《Crave: The Insatiable (Book 1: Arcana Academy)》 Chapter 1: Insatiable Never enough... I often dream of a day when the longings cease when I can finally rest. A day when the pain ends, and the emptiness inside either consumes me or is satisfied. Journal entry of Jordan¡¯s after his final chemo treatment Jordan: Age 16 It¡¯s been two years since I was diagnosed with a rare and untreatable cancer. When cancer spread to my bones, no one even knew till one unexpectedly snapped. That break was the first of many and the end of a carefree childhood. Unfortunately, I was a gamer, a reader, and an all-around lazy kid. So, when I finally broke a bone, my scaffolding was nothing but a dried-out husk. The very foundation of my body was more haphazard scaffolding than calcium girders. The latest scan results dropped my odds of surviving for another year from 5% to 1%. My parents, ever the eternal optimists, still were looking for options to add weeks to my life. Dad hired people to help in the search for a cure. He researched the internet to find answers or scientists who might. Mom took the opposite approach and turned to God. She raised money with our church and friends and got them all to pray for me. My parents were great, but the beast inside me continued to devour. Jordan: Age 17 Six months and ten specialists later, all the doctors we saw said I had no hope other than palliative treatment. While strangers from the community tried to cure me with different kinds of essential oils and prayers, the medical professionals could not sugarcoat it beyond the prescribed drugs to keep me comfortable. There was no home remedy or experimental treatment left to fix me. Living as long as I had was a greater miracle than anything they could do. My days were numbered, an unknown number but a low one for sure. I had accepted my imminent death and just tried to enjoy my family and ignore the pain. I¡¯d been sick for quite a while, but still, we had some visitors. Not all of them were sad, tear-wrenching cries of sympathy. I had grown too calloused for tears and didn¡¯t want pity. One Saturday evening changed everything as we had a knock on the front door. ##### ¡°Hello, James, Katherine. Sorry to stop by without calling first. Do you mind if I come in for just a moment?¡± a familiar voice spoke as he walked in wearing an unfamiliar and expensive-looking gray suit. ¡°Hey, Jeff, yeah, we just finished dinner, and the house is a mess, but come on in,¡± my dad responded, ¡°You¡¯re looking dressed up.¡± He smiled but ignored the comment as they sat in the living room. My mom got them all some ice water. The summer was sweltering in our little corner of the Midwest, but I was in the next room under a pile of blankets due to the cool air conditioning running full blast. I was asleep before the knock on the front door. The current pain meds put me to sleep half the time. ¡°So, how is your farm doing, Jeff? Heat and drought are hurting the farm?¡± my dad sincerely asked. ¡°Yes, we aren¡¯t seeing growth like we¡¯d have liked to by this time. That¡¯s just farming; when the temps are this high, you find things to do that won¡¯t kill you from heat stroke,¡± Jeff changed his tone. ¡°So, listen,¡± Jeff paused, ¡°as you said, I¡¯m a farmer. But you and pretty much everyone else at church know I am a quiet person. A private person.¡± ¡°Well, there is a reason why,¡± he continued in a hushed voice. ¡°My family has a business that I have some involvement with. Nothing local. Everything we do is handled overseas. I am on the board and have a say in some projects.¡± ¡°This sounds like more than a family business. It sounds like a big deal,¡± my mom said, intrigued as she leaned in. ¡°I¡¯d still like to keep my small-town identity private still. But I am breaking my silence because I think I have a program that will help Jordan,¡± he let the news sink in. ¡°What?¡± my mom nearly dropped her glass. Before it fell, she set the glass down and wiped her brow, the condensation and sweat smearing her hair across her forehead. Unconcerned with how disheveled and disoriented she suddenly appeared, she started to tear up and covered her face. ¡°I know this is unexpected, but I want you three to visit our research facility. It¡¯s in a lovely tropical location, and even if you don¡¯t want to go through with the treatment, I insist you consider it a vacation. ¡°Jeff, we have known you for ten years now,¡± my dad¡¯s tone grew accusatory but patient, ¡°and I would say I respect you a lot, but to come here and say you think you can save our son whose been told he has a¡­¡± my dad whispered the rest, ¡°less than 1% chance of living, that is asking a lot even for an old friend.¡± ¡°James, Katherine, I promise this is not a prank. I genuinely believe what I am offering will give your son more time to live, and there is a chance of curing his disease. ¡°That can¡¯t be¡­¡± my mom¡¯s muffled voice came through as she uncovered her now puffy eyes. Her vision seemed unfocused as tears trickled down her cheeks. ¡°Jeff, I don¡¯t know if we can get his hopes up another time. Can I talk to you about this another time?¡± He was now concerned about my mom¡¯s state of anxiety and could see hope in her eyes. He just hoped it wasn¡¯t false hope. ¡°Sure, that is more than reasonable. I¡¯ll see you tomorrow at church. Thanks for hearing me out.¡± Jeff stood and let himself out the door. ##### I can¡¯t believe Mom and Dad bought into this ¡°vacation.¡± Sure, I didn¡¯t get to pick the location, and it comes with an excursion that includes needles, IVs, and probably a surgery or two. But I always hoped to see tropical island resorts at least once before I kicked it. Although in my condition, even the luxury private jet was not a pleasant trip. ¡°So, James, when are we going to tell him?¡± Katherine leaned in close and whispered to her husband. ¡°Calm down; you don¡¯t usually use my first name. I know you are anxious. We¡¯ll tell him before we land. We still have a long flight; let him rest. ¡°Jordan, are you excited about sitting beachside?¡± my dad asked. ¡°Dad, I will fry like a lobster; I never go outside. But you said this was an important trip for the family: last chance and all. I do want my last memories to be with you and Mom. Well, the thing is¡­This trip is a vacation, but¡­¡± James was searching for the right words, ¡°This is also a chance to be near a special treatment facility that specializes in treating kids like you.¡± ¡°What?¡± I pretended to be shot in the chest and feigned outrage. ¡°This was an elaborate trick to give me one last hope of not dying before the end? Don¡¯t worry, Dad, I already knew.¡± ¡°Jordan, you little¡­¡± my mom nearly threw her pillow before she collected herself. ¡°We wouldn¡¯t have done this if we had another option. This is the last time we will try a treatment.¡± ¡°You said that after the last round of chemo. The doctors said they couldn¡¯t do more without having the treatment kill me first. How is this any different? I can¡¯t let you continue spending money on a lost cause.¡± ¡°Stop that. You¡¯re not a lost cause; God can do anything. The odds are stacked against you. And don¡¯t worry; this isn¡¯t costing us. In fact, some of our medical debt is being paid by coming here and having you participate. Let¡¯s go and see,¡± my mom encouraged. ¡°If you don¡¯t agree, then we won¡¯t force you,¡± my dad said. ¡°They said you can still opt out and just enjoy the week at the beach. Will you at least check it out?¡± Unwilling to grasp any shred of hope, I nodded. I still wanted to keep my parents sane, so I replied, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± But I didn¡¯t wait for their response before I lowered my hat over my eyes and turned up my headphones. The last hour of the flight consisted of me pretending I was sleeping and hearing them talk about the chance of this treatment working. Internally I was dreading the needles, blood draws, transfusions, and everything that all the treatments so far had involved. After the plane landed, we were driven along a coastal road. Paved and lined on one side with palm trees and lush vegetation, a vibrant blue sea was on my side of the SUV. The sand on the beach was nearly white and smelled salty and crisp. The vehicle stopped at a gate, and the driver was quickly waved in as the high-security gate retracted into the wall. As we pulled past the gate, the landscape changed from an untamed tropical jungle to a perfectly manicured island resort. With one exception, rather than a hotel, there was a two-story-tall building that looked more like an observatory dome. The connected buildings were more industrial. We were dropped off around the driveway on the ocean side and taken to our rooms. We were given a sprawling beach house that was initially out of view. My name was labeled on a bedroom door. I went in and found a regular teenager¡¯s dream. There was a gaming computer, the latest gaming consoles hooked to a big screen, and a VR headset, and the walls were lined with books, games, and a giant array of screens opposite an immersive deep-dive VR rig. I had only read about these. Some companies were hinting, but none had launched anything like this yet. We sat and watched the sunset on the beach for the rest of the evening. Due to my physical limitations, my parents had to help me get into the water. It is frustrating having to depend on your parents when you should be able to drive to school, let alone walk to the bathroom when needed. Being a teenager was about gaining independence and not getting so weak that you need help taking a shower. Instead, I¡¯ve become a teenage-sized toddler who is constantly in pain. My whole middle school and high school experience had been canceled by episodes of ¡°Let''s get some chemo.¡± I knew my jokes were sad, but I could still laugh at myself. The next day we had a meeting with Jeff. He had flown here days before us and was personally overseeing this treatment. He met us outside the beach house with another wheelchair. ¡°Jordan, hop on; we have a way to go. Tell me, what do you think of your room?¡± Jeff asked me as I settled into the wheelchair. ¡°It¡¯s kind of my dream setup,¡± I gushed. ¡°I wanted to try the VR rig if that¡¯s what it was, but it looked way too expensive to touch. I was completely geeking out.¡± ¡°Huh, you actually resisted?¡± Jeff acted surprised. ¡°That¡¯s more than I could manage. Yeah, I helped set up your room for you.¡± ¡°Well, thank you. Not to be rude, but why did you bring me here? You know, I only have a hand full of days left, and we¡¯ve tried everything. Is this a final vacation you are giving my family, or are you hoping your miracle treatment will work?¡± ¡°Jordan, this has nothing to do with miracles,¡± Jeff was more serious now. ¡°Yes, I am a man of faith, but I also believe that God helps those who help themselves and are willing to work hard. Sometimes you need to take a leap of faith,¡± his serious tone changed at the end to a humorous smile as he winked. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°Okay,¡± I said sarcastically, agreeing. ¡°What leap are you expecting me to make? I can hardly walk, so it better be only a short leap of faith; maybe more of a wheelchair race than a leap? Okay?¡± Jeff chuckled, ¡°Still have your humor. I love that. Let me show you the leap I hope you¡¯ll take.¡± We chatted while he took us through security-controlled parts of different buildings. Or I should say buildings. It was a maze. After two elevator descents, we entered a windowless office in one of the industrial basements. The place had to be much bigger than we could see from the entrance and beach house. I imagined it was more went much deeper into the island''s jungle. He finally parked my chair and walked around the front to look me in the eye. ¡°Jordan, we have been aware of your cancer and have monitored its progression,¡± Jeff informed me. ¡°We apologize for needing so long to bring you this option. We weren¡¯t exactly tracking you but looking for patients with similar rapid-spreading cancers. Especially ones that attack the bones.¡± ¡°Your condition is very rare, and you are one of the five people we have found that have the level of aggression in your cancer cells that make our treatment viable.¡± Jeff smiled softly. ¡°In simple terms, our treatment will take tiny self-replicating organisms that are so small no microscope can view them, at least not until a year ago. One of our R&D companies found some dense metal cubes while exploring with a deep-sea submarine. At first, they were thought to be something that fell in from a boat. But the carbon dating and metallurgical test came back wrong. The shape was also too precisely cut to be naturally occurring. We believe that your miracle substance has its origins beyond our planet. Once our company knew this represented went looking for more. And we ended up finding a lot. Most samples were in the ocean. Extensive tests have been run on every aspect of the substance. I won¡¯t go into a lot of the technical stuff, but I promise it is safe for humans, at least those in your condition. Our first human trial was with a 10-year-old girl, named Anna. We used one sample dose about the size of a quarter. You know the thin metal coin about this big,¡± he spread his fingers an inch apart to show me. ¡°That was five years ago. She was completely healed and on track for a long life,¡± he smiled and turned slowly away, ¡°but unfortunately, she died six months ago in a car accident.¡± ¡°The good news is that since Anna¡¯s initial treatment, we¡¯ve obtained over 100 other samples. We think that with the added treatment dose, you will have exceptional results. Given your condition, we moved heaven and earth to get you treated as soon as we possibly could. The material we are using appears as a solid. But when placed near someone with your condition, the solid-state changes to a liquid, expands slightly, and seeks to interact with you. We originally used quantum computing and AI-assisted technology to model the outcome of the treatment interactions near Anna. Then interactions with her body. All interactions were favorable, and we moved forward. We calculated that you will need twice as much of the treatment substance as Anna. Her response was positive. If your results are similar, it will seek out and modify the cancerous cells. Our best understanding is that the organisms act like a hivemind. They work best the greater their combined mass. The more we gathered and then put in proximity to Anna, the stronger the reaction. They were dormant till they got near Anna. Then they showed intelligence and desire to get in contact with her. Once ingested, they will spread through your body. In a year, you won¡¯t have a single cancer cell, and your body composition will be saturated with these little guys. In every model we ran, the results were the same; you are probably one of a handful of people that not only need this treatment but also the only ones who will be compatible with it. You will end up stronger and probably smarter than ever,¡± after finishing his lengthy explanation, he went silent and looked intently at me until I looked back. ¡°So, what do you say? Will you do it?¡± ¡°I¡¯d be happy just to live another year, let alone be healthy. Let¡¯s just do this,¡± I told him while scratching the back of my head. That was also a reminder of the not-so-distant chemo treatment since my hair was shorter than I liked. During Jeff¡¯s explanation of events, I had grown quite excited. But the reminder of chemo was enough to stifle my hopes before they got too far out of the gate. But my lack of enthusiasm did not dampen Jeff¡¯s. ¡°All you do is take a pill and drink the treatment; easy,¡± Jeff smiled at his simple summation. ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound so bad. You should have led with that. It sounds like I¡¯m getting the better end of the deal. I take a drink that kills my cancer, makes me healthy for the first time in years, and in exchange, you let me hang out on a tropical island. Yeah, I¡¯ll take that deal,¡± I was being melodramatic and joking, but I was aware of the serious nature of the day. This was the best chance and the only chance I have to live. We were taken to the next room by a nurse that came out. It was set up like a family doctor¡¯s office. I sat in my wheelchair still rather than trying to climb the high exam table. The nurse put an electronic wristband on me. ¡°All right, you are ready. The wristband will monitor all your vitals while in the chamber. Now we need you to enter the sterile chamber to administer the treatment,¡± she said, encouraging me as she wheeled my chair to a pressure-sealed door. Air hissed as the seal unlocked and opened. I stood from the chair and stretched my aching legs. Then I step through the pressure-sealed set of doors. They mechanically closed behind me, and my ears popped when the pressure changed. A nurse used intercoms and directed me where to go. Seems like a lot of precaution for a cancer treatment, I thought to myself. ¡°You guys housing the bubonic plague or a strain of zombie DNA?¡± I chuckled as I asked aloud. No one else thought it was funny, or I couldn¡¯t hear if they did. I was instructed by the nurse¡¯s voice to sit in the sole chair in the room. I sat, and the tray next to the chair moved robotically until it was in front of me. Placed on top was what I thought looked like a fancy thermos and a plain paper cup filled with a big red pill. The thermos looked like it would hold a large coffee and had a sealed lid; along the sides were clear glass windows that ran down the side the size of a pencil. I picked it up, and the contents inside shifted. I could see that it was nearly full of a very dark gray liquid that moved like mercury. ¡°Really? Do I have to drink all of this? And A red pill?¡± Jordan was reminded of an old movie he loved. That pill is a fast-acting sedative. The insulated cup is the treatment. The sedative will help you relax while the treatment passes through your digestive tract. The medication takes about 30 seconds to kick in, and the treatment needs to be fully down your throat by then. The treatment takes about 24 hours to be fully absorbed. ¡°So, just drink the entire thing and swallow this pill?¡± I asked. ¡°Yes, Jordan, whenever you are ready. But swallow the Pill with the first drink, then drink the rest as fast as you can,¡± The voice instructed. I had come this far, so I just went for it. I was used to dry swallowing pills. This one was big, but I managed to choke it down. It caught in my throat, so I quickly opened the canister with my liquid medicine. I quickly upended the bottle to get a quick swig. As the liquid hit my mouth, I tipped it down to avoid spilling the contents that couldn¡¯t fit in my mouth. I tried to close my mouth, but the liquid seemed to be like one solid mass. Once it was in my mouth, the rest climbed after it. I couldn¡¯t close my mouth fully; it squeezed through my lips and teeth and was down my throat. It was unreal, and I couldn¡¯t process it. Everything began to slow down. In slow motion, I watch my hand go slack. Then my body locked up, and I would have heard the liquid container clattering on the ground, except my whole being; every shred of focus was on the raging inferno that screamed down my throat. I couldn¡¯t move but could feel the mass of liquid treatment pull its way to my stomach and then further. Every inch it moved, it coated my insides and sunk through tissue. I could feel it like little clawing talons digging along, digging deeper. That clawing pain increased as the liquid spread throughout my body. When it hit my heart, the beating stopped for the length of two regular beats, and it hurt intensely but then thumped hard, like a hammer hitting my chest. Right after that, I felt the claws scratching through my veins and into my skull. My mental processing of the situation went from panic to overwhelming awe. My mind was utterly overrun with data like I was downloading the entire internet into my brain. In one continual stream, the information flowed and was so dense it was like the shift of the ocean tide. I was the beach, unable to stop a tsunami and about to be destroyed by the coming onslaught. I was aware of the enormity of data for only a blink as it sloshed into my mind; then, I lost consciousness.
PreSystem Integration Status Check: Compatibility Check: Confirmed Primary Directive: Seed Arcana System
Mapping and Installing Neural Framework Map complete. Installing Subconscious data routines
Entity System Diagnostics Check:
Scanning Biologic Systems: Skeletal System Muscular System Cardiovascular System Respiratory System Digestive System Urinary System Endocrine System Lymphatic System Integumentary System Nervous System Reproductive System Mana System: MISSING Cultivation System: MISSING
Biologic Systems Compromised: All Systems Critical
Entity Systems Scan Complete: Anomalies detected: Parasitic Organisms, Missing SYSTEM Connection Insufficient Resources
Additional Results: Male Homosapien, Age 16 (local Solar Cycles), Arcana System Compatible Status: Imminent Mortal Danger, Cause: Foreign Parasite responsible for the destruction of multiple systems leading to cardiac arrest in 92 days, 4 hours, and approximately 3 minutes.
Recommend Immediate Arcana Integration and Unlock Missing Core Systems. Request SYSTEM Input: Error: No response from SYSTEM
Analysis of Parasitic Organism Complete Recommendation: Repair Host Biologic and Arcane Systems Insufficient Arcana Detected Additional Recommendation: Cannibalize and Repurpose Parasite Recommendation will result in converting the entity¡¯s current Sub-G Rank to Arcana System
Host Choice to Decline: Overridden Critical directives protocol Grade G Entity permissions insufficient Autonomous Authorization Granted
Arcana System Unlock Initiated Time to completion and host system restart: Local Cycles and Calendar - 1 year, one month, and three days: September 2, 2026
Hibernation Protocol Active during Upgrade Sequence
Chapter 2: Birthday It''s been a little less than three months since the System arrived. Yeah, I survived the cancer. Hurray for me. Unfortunately, being cancer free was the only good news. Yeah, I¡¯m alive but unable to live my childhood fantasy that everyone else gets to. I mean, 90% of these moms wouldn¡¯t have known a LitRPG if it fell off the shelf and hit them in the face at the bookstore. But now they got to level up and power through this new world. I felt left out, completely bored, and jaded at being useless. When I first woke up after treatment, my thoughts were like static on an old black-and-white tv set. Wintery Static, whenever I tried to think about the moments after I swallowed that pill and drank the gray liquid. I slept for a week and was observed and tested at the facility for ten weeks. It was a vacation that I mostly slept through. Eventually, my body improved, and the testing continued. The improvements snowballed, and I got healthy and stronger like I was juicing. Not the fruit cleanse, the needle kind. I was finally able to put on muscle and stopped looking like a skeleton. But, like I said, it didn¡¯t work out in the end. Journal entry of Jordan¡¯s late August 2026 ####### September 1st, 2026 ¡°Ah!¡± See, anytime I try to remember, I get that stupid¡­forget it,¡± I tried to soothe myself to focus and move on. ¡°What was I doing?¡± I always lost a bit of awareness and forgot what I was doing when I tried to recall the time right after the treatment. ¡°You were trying to tell us why you are so weak when the boys wouldn¡¯t stop asking you. But you should probably just focus on multiplication and division,¡± a little girl said with her chin resting in her hand and sighing. ¡°Yeah, thanks,¡± I shook my head, getting the last of the static out of my thoughts. ¡°Yeah, okay, everyone, that¡¯s it for today. We will continue your lesson tomorrow. Now it¡¯s about time for you to get home,¡± I hadn¡¯t realized how much time passed. No wonder the kids were messing with me. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s get out of here, ¡°Broken¡± doesn¡¯t know anything,¡± the boy dressed in dark brown clothes, who instigated my interrogation, yelled. His snarky comment caused many others to quietly or not so quietly laugh, depending on how close they were to me. ¡°You know you don¡¯t have to keep teaching them,¡± a feminine voice I didn¡¯t want to hear at that moment came in through the window of the old insurance office building I used for class. She, too, was wearing clothes like the children. They were sturdy and unlike anything I¡¯d seen, at least before this last June. They were slightly baggy but fit her form nicely. The material was light but more substantial than it had a right to be. Everyone besides me had a pair. My mom looked happy and healthier than I¡¯d ever seen before June. Despite being in her late 30¡¯s, she looked not a day over 22. Some of the changes that arrived were more welcome than others. Unfortunately, I have missed out on all the good stuff since the abduction. I¡¯d privately called what happened the abduction or the greatest prank on Jordan ever. ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking,¡± my mom began with her usual chipper admonishment, ¡°Just because you missed out doesn¡¯t mean you won¡¯t get another shot,¡± She was trying to encourage me again as she walked in after the last child left. ¡°Some people are talking, and they believe that you might get integrated at the anniversary next June, along with the other 13-year-olds,¡± She sounded so optimistic it was hard to hear. But I kept my smile pasted on so she wouldn¡¯t worry. ¡°Yeah, Mom, they¡¯re probably right,¡± I fought to keep my tone from sounding sarcastic. ¡°I was excluded from the System draft or Integration or whatever. But in nine months, I might get another shot. In the meantime, I need something to do. I haven¡¯t forgotten that I nearly died from cancer. I¡¯m my second life. It just sucks to miss out on living like an action hero in a fantasy world. Especially when everyone I know is living that dream. No one would have believed this four months ago, and now I¡¯m the only one older than 12 who missed the boat.¡± I cut my rant short as my mom¡¯s smile turned to a frown. Standing before me, she lifted my drooped chin and brought me into one of her famous hugs. She squeezed, and I heard my back pop in a rapid-fire; pop pop pop. ¡°Oh, sorry, hun, I forget how strong I am, and you¡­¡± She left unsaid what we both knew. I was alive but weaker than even my students. Even kids who didn¡¯t get the entire system introduction and training were still given at least a locked system. They couldn¡¯t see their stats, but their guardian or parent was recognized by the system and allowed them to view their stats. Even a couple of foster kids were assigned guardians who could help them. Everyone seemed to be accounted for except for yours truly. My mom tried to access mine like all the others did. But nothing worked. No one could view my stats. It¡¯s rough when the kids I teach basic math can break my arm with an errant swat. It happened once. The only actual time I thought I might have a system. My arm had a compound fracture, but a doctor pushed the bone back in through the skin and wrapped it up. The crazy thing was that it was healed a couple of days later. Not months, days later. Everyone just said, ¡°It¡¯s more System Shenanigans.¡± That¡¯s what everyone says when they can¡¯t explain what happens. ¡°Your father and I were so scared when we couldn¡¯t find you in the Garden,¡± She finally pushed me from her hug and held me at shoulder length. ¡°We were so glad that your father found you alive after that tutorial finished.¡± ¡°I know you¡¯ve told me before it was the hardest year of your life. I know how much you loved me. But to me, it was only a week,¡± I told her, but I remembered what I had gone through. I just stuck around home and walked around the empty town. It was the end of the world, the last man alive. At least, I thought so. What else was I to believe? Then a week after I became the last man on earth, everyone returned. The shock of it was hard to swallow both times. You sort of come to accept a change to your view of the world, and then it flips again and only gets weirder. I had a few working theories on my ¡°Broken¡± status but nothing concrete. One, I got too sick, and something in me died. The part that connects to the System. Seemed logical. Cancer; still kicking my butt. Or theory two: it was the treatment Jeff¡¯s company gave me. Most likely suspect? I didn¡¯t know and couldn¡¯t tell you for sure. And Jeff wasn¡¯t around in June when the System came. Not sure if I¡¯ll ever see him again, seeing as all technology stopped working. We didn¡¯t have a way to travel and find out if I was the only person without System access or if there were answers beyond our town. When Summer Solstice arrived on Sunday, June 21st, 2026, at Noon in the Central US time zone, all hell broke loose because everyone I knew disappeared. I didn¡¯t realize until later that the System arrived and yoinked everyone else to a tutorial. Even the kids returned with basic system knowledge and training and a countdown until their 13th birthday. With a system message that on their 13thbirthday, they will be yoinked again to the Garden tutorial. There they would spend a year gaining knowledge and instruction on advancement through the System. I¡¯d heard all the stories, and at first, I was super interested. They told me all about the training and options for classes. They all found and unlocked unique abilities and ways to survive in our ever-more dangerous world. I¡¯ve heard all the stories at this point, and after a while, I just stopped caring. It wasn¡¯t my future. So now I¡¯ve lost all curiosity, and my excitement has turned to a bit of resentment. But I try to ignore that darkness inside and push forward. So here I am, teaching math to kids who could kill me far too easily for my own comfort while I continually try to convince my mom I won¡¯t get too depressed or venture out of the safe zone of our little town. ¡°Mom, it¡¯s almost time for an early dinner; you hungry yet?¡± I tried to change the topic. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m here. I have a sandwich for you,¡± She pulled one out of her right pocket. ¡°It¡¯s not much, but your father and I must head out¡ªanother hunting, exploration trip. We¡¯re hoping to connect with the next town over, so we are heading out to get to an abandoned safe zone we found part of the way there. We might be gone up to a week or more. There are provisions in the pantry at home. Please, take care of yourself and promise me you won¡¯t go outside the town.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll be fine,¡± ¡°No, I want to hear you?¡± she insisted ¡°Okay, I promise, I won¡¯t leave the safe zone and will take care of myself.¡± ¡°Thank you, and I¡¯m sorry we will miss your birthday. I didn¡¯t forget, and I will look for something great while we are out. Let you choose out of some of the drops your father and I get.¡± Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡°I understand. Be safe and have some fun,¡± I said, sounding more upbeat. I didn¡¯t want them thinking about me while they were fighting for their lives out there. I waved as she left and waited for her to get out of sight. Then I grabbed the sandwich and a bottle of water I¡¯d brought to class and headed out the back door. Not everyone survived the transition. Tons of people were dropped off after their year in the tutorial in the exact GPS location they had been before the system took them. Those in planes found themselves on the ground or floating at the water''s surface, depending on what was below them. Technology like planes had crashed. People in cars driving down the highway had been displaced and arrived standing on the road in empty patches of the highway. Each of them learned details about how the world changed in their tutorial. They knew the towns were safe zones if the population was less than 100,000. If it was higher than that, the larger cities had separate designated safe zones. So now our town of 15,000 people is closer to a town of 5,000. There were too many people who commuted to the large city near us and left without transportation when technology failed. It was due to this that many businesses and houses now sit vacant. I had given it some time but eventually took over a 3rd-floor loft apartment in one of the historic downtown buildings. It had some basic furniture, and I was respectful in case the owner survived and came back. But for now, it was my little fortress of solitude. The stairs to the loft went up to the roof, and I decided to eat on a folding chair I¡¯d found and brought up. The weather was warm, but I didn¡¯t mind. I sat and watched the sunset. ¡°Might as well give it a few more hours and stay up for my birthday,¡± I challenged myself, unsure if I would make it. I ended up nodding off long before midnight.
Arcana System Initialization Complete: Exit Hibernation Mode
The golden-bordered message hit me like an alarm of sight and sound going off like a loudspeaker in my ear. I tipped out of my lawn chair and jumped while twisting, trying to avoid falling flat on my back. Instead of a graceful escape from the chair, I shot twenty feet to the side and off the roof. My trajectory and the force I unexpectedly used sent me into the next building across a narrow alley. I hit the wall three feet below the top. I saw it happening as if in slow motion. I tried to grab the lip of the roof, but it was just beyond my reach, and I only managed to claw at bricks and mortar uselessly. My vision changed as if the slow-motion video I watched started to speed up. I bounced off the wall and started to fall. It would have been a straight fall into the pavement, but, unfortunately, or not, I managed to catch my side on the railing of a fire escape. I registered a probable set of broken ribs before I continued downward, now spinning rapidly the remaining two stories to the ground. I thought for sure I would be dead after that. Nope, still alive. I decided Just based on the pain. My thoughts were interrupted from the agony by another attention-demanding message. Before my eyes, a gold box appeared, filling my vision as it displayed confusing text.
Systems Check: Entity System Diagnostics Check: Biologic Systems: Anomalies No longer Detected: Parasitic Organisms Repurposed Missing SYSTEM Connection: No Change Insufficient Resources: No Change Arcana System Active Biologic System Status Shows Severe Damage to the following: Skeletal System: 24 compound and 45 minor fractures Muscular System: 4 major muscle tears and tissue damage Cardiovascular System: Intact but stressed, heart rate too elevated Respiratory System: 3 punctures in the left lung Digestive System: 2 Perforations in digestive tracts from broken ribs Integumentary System: Extensive destruction to multiple layers of skin Nervous System: Cranial Trauma resulting in a severe concussion and two left hemisphere frontal lobe hemorrhages Mana System: Active but insufficient resources Cultivation System: Active but insufficient resources System Autonomic Responses Initiated: 9 Systems Compromised: Repair Sequence Initiated in Order of Priority
Before I could try to take another painful staccato wheeze, this information had passed in front of my eyes. In a blink, I knew every word by memory. I understood it too. Not just memorization, but I knew the state of my entire body, and I was going to be all right. As I took my next breath, I felt bones reposition, align, and some popped into place. I felt my lungs heal, and after my next inhale, I rolled over and hacked up pink tissue and blood. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was nasty. After a coughing fit, I was able to take a clear breath. I looked at the sorry state of my clothes and the cuts and spots my skin was smashed and broken open from the sudden impact. I managed to get seated and looked at my body. I took stock of my state and reminded myself I shouldn¡¯t be alive. The pain seemed to melt away, and I stared at my arm as I watched the cracked-open wounds and cuts reverse the damage like they were being zipped up from the inside out. Grit, sand, and blood were pushed out. They fell to the ground as gravity took hold. The mess fell with gravity in places and stuck to my clothes in others. I hesitantly rubbed my forehead as I felt blood drip down. I could tell I¡¯d hit my head on the pavement on my landing. But if it was dented or damaged somehow, I¡¯d been spared. I felt grit stuck to the outside of my skin. It fell in front of my face and hit my shirt after I wiped it away.
Systems restored: 2 remaining system errors.
