《Amateur Mad Scientist Isekai》 Chapter 0: Prelude to Foundations Deep underground in the main control centre, I otherwise known as Number 551 is manning the control console. The room is a small square room with the teleport-escape pods and elevator surrounding the outside of the room. Only a single overhead light and several red alarm lights spinning. The Imperial Alert we ¡°stole¡± from Star Wars rings out, warning us of what¡¯s going on upstairs on ground level. There are several tables around the room, manned by the Clones of the one nicknamed Mr Original, Number 0. We all look the same; 6ft3, white, dark hair, some of us are fitter than the other and some other minor differences, a beard here, bad haircut there. But all of us wear our uniform, a dark blue uniform with golden buttons and accents at the edges. The image of Earth on our right sleeve. Dust rains down from the stone roof, massive explosions sound from far above, the safehouse is under attack, pressing on a crystal embedded into the table a holographic display appears. Beam attacks charged by Mana slam into the force shield, the fusion generator has been activated and the shields will hold for some time. But the enemy is many, it will not hold for long. Number 553 is manning a communication array, dozens of crystals embedded into another table, listening to a conversation on his headset. ¡°Number 1, we have reports coming in from all bases, all the safehouses are under attack. Word from HQ is that the Round Robin Teleport contingency has been activated. Teleportation of HQs facilities to SHQ to begin in three E-Minutes! Code 0, Repeat: Code 0!¡± This is the worst case scenario, they have found our main base! Even further underground is a massive teleportation array that will teleport each of HQs rooms and gear to the SHQ via each safehouse in a seemingly random pattern before being teleported to SHQ. A security measure that we have confirmed to work in our testing of the Institute Powered Array, it should be completely undetectable and give us a chance to rebuild. I turn to Number 552, ¡°Number 2, do we have enough Mana for the Round Robin and Defences?¡± Number 2 looks up at me from his console next to me, ¡°Maybe just enough, Round Robin should only take 5 Earth Minutes. Point Defence is eating though our mana supplies though.¡± ¡°Increase output of the Fusion Generator, begin Round Robin setup, we have almost two E-Minutes left before it begins! Get to it people!¡± Number 554 is now manually updating the shield strength to conserve our mana, Number 555 is activating the safehouse self-destruct. We should be able to get out with the escape pods that line the walls. ¡°This should not be possible, only us Clones know the location of all the safe-houses. How the hell did they coordinate this?¡± Number 555 is quite right, the safehouses are a closely guarded secret. ¡°We¡¯ll just have to hope not all the safe-houses have been compromised, especially the escape-houses. Number 3?¡± I ask turning to 553. ¡°Comms down, we¡¯re being jammed. Last Comms was that all active safe-houses were compromised, no word about the escape-houses but it is suspected that they are safe.¡± Number 555 looks up, ¡°They should be, only one Clone and Kage pair made those Land-Wide. It¡¯s not possible that those got found. Not yet anyway.¡± ¡°Round Robin in T minus 30 E-seconds, teleport platform engaged!¡± Number 552 has kick started the process till then we just need to ¡°Number 1! They know something is happening! They are increasing their fire power, and directed towards us!¡± Number 555 yells as more explosions are heard, a massive explosion rings out. ¡°Dammit!¡± yells number 554, ¡°They got an attack through the shields, significant damage to the house and the beams are digging into the underground. That shielding won¡¯t hold it!¡± ¡°Increase shield strength! Give me everything, divert all power to only the array and shields.¡± Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Doing it¡± replies Number 554, ¡°even the point defence?¡± he asks. ¡°We¡¯re not getting out of here lads, give me escape pod and life support power as well. Zero can bring us back at SHQ.¡± The room is silent for a moment aside from the explosions and alarms, ¡°Understood.¡± 554 replies, ¡°Diverting power.¡± ¡°Shields at full strength, we might last just longer than 5 minutes.¡± ¡°Self Destruct Number 5?¡± I ask, ¡°Set, it will go off the moment after Round Robin. It will fill this entire safe-house and all levels with concrete, an explosion will destroy the array before that happens.¡± 555 replies, dejected. ¡°Got it, Number 2, your progress?¡± I ask 552. ¡°Going good, Round Robin in progress. Eta 4 minutes till complete.¡± ¡°Prepare for self destruct gentleman.¡± I press some crystals on my console and I pull up both the outside camera and teleport array. I can see the teleport happen again and again, dozens of rooms converted into energy at HQ, teleported into our array and moved onto the next array. Dozens of forwarding stations like this one and others even smaller are doing this for all of the rooms. We watch as every other second a new room or part of a room appears and disappears. Meanwhile the outside camera is showing nothing but the different Powers smashing into the shields, through the smoke and overtaxed shields glowing a red orange we can see more and more people standing behind them. Number 552 interrupts the silence of the explosions ¡°Round Robin about to complete, estimated 1 minute left.¡± he says silently, solemnly. ¡°Good to know. Number 5, how long would we have?¡± Number 555 looks away from the hologram and looks me hard in the eyes, it¡¯s always a strange feeling, looking into your own eyes. ¡°When the base starts filling with concrete, we¡¯ll have about 20 seconds before the whole base is solid again. During that time the explosives will take out the array and any equipment we have.¡± ¡°Thank God we have no Kage on our team, they would never get out of here.¡± Adds Number 553 who¡¯s been silent this whole time. Yes, if the Kage were on our team we would not be able to get them out of here. They would be trapped in the solid concrete. Those last seconds feel like an eternity, I never really understood that saying myself. I know Number Zero did but I, 551 haven¡¯t you know. It¡¯s almost like I could see each grain of dust falling from the roof, I can see each detail of the room and the other clones. Number 552, our Engineer. Number 553, our Comms Officer. Number 554, Tactical Officer. Number 555, our security and espionage officer. And myself, Number 551, leader of this tiny cog of a grand machine, an alliance of so many but so few. ¡°Number 3, are we able to transmit a message to the enemy above us?¡± I ask quickly. ¡°Um, yea, we should be able to just fine. Why?¡± he replies as he lifts his head from his hands. ¡°Just do it, put it through to my console.¡±, ¡°Number 1, what are you doing?¡± asks 555. ¡°Sending them a message.¡± I press a crystal on my console which acts as a mike, a console that will soon detonate. ¡°20 seconds boss¡± says Number 552 quietly. I hear a click, like a radio ready to transmit. ¡°Army of the Institute, I am Number Five Five One of this base. Your attack on this base and our other bases just proves everything we were saying about the poison that is the Institute Leaders.¡± ¡°In less than 15 seconds this base will self destruct, you will never find us again, but we will rise. Justice, Will, Prevail!¡± ¡°Ten Seconds!¡± yells 552, unheard by the Institute Army. ¡°Rise! Rise OutWolders of Land! The Battle is Lost but The War will be WON!¡± I yell into the crystal. The attack, the explosions have stopped. A counter for the last five seconds is showing on the hologram screen, about to start. ¡°What do you think?¡± I ask them. ¡°4 out of 10, not your best¡± replies 553 with a smile and a chuckle from the others. Always good to have humour in these situations. We are silent, truly silent. I look over my men, my team. We will return to life, of that there is no worry, but we will not fully be ourselves. This life, how did it come to this? We were just a simple guy only a few years ago and an even more simpler guy years before those. The counter ticks down, the last moments of Security Team Echo being held deep underground. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. The explosion deep in our consoles and equipment destroys our base, the recreated high explosive that the RnD Team was working on works well. The explosion throws us against the walls and takes us, concrete starts pouring in from vents in the roof and floor. We poof back into the smoke that makes up our being, I think back, back to how all this mess started¡­ Chapter 1: Weight loss While some people say describing a scene as ¡°It was a dark and stormy night¡± is overdone, when there is no other way to describe the scene it''s quite fitting. And so on this dark and stormy night in Sydney Australia, Michael Hayes was walking to his car, parked under a tree. He had just completed a St John event in Sydney Olympic Park, volunteering as First Aid at events is fun but some of these events go on for ages. Like this indoor gymnastics competition that has gone on for 12 hrs straight and Michael had been there the whole 12 hrs to get his numbers up as he needs to do at least 60 hrs in a year. It''s finally finished and after saying goodbye to his friends and the organiser who came by to say thanks he heads to his car. The sky is overcast with lightning and thunder sounding off quickly, the storm is right overhead. Probably not a good idea to park under a tree he thinks. Luckly it''s late and while he''s tired, home is not far away. He nears the tree. First Aid bag held tight to his overweight chest, hunched over the umbrella to protect the accident forms that need to be handed in while awkwardly patting his pockets for his keys, he feels the hairs on his neck stand at attention. And just like a bolt of lightning a sound strikes! Lightning has struck a light post at the other end of the carpark. Bright, blinding white as the rain picks up. Startled Michael drops the bag ¡°Oh crap that¡¯s not good¡± and immediately starts to jog back toward the building entrance where he can see some of the other First Aiders from the late shift waving him over to come inside, water splashing and drenching through his green uniform. As he nears the doors, no more than 10 metres away he feels it again, that charge in the air. Lightning will strike any secon¡­ It strikes, Michael was still carrying his umbrella. Close to him to help keep the rain off not thinking it could draw the lightning despite talking about it earlier that day when the storm came in. The only thing that Michael feels is the sharp pain of every muscle contracting at once before the light disappears, the only sound he would have heard was the crack of thunder and the screams of people¡­ Michael has died. Waking up, Michael was feeling like crap¡­ Like all his energy was taken from him, every atom in his body was screaming out in pain at the wrongness. Groggily he cracks open an eye, covered in sleep and feeling cold water from a damp cloth on his head move down his face he sees, not his bedroom, not a hospital or ordinary roof but. A wooden roof? With rounded beams like the inside of a log cabin. Using all his meagre strength to turn his head to the side, looking toward a wooden door cracked open and a mug of hopefully water sitting at the bedside table he tries to move his arm but no luck. Even turning his head is too much for him. ¡°Where the hells am I?¡± he thinks, ¡°I was just at the Gymnastics event¡­ I don¡¯t remember anything after saying goodbye. I need to get someone''s attention.¡± Taking in a deep breath, shallow compared to what he''s used to, he lets it out to softly moan in the direction of the door he¡¯s still facing. There¡¯s someone there! The soft patter of feet running on wood turns out to be a small child, no more than 14 or 15? I¡¯m not sure, wearing a un-collared white shirt that''s been dirtied by dirt probably. ¡°Maybe he doesn''t realise I¡¯m awake.¡± he thinks and lets out another soft and laboured moan. ¡°Eidiue!, Ebo!, sni eiueiei ebtrou yii einiiwaiwinuili!¡± Well, that¡¯s not English. Where the hell am I? This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. At the kids calling Michael hears a door open and in from another room or outside rushes in two older people, probably parents to the kid. I¡¯m horrible at guessing ages so I¡¯m gonna say they are in their 40s until they or someone tells me otherwise. All three have almost similar features making me think they are either a family or related in some way with all of them having a white tanned skin, brown hair (greying at the edges for the guy who''s also in a white shirt but much dirtier) and tall with sharp, fit faces and frames. The adults are at or over 6ft, at least from this angle I think, it''s hard to tell. Immediately the woman, dressed in a blue gown that wouldn¡¯t look out of place in some of those old 18th century photos of the average person hurries over, lifts my head up and places the mug to my mouth. Yes! Water! Cool and refreshing like nothing else, my body thirsting for it like I''ve lived in a desert all my life and never saw a drop of that glorious, amazing water! As I drink she quickly pulls it away to stop me, miming to take small sips and saying ¡°Jajsk skau kiiaascr yf okuwi aiilu aifrei cryp ouze ub ghki neq! uwi yp, uiior vev iebrie.¡± I have no clue what shes saying by I can guess by the miming to take sips only, taking only a small sip she nods and sets me down saying to the man ¡°Dxj equba oiaki Kiiref Rath, holdibyl einiiwaiwinuili yp opku onkipeta sskkii iiukuiuaki. Opku pniki ypue scvo, holdibyl oyna opku skipeta!¡± ¡°Uwi, aidy oebi ski ila¡±. And at that he leaves, wonder what he''s doing. More importantly I just realised something. Why am I not freaking out? Like I¡¯m at Olympic Park and now here, something screwy is going on and I¡¯m obviously not ok so why am I here? The kid whispers something to mum(?) and she nods, letting him come closer. With the water making things easier to speak a little I say in a very sore tone. ¡°Hi¡± He obviously is not expecting this as he immediately jumps bringing a smile to my lips with mum letting out a little giggle. Next she says something else while bringing out a square mirror. ¡°Dxj ouilidepe aifrei vev Kiiref, eiku sni yckap aifrei thla iiiler cri oatre uiogo dxwoi. Ub aika tkikipeta equoi oebi iiwukiopte ila. Equi aifrei ieiili cri pniki ypue satni?¡± Ending the sentence with a gesture to the mirror, ah asking if I want a look? I nod and¡­ Hey I nodded, I¡¯m getting somewhere now! Next thing you know I will stand up and¡­ Or so I thought, my thoughts interrupted by seeing my reflection in the mirror. I¡¯m¡­ thin, like horror movie, concentration camp thin. I can almost see each bone and tendon, my face is as sunken as a shipwreck and my hair and nails are, paradoxically normal length. Ok either I thinned out and kept the same hair and nail length or someones been cutting them. Again, why am I so calm? She¡¯s about to say something after seeing my widening eyes but hears the door opening again from the other room. As us three turn to face the door a familiar man comes into sight. The guy who just left is back with another guy in fancy looking robes and yet another in a grey coat and bag appear behind him. ¡°Acesopeta blu oucr carai maiodepe ypue sni cioiniki, oucr crix aiphei oecas qy planuhaz so.¡± says the father gesturing to the two of them. Both giving a friendly wave with mum saying something under breath. Probably that was quick or something¡­ Pulling the kid aside and letting them in, the guy with the bag comes right up and starts looking over me. Upon closer looking that cloak of his is filled to the brim with tools, what they are or what they do I¡¯ve got no clue. He''s similar to the family, (very sure they are a family now) with a slightly lighter tanned skin and a bit less fit but similar features. It''s the other guy in the fancy robes that''s the outlier. Short blond/grey hair with glasses, pale skin like he would get sunburnt via candle and an light brown librarian looking robe, faded in spots. Almost like a kimono, while the cloak guy is bent over me, the robe guy stands at the end of the bed and looks right at me. After a head twitch that looked like a nervous tick he smiles and says in a very rough version of English. ¡°Hello Michael, my name is Abcier. A local priest of Knowledge, you must have several questions but don''t be alarmed. All will be answered once you are well enough to talk and stand once the doctor is finished with you. Oh and also, magic is real here.¡± Chapter 2: I dont remember a truck anywhere. After that last, what''s probably a very critical thing to handwave away is said, Grey Coat Guy pulls out one of those tools and points it at my chest. At once the tip glows and a red hue appears from my body. It''s weird, my stomach is filling up, like I''ve just eaten a good meal, and a tingling radiates from it outwards. My skin stretches, filling out my frail frame somewhat till the light fades and a click is heard from the tool. Grey Coat Man, the superhero that he is (Man I feel good) takes out a small box from the thin tool and replaces it with another. Might be a magic battery but no time for that now I feel like I can sit up and talk now. ¡°Wow, that was cool. Also!¡± Taking in a very deep breath, then Michael speedily adds ¡°Who are you, what was that, where am I, what''s going on?, you said magic? What was that thing? Who are these people? Where am I?¡± pointing to each thing and person as he said it. ¡°Hahaha, there will be time for that in a moment. Before I continue, would you like some food?¡± ¡°Umm, yes, please and thank you.¡± Guestering to get up, Michael tries and finds that while he may need a hand he can at least balance enough to stand up, getting help to walk out the door from Grey Coat Man and into a dining room with a large table and chairs around it. ¡°Anything in particular? We can''t cook you meals that you''re used to but something light, meaty, fruity?¡± ¡°Oh just anything will be fine, with water please¡± hurriedly adding that last part. Sitting down near the head of the table he hears Abcier say to the family ¡°Scna equoi oebi uwi yp, equna aifrei cryp scvo ucohiieki ewiki cri eili opku lipkub amiiki kolaili?¡± They nod and they each get to work grabbing dishes, food and more of the glorious water, long live the water! The food is¡­ food I suppose, it has the consistency of a porridge and looks like one. But what are those chunks in it? ¡°Those are fruit by the way, this is Eafho Ciakohi Ieoinaki, or Fruity Milk Porridge in English. '''' said Abcier. His English is weird, like he doesn''t know it and he''s just repeating the sounds, like a non English speaker hearing and repeating it for the first time. Digging in (thankfully the utensil is a normal looking metal spoon and ceramic bowl) the food tastes amazing! Rich and Fruity are words that don''t do it justice, it''s like a mix between a pineapple and oat porridge, but not quite. After chowing down for a minute and finishing very contently I look over to the family and Gray Coat Man who I realised is actually Dr Gray Coat Man. I look at each of them, including the kid, smile and nod telling Abcier ¡°Can you tell them I wanna say thanks for looking after me and healing? me.¡± ¡°Of course, and you''re somewhat correct with healing. Basically Dr Rath added some food to your stomach and then quickly broke it down and sent the vitamins and fats into the body using magic. Basically a quick way to process foods¡± ¡°I see, I think. You said magic is real right, and you''re a Priest of Knowledge? What does that mean? Actually scratch that, how did I get here?¡± Abcier quickly says ¡°Scna cwikipeta cri ikiathu yski aika qyd pnikidepe dawuku scvo opku baoawuiuialuilidepe scvo. Yp aidy equoi iiwuki lipkub okki scky tkikipeta vev iebrie. Yski aifrei ub neq.¡± to the family and Doctor before turning back. ¡°Yes, that is correct. In short you had somehow been transported from your world into ours, we call this the ¡°Crossing¡±, but something went wrong as you arrived earlier today in your current state.¡± ¡°Transported? Are you kidding me, I got Isekaied? I don¡¯t remember a truck hitting me!¡± ¡°Isekaied? Truck? I don¡¯t understand your meaning but from what we know your body was hit by a lightning bolt, which killed you. Your body is probably still there but a copy or duplicate was made and arrived here. In a sense you were Faxed or Telegramed to another world.¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Staring blankly faced at him for a moment he added ¡°And like I said there is also magic, there is a field of energy that all things can interact with at some level and is described like an Ether or Dense gas where it becomes denser the deeper you go. Magic here is¡­ Sorry I should give you a moment to think about that.¡± ¡°Um, yea so I am dead. That''s, yea ok, ok um. Why don''t I feel like, i don¡¯t know sad or something, why are my thoughts almost muted?¡± ¡°Yes, you see that is in part due to another of the gods of this world. Creature, a god and wonder worker of biology is helping with that. We normally would not be but, as I said, something went wrong. In the 120,000th of a second after your arrival you were detected by the gods and they fixed your body before the energy field which I believe you would call mana would affect your body in negative ways. I have a list with me of the changes made but in short, your body was so badly damaged it''s a wonder they got you stable enough. The mental damp your feeling is to help your mind get used to working with the newer body. Like I said, they fixed it the best they could but your body still needs some time to adjust. I must stress that no other effects are placed on you and the damp will wear off in a few days. Of that you have my word.¡± ¡°I see, I suppose. What fixes, what did they change when I arrived?¡± ¡°I have a document here for you that outlines it, translated into English for you.¡± The document was a small binder with a brown cover, like a manila folder tied with string. Opening it I can see several pages, luckily my better than average medical knowledge might come in handy? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crossing & Arrival of Michael Hayes 10:13:35 pm (AEST) 21/May/2024 AD - 6:89:99 EII (SWGI) 17th-Triloth-3407 LDII List shortened for brevity, full list provided in later pages, 3D models available at request. Simplified for understanding Damage due to lightning: Severe Burns (+80%), Cardiac arrest, Overloaded Pain Receptors, Stroke, Perforated ear drums, massive damage to brain, etc. Damage due to Crossing: 10% of blood changed into Chlorocruonin blood (Green blood). 30% of blood changed into Hemocyanin blood (Blue blood) 40% of blood changed into Hemerythrin based blood (Purple blood) 20% of blood carbonised (Became rocky/solid) 100% of blood and body extremely irradiated. Severe genetic mutations. 80% of body contained some form of tumour or other genetically mutated defect. etc. Temporal Anomalies: 50% of internal organs reverted to pre-pubescent age. Right arm reverted to fetal stage. From waist down increased age to 1000+ years old. etc. Spatial Anomalies: Warping of bodies flesh over 30% of body. Spaghettification of legs (+20m). etc. Changes: Repairs made and additions added based upon Knowledge¡¯s learning of Michael¡¯s memory upon arrival and survivability: Added ¡°Well¡± and ¡°Mana Network¡± to body. Repaired body of previous ailments (Asthma (mild), Allergies, Eczema, genetic tendencies, etc). Repaired body of current ailments (Lightning and Crossing damage, recreated parts of Brain, reverted temporal and spatial anomalies etc.) Gifted Power: Body and Mind Protection. - Protects against Mind Manipulation, creates a ¡°System¡± and protects against Bodily Attacks and infection control. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 3: Exposition. ¡°Wow, temporal anomalies huh. I had travelled through time and space. I could be anywhere in the universe at any time. Hell, I could be beyond it all¡­¡± ¡°Yes'''' said Abcier, ¡°Though I can''t confirm exactly where you are in relation.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Michael replied, ¡°uhhhhhh. What''s that Well and Mana Network it mentions?¡± ¡°To explain that I need to give a bit of a lesson of biology, basically the Ether or as you¡¯d call it Mana is a type of energy that is slightly out of phase with the world and its contents but can still affect and be affected by the populace, animals, plants and even rocks, air and water. This energy is lethal to living things that either don¡¯t have a Well, a way to channel that energy or if those things move into an area with a sufficiently different density of Mana. The Well is what stores the energy and the network helps to absorb, direct and utilise the energy which is how we get magic or as they are called here: ¡°Powers¡± named after the god of Power who manages the different magics, the mana in the world, and the Domains.¡± ¡°Alright, I get that¡± Said Michael biting into a pear like, dark blue¡­ fruit? ¡°Now you¡¯ve given me even more questions. Firstly, what or who are these gods and Domains?¡± Michael was a religious person back home and now with him in another world with gods and magics is definitely something he wasn''t taught in scripture studies. ¡°Well, the gods are beings of pure mana that look after different concepts and parts of the world, people who study these parts or concepts have names based on the god that it relates to. There are: Knowledge, who I follow, he is the concept of the mind, intelligence, knowledge, learning and the like so a Neuroscientist from your world would call their profession something like ¡°Ofoaki okki aipuiaroki¡± which basically translates as ``Knowledge of Brains.¡± It is because he is the concept of minds that mental magics are forbidden as it is seen as encroaching on a gods territory. Creature is the concepts of peoples, animals, plants, microorganisms and other living creatures. But sadly I don¡¯t know much about him. Power is the concepts of Mana and Powers throughout the Domains, there are some Powers that are forbidden so these are locked away but there are also other laws around Powers either from the gods or governments. Time Travel or Time Manipulation for example are forbidden. World is the concept of the planet itself, all its domains, from its highest heights to its very core. He manages it at his discretion but unfortunately I don¡¯t know much about him either. There are three Domains, translated they would be the Domains of Air, Land and Water but are also known as the Domains of Sky, Ground and Sea. There are a lot of names just in our language! he said, chuckling. ¡°The Domain of Land is where we are now, living on a landmass of stone, sand, dirt, grass. Just like home. The Domain of Air or Sky is where the creatures of the Sky live, the Domain starts from about 10 up to 100 of your Kilometres into the Sky. Sometimes on a clear day you can see their cities. Massive structures made of cloud and sunlight sometimes hidden from view by massive cloud barriers. A truly amazing sight to see. The Domain of Water or Sea is where conversely the creatures of the Sea live, massive bulky creatures living at the bottom of the world, as Mana gets denser the further down the Domain starts from about 4000m to the bottom of the world. Even lower than the Marianas Trench in places. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. As you could guess there is sometimes contention between the three. The Sky believe themselves superior because they are closer to the edge of the Sky itself looking down from on high while accusing the Land and Sea of spying and jealousy. The Sea on the other hand feels they are superior as they are overall more powerful than those of Land and Sky, fishing is an especially touchy subject with them and they accuse the Sky of causing massive storms and maelstroms that disrupt the currents that their world. The Land on the other, other hand feel they are in the sweet spot and of course some feel they are better than the other. Accusing the Sky of spying and causing storms and the Sea of sinking ships, tidal waves, tsunamis and the like.¡± ¡°Wow, that''s a lot to take in at once. I was half expecting that I¡¯d have to find all this out on my own, not get it hand delivered.¡± ¡°Well we¡¯d prefer to talk to OutWorlders as we call them, like yourself who may be disoriented from the Crossing and while I am free to answer some of your questions. I can''t answer all of them. But you are able to ask the gods with the Rule of Three.¡± ¡°Ok, now you¡¯ve lost me.¡± ¡°Haha, it''s ok. Basically when OtherWorlders arrive, if someone reaches a high enough rank or if they accomplish something of great worth they are able to ask three questions that must be answered if possible from either one or each of the gods. As you''re not from around here you get to ask three questions to all four. Lucky you.¡± ¡°Anything? What do you mean if possible?¡± ¡°Sometimes, there are questions that either the gods can''t or won''t tell you.¡± ¡°Well that''s not ominous at all. Ok I need a bit to think about this, anything else I should know?¡± ¡°Hmm, three things.¡± He thinks holding up a finger for each point. One: Over time a language system will be created and a System as you might call it will be made available so you can start to learn the language. Two: Similar to languages, you are also able to create your own Powers or learn them from others. If you have a Power or magic from your world that you would like and is not forbidden then you can create it. I¡¯ll leave a book behind that goes more into that. And finally, a warning: There is an Institute of Applied Mana and Powers. They have an OutWorlder research division and can find you if you''re not careful. You would be taken away and experimented on if you''re not careful. Staying here and not causing too much of a scene will mitigate it somewhat. But gods know when they might find you.¡± ¡°Oh¡± Person stayed silent. Well, that''s brilliant, he thought. A group who wants my head. While thinking this Abcier pulled out two leather bound and thick hardcover books. A Red and a Brown leather book. ¡°These are books on the basics of Powers and Mana'''' pointing at the Red one ¡°While the other is an Attalrininw to English dictionary. Ask the Coans here if you have any questions.¡± Guestering to the family. ¡°I will give you one of your weeks to think things over and will return then. I can promise you that so long as you do nothing outstanding, The Institute will not find you for at least a month.¡± ¡°Ok, a week then. Thank you for coming, I really appreciate it.¡± Holding out his hand to shake. Abcier grabbed it normally as did the good Doctor Rath. Looks like handshakes are universal, or multiversal?. After saying a quick goodbye to the Doctor and the Coan family Abcier headed out the door with Dr Rath and I turned to the Coan¡¯s. Giving them a smile I mimed sleeping as guess what, I was exhausted from that talk and eating. Crazy. Looks like mum understands and helps me up walking me to the room and into the bed. Wow I look thin standing up. A bit more filled out but dam. After getting in she says ¡°Pis aktiai¡±. Maybe like a goodnight or something but after a smile and wave, with the kid managing a wave from behind her I realise I completely forgot to ask about their names or introduce myself. Well that can be for the morning. Chapter 4 - A crisis of faith, worldbuilding, and Powers. Waking up, I''m in the same bed as the last few times I''ve woken up, I was kinda hoping this would be a dream. Several days have since passed since Abcier arrived. I¡¯ve learnt the Coan family''s names through miming like in a Tarzan movie. Malter is the Dad, Epego is the Mum and Coan the son. Yes, that does make the kids name Coan Coan. Apparently it''s a tradition of some kind to name the first born son the family''s last name. We are also on a giant island, not sure about the size but it''s massive and used in farming. Not Australia''s size massive but definitely big. Tasmania sized maybe? The farms here are all owned by the Coan family and Malter is the 3rd son of one of the main family branches and here they mostly farm fish as we¡¯re right on the ocean and have the best currents. This extended family is basically a self sustaining country to the point there have been discussions about cessation from their home country. (Casupan which when pronounced correctly sounds close to Capsaicin.) There are a bunch of workers and a doctor but no Dr Rath. Turns out he and Abcier are from the continent. Speaking of there is only one giant pangea continent with the only large island being this one (Called Scekipeta Wub Gzghy or Farmers Rest Island if my translations right) if you don¡¯t count the mostly unexplored antarctica like ice-masses at the North/South poles or some tiny islands. Only people who live there are pirates apparently. The Institute is also just as bad if not worse than I thought. Apparently they got started back something like 3000 years ago as some kind of Historians and ended up being more of a multi-governmental scientific research centre for everything you can think of. (Kinda cool cause, well I always wanted to be a mad scientist growing up.) But which unfortunately includes OutWorlders and oh boy do they have a history. Apparently there is a bunch of OutWorlders who arrive on this world (Which oh boy I¡¯ll go into that in a bit.) each year in one of the Domains and the gods make sure they end up in the right Domains suited for them. But sometimes as OutWorlders either don¡¯t show up on Land or get caught before they get known by a government or become popular, people think they get disappeared. Full on conspiracy theory stuff and I¡¯m stuck in the middle of it, some people even think that ordinary people also get taken in mistaken as an OutWorlder and oh boy its like Alien Abduction conspiracy the things I¡¯ve heard. And getting into that bit there are some who say it''s either a one OutWorlder a year thing for a Domain, or over all Domains it''s one per year or it''s multiple over all Domains, it''s crazy! And as there are so many just in Lands recorded history who either created countries, started wars or just caused general mischief that some people WANT the Institute to find them. Like what! Also, Also there is a massive contention between the Domains for what this World should be CALLED! It mostly boils down to having which Domain in front of the others. Something like: Planet: SkyLandSea or its best translation of it. Till they decide on a name (which might never happen let''s be honest) I¡¯ma just gonna call it Dirt till I get more used to the language or if there is an alternative. Learning about them, their history and the outside world at large is cool and all but it''s just a distraction from the decision that I need to make¡­ Like I am religious and believe in God and all that, but for all I know this could be me in a coma, this could be me lying in a hospital bed just chilling. This could be hell and torture and I could never see my family again. Wow Abcier was not lying when he said the mental manipulation would wear off. Can understand why but I¡¯m still kinda pissed about it. Like, on Earth we believed that magic is not real and dabbling in the occulty stuff is frowned upon and sinful, ghosts don¡¯t exist, people go to heaven or hell, etc. but like, what do I decide? Either I don¡¯t use magic while I¡¯ve had it used upon me multiple times at this point for healing and have a better chance for the Institute to grab me if I can¡¯t defend myself or I use magic and potentially get in trouble with the Man Upstairs. These are kinda the Cliff-Notes for my thoughts over that week, going on and on around in circles thinking about this, trying to remember what I¡¯ve been taught, what I believe what might be the right thing to do or the Right thing to do. Ultimately, I¡¯ve only got a few days left till Abcier comes back so I spend the days thinking while on the beach. Talking to myself, sometimes to Coan or Epego, running my thought process through my head. Even though they don¡¯t understand, they are still willing to listen¡­ Well, Epego listens, Coan tries to copy me in crappy English and makes funny faces to make me laugh when I look even a little sad or quiet. I think he just wants to have a bit of fun with the guy he¡¯s now living with and I will admit it does take my mind off things for a bit. But that day is getting closer and closer, and after doing a whole bunch of soul searching I came to a very hard decision. I don¡¯t want to make it sound shallow, like this explanation only took what a couple of paragraphs? It only took that long cause I decided not to bore you with pages and pages of convoluted thoughts and well, it certainly took a lot of thought. There''s a reason you don¡¯t see religious protagonists in Fantasy Web Novels that have gods in them, it¡¯s too hard to write sometimes if the person is from our little patch of green near Sol. But I made my decision, I will eat that cake and pay for its consequences by doing my very best to stay myself in this world, to keep my values and find a way home to ask someone who might have the Right answer. Who? Well I don''t know but guess I''ll find out when I get back. Yeap, I¡¯m an eternal optimist, I will get home no matter what happens. And to do that I¡¯ll need Magic, Power. Not from demons or monsters or big balls of magic that gained consciousness somehow through some deus ex machina or whatever but from me. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. I start planning, brainstorming, thinking and all those other words you might find in the Thesaurus. What kind of Powers should I go for? I have seen my fair share of Superhero movies, Anime, Books with Superheros, Video Games and D&D so I should plan what sounds good. Oh yea I need to explain how Powers work here. Ready for a text wall? Ok so let''s start at the beginning: There is mana in the air that has different density at different elevations. Biological things have a ¡°Well¡± (Mana Storage) and Network (Kinda like that Chakra Network from Naruto) which store and move the Mana around the body. Without those two the mana is damaging to biology. Think extreme radioactivity. The Well stores this energy somehow, even the book doesn''t say how but probably Power (the god, this is gonna get confusing) micromanaging things. It then interacts with the mind to produce Powers. I can increase the amount I can store and use by training my Well and Network, somehow. Basically there are four main different types of Powers and one subtype:
  1. Magic gifted by a God. Gifted Power
  2. Magic created by the person. Creation Power
  3. Magic taught to students. Taught Power
    1. Subset is contract magic which prevents Taught Power from being used after leaving a job. Government/Institute have a law that if refused to or unable to remove contract magic that Institute must do it for free.
  4. Magic stolen from users using spy/infiltration/information techniques. Stolen Power. Cursed to only be able to steal if you learn exactly how to replicate it. Like how a Taught Power is passed down. Stolen Power is not as powerful as it''s original.
