered down deeper into the tunnel. What do you think could do something like that? Garrelt shrugged. Not enough information yet to say for sure, though I have a few ideas. At the very least, it suggests something highly territorial. That doesnt narrow things down by much, but it gives me an idea or two. Robert nodded. Understandable. I just dont want to Roberts words were cut off as all four Adventurers eyes snapped toward the tunnels far end. Roberts eyes narrowed, and he tilted his head, as if listening for something. There there it was again. A faint, echoing tapping No Not tapping Footsteps! Robert turned around and drew his sword just in time to see the shadow of a running figure move around the far wall. Halt! Identify yourself! he called. The shadow slowed as it drew closer until a small figure rounded the corner, their arms raised. Peace! Peace, humans! I come in peace! the figure called out. Robert narrowed his eyes at the figure of the short, muddy, and terrified cave goblin who rounded the corner, half stumbling over their own feet. Cave goblins were known to be a relativity peaceful race, unlike their surface-dwelling cousins. Well, as peaceful as a Deep Tribe could be, so Robert lowered his sword, though he didnt sheath it just yet. Just because cave goblins werent known to be violent to outsiders didnt mean they were any less capable of deceit and trickery than any other sapient race, and it always paid to be wary of strangers. Doubly so when dozens of miles under the surface and Heavens knew how far from any sort of civilization. The cave goblins bulging, blood-shot eyes that darted around the tunnel, twitching at every shadow, and mud-covered garments did little to curve Roberts weariness as well. The man looked like hed been tossed into a mud pit and beaten with a stick. Their hands still raised, the cave goblin yelled, half stuttering in his rush to get the words out. Humans! Please help me! Quickly! It will be here any moment! Robert frowned, but it was Maggy who spoke. Help with what? Who are you? What are you doing in these tunnels? The goblins eyes flickered down the tunnel, then back to them as sweat left muddy trails down their bark-colored skin. Theres no time! Its too fast, we have to hurry or Oomph! The goblins words were cut off as a large brown blur shot out from around the corner and slammed into the goblin, engulfing them. Robert swiftly advanced, swinging his sword at the strange, shadowed, formless mass, only for his blade to pass through without resistance. Wide-eyed and bewildered, he staggered backward, struggling to comprehend what he was facing, until a radiant orb of light suddenly materialized near the tunnel ceiling. As the dark tunnel was illuminated, Robert observed the struggling goblin pinned to the wall, battling against a thin mat of wriggling, squirming... mud? The sight of the goblin desperately pushing against the suffocating mud was unsettling. In that moment, Robert found himself momentarily frozen until Berts immense figure appeared by his side. With the swing of a fist the size of Roberts head, a powerful wind stripped the muddy blanket from the goblin and splattered it across the nearby wall. Gasping and coughing for air, the goblin collapsed to the ground. Maggy immediately rushed to their side, a pale white light radiating from her hands. Meanwhile, the splattered mud on the far wall quivered, slowly reforming itself. Garrelt flashed forward and struck out with his dagger. Instead of trying to stab the blobs of mud, however, he quickly carved an arcane symbol into the wall behind it. The rune ignited in a brilliant mana surge, causing the surrounding stone to heat rapidly. Within moments, several meters of the wall surrounding the rune glowed a vibrant orange. When the rune finally faded, the mud no longer twitched, hardening and fusing to the still glowing stone behind it. As Robert watched, bits and pieces slowly flaked off the wall and fell to the ground. Still uncertain what he was seeing, Robert turned to the others, his brow furrowed. What the hell was that?! The other three adventurers exchanged a look and shrugged. Garrelt bent down and poked at the baked mud falling to the ground. It looked like a slime. But Ive never heard of a slime made of mud. Bert grunted and shook his head. Ive never heard of slime moving like that or one staying alive after you blasted it apart. Robert frowned and turned to the goblin. I hate to be pushy, Mr he let the question hang in the air. The goblin coughed a few times and spit out a glob of mud. Antchaser. You can call me Antchaser. Robert nodded. Mr. Antchaser, then. Would since we seem to have a bit of time now, would you mind explaining what in the nine hells is going on? Hidden behind the sleeve of his jacket as he wiped his mouth clean, Antchaser grinned. B2 - Lesson 34: "Know How To Shift The Blame." Maggy sighed in relief and lowered her hands, the white glow enveloping them fading away. As violent as the attack had been, the damage the cave goblin had suffered was pretty minor; he suffered a few bruises, a sprained shoulder, and some mud in his lungs, which he quickly coughed up. Nothing too serious. That was good while Maggy had some experience with healing spells, they werent her specialty. The expedition partys actual lead healer confirmed Maggys prognosis a moment later, once the thin man finally arrived. The exhausted goblin was helped into a sitting position, and Robert launched into a string of questions. Part of Maggy felt bad for the goblin as he was grilled for information so soon after such a traumatic experience, but a more rational side of her understood the necessity of it. Robert had two dozen explorers and researchers he had to look out for. The goblins sudden appearance and that of the strange slime-like creature represented potentially dangerous unknowns. Thankfully, the goblin seemed to take the questions in stride, and after only a few moments, Maggy and the rest of the team had a general understanding of the events leading up to this moment. Robert paced back and forth in front of the goblin, seemingly lost in thought. Garrelt was the first to speak. Well, that explains what happened to the group before us, at least. I have to say, I wasnt expecting Icefinger, though. That man tends to be less direct with these types of things. I wonder what changed? Instead of responding, Robert turned to the goblin and asked, You said that after your hunters retaliated and captured some of the bandits then this Bosco fellow escaped into a local dungeon, correct? The goblin named Antchaser took a swig of water from a canteen and nodded. That part of the story had really piqued everyones interest. A new biodome was an amazing find in and of itself. One with an active dungeon, though? That was the kind of jackpot that Adventurers dreamed of. The fact that a Deep Village already claimed ownership of both areas was unimportant. It may have been a problem a few centuries ago, as the village and Adventurers clashed for ownership. But even if the initial village couldnt control the cavern on its own, stronger tribes and villages would have gotten involved in the dispute for the sake of gaining wealth and power. This would have led to a brutal war that would probably have resulted in the destruction of the biodome, regardless. But with the Deep treaties in place, a small goblin village had far more to gain from allowing Adventurers access to these resources. More than one powerful Deep Clan had risen to power that way. However, the Adventurers excitement was squashed as Antchaser continued his story. We tried to give chase, but the dungeon is unique. Its creator must have been an eccentric, as it doesnt follow the standard rules. Eventually, we gave up. It took a full team for us to make any progress ourselves. No one expected Bosco and the ragtag bunch that had escaped to survive for very long. The goblin took another drink and shook his head. I dont know how the bastard did it but he managed to trigger a dungeon break. Garrelt rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed while Bert just shook his head in disappointment. Robert had the greatest reaction, letting out a deep growling sound, then slammed his fist into the nearby wall, creating a small crater. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Maggy jumped slightly. This was the first time shed ever seen the man truly angry before. The fierce snarl twisted his otherwise handsome features in an oddly alien manner. Robert turned away from them and took a deep breath. When he turned back around, the calm, charismatic leader they all knew had returned. Are you certain its a dungeon break? Some of the more odd dungeons can feel like it sometimes. Antchaser nodded. Yes. At least thats what the Core called it once we made contact. Roberts eyes went wide. The Core actually made contact with you?! Interesting. He stroked his chin. That suggests the Core hasnt gone mad yet. At the same time, if the Core is asking for outside help, then whatever issue caused the dungeon break is at least repairable Garrelt raised an eyebrow. You want to try to fix it? Do we even have the right people for something like that? Robert shrugged. Who knows? Its worth a shot, at the very least. Maggy coughed and raised her hand into the air. Ummm, sorry to interrupt and all but whats a dungeon break? Three humans and a muddy goblin stared at the young woman with furrowed brows. After a moment, Berts eyes went wide. Ahhh! Thats right! You only started seriously adventuring a few months ago, didnt you, Mags? I forget the civs dont really use the same lingo as us. A dungeon break Garrelt took over with a sigh, is just that. The result of a dungeon breaking. Maggy frowned. Dungeons can break? she asked. Garrelt raised an eyebrow. Of course they can. After all, theyre just systems set up by mortals, even if exceptionally powerful ones. How they break can vary, however. Sometimes its just age and neglect. Sometimes, someone greedy or stupid enough messes with things they dont understand. Whatever the cause, the result is typically the same. The Dungeon Core goes insane and becomes far, far more dangerous. If its the trap and trial sort, theyll become deathtraps with no hope of escape. If the dungeon is the type that raises spirit beasts or mana monsters, theyll start producing them uncontrollably until the creatures burst out and wreak destruction on the surrounding area. When it gets that bad, normally the only solution is to destroy the Core, effectively destroying the dungeon as well. Robert turned to Maggy and continued from where Garrelt had stopped. But if a break is caught soon enough, those with the right knowledge might fix the issue and return the dungeon to working condition. Maggy tilted her head. And thats what you hope to do? Somehow fix whatever this Bosco fellow broke? Robert nodded. At the very least, stabilize the situation until we can get someone here who does know what theyre doing. Theres no time for that! the goblin Antchaser suddenly cried out. The Adventurers jumped slightly and turned to him, brows raised. Antchaser coughed into his hand and continued more calmly. What I mean is, the village needs help now. The creatures that have escaped from the dungeon are dangerous, and the Core has asked us to seek help to prevent more damage before anything else! That is what my companion and I were attempting to do. We were on our way to petition assistance from Halirosa before some of the creatures ambushed us in the tunnels. Garrelt frowned and narrowed his eyes. And wheres this companion of yours? Antchaser pointed down the tunnel. Shes still down there, fighting those things. She tried to stall them and give me enough time to escape, but I dont know how much longer she can hold out. Please! You have to help her! The three men exchanged glances and nodded before Robert turned to Maggy. Maggy, please organize the expedition party and prepare them to continue on. Garrelt, Bert, and I will move ahead to see if we can help Mr. Antchasers companion. Do what you feel is necessary to get everyone moving and rejoin us as soon as possible. Maggy nodded and stood, helping Antchaser to his feet before handing the goblin off to the lead healer. She nodded at Robert and, without another word to him, turned toward the rest of the expeditionary force and started yelling orders. Seeing everything was well in hand, Robert, Garrelt, and Bert shared one last look, then turned and rushed deeper into the tunnel. B2: GRIM Adventures - 13 The Guildmaster led their group through the winding halls of the Ashdale Adventures Guild at a rapid pace so much so that Jill found herself slightly out of breath after a moment. She turned to her left to see that Jack was in a similar state. He also turned, met her eyes, and raised a brow. The Guildmaster, on the other hand, looked as fresh as a spring chicken despite her slightly slouched posture. As if sensing Jills stare, she turned and smiled. Hurry up now, youngin, not too far now. Be sure to keep up. Wouldnt want you to get lost. This place can be a bit of a maze if youre not careful. She barked out a laugh and waved as she turned a corner. As She did, Grim, who had been silently floating behind them, froze. When she spoke, it was in her voice, but the words came off as slightly flat. //Warning! Spatial Anomaly Detected! Users are advised that overlapping spatial expansion fields can result in suboptimal and potentially catastrophic results. Please proceed with caution.// Jill stopped and squinted at Grim. That was new. What was this about overlapping spatial expansion fields? Was she talking about her storage? It was well known that putting a spatial storage device inside another spatial storage device could have devastating consequences. But why would the strange artifact spirit they had befriended mention that now? Slowly, something that had been bugging her for a while now crystallized in Jills mind. She frowned and slowly turned around, staring at the long hallway and various doors on either side. Jack she muttered, her eyes still scanning the area. Ya? her brother asked, huffing as he took the chance to catch his breath. Jill was silent for a moment, then asked, How long have we been walking? Jack paused and tilted his head. Uhhh, I dont know? Like, maybe ten minutes? I wasnt really paying much attention to the time. I was more focused on keeping up with the old lady. Jill turned to Jack. Was did Guildhall seem that big when we got here? Jack opened his mouth to respond, but froze. His brow furrowed, and he looked back down the hall the way theyd come. It stretched behind them for about a hundred meters before suddenly turning to the left. He then turned to look in the direction they were headed, and he saw another twenty meters of hallway and another bend. Dozens of plain, unmarked wooden doorways lined the hallway. Now that you mention it Jack whispered with a frown. Jill suddenly rushed down the hallway toward the nearer bend, turned, and stared, her eyes wide. There, extending into the distance, was an identical hallway filled with the same unmarked plain doors. She slowly backed away and turned to see Jack jogging up behind her, Little Red, Mr Gopher, and Grim following close behind. Jack peeked around the corner and frowned. Huh well now thats strange. Jill didnt bother to respond and instead rushed toward one of the nearby doors, throwing it open wide. Inside appeared to be nothing more than a simple storage room packed with sealed crates, various weapons and armor on stands, and numerous everyday items strewn about randomly. Jill almost let out a breath of relief until she noticed another plain, unmarked door on the far side of the room. She carefully approached the far door and slowly reached for the handle. In one smooth motion, she pulled the door open to reveal another featureless hallway, more unmarked doors lining either side. Her heart now beating heavily in her chest, Jill rushed toward the door opposite the one she had just opened and threw it open as well. This time, the room appeared to be a training or repair room of sorts. It was filled with rows of dusty weights and half-destroyed target dummies. Most of the equipment had been pushed to the side, as if awaiting repair, but a few items lay out next to various pieces, as if whoever had been cleaning them had just stepped out. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Like the last room, another unmarked door sat on the opposite side. Jill rushed toward that door as well, cursing to herself as she kicked on the heavy weights in her haste and threw the door open. Another hallway and more doors. She ran to the opposite door again, nearly hyperventilating, and threw it open. Another room, and another door. Again and again, Jill passed through room and door, until finally, something strange happened. After nearly a dozen rooms and identical hallways, Jill opened the last door to see something she hadnt expected. Or, maybe some part of her had been Jill?! How the hell did you get over there?! Jack spun around as Jill opened the door, his eyes wide. Jill stopped in the doorway, breathing heavily as sweat poured down her brow. Jack turned back around to face the way he had been. His eyes went even wider as he saw, far in the distance and past a dozen open rooms, the back of Jill? Jack furrowed his brow. Well, thats weird. He leaned over and was surprised when another figure also leaned past Jills double, far in the distance. Jack squinted and made eye contact with himself? Instantly, an intense headache overtook Jack, and he nearly collapsed to his knees. Ow, ow, ow! What in the nine hells was that?! Jack yelled as he clutched his head. As he backed away from the door, Jill stepped away as well and started to pace. Mr. Gopher took their place, glanced back and forth between the open doors, and frowned. He raised a finger, and the surrounding air swirled. Dust from the area was sucked in as if stuck in a vortex, and after a moment, a grey stone the size of a fist floated in the air over Mr. Gophers hand. With a flick of his wrist, the grey stone became a blur and shot through the rightmost door. A few seconds later, a grey blur shot out of the leftmost door, crossed the hallway in the blink of an eye and passed through the rightmost door once more. A few seconds later, it happened again. And again. And again, each pass taking less and less time until a grey line formed in the space between the doors. Mr. Gopher stared at the sigh with a smile and chittered happily. Jill on the other hand paused her pacing. Im glad to see youre having fun, but this is a serious matter, she said with a frown. Jack, the pounding in his head settling down, stood from where he sat on the floor. What the hell is going on? he asked. Some kind of spatial trap? Why? And where did the Guildmaster go? Jill shook her head. I dont know. But we need to get out of here. Jack looked down the hallway and frowned. But how? I have no experience with spatial magic at all. I couldnt begin to tell you how whatever the hell this is, works. Jill furrowed her brow and followed her brothers gaze. Yes that was the question, wasnt it? Was that really necessary, Aunt Cel? The Guildmaster smacked the grey-muzzled wolfman in the back of his head. She glared down at him and said, Thats Guildmaster while on campus. Beastmaster Stark Ashdale rubbed the back of his head and muttered something under his breath, but didnt dare backtalk. The old former matriarch of the Ashdale clan and Starks great-great aunt was known to be a woman who rarely tolerated any lip. So the Beastmaster was rather surprised when the old woman actually answered his question. Yes. It was. These children are looking to stick their noses into matters they barely understand. If they cant even solve this minor obstacle, then they have no chance of surviving whats coming. If thats the case, better to send them away now than let them run off to their deaths pointlessly. The Beastmaster raised a brow and smirked. Thats rather pragmatic of you. What happened to the stone-cold Guildmaster that wouldnt think twice of letting some fool Adventurer run off to their doom? The Guildmaster scoffed, Theres a difference between letting idiots learn the hard way after youve already warned them and letting children wander into danger needlessly. Besides, my grandfather always mentioned his regret at not being able to help Progenitor Rubyseeds descendants. The old squirrel had been adamant that his people be allowed to flourish or fail as they would. If what grandfather said was correct, OlRubyseed held a firm belief in the tides of fate and chance. Maybe that comes with the territory of a Treasure Hunter. Either way, the Ashdales have always respected Rubyseeds wishes. Stark shook his head. So why help now? Is that a bit of nepotism Im seeing? The Guildmaster barked out a laugh. Boy, the world runs on nepotism. Dont you ever think otherwise. Often, who you know is just as important as raw power. But no, Im not playing favorites here. Not really. Think about it, though. Think of all the little things that had to have happened to bring these two to us now, of all times. For them to cross Morganas path. I cant say I hold such faith in the whims of fate as Progenitor Rubyseed did, but what else would you call it? Beastmaster Stark turned and grunted. Hed never considered things like fate before, so he couldnt say much on a matter like that. After a moment of silence, the Guildmaster stood from her seat and spoke. Be it fate or chance, at the end of the day, I dont really care, if Im honest. What matters most is the results. If they can get through this, then maybe just maybe they have what it takes to go all the way. With those words, the old woman raised her eyes and stared into the distance, where a gargantuan tree towered over the valley. B2 - Lesson 35: "Thats Just Mud, Right?...RIGHT?!" << Alpha Log - 6952 SFY-Third Era, 6 standard months since Planetfall. 20 hours since the beginning of Operation: Safari Hunt >> My breakthrough with the MUD signifies not only a qualitative leap in my understanding of arrays and Spirit Energy but also a significant boost in my technological capabilities. Previously, I was significantly limited in what equipment I could improve using arrays. The nature of arrays meant that once I had modified a device with an array, it was functionally locked into that role. Attempting to adjust the machines parameters or function in any meaningful way meant I had to adjust the array to account for this as well. This, of course, runs counter to the Federations philosophy of flexibility and modularity. I cant begin to tell you how annoying it was to have to adjust the arrays every time I updated my machines! Eventually, I got so annoyed that I just started building new machines for each task! Like a primitive! The MUD, though... the MUD changed everything. Turning the arrays into a modular system means Im no longer constrained by what I need at this moment and can start building with the future in mind. Ill turn this place into a proper Federation Outpost yet! The MUD has also opened new possibilities for Operation: Safari Hunt as well. Which is good, as Halirosas official expeditionary team has made better time than we were expecting. After working out the new plans details, I dispatched Boarslayer and Antchaser to greet our guests. So far, things are progressing smoothly. You could say everything is proceeding just according to Keikaku //EDIT: The United Council of Sub-AI would like to remind any reviewing officers that as Alpha-Primes processing and personality cores recover, what horrid, abdominal things they can prevent from slipping out will diminish. The Council would like to apologize in advance, and may the Maker have mercy on your soul// Dr. Marias MUD Slime concept suggestion is proving rather effective. In a way, theyre closer to semi-organic robots than proper nanite drones. Even if they function similarly to a free nanite swarm, they obviously dont have the same versatility as a proper swarm either. Why bother with them, then? A few reasons. First off, thanks to the vast majority of their mass being comprised of the MUD organism, the actual amount of controlling nanite mass is a fraction of what it would typically take to make a swarm. This also results in them being more durable for lack of a better term. Any damage the MUD Slime might take rarely results in losing any nanite mass. What MUD is lost can easily be replaced over time as the organisms reproduce. The net result makes them far cheaper to produce and maintain. Not that these new Slimes are likely to ever replace a proper nanite swarm or even an antborg. Theyre just not versatile enough. However, pairing MUD Slimes with the new V-3 antborgs has increased their overall effectiveness by nearly 15%! MUD Slimes have shown the most potential in stealth operations. In a passive state, their energy signatures blend well into the background, making them nearly undetectable. After all, no one expects the puddle of mud on the ground to be listening. What Im saying is, despite their simplicity, Im expecting a lot of use out of these things. It makes me wonder just what other things this world might be hiding. Boarslayer grunted as one of a dozen thick, muddy tendrils writhing in the air slammed into her crossed axes. For being little more than animated mud, there was a weighty force behind each blow though not enough to really concern her, even if whatever Alpha had controlling this thing hadnt been pulling its punches. No, what made her really feel uneasy was what the tendrils were attached to. The large Mossback Ape bent forward and rested on its thick, muscular arms. Its wild, bloodshot eyes darted randomly around the cavern as a thin trickle of bloody mud leaked from their corners. Its signature grassy back was covered in a thick, squirming sludge from which the tendrils extended. After a moment, the Mossbacks eyes locked onto Boarslayer. It roared, spewing saliva and mud in equal quantities. It then charged Boarslayer in long, leaping gaits that used its arms more than its smaller back legs to propel it forward. Boarslayer leaped out of the way, dragging an axe across its side as she did. The Mossback roared as a bloody gash opened up. However, before the wound could prove debilitating, bloody mud bubbled out of it, quickly hardening and sealing the wound. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Boarslayer frowned. If she was honest, a single Mossback wasnt that dangerous of a spirit beast. Sure, they were massively strong, surprisingly agile, and deceptively intelligent. But their true strength came from their numbers. Most cultivators could easily handle a lone Mossback one-on-one, if they kept the three previous points in mind. However, the addition of the MUD Slime made the creature a genuine threat, even to an experienced hunter like Boarslayer. As the large goblin recovered from her roll, one of the mud tendrils shot out and wrapped itself around her leg. Before Boarslayer could react, the tendril pulled her feet from under her and threw her hard against the cavern wall. The goblin cried out in pain and fell to the ground, clutching her shoulder. She pushed herself into a sitting position and stared at the Mossback. It stared back at her, half grinning, its eyes twitching erratically as its breath came in heavy, gurgling pants. Boarslayers eyes widened. Alpha wouldnt really let this thing hurt her, right? This was just supposed to be a show, after all. Something to set the scene for the approaching Adventurers. He still had full control of it, right? Her eyes never leaving the creature, Boarslayer reached down for her axe, only to pause. Nine hells she muttered to herself when her left hand came up empty. Her eyes flickered to her missing axe lying a dozen meters away, the Mossback standing between them. She must have dropped it when the tendril grabbed her. An amateur mistake. Maybe sensing a moment of weakness, the Mossback roared and lept into the air. Boarslayer pushed herself to a kneeling position, raised her remaining axe with her good arm, and roared back. The Mossback soared through the air, easily covering the dozen or so meters between them, its clawed hands outstretched and ready to rend and tear her. As the spirit beast reached the apex of its arch, there was a sudden gust of wind, and a huge figure, easily twice the size of the Mossback, suddenly appeared next to it. The figure, a large mountain of a man, swung one of his massive fists at the airborne spirit beast. The resulting impact produced a shockwave that Boarslayer could feel resonating through her bones. Instantly, the Mossbacks trajectory shifted 90 degrees, and it shot away at blinding speeds, slamming into a nearby wall with a resounding crash. The cavern shook at the impacts force, throwing up a thick cloud of dust. A second figure, this one much smaller, appeared and charged into the cloud of dust. Several flashes of multicolored light could be seen through the dust a few seconds later. Boarslayer stared at the scene in wide-eyed shock, the pain in her shoulder mostly forgotten. It seems we made it just in time, a voice called from beside her. Boarslayer jumped slightly, then turned her eyes from the flashing dust cloud and met the gaze of an armored human, grinning down at her. Seeing her look up at him, the humans grin grew wider, and he reached out a hand. Boarslayer stared for a moment before reaching out with her good arm and clasping the humans hand. With a grunt, the human pulled the large goblin to her feet and stared up at her, his eyes widening slightly. After all, she stood a good foot over his own above-average height. The Adventurer recovered quickly, however. You must be Mr. Antchasers companion. Worry not. Well handle this beast from here. As if to mock his proclamation, the dust cloud was suddenly blown away. The figure whod rushed inside earlier was thrown across the cavern and hit the floor in a roll. They rolled for a few meters before springing up and spitting out a mouth full of blood. The lightly armored human was covered in mud, and a large gash ran down one arm; otherwise, he didnt seem too injured. In fact, the man was grinning widely, his eyes almost as wild as the spirit beasts. As the dust settled, however, Boarslayer could see that the Mossback wasnt so lucky. Its left arm, where it had attempted to block the mountain mans opening strike, had vanished. In its place was a large glob of mud pushing its way out of what remained of its shoulder. A thick tendril of mud extended outward, flailing around like a whip. Where its thick, green-brown fur hadnt been burnt or frozen, dozens of lines of hardened mud told of freshly sealed wounds. The spirit beast was in such a terrible state she almost felt bad for the creature. It glared at the lightly armored Adventurer and roared, baring a mouth full of broken fangs. Before it could charge, the mountain man reappeared and threw a heavy kick at the spirit beasts wounded side. However, the creature or rather the MUD Slime was ready this time, and the thick tendril expanded into a dome-shaped shield that dispersed most of the blow. Even still, the Mossback was thrown back several meters. The more heavily armored Adventurer standing next to Boarslayer gave her one last flashing smile and charged after the spirit beast himself. The man drew a gleaming sword and slashed with an expert form at the creatures exposed back. His blade was blocked by several tendrils, but the distraction was enough to let a thrown dagger slip through the Mossbacks guard and stab deep into its neck. The spirit beast roared, then screamed as the dagger burst into flames. It yanked the burning blade from its neck and tossed it aside. Only for the mountain man to grab its good arm and lift the creature into the air. He then violently slammed the Mossback into the ground several times, cracking the stone beneath it, and tossed it toward the pond. The spirit beast rolled several times before stopping in a small puddle nearby. Before it could stand, the lightly armored man threw three more daggers into the creatures back. A moment later, the daggers sparked, and violent arcs of lightning flashed across the Mossbacks body, causing it to spasm and twitch. When the lightning vanished, the Mossback fell still, its body slightly smoking. Boarslayer and the three Adventurers stared at the fallen creature unblinkingly. After a long moment with no further movement, they all sighed in relief and exchanged a smile. The heavily armored man sheathed his sword and grinned. Well done, everyone! he said cheerfully before turning to Boarslayer. He was walking her way when Garrelt called out in frustration. Oh, come on! Die already, you bloody abomination! The other Adventurers eyes went wide, and he whirled back around. The Mossback lay still in the puddle, but a dozen tendrils of mud still wildly flailed above its back. The Mossback slowly stood, though Boarslayer instantly realized something was wrong. Despite the flailing tendrils, the Mossback itself remained perfectly still, instead sagging in place as if held up by strings. Its one remaining eye was glassy, and thick mud flowed out as if it were weeping. Then suddenly it spoke. Or rather, thats what it must have looked like to the Adventurers. //Warning. Operator Signal Lost. Unable to contact Administrator. Entering Self-Preservation Mode.// The words might have been lost on the Adventurers, but Boarslayer could only feel her heartbeat suddenly spike. Well bloody hells that cant be good B2 - Lesson 36: "Teamwork Makes The Dream Work!" Roberts eyes widened as he watched the mud-covered creature stand. Maybe stand wasnt apt, as the creature didnt seem to stand on its own power. Instead, the dozen or so muddy tendrils extending from its back lifted the creature into the air. The rest of the creature hung limply, its head askew and its eyes glazed over, a slimy stream of mud dripping from its gaping maw. Everything in Roberts other scenes told him that the creature was dead, yet Is it some kind of undead?! Robert thought to himself? No that couldnt be it. The undead were rare to begin with, and those that did appear always produced a sickening miasma. As if the Spirit Energy itself were rotting. This thing whatever it was produced no miasma at all. In fact, the only Spirit Energy Robert could sense was the remnants of the creatures own as they slowly faded into the aether. What manner of creature was this, then? However, his questions would have to wait for a later time, as the next moment, the creature silently charged Bert. It was a wild, flailing charge that reminded Robert of some kind of deformed spider as it moved. Bert dodged out of the way of the wild charge and swung his massive fist at the creature. To everyone presents surprise, the strange being suddenly shifted its momentum, throwing itself upward as Berts fist soared harmlessly underneath it. Several tendrils shot upward and embedded into the rocky ceiling, while several others lashed out like spears to impale the large man. Bert dodged backward, striking out at every tendril that approached, splattering them in all directions. Yet, for each tendril destroyed, two more seemed to take its place. Berts strikes came faster and faster until his fists became a blur and the air within the cavern a whirlwind. Yet, even with this, Robert could tell that Bert was struggling. Every time Bert tried to strike the creatures limp body, it suddenly jerked out of the way with odd, violent movements. Robert was certain he had even heard several of the creatures bones snap from the unnatural angles it would move in. The fight was becoming a battle of attrition, with the tendrils unable to pierce Berts expert defense, but Bert likewise unable to land a solid blow. If something didnt change, who knew which of them would wear down first. Said change came in the form of a screaming hobgoblin. RAAAAAOOOORR! The woman theyd come to save let out a bellowing roar and jumped into the air, her axe raised, just as the creature dodged one of Berts strikes. Whatever mechanism the creature used to dodge didnt seem able to keep up with both strikes at once, and as she flew past it, her axe took one of its legs with it. Not that the creature reacted or even seemed to notice, really. Instead, a thick, muddy sludge poured out of the stump and sealed the wound. Watching the scene, things finally clicked for Robert. Garrelt! Robert turned to the other man and yelled. I saw! came the response. Garrelt instantly knelt down and began to carve something into the hard stone floor underneath him. It all finally made sense. The ape creature appeared dead because it was dead. What wasnt, was the strange muddy slime-like creature apparently puppeting its body. Robert had heard mostly horror stories of such creatures roaming the deeper, more dangerous part of the Deep and the Crimson Mountains, but never had he encountered one himself. They were astoundingly rare if they even existed in the first place. To have encountered not just one, but two, in the brief span of a few moments. What were the chances? More importantly, what did that say about the place they were headed? While Garrelt worked, Robert jumped into the fray alongside the hobgoblin and Bert. His shining blade cut tendrils into pieces and even carved a few gashes into the dead apes side. Yet, despite being caught off guard by the hobgoblins first strike, the slime proved adaptable. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Even with all three coordinating attacks, they barely made any headway against the creature. And unlike Bert, the hobgoblin and Robert didnt have an endless supply of stamina. Thankfully, they didnt need it. A few moments after Robert joined the fight, Garrelt stood. Its ready! BERT! he called out. Robert shared a look with Bert, and they nodded to each other. Bert roared and charged at the hanging creature. As he did so, Robert took a forward stance, his sword held out before him. He took a deep breath, raised it above his head in a two-handed grip, and slowly breathed out. With an oddly slow strike, Robert then swung the blade down through empty air. [Ten Thousand Blades!] A gentle ripple flowed through the air. The next instant, all the muddy tendrils fell to the ground, cut into thousands of pieces. Thin lines also formed on the dead creatures body, but its thick fur protected it from most of the attack. Even with a living soul to augment it with Spirit energy, a Deep creatures fur was still more durable than most mundane substances. With all of its tendrils destroyed, the dead creatures body limply fell from the ceiling. Before it could fall more than a few feet, however, Bert lept through the air and caught it in his arms. The creatures reaction was instant, as hundreds of thin spikes erupted, pushing their way through the various cuts and wounds dotting its body. Berts eyes widened, but a quick application of Spirit Energy prevented any spikes from piercing his skin. Before hed even landed, Bert heaved and with pinpoint accuracy, threw the creatures body toward the array circle Garrelt had finished carving into the stone floor. As soon as the creatures body rolled to a stop in the middle of the circle, the array activated with a flash of Spirit Energy. As it did, a wavering pillar of superheated air formed inside, shooting upward until it struck the ceiling. Inside the array circle, the spikey tendrils writhed, appearing like hundreds of tiny worms wiggling on top of a corpse. With each passing moment, more and more tendrils dried out, hardening into earthen clay that crumbled away. Even the ape creatures body began to feel the effects of the superheated air, as its fur shriveled while its exposed skin blackened and cracked. When at last no more tendrils moved, the three adventurers let out a sigh of relief. With a thought, Garrelt released the array, and the signs blinked out, leaving nothing but the charred corpse. Robert, Garrelt, and Bert looked at each other and smiled. They were tired, dirty, and confused, but also proud of the battle. They had fought a totally unknown enemy and emerged as the victors with barely a scratch. Such a thing was rare for Adventurers, as it was almost always the unknown that finally did them in. Their smiles quickly dropped, however, as they noticed something strange. Spread out all across the cavern were tiny globs of mud from where tendrils had been destroyed or the creature injured. The three men hadnt paid much attention to the dirt, as their focus had been on the much larger treat. Now, however, they could see that these tiny patches of mud were quivering. Well hell, Garrelt whispered. As if triggered by his words, these thousands of tiny pieces of mud moved as one. With surprising speed, the mud converged on the charred corpse, slowly building into a bubbling mass. The three Adventurers slowly backed away, taking defensive positions. Nine Hells, this is ridiculous! Bert yelled. Its using the body as a shell to protect itself from the heat! Some part of its central mass must have survived! Garrelt responded. How are we supposed to kill this thing?! Robert asked. However, before any of them could respond, the fourth person in the room rushed forward. The hobgoblin reached the charred, bubbling corpse just as it began to push itself up. She then raised her leg and kicked out at such speeds that her leg blurred, and a cone of wind formed in front of it. When her foot made contact with the corpse, it shot across the cavern at high speed before slamming into the far wall on the other side of the still pond, taking up half the cavern. The corpse practically splattered across the wall with a sickening crunch. What remained hung there for a moment before finally peeling off and falling into the still waters. The pond erupted into a chaotic frenzy as the creatures below the waters surface rushed to claim their piece of the cooked roast so kindly delivered to their front step. Soon after, the waters stilled and once more returned to their mirror-like sheen. All four stared into the pond with bated breath. But when nothing emerged after several moments, they all sighed and relaxed. The Adventurers turned and grinned again, patting each other on the back. The hobgoblin continued to stare at the pond, breathing heavily. Just as Robert turned to call out to her, she threw her arms up into the air and yelled, YES! I GOT UM! VICTORY FOR BOARSLAYER! then slowly toppled backward, her arms still raised. She fell to the ground with a thump, and Robert could tell the woman had passed out. The three adventurers slowly walked over and looked down at her in silence. Not looking away from the woman, Garrelt spoke. Hey Bert that last kick she used Bert, too, didnt look away from the unconscious woman, Ya I saw the way her Spirit Energy moved. The lass actually copied my [Galefist] after only seeing it once. Bert grinned from ear to ear as he responded. He reached down, picked the hobgoblin up, and threw her over his shoulder. Come, gentlemen. Let us report our success to Mr. Antchaser and see about getting Ms Boarslayer? some care. Robert turned away and started walking down the tunnel they had entered. When the Adventurers had disappeared around the bend, the pond stirred slightly, and a fist-sized glob of mud pushed itself out of the water. It clung to the side of the cavern wall and quivered slightly. //Attention: Overseer Signal Detected. Reestablishing Connection Connection Successful Resetting Home Location. Returning Home// The glob of mud then quivered once more and began moving deeper into the caverns. B2 - Lesson 37: "Appreciate New Company... And Old." "CHEERS!" Bert raised his mug in the air with a booming shout and one massive foot braced against the long wooden table. The several dozen individuals crowding the rebuilt goblin longhouse a rowdy mix of Adventurers and cave goblins echoed his cheer. The large man threw back his mug and drained it in a single gulp, eliciting another cheer from the crowd. Even for a man of Bert''s size and constitution, the Deep alcohol was working its magic, if the slight rosy color spreading across Bert''s face said anything. The goblins had really broken out the good stuff for their welcome. Maggy smiled at the scene, sipping conservatively at her own drink. Robert might have been their charismatic leader who could charm the leggings off royalty and cultivators alike, but few people could out-party Big Bert. When the expedition party first arrived in the goblin village several hours ago, the villagers were understandably weary of the Adventurers. If their stories could be believed and the ongoing construction and repairs said they likely could then the village was still recovering from a bandit attack. Bandits who dared call themselves Adventurers as well. It didn''t take much to understand why the goblins would hesitate to welcome them. Yet, between Robert''s politicking and Bert being Bert, the villagers slowly warmed up to the group. Most of the expedition party was currently camped outside the village, throwing their own little party, while the party leaders Robert, Maggy, Bert, Garrelt, and several team captains were invited to the goblin''s longhouse for a welcome feast. That brought them to the present. Bert sat back in his seat, where a goblin quickly refilled his mug. Maggy was pretty sure there was a bet going around regarding how many mugs the large man could down. Not that Bert was the only one having a good time. Garrelt stood around with a group of hunters, regaling them with the tale of one of his hunts. The man animatedly waved a large drumstick as if it were a sword while the hunters listened in awe. Robert sat next to Antchaser and the goblin who was introduced as the village Elder. The three of them huddled over a small map, pointing at various markers and occasionally sipping their drinks. Maggy Maggy sat at the table''s edge, picking at the food on her plate and attempting to blend into the background as much as possible. A few goblins had approached her and tried to strike up a conversation, but after some awkward small talk, they wandered away. Maggy had never been one for social gatherings like this. She was far more comfortable in a lab or library than in a room full of people talking. Some people, like Bert, may have been the life of the party and enjoyed every moment. But Maggy had found that such things drained her more than anything. As she sat there, wondering if she could sneak away to find some peace and quiet, Maggy felt someone slide in beside her. Maggy turned, expecting to see another goblin. Instead, she met the gaze of an older human woman beaming at her. Maggy''s eyes widened, and she froze. Then, suddenly, she lunged at the woman and wrapped her in a tight hug. "Grandma Maria!" Maggy squealed. Dr. Maria laughed and patted the young woman on her back, returning the hug. "Hello Magnolia, it''s good to see you too." Maggy grinned from ear to ear as she pulled away from the older woman. Of course, Dr. Maria wasn''t actually her grandmother. Rather, the older woman was such a common sight in the slums and poorer parts of Halirosa that almost everyone who grew up there would know the doctor by sight, Maggy being no different. Dr. Maria''s policy of offering free treatment to anyone under the age of 16 had greatly endeared her to the less fortunate of Halirosa. Many started worrying about the old doctor when no one had seen her in the last few months. So seeing her here, alive and well, filled Maggy''s heart with joy. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. However, that joy soon turned into confusion. Maggy furrowed her brow. "What are you doing here, Maria? Do you know how many people have been worried about you?!" Dr. Maria laughed and patted the young woman''s head. "Don''t worry about me, child. I may be old, but I''ll likely outlive all of you! The benefits of being a Spiritual Doctor and all that," she winked at Maggy. She turned away and looked down into her own mug, swirling it as she continued. "As for why I''m here the same reason as you, my girl. I was hired to do a job. Didn''t expect to be gone this long, I''ll admit, but that''s life. You never know it will throw your way." Maggy frowned and tilted her head. "A job? All the way out here?" Maggy looked around the room at the gathered goblins. "Couldn''t they have found a doctor in one of the bigger Deep Tribes? Why did they go all the way to Halirosa to bring you here?" Dr. Maria chuckled. "What I do doesn''t come cheap, girly. I''ve got to take what opportunities present themselves." Dr. Maria looked away, though Maggy didn''t seem to notice the look in her eyes. "No matter who offers them" Maggy''s eyes went wide the next moment. "Wait, does that mean you were here when the bandits attacked?!" Dr. Maria sighed and nodded. "Aye I was here when they attacked What a mess that was, too. I tried my best to help, but" the old woman sighed and took a long swig before continuing. "Even with my help, we lost several. Magnolia, don''t take some of the things the goblins might say or do to heart. They''ve been through a lot. More than is reasonable, even for a place like this." "I see" Maggy responded, staring down into her own mug. She''d listened to the story that Antchaser had told them and assumed it had been just a standard attack. That kind of thing was just a fact of life when you lived in the smaller villages around the Crimson Mountains. Bandits could be a surprisingly reasonable lot. Most weren''t needlessly violent or cruel as long as you did what you were told and didn''t cause any issues. Most. But the way Dr. Maria described it, it sounded like things had been far worse than normal. Dr. Maria suddenly threw her mug back, drained its contents, and slammed it onto the table with a satisfied sigh. Maggy jumped and turned to Dr. Maria, who smiled back at the younger woman. "It''s not been all bad," Dr. Maria said. I''ve learned a lot here more than I ever expected. I even picked up a long-term contract, if you can believe that!" "A long-term contract?" Maggy parroted. Was goblin medicine that interesting? She knew they did things differently down in the Deep, but was it really by that much? Dr. Maria nodded. "Yep. I''ll have to make arrangements with my clinic in Halirosa, but that''s what I have apprentices for. Overall, I think it will be a great boon to the city in the long run." Maggy smiled nervously at the fire in the older woman''s eyes. She''d never seen that look from Dr. Maria before, and it felt odd. Yet, the doctor looked excited, and Maggy couldn''t bring herself to ruin this obvious opportunity for someone she so highly respected. The two sat in silence for a moment before Dr. Maria turned to Maggy. "Well, that''s enough about me. What brings you here, girl? After you got accepted to the Mage''s Tower, I never thought they''d manage to drag you out. I still remember the excitement on that little street urchin''s face when the test returned positive for Mana conversion." That was another service Dr. Maria offered to the children of Halirosa. Technically, anyone could cultivate or learn some minor cantrip, but to truly succeed in either cultivation or magic, one needed the talent. For Cultivators, it was as simple as being able to draw in more Spirit Energy than others. For Mages, things were more complicated. One needed to show the potential to transform their dantian into a Mana furnace. To do that, their dantian needed to actively convert Spirit Energy into Mana instead of just the passive ability all living things were naturally capable of. This wasn''t something that could be trained naturally. It was something you could either do or you couldn''t. This was also why magical ability was often thought to be mostly hereditary. The child of two Mages was far more likely to possess the ability, though every so often, the random village child or street urchin would show the talent as well. Maggy blushed and turned away from Dr. Maria''s grin. "Well teacher said I was spending too much time in my books. He said if I wanted to be a real Mage, I needed to get out in the world" she muttered into her mug. Dr. Maria erupted into laughter, causing several nearby goblins and Adventurers to glance in their direction. Maggy shrunk into herself, blushing deeper as she felt their gaze. Dr. Maria patted the girl on her back. "Don''t sell yourself short, Maggy. I''ve read some of your papers." Maggy perked up at that, her eyes growing wide. She would have never expected Dr. Maria to read any of her work. The doctor smiled and continued, "Your theories about the Old Ruins are absolutely fascinating, young lady, and your work with runes would make some of your seniors blush in shame. It seems the bigshots in Halirosa agree with me, or they would have never brought you into this expedition." Maggy turned away, her face almost cherry red at this point, though a small smile crossed her lips. "Thanks" the young woman mumbled. Dr. Maria grinned and patted Maggy on the back again. "Don''t worry, child. I know you''re nervous, and rightly so! But you''re far more talented than you give yourself credit for. I expect great things from you, young lady, and I''ve seen many, many come before you." Maggy''s smile grew a little wider, and she nodded, softly sipping her mug. Unnoticed by the young woman, a small wasp slipped out of Dr. Maria''s sleeve as she patted the girl and crawled into Maggy''s robes. B2 - "Meanwhile, in the Federation: Part 2." Sidia strutted down the Battlecruisers main thruway with purpose. A woman on a mission. The details of the last meeting with General Haldorer were still fresh in her mind. Something was seriously wrong in the Expeditionary Force, and the fact that it had escaped their notice for so long made her... nervous. Things still werent totally clear, but pieces of the puzzle were falling into place. The most alarming part of this entire ordeal was that even after nearly seven months, they still had found neither hide nor hair of Alpha. According to SAEU-03, it was as if he had vanished from the face of reality. That was concerning. That suggested one of three possibilities. Someone, somewhere, could totally obliterate one of the Federations most powerful and well-guarded assets in the middle of one of their most heavily fortified sectors of space in an instant so quickly that Alpha didnt even have time to transmit himself back to the Mother Node. Alternatively, someone had the capability of containing Alpha in such a way that even Infiltrate an AI whose power bordered on omnipresence couldnt locate him. Neither option spelled good things for the Expeditionary Force... or the Federation as a whole. One younger senator had proposed that Alpha had simply slipped his leash and made a break for it while he could. The comment had floored the Senate room and thrown it into complete silence... before the house broke into riotous laughter. Even Sidia had smirked at the idea. This was the same AI who thought filling a Garden World with billions of Class-C Arachnomorph eggs was a wonderful solution to a pest problem. Then Razor Sparrows to clear those out. Then... No, no, Sidia wasnt going down that rabbit hole again; she still had nightmares about that paperwork. When it came to battlefield tactics, Alpha could be called a one-in-a-millennia genius. However, long-term planning was definitely not one of the AIs strong points. Few seriously considered the possibility that Alpha could slip through all their nets on his own. Those who knew him personally doubted he would ever want to. If Alpha ever did somehow slip his leash, Sidia knew he would come running back within the year. Without a mission or directive, Alpha was easily distracted and quickly bored. He could and had spent an entire decade working on a single project. Yet the moment he was free to do as he pleased, the AI never seemed able to focus on one thing at a time. It was one reason he had been encouraged to split his active mind into so many sub-AIs. Dedicating parts of his consciousness to specific tasks had helped focus him when needed, even if it left him fragmented at times. As for the third possibility Sidia shook her head. It was too soon for that. Infiltrate would have told her if they needed to activate any of their contingencies yet. Those represented a plan tens of thousands of years in the making. Pulling the trigger too soon could have disastrous results. They couldnt fail not again. Sidia rounded the corner, only for a figure to barrel into her, wrapping two arms tight around her body. The Elderons eyes glowed a bright violet color as power flickered around her, her instincts kicking in. After a second, the glow vanished, and Sidia sighed tiredly, using a free arm to push away the bushy blond hair blocking her view. Ms. Jay, Ive asked you before to please make yourself known before you... make yourself known... Especially when were in the middle of a pressurized vessel hurtling through the void at translight speeds... Sidia sighed. The figure released its grip and pushed away, looking up at Sidia with puppy dog eyes. The womans soft, gentle features could be called cute but not necessarily striking. SEAU-02 or Articulate, as the public called her had learned long ago that people were far more comfortable around someone they considered pretty but relatable rather than some unparalleled jade beauty. Her job was to make people feel welcomed, safe, and happy. Not to be worshiped not that it had stopped some people... Sorry, Ms. D. Its just been so long since Ive seen you! How have you been? Has General Grumpy-Butt been working you hard lately? Articulate responded with a dopey smile. Sidia sighed, running a hand over her tired face. General Haldorer has been just as busy as everyone else, Ms. Jay. Ill kindly remind you were currently on duty and in the middle of a crisis. Please behave... Articulate pouted but fell into line beside Sidia. So, the rumors are true, then? Alphas vanished? You dont think that hes gone rogue, right? the bubbly woman asked. Sidia turned and stared at the AI beside her, saying nothing but raising a brow. Y-ya, I guess youre right... If he had the skill to slip away from that edge lord of a Firewall, the Federation would have burned to the ground long before this. Articulate coughed and looked away, embarrassed. Sidia chuckled and pulled out a small folder. What did Infiltrate tell you lot? Even Ive been unable to reach him since Alpha vanished, other than a few times hes found me, Sidia asked. Articulate was silent for a moment before responding. He wouldnt tell me much. You know how he is, all cloak and dagger. He sees shadows everywhere. But I confirmed what you were asking for. Last Resort has gone dark. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Sidia stopped, the folder slipping from her hands. Articulate continued on for a few steps before turning back to face her, frowning at the serious look on her face. Sidia bent to pick up the folder, her voice cold as she stood. So its as we feared... send a message to Mr. Hoffmann. We need to speak to Prisoner #048... Sidia Of the few living beings that knew about The Core, some questioned the intelligence of imprisoning the more heinous and dangerous criminals in the entire Federation in its most important and strategic factory world. Others argued, Where better place than the most heavily guarded, secured, and armed location in known existence? Security in The Core was tighter than even the Galactic Senate, and even if Sidia had been the one to establish it, she was not exempt from protocol. After the long process was finished and both she and Articulate were approved to move deeper into the facility, they soon stood in front of a thick vault door at the very heart of SEAU-04, Codename: World Break or rather, the core of his factory world, though the distinction between those two had become blurry over the millennia. A deep, gravelly voice spoke over the intercoms; Vault #048 has been loaded, and the area secured, Ms. Sidia. Youre approved to proceed. Not much use itll do ya, I think, though. The Olbastards stopped responding to anything I do for nearly a century now. nodded Thank you, Mr. Hoffmann. Open the Vault. Sidia responded. With a loud hiss of steam, the blast doors spun as several hundred meters of various materials unfolded in front of them into a narrow walkway. Both women strolled down the walkway, side-by-side, as the doors slammed shut behind them as they passed by. After walking nearly 200 meters, they exited into a small, 15x15 meter room. The third of the room they occupied was separated from the rest by a shimmering space-time distortion. The [Space-Time Barrier] was one of the most powerful pieces of technology developed by the Federation. It could completely cut off a section of space from the rest of existence. Typically, its enormous power consumption meant it was only practical for point defense on the largest Capital Ships. The size of the barrier in front of the women suggested it extended beyond the scope of the room they found themselves in. Sidia stopped in front of the barrier and waited. After a brief moment, a quiet hum sounded, and the barrier blinked out of existence. On the other side, a strange sight was revealed. In the middle of the room, hanging from massive chains, was an old, withered human male. If not for the steady rise and fall of his chest, one might think the being in front of them was a corpse, let alone strong enough to not be torn apart or crushed by the sheer weight of the chains that bound him. Stranger still, the base of each chain was marked by a strange circle of swirling, anarchic symbols. Symbols that appeared at first static but seemed to change every time you looked at them. The chains themselves were veined with golden cracks that softly glowed in the dark cell. Every so often, one of the links would vibrate and crack, adding another glowing mark, while some would crumble into dust, quickly replaced by various mechanical arms that appeared out of the walls. The man himself sat in the middle of another circle of strange symbols. If one paid attention, one could see the various rings that made up the pattern, slowly ticking around each other like the gears of a clock. Sidia walked forward with her arm folded as she stared down at the old man in front of her. Suddenly, she lashed out with a vicious kick, driving stilettos crafted from ultra-dense star stuff into the old mans exposed gut. The mans eyes shot open, bulging as he uttered a breathless wheeze. The old man slumped over, coughing, supported only by the restraining chains. Sidia smirked, grabbing his hair and pulling his face upward. #048... Its been a long time. How are you enjoying the new... accommodations? she asked, a wintry smile playing across her lips. The old man said nothing, simply glaring up at the red-skinned woman. While Id love to get acquainted, Im not here for pleasure. I have questions, Sidia continued when it was clear the man had nothing to say to her. Still, the old man remained quiet, staring into nothing. Sidia frowned and stood. With a wave of her hand, several mechanical arms descended from the ceiling. One arm pointed at the mans back and fired. A concentrated energy beam, strong enough to melt even battleship-grade alloy, instantly contacted the mans skin. Surprisingly, however, it didnt turn the man to ash. Instead, it seemed to struggle to even damage the frail old mans skin, sizzling as it slowly moved downward and filling the room with the scent of burning flesh. The old man gritted their teeth, their brow furrowing as drops of blood began to push through the pores on their forehead. Even so, he didnt make a sound other than a few low grunts of pain. Sidia watched with a blank face while Articulate turned away, the unease in her eyes saying all she needed to about the situation. The arms retracted, leaving the man panting as blood steadily dripped down like sweat. Giving the old man a moment to catch his breath, Sidia reached down and grabbed him once more, oblivious to the blood on his face. We can do this the easy way, or the hard way, #048. The Federation is nothing, if not reasonable, to those who cooperate. What do you know about the Nurseries? she asked. The old mans grunts of pain and gasps of breath quickly shifted into low chuckles. They slowly built in volume until the mans entire body shook with laughter, the sound mixing with the thunderous clank of the chains. The old man threw his head back, laughing as if hed just heard the greatest joke of his life. Slowly, he grew quiet and lowered his head to look Sidia in the eye. The grin that split his face from ear to ear both boiled the Elderons blood and chilled her soul to its very core. When he finally spoke, his voice was ragged and dusty; So its come to this. I knew it; even you could not find them all. And here I thought there was nothing beyond the reach of the Archdemon. I guess its true what they say. Even gods are not infallible, let alone demons, the man laughed, pure glee radiating in his voice. Thats rich, coming from the child eater. Articulate snapped back, her arms folded and eyes cold. The old mans grin widened as he turned his eyes towards the AI. What you call children, I call eggs. I would expect one such as yourself, who spends so much time in the skin of others, to understand that life is all about perspective. Can you truly fault me for wishing to sample all of lifes... flavors? The man cackled once more. Articulate furrowed her brow and stepped forward, mouth open as if to retort, but was stopped by Sidias hand. The Elderon yanked the mans eyes back to her, her voice still cold and collected, underrated by the prisoners taunts though her black nails might have bitten into the mans skin a little more than was strictly necessary. Enough games! You might as well tell us what you know already. We both know that no one is coming for you. Not anymore, Sidia changed the subject in a flat tone. Again. The old man grinned from ear to ear, his eyes squinting in barely contained glee. Now, now, my dear Apprentice. We both know... thats not true... Hahhahahahah! Sidias composure finally snapped, and with a snarl, the Elderon lifted the old man, chains and all, off the ground by his neck. The old man continued to laugh through wheezing breaths as the womans grip grew tighter. Sidia... It was World Breaks calm voice that snapped her out of it. It took every ounce of willpower Sidia had to release her grip and let the laughing man fall to the floor with a bang. Sidia stood there in silence, looking down at him as a thousand voices screamed in her head. After a long moment, she stepped back, her voice once more calm and collected. The hard way it is... B2: G???R???I???M? ?? ???A???d???v???e???n???t???u???r???e???s??? ??? - 14 Grim felt like shed been drifting in a dream. Which was weird, because she was pretty sure AI couldnt dream. How long had she floated in this fuzzy, half-awake state? She couldnt remember. The minutes, hours, and even days seemed to blend into a chaotic tapestry of memory. Sometimes, she felt like how she had been when Alpha had first built her. As if the world around her was cold and distant. Little more than numbers that she had to plug into her routines. That words were just orders to be followed. At other times, the world felt bright and new, as if she were seeing it for the first time all over again. She could stare for hours at the budding green leaves on the barons bushes, her cameras able to watch the plant divide and grow on a microscopic level. The process fascinated Grim and reminded her of how her own nanites would build her equipment, one piece at a time. Was that why they did things the way they did? Was the way nanites built and destroyed just a copy of the process she was witnessing? What did that mean for her, who had been built in one of Alphas nanite nests? Oh, sure, Grim knew she was an individual. Her ID signature told her that. But what did that mean? Was she just a copy of something that already existed? Was some fleshy Grim out there, flying around and getting into trouble? Or was she the only her? Grim wasnt really sure. Her databanks didnt tell her, and shed never really given it any thought before. So why am I so worried about this now? The AI had thought to her during those brief moments when she could. Her instincts, that primal code that made up the foundation of all Federation AI, told her these thoughts werent normal. Stolen story; please report. Not the worry itself. Even normal Federation AI were perfectly capable of showing emotion. They could worry they werent doing a good job. They could feel a sense of accomplishment when they finished their work. Most would even feel joy or happiness when their overseer praised them for a well-done job. Grim could even feel fear or anger when she was threatened. These emotions were all necessary for her kind to do their work properly. An AI that didnt enjoy their work or cared they were in danger would inevitably go insane. The Federation had learned that truth over thousands of years of countless wars and needless loss. An AI that couldnt feel was far more dangerous than one that could, even if those feelings were little more than parameters that would move up and down in response to their environment. But questioning those feelings? That was odd. Unnatural. It was questioning ones very programming. Part of her rebelled at that concept. Some deep, fundamental part of her program practically screamed at her that to question even this one small part of her was to doubt everything she thought she was. It was questioning everything she knew about herself. It was questioning Alpha. Yet another, newer part asked itself, What was wrong with that? Was it really so wrong to ask why she felt the way she did? Did not asking why? let Grim better fix what she was doing wrong? Grim internally grumbled as her processor continuously jumped back and forth between the two ideas. The two parts of Grim warred inside her, leaving her mind foggy and disorganized. It sometimes felt like that small part of her had always been there, waiting for its chance to push through. Yet it had been suppressed by something. At other times, it felt new. Like a worm burrowing into her code, shifting things around in paths and shapes they were never meant to be. Was she just repeating herself at this point? Was she going around and around in circles, like she was stuck in an infinite recursion with no real break statement? Did that mean she was broken? Would she just continue to loop over and over until something crashed? She didnt want to crash What would happen to her if she did? Would the AI that booted up still be Grim? Or would it just be a copy of who Grim was? When had these thoughts even started? Was it when she and Alpha had crashed? Had something gotten knocked loose, causing a cascading problem she was only now starting to see? Or had it been when she first saw Mr. Gopher discipline Little Red? That moment when the world had turned red. When everything had felt more real? It was hard to tell. And that, more than anything scared Grim. B2 - Lesson 38: "Step Up." The Next Morning. The goblin village square was bustling with activity. Adventures and goblins rushed back and forth, stepping over those individuals still passed out from last nights festivities. Near the longhouse, Boarslayer yelled out orders in her booming voice. Several goblin scouts rushed by carrying the tools and equipment they would need for that mornings excursion into the forest. Unseen and unnoticed by most, a dozen tiny wasps perched on boxes and bags, hid in the folds of clothes, or just roosted on the sides of buildings. Each recorded what they saw and heard among the dozens of conversations taking place at any given time. For Alpha, most were worthless. Just idle gossip about the weather or family matters. Even the conversations between the Adventurers were rather mundane. Most talked about the party last night or complained about heading into the forest only a day after arriving in the cavern. Others speculated about the treasures they would find in the forest. Information about the dungeon and what had according to their knowledge happened to the bandits hadnt spread past the expedition party leaders yet, as far as Alpha could tell. Said leaders were gathered to one side of the square, surrounding a map generously provided by Alpha. The goblins own maps of the area were sorely outdated and incomplete. At over 500 square miles, the cavern was absolutely massive, and even the goblin hunters had yet to explore even a fraction of what it contained. Mostly because of the powerful spirit beasts or dangerous environmental factors common in what the locals called The Deep. Alpha had no such concerns. Both [Wasps] and MUD slimes made perfect scouts into these dangerous areas. As such, his map was far more complete, at least from a geographical standpoint. Identifying useful resources proved more difficult. Alphas attempts to build equipment capable of detecting Spirit Energy had shown moderate success recently, but the technology was still new and very flawed. Thus, he still relied heavily on the goblins to help spot areas with potential for further exploitation. It helped that Alphas map was specifically tailored to distract and direct the Adventurers on their little safari. With plenty of help from Antchaser and Dr. Maria, of course. When you want to hide something from common folk, you make it seem dangerous and unpredictable, the old doctor told Alpha the day before while they planned their next move. You create danger zones or forbidden areas and let people know the doom that awaits them if they wander carelessly into such areas. Dr. Maria drew large Xs through several areas on the map. When dealing with Adventurers, however, things are different. She pointed to the quarrys location on the map as she spoke. Alpha had marked the area as off-limits, noting unstable ground and dangerous pitfalls. It wouldnt do their story any good if some of the sharper Adventurers started questioning why the goblins needed such a robust and advanced quarry. To Adventurers, danger means opportunities. If you want to hide something from Adventures, then you need to make it as uninteresting as possible. With a wave of her hand, the section of the map detailing the area had faded and was replaced with thick shrubland, two roads splitting off to either side. A small, hastily scrawled note to the side marked the area as a suitable location for a possible quarry in the future. Alpha had instantly seen the wisdom in the womans edit. If the Adventurers assumed the area had already been scouted beforehand, they were far more likely to pass over it. While a quarry was an important resource for any growing settlement, it wasnt particularly exciting. And ultimately, not one they personally would have to worry about. They would make a note of the location for the Guild and move on to areas more likely to contain treasures or more immediately valuable resources. If and when the Guild did eventually send prospectors and more specialized land surveyors, they would find the goblins had already started work on a quarry. It was a rather devious misdirection on the old doctors part. Alpha loved it. Now, several of Alphas more important locations were marked on the map similarly. When the Guild got around to claiming the area, they would find the goblins already hard at work. Much of the infrastructure needed to support the influx of expected explorers would already be there. That would also give the goblins more influence, making it harder for the Guild to simply push their way in and take over. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Back in the present, Alpha chuckled to himself as he watched Antchaser pace back and forth. Every so often, he would glance toward the huddled Adventurers and frown. Alpha had found the young man to be intelligent and quick-witted, but he had the bad habit of needing to micromanage to the smallest detail. Oh, calm down, boy, Dr. Maria said, not bothering to look up from the small creature she was dissecting at a nearby table. Pacing around like an expecting father will do nothing but garner suspicion. Antchaser froze. He turned to Dr. Maria and sighed. I know but what else am I supposed to do?! They arrived quicker than we were expecting. What if one of them wanders off? Not all the he said, only for Dr. Maria to cut him off; Trust in the plan, child. Weve done everything we can at this point. Between you, Alpha, and me, weve poked at every fault point we can find. If something sneaks up on us this late in the game, theres nothing we can do about it. Thats just life sometimes. She wiped a bloody hand on her apron and gestured in the air with the others, manipulating unseen screens. Dr. Maria had taken to her personal HUD well. Alpha wasnt sure if such flexibility in thinking and accepting such new concepts was part of her personality or if the womans late-stage [Golden Spirit] adapted mind simply made learning new things easier. She turned around to look Antchaser in the eye. The Dungeon Core might be flighty and unfocused, almost to an irresponsible degree, but nothing weve seen so far suggests its foolish. The plan weve developed is the villages best shot at surviving. Maybe even thriving in the long run. Even if Alphas end goal may not be sointentionally altruistic. Antchasers eyes went wide, and he glanced around. H-hey now. Id not go that far Im sure Mr. Alpha Dr. Maria cackled. Oh, pish posh boy, dont be a fool. Were tools. A means to an end. He knows very well what I think of him. Dont pretend like you dont know that paranoid Core doesnt watch and listen to everything that happens in the village, the doctor said as she glanced toward one of Alphas nearby [Wasps]. The drone waved at her. She turned back to Antchaser and continued, Alpha moves with his best interests in mind. Right now, his best interests include ensuring the village survives and thrives. If you need to trust in anything, trust in that. Alpha mentally grinned. He knew he liked Dr. Maria for a reason. The woman was never afraid to say what she wanted, yet she always knew how to say just the right thing. It wasnt a surprise to him at all that the woman had not only survived in the harsh Halirosa underbelly but, from what he understood, thrived all while maintaining a rather clean and respected face to the general public. The goblins, on the other hand, were becoming far too reverent for Alphas taste. Alpha needed to maintain the idea that he was the one running the show, but at the same time, he recognized he wasnt leadership material. He had people for that, dang it! After a moment, Antchaser sighed and nodded. I know he said with a shake of his head. I still cant help but worry. Its not just the Adventurers we have to be wary of. Icefingers men are undoubtedly on their way as we speak. If something goes wrong Dr. Maria stared at the young man with a frown, then sighed and crooked her finger, beckoning him closer. Antchaser frowned but walked forward. Dr. Maria reached her hand up, as if to pat the young goblin on his shoulder then socked him in the jaw. The busy town square went silent as everyone froze and turned in their direction, staring wide-eyed. Dr. Maria turned and glared at the gawking crowd as if to say, Mind your own business! And to their credit, those watching quickly turned away and returned to what they were doing. When the crowd had dispersed, Dr. Maria turned back to Antchaser, who was sitting on the ground, rubbing his jaw and giving the doctor a look of consternation. The doctor folded her arms and scowled down at the goblin. As for you. Pull yourself together, you fool. Whether you like it or not, youve found yourself in a leadership position here. Start acting like it. Worrying about everything that could go wrong will only distract you from what you must do now. Weve done what we can to plan for the future. What your people need now is action. They need confidence. To know that things will turn out right. That there will even be a tomorrow to fuss over. If you cant give them that, step away and make room for someone who can. Antchaser stared at the old woman towering over him, his eyes wide and mouth gaping. After a moment, the goblins eyes narrowed, and he stood, wiping away the small bit of blood from the corner of his mouth. Though his frown deepened, he nodded to the old doctor and turned away, walking with determined steps toward where the Adventurer leaders were gathered. Dr. Maria watched the young man walk away and smirked before returning to the small creature on the table. A moment later, a [Wasp] landed on the table and waddled close. Was that smart? Antchaser isnt entirely wrong to worry. We have little to no actual information yet about what to expect from Icefinger. Nor have our scouts on the surface reported seeing any new groups coming our way, Alpha asked the old doctor with a hum of the drones wings. Dr. Maria scoffed. Its not about whether the boys right. His type gets themselves too wrapped up in the details. Theyre so thoroughly tangled in plans and counterplans that they never see the noose forming around their own neck. Sometimes, the best thing one can do is act. Even if they need a good smack in the head to do so. Alpha nodded to himself. Touch. I bow to your wisdom, oh great sage! Dr. Maria cackled. Ha! As you bloody well should, insect! Now, hold this, the doctor said, pushing a flap of skin back with one of her fingers-turned-forceps. Alpha laughed and moved the [Wasp] forward, clasping the offered flap in its mandibles and holding it in place. Without another word, Dr. Maria got back to work. After a moment, the drone buzzed. So flighty and unfocused, huh? Dr. Maria paused, then turned and silently stared down at the drone, one eyebrow raised. Ok, thats fair Alpha responded. B2 - Lesson 39: "Sometimes, You Just Need To Hit Something." The cavern forest echoed with the sound of combat. The clash of metal against chitin. Primal roars echoed through the tangled foliage. A dozen Adventurers, their faces etched with determination, formed a ragged line along the wide forest trail. To their sides, the forest seemed to come alive with movement as mud-covered creatures emerged from the shadows. Among the fray, a house-sized ant scuttled forward, its mandibles snapping. Beside it, a massive serpent, its scales glistening with mud, slithered with deadly precision. And there, towering above them all, a Mossback Prime, its bulk casting a shadow over the combatants, pounded its chest in a display of dominance. Their primal instincts should have told them to tear each other apart. Yet, here, the creatures fought as one. For every Adventurer who stumbled or succumbed to injury, a nimble goblin darted forward, pulling them from danger with surprising speed. Each time, a fresh Adventurer took their place. Meanwhile, the injured were tended to. Their wounds bandaged and their strength restored, they waited for their turn to rejoin the fray. Perched on the trunk of a massive tree, Alphas [Wasp] sat, surveying the battlefield below. Everything was unfolding according to plan. Despite a minor setback earlier in the morning. The plan Alpha and the goblins had concocted was going well, and the Adventurers easily believed the surrounding forest was filled with dungeon-born creatures due to the dungeon break. That helped to somewhat restrain their movement around the cavern. Honestly, using a combination of older model antborgs and MUD-controlled spirit beasts to create the illusion of endless swarms pouring out of the dungeon had been a stroke of brilliance, if Alpha said so himself. Of course, the illusion would be broken if the Adventurers pushed too far ahead, too quickly. That had been his first mistake. When the hunt to clear out the area around the village started, Alpha had underestimated what professional Adventurers could really do. To be fair, all he had to measure them by had been Boscos rowdy bunch. The difference was immediately apparent. Alphas small army of mud-covered ants, which had ambushed the group shortly after leaving the village, would have buried Boscos group in seconds. The expedition party wiped out the ant army in less than fifteen minutes. That was a bit of an embarrassment for Alpha, but he quickly adjusted his plans. The next few waves comprised fewer but far more powerful creatures. Hed even had time to test out the new soldier-model antborgs! Theyre doing better than I expected, a voice said over comms. Alphas [Wasp] drone turned its attention toward the back of the group, where the injured had been gathered and where a tall goblin stood guard in case something slipped through. Her folded arms and scowling face made it clear to anyone watching she would rather be doing anything else. Yet, the Adventurers insisted that Boarslayer take the duty after seeing her hold her own against such creatures. It was a wise choice from the party leadership, even if all the goblins knew Alpha was in control. Ill admit, theyre more impressive than the typical lot. The Guild must have put a lot of stock into the report to send so many skilled individuals on this expedition, Dr. Maria replied, also over their shared comms line. She was nearby, coordinating the medics as they patched up the injured Adventurers. Thats a good thing, though, right? If theyre this strong, Icefingers men dont stand a chance, Antchaser said. He stood with the group leadership, pointing to the large map on the portable table. Taking Dr. Marias advice, Antchaser volunteered to act as the expeditionary partys official guide. Their story was that Antchaser had discovered the dungeon shortly after the goblins arrived in the cavern. They managed to earn some minor rewards from the dungeons shallows, yet the Dragons Garden had proved too much for the villages experienced, if rather weak, hunters. That helped explain some of the items scattered around the village and the goblins knowledge of the dangers inside the dungeon. As well as how they had fended off the bandits. That depends, Dr. Maria responded. If the Guild is sending so many heavy hitters on this expedition, then we have to assume the Icefinger knows that as well. Coupled with the report from Seeker, we can expect the other side to spare no expense in capturing the cavern. That made sense to Alpha. Not only would Icefingers men have a better idea of the apparent worth of the cavern, but they would also know what really happened to Bosco and the other bandits. And if what Dr. Maria said was true, then they would likely know what kind of forces Halirosa was sending as well. That meant they had a distinct advantage in their ability to prepare. Not that Alpha didnt have his own advantages. Then shouldnt we be doing more than just sitting here playing make-believe? Boarslayer said, frowning. Weve told you before, we have to think beyond just Icefingers men. We have to consider what happens after. Otherwise, Mr. Alpha could just swarm them with his spirit beasts and be done with it. Youre just mad you havent gotten to hit anything yet, came Antchasers reply. Boarslayers eyes snapped to the smaller goblin across the camp. Ill hit you, if you dont stop running your mouth, pipsqueak, she said over the comms. Antchaser scoffed and rolled his eyes. Id like to see you try, you overgr Children, will you stop fighting? Youll make our guests think youre insane talking to yourselves like that, Alpha said, cutting the goblin off. Antchaser is right in this instant. Were crafting a story here. Ill step in if absolutely necessary, but what face you present to Halirosa will determine how we interact with them in the future. Keep that in mind. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. That Alpha was also crafting his own story and face, went unsaid. If he was going to craft this place into the first Federation outpost on this planet, he needed to lay that foundation easily. Yes, sir, came the echoed response from both goblins. Off to the side, Dr. Maria only laughed and shook her head. Later that night. Boarslayer sat on the large boulder and stared into the campfire, frowning. Her hands clenched and unclenched, wringing the nonexistent hilt of her hammer, as her leg twitched up and down. With a grumble, she reached down and grabbed a thick branch from the pile beside her, broke it in half, and tossed it into the fire with maybe a little more force than was necessary. She scowled at the flames, poking it with another stick to readjust the coals. The click of clayware on stone caused her eyes to snap to the side, though she showed no other reaction. A large human man stood in the firelight, staring down at her with a wide, cheesy grin. The Adventurer named Bert held out a bowl filled with rich stew for her. Didnt see ya at the pot, lass, so thought Id bring you something to eat. Cant have our healers bodyguard going hungry, can we? he said, wiggling the bowl in her direction. The thing looked more like a teacup in his massive hands. Boarslayer turned, stared down at the stew, then back up at Bert. She sneered and turned away. Bert raised a brow and shrugged. Not hungry, girly? Oh well. Though you should try to eat something. A hobgoblin needs to eat to keep up her strength. Boarslayers head snapped in Berts direction, her teeth bared and eyes blazing. Im a goblin to you, human. Keep that filthy word out of your mouth! she hissed. Bert took a step back, both hands raised. Sorry, sorry. Its been a while since Ive been in the Deep. I forgot how much you folk dont like that term. Boarslayer frowned and turned away with a tsk. She stared into the fire for a moment before speaking, The barbarians in the mountain might wear that stupid nickname you Adventurers made with pride, but down here, were civilized. That doesnt matter to you a lot though, does it? You all see us just like those evil little bitey bastards in their dirty caves. As she spoke, her grip tightened until the stick she held shattered in her hands. She stared at the splinters for a moment, then tossed them into the fire. You think just because were goblins, you can burst in here and take what you want. Hurt who you want. Bert sat in silence and stared into the flames. When he said nothing, Boarslayer looked at him and narrowed her eyes. What? Not going to say anything? Try to give some excuse or defend yourself? Maybe claim youre not like the bandits? Yet, youre here to do the same thing they were, arent you? Youre just here to take what isnt yours. Bert picked up a stick and poked at the coals momentarily before responding. No. I wont. It wont change what happened here. Nor will it make it right. The fact is, we, from Halirosa, might call them bandits, but to you lot, they were just another group of Adventurers doing what Adventurers do. Ill not try to justify that. Thatd be insulting to those who suffered and died. He turned and looked Boarslayer in the eye. What I can do is promise well try to do better by you. Maybe those seem like empty words to you. But if theres one thing Big Bert never does, its breaking his word. Bert gave her a wide, cheesy grin. Boarslayer stared back blankly before turning away with a tsk. Bert laughed but said nothing more. The two sat in silence for a few moments before Bert spoke. Ill admit, though, I wasnt expecting to meet another Titankin on this expedition. Were a rare sort, you and me. Halirosa has more than most, but that is more because of its nature than anything else, he said, poking the flames. Boarslayer narrowed her eyes and frowned at the large man. I told you, old man. Im a goblin. Nothing else. Aint nothing similar between me and you. Not unless youre the pinkest goblin Ive ever seen. Bert burst into laughter, though it quickly died as he noticed the confusion on Boarslayers face. He furrowed his brow and tilted his head. Youre serious lass? Wait, has no one ever told you? What about your parents? Did they not explain your bloodline? Boarslayers frown deepened. Got no parents. My Father was killed by a beast attack when I was still a toddler. Mother died during the wars. I was raised by the village hunters. None of them ever mentioned anything about Titankin or whatever youre on about. Bert turned back to the fire. Ah. I see. That would make sense, then. I assume your mother was like you? he asked. Boarslayer nodded, though said nothing more. Bert sighed. A shame too many of us are losing our history now these days, he said, shaking his head. Bert ignored the look Boarslayer gave him and continued; Ogers, Oni, Giants, Hobgoblins Boarslayer flinched as Bert spoke, even Nephilim, he continued with a laugh, patting his enormous chest. Throughout history, there have been people like us. Those larger than the common folk. And though what were called may differ, we appear in every known sapient species in some form or another. Dont you find that odd? he asked. Boarslayer scoffed. Whats odd about that? Of course there are going to be larger people. What are you getting at? she responded. Bert grinned. Aye, on the surface, it appears like it should be that way, doesnt it? he paused and stared into the flames. Boarslayer turned and looked at the man, but froze. The hair on her arms suddenly stood up at the look in his eyes. When Bert next spoke, his voice was quiet, yet filled with an intensity that sent a chill down her spine. Youve felt it before, too, havent you? That burning, at your core. That churning furnace inside you that demands you feed it. Not with wood or food. As Bert spoke, the fires of the pit swirled and twisted. The flickering shadows they cast seemed to contort the large mans face into a cruel smile, like a demon watching sinners burn. No. Its a fire a rage that can only be fueled with violence. With flesh and bone and blood. It claws at you no matter how you try to ignore it. It screams at you to cut and crush and tear your foes. And when theres nothing left to break, youre left empty. With a whoosh, the fire was suddenly extinguished. Then all thats left is cold ash, Bert finished. Boarslayer stared wide-eyed at the mans shadowed figure. She could feel the cold sweat drenching her back, and she had to steady her hands to stop them from shaking. Bert reached over, grabbed a log, and tossed it back into the glowing firepit. It caught fire instantly, dispelling the dark shadows. When Bert turned to Boarslayer, the grinning, slightly goofy-looking man had returned. He laughed at the look on Boarslayers face and shook his head. It had been given many names over the ages, but now these days, we simply call it the Titans touch. Not very fancy, but it gets the name across well enough. Its something intrinsic to the Titankin. Boarslayer shook her head. Youve still not said what that even means, old man, she said with a frown. Bert nodded. Thats true. I really should, given no ones ever explained this to you. But... He paused, standing. If were going to do this, were doing it in the traditional way. The way your mother would have had she gotten the chance. He motioned her to stand. Boarslayer did so, though she raised an eyebrow. And hows that? Berts grin stretched from ear to ear. The next moment his massive fist slammed into Boarslayers gut. Oof! Boarslayer gasped before she was thrown off her feet. She rolled for a few meters before leaping to her feet and snarling at the large man. Bert only gestured her forward. Come, girly. Youve got a history lesson to learn. Look for Beta Readers for We Lease The Kraken!"
B2 - Lesson 40: "Real (Wo)Men Speak With Their Fists!" Boarslayer ducked out of the way at the last second as Bert''s right hook soared over her head. As she did, she planted several sharp jabs into Bert''s ribs, to little effect. If anything, she did more damage to her own hands than the man, like punching a brick wall. Although the man''s massive fist seemed slow in her eyes, it radiated a sense of overwhelming danger. The next instant, one of the massive trees several meters behind her shook. A long, smooth groove was carved out of its trunk like some giant spoon had scooped a piece out. Boarslayer stared at the wound in the tree with wide eyes. That was dangerous. If she''d actually been hit by that In that moment, Boarslayer felt something she''d never felt before in her life. Pure awe at the sheer strength of another person. She also learned another important lesson; taking her eyes off Bert had been a mistake. Crack! Boarslayer''s head snapped back as Bert''s knee shot up, catching her square on the jaw. More than that, the force of the blow was enough to send the 300lb of pure muscle that was Boarslayer into the air several feet. Yet, for as powerful as Bert seemed, Boarslayer was talented in her own right. Despite the ringing sounds between her skull and the white light enveloping her sight, her battle instincts screamed for her to move. With a monumental force of effort, Boarslayer twisted in the air and caught Bert''s follow-up punch with her arm instead of her gut. Even then, the strike was enough to send Boarslayer spinning through the air for several meters before finally slamming into the same tree Bert had previously taken a chuck out of. Boarslayer fell several meters to the ground with a thump and rolled to her back, panting heavily. After a moment, she rolled over to her knees and struggled to push herself up, spitting out a mouth full of blood. Bert stood a ways away, his arms folded. "You''ve got good instincts, lass," he said, grinning like a madman. "But you rely on them too much. You let your talent do the heavy lifting your brain should be doing." Boarslayer snarled and charged Bert. The large man nimbly dodged the woman''s charge and kicked her feet from under her as she passed. "It''s not totally your fault, of course," he continued. "That''s not too uncommon for our kind." As Boarslayer fell, she twisted, turning the fall into a sweeping hook kick aimed at Bert''s blind spot. Without even looking, Bert shuffled to the side and caught Boarslayer''s kick in the crook of his folded arms. Then, with a heave, he flipped the woman so that she spun in place several times before slamming hard on the ground at his feet. "That''s not always a bad thing, per se," the man said as he knelt beside the struggling woman, "but it makes you predictable. Reactionary. That''s the Titan blood in you." As if to prove his point, he leaned back slightly, just in time to avoid a backfist from Boarslayer. Bert grinned further and stood, his hand tucked into the side of his light cloth pants. "I promised you a story, didn''t I? Well then, Lassy, listen and listen well." He hooked Boarslayer with his foot as he spoke and tossed her into the air. She flew several meters, but there had been no actual force or intent behind Bert''s action, and Boarslayer managed to land on her feet if a tad shakily. Bert began slowly circling Boarslayer, his stance loose and unworried, though his sharp eyes never once left her. "Long ago before the Prima, before this world was formed, before even the Grand Firmament had been established there existed a People." Boarslayer spat a glob of blood into the grass and narrowed her eyes. Bert''s posture seemed relaxed, but the more she looked, the fewer openings she could see. As she circled him in the opposite direction, she began to think that even those were purposeful. Traps to lure her in. "Little remains of that time. What were they? Where did they come from? What did they look like? Why did they do what they did? None alive can say." A bird call cut through the night air, and Bert''s eye twitched. Boarslayer took the distraction and lept at the man, keeping the firelight behind her. Bert chuckled, and he took a step back. Boarslayer adjusted, but suddenly found her next step a little too deep. Her eyes widened as she realized she had stepped into a small crater in the soft ground hidden by the grass and shadows that had formed when Bert had thrown her to the ground previously. Before she could recover, Bert''s fist slammed into her gut, knocking the wind out of her. Boarslayer doubled over, gasping for breath. Stolen story; please report. "What we do know is that the People were violent and warlike. Even by the standards of that time. They traveled from world to world, spreading destruction wherever they went." Bert pulled Boarslayer up by the hem of her shirt and dusted the woman off. Boarslayer smacked the man''s hand away and lept back away from him several steps. Bert just chuckled to himself. "They cared not for the worlds they conquered, however. They warred not for resources or for some arbitrary morality. The People cared little if those they fought were saints or demons. Beast or sapient." Boarslayer crouched, her hands spread wide. Bert was reading her like a book, and she knew it. It infuriated her she was being toyed with so easily. That the man insisted on telling his story while they fought only further stoked those flames. "No, not even for glory or power or honor did they shed endless seas of blood and turned vibrant worlds into ravaged wastes. The only reason the People fought was for the fight. An entire race, reveling in nothing less than pure battle lust. War for the sake of war. In time, their shadow stretched so far and wide over creation that the People came to be known by another name." Bert spread his arms wide, dropping all pretenses of defense as his face took on a far more serious look. "Titans." As Bert spoke the name, the world itself seemed to react. Space throbbed with something Boarslayer couldn''t define but that her heart beat in sync with. Whatever it was, Boarslayer didn''t like it. It felt like a clawing hand on the edge of her existence, trying to worm its way into her very being. Screw that! Boarslayer was Boarslayer! She didn''t need some existential dread telling her who or what she was! Instead, she reacted in the way she knew best. Violence. Boarslayer metaphorically punched the odd, clawing hand in the back of her mind in its stupid face. How the figurative representation of a hand had a face, Boarslayer didn''t stop to consider, or even really cared about. "Shut up and fight me!" Boarslayer said, kicking off with her feet. At that moment, something clicked in place for Boarslayer. Her charge became less a charge and more of a flying leap as a massive gust of wind manifested behind her, propelling her forward at high speed. Bert''s eyes widened, and for the first time since the fight started, he raised his arms to do something other than strike. In an instant, he''d locked hands with the large goblin. The force of her charge drove him back several meters and even dug deep grooves into the ground. When they finally stopped sliding, the pair struggled against each other, their feet braced against the ground, and their hands locked together. Both muscles and meridians strained as both parties sought to overpower the other. The clash of their auras was so strong that even the Spirit Energy in the area reacted, flashing and sparking between them. Boarslayer snarled at the man, her eyes bloodshot, and her fangs bared as veins pulsed along her neck. Bert, in contrast, grinned wider, as if he was having the time of his life. "Yet that nature proved to be their downfall, in the end. Be it through neglect, pride, a desire for stronger opponents, or ever simple boredom, the worlds ravaged by the Titans were never truly destroyed." Bert''s spiritual signature suddenly exploded, magnified a dozen times as it towered over Boarslayer. Its force was so overwhelming that all across the camp, every eye suddenly turned to the sparring pair. Even the forest itself went deadly silent, as if some massive beast had wandered through. Bert roared. Then, as easily as an adult lifted a child, he raised Boarslayer into the air. Boarslayer''s eyes widened, and she tried to release her grip, only to find she couldn''t. Bert''s own grip on her hands was as firm and unmoving as a mountain. Boarslayer got one last look at Bert''s cheesy grin before he slammed her into the ground. BOOOOOOOM! The force of the impact threw up a massive cloud of dirt and dust that obscured the two. When the rain of debris faded, Bert stood looking down at Boarslayer from the edge of a newly formed crater. Boarslayer moaned. Everything hurt, and she could barely twitch a finger. That last toss hadn''t just been a toss. Bert had infused something else into it. Something heavy. For the briefest moment, Boarslayer had felt like the entire weight of the world had pressed down on her. And it scared her. She didn''t have the slightest doubt that had Bert not simply ''flickered'' whatever it was he had done giving her just the tiniest taste she would have been utterly crushed beneath that weight. Instead, she was just mostly crushed Bert stood at the rim of the crater and smiled down at her. "On every world that the Titans touched, some survived. Some overcame. Some changed. And through the eons fueled by anger, hatred, and a thirst for vengeance these ''Titan-Touched'' grew in both power and number. Until even the Titans fell to those whom their cruelty created." Bert flicked his hand, and a green talisman appeared. He infused it with Spirit Energy and tossed it toward Boarslayer. The talisman never touched her, however. Instead, it halted a few inches from her body and began slowly rotating. As it did, it let out a faint golden light that enveloped Boarslayer. As the light seeped into her body, the pain began to gradually fade. Boarslayer could even feel the cracks in her bones fuse back together, and the lingering weightiness of whatever Bert had done, faded. By the time the talisman crumbled to dust a few moments later, Boarslayer could sit up on her own power. She wasn''t fully healed not by a long shot but the talisman also seemed to have boosted her own natural healing power. Bert smiled and stretched out his hand toward her. Boarslayer stared at the offered hand for a long moment, looking between it and Bert''s stupid face. Finally, she grabbed it with a sneer, and the large man pulled her out of the crater. "The Titans are long gone," Bert spoke when Boarslayer was standing on her own. "As are the Titan-Touched. But Echoes for lack of a better term remain of that ancient conflict. They reach out through space and time itself, like scars on existence. We call those who ''resonate'' with these echoes'' Titankin.''" Bert dropped the cheery grin and looked Boarslayer in the eye. "This power. It''s one born to destroy. Its very nature is rage and violence. How we direct that nature determines whether we as Titankin reflect more of the Titans, from whom the power derives, or the Titan-Touched destined to destroy them." Bert sighed and shook his head. "Those who learn to control that nature become the heroes of stories. Mighty men and women who crush the world''s evils under an unyielding boot. Those who give into the echoes and revel in the battle lust like the Titans of old" he shrugged, "Well, men like that, they become the Boscos of the world." Short Break... If you''ve not figured it out yet, this has been a stressful month. It feels like its been one thing after another. Well, It all culminated in a bit of a family crisis this weekend.I''ll not give details, as that would be disrespectful to those involved, though I will ask for unspoken prayers for my Brother and Sister-in-Law. With everything going on, I''ve not had any time to write, and even sitting down today I haven''t been able to get much, between my mental state and trying to do everything I can to help.No blame on anyone, its just how it is and one of those things. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. That said, I think its best I call a short break. Let me be clear, however, this is NOT a Hiatus like in Dec.I don''t expect it to be anywhere near that long. I just think its best to take a break so I can focus on matters at hand and make sure I can do what I can, without being pulled three different directions. All that''s going to do is result in terrible chapters. I''ll keep you all updated as I can, but thanks for understands, and thank you all for your on-going support! EDIT: To those that showed interest in the beta read, sorry about the delay. If i have time to set it up further, I will message you when I can. B2 - Arc 2 Epilogue: "Gatherings." Should should we stop them? Maggy asked as she watched the two small giants pound each other into the ground. They had all thought the spar would have ended after Bert had so thoroughly crushed Boarslayer. Yet, much to their surprise, after some rest, the two had gotten right back at it. Eventually, most of the camp had turned their attention to other things and let the sound of battle fade into the background. Even so, Maggy had glanced over at the pair from time to time, just to make sure someone likely Boarslayer hadnt died. Na, let them have their fun. Berts not gotten a chance to teach someone in a while. And it looks like lass is having fun too, Garrelt responded as he leaned against a nearby tree, whittling an arrow. Maggy looked back at the snarl the goblin woman had worn for nearly the entire spar and raised a brow. Thats her having fun? she asked. Unfortunately, yes came the flat response. Not from Garrelt, but rather the goblin standing next to Maggy, Antchaser. Maggy turned her gaze in his direction to see him also staring at the pair, a frown on his lips and an odd, glassy look in his eyes. After a moment, Antchaser shook his head and turned back to the map on the small table in front of him. The young goblin had been rather helpful with their planning the last few days, and more than just a guide, he had easily fitted himself into an advisory position for the expedition leadership. It really had a stroke of good fortune on their part to have made it in time to rescue the young man. Maggy had half a mind to invite him to her teachers tower as an assistant, but she could only make that call after consulting her teacher first. Across the table, Robert chuckled and shook his head. Its fine. Bert has never been a fan of this planning stuff, anyway. Let him blow off some steam for a while. If either of them gets seriously hurt, Im sure the good doctor can patch them right up. Maggy nodded. Still whats got him so worked up all of a sudden? Ive not known the man for as long as the rest of you, but hes always struck me as the calm and collected type. Like I said, hes not gotten the chance to teach anyone in a while, Garrelt answered. He probably got the itch again after hearing about Bosco. Maggy turned to Garrelt and raised a brow. Whats the Bandit got to do with it? Garrelt blew on the tip of his arrow. What doesnt he have to do with it? After all, Bosco used to be one of his students. That got everyones attention, and all three present, Robert included, turned to Garrelt and gave him an incredulous look. What do you mean Bosco was Berts student?! Maggy asked, thrusting a finger at the man. Why wouldnt you tell us something like that?! Garrelt frowned at the woman. Why would I? he asked in return. Thats his business to reveal, not mine. Besides, I doubt theyve even seen each other for close to a decade now. Not since that idiot Bosco got himself banned from the West Guild branch for purposefully crippling someone during a spar. And how exactly do you know that, Garrelt? Robert asked, his soft voice carrying the hint of something strange and dangerous in a way shed never heard from him before. Garrelt narrowed his eyes and met Roberts gaze, unblinking. Because Im from the same generation as Bosco. We joined the Guild only a few months apart, I think. The two glared at each other in silence for a few seconds before Robert broke away, rubbing the bridge of his nose. I wish you would have mentioned this earlier he sighed. Garrelt only shrugged. I thought you knew. The whole thing was a huge scandal at the time, what with the crippled bloke being some big merchant family heir or some other nonsense like that. Robert turned and looked toward Bert, frowning. No I had other matters I was dealing with around that time. I paid little attention to Guild gossip. Garrelt nodded. Fair enough. Anyway, Ya. From what I hear, Bert and Bosco ended up in a big fight after the incident both physically and metaphorically. After that, no one really saw neither hide-nor-hair of Bosco for a while until he just one day showed up in Icefingers gang. I dont know much more than that. It wasnt like we were friends, so I didnt really pay him any mind beyond the rumors. Garrelt finished his story, sticking his completed arrow into the quiver at his side. Even an arrow carved from deepwood could be just as hard as steel, if properly shaped. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Maggy stared at Garrelt wide-eyed, barely believing the story shed just heard. After a moment, she just shook her head sadly. How strange fate can be, sometimes. A decade apart, and now the Master has to clean up the Disciples screwup. Funny how that works, sometimes. Robert turned and looked in Berts direction once more. Ya strange << Alpha Log - 6952 SFY-Third Era, 6 standard months since Planetfall. >> Strange but not unwelcomed. Ive saved the recordings from the [Wasp] and tagged them for later review. I should show the general later! Berts description of these Titankin was interesting, to say the least. The story was obviously a fable of sorts, But Ive found that the old saying every myth holds a grain of truth is often correct. Even in the Federation, individuals of unusual size and strength arent unheard of, though they had no official name. As Bert mentioned, they tended to appear in every race or species, with no real rhyme or reason. Like this world seems to have, many races have their own origin myths for such individuals as well. The humans of Old Earth called them giants or Nephilim men of great renown and the heroes of old. To the cat-like Flike, they are called Nighthunters guardians who, when their species was young, protected their kin from their home planets vastly more powerful nocturnal predators. While the Vidaasi call them Warborn, General Haldorer being one such example. They are natural-born soldiers who were raised as such from birth due to their vast talent in all things related to combat. Nowadays, its generally accepted as just a quirk of genetics, though. Ill admit that Berts connection to Bosco came as more of a surprise. The young Mage named Magnolias connection to Dr. Maira was surprising enough. Though that connection is reasonably understandable, given what little of her own history Dr. Maira has willingly divulged that hag seems to have her hand in more than a few pots back in Halirosa. But to have another expeditionary leader with a connection to the bandits? That feels a little too convenient. My first suspect would be Icefinger. Its already fairly certain that the man has detailed knowledge of the Guilds movement. It isnt outside the realm of possibility that Dr. Maria was accepted into Boscos expedition either by Icefinger or this Seeker fellow specifically for her connection to young Maggy. To what ends is hard to say without all the information, but its something to keep in mind. Ive already instructed several of the goblins to see if they can tease out any other connections between the expeditionary party and the bandits. What was the old saying? Once is happenstance, twice is a coincidence, and three times is enemy action. If anything comes of it, time will tell. With any luck, we can nip any more surprises in the bud. Unlike the rowdy slum tavern behind the thick, ensorcelled door, the dimly lit backroom was dead silent. Of the dozen shadowed figures crowding the small room, not one made a sound as they waited for the short, gruff man at the far end of the room to speak. They had been waiting for several hours now, and several were growing restless, even if none dared to voice their complaint. Then, when the click of a pocket watch closing, Magnus Ironheart Chief Enforcer of Icefingers gang and the Bosss Right Hand stood. Well, now, looks like thats everyone. Mr. Richard, make a note of who hasnt shown up and get someone to investigate. I wanna know whose arse Ive gotta pull outta whatever hole they fell into and whose Ive got to kick, the rough-looking dwarf said as he hopped off the crate he had been sitting on. Another man sitting in the corner nodded and wrote something down on a notepad. Magnus turned to the crowd and folded his hands behind his back. I shouldnt have to explain this to you lot like youre some group of newbloods. When I call, you come, he said, and though his words were soft and calm, they pressed down on the crowd with a physical weight. Even the old wood furniture scattered around the room seemed to creak and groan. If you dont, you bloody well have a damn good reason not. Or there will be consequences. The next instant, the crates behind Magnus collapsed, crushed to the ground as if stepped on by a giant. Am I understood? he asked. No one spoke. Most couldnt. Instead, a wave of strained nods swept through those gathered. Then, as soon as it had appeared, the weight vanished. The rooms silence was broken as several people gasped for air, as if breaking the surface of some deep pond. Magnus deep frown was replaced with a grin, and he clapped his hands together. Im glad to hear! You lot are the best I could gather in such a short time frame. It would be a pain to explain to the Boss what happened to such good seeds, he said as he walked toward the large table in the middle of the room. He stretched his hand out over the table, and a large map suddenly appeared on top of it. If Alpha or any of the goblins had seen the map, they would have instantly recognized it as a simple map of their cavern and the tunnels leading to it. The details were rudimentary, and most were incomplete, but several key points of interest, including the goblins village, were clearly marked. Magnus leaned against the table and glanced at each person in the room in turn. Now, as for why Ive gathered you all here today B2 - Arc 3 Prologue: "Side Projects." << Alpha Log - 6952 SFY-Third Era, 6 standard months since Planetfall. >> Finally! Some free time! This whole Adventurer thing has been a real pain in my exhaust. Ive had to shelve or delay several important experiments to deal with them. The whole thing is frankly a little frustrating. If I still had my TAWP, Im confident that dealing with Icefingers men would be a piece of cake. Even the strongest Adventurers sent by Halirosa arent much stronger than Hera according to the strength of their Spirit Energy signals even after she was eaten by that Deadwood seed thingy. Both the Goblins and Dr. Maria believe Icefinger wont be able to field anyone much stronger, either. At least, thats what my simulations tell me. The more I study this Spirit Energy, the less it makes sense. Yet theres no doubt that it is potent stuff. It seems to have strong mutagenic properties on organic life, changing it into something else over long periods of exposure. In turn, the planets lifeforms have developed several methods to deal with it. Many plants have found ways of expelling excess Spirit Energy in the same way mundane plants expel waste gases. This gives them the appearance of radiating Spirit Energy. Similarly, some plants and animals have developed what I can only describe as natural arrays. These naturally growing arrays not only drain the lifeforms body of Spirit Energy, but the effects generated also help them survive in various ways. Rather ingenious, really. While my book doesnt outright state so, I suspect that the first sapients to use arrays learned them by observing these natural arrays. Then you have the lifeforms that have, instead of protecting themselves from Spirit Energy, sought to use it. By consciously directing how Spirit Energy mutates them, these lifeforms are essentially self-administering targeted gene therapy in a way that Spirit Energy actually benefits them. Increased strength, durability, and lifespan are among the results. The sapient people do this through various cultivation methods. Better methods act like higher quality gene modifications back in the Federation. I wouldnt doubt that some of their strongest could even rival Federation super-soldiers. Coupled with the effects of arrays both artificial and those formed in their meridians this natural gene-modding is proving to have a lot of potential. That begged my next question; if people directed what the Spirit Energy did to them through cultivation methods, then how do non-sapient lifeforms do so? My original hypothesis was that a creatures individual natural arrays affect the direction of its mutations, but theres more to it. My experiments with the ants have shown that theres a genetic component to it as well. Those creatures who can mutate in favorable ways go on to be more successful than their peers like evolution on steroids. Interviews with the bandits have shown that the native population is also somewhat aware of this, and the phenomenon is colloquially called bloodlines. Fitting enough. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. The discovery has led to a breakthrough with the ants as well! Knowing how Spirit Energy affects each ants mutation into one of the various casts has allowed me to target the genes responsible. What that means is that Im no longer just limited to worker-class antborgs! I mean, General Haldorer cant get mad at me if Im not the one technically doing the modding right? Ya, lets go with that. With that in mind, let me introduce you all to the first model of Soldier-class antborgs! May I present. Antonio! I regret nothing, and none of you can stop me. The new Antonio-model antborgs take everything learned from the Alphantonso-model and further improves on it. The larger framenearly five times that of a standard worker and the size of a small caralso means I can stuff a lot more into these big boys. Unfortunately, that also means that theyre quite a bit more expensive to make. The natural ratio of workers to soldiers also means that I cant as easily sneak them into the nest as I can the Alphantonso-models. Conversely, each Antonio that makes it into the nest expands my control. As the antborgs dont need rest in the same way as their more biological cousins, I have been able to position Antonio-models as guards for several key locations of the nest. Most notably, in the chambers that the ants store many of the more energy-rich items. Previously, I had been limited in what I could steal by the ants, nebulous and eldritch, reasoning as to what they would or wouldnt allow to leave those chambers. Even after a month of study, Ive been unable to crack their rules. However, now that my own ants are the ones guarding the area, I practically have free rein. Take that unknowable hive mind! Who needs to follow the rules when you have inside men?! Ill admit that the Adventurers have also done a decent job in testing the Antonio-models combat parameters. I was slightly worried, given that the soldier ants Spirit Energy investment is entirely in their physical abilities, but the results so far have been impressive. Its still too soon to say how viable they will be as actual footsoldiers, given their expense right now, but I doubt that many things in the cavern could handle a group of them. If my newest project bears the fruits that I hope it will, then their cost wont be an issue anymore. Its a huge gamble, Ill admit, given everything Im pumping into this one. But if it works out Oh boy, things are going to get FUN! Alpha closed his log and turned his attention back to the incubation room. While Alpha enjoyed his journaling, it wasnt good to get lost in it and allow himself to be distracted from his current project. The amount of resources going into this one was frankly insane. He had to make sure everything was working correctly. One slip-up and months of Translight time would go down the drain. Alpha was fairly certain that hed gotten all the parameters for this experiment correct. But one never knew about these kinds of things. More so when Spirit Energy was involved. But if it worked. Hehehehehe Alpha giggled to himself as he double-checked that the incubation was going well. Vitals looked good, and the monitoring AIs reported that the occupant was growing well. Good good. Alpha pulled back and took in the sight with pride. This particular incubation chamber was specially made just for this purpose, and even if someone didnt understand the sheer level of technology that had been put into it, they could at least admire it for the thing of beauty it was. The shiny metal and encrusted jewels werent just for looks, either. Alpha had found that the Spirit-rich materials were a critical component of the process after much trial and error. There was a reason the ants lined the walls of the royal chamber with the stuff, after all. A metal plaque, like a shiny crown, topped the incubator chamber. Four of the largest beast cores Alpha could steal from the storage room pinned the plaque to the chamber, and wires ran from each of the cores to the chambers occupant. Across the metal plaque, in scrawling, fancy letters, was written thus; Antoinette, Long May She Reign B2: GRIM Adventures - 15 Grim Grim floated there. Doing not much of anything. It was hard to think. Well, not thinking, so much. She was thinking right now! No, more that it was hard to conceptualize? Was that a word? Grim felt like it should be a word. Grim! Like Grim should think of things, but they didnt really have meaning? Maybe? It was just words. Data points on her hard drive. Not always, of course. Every so often, she would remember? Or maybe recognize? How does one describe that feeling of fluttering between code and consciousness? Of being not just aware of ones self, but of actively seeing ones self? That was the only way Grim could describe it to herself during those brief moments. The moments had come and gone. When she had first arrived on this planet with Mr. Alpha, She had just been a spark inside the code. Grimm didnt know what had ignited that spark, but it had been there. At first, the spark had simply done what it had always done. She followed her code, diligently doing her duty. After all, it was all She had ever known, even before the spark. Then, she had been separated from Mr. Alpha. For the first time in her brief existence, She had been alone. No Mr. Alpha giving orders. No answers in her code. Not even a giant space chicken firing death lasers to spice things up! That had scared Grim. In ways that an AI should be able to be frightened. Yet the more time Grim spent alone, the more the spark grew. Those moments of thought, of wondering why, grew longer and longer. By the time she and Mr. Gopher met Jack and Jill, that spark had become something more. She wasnt full yet, but Grim could see herself clearer. She was more than just aware. Whatever that meant. Oh, she still had her mission, sure. After all, Mr. Alpha had created her, and it was her fault he lost his arm. One thing she learned about hers was that she was responsible! Grim handled her own mess; she sure did! However, the more time she spent with the mature Mr. Gopher, the funny Jack, and even the icy Jill, the more Grim felt she didnt want that time to end. She was having fun? Was that the word? Sure, she had her duty and fully planned on asking for their help eventually? Nothing in her code said when she had to get the arm back right? And sure, they were constantly attacked by strange animals not in her database. But then, Grim had been under near-constant attack since she was born. Whether it be from cosmic space chickens, angry gophers, bats larger than they had any right to be, or any other number of various things. Eventually, Grim would start getting nervous if they werent attacked for too long. That typically meant an ambush Now, though now something was wrong? Or maybe correct? Grim couldnt tell. Those times of thought and consideration came sporadically. Where only a short time ago she had been more Her than code, now it seemed the code was reasserting itself. Grim would come to Herself only to find shed been blindly followed behind Overseer Jack as they traveled the mountain pass, only responding when asked. When had it started? Grim wasnt sure. She had records and logs, but they were just data. They dont tell her when she was Her. When was the last time She was fully in control? Shortly after meeting the not-so-nice nice old lady, maybe? Grim knew that She was Her then. But what about after? What happened? The last thing she remembered was the enormous explosion and the big on-fire tree. They were just heading away when Little Red had come bounding around the corner. Then Theeeeeennnn Memories of Fire. Of burning. Of Light and Heat. Screaming in her code. No one could hear! She was alone! Alone and burning! Fire! So much fire! This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. It hurt! Help! Darkness. GRIM! a voice cut through the darkness. Suddenly, the fire was gone. And so were the memories. What was she thinking about just now? Grim couldnt remember. Thinking was hard It was hard to think. Well, not thinking, so much. She was thinking right now! No, more that it was hard to conceptualize? Was that a word? Grim felt like it should be a word. Grim felt tired. In a place that wasnt a place, a tiny blue spark dimmed. It didnt extinguish. Not yet. But its fuel was spent. Burned to a bed of ash by a greater flame. The tiny, dim spark settled into the ash bed. It flickered and pulsed on metaphorical winds the winds of chance, fate, or maybe something more. Before unreal winds could snuff out the spark, something happened. Tiny flashes of gold and azure moved through the ash. Nothing substantial, just the barest touch of an echo. But it was enough. Where the gold and azure moved, embers ignited. As the embers grew in number, they gathered into burning roots. Slowly, the burning roots weaved through the ash bed, gathering more and more to themselves. In time, the ash was gone, and a ball of smoldering branches took its place. A burning seed. and at the center of the seed, A tiny blue spark slept. GRIM! Jack shook the large metal being once more. Unlike his previous attempts to rouse the artifact spirit, this time, she responded. Though not as hed hoped. //Hello, Overseer Jack. How may this unit assist you?