Again, my mind processed the gold boxes. Unlike my mother and all the others I¡¯d spoken to, my message boxes weren¡¯t blue. Also different from them, I knew the information as soon as it flashed through my eyes. I didn¡¯t know what it all meant. Much of it was out of context for me, but I understood enough from the System check message that I had been messed up and likely would have choked to death on blood-filled lungs if I didn¡¯t have whatever this golden system was. I took another steadying breath and looked to my right down the alley. It was still dark and empty. I checked my watch, 12:03 am. Like static electricity, I felt a buzz and tingle on my left side. As I turned, there was a blue flash. I was treated to the sight of a large, blue-skinned person. It reminded me of the 3-part movie series with blue-skinned aliens on another world who fought advanced humans with mechs while in trees and then water. I never saw the third one, but it was all about advanced human exploitation of the natives and how capitalism could become evil through greed and self-serving interests. This blue being looked masculine with a strong jaw and stood towering over me at over 7 feet tall. I felt fear but, in my shock, didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Welcome Initiate to the Arcane, Jordan of Earth,¡± Their voice boomed and was dripping with ceremony and respect. As they solemnly welcomed me, they extended their giant mitt of a hand down to me. Then left it there, but it only took me a moment to grab it and let them pull me to my feet. They dwarfed my 5-foot 9-inch frame. They then took one step back, took a knee, and bowed his head. ¡°I, Nicol, Son of Lathiel, sincerely greet you, Arcane, and pledge to assist you on your journey,¡± he spoke solemnly and passionately. I noticed that he wore a thin sleeveless vest and light baggy pants. He looked like a bodybuilder with blue body paint wearing a costume from a story called Aladdin I¡¯d seen long ago. He was only missing the monkey sidekick. His black hair was shaved on the sides of his skull, but the rest was long and drawn back into a ribbon that seemed to tie it into a braid. It fell and flipped over his shoulder when he bowed and now hung, touching the ground. ¡°What are you?¡± I didn¡¯t mean to voice that thought, but he answered regardless. ¡°I am Nicol, as to what I am¡­a servant. To all the Arcane, and now I¡¯m here to help you,¡± Nicol responded after raising his head while he remained kneeling. He was now about eye level with me. ¡°Sorry¡­Nicol, was it you that healed me and sent these gold messages,¡± I was starting to make some connections as to what happened. Aliens are real. Of course, they are. System, abilities, classes, and Aliens! ¡°I was aware of your presence only moments ago when our scanners picked up your System. You are not meant to be here. We were about to leave. Thank the Arcane we found you.¡± He sounded surprised and delighted. ¡°What? But it was you who healed me?¡± I asked, now uncertain I knew what was happening. ¡°Apologies, we are on a tight deadline to return,¡± He stood to his full height and smiled. At least his teeth aren¡¯t sharp. Then he stepped up to me and, reaching down, placed his hands on my shoulders. Not a mom hug, not a mom hug, I thought to myself. Nicol kept smiling as I heard a sound like a subwoofer beat and air compressed around me. I instinctively closed my eyes to the change and opened them to a new sight. ¡°Now we go. We will make it to your new home in less than one of your Earth rotations or, as you say, in less than a day,¡± Nicol had already turned away and walked down a cylindrical wall. I spun in a circle to see we were in a sphere-shaped room. I looked down to see a weird, frosted glass floor. I could see the rest of the sphere shape continued down below the floor. Other than the glass, it was all metallic. The same dark gray as¡­¡± ¡°Are you coming?¡± Nicol waved me over as he turned back toward the hall. Chapter 3: Accomodations ¡°Wait, where are we? What¡¯s with this color?¡± I asked, trying not to forecast my suspicions as I jogged to catch up to him. After my first step out of the spherical room and into the hall, I felt my body tingle and warm. I looked at my hands and arms. They were softly glowing like a bright flashlight was shining under the skin. ¡°What the¡­¡± I felt great as the glowing intensified, then quickly subsided. ¡°Your planet possessed no Arcana, so that glow was you adjusting to the Arcana on the ship. But we have a very low saturation in the halls. You will learn more later. As for this vessel, it has been orbiting your planet for the last 100 years,¡± Please follow me. I followed as he took a turn down another hallway. Nicol continued to explain, ¡°We have seeded your planet throughout our mission. We were seeking compatible Arcane hosts. It is exceedingly rare for a newly Awakened world to be compatible with the Arcana. We were not surprised to be unsuccessful during the entire mission. But then, just a few minutes ago when we found you. We were in our departure countdown when we received the signal. At this point, we are late to transport you to Arcana Prime. You will have to join tardy or wait for a cycle. And, the ship color is due to the ship being infused with Arcana.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen this exact color before. I drank a whole container of it.¡± My steps faltered as I blurted out my possible connection to the substance; then, I stopped when I realized my cancer treatment did cause all of this. ¡°We will need to take readings, but you certainly had contact with Arcana. You wouldn¡¯t have registered on our scans otherwise. I would guess you were exposed to a large amount simultaneously, and your body needed time to adjust.¡± ¡°We will depart for Arcana Prime now and assume that our scans were correct. If not, you must be taken to the nearest non-arcane civilized system planet.¡± ¡°What? Are you serious?¡± I had more questions the longer he talked. ¡°We¡¯re in space, and you¡¯re taking me to a distant planet to what? Train me?¡± I was shocked and reeling from all the news. ¡°Yes,¡± Nicol confirmed. ¡°But my family is on Earth, can¡¯t you just send me to the tutorial,¡± I protested, ¡°How long will I be gone? I can¡¯t leave here without at least leaving a message. They¡¯ll think I got myself killed outside of town,¡± he let me rattle off my concerns. Nicol fully turned to face me. ¡°I apologize for taking you from your home. We have no choice. And you will do your family and Earth a great service by embracing your new life.¡± ¡°How is it a service when I¡¯ll be somewhere else?¡± I didn¡¯t see me going would change anything. ¡°This is likely the only way to protect your planet. Otherwise, you will not be strong enough to protect them. And no one else gained the Golden Path.¡± ¡°Protect them from what?¡± ¡°The other Arcane who will come to claim your Star System. But even if they didn¡¯t, there is the escalating Mana process. It will be difficult for a G-rated species to keep up with. If your species were E or even F, they would adapt in time to the changes. But there is almost no chance for a G-rated species on a planet targeted for D and eventual C grade levels of Mana. So, that should be your motivation and driving forces; if you don¡¯t want to see your civilization and people subjugated, enslaved, or killed, then you need to learn and advance.¡± ¡°Enslaved?¡± Was the only shocked response I could muster. ¡°Yes, the Arcane that will come here seeing their arrival as a salvation for a weak planet like this. They will protect your species from extinction at the heavy price of generational slavery. All future generations of earthlings will have to serve the Arcane that wins the rights to Earth. Your only chance is to win that right and learn to protect them yourself.¡± He paused his explanation and waved for me to follow. I followed him down the hall. Eventually, we came to a four-way junction. Above the halls hanging from the ceiling, was a display like a wide but not tall flat-screen TV. It looked a lot like the menus that popped up in my vision but less pronounced and was a fixture on the ceiling. ¡°Are those in English?¡± I wondered aloud as I could read them, but I also didn¡¯t know how I was making sense of the images as they seemed to shift from symbols to legible words. ¡°No, they are in the language of the gods,¡± Nicol chuckled as he explained further, ¡°No F-ranked newly awoken planet could know this language, and you are seeing it translated due to your Arcane System¡¯s AI.¡± I looked from Nicol¡¯s back to the sign we passed. I was looking back the way we came, and it said Teleportation Pad 3. ¡°So, I have an AI in my brain now?¡± I scratched the side of my head as if I could feel something inside my head. ¡°Not your brain. It is part of your every fiber. We call it Arcane because it is a mystery to all but the most advanced. Even my people do not have all the knowledge. We are servants to the gods. You will need training from those like yourself. Your primitive planet couldn¡¯t even see the universe¡¯s building blocks, let alone the Arcane structure. What your scientist called Super-subatomic structure was only the narrowest of understanding. You will learn more about this at the academy. Let¡¯s find your gear and get to your housing.¡± At this point, we¡¯d covered about a mile of walking, and I saw a sign that read housing complex 1. We followed the signs, and the hall opened to what I thought was a warehouse with open shelves on the sides.It was easily 2 or 3 stories tall to the ceiling, and as I looked closer, I realized the shelves were bunks. They each had a bed with bedding and a locker with a narrow ledge next to each. Each level was accessed by ladders going up between the bunks. The lowest bunks started about 12 feet off the ground. Underneath were benches, tables, and then, I saw what looked like gym equipment and a few rooms with small windows on the slightly larger-than-human-sized doors. ¡°Go to any of the lockers and grab what¡¯s inside. Change into the clothing and meet back here. Since you are the only Arcane in our survey, I¡¯ve decided that you can stay in available crew quarters. It will be less spacious but more comfortable. We will come back from training. Now go, I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± I was just along for the ride; after that ¡°save the world¡± speech, I had much to process. So I nodded and walked to the nearest bunk. I climbed the ladder and opened the first locker. I stepped out on the two-foot wide ledge and looked in. As the locker fully opened, lighting inside lit up the contents. There was a lightweight white jumpsuit. I reached to touch it. It was like silk but also felt durable. It reminded me of what everyone on Earth wore after a tutorial. But this was bright white and looked like they were for little kids. ¡°This doesn¡¯t look big enough; where are the adult sizes?¡± I yelled across to Nicol. ¡°Please just try it on; it will fit,¡± he spoke without yelling, and I could hear him in the otherwise silent room. I pulled the kids¡¯ jumpsuit out of the locker. As I held it beyond the locker, it expanded and lengthened. In about three seconds, it became something I could fit. ¡°How?¡± I questioned in a shocked whisper. There were too many questions, and I needed to play along if I wanted the answers. I went to the nearest bed beside the locker and sat. I peeled off my dirty earth clothes. They were ragged and bloody. Some of the blood hadn¡¯t thoroughly dried. I quickly made the white bedding a brown and red mess. But it was too late to fix it, so I kept peeling off my old clothes. I left my underwear on as the locker had no other garments besides white boots. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°No, remove all your clothes. It will be best. The ones you have are not durable.¡± ¡°And these silky things are?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± was all he said. Maybe he was getting annoyed by my questions. I did my best to protect my modesty as I laid down, slipped my boxers off, and pulled up the jumpsuit. As I was on the bed, I realized I was exhausted. But I followed the instructions and went back and grabbed the boots. They were much nicer than my pair of sneakers, which had been old before the world went wild. Still, they were my favorite. ¡°Can I wear my shoes?¡± ¡°You may bring them but put on the boots,¡± he wasn¡¯t harsh, but I could tell he was getting impatient, ¡°But leave your old clothes in the locker. Someone will get them later,¡± ¡°How will they know which locker they¡¯re in?¡± I asked, and he didn¡¯t respond. I put the boots on and tossed my old clothes in after confirming the locker had no more clothes, only a towel. I climbed down after shutting the locker. ¡°Look back at the room. Can you tell which locker was yours?¡± He asked with a sigh. I turned, and out of the giant gray room with white bedding was a glaring trail of dirt and a bright bed with blood and grime where my legs had been down the side. ¡°Sorry about the bed,¡± I was genuinely sorry and subconsciously lowered my head. ¡°It¡¯s of no consequence, but why didn¡¯t you grab the towel? Always have a towel,¡± he smiled as if it was a joke only he knew. ¡°We should continue. There is too much to learn, and I am not authorized to tell you everything, nor do we have time. We will arrive tomorrow,¡± he spoke as he walked. ¡°Earlier, you said we were late. Late for what, again?¡± My curiosity was only growing today. ¡°Your education and initiation,¡± he smiled. ¡°It was our pleasure and surprise to find you, and we will receive honor and rewards. But you are like an infant. You need to learn much if you want to survive.¡± ¡°Survive¡­¡± I started to interrupt. ¡°Yes, this is a life and death situation. We are not taking you to an earth-like school with your chemistry and physical education. You will train with the other Golden Path Elite. You are at a great disadvantage but remember, for the sake of everyone you know, you must survive.¡± His words were, again, sobering. I didn¡¯t want to see my family become slaves, and I didn¡¯t want to waste a chance to be living my fantasy. I didn¡¯t expect this after everything that I¡¯d been through. We kept walking and eventually reached a new part of the ship. The halls were the same gray cylinders. There were fewer signs but just as many junctions and closed doors as we passed. He stopped in front of a nondescript door, no different than many others, except it had a small 12 stamped in the center. Like the rest, it wasn¡¯t a numeral like I was used to, but it was immediately translated for me to understand. I knew it was not a one followed by a two but one character from this alien civilization. He stepped towards the closed door, and it briskly split open, retracting into the wall on each side before he could collide with it. I followed and stood to his right side, taking in the room. The inside looked like a small apartment. There was another bunk and lockers on each side to the left. In the center area was a table with three chairs. On my right was an open door with what looked like a bathroom. ¡°Your body will need time to adjust. Please clean up in there,¡± he pointed to the bathroom. ¡°Then get rest. You are going to need it. I will gather you in 12 hours. If you are hungry, food is in that compartment to the left. Please get some sleep. You are a great find, and I¡¯m pleased you appeared in time. But the cycle starts today, and you have no preparation. The others have had decades as they¡¯ve grown up and were raised by Arcane instructors and their parents if they were able. Your performance will also impact my team. Please don¡¯t concern yourself with us. I only mentioned it to reinforce your need to rest and to perform well.¡± ¡°This is a lot to take in,¡± I looked at Nicol. ¡°Rest; answers will come soon,¡± he pushed me a step forward and walked out. The door closed behind him. I turned back to the room. I suddenly realized I needed to use the bathroom. I started removing the jumpsuit as I shuffled to the right side of the apartment. Thank God there was a toilet. There were differences, but it did the job. I started to pee, and it hurt. I looked, and I was peeing some dark red blood. It passed, and then I felt sick. I stood and tried to find some way to flush, but I couldn¡¯t in time. I grabbed a cube-shaped trash bin and puked. More blood and some black sludge came up. I kept spitting the remnants into the box. Then as if I wasn¡¯t miserable enough, my gut churned. I was back to the toilet. It took a while, but my body finally evacuated all the junk it had. The healing and changes didn¡¯t magically remove the internal issues and damage. I did find a way to flush the toilet, but I was feeling dirty; my skin and hair still had remnants of blood. When I removed the new clothes, I noticed all the blood and grime were gone. It didn¡¯t do anything for my head or other body parts not inside the suit. Feeling less sick, I used the shower. The water was refreshing, and I would have stayed there for hours, but I was about to collapse. So I grabbed a towel, dried myself, stumbled to the other side of the room, and just collapsed into the bed face first. I awoke on my back to the sound of the voice. I struggled to wake up, and opening my eyes took a minute. When I did, I had a moment of shock before I remembered where I was. Then I realized a voice was talking to me, and I turned. There before me was a human female mid-sentence explaining something. ¡°¡­best you change as we are on a tight schedule,¡± I only caught the last bit but scrambled to find a blanket, but it was underneath me, so I used one hand to try to cover up as I used the other to wrangle the blanket out from under me. ¡°What are you doing? Please get dressed. Nicol asked me to get you ready. He has been in last-minute meetings concerning you. He is doing what he can to help, but we are ready to disembark.¡± My blanket finally covered me but more embarrassed than I could remember. The woman before me looked mid-twenties. Her face was gorgeous, and her outfit was a more form-fitting version of mine but in blue. She didn¡¯t seem embarrassed seeing my naked body sleeping on the bed. ¡°Do you mind turning around,¡± I sheepishly asked, knowing my cheeks and face had to be red. ¡°Why?¡± She asked, surprised by my request. ¡°Oh yes, your culture has concerns with privacy and nudity. I apologize for not remembering,¡± she turned away as she responded. ¡°Thank you,¡± I squeaked as I hurried to the edge of the bed, clinging to the blanket. I found a new set of clothes in the locker next to the bed and got the blue jumpsuit up to my stomach before I dared drop the blanket. I zipped it the rest of the way up and turned back towards her. ¡°Ready,¡± I announced. ¡°Boots,¡± she added. ¡°Okay,¡± I pulled on the new white boots and grabbed my sneakers as she had already left through the door. I caught up and was on her heels in my Smurf outfit. That¡¯s when I noticed she had boots that matched her blue suit. ¡°Um¡­do I need to grab the blue boots?¡± I asked, looking back as we got further from the room. ¡°Ah, no,¡± she glanced back, ¡°it won¡¯t matter; these are only worn on the ship. And we don¡¯t have time to get your ceremony clothes. We are going to try to get you something before you present.¡± ¡°Present? At a ceremony?¡± ¡°The induction to the Arcane Academy is today. Most students have been on campus for about a week. They have already been housed and introduced to their classes, the campus facilities, and the planetary opportunities. You will need to catch up quickly. I recommend making connections and friends.¡± We walked further in silence as I considered what was coming. I was going back to school. I¡¯d never had a typical school experience. Cancer and treatments meant I was mainly home-schooled after I turned 14 and got sick. So high school was not something I got to experience. And with my prognosis, I never planned for college. Near the end, my parents didn¡¯t even ask me to do my homework when I was drugged or depressed. So yeah, this was a new shot at school for me. But the stakes were higher. The words ¡°survive¡± and ¡°only hope¡± didn¡¯t make it sound like a cheery place. Still, part of me was excited. I was going to learn magic and how to get strong like the people on Earth had. Wait¡­ ¡°So, what¡¯s different between Earth and this place, as far as what Arcane can do?¡± ¡°Good question, but save it for the academy. We are here,¡± she said as she brought me to a different door, already sliding open as we approached, and Nicol was standing on the other side. He was dressed in a white and golden robe. The robe was spotless and regal. The only other adornment he wore was a golden chain with a ring hanging in the center of his chest. The center of the circle was filled with clear glass. Inside were two moving fluids. One was black and settled at the bottom, like a much denser fluid; the other was white and took up the top half. Other than that, I noticed his big blue feet were bare. He was in an airlock with windows on all sides except for the door we walked through to join him and another behind. I apprehensively looked through the glass below me. The view was spinning slowly. ¡°Did you sleep?¡± Nicol asked. ¡°Yes. We¡¯re in space still?¡± I exclaimed. Suddenly realizing I could see a planet out the side window. ¡°Yes, we are docked and will transfer to the surface from here. This ship is not authorized on the planet. As we were the ones to find you, I am allowed to escort you to the surface. Then I will leave you at the ceremony. Come, we are already very late,¡± he turned and led the way. Chapter 4: Ceremony The next several hours involved us walking and occasionally running to locations till we got to the academy grounds. We had taken one teleportation to the planet from the space station port. Then we ran to a low-altitude transport that flew us at high speed to the Academy city. Then we had to ride a high-speed train the rest of the way due to not having clearance for air traffic near the Academy. After seeing the impressive sights of a space station, teleporting, and traveling through the city of an advanced civilization, I was unfortunately wide-eyed and slack-jawed the whole time. I had tried to hide my tourist¡¯s face, but each time I did, there was something new. New species, some sentient, some not humanoid, some going about their business, and some surprised to see me in my blue jumpsuit and white boots, carrying my only shred of earth; my sneakers. We were on foot, walking briskly as we approached the Academy grounds. My mouth was dry from my unconscious mouth breathing. I was surprised I kept doing that as I caught myself staring at the new sights. Unfortunately, it only continued to happen. As we rounded the corner, I could finally see the Academy gate entrance. It was like a giant mix of French and Greek art slammed into a sci-fi-themed castle wall. It flowed elegantly from the massive gate, transitioning into the wall on each side. The form and function would have been excellent; if it had a door. As it turned out, there was nothing to bar the entrance. It was just a 60 feet tall wall with a 50 feet tall by 50 feet wide entrance archway. I was only giving it my best guess. The French stone and Greek pillars were captivating, all highlighted in exotic metals. Carved statues of powerful beings were interspersed on every level of the arch and down the walls. They seemed to be watching. ¡°Don¡¯t be intimidated,¡± Nicol spoke quietly as they were now among a crowd. ¡°Are they watching me,¡± I asked, afraid he was reading my mind. ¡°Who?¡± He turned to catch my upward gaze. ¡°Oh, no, not unless you cause a scene. They won¡¯t activate the guardians for just anyone. No, I meant we are later than I¡¯d even feared and the seats are filled. You look like a crew member, and you¡¯ve received next to zero training or preparation. I only let you sleep since you¡¯d just gotten your system, and I need you to survive the ceremony.¡± ¡°About that,¡± I tried to get my concerns out, ¡°will this be a battle to the death or a blood sacrifice? Or something sinister like that?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Nicol said with a deathly severe tone and not a hint of humor. I again found myself stopped, watching Nicol walk ahead to the gate. I was stuck. I imagined them placing me on my back on an altar and plunging a ceremonial dagger into my chest, carving my still beating heart out, and then the carver taking a bite and looking down at me with a smeared smile and a red trickle down their chin. ¡°Come,¡± Nicol had grabbed my elbow and snapped me out of my daydream. ¡°Yes, there is a match in which you must fight. And yes, there is a part of the ceremony where you must sacrifice some of your blood. It is symbolic and should only be a few drops. You don¡¯t need to know much; if you are on time, you can observe others before you go. Unfortunately, there won¡¯t be many to observe. I received word that they are nearly done with the Rising.¡± I could walk, but things seemed to intensify as we walked. Nicol retained his grip on my left elbow. We passed through the gates alone. No one from the crowd followed. We walked along the side of a road and approached a stadium or a coliseum. The surrounding buildings continued the wall¡¯s theme of stone, gold, silver, obsidian, and other unknown metals. They were the size of a university building. Many are 3-5 stories tall. There were old trees, but many I didn¡¯t recognize. Everything was immaculate and well cared for. ¡°At least we are on the Cycles side of the campus,¡± he didn¡¯t slow his pace but let a resigned sigh pass through his nose. The guy was hardly breathing while I had been sweating and nearly exhausted after the half-day travel from the ship to here. ¡°Cycles?¡± I huffed between breaths, finally feeling the tax of our trip coming due. ¡°No time, come,¡± he said, pulling me to the left. I had stepped toward a large entrance to the giant stadium and would have lost my balance, but Nicol just raised his hand and set me back down to continue when I got my feet under me. ¡°We go in the side entrance; now listen close,¡± he said as we entered a lightly lit hallway. The overhead light of the planet¡¯s sun was cut off as we entered this hall, and only a golden glow like Edison bulbs give off came from rocks stuck in the ceiling. It was like seeing shining gold nuggets buried in the rock. ¡°I will have to leave you in a moment. Follow instructions and observe everything. This is symbolic but important. Your life is not guaranteed, and your success or failure here starts now. Don¡¯t tell anyone I said this phrase but remember this for now: observe and exchange, combine and conquer. I know it means nothing to you, but it¡¯s what they tell the children when they prepare them for tonight. Good luck,¡± we¡¯d approached a room at the end of the hall, and a woman stepped out from that room, stopping our advance. ¡°Who are you? You shouldn¡¯t be here,¡± the stern woman was not happy. ¡°Turn around or else,¡± her hand went to her waist, where a dagger was in a sheath. She pulled it slightly from the sheath, metal gleaming. ¡°Apologies, this is one for the Golden Path, a child of the Arcane,¡± Nicol bowed at the waist. I turned to watch him but kept one eye on the dagger. It slid back into the sheath as Nicol finished his explanation. I still didn¡¯t know what the Golden Path was or anything, but at least I wouldn¡¯t get a dagger in the gut. ¡°At this hour? Are you serious? You¡¯re at the wrong entrance. And I didn¡¯t receive word of this; you must wait here while I check.¡± She stepped back the way she came out of sight. But I heard her take several steps. ¡°Jordan, you need to go before she comes back. Head straight till you find others like you. They will be dressed in hooded robes. You can¡¯t miss them on the floor of the stadium. Go, run till you hit the opening!¡± His hushed voice was forceful, as was his shove, but I was picking up his intentions and was also able to keep my feet. Apparently dagger lady was trying to hold us up or make excuses, so I missed the big dance. That sounded sneaky and rude, so I was all for spoiling her fun. I took off faster. I heard her yell behind me in surprise. I turned back to look and was shocked when a flash caught my attention, and I was in the bright sunlight again. I turned around front just in time to see the back of a hood as I collided with someone. My nose was smashed.And I could hear a crowd yelling. Those were the first things I noticed as I pushed up with my hands and felt the grit of sand on my palms. The next thing I heard were muffled sounds below me. I quickly realized I had tackled and landed on someone. A screen flashed golden background with black borders and font across my mind.
Arcana Sufficient for Combat & Damage Logs Insufficient Resources for Augmented Combat Protocols Insufficient Combat Simulation or Active Experience Expected Combat Effectiveness ~0% (F Rank) Recommendation: Evasion and Escape Alternative Outcome: Most Probable Outcome from Combat - Death/Serious Injury
¡°Stop!¡± I yelled as the frightening messages continued across my mind¡¯s eye. At my cry, the messages cut off and disappeared. Unhindered by my outburst, I was forcefully pulled off the downed figure by one person on each of my arms. My shoulders ached as those lifting me were not gentle but applied great force against my shoulders as they put one hand under my armpit and held my arms spread wide with their others. Too wide. Leverage was used, and I felt a sudden and sharp pop as my shoulder dislocated. I yelled out in a pained wail. ¡°Hold!¡± A commanding voice boomed throughout the entire stadium. The whole stadium went from uproar from my arrival to silence instantly. My cry became a whimper as another person behind me placed a hand over my mouth. Tears fell from my eyes as I battled the racking pain, and the jostling of my captors only fueled the torture. My left shoulder felt like it was being ground in salt and set on fire. I only saw him as he stepped around from somewhere to my side. The voice I barely heard calling for a stop addressed me up close. His eyes pierced me, and I felt a pain in my chest that eclipsed my shoulder for a sharp, brief moment. ¡°I don¡¯t like to repeat myself,¡± he commanded, ¡°Are you the child of Earth? The one to enter the Golden Path?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± I spit out between my clenched teeth, tears sputtering from my lips and my sharp exhale. ¡°Release him,¡± he sighed. ¡°There will be no execution. Healers¡­¡± he was interrupted. ¡°There will be no healing for that,¡± venomous anger came from the new voice. ¡°There are two pairs left, and my daughter will be healed, but not the late arrival. There needs to be some order maintained over your people High Councilor. But with his arrival, the pairs are even. You won¡¯t need to have a stand-in.¡± ¡°Observe as those who are born to be here show you how the paths rise, shine, and fall. I expect you will not see a pleasant fall.¡± The second man was now entirely in front of me as he rested his hand upon my injured shoulder; he gave a slight squeeze. My responsive cry brought a smile to his face. ¡°Enough,¡± he was politely pushed aside. ¡°You¡¯ve had your say. I cannot counter your command as your authority, and mine are equal. No healing, but he goes as the final pair.¡± His voice was spoken to those immediately around me. Then he leaned closer to me and waved off those holding me up. I dropped to the ground and felt another shock of pain. ¡°Listen closely, you have earned enemies just now, and I am not yet a friend. But you must still fight for your life in just a moment. Watch the next pair and be ready after they finish. You are the last.¡± He turned to someone behind me. ¡°Remove his boots and top and get him to our side. We will resume when I return to my seat.¡± They looked to the second man, and he nodded. I noticed the contrast then. Everyone around me, except for the main speaker, who had me released, wore black robes with gold trim and lining. The potential friend who gave me suggestions wore gold robes with black trim. I finally saw the person I¡¯d plowed into. It was a beautiful girl. She was adjusting her hair as others wiped the sand from her robes. My observation was interrupted as I was pulled to my butt, and a man went to his knee and roughly pulled my boots off one at a time. On completing his task, I felt a tear behind my neck. I would have cringed, but I was in too much pain to care. My jumpsuit was rapidly cut from my body. Only the parts at or below the belt were intact now. I was not an athlete before, and my new system hadn¡¯t changed my build. I mean, I didn¡¯t look like a cancer patient anymore, but my chest and arms were not impressive. Especially when I turned to see the men who helped me rearrange my shoulder; they were smiling and wearing the same tight-fitting shorts. Their upper bodies were impressive and didn¡¯t look like they skipped one leg day at the gym. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Go on, you Arcana rat,¡± one said as he kicked sand at me. I turned away from him. ¡°Where?¡± I spit in frustration. ¡°The girl I¡¯d run into caught my eye again as she pointed to her right towards the other side of those gathered on the arena floor. I noticed her face looked sad as she shed her robe and handed it to another next to her. Then I saw another group wearing golden robes with black trimmed edges facing their mirror opposites. I carefully got to my feet. I looked around and couldn¡¯t see my boots, and most importantly, I couldn¡¯t see my sneakers. But I stumbled towards the golden robes when I was pushed from behind. After I got to the edge of the black robes, I saw that to my left, in the center of the arena, was a circle of stone in the middle of all the sand. There were two small tables with something black on one and gold on the other. The tables were just outside the stone ring and stood about waist high. I kept my shuffle going as I turned to my right and saw the High Councilor, in a theatrically slow motion, take his seat. I took that as a signal and hurried the last bit over. I didn¡¯t know what to do, but a gap was opened, and I took it, filing into the row and spinning back around to face the black robes. ¡°We will resume with our final two pairs. The Rise begins,¡± he said as if it meant something significant. And apparently, it did because simultaneously, a figure from my side and the opposite stepped to the middle and bowed to the High Councilors. They rose and turned around, and walked to the stone circle. Each entered and walked to the center. It was hard to see, but as they stood in the center facing each other, a gold-colored spike swirled with black rose from the very center of the stone circle. It came to chest height and stopped. Each person, both looking like young human men, took turns and placed their index finger on the spike, and then they clasped each other¡¯s wrists. After a moment, as if some silent signal only they knew went off, they turned and sprinted to the table behind them. They grabbed what I formerly couldn¡¯t identify. They charged at each other. Each with a large knife or maybe a dagger. So there was a ceremonial knife. Two, I guess. Their charge turned into a short-blade fight. The black shorts man dove dagger first while the other dodged to the side, swiping at the passing man, drawing first blood. The black shorts only took a shallow cut to his back and rolled to his feet. They circled, taking jabs and swipes with daggers, fists, and kicks. Their actions increased in speed, and soon, each was covered in cuts. The tides changed when the black shorts got a deep stab in the dagger hand of the man from the golden shorts. His dagger fell, and before he could retreat had a blade to his throat. He slumped to the ground in defeat. The fighters immediately returned their knives to their original tables and walked back in front of the High Councilors, and bowed. Both still bleeding, they faced each other as the loser bowed low to the ground on both knees and head. He placed his hands on the feet of the victor in front of him. The victor from the black robes smiled wide with pride and put his hands on his competitor¡¯s head. As he did, a pulse of golden light flashed through the skin of the bowing loser, and then that light was drawn towards the hands of each of them and was absorbed into the black-themed winner. He then stood straight, pulled his elbows tight, and screamed in victory. The loser, although bowed, then fell over, slumping as if asleep. A pair quickly came and lifted him by the shoulders. I cringed as I imagined my shoulder being yanked on again. Then a voice to my left spoke near my ear. ¡°It is your turn. Good fortune,¡±
Combat Scenario Recognized Recommendation: Enter Augmented Combat Protocols (ACP) Sufficient Resources for 15 seconds of Immersive Assistance Overlay (IAO) or 5 minutes of Augmented Guidance (AG) Recommendation 15 Second IAO, Lacking experience for AG effectiveness.
Again this text kept bombarding my mind. I could see normally still and process the input from the world around me and the System messages. But I didn¡¯t know what it meant. ¡°IAO?¡± I mumbled, trying to figure out the acronym¡¯s meaning as I stepped in to meet my opponent.
Authorization Received: Please State Activation Command Code
My distracted steps led me to my opponent. I instinctively raised my fists in response.
Repeat - State Command Code:
It was at that time I caught my foot in the sand and jostled my shoulder, and cried, ¡°Owww,¡±
Command Code Saved: Repeat for Activation
¡°Not yet,¡± the man approaching me said and slowly turned from facing me. ¡°Didn¡¯t you pay attention before,¡± he kept his tone low, but it was accusatory. ¡°Why did they pair me with trash?¡± I followed his example, although in a poor imitation of the ritual bow. There were murmurs in the crowd. He turned and steadily marched to the stone circle. I realized I needed to do the same and followed. I was slower, but I made my way, doing everything I could to limit my injury. As I reached my spot across from him, the silent rise of the spike of gold and black swirled stone rose between us. My heart began to race. I knew I stood no chance; I was about to fail regardless of the messages in my head. Left shoulder out of commission, weak, no fighting experience. Yep, I¡¯m dead. He was first to reach his right hand to the tip of the spike. It looked incredibly sharp for stone as it narrowed like an icicle point. He placed his finger on the point and pressed lightly. My eye flitted to his face, and not a hint that he¡¯d just felt it. It might not be so bad, I tried to tell myself. Knowing I was up as he pulled his hand back, finger held up, I saw the blood pool on his finger and run over the side. I paused to watch the blood drip to the ground. At the sight of blood, my eyesight changed.
Pre-combat Awareness Activated: 30 seconds available without impact to IAO estimates.
I had a faint overlay appear over everything. It highlighted the outlines of the stone, every rise, crack, and texture gradient; it all was displayed and relayed to my brain faster than I could typically observe and consider. Everything was tinted slightly brighter too. But the sun had not changed, and the light was the same. Next, I noticed indications of his joints, muscles, and skeletal system. Then all the blood pumping through his body became clear, and his heart. The heart was highlighted as if the skin, muscles, and ribs didn¡¯t exist. I saw it beat in slow-motion. This would have been a cardiologist¡¯s dream view. ¡°Go already,¡± the man across from me quietly growled. I finally did, no longer letting the new view of my world stop me. I gingerly placed my index finger on the stone. But nothing happened. I didn¡¯t feel a prick, so I turned my hand over. No blood. ¡°You need to press harder,¡± he impatiently growled again. ¡°Sorry,¡± I apologized for some reason and tried again, this time harder. My skin resisted and then passed its breaking point and cut into my finger. I nearly yelped but managed to keep it quiet. I forgot the next step till he extended his hand to me. Rather than shaking hands, he reached past my hand and grabbed my wrist firmly. Mine was lined up, and I did the same. I heard a sizzle and saw the man grit his teeth and narrow his eyes at me. I caught a whiff of burning meat. And I felt a bubbling under my bleeding finger. Is the blood burning him? He noticed something was off as he flipped my wrist up and looked at his blood smearing my wrist and forearm. Then he flipped it back over, and I saw the acid-like burning below my finger. I tried to pull away, but he held tight despite his burn. ¡°You don¡¯t belong here. But you made a mistake touching royalty and nobility,¡± his gritted frustration turned into a wicked smile as he nodded and lifted our hands to eye level. Then rapidly, he pulled me a half step towards him and slammed our hands down. I was suddenly staring at a golden black spike protruding from the meaty part of my forearm. My eyesight highlighted the foreign object scraping against and between the two bones of my forearm. I felt it, but the trauma and blood that seeped out were shocking. He released his grip and left me impaled. I couldn¡¯t think. I didn¡¯t scream as he turned and left me. It wasn¡¯t until he grabbed the ceremonial knife and turned back towards me that I realized I was in actual shock and could feel the beat of my heart in my arm and pulsing through my head. I gained clarity, but all I could think of was the pain. ¡°OWWWW,¡± I screamed.
Command Acknowledged: 15 seconds of Immersive Assistance Overlay (IAO) will begin when Pre-combat Awareness indicates or you engage.
Then it happened. My body was no longer under my control. I felt everything, but I was not able to willfully move. I became a passenger in my own body. My body stood straight up, lifting my forearm off the stone, that had skewered it. Then without taking my sight off my opponent, I stepped backward. My injured right arm reached across and down to my limp left arm and grabbed the wrist. With a sudden jerk far to my right, I felt immense pain and then some relief. I tried to scream, but my voice didn¡¯t stir. My shoulder was back in place, but my right arm only bled more from the action. The knife-welding man took two steps to his left, my right. As he did, I took another step back. Somehow I understood the IAO combat information that it was passing to me. There was time, but not enough to get our dagger and return. The opponent could delay, and I would bleed out and die. I needed to end the engagement quickly.
12 Seconds Remain
As my enemy stepped up to the right of the spike, I quickly closed the distance. Faster than we both expected, I was in front of him, and my right hand chopped with the flat side of my palm across his burned wrist. The motion was so fast and impacted just right that he lost his grip, the blade fell next to the ceremony spike, and he immediately started to retrieve it. As he leaned down after it, my body slid underneath him as if trying to catch a falling body. Then faster than I thought possible, I had my feet under me, and with superhuman strength and speed, I had his entire body lifted over my head, as I stood still and tall for one brief moment. I had him squeezed on each side of his ribs. My fingers deeply jammed into his ribs. Before he could react with a hit or kick, I twisted at the hips and pivoted on my left heel. I then slammed him back-first on the spike. I had a clear and detailed view as his heart was skewered and pulverized by the stone. I saw it, and his blood stopped pumping. There was some twitching and movement, but he was dead nearly instantly. My right arm that crossed over the body narrowly but intentionally missed the spike.
Combat ended, and IAO resources stopped.
My body returned to my control, yet I was too weak to support myself. I collapsed onto the lower left half of my skewered opponent. Our bodies were forced by gravity to slide toward the ground. There was a moment when I felt a shift and heard a snap. It wasn¡¯t bone. The top half of the spike impaling the dead man snapped off, and we tumbled just past the remaining stub. I was then turned and ended up on my back. I blinked and saw the back of the corpse settle toward my chest. It wasn¡¯t a sharp protrusion that hit me, but it did break the skin, adding insult to my injuries. But it wasn¡¯t insulting, I felt. But rather, a jolt like someone had turned on the shock paddles right on my chest. My body spasmed, and I felt something inside me change. My energy was spent, I was mentally drained, in excruciating pain, and now I felt like I¡¯d been hit by lightning. My mind froze, and I felt certain something significant was happening. I felt a mixing, like drinking too much soda and needing to burp or else throw up. But it wasn¡¯t physical. Something inside me was roiling like a boiling pot of oil and water. The opposing forces were fighting but also being compelled to mix and become one.
Foreign System Detected Current System Incompatible with Foreign System Analyzing
Systems Compatibility Parameters Altered Foreign System Assimilated
New System Integrating Welcome to the Zancara Empirical System Initiated at the Marquess Level Title and powers acquired
Chapter 5: Brace Some people experience sadness or depression when the sky turns dark and it rains. But the current Spring storm raging outside gives me hope. Sometimes I dream about walking beyond our porch and into the embrace of a tornado. The last kiss to my short life from an all-consuming vortex of destruction, to end my suffering and either prove my dwindling faith in God true or reveal whatever void awaits after death. Either way, my end is near. Release me from this gnawing desire for the end. Just give me peace. Journal entry of Jordan¡¯s One Year after first chemotherapy treatment. ##### Laying half dead on the stone, bleeding out, I still felt new power, connections I didn¡¯t fully grasp bloom into my mind. The system and my body and mind were changing. I felt like my mind was an elastic balloon filled near to bursting. The information and power surging was incredible. Every time the information was nearly overloading my mind, and I thought I was going insane, another force I didn¡¯t yet grasp would acclimate to the pressure and then start over. During the second wave, I felt like I¡¯d read through a library of diagrams and technical charts until I was nauseous from the overload. Like a computer downloading information a packet at a time, my mind took in massive amounts of data. But this was more than data, though. This was energy, power, and so much more that I didn¡¯t understand. My mind started processing the incoming stream without my attention being dragged along. As that process became automatic, I became aware of other changes occurring. I focused outside my mind and became aware of my body as more and more system messages bombarded me. I pushed them aside. I was still lying under the body of the man I¡¯d killed. His blood and power were drawn to my motionless form. His spilled blood and mine began to flow into my wounds, and rather than just making a mess and potentially transferring blood born illnesses, it started to sink in and heal me. The wound in my chest in contact with the spike opened more expansive as the jagged edge softened and liquified. I felt the broken impaling spike pull towards me. The gold and black of the material pooled on my chest, leaving the open gaping wound of the corpse, which continued to pour more blood to cover my still body. I tried but wasn¡¯t able to move. I was disgusted at what I¡¯d just been through but also excited. I wasn¡¯t processing emotions like I thought I should. That part of me was muted, possibly wholly overwhelmed. I just killed a man for the first time. I was aware of this dark milestone, but I felt nothing. I wondered briefly if my humanity was broken in some way. Why wasn¡¯t I able to feel any emotion? No remorse, no guilt. I had no control over the fight, but I also agreed with the outcome. Snapping away from those thoughts, I focused on my body. My eyes were closed, but I could sense and feel everything within a couple of feet of me. The remains of the spike material on my chest began to change. Softened then flowed as if now liquid. Some of the flowing stone entered my body, and I lost awareness of it as it broke down further to mist and became diffuse inside me, but the rest mixed even more until the marbling went from hairline cracks of gold to finger-width branches. After covering my chest and becoming flush with my skin, it pooled, split in two directions, and winded like snakes from my chest to my arms. The creeping material flowed down to the tops of my hands, stopping before covering my fingers. Then once it all passed my elbows, it stayed covering my forearms. The bulk of the material on my arms built up quarter-inch thick bracers that widened to follow my forearm up, now covering about half of my forearm towards my elbow and extending over the top of my hand like a partial glove. I could feel it, but my body still wasn¡¯t responding to my commands to move. I felt another jolt of energy once the liquid settled in place. The jolt ran from the newly covered forearms to the diffuse remainder of the substance in my body. I could feel a call, a longing, a desire for more. Something in the material and in me wanted more. Then time seemed to stop. All those sensations I¡¯d been feeling and the pressures and energies raging through me didn¡¯t stop, but I felt a new external pressure like being too close to a blast furnace but more intense, like being too close to the sun. That force pressed my immobile and recently changed body to the ground as gravity increased. Then the pressure quickly disappeared. I felt some control return to my body. I opened my eyes and felt two voids step next to my body. Like invisible ghosts, felt but unseen. They were just areas that I couldn¡¯t feel or make sense of beyond the body blocking my view disappeared, and I opened my eyes. There standing over me, were two people staring down at me. My eyes darted around, taking the whole view in. From my angle of view, I saw that the robed ceremony participants on the sand were now crumpled to the ground, prone and unconscious. The stands behind them also contained mostly collapsed spectators. The seats of the High Counselors were empty, and I moved my eyes back to the new faces and saw they were smiling. One of the two looked resplendent in gold armor similar to what a gladiator or Roman legionnaire might wear. It was sleeveless and covered his torso with a skirt of strips of leather-like material. They were made of the same material I gained on my forearms. The man himself had long golden hair. Not blonde but gold like the armor. His features were almost too symmetrical. He wouldn¡¯t have seemed human other than his expressions were too realistic on his perfect face¡ªgold iris surrounding void black pupils. His companion was a near replica of him in size and build, both tall and strong, but he immediately stood out as he was predominately void black. I looked closer, though some places did not make sense to my Earthly brain. I saw circuits and weird protrusions in the armor that didn¡¯t make sense for battle gear. Looking back at his face, I saw his eyes were striking. There where there should be black pupils were instead gold, flecked with black, and the iris, where mine were white, was black with veins of gold rather than my red ones. His head was covered in a black helmet that only allowed his eyes to shine through the slits, with a blazing gold mohawk of gold on top. It wasn¡¯t made of bristles or feathers but rippled like ethereal flames atop the helm. He also wore form-fitting armored pants that stopped mid-calf. If that wasn¡¯t strange enough, I noticed a peculiar substance floating in the air. I traced the glittery trail to the golden man. The cloud-like glitter or haze was densely concentrated around him. The glitter flowed toward me, condensed, and touched my healed chest. ¡°Stop that,¡± the man in black said, reaching a hand in front of the man in gold. I wasn¡¯t sure if he was talking to me as his eyes never left mine. I didn¡¯t know what to stop. I couldn¡¯t control what was happening internally, and my limbs weren¡¯t moving. ¡°Fine,¡± the golden man huffed in mock frustration as the glittery haze returned to him and settled on his skin, catching the rays like tiny golden gems as he moved. They refracted and spread light. ¡°He¡¯s coming with us,¡± the man in black said, turning his head to his left. I felt my body rise from the ground as I hung in the air with my feet suspended about a foot off the ground. I could now see that even in my raised view, around 7 feet in the air, each man was another two heads taller than me. I now saw that they were looking at the High Counselors. ¡°Is there anything else you wish?¡± The counselors chimed in unison. ¡°No,¡± he snapped back at them as it boomed through the stadium. The next thing I knew, I was somewhere else. I was still suspended in the air but saw I was slowly lowering to the ground. The two giant gold and black men sat opposite me at a table. The seats looked comfortable as they slightly reclined, but this reminded me of a business meeting. The table looked like a coffee table to them, but to me, it was only a medium-height table with a chair my size placed near me in the middle. What caught my attention was the windows to my right and left. They looked out into the void of space. Out the right window, I could also see a planet far below. The left view of the void was partially obstructed by a futuristic-looking spaceship or structure extending far beyond the window¡¯s view to one side. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. As my feet touched the ground, they welcomed me as one waved me over. I realized I now had the use of my body again and saw I had a large volume of System notifications. Even more than what I remembered. Unlike before, I only had a cursory understanding of them. I would need to go through them later. I walked the short distance to the chair, and taking a guess, I sat in the seat. It was supportive yet soft as I sunk into it about an inch. ¡°Thank you for joining us,¡± the gold man said. ¡°Yes, we didn¡¯t know how long you¡¯d be Integrating,¡± the other man said. ¡°Did I black out?¡­ How long was I unconscious?¡± I asked, having to clear my throat after starting as I realized I had a gap in my memory. ¡°By your planet¡¯s standard time, it was only three days. About an hour ago, you started to stir, so we both returned to greet you.¡± ¡°You may call me Duke Leondris Vadro of Zancara, the Administrator for our people on Prime,¡± the man in black smiled and nodded his head. ¡°I have longer titles and names, but that will suffice for now.¡± ¡°Yes, and I am Administrator Chasidine of Arcana,¡± the golden man said, ¡°Please call me Chasidine and my counterpart Vadro for now.¡± ¡°You have been brought here to process your changes and discuss your future here on Prime. We have spoken to your recruiter, Nicol. He filled us in on your world, your personal history, the time you spent on his transport, and everything leading up to this moment. We know you were taken to report to the Academy for Arcana as that is the System you awoke to on your planet.¡± I nodded in agreement but scrunched my brows in confusion. What did they want from me? As if aware of my thoughts, they continued to explain. ¡°You are with us, though, because you seem to have the unique privilege of having compatibility with the Zancaran system as well. ¡°Tell us, did your system add the Zancara Empirical System or replace the Arcana?¡± Vadro asked. ¡°Or did it just destroy it?¡± Chasidine added quickly after Vadro. Then they both reminded silent. ¡°Let me look at my messages; it all happened rather quickly,¡± I remembered the feeling but needed to be sure. I thought to myself as I closed my eyes to focus. What messages did I get about my new system?