    1. Stolen Powers also relate to Magical Archeology which sounds awesome!
The Subtype is called Abilities where you can make a single Power do multiple things. For example: If the Aang from Last Airbender were here, him being the Avatar and who can manipulate the four main elements is a single Power while stuff like Lava/Blood/Metal bending, Seismic Sense and Flight would be considered Abilities. I currently have 1x Gifted Power being Body and Mind Protection. This power has multiple things going for it and according to the book on Powers, a Gifted Power is specifically catered to the individual and their understanding. This is especially true for Outworlders, As more and more of it unlocks I can get more info but right now it can do this: Gifted Power: Body and Mind Protection - Appears as System Interface. Protection of Body - Stops injuries from affecting me and affecting others. I.e. I have video game character health where I can get damaged but it won''t appear on my body. It is also like a biohazard suit where stuff from my body like bacteria won''t affect the populace and vice versa up to a point. Protection of Mind - Similar to above, will protect my mind/brain from too much damage. Allows me to better understand languages and foreign concepts. System Interface: The more I use it the more it will unlock, that and if I get more Mana into my ¡°Well¡± as they call it. Also there''s a ranking system for everything here cause of course there is. The ranks go from F, the lowest creatures like Bacteria up to SSS and goes like this. This is the translated, Earth like version, but the different ranks are named after specific people in history who did something at or for these ranks. gods. SSS - The single most powerful people on the planet. SS - S - AAA - AA - A - Abcier BBB - Dr Rath BB - B - Malter Coan (Dad), Epego Coan (Mum) CCC - CC - C - The average low powered man/monster. - Me now. D - The average, unpowered person > 18 or < 80. - Me from Earth. E - Average beast of burden or unpowered child < 18 or over 80. - Coan Coan. F - Lower creatures, insects and normal bacteria. So get this, at D rank I can only gain 1x Power, but at C I can get 4x and at CC and CCC I can get 1x more each until I get up to B where I can 4x more again and it continues like this till SSS for up to 25 possible Powers that a body can handle. Also! I can choose to either sacrifice a potential Power to make my other Powers even more powerful OR get another Power. Now these Powers I can get or make more powerful/upgrade is not limited to Powers for fighting, but can be any type of Power, everything from cooking and cleaning to blowing up mountains. As I said there''s a ranking system for everything here which follows that format from earlier, everything from different currencies, profession rankings, hell even food stalls and restaurants are ranked like this. Goodbye Michelin Stars. This ranking is also for magic items of which there are too many so I¡¯ll talk about that some other time. Ugh there''s so much crap to preface. I haven¡¯t even gotten on to the different races that live here but I''ll save that for another time. Chapter 5: What magic do I want and a quick talk on how to avoid the Institute. Now that that''s out of the way (sorry for info dump) I get to choose which Powers I want and then have to go about making them. Now, how this is done is I need to have a crystal clear image in my head on how I want it to work and then visualise the mana forming to create the Power. Easy right? So in short the best Powers I can go for is magic from earth media that I know very well and can visualise best. After a bit of thinking and referencing the book on Powers some, I came up with this list for the next four Powers I¡¯ll aim for. Naruto''s Shadow Clone Jutsu. Solo Levelling necromancy skill. Avatar (Last Airbender/Korra). Physic Powers (Jedi/ Mob Psycho 100, other). Now hold on one second. Necromancy is definitely out of the question for a religious MC right? (Ha, look at me calling myself a MC.) Well while you are correct this won¡¯t actually be necromancy, you see there is a type of monster that is extremely rare called a Mana Beast (or its translated equivalent.) where a monster or animal will die but its mana, instead of dissipating will stick around for a time. Like a ghost but not. What I¡¯ll be doing is making this process go from rare to common by keeping the monster''s mana separate in my Well (something that can be done with practice) and then call on it when needed. Being connected to me keeps it from dissipating and it should understand me at a base level. Shadow Clone will work similar to the show with mana being formed in the shape of a body, changing to become solid using my body as a reference/baseline and let''s also keep the cool thing where memories get to come back to me. I am gonna change it a bit, so that any mana stored within the clone and other things are also transferred over to yours truly and I can be asleep/unconscious without them going poof. So in short, only the good things will come back and all the bad stuff like injuries and such get poofed. I also have an idea for memory re-allocation and clone organisation but i''ll leave that for later. Avatar powers will be fairly simple and basically similar to the series. Movement of the body (or no movement after special training) will result in matter moving, generating energy or changing states. For example, moving stone, creating fire and turning water to ice. I am going to expand this to go into several other ¡°Abilities¡± such as Seismic Sense and many more. Psychic Powers are kinda simple actually. Moving things only using mana is fairly common and even some people can do this without it becoming a full on Power (don¡¯t ask me how yet.) I can use this as a training exercise for the other ones. Speaking of training, I need to get my body into a shape that doesn¡¯t look like I¡¯ve lived without food for a year. Malter (the dad, yes I know names are hard) works in the fields and has offered to bring me along to do simple stuff till I¡¯m strong enough to properly train. After drawing him some designs he¡¯s willing to get a few of the farm hands together to make me a workout station right out of a gym and some speciallised training. But the talk with Abcier is fast approaching and soon arrives. I¡¯ve barely written down in an awesome looking notebook that the Coans have given me all my notes when Abcier arrives and we all get together for lunch. Over the week I¡¯ve been reading that dictionary like nothing else and so I¡¯m getting OK with the language. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. After eating a very nice sandwich like food with fish and a green looking mayo (it tastes good I promise) we start getting into the tricky parts. ¡°Well Michael, you have had a week to think things over. What have you decided or have any questions you wish to ask?¡± ¡°Yes¡± Replied Michael with a slight pause ¡°I will be learning Powers and have notes on four Created Powers that I¡¯ll look toward. ¡°Excellent, I cannot wait to see how you progress. I also have news for you, I can conferred with Knowledge and confirmed the movements of the Institute. You will have two years before it becomes likely they will find you. Secluded on this island have given you an excellent starting point.¡± ¡°Wow, two years¡­ Malter, are you OK with me staying that long?¡± ¡°However long you will need my friend¡± he said in his rough voice ¡°Spend this time to train and learn. I have some friends here who will also be glad to help you train.¡± After looking at the Coan Family I stand up and say to them ¡°I cannot thank you enough, this means the world to me and while I haven¡¯t been very social or helpful recently. I will be happy to help whenever you need.¡± Epego replies ¡°Oh there''s no need to help out too much. I have the housework well in hand. It must be difficult without Powers to help.¡± ¡°Sometimes, but in any case if you need a hand I¡¯m happy to help¡± I replied smiling. I really like the Coans, they have been very helpful with everything so far and I¡¯m looking forward to living with them for a while. ¡°Excellent¡± says Abcier ¡°Dr Rath is also happy to help with your training, his apprentice completed his apprenticeship last year and is looking forward to being the main healer of the town Dr Rath is from. If you¡¯d be happy with it Mr Coan, would you allow Dr Rath to come by time to time to train Michael?¡± ¡°I¡¯d be happy to.¡± slightly turning to Michael ¡°We¡¯ve been friends for years, you see.¡± ¡°Excellent, and now there are only two things we need to mention. Firstly, your 3 questions to the gods.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve given it some thought but need to think about it more.¡± ¡°That is fine, when you are ready, have Malter contact me and I''ll make the preparations. You will need to travel to the mainland to visit the temples.¡± ¡°Understood, any rules around questions I should know?¡± ¡°Not really, your question can even be a small request and it will be allowed but I would suggest having a question or two in reserve. Many who go through this do.¡± ¡°A request huh.¡± Oh that''s interesting, and opens quite a lot of possibilities. I can see a plan coming together. ¡°Am I still able to ask general questions to them?¡± ¡°Yes, either they or the priest there will answer those questions.¡± ¡°Ok, easy. Other than that?¡± ¡°Haha, easy he says. One of the most prestigious awards a normal man can get and he says it''s easy¡± said Abcier to smiles all around. ¡°Next, you will need to become registered. Now this is where most OutWorlders run into trouble. You¡¯ll need to go into a town, preferably away from here with a good cover story to get through without being detected as an OutWorlder and get a registration, like an ID or proof of existence card as it is sometimes called. You can also sign up as an Adventurer, they normally handle OutWorlders as well, and normally better than other departments.¡± Oh of course there are adventurers, next thing you¡¯ll know I¡¯ll be on a quest to hunt a dragon. What kind of generic fiction am I in? ¡°Quick question, why are you and the Coans so intent on helping me while you have a massive organisation like the Institute who actively hunts for OutWorlders. And how do they even detect OutWorlders anyway?¡± ¡°Many are not happy with how things are done these days, consider this a mini rebellion against the Institute. Don¡¯t worry though. Once registered they will have a very hard time getting to you. As for detecting and finding OutWorlders no ones really sure how it''s done other than operatives on the ground get given a location to scout. There are also Powered Items that can detect the ¡°unique¡± Mana signature of an OutWorlder, but this can give false positives. For example, someone who''s recently had a massive injury and have been healed from said injury or by Powered Items created by OutWorlders, these are quite common in history and many more fakes of OutWorlder items have been created. All we need to do is give you a fake item to carry and you should get through the gates fine.¡± Chapter 6 - House Tour, Introductions, Training plans and a bit of history. I¡¯ve realised that I haven¡¯t really described my new living conditions here, the room I woke in is a small room with a few shelves which now contain those books from Abcier, my notebooks and spare clothes. A small one person bed and a window with shutters. Not really that much different from a normal room in a log cabin. Aside from the magic light on the ceiling that can be turned on at the wall like a light switch and by saying ¡°Eewiki¡± or Light. It''s very reminiscent of Star Trek. Leaving the room you enter into a shotgun hallway with doors leading to four other rooms down the hall. Not counting mine, there are two bedrooms, a bathroom and a storeroom. At the bottom end of the hall near where my door is, it opens up into a larger rectangular room with a kitchen, dining and lounge setup. The kitchen is the most ¡°magical¡± with a lot more knobs and buttons to turn on lights and other appliances though those are mostly an oven, grill and sink with hot and cold water powered by Mana. No microwaves but when you have an oven that can heat up food as quickly as it does you might not need it. The lounge and dining room are basically the same as a normal Earth log cabin with the main exception being a large round red crystal embedded into the wall at TV height, but I haven¡¯t figured out what that does yet. The house is located right on the ocean with the bedroom windows looking out over the water, we are on the eastern side of the island so it''s nothing but vast skies and deep blues as far as the eye can see. I¡¯m currently wearing a hand-me-down shirt from Malter and shorts, both made from what feels similar to cotton and is an off white colour. A bit big for me at the moment but it¡¯ll do. After a short breakfast in the early morning with the Coans, Malter takes me to a barn not too far away and introduces me to a few of the local farmers. As I said earlier they mainly fish for food but also they grow plenty of other crops and a sizable animal farm which I haven¡¯t seen just yet. The barn is filled with some recognisable tools but there are a couple standing out like a large boat with a massive net and a hand lead cart with what looks like a fishing rod and line hanging off the back. After some quick introductions a late comer arrives to which Malter turns to and grins. ¡°Ah, here he is! Michael, I would like you to meet Aikoki. You had asked about physical training and there is none better than him to train you.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you Mr Aikoki, thanks for agreeing to train me.¡± ¡°Ha! Thanks for agreeing to train me, he says. This time next month you¡¯ll be wishing I¡¯d disagreed! And it''s just Aikoki to you.¡± ¡°Sure thing. Well, I¡¯m all for a challenge mate. And if I can survive having my legs grow 20 metres and age over a thousand years I think I might be able to handle you¡± Michael replied with a wide grin. Elbowing Malter in the side he replies ¡°Oh Malter, this is going to be fun! I like this kid, first thing tomorrow we¡¯ll start out. I''ll come to fetch you. In the meantime let''s let these guys go back to work and we will talk about the Powers you want to create.¡± ¡°Sure, I¡¯ve got notes here. Lead the way.¡± ¡°Now by the way¡± says Aikoki as we start walking, ¡°my training speciality is in people vs people, not people vs monsters or animals. You OK with that?¡± ¡°Yea sure¡± Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. And so Aikoki and Michael sat underneath some tall trees away from the barn. ¡°Ok kid, what do you want to do, I should warn you though. You might get lucky with creating one or two but it normally takes years to fully develop a Created Power.¡± ¡°Lets take it one step at a time then, the first one is a simple training one that I can expand into multiple abilities. I read that those are called Alaia Powers though back home we call them ¡°Psychic Powers¡± he explained, pronouncing ¡°Psychic Powers¡± in English. ¡°I see, that won¡¯t be too hard to train, there are some steps to do before that but we can definitely give you a baseline to do that quickly.¡± ¡°Awesome, the next one is a bit more specific, its best translation that I have at the moment would be ¡°Shadowed Cloned Bodied¡±. Basically it creates a full duplicate of me which can think and move independently, with access to all my powers with memory and more coming back if the Power is undone.¡± Silent, Aikoki looks at Michael like he just grew a second head before finally replying when Michael tilts his head. ¡°Muahaix, you want to recreate or rather create a new version of Muahaix Aiwatito¡±. ¡°I figured it wasn¡¯t an original idea, but I¡¯m interested in why you reacted that way¡± ¡°Muahaix is the name of another OutWorlder from history, he had a similar Power and won many a fight and war. It''s said that during a war of an army versus only him he conjured double their forces and nearly won. He was only defeated after a lone assassin made it into his camp during a heated time and killed him. His entire army disappeared in a single instant. For you to create a Power like this will be very, very interesting. No ones been able to recreate it since and it''s been a long time.¡± his voice was almost melancholy and looking up at the tree tops. ¡°You¡¯d think that something that useful would be recreated, just the other day I was reading of Stolen Powers and Power archeology, guessing how a power works and using cryptic clues to recreate it.¡± ¡°Does your reading explain how Stolen Powers work?¡± he asked, looking back at Michael. ¡°Sure, it''s the opposite of a Taught Power. Where you try to create a copy or your own version of a Power based on the original. When completed it is not as useful as the original.¡± ¡°You''re half right, but you see if you hear of that Power or even how it works and then try to recreate it then it becomes a Stolen Power. In other words, so long as someone hears of a famous Power that governments don¡¯t want recreated they popularise it.¡± ¡°Woah, so even if you just hear about it you can¡¯t recreate it.¡± ¡°Yes, Knowledge will let Power know if a person is trying to create a Stolen Power and so Power will limit the possibility of the Power being created. This is slightly different for Power archeology but how? I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Wait, Knowledge can read someone''s mind?¡± ¡°Obviously, but I will stress that he and his priests keep anything they know secret. It is never shared without express permission or urgent need.¡± ¡°Huh, I guess that explains how Abcier was able to speak English. Back to that Mau-Hax guy''s Power.¡± ¡°Muahaix, but yes I wont be of much help aside from helping you guide the Mana.¡± ¡°Thanks, I¡¯ll need to have a talk with Knowledge before we do anything with the Clones. Actually, how am I able to create a Power that I now know is based on a previous Power?¡± ¡°It might be different for OutWorlders, I¡¯m not sure. Maybe ask Abcier or Dr Rath next time you see them?¡± ¡°Yea I¡¯ll do that, thanks. Well, what''s next?¡± ¡°I need to go and do some checking and figure out a training plan for tomorrow, in the meanwhile may I suggest a walk along the beach?¡± With some questions answered and more ready to ask I do as suggested and walk along the beach. It¡¯s very long at this part, about 10km if I had to guess. After coming back in for a late lunch and helping with preparing dinner (A stew of a large goldfish looking fish with blue flesh) I sit outside for the night. It¡¯s late and the only lights on outside are just outside of the house, other than that it''s just a crescent moon, a bit smaller than our Moon back home, the night sky is so different. I can see a massive band of lights, the galaxy spanning overhead. After some more reflection I head inside for a sleepless night. I am excited for tomorrow. Chapter 7 - Training montage the long way, beginnings of Magic I take it back Aikoki was right, I wish he didn¡¯t agree to train me! Woken up at dawn, barefoot running along the beach! 10km both ways, jogging for about a minute and walking for about ten. Took me all morning to do the beach, and not on the more solid sand but in the loose and cold sand, heating up with the morning sun. I very nearly sprained myself a few times, Aikoki running alongside me bare chested, not having any trouble with water skins hanging off his belt. About 5 hours later we finally arrived back at the stretch of beach near the house with Coan bringing us some breakfast, leftover stew from last night and a yellow bread with more of that glorious water! Taking a swig, Aikoki speaks up. ¡°Good job today, you did well for someone who could barely walk about a week ago.¡± I gotta remember that here a week is ten days, keep forgetting that it''s not seven! I¡¯m not replying for a bit, too tired, water, drink, thirst, etc. ¡°Uncle Aikoki, could you train me as well?¡± asks young Coan, I did see him watching some of the running and hearing me talk with Malter about the weight machines and other equipment to train with. Must be at that age. ¡°You¡¯d have to ask your dad Coan, but I wouldn¡¯t mind it. Michael? Are you alive there?¡± Finally catching my breath a bit I look up to Coan ¡°I don¡¯t mind, he can probably do better than me at this point!¡± Aikoki laughing looks back to Coan ¡°Well you heard him, get dad to agree and you can join us. I''ll train you when your not helping in the fields with dad.¡± ¡°Yes! I¡¯ll talk to him now, thanks!¡± replies Coan running off, Aikoki looks to have a thought and quickly adds ¡°And don¡¯t forget your mother as well!¡± whispering to me ¡°you do not want to get on her bad side, she once fed me something terrible for bringing Malter back home late and drunk after a night out.¡± ¡°Haha, I know the feeling a bit¡± replied Michael ¡°As do I¡± said a new voice. Turning around Dr Rath is standing just a bit off the sand with his grey coat filled with stuff, ¡°I was also part of that night, if I remember correctly Aikoki , you and Malter where found on the ground outside.¡± ¡°Huh, like you weren''t as well.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know what you''re talking about, anyway. Hi Michael, you free for a moment?¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t change the subject!¡± ¡°Sure,¡± said Michael, ignoring Aikoki ¡°What''s up?¡± ¡°I was thinking that as my old apprentice is running things back in town that I could help you with your training, I have some Powers and tools that can definitely help fast track your training.¡± ¡°Sure, but won¡¯t your apprentice need any help?¡± ¡°Bah, he¡¯ll be fine. He¡¯s done everything medical wise at least once. And that includes some veterinarian experience.¡± With raised eyebrows at that, Michael agrees ¡°Definitely, let''s get this started. What''s next Aikoki?¡± ¡°You''re pretty eager aren''t you? We¡¯ll start with some upper and a bit of lower body stuff and then work on moving your mana around. That¡¯ll take us till dinner, then repeat every day. Rath?¡± ¡°Should be easy enough, we¡¯ll need a lot of food and water. Some of my tools can effectively repair damage so muscle buildup and fatigue won''t be an issue and that tool I used when I first met you will help with moving all the nutrients around. I think about a week or two and you¡¯ll be in the best shape of your life!¡± Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Thats, ok I thought this would take a few years but two weeks?¡± Twenty days time of constant training on body and mana with near instant repair and fatigue removal with all the benefits of a good meal. Hell Yea! Things are looking up! ¡°I will say though,¡± Dr Rath added, ¡°You¡¯ll need to sleep a bit longer than normal and I can only do so much in a day. But I can see you making a lot of progress in 20 days.¡± ¡°Agreed¡± nodded Aikoki, ¡°After you''re in a basic shape we¡¯ll move onto fighting and movement, then you get to fight me. One on one to start off with hahaha!¡± Oh dear what have I just put myself into¡­ The next two weeks have been eventful to say the least, everyday waking up at the crack of dawn, jogging and walking 20km and then going into weights and mana training. Dr Rath has been amazing though, after the beach and weights I get to be re-invigorated, my muscles are growing at a ridiculous rate, it¡¯s almost like I¡¯ve been juicing! Well that might be an exaggeration but man it feels like it sometimes, I¡¯ve also been eating like a madman. Massive meals of meat, vegetables and fruit, I feel some days like I¡¯ve eaten a whole cow but Dr Rath just waves his wand and the meat and nutrients go through and repair everything. Ok it''s not as easy as that, he gets tired out very quick but he''s been a massive help to myself and Coan. Little Coan has been doing quite well for his age, training even more than I am sometimes, he¡¯s getting a proper workout from the fields and the training. Mana training on the other hand is slow going, after the first few days of only feeling a slight tingling from either the mana or my legs going asleep. But it''s getting there, the first ten days was more tingling than anything else but the next ten were something else. I¡¯m not sure on what the best way to describe it, think of it like how your stomach can churn a bit? Oh, scratch that it¡¯s kinda like a heart beat but spinning? Ok I give up, but the mana network has a distinct feeling to it. Picture drinking a hot soup, and the feeling of that heat going through. Yea that but moving through your arteries and veins instead. The mana network is basically a series of tubes like the normal circulatory system but for mana instead of blood and stuff. The Well can be pictured as a spherical organ that is placed snugly between the right Pancreas and Kidneys with an appendix-like protrusion sticking out of it and two ¡°arteries¡± that connect to the mana network. The Well and Network are constantly moving mana throughout the body, my job is to try to focus the mana from the network outside of my body and into a designated area. Basically I have a small crystal battery in my hand, I am then trying to focus energy into that battery through my hand. Once that''s done I can then look at hovering the object in my hand and then I¡¯ll need to work on control and that''s a lot of practice. Turns out OutWorlders are given a helping hand when first starting out. It''s described as a way to balance things out, an OutWorlder would have had either a different form of magic or none at all. Giving a helping hand at the beginning can boost an OutWorlders mana effectiveness so they can use mana like someone who has had it naturally all their life. After the twenty days were up with at least three hours a day I was successfully able to levitate a small object a few centimetres above my hand. Now it''s just practise shaping mana, this is done a few ways depending on what you''re trying to accomplish but as I want Jedi powers that means mostly moving objects. Spinning, orbiting, rotating, increased speed, multiple objects, different weights, shapes, sizes, materials, living and inorganic, changing speed of a single or multiple object and that''s just the basic stuff. I slowly got the hang of spinning and rotating by picturing mana pushing one part of the piece while another is trying to hold it in place, causing it to rotate. Thinking like this is the most basic, once I have the easy stuff sorted I have to do them again using a different method, as many as I can. There are some guides I can reference and a few others I can make up but as I said, these are the easy stuff. The tricky stuff is doing all of the above not only with large objects (Like larger than me) but also trying to shape the mana into certain shapes, trying to make it visible, adding distractions, pain, noise and cold water. The next hardest is doing that but for objects much larger than me and this also includes me, that''s right if I want Jedi powers I need to be able to pick me up with my mind and yeet me into orbits around massive rocks. Yea, this is not going to be easy is it. Chapter 8 - Creation Power 1: Psychokinesis, Awakening the System. It''s been another week since the end of those twenty days training and it''s late in the afternoon, only an hour or two till dinner and something is starting to click. I¡¯ve been able to manage one round of the easy mana manipulation and a bit of the next trickiest stuff like with objects larger than me. I haven¡¯t used the System as much aside from that Map and the language translation, Aikoki and Dr Rath have been helping with the physical training and it has been going very well for both myself and Coan. Dr Rath tells me that it won¡¯t be long before the Power becomes a completed Creation Power and so need to get a clear idea on the road ahead. I¡¯ve been thinking back to Jedi and other Psychokinetic powers and while I may not be able to do all of them at once, as I level up I can increase my overall proficiency and abilities. But it will need a lot of training. After all that training and visualisation it clicks, I can better feel the mana within me and the mana in the air. The best description I can come up with may not make sense but the Well feels like a whirlpool of mana, hot and spinning at great speed while the mana in the network and the rest of my body feels like drinking a hot glass of water and feeling that heat move through you. The mana in the air and in the water is different, the air feels like a light fog on a cold day while the water feels heavier, like sediment has been disturbed and is a fog on its own. I¡¯ve been told that the higher or deeper you go the more it gets either thinner or more thick. Dr Rath once described the depths of the ocean to feel like swimming through a pool of honey while moving through the high air feels like there is barely anything supporting you. Those were second or third hand accounts of old travellers from history but when I get to a city I¡¯ll do some research myself, I have a lot I want to look at. In typical mad scientist fashion I have been trying to muck around with mana in my break, it''s a very weird substance to study. Particularly because Abcier was right, it is kinda out of phase with reality. I did manage at one point to make it opaque but only for a moment. Like a generic isekai it first appeared as blue and then disappeared. I have made some discoveries though that might give a hint as to how it all works:
  1. Mana has a physical feeling to it, if you move your hand through a cloud you can feel the water vapour in the air. This is similar but on a tinier scale, like tiny grains of sand. That''s what that tingling sensation was, I was feeling the individual granules of mana. Just millions of them in an area less than a centimetre. Maybe even more.
  2. Mana in air and water moves, maybe it''s with the wind or tide but it definitely moves. I want to figure out if it has a wavelength.
  3. It appears to be psycho-active, moving when thinking about it. Now the thing is, I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s Power (the god) doing the moving or if it¡¯s me.
  4. That appendix-like protrusion from the Well is like a mini storage area where excess mana can be stored. How this increases capacity with training without getting larger I have no idea.
Ok maybe more questions than answers but we''re getting there! I keep focusing on Psychokinesis for a bit longer till I feel it click. System windows open and I feel the Power cut off.
Full Activation of Main System Interface (Rank F ~> E) unlocked
New Features available: MP and HP Meter: MP: 100 points. HP: 200 points Map mode: Tactical, City, National, Globe, Domain, Star Charts Voice Chat: Local, City, National, Hemisphere, Global, Domain, Stelar Party Creation: 2, 5, 10, 50, 100, 1000, 10000, 100000+ Auto translation: 1 Language, 2, 5, 10, 50, 50+ Secret Features activated This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
Creation Power: Psychokinesis (Rank E) Increased control Lesser Mana Cost Integration into other Powers: Possible Psychokinesis can be a great training tool and can be utilised and expanded into many Abilities, as you continue to use this Power you will encounter breakthrough points, breaching these points with a clear goal in mind will unlock further abilities. Current Abilities: Move Object (Organic/Inorganic) Mana Manipulation (Basic) Mana Organisation (Basic)
End of System Start Progress further to increase System Rank
¡°Now that''s what I¡¯m talking about! Hell yea! Let''s have a look at this¡± Michael exclaimed, jumping up from his seated position and looking through the blue boxes. Wonder why Map and Voice have Globe ahead of Domain? Could it be due to the differences in Mana Density? Wonder what these breakthrough points are like, will it be like levelling up in a MMO where it takes longer to do at higher levels? Or would it be like an MMO if I think about it too much? Guess that''s the problem with a System that might be reading my mind and a god who definitely is. I¡¯m about to head back inside but then remember that Aikoki and Coan are right next to me training and I had just suddenly jumped and shouted in English. ¡°Uh, sorry guys¡± I says sheepishly in a world without sheep ¡°but I did it, a new Creation Power in 30 days! That¡¯s gotta be a record!?¡± grinning like a cheerful mad man. Aikoki looks impressed while Coan¡¯s jaw has dropped like a stone. ¡°You have a Creation Power now? That''s so cool, show us, show us!¡± ¡°I agree with Coan, what have you got?¡± ¡°Well, let''s first have a look at the Gifted Power¡­¡± Reaching out I bring up the System Menu and click Add to Voice Chat. Selecting both of them.
System Interface Map Mode. Voice Chat. Add to Voice Chat (temp 1) -Coan Coan (added) - Aikoki Van Coan (added) Party Creation. Auto Translation (Active: English to Attalrininw) Powers.
A window appears for the both of them, prompting them to accept.
You have been invited into ¡°temp 1¡± Voice Chat by Michael Hayes Accept / Decline You are able to leave voice chat by pressing on the below: Leave Voice Chat
¡°Wow Michael, what does this do?¡± asked Coan ¡°If it¡¯s anything like the fiction back home it will allow us to communicate without speaking. Give it a try?¡± ¡°Hello?¡± said Coan and Aikoki at the same time in the chat and without speaking. ¡°Haha! Looks like we can communicate ok. I¡¯ll need to test this¡± Aikoki quickly asks ¡±You said like back home, do you have stuff like this back on¡­ Ea-rth?¡± ¡°Earth, and kinda. We didn¡¯t have magic but that doesn''t stop us from imagining it, there are Powers like this in fiction. But I will say it''s a more modern thing.¡± Yea I should probably mention I haven¡¯t not told anyone about Earth, small things of course kept between myself, the Coans, Aikoki, Dr Rath and Abcier keeping my own mini Prime Directive ala Star Trek but till I hear otherwise from Knowledge i''ll keep most things quiet. ¡°Now then, let''s all leave the call now. I want to try out Psychokinesis¡±. ¡°Is that what you''re calling your Power?¡± Aikoki added as he left the call, voice cut off in the voice chat as he left and spoke aloud. ¡°Well Psychokinesis is the English word, not sure on the translation right now.¡± ¡°Oh stop talking and give it a try, can you lift me!?¡± Begged Coan, practically jumping out of his skin in excitement, is a Creation Power in 30 days that big a deal? Must be. I can feel the Power already active, just ready for me to reach out and give it direction. With a slight push I feel the Mana move down my skin, out my hand and wrap around a stone on the groud. I lift it up above head height and slowly rotate it. It''s a lot easier than before with the increased control from the E rank Power but I get the feeling this is only the beginning, if I can reach the next breakthrough point I can kick start some of my ideas. After a quick dinner and letting the Coans know of the rank up and Created Power I head off to bed early. Mainly to write some of this stuff down and ideas. Really do wish the next System Rank up gives me an Inventory. Would be handy to have. Chapter 9 - Creation Power 2: Shadow Clones, testing and training. Up early again with more running, I think I¡¯ve run over 200km at this point! And the martial arts training is killing me. Aikoki was hard enough just trying to focus on him but now I gotta practise with Psychokinesis as well mid fight to try and get an advantage. If not for Dr Rath helping to keep my HP up I would have many broken bones at this point. I did manage to land a solid hit on him once, only to end up getting pummelled. He¡¯s eagerly waiting for me to finish Shadow Clones as he can ¡°go all out¡±. I¡¯m worried a little to be honest, how does he know how to do all this? He¡¯s supposed to be a farmer for crying out loud. I¡¯m also not too sure on what a breakthrough point would be but I think it''s the mindsets you need during the process of levelling them up. For example using them in unique ways maybe? Speaking of Clones I¡¯ve been practising over the last 10 days, I¡¯ve managed to create a single bare foot. Yea I don¡¯t seem to be making much progress with it. Almost like I need to create the entirety of the body and the clothes before the Clone takes shape. I¡¯m probably overthinking this. Where¡¯s Abcier when you need him to explain complex magical powers in a language I can understand? Oh here he is. ¡°Speak of the devil, I was just thinking about you. What brings you here?¡± ¡°You do my friend, Knowledge sent me.¡± Abcier is in his normal robes and had walked from just down wind of the beach a bit and up to me. Ok that''s a bit freaky but sure, ¡°Yea, I feel like I¡¯ve made no progress with Shadow Clones, it takes all my concentration to make a foot.¡± ¡°You are probably overthinking this¡± Hold on a second I was just ¡°Thinking that yes, Knowledge is letting me know now.¡± Silent, I raise an eyebrow ¡°Alright, lay it on me. What am I overthinking?¡± ¡°With Psychokinesis, well done by the way, you are not thinking of how the individual pieces of mana are moving but broad strokes. Think in broad strokes with a clear goal and with enough practice, and by that I mean a lot, you will eventually get a completed Power. You have a lot of knowledge of the human body, but none of your current Powered body, and so it is taking you a longer time to create a clone¡± ¡°Broad strokes?¡± ¡°Yes and once the picture is completed, Power will give it a little push, and if it''s ready it will become completed. Do you think a single person is focusing on all the narrow, tiny details of a Power and its Mana while being used? Power allows us to guide the Power with little effort once you create or increase its rank.¡± ¡°And you''re also right, having the name of a god be Power and calling our magics ¡°Powers¡± does get a little confusing in English.¡± ¡°Huh, you''re telling me. Thanks Abcier, I probably wouldn¡¯t have thought of that for a while.¡± ¡°Anytime¡± he replies, looking back over the sea. ¡°I feel you have many questions for the gods, will you be ready to ask them?¡± He asks with a slight tilt. ¡°Soon, once I get the clones sorted and some money I¡¯ll be ready. Does Knowledge think my plan will work?¡± ¡°It might, it just might¡± he replied with a sly grin. The plan I¡¯m talking about is a long term plan, if the clones and money works out I will be able to start it off. And if all goes well with the next Creation Powers I make, we should be golden. But in saying that the next ones are gonna be hard. Which is why I¡¯m focusing on Clones right now, if one of the Abilities is for practice to be retained then I could slightly fast track my progress. What is the plan? Well I¡¯ll save that for later. For now training! After some more talking with Abcier about my plan and possible Questions, I head back to my training chair. Where I just sit and stare at the ocean and try to figure out Powers. If I need to not overthink and think in broad strokes with Clones then I don¡¯t need to think of the exact body details. Just broad strokes, so closing my eyes I try to picture my new-ish body and try to direct the Mana into a specific form, just the outline of the human body. Then add more features, eyes, ears, face, beard, arms, and more. (Been growing the beard recently, how¡¯s it look?) Slowly, next to my body I can feel the Mana taking the form of a standing body, slowly it''s getting there. Like an outline of a character more than anything else. I suddenly have a thought that I should not do this outside where the cloned body might be naked and the connection to the Mana breaks. The ethereal body phasing out into whisps. Yea tell you what, i''ll try this indoors from now on. Over the next 30 days I continue my training. Shadow Clones is taking a bit but I have managed to create a physical body that looks mostly like me. Just gotta work on clothes and filling out the internals and we are done. It''s taken a lot longer than Psychokinesis but that''s probably because it is a more difficult rank. That actually gets me thinking, when unlocking Psychokinesis it had mentioned breakthrough points. Do I get any of that in the pre-creation stage? Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. I take a day to gather my thoughts, doing considerably worse in my training that day with a promise to do better. That next day I finish the training as soon as possible and sit in my room again, I spend time thinking over all the different Abilities I want the clones to have, how the memories will work, communications, living with them. Everything I can think of is related to the Clones. And after trying it a few more times I feel it, a slight push in my lower back. A click and a satisfying poof occurs. I open my eyes to look into mine, the clone smiles and says ¡°Ello boss, Scarnon?¡± (Hello boss, what''s going on? - Translated from Bogan Australian English). ¡°Not bloody much mate, how goes it?¡± ¡°Eh, can¡¯t complain but fair dinkum this is mad!¡± the clone exclaims pointing with both arms towards Michael. ¡°Bloody Strewth¡± (That''s right, this is awesome - Translated from Bogan English). ¡°Think that''s enough bogan for one day, you want to check your messages boss?¡± the clone asks ¡°Oh yea sure, give me a sec.¡±
Creation Power: Shadow Clone (Rank C) Increased control of Mana Lesser Mana Cost Integration into other Powers: Required Shadow Clones, a creation from Earth and replicated in a new world. A power feared and sunned for its danger in the hands of mad men, if used correctly can become one of the most powerful of Powers available to the jealousy, fear, awe and mercy of many. As you continue to use this Power you will encounter breakthrough points, breaching these points with a clear goal in mind will unlock further abilities. Current Abilities: Shadow Clone (Increases with Mana Expenditure and Rank, set soft limit) Memory Recollection Training Recollection Independent Well and Network System Independent System Interface Independent Power usability (Clones will need to be resummoned to add new abilities for Clones to have access to) Unconscious activity (When Original is unconscious Clones will still be active)
Main System Interface upgrade (Rank E ~> D) unlocked
Current Features available: MP and HP Meter: MP: 152 points. HP: 263 points Map mode: Tactical, City, National, Globe, Domain, Star Charts Voice Chat: Local, City, National, Hemisphere, Global, Domain, Stelar Party Creation: 2, 5, 10, 50, 100, 1000, 10000, 100000+ Auto translation: 1 Language, 2, 5, 10, 50, 50+ Secret Features activated New Features: Basic Memory Palace: Five Rooms (able to be increased), House, Mansion, Block, City Clones have access to System Interface
Oh yea, it''s all coming together. The Plan I mentioned with Abcier was twofold, one fold you¡¯ll find out later but the other was this. The Memory Palace, I first came across it watching The Mentalist. A TV show with a pretend psychic with a memory palace, after seeing what he was capable of I tried my hand at creating one to remember dates and stuff. But I did eventually forget about it. Till I arrived here, that is, I¡¯ve been re-building the Palace from where it started, the front half of my family house. A study, three bedrooms and a bathroom. With the clones'' memory retention I can add their memories to the Mind Palace. Though this is a very limited one at that. I want to have a talk with Knowledge to see if this can be increased outside of training but for now this will do, time to show off me and myself! Chapter 10 - Cloning, testing, training and worries After showing off my clone and how it works I find I am able to slowly increase the amount of clones I can create. When a clone is created it consumes about 10% of my MP, so theoretically I could create fifteen clones and then have no Mana to live with, I''ll stick to about 5 so far. Now the interesting thing is, if I let my MP increase backup to full I can summon more clones, this can be done by me either feeling out the Mana into the needed shape manually or trigger it using hand signs. If there was a hard limit on the number of clones I could produce then I might be able to only do five, but with this soft limit I might be able to double it, maybe triple it up to 15 clones at once at least right now. Clones memory recollection works fine if a bit weird as the memories are shunted into the Memory Palace and not into my memories. In short I can feel the clone disappear, the memories arrive but unless I go looking for it the memories won¡¯t bombard me when the clones poof. I¡¯ve also been thinking about clone organisation, now that I have them I need some way to refer to them easily. I ended up deciding on a number system. Clones that are summoned for a short time will need little organisation, things like 1, 2, 3, etc. Clones that are summoned for a longer period of time will also be called 1, 2, 3 but have a classification that these are more long term. The naming definition becomes One, Two, etc. These would be for things like long term teams. Now if there are multiple groups I''ll have it so it increases the number, so for example. If One has a subordinate clone in his team then that clone''s number becomes: Clone 11 or Eleven. It''s not the best I know but I¡¯m not creating dozens of clones at once am I? I''ll figure something out later I promise! The HP and MP systems are working well, basically when damage is taken that becomes represented as a number which is then minused from the HP pool. Which is why Aikoki has been able to break some of my bones without injury. My stats have been naturally increasing during my training but I did find out that my body also needs the Mana to survive as it''s integrated into my very cells. Training has become even more crazy, I now need to use at least a single Shadow Clone and while using Psychokinesis, I don¡¯t understand how he¡¯s able to keep up! A few days after the creation of Shadow Clones Aikoki wanted me to bring in clones to combat training. I''ll show you what happened. It''s mid afternoon, Aikoki standing with arms by his side and with a wicked grin on his face, I on the other hand am trying to play it cool while feeling like I''ll shake apart any second. I can feel my sweat moving down my back. I bring my hands up to make a plus symbol. A whispered ¡°Shadow Clone¡± and at once two clones appear in a poof of white, we move through the white smoke to hide our positions and once the smoke dissipates we start running toward him. 1 and 2 are on my right, we each bring our arms up and pull on Psychokinesis, small rocks begin pelting Aikoki who moves his arms up to block, covering his eyes. 2 and I move around to his sides while 1 in the middle jumps and throws a punch aiming for his nose. The punch is telegraphed on purpose and is caught, 1 starts wrapping his legs around Aikoki while bringing up his other hand to block his sight. At the same time 2 and I are behind him, we are about to bring our Psychokinesis to control some thick sticks off the ground but Aikoki notices us. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Dropping his hips he twists and places 1 into the path of the two sticks, smacking them into his head and making him disappear into smoke with an ¡°Ouch!¡± I¡¯m about to move before 2¡¯s stick is grabbed by Aikoki and then grabs his arms, with a twist and a throw straight out of Judo, 2 goes flying. Hitting the trunk of a tree with his back and upside-down. I manage to bring my stick down only for it to bounce and do nothing. I bring it up into a neutral stance with the stick held like a sword, pointing upright. Aikoki regains himself and looks at me, he grins and runs to me at full speed. I bring the stick up a little for a downwards strike only for it to be dodged and my wrist grabbed. ¡°Give up now?¡± ¡°Nope!¡± I struggle with the grip, letting go of the stick with my left hand and bringing my fist back to swing. If I can get him to move back I might be able to break his grip. Instead Aikoki grabs my left with his other hand and starts pulling me in a circle. Soon I¡¯m being spun while Aikoki rotates and slowly walks down the beach a bit to the edge of the water. ¡°Give up now?¡± he asks exasperated but not tired. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare throw me into the Ocean, Aikoki!¡± ¡°Sounds like you don¡¯t want to give up, oh well¡± and with that I get thrown up and over. I go sailing over the water seeing Aikoki and Dr Rath on the beach! ¡°crapcrapcrapcrap¡± I yell as I land in the water, all sound being cut off aside from my splash. Not again! ¡°Aikoki, where did you learn how to do all that? That was an experienced move there.¡± asked Dr Rath while I was mid flight. ¡°I¡¯ve never told you what I used to do before coming here, did I?¡± After pursing his lips he replies a bit quietly. ¡°Used to work as a bouncer in one of the big cities, one day some little snot came in. Graduation has just started and this guy starts partying it up. After a few rounds he gets a bit, let''s say infatuated with the wait staff. I asked him to leave, he said screw off, I threw him and his friends out. Turns out that little shit was the great nephew, thrice removed from some government official or someone. I don¡¯t know, in any case I had to leave quickly, headed east and landed here.¡± ¡°I¡¯m impressed, but at the moment I¡¯m more worried that Micahel hasn''t come up for air yet.¡± A pause as both men look toward the place Michael was thrown ¡°I mean I¡¯ve done it before, there''s nothing there for him to hit. I checked¡± Before getting a chance to reply I pop up and take in the air once again. Treading water I find the beach and after spitting out salty water yell out ¡°You rat bastard!¡± splashing water everywhere. ¡°Well that''s not very nice¡± Aikoki said with a happy grin, ¡°I¡¯m not sure what a rat is but a bastard is a bit much don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°Perhaps a bit more combat training for today¡± said Dr Rath with a sly grin and side eye. After an ungodly amount of training I was up again the next day, doing more training. Ugh, I know I may have been coming across full of piss and vinegar but it is exhausting to do this every day. Even when I¡¯m seeing massive improvements over the last two months here (That''s this world''s months. 40 Days per Month). To quote a story I read once: How the hell did fantasy transmigration protagonists just¡­ jump right into things? Is that why they¡¯re always teenagers? I am starting to get worried, my improvement and clones have been getting noticed by the other farm hands that I haven¡¯t been introduced to. It''s kinda secret, my being an OutWorlder so we¡¯re not telling everyone who asks. But I bet some have raised some questions. That and why Aikoki keeps throwing some random guy into the ocean several times a day. I¡¯ve been talking with Abcier when he''s around with Dr Rath and the others about a convincing cover story to use either here or on the mainland. The current thinking is a traveller from the far north west of the pangea-like continent. Maybe someone who had an illness that didn¡¯t get treated till recently which might be used to explain away why I have so few Powers, my weird speech and inability to read well. I also have been asking around for equipment, if the second fold of my plan goes well I¡¯ll need a lot of equipment and rations. Actually, are there Powers or tools to grow or make food quickly? Chapter 11 - Found by the family, will I be cast off the island? There''s a lot of hubbub this morning, during my morning run with Aikoki and Coan I can feel eyes on us. Normally it''s just some passerby¡¯s heading for farms or an early morning walk but this is strange. A lot more people than normal. Checking the map mode I can see 15 people up and down the beach with the majority together in a group. Not sure who they are but they quickly go out of range as I run further. This map mode does not go far. Arriving back I can see Malter Coan waiting for us, he waits for us to catch our breath and says ¡°Coan, can you please go inside. I need to talk to Michael and Aikoki for a moment.¡± Puffing he responds with a nod and walks off, turning back to us he looks worried. ¡°Michael, we may have a problem, despite us trying to keep things a secret the family Heads may have heard about you. They might have contacted the Institute but I don¡¯t know for the moment.¡± Aikoki looks up in confusion, ¡°The Institute? We are practically a private nation here, there''s no way the Institute was called.¡± ¡°Is there anything we can do, could I talk with the head of the family?¡± Micahel asks. ¡°It''s possible, but we might end up in a tricky situation, I do not care for the politics of our family but. Yes, if we can make a good case for the Family Head we might be able to buy some time. How is your training going?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been going well, I need some kind of movement ability but I am working on my third Creation Power, that should give me more mobility and a few other abilities. Combat wise, Aikoki?¡± ¡°He¡¯s doing well, and I will say Michael you are a natural with your Clones. Some strategies you have come up with are inspired.¡± The third Creation Power I¡¯ve been working on the last few days is the Avatar ¡°magic¡± from Avatar the Last Airbender. I¡¯ve seen it many times babysitting for my neighbours'' kids so I¡¯m familiar with the system in place. It''s also an extension of Psychokinesis so I¡¯m expecting a quick breakthrough. If I can get this one I can proceed with the plan after talking to the gods. Hold on, what''s this? I can see that the group of 15 from earlier enter the map mode, they are 30 metres away from us. Interrupting Malters with a quick ¡°we have company arriving¡± and a head nod in their direction we turn to see them. The majority are farm hands with two being dressed in robes, not as fancy as Abcier¡¯s but better quality than the stuff I¡¯m wearing. As they approach, I can hear Malter swear under his breath. Once they are a metre or two away one of the fancy robe guys addresses us. ¡°Malter, Aikoki. I had hoped this¡± guestering at me ¡°would have been brought to our attention sooner, would you care to explain?¡± I¡¯ll ignore that jab for now, Malter gives a slight bow with a hand to his waist. ¡°Master, it has been some time since I have seen you last. This man is Michael, a visitor who has been staying with us for over two months so far. I did not feel that I need to trouble the family with a temporary visitor¡± This guy has the same general features as the Coan¡¯s, white tanned skin and brown hair. But instead of the fit frame of the Coan¡¯s is more lanky and thin. I¡¯d described him as someone who was in a dark room all his life. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. We had discussed things like this previously, hopefully the fact that I''ll be heading off onto the mainland will let them give the Ok? ¡°I was told he was an OutWorlder, one who can create duplicates of himself. A new version of Muahaix Aiwatito, he is too dangerous to stay here.¡± Yea this is getting us nowhere fast, after a quick glance to Malter, he replied with a nod and I step forward. ¡°My name is Micahel Hayes. I am indeed an OutWorlder but I will not be here for long. And while I do have what you describe as Muahaix Aiwatito my Powers are my own concern.¡± ¡°You will know your place Alien, how do we know what your intentions are? How can we confirm if you are not dangerous or not!? I¡¯ve seen you battle that renegade Aikoki, you could possibly deal with most of us here.¡± Hold on man, that must have been on a good day cause I¡¯m not that good! ¡°You flatter me sir but I¡¯m not that experienced, perhaps if I was to speak directly to your Family Head then this can be cleared up. Or perhaps you would wish to speak with Abcier, the priest of Knowledge from the continent?¡± ¡°We deal with our matters by ourselves, how would you persuade the Family Head of your¡­ good intentions?¡± This guy is giving off a sleazy vibe i''ll be honest, I don¡¯t trust him but if we can get a private session that might be good. ¡°Its quite simple, I will tell your Family Head the truth. Then he can decide for himself.¡± He stiffens up, straight backed and turns to Malter with a scowl. ¡°Malter, bring this thing to the Head tomorrow. If he finds favour he can stay. But if not, the Institute is but a boat ride away.¡± ¡°Thank you, Master¡± Malter says as he bows. Maybe playing off as non confrontational was a bad idea, even if this Head likes me I get the feeling that this guy might just call them out of spite. I think I need to move up my schedule. ¡°Guessing this is something we can¡¯t get out of, who was that guy Malter?¡± An angry scowl later and Malter says in a bitter voice ¡°Hes Master Illiard Coan, the fourth in line as Head of the Family, and a truly horrid man. If we are lucky he hasn¡¯t had a chance to spread too many rumours about you to the Head.¡± ¡°That bad huh, thought he was sleazy but horrid? Yea, you know what, I¡¯m not gonna ask¡± The next morning we are up, Malter and Epego are up early and give me some nice formal wear. Some of Malter''s old formals were modified to fit me a bit. I¡¯m a bit taller and thinner than he is. After a good wash and comb of hair and beard (I¡¯ve been growing it a bit) we head out. Leaving the house I say goodbye to Epego and Coan who are staying behind and join Malter and Aikoki in a carriage. Coan is looking very worried, he¡¯s not sure why I¡¯m heading out but last night we reassured him I¡¯ll be back. The carriage is not much more than an uncovered wagon with an animal tied to it. It''s a large, bison-like animal but without the large horns and with very large legs. We follow the road for a few hours in silence, our meeting is not for a few hours yet. We pass many farms and homesteads of different branch families and farm hands. As we approach the western side of the island we can see a small mountain in the distance, rising up out of the ocean right off the beach, as we near it we can see a large amount of travellers, storage houses and a massive mansion like building jutting out from the mountain cliff face. Our destination. The mountain is flat and sharp, almost like a sheet of rock jutting out of the sea and island, but thick enough that it won''t fall and thicker at its base. As we move through the large town surrounding it we pass through a busy gatehouse into the mansion entrance. Leaving the cart there we begin to ascend the mountain. There are easily a thousand people in this entrance area, moving foods to storehouses and ships or like in our case, visiting the heads of the family to settle things. We are scheduled for a private session in an hour so we move through the throng of people into a large waiting room with many seats. Malter goes off to let them know of our arrival while Aikoki and I take a seat. The clothing in this mansion is quite different, while outside most people wear simple clothes that would not be uncommon for farmers or fishermen, in here it is mostly robes. Chapter 12 - Meeting the Family Head After a very long hour a man accompanied by some guards approaches, as we stand he arrives and asks us to come with him. We look between the three of us, armed guards for just us? Who do they think we are? After being directed into a small carpeted room with some chairs and a table one of the guards presses a glass orb on the wall and fills it with Mana, once it is filled the room starts to move upward. We¡¯re in a room sized elevator powered by magic! Ok, that''s cool. As we move up Malter leans next to me ¡°Whatever happens, only speak when asked to. It¡¯ll make things easier.¡± Once we reach the right floor we are greeted with a grand room, it is long with blue columns moving down the room, at the end of which is a large elevated seating platform. The entire room, chairs, platforms, facades, paintings and general feel to it is water, ocean, movement, the blue of the sea and the white spray of the ocean waters are prevalent around the room. As we get closer I notice that the seating platform is occupied with an elderly man who has several younger men sitting nearby, though not at the same height. The younger heads that are next in line perhaps? Once we arrive near the end of the room the guards behind us stop and we are prompted to walk forward a bit more, bow and sit on some nicely decorated wooden chairs carved to look like crashing waves from a large piece of driftwood. Illiard Coan is seated in one of the lesser platforms to the right, each platform is a different height showing their status as next in line as Head. He stands up and turns to address the Head. ¡°Lord Head, here is the Alien. The OutWorlder. The new Muahaix Aiwatito. He has been brought before you for a single reason, he is dangerous. A new Muahaix Aiwatito would surely draw the attention of the continent and the kingdoms. If the Casupan Kingdom hears of this, they would surely use this as an excuse for invasion to finally gain our family territory!¡± Oh come on! What are you gonna do next, accuse me of killing your dog? This guys making me out to be a devil! Actually, what does he get out of this? I keep those thoughts to myself when Malter stands, ¡°I protest Lord Head, only speculation is being said here. This is all assumption that Michael is a bad person, an OutWorlder? Yes. A new Muahaix Aiwatito? Maybe, but he has lived with us for over two months by this point, you would think in that time we would have learned for ourselves that?¡± A guard starts to say something but a raised hand from the Head stops him, all turn toward him and he opens one eye. The Head is dressed in an vibrantly blue robe, it looks like it was pulled straight from the ocean when I notice that the images of the ocean spray is moving. His robe is moving with the tides, a living robe. ¡°That''s enough from both of you. Aikoki, what is your assessment of this OutWorlder¡± he asks, voice gravely like he''s been smoking for a few years. Standing Aikoki replies, ¡°Sir, after Michael arrived on the 17th of Triloth I was made aware of him. By that point Abcier of Knowledge and Dr Rath had arrived to see to his injuries from the Crossing. I was asked and took on his training.¡± ¡°And his Powers? Does he really possess a Power like Muahaix Aiwatito?¡± ¡°Yes sir, a Creation Power. His and his alone. ¡± ¡°His Character?¡± With a short pause to collect his thoughts Aikoki answers ¡°He¡¯s not a bad person or seeks to do us wrong. He can be annoying to run with but otherwise a normal person.¡± ¡°Thank you Aikoki, that¡¯ll be all.¡± A short bow later Aikoki sits down again. All eyes are on me now, are they looking to really see if I am human or not? I¡¯ve only met humans here so far. It''s not uncommon for OutWorlders to appear human or another of the races, are they just curious? Looking me right in the eye, the Head waves his hand ¡±Stand up boy¡± I¡¯m feeling nervous with all this, i¡¯ve met high profile people before but this is getting heavy. ¡°Is what Illiard says correct?¡± ¡°Correct that I am an OutWorlder and with a Power that''s similar to Muahaix Aiwatito, yes. Other than that, no. He¡¯s never met me before yesterday and I have never met any of the people he approached us with yesterday.¡± Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°I had undertaken a careful investigation, Lord Head! This Alien is a definite threat to us!¡± Exclaimed Illiard, pointing at me. ¡°Be silent¡± says another man, 2nd in line for the title of Head in a voice that could poison an elephant. Looking embarrassed, Illiard sits and I wait for the Head to respond. After a few seconds of staring he waves his hand again ¡°tell me, what is your world like?¡± Over the last two months I have told the Coans, Abcier, Dr Rath and Aikoki about Earth, the lack of magic, Powers and Domains, the differences in our gods, the shape of the world and many stories from home. But nothing beyond that, and nothing that I think Knowledge might consider sensitive. Like how nukes work. ¡°It is a large world, two-thirds of its surface is water with the rest being land. The land is not connected in many places, leaving land spread out over large islands we call continents. I myself am from one of these islands called Australia. Its east coast is the most populated with almost all of its interior a hot desert.¡± ¡°This world we call Earth, has no magic other than simple tricks that contain no Mana or Power. It is populated with nearly 8 Billion people across all the land.¡± At the mention of no Magic they appear astounded, and the mention of 8 billion people is an uproar! ¡°8 Billion! There''s no way a civilization with no Mana or Powers can survive with those numbers!¡± Many others are muttering, I definitely hear some ¡°He must be mad!¡± from the guards behind us. ¡°Silence¡± the Head rebukes, seems 2nd in line also has lost his composure for a bit there. ¡°Continue¡± he says once the room quiets down. ¡°Our gods are different from yours, in manner and presence but I have no wish to spark a religious debate today. We also have no Domains, with no Wells and Mana Networks to limit us, our explorers have travelled to the deepest depths of the ocean and the highest heights of the air. Air travel is actually one of the most popular forms of transport.¡± Many raised eyebrows at that! I should nip that in the bub before they ask. ¡°I will say that knowledge of such methods are not fully available to the public at large and so I cannot provide you any information aside from our achievements in these fields.¡± A little white lie, I do know how it''s done but don¡¯t want to contaminate things before confirming with Knowledge. The Head is about to say something before the door we entered from is opened, its Abcier! I hope he can get me out of this, hearts beating so fast I think it''s audible. Abcier walks up next to us and places a hand on my shoulder, slightly pushing down. I understand and sit down again. Abcier looks up to the Head and pulls out a document from his robes. A nod of the Head¡¯s head and a guard takes the document and brings it up to the Head. All jokes aside, Abcier¡¯s document has got to be important, I wonder what it says? Lord Head is reading over it and then looks over to us. A slight smile appears directed at us for a moment before moving back to neutral. ¡°Illiard, this matter is now settled. You are not to approach Michael or the Coans farmland until Michael begins his journey.¡± ¡°Sir?¡± ¡°Do I need to repeat myself?¡± A shocked look from Illiard and a quick ¡°No Sir¡± makes him seated again. ¡°Malter, Aikoki, Abcier and Michael. You are free to go. However, at the end of the two year time frame you were given at your arrival you must leave this island. You may return at a later date but we will now allow the Institute to start a man-hunt in our homes.¡± Standing we deliver a low bow and reply with a ¡°Yes, Lord Head.¡± A nod and a ¡°Begone¡± from him later we are soon standing outside the gate, wagon and beast waiting. ¡°Well, that was easy.¡± I say, with looks of craziness from the others excluding Abcier. Looking at the man I ask ¡°I think we would all like to know what you gave to Lord Head at the 11th hour?¡± ¡°We have two sets of 10 hours in a day here Michael?¡± says Malter confused. ¡°It¡¯s an expression from home, don¡¯t worry about it. Abcier?¡± ¡°You were lucky, if you had lied earlier to Lord Head there would not have been much I could have done.¡± ¡°You lied to the Head!¡± both Malter and Aikoki whisper at the same time, grabbing me by the arms and shoulders, more from shock than anything. ¡°Yes, it doesn''t matter. What do you mean Abcier?¡± Shocked and exasperated looks from Malter and Aikoki ignored, Abcier explains. ¡°In short my letter was an official letter from Knowledge that the claims brought against you were incorrect. Lord Head has a device that can detect lies, top of the line. It had detected your ¡°little white lie¡± as you call it and he was about to ask some very awkward questions. The letter sorted them out.¡± Looking on in awe we hop onto the wagon and start heading back, we ended up stopping at a bar later down the road. I think we could all use a couple of drinks. As we leave, from the top rooms of the mansion atop a large mountain an old man watches from a grand window, normally used to look over the island and sea. His eye is on a small wagon leaving the mansion and flicking to a letter. Chapter 13 - Pub Feed and Planning. We entered a large tavern we had passed earlier this morning leaving the wagon parked outside, the tavern is two stories tall with a large parlor with tables surrounding a large fit pit in the middle. There¡¯s not many people in here, just a handful of people eating lunch. We take a seat at one of the tables while Malter goes up to the bar to order some food and drinks, the walls are covered in paintings that move, showing the spray of the ocean or a fishing boat catching a massive marlin-looking fish. Hanging from the roof are all sorts of creatures including one of those marlin-looking things. It does not have as big of a fin and a slightly bigger body but not too much difference, fish are not that different from home. At least, nothing too crazy looking yet. A waitress appears bringing some food out to another table as we look around, Abcier is just happily sitting while Aikoki is leaning back in his chair looking at the ceiling. Yea, turns out I had committed a mini-treason when lying to the Head, it could have had serious consequences. ¡°Hey Abcier, when did Knowledge tell you we were visiting the Head?¡± ¡°When you had left from Malters, it does take time to take the boat across.¡± ¡°But we knew about visiting the Head the day before, why didn¡¯t Knowledge tell you sooner?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know¡± he replied with a shrug, a bit interesting but my thoughts get interrupted with Malter coming back with drinks. Water for Abcier who doesn''t drink (not for religious reasons), and a beer for the rest of us. I wonder if the process to make beer is similar here as on Earth, it''s not that difficult to make an easy beer on Earth. And we have magic here, there''s gotta be a way. Might ask the barmen later. After drinking a fruity tasting beer our food arrives, a mixture of grilled fish, vegetables and salty soup with a few more glasses and a jug of water brought in by one of the staff. A quick round of thank yous and we dig right in. Silently thinking how close a call that was with the Head. I would like to experience the alcohol and the buzz but it looks like the Protection of Body is stopping that, can I change that from here? Focusing I reach out to the Protection of Body part of the Gifted Power and try to slide the protection down a little. I don¡¯t want to disable anything or make it easier for me to become infectious, but a little something to feel that buzz.