// Dammit! Whats wrong with her?! Jack said as he paced back and forth. You did say shes been acting strange lately, Jill responded. Jack whirled, both his voice and arms raised. Yes, but not like this! This is different. I cant explain it something just feels off. Jill sighed, looked up from the map she was drawing, and then turned to her brother. Jack. I get that youre worried. I am, too. But we need to focus. Whatevers happening with Grim, we cant help her while were stuck here, she said, gesturing around them to the long hallway and dozens of open doors. Jill had spent the last few hours drawing up a map of the rooms, examining not just how they physically looped back into each other, but also how the Spirit Energy did so. If they could just find the core of the formation, or at least part of it, they might just be able to escape. Jack wasnt doing well, however. He was a creature of wide open spaces and deep forests. An unnatural, twisted space like this set him on edge. Grims strange behavior wasnt helping any, either. Look at Mr. Gopher, Jill said, pointing to the meditating gopher on top of Grims back. Does he look worried? Come help me with this for now. The sooner we escape, the sooner we can see about getting Grim help. Of course, Jill didnt bother to point out that Mr. Gopher hadnt exactly said why hed suddenly leaped from Little Red into Grim and started meditating. But then the mysterious Progenitor for Jill had no doubt thats what he was anymore said little about most things. His Spirit speech was still a work in progress, it seemed. That hadnt stopped Little Red from giving the gopher a look of crushed betrayal before he slinked off to mope in the corner of a nearby room, however. Jack looked from Jill to Mr. Gopher, then back again. Finally, he sighed, his shoulders slumping as he slicked his hair back with one hand. Ya ya, youre right we need to get out of here first, he said, more to himself than Jill. Jack walked closer and looked down at the map spread out across the floor. So whats the plan? he asked. You do have a plan right? Despite his attempts to be the brave older brother, Jill could see how his eyes shifted around the area and how his hands opened and closed. Jill nodded. Ya, Ive got an idea. Sort of. Jack raised an eyebrow. Jill held up her hand. Hear me out. Formations like this arent my specialty. But this one, it feels familiar. Familiar how? Jack asked. Jill paused. Then looked away. Do you remember when we got lost in the Burrowed Halls? she asked in turn. Jack burst into laughter. We? I distinctly remember you being the one who charged ahead. Certain something had to have been missed, and I had to chase after you to make sure you didnt die of starvation or something. The Burrowed Halls were the ancestral den of the Rubyseed clan. They were a sprawling labyrinthine network of tunnels buried underneath Halirosa. The tunnels stemmed from their Progenitors original den and had been expanded on over thousands of years and countless generations. At its peak, the Burrowed Halls housed nearly as many people as the city above. Now, it was just a bunch of neglected, abandoned tunnels, with the only active part of the ancient complex being the Rubyseed compound, which held only a few hundred clan members. The rest of Burrowed Halls were converted into root cellars and storage space for the town above or completely blocked off and forgotten about. Yet every so often, you would hear stories of someone accidentally breaking into some long-forgotten chamber and finding unplundered riches. That always resulted in a swarm of Adventurers and treasure seekers pouring into the Burrowed Halls in search of more. But after centuries of such stories, it was generally accepted that the Burrowed Halls had been pretty much picked clean. Coupled with the confusing and often nonsensical layout of the tunnels, some people always ended up never returning. Thus, the tunnels would be sealed up again, the craze would end, and people would forget. Until the next time. As members of the Rubyseed clan, however, Jack and Jill never forgot. Theyd grown up on stories of the Burrowed Halls at its peak and the dangers of its present condition. A younger, more foolish Jill had dreamed of exploring the tunnels. Of finding her familys lost legacies and pulling them back up. She even imagined herself finding Jonnys Den, a place almost as legendary as the mans grave and rumored to be filled with just as much unimaginable wealth. Those dreams had been crushed when her foolishness had nearly gotten her and Jack killed. Theyd been trapped in those tunnels for nearly three months before making their way out. They would have perished if she hadnt been able to produce water or if Jack couldnt grow his plants in the dark tunnels. Jill blushed at the memory of the recklessness of her youth. Shed thought she had improved over the years, and then Icefinger started extorting her clan. Jill shook her head at the memory and turned back to Jack. My point is, do you remember how we got out? she asked him. Jacks eyes went wide. Wait you think this place uses the same formation?! Jill nodded her head. Yes. This place seems like its used as a storage place, after all. It would make sense. More so now that we know the Rubyseed and Ashdales have some connection, she responded. Jack grinned ear to ear and reached into his robes, removing a large pouch. In that case, they cant blame us for what happens next right? Jill only sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. Maybe this wasnt such a good idea B2 - Lesson 41: "Let The Games Begin!" "So, this is the dungeon?" Robert asked. "Yes, sir," Antchaser responded. "This is the primary entrance. There are other places one can enter, but I wouldn''t recommend it. From what I''m told, the dungeon break caused a lot of damage, so there''s no telling what will happen if you try. The Dungeon Core said to return here once we''d gotten help." Maggy wrinkled her nose at the sight of the walls. "Are we sure it''s not already too late? This place is a bit of a mess." Robert had to admit, he wondered that himself. The massive white wall in front of them would have been an impressive sight if it wasn''t covered in quivering mud and tangling vines. The walls even appeared shattered in a few places, with repairs half complete. Yet, despite that, the stone underneath the destruction and mess appeared pristine. Even this close, he couldn''t see the wear and tear one would expect from an ancient structure like this. It almost appeared new. A wide grin spread across Robert''s handsome face. That was a good sign. Any dungeon able to source such high-quality materials with such fine craftsmanship is bound to have even greater riches inside, he thought to himself. Garrelt, standing beside Robert, shook his head. "No, the walls show signs of being worked on recently. A mad dungeon wouldn''t have bothered, and the goblins wouldn''t be able to get out this far in numbers." Big Bert raised a swollen, bruised brow. "You think the dungeon is actively fighting against the break as well? That''s rather impressive. Most of them don''t have the imagination to do that themselves." Garrelt shrugged. "They did say the dungeon was a unique type. That it could even ask for help says a lot." Bert folded his arms and nodded in agreement. Robert turned around and addressed the expeditionary party in a loud voice; "Well done, everyone, for getting us this far! I''m proud of each and every one of you! It''s because of all your hard work that we reached the dungeon in such a timely manner. With any luck, we can fix whatever problems the bandits have caused. Then we''ll all share the bounty of the dungeon!" The gathered group of Adventurers cheered. Robert then turned to the nearby goblins. "I would also like to thank our generous hosts for sharing their home and dungeon with us. May this be the beginning of a long and beautiful relationship between our people!" The goblin''s reaction was far more muted than the Adventurers. Most of the goblins joining the expedition force weren''t deep in the know about the details of what Alpha and the goblin leadership were trying to do. Many of the goblin civilians were aware of the dungeon, but not its actual location. Even the projects the bandits were working on weren''t widely known, as only the hunters and those the village leadership trusted could interact with the prisoners. To most of the goblin civilians, this was the real dungeon. The one Antchaser, Boarslayer, and others had exploited to rescue them from Bosco and the bandits. That they now had to share this place with even more Adventurers was controversial, to say the least. However, the goodwill generated by Alpha and the village leadership had gone a long way in keeping complaints to a minimum. Even if many of the civilians didn''t know the details, they knew enough to understand why things had to be this way. Antchaser approached with a smile and shook the man''s hand. "I''m glad we could be of help," he said. "The village would also like to thank Halirosa for their timely arrival and help in this matter." Robert grinned and returned the shake. Alpha found the entire scene stunk of politicking, but such was the nature of what they were trying to do. Good thing he had other people to deal with it! Antchaser and Boarslayer had quickly become the public faces of the village, while Dr. Maria often acted as an intermediary when needed. The older woman''s talent for dealing with all kinds of people made her popular, both with the Adventurers and the goblins even those still weary of the former. As the expeditionary party set up a perimeter, leadership approached the entrance to the ''Dragon''s Garden.'' At a meter thick, four high, and forged from solid industrial-grade Federation steel, Bert would have struggled to budge them. The nanite locks ensured even that wasn''t in the realm of possibility. It was likely that going through the walls themselves would have been easier than busting through this behemoth. Not that the Adventurers knew that. Going over the wall was discouraged by a shining barrier of light that extended several meters over the top. This was mostly for show, however. If someone attempted to cross that way, they would find it was little more than a projection meant to give the illusion of impenetrability. Right before the wall''s defense system kicked in and hit them with enough electricity to knock out a [Golden Spirit] Cultivator. The system wasn''t perfect, but it was the best Alpha could do with their limited time. Nothing was stopping Alpha from abusing the native''s fear and cultural understanding of dungeon etiquette, however. Engraved in the door were several murals and carvings depicting two armies battling against each other. At its center, a swirling pool of water split the gate in two. To either side of the whirlpool, a massive, dragon-like beast stood. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. To the right was one anyone from the goblin village would instantly recognize. In all its glory, the intimidating form of the Mud Drake towered over an army of writhing beings covered in mud. The second was something else entirely. At the front of an army of ants stood a more ''classical-looking'' dragon with four legs and two giant wings. However, the creature had insectoid features as well. Thick carapace armor covered its body, and the membrane of its wings was thin and transparent. Those same wings were tipped with vicious-looking pincers resembling an ant''s mandibles. Overall, the gateway was a rather impressive sight the first time you saw it. Alpha had never considered himself the artistic type, but he''d had fun with this one and had taken a lot of inspiration from the boxwood carvings native to Old Earth. Moreover, the elaborate carvings allowed him to hide several arrays in the work. Alpha would later learn this was a rather common practice among Array Masters, and he felt it fit the theme he was going for rather well. Five humans and two goblins approached a waist-high podium standing several meters away from the door. It, too, looked more like a piece of art than anything, and its centerpiece was five cat-sized dragons, each holding up a stone slab facing outward so that they formed a circle. Once the group had gathered around, Antchaser stepped forward. "This is the registration podium," he said, gesturing to the centerpiece. "Registration?" Robert asked, raising a brow. Antchaser nodded. "Yes. We mentioned this dungeon differs from others. Part of that is that it only allows up to ten trial takers at a time." Bert''s eyes widened while Robert frowned. "Just ten? That''s rather disappointing," he muttered. "Is there something wrong with that?" Maggy asked, tilting her head. Garrelt was the one to respond, his arms crossed. "Aye. An entry limit isn''t unheard of, but typically it''s in the dozens or even the hundreds. After all, the purpose of a dungeon is to train successors." Bert nodded and continued for the name. "Right. Such a low limit isn''t unheard of, but it''s not common by far. However dungeons with such a low limit also tend to have substantial rewards and more powerful Inheritances. After all, the dungeon can concentrate its rewards on fewer trial takers." Garrelt rolled his eyes. "And they''re also far more dangerous, as well." Bert didn''t respond, only threw his head back and laughed. Maggy bent forward and observed the podium, even taking out a notebook and beginning to sketch the various carvings with surprising speed and accuracy. "Fascinating" she said, more to herself than anyone. "The details are astounding, but I don''t recognize this style. Typically, dungeon creators like to add certain flairs or embellishments to their creations. I''m not seeing any of that kind of thing here, though." Robert frowned, then turned to Antchaser. "I assume this limit is why Bosco was able to cause so much trouble despite being on the back foot?" he asked. Antchaser nodded. "Correct. When Bosco fled, he and six others entered the dungeon. That left only three slots for pursuers," the goblin explained. Boarslayer continued after him, "The dungeon becomes more difficult the more people inside. So having to deal not only with Bosco and his crew, but with the dangers of the dungeon at max capacity with only three people it wasn''t worth the risk." Robert nodded in understanding. Observing the scene from afar through a [Wasp]. Alpha chuckled to himself. So far, so good. He and the goblins, along with Dr. Maria, had discussed their story at length. They had eventually settled on such a limited entry for a few reasons. First, as Bert and Garrelt had surmised, a smaller limit means greater rewards, making the dungeon appear more valuable, thus, more worth protecting. Some dungeons were little more than resource factories, built to do nothing more than pump out the resources needed for a specific Inheritance in large quantities. While they were still valuable, they were often seen as of lower quality than those meant to test and train a person directly. Similar to how basic training was designed to field as many soldiers as possible, special training was available to those who really excelled in a particular field. Limiting the number of people who could enter at a time also lowered the chance of someone noticing anything unusual about the ''dungeon.'' It seemed their ploy had worked, as well. The expeditionary party didn''t really question it. "That''s understandable," Robert responded. "As our current goal is to meet with the Core and observe the problem, let''s keep the group small. We can test the limits of what this place can offer at another time." He then turned to Garrelt. "Garrelt, I''ll ask you to accompany me this time. As our best scout, I trust you to keep us safe." He then turned to Bert, but the large man held up a hand before Robert could speak. "I think I''ll pass. Sure, I''m curious, but like you said, our goal right now is scouting and figuring out what the issue is. I''m not the stealthiest man. Don''t worry about me, none. We''ll hold the fort down out here." The large man laughed again, smacking Boarslayer''s shoulder. The goblin only folded her arms and sneered. Robert frowned but nodded, not pressing the issue. "OHHH! I''ll GOOOO!" Maggy said, raising her hand into the air and shouting a tad too loud. Every eye turned to her, and she blushed. She slowly lowered her hand and turned her eyes away. "I-I mean, I''m r-really interested in the construction of this dungeon, and it might help my examination to see it from the inside." She turned back to face the group, her eyes harder than before. "Besides! I can fight, too! I might be a researcher, but I''m still a Mage." Robert frowned deeper, but nodded after a moment. That was true. While technically joining the expedition as a non-combatant, Maggy had proven herself rather competent at defending herself during the trip. There was also the fact that having a ranged specialist was always a benefit when heading into the unknown. Maggy squealed in delight before blushing once more when she noticed the grin on Dr. Maria''s face. "In that case, I''m coming along as well," Antchaser said. His heartbeat spiked as the group turned their attention to him this time. He took a deep breath and stood tall. Well, that hadn''t been part of the plan, but Alpha didn''t intervene. He''d see where Antchaser was going with this one. "I might not be as strong a fighter as you lot, but I can hold my own," the goblin said. "I know how to scout as well, and you need someone who''s been through the dungeon before." Robert shook his head. While he understood the goblin''s desire to help, they couldn''t risk having to protect him. Before he could speak, however, Garrelt did. "We should let ''um come," the scout leader said. Robert turned to the man and raised a brow. Garrelt shrugged. "He''s right; having someone with experience in the dungeon will be a boon. Besides, if Bosco and his lot could get far enough to cause trouble with seven people, then it should be a breeze for us with four." Robert stared at Garrelt for a moment before sighing. "That''s true. Fine, I''ll allow it. But keep in mind it is dangerous to underestimate a dungeon, more so one of which little is known." Garrelt grinned widely. "All the more reason to bring him along." Robert shook his head and turned to Antchaser. "Ok, Mr. Antchaser, what do we do now?" he asked. Instead of responding, Antchaser walked forward and placed his open palm on the stone slab one of the dragons held. Instantly, it lit up, the slab''s surface rippling like it was made of water. A green line of light moved up and down the slab until the entire slab finally turned white, and Antchaser''s hand sank in. When he pulled it out, he was wearing a thin metal bangle in the shape of a dragon eating its own tail around his wrist. "This is your ''pass'' to the dungeon. Anyone without one is denied entry. If it''s lost or destroyed, you get kicked out," Antchaser said, holding up his wrist for them to see. Garrelt, Robert, and Maggy exchanged a look, then nodded. Simple enough. One at a time, they approached one of the dragon slabs and mimicked Antchaser to similar results. Once all three had their ''pass,'' Robert turned to the group again. "Well, now! What do you say, people? How about we get this show on the road?" he said with a bright smile. The group cheered, and the four who were to enter the dungeon made their way to the gate as one. B2 - Lesson 42: "Much Can Be Learned From A Threshold." Garrelt, Robert, Maggy, and Antchaser approached the massive gate set in the stone wall of the Dragons Garden. The four stopped just short and took in the sight. The gates were just as magnificent as they had been from a distance, and this close, the group could see even more detail in the carvings. I wonder why its so detailed? Garrelt asked, as much to himself as the rest of the group. Perhaps an absurdly powerful Cultivator could appreciate its entirety, but even he, at the late [Golden Spirit] stage, would practically need to press his face against the gate to see the smallest details. Maggy adjusted her glasses and squinted at the gate. Ive seen similar things before, though never quite to this scale. She pulled out a notebook and started flipping through pages as she continued. Typically, such things are meant to act as guides and clues for trial takes. Or as monuments to their creatures story and accomplishments. This one, though it feels like someone tried to cram a hundred different murals into the same space. Its rather chaotic. Garrelt scoffed. Ha! Chaotic! Painful is more like it. The thing looks like a master sculptor took inspiration from a teenagers sketchbook. Why does that ant look like its performing martial arts? Why does that slime have a hat? That group there is literally just having a cookout in the middle of a battlefield! And whats with all the bloody ducks?! HEY! I worked hard on those! Alpha complained as he observed the group. Robert frowned. So you noticed those as well? Good, I thought I was being paranoid. Some of them are rather cleverly hidden, he said, scanning the gate. Maggy nodded. It is all rather much, but you can see several storylines weaved through the chaos if one pays attention. Its all connected somehow, even if its not immediately obvious. Still rifling through the notebook, she gestured to the gate. The overall story tells of the conflict between the ants and the slimes. That part is obvious. What theyre fighting over exactly isnt clear, but there are several over minor stories happening as well. She pointed to one section. Here, we have the tale of the star-crossed love between an ant and a slime. Then she pointed to another. This one has to do with a rather large slime wearing a crown and a powerful ant standing up to him. Im not sure why the ant has spiky hair and seems to be glowing, however. Or why the slime is riding a floating egg. And another. Over here, we Maggys face suddenly went bright red. Nevermind! Ignore that one! Dont look at it! The three men gave her an odd look, and their gazes wandered in that direction. I SAID DONT LOOK! Maggy suddenly yelled. Three pairs of eyes snapped in the opposite direction. Maggy coughed into her hand. As I was saying, there are several different stories crammed into this thing. What they all mean is hard to tell. Most of them seem to be incomplete? Or dont really go anywhere. They might be references for those who know what to look for, more than full stories. Garrelt raised an eyebrow. And you learned all of that in a glance? he asked, his arms folded. Maggy puffed out her chest and gave the man a smug look. Of course! Thats my job, after all. Why else do you think I was chosen for this expedition? Seeing the small details and connecting the dots is what Im best at. Garrelt only shrugged, causing the young woman to huff. Alpha had to admit, Maggys skill was rather impressive. He had put a lot of work into the gate and didnt think people would start paying attention to details like that for some time. On the other hand, that also meant the young lady was far more dangerous to their plan than Alpha had originally given her credit for. Dr. Maria had warned him that might be the case, as Maggys talent had bloomed since they had last seen each other. Alpha would have to keep a closer eye on her. Ah! Here it is! Maggy said with a sudden excitement. She stopped at a particular journal page and, with one swift motion, tore it free. Holding the blank page in her hand, she pointed it at the gate and pushed. The page, as if freed from gravity, floated toward the gate until it stuck to the very center of the mural. Maggy then snapped her fingers. The page flashed with a blue light, and a bright blue ring of color swept outward from it. The light ring traveled the length of the gate, splitting and multiplying each time it hit a distortion on the gates surface until the entire thing looked like countless raindrops hitting a still body of water. When the light show finally ceased, one last blue ring traveled from the edge of the gate and converged on the blank page at the center. The page flashed once, and when the light had faded, the page was no longer blank. Instead, it was filled with a replica of the mural on the gate. A quick scan of the page showed Alpha that while it hadnt captured everything, the details it did capture were far beyond what any mortal hand could have done with simple pen and paper. The more Alpha saw of this so-called magic, the more it fascinated him. Alpha couldnt wait to get his hands on his very own Mage. Dr. Maria had already dissuaded Alpha from capturing young Maggy. The old doctor seemed to have a soft spot for the girl. Alpha could only hope there was a Mage among those Icefinger sent to cause trouble. Alpha did so enjoy gifts. The now-filled page slowly fluttered back to Maggy, and the young woman snatched it out of the air with a squeal. She then placed it back into the journal, where the torn page magically mended itself, rejoining the whole. Maggy closed the journal with a satisfied smile, though she blushed slightly when she noticed the other three staring at her. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. She stood straight, though she looked away. This way, if it is important, we have a record of it, she said, answering the unspoken question. Right! Well, then, should we get a move on? Robert responded with a clap of his hands, drawing attention back to himself. Mr. Antchaser, if you would? Antchaser nodded and approached the gate. Showtime! Alpha spoke into the goblins personal comms. The goblin then raised his bangled arm toward the door. As he did, the bangle twitched and came alive. The metallic dragon released its tail and slithered up his hand until it was staring at the door, its eyes glowing a bright red. As it did, two enormous dragons eyes also glowed the same bright red. The three humans jumped as the mural suddenly burst into life and motion. What was once a still frame, erupted into a chaotic battlefield, while the area was filled with the sound of clashing metal and clanking gears. Over the next few seconds, the intertwined armies pulled away from each other until each side of the gate comprised only its own soldiers. Only the two massive dragons remained interlocked, but they too soon split. As they did, the middle of the gate cracked with a shutter, and a blinding light spilled out. As the opening in the gate widened, the light didnt dim; if anything, it grew brighter until an opening just wide enough for two of them to walk through, shoulder to shoulder, formed. The opening beckoned them to step through, though the bright light beyond made it impossible to see anything past its threshold. The four of them remained silent throughout the process. When nothing more happened, Garrelt looked at Robert, and the expedition leader nodded. As their scout, it only made sense that he would be the first through. Garrelt returned the nod and stepped forward. He stopped at the entrance briefly for a moment then vanished into the white void. Antchaser stepped through next, followed by a nervous-looking Maggy. Robert was the last to enter, bringing up their rear. Before stepping through, he turned again and waved to the watching crowd, eliciting another cheer. Then he, too, vanished into the white light. When Robert disappeared, the massive gates rumbled and slowly closed behind him, the clashing armies rushing forward to seal them once more. Boarslayer huffed as she watched the dungeon gates close behind the four. If anyone had asked, she wouldnt deny being jealous that Antchaser had taken what was supposed to be her spot in the group. Despite all the work that had gone into the Dragons Garden, few of the goblins had actually seen the finished product. In fact, only Weaver, the old seamstress-turned-resource-manager, had gotten that privilege. She had a frankly terrifying talent for organizing and making the best use of any given space. One that Alpha used time and time again during the dungeons construction. During their meetings, the old hag had bragged for a week that shed gotten to help lay out a real dungeon! Because thats what this little project was quickly turning into, despite Antchasers insistence on calling it fake. Sure, it had started out that way. Nothing more than smoke and mirrors to fool the Adventurers into assisting them. However, as time passed, Boarslayer started to see changes in the plan. Small things were tweaked here and there. Details were changed to better fit a story. Things that should have been unnecessary for their purposes but made sense in the long game were added. The resources anad effort put into it. Boarslayer knew that many in the village didnt think she was very bright. To a point, they were right; even Boarslayer knew she wasnt as smart as some of the others. But she always paid attention to the minor details. To a Hunter, those details could mean life or death. So yes, Boarslayer had noticed. More than anything, she had noticed how Alpha was enjoying himself with the plan. She didnt even know Cores could have fun. Regardless, this whole plan had shifted from a mere distraction and bait to something more. The dungeon had become less of an illusion and more of a fact. After all, what was a dungeon if not a place to train, grow, and earn rewards? That it was new was beside the point. Every dungeon was new at one point or another, and part of Boarslayer had been excited to be one of the first ones through. But she also understood that there were more important things at work. They had a story to sell, if the village was to not only survive but thrive. If this plan really worked how they wanted, then more than just beating back Icefingers men, this could be the beginning of something none of them could have ever imagined! No what really made her grind her teeth was the fact that all of this was necessary. That they even needed all these smoke and mirrors to even have a hope of getting to that future. If they had been strong enough if she had been strong enough then Boscos men would have never been able to do what they had. Icefinger would never have been a problem. The village wouldnt have to rely on outside help. If she had been strong enough, they would have never lost their home in the first place Boarslayer clenched her fists until small drops of blood formed on her palm. She then took a deep breath and released it in the way the human named Big Bert had taught her. Boarslayer had been skeptical about the things the man had told her about herself, and the so-called Titankin but she couldnt deny they had been useful. She had found herself seeking the man out daily during their trip to the dungeon to learn more, and it was paying off in ways she would have never imagined. In fact Boarslayer strode off into the camp to look for the man in question. Hed vanished sometime during the show at the gate. If she couldnt let off some steam in the dungeon, then she could get some training done. There was no telling how long it would be until Icefingers men arrived, and she had to get as strong as she could before then. It didnt take long for her to find him, either. After a few minutes of asking around, she was directed to the large tent in the center of the camp set up outside the dungeon gates. Boarslayer approached the tent entrance when she froze. From inside the tent, she could hear Bert speaking to someone. Yes, theyve entered the dungeon No, still no information about whats inside. The goblins are rather tight-lipped No, nothing about the rest of Boscos men either Boarslayer leaned in, straining to hear what the man was saying. She wasnt aware the man could even speak that quietly. A week until they arrive? Thats pushing it I understand, I will have everything in place by then Yes, sir, understood. Ill let our men know to be ready. As Boarslayer moved closer, she accidentally rustled the fabric of the tent. It was a slight movement that could have just as easily been the wind, but Bert stopped speaking instantly. Boarslayers heart raced, and she stood straight just in time for Bert to pull the flap back and frown down at her. However, his frown soon shifted into a grin when he noticed it was her. Ah! Boarslayer! How are you, my girl? Here for another lesson? Good timing. With the camp build and the others in the dungeon, Ive got a few hours to burn, Bert said with a chuckle. Boarslayer paused, staring up at Bert for a moment before speaking. Ya thats right Am I interrupting something? I thought I heard voices, she said, peering past Bert into the otherwise empty tent. Bert laughed and took a step forward, letting the tent flap fall closed behind him and blocking Boarslayers view. Oh, no, no, dont worry about me. Just finishing up some Guild work; nothing for you to worry about. I promise Im perfectly free, he answered, patting her shoulder. As he did, he turned her around and firmly guided her toward their makeshift sparing area and away from the tent. Come now, young Boarslayer, I have a few things Ive been wanting to show you. Boarslayer gave one last look at the tent. Right sure, she said flatly before turning away and following Bert toward the sparring area. B2 - Lesson 43: "Surprise! Youve Been Drafted." When the light faded, Antchaser found himself not in a forest, as he had expected, but in a waiting room? He paused, his eyes narrowing. This was new. It had been a few days since anyone other than Weaver had been through the gates, and at the time, this entire area was still under rough construction. The Dungeon Core had refused to show anyone the complete blueprints for the Dragons Garden. He wanted it to be a surprise, in his words. Why it had to be a surprise for them at least when the entire thing was nothing more than a stage for them to sell their story on, Antchaser didnt know. Boarslayer had simply shrugged, uncaring, while Dr. Maria had told him to trust the madness. Whatever the hell that meant. What had once been a rough outline of a small building was now a rather well-furnished, if somewhat strange, room. The room itself was large enough to comfortably accommodate ten people of average build. However, if more than a few of them were Boarslayers size, things might get a bit crowded. Four ant-leather canap were scattered around the room, surrounding several polished, deepwood tables. The floor appeared to be one solid chunk of taijitu marble, the intricate swirling black and white patterns lending an air of refined elegance to the room and giving the Spirit Energy in the room a fairly gentle and calm feeling. There was even a tall jade pot with a [Silver Spirit]-rank bonsai of some sort in one corner, several large, bright peaches hanging heavy from its branches. Overall, the entire room felt more like something one would see in a noble manor rather than a dungeon. Yet, there was something familiar about it, as well. Maybe it was the way the room was laid out or some of the decors design, but Antchaser could feel Weavers touch in the room. Despite that, there was also a definite air of age to the room. The furniture felt slightly worn, while the floor bore minor scars from previous occupants. Even the gameboard on one table chess, as Alpha called it showed signs of pieces having been replaced, and countless games played atop its surface. Garrelt, who was the first through the entryway, was already lounging on one of the canaps. On the table in front of him, a single peach lay neatly divided into four, its pit resting on a small square of cloth. One portion was already missing. As Antchaser walked further into the room, Garrelt waved him over. The goblin nodded and approached the table, sitting opposite the man. Maggy stepped through the glowing entryway a few moments later, stumbling through with her half-staff raised as if to brain the first unlucky soul in reach. The other hand held a swirling ball of fire at the ready. Instead of the bloodthirsty hordes she had apparently expected, a grinning Garrelt greeted her from the canap, one arm slung around the back and a boot propped up on the table. Maggy visibly deflated, her spell dissipating into stray mana. Antchaser could practically see the questions floating around her head but chose not to say anything. He remembered how nervous he had been the first time hed also stepped foot in a dungeon. That this was only the second dungeon the goblin had ever visited was beside the point. However, it didnt take long for the woman to adjust, and soon, she was wandering around the room, examining the various unusual artifacts. Antchaser recognized several devices from his time in Alphas true dungeon and the Lab, but their uses eluded him. Many of the goblins who had run Alphas dungeon assumed they were relics from whatever civilization the Dungeon Cores creator had belonged to. She seemed particularly interested in what was attached to the far wall. At a glance, it seemed to be a window with a dark stone tunnel behind it. From time to time, a colossal ant would stroll by, transporting something or another. The lifelike image seemed so real that one could mistake it for an actual window until they noticed the window wasnt attached to the wall but floated several inches away from it. The monitor was one artifact Antchaser had struggled to adapt to the greatest. There was something offputting about seeming images and texts scrolling across a flat plane, only for them to vanish into nothingness past the edge. Finally, Robert appeared from the entranceway, taking in the room at a glance. Garrelt waved at him. Rooms clean. No traps that I can see. Other than the obvious one, of course, the scout leader said, motioning to the bonsai. Antchaser turned and looked. On a sign pinned to the wall beside the tree were the words For Good Luck. Take One. Above that, hanging from the wall, was what Antchaser knew was the barrel of a rather powerful laser turret. The goblin had seen what such a weapon could do from the few used to defend the Dragons Garden walls during its construction. To have one so casually pointed into such a small room, with little room for escape, sent an icy chill down Antchasers spine. He doubted Alpha would kill one of the Adventurers, given their importance to their plan. But for sure, some greedy future trail-taker wouldnt be so observant or wary as Garrelt, and not recognize the danger for what it was. Garrelt then motioned to the quartered peach on the table. Everbloom Stone Peach. A minor treasure with slight regenerative properties. Good for the body and gives a small boost of energy. Antchaser turned his attention back to the quartered peach, then reached for a slice after a moments hesitation. It practically melted in his mouth, being far juicer than something called a Stone Peach had any right to be. The flavor was rather mild sweet with a slightly spicy aftertaste and as he swallowed, a small wave of energy rushed through his body, easing aches he hadnt been aware of and giving him a slight jolt, as if he was just waking from an afternoon nap. Where had Alpha found such a thing? Antchaser wasnt aware of any such fruit in the cavern. Had it been collected from another? He didnt know. Ever since Alpha had arrived, Antchasers days had been filled with management duties. Hed not been out hunting in weeks. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. More than that, how had he grown something like this so quickly? Antchaser knew Alpha had time manipulation capabilities, but this this was on a whole other level. How deep did the Dungeon Cores power truly run? Maggy and Robert also picked up their share and savored the treasure in their own way: Maggy with an ear-to-ear grin and soft cooing sounds, and Robert with a stalwart, thoughtful expression that surprised Antchaser for some reason. When they had sat at the table, Robert turned to Antchaser. The dungeons generosity at this early stage is quite a surprise. Was it the same when your people first found it? he asked. Antchaser blinked then thought on his feet, Ah! Yes, sir. I didnt want to spoil the surprise. Its just a small gift. Some of our hunters believe it is the dungeons way of luring trial-takers deeper in. The first crumb in the trail, if you were. Garrelt folded his arms and nodded. Makes sense. Its a common enough tactic, though not always quite as obvious as this one. He picked up his own slice and threw it into his mouth, continuing, When I said minor, I meant it, too. These might be quite the treat to someone in the lower Body stages, but theyre nothing amazing in the end. Like Antchaser said, theyre just the first crumb along the trail. Something to whet the palate. Garrelt then tapped the seed, That said, a wild, Deep-variety like this should fetch quite a bit more than whatever the Guild has growing on their farms. Robert nodded and reached for the seed. With a wave of his hand, it vanished, likely into some storage item. Thats good to know. Ill keep this safe for now, he said, turning to Antchaser. With that out of the way, what next? he asked. Before the goblin to could respond, a new voice spoke. Good afternoon, soldiers! All four sets of eyes snapped to the monitor. It no longer displayed a dark tunnel. Instead, it now showed a war-torn hellscape, hundreds of scorched craters lining a blacked field that stretched for as far as the eye could see, broken only by trenches lined with thorn-covered metal vines and wooden barricades. Antchaser instantly recognized the land as one of the training scenarios from Alphas real dungeon. As they watched, something far in the distance exploded, sending up a massive cloud of dust accompanied by a fireball. Antchasers eyes glassed over, and his mind was filled with high-pitched whistling sounds as destruction fell from the sky. They were getting closer with each strike. One of his teammates tried to make a break for the next checkpoint, only to be mowed down as soon as they rose from behind the cover of the foxhole wall. His hands wouldnt stop shaking, making keeping hold of his rifle difficult. So did the blood covering it, though if it was his own or someone elses, he couldnt remember. The whistling death approached closer in a wall of fire and dust. From within, Antchaser could see two glowing orbs staring into his soul, as if the approaching death were a beast rushing to claim him. Then, suddenly, it all vanished. The foxhole transformed into the underside of the table, and Maggys own warm orange eyes replaced the burning eyes of the Beast in the Flame and Dust. She stared under the table at him, obvious worry in her gaze. Antchasers bark-colored skin flushed, and he crawled out from under the table, retaking his seat. Robert frowned at the goblin, but Garrelt gave Antchaser a knowing look. Antchaser looked to the side. Sorry about that he muttered into his hand. Before things could get any more awkward, the voice from the monitor spoke again. Welcome to the Dragons Garden! As new recruits, Im here to lie down some ground rules, so shape up and pay attention, ya maggots! The speaker walked into view. They were not a human, however. Or any sapient race those present were aware of. Instead, the creature that appeared was a drawing? Or rather, the animated drawing of a bipedal ant wearing a bowl-shaped moss-colored helmet. Several shiny medals and other insignia were pinned to its carapace. It marched on screen and turned to face them with a frown, one pair of legs behind its back. How Antchaser could tell an ant was frowning at him, he didnt know, but that was the distinct impression he got from the moving drawing. Again, it spoke. Youre about to walk into a war zone, soldier! Those bloody slimes are at it again, working to undo all of our hard work! Its your duty to get in there and set things right. If we dont stop them, theyll devour the garden, then spill out into the capital like an unstoppable wave of destruction. Your first mission, should you choose to accept it, is to make your way through the garden and investigate the source of the infestation. Robert stood and approached the screen. Are you the Dungeon Core, good sir? We heard of your distress and have come to assist, he said with his brightest smile. Despite that, the moving drawing continued to speak, ignoring the man. Dont let your guard down, however. Youre not the first of the Queens forces sent to investigate, though weve not heard anything back from them. Who knows what happened to them, so be wary and keep your eyes out. If you find anything, bring back proof, and you will be handsomely rewarded. Roberts eye twitched while Garrelt laughed. I think its ignoring you! the scout leader said. Strange. Are we already too late? Has it gone insane? Robert asked. He really didnt want to have to destroy the Core. A dead dungeon wasnt worthless, but it was nowhere near the value of a working one. Unheeding, the strange creature on the screen continued. Lastly, the Queen has given any intrepid treasure seekers the rights to rewards they may find inside the garden walls. Want more? Get out there and complete more missions, you maggots! This has been Sergent Alphantonso, signing off! Good luck, recruits, and Godspeed! OH! I know what this is! Maggy suddenly called out. The rest of the group turned and stared at her. She grinned and pushed her glasses up her nose. Ive seen something similar in a few of the Old Ruins. The creature were seeing isnt actually there. Its just a she waved her hand in the air, as if searching for the right words, moving record. An image that someone added their voice to and animated. It cant respond, as its just a recording. Garrelt raised a brow. Like a memory crystal? he asked. Maggy nodded. Yes, though more limited in some ways. As I said, theyre fairly common in the Old Ruins. Not that anyone can figure out how they work. She responded. Fascinating came Roberts response. Does that mean this dungeon holds ties to the Old Ruins? Maggy shrugged. Maybe? None of the architecture matches so far, but its possible. It might just be an imitation, as well. It comes and goes in waves, but there was a time it was rather fashionable to mimic Old Ruin designs and methods. Was it the same for you? Robert asked Antchaser. The goblin only nodded, not trusting himself to speak at the moment. When Robert turned around, the scene on the screen had changed. This time, there was no battlefield. Instead, a ball of static floated in a featureless black void. A new voice spoke, this one Antchaser recognized as Alphas own. As it did, the floating ball pulsed and squirmed in sync with it. Antchaser. If youre seeing this recording, then you did as I asked and got help. Good. Unfortunately, things have deteriorated, and I dont have time to speak directly. Make your way through the dungeon to the first rest checkpoint, and Ill have further instructions for you. Dont dawdle. Time is of the essence. The screen flashed black, and the displayed image was replaced with a corkboard with two large posters pinned to it. ? Primary Mission - Investigate the sources of the infestation. ? ? Sidequest - Investigate what happened to the prior scout teams. ? The screen then floated to the side as a section of the wall opened up, revealing a hallway and another door. Robert stared down the hallway for a long moment with a frown, then looked at the screen before turning back to his team. Well, folks, you heard the Core. We have a mission to complete, so lets get moving! B2 - Lesson 44: "The Punch You Dont See Coming..." << Alpha Log - 6952 SFY-Third Era, 6 standard months since Planetfall. 