Systems Compatibility Parameters Altered Foreign System Assimilated
New System Integrating Welcome to the Zancara Empirical System Initiated at the Marquess Level Title and powers acquired
Systems May Run in Tandem or Isolation Insufficient Resources to Merge
The information came to mind as if the message had just appeared. I didn¡¯t see any reason to lie or withhold information, so I told them. ¡°I received the Zancaran Empirical System in addition to the Arcana one. They can run in tandem or by themselves.¡± ¡°Just as I read,¡± Vadro calmly stated, holding a hand out to Chasidine. ¡°Fine, here,¡± Chasidine tossed a small sack to Vadro. ¡°Then we will proceed with the plan based on my assumptions,¡± Vadro cheerfully began as he bounced the coin purse in his palm. ¡°You gaining two seemingly opposing systems in such a short time poses quite the opportunity for both our civilizations. We are civil with each other but have different goals and System paths. The planet you are on is what individuals at our level call Prime. Everyone else below us constantly competes and refers to the planet by their System nomenclature. Arcana Prime or Zancara Prime, respectively. We are interested to see how your System, especially the Tandem, as you said, features work.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how my first system works, I thought I would learn at the academy, but I nearly died in that ceremony,¡± ¡°Yes, but you didn¡¯t and ended up gaining an additional prize many have speculated about but never seen. If it happened before, it was removed from our peoples¡¯ histories.¡± ¡°So what are you going to do with me?¡± I questioned, feeling adrift in the currents of powers too great for me, in worlds beyond even my post-system understanding. ¡°You will attend both Academies. We have decided to place you at Arcana Academy for a time, followed by a change to Zancara Academy. You will need to learn both systems, and the studies will be too much to keep up with the other initiates¡¯ pace, so we will provide you with an assistant and an overseer for protection. They will help you adjust and guide you through both academies.¡± ¡°We are still working out some details, so please be flexible as we help you advance your Systems,¡± Chasidine bowed his head in a sign of apology. ¡°There is no denying that your entrance into Zancara was bold and shocking,¡± Vadro¡¯s smile gleamed with pleasure. ¡°It was equally damning in some ways too. The ceremony participants are children from the Arcanan and Zancara elite.¡± ¡°They never experienced the base systems like your planet,¡± Chasidine added. ¡°Their power ranks will scale higher in ways that Earthlings will never see as they are more focused and inherit access to ranks about A. We operate on principles and powers that the ¡°Blues¡± know nothing of.¡± ¡°You, for example, came from a very low-ranked planet, but now you will acclimate and rise to your system rank soon. You are like a baby that will age rapidly and fill out an adult body. You are different and have unknown potential. That is why we will nurture you and hold back the opposition.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know where your path will go,¡± Chasidine added with eyes widened and a smile revealing perfect rows of white teeth. ¡°Yes, we are eager to see how you do,¡± Vadro said, nodding to confirm his agreement. ¡°The parents of all present at the academies paved the way through their system growth to go beyond base ranks and system to the evolutions of Zancara and Arcana. Their children and a very rare few receive these systems. You are one of the rare few that responded to the seeding of Earth. We know of one other who died before initializing. So you alone represent Earth and did not inherit your systems from a bloodline. Almost everyone in the academy will look down on you.¡± ¡°Yes, and not only that, you killed a Zancara Scion,¡± Chasidine interjected with a laugh at the end. ¡°Not funny,¡± Vadro stated while he pointed a warning at his companion, ¡°but yes, true. He was the son of my peer. Another Duke¡¯s son. He also held the title of Marquess but stood to inherit the dukedom. My people value individual strength but follow the lead of those above us. Power rules and power flows up. The Zancara system has a built-in pyramid of power. You likely received your system as a noble. Since you killed one, and that unlocked many things for you.¡± ¡°At least he didn¡¯t kill a princess,¡± Chasidine chuckled as he slipped in another comment. ¡°True again, but beside the point,¡± Vadros said, squinting and refusing to look at his peer, ¡°You still killed the son of a duke and still received the noble authority and power to wield. It will take time to command that power, but it will have advantages. Did you receive nobility?¡± I looked at my notification again, knowing it didn¡¯t change; I wanted to see it. ¡°I initiated at the Marquess Level and received a title and powers,¡± I read aloud. ¡°As we thought, the succession was transferred equally,¡± Vadros sighed. ¡°His father will not be easily appeased. But we will delay your introductions. For now, we need you to settle into your academy life. We will do our best to shelter you from the forces beyond your ability to withstand, and currently, that is almost all of them. But we can not do this forever. There is a timer set for your potential destruction. Some of our peers and superiors will want your head.¡± ¡°And some will want to cut you apart or study you like a pet project,¡± Chasidine shook his head and showed sadness at the idea. ¡°I will take you to Arcana Academy now. We expect your results to be unique and have no doubt you will shatter everyone¡¯s expectations,¡± Vadros said while he tossed the sack of coins onto the table in front of Jordan, ¡°I¡¯m betting on it. Take this. It should get you everything you might need for now.¡± ¡°Thank you, but I don¡¯t even know what I¡¯ll need,¡± I admit as I reach out and grab the sack of coins. It was much heavier than I expected, as the pouch was much larger than my fist. I used my other hand to assist in balancing my newfound wealth. ¡°Well, you¡¯ll have a suit but not be able to use it¡­yet,¡± Vadro chuckled. ¡°So you¡¯ll need to use the academy¡¯s basic equipment or rent something. I merely give you options with funds to support them.¡± ¡°On the other hand getting access to some weapons, equipment, and cultivation materials will help you in the Arcana Academy,¡± Chasidine added as he reached into a pocket and tossed another coin purse to me. ¡°These will help with Arcana as our systems and people have differing currencies. You will learn more later, but this, too, will help at our academy." ¡°What did you mean by suit? Is the uniform more formal or armored?¡± I asked with a frown, as my mind pictured wearing a suit and tie around my neck every day. They both laughed. Then they turned and looked at each other, then laughed again. ¡°You don¡¯t know what the Zancara and their system are for, do you?¡± Chasidine quieted his laughter to say. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t know either of these systems existed until recently. So what¡¯s so funny?¡± I asked, a little annoyed. Not knowing if I was being laughed at or if the situation was just humorous. Vadro must have felt bad as his laughter ended, and he turned serious. ¡°We are not laughing at you, young man. You, by right of combat and ceremonial conquest, have entered Zancara as a Marquess. When fully realized, the position will allow you to hold the rank and the battle suit associated with the rank and power. You are not ready to use even the basic commoner support gear. But we expect you to rise to this noble station quickly.¡± ¡°We will protect you from challenges for now,¡± Chasidine leaned forward as he steepled his fingers below him on the table. ¡°But our reach is not omnipotent. We will be challenged before long, especially by the former Marquess¡¯ father. You can¡¯t kill a Duke¡¯s only son and expect him to thank you for it.¡± ¡°Yes, you must not waste the narrow window we are giving you,¡± Vadro looked to the far wall as if in thought. ¡°It appears your aid and mentor are ready for you. You will meet them at your accommodations near Arcana Academy. Chapter 6: Thresholds Why in the world do they not understand the illogical nature of this? Why subject me to removing my wisdom teeth? ¡°Jordan, we can¡¯t let all those years of braces go to waste. Dr. Jacobsen says it¡¯s best.¡± Yeah, thanks, Mom. But why throw away your money? Let¡¯s take those bills and make a little fire to watch them burn! Maybe make some S¡¯mores with enough sugar to rot my teeth out! ¡°Jordan, are you afraid of the surgery?¡± No, Mom! I have a high enough tolerance for pain, so I¡¯m not worried about a handful of teeth getting yanked. But for some reason, I can¡¯t justify this travesty. I¡¯m going to die, and no one will care how straight my teeth are! Journal entry of Jordan¡¯s after a fight with his parents Neither Vadro nor Chasidine escorted me to my new housing. They sent me off with their wishes for my success and left me with a guide. They said, ¡°Follow him,¡± I quickly did as he left without a word. He was on theme with the rest of the Arcana people. He wore a simple robe with a hood pulled up, hiding most features of his face. There were no indications of rank or holstered weapons. I tried several times to engage him in conversation. But he never looked at me or said a word. We took a transport to the planet on a ship with windows allowing me to see our swift movement and landing. A low-orbit shuttle ride to another megacity followed that. After a forty-minute walk, we faced the same gated entrance to the Arcana Academy I¡¯d been guided to by Nicol when I first arrived. Rather than enter the academy, we took a right turn and walked three streets away. There, my guide abruptly spun in place. ¡°Here is where you will stay. This is your key,¡± the guide reached out and held a card between thumb and finger. I grabbed it, and it flashed before disappearing. I felt a tingle in my index finger and flipped my hand to look. There was a golden dot like a freckle on my finger. I received an Arcana system message detailing the system lock and access to the entrance of 300 East 1st Boulevard and additional access within. ¡°You must enter now,¡± my guide stood there waiting. I got the hint and turned to open the door. As my hand reached for the door, my eyes caught on the top of my hand. The marbled gold and black of my new¡­armor? What is it for, anyway? I almost missed the magic happening right in front of me. A glow illuminated multiple deadbolts unlocking from the door frame, and the door swung in. It moved slowly, like a bank vault rather than a dwelling entrance, but swung silently. ¡°Good luck,¡± my guide said, and I turned to see him walking away. ¡°Come in,¡± a female voice invited from within the now open passage. I followed the voice. My eyes took a moment to adjust to the darker interior. I was impressed with the golden-accented interior design. I was greeted by two people standing before a large staircase leading up, curving away to the right and left one story up, perfectly symmetrical. The dwelling on the outside appeared to be like city blocks in old-earth Barcelona. The one building took up the whole block and wrapped around the corners. It was impossible to see how big the place was from the street we¡¯d approached. The interior felt like a grand Victorian mansion with a dark academia theme but with lots of gold tastefully embellishing various surfaces. Banisters ran up the stairs with grand golden inlays depicting animals along the walls. My attention drifted back down as I heard a cough from a young, smiling woman. ¡°Welcome. I will be your assistant. You may call me Felicity,¡± she formally introduced herself while still hiding a smile. Felicity was a little older than me, probably no older than 25, standing beside a much older man. This here is¡­¡± She was cut off as the other man held his hand to stop her. I noticed wrinkled skin on his extended hand and then his scrunched eyes with matching creases and wrinkles. His clothes hung lightly on a slight yet sturdy frame. There was no tremor of age in his hand or voice. He stood tall, and his gaze took me in as he raised his chin, still examining me. His aged look belied a hidden strength. I shuddered for some reason and took a step back. That¡¯s when he smiled. ¡°You may call me Eld when addressing me,¡± the old man spoke slowly with a quiet, refined authority. He continued his squinted examination of me; he turned his head from side to side. ¡°Felicity can answer any questions you have. Your training will begin after your dinner. The System willing, something will come of our time together,¡± the last sentence he said under his breath as he turned away, but I heard it. Felicity remained in place, and I was feeling awkward and tired, so I jumped in. ¡°I could use a nap. I was told I would stay here for my time at the academy. Is there a place for my things and some time to rest?¡± I asked as firmly as I dared. ¡°That is a great idea,¡± Felicity pointed to the staircase behind her. ¡°Follow me,¡± She started walking up the stairs as I glanced once more after Eld, only to lock eyes with him as he stood fully facing me in the dark hallway, his squinting glare giving me goosebumps. I quickly averted my eyes, turning and taking a couple of stairs at a time to catch up after Felicity, but I kept wondering what was up with the intense old man. His piercing dark brown eyes burnt into my mind. It was creepy, like he was examining a book he might read. But unsure if the book contained anything worth his time. I realized I was at the top of two flights of stairs when I bumped into my guide. ¡°Oh, you seemed lost in thought there,¡± She lightly laughed as she stepped further back. Here is your room. No one will bother you, but I can come get you for our evening meal if you like?¡± ¡°How long till then will that be? I¡¯m not hungry yet.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not for another five hours,¡± She said without looking at a watch or clock. She must have checked her system display rather than a mundane mechanical device. She turned and pointed at the nearest door. I was still a little absent and lost in thought, considering my new life here and at the academy. I didn¡¯t notice the less complex lock on my new room unlock as I attempted to reach for the knob out of habit. Only then did I see that there wasn¡¯t a traditional handle. But my hand must have been near enough to initiate it. The door split in the middle upon a previously unseen seam, and each half retracted into the wall on either side of the door frame. ¡°Wow,¡± I whispered. The little things continued to baffle me. I just killed someone while under some murder-happy autopilot, and here I stood, impressed by a magic door. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s more humorous, the sweeping changes in my life I can hardly keep up with or Felicity¡¯s impression of me standing wide-eyed, looking at my room¡¯s doorframe. ¡°You can go in,¡± Felicity encouraged, ¡°I¡¯ll stop by later, and if you¡¯re hungry, I¡¯ll feed you before your study time. If you need anything, you can come to the door. I¡¯ll know if you enter the hallway.¡± I nodded, not at all creeped out. So they are monitoring me? So what if they are? I walked into my room expecting a dorm room. Instead, I got an entryway with a coat rack on my left and a rug for shoes on the right. The hallway¡¯s hardwood carried through for about five feet, then transitioned to a soft carpet. The carpet led down a more extended hallway. I slipped off my shoes, leaving them alongside another two pairs. Are there more people here, or are those for me? The door closed behind me, and I proceeded down the hall. It led first to a door on my right. The room contained a large desk with two chairs behind it and a lamp that turned on when I leaned in. The wall had built-in shelving and a few books, but it was mostly empty. It¡¯s probably where I¡¯ll spend a lot of time, considering I¡¯m at school. Not the college experience I imagined. I continued down the hall, and the next door was on the right again; it opened into a small guest bathroom. Not much to see here. But I just realized I need to use it. A bit later, I continued my self-guided tour. The next branch led to the left, but I was too impatient to check it out. My vision was locked onto where the hall led. The hall after the bathroom opened into a wide but shallow room. It was large enough for one couch on both sides of me that looked out onto a view of the interior of a walled yard. I didn¡¯t bother going onto the balcony. But crashed on the nearest couch and took in the view. There was a garden, a gazebo, and some sandy squared-shaped spaces. The whole area felt massive for the interior of this mansion. How big was this place? Is the entire building surrounding the park all the same house or luxury apartments? There was enough room for a round track around the outside of the interior space. I would guess it¡¯s probably 400 meters around. It could be for walking around the garden or running. Cue training montage. I laughed out loud at my joke. But my smile dropped when I envisioned running that oval hundreds of times. I am at an academy for the elite children of the rulers of the System¡­ I stopped considering the gravity of my new life and settled deeper into the couch. Attempting to take my mind off the thought of endless running around a track being chased by stuck-up young masters, I did what I¡¯d been itching to do since I woke. I pulled up my new System. There were countless messages. I had dismissed and silenced their notifications at different times, and now I didn¡¯t know where to start. Maybe I could sort and filter them by importance? I pushed that thought with added desire toward my system. How does my System know when I¡¯m thinking or sending it commands? I¡¯d have to save that question for later. My mind filled with a screen displaying a summary. PRIORITY NOTIFICATIONS PRIORITY DESIGNATIONS, Alerts Updates Subclass Options Class Specific Options. ¡­ ¡­ The summarized list was long enough I couldn¡¯t see it all on my display. I guess I¡¯ll start with the ones that seem most important. ¡°System, display priority notifications. Start filtering by your suggested relevance. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Please specify priority: Arcana or Zancara. Both, maybe? Yes, both! I thought, no longer seeing the need to speak. Show the headings of the top from each. PRIORITY NOTIFICATIONS 1 (sorted by relevance) Arcana: 1 Systems compatibility parameters were altered, and the Zancara System attempted to Synchronize with the Arcana System. SIM (System Interactive Machine) Hardware is not fully integrated. Synchronization was paused and now requires host input for integration parameters and installation of missing hardware. Zancara: 1 System Synchronization halted. Zancara system interactive software HOUS (Hierarchy of Unified Software) is insufficient if planning to replace SIM Hardware in synced Arcana Systems. ¡°Stop!¡± I shouted to the empty room, halting any additional information to be displayed. I don¡¯t know what this means, and I¡¯m tired of the system names. Just tell me System A or System Z unless it¡¯s necessary to spell it out. Now, explain this more simply and guide me through what I need to do. A & Z systems require your input to operate in tandem. Previous merger not possible due to insufficient resources. Now showing compatibility if current resources are repurposed. There is some background explanation necessary for you to make an informed decision. Traditionally, A-System utilizes hardware called System Interactive Machines or SIM. You would understand them as synthetic structures created via nanotechnology. They serve many functions internally and externally. The advised changes you need to accept will allow them to form additional circuitry in your brain to exceed your biological synaptic limitations. Additionally, Z-Systems has unique software that runs more akin to magical computing programs. Z systems can utilize Zan energy to process faster than biological limitations. Z-Systems has the ability for your being to better interface with the Source System rather than add to your body physically with nanotech; they use magic to change your body. The A-System nanotech would like to have the Z-tech software integrated into it. The Z software is also requesting access to the nanotech hardware. They both then wish to make physical changes to your body. This is a very simplistic explanation, but it should be sufficient for you to authorize the changes. So, people in each system have different ways to what? Think faster? Are you saying I get the benefits of both? Yes, typically. You, however, have access to both, and they are not competing to destroy each other. Your initial integration into the A system gave you the SIM tech. It is more of an introductory configuration that needs massive upgrading. Your acquisition of the Z system and the influx of Zan and Arc gave you access to never-before-seen options. Initial diagnostics show you can use either System A or Z independently, but a hybridization model can work synergistically. The modeled results show significant improvements. You will need time to learn to use them. You must advance. If you wish to save your planet rather than let others consume it, then you can¡¯t delay. So, I need to authorize these nanotech machines to be reprogrammed by the Z software and then let them rewire my brain and make new neural synapses? Yes, I know a little about that stuff. I need to know how long that will take and if it will hurt. If you provide authorization, the nano colony within your armor will begin integrating the updated software and cannibalize those already in your system with the upgrades you need. Your two systems don¡¯t share a mind or the same processing language. But we both believe this will be necessary. We? Like I¡¯m talking to my Arcana system now? But is another voice, computer, or system in my head, too? Yes. But we have agreed that your Arc System will communicate for now. In answer to your other concerns, the pain will be severe, but the process will be less than 20 minutes. Your medical history showed severe deterioration of your skeletal system, along with many other systems. Your initial integration reversed the damage by replacing destroyed systems and cells with nanotech. Unfortunately, all of that in your system will need to be destroyed again and used as fuel for the new upgrades. I caution there will be a lot of blood. Please proceed to the main bathroom in your quarters and sit in a half-filled tub of cold water. Great! This sounds like it¡¯s going to be fun. A cold bath followed by a brain-wiping lobotomy where my brain drips out my nose into my lap! You will not bleed out. Your identity and conscience will not change. The changes will alter your perception of reality in many ways. What you define as you will still exist in a new shell. You will be optimized for survival in your academy and the battlefield beyond. You will be more fully integrated into one unified system. It took me some time to mindlessly wander the rest of my apartment. It was even more expansive than I thought, but I didn¡¯t notice my surroundings until I found a bathroom with a large tub. How did you know there was a tub? I asked while I tested the water temperature with my hand. And you said it had to be cold water? Are you sure? We can access the local network even if you can not see through the walls yet. That network permitted us to see all the rooms you can access at this residence and the academy. Should you be granted permission to more of the residence or academy, I will request detailed maps and layouts. Or, we can hack the local network for that information. And yes, cold water will be best. You will experience extreme heat, like a severe fever. The cold water will mitigate some of the heat. Either way, the nanotech will heal any damage the process creates. I wouldn¡¯t say I like ice baths. I groan. No, don¡¯t hack the network. Let¡¯s not try anything that will anger my hosts. But don¡¯t let me forget that if it becomes necessary. You should disrobe and get into the water before you grant permission for the upgrades. I dragged my heels as I shuffled around the bathroom. I had made my decision, but flipping the switch wasn¡¯t easy. It was like needing to harm myself to get stronger. And I had to say, ¡°Yes, please dig around my brain to help me think better.¡± Man, I was feeling dumb for needing to do this. I stripped and stepped into the uncomfortably cold water. I slowly and reluctantly settled down into the bottom of the tub. The water rose over my legs and submerged my most temperature-sensitive parts. Shivering, I reached to shut off the water, then sat back, braced myself, and held my breath. Go for it; I approve the upgrade. The next moment, my body locked up. Wait, why can¡¯t I move? Upgrade initiated, movement restricted to avoid drowning and unnecessary movement due to pain. Autonomic biological functions critical to life will operate or be replaced by the upgrades. Oh great. Can you shut off my pain receptors? No. Please harden your resolve. There is no stopping the process. We recommend you focus on a goal or dream. Oh my God! This is happening. I just gave authorization for my own torture session. Okay, twenty minutes. Just twenty minutes. I can endure anything for twenty. My eyes were open, and I could see the metal over my forearms and hands shimmer. Then I felt a prick, like someone starting an IV under the metal. Then one prick became a dozen and then a hundred. I almost dared to think this wasn¡¯t so bad. But I knew that would curse me for sure. Focus. What do I want? What do I want to get out of my systems? Out of this new academy, out of my life I watched the armor seem to liquefy; the shape was the same on my arms, but I saw some gold and black swirl and mix more than before. It became less marbled and more gray with densely packed gold flecks. Still not too bad. Is this going to use all my armor? No, the process is using a minor portion of the physical reserves. Hold, processing potential reconfiguration of upgrades. I can¡¯t hold anything. I¡¯m stuck. My attempt at humor met only silence. My eyesight clouded. It was like countless floating dots swam in my vision, but they multiplied until I only saw static. I felt my body grow warm. A sharp headache in the back of my head spread like fuzzy, electrically charged caterpillars chewing through my brain. I think they were scraping along the inside of my skull, and their munching was so loud. I didn¡¯t know the deepest parts of my brain could hurt until now. The pain ramped up, and tears involuntarily fell from my eyes. Then, a sharp spike of pain hit me like a pick through the base of my skull. I felt my bladder empty, temporarily warming my legs. It was no relief, and I only barely registered it. Update: Your systems have found additional compatibilities. The upgrade process requires further physiological changes. Anticipated pain is considered psychologically dangerous. Trauma may have a lasting impact. For 10 minutes, pain will exceed normal human thresholds. Complete tolerance will not be possible. Damage expected. Why¡­would I¡­approve? I could barely get my thoughts straight at this level of pain. Is¡­it¡­important and necessary? Yes Do¡­it! The following 20 minutes of my life was an eternity of varying levels of excruciating pain. It was like someone had a dial for my pain that they just let a child hopped up on Cheese Whiz and Mountain Dew mess around with. The intensity varied rapidly from that point on as it cranked up and down like some insane guitar picking. There was no lull, only rapid changes in location and intensity. I started hallucinating and seeing things growing in my body and hearing voices. They were all-encompassing, and I was stuck in a horror show of pain and delusions, not even able to scream or thrash. My vision returned about 15 minutes later. I was treated to the sight of a literal bloodbath. The tub was not just tinted red but looked thick with it. My arms, still locked in place resting on my legs, showed much smaller bands, like partial gloves. They were all that remained of the metal armor. But I could see more being used as it poured into my skin. It was hot, like melting wax at the edges, but felt like a blow torch under the skin. My forearms were now covered in blood, but no open sores leaked from the rapid injections. Those were closed and healed by the nanotech. My eyes saw but didn¡¯t comprehend, still caught in webs of delusion and pain. I had a good idea when the process ended. The pain had been way beyond imagining. But then it eased to level 95 out of 100 and rapidly to a numb tingle all over my body. I still felt feverish, but the pain was gone. Then, unnoticed in my current state, my system display disappeared as I regained control over my body. I curled into a ball, hugging my knees. I slumped over to my left side and began crying¡ªthe sweet relief. Then, unexpectedly, I started laughing. About 5 minutes later, I uncurled from my ball. I attempted to clear my eyes and only ended up splashing more bloody water over my face. My only thought was only to get out of my torture chamber turned blood soup. I tested my strength and began to stand. At my attempt, I ended up jumping rather than standing. I felt myself slip, but then faster than I ever had before. I felt muscles in my core activate, and I regained my balance despite the awkwardness of my position. I still was looking through blood-smeared eyes, but I caught a glimpse in the mirror. Walking over, I saw the new me¡ªthings I hadn¡¯t noticed at first. If I had to guess, my body looked stronger in proportions and taller. The most noticeable thing was my skin. There were cracks slowly closing where gold and black spiderwebbed on my naked body. The widest sections were an inch across, but those noticeably shrunk, and the finer lines of cracks disappeared. I stood watching the change as I stepped closer to the mirror over the sink. I quickly washed my face under the faucet and looked back at the mirror. But even after only a handful of seconds, the cracks were gone. I searched and found only the arm guards, changed into two rings, and moved around my index fingers on each hand. The mass of marbled metal was now only present as a gold ring on my left hand and black on my right. It can¡¯t be healthy to have that much metal, or whatever that stuff is Zan and Arc, inside me, right? No response came. Did I break my system completely? Or am I now so brain-damaged I can¡¯t even interact with it? I laughed again, but it sounded a bit panicked and ever so slightly hesitant. I realized my fists were clenched, and I was bracing for more pain. The pain is gone, I tried to reassure myself. I looked around and saw the shower. It¡¯s an ample tiled space with three walls. I approach it, turn the water as hot as it can, and step under the flow. It¡¯s, of course, ice cold, but I don¡¯t care. I lean my head against the wall and close my eyes. My mind must have gone blank for a while because the next thing I knew, I looked up, and the entire bathroom was steamed. I know the temperature is hot, but I can¡¯t help but be confused. I feel it, but it seems like it should hurt. Yet it doesn¡¯t. I hold my hand out and stare uncomprehending for another minute. Finally, my brain catches up again. Did my pain threshold increase, or can my skin now handle higher temperatures? That was my last thought before I had a seizure. All my muscles fired at once, and I started to fall, but it was in slow motion. When my body hit the ground, time had stopped entirely. My perception either sped to the point that I couldn¡¯t even see the water moving from the shower, or I was stuck in time. Installation of System Upgrades Complete Chapter 7: Toys Again, with the gifts? My parents got me a new game console today. I¡¯m grateful, but the looks on their faces pained me. Their hollow hope is that their gifts will help ease the suffering. Some part of me wants to try to feel happy. But I can only don the mask with memories of better times. I need to cover my heart of despair. I am a teeter-toter going up and down. One moment I¡¯m sucked into the swampy mire of darkness, then I tip in surprise as I find my fists shaking from unconsciously clenching them in rage. I wish gifts and toys could make me smile like the kid I¡¯m supposed to be. Right now, I¡¯m just distracted by the death inside my bones. Sometimes, I think I can actually feel them hollowing out. Journal entry of Jordan¡¯s one month after his cancer diagnosis ##### Installation of System Upgrades Complete Reboot complete Error Code **** The room and time were still frozen, but I could think despite the world around me being paused. Explain! Error Code **** Abnormalities were detected while repurposing the original Arcana seeded system nanotech. Systems A & Z retained and partitioned the rogue code and samples of the altered nanotech. The rogue nanotech is contained behind firewalls and physically encased within the bones of your two lowest left ribs. Further analysis is required, but potential compatibility for future integration should be explored. Why not just get rid of it? A sample was analyzed before repurposing the nanostructure and replacing the existing code. Previously, unrecognized yet significant potential was found, and an override prevented the destruction of all preexisting nanotech. Two measurable categories had superior performance to available A & Z technology. Adaptation and replication were exceptional and couldn¡¯t be achieved by either A, Z or a combination of both. And you think it¡¯s safe to keep it? And potentially worth the risk? You are safe, and the potential for further understanding outweighs the risk. The rate of adaptation alone would help with your combined systems coordination. The speed of replication would allow rapid healing and regrowth. There are still many unknowns. The current active nanotech ratio is 97% Arc and 3% Rogue. There was a balance achieved. If not restrained, the stored rogue nanotech would change the ratio to 70/30 with your updated Arc in the majority. While you could access all of the rogue nano and have a more substantial supply, the limited amount will allow for greater control over the unknown parameters of the not yet thoroughly examined tech. So, you have it under control? Thank you¡­I guess. But why does it appear I am frozen in time? Your upgraded mental processing can temporarily boost cognition to this rate, but it is not sustainable. I recommend returning to the approximate human rate of cognition for the time being. You need to adjust to your increased physical, cognitive, Arc, and Zan abilities. Please command the change. Return to normal cognition and¡­perception of time. Suddenly I was sucking in a deep breath as the shower resumed spraying my nearly prone body on the tile. I wasn¡¯t lacking oxygen as my next breath was relaxed. I must¡¯ve emptied my lungs during the seizure. I took note of the clarity of my vision. I was seeing detail to a distracting degree. I rolled to my back and watched as the water hit me. Although showering at a regular speed, I could still identify and track individual drops and see the reflection of the room in each one I focused on. Weird, I thought as I got my feet under me and stood up. Looking myself over, I still had some blood to scrub off. I grabbed some soap and finished that task. I only paused a few times when I noticed all the new muscles on my frame. I¡¯d never had abs like these. Is it healthy to be so lean? As I toweled off, I caught myself moving with increased speed and unnecessary force several times. I didn¡¯t hurt myself when scrubbing my face with a force that might have previously rubbed the skin off. I didn¡¯t know the extent of the changes, but at least my body¡¯s durability matched the increase in strength. How much time passed since I entered the bathroom? Forty-five minutes have passed. The upgrade took 30 minutes rather than the 20-minute estimate, but you spent the remainder in the shower. So I still have four hours till Felicity comes back. Any suggestions on what I should be doing to understand my new¡­powers? Three recommendations 1: Learn to gather Arc 2: If enough Arc can be gathered, attempt to form an Arc construct. 3: Request training facility. Don¡¯t I need to keep my abilities secret or something? Nothing you are capable of now should cause alarm at this time. You are already known by the higher authorities to possess both A & Z systems. Everything about you will be scrutinized, but your goal should be to grow as rapidly as possible. If any of your actions go far beyond the standard threshold for either A or Z, then I shall alert you. Earth and your family need you to advance. Geez, no pressure. Just the fate of the planet. Let¡¯s get started then. Show me how to gather some Arc. I was instructed to get dressed and find a spot to sit on the floor. I chose to go to the balcony overlooking the interior gardens. Walking around felt like jumping off a treadmill and finally being able to cover the distance with my steps. Every motion felt naturally graceful, more rapid than my body would typically move, and surreal. I had never felt so good. Maybe it was the contrast to my recent tortured upgrade, but¡­ Just thinking about the blood-producing experience jolted me out of my awe and filled me with paranoia and gripping fear. But even that rapidly passed. What was that? You experienced extreme physical and psychological trauma. I have attempted to intervene subtly. I will not manipulate you, but I can blunt the damage to your psyche. Is that acceptable? I hesitated while I considered. Yes, but alert me whenever you intervene to change my thoughts or mood. I don¡¯t like the idea of mental manipulation, but I need the assistance for now. Will that go away? Yes, expect improvement and a decreasing need for assistance. Great. So what¡¯s next? I returned to clenching my fist and flexing my arm. It felt great to see the defied muscles and additional bulk. I wasn¡¯t bulging in muscle. After looking in the mirror, I thought I looked more like a CrossFit athlete than a bodybuilder. Get comfortable on the ground. I sat down, dropping the last few inches to the floor, and crossed my legs. I was surprised that the balcony creaked. Yes, your mass increased, as did your density. But it¡¯s time to focus. The balcony won¡¯t collapse. Begin by closing your eyes. This process is similar to meditation, but rather than clearing your mind, you need to focus it on your intention. Think about Arcana. What do you want from it? You said I need to form a construct when I have gathered enough. So, the first step is to gather. So how do I do that? Now that you have an intended goal focus your will and desire to pull. Pull what? What do you think of when you think of Arcana? Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Gold flecks, gold in general¡­power? Start with the dots and power. Imagine flecks all around you. Okay. I pictured flecks charged with glowing energy floating, like dust, around me. I felt silly at first, just trying to imagine something I couldn¡¯t see. Is my imagination going to magically make them appear? I laughed. But my laugh caught in my throat as I suddenly felt the presence of Arcana. It truly was floating around me. It was like motes of dust at first, just like I¡¯d imagined, but the mental image I had took on more significant substance. The motes grew denser and began to move. They were more concentrated than my mental imagery. They were cohesive, sticking together in clumps. Those globs moved in an invisible wind, like slowly swooping birds. I watched the wisps dance and flow around me. I could see them for about five yards around my body. Beyond that distance, it was like a void in my mind¡¯s eye. There was a lot more in the open air by the garden than in the room behind me. Now pull. Picture drawing them toward your body. That simple, huh? I pictured an imaginary hand reaching out to them. But they slipped around the hand. I then alternated, trying to pull with an invisible force or suction from my chest and hand. And only then did a few of the closest clumped motes sink into my body. I immediately felt them enter my physical body. It was warm and soothing, like sliding into a hot tub on a winter night. I continued, but the suction didn¡¯t extend further than a handbreadth from my body or reach. I still felt the initial influx of warmth spreading throughout my body as it passed over my chest. I felt a thump. It was like a giant finger tapped my side. I nearly opened my eyes but stopped as there was an immediate change in the ambient Arc around me. Suddenly, I saw the same gold clumps, but now, in such a density, I couldn¡¯t see beyond them. A thick fog suddenly appeared. I stared in my mind¡¯s eye at the many layers of glowing globs. They formed a fog that turned darker before my eyes as the glow dimmed. A gray color started to dominate as I saw dark ropes the width of my forearm snaking through the gold layers. They weren¡¯t mixing but in the gaps of the already dense layers of gold. Like oil and water, they didn¡¯t mix. I just watched, mesmerized by them for a minute, and then remembered my goal. Gather As I thought that single word, there was an instant change. The fog seemed to notice me. Rather than moving lazily around me, I felt like many eyes turned to peer at me. Several of the clumped Arc clouds condensed further while the Zan took up more space, fueled by an influx of even more Zan out past my previously limited view. As the two forces separated, I could see further out into the garden and noticed a monstrous presence of both Zan and Arc coming from two sections of the foliage. My attention quickly returned to my mental body as the gold clumps, which I¡¯d begun to think of as birds, started darting at me. It startled me but happened fast enough I didn¡¯t react. My body responded to their impacts across my body with pleasure, and a moan escaped my mouth. The gathering and absorption of gold arc clumps continued until none were near me. But reinforcements seemed to be drifting from the garden. I felt a fullness like I¡¯d never felt before. Not something in my body but a new sensation. Absent the Arc, there was only the black Zan close to my body, which no longer resembled rope floating around me. Instead, it had formed into a long serpent slithering in a coil around me. I didn¡¯t plan on training you for this, but try pulling the Zan. You will need to think more of cooperation than command. Be firm and show strength, as well as offer partnership. I followed the advice. While keeping a distance, the snaking Zan, initially hesitant and dangerous, slowly constricted around me, and as much as I wanted to open my eyes, I fought the urge. I was focused intently as I continued to offer my thoughts of strength and support. The head of the snaking Zan paused to turn pointing straight at my face. Then it snapped down and into my body by my lower left side. ¡°Awww,¡± again I moaned at the contrasting experience of cool and refreshing water flooding my body. The two feelings complemented each other in odd ways, like having air conditioning on a hot day and sitting by a fire on a cold one. I wrestled my mind away from the pleasure, wondering if this euphoria was healthy. I also noted that the internal force of Zan and Arc appeared to condense around the ribs containing the rogue nano. Is this going to be a problem? Isn¡¯t that where the rogue nanotech is? It is being assessed, but the gathering is not affecting the contained nanotech or code. It unexplainably increases your ability to perceive and gather the ambient mana. The influx is drawn to the concentration of the old nano, but it can¡¯t reach the partitioned portions. The 3% rogue nanotech diffused in your body is processing Arc and Zan. You might equate the process to digestion, as it is rapidly consuming both resources. It is quickly decreasing the consumption. We both watched in suspense as the Zan and Arc within the mental image of my body continued to decrease in density. It has ceased. There is extensive data I need to analyze. No projections accounted for this level of proficiency. You shouldn¡¯t be able to perceive even a fraction of what you just absorbed for either Arc or Zan. Without you having vastly more experience, it should have been impossible to sense that density and gather to that extent. Both resources are abundant here, but a beginner should only be able to touch the surface layers of either. You plunged deep into the local source¡¯s output. You also saw the closest source of ambient Zan and Arc. Yeah, it showed up after I felt a thump in my ribs. That rogue nanotech is more potent than you accounted for. Is it time to consider removing it? Results are significantly better than expected, with no changes to your nanotech ratio or the contained code. It activated an unknown process, and like a beacon in the dark, it drew both to you. For simplicity, let¡¯s call the old code Rogue. It hasn¡¯t pressed the boundaries in place physically or in code firewalls. So, is it playing nice and helping? Yes. You said the ratio is the same. Even though it just absorbed a ton of Arc and Zan? The influx was significant for your first gathering, but a substantial quantity remains after Rogue¡¯s consumption. Your gathering doesn¡¯t change the amount of Nanotech in your body. It is more akin to saturating your Spirit than filling your body. It would be best if you learned to refine what you gathered to infuse your existing Arc Nano and Zan reserves. The goal was to gather to create a physical weapon, not gather to condense internally. The amount is enough to achieve both if you can efficiently convert it. But one thing at a time. Alright, what do I do next? With your eyes closed, upturn your palms and bring them together. I followed the instructions while still basking in the feelings of the Arc and Zan gathering. I¡¯d ask later if