Gifted Power active: Protection of Body/Protection of Mind (Rank D) Current Abilities: System Interface. Protection from Bodily damage. Protection from Mental damage. Biological seal: Active.
Ah, that might be it, can I change Protection from Bodily damage? Pressing on it a new window appears
Gifted Power active: Protection of Body/Protection of Mind (Rank D) Ability: Protection from Bodily damage. Used by the body to translocate damage to the HP stat, no current settings created. Level up base Gifted Power to increase abilities. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Create Settings?
Yes, that¡¯s what I want! Funny how it wasn¡¯t there last time I had a look through my Interface, it must be reading my mind and adapting a little. But its gotta have a limit with these things right?
Gifted Power active: Protection of Body/Protection of Mind (Rank D) Ability: Protection from Bodily damage. New Setting (1/5): Low alcohol intolerance. (On/Off) When this setting is enabled, its user is able to enjoy the feeling and drunkenness of alcohol with its drawbacks and hangovers. Level up base Gifted Power to increase setting amounts and total new settings.
Alright! Looks like that on top of a new window and setting I have four more I can add, I wonder why this is here now and not earlier. After some food and drink our mood gradually shifts, and soon we are all giggling remembering Illiard¡¯s face of shock when Abcier appeared. Maybe that''s the beer talking but in hindsight it was funny. We continued drinking for a bit but we do plan on leaving soon so I went up to the barman to get another round and to ask some questions. ¡°Hi mate, can I get four of those beers again?¡± holding up four fingers. We¡¯re the only ones drinking this early and ill be honest I don¡¯t have a habit of drinking this early but this is a slight cause for celebration. ¡°Sure, are you guys having a celebration or something?¡± This guys a regular mind reader ¡°Yeap, we had a meeting with Lord Head, was a bit worried there but it got all sorted in the end. I do actually want to ask you a question about beer if you''re free?¡± ¡°Congrats with Lord Head, and sure what''s on your mind¡± he replies, refilling the mugs from a tap. ¡°How is beer brewed here? Like the process, I¡¯m interested to compare how it''s done here versus back home.¡± ¡°I¡¯d guess it''s not that different from yours, preparing the grains, boiling, fermenting and the like. I don¡¯t know the exact process as everyone in the business has Powers relating to brewing so that might be the main difference. That¡¯ll be four Nulapeta.¡± The main currency in the region, Nulapeta. You can think of it as a dollars for now, I¡¯m still learning how currency works here! Speaking of, might as well ask now. With a thanks and a few small coins passed I bring the drinks back, we have been here for nearly two hours and should be heading out soonish. After smashing down the last of the beers we wave a few thank yous to the barman and wait staff and head off back to the wagon. Thankfully the animal tied to it knows where to go. As we all jumble into the back I sit across from Dr Rath and ask the wagon a question ¡°I know this might be a weird request, but would you be able to buy some stuff for me? I¡¯m willing to pay you back once I¡¯m adventuring¡± ¡°Depends on what you want and the cost but I don¡¯t think we mind, this is preparation for your heading to the continent?¡± ¡°Kinda, I¡¯d like to get these before leaving to speak to the gods and ask my Rule of Three Questions. If all goes well, phase two of my plan can get started. I¡¯d need camping gear and sets of clothes for ten people, toiletries, stuff to clean clothes and a way to dispose of waste, something to cook food and an item of some kind to generate food by adding Mana to it. I''ll also probably need some books or a music instrument as well to keep me sane¡± ¡°How long are we talking about before you start adventuring? It might be better to buy a generator but those are expensive.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s say a year or two, maybe sooner, maybe longer. I¡¯m not sure. And I also don¡¯t want you to break the bank helping me¡± ¡°Oh nonsense, I think we can handle a generator and some basic gear. And with your Powers I don¡¯t doubt you could do well, thinking about it with your clones in mind you could take on multiple contracts at the same time!¡± ¡°I was thinking about that to be honest.¡± ¡°What''s the second phase of this plan?¡± asks Malter, I¡¯ve not yet told anyone of my plan yet and I might keep it that way. If in the future the Institute find out I arrived here they might come around asking some awkward questions. ¡°Ill keep that a secret for now, not that I don¡¯t trust you guys or anything but for right now the less who know about this the better. Abcier might already know?¡± ¡°No, I have no clue what you are planning. This is certainly going to be interesting to see this plan come to fruition.¡± Looks like they are all Ok with dipping into their savings for me which is very touching to say the least. But before I leave for the gods there are two things I need to finish. After discussing a bit more and agreeing that Dr Rath will have a look at procuring the stuff I need we soon arrive back at the Coans home. It''s very late and a bit drunk, Epego was waiting for us outside and is a bit annoyed that we¡¯re back several beers deep. After a short dinner we head to bed, with Abcier, Dr Rath and Aikoki sleeping with me in the spare room or in the lounge room. Chapter 14 - Creation Power 3: Elemental Avatar, Training Progress, Michael vs Aikoki: Fight! The two things I want to complete are simple enough. I want to finish the Avatar Creation Power and upgrade the System Interface again. If I focus hard enough I might be able to add an Inventory space. I spend even more time training, it''s strange you know. Normally in a fiction a character will have a chapter or two and that''s the training montage, I¡¯ve spent by this point over two months training. The real world is quite different from some fiction. I then spend the next four months working on the Interface, Avatar and HP/MP training, i''ll break it down for you: System Interface training includes using as much of the features at once, trying to break the limit of current base stats like voice chat numbers. I also spend a crazy amount of time picturing the Inventory feature, how it would work, how it might store things. Trying to push items into the Interface windows and trying to picture it in use. Avatar training is not only picturing how the elements might react and any sub abilities but also how the body must move to move the elements. Moving like a kata while picturing the movements of the elements with each movement. I am able to integrate Psychokinesis with this so the training feels somewhat faster. HP and MP training is easy in comparison, MP training is continuously running out of mana, I normally try this with as many clones as I can while using Powers. HP training is pretty easy as well, basically I need to also keep my HP at its lowest. The alternative is also true, if my clones have full HP and MP and I don¡¯t and then they un-summon themselves the HP and MP are given to me, as the amount is larger than my baseline the baseline rises. With a ton of testing and being sore I¡¯ve discovered a few things: HP and MP training increases by 1 point for as many minutes as I am either very, very low on MP or HP or 1 point per hour when overcharged on HP/MP which is normally only a few minutes thanks to Aikoki! Clone training has diminishing returns, the more the clones train with Powers, martial arts or any kind of training the smaller increments of improvements occur. What I mean is if I have 20 clones training through the Avatar Kata I¡¯ve semi stolen/created they will all earn the same amount of training and progress as I would for half the time. The exception to this is the Mind Palace and stuff we learn, speaking of the mind palace. The clones had a discussion with me. They would like for us to find a way to store a clones individual memories in the Memory Palace and when summoned they can appear with their previous memories and my memories as well. I completely agree, I was already feeling that it might be morally ambiguous to have copies of myself go poof each time, erasing whatever emerging personality they might have if they have to stick around for a long time. I think we can ask Knowledge about that. Those four months take ages to pass but we finally make it, with some new improvements!
Main System Interface upgrade (Rank D ~> C) unlocked
Current Features available: MP and HP Meter: MP: 321 points. HP: 523 points Map mode: Tactical, City, National, Globe, Domain, Star Charts Voice Chat: Local, City, National, Hemisphere, Global, Domain, Stelar Party Creation: 2, 5, 10, 50, 100, 1000, 10000, 100000+ Auto translation: 1 Language, 2, 5, 10, 50, 50+ Basic Memory Palace: Five Rooms (able to be increased), House, Mansion, Block, City Clones have access to System Interface Secret Features activated New Features: Adaptive Matter-Energy Storage - Inventory: 5kg, 10kg, 25kg, 50kg, 100kg, 500kg+ This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Amount of storage increases with total MP, matter transferred into energy cannot be used to increase total MP. Initial large cost of MP when adding new objects, objects you have added previously or have an understanding of have a lesser MP cost for conversion.
Creation Power: Elemental Avatar (Rank D) Increased control of Elements (Bonus due to Psychokinesis) Lesser Mana Cost (Bonus due to Psychokinesis) Integration into other Powers: Possible The Powers of a hero made yours. With the movement of your body, move nature itself according to your will, you have access to the main Elemental groups and the possibility of their sub groups. Water, Earth, Fire, Air As you continue to use this Power you will encounter breakthrough points, breaching these points with a clear goal in mind will unlock further abilities. Current Abilities: Move Element (Water, Earth, Fire, Air) Element Generation (Fire) Mana Manipulation (Basic + Bonus due to Psychokinesis) Mana Organisation (Basic + Bonus due to Psychokinesis)
Creation Power: Psychokinesis (Rank E) Increased control (Elemental bonus due to Elemental Avatar) Lesser Mana Cost (Elemental bonus due to Elemental Avatar) Integration into other Powers: Possible Psychokinesis can be a great training tool and can be utilised and expanded into many Abilities, as you continue to use this Power you will encounter breakthrough points, breaching these points with a clear goal in mind will unlock further abilities. Current Abilities: Move Object (Organic/Inorganic + Elemental bonus due to Elemental Avatar) Mana Manipulation (Basic + Elemental bonus due to Elemental Avatar) Mana Organisation (Basic + Elemental bonus due to Elemental Avatar)
Woo! Yea Baby! That''s what I was waiting for! And now all I need is Dr Rath to grab the stuff I need and ask the Questions to these gods and phase two of the plan can begin! Speaking of, Dr Rath has been steadily buying the stuff I need. Turns out there are definitely food replicators straight out of Star Trek but the food they output can be costly. He should be receiving some of the stuff later in the week so I''ll pick them up when I arrive on the continent. We¡¯ve been doing a lot of work with training as you could have guessed, I am steadily running out of Mana and HP with my training. I''ll do a breakdown on how much MP I am using later on but for now it''s gruelling training with Aikoki and Dr Rath. Young Coan has just finished a mini combat training session with Aikoki, Coan has been steadily improving for a while. Not as fast as I have been but for someone nearly fifteen he¡¯s strong. After moving through some moves with Aikoki that look like Judo throws, it''s my turn. We are standing on the beach we run on all the time, I am bare chested and on solid ground while Aikoki has a plain shirt on with the sea behind him standing on sand, ten feet between us to start, we begin! Two punches, right then left shoot out balls of flame toward Aikoki. The fires are a smoke screen as I bring my fingers in a plus sign to summon some clones, five clones appear in plain view with a sixth hidden behind a tree and out of view. Clones 1 through 3 use Psychokinesis to pull on his clothes moving him closer and off the ground while 4 and 5 use Elemental Avatar to solidify and throw two beams of sand and dirt at him, becoming more loose as they near. I use Elemental Avatar to direct the loose dirt to his wrists and then solidify them again, the dirt becoming a chain to hold him in place. Aikoki¡¯s feet land on the ground and with a twist of my hands dirt rises from the ground and wraps around his feet and lower legs. Seeing that he¡¯s trapped 1, 2 and 3 stop Psychokinesis and run forward, the rules of this match is whoever can pin the others shoulders down to the ground for ten seconds. 1 through 3 run and go to tackle when Aikoki brings his hands forward, breaking our ¡°chains¡±. With moves straight from a kung fu movie the clones go flying, 1 and 2 being swept to the side while 3 gets thrown overhead with a twist that also breaks the hold over his legs. 1 through 3 are too damaged and go poof while 4 and 5 start throwing fire trying to make him back up a bit but each are blocked, through the fire we can see an ethereal glow to his hands. He has some kind of protection power that can stop people from touching or throwing things at him. 4 and 5 keep this up while I move around looking to feint a side tackle but stop and push my hands forward to shoot out compressed sand. It¡¯s seen, and a well timed block with his leg stops the sand from hitting but at the moment of impact I moved the sand behind the impact point out and up toward his face. At the same time 4 and 5 stop fire throwing while 6 who''s been hidden in a tree the entire time shoots out a whip of water from the ocean. The water whip wraps around his last leg and is pulled back. Aikoki falls on his face with all of us moving toward him to grab and move onto his back. Just as we touch him his body feels oily and we can''t get a grip, a bit of dogpiling later has 4 through 6 poof and me on the sand with my shoulders pinned. I¡¯ve lost again. Chapter 15 - Just a ferry ride away. Puffing out a plume of sand I can feel Aikoki getting off me while I still sit there. ¡°Excellent!¡± he proclaims, ¡°you did really well there!¡± ¡°Well? I¡¯ve never won against you and that Power of yours is crazy, ¡± ¡°Yea, obviously. You''re trying to incapacitate me and not hurt me right? If this was a real fight you would be causing real damage. That fire didn¡¯t even singe my hair¡± ¡°I mean, true but I¡¯d prefer to not kill anyone you know.¡± Being silent for a second Aikoki starts to say something but I cut him off ¡°Before you say anything, I¡¯m not naive enough to know that I won¡¯t kill anyone. Sometime, which I hope is a long long time from now, I might kill someone. Either through an accident or purposely, when I do I will have to face that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear that¡± replied Aikoki, followed by me giving him a questioning look, ¡°I¡¯ve had people in my past think that, that they would never kill anyone. Only for them to do exactly that. If it happens, you can always talk with me, even if it''s over letter¡± ¡°Thank you, I''ll do just that.¡± Lets not pry further into his past much more. ¡°Come on Michael, let''s try this again.¡± And so we train some more, and more and more. A few days later Dr Rath has all the gear ready at his place and it''s time to ask my Questions, I need to travel via ship to the continent but it''s only an hour away. I''ll be meeting Knowledge first, ask my questions/requests and go from there. Bidding farewell to the Coans I head off with Abceir and Dr Rath, with Malter and Aikoki staying behind as they have enough to work on at the moment. ¡°Will you be coming back?¡± Asks Coan, we¡¯ve been quite friendly with each other to the point he feels like a younger brother (My brother back on Earth might feel a bit miffed by that lol). ¡°Of course I¡¯m coming back, I should be back either late today or tomorrow, just got to ask the gods a few things.¡± ¡°Alright¡± Rubbing his head and messing with his hair much to his annoyance I turn toward Malter and Epego, ¡°Guess I¡¯ll see you guys soon, gotta be honest I¡¯m kinda nervous.¡± Epego and Malter scoop me up into a hug with Coan seeing this and hugging my side. ¡°You¡¯ll be fine¡± says Epego, ¡°Just come back to us, if you disappear you¡¯ll miss Coans birthday in a few months!¡± ¡°Well there goes my plans then¡± I say jokingly, breaking off the hug I say a quick goodbye and head out on the same wagon we used to travel to see the Head though not as far. Not 20 minutes down the road, a port is present which is what Abcier and Dr Rath have been using to visit us. The ship we are using is the Farmers Rest Island ferry called ¡°Mki Yyigdepe¡± which roughly translates as ¡°good hunting for fish¡±? The boat has a pretty standard design just without sails or outboard motor and is large enough to have an enclosed cabin. Boarding from the bow we enter into the large cabin with several others heading for the continent, mostly other farmers and families it looks like, I can see from the window that there is a large amount of fish and other products being loaded onboard. The cabin is basically just rows of padded, soft seats with the cabin walls covered in windows looking out into the sea, kinda like a large ferry. Soon enough the captain spins the ship around on the spot somehow and we are underway, turning to Abcier I ask a quick question ¡°How does this ship move about? I can¡¯t see any motors or sails, I cannot even hear anything other than a low hum.¡± ¡°The ship''s hull is specially made so that it cuts through the water, it also pulls and pushes the water while doing so, propelling us forward or in any other direction if we need to turn. The hum your hearing is the mana storage below deck powering the Powered Hull.¡± Huh, I saw a few ships during my time training along the beach but those had sails, guess both are popular out here? And how the Powered Hull can move water like that explains how our ship could 180. After under an hour we have arrived on the continent, the docks are massive and I can see towers up ahead though it does not seem to have any skyscrapers, or really anything over ten stories or any flying transports so far. Disembarking we walk down the street which has large warehouses along the entire stretch of docks, cranes above the docks ready to bring items off ship, wagons and wagons of items moving about pulled by the same large bison-like animal without the large horns and with very large legs. As we start to exit the docks I ask ¡°Isn¡¯t these docks kinda big? Does Farmers Rest Island really ship that much stuff here?¡± A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°Goodness no¡± replies Abcier, ¡°these are also used for trade up and down the cost, though you are somewhat right, the majority of shipping this time of year comes from Farmers Rest.¡± This time of year is harvesting season at the moment, I was helping with planting soon after I had arrived and then moved onto harvesting. The Coans should have it well in hand. Travelling further down, I notice the roads are like a bitchumen road back home but even then it has the same pot-holes or cracks in its surface, looks like local councils even in another world don¡¯t repair roads as quick either. Even with magic. Walking down there are many large houses two and three stories tall with some more closer to the city centre being taller and taller. Market stalls are popped up all along the road and many people are moving dressed in all manner of clothing but mostly garments of loose fitting variety. Most of the people here would not look out of place in the 1700s just with the added twist of magic involved, Powers such as keeping mud off shoes and images moving on the dresses or jackets make for an interesting walk. ¡°Why, why are there no other races here? Looks mostly human?¡± Dr Rath answers ¡°There are some in Oghqoa, but this is mostly a human populated city. When you start your adventuring you¡¯ll undoubtedly run into many, the capitol is massive and quite diverse, this is just a smaller town despite how large it looks.¡± We take a slight detour to visit Dr Rath¡¯s home that doubles as a doctors office, the first floor being the office with the second floor and back yard being his home. Entering and passing a few patients we are about to move into the back when a man appears from a side room. ¡°Ah, Trla! Thank goodness you''re here, would you be able to take Mrs Backermann from me. She hurt her leg again and doesn''t seem to like me very much.¡± Only then noticing myself and Abcier. ¡°Hi, how are you?¡± Dr Trla Rath sighs and says ¡°I''ll be with you in a moment Iki, just need to show my guests upstairs, send her to my office please.¡± As we walk up the stairs Rath says ¡°You¡¯ll have to excuse me soon, Mrs Backermann can be quite demanding, understandable why Iki wants me to take over. Anyway here we are!¡± Opening a door to a room we enter to find a small box and two backpacks bursting at the seams. ¡°The bags hold all the gear I could fit into it and this box has the Food generator and waste recycler, this should handle things well for you.¡± ¡°Recycler?¡± I ask ¡°Yes it comes with the Food generator, any kind of waste put into it will be turned into energy and then can be added to the generator to make food. It''s completely food safe but it''s not that commonly used.¡± I can kinda see why, no one wants to see, let alone eat food that at one point might have been poop. And for some reason I¡¯m curious about the sewer system now. I pick up the box and try to feel it, it''s surprisingly not too heavy though the bags are! ¡°Does that generator and recycler come with instructions?¡± I ask, ¡°They do but it''s not in English, but your reading ability is increasing!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that Michael, we¡¯ll sort out some English instructions for you at Knowledges temple.¡± adds Abcier. Easy then ¡°Thank you Dr Rath, this means a lot to me! I¡¯ll send you through money as soon as I can to pay you back.¡± ¡°Oh don¡¯t be in such a rush, I am one of a few higher ranked doctors here. I can make this back in a week or less.¡± With a smile I pick up the box and try to push it into my Inventory, i¡¯ve been practising with smaller stuff but this might be complex enough to eat my mana up.
Adaptive Matter-Energy Storage - Inventory: 5kg, 10kg, 25kg, 50kg, 100kg, 500kg+ Amount of storage increases with total MP, matter transferred into energy cannot be used to increase total MP. Initial large cost of MP when adding new objects, objects you have added previously or have an understanding of have a lesser MP cost for conversion. MP: 587 points HP: 649 points Do you wish to add this Item (Food Generator + Recycler) to Inventory? Y/N --- Item added to Inventory successfully, open Inventory menu to see item in window Storage Used: 26.74 kg MP Used: 432 points --- MP: 155 points HP: 649 points Do you wish to add this Item (Hiking Pack x1) to Inventory? Y/N --- Item added to Inventory successfully, open Inventory menu to see item in window Storage Used: 48.96 / 50 kg MP Used: 152 points --- MP: 3 points HP: 649 points
Chapter 16 - Knowledge. Yea that really ate into my mana, I¡¯m carrying the leftover bag with what looks like a Guitar or Oud from Earth strapped to the side but looks a bit more stylish and does not appear Powered for now. Soon enough we arrive at a large square, at the corner of each square is a large domed building with several smaller buildings nearby, many people are in the square which has a fountain in the middle. ¡°This is one of the main sections of the city, each of the domed buildings are temples made for the gods. Who do you want to visit first?¡± ¡°Let''s start with Knowledge then go to Creature, Power and World.¡± ¡°Sure, I¡¯m sure you have your reasons¡± replied Abcier with a wink. I get the feeling he knows about my plan¡­ Nah. We¡¯ve entered the square from one of its sides and head toward the building on the right corner of us. We make an odd pair, some random carrying a stuffed backpack with an instrument and a priest. Sounds like the start of a bad joke, as we enter we can see a large room in the front that contains some seating and a large double door taking up an entire wall. About 15 ft tall and 10ft wide. The large door looks like it''s covered in massive leather bound books. A smaller door is set into the larger one which might be for show and we enter through it with some odd looks from others visiting and the other priests. Going through the door we enter into the domed room, it''s quite massive, the dome might be 30 ft at its tallest or higher. Once all the way through Abcier closes the door and directs me to take off the bag. Once done a golden light starts lighting up the room, starting near the top of the dome. Slowly it takes a form that looks like a king upon a throne, sceptre, crown and all. Fancy golden and white robes with sandaled feet. He looks human, just golden, with white accents in the robes and about 20ft tall. This all takes place over thirty seconds while he ¡°composes himself¡± (sorry, bad joke) and once completed he starts laughing in a deep voice, not Morgan Freeman deep but close. ¡°That was a funny joke, Michael of Earth. It wasn''t too bad.¡± he adds smiling. ¡°I¡¯m gonna guess here but you must be Knowledge? Hows things?¡± ¡°Obviously I¡¯m Knowledge, I know you''re telling jokes to keep your nerve so why not ask some questions. I''ll answer these freely till we get to the main ones.¡± He replies, leaning to the side and resting his head on his hand. ¡°Cheers, the first one on my mind is: Did you send me to Farmers Rest Island when I arrived to limit my culture shock with other races?¡± ¡°Somewhat, you were heading in that direction anyway but we just placed you in the best spot.¡± ¡°Do you know why the Crossing happened or why it seems to happen all the time here?¡± ¡°We may be gods, but we are the gods of our world not yours. We don¡¯t know why the Crossings occur, just that they do.¡± ¡°Have any other humans from Earth appeared before?¡± ¡°None¡±. Well that¡¯s comforting. ¡°Do I need to worry about that Illiard guy from earlier or just leave him be?¡± ¡°I think that can be answered with your Question.¡± ¡°How¡¯d you pronounce the capital Q there? You know what nevermind, sure. How about, what knowledge of Earth¡¯s I can or cannot talk about?¡± ¡°Good question, in short your achievements, history and almost everything can be discussed, however I want none of the details or creation of Nuclear Weapons, Guns, Chemical Weapons, Drugs, Gasoline, Plastics and Fossil Fuels.¡± ¡°Thats all?¡± ¡°Yes, you can limit yourself more if you want however these cannot be shared.¡± ¡°What do you mean by details? Like I can get behind not making a How To video on making Nukes but they are mentioned in history as a massive city, potentially planet destroying weapon.¡± ¡°You can use its English name and the outcome of its use, but any other details such as how it works or the physics behind it must not be allowed to be let loose on the world¡± ¡°Ok done, how does the sewers work down here?¡± If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. I can hear Abcier choke a little and struggle to breath, coughing a little. ¡°The sewers are as you picture then, tunnels of waste leading to a treatment plant, there they are turned into either fresh water or energy to power the city, Biofuel¡± ¡°Nice, very modern of you. If I did want to make guns, nuclear devices, drugs and the like, is that cool if no one knows how they work?¡± After a pause and a look to Abcier he replies ¡±While I do not care what you do so long as the information does not become public knowledge the other gods might. You would do well to not test mine or their patience.¡± ¡°Got it, figured I''d try my hand at nuclear reactors later down the line so thought I¡¯d ask. You appear as a man but I have heard of others referring to you either as man or woman. Do you have a physical form?¡± ¡°I do have physical form, but not what you picture. I appear to people in the image they want me to appear, or in some cases something taken from their memory.¡± ¡°Speaking of memory, what knowledge do you have from Earth?¡± ¡°All its knowledge, at the time of the crossing there was an instant where the two worlds were connected, this allowed me to understand your world. But the information collected, this I cannot share.¡± ¡°And why not, a god should be able to right?¡± ¡°I do not have to share anything with you, I am answering these questions out of my own free will, the memories you have can be accessed via a Memory Crystal. As a gift I offer one to you once you leave.¡± ¡°Memory crystal huh¡± I would love to press, that the information from Earth is my birthright or something but I don¡¯t think that¡¯ll help things. ¡°Guess that also explains the dates and exact time of my departure from Earth¡± ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°You know I have more, why ask?¡± ¡°Rhetorical.¡± ¡°Has any OutWorlders been able to successfully make it back to their worlds?¡± ¡°None have¡± ¡°Is there anyone currently working on a method to get to their worlds, or just travelling to other worlds in general?¡± ¡°Many have tried, none have succeeded.¡± Rats, I might have to start from scratch. ¡°How do the lie detector crystals work?¡± ¡°They are based on the Lie Detector machines from Earth, they measure physical responses to lies. These can be cheated using the same methods known from Earth.¡± Cool, I got really into Lie Detectors for a time so it should be in the memory palace somewhere. ¡°Let''s move onto the Big Three, why don¡¯t we? My Questions are in the shape of a request, as Abcier had let me know that was possible. I request a Map mode addition showing the movements of Institute members hunting or searching for OutWorlders. Live.¡± ¡°An understandable request, Granted. However you will need access to detailed maps to see the full picture of their movements.¡± ¡°Understood, my second request is for an upgrade of the Memory Palace to include my Clones'' personalities and memories when re-summoned or de-summoned. I will focus on a Power to better visualise the Palace so something easily accessible where the Clones'' memories can be stored and viewed as needed.¡± ¡°An interesting request, Aiwatito, the cousin of your Power created by Muahaix did not care for his clones and so the memories of them were added in an unorganised way or forgotten. Granted¡± ¡°My third request: As this world is not safe for me, it is possible I will run into people who will betray me. Who will get behind me only to stab me in the back, I would request an Interface mode that shows if someone can be trusted. And you know what I mean by ¡°Trusted¡±. ¡°Do you not trust your friends?¡± ¡°Oh I do, don''t get me wrong, just that there could always be others who look trusting but are not. You should know I¡¯ve had the pleasure of dealing with some of them¡± ¡°Hm, Granted. However you can only check this once and only once you have upgraded your System Interface with the next idea you have in mind. Once you pass the breakthrough point you and only you will have access to it.¡± ¡°Cheers. Oh also, is there a guidebook for the System Interface? It seems to change according to my mind''s whims but I would like to know how it works for certain.¡± Hmm, a pause as it thinks. Leaning back into its throne ¡°That is a request that would be in a Rule of Three but you already have your requests. Tell you what¡± he says, standing to a larger height, the room appearing to grow even taller to 50 ft or more and in a deep voice says ¡°Worship me Michael, let me enter your mind in full and I will grant you the Knowledge you request.¡± he says waving his arms low. A pressure mounts, a feeling of the world getting smaller and smaller. A pause from Michael this time, before his face breaks control and a laugh echoes throughout the room. ¡°Y, you can read the minds of millions all the time. Apparently billions at just a glance and you think I would worship you!? Hahahaha.¡± ¡°Nope, not in a billion years. I may not be the most holy man but I will follow my God as best I can, despite your appearance.¡± ¡°Do not try to test your new god, this is a grand offer. My name is known throughout the world, I am Knowledge, I am Truth.¡± ¡°Ha! An offer he says, and if I don¡¯t will you refuse my Questions? Remove my Interface and Powers? Truth, what is Truth? Will you fulfill my Questions or not?¡± A god quoting the scripture of another God, throwing a quote of scripture back at him seemed like a reasonable thing to do. At least somewhat poetic? Frowning and shrinking back to his normal 30ft tall, seated self he waves a hand and a Window appears, moving it to the side I nod and leave in silence with Abcier following looking dazed and a little fearful. Chapter 17 - Creature Part 1 Exiting the domed room a priest hands out two sheets of hastily written paper and a red crystal before looking at Abcier and me in surprise, mostly at how Abcier looks white as a sheet. I notice that as well and turn to him, slowing down my walk. ¡°You good mate?¡± ¡°Um, yes. Just never heard someone laugh at Knowledge¡¯s offer before. Why did you?¡± ¡°Like I said, I have a God I follow from home. I would not be the person I was today without Him. There is no doubt in my mind that if I had accepted I would have regretted it for the rest of my life. Otherwise, it went well!¡± ¡°Well!?¡± Abcier whispers in shock ¡°You antagonised a god!, don¡¯t you understand how grave that might be? If word gets out¡­¡± ¡°But it won¡¯t, you won¡¯t say anything and neither will Knowledge as all the stuff he knows about people he has to keep private, just like you told me.¡± ¡°Well yes but that does not change the facts of what happened, there might be consequences.¡± ¡°Then I will face them later, for now I need to see a god about a dog¡± As we walk to the temple to the left of where we entered one I pull up the Interface window I moved out of view earlier. While I pocket the Memory Crystal and its paper.
Main System Interface upgrade (Rank C ~> CC) unlocked
Current Features available: MP and HP Meter: MP: 50 points. HP: 523 points Map mode: Tactical, City, National, Globe, Domain, Star Charts Voice Chat: Local, City, National, Hemisphere, Global, Domain, Stelar Party Creation: 2, 5, 10, 50, 100, 1000, 10000, 100000+ Auto translation: 1 Language, 2, 5, 10, 50, 50+ Basic Memory Palace: Five Rooms (able to be increased), House, Mansion, Block, City Clones have access to System Interface Adaptive Matter-Energy Storage - Inventory: 5kg, 10kg, 25kg, 50kg, 100kg, 500kg+ Secret Features activated New Features (Gifter: Knowledge): Map mode sub ability: Institutional Awareness (Live) Track the locations of all active hunters or searchers of OutWorlders within a defined area. Updates Live (within five seconds), Zoom and tagging functions available. Available in all map modes. --- Basic Memory Palace upgrade (Basic ~> Advanced) Stolen novel; please report. Integration with Shadow Clone fully enabled. All clones are able to store memories and personalities into a dedicated section of the Memory Palace, this enables their recollection. Further advancement available. Memory Palace: The four towers (Mansion). Tower 1: Personal Memories Tower 2: Clone Memories/Personalities Tower 3: Unused Tower 4: Unused --- Further System Interface Advancement Required: Sub ability available: Trust but Verify For people you need to trust, using this ability will show a icon next to their S####s S##### to determine if they can be trusted. Green: Can be Trusted. Orange: May be Trusted. Red: Must not be Trusted.