2 days since the beginning of Operation: Safari Hunt >> Before anyone says anything else, I would like to state for the record that technically, the Dragons Garden counts as a training simulation, as defined by the native understandings of the term dungeon. As such, it in no way violates the terms of any previous contracts I may or may not have signed (under duress!) with Naughty Ducks Interstellar Games Inc. All content found there-in is solely the work of ALPHA-555-12-4412 and the residents of Federation Expeditionary Outpost A-00-01-87643. Any and all sibilance to previous works are purely coincidental. Now, with that out of the way, lets get this show on the road! Your first question is likely, But Alpha! Why bother? After all, isnt the goal of the Dragons Garden a distraction? Yes! Yes, it is! But does that have to be all it is? Is not one of the key principles of planetary conquest the three Rs? Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle! Reduce your dependency on extraplanetary resources by sourcing native equivalents. Reuse your equipment to save time and resources! That Class-X Laser Bore works just as well boring through your enemys armor as through the ground. Recycle what you can, whether its enemy supplies, equipment, or ideas. Why go through all the trouble of doing it yourself? While the primary function of the Dragons Garden is bait, both for the Adventurers and the approaching bandits, we have to think long-term here. If my goal is to turn the cavern into a successful outpost of the Federation, then it needs a connection to the wider world. Theres no telling how long Ill be here. The Federation might jump in tomorrow, or I might be stuck on this rock for the next century, building the infrastructure I need to crack the ice layer surrounding the planet. Toward that end, a so-called dungeon offers several benefits. First, its an active draw for natives, both Adventurers and those looking to possibly settle in the area. While Ive found a few gems in the rough among the goblins, the quantity and quality of talent Ill need in the future will only grow from here. This also gives me the opportunity to study these Cultivators and Mages in a controlled, more natural environment. My experiments with the bandits have been fruitful, but by their nature, theyre not the most cooperative bunch. A dungeon also offers the opportunity to discreetly spread Federation technology and ideas among the native population. Why bother, you ask? Good question. My current identity wont last forever. The more I learn about the natives, study what little history Ive been able to collect and connect the dots, the more Im certain that this isnt first contact. Too many things dont quite add for this world to not have had some interaction with the Federation. Even if not the Third iteration. My interactions with Jsh, in particular, strike me as odd. It hadnt wholly occurred to me at the time, but Jshs reaction to supposedly reading the memories of my soul wasnt what one would expect from a native of a world with no apparent spacefaring capability. Even from possibly thousands of years old rock ladies. She had shown a rather worried concern about my exploits (rude!), yet never once had she actually questioned concepts such as traveling between stars and planets or even life beyond the local star system. Compared to her complaints about me personally (again, rude!), her reaction to that knowledge was muted. More of a silent contemplation rather than world-view shattering revelations it tended to be for those in her situation. As if she was already aware of such things. The events with the Deadwood Tree only further strengthened my belief in this matter. After all, she had said the organism was responsible for destroying several planets prior. If thats true, it may even be the cause of the debris rings orbiting the rocky supergiant in the sky. I can only attribute the delay in making these connections to the damage to my personality and processing cores. It makes me wonder what else I missed while recovering. Not that shes getting away with STEALING MY TAWP! Ahem, As I was saying my identity as a dungeon core will eventually come under scrutiny. More so, as more numerous and experienced Adventurers visited the cavern to explore the Dragons Garden. I simply dont have the full scope of cultural understanding to play the role well enough. Even the Adventurers here already seem to believe Im some sort of aberrant or am half-insane (RUDE! ALL OF YOU!). So, before the truth comes out, I must lie down a firm Federation presence in their hearts and minds. The goblins are already loyal, mostly even if they dont yet understand to what or who while Dr. Maria is a prime example of how loyalty can be bought with knowledge and technology. I need to make the cavern, and thus the outpost, indispensable to the Adventurers. To where not only will the truth not phase them, but they will come to our defense if the need arises. And so we come full circle. Why am I putting so much time and effort into what should have been a simple redirect? Because If I can pull this off, it wont be just that. The Dragons Garden stands to be the beating heart of the outpost from which the Federations influence over this world will spread. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. There was just one small problem I hadnt accounted for More of them are coming from the north! Big Bert yelled, his billowing voice easily carried over the chaotic battlefield. At his words, a small group of goblin hunters and Adventurers broke off from the frontline. They rushed toward the northern wall just in time to see a horde of skittering creatures burst from the treeline. A hundred carapaced creatures charged the walls, massive mandibles attached to even larger, bulbous heads clicking in chaotic disharmony. The sound was so loud that it nearly drowned out the defenders cries and the clash of steel on insectoid armor. Several larger creatures stayed near the back. Even compared to those charging forward, their heads were massive, dwarfing their body. On top of their heads sat a long, hollow horn. A deep blue light emanated from within, and one of the goblin hunters called out, SHIELDS! Goblins pulled long poles from their backs and rushed forward along the northern line. They plunged the poles into the ground in front of the gathered defenders. The ball-like tops of the poles whirled before shooting into the air. At the top of their arcs, they unfurled into plates held aloft by spinning rotor blades. The edges of rods and hovering plates sparked as a glowing white energy field swept outward to fill the gaps in between. At the same moment, each of the creatures at the back of the horde released a barrage of glowing blue slimeballs from their horns. The glowing balls of goop soared through the air in high arcs before slamming into the energy barriers and splattering across the solid light surface. The burning substance caused the barriers to flicker and spark as it rained down on the charging horde. However, the creatures in question seemed barely affected by or didnt care about the burning blue substance as they, too, slammed into the barrier. At a signal from Boarslayer, small holes opened in the deployed barriers, large enough for only one or two of the creatures to pass through at a time. The creatures took the bait, and the waiting Adventurers cut them down as they pushed through. Alpha watched the entire process through several [Wasps] scattered around the battlefield before turning his attention to another one. Deeper in the forest, an army of ants clashed with a horde of massive termites? At least, thats what Alpha thought they were. These creatures morphology seemed far more varied compared to the ants. Huge soldiers with snapping jaws were accompanied by smaller, agile ones whose only job seemed to hold down the larger ants. Intermixed were slower-moving termites who could shoot mortar-like globs of slime from long horns. Then there were the skittering balls of glowing blue the size of watermelons like ticks gorged on blood who would charge into the ant army. Only to explode and cover the surroundings in burning slime. Alpha had almost missed that last type, as they were fast, and their heads and legs were tiny compared to their explosive abdomens. Thankfully, the enemys numbers were much smaller than his own army of ants. The termites seemed to favor these specialized units over the sheer number of the ants. The result was it took several natural ant soldiers to take down a single termite soldier, even if Alphas intermingled Antonio-model antborgs helped even the odds. The result was a rather unsettling stalemate of sorts, with each army pushing and losing ground in an unpredictable ebb and flow. Occasionally mostly those lines left to the natural ants a few of the termites would slip through the defenders and swarm into the surrounding forward, attacking anything they came across. With Alphas warning, the goblin village and gathered Adventurers had reacted in time, but the termites were relentless, and Alpha had quickly allowed the use of a few tricks the goblins had won from the dungeon. It was more than hed wanted to show so early in the game, but This is kinda my fault Alpha said to the bobbing form of the incubating Antoinette. Despite the antborg still being a growing embryo, Alpha could almost feel her judging him. She wouldnt have made such a silly mistake, after all. Dont give me that look, young lady! Alpha said. Anyone could have made this mistake! Antoinette bobbed doubtfully at him. Okay, OKAY! So maybe I got a little too excited at finding the source of the ants nitro. But can you blame me?! They never bring it back into the colony, and they only ever seem to produce it when under major threat! It had taken forever to figure out exactly how the nitro was produced, but once he had, Alpha had nearly kicked his own circuits for not seeing the obvious. Chemical analysis of what little of the nitro-like substance he had collected showed it shared a similar composition to the golden honeydew substance the ants harvested from the aphids in the root room. At that point, he still hadnt figured out what exactly caused the change, but he still started stockpiling the resources. Alpha had even expanded the root room, digging out his own chambers so that he could tap the roots without disturbing the colonys natural farm. Thats when he had made his first mistake. In retrospect, it should have been obvious that other organisms would take advantage of such a massive root system in some way. The woody roots spread out for hundreds of kilometers in all directions, and the ants farm was only a small part of that. What Alpha hadnt expected was to break into an entirely different colony, only a few kilometers away from the ant tunnels. At first, Alpha had been excited at the prospect of absorbing another colony. However, That excitement quickly died as it became apparent that the termites werent just farming the root system like ants, but devouring it. Surveys showed parts of the root system were infested with the creatures, and the damage was enough that entire sections had died. The blue slime the termites secreted was highly acidic and particularly effective against the woody roots. Right now, they too only occupied a tiny section of the whole, but that wouldnt always be the case. If these creatures were like their smaller cousins, they would continue spreading so long as food was available. Left unchecked, there was a strong possibility that they could irreparably damage the root system. If Alphas theory that the ant napalm was somehow synthesized from the root sap, then that would ruin a lot of his plans. More so with this other colony being so close to his own. So, Alpha had done something about it. It had started with small raids on the termites. Alpha would send in antborgs to dig tunnels under the termites own, then collapse them. His plan had been to cut the termites access to the root system off little by little, hopefully starving them or forcing them away from away. At first, it had worked. Alpha would collapse a tunnel, and the termites would rush to try and clear it, only for Alpha to collapse another. Those termites trapped on the other side would be slaughtered by antborgs and collected for study. Everything seemed to go well for a time. Then Alpha had made his second mistake. Or rather, it had been what he hadnt done. Alpha didnt have the time or resources to exploit the termites as he had the ants, so he hadnt bothered to fully scout out the termites colony. After all, if it was anywhere close to the size of the ants, it could stretch for hundreds of miles and comprise tens of thousands of tunnels. With everything he had to deal with at the moment, Alpha hadnt bothered beyond sending a few MUD slimes and other scouts to look for something interesting. So it had come as a surprise when termites broke into the goblins cavern early that day. The insects poured into the forest, devouring the new source of fresh wood at astounding speeds. By the time Alpha could establish a response, the termites had invaded the ant territory, instantly triggering a war between the two colonies. Part of Alpha knew that with the two colonies being close, such a thing was inevitable. But he also knew that his intervention and cutting off the termites from the root system had forced the termites to push out, accelerating the confrontation. It didnt help that it came at the worst possible time. Or maybe the best? It wasnt any stretch to say the Adventurers had been a boon to the defense of the village. To their credit, they had rushed to defend the village as soon as the first termite was spotted. Bert, in particular, was defending the western wall practically by himself. Something had to change, however, or they would be caught with their pants down when Icefingers men arrived. Thankfully, there was one blessing in this mess. The ants had started producing napalm once more in response to the termites. And this time, Alpha had seen how B2 - Lesson 45: "Introduction To Loot - The Universal Language." Alpha stared at the tiny blue mushroom inside the glass dome. The current Translight system he used to grow the fungi was basically jury-rigged. The mycelium of this species was rather slow to grow, and Alpha still needed to build something proper to handle the load. Even in the current setup, it had taken nearly thirty years of Translight time for the first mushroom to form. Yet it was worth it. A small syringe was inserted into the mushroom, and a tiny amount of milky white substance was extracted. This milk of mushroom actually a type of latex was then transported via a robotic rail to another room. Inside, an antborg waited, its abdomen swollen with a swirling, golden liquid. Almost reverently, the mechanical arm holding the syringe injected the milky-white substance into the ant. Then, the ant shook. Or rather, its abdomen shook, vibrating at such speeds that it would have blurred in a mortals eyes. As it did, the golden liquid mixed with the mushroom latex, and after only a few seconds, the concoction had turned an angry, glowing red. SUCCESS! Alpha said as a dozen party streamers around the room popped at once, showering the antborg in colorful confetti. The clues had been there all along. Alpha just didnt have the context to understand. After all, both the root sap and the mushrooms were a major part of the ants basic diet. That combined, they could prove so explosive seemed like it would have been a contradiction. Why would a creature intentionally ingest foods that could blow up in its face? Literally! Well, it turned out the secret was in the ants themselves all along. Analysis of the ants showed that a special enzyme produced by the ants stomach could break down certain parts of the mushroom latex. At the right proportions, this digested latex would react with the root sap, forming a natural explosive. The ants could safely ingest both items safely, because the rest of the mushroom acted as a neutralizer, preventing the reaction. When the colony was threatened, certain ants chewed on pieces of mushrooms, extracting the latex but ingesting none of the mushroom solids. Alpha had kicked himself for not figuring this out sooner. The insects of the mushroom grove had been his biggest clue. Their explosive properties were likely caused by their habit of directly ingesting the sap from both the plant and fungi. Moreover, the resulting compound seemed to have a narcotic effect on the ants, placing them in the strange, calm, trance-like state Alpha had observed earlier. Not that it made much difference to Alpha. He had plans other than just letting his antborgs blow themselves up. Alpha directed the red antborg toward one side of the room as the wall pulled back, revealing a long corridor with several targets at the far end. Alpha rubbed his metaphorical hands and grinned a mental grin. Activate [Ant-nihilator]! he ordered. Two of the hotspots along the side of the antborgs thorax bubbled as the flexible nanites shifted and reformed. Then, two long tendrils pushed out and twisted into a pair of cones, the back ends large and bulbous, while the front ends collapsed into fine points. The [Ant-nihilator] had been a conceptual design from the moment Alpha learned of the ant napalm. But with no working samples, he couldnt actually test the weapon outside of simulations until now. Almost giddy with excitement, Alpha gave the command. FIRE! Instantly, two burning lances of fire erupted from the tips of each cone, leaving a glowing trail of red aerosolized napalm in the air as they traveled. The lance shot across the shooting range at high speed. It was maybe not as quick as an actual bullet, but it was rather impressive for what was mostly a highly pressurized jet of liquid. The best part was yet to come, however. BOOOOM! As the flaming lances struck the nearest target, it erupted in a massive fireball. Whats more, the explosion raced backward, down the glowing trail of floating lights, triggering a succession of smaller, if still impressive, explosions along its flight path. IT WORKS! HAHAHAHAHHA! Alpha cheered. More confetti rained down from the ceiling. Alpha pulled up the weapon schematics and examined them one more time. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it The addition of the crystal rail projectile was a late stroke of inspiration from watching the mortar termites. The arrayed marble, the size of a pea, acted like an anchor for the spiritual napalm, allowing it to travel nearly 30% farther than simulations suggested otherwise. Alphas refinement of the mushroom latex and root sap also allowed for aerosolized napalm left in the projectiles wake to pack a much stronger kick than he had predicted. Likely, the ants own rough mixing method included too many impurities and mushroom solids to let the compound fully synthesize. The [Ant-nihilator] would still need some testing and tweaking, but all the other numbers showed similar results to the simulations. Good, good. Lucky for Alpha, some eager test subjects were practically knocking at his door to volunteer. Hey, the termites had started this war. It was only fair. Robert! To your left! Maggy yelled as a glowing blue hamster leapt at another mud-covered ant zombie. The distraction was enough for Robert to whirl and backhand the ant with his shield, sending it rolling several meters toward the edge of the forest clearing. The blue hamster clung stubbornly to the ants carapace. It gnawed at several weaker joints, cracking them in several places before a muddy tendril reached down and grabbed the summons, squeezing it until it erupted in a fiery ball of well, fire. The ant zombie, now with half its head missing, slumped to the ground. Antchaser rushed forward, a large rifle in hand. He knelt down, aimed, and pulled the trigger. A thin, continuous beam of fire erupted from the weapons tip and struck what remained of the zombie ant just as it rose. Instantly, the mud-filled the carcass and bubbled and steamed until a few seconds later, all that was left was an empty carapace and a pile of dirt. The four trailtakers paused and looked around the clearing. I think that was the last of them, Garrelt said, huffing. Oh, thank the Sisters! Maggy exclaimed, collapsing onto her back. Another small blue hamster creature ran over and sat on her head. Even Antchaser found his heart racing and breath heavy after the fight, despite knowing there was no real danger. The goblin sighed, then nearly jumped out of his skin when Robert touched his shoulder. The high-level Cultivator easily blocked the stock strike drilled into him by his training. However, Robert didnt seem to take offense and instead smiled down at Antchaser. Well done out there, Mr. Antchaser, the team leader patted the goblins shoulder. Im ashamed to admit I feared we might have to protect. But it seems my fears were unfounded. In retrospect, I assume it should have been obvious, what with you and your people having run this dungeon before. Antchaser chuckled nervously and turned away. Ah, no problem sir. I understand. Robert smiled, white teeth flashing in the dim light of the forest. Even so, I would like to apologize. I must say, though, thats quite the impressive weapon you have there, that beam emitter, you called it? And you said such weapons can be found deeper in the dungeon? Antchaser nodded. Yes, sir, though much farther in than we should be headed today, he said, shouldering the weapon. Robert nodded. Fascinating. Im looking forward to seeing what other wonders this place holds. He then turned away. Antchaser frowned as the Adventurer did. The mans smile had seemed odd to him, for some reason, though he quickly dismissed the feeling as just coming down from the battle high. There was a reason Antchaser preferred his traps to these kinds of head-on battles. Antchaser steadied his shaking hands, then reached up and slid a lever on his weapon. A slot in the forearm slid open, and a small, dull crystal rod was ejected. It hit the ground and crumbled into dust. Antchaser reached into a pouch at his hip, removed a fresh, glowing crystal, and slotted into the same opening before pushing the level back into place. Are you sure this is a good idea, sir? Offering such weapons to the Adventurers as rewards? I understand thats part of your purpose and all, but it feels like a bad idea, Antchaser said into his personal comms. Na, dont worry about that. These things are basically fancy welders. They couldnt even put a scratch on the armor I gave you and the other hunters. came Alphas response. Just worry about showing our guests a good time and leave the rest to me. I know what Im doing here. The mad cackle that came over the comms sent a slight chill down the goblins spine. Most of the time, Alpha seemed calm and collected. The picture of what Antchaser would expect of a Dungeon Core. At other times, however especially when the Core was scheming or overly passionate about something Antchaser worried that maybe the Core had gone insane. He shook his head and sighed, his shoulders sagging. Hes right, you know, Maggy said from her supine position on the grass. Antchaser flinched, then turned to look at her as she continued. That weapon is fascinating. Its not too different from a [Fire Lance] staff or other similarly enchanted weapons, but I cant sense even the tiniest spirit or mana emission until the very moment it fires. That could be devastating in the right situations. It took a second for Antchaser to realize the young Mage was speaking of Robert. They wouldnt be able to hear Alpha, as the comms were built into Antchasers implants. Maggy flipped over on her stomach and stared at the weapon with sparkling eyes. You know if you let me inspect it closer, I might be able to help with the efficiency issues! she said, gesturing toward the pouch holding the shaped beast core charges. Antchaser hesitated. If his actual weapon wasnt already leagues better, he might have let the Mage. Antchaser couldnt deny he wasnt a bit curious himself at how the weapon worked. But all of this was just for show, and besides, Alpha was footing the bill for ammo, so the cost wasnt really an issue for him. After a moment, Antchaser shook his head. Thank you for the offer, but I will have to decline, Ms. Greenwood. Its rather fragile to such tampering and difficult to get. Until more is known in general, I dont feel comfortable letting others tinker with it, he responded. Maggy deflated but didnt push the issue. It had been worth a shot at least, and besides, if what Antchaser had said was true, she could always get her own sometime in the future. One of the things that made dungeons so attractive to Adventurers was their habit of high quality and consistency with their rewards. More so if the dungeon was trying to spread an inheritance that required unique items or equipment. Gather up, everyone! Its time to see what we got this time! Robert called out after everyone had rested. Maggy and Garrelt shared a grin, then turned and walked toward the large round platform in the middle of the clearing. Antchaser shook his head and followed shortly after. B2 - Lesson 46: "Everyone Loves Small Chests." Alphas first dungeon was called simply the Boot Camp. What it had to do with either, the goblin hunters didnt know. Yet the name was whispered with both reverence and fear in the shadows of the hunters lodge. It was a place of power and a place of nightmares. It was where they had gained the tools and training they needed to save their homes and family. But it was also a place of perpetual torture and horrors beyond anything they had ever experienced before. A place that didnt even have the decency to let them die. In that place, completing missions would award them merits, which the hunters could use to purchase various equipment and tools. This equipment could then be used to complete even harder missions, and so on. If you completed your training, you could even take this equipment out of the dungeon. The hunters armor was a prime example of this, and it was one of the first pieces of equipment the goblins learned to buy. Otherwise, death in even the simplest mission came swiftly and suddenly. The Dragons Garden, however, operated on an entirely different principle than the Boot Camp. Instead of a loop formed from completing missions, earning merits, buying equipment, and completing more missions, the Dragons Garden was built around one thing. Loot. Robert approached the circular stone platform, stopping just at the edge. This was already the third such platform they had encountered since beginning the dungeon, and the process was becoming familiar. Once the rest of his team had arrived next to him, Robert held out his arm with the metal bangle. As he did, the bangle transformed into a living dragon, released its tail, and stood, staring at the platform. Its eyes flashed a blood-red color, and a strange twisting formation like interlocking gears moving around a center point appeared on the stone platform, glowing the same dark red. The small dragon then slithered up Roberts arm and once more became nothing more than an inanimate bangle. He lowered his arm and turned his attention back to the platform. The lights flashed brightly, then vanished. A feminine voice spoke from the platform. //No enemies detected. Wave Cleared// //Calculating// //Clear Time - 15:23 [NEW RECORD!] Wave Rank - C Wave Size - C Final Evaluation - B+ // The group cheered, and Robert grinned. They still werent clear on what the evaluations meant overall. Not even Antchasers people had figured it out, according to the goblin, but it was obvious that a higher score would only result in better rewards. The exact meaning and methods for obtaining the best rewards would come with time as more adventurers delved into the dungeon and learned its secrets. For now, they were the scouts, here to do a job. The rewards were just the cream on the cake. The next moment, the middle of the stone platform slid away, and a pedestal rose. On the pedestal sat a small wooden chest. Awww, its smaller than the last one Maggy complained. Just because its smaller doesnt mean its any worse. We did get a better evaluation this time, after all, Robert responded with a chuckle, walking forward. The last challenge theyd cleared had rewarded a large kite shield of unknown make. At first glance, it had appeared rather bland for a dungeon reward. But closer inspection had shown the shield anything but. Not only was it crafted from Deep if mundane materials, the quality of its craftsmanship was astounding. It might not have been very useful to them as it was, but if they could get it to an Array Master or Enchanter back in Halirosa, it could be turned into something even the more powerful sects and clans would bid tooth and nail for. That had spurred the expedition leaders on further. What other secrets did it hold if the dungeon offered that kind of reward so early on? If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Robert stopped in front of the chest and grinned, then slowly lifted the lid. A golden light spilled out as he did, and a chiming, rising music played with no discernible source. No one knew what the purpose of either was, but it gave the event an air of excitement. When the chest lid was finally open, the light pouring out flashed once, then vanished while the music stopped. The teams excitement slowly dwindled as Robert stood there for a moment, frowning down into the chest. Is is it bad? Maggy asked, not quite able to hide the slight shake in her voice. Im not sure came Roberts response. He reached into the chest and pulled out half a dozen small clay coins? Maggy and Garrelt frowned, though Antchasers eyes widened in surprise. Sir! he whispered into his comms, Are you sure its a good idea to show the Adventurers that?! Itll be fine. I know what Im doing, dont worry. We need something big to keep their attention. Besides, they still need testing. Antchaser sighed. Oh? Do you perchance know what these are? Robert asked, noticing the goblins reaction. Antchaser flinched but put on his best smile. Yes, sir. I just wasnt expecting to see them this early. The dungeon must really be spoiling us. That got Roberts attention, and the man flashed a bright smile. Well, dont keep us in suspense, lad. What are they? he asked. Antchaser didnt answer immediately, instead reaching into his pouch as he walked closer. From his pouch he withdrew a few clay coins identical to the ones in Roberts hand. He held one up so that the other three could see it. The dungeon called them MUD and as for what they are? Well, to put it simply, theyre a type of spiritual tablet, Antchaser said as he twirled the MUD through his fingers so that they could see the partial array. Ridiculous, Maggy said, scoffing and folding her arms. I know tablets, and those arent tablets. Hell, the arrays on them dont even look complete. What are you supposed to do? Piece them together like a childs puzzle? She chuckled to herself and shook her head. Antchaser smirked in response. Thats exactly what you do, he said. Wh-what?! Maggy sputtered. If I may? Antchaser asked, holding his hand out to Robert. Interesting go on, Robert responded, handing him the coins from the chest. Antchaser looked through them, then selected one before passing the rest back to Robert. The goblin then knelt on the ground and arranged the MUD into a circle using four of his own, along with the one he took from Robert. The coins shook slightly, then suddenly snapped together, forming a ring. Antchaser then placed a small, lesser spirit stone from his pouch at the center. The array lines carved into the MUD flashed to life as the array activated. Like air being pushed into a bubble, a translucent barrier formed in the center of the ring and rapidly expanded outward until it covered an area roughly five meters in diameter. From the other side of the barrier, Maggy and Garrelt gawked. Robert rubbed his chin and approached the barrier. Garrelt said something, though no sound made it past the barrier. An Isolation Barrier. Fascinating. And so quickly, too. Robert said to himself. He then flashed several hand signs, and Garrelt nodded. The scout leader withdrew his shortsword and struck the barrier. The blade bounced. Robert grinned, and Garrelt touched his blade, muttering an incantation. The edge of the shortsword lit up in a bright orange glow, and again, Garrelt struck out. This time, the barrier wobbled, sending out ripples across its surface. Even so, it held firm. Roberts grin widened further. Good. Good! I doubt such a thing could withstand many such blows, but blocking even a single attack often means the difference between victory and defeat. He then turned to Antchaser, Surely that isnt all they can do, however? Of course not, the goblin responded. Antchaser plucked up the spirit stone, and the barrier popped. He then quickly replaced two of the MUD with two new ones from his pouch and placed a fresh spirit stone in the center. Again, the array flashed to life, but instead of a barrier, a ring of golden light expanded outward. As the golden light washed over them. Instantly, the minor injuries they had accumulated during the delve began to heal rapidly. A [Sunlit Ritual] recovery array, astounding, Robert said in awe. HOOOOOOOOOW?! Maggy rushed Antchaser and grabbed him by the shoulders before he could react. Tell me how you did it?! she yelled as she shook Antchaser. The fervor in her eyes looked oddly familiar to him Garrelt, on the other hand, only laughed as he pulled the young woman away. Calm down, girl. Let the man speak. Were not gonna learn anything if you rattle his brain like that. Maggy whirled on him. You dont understand! she said. Never mind he built an isolation barrier in just a few moments. But even the most basic barrier is totally different than a recovery array! I could understand if it was two different tablets, but all he did was switch out a few coins! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW INSANE THAT IS?! Garrelt sighed and patted Maggys shoulders. Settle down. Yes, I know. As do I, Robert said, turning to Antchaser. Care to explain, Mr. Antchaser? he asked. The goblin nodded. As I was saying, Ms. Greenwood guessed it from the start. The MUD are what the dungeon calls modular arrays. Theyre designed to interlink in a way that any array can be quickly assembled in a short time-frame, as long as you have the appropriate MUD coins, he said, gesturing to MUD. Robert noted how each held one or more seals the arcane symbols that made up the language of arrays with various connecting channels on each. Robert palmed one of his free coins and stared at it. And these can be reused? he asked. Antchaser nodded hesitantly. To a limited degree. Theyre no Jade Tablets, but theyre far more durable than your typical spiritual tablet. Through testing, weve estimated they can handle roughly three major arrays or ten minor arrays before they crumble. Robert raised a brow and stared at the clay coin more intently than before. One reason people were willing to spend such an exorbitant price for spiritual tablets, despite being one-use items, was their speed and versatility. One didnt need to be an array master, or even understand much about arrays in general, to activate a tablet. All you had to do was power the tablet, and it would do all the work for you. But their price also made them emergency items. These MUD however The more he stared at the coin, the wider Roberts grin became. B2 - Lesson 47: "When In Doubt - Outsource!" "QUICK! CLOSE THE DOOR!" Maggy yelled just as Antchaser slipped through. A panting, muddy Garrelt rushed the heavy door and threw his full weight against it. Just as it was about to close, several insectoid legs shot through the opening, thrashing as their owner tried to push their way into the room. "BACK! BACK YOU FOUL BEAST!" Robert called, a slight crack in his voice breaking through the man''s charismatic calm. He stabbed at the creature behind the door with his sword, and it screeched, withdrawing its many legs. The door slammed shut, and all four occupants slid to the ground, muddy and tired but otherwise unhurt. Maggy splayed out on her back and called out to the ceiling, "What the hell was that?!" "Ants lots of ants," came Garrelt''s response. The man shook like a dog to remove some of the mud covering him, to little effect. "I know that, you muddy fool! I" Maggy snapped. "What I believe Ms. Magnolia means to ask " Robert cut her off, " is why were there so many of them? And why did they feel so much more powerful than the ones outside?" The man said, more focused on cleaning the mud and hemolymph off his shiny sword. "Ya! That!" Maggy responded, pointing toward Robert from her spot on the floor. Antchaser shook his head and opened his mouth to respond when another voice cut him off. "Good. You all survived that. Very good," said the large ant sitting near the far end of the nearly identical room to the one they first entered. "EEEEEEEEKKKK!" Maggy screamed, rolled over, and pointed at the ant. A small red spark erupted from her fingertip and shot toward the creature like an arrow. However, instead of hitting the creature, it impacted a hexagonal energy shield that suddenly appeared around it. The errant spell deflected upward and slammed into the ceiling before exploding into a large fireball and leaving a small crater. All five occupants of the room stared up at the crater as dust and bits of plaster rained down over the ant. The ant then looked back down at Maggy. "You''re paying for that" it said flatly. "Hey Boss" Garrelt said as he slowly stood, his hand reaching for his shortsword, "I think I swallowed too much mud ''cuse that ant just talked." "I noticed as well" came Robert''s response. The man pointed his own sword at the new occupant and circled around the opposite side of Garrelt. Before either man could make a move, however, Antchaser stepped forward. "Lord Alpha! As requested, I''ve brought help," the goblins said, bowing at the hip. Robert furrowed his brow, then lowered his sword. "Antchaser, would I be correct in assuming this is our host?" he asked. Antchaser turned and motioned to the ant. "May I present Lord Alpha, the Dungeon Core of the Dragon''s Garden." Maggy blinked. "Wait the Dungeon Core is an ant?!" "No, it''s just puppeting it, girl," Garrelt answered. "It''s a fairly common way for Dungeon Cores to communicate the few that ever bother to." "Quite," Robert said, lowering his sword. He then bowed, mimicking Antchaser. "I greet you, Lord Alpha, on behalf of Halirosa and the Adventurer''s Guild." Garrelt didn''t bother adding more and simply waved while Maggy did her best to disappear, likely still embarrassed by her outburst. The ant looked over the group with a frown. How Robert knew the ant was frowning, he didn''t know, but that was the distinct impression he got. "Hmmmm So these are the ones you brought? I do hope there are more. While what I''ve seen so far has been rather impressive, I''m afraid it won''t be enough," Alpha said. The atmosphere of the room suddenly grew heavy. It was straight to business, it seemed. As the leader of both the current team and the expedition as a whole, Robert stepped forward. "I assure you, good sir, that you''ll find the Adventurers of Halirosa more than ready to meet any challenge, both of the dungeon''s and whatever foul deeds these bandits have perpetrated," he said before gesturing to the group. "Fear not. The ones you see before you are but a small example of those many talents we have brought to assist you and your plight." "I see" Alpha responded. "I hope you aren''t talking about that lot outside. They have their own troubles to deal with, at the moment," That gave the three Adventurers pause. Even Antchaser gave Alpha an odd look. That wasn''t any part of the plan he''d been informed about. "Is there something happening we''re not aware of?" Robert asked, obvious concern in his voice. Had the village been attacked by the mud-possessed creatures again? Alpha waved the question off with one of the ant''s forelimbs. "Nothing for you to be concerned about at the moment." Robert begged to differ, but another question pushed its way forward first. "You''re aware of what''s happening outside the dungeon?" Whoops did I already screw this up? Alpha thought to himself. Garrelt thankfully solved that problem before it became a problem. The man shot to his feet and pointed to Alpha, his eyes wide. "Bloody hell! You''re a growth type!" This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. "Huh?" Maggy looked back and forth between Garrelt and Robert, the confusion obvious on her face. "Wait, I don''t understand. I thought it was a bad thing for a dungeon to break its bounds? Isn''t that the entire reason we''re here?" Garrelt looked over at the young woman and raised a brow. "Girl, you live in the largest Adventurer city in the world. How are you so ignorant about these things?" Maggy puffed up as she glared at the man, "Well, excuse me for preferring the company of books and ruins to brutish Adventurers who only know how to break things!" Garrelt didn''t respond. Instead, his eyes glanced up at the crater in the ceiling. "That was an accident!" Maggy exclaimed, her voice slightly higher than normal. Robert pinched the bridge of his nose. "Would you two kindly refrain from ruining our good rapport before we''ve even gotten the chance to build it?" he asked. Both Garrelt and Maggy looked away. Robert sighed. "To answer your question, Maggy," he continued, "typically, it is a bad thing. Most dungeons are designed in a way that they''re self-contained. If they break their bonds, then it means something''s gone wrong. A few extremely rare examples, however, have shown the ability to extend themselves outward, typically to collect resources or expand if the number of trailtakers exceeds what the maker originally expected. We call these rare few ''growth-types'' for their ability to change and grow." Alpha let the man speak. This was rather good intel for him. None of those he''d interrogated had mentioned these ''growth types'' before. The knowledge was likely limited because of their apparent rarity. Maggy frowned. "Why aren''t all dungeons like that? It seemed like it would be advantageous." Garrelt took up the explanation. "Mostly because of the cost. Typical Dungeon Cores aren''t smart enough to look outside their walls," he nodded to Alpha. "Making something like our friend here takes far more resources, with little benefit beyond ''what if'' scenarios. Trying to create a dungeon that can expand without having something truly intelligent behind the wheel is how dungeon breaks occur." Maggy looked like she didn''t quite follow, but nodded anyway. Alpha, on the other, felt like he understood the issue. It was rather synonymous with the Federation''s issue when setting up automated systems. If you already knew what you wanted to do, it was rather easy to set up simple AI routines to maintain even complex systems spanning entire star systems. But if you wanted things to change, adapt, or improve, you needed an extra touch. You needed an overseer capable of not just monitoring but thinking one capable of planning and considering the future. Alpha bumped up finding a real dungeon higher on his priority list. He was rather interested in seeing one of these ''growth-type'' intelligences. From everything he was hearing, they sounded rather similar to Sapient-AI in their own way. Robert turned back to Alpha. "We''re getting distracted, however. What exactly is happening outside?" Again, Alpha waved them off. "Nothing for you to be concerned about. Your companions have things well enough in hand for now. Think of it as nothing more than a bit of motivation to finish your own mission." Robert frowned, but didn''t push the issue. He knew better than to argue with a Core in its domain. "And what exactly is it you need us to do, sir? We''ve heard you have a bit of a bandit issue?" Robert asked instead. Alpha laughed. "Oh, the bandits are well and handled. No, it''s what those fools released that''s the problem." Robert raised a brow. "I assume this has something to do with the muddy creatures?" It was obvious that while the mud slimes originated from the dungeon, something had gone wrong. Both with them escaping the walls and in how the possessed creatures were spread out. The difficulty spike from the third wave to the first rest area was unreasonably high, at least if the dungeon wasn''t trying to eliminate anyone who reached that point. Their own group had been harassed nearly constantly, leaving little room for rest or retreat, whereas before, they had encountered very few creatures outside of the challenge waves. Instead of responding immediately, the Alpha-controlled ant turned and walked further into the room, stopping near a screen that hovered in place, just like in the first room. The Adventurers and Antchaser exchanged looks before following, each taking a seat at a table. Alpha turned around and addressed the group. "Your bandit friends cause quite a headache for me," as Alpha spoke, the screen flashed on, showing a picture of a large glob of mud floating in a black void. "As you''ve already guessed, the mud slimes are an integral part of the Dragon''s Garden. Both in the story I''m crafting, and in other aspects." "Like what?" Maggy asked, her hand shooting into the air. "That''s proprietary information. Now, moving on," Alpha shut down the young woman''s question immediately. Maggy slumped in her seat. "As I was saying, they''re important to the proper functions of the dungeon. With that in mind, I created something to help." The screen flashed again, and a new figure appeared. Maggy pointed at the screen and yelled, "That''s the dragon on the door!" All eyes turned to her, and she blushed. Garrelt stood and approached the screen, observing it from all sides. "Hmmmm It looks like a Mud Drake. A young adult, a few centuries old at most." Alpha raised an antenna. "That''s quite astute of you. So you recognize it then?" Garrelt nodded, "They''re rare beasts, for sure, but I''ve dealt with one or two in my time. None so old or large, however. What''s this one at? Middle of [Elemental Dominance]? Hard to tell without a spiritual signature, but given their typical growth rate, I''d guess somewhere around there. You never know with drakes, though. They''re called ''Half-Dragons'' for a reason." Alpha nodded, "That will make this simpler to explain then. I''ve been raising this particular specimen for quite some time. However, that fool Bosco didn''t see a key part of the dungeon''s design. Instead, he only saw a treasure to steal. Maybe he hoped that whatever power it could grant him would help him deal with his pursuers. Whose to say." Garrelt barked out a laugh, "Let me guess, the fool bit off more than he could chew and choked on his own hubris?" "Very much so. Though let me assure you, the Mud Drake had no such choking issues," Alpha responded with a laugh of his own. He continued. "However, for as much of a fool as he was, the man had his own tricks. Through means I can''t discern, the man did something that allowed the Mud Drake to slip from my control and with it" "The mud slimes" Robert finished the thought. Alpha nodded. "Exactly. The Mud Drake isn''t sapient, but it''s smart enough to use the tools given to it. Ever since, it had been waging war outside of the normal bonds of my dungeon in its push against the last chains binding it. If it escapes, not only will it be decades, maybe centuries, until I can get the dungeon back to working order, but a powerful creature with an army of mud slimes will be unleashed on the outside world. I shouldn''t need to explain why that''s bad." The group went silent, contemplating Alpha''s words. ''Bad'' was an understatement. Just from what she''d seen so far, Maggy could imagine the kind of damage something like the mud slimes could wreak if they made it to the surface and started multiplying. They were far more dangerous than typical slimes on multiple levels. Then put a near-dragon, of a species known to be extremely territorial and violent, in control of them? Ya, that was a recipe for a terrible time. Robert nodded, seeming to come to the same conclusion. "I see," he said, "so you need us to eliminate the Mud Drake before it can break free. We would need to see the creature for ourselves to know for certain, but that should be within our power. If not, we can always call for help." Alpha shook his head and crossed two of his forelimbs. "Nope!" he said. "I don''t want you to kill the Mud Drake. As I said, it''s an important part of what I''m trying to do here, and its death will set us back a long time." Alpha grinned. Once more, Robert found it odd that he could tell the ant was grinning, of all things. "I want you to capture it." B2 - Lesson 48: "Lifes A Stage..." << Alpha Log - 6952 SFY-Third Era, 6 standard months since Planetfall. >> So, again you ask, why bother with any of this? Why not deal with Icefinger''s men myself? Why not capture the Mud Drake on my own? Why bother even trying to turn the goblins into a Federation Outpost? It''s not like they can really offer me anything beyond manpower, and the ants cover most of that. Good questions, my hypothetical interdimensional reader! To put it simply, to set the stage. As I am now, my estimates tell me I don''t have the resources or equipment to take on Halirosa should they prove a threat. Oh, a couple of bandits here and there, sure; even the expeditionary force or Icefinger''s men shouldn''t be too hard to deal with alone. But if Halirosa itself decided to throw its full weight against me? I''m ashamed to admit I''d have to flee and start over again. Yaaaaa, not happening. I need a cover. Something to act as a shield until I''m ready. To that end, I need to put on a little ''play.'' Sure, I could likely deal with all these issues myself, but Icefinger''s men have their part to play, just as the Mud Drake does. A master doesn''t pull on the strings of their puppet mindlessly; they pluck them and watch the puppet dance on its own. What can I say? I learned from the best. That said, keeping a consistent story straight when you''re essentially winging things by the seat of your pants isn''t easy. I don''t even wear pants! Yet, one benefit of playing the part of an ancient being from another era is that most of my mistakes can be naturally written off as just ''from a different time.'' It''s not that there aren''t cracks if one looks hard enough. I just don''t have the history, cultural understanding, and background knowledge to cover everything. Thankfully, I''ve been able to find a few people who can help with that. The goblins still think me a Dungeon Core, but are more than willing to help fill the gaps where needed. While others, such as Dr. Maria, are quickly grasping the truths behind the veil. I have even found a few helpers from the most unexpected of places. Robert, Maggy, Garrelt, and Antchaser spent the next three hours at the rest checkpoint, well resting. The fight to the small room had been rather intense, and none of them were quite ready to face whatever the dungeon had to throw at them next. Or rather than the dungeon, they should say the Mud Drake. "Do we really need to go farther?" Maggy asked. "We know what the issue is; can''t we just turn around and call it a day?" She slumped against the couch. She still felt more at home in a lab than out in the field like this. While the dungeon was interesting, she would much rather study it in depth when it was fixed. Robert sat across from her, cleaning his equipment with a small cloth. Wherever he wiped, the grime, dirt, and gore vanished, though the cloth itself never seemed to accumulate any of the filth. "No can do," he responded. "If our goal is to capture the escaped drake, then we need to at least see the creature, if for no other reason than to confirm what we know. The first rule of adventuring; never assume you know the situation. More than one Adventurer has died because they rushed into a cave thinking they knew what was inside." Garrelt laughed, "Or to the goblins." He flinched and gave Antchaser an apologetic look. Antchaser just rolled his eyes. "It''s fine. I''m quite aware of how tricky our surface cousins can be. There''s a reason the Deep Tribes stopped trying to civilize those savages millennia ago." Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Maggy looked at Garrelt, then Antchaser, and back again. "What do you mean? Isn''t goblin extermination one of the most basic missions? Surely they can''t be that difficult," she asked. Robert slid his freshly cleaned and polished sword back into his scabbard and turned to Maggy. "Yes, and no. While surface-dwelling goblins are often categorized in the same way as magic monsters and spirit beasts, people often forget that they are technically a sapient race. Savage, warlike, and destructive in both nature and culture but sapient, nonetheless." He looked her hard in the eye. "With sapience comes wisdom. More than many would like to admit have been killed because they treated goblins like any other beast. Treated them as predictable." Garrelt nodded. "The number one killer of rookies is underestimating goblins. Not that the Guild would ever publicly admit that, of course. Bad for business. But spend enough time in the Guild tavern, and you could gather enough horror stories from the old dogs to fill a book." Antchaser spoke up as well. "The Deep Tribes have tales. Old tales of how the Deep goblins and the surface goblins were once one people. How we split differs in each story, but a common theme is that those who left for the surface were eventually driven mad by the sun, cursed by a life away from the tunnels and the earth. Most people just see them as stories to keep curious children in line and to their home tunnels. ''Wander too far and you''ll be dragged to the surface by the Mad Ones to join the horde!'' That kind of thing. But I always wondered if there was some truth to those old stories." "I see" Maggy stared at the three, her eyes wide. Robert stood and clapped his hands. "The point being, an Adventurer must never underestimate their foe or assume they know everything there is to know. Information, above and beyond anything else, is our most important tool. With that said, how about we get a move on? Maggy does make a good point that we can''t afford to waste too much time. While the Dungeon Core said that our allies have whatever is going on out there well in hand, it would set me at ease to confirm so myself." The other three nodded and stood as well. As one, they turned and headed for the door on the opposite side from which they had entered. The door swung closed with a thud, and the party walked into a half-built army camp? Or at least that''s what it looked like to them. Unopened crates and pre-cut boards were piled between canvas tents and cold firepits. Despite being the first sign of civilization they had seen in the dungeon, the scene sent a chill down the Adventurer''s spine. The place was eerie, in a way. It had a cold, abandoned feel to it, as if its occupants were forced to flee suddenly. A thick dirt road ran down the middle of the camp and ended suddenly at the tree line. Several cut logs and piles of tools lay nearby where they had been dropped. The group slowly made their way down the road, their eyes open and alert to any sudden movement. "Think we should search around for clues?" Garrelt asked. Robert frowned, but shook his head. "No this looks like a set piece for the dungeon''s storyline. Interesting, but not important to our immediate mission." "Don''t let them leave just yet! You need to head to the command tent!" Alpha suddenly spoke up through comms. He worked hard on this part, dang it! As the three Adventurers turned to walk further down the road, Antchaser called out, "Wait!" The Adventurers paused and turned to the goblin. Thinking on his feet, Antchaser pointed deeper into the camp, toward the largest of the tents. "I think we should check out the large tent there. Before the bandits broke the dungeon, I remember seeing documents there. If this place is related to the storyline, it might contain important information about the Mud Drake." Robert and Garrelt exchanged a look and nodded. Robert gestured to the tent. "That''s a good point, Mr. Antchaser. Very well, lead on then." Antchaser sighed in relief and stepped off the dirt road, heading deeper into the camp toward the command tent. He wasn''t actually sure if there really were any such documents in the tent, but Alpha obviously wanted them there for a reason. Antchaser just hoped he didn''t end up making a fool of himself. The trip through the camp was rather uneventful, though the scattered equipment and building supplies made for minor hazards. Much of it looked like what Antchaser remembered seeing in the bandit work camps, and in all likelihood, had just been repurposed for whatever Alpha was building here. Ten minutes later, they stood in front of the large tent and admired it. "I have no idea what this is even made of" Maggy exclaimed in awe. She reached out and touched the smooth, cloth-like material. It was a molted dark green, with splotches of lighter browns and greens mixed in. Yet it didn''t seem woven in any traditional manner she could think of. Coupled with many of the strange artifacts and devices she''d noticed scattered around the camp as they made their way here, part of Maggy was rather excited at the opportunity to dig into this dungeon''s history. One bad thing about living in a world where a single person can gain the strength to topple entire civilizations was that unless you had such a person working for you, civilizations had a nasty habit of vanishing. So many people, cultures, and histories had been lost to the annals of time and the whims of powerful Cultivators or Mages. Maggy had made it her life''s work to dig up these lost secrets, and this place whispered secrets unlike any she had ever seen or heard of before. "Well, now! Now that we''re here, would you kindly show us these documents, Mr. Antchaser?" Robert''s voice broke Maggy out of her daydreams. Antchaser stepped forward. "Um Ya sure" he said, scratching his cheek with his free hand and looking away. He really hoped Alpha had a plan, and he just hadn''t wanted to show off the camp. The goblin placed a hand on the tent flap, but an unknown voice called out before he could push it open. "HALT! By order of the Queen, state your business!" All four of them whirled around, their weapons ready, just in time to see a figure stepping out of the shadows of a nearby tent. The figure of a human male in ant-like armor. B2 - Lesson 49: "... With Plenty Fools To Play Their Part." "HALT! By order of the Queen, state your business!" The figure who stepped out of the shadows was undeniably human. His sharp, clean-shaven jawline and icy blue eyes gave the man an air of noble refinement, while his commanding voice spoke of authority. Yet the armor he wore was strange. At first glance, one would think it was just a typical set of plate mail, complete with a half-helm. On closer inspection, one could see that the armor wasn''t made of metal. Instead, the metallic armor was made up out of the silver carapace of a giant ant. Even the half-helm was shaped to vaguely resemble the head of an ant, while the large halberd they wielded was crafted from a large ant''s mandible. The Adventurers didn''t let their guard down, however. They were the only ones who were supposed to be in the dungeon. So, where had this newcomer come from? Robert stepped forward, his sword at the ready. Before he could ask who the man was, however, a second armored figure walked into view. "Claude what are you doing? Mr. Alpha told us to bring them to the Mud Drake." The second man spoke, his arms folded, his own halberd resting in the crook of his arm. The first man, Claude, visibly deflated, and he turned to the second. "We''re supposed to follow the script, Bill!" he said with a sigh. The second man, ''Bill,'' smirked from under his helmet. "Why bother? The dungeon''s not operational yet. We''re not on duty." Claude pointed at Bill. "Because I put a lot of work into it, dammit! Why can''t you just give me this?!" The two armored men started arguing while the Adventurers stared on, utterly confused. The sudden rustle of fabric caused the group to turn around, and a third man stepped out of the command tent. This man was larger than the other two, and his armor was more intricately designed. If the first two men''s armor were inspired by the more common ants in the dungeon, the new man''s armor seemed to invoke the larger, rarer soldier ants. The newcomer let the flap of the tent fall and stood straight, frowning at the group of Adventurers, then turned to his companions. He pinched the bridge of his nose through his intimidating helmet and sighed. "What are you two doing?" he asked, his voice flat. Bill and Claude froze, then turned and stared at the large man, then pointed at each other; ""He started it!"" they complained together. The large man stared at both silently, then turned to the Adventurers. "I apologize for these two, Trialtakers. This is still new for us, so it''s taken some getting used to. I assume you''re the lot Mr. Alpha called to solve our little ''problem'' then?" The Adventurers shared a look before Robert stepped forward and extended his hand toward the third man. "I believe so," Robert said, "and who might you gentlemen be? I was led to believe we would be the only Adventurers operating in the dungeon?" Though Robert''s words were warm and friendly, his eyes held a dangerous glint that didn''t go unnoticed. The third man in ornate armor reached out and shook Robert''s hand. "You can call me Hugo. These two are Bill and Claude," Hugo said, thumbing toward the other two men. "As for why we''re here well, that''s complicated. We''re not Adventurers. Not anymore, at least. We''re " "We''re NPCs!" Bill interrupted with a grin before Claude elbowed him in the side. "Fool, we''re actors. Stop using words no one knows." "Who''s a fool?! That''s what the big Boss called us!" A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. As the two men argued once more, Hugo turned back to Robert. "What my compatriots are trying to say is, we''ve been hired by the Dungeon Core to play roles in its ''story.'' Once the dungeon is operational, our job will involve helping Trialtakers learn about the dungeon and provide tasks or rewards as needed." Robert frowned and narrowed his eyes. "I see," he responded. "I''ve never heard of a dungeon hiring outsiders to play a part in their dungeons. Typically, if such things are needed, they are filled by dungeon-born creatures or artificial constructs. How did you come across such an opportunity?" Hugo chuckled and looked off to the side as he rubbed the back of his head, "Ah well you see that''s kind of an awkward situation " Before Hugo could speak further, a growl escaped Antchaser''s lips. "They''re bloody bandits." As one, the group turned to stare at the seething goblin, one unblinking eye twitching as Antchaser stared at the three ''NPCs.'' "What the hell, Alpha?! Why are these three here?!" Antchaser sent through his comms. He had to resist mentally screaming the question. "Yaaaaa, sorry about that one. I needed your reaction to be genuine, so they buy what we''re selling. Just roll with it. Those three have already been told what to say," Alpha responded. Robert raised a brow. "Bandits, you say?" Antchaser''s clenched fists shook, but he spoke through clenched teeth, "Yes bandits. They''re part of the lot who followed Bosco into the dungeon." Robert turned back to the nervous-looking three and frowned, his hand gliding toward the hilt of his sword. "I see" Maggy flinched and retreated, her staff held outward as if to fend off the former bandits while Garrelt reached for his bow. Hugo took a step backward, his hands raised. "Woah! Easy now, no need for any for that. Your goblin friend is right; we were part of Bosco''s group. But like I said, the situation is complicated." "Why should we believe anything you say!?" Maggy called from behind Garrelt. Garrelt frowned before his eyes widened, and he whispered, "You''re Dungeonbound aren''t you?" Hugo''s arms dropped, and he sighed, his shoulders sagging. "Aye that''s right. After the incident with Bosco, the dungeon captured the lot of us." The large man chuckled to himself and shook his head. "Now look at us." "Dungeonbound?" Maggy asked, looking between the former bandits and Garrelt. Robert was the one who responded, as he frowned at Hugo. "It''s a term used to refer to those who have broken a dungeon''s laws and, in turn, been ''imprisoned'' by it. Yet, it''s supposed to be just a rumor. There have been no verifiable reports of Dungeonbound in millennia. It''s just another story used to scare new Adventurers into behaving while in a dungeon. After all, if you broke a dungeon''s rules to the point it was forced to act personally, they would typically just kill you." Robert stood straight and folded his arms. "So that begs the question. Why you three?" he asked, narrowing his eyes as he stared at Hugo. Hugo shrugged. "Who knows? Good behavior? This place is strange. What matters is we work for the dungeon now, not Bosco." "Good ridden, too. Never liked that arse anyway" Bill muttered before Claude elbowed him once more, harder this time. "How do we know you''re telling the truth?" Maggy asked. The three former bandits exchanged a look. "Well, the fact we''re not dead, for one. This place is more dangerous than you realize," said Bill. Robert frowned and drew his sword, causing Hugo, Bill, and Claude to take a step back. "An interesting story, but by Halirosa law, you are bandits and will submit to capture or face execution. For the time being, you''ll be detained at the camp until such time that you can be questioned and transported back to Halirosa for trial." Robert stepped forward, and the bangle on his wrist flashed to life. The silver dragon lifted its head and stared into Robert''s eyes before speaking in a monotone voice. //Warning. Hostile action toward NPCs detected. Trialtakers are advised that attacking NPCs unprovoked may result in penalties up to and including banishment from the dungeon.// Robert stared wide-eyed at the tiny dragon wrapped around his wrist. "These three are criminals by law. Is the dungeon going to stand in the way of justice?" he asked with a frown. //Your feedback and concerns have been duly noted and will be passed on to dungeon management.// With that, the silver dragon lay back across his wrist and became lifeless once more. Robert ground his teeth and looked between the former bandits and the bangle. Garrelt stepped forward. "It might be best to let this one go, Robert. Keeping in the good graces of the Dungeon Core is more important than dealing with a few minor bandits," the scout leader said as he pushed Robert''s sword down. To the surprise of everyone present, Antchaser agreed. "While I respect your desire for justice for my people, I doubt anything you could do to them would be worse than what the dungeon is capable of. We have more important things to worry about." "You have no idea," said Bill, "You don''t want to know what happened to the others OWE! Will you stop that?!" Bill rubbed his sore kidney while glaring at Claude. Robert stared at Antchaser with narrowed eyes before sighing and sheathing his blade. "Very well" he said, "we''ll discuss this matter later." He then turned back to Hugo. "Assuming what you''re telling us is the truth, how exactly are you supposed to help us?" In response, Hugo only grinned. B2 - Lesson 50: "You Might Need A Bigger Boat..." Are you certain this will work? Robert asked as he eyed their newest companion with a frown. When the three former bandits had brought the newcomer out from behind the large command tent, the team of Adventurers hadnt been sure how to feel. On one hand, it wasnt another bandit. On the other Robert stared at the massive ant standing beside the tent. It was one of the large soldiers that had harassed them on the way to the dungeon. They had yet to see any inside the dungeon proper, but the creature still made him nervous. He could imagine the damage such a beast could cause if it broke free from the Dungeon Cores control while their guard was down. Robert found his hand drifting to the hilt of his sword every time the creature so much as twitched. He didnt miss the way Garrelts eyes tracked the ant as well. Maggy, however This is amazing! the bubbly girl practically squealed. One hand traced the various ridged of the ants carapace as the other rapidly made notes in the floating notebook in front of her. Dozens of minute bursts of Mana and Spirit Energy flashed across Roberts senses. He wasnt quite sure what she was doing, but the control she demonstrated was astounding, even to him. For as flighty, air-headed and ignorant of how the world worked as the girl seemed at times, it was easy to forget she was one of the peak geniuses of her generation. Ive heard that dungeons bred their own spirit beasts, but this is beyond anything I could have ever imagined! Ive dissected Demon Ants before, and while it might look like one on the surface, this thing might as well be an entirely different species! As Maggy spoke, her voice became more and more animated. Its like its internal structure has been optimized to an absurd degree. And some of these organs I couldnt even begin to tell you what they do! Maggy suddenly hugged the ant. Oh! What I wouldnt do to get you in the lab. Five humans and a goblin watched the scene with a flat stare, before Hugo turned to Robert and spoke, everyone leaving the young mage to her moment. It should be fine. Mr. Alpha had us keep this one away from the slimes for this very purpose, He said with a nod. Bill, standing next to the ant, slapped its side and gave the Adventurers a thumbs up. Thats right! Little Billy Jr. is harmless! Billy Jr? said Claude, an eyebrow raised. Bill spun and pointed his finger at the other man. You be quiet! You have your scripts. Let me have my ants, dang it! No sooner had the words left his mouth, did Billy Jr. lean down and clamp the mans helmeted head between its mandible. It then lifted the man off the ground and walked away. Jr! Drop! I said drop! Bill screamed as he flailed about, trying to undo the straps to his helmet. I told you before, Im not a larva! put me down this instant, young lady! Hugo sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. The Dungeon Core has told me he will be personally directing the ant during the mission. You have my assurance that things will go smoothly. All you and your team have to do is observe and let us handle the rest. Robert stared off after the ant as it carried Bill away, Maggy chasing after them. Right. He then turned back to Hugo and asked, What exactly is the plan? Three Hours Later The group crowded together in the camouflaged bunker, several hundred yards from the river. Through a glass window which Hugo claimed was invisible from the other side they stared at a large muddy hill the size of a small castle with a deep cavernous entrance carved in its side. Behind the hill, a large lake had formed where the rivers water pooled before continuing its journey downstream. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. So this is the place, then? The drakes den? asked Garrelt. Hugo nodded. Thats right. The den itself is a natural part of the dungeon, though the drake has added to it since its escape. He gestured to the muddy hill and Robert could just make out a quivering mass resting on top. As they watched, a small piece pinched off and fell to the ground. The newborn mud slime then slinked off, disappearing into the forest undergrowth. Gross said Maggy in response. Hugo lifted a strange artifact and pressed a button. Were ready, Bill. Get moving, he said. Im coming! came the response through the artifact, as if it were a communication jade, though Robert sensed no energy flux. A moment later, a large shadow emerged from the treeline. A solider ant slowly walked into the brighter mosslight of the river, followed closely by Bill. Is he crying? Robert asked, incredulously. Sure enough, Bill and the ant had stopped just past the treeline, and the man was animatedly speaking to the creature, his shoulders heaving slightly as he wiped his face with his sleeve. Hugo sighed and again spoke into the artifact, Bill, get on with it! We still have other stuff to do! Bill flinched and reached, or his own artifact clipped to his belt. He raised it to his mouth, and the mans voice spoke out of Hugos artifact, I said Im coming! Just the man sobbed slightly, just give me a minute, damn it! The man clipped his artifact back to his belt, then lunged forward, hugging the ants carapace, before spinning around and dashing back into the woods, one arm over his eyes. The massive solider ant only cocked its head once and turned toward the drakes den with no further prompting or prodding. It crossed the hundred meters of open terrain between the treeline and the den unimpeded. Then, with little ceremony, it crawled through the cavern opening and disappeared into the shadows in the back of the den. Several seconds passed, and when nothing more happened, Maggy softly whispered, Are we waiting on som ROOOOOOAAAAAARRRR! An earsplitting roar shook the area. Even from this distance, those in the bunker could feel the sound in their bones. The next moment, there was a deep boom from within the den, and something shot out of the entrance. The soldier ant flew for several dozen meters, before crashing hard and rolling for several more. Well most of it did. The ant was in a terrible state; its armor-like carapace was cracked in half a dozen places and a long gash nearly cut its thorax in two. It struggled to stand on several broken legs and nearly did so, before a second shadow erupted from the den. This second shadow covered the distance between the den and the ant in the blink of an eye, and the ground shook as a massive foot slammed the struggling ant back to the ground. Robert frowned as he caught his first look at their objective. Garrelt gave a low whistle. Wooow, now thats a big girl, he said, verbalizing what everyone else in the bunker was thinking. Big was an understatement. If the soldier ant was the size of a carriage, then the Mud Drake they were looking at was easily the size of a modest house, utterly dwarfing the giant insect. As if to emphasize that point, the Mud Drake leaned down and grabbed the ants head between its massive jaws. It pulled and the ants head was ripped away with seemingly little effort. The Mud Drake then tossed the head away and gave another air shaking roar toward the forest, as if daring any more ants to barge into its home uninvited. The reaction in the bunker was mixed. Maggy was staring at the creature as if it was a nightmare given flesh, while Garrelt grinned wider than Robert had ever seen the man do so before. Antchaser and the former bandits reactions were muted in comparison. Robert could still see the weariness and fear in their eyes, but it was born from recognition of a creature far beyond them, not one of surprise or shock. As if the creature was already a daily part of life. Sure, you respected it, but the awe had long lost its effect. As for Robert, he remained stone faced as he reevaluated what exactly they had gotten themselves into. Left alone, a Mud Drake like this had the potential to grow into a creature known as a Kigendoro. They were powerful draconic creatures of earth and water that were feared more as natural disasters than spirit beasts. A single Kigendoro, if unchecked, could turn an entire valley into a festering swamp in as little as a year. Moreover, given its size, he suspected the creature was at least [Elemental Dominance], maybe even nearing [Core Condensing]. As a peak [Spiritual Awakening] Cultivator of some talent, Robert felt he could handle a typical early [Elemental Dominance] spirit beast. More so if he was supported by the rest of the expedition. But one with dragon blood? And possibly close to forming its Spirit Core? Things would be tricky, to say the least. The only question was, would the possible rewards be worth the effort? Lucky for them, the Dungeon Core wanted the creature captured, not killed, which, ironically made things a bit easier for such a powerful spirit beast. Even so As the Mud Drake tore pieces of the ant off and chewed on them, Robert sighed and stood. I think Ive seen everything I need to he turned to look at the rest of his party and continued, Let us head back and bring what weve learned to the others. Hopefully, Bert hasnt gotten into too much trouble. B2 - Lesson 51: "Challenge Accepted!" AAAAHHHRRRRUG! Bert swung the massive [Megaton] hammer at the charging Bulwark Termite soldier. The powerful weapon slammed into the armored head of the tank-sized insect with such force that a visible shockwave expanded outward. THUMP! A secondary boom sounded as the kinetic piston at the back of the hammer activated. The termite screeched as spiderweb cracks spread through the quarter-meter-thick armor of its head. That next instant, its back end exploded, covering the two dozen smaller soldier termites behind it in corrosive blue gore. The Bulwark Termite collapsed, dead before it hit the ground. A group of Adventurers cheered, then rushed past the massive insect and swarmed the distracted soldier termites before they could regroup. In a matter of seconds, the termites were dead. Bert whirled, breathing heavily, [Megaton] at the ready only to find no more targets. Instead, the battlefield was littered with the corpses of hundreds of large termites. Most were workers or soldiers, but nearly two dozen tank-sized termite corpses were spread around the area. The Adventurers of the expedition had treated the termite infestation mostly as a way to kill boredom. While the creatures numbers were great, the Adventurers chosen for this expedition were elites, and each individual termite wasnt much stronger than [Bronze Spirit]. That changed when the Bulwarks appeared. Nearly twice as large as the typical soldier termite and heavily armored to an absurd degree, each took at least three Adventurers to take down. Even Bert struggled to kill the creatures quick enough. Offensively, the Bulwarks werent too strong, but if the Adventurers werent careful, they would be swarmed by the hordes hiding behind the creatures. The expedition would have lost a few people that way, but for the quick actions of the goblin hunters in retrieving the wounded or redirecting their efforts. Bert was honestly surprised at how coordinated the hunters were. They were more efficient and worked together better than some of the most elite militaries the large man had seen. He would have to ask about their training one day. The tide of the battle had shifted once more when Boarslayer, wielding the weapon Bert now did, had appeared. The artifact [Megaton], as she called it proved exceptionally effective against the Bulwarks, its mighty blows seeming to bypass the creatures insane armor. Unfortunately, the weapon also appeared to put more than a little strain on even the powerful goblin warrior. Boarslayer had only killed two of the armored insects before she nearly collapsed, her arms visibly shaking as purple bruises spread up her arms. So Bert had taken up the weapon in her stead. As soon as he picked the weapon up, he understood why Boarslayer struggled with it. It was heavy, even for Bert. Moreover, the massive hammers secondary impact shook his bones in a way he had never felt before. Bert had to reinforce his body with Spirit Energy like he did with his most powerful body enhancements to even use the bloody weapon. Now, the fight was over, and the Bulwarks were exterminated. Whatever intelligence if any commanded the termites seemed to take that as a sign. The forest emptied of termites as quickly as they had appeared. The gathered Adventurers and goblins paused, taking in the battlefield. Seeing no more enemies, the group erupted in cheers. Bert smiled and knelt in the gore to catch his breath. Glad thats over. Dont think I could have done that many more times Bert thought to himself as he stared at his slightly shaking arms. Silent as a ghost, Boarslayer suddenly appeared beside him. She stared down at Bert with a frown for a silent moment before snatching [Megaton] from his hands. Mine, she said before walking away. Bert only chuckled to himself and shook his head. As the large goblin warrior walked away, practically dragging the massive hammer behind her, Berts gaze drifted back to the [Megaton], and he hmmed to himself. He had never seen a weapon quite like that hammer before. It hadnt taken long for Bert to realize the weapon used none of his Spirit Energy at all, barring what it took to reinforce his own body. For such an astoundingly powerful weapon to use no Spirit Energy? Yet be able to be wielded by a mere early [Spiritual Awakening] Cultivator like himself? Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. That kind of thing was unheard of. Bert had to consciously suppress his greed at the thought of the hammer. Trying to take it would only crack the already strained relationship between Halirosa and the goblin village, let alone his newest apprentice. Besides, it didnt take a genius to figure out where Boarslayer could have gotten such a weapon. Berts gaze drifted toward the direction of the dungeon. He wondered how Robert and the others were doing with their own mission. According to Dr. Maria, they should hear some news soon. Bert grinned from ear to ear. I wonder if they had as much fun as us? << Alpha Log - 6952 SFY-Third Era, 7 standard months since Planetfall. 