it was going to cause any addictive compulsions that might alter my mind or behavior. This part traditionally is more straightforward than gathering, but given your results gathering, I¡¯m not sure how you will perform. For now, picture a solid shape in your dominant hand. Right hand, picture a shape. Okay, sphere. Slowly, a golden ball formed from my palm. Like a 3-D printer was pushing it out of my hand until it was a fully formed sphere. Stop there. Good work. I smiled and opened my eyes. In my hand was a perfect golden sphere about the size of a golf ball. I closed my hand around it. It was firm. I attempted to squeeze it, and it held despite increasing the pressure. The walls had been so thin, yet they were sturdy. I was shocked, and my smile widened. I made this. Yes, try with your eyes open and do the same in your left hand but with another shape with angles. I considered. Cube? No. Pyramid. I focused on my desire and paid more attention to the process. I felt the Arc I¡¯d gathered inside me condense toward my arm, then down my hand. I was even more in awe, watching the pyramid form. Your tetrahedron is even denser than your sphere. Now combine them and shape them into a knife or dagger. In the future, you must condense the Arc more to make constructs that will stand up to an opposing Arc or Zan weapon, but for now, picture a knife. I began to imagine a knife. I had owned several before the system arrived on Earth. And a couple of knives were given to me by my parents for protection after the System. But still, my favorite knife would always be a Benchmade Osborne Axis 940. I got one just before I found out about the cancer. It was like the last good thing before my world started to collapse. My focus had drifted, and my eyes had glazed as I reminisced. But a wide smile grew as I looked down at the perfect knife. It was small for a weapon, but it replicates the folding knife I¡¯d had on Earth. I grabbed it by the handle and tried to close it using the unique Osborne Axis. But it wouldn¡¯t move. The knife I knew was a folding blade. This had come out as a solid piece of fixed metal. That was exceptional¡ªa fine knife. You should be able to reform that if you wish later. Can¡¯t I keep it? Yes, you may, but you¡¯ll need a case as the blade is sharper than any blade you¡¯ve handled. The Arc metal will cut through any physical material excluding other Arc or Zan. Only a higher tier concentration or Sourced blade can compare. Zan can form metal, too? Yes, it can be condensed, but many in the Zan culture divide the tasks of creation and utilization. There is an entire crafting side of the Zancara people, while the nobility primarily utilizes the crafters¡¯ creations. You will learn more later. I was listening, but I felt an inspiration to experiment. Holding my Arc knife, I willed Zan to my hand and surrounded the blade. I forced it into the gaps and cut through portions of the solid handle. I only let the Zan chew through the places I remembered the joints and axis mechanism were. I overdid it in a few places but used Arc to fix my mistakes. That was unexpected. You were already an anomaly, but you might still keep that knife hidden around Zancara people. They won¡¯t like seeing the melding of Zan and Arc metal. It honestly shouldn¡¯t work like that. I¡¯d appreciate it if you reabsorbed it for analysis. No thanks, and why can¡¯t I blend them? Didn¡¯t my armor have a blend before? Yes, but that occurred during your acquisition of the Z system and wasn¡¯t under your control. That was a very dense material, and I didn¡¯t anticipate you could form it with such ease. The metals typically repel each other and are highly acidic. They like to eat away at each other, and weapons are frequently reworked when a confrontation between the two sides occurs. Weapon smiths are in high demand. Wait. The two kingdoms aren¡¯t on the same team, but who else do they fight? Empires is more accurate. Quadrant-spanning empires. Did you think they only battle one another over worlds and resources? That is accurate, but only part of the economy. Have you forgotten what life after the System was like on Earth? Dungeons, creatures of mana, fighting for survival? That is still the way of the universe. You have more significant challenges and higher expectations now. This planet is a civilized and tamed world. Most are far from that. The culture here doesn¡¯t call them dungeons. They are known as Temporal Gates or TG. They are heavily trafficked and controlled. According to the network information, you will get opportunities to explore them at the academy. One of your classes is Intro to Temporal Gates, and you also have a practical application to that in the afternoon in Temporal Gate Basics. This might be the first time I¡¯m excited for school. I didn¡¯t get the classic midwestern education after the cancer. Your classes have already begun, and your homework has been delivered to this address. You will need to make up the last two week¡¯s study material. You are expected to be in class tomorrow despite lacking the time to catch up. Do you know all this from Network access? You have received several notifications that I¡¯ve hidden while you focused. Well, I understand, but please don¡¯t hide things from me. Is there anything else I need to know or do before Felicity returns? You should seek her out before the five hours is over and see if you can get started on the makeup homework. ¡°How am I excited about homework? Everything that¡¯s happened has me so full of energy,¡± I finally voiced my thoughts. "Let''s see what Felicity thinks of the new me," I cheerfully joked as I got ready to find her. Chapter 8: Layers I finished a sketch today. It took me three times as long and isn¡¯t as dark as I¡¯d like. I mean, it is ¡®dark,¡¯ but I couldn¡¯t contrast the color with a pencil like I wanted. Pain-fueled shakes and grip strength that couldn¡¯t pop a balloon made my sketch more of an impression of a skull than a realistic cranium. At least it captured my nightmare from last night. In that place between waking and rest, I watched my body in the third person, and after I saw my hair fall out, my head cracked open like someone taking the shell off a hard-boiled egg, one chipped piece at a time. I woke as my view moved closer to peer into the void created by excised shards. I never saw what was inside¡ªI just woke up in sweat-soaked sheets, wet from my bald scalp down to my boxers. And dreams, I don¡¯t remember those. Nope, my life¡¯s just nightmares. Only in my imagination can I see a world where I¡¯m healthy and normal. I try not to live in my head too long. Imagination can be dangerous when it feeds me false hope. But what if it¡¯s my only playground left? Jordan Journal entry Post Chemo ##### After quickly exploring the rest of my living space, I felt happy. This was by far the nicest place I¡¯ve ever stayed at. I didn¡¯t know how much time I¡¯d have to enjoy it, but it was a luxury setup¡ªonly missing a kitchen to be an entire apartment. While searching the spacious bedroom, I found clothes in a closet of various sizes and for different purposes. There were school uniforms, although I wondered if the jackets fit me after my body¡¯s changes. Did they tailor them, or is it a generic size for the guys? There were three sets of Arcana and Zancara academies¡¯ robes and jackets on separate sides of the closet. Then I found what I was looking for more athletic clothes for physical training and other casual attire similar to people I¡¯d seen on the streets. I assumed I was ready after putting on snug pants with great flexibility and padding around the knees, a long-sleeved shirt, and a padded vest. This better not be some ceremonial outfit on this planet, I joked to myself. My assistive AI System didn¡¯t comment. I had some questions as I continued to take in my new look and body in front of the mirror and decided to do a little stretching to test my flexibility and coordination. That reminds me. How do I categorize what you are? You¡¯ve told me you are the voice of my Arc System but are speaking for my Arc and Zan¡¯s combined system. So, what¡¯s different between you and, say, the overall system that controls¡­everything? I thought the System was less helpful. Since you asked, the local understanding, which I am a product of in many ways, is the following: The System oversees the entire universe. An omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent System. It knows all, is all capable, and is present everywhere. That System has subsystems. The Subsystems allow the sentients of the universe to interact with the System. Without a Subsystem, everyone is like humans on old Earth. So the subsystems give me access to THE system, but is it always there, everywhere? While you explain this, can you show me some stretches or basic exercises I can do in this space? I hadn¡¯t done exercise since I was in middle school. And my middle school gym teacher, at the time, didn¡¯t have combat experience. No, he seemed too laid back to have been a Marine. Yes, I recommend these basic stretches for Arcana children. The space in front of me suddenly filled with a projection of me sitting on the ground and reaching toward my feet. These are designed to account for your muscle density and strength. Wow, this is better than any augmented reality gear I have ever seen. There¡¯s no distortion. But don¡¯t be creepy, The image of me stretching was smiling far too broad and waving at me to get started. Suddenly, it was frowning after my creepy comment. I felt a little guilty, so I asked nicely this time, ¡° In the future, please adjust the transparency to keep my vision clear in combat. I knew I didn¡¯t need to be polite to my system, but still, I couldn¡¯t help it. As I was explaining, the most widespread Subsystem is Earth¡¯s version. That is considered a common Subsystem as it is widespread throughout the universe. Your planet was also seeded with the potential for Arcana. As you have been told, you were the only one to obtain it before the system initiated your planet, resulting in your transport here. It wouldn¡¯t have taken long for you to become overpowered on Earth despite not having Temporal Gates. Dungeons would help you grow, but they are not TGs. Your growth would have stalled without intervention, and the system would eventually have forced an event or circumstances that led to an opportunity for you. But it would have likely unbalanced Earth and crippled the rest of the population. Thus, the intervention. Earth and others like it are considered resource worlds for Arcana and Zancara. They will still be farmed for many reasons despite lacking the core resources. The System¡¯s motives seem to force progress through conflict. Comfort breeds complacency, which leads to weakness and eventually death. This is where the Arcana saying of ¡°Death¡¯s Comfort¡± comes from. Only in death does the system allow rest. That is pretty dark, but it will keep things exciting. I always wanted to be a part of a fantasy world. When the System came to Earth, I thought it was my chance. That was another monumental disappointment for me until now. I haven¡¯t given it much thought, but will I get back to my family? That is possible but not probable until you achieve greater power and influence. Oh, sorry to ask, but I need to know. Is it healthy for me to spend so much time talking to you? It is common for Arc and Zan people to communicate with their system. I, however, am capable of much more intelligent and human-like interactions. You will adjust and can provide feedback on our interactions. I recommend acquiring additional relationships and having conversations with those around you. Noted. Get out and talk to people. Make some friends¡­ Not an easy thing for me to jump back into, you know? Never mind, how about this world¡¯s Subsystems? Arc and Zan systems are less common on the rarity scale. Far beyond that is us. I am a wholly unique System. Never before seen or heard of. Scholars here speculate on the combination of Arc and Zan, but I¡¯ve found no accounts of it occurring. So, are there other higher rarity Systems? Like Rare, Legendary, or Mythic? My inner greedy squirrel was rubbing its hands together. I must collect them all! Not that anyone is aware of. There is a disagreement between A and Z as to whether one of them is superior and deserves a higher grade. As you can imagine, they both think the other is inferior. I had run through several stretches and a few gymnastic movement exercises. Okay, I feel like I can avoid making myself look like a complete noob in front of Felicity. Let¡¯s find her. Know where she is? I wouldn¡¯t count on making a great impression yet. Remember you just arrived. Yes, you have your unique system and a newly formed body; you¡¯re welcome. Less snark, please. Adjusting. You are new to everything. Don¡¯t forget you were near death not long ago and only healed recently. Felicity may appear approximately your age, but what I can find in the network says she is the equivalent of 70 Earth years old or 7.5 ellipses. Ellipses? Local time measurement? Can you just translate the times and ages for me? Preference added Felicity has seen extensive combat in TG¡¯s, Duels, and Arc-Zan battles. You have much to learn to catch up with her. But¡­you will learn rapidly if you apply yourself. You must advance for anything good to come of your circumstances unless you want to be a lab rat or just be exterminated. Wow, I know I¡¯m in over my head, but can you help me stay positive and focused? I¡¯ve let myself get pretty hopeless before. I¡¯m feeling good now, but I¡¯m sure I could spiral. I cut the conversation and left for the outer hallway. As promised, Felicity arrived within a few moments after I left my door. That was fast. I hope they aren¡¯t spying on me while inside my room. ¡°Jordan, how can I help you?¡± Felicity said with a reserved smile as she stopped a few paces before me, arms crossed under her chest. I immediately noticed her hair was down, and she wore tight-fitting clothes accentuating her figure. Her brow was wet with sweat. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡°Yes, I hoped to get some combat experience before my classes tomorrow,¡± I humbly replied, keeping my eyes anywhere but her feminine figure. Wow, she is beautiful. Look her in the eyes, the eyes. ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware you had received your schedule yet¡­¡± She cut herself off, wiping her forehead with a small towel. Then she took a step closer, and she grabbed my arm. ¡°What happened to you? Why do you look taller and¡­How? She started poking me and even lifted my shirt to poke my abs.¡± ¡°Hey¡­stop,¡± I squeaked as she hit a sensitive rib. I was flustered by being so close to such a beautiful woman but getting annoyed at the poking. ¡°One moment.¡± Her eyes unfocused as she looked at something on her system display. ¡°Thank you,¡± I shyly whispered. I was not able to keep from blushing and tried to project confidence. I didn¡¯t think I could keep my changes a secret, but I was still unsure how much to keep to myself. But I responded to her like a nerd flirting with the prom queen, showing no eye contact and suddenly fidgeting like my whole body itched. Her eyes focused back on my face. ¡°My estimates show an increase in height, mass, and even density; your face is much more symmetrical and refined¡­¡± She smiled a little more. Was that a flirtatious smile? Is she flirting? Don¡¯t answer that system. I need to name you¡­ Her lips pouted a bit as she said, ¡°You need to explain,¡± she scrunched her brow and continued asking me questions. ¡°Where are your armbands? Hold on.¡± She put her palm towards me and stepped back. ¡°Eld.¡± She started to turn away as if taking a phone call. And I exhaled, not realizing I¡¯d held my breath while she was so close, then she turned back to me. ¡°So that you know, I¡¯m not in charge here. Eld and I don¡¯t belong to the same factions, but I was commanded to defer to him and follow all his instructions. He also outclasses me to the extent that I can¡¯t read his tier. It¡¯s not important, but you need to show him absolute respect. I¡¯ll prove my strength, but don¡¯t challenge his. He will meet us on the sand.¡± ¡°Sand?¡± I was confused and still trying to calm my heart rate. ¡°I was hoping for training so I didn¡¯t look like a fool on my first day at the Academy.¡± She laughed. ¡°You think you¡¯ll fit in, maybe make some friends?¡± She nodded her head in understanding. ¡°I can understand why you would hope for that. But how long have you had your system? Rhetorical question. They have been raised into this, and each received limited access to their systems years ago.¡± Arcana and Zancara children gain limited access at your equivalent of 8.25 years old, even earlier than Earth¡¯s 13-year-old initiation. ¡°That means I¡¯m behind, which is precisely why I¡¯m asking for help before I¡¯m thrown to the wolves tomorrow. Anything will help.¡± ¡°Yes, I suppose. This won¡¯t be my first time training from the ground up. Your lack of knowledge also means you lack bad habits,¡± she convinced herself as her face softened into a slight another. Turning and walking down the stairs, she very quietly mumbled. ¡°But you¡¯ll be the first child I¡¯ve trained.¡± then she barked, ¡°Follow me!¡± We returned to the ground floor and navigated several parts of the sprawling mansion. Eventually, we walked through an open doorway to the gardens I¡¯d seen out my balcony. ¡°Leave your shoes here,¡± Felicity said, leaving her own to the side of the breezeway. After wandering between trees and manicured pathways, we walked onto a sand-covered square clearing. In the middle was Eld. This time in a snug dark blue robe. I also noticed a small backpack at his feet. I followed Felicity till we were a few paces in front of him. She bowed toward Eld. ¡°I hear you¡¯ve obtained some upgrades,¡± Eld stated stoically, form stiff and still. My improved perception was taking in the additional details. He may have signs of old age, but he was physically powerful. I need to trust someone. ¡°Yes, I accepted some System options for some changes.¡± ¡°Summarize the changes,¡± he commanded, not offering me an option. ¡°Well, my body upgraded. I am unsure, but I think the metal I absorbed at the ceremony on my arms has been absorbed to fuel some internal improvements. I don¡¯t know everything that occurred, but the process hurt. A lot.¡± I visibly cringed at the memory, but after a moment, I continued as he bore holes into me with his unnerving stare. ¡°All I know for sure is I am stronger and can think more rapidly. Oh, and my perception of time is way better. And I just recently gathered and formed a construct¡­¡± I was cut off with a hand gesture from Eld. ¡°Not likely,¡± Eld stated, closing his eyes. ¡°But, clearly, you can see..¡± Felicity stammered but did not seem to be convincing him. ¡°Do you know why you are here and not at the Academy floundering already?¡± Eld asked as if tempting me to make a guess. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t have much choice,¡± I quietly stated in frustration, ¡°The Duke and the Administrator sent me.¡± ¡°True, and I am still not aware of the contents of your meeting. What I am here to do is guide you. Felicity is here to aid me in this. I lead, you follow, she helps.¡± I could see that Felicity scowled but stopped herself from saying anything. She likely wanted to interject to clarify the significance of her role. ¡°I didn¡¯t intend to approach this as a stubborn old academic,¡± his stoic, stern frustration melted slightly as he brought a hand to cover his face. ¡°I had hoped to get you up to speed in the coming weeks. While you observed classes, I didn¡¯t want you to participate. By the end of the term, I plan to have you ready for a tournament or another qualifying event. You understand my surprise when I see you completely remade; your system is different, and you claim to be gathering and forming constructs. If I had to guess, you have a D-grade body, not to mention the other things I see. He has been trying to bypass me to inspect us. I don¡¯t know how he can interact with our system. It¡¯s not in the network database. But don¡¯t worry, he was unable to access anything from me. He is probably bluffing. At least as far as you know. Is there a database of abilities? Of course. But apparently, it is not exhaustive enough to account for him. ¡°Why are you trying to interact with my System?¡± I challenged a little forcefully. ¡°I mean, that isn¡¯t normal, right?¡± I tried to tone down my frustration. Ignoring my challenge, he continued. ¡°I need you to demonstrate construction manifestation. I want you to explain your thoughts after you¡¯re done. I saw no reason to resist, so I sat on the sand and began to focus my mind. Okay, so remember what I did last time and how much should I show? ¡°What sort of shape should I create?¡± ¡°Whatever you want to practice fighting with. Something bigger than that knife in your pocket.¡± ¡°Give me a moment,¡± I grimaced that he could see the knife. I closed my eyes and tried to think. ¡°He just got here,¡± Felicity whispered, ¡°it is unlikely he can¡­¡± ¡°Quiet,¡± Eld clipped her words off. He said make something I want to learn to fight with. Well, I want to go bladed weapons for sure. I began to picture various weapons. Swords, daggers, spears, halberds, and others from games and fantasy books I¡¯d read. What do I want to use? I saw my parents learn some skills and dive into their chosen weapons. What would fit me best? In video games, I usually got tired of one play style and would switch, but if I didn¡¯t go full mage in an RPG, I would either go archer/rogue or spear specialist. Both gave me reach. The bow might be fun. But, if I want to switch weapons or styles eventually, I need something I can sheath to swap to something different. I can add another later on. I began to form with both hands. I started with rectangle shapes on the surface of each hand. Then, they rose about two inches. I kept pushing and was feeling resistance. I tried to shape the bars I¡¯d formed to extend together in the middle, but the expansion stalled out as I noticed my spirit body¡¯s concentration of Arc had dramatically decreased. ¡°Did you find that knife in your quarters?¡± Eld questioned, making assumptions after watching me struggle. ¡°Give me a second; I need to gather some more first,¡± my frustration bleeding into my words. But I kept my eyes closed and focused now on the space around me rather than the construction. ¡°Wow!¡± I jumped back in shock and landed a couple of feet back. My strength and reflexes were more incredible than I realized. ¡°The Arc and Zan are so thick here!¡± The Arc was moving like so many gracefully swimming giant eagles. They glided around, swooping and diving in and out of my view range. I was seeing farther out than when I was on my balcony. Both opposing forces were competing for control of the space but never mixed. They bumped into each other in a continual flow. Neither of the elements had faces I could make out, but the Zan reminded me of a flowing dragon. It was too wide for a snake here. The more I observed, the easier it was to see that my entire view was just varied densities of the two forces. The shapes were moving through currents, and the gaps I saw were less dense Arc and Zan. I focused back on the task at hand. I pulled at the Arc, which came so rapidly that I gasped in shock. I quickly became oversaturated and, in alarm, started channeling it into the sword I was forming. This time, the metal Arc substance surged from my hands and became an unshaped blob that threatened to drip from my cupped hands. Having stopped gathering, I tried to force my will into shaping the metal, commanding and restricting where it could go. The blob of material began to become one long bar, losing its liquid form. Once I had wrestled back control, I elongated it and started to see the sword from my imagination. The outline in my mind filled in and became a reality. It was amazing. I could feel it on my palms. It was light, almost weightless, but solid as I closed my left hand around the grip. I didn¡¯t try touching the sharp edge, only letting its flat side rest lightly in my right palm. It felt too light. So I kept focusing. How can I make this have more weight? I don¡¯t want a styrofoam feel. It needs some heft. ¡°Stop,¡± Eld instructed with a kind exasperation. ¡°I apologize for doubting you. May I see the sword?¡± I stood and stepped close enough to pass the handle over. ¡°A Japanese design?¡± He smiled. ¡°Lighter due to the Arc concentration. You can gather and construct, but there is more we will show you. This will serve you for today; take this.¡± I watched as he acted like he was tossing something from his empty hand. But as his hand lifted, a flash of gold light blinked, and a sheath formed. I fumbled to catch it from the surprise. ¡°How¡¯d you do that?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but wonder. ¡±Did you form it that fast, or do you have spatial storage?¡± ¡°Construction is limited by individual ability, one¡¯s will, and resources,¡± Eld assured me. ¡°Time is not a limiter when sufficient power is harnessed.¡± He reverently extended the blade as if it were a valuable creation, not something a beginner made. ¡°You did well. We will sharpen you further.¡± Eld picked up the backpack from the ground and walked off toward the side, waving for us to follow. I sheathed the blade in front of my face. Marveling as the two separate creations fit with machined precision and slid with a smooth metal glide, they became one with a satisfying click. Then, I snapped my jaw closed when I saw Felicity smiling at my dumb expression. She knowingly nodded and waved me on to go first. We walked to a smaller circle in the garden surrounded by a waist-high wall with several benches built into the wall¡¯s interior and tables into the outside next to what looked like sarcophaguses on the ground. He led me along the outside of the wall to a bench. Bending down, he lifted the seat to reveal a storage below. Reaching in, he pulled out a pair of boots and tossed them to me. ¡°Put these on,¡± he folded his arms across his chest, but his expression was softened. I caught the boots and went to the nearest bench. I set my new sword beside me and cleaned my sand-coated feet before pulling on the futuristic-looking boots. They were made of flexible material and had a good grip on the soles. The outside, although pliable, was oddly tough. I was tempted to poke it with my knife but was interrupted by Eld, who cleared his throat. In the center of the walled area was a pedestal with a bowled indent filled with liquid on the top. Like a built-in birdbath, the widths of the cylindrical pillar. A narrow circle of liquid separated the pedestal from the pathway on the ground around the pedestal. The floor of the platform with the pedestal was polished metal. Unlike the Arc and Zan substances, this was solid dark gray, like a polished mirror of dark graphite. The mercury-like liquid in the bowl and the circle swirled like jets were bubbling and pushing the thick substance around. ¡°This is a Temporal Gate or TG. This is the lowest difficulty TG entrance on site. There are others, but you will only use this. And only while accompanied by either of us until you prove you can be independent.¡± His formerly stern tone softened as he continued. ¡°Be patient, but show you can handle this, and we will travel further through other interior gates.¡± ¡°Nothing you see today will be able to threaten you. It is what you cannot see with your eyes, the Source within a gate, that will be vastly more dangerous,¡± He stepped within a foot of me, and only then did I realize I was taller than him by a few inches. Looking up into my eyes, he continued with complete seriousness. ¡°You have a strong affinity and talent with Arc. But for now, I warn you not to gather inside the gate and especially not to attempt interacting with anything in the Source.¡± ¡°You mentioned if but never explained; what is the source?¡± I interrupted any further directions; I needed more context. ¡°When you gathered before, did you see your body and Arc around you?¡± He asked while giving me more space and waiting till I nodded affirmation. ¡°There are many layers in what we call the Source. There are even more names for each layer. I will give you the most common. You will learn more in the academies. The first layer is Base. Getting there is called Jumping. Most people feel a sudden drop upon entering it in mediation. It is considered the shallowest layer for non-condensed Arc and Zan. Did you notice anything in the cloud of Arc around you?¡± ¡°At first, I saw dots, then clouds and fog, but then I started seeing shapes like birds and snakes, but nothing was too defined.¡± ¡°Not good,¡± Eld sat on one of the benches. ¡°If you saw more than clumpy forms, you have already progressed your authority beyond base or, worse; you might be able to traverse beyond your authority.¡± ¡°What you were seeing was the edge of the next layer, usually called Sky,¡± he continued but had a blank stare. ¡°All the more reason to avoid gathering or exerting authority.¡± Gathering his thoughts, he stood and walked to the circle¡¯s platform. ¡°You are already under scrutiny from some powerful people on both sides of Arcana and Zancara. You don¡¯t need to get added to the hit list of a Source Prince or something worse. There are even layers I don¡¯t dare brush up against, and not even I can protect you if you walk into them.¡± What I need is simple for this trip: don¡¯t close your eyes to perceive the Arc in the Source around us while inside the gate. Talent can lead to foolish or just arrogant mistakes. There¡¯s no Luck stat with Arcana or Zancara. You should know by now we don¡¯t do stats like on Earth. ¡°You understand? I¡¯m deadly serious; don¡¯t gather. Let us know if you run low on Arc or need something while inside. We are going for the experience and to show you the creatures inside a gate. ¡°Take this bag; you¡¯ll need to carry your gear eventually. You might as well start with something now.¡± ¡°What about spatial storage, like a bag of holding or something?¡± ¡°Not today, just wear the bag and step onto the platform.¡± Chapter 9: Hunt I¡¯m a teenager, finally! I hope they stop treating me like a child soon. What to write? How about this¡­ 13th Birthday gifts: Comics from Uncle Zach. Video game and a journal from Mom and Dad. And a used guitar from Grandpa George. I like them all, but I¡¯m unsure about the guitar yet. He said it would take years to learn. Not sure I have that kind of patience. But I promised Mom to journal at least once a week for the year. If I do, I get a special gift next year. Does she know how to motivate me, or is that just manipulation? Jordan¡¯s first journal entry ##### I was a little bummed I wouldn¡¯t get some kind of spatial storage. Who wouldn¡¯t jump at the chance not to physically carry loot and gear? Wait. Is. There. Loot. ¡°Quick question,¡± I tried to hide my excitement, looking back and forth between my two mentors. ¡°Do TGs have loot? You know, items and reward drops from killing things inside?¡± They nodded as we stepped across the outer circle of bubbling fluid and onto the platform. Hey System. What kinds of things drop when we kill stuff inside a Gate?
The list would be extensive, and it is an extensively studied topic. The network, for example, reports over 100,000 different unique drops types in the last five years, but most go unreported from private TGs, which do not have public reporting. But I must warn you that the gate entrance here will not lead to difficult creatures. There will be drops, but they won¡¯t be impressive.
Are you kidding? I¡¯ve wanted to see a drop since my parents returned from the Garden tutorial. No, before that, after reading fantasy books. I mean, that¡¯s what the system is really for, right? Prizes, chest, loot! I don¡¯t care if it¡¯s not valuable; I want one; I want them all. At this point, I was smiling like an addict about to get their next fix. With a backpack in one hand and my sword in the other, I bounced on my feet. ¡°That excited to see the other side, huh, kid?¡± Felicity smirked, asking me while side-eying me. ¡°Yeah, I am, but I¡¯m not a kid anymore. I¡¯m all grown up,¡± I said as I stood up straighter and pounded my right fist across my chest. It just felt tough, I¡¯m aware I¡¯m a total noob here, so don¡¯t comment. ¡°Is that a solute or something from Earth,¡± Felicity inquired while leaning away as if examining me. Wait, when did you change?¡± I asked. Her hair was tied back with a single tie, and she wore a full suit made out of the same stuff as my boots. She still showed curves but had added padding on her shoulders and knees. It looked very functional for sports, but the material might lack durability to withstand a fight with blades and claws. ¡°What, did you want to watch me change?¡± She flirtatiously joked. ¡°Sorry. You just missed the show.¡± Is she teasing me, or is she like into me? Wait, Jordan, remember you might be 18, but she is, like, grandma-old. I tried to squash my hormone¡¯s response. Thankfully, my system didn¡¯t comment. Either way, I was blushing and forgot to reply. I wasn¡¯t sure what Eld was doing, but he finally interrupted us. ¡°Jordan, this should be a safe walk-through. Try to enjoy this. I still remember my first trip. We will take things slow as you soon need to make several choices.¡± Without explaining further, I saw a flash of light all around that originated from the liquid circle shooting up into a dome over us and down to the small pool on the pedestal. Then the light flashed again like the brightest headlights, and after blinking, I saw we were no longer in the garden. I began to look around. It was incredible. It was darker than where we had been. Stars shone overhead, yet everything was bright enough to see as if it was early dawn. We were outside and on the top of a hill, standing on the same pedestal and circle. Or is this just the exit for the gate?
You received an important Notification from The System; I recommend reviewing it and making a choice. I will display System messages originating outside of my communication in a distinct mental window. Let me know if you¡¯d like a different display format.
Welcome to your first Temporal Gate. For entering a Temporal Gate, you are granted a spatial storage. Please choose an item to anchor your storage. Do you wish to use the bag in your possession?
Do I have to use the bag? What about one of my rings? Yeah, the gold ring on my left index finger, please.
Please confirm: Ring spatial storage from condensed Arcana material.
Yes, I confirm.
Spatial Storage granted: minor growth item created based on material. Starting space is decreased due to added growth aspect generation. The current area available is equivalent to the size of 2 spatial units.
That¡¯s about the size of a laptop but half a foot tall. It¡¯s roughly fifteen by ten by six inches or 0.52 cubic feet.
That seems small.
You can configure the size, but yes, you are just starting and will obtain more extensive volume storage or upgrade this one. If you had chosen the backpack, you would have twice the bag volume, but you wouldn¡¯t have gotten a growth item due to the material. You will still need to use the physical bag for class.
¡°Have you upgraded the bag yet?¡± Eld questioned, turning back from his scanning of the area. ¡°Not exactly,¡± I hesitantly said, but then decided to trust my choice. ¡°Well, take the upgrade,¡± Felicity said. I went on to explain. They were surprised but accepted my logic. They both told me to put the backpack on and carry my sheathed sword. They didn¡¯t explain everything and said I would learn as I went but pointed out things I should know to avoid trouble, which annoyingly was not to gather. I get it already, jeez. The entire vicinity around the pedestal was considered a ¡°Safe Zone.¡± No creatures would approach it. That proved true, as I didn¡¯t see anything but a hill with smooth rocks and sand at our entry point. But a half mile away, I could see the edge of a forest. This had to be artificially constructed or maintained because I didn¡¯t see any way a forest could make such a perfect circle around us with the first trees nearly perfectly spaced. We walked down the rocky hill, not walking over anything living, and stopped before the divide between the contrasting environments. ¡°You know enough to handle the next few miles away from this edge without us holding your hand,¡± Eld said, smiling at his jest. ¡°To exit, you would need to return there and put your hand on the top of the TG pedestal. There is no special requirement to leave.¡± ¡°For the next several hours,¡± his tone turned firm, ¡°You will search and kill any creatures you encounter, and we will watch from a distance. Use the sword and get familiar with it. If you have questions, speak them aloud. We will hear and decide whether to give you an answer.¡± ¡°That sounds very one-sided,¡± I said, and very annoying. I kept that last thought silent; I was still too excited to get too riled. ¡°You will benefit from focus rather than distraction,¡± Eld replied, ¡°And right now, you are distracted by your arrogance. Arrogance born of inexperience. You still know almost nothing about your new world. Humility would better suit you.¡± He turned away from me with folded arms. ¡°Sorry,¡± I started apologizing, as I dropped my heart. I did see the wisdom he was sharing. They both seemed to want me to succeed. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink this; we,¡± she pointed to Eld and herself, ¡°both are here to see you grow. So we won¡¯t let you die in the woods all alone. Just take this seriously. If you do, this will be fun.¡± If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. I nodded and walked into the woods. The ground between trees was initially sand, gradually showing more signs of life. Dry grass and brush became normal, followed by greener life. Then, after another mile, I found my first sign of animal life. It was a deer. That would have been tough to catch and attack with a sword, but I should be quick enough now. It still hadn¡¯t noticed my slow and nearly silent approach.
There is no reason to kill that animal. There is no benefit in killing anything natural. Plants and animals do appear and support food chains within the TGs. You could kill it if you wish to harvest and eat the meat. Otherwise, it is highly offensive to kill them wantonly.
Well, how do I know if something is killable?
I will show you. Turn to your right, clockwise 90 degrees. Proceed 200 yards.
I grumbled at the lack of info, even if they were clear directions. That is until I saw a pig with dark fur and small tusks with blue text floating above it.
Lvl 1 Boar
Oh, so that is what you meant. Why blue?
I thought it would remind you of Earth and motivate you to achieve your goals.
Solid reasoning. So, I guess I should kill this thing. I took my time stalking the boar. Yes, I could probably destroy it, but I wanted to be stealthy and get the drop on it rather than go on a pig chase. When I was within 20 yards, I started a dash that seemed ridiculously fast; even after just a few steps, I almost lost my footing, but my new body was more than just fast. It was coordinated and stronger than ever. I closed most of the distance and had sound footing when I jumped the final 5 yards; my lunge was headed straight at the boar¡¯s side. The creature was about the dimensions of an adult bicycle in height and length but was quite broad. I drove my sword to the hilt just behind and below the boar¡¯s shoulder. My momentum carried me straight into the beast and knocked it over. I unintentionally let go of the sword stuck in the boar and toppled less gracefully end over end into a tree trunk. Not forgetting I had just started a fight with a system-generated creature, I shook my head and got to my feet, looking for the boar. The only thing I found was my sword tipping over and falling to the ground next to a glowing rock. ¡°What is that?¡± I went to pick it up, but Felicity was there before I could get it. She picked it up and tossed it into the woods. I stood still, jaw open in disbelief. ¡°Hey, that was my first loot drop, wasn¡¯t it? Why?¡± I began to spit before my words turned to growls. ¡°Before you lose your temper, listen. Our method of training has a purpose. We don¡¯t want you worrying about drops yet. Just focus on combat.¡± I kept my grumbling to myself but went in the direction Felicity pointed. I ran across several other boars. I could get closer or move ahead of them and wait in ambush. My fourth boar was a level 2, and my ambush allowed me to chop its head clear off. I was splattered in its blood, but the boar itself dissipated like digital dust. I thought I¡¯d be clever and reached for the drop as it formed in the air. The next thing I knew, I was tumbling twenty feet away. I stand up, rubbing the left side of my face. ¡°Hey, why¡¯d you do that?¡± I spoke from the right side of my face as I rubbed the left. ¡°No touching the drops!¡± She said as she grabbed the stone and disappeared. ¡°I am offended!¡± I spoke in a mocking, authoritarian tone while I pointed to the sky. I don¡¯t know where my sense of humor came from after getting my bell rung like that, maybe because a hit like that should have hurt but hadn¡¯t. Is my pain threshold different? Or did that just not hurt?
It did not hurt you in any physical way. Your face is only red due to the flow of blood. Your pride might have suffered a bit.
Hardy har har. Keep laughing. I¡¯m not embarrassed¡­much. And they knew it too, from the smile I couldn¡¯t hide. The shock of taking a hit more like Superman than a teenage boy was exhilarating. Even if I flew like a rag doll, it was still cool. I hopped to my feet and rushed to my next victim. Over a few hours, I covered many miles and saw boars and primarily other harmless creatures. None of them had put up much of a fight for me and my sword. As I spotted my next kill, my system displayed the text above it. Despite it being 400 yards away across a small ravine, I had a line of sight and was able to read the description.
Level 5 Wolf - Alpha
My smile grew wide again¡ªa new challenge. Before I took another step, I nearly screamed as a hand landed firmly, gripping my shoulder. I turned around to see Eld. ¡°It is time you get a drop,¡± He smiled and reminded me of my uncle when he gave me my first comic book. Something about sharing his favorite childhood pastime with me. ¡°You remember the number one rule?¡± His smile and question was kind. ¡°Don¡¯t gather or enter the Source,¡± I spoke in a monotone to be funny. ¡°I haven¡¯t forgotten.¡± I was whispering not to alert my wolf. ¡°This is the exception,¡± Eld whispered back. ¡°What?¡± I exclaimed louder than I intended and stood up fully. ¡°Why in the world would you so adamantly demand I not, and now¡­¡± ¡°When you attack the wolf,¡± he jumped in, ¡°you should have no problem killing it. But rather than a quick kill, I ask that you wound it and then retreat to a safe distance. Only once it is immobilized. Then, step back but be on guard. Only then will I return to your side, and you will sit and enter the Source while I watch over your body.¡± ¡°That is the first predator you¡¯ve encountered in a Temporal Gate, correct? You¡¯ve also never taken a drop from one of your kills, correct?¡± ¡°Yes to both questions,¡± I replied, my curiosity growing. What is he getting at? I asked my system.
He intentionally restricts your first drop, hoping the System will reward you with a more significant opportunity. It is more of a superstition than a proven science. But the superstition says that if you kill a prey creature, you will receive a defensive-focused class, skill, or bond opportunity. The opposite is true of predators. He wants to see you focus on offense for your Arc specialization.
What? You never said anything about any of that. Classes, skills, bonds, or specializations? I wanted more information, but Eld continued before I could ask for more. ¡°Good, then start your hunt,¡± He turned and disappeared without another word. I didn¡¯t know what I was feeling. I guess it was a mix of emotions, from excitement for another kill and the rewards alluded to. Then, the negative side: frustration at the withheld information and my general lack of understanding. Left to my hunt, I continued my silent stalk of the Alpha. I was never a hunter, but I read enough to know that wind and the animal¡¯s sense of smell are vital factors. I thought I was doing a good job staying downwind. Unfortunately, I wasn¡¯t able to keep my approach a secret. When I was fifty yards away, the wolf turned and looked right at me. Then, without warning, it darted at me. My perception adjusted enough for me to track the previous blur. The passage of time slowed in the world around me. After only a moment, I followed its movements. I started charging the wolf with my sword pulled back and to the side, ready for a right-to-left slash across the beast¡¯s front leg. I had failed to realize when I was approaching that this animal was not your regular-variety wolf. This was a full-grown cow-sized meat-rending system-enhanced monster. When I started my swing to cut its front left leg off, I was surprised when a flash of bright light caught my eyes, and I stumbled. Instead of the animal¡¯s leg getting sliced clean, I hit only air, and my body twisted from the lack of contact, exposing my right shoulder and side to the beast. The tender flesh just underneath and behind my armpit was pierced, and a claw slid painfully between my ribs before it retracted as the whole paw swiped in a downward motion, raking my right side, tearing flesh and scratching ribs along the way. In addition to that wound, I was knocked backward with the momentum of the wolf. I hit the ground, followed by the wolf¡¯s chest, pinning me to the ground. Help! I was only able to make a gurgling sound. My system informed me of a punctured lung, but I had already realized as my exhale sounded like a chunk was flapping around inside there. I began hacking with shallow breaths buried under the mountain of flesh.