Ok looking good, i''ll be honest I was kinda crapping myself there talking back to a being like Knowledge but hopefully it¡¯ll be ok. Are the others also like this? The other papers given to me by that priest from the door appear to be the instructions for the recycler and food generator. ¡°Can you put these into the bag please?¡± Michael asks turning to Abcier, who takes the papers and adds them. ¡°Thank you.¡± It''s only a quick walk away and soon we are entering the temple to Creature, the god of all living things apparently. Upon entering we are greeted with a similar sight of seating and large doors but a different theme, there is a ton of greenery and plant imagery around with the doors looking like they are almost a living thing. A priest in a green robe arrives to greet us, contrasting Abcier¡¯s more brown robe ¡°Greetings, Michael Hayes I assume?¡± holding his hand out. ¡°You assume correct, you may know Abcier of Knowledge?¡± I say turning my head, ¡°I am here to ask my Questions'''' ¡°Of course, I will direct you. Abcier, if you will wait here.¡± With a nod and a few exchanged glances we move toward another door set inside the larger door. The domed section is starkly different from Knowledge, while Knowledges appears empty till he appears, Creature has his filled with trees, vines, moss and small animals. Things that can be compared to mice, squirrels, and other animals. Creature is already here, and appears as a farmer dressed in overalls and jeans, typical Earth farmer clothing, but you know, golden with white accents. ¡°Hello Michael, welcome to my home. Drink?¡± He sounds like a typical aussie farmer, friendly in speech and tone, accent and all. A bit surprised, I turn to a horned deer-like animal that approaches with its horns bent into a coil shape, the coils holding a glass filled with water. ¡°I¡¯m good thanks, is this how you always treat your guests? Dressing up as farmers and handing out drinks?¡± ¡°Well, you are a special case. I had heard from Knowledge that all that pomp and circumstance as you would call it didn¡¯t sit well with you. So I decided on a less, formal approach, though I am normally about this formal usually.¡± He adds with a grin before picking a glass himself from the deer creature. ¡°You have questions, what do you want to know. Michael of Earth?¡± ¡°Are all of you this direct? You''re not gonna ask me to worship you are you?¡± ¡°Hahaha, oh goodness no. I don¡¯t know why Knowledge asked that of you but we are definitely different from each other.¡± he chuckled. ¡°Cool, mind if I look around while we talk?¡± ¡°Of course, go right ahead!¡± As I walk toward a group of smaller mice-like creatures with green fur I ask ¡°You made some changes to my body when I arrived, adding that Well and Network I can understand but I want to know what else was added or changed.¡± ¡°Not too much, most of the repair was direct enough. The only major additions made where changes to your brain, a large section of what you would call the Motor Cortex and Brain Stem, these were quite damaged.¡± ¡°How so? And how did you know how to repair them?¡± I ask as I squat down to pet these mice things, soft squeaks coming from them. ¡°Your brain was subjected to all sorts of trauma, but the Cortex and Stem were completely destroyed and so a replacement was needed. When in that instant the crossing occurred I had managed to take a peek at your brain before it was too badly damaged by the lightning and crossing. Once I had a template it was easy enough to either repair or create anew.¡± ¡°Guess that explains the temporal anomalies from that Crossing document, you could see I was in two places at once.¡± ¡°Yes, those were difficult to remove. I had to completely replace those parts of your body. Despite being called gods we are unable to change the course of time, nor would we want to.¡± ¡°Understandable, you do not want to mess with time willy nilly. I have heard of animals and monsters and the differences between them, one a natural animal while another a mindless beast, wanting only to kill and reproduce. Why continually create monsters?¡± ¡°Huh, I have been asked that many times. The Answer would take too long to get into but let¡¯s just say it preserves a balance.¡± I can see that I suppose, you have all these powerful adventurers with all sorts of magic, better they are earning a living rather than killing each other. ¡°Is there anything I should know about this new body of mine? This isn''t exactly my home world, there are bound to be some changes or reactions?¡± ¡°Yes, this is something I had wanted to discuss with you.¡± Well that''s got my attention, standing up and looking back at him. ¡°OutWorlders can experience a phenomenon called Dimensional Shakes, you are correct that this is not your home world and the damage from the crossing is a massive strain on the body. The Dimensional Shakes are a, stain on the body. At some points, throughout your life you will experience a pain like nothing you have felt before. It is pure luck that you have not yet experienced it, it will be a pain scale of 7 or 8 and last only a few moments but this is something you will have to live with. And if this takes place in an extradimensional space, these Shakes will only get worse. It will not kill you, but it is painful.¡± Chapter 18 - Creature Part 2 Well, shit. Just what I want to hear, definitely looking forward to it. ¡°Guess this is not something you can remove via Question right?¡± ¡°No, none of us working as an individual or collectively can prevent these.¡± ¡°Extradimensional Space?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll need to ask World more about that, he knows it and the Shakes better than I do.¡± Well thats something else to add to the list, now lets ask a big one. ¡°Did Knowledge let you know of my idea for my Power?¡± ¡°No, with your permission?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Going silent for a moment, Creature opens his eyes and looks at me with an interesting, curious look. Necromancy is a forbidden power that was placed on a restricted list, no one should be able to create a necromancy power ¡°An interesting idea, but how is this not necromancy?¡± The Solo Levelling Power used by the main MC is a Power that can ¡°raise¡± the dead to life in service to him, I want to twist it so that the residual mana from defeated monsters which have a tiny chance of becoming mana beasts instead are forced into becoming a mana beast and living on. ¡°From my understanding Mana Beasts are the mana of a dead monster whose mana sticks around in its form, it then continues to ¡°live¡± until something comes along and kills it off. What I want to do is not so different.¡± ¡°You want to force a creatures mana to remain present, ruled under your control.¡± ¡°Yes, I do not want to bring it back to life, just let its mana retain form under my control.¡± And with a shake of my head ¡°Well I say control, I''ll be giving them free reign to do things they want to do, just need them to help when it comes to it. Like my clones, I need them.¡± ¡°Hmm, I am unsure. There are rules at play here. What would happen if they wish to be released from your service after a time? Or need to disappear like your clones? The original Power had them hide in his shadow.¡± ¡°My idea that was for me at least they can work like the Clones, memory and personality added to the memory palace. Using their talents as a Mana Beast they would be able to hide in the shadows of a target easily. If they want to leave permanently that is fine, I''ll give them back to you and you can talk with them about it.¡± ¡°You feel they belong to me?¡± ¡°Well I don¡¯t know how you do things here but I figured that a god who looks after and creates animals would want a say.¡± After a long pause Creature replies ¡°If you can persuade Power of this, I will grant this, it is just enough to be different in our view and the culture of the peoples.¡± ¡°Understood and thank you.¡± before moving on Creature adds, ¡°Knowledge let me know what you meant by ¡°I need them¡± you truly feel that way?¡± ¡°Yes¡± I replied without hesitation, with a tilted head ask ¡°I thought Knowledge had to keep things to himself?¡± ¡°We work together a lot, we can share most things between each other but not the people of the world.¡± I see I suppose. ¡°Are there any major genetic differences between Earth and Land or Land with other domains?¡± ¡°Nothing too major, about 3% difference between the humans of Earth and Land, other Land races have a difference of about 4 to 5%. Between the different domains it is approximately 10%.¡± Your biology is quite unique and yet scarily similar to the other humans on this world.¡± ¡°Not that much of a difference?¡± ¡°No, aside from the Well, Network, bacteria and some genetic markers, basically identical.¡± ¡°Well then, shall we get on with the big Questions?¡± ¡°Please!¡± he says, moving a hand and a tree grows under my feet, forming into a chair behind me. One also appears for Creature as well, I take a seat. ¡°Well my first question would be more of a request for information.¡± A nod from Creature prompts me to continue ¡°I understand there are many races that live in this world, even though I haven¡¯t really had a chance to meet any yet. I would like biological information, as in depth as the medical science from Earth. Knowledge can confirm that I have a slightly higher level of knowledge in the medical field compared to the average guy from back home. With the changes with the Well and Network I¡¯m in need of a refresher, and why not ask the one who knows biology best?¡± ¡°Medical based knowledge showing the intricate details for each race, I can grant you this however it will be limited to this Domain only. And you will need to study to gain access to more. Granted¡± ¡°Thanks, the second question is similar to the first, but for animals and monsters. Their weak points and location of organs, and if possible integrated into the System Interface. And maybe at higher levels the HP and possible Powers they might have. I should add this would not affect people.¡± ¡°An interesting request but nothing I haven¡¯t heard of before, Granted. But again with the first, you will need to study to gain access to more information.¡± Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°I just about figured as much, the third question is a bit different. Knowledge was able to learn just about everything about Earth by reading the minds of everyone in that instant with the Crossing, he must have also learnt about foods. My request would be for the knowledge of cooking, seasoning and other stuff cooking related. I want to know what meats and processes are best to make food that tastes like Earth foods, what fruit tastes like Mangos or what tastes like Chicken here? That kind of information and more if you would grant it.¡± ¡°Normally people would ask Knowledge a question like this but I can see why you would ask me, Granted. But like before, you will need to study it to gain more access.¡± ¡°Cheers, I¡¯ll be honest but I didn¡¯t think that would work. For the food one that is.¡± chuckling Creature replies ¡°Ahh it''s fine, anything else?¡± ¡°Yes actually, I¡¯m guessing you have knowledge of the animals from Earth right? Real and fictional?¡± ¡°Yes, correct.¡± ¡°Do you plan on creating them anytime soon?¡± ¡°I cannot just create an entirely new animal or monster and introduce it into the ecosystem, but if there comes a time where I need a Dragon slain I''ll let you know.¡± Comforting ¡°Well thanks for your time but I need to also have a chat with Power and World so should be getting a hustle on.¡± I say standing up from my tree chair. ¡°Oh that''s quite alright, it has been quite interesting to talk with you.¡± ¡°Thank you, mind if I come back sometime, ask some more questions?¡± ¡°Please do, it would be my pleasure. Perhaps I''ll see you around?¡± ¡°Maybe, cyas.¡± With a wave from Creature and a short walk away I exit from the little door, the priest is outside waiting for me with Abcier. Didn¡¯t even notice he didn¡¯t enter. ¡°How¡¯d it go?¡± Abcier asks, ¡°No troubles at all, Creature is quite a chill dude actually. Though I am a bit worried he might try and create a Dragon for the hell of it.¡± ¡°Dragon?¡± says both priests, ¡°Yea it might be best you don¡¯t know for now. Anyway, lets get a hustle on, gotta talk with Power now and thats gotta be a fun one.¡± As we leave the temple I get another System Window appear:
Main System Interface (Rank CC) Requirements not yet reached for Rank CCC
Current Features available: MP and HP Meter: MP: 98 points. HP: 523 points Map mode: Tactical, City, National, Globe, Domain, Star Charts Map mode sub ability: Institutional Awareness (Live) Voice Chat: Local, City, National, Hemisphere, Global, Domain, Stelar Party Creation: 10, 50, 100, 1000, 10000, 100000+ Auto translation: 1 Language, 2, 5, 10, 50, 50+ Advanced Memory Palace: Mansion, Block, City Memory Palace: The four towers (Mansion). Clones have access to System Interface Adaptive Matter-Energy Storage - Inventory: 50kg, 100kg, 500kg+ Further System Interface Advancement Required: Sub ability available: Trust but Verify Secret Features activated New Information Provided (Gifter: Creature): Memory Palace: The four towers (Mansion). Tower 3: Biological/Medical Information on the Peoples of Land: Rank basis, join a Medical Guild or Study to increase this. Uspeta - Humans - Basic Kye - Locked Iuouwa - Locked Uiuiuai - Locked Oiaq - Locked Unusaret - Locked Oayaiuki - Locked --- Memory Palace: The four towers (Mansion). Tower 4: Biological Information on the Animals/Monsters delt by the Peoples of Land: Rank basis, join a Adventuring Guild and Study to increase this. List collapsed for brevity. --- Further Memory Palace Advancement Required: Tower 5: Culinary information on the cooking and preparing of Lands foods You currently do not have the necessary space in your Memory Palace to add this information, levelling up your Memory Palace with the desire to add another tower will allow this information to become available. Any culinary information you acquire prior to the upgrade will be calculated and added to your initial Rank.
Chapter 19 - Power As we walk to the temple on the opposite side of the square I can see that there are a lot more people hanging out today. Did more people enter this square recently? ¡°Abcier, does it look like there are more people here than before?¡± ¡°You did just meet with two different gods, word travels fast. And there are other signs when they appear. How did it go with Creature?¡± ¡°Pretty good thanks, I need to do some Rank Ups to get everything I need but it shouldn¡¯t be too difficult.¡± I think he¡¯s still thinking about that talk with Knowledge, while we walk in silence I pull up the Map Mode, I can just see the town square and each person in the square appears as a dot or groups of dots. I can¡¯t see any notifications that someone from the Institute has appeared but if there is this much hubbub after only visiting two gods then we may need to get a move on. ¡°We may need to get out of here as soon as possible, you know a quiet way out of here from Worlds temple?¡± ¡°There should be an alleyway we can take, loop around and get back to the docks.¡± ¡°Ill try to make this quick¡± I reply as we move into the temple, Powers one is filled with all forms of magic flying about, to magic lights hovering in the air to grand slow motion displays of magic running below the roof. The massive doors are there, though they do not look physical but more ethereal, like an energy wall rather than a physical one. Another robed priest this time in a blue robe appears and after a short introduction I am directed in while Abcier and the priest wait outside. Power appears in a lab coat with diagrams and formulas surrounding him, a pair of glasses that I¡¯m guessing are for show are on, as he looks up from his diagrams he sees me. Typical appearance, golden colour with white highlights. ¡°Michael of Earth, come in.¡± Instantly it feels like I¡¯m late for school and facing a stern teacher. ¡°Thank you for seeing me, Power.¡± ¡°Mm, ask away.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t mind I''ll ask some general questions first then move on to the Questions.¡± A hand wave and he turns back to his diagrams. ¡°As you know I have several Created Powers, will I get to choose their newest features upon Rank up or will you?¡± Without looking up he replies ¡°Your Powers are yours, if we feel that it is too limited for its rank I might add an extra feature or two.¡± ¡°What Powers are restricted?¡± ¡°That depends, do you want to know the Powers restricted by us or by the governments of this world?¡± ¡°You please, I can look up the government''s ones at a later date.¡± ¡°Mmm, there are not too many but the ones we have restricted are: Time Travel or Manipulation, Seeing into the future, god creation, god killing, mind control, brainwashing, soul destruction, necromancy, Country destruction, self-destruction, massive disruption of mana, world or domain destruction, physics destruction or rewriting and Infinity Powers¡± Looking up from his work Power looks at me with a glare ¡°I know you talked with Creature on your version of a necromancy-like power. You should know that culturally and linguistically necromancy would be something like your Zombies from Earth and other such powers. But why do you think Creature told you to persuade me as well to allow you to create such a Power?¡± Ok that''s a lot to take in at once, ¡°Um, I think because you are the one who would directly work with creating the Power?¡± ¡°Think harder.¡± Um what, what does he mean by ¡°think harder¡±. What am I missing? It''s basically just forcing Mana Beasts into existence¡­ ¡°Oh, while living creatures are a part of Creatures domain, Mana Beasts are part of yours?¡± ¡°Yes, and it is quite presumptuous of you to offer Creature ¡°his¡± creatures back to him if they wish to leave your service.¡± ¡°Theeeen I¡¯ll leave them in both your services. And you have my word that they will be looked after.¡± ¡°See if you can create it then, if it shows promise I will grant it. Next question¡± he asks, turning back to his diagrams. What¡¯s so special about them I wonder? I¡¯m just glad the Shadow Power has the Ok. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. ¡°What¡¯s an Infinity Power?¡± ¡°Quite simply, things that have no end. Asking Knowledge for an example shows the Earth Superman, One Punch Man and other Powers that may be infinite in scale, sheer power, force, etc.¡± ¡°Are you giving me a bit of leeway as I¡¯m not from around here? Is that also why I¡¯m ranking up so quickly?¡± ¡°Yes to both, but I will tell you now, the bonus you have been granted will be stopped once you complete that Mana Beast Shadow Power and now that you know, you will only receive that boost for that Power¡± Well that sucks, I¡¯ll need to do some ranking up the hard way, it might just take me ages before I can rank up to the next rank. Agh why did I ask that!? I think as I facepalm. Looking back up and removing the palm I ask ¡°Why is there a limit to the number of Powers available for a person, and are there other types?¡± As a quick reminder, it''s set so that at D rank I can only gain 1x Power, but at C I can get 4x and at CC and CCC I can get 1x more each until I get up to B where I can 4x more again, etc. Right now I am at the cusp of C Rank and still stuck on D rank till this Shadow Power is created. ¡°25 Powers are the maximum amount that a body can handle, any more and the body would start to die from mana overdose.¡± ¡°What would happen if two people create the same Power at the same time but without knowing about each other or the Power they are creating?¡± ¡°If two people create the same power in the same way but they did not know the power existed, both people are able to create the same power with no drawbacks. However if one tries when they already know the power or method for the sole purpose of copping it is treated as a Stolen Power. Stolen Powers are not enabled for OutWorlders as they either have Powers from their world that are similar or have no concept of Powers. Stolen Powers however, do not relate to abilities.¡± Ok now that last bit was interesting. ¡°What happens if a side effect of a Power breaks a governmental law or one of your laws on Powers by accident?¡± ¡°If it is a side effect of the Power then it may be limited by us if it is breaking one of our laws. However, for the governments they have their own laws and legislation.¡± ¡°Speaking of Mana, what exactly is it?¡± ¡°That would be a Rule of Three Question, do you want to ask that?¡± he replied with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Sure, let''s do it. Question one: What exactly is Mana?¡± ¡°Granted. I will not be telling you of how it came to be but think of it as an energy field of extremely high radiation, the Wells and Network allow a living thing to collect and use this energy within their biological systems. The energy field is what you feel right now, however what is causing the energy field is out of phase with reality by a small amount and spread throughout the domains in different densities, we gods are able to see that phase thanks to World and as such are able to ensure living things are able to survive. However, as the body gets older or is trained to take in more Mana this can cause mana overdose in some of the population and as such Powers were invented as a release which then leads us to today where Powers are commonplace. This energy field will not dissipate and is in a constant state of renewal.¡± ¡°Its physical state is similar to your worlds Gamma Rays, with a Wavelength of 1 picometer, Frequency of 300 Ehz, Energy per photon of 1.24 MeV¡± Gamma Waves, that''s mad. I¡¯ll need to brush up on my Radiation knowledge. ¡°Not a main question but are there Powers to see the raw mana in the out of phase state or is that restricted?¡± ¡°Restricted, without care it could damage large areas of the world and as such the living.¡± Ok then, ¡°Second question in the form of a request, as you know I have that System Interface Power¡± ¡°Yes¡± he interrupts, ¡°quite unique actually.¡± ¡°Huh, cool. Well as you may know, Creature fulfilled my request for biological information on Monsters and Animals that I may come across, I would like a similar ability except for the Powers a Monster or Animal may possess.¡± ¡°Granted, next.¡± ¡°Alright, third request. I want to know how these work¡± I say pulling out the memory crystal ¡°not just the memory crystal in general but how crystals and Powered devices work. Sure I may need to study for it like the Power information for monsters but that I feel would be interesting to know.¡± ¡°Granted, any other questions?¡± ¡°Am I bothering you, want me to come back later or something?¡± ¡°No¡±, a handwave appears, as if asking for more questions. ¡°I didn¡¯t get to ask Knowledge but what is up with the Institute?¡± ¡°While there are divisions of the Institute that hunts and searches for OutWorlders it is only a small percentage. Think of them as a country, one neighbourhood might be bad but that does not mean the entirety of the country''s populace is.¡± Seems I may have overestimated and stereotyped the Institute a bit, ¡°One final question then, similar to what I had asked Creature. Now that you have access to the memories of everyone from Earth and the descriptions of the Powers we have in Fiction, are you going to create them?¡± ¡°Some maybe, others maybe not. That is for me to decide, but like Creature said. If I need you to kill off a wizard or necromancer I''ll let you know.¡± he adds with a smile. Ok I¡¯m getting a bit worried with Power and Creature, are they going to release a Dragon Litch on the world or is that just my imagination. ¡°Thanks for seeing me, I''ll head out now.¡± ¡°Go ahead, farewell.¡± I think he only looked up at me once or twice in that whole convo. Chapter 20 - World As I exit, Abcier sees me and walks over, ¡°Went well?¡± ¡°Yeap, next stop World. How''s it look out there?¡± ¡°A lot more people have arrived, it''s not everyday the gods appear in a town this small.¡± ¡°True that, let''s get a move on mate. Time to start the plan¡± As we walk toward the final temple I pull up the map mode, still nothing yet but it can only see about 30 metres around me so anyone long distance might be tracking me. A System Interface window appears again:
Main System Interface (Rank CC) Requirements not yet reached for Rank CCC
Current Features available: MP and HP Meter: MP: 162 points. HP: 523 points Map mode: Tactical, City, National, Globe, Domain, Star Charts Map mode sub ability: Institutional Awareness (Live) Voice Chat: Local, City, National, Hemisphere, Global, Domain, Stelar Party Creation: 10, 50, 100, 1000, 10000, 100000+ Auto translation: 1 Language, 2, 5, 10, 50, 50+ Advanced Memory Palace: Mansion, Block, City Memory Palace: The four towers (Mansion). 4/4 Clones have access to System Interface Adaptive Matter-Energy Storage - Inventory: 50kg, 100kg, 500kg+ Further System Interface Advancement Required: Sub ability available: Trust but Verify Memory Palace Tower 5: Culinary information on the cooking and preparing of Lands foods Secret Features activated New Information Provided (Gifter: Power): Further Memory Palace Advancement Required: Tower 6: Power Information on the Animals/Monsters delt by the Peoples of Land: Rank basis, join a Adventuring Guild and Study to increase this. List collapsed for brevity. --- Tower 7: Information on the usage, creation and development of Crystals and Powered Items: Rank basis, join a Crystal Guild or Study to increase this. List collapsed for brevity. --- You currently do not have the necessary space in your Memory Palace to add this information, levelling up your Memory Palace with the desire to add another tower will allow this information to become available. Any Power or Crystal/Powered Item information you acquire prior to the upgrade will be calculated and added to your initial Rank.
As expected, more memory palace upgrades needed, I''ll need to get some clones working on that once we''re back. We walk fast and enter the temple, greeted with another priest in a multi-colored robe, the tops of the robe white and light blue, the middle a brown green and the bottom third a deep blue. ¡°Hello Abcier, Michael this way please.¡± ¡°Cheers.¡± The tempIe is the same style and layout as the others but with more people, come to think of it the others had progressively more people as well, I head toward the massive doors which are in the same pattern as the robes. Just in more detail. Entering in through the small door I find the room filled with natural looking formations all across the floor, like someone made a miniature version of a planet here. I close the door behind me, careful not to step on things. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°It''s OK, you won''t cause any damage when you walk.'''' says a tall, wide man in a robe. Golden with white accents again, ¡°Guess you''re World, what is this?¡± ¡°Oh just a scale model of Land, I like seeing how it looks and I feel it gives a perspective for things.¡± ¡°I can respect that, let me get straight to the questions as I have a suspicion that the Institute might be on their way.¡± ¡°Of course¡± replying with a nod, ¡°Go ahead¡± ¡°What are the differences between Earth and this planet? Also do you have a name you use or something easier than Land/Air/Water as the name?¡± ¡°Oh just continue to call it Dirt for now. Knowledge told me. Either that or your can call it by the word for ¡°World¡±, Bkuki.¡± ¡°Now with the differences you know about mana and the different Domains that the world has, but in general not too different, the orbits are somewhat different and it definitely has a difference in composition and plate movement but it is mostly the same as Earth.¡± ¡°Gravity is slightly different, Dirt or Bkuki is slightly heavier than Earth but as you know gravity can differ depending on the location.¡± ¡°Do you have access to space or other planets?¡± ¡°No, our reach only extends to this world, but we do have quite a collection of astronomers and so we know something of our system and other stars. For example, there appear to be 27 plants in our solar system, however as your worlds knowledge has been collected by Knowledge I can tell you that instead of there being 27 planets there are actually 7 planets that we know of with the rest being dwarf planets or other stellar bodies that have Minor-planet designations like your Pluto.¡± ¡°Cool, so next question, there''s the three domains of Air, Land and Water but is there an underground domain? I was thinking something like a deep cave system that pools mana, having it become very high or toxic with things living deep within it?¡± ¡°I am afraid that would be a Rule of Three Question.¡± ¡°With it being a Rule of Three Question imply that an Underground Domain exists?¡± A smile appears but a shake of the head later he says, ¡°Just because I do not reply does not mean it is there, it could be that us gods are looking to create an Underground Domain but just haven¡¯t done it yet. Or don''t think it is feasible with the balance.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I¡¯m in another reality, universe or hell, this might be all in my head. Compared to Earth, are the Atomic and Chemical processes the same? Like what I mean is, would the same physics and chemistry from Earth also work here?¡± ¡°Yes, the baseline between our worlds are the same.¡± ¡°So it could be feasible then I am in either a duplicate universe, the same universe or its all in my head.¡± ¡°Yes to the first two, No to the third.¡± ¡°Yea I get that, it just feels weird sometimes. How many elements are known and would you be against telling them to people?¡± ¡°At the current moment there are 33 known elements. The ones known are: Hydrogen, Helium, Boron, Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Sodium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Sulphur, Chlorine, Titanium, Chromium, Manganese, Iron, Cobalt, Nickel, Copper, Zinc, Gallium, Arsenic, Molybdenum, Silver, Tin, Antimony, Tellurium, Tantalum, Tungsten, Platinum, Gold, Mercury, Lead and Bismuth¡± I don¡¯t mind you telling people of them and I must say Earth¡¯s research and hunting of Elements are quite impressive!¡± ¡°Thank you, maybe one day I¡¯ll discover a new element. Next question, has this world had any Coronal Mass Ejections before and what did it do?¡± ¡°Yes, about 5 in recorded history, which is about 3000 years, before that history becomes more guesswork and research than anything.¡± ¡°As for its effects, not much. Higher levels of radiation for the Domain of Air but not too much else otherwise.¡± ¡°Final question before the main Questions, what are the Shakes that Creature mentioned?¡± ¡°Ahh, yes. We are not exactly sure. We suspect they are innate damage from the Crossing and may or may not be removed if you return. What I can tell you is this, on some level the very atoms in your body are unstable. At your base level you are ever so slightly more susceptible to the shakes but as you Rank up and live in this world longer the lesser effect this will have on you. That being said, Creature is right. It is quite lucky that you have not had an attack before now.¡± ¡°And there is nothing you can do?¡± ¡°That is correct, believe me. We have tried.¡± Well crap then, ¡°Well on that sombre note let''s ask some of those Questions.¡± ¡°Very well¡± replies World with a slight bow of his head. ¡°Question one in the form of a request: Information on the Elements and Chemistry, things like the periodic table, chemical reactions, formations, structure, anything related to these.¡± ¡°Granted, but like your previous requests with Power and Creature you will need to study, are you fine with that?¡± ¡°Sure, question two in the shape of another request. I would like a quick favour.¡± ¡°A favour?¡± he asks with a tilted head. ¡°Yeap, it''s time for the Plan, for Phase Two to finally begin! Talk to Knowledge, I would like to be temporarily teleported to a location where the institute cannot find me, somewhere open to the air, a hidden place. Knowledge has all the details.¡± ¡°Well, Granted then. Not like it¡¯s something I can¡¯t do.¡± And with a snap of his fingers the room changes, what was a dim room with countries lining the floor is now a large, long valley shaped in a giant oval with us appearing on one of its tips. Across a large misty lake I can see the outline of a small town and covering us on all sides are impossibly tall mountains, covered in snow. It''s cold here but not too badly, the sky covered with clouds with the odd sunbeam poking through, the clouds just enough to cover the sky but not enough to block out the sun. The ground is covered in green grass and we are standing at the edge of the lake with a forest of trees behind us. ¡°This is The Oasis, to the west of where we were there is a stretch of mountains called the Esoh Iiway Zyshopeta or the Great Snowy Mountains in English, also called The Great Barrier of the East. It travels from the top to bottom of this continent, separating the continent from the rest of it aside from its breaks at its base and tip and the sea routes. Stretching for nearly 10,000 kilometres, and at least 500 kilometres in width it is the most difficult and dangerous area to travel across. There is a village on the opposite shore which was the remainder of an expedition that discovered this oasis in the mountains, but it has been long since abandoned. I would ask that if you go there to not disturb it. Is this to your satisfaction?¡± ¡°Satisfaction?, this is beautiful! A pearl or gem, and a mountain range ten thousand Kilometres long! That''s ridiculous!¡± ¡°It is one of the most well preserved places in existence, I would like to know why you wanted to come to somewhere so secluded?¡± ¡°This will become my home base, I will construct a city under the mountains and then using a future teleporting power, come back one day. I will live from here, once I am strong enough.¡± And before anything else can happen, I bring my fingers into a plus and sixteen clones appear, eating through most of my mana. In my training I have been able to bring the lowest cost of mana per clone down to just 10 mana points. Bringing out my Food generator, recycler and bag using the rest of my mana I drop my bags down and look toward them. It will be a long time before I see these clones again. ¡°My friends, today we embark upon Phase Two of the Initial Plan, in my absence, create a city that would rival Erebor in glory!¡± A massive cheer from all sixteen roars out, grabbing bags and looking toward the mountains for a good spot to start. ¡°This was your plan, to leave clones behind to work? All because of one agency?¡± ¡°Not only that, a government, country or organisation would undoubtedly look to get their hands on an OutWorlder, or OutWorlders. Advanced Group: Team Alpha, I will see you all soon!¡± With smiles and grins they reply ¡°yea, yea we get it already boss, get a move on why don¡¯t ya?¡± ¡°Team Alpha, bet he just made that up!¡± ¡°Get a move on with the next lot of Powers, don¡¯t leave us hanging you blighter!¡± Chuckling, I turn to World, ¡°That¡¯ll do, you can just take me back please.¡± and with a snap of his fingers I return. Chapter 21 - Close Contact We quickly arrived back in the temple, standing in the same place as before. In my testing of clones they should be Ok by themselves indefinitely, at least for a while so I¡¯ll get a hustle on the next Powers and catch up with them. Turning back to World, I say ¡°Thanks for that mate, now I¡¯ve got another Question in the form of a request and then I''ll be out of your hair.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t real hair?¡± ¡°Metaphorical hair, anyway question three and you can ask Knowledge for the details but on Earth we have high definition maps of most of the planet, I would like high definition maps of Land that are automatically integrated into the Map Mode feature of my System Interface Power. Now yes I will need to level it up but you can think of it like having a globe or rough map at lower levels and steadily moving up in definition and range more and more. I would ask if it''s possible to have a rough, not as high definition globe view I can access that I can use to only show Institute members like with my Map Mode sub ability? What do you think?¡± ¡°Sure, Granted. This world already has globes and that would just mean putting lights over a globe and updating it every so often. But the further away you are from them the less often it updates. Otherwise yes I¡¯m fine with giving you some higher definition maps as you go up in Rank.¡± ¡°Awesome! All right well I think that''s everything but do you mind if I come back at some point to ask some more questions?¡± ¡°Sure, just let Knowledge know.¡± ¡°Alright, well I¡¯ll head off then, thank you very much for your time.¡± And with that I walk out, catching up with Abcier and immediately heading for the alleyway to take a quick route back to the docks. I do get a weird look when I come out of the room without my bag but we¡¯ll save talk till we are out of possible hearing range. As we leave the temple a Window pops up.