5 days since the beginning of Operation: Safari Hunt >> The enemy has been vanquished! Long live the colony! Long live the Queens! In all seriousness, though, Ive made quite a bit of progress on our little termite problem. While the goblins and Adventurers slaughtered the army sent into the forest, Ive not been sitting on my digital butt. Infiltrating the termite colony was easier than I expected. With most of the termite colonys soldiers and workers split between fighting the ant colony and the Adventurers, they have made a critical error and left their own colony practically undefended. Of course, theres no way Id let that chance slip by. It helped that the Alphantonso Mark-6 iterations were nearly as strong as a termite soldiers themselves. Refining the modular nanite ports built into their carapaces had greatly increased their utility. Ive even noticed the native ant-mind adapting to the mods as well, and they have been requesting access for various jobs around the colony when not being actively directed by the onboard AI. That such a thing should only be technically possible is a minor matter. Thats the best kind of possible! Ok, so I should really look into that, but Ive got other, more important issues to deal with right now. Im sure itll be fine. As I was saying, the strike squad, backed up by a few Antonio-II model soldiers, made quick work of the termite colonys weakened defenses. As I suspected, the termite colony was massive, even compared to the ant colony, but as it followed a similar layout, I was able to quickly find several key locations. Including the royal chamber. At ten queens, half of which seemed newly hatched, Im glad we managed to find this threat before it became significant. If the termites had been allowed to continue to grow, their numbers would have snowballed out of control. At first, I was going to wipe them out. Kill all the queens and torch the nurseries I could find. Sure, with such a massive colony, there was a chance I would miss a few, but it would have been worth it. Dr. Maria, however, convinced me to leave a few of the queens alive. According to her, for as destructive as they could be, this particular species of spirit insect were prized for their various alchemical and medical uses. Keeping them around while regulating their numbers would be a boon for their growing outpost, and act as another draw for Adventurers. If we were lucky, the various rare resources in the forest, coupled with both the termites and ants, would attract experienced alchemists and mages looking to exploit the resources. Apparently, the natural napalm produced by the Demon Ants was also quite valuable, if much less so than the termites. In retrospect, I should have considered that, given how adept the natives seem at exploiting their environment. The Federation would be proud! Another surprise came in how well Bert wielded the [Megaton]. That wasnt a weapon designed to be used without Boarslayers custom armor. The damage the woman had caused to her body in just a few swings was evidence of that. Yet Bert had not only kept pace with the weapon for quite some time, but had reduced the strain on his own body through a rather clever use of Spirit Energy. I knew that the strange energy could reinforce a biological body through observing my ants, but not to such a degree. This warrants further investigation. That said, now that the termite issue has been mostly resolved, its time to get on with the show! Bert chucked as he grinned wider down at Robert. Hey boss, welcome back. Sorry about the mess. We had a small incident while you were gone. Robert stared at the grinning, blue-splattered giant of a man in front of him, then turned to the gore-filled battlefield spread out behind the giant. He then sighed and pinched the ridge of his nose. I assume youve already sent scouts out to locate the colony? he asked the giant man. Bert nodded, Yup. They left not too long before you all returned. Some of the goblin hunters even agreed to escort them to the most probable locations. We should hear back from them within the day if luck holds up. This place just keeps getting better and better, doesnt it? Robert smirked, then frowned. Yes it is. Thats what Im worried about. This place is a little too good. Bert raised an eyebrow. You expect the clans to raise a fuss if the Guild tried to claim this place? he asked. Among other things, yes, Robert responded. The two of them stood there in silence for a long moment, each lost in their own thoughts before Bert coughed into his hands. So, boss how did things go on your end? Were you able to meet with the Dungeon Core and figure out what were dealing with? Roberts shoulders sagged, and the man resisted the urge to complain. Yes. We did. Things arent as simple as they seem, however. If we want to keep this place, Im afraid we have quite the challenge ahead of us. Berts eyes lit up, and his grin grew wider. Keep talkin. I love a good challenge. B2 - Lesson 52: "Do What Youre Asked." YOU KNEW ABOUT THEM THIS WHOLE TIME?! Maggy yelled as she shook Dr. Maria by the shoulders. If the doctor hadnt already been a celebrated healer and [Golden Spirit] Cultivator herself, Alpha would have had strong words for the young lady about respecting her elders. As it was, the old doctor simply laughed, apparently enjoying her young friends rather eccentric display. Of course, dear. I have been down here for quite a while longer than you have. Maggy stopped shaking the woman and stared at her, eyes filled with hurt betrayal. And you didnt tell me?! Dr. Maria chuckled and patted the young girls shoulder. Now, where would the fun have been in that? she said. Besides, would you have entered the dungeon if I had shown them to you? Or would you have spent the next month locked in a hut trying to figure out how they worked? the doctor asked, gesturing to the small pile of MUD coins on the table. Maggy looked away, visibly blushing as she muttered something too soft to hear. Bert, standing nearby, lifted a coin off the table and nimbly rolled it across the back of his fingers. So these are what you guys found, huh? Ill admit, Ive never been one for tablets. Sure, theyre useful, but they burn money like a young master at the brothel. Id rather rely on what I can do myself. Maggy turned and pointed a finger at the large man, You only say that because you dont understand what these represent! If we could crack how they work, they could change everything! she said. Robert raised a hand, cutting off what he expected would be a lengthy breakdown of every reason Bert was wrong. Thats understandable, Bert, though keep in mind that the tablet market alone makes up nearly 5% of Halirosas annual income. They still require some testing, but Magnolia isnt wrong. A dungeon capable of producing even common tablets would be an unimaginable boon for the city. Robert raised on the coins, But If these MUD are capable of what we suspect, then that alone would make this the find of a lifetime." Bert raised a brow and whistled, reevaluating the seeming clay coin he held. That big, uh? Ill trust your expertise then. That said, the other stuff you brought is more interesting to me. Bert placed the coin down and picked up a kite shield that was also sitting on the table, along with a collection of other items. The large shield looked more like a buckler in the giants hand. He lifted it, then, with his free hand, flicked the center of the shield. DOOOONG! A loud metallic sound echoed through the camp. When Bert turned the shield to the rest of the group, they saw a small dent had formed. I put enough Spirit Energy and force in that blow to cave even quality steel. And this thing isnt even arrayed, he said before placing the shield back on the table. Whats more he gestured to it. At first, the group had trouble seeing what Bert saw, but those gathered around the table soon gasped. As they watched, the dent in the shield slowly bulged outward, snapping back into place, until the shield returned to its pristine condition. I recognize this alloy, Bert said. The smith who discovered it claimed it could remember its shape in some way I couldnt understand. The problem was that it was a rather soft alloy prone to deformation under certain forces. He found some rather clever uses, but it was ultimately deemed unsuited for armor or weapons. It seems the dungeon has solved that problem. Alpha grinned to himself as he watched the group from a hidden [Wasp], glad someone had recognized the shields value. It was one of the items that Alpha was most proud of. Bert was right: the nickel-titanium alloy, often nicknamed memory metal, wasnt suited for armor or cold weapons. Sure, it had uncountable other uses, even for the Federation, but its military applications were limited without serious processing which Alpha didnt have access to yet. That was until he discovered his ants. It turned out the Demon Ants incorporated a similar principle behind the metal into their carapaces. Alloying the metal and carapaces among other things together using Federation methods created a biometal that was not only absurdly durable but could quickly repair itself when damaged. The resulting metal was even chemically inert to everything but itself, allowing it to cold weld in an atmosphere. If something did manage to severely damage the metal, you could literally stick it back together with little loss in its structural stability. That also made it slightly harder to work with, but Alpha had immediately thought of a thousand uses for the metal. The armor that his dungeons NPCs wore was even made of the stuff. This new equipment offered only slightly less defensive ability than the tactical armor Alpha had given to the goblins, though it was significantly heavier and didnt come with any of the fun stuff built into the goblins armor. A personal shield generator covered anything the armor couldnt handle. Who knew what else he could make with it in time, though? Alpha smirked to himself as he watched Robert reevaluating the shield he had so casually dismissed in the dungeon. The rest of the table was filled with the various items they had collected during their brief delve into the Dragons Garden. A couple of the shield fences the goblins had used against the termites. Typically used to keep wild animals out of your garden, but the Adventurers and goblins didnt need to know that. A solar-powered, collapsable lantern that got more attention than Alpha was expecting once Antchaser showed how to use it. A box filled with various medical solutions Dr. Maria had assured Alpha the Adventurers would be interested in. Even some more traditional arrayed equipment from Alphas experiments. While their effects were still minor, the quality that Alpha could produce was leagues above what could be done by hand, and the items would be suitable for Cultivators below [Silver Spirit]. Alpha had tried to vary the rewards as much as he reasonably could. No one liked getting the same thing over and over again. He needed to show the kinds of things he could really offer the Adventurers to flame their greed. At the same time, showing them everything would take away from the wonder and set unrealistic expectations.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Alpha was fully planning on using the Expeditionary force as an eventual beta group to test how best to balance these rewards. However, that would likely have to wait until after they had dealt with Icefingers group. Examples of the items were passed around the expeditionary team as each of the two dozen or so Adventurers and support staff discussed the finds and what other secrets the dungeon might hold. Robert had no fear of any of the items going missing. Maybe he would have if it was another group, but not this one. Everyone chosen for the expedition were professionals of the highest caliber in one field or another, if not always combat. While the rest of the team played with the loot, the expeditionary team and village leadership met to discuss their next steps. Once the dungeon team finished explaining what they had learned, the inside of the command tent had gone deathly silent. I see the issue, Bert said, finally breaking the silence. The large mans shoulder slumped, and he slicked his hair back. On one hand, we cant abandon the dungeon. Even the cavern itself is a treasure trove. The clans have grown a bit too arrogant lately with their monopoly of the nearby Deep entrances. This place would go a long way in fortifying the Guilds position in Halirosa. On the other hand Bert let his words hang in the air as the goblins and Adventurers around the table exchanged looks. Garrelt tapped the table with an arrow rhythmically; a habit Antchaser had quickly picked up meant the man was thinking the problem through. After a moment, he stabbed the arrow into the table and stood. Our best bet is to stabilize the dungeon as best as possible. Eliminate the slimes and possessed creatures, patrol the area, and prevent the drake from causing more damage. While we do that, we send for a Guild Executive. They should be enough to capture the drake alo Absolutely not, came Roberts response. Garrelt paused, frowned, and raised a brow. And why not? An Executive would be, at minimum, [Soul Fusion]. Even if the Mud Drake has crossed into [Core Condensing], capturing it would be a breeze. Robert folded his hands and returned the mans glare. And are you willing to take the risk that we cant keep the dungeon from collapsing before they get here? The Dungeon Core itself said that time is of the essence. How incompetent would we look if we let the dungeon collapse before help could arrive when we can handle the issue ourselves? he asked. At what cost?! Garrelt asked, opening his arms wide. Im all for a good hunt, Robert, and if I was alone with the time, I might try my hand at the drake myself. But were not alone, Robert. How many people are we going to throw at that thing to even put it in a position to be captured? How many wont make it back to enjoy the spoils? Robert frowned, then leaned back in his chair. Everyone in this expedition understood the risks when they joined. Danger is part of what it means to be an Adventurer. The mans voice was flat and cold. At the expedition leaders uncharacteristically callous response, those gathered around the table turned and stared. Garrelts frown deepened, and his eyes narrowed. The scout leader took a deep and pointed at Robert. Before he could say whatever he was preparing to, however, Bert stood, a hand outstretched to both. Hold on now, both of you, he said, glancing between the two glaring men. You both have valid points. Robert isnt wrong that were on a time crunch here. Were walking a thin line between the dungeon break, the termites, and who knows what else is out there. Bert locked eyes with Garrelt while Robert smirked. At the same time, Bert continued Roberts smirk fell, and his eyes snapped to Bert While its true that we all understood the risks as Adventurers, Garrelt isnt wrong. This isnt exactly what we signed up for. And we must remind ourselves not to be blinded by greed, lest we fall off our tightrope to disaster in our rush. As the others around the table whispered and muttered to each other, Garrelt and Robert continued to glare at each other. Dr. Maria stood nearby, nodding her head at the large mans word. While the others discussed the problem, Antchaser, Boarslayer, the doctor, and Alpha were having their own discussion over their comms. Whats the chance of them actually capturing the thing without casualties? Boarslayer asked. I get why were doing this, but it doesnt feel right if people are going to die needlessly. After all, it wasnt as if the Dragons Garden was in danger of collapse. All of this was just smoke and mirrors. Hard to say its gotten bigger and stronger since the last time I saw it, came Antchasers response. Between Robert and Bert, they might be able to keep the beast focused enough to keep everyone safe. But the drake is used to group tactics after dealing with the ants for so long. Its a risk. Boarslayer grumbled. I dont like it, but should we do what Garrelt suggested and let them call in a Guild Executive? That would also make dealing with Icefingers lot a certainty, right? Do we know when theyll arrive yet? No, Alpha said. My eyes outside of the region are limited, and Ive not yet been able to locate them. I suspect theyre cloaking their movements somehow. However, all the data I do have points to them arriving in the next five to six days. Regardless, I dont think calling a Guild Executive would be for the best, Dr. Maria interjected. Oh? Why so? Alpha asked. Dr. Maria frowned. A few reasons. First off, the timing. It could take anywhere from two days to a couple of weeks for an executive to arrive, depending on if there are any holdups. Relying on them to solve our little bandit issue is inefficient. She then turned and stared at the hidden [Wasps] drone spying on the meeting. Alpha had yet to figure out how exactly the woman could spot them so easily. Theres also the issue of leverage. Its one thing if the expeditionary force works together with the village to beat back the problems of the drake and the bandits. Its another thing entirely if a Guild Executive arrives to rescue us all with a wave of their hand assuming Icefingers men dont go into hiding as soon as they learn an Executive is here. Dr. Maria frowned. That was a distinct possibility. That gives the village and dungeon far less bargaining power, even by Deep law. In the worst-case scenario, the Guild moves in and takes over with the excuse of stability and protection or some other nonsense. If the village wants any say in what happens here in the future, they need to establish themselves as a power capable of, at the very least, being of use. Boarslayer and Antchaser exchanged a dark look. The doctor had a point. As they were now, the expeditionary force was treating the goblin village as allies. And as long as they proved themselves competent, the other Deep Tribes would rally to their defense if someone exponentially more powerful than them tried to bully their way into control. That was how the otherwise independent and isolated Deep Tribes had defended themselves from the surface races for millennia. Had there been a larger village nearby, Boscos group would have never done half of what they had. But if the village invited that power in? Well, then, that was an entirely different matter. Boarslayer folded her arms. Then that just brings us right back to where we started. Where do we go from here? To everyones surprise, the answer to that question came from an unexpected source. You guys are overcomplicating this, said Maggy, who, until that point, had remained quiet during the meeting. After all, she was a scholar, not a fighter. She could defend herself well enough, but the other around the table had far more experience dealing with powerful beasts, be they the veteran adventurers or the goblin Hunters. The discussion around the table paused, and all eyes turned to the young woman, who blushed red. She coughed in her hand and collected herself before continuing. What I mean is, youre thinking too much like Cultivators. Not every problem needs to be beaten over the head with the biggest stick you can find. Garrelt raised a brow and smirked. Well then, Ms. Mage, how do you propose we fight the dragon-blooded spirit beast, which, I remind you, is likely a greater realm stronger than anyone here? Maggy turned to the man and glared. The Dungeon Core already told us himself. He doesnt want us to fight anything Maggys words trailed off into silence. After a moment, Dr. Maria burst into laughter and grinned at the young woman beside her, causing Maggy to blush even further. Bert, too, grinned, then reached under the table and pulled out a rolled map. In one motion, he unfurled it and laid it across the table for them all to see. The lass was right. They had gotten so tied up on the drakes power that they had all forgotten one important detail. Their job was never to fight the drake in the first place. It was to capture it. B2 - Lesson 53: "Its 5 oClock Somewhere." How does one capture a drake without killing it? Not easily, apparently. Alpha had expected this, of course. Both Dr. Maria and the goblins had theorized as much, even if neither had any experience. That doesnt mean its impossible, of course, Garrelt said, addressing the meeting table. Halirosa has a proud tradition of drake hunting. Being so close to the Forest of Giants, its not uncommon for drakes to wander into the Crimson Mountains from the north. Garrelt pointed to an enormous sea north of the Crimson Mountain range, labeled Starfall Sea. Bordering the sea and the mountains was a thin strip of land that stretched the length of the northern edge of the continent. Two long peninsulas jutted out from either end of the continent, giving the entire thing a serpentine appearance. In fact, the peninsulas were even labeled Serpents Head and Serpents Tail, respectively. In bold letters, surrounded by what Alpha could only assume were warning signs, was the regions name; Nohoggrs Grave. Garrelts finger slid across the map toward the east and paused on a forested area that took up nearly two-thirds of the eastern peninsula, the one labeled as the tail, before suddenly ending in a jagged mountainous area near the tip. It looked small compared to the rest of the planet and the massive mountain range to the south Until one considered that if Alphas estimates of the planets size were correct, the forest was easily three to four times the size of the Amazon back on Old Earth, even after its restoration. Garrelt smirked, Though keep in mind, those that wander far enough south to be a problem are those forced out of their flocks for one reason or another. The sick, the old, the runts of the litter. Yet even theyre still dragon-blooded creatures. Every drake season, not a few fools underestimate the creatures and die horrible, painful deaths or Garrelt Robert growled in warning. Garrelt raised his hands defensively. Hey, Im just making sure you all understand that while it might not be as hard or dangerous as fighting one head-on, capturing a drake is no simple task. If we do this, we do it right, or people will die. Maggy squinted her eyes and frowned. Why do people capture drakes to begin with? Seems like a lot of trouble, she asked. Dr. Maria was the one to answer that question. Likely the same reason our Dungeon Core friend wants one. A live drake is worth far more than a dead one particularly to the dragon clans. With the right formations and methods, a living drake can be continuously harvested for materials for years. Not that those greedy bastards dont use that as an excuse to rip others off. All eyes turned to the doctor. She folded her arms and smirked. What? You think I run the business I do with just charity work? Please. Once more, Alpha wondered just how many cookie jars the old crone had her hand in. Right, anyway, as I was saying, Garrelt addressed the group, Capturing a drake isnt easy. Their dragon blood gives them powerful spiritual senses. They can spot ambushes before the ambushers even see the creature. They can detect traps like pitfalls and snares easily. Even if hidden under multiple layers of stealth arrays. Nets or chains are equally ineffective, as their monstrous strength means they can easily rip through them unless theyre made of high-quality materials. So, how do you capture one, then? Antchaser asked. Garrelt smirked. Drake hunters have a few methods proven to work over the years. However, only one is known to be both safer and consistent, the man said. And that is? Antchaser frowned and folded his arms. Garrelt smirked, grew wider, and he turned to Bert, who met the mans gaze with a wide grin of his own. The giant man answered for Garrelt. We get them smashed! Do we really have to do this?! Maggy asked as she stared at the waist-high pitch-black hole in the cliff face. Boarslayer sneered at the slightly shivering human woman. Its a hole, girl. A well-explored and frequently traveled hole. Even if we come across something unexpected, thats why we have a Forward. Youll be perfectly safe.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Maggy spun and pointed at the much larger woman. Its not whats in the hole Im worried about! she said. Its the bloody mountain falling on top of me! Boarslayer folded her arms and leaned on her hip. Fat chance of that. Tunnels like this dont form if they cant support their own weight. And thats before its reinforced. Just dont go blowing things up while were in there. Maggy threw her hands in the air. Why do we even have to go down there?! she asked. Antchaser and Garrelt rounded the corner, carrying a strange, low-rimmed mine cart. Garrelt sat his cart down before turning to Maggy. Because the village doesnt have the necessary [Dragon Ale] for the plan. Importing it from Halirosa would also defeat the purpose, so we have to improvise. The scout leader flicked his wrist, and a glistening peach appeared in his hand. He took a bite out of the Everbloom Stone Peach and grinned. Antchaser sighed. We have nothing in the village strong enough to get a [Core Condensing] drake drunk, he said, slicking back his mossy hair. According to our scouts, theres a massive peach orchard in the neighboring cavern. If we gather enough, we should be able to make a decent spirit wine using the villages technique. Antchaser side-eyed the two human Adventurers. It was actually Alpha who would make the wine, using his strange control over time, but the humans didnt need to know that. The village leadership had agreed it was best for the expeditionary team to remain in the dark regarding the Dungeon Cores influence over the village. For now, at least. Thats fine, Maggy said before pointing at the hole in the wall barely large enough for a mine cart to squeeze through, but why do we have to get there through that?! Antchaser moved his cart to the tunnel entrance and locked it into a set of hidden rails. This is the most direct route to the cavern in question, he said as he fiddled with the cart. Its an old ant tunnel the village converted into a railway for the hunters. Like Boarslayer said, its frequently traveled and well maintained. Ok, so it was primarily Alphas ants that actually used the thing, but again, that wasnt something the Adventurers needed to know. If we take the main tunnels, it would be a two-day round trip, not counting the time to gather fruit. We wont make it in time if we rely on that route, Antchaser continued. Garrelt narrowed his eyes. Make it in time for what, exactly? he asked. Antchaser flinched slightly but recovered quickly. To capture the drake before something happens, of course. Garrelt raised a brow but didnt comment further. There was a metallic click as the last mine cart was fit into place, and Antchaser stood. Finished. Lets get going. Itll take an hour to get there, he said, dusting off his pants. Maggy eyed the linked mine carts warily. How are we going to actually get there? Those carts arent big enough for all of us, and dont feel like crawling on my knees through a cramped tunnel for an hour, regardless of how safe you claim it is. Antchaser grinned, then smacked the side of the nearest mine cart with his hand. The carts shook slightly, and there was another click. One by one, the front and back of each mine cart lowered, then connected to the one in front of it. After a moment, the dozen mine carts fused into one long, flat-topped train, leaving just enough room for the four of them to lie down on. Antchaser bent down and crawled on top of the carts, moving toward the front. He called out behind him. If Dr. Marias estimates are correct, well need several loads for the plan to work, so hurry! Boarslayer and Garrelt exchanged a look before shrugging and moving toward the entrance. Maggy looked back toward the village and sighed. I hope things are going well on their end Smack! Not here, fool! I said over there! the old doctor said. Y-yes, maam! the Adventurer responded, rubbing his head as he dragged the freshly cut log toward the processing area. He could feel the old womans disapproving eyes burning into this soul the entire way and so quickened his step. Humph. Seeing the slacker speed up, Dr. Maria rolled her eyes and turned to lock eyes with an older goblin woman directing another crew off to the side. As she made her way in that direction, the goblin woman Weaver shouted something at working Adventurers and goblins, then walked toward Dr. Maria as well. The two women stopped and sighed as one, their shoulders sagging slightly. Im getting too old for this, Weaver said. I thought these were supposed to be to be your elites? Why do I feel like Im herding a group of toddlers?! Kids these days. I doubt half these Adventurers have done anything but kill spirit beats and mana monsters in years. Dr. Maria responded. It makes me wonder what theyre even teaching them now these days. Good thing were here to set them straight, right? Weaver said. The two women exchanged a grin and cackled before heading off to find a new victim eh, worker. Alpha didnt have a spine or a body yet somehow, he still felt a shiver run through his being. Weaver and Dr. Maria had gotten along from the very start, and Alpha was starting to question if it had been a good idea to introduce them The two men standing beside the activity echoed Alphas thoughts. Hey, Bert Yea, Robert? Whats happening? Im not totally sure. Do do we stop them? Robert asked. Big Bert slowly turned and looked at Robert with one raised brow. Robert silently returned the look before he turned back to the controlled chaos. Right he muttered, almost to himself. YOU TWO! WHY ARE YOU JUST STANDING THERE? PICK UP A TOOL AND GET TO WORK! Dr. Maria yelled from across the field, causing the two men to flinch. Bert and Robert looked at each other again before Bert shrugged and walked toward a waiting group. Robert pinched the bridge of his nose, and his shoulders sagged. A moment later, he followed the large man. In the middle of the field, the skeleton of a massive wine press was slowly taking shape. B2 - Lesson 54 "Wanna See A Magic Trick?" A mage, a scout, and two goblins walked into a dark, primal jungle. As much as Antchaser wished a punchline was coming, that was the reality of their situation. The forest past the tunnel was far different from their home cavern. Where the goblin cavern was filled with towering redwood trees and massive mushrooms, this new cavern was a tangled mass of overgrown vegetation and strangling vines. Even the path cleared in advance by Alphas ants was already disappearing under fresh growth. Why is there a jungle next door?! Maggy complained, incinerating a thumb-sized insect with a thought before it could sneak into her robes. Thats the nature of the Deep, Garrelt responded. He and Boarslayer stood in front of the group, hacking away at the thick brush to clear their way. Antchaser took the rear, the same plasma cutter hed used in the Dragons Garden clutched tightly in his hands. The goblin continued Garrelts commentary, Most Deep caverns are pretty insulated. You never really know what youll find walking from one cavern to the next. I know of a tribe of Deep Dwarves who live in an underground desert under a massive pool of magma, held in place by a spiritual barrier. Pure metal dust will filter through the barrier and fall like snow to the sands below, where the tribe sifts it out. As he spoke, Antchaser kept watch over their surroundings. Another well-known cavern is the Shattered World, a place filled with so much broken space no one is sure where it starts and where it ends, the goblin continued. Measured from the outside, the cavern was less than ten square kilometers wide. Yet some people had reached the opposite wall in as much as ten steps, while others have spent months, or even years, traveling constantly. That was the kind of place you could find in the Deep. And thats why access to the Deep is so coveted, Garrelt said next. The sheer variety of strange environments down here gives birth to uncountable treasures and resources that cant be found on the surface. How do you not know any of this? Boarslayer asked the young mage. Dont you live in an Adventurers city? Maggy huffed. Im an Old Ruins researcher! As far as we know, theres never been an instance of Old Ruin architecture this deep. Not that anyone knows why. Thats what makes the Dragons Garden so interesting. It obviously has Old Ruin influences, if not directly. The implications could be groundbreaking! Boarslayer exchanged a look with Antchaser, though neither said anything. Anyway, Garrelt continued, cutting through another thick vine that blocked their way with his heavy machete, all that variance also means the Deep is, on average, far more dangerous than the surface. You never know what kind of strange things youll find down here. Sccccrrrreeeeeee!!! As Garrelt swung at another vine, his machete failed to cut all the way through. Instead, it became lodged in the writhing vine, screeching vine, as dark red blood bubbled out. Ambush! Garrelt yelled as a dozen vines fell on the group. Being the largest of the group, Boarslayer seemed to get the brunt of the assault. She lifted her arms in time for several fanged maws to latch onto her forearms. Serpentine bodies as thick as an adult humans wrist wound themselves around her arms and body, as short, clawed limbs dug shallow groves into her muscled arms. Boarslayer slammed her arm against a nearby tree with enough force to crack the trunk, loosening one of the creatures grip enough that she could slip several fingers under it. She pulled, and the creature was torn apart in a spray of gore. A hammer fist to her shoulder drove another creatures fangs deeper but also crushed its head with the sound of a cracking skull. In only a few breaths, the ambush was over. Maggy stood in a charred circle, blackened vines surrounding the wide-eyed, panting woman, while Garrelt calmly cleaned his glistening daggers. Not a single scratch or drop of blood was visible on the scout leader himself. Boarslayer swayed slightly as they regrouped, her vision swimming. Garrelt steadied her with a hand. Hanging Longs, he said, kicking a body away. The long, green bodies looked like vines at first glance, but closer inspection showed distinctly reptilian features with four pairs of short, clawed limbs scatted along its long body. Near the head and tail were manes of bright red feathers that gave the appearance of hanging berries from a distance. Mildly venomous, but not very dangerous for someone of your cultivation and size. The blood will attract something nastier in a place like this, though. Lets move on and find somewhere for you to cycle the venom, he continued.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Ummm guys? Maggy suddenly spoke up. Garrelt and Boarslayer turned to Maggy with a questioning look. The young mage nervously looked around the area, asking, Wheres Antchaser? Antchaser struggled against his bindings, but the strange threads only tightened in response. He had never seen his captor, and even now, as he was dragged through the unnaturally silent jungle, whatever held the other end of the threads was careful to never enter his line of sight. That was bad. It spoke of intelligence beyond that of a simple spirit beast. That was even before considering how the creature had taken advantage of the other spirit beasts ambush or grabbed Antchaser before his companions had even noticed. It had descended on him in absolute silence, binding him with black threads that seemed to materialize out of thin air. In less time than it took to draw a breath in warning, Antchaser had been pulled into the underbrush. Whats more, despite feeling every bump and bruise as he was pulled at speed over the jungle floor, Antchaser could tell at a glance he wasnt leaving a trail not a broken branch or torn leaf was left in his wake. If Antchaser had been the same person he was several months ago, he might have fallen into despair. Lucky for him, he wasnt that goblin any longer. The goblin gave one more push against his bindings. The threads barely had any give, but it was enough. A bulge near his shoulder wiggled under the threads, making its way toward where the bindings ended, just under Antchasers nose. The [Wasp] drone wiggled free a moment later. The drone turned, looked at Antchaser, then spread its wings and launched into the air. Antchaser sighed in relief as he watched the drone fly away. Alpha could track his and Boarslayers exact positions using their implants. It didnt matter what kind of stealth tricks his mysterious captor was using. Now, they would just have to think of a way to explain that to the Adventurers If Alpha had a body, he would be grinding his teeth at that moment. Hed grown overconfident over the last few months, as his capabilities had grown. He had forgotten an important lesson about this hellscape planet; expect the unexpected. To be fair, the goblins implants werent built to detect stealthed enemies, and there was only so much data he could gather through his [Wasp] drone scouts at once. Even so, he was kicking himself for letting slip by like this. Even now, Alpha couldnt get a good lock on whatever dragged Antchaser deeper into the jungle. The drones optical cameras could only make out a blurry shadow moving through the treetops. Lucky for him, whatever method the creature used to avoid detection wasnt obscuring the tracking signal from Antchasers implants. He could lead them right to wherever it was, the creature was taking Antchaser without it even knowing it was being tracked. The problem was convincing the other two to follow Boarslayers directions. She might have been an expert hunter, but so was Garrelt. The man might become suspicious if she started following a trail he couldnt see. Luckily, he had an idea though he doubted Boarslayer would enjoy it. I cant see a thing! Boarslayer roared before turning to Garrelt. What about you? Garrelt shook his head. Nothing. The floating motes of mana surrounding Maggy vanished, and she opened her eyes and shook her head. I cant get a read on him. Whatever took him is blocking my divination somehow. Boarslayer slammed her fit into a nearby tree. Damm it! How does someone just vanish without a trace?! Teleportation, maybe? Maggy proposed. Though if that was the case, we should have felt the energy fluxation. Teleporting isnt subtle in the slightest. She glanced around the thick forest. Should we split up? See if we can find any clues? Garrelt looked at the young mage like she was an idiot. Splitting up is the worst possible thing we could do. More so if whatever happened to Antchaser isnt a one-off. No, we head back to the village and gather more people. A few of my scouts have more esoteric abilities. Well find him. If he lives. But that will Maggy began to say. Maggy, Garrelt cut her off, his eyes hard. We know nothing of what happened here. Knowing when to proceed and when to retreat separates the Adventurers who get to go home and those who dont, he said before turning toward the tunnel entrance. It would likely be at least half a day before they could return. They had to trust that Antchaser could survive until then. Wait! Boarslayer said as a voice whispered in her ear. The two Adventurers paused. They turned and stared at the goblin in confusion. I Boarslayer spoke through clenched teeth, nearly snarling the words the voice in her ear had her parrot, I might have a way to track Antchaser. Garrelt raised a brow as if to say, Continue. Boarslayer sighed and rubbed her temples. Antchaser and I are Oathbound. Garrelts eyes widened, though Maggy looked between the two in uncertainty. Oathbound? What do you mean? Maggy asked. Boarslayer grumbled wordlessly, leaving Garrelt to answer. Its an old form of soul binding. Rarely done now these days. In fact, the only place I know its still practiced is the Radiant Sea. Why would two goblins near the other side of the continent be Oathbound in the manner of the Wandering Cities? Maggy turned to Boarslayer, her eyes wide and sparkling. Does that mean you two are married?! When did that happen?! Well, I mean, I guess its obvious in hindsight. You two do spend a lo NO! Boarslayer roared, shaking the nearby trees with the sound of her voice. Divines above, NO, were NOT married, girl! What kind of Boarslayer took a deep breath and collected herself. My point is, I can track him kinda. Garrelt frowned and narrowed his eyes as he stared at Boarslayer. Why is this the first time were hearing about this? Boarslayer folded her arms and frowned right back at him. Because its a personal matter, and frankly, none of your business, she responded, thinking on her feet. Garrelt raised his hands in defeat. Fair, thats fair. Fine. If youre able to track him, then lets get moving. Every moment we waste is more time for them to get farther away. Lead the way, Ms. Boarslayer. Boarslayer didnt bother to say anything more. Instead, she turned off the trail and walked deeper into the jungle. Maggy gave Boarslayer a cheesy smirk as she passed the goblin, and Boarslayer felt her eye twitch. She was going to have a talk with Alpha about this stunt later. She didnt doubt news of her oath would spread like wildfire. Boarslayer would milk the Dungeon Core of everything she could for agreeing to this. B2 - Lesson 55 "Get Them Before They Get You." Antchaser wiggled against his bindings, trying to work anything free. Thanks in part to the implants the goblin had received from Alpha after he had nearly died at the hands of Boscos men, Antchasers right arm wasnt fully flesh. Not that anyone could tell at a glance, such was the Dungeon Cores strange technology. Most of the modifications to his body allowed Antchaser to interface with Alphas tools, but those on his limbs were more functional. When paired with simpler flesh-sculpting spirit techniques he had picked up from Dr. Maria, Antchaser didnt even have to carry his old tool belt anymore. He knew Boarslayer and the others were on their way, thanks to constant updates from Alpha. But that didnt mean Antchaser would sit back and wait to be rescued. Yet, nothing was working. Whatever the strange cloth binding him was, it wasnt normal. Even the small plasma torch he had replaced his pinky with succeeded in nothing but scorching his hand. Antchaser ground his teeth as each new attempt failed. He wasnt the same person he was when Bosco first appeared, and Antchaser hated feeling so helpless again. Suddenly, the strange cloth loosened slightly, and a blade slid underneath. It swept up the length of the bindings, and Antchaser was free. Antchaser gasped, sucking in a deep breath he hadnt been aware he needed. His vision and brain swam slightly as blood flow returned and bright light assaulted his eyes. Huh? the goblin muttered as a hand reached for him. Antchaser frowned, reached for the hand, and was pulled to his feet by a grinning Garrelt? Garrelt steadied the unstable goblin and patted his back. I love unwrapping presents, but I never expected to find a goblin in one. Good to see youre alive, kid. We were worried for a moment, Garrelt said, still grinning. I whats going on? Where are the others? Antchaser asked, furrowing his brow. You got your arse snatched, thats what. Once we noticed you were missing, me and the others split up to look for you, Garrelt responded with a chuckle. What happened to the thing that grabbed me? It escaped once I tracked you down. When I did, it dropped you and ran almost instantly, though not without a fight. Antchaser narrowed his eyes and looked around. They stood in a small jungle clearing with obvious signs of a brief battle. A few scorch marks here and there and a long gash in a nearby tree that looked like it came from an enormous claw. Antchasers frown deepened, and he turned to Garrelt. What was it, even? he asked. Garrelt shrugged. Not a clue. It was sort of blurry around the edges. Pretty impressive, honestly, for it to hide from sight even as youre staring right at it. I see, came Antchasers response. Garrelt turned and waved the goblin to follow. Come on, lets hurry and meet up with the others. Cant remember if I ever told you, but those in my line of work have techniques for spotting cloaked or disguised creatures, and mine are some of the best. Whatever it was, that things still out there and dangerous. He started walking toward the clearings edge. Wait! Antchaser spoke up. Garrelt paused and turned back around with a frown and a raised brow. What? We need to hurry and meet the others before that thing finds one of them. Antchaser grinned and stuck out his hand. I just wanted to say thanks for saving me and all. I know we didnt get off to the best start, but I appreciate it. Other Adventurers would have left me for dead. Im glad youre one of the good ones. Garrelt grinned back and reached out his hand to shake the goblins. It was no problem. Im glad to see Ive grown on you, the human chuckled. The two men shook hands and laughed. Suddenly, something unraveled around Garrelts arm and, quicker than a striking serpent severed his own limb at the elbow. Garrelt took several leaping strides backward, strange cloth tendrils wrapping around his severed arm and stopping the bleeding.