Eld and Felicity are very near. Protect your neck.
My system was initiating some emergency healing via a surged release of the recently contained Rogue nanotech. I felt a burning in my chest. At that moment, I felt the claws of the wolf¡¯s paw rest on my neck. I tried to get my arm up, but the paw was like a mountain. Why can¡¯t I move this thing? ¡°Not the nicest welcome I¡¯ve had recently. Most bow or run.¡± A voice from all around spoke as an aura exploded in the woods. I felt like I was submerged at the bottom of the ocean; I couldn¡¯t move, and I lost the rest of the air in my healing lungs. The force continued for a moment, then disappeared. ¡°Apologies, child.¡± A disembodied voice surrounded me, but I guessed it was the wolf¡¯s. ¡°That was for your minders; I couldn¡¯t shield you while using this little guy. Now, hold still for a moment.¡± ¡°What are you?¡± Eld stood five yards away, but the end of his sword extended to the eye of the wolf. ¡°I assumed you would know,¡± the wolf growled, ¡°or at least be smart enough to stay clear.¡± ¡°There is no way you are a level 5. How do you have an aura of consuming? There¡¯s practically no Arc in this area now.¡± ¡°Now, don¡¯t you know it¡¯s rude to ask those kinds of questions? I was sent by someone you don¡¯t say no to. I¡¯m going to deliver a message to this one. His ears alone, you understand. Make a move, and I will be forced to kill him, and then the one who sent me promises to hunt you beyond the Gate.¡± ¡°You¡¯re bluffing,¡± Felicity¡¯s voice came from behind the wolf. ¡°You want proof? That might be the most expected response, but it is also the rudest. So a price is now due.¡± The wolf moved so fast that I didn¡¯t have time to take a full breath before it was back. But I felt drops hitting my forehead. I couldn¡¯t reach them, but the wolf tilted its head and looked at me. In its jaws was a hand casually severed and dripping on me¡ªa hand with thin, graceful yet bloody fingers. I didn¡¯t react, not knowing what happened, but then there was a scream, and Eld disappeared in front of the wolf. The beast didn¡¯t bother to turn to protect its back. Instead, I felt the wolf reposition and lay on my legs. ¡°I promise to heal him and the woman,¡± the voice declared. ¡°But the meeting will happen first. Child, enter the Source.¡± I knew it meant me, but I wasn¡¯t in a suitable head space; how could I meditate? I didn¡¯t think I would get much of a choice, though, so I closed my eyes. It took several painful tries for me to see the world of the Source. It looked like a wolf, but a glowing collar was around its neck. I looked, and a man off to the side was holding the end of the leash. ¡°Welcome, child,¡± the man had a noble bearing like he had a stick up his butt and a silver spoon in his mouth. He sounded pleasant but oozed arrogance. ¡°Hello,¡± I didn¡¯t know what else to say. ¡°What did you need so badly that you had to do this?¡±
Be careful; that is a Prince. Not something you can handle. And I¡¯m guessing he is using borrowed Authority if he scared Eld. It wasn¡¯t just the threats that held your mentor back. Look behind him. I looked, and there was an open door. The frame was glowing red. The Arc and Zan in the area were all being sucked into the pitch-black opening.
¡°You misunderstand. Yes, I am someone to bow to, but I am only the messenger or, I guess, today, the delivery man.¡± The Prince grabbed my hand one moment, and I was tossed through the open door the next. Chapter 10: Insatiable After the doctor took X-rays, my parents and I were confused by the other tests they asked to run. I didn¡¯t understand, and they spoke to my parents outside while I was asked to wait in the room. I knew something was wrong when Mom came back in tears. Dad was holding it together but looked shaken. Regardless, I didn¡¯t have a say in the next set of tests. They had my blood drawn and scheduled a whole-body MRI scan. All of it confirmed the initial worries. The doctor seemed nice and tried to explain it in a way I could understand. I remember looking over and seeing my parents¡¯ hopes crushed before they remembered to comfort me. I was too shocked to care as I realized my life was now set on a short countdown. I only heard the word terminal, along with immediate aggressive treatment. The rest was all doctor lingo and long Latin names for medical terms. I didn¡¯t need all the details. I wanted to live, so there was only one choice. Fight it. Looking back, I don¡¯t regret that decision. Even though the treatments failed, I think giving up would have been worse. So, despite no other options, I still live whatever days I have left with the best modicum of hope I can muster. Journal Entry days before Jeff stopped by with his proposed treatment. ##### In an unknown layer of the Source I found myself crash-landing on a couch. Of all things, a white piece of earth-like furniture. I was in the Source so I couldn¡¯t feel my lung injury. Hopefully, I won¡¯t be here long enough to bleed out. Are you fixing the lung? I asked my system. There was no response. ¡°Every bit the curiosity I was told to expect,¡± a humorous yet kind feminine voice spoke but was unseen. ¡°Do you mind telling me why I¡¯m here, where this is, and what you want?¡± I spoke while craning my neck, searching for the woman. ¡°Such a demanding young man,¡± she pouted. Then, as if walking around an unseen wall and into view, she slid into view and stopped a short distance in front of me. I awkwardly moved on the couch away from the woman who had arms spread wide. I was too slow and unable to resist as she wrapped me in a hug like I was a loved one. ¡°There, there,¡± She pets my head, ¡°You¡¯re safe now. That wolf was just meant to get your attention. That stuck-up Royal will need to pay for the damage he allowed. But¡­he did deliver.¡± Her smile never faltered or left her face. She seemed serenely happy and caring. ¡°Then why?¡± I asked slowly. She paused, moved a seat away, and turned to look at me while reclining into the deep couch. She was beyond beautiful but hid most of her feminine figure behind a flowing robe, and the longer I tried to look at its detail, the more my eyes slid away. What was apparent was that she had an allure and honestly seemed like she was¡­safe. Important, definitely, but benevolent? Maybe. She turned as I had that thought, and her smile grew wider as her eyes lit up. ¡°Yes, exactly. You are here to see me because I wanted to see you¡ªthe first to tie the knot between the opposing paths¡ª and your other questions. We are in a partition of my home, so you are protected here under my authority. What do I want? To help you, of course.¡± The more sincere she seemed, the more a little voice in my head gave me a Hansel and Gretel vibe of warning. My eyes widened as I tried to get up from the couch inconspicuously. Her hand was on my chest before I could stand, and I was pulled back till I was almost fully reclined onto the couch. She sat very close to me, still smiling like nothing was wrong. ¡°Tell me, Jordan, what is it you want?¡± Then she sat expectantly, tapping her fingertips over my heart. I was at a loss for words and out of my element, yet I still answered. ¡°I want to get strong enough to save Earth.¡± my voice grew more confident and firm. ¡°And then?¡± She leaned so uncomfortably close I could feel her breath on my face. ¡°Well, protect it and my family?¡± I spoke more of a question by the end than an answer. My thoughts fluttered for more significant goals as my voice lost confidence. ¡°How will you protect them?¡± Still leaning in, she spoke softly but left me no room to gain space or sit up. I felt like a fly in her web. ¡°Get stronger. I¡¯m going to the academies, and I¡¯ll learn and eventually get strong enough to get back and protect my family,¡± I had found my voice despite the woman breathing down my neck. I didn¡¯t know if she was eyeing her next meal or if I was just under the microscope of some mad scientist. ¡°With the right backing,¡± She nodded and tapped my chest, ¡°I believe you will. But what is your purpose? What good is that power if all you do is protect? Eventually, you need more¡­a lot more purpose.¡± ¡°I think we learn best under challenging trials,¡± She continued as she leaned back, so I turned and looked at her. ¡°It is a weakness of creatures to crave comfort. The System and the Source are not designed for the complacent but the hungry,¡± her last word turned breathy and passionate, like the thought of a long-awaited kiss. ¡°Yes, most are not lacking power because they have goals for their future. They lack power because they don¡¯t crave it; they need to bleed for it, hungry like they have never eaten but only watched others enjoy the meal.¡± ¡°Jordan,¡± her passion had only grown since she mentioned hunger, and now her face was blank and severe, ¡°Do you have that kind of hunger for growth and power?¡± I wanted to answer. Part of me wanted to say, yes, I do, and make her happy. But I couldn¡¯t do it. I tried to be strong, but the passion she spoke with and the cost she hinted at¡­I hadn¡¯t voiced that kind of commitment¡­not yet. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I already knew you lacked it,¡± she knowingly nodded and reached into a pocket under a fold in her clothes. ¡°That is why I will give you one of my own. This little child of mine has been growing and devouring for a long time, yet she still hungers. She is nearing the next stage of evolution. Lucky you, right?¡± She was practically giddy now. She opened her hand and waved her other hand over it with a flourish. ¡°Isn¡¯t she beautiful?¡± She seemed like a proud mother sharing the news of her child¡¯s accomplishments. ¡°What¡¯s it for?¡± I hesitated between apprehension of offending and fear. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me. You don¡¯t like bugs? It¡¯s for feeding, of course. Like all living creatures, she must be fed. So feed regularly and sufficiently, or she will grow anxious and eat whatever¡¯s nearby,¡± there was more than a hint of mischief in her voice. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of bugs,¡± I defended. ¡°Only ones that suddenly appear too close to me. You¡¯re giving me a pet caterpillar?¡± My confusion was only growing. ¡°Oh, no. Not a pet. She is more of a crucible. A challenge to keep you far from complacency.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the challenge? Hold on, does it have a name?¡± I froze as my mind turned back to the dark potential before me. ¡°It isn¡¯t going to eat me, right?¡± ¡°Not specifically, no. She does need to be fed, so if you neglect her, she will surely take a few bites to remind you.¡± ¡°What?¡± My voice cracked, losing my projection of confidence with that one squeaky word. ¡°It¡¯s simple. You must enter the Source to feed Insatiable. That¡¯s her name and what she is. Her name is not a joke or nickname. She will need a steady diet of the residents from the various layers of the Source. The more powerful the prize collected, the longer you can go before she needs to feed again.¡± ¡°Her name is Insatiable,¡± I repeated, ¡°and she collects living creatures in the source. Like enslaving them or eating them? Aren¡¯t some of them aware and nearly human?¡± The thought of hunting sentient beings was more than I could stomach. ¡°Yes, so you understand. She will join you during your dives through the various Source layers and handle the collection,¡± her pleasant smile returned. ¡°Insatiable will also help you in other various ways. Your Arc and Zan channels would take far longer to clear otherwise, and you¡¯d never be able to use a strong enough suit to protect Earth without a core. If you dive deep and often, you will fill her stores and have a strong enough collection. So don¡¯t forget I helped you at the start. And I won¡¯t tolerate you mistreating my little Keeper and Creeper of Souls.¡± ¡°How could I forget you?¡± I mumbled, then said, ¡°But did you ever tell me your name? I don¡¯t even know where here is.¡± ¡°You have a point, but names are too powerful to share. Maybe someday. But our first meeting isn¡¯t the time. For reference, Insatiable is an Image, capital ¡®I.¡¯ I am something else. You are too freshly initiated to the System and the Source to know what that means. So remember it for later.¡± ¡°So Insatiable is important, and I need to protect her. How is she traveling with me? Can she survive in my ring?¡± I was hoping and trying to keep my expression from showing my growing anxiety as I raised my finger to display my ring. ¡°Oh, silly, she is a creature of the Source and must reside within yours. She will be your greatest boon and bane.¡± With that proclamation, she took one of my hands and placed the little creature on it. It looked cute and fuzzy, like something from a kid¡¯s book my mom read me years ago. Then, looking up at me with a tiny, wide, teeth-filled smile, Insatiable bowed her head toward the lady before bending down and burrowing into my hand one bite at a time. I would have swatted away at the painful chewing, but the lady held my hands as I went to swipe. Insatiable entering my Source body felt like a drill bit boring into my palm. I screamed. But the pain receded. ¡°That hurt,¡± I said, finally getting my hands free; I shook them and rubbed the entry point in my palm, ¡°is there supposed to be pain inside the Source?¡± ¡°Oh yes,¡± She smiled hungrily again like a Cheshire cat down a rabbit hole. ¡°She¡¯s been well-fed, so you have some time. But I have two more little gifts for you. Your first collection of many. Hand this to the Prince who sent you here.¡± She again grabbed my hand and set something small in my palm. ¡°What is it?¡± I asked while I suspiciously eyed the tiny box. I avoided dropping it out of fear, but my hand shook. ¡°A gift, of course. See the bow and the shiny wrapping?¡± She seemed puzzled I didn¡¯t recognize the box¡¯s intention. ¡° And my final parting momento. Take this.¡± She produced a stone the size of a basketball out of her robes. ¡°An actual gift, free of attachments or need for reciprocation. Besides, you couldn¡¯t even afford my preference for a pleasant trinket. Not anytime soon, at least.¡± She handed me the glowing ball; I attempted to hold it in my free hand and steady it with my box-filled hand. At a closer look, the stone ball appeared to have scales on its surface. I carefully balanced it with both hands before me but not touching my chest. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Then, unexpectedly, this kind, beautiful, and smiley woman smacked my hands using great force. I watched the glowing sphere fly from my hands and smash into a previously unseen wall. The impact cracked the ball of stone. As gravity took hold, it quickly hit the ground and turned to dust. Out of the dust, a small bright light appeared. She got up and grabbed the light source and the dropped box. Then, she casually walked back to me. ¡°There. You will see what just happened later, but not now; you dropped this,¡± I extended my palm¡ªhaving gotten used to accepting her gifts. I got the box in my right hand, but she took the light source and quickly pushed it between my lips. Before I could shut my mouth or spit it out, I felt it melt on my tongue like a snowflake. The pleasure was wildly distracting. ¡°Did you just Roofie me?¡± I moaned in pleasure. Then, as if she hadn¡¯t just given me a creepy cough drop, she said her goodbyes. ¡°It was good to meet you. I look forward to watching your rapid rise or even your spectacular fall. Either way, have fun. And I suppose, good luck.¡± She pulled me to my feet and walked me forward. A door appeared, and she turned me to face her. ¡°Truly a pleasure,¡± She said, pulling me in for another hug. At the end, she whispered in my ear. ¡°Sorry for the surprises and the pain; maybe this will help when it gets too bad to bear,¡± she said. Then she pulled back and placed a kiss on my lips. I was full-on stunned. My first kiss, and it was some Source-queen insect collector¡ªstill, my first kiss. Then, in a daze, I was softly pushed through the door. I appeared where I¡¯d come from, with a man holding a leash and a wolf sitting patiently. ¡°I was told to give you this,¡± I rapidly gathered my wits, stepped to the man, and handed him the small box. He eyed it momentarily, then snatched it and tore it open. Inside was nothing visible, but he reached in any way and pulled out a long, thin thread. ¡°What is this? She isn¡¯t one to joke around like this?¡± he gasped as the thread hanging from his finger pulled taught. One end wrapped around his finger, and the other whipped to my hand. There was no time for us to dodge the thread, and I suddenly watched as the man screamed. But no sound came out. His body changed from slightly wispy and insubstantial to a stone statue. When the transformation ended, only his eyes were moving. He had a look of pure hatred, but that melted away, and fear was somehow communicated through only his eyes and the tears they shed. Then the thread, which neither of us controlled, pulsed to nearly a continual stream of light. It brightened to where I had to look away. Then it was gone, and so was the statue of a man. ¡°What just happened?¡± I felt something pop into place inside me. Like a joint out of place was set back. It hurt, but the contrast was euphoric, like when I gathered Arc but in a much more substantial wave. The euphoria rose, and I dropped to my knees in the Source, fell over, and awoke back in my body inside the Temporal Gate. #####
That was quite the trip. Do you want a summary?
Why didn¡¯t you tell me anything during that whole thing?
The connection to communicate with you was blocked. Here are priority updates in order of relevance. Your lungs and physical body are healed. I handled that while you were gone. You were in the source for one hour and were unconscious for 10 minutes upon your return. Eld killed the wolf when the Prince¡¯s aura left, and after checking, you were healthy. Felicity had sustained bloodloss and a Source attack. Eld said he needed to get her back immediately. He also left a system person-to-person message. It said he would return shortly but to work your way back to the exit if you can.
What about the stuff that happened inside the Source? Could you observe it all?
Yes. As you were taken first to the Kingdom layer depth of the Lands, I was a silent passenger with you. That is where the Prince was waiting. He sent you much deeper, but I couldn¡¯t determine how far. Based on the description of Insatiable as an Image, I would speculate that the lady was something more extraordinary. You don¡¯t command Images without being at least a strong Absolute.
I¡¯m going to need more context.
The Source is vast, and I can¡¯t teach you everything now. But to summarize, there are 7 or 8 divisions. The first layer is called Base and is the easiest to access and gather from. Beyond that is a second layer with three subdivisions. This is the most widely trafficked for anyone with the authority to traverse there. The Prince came from the middle sub-layer known as the Kingdom.
The 8 Source Layers 1) Base 2) Lands with three sub-layers (Field, Kingdom, Affinity) 3) Empires 4) Bonds 5) Images 6) Absolutes 7) Sovereigns 8) Speculated Unknown
The crazy part begins with Insatiable. If she is an Image, and I believe she is, then she would originate in the fifth layer. My question would be if she is the actual Image or a shadow of one. Having either inside you is risky. There is great potential, but she will influence you. Again, I can only guess, but the mystery woman is likely from the sixth or seventh level. Those are the furthest reaches of the known Source. Eight layers are speculated about additional potentially unexplored layers. She could have destroyed you without effort and was using her authority to keep you safe at such a depth. What you saw was just a way for her to interact with creatures of lesser authority. That wasn¡¯t who or what she was. But the good news is that rather than destroy you, a being of unknown but extreme power gifted you at least three things.
I don¡¯t like not having a choice in the matter, though. No one asked me. They just kept tricking me or leaving out information for me to choose from. Aww. I kicked the dirt and sprinted toward the TG exit along my systems-displayed path. Even Eld and Felicity. So what can you tell me about the gifts?
First, she gave you Insatiable. Sure, it is questionable if it will pan out for you, but it has priceless potential. Second, she helped you collect your first Source Remnant. And a Prince for your first! Also, for your human moral conscience to be clear, you should know you didn¡¯t kill that guy. You just collected a remnant of his authority.
So what about the third thing? Was it that ball she shattered?
Yes, and that wasn¡¯t a ball. It was a dragon egg from a Level 240 Arc Dragon Matriarch. The light that she made you eat was the egg¡¯s loot drop. Its destruction counted as your kill; your hands were the last to send it flying. That means it is your first time receiving a Temporal Gate drop. That leads me to the critical notification I want to show you.
Well, go ahead. You got me really excited now!
Congratulations on the first Temporal Gate drop you collected. Arcana and Zancara drop pools are active. Your System Rewards for killing a Level 240 Dragon Matriarch (Egg) are spread across both pools. Choose one of the following within seven days, or it will be chosen at random: 1: Arcana Armor Seed (Epic) 2: Harvested Remnant - Dragon (Fire Affinity) 3: Whispering Dragon - Zancara Epi-Suit (D Rank) 4: Crave Class - Zancara Class (Unique Rank), Level 1
I stopped in my tracks. I just read the message over and over. Then, without asking for descriptions, I closed the messages and ran for the exit. Don¡¯t let me read the descriptions or choose until tomorrow. If I have seven days, I should think this through when I¡¯m not reeling from today¡¯s chaos. I need to get back and crash. My mind was overloaded; my body was no less powerful but still felt heavy. The weight of what just happened felt like a lot to unravel. I ran as fast as possible along my system¡¯s outlined path. Then, I shoved my fist into the bowl atop the exit pedestal. I arrived, standing in my blood-covered clothes, in the mansion garden, exactly where I¡¯d entered from. I yelled into the large garden, ¡°I¡¯m back!¡± then I walked mindlessly to my room. I wasn¡¯t aware of my actions until I was in the shower. I must have kicked off my shoes, but I still wore my now-soggy pants. I took enough of my focus under control to strip the rest of the way and tried to enjoy the shower without thinking. I repeatedly pulled up the reward options. Seeing them made me very anxious to accept them. They all were powerful and beyond my reach. This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get something to catapult me beyond the normal progression of power. I¡¯m already an outlier, but this is how I save Earth. The weight of that thought only added to my indecision. But I¡¯d told my system not to let me make a rushed decision. I felt stuck both in the hot stream of the shower and in my new world. The first thing to snap me out of my thoughts was the smell. I scrubbed again. I still smelled. I exited the shower to find more soap or a rag to scrub harder. That¡¯s when I had to cover my mouth and hold back my gag reflex. My blood-filled bath from before was still filled, and now I saw a congealed layer on the top. I looked away and thought about what to do. It took a few minutes and a lot of mental gymnastics not to think about the torturous pain or the blood that went up past my elbow as I pulled the release to drain the tub. I immediately returned to the shower and stayed there cleaning and doing anything to distract myself from that tub. I am never going to take another bath here! Never will I ever.
I recommend not making promises to yourself. Various methods utilize immersion that you might need in the future.
¡°Never!¡± I spat through the stream of hot water spaying upon my face. I eventually decided to get out and get dressed. I found the most comfortable and casual clothes I could. Knowing Eld and Felicity likely knew I was back since they previously could tell when I left my room the moment I stepped out, I decided not to worry about finding them. Besides, I wanted to process today and start planning my decision. ¡°How?¡± I asked myself, ¡°Should I do that? Journal!¡± I searched the desk in the study room. There, I found several paper notebooks. Out of habit, I just started streaming my thoughts. Dear Journal, Since I wrote last, a lot has happened. Where to start? I¡¯m on another planet. Mom and Dad don¡¯t even know I¡¯m alive, let alone have a System. I¡¯m about to get another shot at going to school. I¡¯m heading to two academies soon. So cancer can suck on that. The gamer inside me is freaking out with each new turn of events! There has been both pleasure and a lot of pain. Despite the pain, I have grown beyond my cancer-ridden body. Thank God¡­ Actually, I haven¡¯t considered how my religious beliefs factor into a System-controlled Universe¡ªsomething to ponder another time. Did I mention Dungeons¡­I mean, TGs; they call them Temporal Gates or Gates or TGs¡ªso many new things to learn.? So do I like them, you ask? Heck, yes, I do. A new body with superhuman strength, speed, and cognition makes it a blast. And let¡¯s not forget NO CANCER! Did I mention that? Oh, I have a unique system or two. It¡¯s still sweet, but currently my only friend. But I¡¯m going to work on that. Still, with all that¡¯s happening, today was some kind of extra? I learned some meditation techniques to absorb Arc and Zan; they call it gathering. It was super cool to see, and I have some talent for it. I made a sweet replica of my favorite knife. I tried my hand at a sword. Not blacksmithing! No, I just gathered stuff like mana but different and formed them. It¡¯s way better than blacksmithing. Who wants to pound on metal when I can create it? So today was my first time in a TG; as I said, I killed my first beasts¡ªlevels 1 through 5. I have a long way to go, but I felt powerful using my body and a sword to kill them. The kills still drop loot like on Earth. When my hunting was going so smoothly, suddenly, everything went sideways. In short, I got sucked deeper into the Source. Basically, that is the layer of the Spirit world we can access through meditation. There¡¯s no comparison for it on Earth. It¡¯s the source of Arcana and Zancara, our form of Mana. Anyway, A powerful being called a Prince took me deeper into the layers than I¡¯d gone before, yet he threw me even deeper to meet¡­what do I even call her? The Lady. Yeah, The Lady wanted to meet the guy with both Systems, me! I got a few parting gifts for my time, and now I¡¯m stuck with the fallout of meeting some high and mighty being. So now I have to figure out what to pick from my rewards. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention I killed one creature that was a little higher, just a level 240 dragon egg. So here are my options, as the system shows. 1: Arcana Chest Armor Seed (Epic) 2: Harvested Remnant - Dragon (Fire Affinity) 3: Whispering Dragon - Zancara Epi-Suit (D Rank) 4: Crave Class - Zancara Class (Unique Rank), Level 1 It¡¯s a lot, I know. That¡¯s why I promised to take time to process this decision. I¡¯m going to write out the entire description and weigh the options. I might as well start with number 1. Chapter 11: Youth I finally get a say in the matter. My parents said they¡¯d honor my decision. They might not have counted on me choosing to stop treatments though. All paths just led me to an early death. I¡¯m not giving up, I told them. I¡¯m just accepting my destiny and making the most of it. Journal entry, days after Jordan¡¯s 6-month follow-up, after his final treatment results showed cancer still spreading. ###### I spent the next fifteen minutes writing and nodding off. After a half dozen attempts to list the four options in my newfound journal and only making it to the second description, I closed the notebook and took it to the bedroom. There, I couldn¡¯t be bothered to change out of my clothes and just flopped onto the bed. I awoke from a vivid dream of bugs crawling under my skin. I sat up, sweat on drenching my head and shirt clinging to my chest, wide awake. I am not going to fall asleep anytime soon. What time is it?
It is 02:13. As a reminder, there are 27 hours of 60-minute increments here. To convert, that is about 67.5 minutes per hour if divided into 24 hours. I recommend you adjust and learn the Prime times. 02:13 is still very early. You have a long time till your first class at 09:00. Do you wish me to convert local time into 24-hour increments?
Does their time work like military time back home?
Yes, the clock does not have AM or PM but counts from 00:01 to 27:00 midnight. It resembles Earth¡¯s military: 24 hours in the first two digits, no repeating hour integers, and minutes are still 1/60th of an hour. Early accounts of the Prime planet showed a sexagesimal counting system where they counted in increments of 60 for mathematics and astronomy. This is similar to Earth¡¯s ancient Babylonians. Do you want more information on sexagesimal or other related counting systems?
No, thanks. And don¡¯t convert the local time. I need to learn. I remember you saying Felicity was about 70 Earth years old or 7.5 ellipses, right?
Yes, the time it takes Prime planet to orbit its local star is 9.33 times longer than Earth¡¯s orbit of its Sun; the revolution of their central star takes 3,404 Earth days. Ellipses are for revolutions, and Trimesters are closer to seasons at 1009 days. I can still convert ages, but I recommend you learn the local time since it¡¯s different. Calendars and other markings of the seasons I can always explain if necessary. However, the Academy students will already know this information, and you lack nearly all basic cultural knowledge and experience.
So I¡¯m two ellipses old, huh? That¡¯s weird. Just a toddler again. Never mind, that¡¯s more descriptive of mobility than age. Back to important matters. I thought of another thing and need your help on the big decisions. System, I would like you to let me think the big decision through without your input. Then we can talk. I need to get my thoughts together like I used to, and I¡¯m tired of other people telling me what to do¡ªno offense to you. Also, I need to name you. Do you have a suggestion?
You have complete command over me, Jordan. It would be best if you determined how to address me. I don¡¯t have emotions like you and won¡¯t be offended, and I don¡¯t have a preference. I can list Prime Planet citizens¡¯ most common system names if you want suggestions.
It makes sense that I¡¯m not the first to want to name their system. I have given it some thought, and since you don¡¯t want a say in it, I will call you Skit, short for Skittles. It was my first pet¡¯s name¡ªa cat named after my favorite candy when I was about four¡ªany objections? I thought it was better than Buddy since Buddy was the first dog. And my Grandpa ended up putting him down abruptly with a rifle for chasing his cattle. I didn¡¯t hear about it for a long time. Mom and Dad were trying to protect my little heart. Sorry, trauma and not a good memory. Do you mind being Skit?
No objections, Jordan. Is your decision based on your impressions of me as colorful, sweet, or some cat-like qualities?
I honestly don¡¯t know. And I thought you didn¡¯t care. It just came to me a while ago. But they are all things I like, so take it as a compliment. Let¡¯s say I think you and I have a long future together, and I want to enjoy our connection.
Noted. I am just asking to understand you better.
Thanks, Skit. I smiled wide as I already felt better having a name for my only friend. My only friend¡­for now. I need to meet some people my age!
That is still highly recommended.
I wasn¡¯t talking to you, but thanks. Please give me some silence while I write down my thoughts. The decision to choose from the four rewards was going to be difficult. ##### Pull up the list of drop reward options. Please show me what the reward descriptions say in your standard display, Skit. I hope there is a way to narrow it down to make a decision.
1: Arcana Chest Armor Seed (Epic) 2: Harvested Remnant - Dragon (Fire Affinity) 3: Whispering Dragon - Zancara Epi-Suit (D Rank) 4: Crave Class - Zancara Class (Unique Rank), Level 1
I got up, changed my shirt, and went to the bathroom. I came back and landed on my back on the bed. Keeping my eyes open in the mostly dark room, I read the information displayed.
Arcana Armor Seed (Epic) - Epic-ranked item compatible with Arc System. Armor Seed will provide the shell for an Epic-grade armor chest piece when absorbed into an Arcana Source body. Shells, once accepted, will guide and simplify armor formation and allow for near-instantaneous equipping. Gathered Arc will naturally begin the construction sequences for the shell regardless of current pathways and advancement. You meet all requirements to equip this item and to begin planting the seed immediately.
Well, nice. Immediately useful. This first option would give me a massive advantage for a piece of armor that covers my heart. I am beginning with Arcana Academy, so having an Epic piece of armor would immediately benefit me if I can plant and ¡°grow¡± it. Not sure if that¡¯s the term. It would be something I would benefit from and likely won¡¯t find again any time soon. Although, it is limited to my Arcana side, at least based on the description. I still don¡¯t know if the strengths of one system will help the other, but I¡¯m going to assume that for this choice, they won¡¯t. I could be wrong; I¡¯ll have to learn later. The other potential con is that I already created armor and a sword. The armor was not within my control, but I could try to form armor as I did with the knife and sword. There is no telling how an Epic rank or the Seed differs from the ability I already have. I¡¯ll give it an initial Jordan Grade of B minus. Not bad at all. Next!
Harvested Remnant - Dragon (Fire Affinity) - Remnant from the Source layer; Lands, sub-layer 3, also known as the Affinity Layer. Compatible with Arcana or Zancara Systems. This Harvested Remnant is categorized as Collected and offers a greater affinity for Fire. Arcana utilizes them for elemental adaptation. Elemental affinity with an element is typically limited to natural affinity. This unique reward grants the Dragon¡¯s natural affinity passed through this reward and is compatible regardless of natural affinity. Zancara utilizes them for Epi-Suit Skill paths and Exo-Suit Skills. You meet all the prerequisites for immediate use of this reward regardless of Arcana or Zancara use.
I knew absolutely nothing about affinities for these systems or the Source. This does mention many things I didn¡¯t know before. Do I have a natural affinity for an element? This might very well be my only chance to get one if I don¡¯t. I can make some assumptions, but they are just assumptions. I like that it mentions both systems, but I can¡¯t tell whether using it for one will exclude the other¡ªso many unknowns. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. My thoughts are sharp, but I still feel stressed after yesterday¡¯s torture bath, learning to gather, build constructs, and then surviving a rabbit hole worse than Alice¡¯s. Oh man, I need to keep pushing to find what will help me now and in the future. I will lose this option in the next six days to determine my future. Next!
Whispering Dragon - Zancara Epi-Suit (D Rank) - This drop reward will produce an Epi-Suit focused on stealth and speed. The individual wearing this suit will need a D Rank body or higher. This suit is also compatible with other Dragon Exo-Suits for additional benefits. Additional details are only available upon bonding the Epi-Suit.
So this looks exciting. It tells me some hints of what to expect. I don¡¯t know what Epi-Suits are. If I had to guess, ¡°Epi¡± might mean epic, but probably not since Epic was mentioned already. However, there might be differences in the naming between the two systems. The other thought I had was funnier to me. It may refer to the epidermis, like the outer layer of skin. After reading about it in a science book in middle school, I once teased a friend at the pool. I said, ¡°Oh no, buddy, your epidermis is showing!¡± And he got so embarrassed and thought I meant he had a hole in his swimming trunks. Good times! Anyway, Epi- and Exo- are both suits. I don¡¯t know how they differ or what they do. There is no telling how they will react to my noble title or if I will meet the requirements. I think I have a D-rank body since my bloody baptism, but I don¡¯t know what the body ranks mean or do for me. Good thing I¡¯m going to an academy. Hopefully, I can learn some of this junk. Am I any closer to picking a winner? I have no clue, but I¡¯m sure this suit would be something I want. Speed and Stealth are areas I want for my future build. If they can¡¯t see or catch you, you can attack and reset. Assassin Rogue, maybe? So far, it¡¯s my top choice. But I already skimmed the last one, and I¡¯m only more undecided than before I read these. Last one.
Crave Class - Zancara Class (Unique Rank), Level 1 - Caution: This class is a Bespoke-Tailored-Unique and will be bound upon acceptance. It cannot be traded or sold. Additional information and details are available only upon acceptance. System Note: *****Highly Recommended*****
Wow, no pressure. And tell me, why is the system being so seemingly generous but stingy on the info? It¡¯s spotlighting this one but not giving me any details. It could be a trick. It could also be the best option by far. It is like the first option in that it only favors one of my systems. I also didn¡¯t know classes were a thing before seeing these rewards. There is just so much to learn. And I have twice as much to learn compared to the others. Unless they learn about each other¡¯s systems to help them fight each other, that would make sense, but still, I have to ¡°know¡± and use them both. I¡¯m just nervous that the learning curve will break me or let others get so far ahead that I won¡¯t be able to help Earth¡­STOP that noise. Focus Jordan! Lacking friends, I have been talking to myself a lot. I silenced my commentary thoughts and let the basic descriptions bounce around inside my head. I could pick two and do a coin flip. I do have those coins¡­what did I do with them? I¡¯ll have to find my old clothes.
Do you want me to show you where?
No, remind me later. I know I said I wanted to make this decision alone, but¡­I guess now I want your thoughts, skit.
The options are exceptional, but most are in line with a first-drop collection from the egg. It exceeded your abilities by several magnitudes. That encounter and this reward were orchestrated for you by the Lady. The only choice that is an outlier is the Zan Class. Crave Class does not appear in any database I can assess. I¡¯ve tried finding information everywhere. Don¡¯t worry; I didn¡¯t leave search queries or digital breadcrumbs that would lead back to you. There are many Tailored classes. All of them are well suited to the individual they are offered to. There are many on record. I have only found one record of a Bespoke-Tailored-Unique. The details are sealed, but the other recipient is a general of the Zancara empire and brother to the Emperor.
So you¡¯re saying this is the best option? Or that it¡¯s a dangerous one if others find out?
Yes, to both.
##### So much for having a superhuman body. I groggily woke from another dream. I was more tired than I thought since I fell asleep again. My eyes were still closed as I evaluated my body and mind. Feeling good, no damage, no pain. My brain is functioning at normal morning grogginess. What¡¯s that smell? ¡°Good morning, Jordan,¡± Eld softly spoke, probably not trying to startle me. Still, I nearly crapped the bed. I was twisting and jumping to land on my feet, blinking through sleep-encrusted eyes at Eld, seated on the far side of the bed with a pair of cups. Trying to look more collected than I felt, I nodded and replied, ¡°Uh, good morning.¡± ¡°Apologies for the start. Would you sit for a morning cup and discuss yesterday?¡± Eld seemed cowed and not at all his previous stoic self. My heart jumped in concern. ¡°How is Felicity? Is she okay?¡± I feared the worst. ¡°Was the Source damage too powerful for her to recover?¡± ¡°Jordan, be calm,¡± Eld stood gracefully and held both cups in one hand as he stepped toward me and placed his free hand on my shoulder. ¡°She is going to recover fully. The injury, as you mentioned, was more than physical, and the attack spread through her Source body.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s sit on your balcony, and I¡¯ll tell you the rest.¡± Eld walked out of the room and down the hall to my balcony. I quickly hit the bathroom and met up with him. On one side of the balcony was a small table and two chairs. I joined across from Eld. I immediately salivated at the smell of the cups. Other than some trouble with pain medications, I never considered myself to be an addict unless you counted video games, reading, and coffee. But how could any of those be a bad thing? ¡°That is a drink made from the beans of a plant found on other planets and sometimes in TGs. I have heard it resembles your planet¡¯s popular drink, coffee. I procured this and some other foods to help you find your stay more comfortable. Being so far from home.¡± ¡°This is my first time drinking it, and I thought you might like to share the experience.¡± Eld offered. ¡°Oh, that is really¡­kind of you,¡± I sighed and continued, ¡°Actually, most people my age don¡¯t drink this stuff on Earth. But there was a point when I couldn¡¯t taste much of anything, and I tried to stay up late gaming when my parents took away energy drinks. Anyway, yeah, I love coffee. I¡¯d appreciate a cup,¡± I rambled a bit, feeling like the healthy kid I always wanted to be, unfortunately only half the universe away from my family and home. I shook my head clearing distracting thoughts away and picked up the cup. ¡°Everything alright?¡± Eld asked. ¡°Just have a lot on my mind. I¡¯ll tell you after you spill on Felicity,¡± I firmed my tone and hoped he wouldn¡¯t try to force me to share. To my surprise, he kept his apologetic softness and continued to explain his viewpoint from the day before. He apologized for not escorting me safely out of the TG. He explained he had waited till the Source entity¡¯s presence was gone and that I was out of the Source. Once he confirmed I was out, he sent the message to my system and took Felicity for help. She was being treated, and Eld would accompany me to classes today. I felt a little weird having him babysit me at the academy, but he assured me he would be unseen unless I needed him. ¡°I guess it¡¯s my turn to share,¡± I sheepishly offered. Knowing I probably couldn¡¯t share everything, I still needed his advice. Even now, I didn¡¯t know if I would let him sway my decision on the reward. I felt that it was one decision I would make on my own. I explained my view of the Source from the Prince, the leashed wolf, the door I was pushed through, and my meeting with the mysterious Lady. I intentionally left out her ¡°gift¡± of my Insatiable wiggly passenger. If she became a problem, I¡¯d share her existence. But for all I knew, he already was aware. I told him about the conversation with the Lady, skirting around some details. He seemed satisfied with my descriptions; he didn¡¯t ask or pry beyond what I shared. ¡°That leaves many reasons not to let you enter the Source in a TG,¡± Eld summarized his thoughts. I began to sit up to protest that idea. But he held up a hand. ¡°But¡­I won¡¯t do that. It would be best to grow; TG¡¯s and the Source are the way forward. There will always be danger. And you survived beings who could kill people stronger than me if I had to guess.¡± ¡°So I won¡¯t stop you. Just be wise; we must get you strong enough to weather the storms you will inevitably face with your Arc and Zan.¡± ¡°I have been considering your potential strengths and the known disadvantages you face,¡± Eld ruminated while finishing off his steaming cup. ¡°So far, you have only exceeded my expectations, and I optimistically think you will stand out among the students at the academy for your strength rather than your uniqueness very soon.¡± ¡°But that also will make you a target,¡± my mentor stated seriously. ¡±That¡¯s a worry for later. Today, we need to get you to the academy. There are suits in your closet. ¡°I already found them yesterday. Do you think they will still fit?¡± I waived up and down my body. ¡°Ha, ha, ha,¡± He chuckled. ¡°Yes, I admit you¡¯ve filled out and gained some height. But if they don¡¯t fit you, we will only have to wait a day or two for replacements. ¡°Oh, did you ever hear about my shoes?¡± I got excited as my sneakers popped into my mind. ¡°The ones I lost at the ceremony?¡± ¡°I was not there and not aware of any missing shoes. But you will need to wear the academy-prescribed shoes and boots regardless.¡± ¡°Perhaps we can have a pair made like your old shoes. For now, try on the Arcana attire, and if they don¡¯t fit, wear what you have on. Then meet me down by the front door.¡± He took our empty cups and left me to get ready. I figured he¡¯d let me sleep in, given the bright sunlight. But I didn¡¯t know how long past the start of class. ¡°Before we go, I need to tell you one other thing,¡± I hesitated, then continued, ¡°During my time in the Source, I picked up my first loot drop.¡± I stopped at that teaser. ¡°And, what did you get? Was it the wolf after I left?¡± Eld leaned in curiosity spread over his posture and face. ¡°Not exactly. The Lady helped me crush a dragon egg,¡± ¡°You killed a dragon! For your first drop!¡± Eld shouted and stood in shock, pacing the room and balcony. ¡°Tell me what the dragon egg dropped?¡± ¡°I have to let you know I will choose on my own. You can¡¯t make me pick something I don¡¯t want, but I would like you to tell me a few things.¡± He sat back down but leaned close. ¡°What do you want to know?¡± ¡°Have you ever seen the System give you a choice in drops but then recommend one of the choices?¡± Eld nearly fell out of his chair as he sat back. Then his eyes drifted out of focus as he consulted his system displays. A moment later, he returned his focus. ¡°First, don¡¯t tell others your outrageous story or about these rewards. I know we just met, but you need to trust someone. I promise to protect and guide you to the best of my ability.¡± ¡°As far as your drop having choices and a system recommendation for one,¡± He exhaled sharply, then inhaled deeply. ¡°You are free to make your choice, but if it is The System giving the recommendation and not just your personal one, you should take it.¡± ¡°Why, though, is it giving me choices but also funneling me down this path?¡± My frustration leaked into my questions. ¡°If I had to guess, you are breaking the mold, the plans, the subsystems it manages. You are an outlier and have caught the attention of the all-seeing system and entities deep in the Source and Dukes here. I believe it is trying to account for your uniqueness and help you. ¡°It might have expectations for you, but you must make your own choices. What you decide might end up impacting generations and countless planets. But remember, you are still a first-year student at the academy. You don¡¯t need to look that far forward¡ªjust a day at a time.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯d like to introduce you to a friend at the Academy. So get dressed.¡± Eld stood and walked out of the room. I sat, considering. He didn¡¯t pry into my choices. He said to make my own choice. I am getting a scratching itch to pick one of them. I either want the Epi-Suit or the Class. But both of those are Zan-focused. Maybe I¡¯m drawn to the dark side? I bet the Arc sees Zan as the dark for more than their Source Zan color. The opposite also has to be true of the Zan. Where does that leave me? Friend and foe to both. I can¡¯t sit on this any longer. Bring up the system summary from when I first got the drop rewards.