Main System Interface (Rank CC) Requirements not yet reached for Rank CCC
Current Features available: MP and HP Meter: MP: 5 points. HP: 523 points Map mode: Tactical, City, National, Globe, Domain, Star Charts Map mode sub ability: Institutional Awareness (Live) Voice Chat: Local, City, National, Hemisphere, Global, Domain, Stelar Party Creation: 10, 50, 100, 1000, 10000, 100000+ Auto translation: 1 Language, 2, 5, 10, 50, 50+ Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Advanced Memory Palace: Mansion, Block, City Memory Palace: The four towers (Mansion). 4/4 Clones have access to System Interface Adaptive Matter-Energy Storage - Inventory: 50kg, 100kg, 500kg+ Further System Interface Advancement Required: Sub ability available: Trust but Verify Memory Palace Tower 5: Culinary information on the cooking and preparing of Lands foods Memory Palace Tower 6: Power Information on the Animals/Monsters delt by the Peoples of Land Memory Palace Tower 7: Information on the usage, creation and development of Crystals and Powered Items Secret Features activated New Information/Request Answered Provided (Gifter: World): Further Memory Palace Advancement Required: Tower 8: Information on the Elements, Chemistry, Physics and Mechanics You currently do not have the necessary space in your Memory Palace to add this information, levelling up your Memory Palace with the desire to add another tower will allow this information to become available. Any Power or Crystal/Powered Items information you acquire prior to the upgrade will be calculated and added to your initial Rank. --- Map mode sub ability: High Definition Map Mode and Globe Track the locations of all active hunters or searchers of OutWorlders within a Globe of Land. Intermittent Updates that occur depending on range. High Definition Map modes available, higher definitions at higher levels (Regular Updates) Zoom and tagging functions available. Available in all map modes. --- Teleportation: The Oasis of The Great Barrier of the East Two way teleportation to The Oasis of The Great Barrier of the East (completed)
Nice, Initial Plan: Phase One and Two are completed. I need to get back to the Coans Farm to start the second plan and try to get some level ups before heading for the capitol to become an adventurer. ¡°Follow me,¡± said Abcier, ¡°Let''s get out of here and back to Farmers Rest.¡± Opening up the Map Mode I cannot see anything within 30 metres, there are a ton of people in the square now. We speed walk toward and through the alleyway, trying to avoid as many people as we can. Checking the map continuously and nearly running into a few people we make it safely to the docks after five minutes of speed walking. As we head toward one of the smaller boats and Abcier asks for a ride I see it, a slight red blimp on the edge of my Map Mode. I think whoever that was just bumped the edge. Abcier calls me and we hop on board, I tell the driver of this small sailboat to get us out of here as soon as possible. Soon we are half way back to Farmers Rest Island and I pull up the Globe Map Mode with Institute Tracking. Zooming in, I can see a single red dot near the docks but it''s moving inland, probably checking out the crowd. Not wanting to count the number of red blips I can see around the world. Once we arrive our wagon is still there just where we had left it, there are small stables where people can store their wagons and steeds temporarily which we had used. During the trek back I turn to Abcier and ask ¡°Did you know an Institute hunter was in the area?¡± ¡°Not exactly, Knowledge told me we needed to move faster. But I had no idea there was one nearby, do you know if they saw you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so, the information I have thanks to World shows he was moving toward the square, but we did get within 30 metres at one point.¡± ¡°Dam, we were lucky. I''ll see what I can do about getting you a fake OutWorlder artefact, and maybe an official document showing you are not an OutWorlder. We¡¯ll need to discuss this again.¡± ¡°Yes, for now though I need to think about all the information I now have. That and coming up with another plan.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine, it will take me some time anyway, what happened to your backpack?¡± ¡°... It might be best if you don¡¯t know all the details. I didn¡¯t need it anymore.¡± Chapter 22 - Alpha Team: Number One - Clone Memory Recollection Report - First days at Oasis. After World and Michael poof back to the temple which is kinda trippy when he poofs and not us I turn to the rest of us. ¡°Right, you heard Mr Original. As discussed we¡¯ll split up into teams!¡± ¡°Team A, Clones 1 through 10. Your job is to search for a suitable place to start digging out a home base, remember there may be monsters or other wildlife in the area so stick with your buddy¡± ¡°Team B, Clones 11 through 16. Your job is to set up our campsite by the river, check for fish, collect water and start prepping food.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll all reconvene in four hours for lunch. If you see anything, report back to campsite via System to call everyone else back. Split up into teams of two, good hunting.¡± I, Clone 1 or my full name being ¡°Michael - Number 1¡± move over to number 2 and invite him to a voice chat, meanwhile number 11 on Team B has created a Party and invited one of the five Team A groups into a Party Chat. If we run into anything we can report back to number 11 and then they can let everyone else know. So long as they are in range anyway. Number 11 is managing the communications and receiving up to date reports from each group while the rest in Team B sets up camp. In two hours number 12 will take over from number 11 and so on so everyone has comms duty in Team B. I headed out with number 2 down the riverbank, we decided before leaving to talk to these gods to figure out a rough idea of which group or Team would do what. Ours is to have a look down the river bank and to map it, group two with numbers 3 and 4 will be doing the same on the opposite shore. The other groups are checking out behind us, like Michael says it looks like a very long oval so the other groups are checking our end of the oval. Its length is massive, several kilometres at least while width might be just over five kilometres maybe? It¡¯ll take us a while to sort this out, so we start walking. After about two hours of walking one way and back again we reach comms range with number 12 and he gives us an update, kitchen and tents are all set up and food is getting cooked now. Firewood is getting collected but sparingly from loose stuff on the ground. All the teams report that they have seen several animals, mostly smaller stuff that would resemble mice, deer, birds and the like but have a unique colour. Vibrant purple and yellow in the birds while the mice and deer lookalikes are more brown and green in colour. There has been existence found of larger animals but only tracks at the moment. Team B did also report they found some troughs in the sand, like something beached itself and so are going to move the campsite away from the water a bit and stop the fishing in case we attract something''s attention. We may be overly cautious but for now it¡¯ll do. The campsite was moved to about 20 metres from the shoreline with some other teams also arriving. And we share our reports: Group one (us), Group two and Group three had found nothing of importance but had mapped about 10 kilometres of coastline and the surrounding forests. The lake appears to be about 20 or 25 kilometres in length. The forest surrounding it is filled with green trees and other plantlife which might prove suitable for trade and eating. The rest had only run into small animals and plants, nothing major in the forests that we can see. After a quick lunch and more talking, number 13 takes over comms and we head out again, surveying the edge of the forest and our path giving us more map details. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Using the food generator we had created some steaks and a salad with bread that had been cooked and toasted over the fire even though the generator can make cooked foods. Over the next hour we eat and rest up and then Group 1 heads out again walking to the edge of the mountains and moving in a circle around our side of the oval toward its tip. We ran across some caves that might have tunnels or more likely animal dens in them so steered clear of them. Approaching the tip of the oval where the mountains start there is a large outcropping hanging over the forest, the mountain it comes from is also massive and only a three hour walk from the edge of the lake. After discussing with the other groups who had also arrived there in the afternoon we decided to start carving a space out. Once we have rooms and a room for us to eat we¡¯ll move our campsite ¡°indoors¡±. After checking around for any nests, animals or things that might be living nearby and finding nothing we head back to camp. The next day we head back to the outcropping and split into two teams of five. Group 1 starts carving out an entrance with Elemental Avatar, for now it''s all shaped in an arch so that it is balanced and we move slowly, we don¡¯t know what composition the rocks are made of and we could have cave-ins at any moment. Don¡¯t want to get most of the way started only for us to all poof in a cave in! Group 2 on the other hand is looking to climb the mountain a bit, when groups 1 and 2 from yesterday were about to turn back we saw more mountains behind these ones so if we can find a suitable place to put the leftover rock and stone that would be awesome, group two also using Elemental Avatar carve steps into the rockface enough to climb up. After a few hours Group 1 has moved about 10 metres into the rock face keeping that arched style but only two metres across, as they start to expand that Group 2 are almost up to the midway point up this mountain despite taking several breaks walking up due to them losing mana, they also need to make sure not to go too high or the mana sickness from being too high up might hit. That or lack of oxygen, after another hour Group 2 find a spot where the mountain separates from the one next to it and can see more white covered mountains behind them. There are several deep pits that look like they have been filled in from all the ice and snow. Maybe not the best place being so far up. Group 2 descends while Group 1 finishes the entrance, a large arched hallway 10 metres long by 5 metres with slight carvings for rooms marked out, though not too many. The stone from the excavation is quite heavy and so it was decided that it would be added to the entrance of the cliff face. We are thinking over dinner that it might be an idea to break the leftover stone into gravel and place it at the base of the mountains where the trees don''t grow or animals don¡¯t nest but we will think on that more. The third day we moved campsite into the cave with some still sleeping outside, we moved much rock and stone and reinforced the stuff already in place. Number 7 made an interesting discovery, that Elemental Avatar can be used to fortify and make existing stone stronger after some experimentation. We had come across some cracks in the roof which lead to 7¡¯s discovery, for now the stone we remove will be added to the existing stone to reinforce it. It will take longer to cut and move if we have to but at least the roof probably won''t fall on our heads. Day four we had stopped working and spent the next two days designing this level and the others we want. We already had an idea with OG Michaels memories so we planned and designed using stone tablets, which was not too bad. Elemental Avatar can allow you to do it easily by moving fingers across it like drawing on sand but finer. And that is basically it for now, tomorrow Group 1 will continue to mine while group two is going to continue mapping out the area and do some climbing up the other mountains to see whats up there, using existing handholds when we can and new ones when there is no other way. I¡¯ve seen enough rockclimbing videos that you just don¡¯t carve into the rock face to make things easier but when we did we used Elemental Avatar to bring it back to its natural state. I can see some signs of distinct personalities emerging from the others but it may be nothing, in any case this will be our home for a while or until we get into comms range again with number 0 has some are calling our original. Chapter 23 - What’s my next move? With the clones safely in the Oasis and I back on the Coans farm we grab a late lunch and start talking about what had happened and a possible cover story. ¡°Looking at this map of the world there are a bunch of small islands to the far west, could I have come from one of those?¡± Asked Michael. ¡°Maybe, but then we may need a cover story on how you got all the way here, and only able to speak one language which is local to here. Unless you can pickup another quickly?¡± said Malter, ¡°Well you¡¯ve been here for what, seven months by this point, why not try to learn another. In the year and three months you have left?¡± said Epego. I am thinking I could but I am planning on leaving early a little, the longer I am here and the more I interact with the others the higher chance the Institute might find me, if they get their hands on me it''s probs game over. ¡°I might be able to manage a passable amount from another language or two in that time, but that still leaves the question of where I am from. Could I be from one of these islands and then as a kid stole away on a passing ship? Landed in the south and made my way up to Farmers Rest and then to Casupan?¡± I say, pointing to some islands in the south east. ¡°That might be possible¡± says Abcier ¡°but if we want to do a convincing job we will need to work on your accents, languages, mannerisms, geology and some history.¡± ¡°I think some of that can be stored by backstory¡± Michael countered, ¡°Think about it, I could be an urchin who lived it rough on some tiny island with only a handful of people, then when I got sick of it and had a chance, snuck onboard a ship.¡± ¡°If done convincingly it would explain why the accent and mannerisms are weird, history and geology is not well known etcetera. The only strange thing would be the Creation Powers but that won¡¯t matter once I¡¯m an Adventurer.¡± ¡°True i suppose, once you''re an Adventurer there are only a handful of things the Institute could try, and if you become more of a public figure and well liked then its likely the Institute would only be able to spy and track you instead of more drastic measures.¡± replied Malter. ¡°Ah yes, spying and tracking my every move, I feel so much better now¡± Michael replied sarcastically. ¡°Sorry, Malter. Abcier, do you think you can set that up for the documents we need?¡± ¡°Maybe, the only problem I can foresee is if they make an information request to the islands or their nearest governmental body, they might then be able to see if it''s real or not.¡± ¡°Yea but that should take a while right?¡± Asked a confused Michael, ¡°Not really, it''s possible they could get an answer in as little as a few hours to several weeks. It just depends on how well managed their record keeping is.¡± Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Hours or weeks huh. Is Knowledge able to find out what would give us our best chances?¡± ¡°No unfortunately, now that you¡¯ve asked your Questions you¡¯ll have to earn something to get to ask more questions.¡± ¡°Um, but the others said it was OK for me to come back?¡± ¡°Yes, but you had asked them.¡± Huh, well alright then. Epego joins in, ¡°Let''s leave it for now, dinner is nearly ready. Are you staying Abcier?¡± ¡°No, I''ll be back in a few days. I''ll see what I can do about official documents and an artefact.¡± ¡°When you next see Dr Rath, can you get him to bring some medical textbooks please. I''ll need it for my studies.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± And so that was that, it was a close call but we got back in the end and after a short time later, dinner of a fish steak and roasted vegetables and fruits was served. ¡°Theres another thing we need to think about¡± said Epego, ¡°Coans fifteenth is coming up, and there will be quite a lot of people there. How should we explain you?¡± ¡°Using the same cover story as the one we will come up with, we can say he was hired by us.¡± replied Malter, ¡°Otherwise if someone comes around asking questions they will get the same story, at least hopefully.¡± ¡°We can also tell the cover story to the guys who showed up with Illiard Coan, only the people in the room with the Head know the full story.¡± I add, if we can spread this a little it might hold enough that by the time the institute arrives it¡¯s what they will most remember. After some more small talk and helping clean up I excuse myself and take a walk outside, thinking things while looking up at the clouded sky. Maybe there in the clouds are Air Domain residents looking down. Maybe, Earth is up there in the sky as well. Thinking such sad thoughts I pull out the memory crystal from my Inventory, I had added it earlier today when I had the mana regenerated. That being said it had taken my full mana pool to add it, its quite a complicated device. Having read its notes I know that all I will need to do is picture what I want and it will draw it from my memory, just like that. It sometimes is a bit trickier but so is everything new we do huh. I pull from my memory a photo of a few years ago. Well, it¡¯s a mana based photo of a photo that was taken with the whole family, extended as well. The one time both sides of my family were all together. The photo appears as a hologram above the red crystal, which has started glowing softly, I scan through the photo, taking in every detail that I can and storing it in the Memory Palace. I can call it back up with the crystal but I want to see it whenever I want to. Man, I should have done this before seeing World. Alpha Team at the Oasis would have loved to see this. Luckily knowing me and so them, they know it was just me not thinking. With those thoughts done I put myself back into study mode and make four clones, they appear in a poof and turn to me. ¡°Memory Palace¡±, ¡°Globe¡±, ¡°Biological¡±, ¡°Powers¡± they say one after the other. They or rather we know our tasks and as they walk off to investigate the different abilities and information we now have I walk back to the house, I have my evening prayers to do and to think about what to get Coan for his 15th. Chapter 24 - Resurgence Team - Clone Memory Recollection Report - Memory Palace and Knowledge review Chapter 24 - Resurgence Team: Numbers One, Two, Three, Four - Clone Memory Recollection Report - Memory Palace and Knowledge review. Number 1 here, part of OGs clone Resurgence Team. I¡¯ve headed over to a larger tree that has a quite comfortable seat once you climb up a bit, I can see numbers 2 and 3 going in opposite directions along the beach while number 4 is just staring at the night sky. It''s kinda strange being in my position, after a few hours I''ll poof and then wake up again. Probably tomorrow, we¡¯ve done long term ¡°awake¡± testing where we clones stick around for a few days or weeks but it''s mostly been just for a few days. OG doesn''t mention it but he¡¯s worried about Alpha Team, hopefully they will be ok and not go crazy at each other. It would be a shame to lose clones out to some ¡°personality conflicts¡±. Small joke there, anyway I¡¯m here to have a look at the Memory Palace, check out the general changes and report back on what¡¯s changed. Before, when we accessed the memory palace normally by closing our eyes we can imagine the front lawn of our house and the front veranda, moving indoors we can see the doors leading into the three bedrooms, the bathroom and the old lounge room/new office. Each room is filled and going to an item or location in the room would store information that we can add in, stuff like family photos for example. Entering into the newly upgraded Memory Palace it''s a bit different, entering the palace I find myself standing in a circular field of grass, cut into quarters by four stone footpaths. Each path leads to a large door that is connected to a massive tower, like giant points on a compass. It''s more than imagining, it almost feels like I¡¯m watching a video game screen, or through a VR headset, though much better. I can better visualise the Memory Palace now. I know instinctively which tower is which, looking back at the grass I can see four faint depressions in the grass, like there will be new paths for the towers to come. Entering the tower for OG¡¯s personal memories and memories of home I can see a spiral staircase going up and up along the wall leaving the centre hollow for holographic images or videos to play. At the centre of the tower there is a short column, only reaching just under my ribs. I can feel it, I know that if I place my hands on here and think, I can call a memory to be viewed here like a hologram playing above my head. If I want to take a stroll and wander I can walk up the stairs, I know that if I want to jump ahead to a different memory or timeframe I can without the staircase even moving but placing me in a different position all the same. The edges of the tower are filled with books, their spines showing either books or movies I had read and seen but also memories of me reading them. The books and movies looking just like I remember them, as if I was reading or watching them again. I place a hand on the column and at once call upon a copy of Isaac Asimov¡¯s ¡°Prelude to Foundation¡± appears. Dad had it on the shelves and I read it after seeing its strange brown mushroom like plants and behind it a white domed city, one of the many things that got me into reading at a young age. With a thought, the rest of the Foundation series appear along with several of his other works like the Robot series, good thing that OG has clones. I would not be surprised if we stayed in the memory palace re-reading all our old books, now that it''s been so long since I last read them, maybe I can chase that feeling of reading them again for the first time. I''ll be honest it''s very damn trippy, what on earth would the next level Memory Palace be like? Also, I can remember details more vividly than before. OG should not have to worry about the Memory Crystal and Alpha Team, they should be able to see all of this easily enough. Just not anything new for a while, but that''s fine. Plenty of old memories, books and movies to watch again. --- Number 2 here, I¡¯ve turned on the map mode and am having a look around us. I am currently zoomed in on my position and the thirty metre radius around me, watching as the others go out of sight. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. I can move the map a bit and can see a definite shift in visibility. While before the image was sharp and clear it now looks like a zoomed in satellite image of a beach, only showing details where I have been before. To use an example, like I¡¯m reliving the day that the Street View car that goes around had. But while the details close by to it are detailed, further away it becomes fuzzy. Zooming out I can see the entirety of the island, with its trees and fields but nothing in detail. I zoom out further and see the world in its full view. I can kinda guess what¡¯s the Great Barrier of the East, the Oasis must be somewhere in there. Once we have enough clones and a longer range voice chat we should be able to communicate and locate the Alpha Team. I zoom around a bit more and notice something near the middle of the map, along a river I can see a tiny country in comparison but it''s not its size that worries me. An Institute city, that must be their main hub. Yea I need to avoid that till I¡¯m ready. All in all it looks like a standard satellite view of a planet, like what we have currently for Earth and Mars. There might be more here so I have a ¡°feel¡± around, I think I found a setting? Bingo! A map grid, legend, the different Norths (True, Magnetic, Grid), elevation and more. This will definitely help when moving through the country. Zooming in with these enabled I can see the settings overlaid onto the map. If we can print this out using the Memory Crystal or another device we could have physical maps we can share with people who are out of range, going over the massive mountain range is fuzzy in places. Looks like they are not mapped which means that the Oasis must be somewhere in those areas, bit of an easier job for us! Unfortunately I cannot see any maps of the other Domains and there is no undersea maps like you see in normal satellite imagery, just blue waves. --- Number 3 here, checking out the Biological information in the Memory Palace. Entering it I am amazed at the change to the palace but I need to focus or I''ll be here all night. I turn and enter the palace for biological information, upon entering I can see a large staircase going around the edge of the tower and a column at its centre. Moving to the column I feel the need to place my hands on it, at once I can see a holographic outline of a human with enough room for other models, underneath the holo-model I can see the words ¡°Uspeta - Humans - Basic Information Available¡± with the other words for the other models in their language though not what the translation is. If there is any translation for them. I can pull up information on anatomy, first aid, medical procedures and many more. But I can also feel something more, something personal. I pull up a model of¡­ me. It''s me just before the lightning strike, overweight, some muscles and more. Like looking into a mirror of myself. But there is more, I pull up the image of myself as I was Crossing and nearly vomit. These must be the 3D models mentioned in that original letter given to me by Abcier on that first day, I see myself, legs twenty metres long and aged like an egyptian mummy. Parts of my body ripped open and bleeding green, blue and purple blood, an arm tiny and frail, my body thin and tiny and the warping. It looks like my skin became water and was rippling through my body and then stopped and became flesh again. I turn off the holo-image, yea I¡¯m gonna stay up tonight or OG will not be getting any sleep. We will need to have a look at it again, its the best information we have around the Crossing at the moment but for now. I¡¯m glad we can separate our memories so that the others won¡¯t have to see it for themselves. --- Number 4 here, yea there¡¯s nothing in this tower. Well when I say nothing I mean there are a couple of books in the book shelves about the handful of animals I¡¯ve seen and some images when touching that column. Guess I¡¯ll need to actually start researching the medical and biological information available on Animals and Monsters to see anything. I can feel that it''s not a scam though, all I have is basic information like ¡°What does this look like?¡±. I get the feeling that if I actually took the time to research, more information would be available. Well there is one good thing I can do tonight, watching the stars. --- Numbers 1, 2 and 3 would later find number 4 fast asleep where they left him. Chapter 25 - Training Update A few months go by, Dr Rath brought back several books on languages, medical stuff, biology, and more which I¡¯m reading, slowly filling in those towers in the memory palace. Comparing the Memory Crystal to the Memory Palace, the Palace is definitely better but the crystal allows you to share the images through other devices. While I was having a break from checking out the Palace and the clones were doing some combat training, Epego approaches and sits on the ground next to me. ¡°How goes the training?¡± ¡°Good, we might even level up some things soon.¡± ¡°It''s always amazing to me when I see it, to think you could have a dozen clones going out and doing things while you can relax if it''s a hard day.¡± ¡°Its not all sunshine and rainbows as we say back home, sometimes I get the feeling that the clones might resent being created to do a menial task. I know it might seem like I¡¯m bragging but it takes discipline and knowing yourself to truly use this Power.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Aikoki? I haven¡¯t seen him in a while.¡± ¡°He mentioned something about not wanting to see me train for a bit, says he does not want to cheat on the exam. Whatever that means. That and he''s been busy helping Malter on the farm with the others.¡± We sit there, watching the clones fight. Mostly with water but we are also trying to add the future ice and steam movements into the fight. Even if it does nothing. ¡°Hmm, Coans birthday is next week. Have you decided on a cover story?¡± ¡°Yes, all sorted now. What did you think about my present?¡± Epego replies with a smile, ¡°Coan will love it, he loves hearing about Earth and seeing what you share through the Memory Crystal. You know that those crystals cost as much as a house right? It''s strange seeing it!¡± Epego chuckles, Memory Crystals are something crazy here, I haven¡¯t sorted out what a dollar might be worth here but they cost about the same or more than a large house with some farm land. While looking over the ocean I ask, ¡°I also have a question, I am currently developing one of my Powers. Soon it will reach a point where it will be able to show the Powers, possible abilities and more of a person. I wonder if you would be interested in it for Coan. Maybe give him a chance to see where he sits, something to strive toward perhaps?¡± ¡°Why ask me? At fifteen he is no longer a child, he can make his own decisions.¡± ¡°True, but you are his mother. Where I come from, it would only be right to ask his parents.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine with it so long as it does not hurt him, I worry about him you know? I wonder what he will be like once your gone, will he leave to become an Adventurer, living a dangerous life or will he stay here?¡± Taking a deep breath in and out Epego continues, ¡°Sorry, you should not have to hear that. I suppose you might ask Malter as well?¡± ¡°I plan to, and its fine. I was also thinking about that myself. My mum is like that sometimes, if we are running late back home she will stay up all night waiting. If we are away from home or overseas she¡¯ll also stay up worrying¡± I reply with a slight smile. ¡°But then, that is what parents are supposed to do right?¡± Chuckling she replies, ¡°Yes, you''re right about that. I came out here to let you know that Abcier is on his way. He should be here in about 20 minutes.¡± ¡°Thanks, I¡¯ll head inside soon.¡± As Epego leaves I have a look at the System Interface and the training myself and the clones have done, new settings added and more information gives us a better idea of what we have.
Main System Interface (Rank CC) Requirements not yet reached for Rank CCC
Current Features available: MP and HP Meter: MP: 362 points. HP: 529 points Map mode: Tactical, City, National, Globe Map mode sub ability: Institutional Awareness (Live). Map mode sub ability: High Definition Map Mode and Globe Voice Chat: Local 30+ metres Party Creation: 20 members Active Parties: Alpha Team - Oasis (16) Resurgence Team - Farmers Rest Island (4) You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Auto translation: 1 Language (Attalrininw - Farmers Rest Islander) Languages Learning: (Dedintcadu - Casupanian) Advanced Memory Palace: Mansion Memory Palace: The four towers (Mansion). 4/4+ Generating: 4x Break Through Points to complete till all Towers possible. Clones have access to System Interface Adaptive Matter-Energy Storage - Inventory: 80kg New Settings (3/5): Low alcohol intolerance. (On/Off) Thought Updatable UI Show uncompleted achievements Powers: Gifted Power active: Protection of Body/Protection of Mind (Rank D) Sub Ability: System Interface (Main System Interface (Rank CC equivalent)) Protection from Bodily damage. Protection from Mental damage. Biological seal: Active. Generating: 1x Break Through Point to complete till Rank Up possible. Sub Ability Generating: 3x Break Through Points to complete till Rank Up possible. Creation Power: Psychokinesis (Rank E) Move Object (Organic/Inorganic + Elemental bonus due to Elemental Avatar) Mana Manipulation (Basic + Elemental bonus due to Elemental Avatar) Mana Organisation (Basic + Elemental bonus due to Elemental Avatar) Generating: 1x Break Through Point to complete till Rank Up possible. Creation Power: Shadow Clone (Rank C) Shadow Clone (Increases with Mana Expenditure and Rank, set soft limit) Memory Recollection Training Recollection Independent Well and Network System Independent System Interface Independent Power usability (Clones will need to be resummoned to add new abilities for Clones to have access to) Unconscious activity (When Original is unconscious Clones will still be active) Generating: 2x Break Through Points to complete till Rank Up possible. Creation Power: Elemental Avatar (Rank D) Move Element (Water, Earth, Fire, Air) Element Generation (Fire) Mana Manipulation (Basic + Bonus due to Psychokinesis) Mana Organisation (Basic + Bonus due to Psychokinesis) Generating: 1x Break Through Point to complete till Rank Up possible. Creation Power Forming: Mana Beast Uprising Generating: 3x Break Through Points to complete till creation possible. Further Advancement Required: Sub ability available: Trust but Verify Memory Palace Tower 5: Culinary information on the cooking and preparing of Lands foods Memory Palace Tower 6: Power Information on the Animals/Monsters delt by the Peoples of Land Memory Palace Tower 7: Information on the usage, creation and development of Crystals and Powered Items Memory Palace Tower 8: Information on the Elements, Chemistry, Physics and Mechanics Secret Features activated
We still don¡¯t know for certain what the break through points are, are they some kind of stat point or just a position or mindset we need to be in? Who knows for now, It''s been nearly a year here in this place, on this farm doing nothing but studying and training. I need to get these done or I''ll lose my mind a little! Ok, I might be exaggerating a bit there, we have a job to do so lets do it. I get up and walk over to the clones who see me and pause the training. ¡°Abcier will be here soon, take a few and then swap over to the Power and Info training. We¡¯ll do that till dinner and we¡¯ll call it there.¡± The clones reply with an array of ¡°Got it¡±, ¡°no worries boss¡±, ¡°ugh I hate being the tank¡±, ¡°what did Epego want?¡± ¡°Just to talk about Coans birthday a bit and that Abcier is coming, it¡¯ll be in the memory palace if you lot want to snoop¡± I reply with a cheeky grin, gotta admit the main difference between me and my clones might be that they want to know everything I do. They want the Tea if you know what I mean. Turning around to groans, chuckles and a some other jokes thrown back and forth I head into the house and grab a drink. Soon enough Abcier arrived and after some quick hello¡¯s and an offered water later we sit down and he pulls out a small amulet from his robes. ¡°I had a courier deliver this from the Kingdom of Bramland from down south, there the memorial sells items that are said to be crafted by the OutWorlder there who helped put down a rebellion many years ago. The history of it I don¡¯t know, but this should be enough to get you past the walls.¡± ¡°Is it the real thing?¡± The amulet is a small circular piece with a two legged bird on it that almost looks like a very slim emu, on the opposite side it has a stamp of a castle floating over the water. At least I think its water¡­ ¡°Maybe, the OutWorlder there was apparently known to create small trinkets for their friends and sometimes on commission. Over the years quite a few knock-offs got created as expected and so there are now many people who collect the originals.¡± ¡°Thanks for getting this to me, hows the cover story going?¡± ¡°Good, its all been changed on their end. If anyone goes to look at the records now, at first glance it will look like you had been reported missing and now you have been found.¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised Knowledge does not help with missing persons cases, it would solve a lot of problems.¡± ¡°Yes well, we are not the gods. We know not what their plans are. When are you thinking of leaving?¡± ¡°That close call we had with the Institute was too close, once I Rank Up the things I¡¯m already working on I¡¯ll head off. About mid next year, if the Institute finds the Coans while I¡¯m still here I don''t know if I could forgive myself for putting them in that situation. Especially Coan.¡± Chapter 26 - Birthday in another world. Coans birthday is a large affair, his many friends, Malters and Epego¡¯s extended families, farm hands and more had turned up. Something like 60 people or more with some seated outside at several tables serving piles of food. Enough to feed a small army! Coan is at the head of the table with his friends around him and sometimes getting up to talk to others nearby, many are just standing picking at the food on the table while talking. Epego and Malter cooking and talking with all the relations. Coan¡¯s wearing a very impressive suit that looks like a normal three piece suit but very light blue in colour, moving waves and foam with a small cloak hanging from behind, also blue. I myself am at a grill I helped Malter make, chucking some shrimp on the barbie as it were. I¡¯m having a few beers with some of the other farm hands who have only seen me a few times talking about the different dishes in the area or the largest catches they have done. Some of these have got to be exaggerated, no way there are fish 20 metres long! I have had some questions from people who have not met me before and I did get some odd looks from time to time but I¡¯m sticking to this story for now. I¡¯m just a traveller who needed some time to recover from an injury and the Coans were welcome to accommodate me. I¡¯m a prospective Adventurer who is travelling to Casupan to enroll. Some buy it, others not. There definitely had been talks about the strange guy who showed up and fights Aikoki every so often, no shadow clones here today either. That would raise far too many questions and draw away from Coan¡¯s party a bit. With another tray of grilled fish and veggies ready I pass it over to one of the farm hands who takes it off me and places it onto the table. I then pull out some red meat that looks like mutton? As I¡¯m putting them on I add some spices and am about to get back to talking when an older grandma approaches, ¡°Hullo youngen, who are you?¡± She¡¯s wearing a blue shawl and if I had to guess about late 80s to early 90s. ¡°Just your friendly neighbourhood grill master, I¡¯m Michael by the way.¡± I say holding out a hand which she shakes, ¡°You''re not from around here¡± she replies ¡°Nope, down south. One of the small islands down there, just passing through.¡± ¡°Well I hope you have a lovely time here, I heard some rumours about you and was wondering if they were true?¡± ¡°Roumors, granny? I¡¯m just an ordinary man making his way through the world, like my father before me.¡± ¡°Yes, they say you are a special case. Someone who could draw the attention of some interested people¡­¡± Ah crap, what¡¯s she fishing for? ¡°Well anyone can say that, they''re rumours after all.¡± Before she has a chance to respond Malter arrives behind the granny. ¡°Head Mother!, what are you doing here?¡± he asks, surprised and in a whispered tone. ¡°Oh Malter, can¡¯t I come and visit one of my grandsons on such an important day?¡± The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°You can, just don¡¯t go fishing for Lord Head at Coan¡¯s party please.¡± ¡°Oh don¡¯t worry deary'''' she turns petting his arm, ¡°just saying hello. Now take me to Coan will you, there''s so many young ones I¡¯m starting to lose track, I¡¯m an old woman you know.¡± Breathing out a relieved breath Malter takes her arm, ¡°Of course, right this way¡± he says leading her, turning back to me over her head he mouths ¡°sorry¡± at me. I smile back and mouth ¡°no worries¡± The party goes on all day, many drinks and food have been eaten with some heading home a bit early cause they''re too drunk or need to get up very early tomorrow. The night is getting late and the final event is soon approaching. I''ve been off the grill and on the drinks for a bit by this point and so walk on over with the rest, crowding around the head of the table where Coan is seated. Malter and Epego stand next to Coan and together say ¡°Tonight, Coan has officially become an Adult! Today he takes his first steps as a Man with his destiny his own!¡± Cheering ensues, I¡¯m not sure if I translated that correctly as they were using a bunch of official, formal words there. Everyone including Coan grabs a drink and hoists it high, a few seconds of silence as we drink follows with even more cheering! Some of the other parents who were helping Epego earlier with the cooking bring out a large assortment of desserts, hot drinks, cookies and more. We all, one after another, go up to Coan and give him a handshake or hug, when I walk up and it''s my turn Coan looks up at me and gives me a hug. When he lets go he says to me in a large smile. ¡°I¡¯m going to catch up to you!¡± Laughing I reply, ¡°Do so, if you train hard you¡¯ll definitely catch up, I can feel it. Just remember to not go too hard at it.¡± adding a smile at the end. As Epego thought Coan might leave the farm sooner than later, I just hope I can instill in him some guidance, I think I''ll talk to him another time. Looks like most of tonight was ceremonial and as the night goes on more and more people start heading out, Coan has gotten quite a few presents from people. Mostly ceremonial stuff and good luck charms but also a few cool things like a book with an embedded crystal in it that can save any text you write. Apparently quite expensive¡­ It''s so late it''s the next morning now and the four of us are sitting in the living room, tired from all the cooking and entertaining of guests from today. I created a few clones to help Epego with the leftover cleanup and stand up. ¡°Coan, as you may have noticed I didn¡¯t exactly get you a present today. But now that everyone is gone I figured I can give it to you now.¡± ¡°What? You didn¡¯t have to do that, it''s fine!¡± ¡°Bah, don¡¯t worry about it. You¡¯ll love it!¡± I pulled out the memory crystal and placed it in an alcove next to the large red crystal on the wall. I finally found out what this thing does. When people have crystals that can share images they need something to display it on. This is basically a large TV. Accessing the memory crystal I pull up an image of Earth, a real image and not some drawing from memory. ¡°My present to you Coan, is simply a free for all Q&A about Earth. Anything you want to know within reason and memory I''ll try to answer!¡± Coan is absolutely gobsmacked, looking over to Epego who replies with large smiles and Malter who looks surprised. Don¡¯t think she told him! As the early dawn sun rises with Malter and Epego falling to sleep on the couch, some music can be heard from outside. Stars, hide your fires! These here are my desires And I will give them up to you this time around And so, I''ll be found With my stake stuck in this ground Marking its territory of this newly impassioned soul Chapter 27 - Creation Power 4: Mana Beast Uprising - Final Training update for a while. We ended up talking about Earth for quite a while, eventually ending up being an almost nightly thing. Time had passed, several months later of more training we finally have been able to complete all the training we needed to do. Dr Rath has also grabbed a bunch of gear for us and the plan at the moment is to leave away from the main docks and get dropped off along a stretch of beach, after that I just need to follow roads till I get to the capitol city of Oghqoa. Ranking up the Powers has been a massive success, and the training has been going well. With some testing I have been able to create a guide on the current base mana usage I use so far and how much damage I can take. HP: Slight slice with knife, break in skin, nosebleed, etc: 1 point. Full force punch: 5 points. Hit with bat: 20 points. Stabbed: 30 points. Impaled (through and through): 50 points. Set on fire (arm/leg. Not fun): 100 points. Thrown a long way (+20m): 150 points. Now the HP stat is a bit tricky, I can feel the damage taken and the pressure but not any pain or actual injury. For example when we tested the Impaled cost we tested on an animal that was about to be processed and cooked. We stabbed through it with a skewer and figured it might be comparable to me, I could feel it but it did not actually break through the skin or appear on the other side of me so I¡¯m not actually getting impaled but I can feel the pressure of being impaled. Yea the fire one was fun, a light heat, no pain, no blistering but I could feel an almost pressure. Like my brain was going ¡°Oi, you¡¯re supposed to be in pain mate. Scaron here?¡± did end up losing a few pairs of shirts and pants setting them on fire though. And thrown a long way well, you¡¯ve seen my training with Aikoki¡­ Clones: 10 Mana = 1 Clone at 10 MP (Lowest) or 561 Mana = 1 Clone at 561 MP (Highest) Limit for clones: Approximately 50 clones. However this is the max limit for now. Once I go past 25 it starts needing more and more mana. At the 51 clone mark it required almost half of my total mana to create one. This leads me to suspect that the soft limit is 25 with the max limit being around 75 clones. Though with higher clones means I cannot create much more and they take up far more mana. At the later stages I might need to spend a day or two gathering mana just to create a clone at this upper limit. We also completed training with the System Interface and other Powers in our repertoire. The Trust but Verify sub ability got added to the Party Creation tab when we had upgraded the system and it can only be used if we are in a Party which makes things a bit harder for me but that¡¯s fine. The Culinary Information we requested from Creature was also added to the Memory Palace after some imagining, we also found that we are able to make slight changes to the Palace, changing the style or brickwork of the towers and paths but only slightly. We haven''t started training to progress any existing Powers for now but the plan is to wait till we get to Oghqoa city, where I might have access to more info. I have my exam with Aikoki coming up soon and I have already talked with the Coans that I''ll be leaving ahead of schedule. Looks like in my testing the Map Mode, Voice Chat, Party Creation, Auto Translation, Memory Palace and Protection of Body/Protection of Mind does not have passive mana usage. It only appears to cost mana if I go beyond the norm. For example, if I add too many people through the Party Creation or Voice Chat ability it has a Mana Cost of about 1-2 mana per person per second. Protection of Body/Protection of Mind does not cost mana at all but that might be due to it being a defensive Gifted Power. Mana Cost of the different Powers does not have a set cost, how much I want to do is equal to how much mana it costs. And that¡¯s about it really, I need to get to this Capitol city to plan the next steps for my survival but I do have plans for the next two Powers if I want to reconnect with Alpha team at Oasis.
Main System Interface (Rank CCC) Current Features available: MP and HP Meter: MP: 562 points. HP: 654 points Map mode: Tactical, City, National, Globe Map mode sub ability: Institutional Awareness (Live). Map mode sub ability: High Definition Map Mode and Globe Voice Chat: Local 50+ metres Party Creation: 30 members Patry Creation sub ability: Trust but Verify Active Parties: Alpha Team - Oasis (16) Auto translation: 1 Language (Attalrininw - Farmers Rest Islander) If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Languages Learning: (Dedintcadu - Casupanian) Advanced Memory Palace: Mansion Memory Palace: The five towers (Mansion). 5/5+ Generating: 3x Break Through Points to complete till all Towers possible. Clones have access to System Interface Adaptive Matter-Energy Storage - Inventory: 120kg New Settings (3/5): Low alcohol intolerance. (On/Off) Thought Updatable UI Show uncompleted achievements Powers: Gifted Power active: Protection of Body/Protection of Mind (Rank C) Sub Ability: System Interface (Main System Interface (Rank CCC equivalent)) Protection from Bodily damage. Protection from Mental damage. Biological seal: Active. Generating: 8x Break Through Points to complete till Rank Up possible. Sub Ability Generating: 12x Break Through Points to complete till Rank Up possible. Creation Power: Psychokinesis (Rank D) Move Object (Organic/Inorganic + Elemental bonus due to Elemental Avatar) Mana Manipulation (Basic + Elemental bonus due to Elemental Avatar) Mana Organisation (Basic + Elemental bonus due to Elemental Avatar) Generating: 2x Break Through Points to complete till Rank Up possible. Creation Power: Shadow Clone (Rank CC) Shadow Clone (Increases with Mana Expenditure and Rank, set soft limit) Memory Recollection Training Recollection Independent Well and Network System Independent System Interface Independent Power usability (Clones will need to be resummoned to add new abilities for Clones to have access to) Unconscious activity (When Original is unconscious Clones will still be active) Generating: 10x Break Through Points to complete till Rank Up possible. Creation Power: Elemental Avatar (Rank C) Move Element (Water, Earth, Fire, Air) Element Generation (Fire) Change Element State: Solid, Liquid, Gas (Water) Mana Manipulation (Basic + Bonus due to Psychokinesis) Mana Organisation (Basic + Bonus due to Psychokinesis) Generating: 8x Break Through Points to complete till Rank Up possible. Creation Power Formed: Mana Beast Uprising (Rank CC) Increased control of Mana Lesser Mana Cost Integration into other Powers: Possible Shadow Extraction: A Power for a Monarch of Shadows, changed to a power to change the state of a creature to let it live. The Kage, the Shadows of the defeated have risen to be a friend or foe for their summoner. Can only be used shortly after a creature''s death and if it has suitable enough mana already present in its system. Can only be used three times on a single creature and cannot create Mana Beasts from inorganic creatures. As you continue to use this Power you will encounter breakthrough points, breaching these points with a clear goal in mind will unlock further abilities. Current Abilities: Mana Beast Uprising (Increases with Mana Expenditure and Rank, set soft limit. Initial Power usage may differ upon rank/mana cost) Limited understanding of languages and requests (Increases with Mana Expenditure and Rank) Slight recollection of original memory Able to be retracted into Well for storage Disguise (Kage are able to stay hidden in any shadow and match their mana signature with their surroundings, dependent on Kage Rank) Independent Power usability (Kage will have access to any Powers they had during life, may be a lower rank) Unconscious activity (When Host is unconscious Kage will still be active) Kage have the ability to refuse Uprising or leave after Uprising Recent Changes and Rank Ups: HP/MP Increase. Voice Chat Range. Party Member Limit. Memory Palace Tower 5 Added. All Powers and Sub Abilities Rank Up. Party Creation sub ability available: Trust but Verify. New Party Creation Sub Ability: Character Sheet Further Advancement Required: Memory Palace Tower 6: Power Information on the Animals/Monsters delt by the Peoples of Land Memory Palace Tower 7: Information on the usage, creation and development of Crystals and Powered Items Memory Palace Tower 8: Information on the Elements, Chemistry, Physics and Mechanics Secret Abilities: 2/3 enabled
New System Interface Feature: Party Creation Sub Ability: Character Sheet Integration with other Abilities: Yes With this Power, new party members will gain a sub-System Interface allowing them to view their current Powers, Progress, Map Mode, Voice Channel, HP/MP. Ability does not integrate with ¡°Memory Palace¡±, ¡°Inventory¡± or ¡°Trust but Verify¡± ability. All Party Members will have access to a Permissions window to determine how much information is shared with the Party. Level up base Gifted Power to increase abilities.
Chapter 28 - Final Exam. Aikoki is standing on the beach with his back to the water, I am standing opposite on the edge of the sand, there is a slight drop down to the sand. The Coans and Dr Rath are standing to the side about 10 metres away so they are out of the way from the fight. Aikoki¡¯s rules for this fight are simple: Michael can use all his Powers as needed. Aikoki can only use a single Power (His untouchable power.) Go all out but try not to maim or heavily injure. Michael wins if he can knock out or incapacitate Aikoki. Aikoki wins if he can knock out or incapacitate Michael. Shaking my arms to loosen then I watch as Aikoki is just standing there with arms by his side. ¡°You gonna do something or just dance there Michael?¡± ¡°Just thinking, why is the sky bl-¡± and at once I punch forward, interrupting myself and shooting pillars of stone from under me horizontally toward him, I can feel the stone underneath the dirt move at speed. The twin pillars of rock and stone shoot forward and are caught in each of his hands, being deflected and redirected away from him to each side. I jump down and bring my hands up and my fingers into a plus sign. 4 clones of 100 MP appear and move around the side of Aikoki, clones 1 and 2 who are moving behind him launch burning fire from each fist, punching forward. Aikoki dodges the hot flames and moves toward number 3 to his right. Number 3 brings his arms up to the sides, punching both arms up and moving sand and stone upward into a wall. He starts to back off when Aikoki instead spins away and moves toward me, grinning and sprinting right at me I reach out and pull a water jug from my inventory. The jug drops to the ground as the water stays in my hands, coating my hands in water. The tips of my fingers become ice, the other clones move behind him with 1 and 2 closest to the sea pulling in water to form long water whip arms. Aikoki comes in close as I try to scratch him away with the ice claws, just before he reaches me I inhale a deep breath and breathe out fire point blank. He hasn''t seen this trick before! Flinching back he has no damage from the fire but from past experience he can feel the heat, I turn the ice back to water and shoot forward toward his face. I want to scare him some and get him to back off. As he flinches back from the fire 3 and 4 move up and punch their arms up as if moving into a boxing stance, pillars of hardened sand and stone shoot up, I don¡¯t want to hurt him so flattened tips only. The pillars of sand explode on contacting Aikoki¡¯s back, pushing him forward into the water I¡¯m shooting out. The water wraps around his eyes, turning to ice and blinding him. I made sure that the water was shaped around the eyes so the water in the eyes are also not frozen. Blinded and off balance I move forward bringing my knee into his stomach, it feels slippery like a goop and I don¡¯t know if any hurt was caused. As he¡¯s bent over 1 and 2 bring their water whip arms forward and reach toward his arms and body, the water wrapping around him and turning to ice again. 1 and 2 turn the water on their arms to ice and pull, the water whips twist and move back, throwing Aikoki toward the ocean. The water whips reach their maximum length and snap, with Aikoki flying over and into the ocean. All the clones and I rush forward toward the ocean, this fight is not over yet. The clones poof out and return their mana to me, I pull on the water and it rises up toward me wrapping around my lower legs and pushing me up into a water column, a waterspout. The water lifts me into the air 5 metres up and moves me towards where Aikoki landed, I can see him bobbing in the water looking up at me. I wave my arms in a circular motion and soon his entire body is covered in ice, except the head of course. Bobbing in the now quite a lot colder water he asks ¡°So, two out of three?¡± Moving my arms again the waterspout slowly lowers me back down and the ice moves back into water, that was exhausting. We both start laughing and swim back and walk off the beach to cheers and clapping from the Coans and Dr Rath. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Aikoki claps me on the back, ¡°Well done, tactics like those will be excellent against other people. And that move with the jug was inspired!¡± ¡°Cheers, I think I¡¯m ready then.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯ll be going to Oghqoa soon then Michael?¡± asked Malter, ¡°Yeap, I want to head out in a couple of days.¡± ¡°You really want to go so soon?¡± Asks Coan, ¡°Yes, there was that meeting with Lord Head, and that close call on the docks. The timeframe of the Institute finding yours truly might have been moved up. The sooner I get signed on as a member of the Adventurer society the safer I will be.¡± ¡°Michael is correct, which is why I¡¯m going with him.¡± said Dr Rath ¡°Woah hold on, I thought the plan was for me to go solo?¡± ¡°Yes, but I had been asked to visit the medical conference there in Oghqoa, apparently there are some new Powered equipment that is being shown off and I want to get my hands on them. And besides, it¡¯s more likely they will notice you walking instead of us travelling by Powered carriage.¡± ¡°And also, where were you thinking of staying?¡± Ah yea, that would be handy. The Powered carriage is basically a short range train network, it¡¯s normally used for moving freight between cities but normally has a small compartment where people can sit. A few small one time payments (bribes) and we could get on board. It should be a straight shot into the city, it¡¯ll even slow down a bit before it reaches the city so we can jump off and walk in through the gate without people asking questions. ¡°That¡¯s actually a good idea, alright let''s do it.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have a big dinner before you go! Upni Steak!¡± ¡°Hells Yea!¡± Coan and I cheer, it¡¯s both our favourite foods. It tastes like some of that A5 wagyu I had once. We walk back to the house and relaxed for a few hours, my mana at the end of the fight was down to 154 MP so I will either need to find a way to increase my MP storage or fight more conservative. After our dinner of steak and salad we were talking about interesting Powers when I asked Coan, ¡°Oh by the way, I have an upgrade to my Gifted Power, it''s called ¡°Character Sheet¡±, it allows us to see things about the people in my Parties. You wanna test it, see what it looks like?¡± ¡°Sure, send the invite¡±. ¡°Give me a second, and you should also see a Permissions window as well, you guys want in on this?¡± I ask the others. ¡°Sure¡±, ¡°Why not?¡±, ¡°Go for it¡± says the others. A few invites later and the Party is created.
You have been invited into ¡°Temp1¡± Party by Michael Hayes You will be able to view your current Powers, Potential Progress, Map Mode, Voice Channel, HP and MP. Permissions: Share Powers with Party? (Y/N) Share Progress with Party? (Y/N) Custom Accept / Decline Leave Voice Chat
¡°I¡¯d prefer not to share the knowledge of my Powers¡± said Aikoki, ¡°Same here¡± said Epego and Malter. ¡°I¡¯ll share it¡± said Coan, ¡°I¡¯d like your opinion on it anyway.¡±
Character Sheet: Coan Coan MP: 123 points HP: 134 points Map Mode available. Voice Chat available. Auto-Translation available. Make Screen Visible to Party Members (Y/N) Powers: None. Potential Progress Creation Power 67% Completed: Ynuei (Argonaut) Caution: Translation of Potential Power may not be absolutely correct, translation based on Party Controllers understanding of similar Powers. (Currently, Michael - Earth.)