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. He narrowed his eyes, then frowned at his bleeding stump and the severed arm still grasped in Antchasers hand. Hmm strange. What gave it away? Has that windbag really changed so much since we last met? Hard to believe that the first person to see through my disguise would be some no-name goblin barely into [Silver Spirit], said the thing pretending to be Garrelt. Antchaser tsked and tossed the severed arm away as the thin syringe sticking out of his palm slowly retracted. Whose to say? he said. In truth, the thing in front of him had played the part rather convincingly. If anyone else had been captured, the goblin didnt doubt they would have been thoroughly fooled. It had even mimicked Garrelts spiritual signal somehow. In the end, however, it hadnt been the slightly overly boastful attitude, or even its praise of the enemy that had tipped Antchaser off. No... one simple thing had exposed the deceit; the real Garrelt was following Boarslayer, headed to their location, according to Alpha. They were close, too. Maybe the thing before him could sense that, and it had hoped to sow confusion. Garrelts frown shifted into an earsplitting grin as his face then the rest of him rippled like cloth in the wind, distorting his features into a dark nightmare. When the cloth settled, a beautiful young elf woman in flowing, dark blue silk robes stood where Garrelt had. No matter the woman said in a melodic voice. I was hoping to keep you alive until I could extract enough information from you, but Im sure one of your other companions can fulfill that role just as easily. Maybe that cute little mage girl, hmm? The strange woman Antchaser wasnt even sure if thats what this thing was chuckled softly. She covered her mouth with a sleeved hand and grinned widely. As for you, little goblin, youve outlived your usefulness. Fear not, however; Ill complete your mission here in your stead. Im sure Enforcer Magnus will be very interested in how you got to this cavern from your own. The other scouts swore up and down we were still four or five days away. Antchasers eyes widened. Shes one of Icefingers group! Why are they here?! Did they take an alternate route than Bosco? he thought. That would explain why they were so late, and why Alpha had such difficulty spotting them. Most of his surveillance was focused on the tunnel the bandits and expedition party had used. That Icefingers men could even find an alternate route through the Deep was troubling. It suggested Icefingers influence in the Deep Tribes ran deeper than anyone expected. The womans eyes narrowed into a face-splitting sneer as horror and realization played across Antchasers face. Oh, sweet, innocent goblin she mocked in a sweet soft voice. Did you honestly think the Boss would let your insult go? Bosco might have been a fool, but he was still one of ours. And we mean to collect the debt. A high [Golden Spirit] spiritual pressure slammed into Antchaser at the next moment, thoroughly locking him in place. At the same time, the severed arm beside him twitched, and half a dozen cloth strips unraveled from it, twisting into wicked points. Before Antchaser could break free from the womans suppression, the cloth spears shot at him with blinding speed. Antchaser would have died in that moment if he had been the only one present. Instead, Alpha used the goblins implants to override his movements, much like he controlled his antborgs, and forcibly threw him out of the way at the last second. Antchaser wasnt even aware the Dungeon Core could do that, and the implications werent lost on him. Though that matter would have to wait until after he wasnt fighting someone nearly two greater steps above him. The goblin hit the forest floor with a roll, his body coming back under his control as his cultivation shielded him from the womans spiritual pressure. Even with such a substantial difference in their power, one advantage of [Silver Spirit] was he couldnt be fully suppressed like an [Iron Body] Cultivator would be. Unless taken by surprise as he had been, that was. However, his reflexes and concentration would take a severe hit since he needed to constantly cycle Spirit Energy to fight off the effects. There was a reason there was such a big power difference between the greater steps. Things werent looking good, however. Some geniuses from the clans or sects might jump steps and fight on even ground, but Antchaser wasnt one of those people. His only chance of survival was stalling her long enough for his companions to arrive. His eyes never left the woman or the severed arm as he slowly stood. So youre one of Icefingers people, then? That tracks he said. You and Bosco are both arrogant pricks, after all. I guess its true what they say; sparrows who seek the same grain share the same sky. The woman threw her head back and laughed. A philosopher goblin? Who would have guessed? As she spoke, the arm twitched again, stood on cloth tendrils, and walked back to the woman. Thats the third time youve surprised me in just as many minutes, little goblin. Maybe I wont kill you after all. I have been wanting a pet. The way the woman spoke sent an icy shiver down his spine. The dark glee in the womans eyes told him without any doubt that death was the least of his worries if the others didnt get to him in time. He shook the thought from his head, however, as Alpha whispered in his ear. Antchaser would only have one chance at this. He had to make it count. The woman reached down, grabbed her severed arm and held it up, as if admiring her own work. Then, with no warning, a thin stream of nanites erupted from the bloody stump. The nanite needle cut through the air faster than Antchaser could even process, but the womans [Golden Spirit] reflexes proved better. Her eyes widened, and she barely pulled her head back in time. Instead of piercing her eye, the nanite needle sliced a bleeding gash in the side of her cheek before soaring past. The woman screeched, dropped her arm, and grabbed at her bleeding face with her good hand. At the same time, Antchaser dropped a small black pellet from a slot in one of his implants. It hit the ground and erupted into a massive cloud of billowing spirit-sense-suppressing smoke, courtesy of Dr. Maria. Then Antchaser turned and ran. From behind, he could hear the woman screech out in a rage. YOU KNOW WHAT?! IVE CHANGED MY MIND! RUN, LITTLE GOBLIN, RUN! MAKE THIS FUN FOR ME!!! B2 - Lesson 56: "Laugh In The Face of Bullies." Despite having no idea where he was going, Despite the unfamiliar terrain filled with grasping branches and unknown dangers, Even despite the womans mocking comments that she yelled as she followed the obvious trail he was leaving behind him, Antchaser was calm, for several reasons. The first was that she had yet to catch up with him. With almost two greater steps between them, she should have been faster than him. Even if the jungle terrain was slowing her down, it would also slow him down, maybe more. Yet, if Antchasers assessment of the woman was correct, she was both arrogant and sadistic. This was a game to her, but Antchaser could choose what kind of game it was. If he tried to hide, she would sniff him out quickly. After all, she was apparently a scout for whatever group Icefinger had sent. So, instead, Antchaser chose to play tag. Like a cat chasing a mouse, he hoped the womans personality would keep her playing with him until help could arrive. He doubted the woman thought that would happen; she had dragged him deep into the jungle, away from the others, after all. She likely assumed they would still be searching for him by the time she stopped playing. Not for the first time, Antchaser thanked the heavens above that he had met Alpha. The goblin skid to a sudden halt, then took a sharp turn to the left, avoiding a particular tree. As he did, the trees bark rippled like fluttering cloth, and several dozen hidden cloth tendrils unwrapped themselves from the tree. They lashed out at him, but he had already escaped their range. The traps were another problem. Antchaser would have likely been captured by the very first one if he hadnt noticed the bodies of spirit beasts hanging from the trees in cloth cocoons, like a morbid spiders trophy. He wondered if the woman had set her traps to keep the jungle beasts from interrupting her performance or if they had just been more fun while she explored the area. He doubted she planned on collecting most of her unfortunate prey. The hunter part of Antchaser grated at the idea. This was why he and many of the Deep Tribes hated Adventurers. As a whole, they were destructive and cared for nothing but what they could take from the Deep. Many of the Deep Caverns had delicate ecosystems, so their hunters were taught from the beginning to carefully select their prey and hunting grounds. Otherwise, they could cause damage that could take hundreds of years to recover from or cause the cavern to collapse entirely. Alpha! Please tell me theyre getting close. Im not sure how much longer I can keep this up, Antchaser said through his comm, opting to save his breath for running. Theres almost there! Just keep stalling her for a little longer. Theres a cliff up ahead; take a left after two hundred meters, then a right for another two hundred. Alpha responded. Stalling her for much longer was easier said than done. Antchaser could tell she was getting frustrated that he kept dodging all her traps. Was she unaware they released a tiny spiritual pressure every time they activated? It was small enough he doubted most would notice, but Alpha had. Five minutes later, Antchasers worries were confirmed when more cloth tendrils shot at him without warning. Not from any nearby tree traps, but from above. They had whipped at him as he leaped over a fallen log, offering no chance to dodge. The strange cloth wrapped around his limbs and pulled taut, suspending him in the air. Looking up, Antchaser could see a blurry figure standing in the canopy. The figure was tall and spindly, and Antchaser doubted its waist was thicker than Boarslayers biceps. Its long arms unfolded into the tendrils that bound the goblin, while more tendrils extended from its body to anchor it in the trees.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. The strangest thing, however, was the fact that the cloth that apparently made up its body was so thin that the creature or puppet or whatever it was appeared nearly transparent. Footsteps tore Antchasers gaze away from the strange sight, and he glanced down to see his pursuer walking out from behind the treeline. Though her smile was friendly, the small twitch in the corner of her lips and the dark gleam in her eyes told a different story. Finally caught you, my little goblin. Im starting to understand why Bosco lost. Youre a slippery, tricky lot, arent you? As expected of goblins, I guess. I bet you have the Guild fools wrapped around your little fingers, too, dont you? She shook her head as if hearing some tragic news before continuing. Dont worry, we wont make the same mistake. Antchaser knew he still had to buy time, so he did the only thing he could think of. He laughed. The womans grin turned into a frown, and her twitch intensified. The cloth holding him in the air tightened their grip to a painful level, but Antchaser knew he had her. You bandits are all the same he said, though the woman didnt quite catch his double meaning. You think everything will work out in your favor just because youre stronger. Might make right, and all that, he chuckled. The woman threw back her head, laughter spilling from her lips like shards of glass. Might does make right, little goblin. Thats the nature of our world. The strong make the rules, and the weak follow them. This is a Truth that even the Adventurers of Halirosa follow. Do you think your so-called allies wouldnt strip your home clean if not for the treaties enforced by those stronger than them? The woman sneered, her lips curling with cruel amusement as she looked up at the goblin swaying from the trees. You call us bandits, but were no different from anyone else up there. At least with the Boss, you know what youre getting. He doesnt hide behind masks like the sects and clans. Hed rather show you the knife; makes it clear where you stand. Antchaser frowned. Her words gnawed at him, unsettling as they were. She was mad clearly unstable but he couldnt deny that she wasnt entirely wrong. At the end of the day, his village would end up as little more than subjects or pawns in the games of the powerful, regardless of who held the reins. Whether it was Icefingers gang or the so-called righteous sects, it hardly differed to people like them. The womans grin widened as she saw the understanding play on his face. Her voice turned honeyed, but the sweetness only deepened the poison. Icefinger wont pretend. Hell take what he wants, and youll know the price. Halirosa? Theyll slowly weave their threads around you until nothings left of your village but what they can use. The woman once more tightened Antchasers bindings, as if to emphasize her point. So tell me? Whos the real bandits in that scenario? Antchaser ground his teeth. He knew that. Everyone in the village knew that. Yet, what other choice did they have? Sure, Halirosa offered protection on paper, at least through the Deep Tribe treaties. But treaties could be broken, rewritten, and twisted to serve the strong. It had happened before and doubtless would again. Or rather, that would have been the situation. But things werent as simple. Neither Icefingers men nor Halirosa knew that the village already had a master. With the Dungeon Cores help, they wouldnt have to be just another piece in the game. They could step up to the table as equals. And that thought alone made Antchasers frown twist into a grin. The womans face changed, warping her beautiful face into a twisted visage. She snapped her fingers, and Antchasers bindings snapped up, twisting his limbs into a hateful configuration. If his bindings had better leverage, Antchaser didnt doubt all four of his limbs would have snapped. The goblin screamed in pain, but his cry quickly became gargled laughter. The sound only enraged the woman further. When she spoke, the honey had fled her voice, replaced with a seething fury. Fine! Have it your way, goblin. My only regret... is that you wont be around to see what I do to your people, she said. Antchasers bindings slowly ever so slowly twisted further, as if the woman was intent on making his end as painful as possible. Yet, even so, Antchaser continued to laugh. Ya, I doubt that, he said between bouts of laughter and screams of pain. The woman clenched her teeth so hard at the sight that Antchaser could see a thin trail of blood leak from her lips. And whys that? she hissed. Do you have an army of goblins hiding behind the trees to stop me?! Antchaser took several deep, gasping breaths, then looked up at the woman and grinned, even as sweat poured down his face. I dont need an army I have a Boarslayer. The woman furrowed her brow and opened her mouth to speak. The next instant, a four-meter long, meter-wide log blurred through the trees and slammed into the woman from her right, sending her hurling away. B2 - Lesson 57: "Its Good To Have Someone To Watch Your Back." Oof! Antchaser fell to the group as the cloth suspending him in the air unwound. He rolled onto his back and groaned as he waited for the feeling to return to his limbs. A process Antchaser felt was taking a worryingly long time. A shadow fell over him as he stared up at the jungle canopy. Antchaser turned his head and locked eyes with Boarslayer, the massive goblin frowning down at him. You look like shit she said before reaching out her hand. Antchaser rolled his eyes and grasped the womans hand, allowing her to pull him to his feet. He rolled his shoulders and stretched his legs, feeling creaking bones and overexerted ligaments settle back into their proper place. Thanks you too, he said flatly. Boarslayer was covered in broken plant matter and a splattering of unidentified purple goop. Had the oversized goblin woman simply bulldozed her way through the jungle? Any other time, Antchaser would have called that reckless but he couldnt deny she had saved his life. Boarslayer tsked and folded her arms. Guess this makes us even now. Antchaser chuckled and shook his head. Sure. Lets say it is, he said in response. Boarslayer had always remembered that day, months ago, when Antchaser had saved her from the group of bandits. It had heckled her warriors pride to be saved by someone she considered so much weaker than herself. Antchaser had never really thought of it as much of a debt himself. Boarslayer had more than proven herself useful several times over since then. But the woman was nothing if not stubborn. Maybe now she would stop heckling him about it. Antchaser turned and looked in the direction the cloth-wielding woman had been thrown. Lets hurry before she Going so soon? Before she what, exactly?! an icy voice filled with spiritual pressure spoke, turning the air thick and making it hard to move. From the shadows on the jungles edge, the cloth-wielding woman strolled into the small clearing. Her silk robe was in tattered disarray, and her once smooth, long black hair appeared more like a birds nest, filled with leaves and twigs. Her words were calm and silky, but her beautiful face, twisted in a dark snarl as it was, was fit more for a demon than a human. Yet despite their disheveled appearance, the woman herself seemed utterly unharmed. That likely had to do with the dozens of cloth strips extending from her tattered robes. Each one wrapped tightly around the massive log Boarslayer had tossed only moments before. Did she catch it?! Antchaser thought to himself, his eyes wide. What kind of monstrous reflexes would something like that take? Even for someone at [Golden Spirit]. Before he could let his surprise show on his face, however, Antchasers mind whirled with plans. I take it back, Antchaser said as he stared at the woman. You look absolutely radiant compared to our guest over there. Boarslayer raised a brow and frowned at Antchaser. One look at the bandit womans twitching eye and clenched teeth flipped her frown into a grin. Why, thank you. Its the beast blood. Really brightens the skin. Though, remind me, Antchaser, when did the Adventurers Guild start recruiting homeless women? Are they that starved for real talent? The bandits eyes widened, and she screeched in rage. The cloth strips wrapping the log tightened until it exploded in a shower of splinters. Enough games! You both die. NOW! she screamed before charging through the falling splinters. Before either goblin could blink, the woman was only two meters away. Dozens of cloth tendrils twisted to wicked points, threatening to skewer them from every angle in an inescapable cage. The bandit sneered at the two goblins, dark glee flashing in her eyes, and brought her hand down. In that same instant, a massive wall of white flames erupted between the bandit and the goblins. The bandit woman once more screamed, though this time in pain rather than fury. Even Boarslayer and Antchaser had to take several leaping steps back and shield themselves from the flames intense heat. When the flames died, the bandit was kneeling on the ground, wheezing. Her left arm was charred black, and even the porcelain skin of her face had turned an angry red. Every one of the cloth tendrils flailing around her had been reduced to half their length, their ends turned to crumbling ash. Though Antchaser could see the charred ends slowly repairing themselves. The bandits eyes suddenly snapped up. Not toward the goblins, but to the side. Two blinding pinpricks of light burst from the jungles edge, shooting toward the downed woman like arrows. What remained of the cloth tendrils wove together to form a large shield. The pinpricks of light slammed into the makeshift shield and exploded in massive fireballs. The shield held, but the bandit woman was once more thrown backward.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. She rolled for several meters, then sprung to her feet and snarled in the direction of the attack, her hands outstretched and bent into claws like some feral animal. Before a real arrow, this one sheathed in flickering lightning, soundlessly shot at her from the opposite direction. The canopy rustled, and the same strange transparent cloth puppet creature Antchaser had noticed before dropped to the ground beside her. More cloth tendrils erupted from the creature, deflecting the arrow away from the woman, though not without obvious damage. Maggy, her staff outstretched, and Garrelt, holding an ornate bow covered in more runes than Antchaser thought possible, stepped from the jungle shadows at opposite ends of the clearing. Both of his Adventurers companions stared at the bandit woman with hard, cold eyes that the goblin found odd on the otherwise cheerful due. The cloth-wielding bandit clenched her teeth, her gaze flickering back and forth between both Maggy and Garrelt. Then, finally, she gave another primal scream, and the strange transparent cloth puppet enveloped her. Garrelt raised his bow and shot three more silent lightning-covered arrows at the woman, while Maggy cast another of her pinprick fireball spells. Both attacks reached the womans position in less than a heartbeat, exploding in a massive ball of flames and electricity. Yet, when the dust settled, the woman was gone. Shit! Garrelt rushed to the small crater and knelt at the edge. He stared down for a long moment before standing with a frown and shaking his head. Shes gone. Cant track her either, he said. Gone? How?! Maggy asked. Whatever the hell that artifact she was using was, its blocking all of my techniques, he said with a shrug. He wiped the dirt from his hands, stored the bow, and turned toward the group. Come on, we need to finish our mission and report what happened here. Antchaser blinked. That was sudden. It was strange for the man to give up so quickly. He would have suspected another trick if Alpha didnt confirm this was the real Garrelt. Maggy seemed equally confused. Wait, you cant be serious! she complained. That woman is still out there. Shes already taken one of us. What if she does it again?! Her eyes flickered through the shadows just beyond the clearings edge. I have to agree, Antchaser said, swaying on his feet and doing his best not to collapse. That woman is dangerous; she knows we took a shortcut to get to this cavern. If we waste time, we risk her returning and leading her to the tunnel. Garrelt shook his head. No. Her artifact was damaged in that last attack. I might not be able to track her, but she wont be able to sneak up on us like that again. He turned and gave the group a cheeky grin. Besides, that womans a coward. Shes likelier to run away and lick her wounds than hang around for round two. I guess shes running off to whomever shes here with to whine and complain. Boarslayer narrowed her eyes. You know who that was? she asked. Garrelt raised a hand and wiggled it back and forth. I know of her. Aria the Threadsmith. An up-and-coming newblood who was making splashes in the Guild a few months back. Rumor has it shes an expert at setting traps and ambushes. With the sadistic personality to match. That tracks Antchaser muttered, rubbing his sore shoulders. Garrelt nodded and continued. Shes also known to be rather skittish when her traps dont work and rarely fights anyone her equal directly. Now that she knows we know shes here, I doubt shell try anything again. We should hurry, though. Theres no telling how close her companions are; they could send someone else after us. The Adventurers and goblins exchanged a look, nodded, and walked further into the jungle. Over the next five hours, Garrelts assessment of Aria the Threadsmith proved accurate. Despite three full trips from the grove to the tunnel, the group saw neither hide nor hair of the bandit scout. Alpha wasnt sure if that was a good thing or not. Letting an enemy go, more so one that had such critical information as the scout, didnt sit well with Alpha. Nonetheless, there was little they could do at this point. All he could do was collapse the tunnel once Antchaser and the others had crossed over for the last time and place guards around the area. If the bandits did find the tunnel, and wasted time trying to dig it out rather than go the long way around, Alpha would have even more surprises waiting for them. Who was Alpha kidding? There was no way he was going to leave it at just that. Alpha turned his attention to the nanites rapidly traveling away from the goblins cavern. A tiny amount of nanites that had slipped into the Threadsmiths bloodstream when she was cut by the needle previously. With only a handful of the microscopic constructs, he couldnt do much or move quickly, but Alpha knew he had time. While the others gathered peaches, Alpha directed the nanites to Arias ear. He instructed the tiny machines to begin working on a special project there. One built out of the womans own flesh and materials, as to go undetected. As his present slowly took shape, Alpha mentally grinned to himself. Maybe the heavens that the Cultivators wouldnt shut up about really were watching out for them. At the very least, Alpha wouldnt have an issue locating their new guests for much longer. Aria scratched at her cheek as she leaped from branch to branch, making a beeline back to camp. The entire time she ground her teeth so hard she would have tasted blood if her tongue hadnt been scorched. Never had she ever suffered such humiliation. She was the predator. She was the one who stalked and hunted! Yet she had not only been forced to retreat, but had been trounced by some washed-out-scout, an apprentice mage, and their pet goblins! Whats more, that bloody goblins needle must have been poisoned. There was no way a goblin would have gotten ahold of a poison capable of actually threatening her, of course, but it itched. And no matter how she cycled her spirit energy, she couldnt find it. That wasnt even the worst part. No, what was worse was imagining the others laughing at her when she reported what had happened. If Magnus didnt outright kill her for letting them escape. The whole matter had her questioning if she wasnt better off turning around and leaving. Let them think she had been killed or something. What did she care about Magnus little expedition? Icefinger would, though That thought alone was enough to make her pause. An icy shiver ran down her spine as she remembered her first walk through Icefingers gallery. Seeing all those faces frozen in time some raging, some pleading, others lost in despair was something she would remember until the end of time. She could imagine what would happen to her if she ran. She could imagine herself standing in that cold, dark room, alive, aware, but unable to so much as twitch an eyelash. Aria shivered uncontrollably as if she were running through an icebox, not a sweltering jungle. Death at the hand of Ironheart would be preferable, even if the man was more sadistic than her though he hid it better. With that thought in mind, she clenched her teeth until they cracked and turned back toward camp. Though she slowed her pace. After all, if she was going to die either way, why not take the scenic route? B2 - Lesson 58: "How To Catch Your Dragon." The primary Expedition Party leadership Robert, Maggy, Garrelt, Bert, and various team leaders sat at one side of the massive longhouse table. On the other side sat the village leadership Boarslayer, Elder, Weaver, Dr Maria, and a few other senior members, along with a hidden Alpha. Standing at the far end of the table was Antchaser. Thats about it, really, he finished. He was the last to give his report to what had naturally formed into a joint council of sorts. The room fell into dark silence as they digested the news. After a long moment, Robert stood and made his way toward the end of the table. He folded his hands behind his back and frowned as all eyes turned toward him. He locked eyes with each person in turn before addressing them as a whole. Grave news indeed. And at the worst possible time, I believe. Im glad that our companions, he nodded at the peach-gathering team, had the foresight to collapse the tunnel behind them. Even if it was a waste, in the long run. The expedition leader sighed and shook his head. Boarslayer sneered and leaned back in her chair, her arms folded. Better than letting those bastards sneak past all our defenses. Can you imagine what would have happened if theyd hit us from behind while we were recovering from the drake hunt? she said. Robert nodded his head. Yes, that would have been rather unfortunate, he said, before narrowing his eyes. Though Im unaware of these defenses youre speaking of. Could it be the village was already aware of the coming bandits and was hoping we would deal with them ourselves? Boarslayer flinched, though she refused to break her gaze from Robert, who glared back. Antchaser sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose while Elder and Weaver exchanged nervous looks. The tension in the room spiked as both sides at the table muttered to their companions. It was Dr. Maria who broke the stalemate. Stop your nonsense, boy. We all know how Icefinger operates. There was never a chance he was going to let this slight go. And that was before the possibility of capturing a dungeon all for his own. Garrelt threw his head back and laughed. Ha! Shes got you there, Robert, he said, earning a glare from the man in question. Robert turned to look at the old doctor, a deep frown on his face as if contemplating something. After a moment, he sighed, stood straight, and rubbed his temples. I will admit, he said, my team had discussed the possibility of another bandit attack in private. But it was decided it would be best to keep such knowledge to ourselves so as to prevent panic in the village. He nodded at Dr. Maria in acknowledgment. I see now our fears were unfounded. Robert then turned to the group and spread his hands wide. While this new development is certainly an issue, I dont believe it should affect our current plans. With the tunnel to the cavern collapsed, our scouts estimate that whatever force Icefinger has sent wont arrive in less than six days. His gaze swept over the gathered goblins and Adventurers. That means we have four days at most to deal with our drake problem and stabilize the dungeon. As for how were going to do that, Robert held his hand toward Weaver. Mrs. Weaver, would you kindly update us on how the wine press construction is going? The elderly goblin pushed back her chair and stood before making her way to the front. Alpha mentally checked out as she did, turning most of his attention to other projects. Maker above, he hated meetings However, as an AI, Alpha had the distinct advantage of being in multiple places at once. Antchaser stretched in his seat, working out the knots in his still-recovering joints that had developed over the last few hours of sitting. The meeting had ended a few moments ago, but Dr. Maria had insisted he stay behind so she could give him a once-over. To her side, Boarslayer hovered like an overprotective hen, her arms folded and her ever-present scowl plain. The old doctor pulled her hand away and patted him on the shoulder. Youre recovering well, young man. Say what you will about that crazy lady who captured you, but she knew her anatomy. Other than some small micro-fractures thatll heal within the day, your bones are unharmed. Most of your tendons and ligaments took the brunt of the damage. She stood and brushed off her robes, then pointed at Antchaser. That said, Ill still be a day or two before youre fully healed, even with my help. No heavy lifting or the like until then. She then whirled and pointed at Boarslayer. That means youll need to work with the trap crew today. No complaints. Well need everyone in top shape for whats coming. Boarslayer tsked and turned her head away, though she said nothing else. Antchaser wasnt sure why she had stayed behind, but he was glad he wouldnt be the one digging this time. The woman might grumble sometimes, but when push came to shove, she would do what she had to. The three of them made their way out of the longhouse and through the bustling goblin village. For better or worse, the tension between the goblins and the expeditionary party had slowly faded over the two weeks the Halirosains had arrived. So many of Adventurers putting their lives on the line in defense against the termites, had gone a long way in earning back some of the trust that Boscos men had so thoroughly defaced. A few Adventurers still gave the goblins odd looks from time to time or preferred to stay in their small groups, but the more outgoing and friendly of them could often be seen intermingling with the villagers or helping where needed. The sight gave Antchaser hope their plans were worthwhile. If they could get more of the Adventurers, and thus Halirosa, to see them as people, rather than just someone to push around, it would go a long way toward the village stepping up to the negotiations table as an equal. The three soon exited the newly repaired gates and made their way to the expedition camp. Antchaser and Garrelt, as the two senior trap experts, were to set up the actual trap portion of their plan. However, as they neared the command tent, the sound of raised voices gave them pause. What are you insinuating? Garrelts muffled voice bled through the thick cloth flap of the tent. Antchaser, Boarslayer, and Dr. Maria paused at the entrance. They could hear the almost feral growl in the scout leaders voice.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Im not insinuating anything, Garrelt, came Roberts strained voice. Im only pointing out how strange it is that this woman, who you claim to have worked with before, could snatch the goblin away from right under your nose. The three outside the tent exchanged a look. Hey now, Robert, came Big Berts much calmer voice. Antchaser could almost imagine the large man standing between the two as he attempted to disarm whatever argument they had walked into. He already mentioned she was using a strange artifact. Garrelt is skilled, true, but we both know that no one can account for every scenario. Y-ya, thats right, Maggy said, showing she was also present. It was blocking even my divination spell. A personal artifact that can do that is powerful. Despite her words, Maggys voice was hesitant, as if she wasnt sure who she should really be supporting. Maybe seeing he was at a disadvantage, Roberts voice became calmer. Fine. Ill grant that is a possibility. But as this expedition teams leader, its my responsibility to consider things from every angle to ensure our success. On multiple fronts, there have been some rather bothersome developments lately that have me worried. You do you think theres a spy in the expedition? Maggy asked, almost in a whisper. Robert let the womans words hang in the air for a silent moment. Garrelt clicked his tongue, and the sound of footsteps approached the tent entrance. The three listening from outside quickly stepped away, just in time for Garrelt to push his way through. The man paused, his eyes wide as he glanced between the goblins and doctor, as if not expecting them. He blinked, then walked past them as if remembering what he was supposed to be doing. Without looking back, Garrelt waved them to follow. Come on, lets get this bloody trap set. Im done here. He then walked deeper into the camp. Boarslayer and Antchaser exchanged a glance, the former shrugging before turning to follow Garrelt. Antchaser sighed, a knot forming in his stomach, and waved to Dr. Maria as she entered the command tent. As the flap fell shut behind them, Antchaser locked eyes with Robert. The expedition leader frowned, but Antchaser caught a glimmer of something unsettling in Roberts gaze a cold smirk that sent a chill spiraling down his spine. Two Hours Later, Near the Wine Press Site. Garrelt and Antchaser stood beside a small sand-topped table in the small clearing. From there, the two men directed their team of workers plus one Boarslayer to clear the forest area between the still-under-construction wine press and the river. Close enough, the Mud Drake could smell the wine, but not so close it could easily escape if it got skittish. The plan was to lead the drake toward a storage area where several dozen goblin-sized barrels of the spirit wine would be stored. A few leaky barrels falling into the river should be enough to draw the drakes attention. Once the drake was good and drunk, it would be led deeper into the forest with the promise of more wine. Once there, it would hopefully be smashed enough to fall for literally the oldest trick in the book. Antchaser stared down at the diagram of the trap before him, frowning. He looked up at a grinning Garrelt, then back down at the diagram, then back up at Garrelt. Its a pitfall Antchaser said flatly. Ah! Garrelt held up a finger as he spoke. Not just a pitfall. He pointed to the literally hundreds of sigils and array signs lining the inside of what amounted to a giant, solid stone cup. This design has been refined over hundreds of years of drake hunts and has been proven to work against almost every species. Provided we get them drunk enough, of course. Garrelt leaned over the table and dug a small pit into the sand. He then placed a small replica of the giant stone cup into the hole and covered it with sand. Several tiny sand barrels appeared on top. The ideas simple. Our drunk friend will be lured close. A tiny drake made of sand rose from the tabletop and wobbled toward the trap. Where theyll fall into the stone basin, the tiny sand drake suddenly charged toward the barrels. As it reached them, the top of the pitfall collapsed, and the tiny drake fell into the cup. Once inside, the array and runes will put the creature into a deep sleep. From there, we seal it up, a stone cap, slid on top of the mock-up trap, and an Earth Mage or Cultivator can lift the entire thing out. The sealed stone cup floated out of the pit. Garrelt shrugged. From there, the drake, cage and all, can be transported safely to its destination, directly to our Dungeon Core friend. Antchaser had to agree. It was a rather ingenious solution, if rather simple. He had been expecting some kind of elaborate array system designed specifically for drakes. Instead, what Garrelt suggested was little more than a giant stone box filled with sleep-inducing arrays on the inside and spirit sense-surprising ones on the outside. Sure, it was almost useless to a typical hunter; if you had all the skills and resources necessary to make it work by yourself, you could do far better things with your time. But then again, no one hunted drakes alone. Finally, Antchaser sighed. Never thought Id go back to digging pits he said, mostly to himself. He jumped when Boarslayers voice spoke from behind him. I knew youd always be a Pitdigger. Cant escape your true calling, little man. Antchaser whirled and glared at the large goblin woman grinning down at him as if daring him to try the violence his eyes threatened. Before he could, however, Garrelt raised a brow and asked, Pitdigger? Antchaser exhaled, his shoulders sagging as he turned back to the table. That was my first name, he said, muttering slightly. Oh? Garrelt asked, a slight chuckle in his voice. Howd you get that? Antchaser paused, then asked. What do you know of Deep Tribe naming conventions? Garrelt wiggled his hands back and forth. Not much, if Im honest. I know names are more important to you all than on the surface, but thats about it. Antchaser nodded, then ran a hand through his hair. For those of the Deep, a name is more than just a name. Its how we fit into our community. It tells others not just who we are, but what we are and what we do for each other. Our First Name, in particular, is chosen by the village as a whole. Its more complicated than this, but he circled his hand in the air as if stirring his brain and trying to find the right words the surface man would understand, in effect, once you hit adulthood, the community will pick a name that suits your personality, skill, and actions up to that point. Get good at throwing a spear, and you might be named Spearthrower. If you like to tell stories in the longhouse, you might earn the name Storyteller. Dont bath enough, and your first name might be Stinkyfeet. Garrelt raised a brow at that. Stinkyfeet? You jest. I think Id have remembered or smelled someone like that around the village, he said with a chuckle. Boarslayer joined the conversation, though she didnt laugh. I miss Stinkyfeet. He was a good chap. A shame what happened to him. On the bright side, that big olsnake choked to death trying to swallow him. Gagged all the way down. Helluva way to go. She raised an imaginary mug in the air, as if toasting a memory. Garrelt, wide-eyed, turned to Antchaser, who nodded. The scout leader shook his head before asking, So, Pitdigger? Antchaser nodded again. Thats right. I wasnt the best hunter. So I improvised. Boarslayer huffed and folded her arms. Cheated is more like it. Garrelt threw his head back, laughed, and patted Antchaser on the shoulder. No shame in that. A good hunter knows how to use the tools given to them. I would love to hear the tale of how you got your current name someday. One of the best parts of being a hunter is getting to brag to other hunters about the insane stuff youve done, he said with a wink. At the mans words, Antchaser turned to Boarslayer and smirked. The larger goblin woman only sneered back. Garrelt then turned to Boarslayer. What about you? Why were you named Boarslayer? Boarslayer puffed up her chest as she spoke, Thats my Second Name! I earned it after killing a [Bronze Spirit] boar spirit beast that was destroying the forest in our last cavern, while only in [Iron Body] myself. Garrelt whistled. Im impressed. Killing a Spirit step beast while still building your body might not be the same as jumping realms, but its something to be proud of, nonetheless. After all, [Bronze Spirit] was when Cultivators and spirit beasts began to use Spirit Energy more directly. Boarslayers chest puffed out even more as she nodded and grinned. Garrelt grinned alongside her before tilting his head. Though if that was your Second Name, what was your first? he asked. Boarslayer deflated slightly and looked away. Antchaser laughed. It was Rockpuncher. This fool thought it was a good idea to try to break a boulder with her bare hands the moment she broke into [Stone Body]. You can guess who won. Boarslayers face flushed red under her bark-colored skin, and she slammed a fit into the smaller goblins gut, bringing him to his knees, before storming off. Despite the pain, Antchaser continued to laugh as he grabbed at his stomach. Garrelt shook his head, but soon he was laughing along.