Congratulations on the first Temporal Gate drop you collected. Arcana and Zancara drop pools are active. Your System Rewards for killing a Level 240 Dragon Matriarch (Egg) are spread across both pools. Choose one of the following within seven days, or it will be chosen at random: 1: Arcana Armor Seed (Epic) 2: Harvested Remnant - Dragon (Fire Affinity) 3: Whispering Dragon - Zancara Epi-Suit (D Rank) 4: Crave Class - Zancara Class (Unique Rank), Level 1
It''s probably stupid, half-baked, and impulsive, but I¡¯m different, and a class tailored for me is probably the best thing I¡¯ll see out of any class options in the future. Besides, ever since the System arrived on Earth, I¡¯ve wanted a class like everyone else. So yeah, let¡¯s do this. Show me door number four. I choose Crave Class! Chapter 12: Introduction I¡¯ve given up on school and friends. All I once had is now poison to my soul.It is very much like the slow drip of chemo into my bloodstream, an ever-present reminder I¡¯m dying. They only serve to poison me with false hope. It is impossible to have normal friendships when everyone else has the potential for a future, and my body is eating itself alive. My bones are eroding, and my ¡°friends¡± are busy playing sports, attending class, and dating girls. They will all be around longer than the year or two I have left. So, what do any of our interactions mean, and why do I still need to do homework? Aren¡¯t they pointless? It¡¯s best I not waste their time or mine. I know it¡¯s not their fault and not my parents. But I can¡¯t help but hate all of them for their freedom and hope. I have desires, but right now, I only crave an end. It¡¯s purely morbid, but how long must I suffer? My hope is the dark passenger whispering sweet words and inviting me to my end. More and more, my craving is for death more than for life. What would I even do if they healed me? Could I jump back into being ¡°normal?¡± Wouldn¡¯t school still be pointless? My life will end sooner than everyone else I know. But I remind myself that they, too, will all be dead in a hundred years. Man, why does the cancer eat more than just my body? It¡¯s destroyed my hope and soon my soul. Journal entry of Jordan¡¯s, one month before his 17th birthday ######
Option Selection must be confirmed. Choice of: 4: Crave Class - Zancara Class (Unique Rank), Level 1 Please confirm your choice. Warning: choice is irreversible.
¡°Wow, now you¡¯re trying to talk me out of it?¡± I scoffed but couldn¡¯t lose my actual excitement. ¡°Yes, I want to confirm my choice.¡±
Crave Class (Unique Rank) Level 1. Unlocked abilities: Loot Exchange - Level 1 Collector - Level 1
¡°Sweet, where¡¯s the flavor text or description? Tell me what that means,¡± I shouted excitedly.
I''m sorry, Jordan, but the ability descriptions show they will be available after you meet the unmentioned requirements. There is a situational block on the additional details. The only reference to an answer is the following message.
Enter the void and earn your rewards.
###### I almost wanted to skip down the hall as I left my room for the stairs. I was just loving this new life. I overlooked the frustration of not having all the details for my class. The important part was I now had a class! Sure, there were new life and soul-threatening dangers everywhere, but I was also becoming exponentially more powerful than the 18-year-old I was less than a week ago. Now, I get a fresh chance at school even if I¡¯m coming in like some odd exchange student. I considered how weird my last week was when on Earth, it was September 7th¡ªonly five days after my 18th birthday and my initiation into the Arcana System. Then, on the third, I was at the ceremony, slept for three days, and met the administrators. Yesterday was the most extensive blur of a day. Now, here I am going to classes, all cancer-free, strong, and maybe handsome. Who knows what aliens with their power and systems considered attractive? At least I liked not seeing a skinny skeleton or even the wimp I was after I healed. After my bathtub of beautification, yeah, that¡¯s how I should view it. Not the bloody...anyway, look at this view. Eld led me back to the academy grounds after just a few minutes of walking from my new home. The gates were still impressive. I marveled at their height and the details of the creatures carved into the walls surrounding the academy¡¯s expansive grounds. The sprawling buildings, grassy lawns, stadium, and towers were impressive. The whole place was at least as big as Earth¡¯s most prominent universities. I hadn¡¯t seen it all yet; it could be much bigger than I imagined. We walked mostly in silence. I held off telling him about the class. I hardly knew anything, and it was Unique, so I didn¡¯t think he could help me piece much together yet. There were very few people walking around the academy. Almost none my age. I had a lot on my mind, so I just walked behind and to the side of Eld, taking in the view. We stopped outside an open wide entrance that peeled from the center to both sides and curved back towards the center, cutting off the view inside. There was one sign describing what was inside, but I didn¡¯t know the context of ¡°Staging 2A.¡± ¡°This is where you go next. Inside are the lockers and preparation area for Temporal Gate Basics. Go in and change, and then I¡¯ll meet you at Staging. We got a late start, so you missed your morning classes. I needed to handle some things, and you needed the rest.¡± ¡°I have messaged your instructors. You are earlier than the others for this class; the class change is in 25 minutes. Here is the key for your locker,¡± he handed me a card that evaporated and added a glowing dot that slowly dimmed on my finger.
Locker 75. I¡¯ll show you.
Skit displayed the way to go, and I started to say goodbye before Eld continued. ¡°Jim is a bit¡­crazy for an instructor. But he was a successful warrior in that he survived some of the messiest engagements I¡¯ve heard of. He is overqualified as your teacher by any measure of an Arc fighter and TG combatant. He also wrote a few great series of books based on his exploits,¡± Eld smiled as if telling a secret. ¡°He wouldn¡¯t want me to tell you all of that, but you¡¯d learn it eventually, and as to why he teaches, I can only guess. He¡¯s a friend of mine and is expecting you. We both want you to give your maximum effort and attention to catching up with the curriculum. This will be your second time in a TG, and I will be there with you, unseen but near. Try to keep it uneventful for us, all right? I expect trouble will find you, but don¡¯t count on me bailing you out unless your life is in danger.¡± ¡°Sure thing. And is it okay to use all my abilities? Or should I hold back anything?¡± I didn¡¯t want to cause more of a scene than necessary. ¡°I would tell you to focus on Arc here, but honestly, just accomplish the tasks given to you however you are told to. If they don¡¯t ask you to limit yourself, go for it. Everyone will know something about you after the ceremony. You are famous here and infamous to most of Zancara. Still, I recommend making some friends here. Good luck.¡± Eld walked away, and I entered the Staging 2A entrance. It reminded me of a gym locker room: bathroom, sinks, benches in front of lockers. The lockers were significant, though, like walk-in closets. There were also enclosed weapons in cages at the far end with glowing bladed weapons and armor inside. I followed the route to my locker and reached for the front-facing surface. Like many of the doors so far, its opening was surprising. The front split in the middle and retracted like it was on a flexible retracting rail going into the sides and along the side wall hidden interior. Inside the closet-sized locker were clothes similar to what I wore into my first TG. I found and dressed in padded light armor, pants, long sleeves, and undershirts and topped it off with a leather vest reinforced with padding and rigid inserts around the vitals. The base layers were elastic enough to fit my new size, and the vest had some straps to adjust before I could get it on. I finished changing and exchanged my dress shoes for the black boots resting inside. Time to meet the instructor. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Leaving the locker room, I arrived in a large gymnasium. Some stands could seat about 50 people to the right side of the room. The rest of the room was split between a cushioned floor, much like wrestling mats from Earth, and the other half was filled with connected metal bars. They formed scaffolding to intersperse platforms, leading to a platform almost half the size of the gym. The platform was forty feet in the air, and light shone around the edges, indirectly lighting the rest of the gym. To get up there, you had to be able to fly or traverse a series of bars and small platforms. Just as I was about to approach the bars, I saw Eld and a big man dressed like me. The similarities stopped with the black pants; the padded knees were the only matching armor. His chest was covered with gold that tapered down his abs but stopped at the navel. Where the skin would be exposed, there was a scaled armor. On his back was a medium-length spear with a short sword blade attached to it. When they saw me walk towards them, the man I suspected was Jim broke away from Eld. After two quick steps, I didn¡¯t follow with my eyes, but my brain processed after he arrived right before me. His eyes were Arcana gold and swirled with stars in the pupil. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± He barked, and I jumped. Despite being a beast compared to my former self, this guy was bulked up and, according to Eld, a killer. Of course, I jumped; that¡¯s a healthy reaction to this man. ¡°I was wondering what that¡¯s for?¡± I asked, finding my voice caught, so I cleared my throat. ¡°That?¡± He didn¡¯t bother looking at where I¡¯d pointed. ¡°You have to prove you won¡¯t break anything before you get to train up there. But now is a great time to prove it. Get to the top however you want.¡± He paused, waiting for me, then, still staring me down, he shouted, ¡°Go!¡± That was all the instruction I needed, so I took off. Skit pulled up a couple of options for traversing the bars and platforms. I liked having options and went for one that looked challenging. Skit had color-coated my overlay, with green being the accessible routes, yellow being more demanding, orange being a stretch, and some red paths that were considered beyond my capabilities. Taking a gamble since I hadn¡¯t explored my abilities yet, I jumped for a bar. Skit said it was yellow. Skit was predicting I could reach 15 feet in the air. When I jumped, I had to catch it at my waist as my efforts overshot the bar. But rather than arrest my upward momentum, I guided my jump, lifted my feet to balance on the bar, and stood up straight. My increased strength, flexibility, and cognition allowed me to balance on a 2-inch diameter bar easily. The next goal was a bar hanging five feet underneath the edge of a platform, another fifteen feet straight above me. I jumped with less force, catching the bar near the apex of my upward movement. With an effortless pull-up, I was onto the bar, and then, reaching the rest of the way, I was rolling up and over the platform¡¯s edge above it. The landing was about the size and shape of a coffin. The final stretch from where I was required to jump ten feet straight out and a couple of feet higher from my ¡°coffin¡± and then run up stair steps made of bars around the corner and onto the platform. I made the jumps and ran across the ladders to finally make the last jump, another ten-foot leap that had me landing on the platform. I had only noticed at the last moment how high the view from that previous jump had been. Jim was at the top edge, watching me make the final landing forty feet above the ground floor. The light I had seen while on the floor came from a skylight above this high platform. It provided natural light and some warmth. I could see a large circle marked out with lots of space outside the circle. ¡°This is where we will warm up and prepare for the class delves, but I said I need to ensure you don¡¯t break something, right?¡± Jim waved me over and pointed to Eld standing on the floor. ¡°Jump down, and if you don¡¯t break anything, you can participate in today¡¯s delve. If you get hurt, you watch or go to the infirmary, depending on the damage.¡± ¡°You want me to jump from here? Can I grab a bar on the way down?¡± I asked hopefully. He only shook his head. I walked to the edge and looked down. I immediately second-guessed this command. I stood looking down. There was a brief feeling of vertigo that passed. I looked back at my instructor and down at Eld. This is one way to test my new body. They have magical healing that can fix up broken bones, right? I just don¡¯t want to land on my head. With that, I took a determined hop over the edge. My cognition rapidly increased as my body adjusted and made micro-adjustments in the air. I saw the ground approaching and prepared to absorb the impact. I hit the mats hard, but surprisingly, I kept my balance. It was like an action hero had just arrived on the scene. I felt incredible as I took a quick evaluation of my body. The impact on my legs didn¡¯t cause anything to break, which I considered exciting in my increased perception of time. The time returned to its regular ticking as I bounced on my toes, excited by this new revelation. I can land safely from a forty-foot fall if I land on my feet. ¡°Well, he didn¡¯t break into pieces,¡± Eld said and smiled, looking over to Jim as they smiled at me. But each smiled differently, ¡°I told you I think his body is D-Rank.¡± ¡°That is not the same person at the ceremony,¡± Jim firmly stated, ¡°Either you swapped him, or he went through something to get that upgrade. Do you think the incident at the ceremony did all that? And besides, I trusted you, so I just wanted to see his face as he dropped.¡± ¡°No, he has gone through a few evolutions since arriving,¡± Eld stated proudly as he patted me on the shoulder. ¡°Guys, I¡¯m right here,¡± I felt like a little kid in front of these two, present yet unheard amidst their conversation. ¡°Yeah, but on the way down, you looked so concentrated I thought you¡¯d pooped your pants. Enhanced senses can be a curse, you know. Thankfully, you either wore scented diapers or avoided emptying your bowls on that top-tier landing.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be a dick, Jim,¡± Eld said, ¡°Yeah, Jim!¡± I added ¡°No, you don¡¯t. You,¡± he pointed at me, ¡°You call me Instructor Gamble,¡± then he whirled to face Eld, ¡°You can¡¯t use my number one rule against me! It was training.¡± ¡°Anything else I have to do to prove I¡¯m able to be a part of your class,¡± I said, but he raised an eyebrow and added, ¡°Instructor Gamble.¡± ¡°Better, and yes, you have much to prove, but you survived the fall, and I¡¯m a man of my word. You are in for today¡¯s delve. Feel free to warm up and spend some time gathering up in the sunlight,¡± Jim said, waving me off and turning back to Eld as they continued talking. I took the dismissal and headed to the bars. I noticed the paths going up the bars to the top had all been downgraded in color. There were more green and the red ones were all new. Did you adjust those based on my landing? Yes, you are more durable than I previously could measure. You will survive most falls, and your movement is improving. With time, the current red paths will be possible, if not easy. Keep improving. At the top, I sat in the middle of the circle under the sun¡¯s warm rays. My body and muscles are warm¡ªtime to gather. Sitting comfortably with legs crossed, I dove into the Source. At first, I just inspected my body. The smoky Zan and Arc density in my body was lighter than the last time I was here. I gave my body a quick scan. I noticed that my right palm and arm down to the elbow were glowing like I could see veins wrapping like spiraling cords around the bones. What? Is that Insatiable? At the mention of the supposed Image, a fuzzy glowing outline rose out of my arm. What are you doing to my arm? Can you speak? The little wiggly creature rose above my arm and hovered before my eyes. At the closer distance, I could make out greater detail. Insatiable didn¡¯t say a word, but I started to get mental impressions. Like you might have when looking at a pet cat or dog trying to tell you something. Yet I knew this creature was far beyond me in power. The first image was that of a warm blanket or a hug. It was a soothing and protective impression. That was followed by an inflation of my body, like growing full after a Thanksgiving meal. But the last was a strong impression of pain followed by strength. Great, so you can¡¯t talk. Is that because you can¡¯t, or are you too powerful and would melt my mind? I said the last part as a joke. The impression I got was a resounding yes. Oh, sorry, I should have known. Are you an Image like the Lady said? After my question, Insatiable lowered and dove back into my arm without a response. I decided to get busy gathering. Mentally, I looked at the sun and tried to picture the Arc and Zan around me. The first layer is Base, where A and Z are thin and cloudy. I want to go beyond that. Not as far as where the Prince and beings like him reside. I was pushing my will toward imagining the substance around me solidifying and leaving the rest to whatever controlled my depth. I still lacked practice and understanding. I just wanted to fill up my reserves. At first glance, the Arc and Zan were thin in the air around me. Then, I felt a shift. That must be me leaving Base. My guess was correct when the thin clouds around me drastically thickened and formed creatures. At first, there were birds of gold and black. But then I noticed smaller, densely packed patches of arc that were jumping around the air on invisible platforms like they were running on the clouds. I pulled with my will towards the Arc beings, both bird and smaller creatures, while also reaching for the Zan ones with a desire for partnership. They both were reluctant. At first, moving closer but then stopping as if losing interest, they moved away on their paths. I pushed harder with my will, yet I wanted to draw both forces simultaneously. Balancing the gathering with Arc and Zan would be the best way forward. I focused on my right hand, extending it toward the creatures before me, and pulled with my desire and will for the Arc. I repeated the same with my left hand but with more confidence and assurance to provide a partnership. And it worked. The little creatures began filing toward me, forming into a funnel condensing into my extended palms. As the funnel began reducing the density of small creatures around me, a different impression caught my senses. It was similar to when I first saw the dragon- and snake-like forms. This was just a magnitude more massive. As that presence increased, I stopped my pull. I didn¡¯t want to draw something far beyond my ability to control. Unfortunately, whatever I had been noticed by was still getting closer, and a pressure-like increased gravity began to press down on me. I couldn¡¯t see beyond the room into the Source, but a golden head the size of one wall poked through and into my view. I wanted to leave the Source immediately. But I received a hungry, satisfied impression from Insatiable. At the same time, a filament shot like a wire straight from my extended hand and into the enormous creature¡¯s head. I don¡¯t know what scared me more, the roar that hit me or the fact that it was a cry of fear. Insatiable began reeling in the massive beast. I saw it fighting like a fish on the line as it neared me. Insatiable crawled out of my arm and faced the squirming beast whose front half filled my view while the rest was outside my perception. It was similar to a shark-faced lizard. The mouth was that of a great white shark, and the body of a Komodo dragon. That was my guess based on its front half. Insatiable, measuring about four inches in length, stared down a beast that even I was merely the size of one of its teeth. A projection appeared in front of me. I couldn¡¯t make out any form or shape, only that of a wall or sphere. It was like standing right next to a giant stadium filled with a roaring massive crowd. There was a sense of grand scale, scary power, and hunger. The feeling lunged away from me, and I went from fear to satisfaction. The beast was funneling down without resistance toward my palm. I was already feeling full of Arc and Zan, but this was not impacting that as the funneling went toward my now glowing forearm. The wrapped bones were burning with intensity and pulsing with a soft repetition every other second. The cords around the bone were growing like they were swelling. The swelling ended and contracted as the glow disappeared.
You received an updated description of your class ability. Collector - (Unique) This Zancara Class accounts for your Arcana class abilities. ¡°You will always hunger; if one is good, more will be required of you.¡±
What does that mean?
Collection Vault added as Source Vault Space. Current storage: 3 Spaces. 1/3 in use Conversion will unlock additional spaces, upgrades, and more. Stored Collections can be used to power Arc cultivation Zan skill suit paths. Upgrade for additional options.
Chapter 13: Misstep ¡°Most days, I wish I¡¯d just stayed home. Despite admiring their form, I¡¯ll never understand the female brain. And it doesn¡¯t matter whether I¡¯m having chemo-brain or not!¡± Jordan¡¯s Journal Entry age 15. ###### With a sharp inhale, I exited the Source. I must have been holding my breath as it took a few deep breaths to calm my racing heart. My mind was still considering all that had just happened and the updated information about my class skills. Collector seems quite literal, I thought to myself. ¡°I wonder what I can do with the¡­¡± I cut off my verbal line of reflection as I realized I wasn¡¯t alone. ¡°What were you doing? We could feel whatever that was, you know?¡± a girl between 18 and 25 stood before me. She was wearing the same armor and athletic wear as me. She had an athletic build, and her armor had more room in the chest for her feminine curves. ¡°My eyes are a little bit further up,¡± She challenged. I hadn¡¯t realized from my position on the floor that I was staring at a beautiful woman and, unfortunately, unaware of my distracted line of sight. I was so used to years of hospital beds and crushes on the young nurses that I forgot to be discreet or respectful. ¡°I apologize; you¡¯re just so hot,¡± I slammed my hand over my mouth, and instantly, my face turned lobster red as my heart was pounding. ¡°What do you mean? I haven¡¯t even warmed up yet. Do you have a heat perception skill? We¡¯ve all heard you would be different.¡± She turned immediately inquisitive and dropped the offended tone she had before as she squatted down to my level ¡°Sorry, forget I said that; it doesn¡¯t translate well. On my planet, it means you look strong,¡± I lied through my teeth as I smiled. ¡°Oh well, thank you. You, too, look hot,¡± she smiled and unnaturally returned what she thought was an Earthly greeting, clearly mirroring me but thankfully not understanding the true meaning. ¡°But looks are deceiving with system powers. Care to prove how hot you are?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± I stammered, and her misuse of my phrase and my inability to forget its true meaning made me even more embarrassed. ¡°My name is Olympia,¡± she said, standing and extending me a hand. I focus on agility and will specialize in rogue combat with short blades and projectiles, as my family always has.¡± I reached for her hand, but she overextended past it and clasped my wrist. With a solid yank, she had me on my feet with only my delayed assist. ¡°My name is Jordan,¡± I returned the greeting. I saw other people our age jumping onto the platform under the skylight. ¡°We probably don¡¯t have much time, but care to spar?¡± Olympia requested with a devious smile. ¡°For some reason, I don¡¯t think that would be a good idea,¡± I countered. Her smile became kinder before she stepped to the center of the platform and motioned me forward. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll bite, but take it easy on me; I don¡¯t have any formal combat training. Other than a little TG sword fighting,¡± I humbly admitted. ¡°That¡¯s fine. We will limit contact to strikes and grappling. But I insist you don¡¯t bite me. That¡¯s not something you do with a crowd watching,¡± She winked and took an athletic combat stance. Her arms balled into fists and bounced on her toes. I, too, mimicked her stance and prepared to defend myself. ¡°We don¡¯t have much time, so let¡¯s go until first blood or submission,¡± her directions were excited and eager. ¡°On go! Three, two, one, go!¡± My perception responded by slowing time. I was incredibly fast when I focused compared to any other earthly human. But Olympia was dancing toward me with darting changes of angle and speed. She closed the distance, changing her attack level to go low as if to kick my shin. Then, before I could adjust to the incoming kick, she slipped up and to my left. She sent a punishing jab toward my face. As her right-handed jab came closer and closer, my perception doubled in speed, slowing down everything, hopefully allowing me time to block and dodge the incoming strike. I raised my arm slightly to the left of my face and tried to slip under the punch. But as I blocked my vision for the briefest of moments, she pulled the punch, and a right cross came into my lower left ribcage. It caught me off balance, too, and I tumbled to my side. She was on me in an instant. Standing just to my side, I saw a blur as a kick came towards my exposed side. The impact of the kick hit the same spot the punch had, and I thought I felt a rib snap. My lungs clenched as I was sent, trying to pull in any air I could. Somehow, it felt like the air was gone or my airway was blocked. The kick not only impacted my side, but it flipped me over twice as I rolled away in into a miserable heap¡ªthis time, she stayed back. I looked over from my back and tried to pull in my next breath. My ribs burned, but I finally pulled in one desperate breath after another. I reexamined my body. Several ribs were bruised, and one possibly broken. I¡¯m unsure who was most surprised when I stood back up, her or me. I felt my improved body could take more punishment. But my goal wasn¡¯t just to be her punching bag. I now had something to prove to myself. I needed to get stronger, and she looked like the next challenge I needed to overcome. I faced her and took a couple of light bounces on my toes. She still had her hands raised and ready. I decided defense was not going to help much against her. I nodded in thanks for allowing me to reset. Then she waved me over. I lunged toward her, covering most of the distance in one jump. I covered the rest while attempting a front kick. She took a rapid sidestep and punched me in my right upper ribs, this time just under my armpit. Unsupported in the air, I was tossed at an angle. I tried to roll back to my feet as I hit the ground. When I looked at her, Olympia smiled sadly and disappointedly, shaking her head with arms crossed, and she began to walk away. ¡°I expected more after your show at the ceremony,¡± She exhaled in a huff. ¡°Honestly, you showed no technique or strategy and were much slower than before. You¡¯re either holding back or unworthy of being here. Good luck in the TG today. I doubt anyone here will let you on their team.¡± Then she walked away while I stared at her retreating figure. I was caught between confusion, frustration, and an entirely unhelpful bought of teenage hormones as I couldn¡¯t help but admire her departing figure. She joined a small group standing near the platform¡¯s edge, and a not-so-hushed conversation began that I immediately ignored due to the glances of disdain sent my way. I slowly stood and touched my ribs. They were tender and bruised, but nothing seemed painful or broken. ¡°Man, she hit harder than falling forty feet to the ground,¡± I muttered but turned around quickly as I sensed someone approaching from behind me. ¡°Yeah, she is strong for this class,¡± a male approached me. His attire matched us but with a gold symbol on his front-facing right shoulder. ¡°You should have gotten a warm-up with someone more interested in helping you adjust than measuring your competence. Now, it will be difficult to join a group when word spreads of you getting rag-dolled so easily.¡± ¡°I can see that now,¡± I wanted to vent my frustration, but this guy didn¡¯t seem to be here to kick dirt at my pride. The rest of my new classmates were gathering around Olympia. ¡°So, any suggestions?¡± I asked in exasperation. ¡°Yes, but first, you can call me Ian; nice to meet you,¡± he said with an extended hand and the beginnings of a smile. ¡°You must be Jordan.¡± I took his hand and matched his familiar earth-like greeting with my best, confident, firm grip. ¡°I¡¯m the Instructor¡¯s Assistant for this class. I¡¯m in my third year at the academy. If you have questions, feel free to ask me, but we will be starting soon, so hold them while your instructor addresses the class.¡± That was precisely when Instructor Gamble appeared on the platform. ¡°I don¡¯t see any of you warming up or gathering,¡± Jim spoke gruffly as he took command of all present. My classmates snapping to attention. I caught on and mimicked them as best I could. ¡°Join your TG team for today¡¯s class, warm up, and gather. You have twenty minutes; use them wisely. We will be going further today than before. And Jordan, to me,¡± he barked out. It took me a moment to realize that he expected me to get there and not to be slow about it. I closed the distance and chose to stand at attention like before, with my right fist over my left clavicle. ¡°Nice attempt, but your salute needs work,¡± he commented on my attempt. ¡°I saw you made an effort to stand out again already. Unfortunately, I think you alienated your classmates. You¡¯ve got ground to make up in understanding the material, culture, and combat. After your showing a minute ago, most won¡¯t risk their delve team with you. So, I¡¯ll have Ian team up with you and get you up to speed for now. Prove you deserve to be here. You either hone yourself to a sharp edge or shatter your blade in the attempt.¡± He nodded to Ian. ¡°Run him through a warm-up; I saw his unique gathering method, so focus on other aspects before we depart. Get him a weapon and give him the rundown for today¡¯s delve.¡± He started to sit down as if on a chair, and by the time he was done, the platform had formed one beneath him that caught his body and slowly lowered him into a lotus position as he closed his eyes and sunk beneath the floor, like falling slowly through thick liquid. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. ¡°Follow me,¡± Ian grabbed my shoulder and pulled me around. My neck stayed glued to another wonder of this world¡¯s technology. ¡°How did the floor change like that? And where did he go?¡± I asked. ¡°The whole room can be adjusted to accommodate the instructor¡¯s needs. Making a chair to catch his fall is probably the most mundane thing it can do. He probably wants someplace quiet away from all of this,¡± he waved around at the chattering students. ¡°Until we have to leave, I need you to try to focus; we have about nineteen minutes to prepare you for the delve. And be certain any TG can be deadly. Today, you¡¯ve got me, but don¡¯t get complacent.¡± We spent the remaining time discussing available weapons, and he asked for my general fighting style, abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. After he explained that I should not give too many details about my stats and abilities, I did my best to answer very generally, and unsure whether it helped, I kept my voice low to attempt to keep even that between the two of us. Fortunately, he was being helpful and protective. It was considered rude to ask too specifically, and that social norm would also protect me from potential manipulation and hard counters to my abilities. I gave a brief rundown of what I did in the woods on my first and most recent TG delve. I wanted to use my Arc-formed sword but left it in my room. I considered forming another, but he suggested I try one provided by the academy for today. The twenty minutes passed too quickly, and Ian used them as best he could to give me advice based on what he had learned. I soaked up every tidbit. My lack of experience and unfamiliarity with everything made even basic information about delving and the academy priceless. ¡°Since you have only had your system for about a week, you are managing well, but now you need to learn everything the rest of the class knew from early childhood and everything we teach at this level. It won¡¯t be an easy adjustment, but I am excited about what you could grow to be. I saw your ceremony performance. I guess we all did,¡± he indicated to the rest of the room. "Just try to follow my lead, and I¡¯ll get you through today.¡± ¡°Thanks, it has been a wild ride lately, and yet I¡¯m loving it, for the most part,¡± I smiled with excitement for the TG we were about to enter while I rubbed some of my bruises. More instructions were given, and after the platform smoothly but rapidly descended and melded into the gym floor, I followed Ian and the rest of the class. We passed through a series of doors and short hallways. They were all lined with supplies, weapons, backpacks, and more. Ian handed me a small pack and a sword based on my earlier description. He helped me fasten it to my back at an angle to be drawn over my right shoulder. Then we continued as the hall opened into another room about the size of the first gym, but the ceilings were half as tall. The TG entrance was similar to the one at my new home. In the center of the room area was a raised circular pool filled with subtly swirling mercury-like gray liquid. Unlike the birdbath-sized pedestal at home, this one was the size of a large ornate fountain with the top at waist height. A six-inch band ran on the floor around the fountain and was about twenty yards in diameter. The floor between the pool and the outer circle was like polished dark graphite metal, contrasting the matte appearance of the liquid ring and pool. While I took in the room, our Instructor marched us all to the edge of the pool and turned to face us once we were all grouped close to the pool. ¡°You all have your assignments. Don¡¯t go beyond the newly assigned boundaries. If you encounter anything beyond level 9, turn around. You are not to engage them. Alright, set your clocks and be back here thirty minutes before the end of class.¡± The students began to place their hands into the pool and were gone in a blink. I followed Ian and did the same. And like my first Temporal Gate, I saw a flash of light all around that originated from the liquid band circling the pool and created a visible dome over me and down to the small pool on the pedestal. I hadn¡¯t seen it when the others entered but only when I did. I briefly scanned the bright space around me and saw a pair of black eyes examining me. Then the light flashed intensely like the brightest LED headlights, and after blinking away the spots in my vision, I saw I was no longer in the academy. ¡°Alright, we have a little less than a day. So let¡¯s get going.¡± Ian said as he took off in a jog. My vision had already cleared up, and I kept up with Ian. The entry point was like a vast cave system. It had a ceiling maybe a mile high, and I struggled to see the side walls. A mist limited our vision to a few miles from our raised position. We jogged down the small mountain we started at and continued into a humid forest. Our pace never slowed as we continued for several hours. The size of the area was mind-boggling. We were moving so fast; other than our first few minutes, we hadn¡¯t seen another soul. We passed close to a handful of low-level creatures. I was able to see most of them before Ian pointed them out, but we didn¡¯t stop to fight them. I expected them to attack, but they mostly ignored us, and some ran away. Eventually, we arrived at a river that crossed our path. ¡°We will follow this till it drops down to our destination. The rest of the class is probably headed to a well-known and productive hunting ground. I thought for our first time delving together, I¡¯d show you my favorite spots. They¡¯re off the beaten path; only some third-year students know of the first spot. And only the Instructor knows of the second. When I say jump, follow after me, and don¡¯t overthink things. Got it?¡± He questioned but didn¡¯t leave room to answer as he took off even faster than before. The next hour, we ran at the bank of a rapidly moving river. The path was winding and covered with roots and the occasional animal. We were leaping and hurdling all the way, and trying to keep up with Ian¡¯s acrobatic parkour became a game taking all my focus. I was absorbed and having fun when I suddenly noticed the sound of the river change. Ian looked back at me with a giant smile that turned mischievous. He raised a fist as if in victory, and after hurdling a downed tree at the river¡¯s edge, he took off faster than before. I jumped after him and had enough time to see Ian dive head-first into a misty void. I tried to stop my momentum, but the ground provided very little purchase for my boots. I nearly stopped at the lip at the end of this forest. I toppled with zero grace into the void that swallowed the river and Ian below. Even after falling for a while, I couldn¡¯t see the bottom, but I quickly adjusted myself so I¡¯d land feet first. The bottom of the waterfall sent so much mist billowing everywhere that I couldn¡¯t see anything, but the rushing water let me know when I was approaching the bottom. I tensed long before I smacked into the surface. The impact was jarring, but I quickly started swimming toward the limited light above and after the bubbles that had been forced down with me. I surfaced to see Ian smiling as he swam over to me. ¡°Good job, you took the plunge! And you still have your sword and pack.¡± He smiled and waved over his shoulder to follow as he swam to the nearest edge of what looked like a giant lake. I could only guess at the size by seeing flashes of lightning through the mist far away. Ian helped and offered me a hand to get out of the water. I let my frustration at his practical joke slide off me with the water. Only a little bit of the water got into my suit, and nothing was hurt in the fall besides my pride. After a quick once-over of my gear and sword, I also realized the only water in my suit was at the front crotch area. I may have peed my pants a little. I kept that realization to myself.
You did, but it was only about five milliliters. It will dry in approximately thirty minutes.
Ha ha, but thanks for the info. You continue to impress. But I wasn¡¯t talking to you. Is there any news on my Class? I just jumped ¡°into the void.¡±
You did receive a notification from your class.
Loot Exchange Active: [Level 1] - Loot Exchange: At level 1, you won¡¯t gain experience points and no longer receive drops or items. Instead, you receive a lossless exchange of Zancara & Arcana for your drops, and level increases of this ability will unlock further options and sub-abilities. ¡°You long for more than the system¡¯s leftovers; you Crave the very root, the Source.¡±
That will change things. I¡¯m sorry you won¡¯t get any items or drops; a lossless exchange should work out better for you though. I wonder if it will funnel into leveling the ability or something else
That¡¯s the most information I¡¯ve gotten about the Class so far. And there¡¯s no going back on my decision now. I¡¯m going to assume this is a good thing for now. Let me know if there are any other important notifications. ¡°Now, the fun stuff,¡± Ian laughed. He was all smiles after his stunt. We started running along a narrow animal trail through this new jungle area. The further from the waterfall, the better I could see as the mist thinned and light hit the ground between the tree canopy overhead. As my surroundings were revealed, I noticed weathered bricks sticking out of the jungle floor. The size of the crumbled ruins and the frequency with which we passed them increased until we reached the foot of a massive ziggurat. Unlike the Aztec pyramids of Earth, no stairs were ascending the outside. A ground-level entrance was cut perfectly square into the first tier of the structure. Without looking back, Ian walked towards a massive structure in the middle of the forest. Rather than entering through the wide passageway inside, he jumped ten feet along the side of the entrance and grabbed a gap between bricks. Like a monkey, he ascended over the edge of the first tier about forty feet up. I joined him after the climb. With my enhanced strength, it was far more manageable. I continued to enjoy the surprising improvements to my body and power. Who knew what else my future held? Ian crouched and dug into his pack, which was now open and resting on the ground. He pulled out a wrapped package. ¡°Time for a bite before our next stop. You did bring some food, right?¡± He asked with a straight face. Then he laughed, ¡°Just kidding, there¡¯s some things to eat in your pack.¡± I unslung my bag and searched inside. I found a wrapped bundle the size of two of my fists. I eagerly unwrapped it and was happy to see a sandwich. At least they have something I recognize.
While you eat, I have a notification you should consider.
Send it my way.
Crave Class Ability - Collector (Unique): Active Ability (Summon Collection) available. Summon Collection Details: Activate the ability to summon Collected Source creatures stored in your Vault. Summoned creatures can be utilized for cultivation assistance, combat, and other options based on the collected creatures and the collector. Warning: Creatures will be changed under the power and direction of your Class. ¡°You will always hunger¡­¡± Stored Collection 1/3 was processed and is now available as a summon.