Well that''s interesting, ¡°Uh Coan, what Power were you trying to make?¡± ¡°I, um, I¡¯m not really sure. I didn¡¯t realise I was making one.¡± ¡°Ynuei, I believe that means hero, or group of heroes?¡± said Malter, ¡°Do you know what, that says Michael?¡± ¡°Uh, kinda. If I remember my ancient history correctly, was it a group of Greek heroes? Dr, do you know if Creation Powers could be created without the normal conscious effort?¡± ¡°It can happen, but it¡¯s quite rare. I think we should not worry about it.¡± Chapter 29 - On the road again. It¡¯s not long before the day arrives that we head off to the continent, Dr Rath and I are all packed and ready with the Coans and Abcier standing nearby. I¡¯ve placed all my notebooks and other things into my inventory a few days ago and the rest like clothes into a pack We had a small boat with the same Powered hull as the ferry from our last visit to the continent. Just enough for us to carry three people. Malter will ferry us down to a beach and we¡¯ll catch the train to Oghqoa. I turn to everyone and say ¡°Well, it¡¯s time to head out. I cannot thank you all enough for your help, kindness and well, willingness to put up with me.¡± to chuckles all around. ¡°Really, the time I spent here has been amazing. I promise I will come back one day, and tell you of my adventures.¡± One by one they come up to give and receive hugs, we¡¯ve said our goodbyes and thanks several times already so the farewell is swift. Coan is the last to say goodbye and says ¡°I promise that I will catch up to you.¡± ¡°Mate, I¡¯m ten years older than you and you almost already have a Created Power. Don¡¯t kill youself, and by kill I mean overwork yourself to catch up.¡± ¡°Oh yea, I¡¯m not going to go too crazy. Stay safe.¡± ¡°You too kiddo, I¡¯ll send a letter or maybe a clone when I¡¯m sorted.¡± Shaking hands Dr Rath, Malter and I hop onboard and make our way out to sea, about half an hour later and we are moving down the coast a bit. Another hour later and we arrive at our destination, a lonely stretch of beach. As we disembark, Malter says ¡°Well, I''ll leave you guys here. Hope you guys make it to Oghqoa safely. Michael, stay safe.¡± ¡°Thanks again, Malter, I hope you never hear from the Institute about me.¡± ¡°Ha! The only thing I need to worry about is what Lord Head thinks, he¡¯s expecting you to be gone in another six months. Wonder what he''ll say when he finds out you¡¯ve been gone for that long.¡± Chuckling I respond ¡°Let¡¯s hope he¡¯s not too angry about that. I will see you again, Malter.¡± ¡°Farewell Michael, Dr Rath.¡± and as Malter takes the boat back we wave goodbye. Dr Rath looks toward the tree line ¡°Right, let''s head up. There should be a Powered Carriage coming soon¡± ¡°Got it, let''s boogie.¡± I reply as we head toward the ¡°train¡± tracks. ¡°Boogie?¡± About ten minutes of walking inland we come across a straight line at the border of a clearing, a very long clearing, walking further in we see three more lines and on the far side of the clearing, yet another line. Riveting. ¡°So this is the Carriageway, it runs along those three lines in the middle and the two on the edge help keep the foliage away and let¡¯s them know that something or someone is on the tracks.¡± ¡°Cool, so how long do we have to wait?¡± ¡°Well, cause we are on the tracks they will slow down so we have about an hour or so.¡± Two hours and change later we see the Carriage down the rail, as it pulls up we get to have a better look at it. The front has a sloped angle that ends on a large grill with a window near the top. Behind it there are a series of flat-beds with some storage boxes on them with some other carriages covered. As the cab rolls up next to us a woman in a leather jacket opens a door and leans out, the one defining feature that I noticed was something I was not expecting. Something right out of a Fantasy, an Elf. ¡°Wycraghei, corsqua crueseph ghoproa wietieenejlial skaiesebida on the suogahlial?¡± ¡°An Elf?¡± ¡°Untai ebgoir scoam ngiene scait Oghqoa, aiwprie ghoproa skuene unnai?¡± replies Dr Rath ¡°Elf?¡± he asks as he turns to me while the Elf moves back into the cab. ¡°She looks like something from Earth fantasy and mythology, an Elf or Elves main characteristic is having long life and sharp ears. She speaking Dedintcadu, Casupanian?¡± I recognise some words but not all of them. ¡°No, she''s speaking Widunexpreg. And I thought you were reading through my medical books I gave you.¡± ¡°Yea I was kinda busy trying to get the Powers sorted.¡± As I say that she appears again saying ¡°Are you fra scait shy? Untai skoz scoam qeene on the suogahlial bicrukai.¡± ¡°What she say?¡± ¡°She''s asking if we can fight, there is something on the rails up ahead.¡± ¡°Well you saw how I can fight, as long as its not too powerful.¡± Replying, Dr Rath says ¡°Untai aiwprie, jy de sce kuz tosvo voese skuoiel craip sisaene¡±. Yea she does not look convinced. Dr Rath must be thinking the same thing as he pulls on a pouch and says ¡°Untai aiwprie koaene.¡± Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. At that she brighten ups, and says something waving at us to hop on. Climbing up we enter the cab and see some spaces for sleeping, some chairs and further in a control panel. It¡¯s only her in here which is kinda weird. ¡°Is it just her? Don¡¯t you guys get pirates around here?¡± ¡°Oh there are, the entire carriage is Powered. The barrier it has won¡¯t stop something very powerful, but the odd wild monster, animal or person. If it''s anything more Powerful it''s normally tracked and the cab we¡¯re in keeps us protected quite well.¡± ¡°There should also be some guards walking up and down the carriage.¡± Some coin passes hands and the train starts moving again, our conductor sits near the controls and starts it up again. She presses onto a crystal and says ¡°Tosvonewid jy treiene blouxlial, foaene shai scrie ra hair. Tosaiz aiwzic priebr fra scait troiene the qeene bicrukai by unnai¡± She says ¡±It¡¯s just some travellers, they''re here with me. They should be able to handle the monster ahead of us¡± Before long the train slows down again and we can see a large bear-like creature standing on the rails with a broad chest and muscular build. Its coat is a rich, chestnut brown, and its eyes are a deep amber colour that seems to glow in the sunlight. She points and says ¡°Foaene, zib sracai nyt shoaene the suogahlial¡± ¡°That¡¯s it, we need that off the rails.¡± says Dr Rath. ¡°Cool, I should be able to at least move it away.¡± As I exit out of the cab the monster looks toward me, growling angrily. Yea this might be a bit harder than I thought. ¡°Dr, please ask her to bring reinforcements. I might just need some help here.¡± ¡°Ok!¡± As he replies I walk forward and am about to bring my fingers into a plus but that might be a bad idea. I move my hands up and get prepared to bring up some sharpened pillars of stone. At the sight of me moving forward arms raised it gets up on its hind legs and roars, ¡°Oh shit¡± It gallops toward me and the train, I immediately bring my fists up and two pillars of sharpened stone shoot up underneath it, the force of it moving the stone deep into the creature''s stomach and chest. It''s held in place for a moment and before it can do anything else I kick one leg up, moving another pillar up that rips into its throat and through its neck. It thrashes for a moment before stilling. Holy shit I just killed a giant bear thing with magic haha! I start to cheer and the train starts to honk. I turn back to the train just as another bear gallops towards me from the treeline! ¡°Ah!¡± I yell shooting fire from my legs to propel me away from its path, rolling along the ground to the left I get into a kneeling stance facing the opposite tree line. Three more ought to do it! With two fists shooting up and a knee shooting into the third pillar into its neck when I move upwards the other bear-thing is dead. I still have plenty of MP left over so I turn back toward the train, the Elf yells out, ¡°Yjngi shaene ghoproa ngieese ghy rucyk suogahlial! Zib skieneskeiese by rucyk nytlial, foaene aiwzic priebr taiene tieene¡± She says ¡°I hope you didn''t break those rails! Get rid of those things, there should be nothing else¡± says Dr Rath. Bringing my hands down to my side in a swift motion the pillars go back into the ground and the beasts drop. I walk on over, ¡°lets see what this Power does.¡± As I move toward the beasts I stand over the second one and say in English ¡°Arise!¡± At once its body is coated in a massive amount of black smoke, its body slowly shrinking while the black smoke becomes more and more solid and starts to form the bear body. Once it completes the smoke enters my shadow and disappears altogether followed by a System window appearing.
Total MP Remaining: 500 points. Mana Beast Uprising (Rank CC) Mana Beast Uprising Successful! Creature: ¡°Qeene Vibryd¡± has agreed to the Uprising contract ¡°Qeene Vibryd¡± is a D rank creature without Powers. MP Cost: 234 points. Current Mana Beast Abilities: Mana Beasts have access to Voice Chat (Text) function (New sub-ability) Limited understanding of languages and requests. (Increases with Mana Expenditure and Rank) Slight recollection of original memory Able to be retracted into Well for storage Disguise (Kage are able to stay hidden in any shadow and match their mana signature with their surroundings, dependent on Kage Rank) Independent Power usability (Kage will have access to any Powers they had during life, may be a lower rank) Unconscious activity (When Host is unconscious Kage will still be active) Kage have the ability to refuse Uprising or leave after Uprising
Alright! Lets see if I can do the next one. I walk over under the eye of a shocked Dr Rath and an even more shocked Elf. ¡°Arise!¡± I say to the next one, the same black smoke appears and a new window pops up.
Total MP Remaining: 12 points. Mana Beast Uprising (Rank CC) Mana Beast Uprising Successful! Creature: ¡°Qeene Vibryd¡± has agreed to the Uprising contract ¡°Qeene Vibryd¡± is a D rank creature without Powers. MP Cost: 254 points. Current Mana Beast Abilities (Minimised)
Chapter 30 - Arrival in Oghqoa. With both Qeene Vibryd¡¯s now taking residence in my shadow I turn back toward the ¡°train¡± to see a shocked Dr Rath and Elf leaning out of the cab. ¡°What?¡± I ask, ¡°You just turned two monsters into gas which then disappeared, that''s a bit strange don¡¯t you think?¡± Dr Rath says. ¡°Oh, yea. Well the path is clear right? Let''s get a hustle on¡± I jump back into the cab and despite the strange looks that the Elf is giving me we set off again and soon we are moving quickly through the forest. While she¡¯s piloting the train, Dr Rath and I sit down and I ask ¡°So how many languages do you speak?¡± ¡°Three¡± he replies ¡°They''re all local languages so over time you get to learn them easily enough.¡± ¡°Now, as you said you only skimmed that medical book I gave you, let''s go over the different races you¡¯ll come across.¡± ¡°First you have your Humans and the Elves as you call them, then there are the Intelligent Beasts. These are normal animals or monsters who have gained great intelligence, on par with the average person.¡± ¡°Oh Narnia! Thats another fiction from Earth with similar peoples¡± ¡°It¡¯s quite strange how many of these things are fiction on your world, anyway moving on.¡± ¡°Next are the Greater beasts, these are again animals or monsters who have gained not only intelligence but also were able to change their physical form to be more upright, two legged if they can.¡± ¡°Yet again fiction, sounds like a Therian.¡± ¡°Ok, what about the Intelligent Hoards? A Hive-Mind of animals and normally insects who gain Intelligence as a group, though these are much rarer.¡± ¡°Sorry, Hive Minds are a kinda common trope in fiction.¡± ¡°Well how about the Harden? Ever heard of them before?¡± He asks annoyed ¡°I mean maybe, I need more info please.¡± ¡°They are descended from the Ocean Domain but live closer to the surface and are able to live on the surface for a time. They have the appearance of large shelled creatures.¡± ¡°Huh, ok not sure if I¡¯ve heard of them before.¡± ¡°Ha! Ok what about the Trax? A twin horned humanoid, like an elf but no pointed ears.¡± ¡°Hmm, maybe a Tiefling but without Tails and Fire Resistance?¡± I replied cheekily. ¡°Oh come on! How many things are similar to Earth?!... Actually this could be an interesting study between the fictions and realities of Earth.¡± ¡°Well I do intend to visit the Library, maybe there is more information on OutWorlders there?¡± ¡°There should be several texts in the city library, what¡¯s your plan for the city?¡± ¡°Once we get in I¡¯ll follow you to your place and drop my gear off there, then I¡¯ll head for the Adventurer Society. I¡¯ll create some clones to check out the surrounding areas and stuff. Library, Museums, Restaurants, stuff like that.¡± Before long we are only a few minutes from the city and the train has started to slow before its entrance into the City, we know there are inspections and stuff up near the Powered Carriage (train) entrance. We leave the carriage cab with a short wave to the Elf and we walk a short distance through a well walked forest and onto a cobbled road, which looks similar to the roads I¡¯ve seen from Ancient Rome. There are some people walking along it who do notice us but don¡¯t say anything other than wave. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. We walk for about 30 minutes and soon arrive by the city. The city is a large walled city and I can see several taller buildings behind the walls. There are a large amount of smaller buildings and farm land surrounding them. The walls of the houses outside and the walls of the city have carvings surrounding them that have an opal like sheen when they catch the light. We move toward the gates, these have a large amount of those carvings around it and there is a defined entrance and exit way. As we get closer to the city there are some guards present checking papers. ¡°Hey do we have papers?¡± I ask Dr Rath quietly, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m a doctor and you''re my new apprentice here to take the apprentice exams.¡± ¡°Got it, that should fit in the cover story easily enough¡±. After some waiting and shuffling forward we reach the entrance. ¡°Papers Please¡± says one of the soldiers, he looks to be wearing almost typical mediaeval soldier armour. A red Gambeson with armour over the chest, arms and legs. All of which have those same opal coloured carvings in them. Dr Rath hands over some small papers which from my knowledge are normally handed out when you either leave a city or if you are a recognised professional from a major organisation. The soldier glances at these and says ¡°Alright, come through¡± As we walk through a crystal on the wall buzzes and the guard calls a halt. Walking over to us he takes the red oval crystal from the wall and moves it towards us, it buzzes slightly at Dr Rath but a lot more over me. ¡°Are you an OutWorlder, carrying any OutWorlder items or have undergone extensive healing recently?¡± ¡°OutWorlder item¡± I say pulling out the amulet given to me by Abcier, ¡°I was passing through the Kingdom of Bramland down south when I stopped by the memorial there. I¡¯ve been wearing it for a while.¡± ¡°Thats fine then¡± he replies holding the amulet to the crystal for a moment before handing it back as another soldier hands me a signed piece of paper and another paper and pen. ¡°This is a document that your amulet was checked in, sign this to confirm for our records.¡± ¡°Sure, you get many of these?¡± I ask as I sign in the glyphs I have learnt. ¡°Sometimes, used to be a bit more common back in the day but every once and a while someone like you shows up. OK, you''re free to go, good luck with your exams.¡± ¡°Thank you¡± I reply moving into the city. I follow Dr Rath down a main street and through some smaller roads, the buildings all have the opal carvings in them and look like something out of Tudor England and are at most two or three stories high. To the far right of the city there is a group of larger buildings, that might be their equivalent of a CBD. After a few minutes of me looking around like I¡¯m some tourist we arrive at Dr Raths place, a smaller two story house tucked between several small ones along a tiny alleyway, it city has a layout of a typical mediaeval city, lots of alleyways, dead ends, cramped buildings and easy to get lost in. Dr Rath unlocks the door and we walk in, dumping our bags near the door Dr Rath turns and grabs a key from under some papers on a mantle. ¡°Here¡¯s your key, you can come and go as you please. Kitchen is down the hall a bit, your room is upstairs, second room from the left, first room on the left is the bathroom.¡± ¡°Easy, you own this place?¡± ¡°Yes, I was renting it out not too long ago but recently its been looked after by my cousins.¡± ¡°Cool, I''ll chuck these upstairs. Do we need to grab anything, fresh foods?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do some shopping later on, you want to come with me?¡± ¡°I probably should get to the Adventurer Society, but I¡¯ll create a clone. He¡¯ll go with you, we need to map the city anyway.¡± ¡°Sure, get yourself sorted and we¡¯ll get started.¡± ¡°Easy¡± I head upstairs with my bag and enter my room, and bring forth the two shadows from earlier. A dark shadow covers the floor and two bear-like heads emerge from the shadow. ¡°Hi, your names will now be Koda and Wojtek. You have a very important mission, I¡¯m going to give you some directories to follow. It will also be your jobs to teach these to any newer Kage.¡± ¡°Directive 1, you will follow my orders to the best of your abilities but I won¡¯t order you to not leave, I already promised that to Creature and Power. Directive 2, people deserve their privacy so if you¡¯re tailing someone and they go into the bathroom or bedroom I don¡¯t need to know what they''re doing in there. Things like that. Directive 3, If we end up joining or creating a Party or I ask you to follow someone I may ask you to hide in their shadow, if so and they get into a fight or need help then let me know via the Voice Chat and help them if you can. And finally Directive 0, this is the main directive and must not be broken. If in the future, for any reason, I lose my path. And by that I mean break my own rules then you must stop me, I don¡¯t want to kill or torture anyone out of anger so if it comes to that or things like that then stop me and my clones. I would also ask that if asked you don¡¯t tell anyone else these directives.¡± Chapter 31 - Meeting Lockness Nessgray. I pop up five clones once I am setup with my room, keeping my personal items stored in my inventory. We¡¯ve all changed into different outfits and hats to cover my head and face. All together we leave and split into different directions, Number 1 and Koda will go with Dr Rath to get food and meet his cousins, the other four clones will go around the city to different sites. I will head toward the Adventurer Society and get myself sorted there. I nod to the others and head toward the direction of the large towers in the distance, that''s where the society and other major sites are. Including the Institute¡­ Making my way out of the alleyway I head out and after a few short turns become quite lost. I find myself after a few minutes outside of Voice Chat range and in a large square with dozens of different paths out. Looking around I must be close cause I can¡¯t see the towers over the buildings, the people here are also dressed quite well so I gotta be in a good part of the city. I see a younger man of about 20 or so walking down the road in light flowing clothes and jog to catch up. ¡°Excuse me, I''m a little lost. Mind directing me to the Adventurer Society?¡± Slowly turning to me he replies ¡°I did not realise you would not be so brazen. And you are?¡± ¡°Uhhhhh, Michael. Hi nice to um, meet you. What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Oh please, you and I both know my parents hired you. I¡¯m just surprised they actually followed through with it.¡± ¡°Uh, mate I got no clue what you''re on about. I just arrived in the city.¡± Shaking his head he replies ¡°Yes, yes and you probably came from some tiny village from the middle of nowhere and you were the strongest one there. We¡¯ve all heard that story before.¡± he replies hand waving. ¡°I think you¡¯ve got me confused with someone else, I¡¯m just gonna go and ask someone else.¡± ¡°Oh don¡¯t bother, come. Let''s eat and we can discuss the contract my parents gave you.¡± ¡°I was actually looking for a good food place but I really want to get going now, and it''s not like I have any money.¡± ¡°Yes, yes come on. Follow me.¡± Ok this is weird, I kinda don¡¯t want to follow him but looks like he¡¯s heading for a nearby restaurant and I¡¯ve got no idea what to expect. I have the gut feeling that he¡¯s not a bad guy but yea this is weird. I am quite curious though so let''s see what this guy''s parents would have in store for him. Joining him at an outdoor table near a guy standing and playing an instrument while singing. A waitress comes by and gives us a menu and some water. ¡°Just let us know if you want to order something gentleman.¡± ¡°Sure¡±, ¡°Thank you.¡± We both reply. ¡°So, Michael I suppose you know who I am so tell me about yourself?¡± ¡°I actually don¡¯t but sure, I¡¯m from down south. A drifter from one of those tiny islands, I ran away some time ago and have slowly been working my way up. My last job was at Farmers Rest Island, for crop planting. And you are?¡± ¡°You know who I am, you were hired.¡± ¡°Oh indulge me will you?¡± I reply a bit annoyed with an eye roll. ¡°Fine, my name is Lockness Nessgray of the Nessgray family, I have finished my training and was on my way to the Society to register as a member. Then I ran into you, a Martial who are normally hired by rich families to ensure the safety of their children when they become Adventurers.¡± I look bewildered at him for a moment before starting to chuckle ¡°y, your name is Lock Ness?¡± I say with a wide smile. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Ok, mate. Where I¡¯m from Lock Ness means Lake Ness. Your named after a lake!¡± ¡°A lake? No my name is all one word. Lockness, not Lock Ness, that sounds weird¡­ Wait¡± he says with eyes going wide, ¡°You actually don¡¯t know who I am?¡± ¡°Bingo! He finally gets it¡± I exclaim as I lean back in my chair. ¡°Bingo? Oh gods I¡¯m so sorry! I could have sworn that my parents had, my cousin told me if I¡¯m very arrogant the Martial would decide to drop the job. Ahhg oh I¡¯m so sorry!¡± Stolen novel; please report. ¡°Ah it fine mate, no harm done but I do want to know what a Martial is.¡± ¡°Yea um, they''re basically a bodyguard for new Adventurers if their family thinks they might get into trouble. I didn¡¯t think they would as it¡¯s normally for people who are troublemakers, like my cousin actually.¡± ¡°You know what yea I can see that being a thing, and I certainly would have given you up if I was a Martial upon our introduction.¡± ¡°Ugh I feel so stupid, let me buy you a meal to apologise.¡± ¡°Mate, all I need is directions to the Adventurer Society, there¡¯s no need for payback.¡± ¡°Yes, yes of course I¡¯ll guide you to the Society.¡± ¡°No worries mate, also real quick would you accept the invite that I send you?¡± ¡°Invite? Wha-¡± Interrupting Lockness I send through a Party Creation Invite, with limited permissions. No need to share anything further.
You have been invited into ¡°Temp1¡± Party by Michael Hayes Accept / Decline Leave Party
¡°Uhh, well that¡¯s an interesting Power, whats it called?¡± ¡°System Interface, but I call it either System or Interface for short. Basically it creates a group which can share things between people, it can be used for communication.¡± ¡°Cool, I¡¯ll Accept.¡±
Lockness Nessgray has accepted the invite to ¡°Temp1¡± Party by Michael Hayes Use ¡°Trust but Verify¡± ability? (Y/N) Trust but Verify ability enabled. Outcome: Trustworthy (99.99% accuracy) Unable to use Trust but Verify ability on Lockness Nessgray again.
¡°Nice, just wanted to check if that would work. I¡¯m ready to become an Adventurer when you are.¡± ¡°Of course, let¡¯s go.¡±
Lockness Nessgray has left ¡°Temp1¡± Party owned by Michael Hayes
Walking toward one of the alleyways we talk for a short while, my time at Farmers Rest Island and his time training and living in the city. He¡¯s quite chipper now and the Trust but Verify ability looks like it worked. You could describe him as a ¡°young master¡± of a xianxia novel, fair skinned, medium length brown hair and slightly pointed ears. Not as pronounced as the Elf from the Powered Carriage (train) so maybe some elf ancestry. As we walk toward the Adventurer Society we are starting to see a large number of people in the area, several Trax, Elves, and some people who look right out of Narnia on either two, four or more legs. No Harden or Intelligent Hordes that I can see unless there are three of them in a trenchcoat. Moving in we enter the Adventurer Society building, a large tower that looks like a wide wizards tower at least 30 metres in diameter and covered in a white brick with a large mural over the front oval entrance. All over the outside wall of the building is a large array of opal coloured carvings. Entering through a large set of wooden double doors with embossed metal and opal carvings, the entryway is a large hollow first floor with a circular centre desk where several employees are located and the rest of the room is covered in job boards, seats and tables, and a small library of books sitting on shelves that line the outside of the room. There is just about a small army of people standing about in different groups or individually, looking around I cannot see many with swords, but several with polearms, maces, spears and more. All of the magical variety and almost all having very long reach. We join a line together and slowly wait till we reach the front. ¡°Hello, how can I help you?¡± says a slightly portly bearded human man who has several scars along his bare arms. He¡¯s wearing a large red shirt that does not have a collar but is embossed with the same opal carvings and a name typed in glyphs. Bertinald. Lockness speaks up ¡°Hi, yes we would like to become Adventurers. What¡¯s the signup and grading process?¡± ¡°Well that won¡¯t take too long, the signup process is just signing documents but the grading process is a bit different. Once all this is sorted you¡¯ll need to go through a series of tests and exams. Once done then you are Adventurers and can take jobs, after your first 10 successful jobs that receive a good grade then your probationary period is over.¡± ¡°I can give you the forms now and you can do them on your own time, but for now I¡¯ll get you to sign these here.¡± he adds and hands over a small stack each of forms and a single piece of paper for us to sign along with a pen with a crystal stone set into it. Each of us takes the pen and starts writing our name on the separate piece of paper, well Lock¡¯s does, my pen starts to glow a dull yellow when grabbing it and my eyes go wide. At the sight of the glowing pen, Bertinald¡¯s eyes also go wide. ¡°Um, I think you should come with me sir, the Master would like to see you.¡± Chapter 32 - Resurgence Team - Clone Memory Recollection Report - Oghqoa City. Number 1, Koda and Dr Rath. Leaving the other clones and Mr Original, Dr Rath and I move toward the western side of the city, several smaller houses and buildings populate this area and it appears to be more residential. Entering into a massive square filled with trees and many large stalls selling an assortment of fresh foods, kitchen items and many more. It''s basically a bazaar filled with anything the average people could want. Including their equivalent of fast street food. There are several people teeming the bazaar, as it is just after midday they are many just chilling and having street food, some near us give us a quick glance before going back to chowing down or talking between each other. We go through the markets looking through the stalls, Koda is keeping to my shadow and is communicating via text in voice chat which is kinda an oxymoron now that I think of it. We find several foods and stock up on plenty of foods for us. We do end up running into Dr Rath¡¯s cousins but after a short time we leave them and invite them back to the house some other time. There¡¯s not much we find and while we did have some blimps on the Map of institute members but no one comes towards us. We¡¯re heading back now at about mid to late afternoon but there is nothing else to report on. Well, aside from the street food. Some of those skewers with that Upni Steak are to die for! Number 2 - Library. I head toward the library and after a few helpful directions and one strange guy who thought I was hired by his parents later, I end up at the city library. It¡¯s a large two story warehouse-like building made from wood and has several large windows where I can see several rows of bookshelves and tables. Entering the building I go up to a front desk and ask the receptionist there, a female Trax who has a reddish skin, two white horns, and brown hair. ¡°Hi, I¡¯d like to start researching several topics here but I¡¯ve only just arrived in the city so I¡¯m not sure what to do here?¡± ¡°Sure, do you want to start researching immediately at one of the tables or do you want a private room?¡± she asks boringly ¡°Oh a room please, my research may take several days on a wide range of topics. This is my first time in such a large library!¡± ¡°Do you have a ¡°Proof of ID¡± card? You¡¯ll need one to borrow a room.¡± ¡°Ah, would this work?¡± I ask, handing over the papers that Dr Rath had shown the guards. ¡°Unfortunately no, you will need to either visit a government building, institute or adventurer building to process you a proof of ID card. But until then you are free to read anything in this library. Just no borrowing from it.¡± ¡°Ah rats, well that¡¯ll be fine then. Anything I need to know before I head in? Any restricted sections or topics?¡± ¡°Nothing like that is stored here, just go on in whenever you''re ready.¡± ¡°Cool, thanks for your time.¡± Moving inside there are several tables and people sitting reading books, next to one of the walls looks to be an upright computer terminal. Moving over I can see it is a flat piece of vertical metal with opal carvings through it and a place where several cards are present that also have those opal carvings. One notable feature of those carvings is the empty space in the shape of the square in the middle of the upright metal piece. A large red crystal is present that looks like the memory crystal. Placing my hand on it I can feel a connection. After thinking of ¡°Medical Textbooks¡± it slows a diagram of the library on that blank metal area and one of the cards glows. Taking the card and turning it around it glows brighter in one direction, using it as a compass I walk along the rows and soon enough I come across a row filled with medical textbooks. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Alright we know what to do, i¡¯ll meet up with OG and get an ID card. In the meanwhile, let¡¯s study. Number 3 - Docks. The docks are nothing to sneeze at, it¡¯s near the CBD and has quite a few large ships. Several are cargo carrier types and several leisure and fishing crafts. Typical magi-tech types with one in particular having several levels that are free floating and rotating at different speeds above the first deck. Quite a large amount of people are around and the map mode has had a few red Institute blimps, there must be several in the area so I¡¯ve been keeping a wide berth. I keep walking for a few hours looking at the differences in docking, wharfs and more. I did find something interesting, a covered path that leads down under the sea, not many people are going near it. I decide to ask around, asking one particular Elf who is the typical definition of a sailor, tall, rough, tattoos of some sea monster? and clean shaven. ¡°Excuse me mate, can I ask you a quick question?¡± ¡°Sure kid, what do you want?¡± ¡°I¡¯m kinda new here, what¡¯s that door and underwater path for?¡± ¡°You must be new, that¡¯s the entrance to the Harden city, they live about 30 kilometres away, when they come on up to Land they¡¯ll come up here. It¡¯s quite a sight sometimes.¡± ¡°Huh, cheers mate.¡± Grunting he replies and then moves on. I sit around for a moment and chill. I''ve seen all that I can see at the Docks and aside from some awesome looking ships there''s not much, I¡¯ve mapped out the area pretty well so I waited for a few hours to see if there was anything going to come through. I did have a few tense moments where some Institute guys came past as close as 10 metres away but did not get any response aside from the odd passing glance. Not long later I see it, the doors open and a Harden leaves it. It looks like a giant coral reef on about ten chitin covered legs that would not look out of place on a lobster. A giant walking lobster with a whole coral reef on its back. There are some tubules whipping out of it that might be arms or, long, mouths? Yeah aside from that freakazoid there''s nothing else going on. Absolutely freaky. Number 4 - Museum. Museum! I love visiting museums, cool looking artefacts, local and world history dating back some 1000s of years. Got a bit lost on the way as I no doubt the others did but found it eventually, its a large looking sandstone building that has quite a few windows. Also quite a lot of those opal cravings along the walls and windows. Might be a security system? Entering, there are several banners and a few people hanging around the lobby. Moving to what looks like a receptionist area, I walk up and ask the Human woman at the desk wearing a slim grey uniform with dark hair. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m kinda new around here. Am I free to walk in and have a look?¡± ¡°Oh yes! Please go ahead, would you like a map?¡± ¡°Yes, thank you! Um, do you also have a section about OutWorlders?¡± ¡°Yes, uh, second level, east wing.¡± ¡°Awesome, thank you.¡± I say taking the map. Heading upstairs and looking at the directions in several languages I find the OutWorlder wing, there is a treasure trove of information here! Different OutWorlder artefacts, maps of strange new worlds, even some taxidermied subjects... That¡¯s kinda unnerving. Guess I know what I¡¯m doing for the next few hours. Number 5 - Crystal Guild. After getting lost a bit I find the Crystal Guild building, it''s massive. Several stories tall and as wide as a city block! And many, many crystal carvings embossed throughout it, more than any building I¡¯ve seen so far. Heading through the double doors I can see a large gem emblem over the door and inside there is a wide entryway that has a reception and a large amount of bookshelves lining the walls with several doors leading to other rooms and a stairwell leading upstairs. The bookshelves are filled with either books or a mix or large and small crystals in different shapes and sizes. Moving up to the receptionist, an Elf man whos wearing long red robes and a symbol of the gem from out front on the robes. ¡°Hi, I¡¯d like to start researching different crystals here but I¡¯ve only just arrived in the city and kinda new at this so I¡¯m not sure what to do here?¡± ¡°Sure, do you want to start researching immediately or join the Crystal Guild?¡± he asks. ¡°For now just research but maybe later for joining the guild.¡± ¡°Well to join the Guild you¡¯ll need a ¡°Proof of ID¡± card, I can give you a pamphlet that goes into how joining the guild works?¡± ¡°Ah, would this work?¡± I ask, handing over a second copy of the papers that Dr Rath had shown the guards. ¡°No, you will need to either visit one of the main buildings, government, institute or adventurer to give you a proof of ID card. But we don¡¯t mind you reading the books we have here, there are many hobbyist Crystalists or researchers who come by.¡± ¡°No worries then, for now if I can grab a copy of that pamphlet I¡¯ll start researching now if that¡¯s OK with you?¡± ¡°Yes, sure go for it! I¡¯ll be here if you have any questions.¡± ¡°Thanks!¡± Moving over to one of the shelves I see a book on Memory Crystals, guess I¡¯ll start there. Chapter 33 - Adventurer Society, meeting the Master. Bertinald walks and moves out of the circular reception desk in the middle of the room, there are several people in the other lines who also saw the pen glow that yellow colour so some are starting to speculate. ¡°What was that?¡±, ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡±, ¡°Think he¡¯s an OutWorlder?¡±, ¡°Can¡¯t be, he¡¯s human?¡± and more from the dozens of people there. Bertinald moves closer and turns to Lockness, ¡°Are you with him?¡± ¡°Um we met earlier but uh¡± replies a nervous Lockness. ¡°It¡¯s ok Bertinald, he can come with us. I trust him, let¡¯s go meet the Master of this place.¡± A confused look from both Lockness and Bertinald later and he says ¡°Ok, follow me please.¡± While we follow Bertinald into a small room with a crystal inserted into the wall Lockness asks, ¡°Hey, why did you say that? We just met like half an hour ago.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, I need allies here and you''re trustworthy.¡± ¡°How do you even know that?¡± asks a bewildered Lockness. ¡°Trade secrets.¡± I reply with a cheeky grin. At that Bertinald fills the crystal with Mana and soon the room moves up, again with the crystal elevators like the one from the Lord Head back in the day. After a short ride up we arrive at a large circular area, with yellow carpet, red banners along the walls and several closed doors leading to other rooms. Following Bertinald we arrive at a large wooden door across the hall. Knocking the door is soon opened by a female Elf who¡¯s dressed in a red dress with yellow accents. ¡°Bertinald?¡± ¡°Hi Hope, two for the Master. Right now please, code Yellow.¡± ¡°Come in, I¡¯ll let him know.¡± We moved into a reception area with a desk, some plants, paintings, a large wooden desk and a couch. The Elf moves through another door and soon enough the door is opened fully to let us in. Moving inward we see a large office with a male human standing behind a large ornate wooden desk holding a glowing yellow crystal, he¡¯s wearing what I could describe as a Earth modern three piece dark suit with golden accents along its edges and with an opal carving lining similar to the buildings. The room is decorated with large bookshelves, assorted weapons, banners, paintings and two chairs in front of the desk. He¡¯s stern looking, a short white beard and a small scar along his right cheek. ¡°Welcome, please have a seat.¡± Both Lockness and I take the two chairs while Bertinald and Hope stand behind us, door closed. ¡°Well, which one of you is he?¡± he asks as he sits in a large padded chair. ¡°That would be me Sir'', Michael Hayes'' I say while Lockness looks quite confused. ¡°And you are?¡± the Master asks Lockness, ¡°Um, Lockness Nessgray Sir Master Guildmaster¡± ¡°No need to be so formal, so I suppose you have some questions?¡± directed at me. ¡°Yes, first off I¡¯m surprised that the pen was able to detect me as an OutWolder but the guards at the city gate did not.¡± Lockness¡¯ eyes go wide and turn¡¯s to me, ¡°Your an OutWorlder! Man, I really did get you wrong.¡± ¡°Wrong?¡± asks the Master ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, what¡¯s your name? You know ours¡± I ask. ¡°My name is Carson Allerchester, Master of the Oghqoa Adventurer Society. I must say it¡¯s been quite a while since the last OutWolder to arrive in this country, almost 30 years since the last one passed away.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± prompts Lockness ¡°Lord Droaldoph Ca. The advisor to the current royal family, arrived here what, 50 years ago, maybe more?¡± ¡°Correct, now I suppose you are here Michael to become an Adventurer and have the security and safety of a member without being hunted by the Institute?¡± ¡°Yeap, but before that I would ask all of you to accept the invite.¡± ¡°Invite?¡± Carson asks before a window appears for them all.
You been invited into ¡°Temp1¡± Party by Michael Hayes Accept / Decline If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Members: Michael Hayes Carson Allerchester Bertinald Campwich Hope Attlena Lockness Nessgray Leave Party
All invitees have been accepted into ¡°Temp1¡± Party Use ¡°Trust but Verify¡± ability? (Y/N) Trust but Verify ability enabled. Outcome: Carson Allerchester: Trustworthy (99.99% accuracy) Bertinald Campwich: Trustworthy (99.97% accuracy) Hope Attlena: Trustworthy (99.96% accuracy) Error: Unable to use Trust but Verify ability on Lockness Nessgray again.
¡°Ok, thank you for that you can leave now.¡± ¡°But all we did was join?¡± asks Hope, ¡°That¡¯s fine, all I needed you all to do. I can trust you all now.¡± I reply with a handwave. ¡°An interesting Power, or is it an Ability?¡± asks Carson. ¡°Ability, I have a Gifted Power and four more Creation Powers.¡± Lockness looks at me wide eyed again (he must be getting dry eye at this point) while Carson blinks in surprise. ¡°When did you arrive here? The Crossing I mean?¡± ¡°According to Knowledge, I arrived 17th-Triloth-3407. I¡¯ve been living on Farmers Rest Island since then and left for here early this morning via a Powered Carriage.¡± ¡°It¡¯s now the month of Radlem so, about what a year and a half ago? That¡¯s quite impressive!¡± replies Carson. ¡°And you¡¯ve already met with the gods, good.¡± ¡°So what¡¯s the plan here, what do I need to do to become an Adventurer and ensure the Institute can¡¯t get to me?¡± I have been keeping an eye on the Institute Map Mode and nothing on this floor so far. Leaning forward Carson steeples his fingers, ¡°Well joining the Society allows some protection but the best method would be to become famous and well known, the more the average person knows about you the better chance you have. That and the more information about your world is public knowledge.¡± ¡°A popularity contest?¡± ¡°In a sense, yes. Now we can mitigate their response by holding an interview after you¡¯ve signed on and taken the exam. We can get you fast tracked through that today and tomorrow.¡± Alright, that can get done easily enough. ¡°Well then, shall we get started? I have a feeling the paperwork is going to be a pain.¡± After a round of smiles, Bertinald brings the forms and pens and passes them to us. We spent the next few hours filling forms and talking about my travels so far. Leaving out the bits about Powers, my clones and the Oasis expedition. A lot about Earth as well, nothing massive but general stuff. The Memory Crystal I have was also a big help, after a few hours of forms and a small snack platter later we get all finished and start to head back down. The plan is for us to meet up again tomorrow to go through the exam. Lockness, who knows who I am now, has been told to keep things quiet for now. I am thinking of teaming up with him as a party so we can get through the probationary period together, I know I can trust him so I figure if we get along well over this period we could do well. And him coming from a well off family and having a full set of powers at CCC Rank (7 Powers) might also help. We are about to leave and head back down to the ground floor but Bertinald stops us, ¡°We might have trouble, there are quite a few people downstairs. It¡¯s a good chance that the Institute is there.¡± ¡°Rats, well. There another way out of here?¡± ¡°Yes, a service entrance to the underground sewer system. We can move through there, follow me please.¡± Getting into the ¡°elevator¡± we move down past the ground floor and soon are under it, look¡¯s like the map mode takes into account 3 dimensions. I could not really tell before but it looks like the map changes automatically from a disk shape to spherical as needed. I could not see anything on the map earlier in Carson''s room as we were too high up. There are definitely some red Institute dots on the map mode I can see as we go past the ground floor, we are deep enough under the ground floor that I can¡¯t see anything on the map mode. The underground sewer system is a long half circle that has two walking paths on the right and left sides. The middle has a pipe-like structure that must be covering whatever waste is in a fantasy city. The entire thing is made from bricks and covered in dust and webs. Guess spiders are multiversal as well. Moving down it following Bertinald we arrive at another smaller outcropping, opening a door we enter another room with a crystal and imbuing it with mana the room lifts up. Exiting us into a small open building filled with repair tools, pipes and other items. ¡°This is one of the maintenance sites for the sewers, we should be near the docks.¡± says Bertinald. Opening up my map mode I can confirm it, I can also get in touch with number 3 from here. ¡°Can confirm, one of my abilities is a map, I can¡¯t see anyone nearby.¡± Activating Voice Chat I contact number 3, ¡°Michael to Number 3, do you read?¡± ¡°3 here, go ahead.¡± Only I can hear him so it looks kinda strange. ¡°I¡¯m near the Docks in a sewer maintenance building, you see any Institute near you?¡± ¡°I have two nearby but I am a distance from them, had some close calls earlier but should be all good, i''ll head for you and poof if they follow.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Turning to Lockness and Bertinald I ask ¡°So, same time tomorrow?¡± Chapter 34 - Institute Interlude. 17th-Triloth-3407 LDII - Minutes after Michael Hayes Arrival. Institute Research State - Piclifton City - OutWolder Sensor Array Control Room. A large room has several maps along the wall showing the whole continent, different maps showing elevation, population density, weather patterns and possible domain city movements. A larger map sits embedded into a large table showing many holographic golden dots with dates hovering next to the dots, too many to count. Floating above it, an overview of the Domain of Air and other clouds that cover the planet. Suddenly a golden glow appears above the Domain of Air and a golden dot appears. It starts moving down toward the east but suddenly goes out. A man monitoring the map in a grey uniform takes notice of this as an alarm sounds, filling a crystal with mana he speaks aloud. ¡°Sir, Alert 14. An OutWolder has arrived and has headed toward the East, but before we could get a lock on its position it disappeared. We will require further investigation to narrow it further down.¡± ¡°Inform our agents to the East, from the centre longitude of the continent to the far East and even the islands.¡± ¡°Understood¡± 34th-Tecumnora-3407 LDII - Days after Michael¡¯s meeting with Lord Head of Farmers Rest Island. Institute Research State - Piclifton City - OutWolder Informant Agency. Behind an overcrowded, small desk filled with a veritable mountain of paperwork sits a young Trax, a relatively new trainee to this understaffed department. The vast majority of the people reported as OutWolders turn out to be nothing but angry partners, business relations gone sour or tales of impossible monsters. Quite frankly this entire department could chuck 99% of all its mail and it would not be any less useful. Opening a rather ostentatious looking letter from Farmers Rest Island, a bunch of self important hillbillies who want nothing more than wanting nothing to do with the rest of the continent. The letter just goes on and on about some mysterious traveller who¡¯s a ¡°Muahaix Aiwatito¡±. Yea, like I¡¯ve never heard that before. There¡¯s another letter stapled to it from the same address but from the ¡°Lord Head¡± of this backwater. Getting up they walk over to their superiors desk, another older and heavyweight Trax who looks like he¡¯s been glued to his chair for the last 30 years. ¡°Just want you to have a look over this letter, looks like it¡¯s from an actual official.¡± ¡°Hm? Where from?¡± ¡°Farmers Rest Island.¡± ¡°Ha! That backwater? Not a chance, let me see?¡± Reading the two letters quickly he hands them back to me. ¡°As I thought, just some dispute. The guy in the letter must have pissed off this Illiard. File and Forget it.¡± 2nd-Radlem-3408 LDII - Day of Michael¡¯s Arrival at Oghqoa City. Oghqoa Institute Branch - Oghqoa City - City Gate OutWolder Detection Array. In a small room showing maps of the city and its surroundings a lone Institute operative is leaning on his chair with feet up on the map table. The older Elf there is eating a quite nice pastry, until an alarm sounds that is. Upon an Alarm sounding he jumps up and looks over the map, after panicking for a moment the alarm suddenly stops and a message appears in a holographic display over one of the city gates. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. --------------------- Possible OutWolder Detected. Initial Report from City Guard: TimeStamp: 04:34:56 EII (SWGI) 34th-Tecumnora-3408. Possible false alarm, was wearing pendent from Kingdom of Bramland¡¯s OutWolder: Bainlis Varengueuil. Subject arrived with a Dr Rath for the Medical Conference and Exams of which subject was reported to be attending. Subject is human, male, approx 24 years old, fit build, brown hair and short beard, large pack on back. Scan Probability: Possibility of OutWolder - 45% Report Generated by: Landuff Browning, Guard Number: 11045632. ---------------------------- Hmm, that pendant, amulet thing pops up every once and a while but it is strange that the Scan shows the probability at 45%. Well, anything above 30% we are to investigate anyway but it¡¯s most likely a false positive. Moving over to a crystal, filling it with mana the Elf speaks, ¡°Sir, we have a possible OutWolder who entered the gates, probability 45% but was wearing an OutWolder pendant.¡± ¡°It is still 45%¡± the disembodied voice replies, ¡°Forward me the report and we will look at it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s on its way now.¡± Later, several Institute operatives leave their large building and split up heading to different sections of the city in teams of two. Cartning, a young elf who joined the Institute a year ago is teamed up with another younger elf just a year his senior. It¡¯s the first time they have had this alert before and so are quite excited at the prospect of possibly meeting an OutWolder. ¡°Ok, where are we headed Vonway?¡± Vonway, the other elf replies ¡°Heading for the Docks, the other teams are going to do a walk of the perimeter and through the rest of the city.¡± ¡°Why send us to the docks?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s an easy job but it is possible that if they want to get out of the city, the quietest way would be through the docks.¡± Over the next few hours they move through the city, they pass a few people who match the description but the sensory crystals they had did not do anything. After moving up and down the docks several times, after a few hours they find something. The crystal starts buzzing as they near the Harden entrance again, there are a bunch of people around as a large Harden leaves the entrance and makes its way to the embassy. ¡°That might be Lord Depths of Blaintona¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s why the crystal is buzzing, it always gets confused around Harden.¡± ¡°Yea, but it¡¯s not buzzing in his direction. It¡¯s toward the city now.¡± Turning to the city they see the back of someone walking down an alleyway ¡°Let¡¯s follow.¡± Walking down the alleyway they find it stops at a dead end, with chain locked wearhouse doors. ¡°Uh, didn¡¯t some guy just go down here?¡± ¡°Must¡¯ve gone into one of the buildings.¡± ¡°Yea, but they''re locked from the outside. And look, the security system is still on. Power?¡± ¡°No clue.¡± A communication stone starts buzzing and taking it out from his pocket Vonway replies ¡°Vonway here.¡± ¡° We have been trying to contact you, somethings up at the Adventurer Society, head down there.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Putting the crystal back they start heading back out of the alleyway. Earlier that day, near the Adventurer Society building. Taal, an older Trax, is headed toward the Adventurer Society. It¡¯s a good chance that if this OutWolder is in the city it would definitely head for the Society. Walking in, there is a long line of people and a group of them are talking and looking toward the Hoist room, always present in tall buildings like these. Walking up to the group I ask ¡°Hey, what¡¯s going on?¡± Several of them turn, Adventurers in armour and resting polearms and halberds against their shoulders ¡°Some newbies were signing up and one of the pens started glowing, one of the Guild Receptionist¡¯s just whisked them away upstairs.¡± ¡°You Institute?¡± asks one of the party. ¡°Maybe, maybe not.¡± Taal replies. Walking away from the group and outside Taal brings a communication crystal out of his coat. ¡°Confimed OutWolder, Society pen test confirmed it. They''re probably meeting with the Guild Master now. All units come here.¡± ¡°Understood¡± replies the voice from the crystal, ¡°we¡¯ll recall the other teams.¡± Some hours later there are several teams surrounding the Adventurer Society building and several operatives inside the main lobby, unfortunately the OutWolder did not reappear and may have left from another exit. It¡¯s likely that it will be back tomorrow for an exam if it has not already had it.. Chapter 35 - Start the Adventurer Exam - Lock vs Proctor: Fight! Waking up the next day I grab an early breakfast and go over the Memory Reports from the clones from yesterday. Looks like number 3 was able to give the two Institute people the slip after he puffed back into smoke. After they left I split from Lockness and made my way back to Dr Rath¡¯s place. Leaving the house I make my way to the sewer maintenance building where I exited earlier and after charging the mana crystal I head down to the sewer level. Exiting, I meet Bertinald and after a short greeting we move through the sewer to the elevator which I now know is called a ¡°Hoist¡±. I will say, it suddenly moving diagonally down was a surprise, ¡°Where are you headed?¡± I ask Bertinald, ¡°The examination rooms, it is where we will assess your Combat ability and your Adventurer Rank.¡± ¡°Is that different from the 15 ranks that relate to Powers?¡± ¡°Yes, that style of ranking system is used worldwide for all sorts of grading. The Ranks you have been thinking of with Powers are either how many Powers a person can use or how powerful the Power is.¡± ¡°This Adventurer Rank is what your possible combat level is, there is also a sub rank of Low, Medium and High which tells us the difficulty and type of missions that you can take. For example, the Proctor for this exam has 15 Powers and on your Power chart he would be considered what you call AAA or Triple A rank. We would call it Power Rank 9.¡± ¡°However his Adventurer Rank and Sub Rank is around BBB or Triple B rank with a High sub rank. Meaning not only is he able to normally defeat multiple BB ranked people or creatures but can be sent on High ranked missions that might be more sensitive than normal.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the actual wording for the rankings? When I look at them all I see is what I¡¯ve told you, a ranking system used in fiction back home.¡± ¡°Well in short each Adventurer Rank is related to a known Adventurer in history who made massive achievements at their rank. Massive being Land-wide. I would recommend having a look at the Library, there have been many changes to the ranking system over time and you might benefit from reading on the past ranks.¡± ¡°Cool -¡± I am cut off as we arrive in the examination room, or rather a lobby area with several chairs and lounges with a long glass wall on the far side. Inside the room is Lockness, Master Carson, Hope, two priests who look like they are from Power and World and an older Trax. Exiting the elevator we walk over to the group who turn to us, Master Carson steps forward and introductions are made ¡°Michael Hayes, these are Priests of Power and World, Wellingpar and Heartwall, and this is Wellingpar Dernear, our Proctor for today.¡± A round of handshakes and we are ready to go. ¡°Before we start, if you three would accept the invite we can get started.¡± A look of confusion passes between them and then they accept the invite.
You been invited into ¡°Temp1¡± Party by Michael Hayes Accept / Decline Members: Michael Hayes Wellingpar Vrao Heartwall Draymore Wellingpar Dernear Leave Party
All invitees have been accepted into ¡°Temp1¡± Party Use ¡°Trust but Verify¡± ability? (Y/N) Trust but Verify ability enabled. Outcome: Wellingpar Vrao: Trustworthy (99.95% accuracy) Heartwall Draymore: Trustworthy (99.94% accuracy) If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Wellingpar Dernear: Trustworthy (99.93% accuracy)
Wellingpar, our Proctor asks ¡°What is the purpose of this invite? All I can see is that we were accepted into a party.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, just a precaution. I can promise there is nothing to be worried about. Just for my own peace of mind.¡± I reply smiling and rubbing the back of my head. ¡°So, who¡¯s going first?¡± Lockness speaks up, ¡°I¡¯d like to go, and it gives you a chance to see how its done.¡± ¡°Fine with me.¡± Both Wellingpar and I reply at the same time. Wellingpar adds ¡°For your benefit, Wellingpar and Heartwell are here as they catalogue the Powers being used and are able to alter the testing environment as needed. As you are an OutWolder the official catalogue will be changed but at least us present will know and be able to guide your process in the coming years.¡± ¡°Lockness, as you are at Power Rank of 9 or as Michael knows it, Triple C Rank you can use your full amount of Powers, as for me I will limit myself so this will be a challenge. Your Adventurer Rank will be determined by how well you do. You ready?¡± ¡°Ready whenever you are.¡± and at that Lockness and Wellingpar head for the elevator again and go further down. I walk over toward the glass, looking down it is a large domed area that has small mountain like rocks, a river, trees and rocks. As if this was lifted from a real place up on the surface. The glass window and this lounge is situated high up in a ring around the top of the dome, as I stand leaning against a railing Carson leans next to me looking outward into the dome. ¡°That Power, the one you had sent about the invite to the Party, is that a Trust or Intention detector?¡± ¡°Maybe¡±, ¡°Do you feel you cannot trust us?¡± Silence for a few moments before, ¡°There was a time, when I first arrived and told of the Institute that I was terrified that I would get taken away any moment. Then, I told you of the meeting with Lord Head, well I was absolutely terrified. I need people I can trust, so I asked and received.¡± ¡°Hm, how do you think you¡¯ll do?¡± ¡°Well enough, I have been training all this time.¡± As Lockness and Wellingpar walk out of the tunnel and into the centre of the dome he asks ¡°If I may, what are your plans?¡± ¡°What thinking I¡¯ll try to take over the world?¡±, ¡°It has happened before, at least, they had tried to.¡± Shaking my head I reply, ¡°I am not thinking about that, I will be doing the one thing I wanted from day one, finding a way home. No matter what.¡± A slight smile creeps on my face ¡°that is, if this whole thing is reality anyway.¡± At that a Wellingpar¡¯s voice rings out, must be their version of a PA system. ¡°Lets begin, the rules for this is to use all your power to fight me, you can try to capture or try to injure but hold off any killing blows. When you use one of your Powers you can say them aloud or tell us about them afterwards. Are you ready?¡± ¡°I am¡± replies Lockness, moving my gaze down to Lockness I can see him holding a polearm, maybe a long mace which he didn''t have before. I wonder what he has in store for us. --- I move down the escalator with Wellingpar and soon arrive at the end of a tunnel with a large array of weapons available ¡°Take what you need, unless you have your own?¡± Nodding, I walk down the tunnel looking at all the different weapons available. I find a long polearm with a long blade on one side, a hammer on the other and a spike coming through the top. There are crystals embedded into the hammer''s head and blade. Walking through the tunnel we enter the landscape and walk to the centre area, looking up a little I can see the glass ring near the top. Normally this would be filled with friends and families but I¡¯ve already passed my exam last year for the apprenticeship training. Once I pass this one, a formality at best, I will become an Adventurer. I need to stop thinking, I¡¯m about to fight the Proctor. I. need. to. focus. ¡°Lets begin, the rules for this is to use all your power to fight me, you can try to capture or try to injure but hold off any killing blows. When you use one of your Powers you can say them aloud or tell us about them afterwards. Are you ready?¡± ¡°I am¡± He just stands there, hands to his side waiting for me to make a move. Let''s do it, I bring up my right hand and point my index finger ¡°Lightning!¡± At once a lightning bolt streaks out of my finger, intercepted by a transparent wall of force that blocks it before it can reach, shooting another bolt just to the left of the force shield I reach out with my mind and feel the pull of the lightning. My body turns to light and in a flash I am standing to the left of the flat force barrier, and in front of the unprotected proctor. Lightning flashes out of my extended finger again and again it is blocked, the force barrier extending to become a cocoon around him. With my left hand, I swing the polearm, hammer first. The concussive force crystal inserted into the hammer¡¯s head smashes into the clear force wall, cracking it but not breaking. I grab the polearm with my right hand as it bounces back from the wall and spin it so the blade is facing him, as the force wall disappears and as the Proctor turns I swing downwards toward him. Ethereal shackles appear from his arms, wrapping around me and holding me in place. The polearm''s spike is still pointing upward at an angle, I pass lightning along the metal embossed in the wooden handle and out the spike, the lightning shoots above and I feel the pull again. At once I escape the shackles and appear sideways in the air above the Proctor and body already moving to bring the blade down, aiming for his shoulder. Just as it is about to hit, the force wall reappears. The blade sinks deep into it and just its tip fully penetrates, as I start falling back to the ground I channel the lightning again through the tip of the blade and the lightning connects. A red glow emanates from his skin, another defensive skill? As I land on the ground I lose the grip on my weapon, the polearms shaft sticking out the force wall out of reach, angled skyward. The force wall stops existing for a moment and the polearm falls, being caught in an ethereal hand, two arms made of mana have appeared from his back and stretched to grab the weapon. What do I do now? Chapter 36 - Adventurer Exam - Lockness vs Proctor part 2. No polearm, opening manoeuvres blocked effectively and about 20% mana used up, I have not sat around doing nothing. Let¡¯s show them what a real heir of the Lightning is like! I stand up straight and hold my arms out to my sides, I gather my mana and turn it into Lightning, it arcs around me as I bring my concentration to bear. ¡°Lightning Field!¡± I yell, a ring of Lightning pulses from my body, passing around the force wall cocoon and stops as it reaches a diameter of 15 metres. I feel the pull of the lightning all around me, lightning arcing within the circle. I am keeping it contained from arcing outside of the circle, the smell of burnt air being generated by the lightning. At the lightning arcs it impacts the force wall, the lightning covers it but it¡¯s not enough. I reach to my side and pull out a small dagger, wrapping it with lightning I can feel it pulling. I release it and it shoots forward, propelled by the lightning, impacting the force wall and embedding into it. The lightning now has somewhere to go and the arcs are directed into the dagger and through it pass the wall. Lightning wraps around the proctor but this is not enough to hurt one of his Rank. Rushing forward I grab the handle of the dagger and move it to the side, I feel the pull and to lightning I again transform. At once the dagger is wrapped with a hand of lightning and I travel along the arcs, spinning around the force wall cocoon. The force wall collapses, cut apart from the massive cuts made by the dagger and the arcs of lightning smashing into it. The proctor''s skin is a glowing shade of glowing red, and I hear a crack. In an instant the proctor disappears as the polearm he took falls to the ground, he is not within the Lightning Field. Turning around I can see him behind me, ethereal arms gone and clothes smoking slightly, reaching into his jacket pocket he pulls out a handful of gravel. Ah, that must be how he resisted the Lightning. I thought I recognised it, Shipton¡¯s Damage Translocator. The same Taught Power that I have. Picking up the polearm I dismiss the Lightning Field, that short moment has taken a lot of mana. I¡¯m down to about 40% mana left. I need to finish this, now! Activating ¡°Fergue¡¯s Increased Mana Container¡± I feel the Power from the ethereal container within me fill my Well, I am back up to 70%. Proctor pulled out another stone and placed it within the same pocket and is looking at me again. I don¡¯t have any powers for capture so I need to overwhelm him. If I can stop his Shipton¡¯s Defence I might be able to capture with that move. I coat the edge of my polearm in lightning and prepare myself, holding my polearm in my right hand this time I bring all five of my fingers on my left hand up, pointed at or around him. Lightning shoots outward and I feel the pull. Along one of the arcs of lightning I jump, indistinguishable from the others, three hit the force wall that appears while another goes past on the left. The one on the right expands and I am there, polearm in hands, coated in Lightning, moving to bring it down upon him. The force wall snaps back into its cocoon shape but a moment too late as the Lightning arcs through and slams into him, causing his skin to glow red once again. The force wall cocoon is still up but the tip and edge are through the force wall, lightning coating the proctor once again. Not enough to cause permanent damage but enough to hurt. Soon the red glow dims till a crack can be heard. The glow disappears and the rock in his pocket turns to gravel, the lightning moves around his body more. The technique is to travel through the muscles but I must be cautious not to cause damage to the mind or heart. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Soon, bands of lightning are around his legs and arm, the current causing his muscles to contract and be unable to move. It takes a lot more mana than normal to keep him still but it is enough that he is trapped. Standing over him, right arm stretched out I lower the polearm blade to above his head. Suddenly he has disappeared again and is standing a short distance away. I am about to move again to attack before he holds a hand up. ¡°Good job, that will be all for now.¡± Breathing out in relief I bend down and take in some deep breaths. ¡°Did I pass?¡± ¡°Yes, congratulations. You will have my full report tomorrow, let''s go upstairs.¡± We walk back through the tunnel and make our way back upstairs, once we arrive we are met with applause from the audience. Everyone walks up to me and starts shaking my hand, including Michael. ¡°Nicely done there, I really liked that teleportation Power of yours.¡± ¡°Yes, Lightning Travel. It was quite difficult to master.¡± Smiling, he walks off and the others shake my hand as well. After the congratulations I talk with Guild Master Carson. ¡°Well done Lockness, you have definitely passed your apprenticeship training.¡± ¡°Thank you sir¡± I reply, clasping his hand. --- Holy, Lockness is awesome! Lightning teleportation and generation, looks like most of his Powers are electric related but I¡¯m willing to bet there are more he hasn¡¯t shown off yet. The priest of World, Heartwall approaches me once Lockness¡¯ exam is finished and asks ¡°Mr Hayes, is there any particular environment you would prefer?¡± ¡°Thank you Heartwall but this will do fine.¡± ¡°Very well¡± he replies with a short bow. Soon Lockness is back upstairs and we all give him a congratulations, looks like he passed! Proctor Wellingpar pulls me aside and asks, ¡°Are you ready for your exam?¡± ¡°You just got electrocuted to hell and back mate, you don¡¯t want to take five to rest up?¡± A slightly puzzled look is on his face, he replies ¡°I am fine, I have a healing Power I have implemented, and my Mana has already been renewed.¡± ¡°Well ok then, let¡¯s get this show on the road!¡± ¡°After you.¡± he responds, holding an arm out toward the elevator. We head down and are soon in a tunnel filled with many weapons, from swords, polearms, spears and more. ¡°Take what you need, unless you have your own?¡± ¡°Any huh, give me a mo.¡± Looking over them I think about Lockness¡¯ fight, if this is anything to go off of there will be damage reduction, blocks and teleportation. Those extra arms he created are super cool but he only used them for a quick moment so not sure if he¡¯ll use them again for our fight. Moving down the tunnel I see some having crystals, ¡°With these weapons, do I need to put mana into them or do they already have mana in them for use?¡± ¡°It depends, the higher quality the better weapon. These¡± he says pointing to a rack to the left ¡°All have mana within them already but I would not recommend them if it is your first time using them.¡± ¡°Agreed¡± I reply, I find a sword that looks like a one handed Falchion. I pick it up and feel it, it feels right in my hand and just the right amount of balance. I had mucked around with swords in the past. Even joined a HEMA group for a few weeks but scheduling was a bit messed up. While I would love a sword, I have almost no experience, best to leave it for now. Putting the Falchion back I am about to walk out the tunnel before I see a few sets of knives on a belt. I have an idea! Grabbing these knives I wrap them around my waist and walk out of the tunnel and into the middle of the arena. There is a small river crossing to the right of me and a mountain, albeit a small one behind me. I am in roughly the same spot that Lockness was in, the air stinks with the smell of ozone. Proctor Wellingpar stands across from me and pulls out a small crystal from a pocket somewhere, I can see it fill with mana and he speaks into it ¡°Lets begin, as I explained with Lockness the rules for this is to use all your power to fight me, you can try to capture or try to injure but hold off any killing blows. When you use one of your Powers you can say them aloud or tell us about them afterwards. Are you ready?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Chapter 37 - Michael vs Proctor: Fight! ¡°Yes.¡± I replied, I am quite nervous but I have trained for almost two years Earth time with these Powers and have practised them over and over again. I am ready for this. Breathing in and out again to steady myself, Proctor Wellingpar waits for me to make the first move. Nodding my head at him I say aloud ¡°Let''s have a good fight.¡± as I bring my arms up into an orthodox boxing stance with hands near my head. Proctor Wellingpar nods as well, guess he¡¯s ready. I take a deep breath in and out, and in and OUT! I roar fire out using Elemental Avatar, the fire being moved to take up as much visibility as possible. As the clear force wall I saw from before appears I bring up fingers together and create four Shadow Clones, as they poof into existence I again shoot fire. Two balls of fire are shot out from my left hand like a boxer¡¯s punch but splash harmlessly against the wall. The clones are split, two on each side of me, 1 and 2 on my right move to the right and also start throwing fire punches. 3 and 4 lean back with their arms stretched toward the mountain behind us. Leaning back further so that they are on one leg they quickly move their arms forward and two beams of stone shoot out of the rock, I move my arms as they shoot over me, directing them into the force wall at speed. They impact, the force of it shattering the force wall and stopping those pillars'' momentum. Numbers 1 and 2 close in and start moving the gravel, forcing it to wrap around his legs as he tries to back up while 3 and 4 start launching beams of stone from the ground as they move forward. The force wall tries to push up again but too many giant stone pillars impact it, despite the faces of the pillars being flat the force wall cracks under the strain of all that rock and stone and gaps appear in the wall. I pull from the small river and a ring of water forms around me. As I bring it to wrap around Proctor Wellingpar he disappears. But I have 5 pairs of eyes, number 4 sees him teleport behind me and instantly poofs back into smoke. The memory of the teleport being sent to me immediately I kick back with my right foot, sending a pillar of stone toward him. Taken by surprise the pillar impacts and smashes into his abdomen, the skin glowing a vibrant red from the impact. 1 through 3 launch themselves toward him by shooting pillars of rock from underneath them, riding them through the air for a short distance. As they do this I spin on my remaining foot and kick again with my right foot, the water ring shoots out and coats him in water that quickly solidifies into ice, I direct the ice to form spikes on the inside. Scraping away at the red glowing barrier. The ice takes on a red glow as the damage is done, I bring my right knee up and with it a pillar of stone erupts from the ground, impacting his chest and forcing the ice into his red glow barrier. Suddenly a crack of stone can be heard, and the glow fades. I saw where you put that stone you were using with Lockness mate, one hard pillar impact against a barrier and the stone broke! Surprised once again I notice up close that his eyes focus away from me toward the right, he teleports away again about 10 metres away to my right and moves to take out the gravel from his pocket. Behind him smoke appears from his shadow and a large bear-like animal appears out of his view, standing upright on its hind legs and then falling down. Pushing Proctor Wellingpar down onto the ground, Wojtek may not have all its weight from when it was alive but it is a physical thing. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Pushing down I reach out with Psychokinesis and pull my daggers out from my belt, three small daggers hover out of reach and pointed diagonally towards his head. Smiling, the proctor teleports again next to me. ¡°Well done, I must say I was not expecting some of those attacks.¡± ¡°I was not expecting it to be over this fast, did you make things easier for me than Lock?¡± I ask as I wave at Wojtek and the other clones, who either move back into shadow or poof back into smoke. ¡°Oh course, you have fewer Powers than Lockness. Fewer Powers mean less effective in a fight. But I will say not to be discouraged, you did quite well for yourself.¡± Chuckling, I move the daggers back into their sheafs and we walk back toward the tunnel. Putting back the dagger belt we ride the elevator upstairs and are welcomed by a round of applause. As with Lockness, each one there comes up and gives me handshakes and congratulations. ¡°Nicely done there¡± copies Lockness ¡°must say a body duplicate Power was not something I was expecting.¡± ¡°Thanks, Shadow Clone. It was quite difficult to master.¡± I copy back. With two grins we separate and I get more handshakes from the others, ending with Master Carson. ¡°Well done Michael, very well done. Wellingpar, what do you think?¡± Wellingpar turns to me, ¡°For Michael, taking into account just his fighting and style. Stetval Rank, Double C Rank. As for sub rank, well that is determined by the jobs he takes and the manner of their completion.¡± ¡°And for Lockness?¡±, ¡°A well deserved Hasmagne Rank, or Triple C Rank as you call it Michael.¡± he replies addressing Lockness. Lockness and I are standing a little away from each other but both of us start cheering, ¡°Yes!¡± After another round of applause we go over the different Powers we have separately with the Priest of Power, Wellingpar. It must get confusing with the two of them working together all the time. As we alternate between talking with Wellingpar, we get some forms filled right there and then and before we know it both of us receive a wooden card, our Proof of ID. On it, it has our names, rank, sub rank and branch. We are officially Adventurers. Once I hold my card I feel a weight off my shoulders, after nearly two earth years I am finally out of the worst of it. I am mostly safe, and that''s enough for now. Sitting down on one of the lounges I take a breath in and relax for a moment. I turn to Proctor Wellingpar and ask, ¡°Hey, Wellingpar. For the exam, why not use monsters that we might be fighting against in the future to measure our combat effectiveness? Why people?¡± ¡°A good question¡± he replies, sipping a drink he got from somewhere. ¡°It is generally frowned upon to kill or maim animals and even monsters just for exams. And besides, trying to kill or capture a person is quite difficult. If someone cannot even do so in an exam, they will never be able to do so in an actual fight.¡± Nodding I reply ¡°Yea I can understand that, also I¡¯m thinking you¡¯ve fast tracked me through it.¡± ¡°Well of course, normally it would be a longer probationary period and psychological evaluation but we can do that later.¡± ¡°Huh, cool. Well, I don¡¯t know about you guys but let¡¯s celebrate! Does anyone know a good place to grab an early celebratory lunch?¡± Laughing Master Carson says, ¡°Why not, everyone I think we can afford an early lunch. And I¡¯m sure you might have more questions about being an Adventurer aside from our protection against the Institute.¡± As we move back up onto the ground floor and out the main doors onto the street I see several blimps on the map. Institute members I suppose, but too little too late. I¡¯m in the clear boys! --- Taal - Institute Operative Looks like they got to him first, the only reason they would all go out the front is if he¡¯s already an Adventurer. Pulling out a crystal he speaks into it as he starts to walk away. ¡°He¡¯s an Adventurer now, we can''t get to him now. Call the teams back.¡± ¡°Sir will not like this progression.¡± ¡°I know, but this is the only thing we could have done. Unless he wants us to attack The Monster of Felworth himself.¡± Chapter 38 - Alpha Team: Number One (Oasis) - Clone Memory Recollection Report - Close Calls Number 1 here, it''s been nearly six months by this point and we have made some definite progress. After the last update we had dug further into the mountain and found a cave system but it hasn¡¯t been all great, we''ve had some close calls. I was working with number 15, a member of the foraging team when we came across a borrow underneath the roots of a large tree. ¡°Look, a burrow.¡± ¡°Yea I¡¯ve seen those around but they are nocturnal as far as we can tell.¡± ¡°What¡¯s it like?¡± ¡°Weeeell, think of a sloth but with brown fur, red eyes and a very rotten smell.¡± ¡°Rotten?¡± ¡°Yea, we think it brings its prey into its nest and then over time lets it¡­ ferment a little. 12 and 16 think that having it ferment might make it easier to break down? I don¡¯t know.¡± Number 12 is the current head of the foraging and fauna/flora research up here with 15 and 16, so far they have been slowly cataloguing the different plants and animals that might be edible to supplement the food replicator. As we stand around talking 15 and I use some long sticks to bump off some of the lower hanging fruits, they have the shape of a mango but taste more like a pineapple/banana hybrid? As these fruits land on the ground with a thump, thump, thump I hear a slight scratching. Thump, thump, thump the fruit lands. 15 jumps up to grab one before it lands on a rock and then from the burrow we hear a scream. Sloth thing has gotten angry and scurries out of the burrow, it moves quick out of its burrow and runs full speed toward us. 15 did not mention its massive teeth! As it runs towards 15 it jumps and scratches him up, tearing his clothes up but otherwise no damage other than the HP going down. As I start to laugh a little 15 screams ¡±Help! HP is going down fast!¡± Stopping I punch forward and a blast of air pushes against the sloth, with no purchase in flesh it flies away before landing hard against a tree trunk a few metres away, the air also blowing off quite a few other fruits as well. It is only then that the both of us collectively notice two things. #1. There are more burrows surrounding us. #2. We just woke them up. The Murder Sloths as they will now be called from this day onwards start galloping out of their burrows in droves, ten or twelve adults run out and start running towards us. As we run away toward the lake I yell to 15. ¡°How much HP did that take?¡± ¡°Almost all of it! I am about 100 HP away from getting my ass handed to me!¡± Each of us has about 523 HP points thanks to ol Original so for that thing to eat through nearly 400 points in about four seconds is mad! What are those claws made of! We run for almost 30 minutes before the lake comes into sight, as we run into the water we use Elemental Avatar to bring the water up to our legs, spinning the water around we create a waterspout each and bring ourselves up to 5 metres in height. The Murder Sloths have stopped and are screeching at us from the waters edge, I don¡¯t think they can swim? ¡°Ok¡± I reply out of breath, ¡°let''s move out to one of the far shores. We might lose them.¡± Lose them we did not, they must have one hell of a sense of smell as they followed us along the waters edge the entire day, and then when we ran out of MP and we¡¯re treading water in the middle of the lake we could still hear them. ¡°Ahh!¡± yells 15. ¡°What is it!¡±, ¡°I think something brushed against me!¡±, ¡°Oh come on what kind of cliche is this!¡± Slowly we swim from the middle of the lake and head to the opposite shore, the entire time dreading that some large monster might eat us. Soon we arrive at the opposite shore, our HP having slowly withered away trying to prevent hypothermia. Looks like HP also slightly protects against environmental damages. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. It takes us all night beneath a cloudy sky to reach the far shore, opposite to where we left the Murder Sloths. Out of breath, tired, wet, cold, thirsty of all things and did I mention tired? As we rest along the rocky gravel of a beach we hear a dreadful sound¡­They are coming. After four days of running, tunnelling, and listening to the pleading of 15 begging not to kill off the indigenous population of MURDER SLOTHS we finally make it back to base. Looks like they gave up the night before and we have slowly walked back to base. Once we are back we are greeted by the other clones. ¡°Uh, are you guys ok?¡± Asks number 5 ¡°You¡¯ve been away for ages, and you look like hell. What happened?¡± ¡°Murder Sloths¡± we reply. ¡°Bath and food please¡± ¡°Yea, mostly food please.¡± I and 15 ask. We spent a long, long time sleeping. That was close. --- Number 7 here, as you may remember in our last report we had started a main hall project that would not look out of place in the grand hall of Erebor, think The Hobbit and the massive underground palace and that¡¯s what we were going for. We have refined our method of extracting rock by pulling thin pillars of stone horizontally out of the rock face and then working like a conveyor moving the whole pillar out in one go. About ten metres at a time. A team working behind us then fortifies the stone around us to ensure that it doesn''t cave in. We¡¯ve so far cleared about 10% of the total complex we want to create but it''s slow going. As I move a pillar of stone high above my head it suddenly ends, did we reach a cave system? I raise a pillar of stone under my feat upward and look into the hole, yeap looks like a pit of darkness. I am about to generate some fire to see before I start to feel dizzy. Poisonous air! I fall down backwards and get caught by number 8 behind me while number 9 seals it back up again. I try to pull up my Interface. I¡¯m down from 523 HP to 398 and ticking down steadily. Dragging me back into the open air I exhale again and again trying to get the poison air out of my system. It¡¯s not doing too much good but I am slowly getting better, the HP starts to tick down less and less. Over the rest of the day I continue to exhale while the rest of the mining team think of what to do. We have to be careful as for all we know this is a pocket of natural gas and we might explode. Once I am back on my feet we created a system of air bending using Elemental Avatar from the possible cave into a box of stone we created with a hole in the top. As 8 pulls the rock away from the face we air bend the poison air into the stone box, slowly filling it before plugging it with a stick and mud which we solidify by turning the water to ice. We take it outside and jerry rig a flame outside of the corked hole, as the stick is removed the air escapes and the fire goes out. No explosion of natural gas, no fire just the flame going out. We had been on a caving expedition once when we were in Scouts, well I say we. I mean the Original Michael, and that¡¯s Boy Scouts for you Americans. We had learnt that stale air is a thing where there is just not enough oxygen in these places as they have been blocked off from the outside world or just so far underground that the air becomes stale. I don¡¯t know how it fix it but maybe we can pump it out of the cave in a series of stone pipes, leading somewhere away from the Oasis? Yet another thing we need to worry about resource wise, we have too much gravel and too much toxic air. I just hope we don¡¯t run into more of those pockets of air, I went down to 60 HP before it started ticking back up again. --- Number 11 here, I¡¯ve become head of the cooking team along with 13 and 14. We¡¯ve found some things out about the food replicator we didn¡¯t expect to see. For one it can generate food from memory. Now that was a surprise for the fellas, one day it''s some Upni Steak with local veggies from the foraging team and next thing you know you¡¯re getting mum¡¯s home-cooked lasagna. We did find that it takes up a fair bit more MP to generate these things so we use it sparingly but I have seen number 14 create a few bottles of booze, I¡¯m keeping quiet about it as I think it''s supposed to be a surprise. --- Number 7 here again along with 8, 9 and 10. After the whole fiasco with the Murder Sloths and the toxic air, number 1 decided to see what else we can get in trouble with. So he¡¯s sent us to have a look at the abandoned village area on the opposite side of this massive oval Oasis. It''s a two day trek and we are about to head out, I just hope we don¡¯t end up finding another animal who wants to eat us. End of Report. ^ Number 1¡¯s idea, thinks it looks more professional lol. ¡°End of Report¡±, makes us sound like we know what we¡¯re doing! Chapter 39 - Celebrations and more answers. As we leave I can see on the map mode that all but one of the Institute members have buggered off, as a group we walk down the road to a tall five story building with fancy signage and outdoor dining areas. The last Institute guy stays where he is. As we walk through the massive dining area filled with people, Carson talks to one of the receptionists, ¡°Hi there, can you let Cheryl know we''re here and can we book a quiet room.¡± ¡°Of course Master Carson, your normal room is available.¡± We move inside into a Hoist and move up to the fifth floor, we exit into a corridor lined with a blue carpet and polished wooden walls carved with all forms of animals, flowering plants and Air Domain cities floating in the sky. The Air Domain cities look like a cumulonimbus cloud, the base of it closest to the ground being considered outskirts while the main vertical part is filled with cities and houses made of cloud. The Anvil of the cloud (the top flat bit) is reserved for the more royal and well to do residents of the Air Domain. Entering into a large room it has a low table and cushions on the floor for seating with a small array of crystals at one end of the table. As we are seated the door opens and an older Elf woman appears, ¡°Hello Carson, anything you¡¯d like to order?¡± ¡°Send up several dishes please Cheryl, we¡¯re going to have a relaxed celebration over lunch and would like not to be disturbed.¡± ¡°Of course, food will be brought up in a few minutes. Let me know if you need anything else.¡± As she leaves she places down some glasses and a glass jug of water, Lockness has been looking around the room a bit in awe and I agree, there are massive wooden carvings of all sorts of creatures covering the entire roof and walls. ¡°Guess wood carvings are quite popular here eh?¡± I ask. ¡°Yes, now before we discuss anything let me turn on the privacy system.¡± Carson fills one of the crystals near him with mana and the walls shimmer a little before clearing. ¡°Now before we start I would like to say congratulations, I hope both of you become great Adventurers!¡± ¡°Goalial!¡± they cheer with water glasses raised high, it translates as Cheers! As we all drink and start talking with different conversations going on Proctor Wellingpar turns to me and asks ¡°What do you say on Earth Michael?¡± ¡°Oh several things, depends on the region. Cheers is what we normally say back home.¡± ¡°I was most impressed with your abilities, how did you know I had teleported behind you?¡± ¡°My clones retain their memories when they disappear or poof I like to say. When number 4 as we call him saw you teleport he poofed back into smoke and his memory of your teleport was immediately given to me. I am actually quite interested in your teleport Power, I was thinking of a Creation Power for short and long range teleportation so I am curious how it works for you.¡± ¡°I look at a location within 30 metres of me that I can see and then my body and the air of that location are swapped, when I was testing Lock you may have noticed that the weapon I had taken dropped out of my then mana made arms, that is because it is only teleporting things I am directly wearing or holding.¡± ¡°That is quite interesting, do you know the process? Like what the Power is actually doing?¡± Wellingpar is a little confused at this ¡°Just that I know it is swapping our locations?¡± I nod, my thinking for a teleport Power needs further research and thinking but there are a few methods we can try. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Swapping bodies and matter like his Power, wormhole/portal travel, Transporter travel like in Star Trek, there are quite a few methods out there. Something for number 2 to investigate, he¡¯s taken up investigating things. ¡°Do you have any feedback for us?¡± asks Lockness, ¡°Yes actually, Michael, your pillars of stone that you shot out could have been much smaller and done the same damage but with a sharpened tip. Lockness, you did well but you did lose your weapon and had to use your Lightning Field to turn that around.¡± ¡°But in saying that, both of you did well considering your experience and how many powers you each have so for now I would suggest taking on some simple missions and earn some money to purchase Taught Powers that would compliment you.¡± ¡°Sounds like a plan, Lockness you willing to join up together?¡±, ¡°Sure, I¡¯d be down to join a party with you.¡± At that a knock on the door sounds and Carson turns off the privacy system, the door opens to several waitresses who bring in several platters of dishes, cut meats, cheeses, a soup noodle dish and several fruits and vegetables of which some I recognise from Farmers Rest Island. We spend most of that afternoon drinking, eating, listening to stories and joking around, Carson while very stoic is also quite jolly, Bertinald has a hobby of making clothing and Hope jewellery, Lockness spent most of his younger years learning from his grandfather, a retired Adventurer and he wants to continue his grandfather''s ¡°Lightning Legacy¡± as he calls it. Wellingpar has a Taught Power called ¡°Cliffna¡¯s Ethereal Instruments¡± ethereal musical instruments playing, a whole orchestra of live phantasm music. I pulled up some music from the memory crystal and Wellingpar did a good rendition of Ode to Joy and actually quite likes listening to 1817 Overture, finds it amusing that bell towers and cannons were used and wants to add it to his Power. I did promise that I will share more music once I have a translation for lyrics, these guys are gonna love Rock and Roll! I introduced Koda and Wojtek to the others, turns out they can change their size and so became the size of a bear cub, playing around and even eating some cuts of meat. They are indeed intelligent, responding to conversations somewhat with their limited intelligence. I was going to create numbers 1 and 2 but they are currently working on stuff at the moment so I pulled up numbers 3 and 4 who joined us in the celebrations, number 3 got into a drinking contest with Hope and number 4 got many congratulations for spotting Wellingpar when he teleported during the exam. I''ll have to pay back numbers 1 and 2 some other way later, I did not expect it to go for this long! Overnight we did come up with some questions and so had a quick chat with Carson while Hope and Number 3 were almost passed out. ¡°Master Carson, how did that pen detect that I was an OutWolder?¡± ¡°A series of Pens were created by an OutWolder many years ago, some 300 years ago I think? Wellingpar was it Opakkap or Pletsun who created the OutWolder Pens?¡± ¡°Bloompool Bopo, your memory going old man?¡±, ¡°Haha maybe!¡± ¡°I was also wondering why the city guards didn¡¯t go after me, I mean the Institute must have had a reason to check me out?¡± ¡°Yes, so when you passed through the gates there was a crystal which scans people as they pass through, a report by the guard lets them know if it is a possible false alarm. You mentioned before that you were wearing an OutWolder amulet, that''s reason enough for them to suspect it being a false alarm.¡± ¡°Now the Institute has their own measures but basically the report shows the probability of a person being an OutWolder, I think it''s something like 30% probability they will check it out. They may have seen or heard that you held the pen so then that confirmed it.¡± Number 4 turns from talking with Bertinald and asks, ¡°You also mentioned an announcement or something?¡± ¡°Yes, an interview or we can just put out a bulletin that an OutWolder has joined our branch. I am assuming though that you¡¯ll be making an announcement yourself at some point?¡± ¡°Yeap, I was thinking of a book with an image crystal that would contain tons of information about Earth. You can add that to the announcement, that should hold them off for the time being. Then I can get started with some projects I want to try.¡± ¡°Actually, I wonder how Numbers 1 and 2 are doing right now¡­¡± Chapter 40 - Resurgence Team - Clone Memory Recollection Report - Crystal Guild and Library Number 1 here, I got the proof of ID from Michael and went down to the Crystal Guild, I enter the massive building and go up to the same receptionist I met (or rather Number 5 did) an Elf man who''s wearing long red robes and a symbol of the gem from the emblem out front on the robes. Troolle, the Elf has been a big help signing me up for the Guild, at the moment I¡¯ve signed on as a student so I get to go to classes. From what we know about crystals so far they come in all shapes and sizes but normally in a polished oval shape. The internal crystal structure is cut using a specific Power and a ¡°Crystal Power¡± is added to it, most of the books here look like technical manuals but the gist of it is that the crystal gets imbued with a specific purpose via the cutting of its internal structure. Once it is completed in specific patterns apparently Power does something and the crystal comes to ¡°life¡± (I will stress that it does not mean alive but working.), performing its tasks on its own without Power needing to do anything apparently. It is theorised that Power adds microscopic patterns to the overall structure so that it works as intended with Crystalists being the ones who make the overall changes required. The colour of the crystals will turn from their normal colour into either a deeper, richer version of that colour or become clear (like normal mana) or red in colour. This has something to do with how light is passing through the mana and structure apparently. These crystals come in all shapes and sizes and are mostly Quartz however many are made of other hard crystals, things that dissolve like salt or sugar crystals are not used. They had at one point looked at growing their own crystals but it seems that crystals grown via Powers are contaminated and as such cannot be used. Same for any crystals found in a high mana environment. Now I know how to grow crystals the old fashioned way, I used to make some back when I was a kid and I did later do research into how to create large versions of existing crystals like quartz as I wanted to try and sell them but found I had neither tools or talent, or money but that''s aside the point. With my current knowledge of synthetic quartz and other crystals I might be able to grow our own crystals, if we can somehow later down the line mass produce these then we might start a revolution for Crystalists. You know what, I can see why everyone loves it when OutWolders appear. --- Number 2 here, I want to go home¡­ These people are absolute idiots! Scientific Method? What Scientific Method! Oh my experiment doesn''t work? Well it must be something to do with the surrounding mana, of course! Every scientific book, research document or otherwise I¡¯ve read is saturated with Powers doing something honky or blaming failed experiments on mana. They made some advancements obviously but so much is just mana this and mana that. Nothing in here says anything like ¡°X happens because of Y¡± it''s more like ¡°X happens because of mana¡±. Astronomy? Mana gets shot out from the sun, that''s why we have light. Geology? World did it all. Weather? Air Domain. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Atoms? The ¡°essence¡± of mana. Biology? Germ Theory? Creature did it. They get some basic things right but man so much is just too incorrect. They have basically forced their current understanding by creating Powers that do what they want. Want to see Atoms? Create a Power that does exactly that and Power/World does all the heavy lifting. Whenever a Power is created we just push mana into a shape and then Knowledge passes on what we want to Power who then activates the Power. When we want the Power to work it''s just putting it in that same pattern and then Power takes it from there. To paint a picture of my pain, imagine sitting in a closed off, glass walled room with a table filled with all manner of books ranging from Biology, History, Mana/Power research, Atomic research (of which there is surprisingly very little, Powers for it are banned almost world-wide.), Geology, Physics isn¡¯t even much of a thing here! Luckily, these books are duplicates created automatically by the Library, they have this system that can create a physical copy made out of mana which then can be saved. So far I have ¡°borrowed¡± half this dam library and have not gotten much further! Ok, I am exaggerating a little bit but to be honest I¡¯m surprised these guys got past the Bronze Age. I am here to try and create an outline of what the next two Creation Powers should be and figured there might be something here but never mind. The two creation Powers we want to make are: Alchemy like from Full Metal Alchemist and a Teleportation Power. Using the Alchemy Power we will be able to create nearly anything and at higher levels thinking it could be used to view atoms and mess around on smaller levels, get some real mad science finally done. And a short/mid/long range teleport will help with fighting and getting Number 0 (Mr Original) back to the Oasis to recreate the Alpha Team there and get them the Alchemy and Teleport Powers. Oh yea, and speaking of Oasis. There is nothing here in the history books, just several references to expeditions crossing the mountains but apparently it is just too dangerous. Like, picture walking at the peak of Mt Everest but staying at that or higher heights continuously while there are massive storms going on all around you. Yea, even with Powers I am surprised someone even managed to make it to Oasis. And if you thought all that was bad well¡­ I found something, the Well of a creature or animal (the bit that stores mana) can be artificially expanded, that can be done with some Powers that are mostly commonplace but there are other non-Power methods of increasing this. This includes either the eating of other Wells (very taboo and ¡°toxic?