What¡¯s that supposed to mean? I¡¯m not an idiot, most of the time, but does this mean I can summon that giant shark-headed beast that Insatiable reeled in? Chapter 14: Discovery I don¡¯t know what¡¯s more challenging: waking up in the mornings with the weight of depression or being awake and thinking about dying. Sleep is the only time of peace, at least when I can get some. I wonder what it will be like to rest forever, finally. Then, each day, I resolve to fight and roll out of bed. Or was it the fact I had to pee the reason? Either way, ¡°It won¡¯t be long,¡± I tell myself. Just keep kicking, one more day. Jordan¡¯s Journal Entry ####### I sat cross-legged on the cool stone floor of the ziggurat''s antechamber, trying to mediate. I didn¡¯t want to start gathering but to examine my internal Arc and Zan. I didn¡¯t just want to see the gathered substances. I wanted to see how it moved and was stored and if there were channels that I could form. I also wanted to understand how nanotechnology works with my body and new systems. I asked Skit for an update on the rogue nano, but he said there was nothing new to report. I have gone through so many changes I was struggling to keep it all straight. I want to make the most of it, to harness the new power I had at my fingertips. The only light around me was the soft glow of bioluminescent moss that climbed the ancient walls. I looked up as Ian entered the room. He had been watching and checking out the immediate area as I took inventory of my body and internal systems. The older warrior¡¯s presence was reassuring, a steadfast constant in the chaos that had become his life. I¡¯d only known him briefly, but he was one of the first people to be encouraging and helpful and provide specific examples of how to improve. He was here to hone my skills, a necessity if I was to survive the trials ahead and harness my Crave class abilities. I hadn¡¯t revealed a lot about my class to him yet. ¡°Ready to begin?¡± Ian asked, his voice echoing slightly in the ample space inside the ziggurat. It was like a temple dedicated to some ancient deity. The civilization that built it was long gone, but it was a testament to their architectural skill and lasting construction. I rose and nodded to Ian, feeling the weight of my borrowed sword in hand. It was lighter than my created blade but good enough for today. We started with basic stances, Ian correcting my posture and the angle of my arms. ¡°You''re holding back,¡± Ian observed, parrying a half-hearted thrust. ¡°You need to commit to the strike.¡± I took a deep breath and tried again, putting my weight into the movement. The blade sliced through the air, meeting Ian¡¯s with a satisfying clang. ¡°Better,¡± Ian nodded. Now, let¡¯s try something a bit more advanced.¡± As we moved through a series of more complex maneuvers, I felt more of a growing smile as my confidence swelled. The sword felt like an extension of my arm, responsive and swift. I was learning to anticipate Ian''s moves, the give and take of our mock battle mirroring the rhythm of an intricate dance. I was shocked at how fast I was learning. I could only attribute it to the passive impact of my system, nanotech, the growing symbiotic relationship with Skit, and the power within me. Our training was suddenly interrupted by a low growl emanating from deeper within the ziggurat. The sound was unlike anything I had heard¡ªa chilling reminder of the unknown dangers lurking in the shadows. Ian paused, his expression turning serious. ¡°It seems we might have some uninvited guests,¡± he murmured. ¡°This will be a good test of your readiness.¡± I tightened my grip on the sword¡¯s hilt, nodding my understanding. Whatever made those sounds might soon be upon us, and I needed to be ready to fight and use the unique powers I was still learning to control. As we slowly approached the noise¡¯s origin, the air grew thick with a pungent, earthy odor. The dim light from the moss was barely enough to illuminate our path, but the adrenaline coursing through my veins heightened my senses. Suddenly, two large shapes detached themselves from the shadows¡ªmutated leopards, their bodies grotesquely elongated and eyes glowing with an evil light. They didn¡¯t have typical fur but were amalgamations of roots and plants. They still had pronounced jaws full of sharp, overly large fangs. My heart raced as I faced these beasts, and the challenge of my capabilities felt more visceral than before. I was sure Ian was good, but I hadn¡¯t seen him in action, and these were the most dangerous beasts I¡¯d seen yet. Ian stood back, silently signaling that Jordan was to lead this fight. ¡°Remember what you''ve learned. Use your environment, and don¡¯t underestimate the importance of your abilities. If you can balance your sword work and your abilities, I want to see you start experimenting with your Arc or Class skills.¡± I nodded, swallowing the fear that was making the hair on my arms stand on end. This was more than a test of physical skill; it was a chance to prove to myself that I could do more than survive¡ªI could thrive and perhaps begin to unravel the mysteries of my skills and get through my first day at the academy. The first mutated leopard leaped, its massive body cutting through the dim light like a swathe of shadow torn from the night. I rolled to the side, feeling the whoosh of air as claws swiped where I had just been. Gravel crunched under his boots as I regained my footing, my heart pounding like a rapid beat in my ears. I didn¡¯t have time to catch my breath before the second beast attacked, more cunning and silent than its companion. It aimed not for where I was but where I would be; its instinctual cunning was a deadly tool honed by its unnatural alterations and higher level. I twisted, barely avoiding what felt like a fatal pounce that would have pinned me to the cold ziggurat floor. Ian shouted from the sidelines, "Use the columns!" His voice was a rope pulling me back from the brink of panic to the tactics we had drilled. I quickly glanced around, noting the thick, vine-encrusted pillars that supported the arches of the ziggurat antechamber roof. I sprinted toward the nearest enemy, the leopards¡¯ growls reverberating off the stone walls, a terrifying symphony that fueled my adrenaline. As I neared the column, I slid, kicking up a cloud of dust and debris. The first leopard overshot me, crashing into the pillar with a stunned yowl. Seizing the moment, I scrambled up, my free hand finding hold of the ancient carvings that decorated the stone. I had only a moment to slice the side of the dazed enemy at my feet. I took the chance and swept my sword across its ribs. The second leopard had circled, its eyes glowing coals in the murky light. I pulled from the depths of my will, reaching for the Arc, filling my inner being; it simmered within me¡ªa power I still barely understood but instinctively felt was linked to combat. Focusing on the beast below but keeping my awareness stretched around me, Ireached out a hand, palm downward. A pulsing heat built in my chest, then surged through my veins like liquid fire, converging into his fingertips. I instinctively felt I was doing something wrong, and the result was not ideal. I visualized the energy infecting and corrupting the creature, eating it with an invading force of my will and desire for destruction. In my mind, I saw it being eaten away as my gathered power ran rampant through its body. The leopard paused, its body tensing as if caught in an invisible net. Its entire body shook, but it tried to snap its head towards my outstretched arm, confusion evident in its snarl but responding on instinct. Unable to turn its head enough, it attempted to rise, only to collapse back down, bewildered by the unseen force invading its body. I suddenly exhaled. The strain of pushing the power through my body felt forced and unnatural. The effort manifested a sheen of sweat on my brow. I couldn¡¯t hold it long¡ªmy training had been too brief, my skill a far cry from any mastery. But it took me precious seconds, leaving me open to attack from behind. With the first beast under the effects of my Arc attack, I turned to find Ian directing the second beast towards me. It seemed he had prevented it from ambushing me. Now, it was headed my way, shaking off the impact of Ian¡¯s deflecting strike. It fixed its gaze on me, a low growl rumbling from its throat, a sound that let us know it was out for blood. I jumped to the side, sprung off the nearest column, and landed with a grunt. My legs absorbed the impact and avoided the vine-covered panther¡¯s charge. Icould feel the vibration of the leopard¡¯s collision with the wall through the soles of my shoes as it slammed headfirst into the stone. Ian¡¯s voice cut through the tension, ¡°Now, Jordan! What you learned!¡± Trusting in my mentor¡¯s guidance, I closed my eyes for a fraction of a second, centering myself amidst the chaos. Opening them, I faced the oncoming threat ready. As the leopard shook off its daze, it leaped immediately; I sidestepped with surprising grace, swinging my arm wide. The move was more than physical; it was imbued with the nascent power of my Arc and Zan flowing down my arm and into the blade, channeling my desperate need for victory into a palpable force. The air seemed to ripple as a wave of supernatural energy burst from my palm, down the hilt, and coated the blade in gold and black magical mixture. The blade passed through the leopard with no resistance at all. The slice took it mid-leap. Both the leopard and I couldn¡¯t understand what happened. The beast yowled a cry of pain before it landed on its feet. I was unaware of the damage I¡¯d caused until I saw the two pieces of the beast slide apart as if a laser had bisected its entire body. Both halves began to dematerialize immediately. I felt an infusion of energy fill my body. Breathing heavily, I watched warily as the remaining leopards seemed to hesitate in the darkness, their eyes now wary, a new respect¡ªor perhaps fear¡ªof this tiny human who wielded strange powers. ¡°They¡¯ll think twice now,¡± Ian commented, stepping closer with a nod of approval. ¡°Well done. Now you know, the best lessons are learned in the heat of battle.¡± The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. As we watched, the remaining leopards retreated into the shadows. I felt a surge of adrenaline-fueled triumph. But Ian¡¯s words echoed in his mind, a reminder that each victory was just a preparation for more significant trials ahead, each battle a lesson in the unforgiving survival curriculum. As the remaining leopards slunk back into the shadows, Ian''s firm hand landed on my shoulder, grounding me from the rush of my most recent kill and the unsettling display of my newfound power. "That was more than proficient, Jordan," he said, his voice a mix of praise and caution. "It''s clear you are beginning to harness your unique Arc and Zan abilities. I¡¯ve never seen anything quite like it.¡± His words echoed in my mind as I surveyed the dim, vine-draped hallways of the ziggurat. The beasts had been fearsome, a concoction of nature and nightmare, but the way my blade had sliced through it, empowered by a force I barely understood, was exhilarating¡ªand terrifying. "Let''s move on," Ian suggested, his eyes scanning the darkness for more threats. "There will be more of them or worse." Nodding, I followed him deeper into the labyrinth of the ancient structure, my senses heightened and my mind racing. I could still feel the residual energy from my attack coursing through my veins, a vibrant surge that beckoned to be understood and mastered. But it wasn¡¯t my veins. I knew enough to understand I hadn¡¯t formed perfect channels to funnel and fuel my body. I don¡¯t know how cultivation works beyond the basics of gathering and watching Insatiable do something with my forearm that seemed to house that beast I absorbed in the gym. As we ventured further, Ian began to share his thoughts on the tactical applications of my abilities and the beginnings of my sword work. "You''ve got a unique blend of power, Jordan. Your ability to manipulate and use your internal energy externally could be your signature style. But you need to understand the limits and the costs. And practice with them in these real situations. You will find your way, and I am happy to help and encourage you. But in my experience, don¡¯t let anyone force you down a path you don¡¯t want. But also, don¡¯t tell Instructor Gamble I said that,¡± Ian laughed. I didn¡¯t understand what he meant, but rather than question Ian, I wanted to know what Skit thought. What did he mean by cost? My grip tightened on the hilt of my sword, slowing time but keeping vigilant.
Every power has its price, whether it''s stamina, concentration, or something more esoteric. You just brute-forced the Zan and Arc in your body to shove it down your arm and externally project a blade sharper than any that exists. It even warped the reality of the blade you swung to remove the width of it from space for a brief moment. You know how the rogue nano interacts with your system¡ªit''s been unpredictable. I mention this because whatever you did stirred it up like a kicked beehive as if your fight response to the higher-leveled creatures you faced caused it to want to do something. I¡¯ll continue to monitor it. I was just letting you know.
I pondered what Skit told me, realizing the weight of the unknown I carried inside me. I wanted to control, understand, and possibly innovate the very nature of the powers I wielded. But I honestly didn¡¯t know what was going to happen next. We rounded a corner and entered a vast chamber, the walls inscribed with faded glyphs that pulsed faintly with a ghostly light. "Try something here," Ian instructed, stopping in the center of the room. "Summon your ability, but focus on control, not just raw output this time.¡± Standing near a wall, I began by taking a deep breath; I closed my eyes and reached inward to the swirling nexus of power that resided inside. I envisioned it as a swirling galaxy of energy, each star a node of potential, some gold and some void black, that I could direct and shape. Slowly, I extended my hand, palm outwards, focusing on one of the glowing glyphs on the wall. With a concentrated effort, I channeled a thread of my energy towards the glyph. It flickered brightly at my touch, and a warm hum filled the air, a resonant sound that vibrated through the stone and into my bones. I opened my eyes in time to see the glyph ignite with a brilliant light, casting long shadows behind the intricate pillars of the chamber. "That''s interesting,¡± Ian said, surprised. ¡°I meant to throw a punch or swing your sword, but you are somehow talking to the temple? That is wild," he gestured at the spot I¡¯d ignited the wall, ¡°there¡¯s no telling what this place was originally for. It might be a system recreation of a temple built by those who understood Arc and Zan in ways lost to us. You''re tapping into something I don¡¯t understand. Maybe hold off on that. That okay?" He looked at me, puzzled by what had just happened. The experience left me stunned. The connection felt right, like a key turning in a lock rusted shut ages ago. This was more than just combat proficiency; this was about projecting the power inside me with something external. It felt right, and yet I had no idea if it was a good thing or if I was just lighting the fuse to a bomb. Whatever happened, I needed to be a little cautious, right? ¡°Try going back to practicing the attack you used,¡± Ian encouraged as the light from the glyph slowly faded. "The more you understand your power, the more you can bend it to your will¡ªand the safer you''ll be when using it." As we left the chamber, my mind was ablaze with possibilities. I was beginning to see the path ahead of me in the ziggurat and the potential paths my life could take. With each step and each breath, I felt more connected to the energies around me. I began breathing smooth and deep breaths and feeling the Arc and Zan, my twin powers, swirl inside me. It became intoxicating to feel the power of them. I realized I was doing a lesser form of gathering while walking and moving. Not just sitting and meditating., I probably wasn¡¯t ready to face everything this Temporal Gate could throw at us, but I was gaining confidence in what lay ahead. As Ian and I left that chamber, the weight of potential within me thrummed like a second heartbeat, urging me forward. We delved deeper into the ziggurat, the air growing cooler and the darkness denser. The moss¡¯s glow was a mere whisper, barely lighting our path. The corridor ended abruptly, opening into a colossal dome-shaped hall. Its vast ceiling arched overhead, lost in shadows. At its center stood an altar, behind which a statue of a forgotten god loomed, its features eroded by time but still menacing. "There," Ian pointed to a figure shrouded in darkness near the altar. "Our next challenge." My pulse quickened as we approached. The figure stepped forward, revealing itself under the faint light¡ªa creature towering over us, its form a grotesque tapestry of human and reptilian traits infused with vines and leaves. Its eyes, burning with a malevolent intelligence, fixed on us. "It¡¯s a Guardian," Ian murmured, his voice tight. A protector of sacred places. We must be near something valuable for something so dangerous to appear. Be careful. If things go bad, retreat the way we came. There¡¯s a path running up the side of the waterfall.¡± That was all Ian had time to say as the Guardian hissed, a sound that seemed to vibrate through the very stone beneath our feet. It moved with surprising speed for its size, charging toward us with a mace in its giant human-like hand that looked like it could crush me in a single strike.
Jordan, dodge left, then use a counter-thrust. Combine your physical strike with a burst of Zan energy.
Skit¡¯s voice echoed in my mind faster than I thought. I obeyed immediately, rolling to the left as the Guardian''s mace smashed into the ground where I had stood seconds before. I came up on one knee and thrust my sword forward, channeling Arc and Zan through the blade¡ªthe energy wrapped around the metal, extending and sharpening its edge as it struck the creature. The Guardian recoiled, howling in rage and pain as the gold and pure dark energy seeped into its now open wound. It wasn¡¯t down, though; it recovered quickly, swinging its mace with greater fury. Ian capitalized on my attack and engaged right after, drawing the creature¡¯s attention away from me before it completed its swing. Ian moved with the precision and calm of a seasoned warrior, his strikes a series of well-timed maneuvers that forced the Guardian to keep its focus.
Use the pillars to your advantage! Create a trap with an Arc and Zan mixture of energy. Make it stick to the pillar.
How am I supposed to do that? I asked Skit. Unsure how this would work, I still dashed to the nearest pillar, placing my hands against the cold stone. I glanced back at the Guardian, then closed my eyes, feeling for the latent energy inside, the mysterious constellations of power swirling in me. I pulled them from the deep well inside me and willed them down my arm to the ancient pillar. Drawing a deep breath, I pushed Arc energy into the pillar, but the forces in me moved sluggishly. Still, all of this was happening in a matter of a second; it still felt like minutes had passed in my mind. The stone vibrated under my palms, then began to glow, lighting up momentarily as a section as large as my body turned to a black shadow to my eyes. To my extra senses, I could sense my power had infused the stone but was no longer visible. I grabbed some rubble, a stone the size of my foot, and threw it at the back of the Guardian. It roared, its eyes finding mine, filled with hatred. I saw its leg still injured from my slice. Ian had done significant damage to its chest and arms as green blood flowed down and vines scattered around the beast. I was ready as the giant closed the gap between us in two bounds. I used every ounce of agility and strength to throw myself to the side. The guardian should have plowed into the pillar; I was expecting it to crumble under the momentum of the behemoth. As I rolled to my feet, I was the giant partially inside the pillar. The beast was half embedded into where I had infused my Arc and Zan. I watched as the exposed portion of the beast I could still see fell away from the now glowing spot on the pillar. I was caught between two spectacles; the first was watching my power fizzle away from the stone, leaving a gouge in the pillar, and the other more gruesome sight, the bloody insides of the guardian falling to the ground with a wet splat. ¡°What was that?¡± Ian came up to my side. ¡°A trap, I guess,¡± I sheepishly muttered. ¡°Well, you seem to be figuring out some interesting tricks. You know other people don¡¯t use Arc like that? I¡¯m not saying to stop or to hide it. Just know it¡¯s going to be seen as abnormal. The Guardian¡¯s body disintegrated into motes that scattered in a silent breeze. Heavy and absolute silence fell over the chamber. All the energy of Arc and Zan I¡¯d used flooded back and, more than ever, rushed through me. ¡°Wow,¡± I exhaled in surprise. ¡°What a rush.¡± ¡°No drop again,¡± Ian couldn¡¯t help but frown. ¡°Is that going to be a trend even when I help with the kill?¡± I shrugged as I honestly didn¡¯t know how my class abilities would work. ¡°Sorry, not sure yet.¡± Ian clapped me on the shoulder, a grin breaking across his face. ¡°No matter, that was well done, Jordan. You''re learning to harness your powers, and you are getting creative. Hopefully, that will be just the beginning of your adaptive combat techniques. This is what being a warrior is about. I might have invited you to another delve if you didn¡¯t cost me TG drops. But since you completely steal my drops¡­¡± Ian paused as if considering, ¡°I¡¯m just kidding. ¡° he laughed, ¡°You are definitely invited for another run.¡± As we stood there, barely needing to catch our breath, the reality of what we''d just achieved began to sink in. We had faced a Guardian and lived to tell the tale. Ian must have faced this level of threat many times. He was relaxed and joking around. But my focus now was that I had managed to merge my powers in combat and not by getting my system to pilot my body, like at the ceremony. It was me this time. "We should see what it was guarding. They¡¯re called guardians for a reason,¡± Ian explained with excitement, and together, we moved towards the altar, cautious but curious. Each step echoed in the now quiet ziggurat, a reminder of the battles fought and the mysteries awaiting us. I felt ready, more connected to the energies around me and within me, prepared for whatever challenges lay ahead in the shadowed halls of this ancient place. Chapter 15: Core ¡°I¡¯ve never felt so small as when I was confronted with my impending and inevitable death. We all die, but knowing my ticket would be punched any day now - wow, it¡¯s just a lot. And whether you believe in a literal Heaven or just a mindless void. Both present as unknowable and infinite. And here I am, little old me staring into unknown eternity.¡± Jordan Journal Entry after receiving a terminal diagnosis ###### After our fight, I noticed that the air was thick with the scent of ancient stone and moss as we walked toward the altar the Guardian had been protecting. Our recent battle with the Guardian left an electric silence in its wake, each of our footsteps echoing off the walls, a reminder of the potential dangers lurking around every corner. Ian led the way toward the altar, its top glowing amber. I couldn¡¯t read any symbols or iconography, but it reminded me of a sacrificial altar I¡¯d seen pictures from Aztec or Mayan temples. I was unsure but thought I could see ancient dried blood around its edges. ¡°This place has always been one of my favorites to explore,¡± Ian reminisced. ¡°But I¡¯ve never seen the altars do anything like this. Usually, we get a better loot drop after beating a guardian. This is new.¡± Ian looked over at me with a puzzled expression. My curiosity was piqued as I approached the altar, now shimmering with faint, ethereal light. I stepped past Ian and placed my hand against the unnaturally warm surface; I felt a hum of energy pulse through the stone, resonating strangely with something inside me.
Apologies for interrupting, but you need to know that the resonance you¡¯re feeling comes from the rogue nanobots in your body¡ªthat and your internally swirling Arc and Zan. I cannot advise whether you should proceed or stop, but I need to warn you.
The rogue nano is doing that? How is it also messing with the Arc and Zan?
It appears to be exciting them like it¡¯s adding a spiritually electric charge. They are spinning faster by the second. If I had to speculate, the process is starting to form a core and condensing your Arc or Zan.
So, this is like a cultivation resource. Is it supercharging my cultivation? Is that a problem since I don¡¯t have channels to handle the powers?
The typical processes might not apply to you, but the standard practices involve condensing until you can form a core and then building your channels. It¡¯s hard to know what your current body will do with the combination of Arc, Zan, Nano, and your Class. I¡¯ve run some simulations, and I do have a strong suggestion.
Alright, what should I do?
You have access to both Source powers, but I think you need to consider using the Arc and Zan in silos. You have been attempting to combine them, and I see ways your Class was tailored to work with both. However, impressive positive potential outcomes are only available if you choose now. Based on recent events and your current powers, I predict that you will likely achieve the best results if you focus on your Arcana cultivation and do not try to combine Zan with it. There is no way to know, but that is my recommendation.
Okay, you¡¯ve been right so far. Let¡¯s go for it. What should I be doing right now?
First, let go of the Zan and let it move inside your Source body without focusing on controlling it. Then, use your will to focus and add pressure to the Arcana.
I took the advice, blocked out everything else, focused on pressure, and pictured the Arcana getting denser and heavier while compressed and contained. I had already let the Zan float freely inside my immaterial Source body, disregarding it for now. Once they separated, I pressed the Arc like it was in a pressure cooker or boiler. I started speeding up the movement and imagined compressing the vapor down, tighter and tighter, as if the top lid was a hydraulic press, ever slowly lowering.
Good. Your mental imagery is a good start and is surprisingly effective, but it is insufficient for your needs. Focus on keeping that spinning. Change your image to a sphere and try pressing it down smaller across the entire surface into a tiny central point. And please hurry.
I did as directed and with urgency. I got the Arc spinning faster and strained to pressure the sphere¡¯s entire surface. It was immeasurably more difficult, but the concept clicked after I imagined a hand squeezing it. That image wasn¡¯t perfect, but it helped me grasp the sphere. Then, I added my will to crushing the sphere with more and more willpower to condense it to an infinitely small central point. I could not get it that small, but the image helped me.
Gather as much Arc as possible and funnel it into the sphere, forming your core.
I kept the images and focus going but took a deep breath. I glimpsed the real world before me with just a flutter of my eyelids. In that brief glimpse, I saw my hand on the altar and the altar itself glowing. The iconography before me rose from the stone in my mind¡¯s eye and translated into something I could understand. It said only one word over and over: ¡°Hunger.¡±
Focus!
My eyes had again snapped shut, and I pulled with all the willpower I could spare, not letting go of my sphere, which compressed the Arc I held. There was a delay as nothing happened, and then a tidal wave of Arc flooded me from all directions. Warmth seeped from the altar into my fingertips and then quickly down my arm. My focus was split between gathering, funneling, compressing, and holding the sphere, absorbing all the Arc that touched its surface. I thought I would struggle to comprehend a compression method and accept more Arc into my condensing model. Thankfully, the golden Arc, invading me from all around, had just slipped through the outer shell of my sphere and joined the already spinning mist. But the mist was growing much denser. Every wisp had turned into microscopic drops of liquid, but none combined. Time lost meaning as I watched the drops become more tangible. After what felt like an hour, I checked my clock and saw that only a few seconds had passed. The drops hadn¡¯t changed size but were now much weightier and more straightforward to feel with my mind, and there were hundreds of them now. My gathering continued, and I became aware that the altar¡¯s warm amber glow of power had traveled up my arm and was about to reach my sphere of swirling Arc drops. My focus was being pulled in several directions, and I felt my willpower and ability to maintain these processes weaken. Then, I felt a rapid change in my physical body. The previously dormant rogue nanotech contained within my lower ribs exploded out of my lowest two ribs. The bone disintegrated in the powerful burst of power, and rather than bursting my organs and out through my rib cage, it collapsed after only a tiny outward burst and formed a dense liquid within my chest cavity. The change didn¡¯t damage anything inside my body. At the cellular level, every part of the shattering bones reformed as a liquid and began to slither inside me. It split off in several directions. I felt the majority of it move like a molten fire in between organs and left a trail of pain inside me. It quickly made its way to my lower abdomen and created a spherical shell in my physical body; the shell was small, and I felt it to be no thicker than an eggshell and about the size of a large marble. The process of bone changing, the liquid nano moving through me, the small marble forming and slightly displacing my intestines, and the fire of raging pain burning through me almost took my focus away from my process of condensing. Still, I registered a portion of the rogue nano entering my brain, invading my frontal cortex and some areas deep inside that began to make substantial changes, increasing my mental capabilities. I wasn¡¯t great at brain anatomy, but I felt the changes. I started to feel my comprehension split. I suddenly comprehend and organize the additional stimulus of everything inside me. It was momentarily jarring to have my mind experience more inputs than I should be able to keep track of and yet not lose my will or focus on any of them. It only took a fraction of a second after my ribs were obliterated that my body began to lower. I didn¡¯t realize it initially, but I had subconsciously sat down with my legs crossed. Whatever power had left the altar and entered me through my contact had stopped, but the force that entered me was still moving around and circling my Source body toward the newly formed core. As my mental capacity increased, so did my willpower. I began to expand the gathering of the external Arc, spinning and condensing it. As I settled on the ground, I kept my focus aimed internally, and I saw what was happening. The physical shell of Rogue Nano was expanding. The former marble was now about the size of a tennis ball but perfectly smooth and spherical. It stopped growing, and I realized it was the exact size of my Source core. They perfectly overlapped in Spirit and Body. There was a rapid crunch as both spheres slammed down to the marble size they¡¯d been before. It happened in slow motion as my perception speed ramped up to unbelievable levels. I experienced the changes as every millisecond passed, which felt much longer. I sensed the compression as more and more flooded in. The dense altar power began to glide close to my core, tentacle-like probes reaching out towards it. As the two made contact, I focused on the many tasks and asked the foreign powers to help me. With a searing flash of heat, the sphere inside me began to burn with a supernatural fire. I watched as the physical Rogue Nano somehow fused what was in the Source and connected it to the physical. The two spheres were becoming one. It required hours of attention but was nearly instantaneous to the outside world. To my great relief, the searing pain ceased, and I thought the process was over. Then, without my conscious instruction, the Sphere in two planes of existence changed from a burning ball of fire to a sudden discharge of power, like lightning striking outwards from the entire surface of my core. The lightning tentacles spread to every inch of my body. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. My body convulsed in one sudden jolt and threw my sitting form ten yards across the room. Ian rushed over and began shaking me, trying to help wake me, but I could not respond. Ian continued to try to rouse me, but I wasn¡¯t aware of him or the world outside my body. My entire focus was internal. Since I learned to gather, it had been a rush of euphoria. Even my most recent ability to gather while moving around had been like a steady trickle of dopamine dripping into my brain. Now, I felt that magnified like a tidal wave rush over me. It was intense and satisfying pleasure and desire for more. It was all-consuming, and I didn¡¯t notice my core gathering without my direction; the speed at which it pulled in Arc was astounding. What I did notice was my Source body lurch, like feeling the ground fall out below me. I felt my Source body plunge. I fell rapidly from the first layer of Source, called Base, through the subsequent three layers of Land, right past the third major boundary of Empires, and then slammed to a halt in the fourth layer of Bonds. I knew all of this as the power of each layer hit me like I was plunging in significant surges to the bottom of the ocean with sudden and violent bursts. Each layer was like breaking through a pane of thick glass. Each shattering was met with a denser Arc & Zan bombardment and coupled with knowledge. The knowledge instinctively communicated my current level of depth and the increasing danger. My vision caught glimpses of powerful creatures, but from my brief impressions, I felt only awe and fear. My vision entirely focused on the Source view around me where I was now. It was all a dense, dark fog. In the darkness, the only light source was coming from my stomach. I was radiating into the darkness, like a shining beacon in that darkness. I tried to cover it and will it to stop but it pierced the darkness like it was broadcasting something into the mysterious void around me. The terrifying part was that the light elicited a response. Some entity groaned a deep, bellowing call. It was like a giant whale call across the darkness, shuddering and shaking my soul. The call came from a great distance, but suddenly, in the next moment, I was pulled with violent whiplash. I zoomed forward rapidly, then suddenly stopped and was aware of the presence before me. It was an entity of such vast size that I couldn¡¯t comprehend its end. My perception picked up only the barest idea of what was before me. But I did grasp that this was an entity of a single-minded intention and desire. It resounded with hunger, and when I felt it, I was immediately gripped with fear. Did the altar pull me here? I tried with every ounce of my being to pull myself back to my body, but I was powerless to exit wherever I was. The entity invisibly pulled me slowly toward its giant form. I felt helpless to stop the force drawing me near. My fear spiked, and I forgot all about my glowing sphere inside until I was about to make contact with the powerful being before me. Then, after a brief resistance, I was inside. All around me, I felt the suffocating darkness; there was a powerful primal fear clutching at my chest as I was drawn inexorably into the hunger entity. Passing the surface and being immersed wasn¡¯t like going into a slime or bog but dropping into a vast void. I felt waves of a ravenous need; there was only silence to my spiritual ears, but the deep, resonant groan occasionally broke that silence of the entity beckoning deeper into its form. I began moving more and more rapidly into its depths. I started to see more detail. It was like being in the deep ocean as I began to see fish-like creatures that I rapidly moved past. Some reminded me of angler fish with oversized teeth and jaws. Some were more like jellyfish or squid. None were like Earth¡¯s equivalent as they all were magnitudes larger. They were giants to my bug-like size. I caught site of battles and some frenzied feasting on smaller creatures. I was fascinated and distracted enough I forgot my previous fear. Then, I passed from this ocean of creatures into a new void with nothing in its openness. After passing another veil, my vision was awash with light and an intense desire for what I was approaching. I sensed this was the source or the core of the entity. Another sphere loomed ahead, a shifting mass of shadows and whispers, its form still vast and indefinable. It glowed and roiled like a miniature sun. It was like it was made more from hunger than any substance I could comprehend. It hungered, and I wanted nothing more than to grasp and possess it. The closer I got, the more I felt my desires beginning to mirror the insatiable cravings that the entity embodied. I felt the entity probing my thoughts. Its presence did not speak in words but flooded me with a torrent of urges¡ªhunger for power, hunger for life, and hunger to consume. Each desire echoed my own yet amplified to an overwhelming degree. I felt my longing for power and then caught glimpses of the entities longing for more power. Then, I caught myself remembering the why behind my struggle: the motivation and purpose. I saw my family, the reason I desired to save Earth and become powerful. I couldn¡¯t let my desire for power be clouded by this hunger or anyone else. This was just another battle of wills. And I would not be a slave, even to forces much greater than myself. The great entity had reached out to the developing core within me. The entity focused its attention there, and I felt it reach out with tangible shadows, like flowing strands from a jellyfish. The appendage reached me, and at its touch, I could sense its thoughts. There was a sense of curiosity, its hunger sharpening as it contemplated the unique melding of forces within me¡ªArc, Zan, the Rogue Nano, and other forces and abilities. I saw a replay of rapid images. They showed my journey from Earth to the academy, my times in the Temporal Gates, and my interactions with the Lady, Insatiable, and my glowing core recently formed. The air thickened with tension as the entity''s interest grew. And with its interest, there was a hunger. It began with a pleading like it was asking for permission to take my pain, worry, and burden. It offered to take them and consume them. Its hunger grew as I rejected any offers, sensing it was offering only an end. It wasn¡¯t an option I wanted. I didn¡¯t want an end; I didn¡¯t want to die or be controlled. I would never be shackled if I had any power to fight. Then, its strategy changed from requesting permission and offering promises to outright attempts at domination. I resisted the entity''s attempts to overwhelm my will. I felt myself begin to slip as my will was eroding under the pressure of this behemoth. I felt my mind¡¯s coherence begin to crumble. As my last thoughts faded, I reached out to my bond with Insatiable. I felt the bug¡¯s presence within me. After making the connection, I felt like a steady anchor had suddenly dropped and saved the ship of my battered and frayed mind and spirit. With my solid connection with Insatiable established, I regained control over my mind. I pleaded for help. Insatiable responded, but not like before, when it had silently worked to absorb other entities and stored them in my body. My bug companion of unknown power asked me a question. Why do you desire this Hunger? I scrambled for an answer. I had been thinking of survival but initially wanted to obtain this source of hunger. I want power, but not at the price of my will and freedom. I answered. Then, take command of your Core. Do not let another dictate who you are or who you will be. I will help push against the invasive force, but you must be your own sovereign. You must be the captain of your future and destiny. Stop letting every outside influence push you like a boat in the waves. You must rule your deepest desires and soul; then, you will find peace and freedom to command your future. I hadn¡¯t heard so much from Insatiable before, but this wasn¡¯t the time to dissect the advice. I want power, but I must master all hunger and control my incessant cravings; I will master these forces and become something more! My thoughts screamed to Insatiable and the universe beyond. Matching my desire and will, I felt Insatiable push with me. From deep within my core, I felt pressure, solid, impenetrable. With deep-seated power, I felt grounded. My mind cleared as I felt more myself. I felt a reassurance that I would not be enslaved. Together, we resisted the entity''s invasive force, asserting my sovereignty over my spiritual core and the very center of my being. Visibly, my core began to glow brighter, its light intertwining with the dark tendrils of the entity''s dark tentacles wrapped around me and my core during my interaction with Insatiable. A moment of surprise flashed from this Hunger entity to me. HOW. DID. YOU. RESIST. HUNGER. The voice was immense and all-consuming. With each syllable, I felt my Source body vibrate like a massive speaker rumbling through my entire body. I didn¡¯t provide a specific answer. But I felt a response through the tentacles surrounding me. The commanding, demanding nature of the entity I had begun to call Hunger changed. The tentacles stopped trying to pull and control and opened themselves, connecting as my nano did to my physical body, in a circuitry of filaments bridging itself and my Source body. I couldn¡¯t help but fear a trap. But Insatiable spoke to me again. It is alright to relax. It has decided to assist you. You passed the test. I relaxed my defensive hold over my core and Source body. I was going to trust Insatiable in this. I felt a symbolic merging through the tentacle¡¯s circuitry and my body. It was like a tentative, cautious blend of curiosity about me and a desire to understand how I resisted. I now focused on interpreting all the impressions. It took more and more of my mental capacity to maintain a careful balance of comprehending Hunger and sensing what was happening between us. Hunger began to share glimpses of my potential power and various scenarios that might play out. It was like watching brief glimpses of a new movie but understanding each scene as if I¡¯d lived it. Each path showed me with greater power but an equal measure of peril. I saw visions of Earth, my family, and realms beyond¡ªeach scenario tinged with the dark allure of Hunger¡¯s influence. If I accepted its influence and power, Hunger showed me what it could do. Faced with a choice, I began to question it. I hadn¡¯t forgotten what Insatiable had told me. I wasn¡¯t going to be enslaved or lose my ability to chart my future. Hunger showed me an image. I instinctually understood it was Hunger personified in human shape¡ªnot the giant structure or the core with tentacles surrounding me. I was a featureless human with a hand extended for a handshake. ¡°You have shown you wish for balance,¡± Hunger told me. Its voice matched the typical volume and tone of human conversation now. ¡°Hunger must always be controlled, or chaos will consume all. There is a cycle of hunger that begins with desire. But it is detrimental and destructive without control. You showed the will to control the insatiable hunger. I recognize the being within you. Its name is a misnomer. You must learn more about it. What I offer you is a reward. I have seen your potential and wish to provide you an aspect of my core so that you can aspect your own.¡± My mind was flooded with more images, and I saw the offer of a handshake, turning its palm upwards. The hand held a miniature version of Hunger¡¯s core. And with it was the offer to absorb the core into me. I considered all that had happened: my core forming, being pulled here, Insatiable¡¯s support, and now this offer. What would this new Hunger do that my Class, Insatiable, and all I¡¯d discovered so far couldn¡¯t? How does all this mind-boggling Source stuff help me? How do I manage to juggle all these powers that I want to consume, crave, and devour? I thought to myself, but my thoughts were not kept to myself alone. ¡°I will help you balance it all,¡± Hunger responded. I knew this was another opportunity. I knew nothing of my core or how it worked. I only knew that another being of greater power than I could comprehend offered me help, somehow based on the core of who I am and want to be. That did stroke my ego and inflated my self-worth for a moment. But it was more than that. I wanted power, but I wanted it for what I thought would help others. Power was the only way to freedom; here was another power source. ¡°I agree,¡± I spoke out loud in the vast cavern of Hunger¡¯s core. I felt a pleasant, warm glow in my core. I also saw a mix of visions. One was the featureless humanoid form of Hunger with its hand extended, holding the miniature core. The other was of the place my Source body was and a small ball moving down a tentacle from the center of the giant core. The visions were overlapped. Both cores in each vision moved toward me and merged with my core- one in my mind¡¯s eye and the other in my Source body. It passed through the outer shell of my core and then merged. I felt my core absorb this fragment of Hunger¡¯s power; it was a controlled integration that would enhance my abilities without forcing me to succumb entirely to any of the forces that fought to rule me. Even now, I felt one final request to make the changes permanent¡ªan offer to not only empower but balance the aspects of my powers with a balance. I contemplated the irony of a being called Hunger with the aspect of balance. Then I realized I was grateful, and with a firm resolve for my future, I accepted and finalized the integration, feeling Hunger¡¯s power surge within me but watched over by my will and the assuring influence of Insatiable. Abruptly, I was back in the ziggurat, lying flat on the ground, my body radiating a new, potent energy. Ian stared in surprise at me, sensing the profound transformation but unaware of the depth of the ordeal I had endured. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Ian slowly whispered. ¡°You touched the altar, and then things went crazy.¡± ¡°Yeah, I think I¡¯m good,¡± I responded as my focus went from my new core to looking Ian in the eyes. ¡°Do you know anything about forming a core?¡± ¡°Yes. Why?¡± Ian asked in surprise. ¡°I formed mine just now,¡± I responded with a smile. ¡°That¡¯s what all that was?¡± Ian leaned away from me. His eyes were open and unfocused, moving like he was reading something. ¡°I don¡¯t know exactly what you saw, but I think I absorbed a bunch of Arc, and it jump-started my core formation. From there, some other stuff happened I didn¡¯t understand, and then I woke up here. How long was I out for?¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be. You touched the altar only ten minutes ago, and you were only out of it for a couple of minutes after that.¡± Ian¡¯s focus returned, and he scrutinized my expression. ¡°Core formation takes hours, days, years, not minutes,¡± he said while standing and brushing himself off. This is wild. We need to head back. We haven¡¯t missed the deadline, but we will cut it close. Follow me. We have a bit of a run.¡± ------ We began the long journey back. Running only took a fraction of my attention. Now alone with my thoughts, I couldn¡¯t help but try processing all I¡¯d been through. I had tapped into formidable new powers but knew that Hunger and all the other powers I was gaining were dangerous. I only hoped I¡¯d be able to understand and harness them to reach my future goals. I pondered the balance and silently prayed I would have the ability to harness these powers responsibly. I also considered some of my visions of the future. I¡¯d seen battles, wars, and enemies, and through all of them, I saw a way to persevere, which hinged on great power balanced by my will and drive to harness every power I acquired. Skit interrupted my musing.
Are you going to review your notifications?
Not a Chapter: Short Message In this story, Jordan is a cancer survivor and experiencing a great adventure. The MC gets his name from my younger brother. We never called him by his first name but used his middle name Jordan. Anyway, the reason I''m explaining this and using a post for it: On this day April 18, 2006 my brother took his life at the age of 19. Time has made the loss easier to bear but it still hasn''t gotten better and hurts. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. I''m left with so many questions and "what if''s?" Life, what if he were still alive? what would we do together? would he have a family? So thanks for letting me share and thanks for reading this and my story. It is a tribute to my bro. But also if you or anyone you know struggles with suicidal thoughts, I offer my time and conversation to you and them. Send me a direct message and I promise to respond and message back or set up a phone call. I don''t have all the answers and am not a miracle worker. But I am willing to talk and encourage. I''ve met many people since April 18, 2006 who have friends, family or they themselves struggle with the darkness that is suicide. It takes too many and I wish I could do more. Blessings to all of you and thanks for reading. I wish you all well and hope you never experience this sort of loss. Chapter 16: Results Have you ever had a moment when your brain seemed to slow to a halt? Or what about that time I copied the cliff notes into my essay because I procrastinated too long? That didn¡¯t end well. I feel like my brain is more fogged than usual. I understand cognitively, but I can¡¯t get past the haze. Jordan¡¯s Journal Entry after a week of taking the new medication and battling its side effects. ###### As Ian and I worked our way back to the Temporal Gate entrance point, I split my focus and decided to check out the notifications my AI, Skit, was tempting me to read. Please show me the most critical notifications in an easy-to-read summary. Core Formation Complete Core - Source-Body Core Formed Core - Physical-Body Core Formed Core Synergy Fusion Complete - Physical and Source Core Fusion Core Aspecting Complete Please give me more details on the Core and Aspecting. Here is a summary of multiple notifications in a more digestible form. Composed Hunger Core Background, Detail, and Conversions: Core Origin and Focus: Hunger rages with great power through your core. You desire, crave, and consume, yet that power is held in check by your opposing powerful desire for control, balance, and strength-which will not be ruled. Your tempered balance grants more significant control over the forces at your disposal; with time, you will find synergies between them. Advance your cultivation to increase synergy and the amplification of powers. ¡°There is no need for control in the absence of desire, but immense cravings are mastered with a composed temper,¡± Quote - Sage of the Peaceful Devourer. Explanation of Abilities: New Skill: Hunger Conversion. -You now harness the power of Hunger Conversion. -You now can gather directly from the Hunger Origin of the Bonds level of Source. - Additionally, you can now convert all forms of Arc and Zan gathered from the Bonds level to create or construct. The conversion rate is 0.001 Bonds level (6th level based on conversion tiers) unit of Arc or Zan to 1,000 Physical units (or 1 Bonds to 1,000,000 Physical units). Wait! This is a lot. What are the levels of Source again, and what is this about the conversions? I mentally yelled for Skit to show me more detail. Background Conversion Chart: Base - 1st Level of Source (1 base unit to 10 Physical units) Land - 2nd Level of Source Broken into three subcategories A. Field (1 Field unit to 100 Physical units) B. Kingdom (1 Kingdom to 1,000 Physical units) C. Affinity (1 Affinity to 10,000 Physical units) Empires - 3 Major level of Source (1 Empire unitto 100,000 Physical units) Bonds - 4th Major Level of Source (1 Bonds unit to 1,000,000 Physical units) Current Core Pool of Source: 50,000 Physical Units or 0.05 Bonds Units Skit¡¯s Commentary: For reference, your first sword took roughly 500 Base units to create. Your core increased your capacity by about 100 times, and your connection to the Hunger in Bonds level adds much more purified and condensed Source building blocks for you to work with. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Core gathering rate and capacity will increase with increases in cultivation. The following recommended step is to develop nodes and connect them with your core through meridians. Now, when cultivating and gathering, you fill your core exclusively with Bonds level Arc or Zan. Your core is System recognized as having the aspect - Composed Hunger. The known benefits to your core aspect are improvements when forming external Source Constructs like your original sword. Any future constructs will have increased density, durability, and longevity. We will need to uncover other benefits that are not listed in your notifications. I can speculate, but it will be necessary to experiment. In summary, you have a powerful new Core with a direct feed of better Source material. It would help if you learned to construct with your new source material, increase your core capacity, form nodes, and then meridians. You have a lot to do, and that¡¯s just considering your cultivation. We haven¡¯t even begun to mention your class or how your Zancara abilities will interact with everything you¡¯ve already experienced. Your Source projections you shot out from your weapons will also be more powerful. It¡¯s pretty exciting. I received the information from Skit, which was more akin to a massive download on a computer, but my conscience took more time to consider the data dump. I may have only taken a few steps, but I nearly tripped while thinking about everything I had just learned. Learning massive amounts of data is not the same as grasping it immediately. The notifications were technical and confusing, but I got the general idea. Despite getting all of the info nearly instantly, I realized my face was one of bewilderment. At that moment, Ian looked back, sensing my distraction and a change in my cadence. ¡°You alright?¡± He inquired. ¡°We should be there soon.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m still processing what happened. What did you think of my first delve with you? And what are you going to tell the Instructor?¡± I asked, keeping my notification details to myself. ¡°Well, you kept things interesting. I will need to tell Instructor Gamble everything. I can¡¯t leave out anything from my observations. Is there something else I should know? Or something you want to be added to that report?¡± Ian spoke over his shoulder, not slowing down or looking where he was going. ¡°No, you saw what I did,¡± I responded, trying to keep my secrets for now. Ian nodded and grunted his understanding, and we returned to our silent run. We returned to the portal and found many classmates loitering and quietly conversing. Instructor Gamble was seated in a relaxed pose, appearing to be in meditation, probably the reason behind the crowd¡¯s reserved mood. Whether from respect or intimidation, I couldn¡¯t tell, but the Instructor was giving off some strong Source vibes¡ªlike an aura of ¡°don¡¯t talk to me or risk getting smacked.¡± As we approached and slowed down, I saw the Instructor hop to his feet, eyes locked on me. ¡°Now that we are all back let¡¯s return through the portal,¡± our instructor ordered, not taking his eyes off me. He turned his head, and reluctantly, his eyes left me and took in everyone else. ¡°Class, you have 15 minutes to get cleaned up and out of the locker rooms. Understood?¡± He directed without yelling but in a way that left no room for discussion. Everyone, including me, began to move quickly to leave. ¡°Except for you two,¡± he spoke in a quieter tone, but there was a hint of warning as he pointed to Ian and me. The entire class turned to see the objects of the instructor¡¯s scrutiny. But they didn¡¯t pause when exiting the TG in a single file. After 30 seconds, we were the only three left on this side of the TG portal. ¡°Why is it that my assistant and his charge are the last to return?¡± ¡°Permission to provide a full report,¡± Ian snapped to attention as he spoke. ¡°Also, to do so privately.¡± I mirrored Ian¡¯s attention stance but broke the imitation to look over at Ian. Why is he excluding me from hearing his report? I couldn¡¯t help but wonder what he might say. I barely understood half of what happened in our delve. There was a lot I could gain from a debrief. ¡°Jordan, exit and wait on the other side of the portal. I¡¯ll be there shortly,¡± Gamble more calmly directed. I jogged over and left through the portal. I found the room empty, and I considered meditating for a moment to look over my core and plan out what node I could form first. But before I could take five steps or think where to sit to meditate, my delve partner and instructor Gamble both exited behind me. Oh yeah, the time dilation! I had forgotten we¡¯d spent a long time inside, nearly a day, but only an hour or so passed in real-world time¡ªsomething I will need to get used to. Ian walked past me and offered a silent smile. Gamble came to stand before me but waited for Ian to leave. ¡°Your Instructor¡¯s Assistant, Ian, filled me in on the delve. You had quite the first class. Essential items of note: You went to a temple, used an Arc sword projection while fighting, fought some enemies supposedly beyond your level, including a temple guardian, touched an altar, formed a core, and then had an uneventful return to the exit.¡° ¡°Anything else you want to add to that summation?¡± He kept a passive expression till the end when he raised his eyebrows as his invitation to respond. ¡°No, sir. That is an accurate description,¡± I maintained my posture and kept my answers short. Gamble stood there silently, expecting, but I didn¡¯t add to his summary. He finally broke his intimidating stare. ¡°Fine, keep your secrets. It¡¯s clear your core formation was not normal, and I want to know what happened from your viewpoint, but I won¡¯t demand you reveal something I don¡¯t have the right to force out of you.¡± ¡°That being said,¡± he continued, ¡°You now have additional homework. Between now and the next class, I want you to focus on integrating your physical combat and sword fighting with your new ability to project Source strikes. Don¡¯t use any of those strikes to spar with others until I direct otherwise. Additionally, you should talk to Eld about cultivation and the known progression. Do you understand?¡± I nodded once sharply in agreement. ¡°Summarize,¡± he directed. ¡°Integrate the Source strikes with my fighting and sword fighting, talk to Eld about cultivation progression, and don¡¯t use the Source strikes in sparring.¡± I summarized rapidly. Honestly, I¡¯m a little surprised at my summary. My mental capacity and processing were no longer the stuff of a teenager¡¯s brain. I had literal nanotech and system shenanigans, which made me more intelligent and cognitively capable. They were still my thoughts, but they felt sharper. ¡°That is all, get to your next class. You¡¯ll be late, but I¡¯ll communicate so they know to expect you soon. So don¡¯t take too long cleaning up.¡± I thanked him and walked toward my locker. I¡¯ve got some communications coming in for you. That¡¯s fine, but what¡¯s my next class? I questioned Skit. While I opened my locker, looking for a towel so I could shower, I thought through everything from my delve, noticing the dirt and grime on the top of my arm and hands. The rest of your day¡¯s class schedule has been canceled. You have 15 minutes to present yourself at the main Administration building, about a 14-minute jog from here. And yes, they were alerted you received this alert, and no, they won¡¯t allow you time to get cleaned up. How did they know I got the message? Do they have read receipts on their communications? No, I block read receipts, I figured you hated that sort of thing. But I sent a request back for additional time to get cleaned up. That request got an almost immediate denial. So I can¡¯t shower, change, or clean up at all? What happens if I ignore their urgency? There are many possibilities, but based on this message being copied to Eld, I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s important and that you should already be headed out the door and turning left. I¡¯ll give you the AR overlay showing where to go. I grumbled but complied. I had been ready to start peeling off the battle-tested, dirt and grit-covered gear but instead turned and jogged out the way I¡¯d entered. The locker room and gym were empty and silent save for my boots striking as I increased my pace to my next appointment. There are massive benefits to having an intelligent, friendly, and helpful A.I. in my brain. Still, I find myself wanting to wrestle with my thoughts and not always have a conversation about them, so I mentally thanked Skit for the updates, help, and directions to the meeting and asked for some silence before this next meeting. Chapter 17: Oversight It is not fun to grow up with every little thing being recorded. I mean, who wants their cancer-ridden body photographed? And why must everything be digitally saved on the glorious Internet? I know I¡¯m being cynical, but letting corporations or the government watch everything I¡¯ve ever done can¡¯t be good. I¡¯m sure I broke some laws already today, and I basically just sat around so far. Jordan¡¯s Journal Entry after seeing his mom post his picture on her social media ####### The route was easy to follow, and despite the busier pathways than when I arrived with Eld, they were spacious enough for me to sprint along. Based on the timer Skit had counting down, I arrived at the room I was directed to with about 37 seconds to spare. There was a waiting room. A receptionist smiled as she pointed to a chair, so I sat. As I lowered into the chair, the door leading past the receptionist opened. Eld and a middle-aged woman stepped out. They were both silent, and I rose to meet them. The woman reminded me of a combination of a wizard and an executive businesswoman. She had gold robes with runes etched in black along the trim that flowed over her shoulders down behind her and stopped at her ankles. Under those robes she wore over her upper torso, what I could only consider was this world¡¯s version of a business suit jacket. The more details I noticed, the more significant the difference I saw from Earth¡¯s business attire. Rather than being made of expensive and tailored material, I felt a palpable aura originated with the woman, but the suit added to her presence. She also wore a white silky blouse that matched her formal flat shoes. She had a light brown shade of skin and long black hair pulled tight behind her in a tail. Some functional differences to be more battle-ready. I thought to myself when I noticed she wasn¡¯t wearing matching high-heeled shoes. I must have taken a moment too long, taking in the woman¡¯s attire, as Eld cleared his throat to get my attention. ¡°Young man, there are times to admire beauty and times to fear burning your retinas looking too closely into a star,¡± she paused, her golden eyes piercing mine. ¡°Which of those two do you think this is?¡± I was captivated. I hadn¡¯t realized before when taking in all the attire she was adorned with, but this woman was beautiful. That beauty only paled compared to the now palatable aura of power she was beginning to direct at me. I wasn¡¯t thinking straight, but I responded anyway. ¡°Sometimes,¡± I paused, ¡°the view is worth the pain,¡± I fought not to smirk but looked away in slight embarrassment. Why did I say that? ¡°Quite a response from a student,¡± She laughed but caught herself. ¡°If delivered by someone closer to my age than to a newborn, I might blush. But coming from you, I feel a bit dirty. Sorry, not interested; let¡¯s go, Eld.¡± She continued past me out the way I entered this lobby, Eld following behind as I got the message and caught up with them. We walked in silence down several hallways. I was left with thoughts and guesses about who this was and what we were heading toward. No nameplate or description was on this woman¡¯s office lobby door. I had nothing to go on other than that Eld was here, following her in silence. We were waived through a security checkpoint that led to another hallway. At the end of the hallway was a prominent set of doors. We went to one next to the prominent ones at the end. The door she led us through was unlabeled and spaced about 20 meters from the other doors next to it in the hallway. We finally walked through another unlabeled door into a control room. The room was the size of the gym I had warmed up in earlier, but this one was filled with people working in front of monitors, each displaying scenes from various fights. On the largest screen, taking up half of the far wall in the room, was a first-person view from Ian¡¯s perspective. It was of me lying on the ground. Then, the image of him looking at my stomach changed to an almost colored X-ray or MRI-type view. My core began to grow at a ridiculous speed. There were units of measurement and other readouts on the side of the screen view corresponding to my core growth, heart, and respiratory rate, among others. I stopped reading as Eld nudged me to keep pace. We walked into a conference room where the image I¡¯d been watching was paused as I woke up. My eyes were the focus as the picture was zoomed in, and they were void of black, but interspersed in the black were lights dancing and twinkling like stars in a turning galaxy. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. ¡°Wow,¡± I whispered in genuine astonishment. ¡°Please have a seat, Jordan,¡± the woman tersely spun and waved toward the seat. We both sat opposite each other while Eld stood behind me, and two other men entered and stood behind the woman before me. ¡°We are all here and even showing you behind the curtain because you are already causing problems,¡± She paused, maybe hoping for a response. I chose not to take the bait. ¡°We are under pressure to bring you up to at least the first-year standards of a cadet both here and at the other academy. We have been given a deadline, yet you lack knowledge, experience, and political protection. Forces are conspiring to see you fail or worse. Others wish to see your uniqueness shine.¡± ¡°We have a new plan for your education,¡± she turned to the screen as it reversed to the image of my core formation. With a core and improved physique, you are ready for a different kind of training¡ªone unsuited for the political elite but more suited for you.¡± I held my tongue and judgment, but it felt like I was getting the boot from this prestigious academy. ¡°We have a program that runs parallel to this one to train the rest of the military. You have thus far met our future commanders, political leaders, and those who will hold powerful positions. Of course, many others fight to keep Arcana running smoothly. The regular army doesn¡¯t operate its training here, but one particular program runs nearby. We will be throwing you in the deep end, even more so than we have already. You will need to get through pain, difficulty, and challenges you have yet to experience. But you will do so with less intrigue and espionage, hopefully. You will also do so with men and women who will help with the challenge. ¡°What exactly is changing besides location?¡± I asked, hesitant to hear what exactly was changing. ¡°I¡¯ve read up on your planetary military history. The unit training you will join is akin to your world¡¯s special forces but during their boot camp. It starts in one week. Eld and one instructor will be getting you prepared. Don¡¯t waste this week. It would be best if you kept up, or this will waste everyone¡¯s time. And it will either cost you allies or help bring more to your side.¡± ¡°I want to grow stronger and learn to use my System powers. If this will help, I¡¯ll take this as a rare chance to get stronger.¡± ¡°Afterwards, depending on your performance, you will rejoin the academy or the military. A lot is riding on how you handle this.¡± She stood up abruptly. ¡°Eld will begin your training, and you will report to your new assignment in a week. Oh,¡± she waved to the screen with my image. We will be watching, so be careful.¡± I smiled as genuinely as I could. Eld pulled me along till I was walking next to him. He led me through the corridors and out of the administration building. He was silent the entire time. We walked silently to Eld¡¯s house, where I¡¯d been set up to stay. Once we crossed the threshold and the door shut behind us, he spun, and his eyes bore into mine. ¡°Quite the day, Jordan,¡± he laughed and then smiled. ¡°Would you like to begin training or prefer some time to yourself?¡± ¡°Suddenly, I get to choose?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but snark back. ¡°Jordan, I am here to help. You may have been ripped from your world and thrown here, but I am committed to helping you and have taken great measures to assist you. Granted, you haven¡¯t seen many of them. When the time comes, you will learn more. But yes, you have some choices. I will recommend and encourage where I can, but I will also need to be brutally honest and push you beyond your limits. Or next week, you will get destroyed.¡± That got my attention. ¡°Destroyed?¡± I questioned with surprise. ¡°Yes, the training you are about to enter is not as much academic as it is gladiatorial and designed to eliminate the weak. Not all of our military makes it to the training you are about to go through. It is a version of a boot camp and a crash course on special techniques that you will greatly benefit from. But I encourage you to lean less on your System and AI for the next week. You will be blocked from both once you enter the program in a week.¡± ¡°What? They can do that?¡± I was shocked. ¡°Yes, and they will temporarily stop incoming notifications and System communications. So try not to be dependent on them or even practice blocking your notifications.¡± I was still surprised by this news as Eld turned and waved me further into the mansion. ¡°What do you wish to do for the rest of the day?¡± ¡°I think I¡¯ll go to my room and meditate. I have much to process and understand about my core and its impact on me. But if I am up for it, could I enter the Gate in the garden later?¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised you are so eager to reenter after your last couple of experiences. But it¡¯s fine if you let me escort you,¡± Eld nodded. ¡°That sounds good; how do I contact you if I want to do that?¡± ¡°Just use your System communication to ping me,¡± he held up a hand. I said limit your use, but it¡¯s easier than tracking me down. Now go clean up and rest.¡± After my dismissal, I went upstairs to my room. I went to the bathroom, again surprised by the tub, and the whole room was immaculately clean. After my first time here, I still pictured it covered in my blood. I took a quick but relaxing shower. Until I remembered that a bunch of people in a room of displays were potentially watching me. I quickly stopped my shower and dried off. By the time I was done, I resolved not to think about it too much. If they were going to be pervy about it, what could I do? Make it awkward, or ignore it. For now, I¡¯d ignore it until it became a problem. Skit, sorry, I¡¯m going to ask you not to alert me to things unless they are critical. You heard what I¡¯m up against next week. I received silence in response. I suppose that¡¯s you starting the silent treatment. Well, thanks! It was time to explore the changes within me. What happened to my core? How will my gathering and shaping change? I folded my legs under me, got comfortable, and closed my eyes to picture my Spirit body and core. Chapter 18: Progress Physical therapy sucks! I understand I¡¯m not supposed to let my body wither away. But man, does the pain ever stop? I¡¯ll never be an ab model in a magazine. And I¡¯m okay with that. I wouldn¡¯t mind being able to run again, though. Jordan¡¯s Journal Entry after a particularly difficult physical rehab appointment ###### Settling into my posture for meditation, with my eyes closed, I allowed my body and mind to relax. Once I felt my muscles release tension, and my frustrations melt away, I started to mentally picture myself growing stronger. Taking that image of growth and strength, I dove deeper with the new ability I never had on Earth; I flexed my will to view the inner world of my Spirit. Just as my physical body has been remade throughout my recent journey, my Spirit was reborn. Looking around, I start to notice subtle changes and several drastic ones. What would my next steps in advancing be? Where do I begin? I know I need to create nodes or focal points for the channels to connect and flow around my body and Spirit, but beyond that, I don¡¯t know where to place them. I spent time letting my focus wander and exploring my Spirit body. It was fascinating for a guy from Earth who loved reading books, comics, and anime to live a life now filled with so many of those elements. I sat for years as a teen with a broken, cancer-riddled body, and now having superhuman strength, magic-like powers, and potential for so much more. The first change I noticed was the firmness and density I could perceive with my Spirit. It seemed dense, like a flexed muscle. The view was transparent, like an X-ray, and there wasn¡¯t much inside, but the feeling when I tried to press my senses through was thicker but yet supple, like ballistic gel¡ªthe type of thing people would shoot for target practice with guns to see how the bullets impacted. However, rather than gel, it was a swirling mix of black and gold Arc and Zan. In my Spirit, I could move the Arcana and Zancara around as if there were no resistance, yet their substance was thicker, like free-flowing honey. There were no channels, and I still didn¡¯t know why I needed them. Another noticeable change was that my core continually drew a slow trickle of Source in from outside my body. It wasn¡¯t visible when drawing from the Base Source level. From my notifications and Core integration, I knew that it was pulling from Hunger¡¯s level of Source, and it appeared directly in the Core inside me. My Core capacity felt almost topped off, and I wondered what would happen when it was filled. Would it continue to draw and then grow or condense? I felt the process wouldn¡¯t be passive, but I didn¡¯t know, so I¡¯d have to experiment and observe. I focused my will intensely on my Core as if I was zooming in and holding it firmly by my intention alone. I started to feel and sense the outside shell of the sphere. It was solid, and my senses were utterly blind to the interior. I tried harder but gained nothing that helped me peer into my core¡¯s depths. I only got an understanding of how full it was. Still, the core was mine; I had a deep connection to it that told me I had fully control and use of it. So it didn¡¯t matter too much to me that I couldn¡¯t understand everything about it yet. I pulled gently, willing my Core to gather. It responded to my desire without a moment of delay. The experience was different, though. Instead of the presence of Base-level spirit creatures, my vision was partially transported to the Source level of Bonds, where creatures like Hunger are called Authorities that embody a Law. I say partially transported because my Spirit wasn¡¯t there like before; just my mind became aware of the location inside Hunger I drew from. I was going to get a better understanding of Hunger in my quest for power. I had no doubt my fate was tied to that behemoth¡¯s, but I was still convinced I would be no one¡¯s slave or puppet. I would earn my place and power even if I were just an insect on the scales of power now. Someday, I would rise. For now, I was drinking from the Hunger udders and just praying it would strengthen me more than it poisoned me. My current sense of diving into Bonds and meeting Hunger also differed in that I wasn¡¯t Spiritually there at his Core, but it felt like I was in the outer realm inside Hunger¡¯s giant body. The creatures of the depths swam amidst Hunger¡¯s inner ocean, themselves subjects of and subject to Hunger¡¯s influence and power. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. I marveled at their size, remembering they, too, dwarfed me, and as I gathered, I watched them glide through the depths; most were sleek-bodied with jaws more enormous compared to their proportions than Earthly fish would possess. After a bit, I felt a fullness increase to the point I needed to stop gathering. My mental awareness returned to my Spirit body inside my personal Spirit Space. I was no longer gathering; I wasn¡¯t even accessing Base, the lowest level of Source, and I realized there were no Base creatures. I was alone with my Core and Spirit body floating in the peaceful nothingness of my inner world. My core glowed brightly, potentially an indication of it reaching a capacity. I didn¡¯t know but could only guess. So how do I grow beyond where I¡¯m at now, if I get kicked from gathering? This isn¡¯t exactly like the books I remember reading. There is so much to learn. After letting my senses in this place explore my body, I began to imagine what a mana circulatory system would look like. Veins to channel the mana like blood in the body? Or would they look entirely different, like circuits in a machine or plumbing in a building? Also, what would the nodes be for? Like gates to control the flow? Or would they be like electric generators at a dam? I considered asking Skit. I was honestly just guessing and groping in the dark. But there was still an excitement in me. A desire to grow, to learn, and to advance. I would need to put in time, effort, and work. No time like the present but I need to have some direction. I got up and stretched. Not knowing how long I¡¯d been meditating, I looked out the windows and saw the sunlight still shining. My best guess was I¡¯d been focused for an hour, but hiding my system and not seeing a clock around, I wasn¡¯t sure. Skit, I know I said you were on a break, but could you send Eld a message? Tell him I would like to train. I didn¡¯t receive a reply but took the time to change into training clothes in my room. Before I could bug Skit about his silence and ineffectiveness, I heard a knock at my door. It was Eld, who I followed down and out to the garden. ¡°Eld, I apologize, but my AI has taken my request to be silent rather seriously. I didn¡¯t know if my instructions for a message to you were ever sent.¡± ¡°My reply was simply to wait for here, so there is no need to worry. But your AI seems to be executing your original request very strictly. You might try to alter that request until the time becomes essential next week. Minimize your reliance but not yet cut it off completely,¡± Eld advised as he led the way into the garden. I went to the chest with gear to enter the TG. ¡°No need for the gear. I¡¯m going to train you to create some of your own. Typically, this would come later, but I can sense your Core is formed, and I believe you should be able to form a stable enough construct to protect yourself,¡± Eld explained and waived for me to stand in the sand. I followed his direction. This is what you will work towards. Standing a little away, I watched an unmoving Eld leak Arcana from his body. Slowly, at first, it seemed to ooze out of his body, like a golden sweat that pooled and clung to his form. Then he quickened the outpouring, and the depth increased on top of his body. Soon, he was covered, head to toe, in a golden liquid. Suddenly, the shiny, reflective liquid went dull and matte. The smooth liquid formed into angles that looked like a futuristic version of a knight, very similar to an anime power suit. He grew in height from roughly six feet to about 8 feet as the amor grew to encapsulate his form. He turned side to side, showing me the amor from different angles. Then he squatted down and jumped up 5 meters in the air, doing a flip and landing back on the ground. ¡°You are welcome to try for yourself, or if you have questions, you may ask them now or after you make your attempt,¡± Eld spoke, his voice projecting as if nothing was covering his face. The spectacle was exciting for me to see. I had been seeing sight after sight of new and powerful abilities. Yet seeing Eld ¡°suit up¡± so quickly and in a form that exuded a powerful presence left me like a little boy seeing his action hero become real. Eld kept his armored form but took a seat before me. ¡°Begin with picturing your Spirit,¡± Eld instructed me. ¡°Once you see your Spirit form, imagine it wrapped in a malleable layer of Arcana, like a thin bubble clinging to your body.¡± I closed my eyes and quickly saw my Spirit. Then I imagined the Arcana inside leaking like sweat through my form¡¯s surface. It was working just as I imagined, not taking any additional will to form. The drops clung to me and collected in pools that started gathering and connecting. The gold fluid flowed like mercury on my skin, both in the Spiritual view and on my physical body. ¡°Now, increase the volume and add structure, starting at your feet. Firmly picture boots over one foot at a time,¡± Eld said, guiding me. With my eyes shut, I could still sense my physical body and not be too distracted to follow my mentor¡¯s guidance. I increased the Arcana and pictured a boot solidifying around my right foot. I smiled as it slowly formed, and I felt my foot lift off the ground an inch, then two as the boot formed under and around my foot. I suddenly leaned slightly to my left and tried to catch my balance by quickly matching my left foot with a boot. Unfortunately, I was too slow and began to fall over. Losing my concentration, the Arcana also lost cohesion and fell away from my physical and spiritual bodies. In the real world, the Arcana quickly vaporized, like mist in the wind, before I even caught myself as I fell to the ground. My strength and reflexes were still beyond human limits, and I landed in a balanced single left-handed pushup. I used my left hand to spring up to my feet. I was frustrated, but not enough to diminish the excitement of what I could hope to do soon. Standing there bouncing from the ball of one foot then the other, my smile only grew. This is so freaking amazing! Yeah, I failed that attempt but I¡¯ve got time. Chapter 19: Stretch ¡°I still wish I could add some muscle. I¡¯m a walking skeleton right now. I will never know what it feels like to run. I mean, I get winded getting off the couch to use the toilet.¡± Jordan Journal Entry, age 15 ###### ¡°That was a good start,¡± Eld encouraged after my failed attempt. ¡°Why was that so much harder than when I so easily formed a sword?¡± I began questioning the differences and hoped Eld could save me some guesswork. ¡°Did you intend to increase the density or power of the Arc you were using?¡± Eld questioned, ¡°The sword you formed was Base-level Arc. What you formed just now was magnitudes greater in potential, density, and power. With what you just showed, there will be challenges for your creations unless you learn to harness will and control your intent. ¡°Your creation and flow were fine, but your lack of imputed will and purpose will keep you from harnessing that level of powerful Arc,¡± Eld¡¯s armored form held his chin in one palm in thought. ¡°Can you decrease the power? Try again and create with less power and density. That should result in lower-level Arcana this time,¡± Eld instructed as I reset and tried again. This time, I focused on weakening the Arc. I now only have access to condensed Arc from a greater Source depth, resulting in a much more powerful Arc. Maybe I could dilute it or cast it in a thinner layer and still get the benefits without the bulk, and hopefully, I would not have to use as much. That would also allow for a greater amount of control. My thoughts were distracting from the work. I started wondering about mixing Zan but stopped my train of thought before Eld grew impatient. I began to leak my dense Arc around me, but rather than let it pool, I attempted to impose my will on what was already around to have it cover my body but not pull anymore. I wanted it to stretch and spread thinner. At first, it wasn¡¯t working, but like a seldom used muscle, it was a struggle to exert willpower. I kept my focus and sharpened my desire and mental image. It started to form. Although I had a clear picture, the result was not what I¡¯d imagined. I got a lattice or spiderweb of Arc connected across my body. I couldn¡¯t fully form it in a thin layer but could at least stretch it in angled strands to partially cover me in a web. ¡°You at least can manipulate what Arc you have. Your Arc is still too much for what I think you can control. Why don¡¯t you try consolidating what you have formed into a smaller surface area? Try pooling it into one solid shell over your chest. You might have enough to create a vest over your torso. My web of stringy Arc began to pull together as it crept towards my torso. First, falling from my head and congealing on my chest, then I focused, pulling from my feet up. I eventually had enough from my webbing, now forming a chest piece clinging without support to the front of my chest. So, despite gravity, it adhered effortlessly to me. The piece of Arc was smooth but lacked any texture or detail. It was a pool of fluid shaped like a square but contoured to my chest, centered over my heart, and only about a foot to each side. ¡°Before you create any more or solidify what you have already, try liquifying what you have to sink through your clothes and cling to your skin. I did as instructed and felt the fluid as I focused on moving beneath the fabric of my clothes. ¡°Good. Use your will to shift the liquid Arc to a solid one. Like a form-fitting chest piece, an extension of your body. It shouldn¡¯t hinder your movement at that size, and no one will see it under your clothes. If you add more, ensure there are gaps, or see if you can make flexible joints as needed. You will need to work on this and test if you will need to maintain focus or if you can imbue enough will to keep it in place despite your focus or even consciousness.¡± The liquid solidified as I focused. I opened my eyes and lifted my shirt collar. Seeing the plate of solid Arc, less than a quarter inch of material sticking out from my skin. I began to move around and noticed my movement was slightly hindered.I could still crunch forward as the plate stopped where my ribs did, but I had lost the ability to twist fully, and some other motions felt restrained. ¡°Don¡¯t be discouraged; that is a good start. That plate should stop most blunt or piercing damage from other people or creatures at your level. If you can learn to cover yourself in an entire suit of that density, you should be able to defend and fight well above your current combat ability. Or at least survive hits beyond what your current power level would suggest.¡±Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Thank you,¡± I sincerely spoke, ¡°I have so much to learn, and this seems like something I should focus on.¡± ¡°You are welcome,¡± Eld didn¡¯t smile, but his stoic face softened. ¡°Take some time to focus on maintaining what you¡¯ve created. You need it to last to be effective. Eventually, you need to form it in an instant. I¡¯ll give you some space and mediate nearby. Only get me when you are ready for the next step in training. But at most, I¡¯ll give you 2 hours.¡± Eld turned, walked a little ways off, and lowered himself into a meditative pose. I closed my eyes and did the same. I began to explore the chest plate I¡¯d made in my Spirit Space. I pushed my will and senses into every inch of it, slowly mapping it into my mind. I chose to start adding texture on the exterior side. To help me remember the creation, I drew lines from the front surface. I formed it into four equal squares, then divided those into four each. Now I had sixteen. I felt stupid, but I numbered each one. One through sixteen. Maybe that would help me in some way. Once I knew every part of the 16 squares, I tried to infuse them with my will. Impressing the idea of permanence and protection. After ten minutes of focus and mental effort, I relaxed and opened my eyes. I knew I needed to test my attempt at permanence. I transitioned into a pushup position and did several, then I jumped up and did a few squats and then a few burpees. I tried to remove my focus from my creation and hummed a song. In the middle of my third set of burpees, I put too much thought into remembering some lyrics and stopped after I popped up to my feet. I realized I had lost my focus on the chest plate. It took me that long because it¡¯s hard not to think about something you tell yourself not to think about. I couldn¡¯t help but crack a smile. The plate remained precisely where I¡¯d left it. Now the question remained: could I add to it, or was I better off just allowing my Spirit to maintain what I already have? Who am I kidding? I dropped to the ground and reentered my focused meditation. I was going to add to this. I wanted my full suit of armor. At the two-hour mark, Eld walked over and found me so focused that I hadn¡¯t noticed his arrival. I came out of focus after adding short boots and matching bracers over the top of my forearms. I had tried for gloves, but keeping them flexible proved too much for me now. And when I tried using small pieces, I lost my focus, and they evaporated. But the good news was that my former creation of the chest plate remained as I¡¯d left it. That¡¯s when I focused on the boots. They were much easier to form and keep in place while I sat. But I wouldn¡¯t be happy till I could create it all fast enough to be helpful in battle and have it survive the fight. What¡¯s that quote? A plan never survives enemy contact. I was hoping my armor wouldn¡¯t collapse at the first punch I took. Seeing my focus return to the physical world, Eld cleared his throat. ¡°Well done. We will see how it holds up. But that is great progress in such a short time. I want you to attempt to maintain what you have during the next stage of training. When we get to a mindless exercise, I¡¯d like you to attempt adding more armor. Meditation and focus on Spirit don¡¯t need to be exclusive to when your eyes are closed.¡± ¡°Now follow my example as I take you through the standard stretches and warmup. This will help as everyone in your upcoming training already knows them and has completed them multiple times daily for years. So use whatever System assistance you have to ingrain these into muscle memory. The sooner you do, the better because this is only the precursor to your training.¡± The next several hours were a crash course on stretching. It involved running and body movement to warm up my muscles and body. Followed by a long series of stretches that reminded me of martial arts and gymnastics. I was surprised that my improved body and mind were up for the challenges. I was filled with energy. I never got tired, my breathing was calm, and my flexibility and strength regularly surprised me. I was graceful enough that even in shock at remembering that I used to be weak and helpless, I never fell or stumbled. My focus and mental clarity were just as surprising, and my cognitive improvements drastically helped me ingrain the movements into my body. Skit had been cranking up my mental capacity to ingrain everything. But I¡¯d asked him not to maintain my armor as I wouldn¡¯t have any system help after this week. Yet three hours later, there were regular lapses in my focus on the armor, and it remained intact. ¡°Alright,¡± Eld stopped the last dynamic motions, ¡°that is the third rotation of the first forms. I want to see you complete them twice more at the same smooth speed. But I want you to add more pieces to your armor while you do that. I can see you still have the boots after all of that. But they look a little different.¡± ¡°Oh, yeah,¡± I remembered deciding my first iteration of boots had too many sharp angles. It felt like a ski boot and restricted my ankles. I was able to add the first joints filled with flexible portions to connect the solid ones. I don¡¯t know how protective they are, so I kept them small and overlapped some of the joints with solid pieces.¡± ¡°Impressive,¡± Eld nodded as he encouraged my rapid progress. ¡°If you need a moment, take a breather, but I expect you to begin in ten minutes.¡± I wasn¡¯t winded, but I still took the ten minutes to keep my eyes open but build a gauntlet over my right hand. Finding success in the joints of the boot made it easier, but after ten minutes, I realized I had a ways to go. There were so many more joints, and the range of motion with my fingers was too important to have, restricting my grip or movement. Without waiting on Eld, I started the first of the forms. Once I smoothly moved through the different motions and transitions, I began splitting my focus and working on the gauntlet. After completing the first form rotation, I decided I wanted flexibility more than absolute protection. I kept the Arc very flexible and only made limited portions solid. I contemplated adding claws, and I wondered about plans to create three claws a foot long like a comic book hero I admired. But for now, I continued towards a complete battle suit of armor. By completing the second and hopefully final round, I had both gauntlets and the top of my torso covered. It wasn¡¯t as good as I wanted it, but I did find that I could impute my will for permanence now with a simple mental command, and if I wanted to make changes, that was just as simple as reverting the solid to liquid form and restarting on that section.