¡± I think it¡¯s trying to say?) or by having someone or something push mana into a person. Now this does raise some parallels, in order to increase the size of the Well you need to take in and out a lot of mana. That¡¯s how you grow your pool, by training, but these methods are going beyond that. Now think on that and think about our latest Power, Mana Beast Uprising. That uses an animal¡¯s or monster''s mana and body to create a physical, shadow-like being from that animal, its rank and power is related to how strong it was while it was living. Suppose, at the time of death or after death, we filled an animal or monster with mana? Now the question is, would this be right? Like animals here can become sentient as weird as that is, and it felt like a challenge getting the ok past Creature and Power. At the least they were not crazy about the idea so¡­ Is it the right thing to do? I may need to talk with Creature and Power again, if we want to do this to increase the Kage under our power we need confirmation that we are not going to kill something that might become sentient. But even then, is it right to just kill animals to increase our numbers? That¡¯s rhetorical, obviously not. But KIA in a fight or if it''s already dying then maybe? I might have a chat with Koda and Wojtek about it as well, they did become Kage so I wonder how they feel? Oh and by the way, if anyone reading this is a Math nerd: Maths is in Base 12, not 10. That¡¯s right boys, it¡¯s a Duodecimal numbering system instead of a Decimal system. I now have to re-learn maths, ouch. End of Report. ~~~ Kilroy was here lol. Chapter 41 - Kage Team - Koda and Wojtek - Beginnings I teIl story, why here, how be. Story of how meet friend, the one who Name I Koda and Brother Wojteck. Many way days back, before became smart, brother eat bad meat, acts strange since eat bad meat. Walk ways from group alone, me follow, no want leave brother alone. Walk ways and ways, brother no drink water, no eat food, angry, growl at things not seen. I try stop but no listen, no follow. Does no sleep at night, no rest, drools. A day he try fight tree and rock, but nothing there but tree and rock. I bite branches of berries and bring back to brother but he no eat, many days walk. Come to long empty path, feel bad, wrong to be there. Walk off path and feel no bad. Brother walk into path, walks up and down path, confused, I can hear the strange in his growls. Soon loud noise come from down path, long big thing come and stop near me. Tall thing leaves long big thing, it is dangerous, tall upright things are not always good. Brother gets tall and stands on his hind legs, roaring a challenge! No! It will kill you! Brother runs forward and it gets close to the tall thing, it moves and tall rocks appear from the ground, they¡­ they kill brother. IT KILLED BROTHER! Is how I feel. I charge forward, passed the line of feel bad and run. Squelsh I, I cannot move, breath hard, no pain comes, but weakness, sleepy, breath gone, light gone. I awake near brother, all is well, we are stand on large field of grass, trees far away tall as largest white topped rocks. Mountains I now know. From the trees come big Vibryd, taller than all trees, it looks like us. Brown coat, honey yellow eyes. From opposite of field is more trees and another big Vibryd appear, but made of lights, warm and like flowing water in air. A voice, speaks from both. Heavy, Strong, Powerful, and sounds like several voices like when roaring in mountains. ¡°I am your Creator, you have been given a chance for a second life. If you so choose you may live again, or you may sleep.¡± The words make sense, we Understand, more knowledge given to us, more than just the words, Understanding of what we would become or what would happen if say no. I look to brother, the strange is no longer effect him, we want stay together, we want to alive. We talk, speak words for the first time, ¡°Agreement.¡± This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it The large Vibryd, the large us says, ¡°Go, Become.¡± I feel my body disappear, the solid become like air but also like light. Warm. We move under the shadow of the tall one, I feel a connection to something, it is the tall one. I know his name is Michael. We see from his eyes, hear him talk and we Understand him. We travel for a while, enter large area, it is the place the tall things live, the place we avoid. As Friend Michael walks through the area brother and I look out from his shadow, we know we should not leave for now unless asked, protection, hidden. Many tall things, different coats and eyes, different ears and heads, very strange. I feel brother agree, we want to explore, so many smells, but so new, no want to leave. Safe, protection, hide in shadows and we hidden. We enter tall things cave, it made from tree? Friend Michael goes higher and enters a smaller cave. I feel a slight pull, telling us it is safe and ok to come out of shadow. Still unused to body of breeze and warm, the black shadow of body covers the floor. ¡°Hi, your names will now be Koda and Wojtek. You have a very important mission.¡± He tells us things, but there is a greater meaning behind those words. An Understanding, if he becomes strange, changed, then we must stop him from being strange. This is most important. Next day more Friend Michael¡¯s appear, we know how made, a Power like how we are made. Walk separate from Brother, I walk in a Friends shadow, number 1 he calls himself. I talk to him over the Power that connects us. The Voice Chat, The Interface. He friendly, ask many questions and he answer. Walk through streets and see people, scared of new things but want to explore. 1 gives us food through the shadow, meat that is not bad, but hot and juicy. 1 is friendly, talks to us, explain and answer questions. When we return Brother Wotjek tells story of visiting strange caves, eating strange foods but no be strange. Meet with important tall things who talk with Friend Michael. There be big fight come soon, test of strength, and we have been ask for help. Day of test come and get to meet many new tall things, people they are called. Brother Wojtek tells me their names, they can be trusted. After talk watch Friend Lockness fight, see through Friend Michael¡¯s eyes, fast like sky light in storm, strong. Soon Friend Michael is ready to fight, walk down to bottom area, as we walk I hear Friend Michael think about strategy for fight. Soon fight starts, long rocks shoot from mountain and breaks Friend Wellingpar¡¯s wall, Brother Wojtek travels under the long rocks shadow and into his before wall comes back. See Michael try and fight more, water moves around like a river, rock and stone him to command. Suddenly feel Wojtek in new position behind Michael, about to growl warn but Friend Michael moves and stone impacts. Water and stone hit again, Friend Wellingpar quick move into new position and Wojtek knows right time. He¡¯s body turn smoky and rise from shadow, biggest hight, he fall down on Friend Wellingpar and holds him arms still. No hurting Friend, just test. Soon test end, go back up and hear praise, good, wellness. Brother Wojtek and I feel happy, and also feel Friend Michael¡¯s happy. Soon walk from test to tall cave thing, more wood. Sitting in big room we watch Michael talk with Friends, ask if we can come and Friend Michael agrees, our size too big so become small, like how we were many day ways ago. Play with new friends and with Brother Wojtek, try to talk but hard, words hard, later over time Understand that word be easier, Understand more. But now just have fun, many days way of fun to come. Chapter 42 - Our First Mission! I am about to head out to the Adventurer Society for our first mission with Lockness, that is such a long name. Anyway earlier I had read the report from Koda, it is at the same time strange and disturbing at the same time. I¡¯ll need to think about it for a while. So I¡¯ve decided to leave them alone for now, given them the free reign to travel through the city. If they are curious about the city then why not let them go out. I did ask if they wanted a clone to come with but they decided to chill alone for a bit. Might as well let them do some casual recon. I¡¯m wearing some kind of leather boots that come up past the ankle, a long set of pants and a padded, blue dyed light gambeson over a clean shirt. Around my waist are a set of long, thick needles placed in slots along a belt. Equipment borrowed from the Society for free for newbs. I say a quick goodbye to Dr Rath and make my way toward the Adventurer Society, in my testing of the Map Mode some I can set it to not only see other Clones but Kage as well. I was fairly certain the Map Mode didn¡¯t have this before but Number 2 thinks that it might be the Interface being psycho-reactive. As I walk away I see both Koda and Wojtek head toward the markets where Number 1, Dr Rath and Koda went through when we first arrived. No Institute blips on the map yet but hopefully I won''t see any. I hope Koda and Wojtek stay out of trouble! I arrive at the Adventurer Society and enter in, I nod toward Bertinald at the reception. I think he saw me but he is busy, I start having a look at the job notices on the many boards. Yea a lot of these are in multiple languages and I cannot read them all, many though look far too difficult for a novice like me. ¡°Michael, there you are.¡± Oop that¡¯s my name, turning around I see Lockness. He¡¯s in similar gear, just that it has a long red cape behind him. He¡¯s got a sword of some kind in a very strange sheath, it¡¯s more of a cylinder than a normal sword sheath. ¡°Lockness, or should I say Superman with that cape?¡± I reply with a smile as I walk around and feel it. ¡°Superman?¡±, ¡°Yea, famous hero from back home.¡± I turn away from Lockness¡¯ cape and toward the job boards, ¡°Any ideas on what we should take?¡± ¡°Several, but not in this section.¡±, ¡°Oh? Whys that?¡±. He looks at me like I don¡¯t know how to read, and yea fair. ¡°This is the Neonnot rank section, that¡¯s for people way above us.¡± ¡°Neonnot rank would be¡­ A3 rank. Yea far too high up. Where to?¡±, ¡°This way.¡± he turns and walks toward another section with many, many more pages on the board. We have a look around, many are just simple things like ¡°Lost Animal¡±, ¡°Need weeds pulled¡±, ¡°Help me move house¡±. ¡°Personally I don¡¯t want to help someone move house, done that before and almost broke my back.¡±, ¡°Yea, I agree. How about this one?¡± He asks as he pulls down a job listing with a seal at its top. ¡°Clear infestation from local sewer system, job requested by Local Council of Oghqoa.¡± ¡°What kind of Infestation?¡± I ask, ¡°Coblousceene¡±. ¡°Nani the what is that?¡± Lock slowly turns to me and looks to me like I¡¯ve grown a second head. ¡°Bro you gotta get used to this I¡¯m gonna say weird stuff all the time.¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°A Coblousceene, is just a small, furry creature. Long tail, teeth, claws, they eat a lot of rubbish so some nests thrive in the sewer. If they don¡¯t get cleared out occasionally the nests grow too big and they start leaving it.¡± ¡°You¡¯d think there would be a Powered solution for things like this right?¡± ¡°There was, it just wasn¡¯t feasible. They kept chewing through other sections that weren''t covered.¡± ¡°Chewing?¡± Lockness ignores me and walks over to an upright metal plate next to the job board, placing the job on the plate, its details are copied onto the plate and a metal card pops out of a slot. Placing the job back on the board I follow Lockness out of the Adventurer Society, ¡°So, where are we heading to?¡±. ¡°There is a service entrance we will need to use, the card lets us in.¡± ¡°Got it, by the way you ok with nicknames?¡± As I and Lock make our way through the city we talk about plans via Voice Chat, don¡¯t want anyone to hear us talking mission plans out loud. ¡°How do you want to run this?¡± asks Locky. ¡°I¡¯ll let you take the lead on this one, next mission we¡¯ll swap around and then compare.¡± ¡°Alright, how many of those clones can you create?¡± ¡°Resurgence Team is normally 5 and still have some mana left over for simple stuff. Should be able to get back up to near full after about two hours. I¡¯ll create them when we get down there.¡± ¡°What¡¯s their and Koda¡¯s and Wotjek¡¯s combat potential? ¡°Same as mine but they are limited in mana. We each would have a 5th each of my total mana pool. My mana total has gone up a bit so we should be able to do most things. Just nothing big and flashy. As for Koda and Wotjek, they are not here, gave them the day off.¡± ¡°The day off huh, ok. In any case, big and flashy is something we need to avoid. There are the occasional gas leaks and parts of the system can be under pressure, we need to be careful of explosions when using our Lightning and Fire Powers and Abilities.¡± Trying and failing to get the opening beats to Under Pressure out of my head. (Queen not Login and God forbid the Happy Feat version) ¡°Uhh, cool, cool. So quick question, why give this job to guys our level?¡± ¡°Ah it''s fine, explosions almost never happen.¡± dead serious. ¡°Hhuugh?! Are you kidding me, Locky?¡± ¡°Yes, yes I am.¡± he says, turning towards me slowly and suddenly laughing. ¡°I¡¯m joking, unless there is a massive accident there should be nothing we need to worry about. Aside from the Coblousceene.¡± We soon arrive at a small door and inserting the card into a slip the door unlocks and apparently logs our arrival. Cool. The room is similar to the room where Bertinald took us after our first meeting with Master Carson; the building is filled with repair tools, pipes and other items. One thing that caught my eye was several copies of the sewer system. Taking one I place it into my Inventory for almost no mana as it¡¯s just paper and I create the five clones of the Resurgence Team. Each of them have a quick look at their inventory and each confirms that the map is there. ¡°I think we should split into three teams, there is a lot of ground to cover. Michael, you and I will be a team, while clones 1 and 2 another team with 3 through 5 being the 3rd team.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll try and stay in Voice Chat contact but it¡¯s just over 30 metres so we will be out of contact, if need poof? and go back to Michael. We¡¯ll come to you in an emergency.¡± He¡¯s not too used with my terminology and so sounded questioning with that poof. We double check our weapons and gear and soon enough are ready. Opening a door we move down through the Hoist/Elevator and into the sewers. At first I cannot see anything moving about aside from us. The place we exited out of has several passages. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s split up here. This will be our rally point. We will be back here by the end of the day. Good hunting¡± commands Lockness, he¡¯s in full serious mode right now. Lets see how he does. Chapter 43 - Hunting Rats. We split up into our respective groups, Lock and I make our way down the sewers along the right hand side, the middle has the same covered pipe where all the waste is flowing down. Light crystals slowly light up around us as we proceed down the maintenance paths and extinguish after we past by. Something I didn¡¯t notice last time I was down here was that from the walls there are smaller grey pipes that exit from the walls or roof and end at the large central pipe. Lockness moves under one of these pipes, ¡°These areas closest to the service entrances are normally clear.¡± ¡°How do we want to run this? You take lead and I support from behind?¡± I ask through the Voice Chat. ¡°Yeap, oh I should add that try not to walk on the central pipe. It could crack or fall in.¡± ¡°Easy, don¡¯t want to do that.¡± I bring my hands down to my side and keep an ear out for any sounds other than the odd sound of water flushing through the pipes. At least it doesn''t smell. We spend the next few hours walking down the path, not seeing anything interesting aside from stonework and pipes, the entire sewer system leads under the roads of the city, every road and back alley. I am getting quickly board of this¡­ ¡°So Lock, you have much experience with missions like these?¡± ¡°Some, when I turned fifteen I joined under an Adventurer Apprenticeship, I had undertaken several low ranked missions with other groups and mentors but this is my first time running one by myself.¡±` ¡°No wonder you''re all business about this then, got any ideas about when we should run into this infestation? It''s been hours already and I am starting to feel like this is a waste of time.¡± ¡°Yea I know, these listings are sometimes not specific enough. Give them an excuse to get us to clear the whole system and not just that small section.¡± ¡°That sounds like a bad idea, why?¡±, ¡°Politics.¡± Ah that sounds great, we continue walking down the massive system of tunnels for a few more hours with no contact from the other teams, the darkness follows us as the lights go out, as we slowly make our way further and further from the centre of town more of the tunnels appear older, not cleaned or simply out of use. The smell is getting worse, leaky pipes and water damage from the cracks, webs cover the surface with brown spiders that are remarkably similar to Earth''s scuttle around. Some squeaks can be heard up ahead, scuttling, crunching, the sounds of it are maddening. It''s like listening to thousands of things fight and eat. I don¡¯t know if just us two will be enough. As we turn a corner we see it, thousands of rats, too many to count and large, some as big as dogs. Thousands of large rat things as big as dogs. Great. ¡°Um, Lock, buddy, what the hell do we do now?¡± I whisper as I pull myself and Lock back behind the corner. Wet brick coating our backs in water. ¡°Uhh, I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ve never heard of this happening before, how did it get so out of hand?!¡± ¡°Ok, how can we stop this? Think Lock.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, pass me the map.¡± As I pull the map from the Inventory I pass it to Lock who quickly finds out our location, ¡°Ok so we have a dead end, they are trapped here, we can block them in here but we¡¯ll have a hell of a fight.¡± Stolen story; please report. ¡°They must have a nest or chewed through the stonework, even if we antagonise them they could easily just run¡­ We could use that. Antagonise them into leaving the nest and then clear out the fighters, then go in and clean house.¡± I say thinking aloud. ¡°We could do that, would your ability to move stone work here?¡± ¡°Nope, I could very easily destroy the streets above or cause a cave in. Counter-plan, does your Lightning Power chain attacks?¡± ¡°Chain?¡±, ¡°Yea like, go from one target to another automatically.¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s just tricky to do.¡±, ¡°Ok, then hows about we do this, a burst of fire into the main chamber, they see and run after me, once they come out you attack them from behind and then once taken care of we go in and take the others out.¡± ¡°But if they have nests further in we could miss quite a few of them, I¡¯m not sure what to do for those aside from closing off the tunnels.¡± As he''s saying that I feel the wetness from the wall on my back having soaked through my gear, water! ¡°I can move and freeze water, I take the water from the walls and cracked pipes and push it into the nests then freeze it. That should take care of the rest of them.¡± Nodding Lock gets himself prepared, ¡°ready when you are¡± he says, pulling out a thin cylinder of metal that ends at a point from his circular sheath, pale crystal inserted into the hilt at the hand grip. It is the length of a short sword but with no edge, all points. I take in a deep breath and step into the middle of the path, back to the main tunnel and pipe and straddling the pipe along the middle of the rat infested path. Some rats take notice and hiss at me warning the others, several take notice and start walking toward me. Taking in a deep breath in and out, tasting the filth of this tunnel in and out, in and OUT! I breathe out fire and shoot fire from my fists at my sides coating the floor of the tunnel and some of my walls in fire. The smell is horrid, it would make me feel faint if the Protection of Mind and Body Power wasn¡¯t protecting me. As I stop the fire I push again from my fists forcing the air and smoke back into the tunnel to give Lock a clear line of sight. I keep an eye out and as the fire dims I hear more screeching, hundreds of rats rush out of cracks in the stonework and come toward me, yeap time to go. I rush out toward the opposite side of Lock¡¯s position and the rats follow, as I run down the tunnel Locks Power activates. Holding his ¡°sword¡± horizontal towards the horde of rats following me and lightning arcs from his hands, through the crystal in the hilt and through the end of the sword. The Lightning shoots out as a massive charge, chaining through dozens of the rats. As the charge ends he fires again, another Lightning bolt shoots out, chaining into more and more of them but some turn the corner towards Lock and run towards him, taking the brunt of the Lightning meant for the ones chasing after me. Speaking of, I have a few hundred chasing after me right now and I am terrified. I throw the needles from my belt toward them and control them with Psychokinesis, Its sharp points penetrating the rats, blood and viscera coat the floor, I move the needles back and forth horizontally along the floor in rows and rows, low enough to penetrate them cleanly and shred them apart. As I move them back and forth I bring my hands up into a plus and two more clones appear. As they do Number 6 punches forward shooting fire into the mass of the rats while Number 7 moves his arms around, moving the smoke along the bottom of the path, choking out the rats that have not yet been killed off. Soon the tide slows as more and more are either brunt from Lightning and Fire, ripped apart by needles or smothered in smoke. As the last ones are dying, Number 6 runs back toward the side tunnel entrance near Lock and pushes forward, water from the walls and the leaking pipes flows along the floor, slowly filling the floor and moving into all the nesting gaps in the stonework. As more and more of the waste water is moved in from the pipes into the tunnel there are several that are trying to swim out, Number 7 and I finish with the leftover rats and move along to the side tunnel entrance. We pull on the water, pulling from deeper and deeper from the pipes and into the tunnel it eventually fills to the top and into all its chambers while Number 7 and I hold back the water and Lockness picks off any stragglers. The cost of the mana is heavy but we make it just in time. Lock turns towards us, nodding we freeze the water with a twist of our collective hands and at once the grey water filled with gods knows what is frozen solid, we have wiped out the infestation, now we just need to work on cleanup¡­ Chapter 44 - Clean Up and more Kage. First mission as an Adventurer and what am I doing? Cleaning a sewer of rats and now cleaning grey water and other¡­ disgusting things. Equh, shivers. I¡¯m slowly turning the ice back into water and moving it back into the pipes with the help of Numbers 6 and 7. As we¡¯re slowly emptying the tunnel of water trying our damnedest to not get wet, Lock speaks up as he¡¯s leaning against the tunnel arms crossed. ¡°I barely did anything then, you''re very good at what you do.¡± ¡°Yea well I did a lot of training when I arrived slash crossed over, but you did well. Why do you think that?¡± Listing them off with his fingers he says ¡°You got chased by the coblousceene, trapped them all and destroyed the nests. All I did was just shoot Lightning. No telling what the other clones are up too¡± ¡°Well yea, but you''re a different build compared to me, I¡¯m more versatile while your Powers are mostly Lightning based, DPS, you did do a lot of damage to those rats.¡± ¡°That raises several questions.¡± he asks with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Build, DPS or Rats?¡± I ask kicking some scorched rats into a corner. ¡°Rats?¡± ¡°Animal that looks like those Coblousceene. Next?¡± ¡°Build.¡± ¡°Video game terminology, which explains nothing uhh. In a game you can have characters that are made to be played a certain way. You are a DPS build or a Damage Per Second build. You focus on doing massive amounts of damage to targets.¡± ¡°Now me, I¡¯m more of a generalist, more versatile, and due to my Power I can take a lot of damage so for today I filled a Tank role.¡± ¡°An apt description I suppose, you¡¯ll have to show me what a video game is.¡± ¡°Yeah that¡¯s gonna be¡­ interesting. Actually now that I think about it I wonder if Number 2 could recreate a video game using Crystals?¡± Lock only responds with a shrug and I stand nearby as 6 and 7 finish up, entering into the tunnel past the massive pile of rats I can see large cracks in the tunnel walls, frozen over with icy grey water. ¡°Random question, why not just shoot Lightning through the water? That ought to kill off any rats in the nets.¡± I ask going down the tunnel. ¡°Problem with these nests is that sometimes their tunnels exit above ground, peoples houses, street gutters, and more. Water and Ice won''t cause any trouble, Lightning¡­¡± Nodding my head side to side in agreement 6 and 7 finish up getting the grey water from the nests and chuck the rats to the now quite large pile in the main tunnel. Turning to Lock I ask, ¡°Would you do the honours? Need to make sure they''re all dead.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± With a quick Lightning bolt that arcs through all the rats in a pile, some squirm while others stay dead, probably residual energy. Like frog legs? Alrighty then, let''s get this started. I walk over toward the pile of now very dead rats and stand over them. I''ve been thinking all day if I should say anything special but I¡¯ve kinda given up on that so here goes. ¡°Arise¡± I say in English, at once some rats are coated in a massive amount of black smoke, their bodies slowly shrinking while the black smoke becomes more and more solid and starts to form the rat-like body. Once it completes the smoke enters my shadow and disappears followed by a System window appearing.
Mana Beast Uprising (Rank CC) Mana Beast Uprising Successful! Creatures: x3 ¡°Coblousceene¡± out of x56 have agreed to the Uprising contract. ¡°Coblousceene¡± are between F and E rank creatures without Powers. Current Mana Beast Abilities: Limited understanding of languages and requests. (Increases with Mana Expenditure and Rank) You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Slight recollection of original memory Able to be retracted into Well for storage Disguise (Kage are able to stay hidden in any shadow and match their mana signature with their surroundings, dependent on Kage Rank) Independent Power usability (Kage will have access to any Powers they had during life, may be a lower rank) Unconscious activity (When Host is unconscious Kage will still be active) Kage have the ability to refuse Uprising or leave after Uprising
OK I was certain there were more than just 56 but when they are the side of small dogs I suppose that makes sense. ¡°Strange, only 3 out of 56 became Kage. I wonder why?¡± ¡°Maybe they feel grieved that you just came in and killed off their whole nest.¡± ¡°Ah rats. Six, Seven we done here?¡± ¡°Found a massive one here, might be the boss, boss.¡± ¡°It¡¯s so weird that your clones call you boss.¡± Says Lock puzzled. ¡°Yea it¡¯s just a habit of mine, and most of my country¡­¡± Dragging over a large rat, easily the size of a larger dog is dumped at my feet. Like a german shepard but not one you want to play around with. Standing over it I place out my hand again. ¡°Leader of the vanquished, Arise and become a Leader of your People once again.¡± Surprised, I see the smoke rise out of its body after a definite pause, the body dissolving and entering into my shadow.
Mana Beast Uprising (Rank CC) Mana Beast Uprising Successful! Creatures: ¡°Queen Coblousceene¡± agreed to the Uprising contract. ¡°Queen Coblousceene¡± is a D rank creature without Powers. Current Mana Beast Abilities: (Minimised)
A Queen huh, interesting¡­ I wonder. After standing still a moment I turn back toward the pile of rats and again, ¡°Arise, join your Queen and Brethren under the rule of the Just, as Friends.¡±
Mana Beast Uprising (Rank CC) Mana Beast Uprising Successful! Creatures: x10 ¡°Coblousceene¡± out of x53 have agreed to the Uprising contract. ¡°Coblousceene¡± are between F and E rank creatures without Powers. Current Mana Beast Abilities: (Minimised)
Ten more Rats join the gang, 14 out of 57 is not too bad actually considering the circumstances but I will need to practise with them. ¡°Alright, anything else we need to do?¡± I ask as I turn to Lock. ¡°Nothing, I¡¯ve already marked on the map where the breach is, we¡¯ll meet up with your clones at the exit and then head back. Personally I want a shower after going through all this, and watching what you just did was creepy.¡± ¡°Really?¡± I replied confused, ¡°I was told it¡¯s not considered necromancy here?¡± ¡°Well yeah but¡­ It''s still creepy, how do you sleep at night with them in your shadow?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t, I let them sleep anywhere in my room, so long as they are in a shadow I can''t see them. Also, they''re friendly!¡± ¡°Are those Coblousceene awake right now?¡± ¡°Nope, they¡¯ll be out of it for a few. Let''s boogie.¡± I say as I turn to walk back to the entrance. ¡°Boogie?¡± Lock asks 6 and 7. ¡°Ah don¡¯t worry about him, he gets a kick out of saying stupid stuff when no one understands him.¡± replies 6. A very confused Lock asks ¡°Why?!¡± ¡°It¡¯s an Australian thing, I promise, the entire country is like Mike, or worse¡­¡± says 7 as he and 6 walk¡¯s ahead of him. ¡°How could he be worse?¡± Thinks Lock aloud. --- Soon enough we arrive back at the main entrance and see Teams 1 and 2 already waiting at the entrance sitting around. As we approach the clones stand up and turn towards us. ¡°Hiya boss, how¡¯d it go?¡± asks Number 1. ¡°Oh you know, giant rats, lightning, bad smells.¡± ¡°Nice, Teams 1 and 2 reporting in: Three nests found and destroyed, 10 total Kage created and minimal damage caused. We¡¯ll create a Memory Recollection Report later, there will be a lot to discuss.¡± ¡°Understood, well whenever you''re ready feel free to poof. I promise you¡¯ll awake after a long overdue shower.¡± ¡°Roger Roger¡± replies Number 1 and then the seven clones poof back into smoke with the 10 Kage transfering over into my shadow. ¡°Now I want to grab a shower, food?¡± ¡°Food¡± replies a tired Lock nodding. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the listing. Whatever money we make from this will be kept for you at the Society.¡± We make our way back up to the surface via Hoist and agree to meet up at the restaurant Master Carson took us after our exams. I quickly get a hot shower and clean up my gear at Dr Raths place before making four more clones and transferring the Kage to Number 4, our combat guy. ¡°Right, I''ll leave things up to you guys. You¡¯ll be good?¡± ¡°Yea no worries, dinner in kitchen. Have fun.¡± Replies Number 1. ¡°Will do, I''ll grab takeaway.¡± ¡°Wooo!¡± Cheers Numbers 2 and 3. I make my way outside, it''s getting late. Almost dinner time. Chapter 45 - Scouting Mission. I head over to the restaurant in my usual clothes, a type of long pant, boots and collared shirt with a black jacket over it, the sea winds make the late weather quite cold. I arrive at the Adventurer Society and check in with Bert, turns out the Society is open all day and night. ¡°G-day Bert, looking to collect the coins Lockness and I made today.¡± Bert looks up from some paperwork, ¡°Evening Michael, yes give me one moment.¡± he replies putting down his pen and bending over to what I assume would be a safe of some kind underneath the desk. He pulls out a small bag of coins, a receipt and a copy of the now stamped completed job listing onto the desk and crosses his arms, all in those weird glyphs. I really need to learn how to read these things¡­ ¡°That should be all, for the both of you it came to 10 Gyenebr so between the two of you, you get 5 each. Mr Lockness has already come by to collect his.¡± ¡°Gyenebr?¡± I ask picking up one of the bronze coloured coins, ¡°I¡¯m not too familiar, what''s the equivalent to Farmers Rest?¡± ¡°Ah, that would be the same amount of Oaikibpeta, 5 Oaikibpeta coins, that can buy you a few nights in a very fancy hotel. You two did good work today.¡± Shaking my head at these weird, complicated names I grab the stuff and push into my inventory, ¡°Cheers, I¡¯m never gonna get used to these names, you wouldn¡¯t happen to know where the names come from?¡± ¡°I think, think it had something to do with the ones who first created the currency system back in the day but I can¡¯t remember.¡± he replies shrugging. ¡°Eh, no worries, I¡¯ll probs have Number 3 look into it. Gnight Bert.¡±, ¡°Good night Michael.¡± As I leave the Adventurer Society I notice something, a few red dots on the Map Mode, we have Institute nearby approx 35 metres away. I double time it to the restaurant and move into the main dining area, having a quick look around spotting Lockness at a nearby table and sitting. ¡°Hi mate, don¡¯t look now but we have company incoming.¡± I whisper into my glass of water as I take a drink. Instantly looking confused and turning around Lockness has a look ¡°Who are you looking at?¡± ¡°Bruh, I just said don¡¯t look. I¡¯m not even speaking English.¡± I reply exasperated, glass forgotten while burying my head into a folded menu, despite it being upside down which is definitely noticed by the waiter who just came by to take out order. At a raised eyebrow and a look to me he asks Lock, ¡°Um, ready to order?¡± ¡°Yes, can we get two orders of Ghema Syb please, and some more water.¡±, ¡°Sure, two Syb¡¯s coming up.¡± replies the waiter taking my upside-down menu from my hands. ¡°Locky, I saw at least three blips on the Map, Institute were watching the Society.¡± ¡°You''re really paranoid you know, the Institute building is just a few minutes walk away.¡± ¡°Yeah well as the old saying goes, Just because you''re paranoid doesn''t mean they aren''t after you.¡± After a short pause looking around while checking Map Mode I see no more blips on the Map. Breathing out and relaxing somewhat I realise Lock had already ordered. ¡°Oh thanks by the way, for ordering.¡±, ¡°No worries.¡± Soon enough after some short talking about today and idle chit chat food arrives, it¡¯s a curry but very mild, like a Japanese curry but a green colour. Also that Ghema is the closest I¡¯ve gotten to Chicken at this point. As we polish off a well earnt meal I keep looking at the Map Mode, no blips. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Yea I got spooked big time. ¡°Any ideas for the next job?¡± ¡°There is one that takes us out of the city I was looking at, a scouting mission. The job is to go to a specific location and find a tracking crystal, and replace it with another one.¡± ¡°Whats it for?¡±, ¡°Tracking¡± Lock replies deadpan with a serious look on his face before a smile cracks out. ¡°It¡¯s for animal tracking, it takes a record of all the animals or monsters that went through its area.¡± I nod my head in thought, that sounds like a good idea to have around villages. Track before a monster shows. ¡°How far is it?¡± ¡°There are two nearby, a few hours walk there and back that need doing, the first is already taken but the other one is free. I asked Bertinald to hold it for us.¡± ¡°Sounds like a good idea, honestly do not want to go back into a closed in room or tunnel anytime soon.¡± We finish our drinks and managed to get some of that curry in a box, not an unusual request it turns out! After agreeing to meet up at the Society building in the early morning I head back toward Dr Raths place and meet up again with him and the clones. They already filled him in with what we did today and I pay him back the money for the Food Generator, recycler and other stuff he bought for me at Farmers Rest for the Oasis Alpha Team much to his insistence that we didn¡¯t have to. After heading up the carved wooden stairs with the rest of the clones and Kage we agree that we all would like some sleep and so I and Number 1 share my bed while 3, 4 and 5 sleep on the floor with Koda, Wotjek and the other new Kage sleeping either in their shadow physical form or in the shadows under the windowsill or bed. Each Clone and Kage getting their own blanket and pillow. --- Waking up after a well deserved sleep we all get up and have a quick breakfast of soupy oats from wooden bowls, as we eat all together at the dining table with Dr Rath I talk with the guys about the plan for today. ¡°So, as I mentioned last night Lock and I will head out to this scouting mission, Number 1 I want you in Crystal School. I¡¯d also like a resurgence report at some point.¡± ¡°Ye Boss.¡± ¡°Two, your at the library with Three, You¡¯ll focus on the Power Plans while Three you work on language skills, we do need to learn how to read. Also think of an auto translate function for letters while your at it.¡± A groan is Number 2¡¯s only response as he facepalms with the table while Number 3 replies with ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Four, if you can train the new Kage and come up with strategies. Combat, Recon, Comms, that sort of stuff. I¡¯ll take Koda and Wotjek with me today, get them doing recon practice.¡± ¡°Yee¡± ¡°And 5, you can either help Two and Three, Four or do some small stuff in the area. Help Dr Rath with house cleaning, mapping the city with Map Mode, take a small job at the Society. Whatever.¡± ¡°Easy, no worries.¡± ¡°Ok, so that just about covers this meeting, we¡¯ll reconvene when I get back.¡± Finishing up our meals and bantering with Dr Rath and the others I make my way back into my room to get changed into my gambeson and needle belt. Soon enough I arrive at the Society and make my way to the reception where another man is serving Lock with the job listing he put on hold. ¡°G-day Lock, Scaron?¡± Lock shakes his head a little and turns to me, ¡°Hi Michael, this is Davos. He¡¯s got the job for us.¡± Davos is the polar opposite of Bertinald, while Bertinald is older, as large as a barn and scarred arms like cannons, Davos is small, skinny and young. I¡¯d guess late 20s. ¡°Nice, pleasure mate¡± I reply, holding out my hand and receiving a shake in return. ¡°I¡¯ve heard all about you from Bertinald, let me know if I can be of any help.¡±, ¡°No worries.¡± ¡°Righto, where are we headed?¡± I ask Lock as I turn towards him. ¡°Basswood Chain, about 20 kilometres north of us. Maps, details and crystal are all here.¡± The map shows the somewhat circular city and a large chain of hills covered in trees to the north, another map shows a specific hill and a path up toward where the crystal is located. About 10 kilometres westward of there is a note of where the second crystal Lock mentioned yesterday. Another page contains a list of details such as why the Crystal is hidden, code to undock the crystal and how to place in the new crystal. All included with the polished quartz crystal which we will replace. Chapter 46 - Meeting a creepy guy in the woods. We make our way to the northern gates, there are many people with carriages, one man mounts which look like large emu¡¯s and several trades people who are setting up shop along the main road into and out of the city. The early morning has only slight clouds and plenty of sun. As we approach the city north gates we are stuck in a line for a time, while we wait I check the map mode for a few moments. I noticed something, a red blip on the map, an Institute member, but it does something strange. The red blip appears and disappears on the map, only for a moment, that¡¯s a bit weird. Whispering I say, ¡°Lock, Koda, Wotjek, keep an eye out, we may have company.¡± We don¡¯t have Voice Chat enabled yet so I send the Party Invite out again to Lock. We haven¡¯t been using it unless on jobs or missions (Calling them Jobs or Missions seem to get used interchangeably here.) ¡°Understood¡± replies Lock while I get similar acknowledgements from Koda and Wotjek. Number 2 made a Recollection Report for Koda and Wotjek actually, I need to remember to read it when we get back. As we approach the gates a guard steps up, ¡°Identity Cards and reason for travel.¡± ¡°Adventurer Society Job, we¡¯re heading for Basswood Chain for a scouting mission.¡± says Lock showing the job listing. After a quick read the guard takes it away and returns with two cards. ¡°Here¡¯s your Right to Return cards, please turn them in once you return from this mission.¡± ¡°Thank you¡±, ¡°Cheers¡± we reply taking a card each, we make our way through the gate without further issue and start walking along the main road north. As we walk we are passed by several caravans, some wave or say hello as we go past. One is about to pass us and slows down as it comes up alongside. A old grandfatherly Elf man is piloting the carriage and asks ¡°Hullo Adventurers, need a lift?¡± Turning to Lock and getting a nod in return I turned back around, ¡°Sure mate, we¡¯re heading for Basswood Chain up north.¡± ¡°Ah easy, welcome aboard!¡± While the caravan is still moving, Lock and I climb on and sit next to him in the steering seat. This carriage is being operated without animal power but there are several being dragged along by other beasts of burden. In saying that this carriage looks like it can support animal power. We spend the next 30 minutes talking with Malmar Klaf as we make use of his caravan, turns out he is an old Adventurer who didn¡¯t go too far but made a good enough living to live comfortably, didn¡¯t tell him that I was an OutWolder but we had plenty of stories and laughs to share. After 20 minutes we see it, a massive chain of hills covered in massive trees that stretch along the horizon from north toward the east with the road leading westward toward the sea and away from the hills. Hopping off we say a happy goodbye, waving to Malmar and disembarking after seeing a trail lead into the woods that appears on our map. It¡¯s apparent due to a set of rocks stacked next to the trail and a similar marking next to the trail shown on the map. As we walk along the tree covered trail we can see the cloudy sky above us, with the tree tops leaving a line of sky in the middle of the trail. As we walk down quietly I send Koda and Wotjek out to recon the surrounding area and start reminiscing. ¡°I remember once, I went on a camp ages ago called Waratah, you had to evade the ¡°wraiths¡±, leaders or your team would lose a ¡°life¡± and so would lose points. One group walked about 40 kilometres in one night all the way to the finish line so they would not have to walk the whole night.¡± ¡°Well one late night as we neared the finish line we had no lights on so that we would not be found and I had looked up above the trees. It was like this, the tree tops not covering the whole trail and so leaving a band of stars between the dark trees. You could see the entire galaxy in that thin band of light between the trees. It was beautiful.¡± If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Sounds like a fun time. I can¡¯t imagine it, looking up at the night sky one day and seeing a whole new night sky.¡± replies Lock looking up at the space between the tree tops with a gentle breeze shaking the leaves.. ¡°Maybe one day, many years from now I¡¯ll find a way back to Earth, maybe even a way to go back and forth between worlds.¡± Lock nods his head in reply, ¡°Now that would be interesting.¡± I am about to reply but I receive a message from Wotjek in Voice Chat, ¡°Contact along trail ahead of you, one man, Trax, remaining concealed. Your ETA to him is 10 minutes at current pace.¡± Wow, did Number 2 and the others teach them that while I was away that was well said, I reply to the message, ¡°Understood, keep an eye on him till we approach then move into his shadow.¡± ¡°We have company up ahead, one guy, Trax, we¡¯ll catch up in about 10 minutes.¡± ¡°Was that Koda and Wotjek?¡± asks Lock, ¡°Yeap, they have gotten fast.¡± After about 9 minutes we see this mystery guy up ahead, confirming a Trax with red skin like he''s been under hot water for a while and who then turns to look at us, must have heard us coming. Waving at us he says, ¡°Hullo, are you here for the other Crystal Scouting Mission?¡± We catch up and stop alongside as Lock replies, ¡°Yeap, you must be the one who took the other job.¡± ¡°Yes, sorry if you wanted to do both. I just wanted to do a quick and easy one you know. I¡¯m not that good of an Adventurer haha. I should probably introduce myself, my name is Millerney Creik.¡± he replies rubbing the back of his head. Seems friendly enough and I¡¯ve had the Map Mode open the entire time, no red blimps in 30+ metres. He¡¯s dressed similar to us, maybe another newbie at Adventuring? He¡¯s wearing a light, brown dyed gambeson with similar pants, boots and a type of halberd resting on his shoulder. No red cape like Lock. (Reminder to myself: I need to ask him why the cape?) We get to chatting as we walk, talking about previous missions and the like, but it gets interesting once we start talking about city gossip. Well, Lock and Millerney does, I haven¡¯t been in town long enough. During all this Wotjek moves in Millerney¡¯s shadow. ¡°Hey, did you hear about the OutWolder who appeared? They say he was seen holding the Detection Pen at the guild a few days ago. So cool right?!¡± Jumping in for the first time in a few minutes I reply ¡°Yea, could put Oghqoa on the map. Too bad the Institute might get to him first.¡± ¡°Pff, Institute, you really think they would go after OutWolders? They have other things to focus on and besides, it''s not like OutWolders have been a big help to Land. How many of those guys have been trying to take over the world or change how we live?¡± ¡°I can see your point of view¡± I reply nodding, ¡°but in saying that, isn¡¯t it likely that a group like the Institute would take a more than special interest in OutWolders? Even hunting them if they are unique enough?¡± ¡°I mean sure, but come on, hunting? Yea right¡­ Unless you¡¯re an OutWolder?¡± he asks with a sly grin turning toward me. I turn my eyes slowly back to the Map Mode hovering invisibly on my right, no red blips. He sees my eyes move to the right, away from him and he grins even more, possibly seeing me move my eyes away from him as a sign of defeat or acceptance. ¡°See, I know you think I¡¯m right. Anyway, let¡¯s not talk too much about OutWolders shall we? I know it¡¯s a sensitive topic with some people. Some of them even think they are really people after all and not some alien from beyond the stars.¡± Lock sees me frown and says, ¡°Hey, did you hear about the accident with the dignitaries at the docks last week? I hear they accidentally dropped anchor on the Harden city off the coast.¡± Thanks for changing the topic Locky! I was getting a bit pissy there despite having a now somewhat literal thicker skin. After a few more minutes of talking we part ways, following a trail to the right we eventually come up to a stone pillar with a geode like crystal embedded in the stone with multiple quartz crystals in the geode. The procedure to take out one of those crystals was easy and went without issue. Press a few specific areas and fill them with mana and it pops out, add the new crystal into the slot and re-press the same spots in the reverse order and boom. Job done. We make our way back to Oghqoa, meeting up with Wotjek who informs us that the guy did not do any more talking and just continued to move toward the second crystal location. I suppose technically this was a scouting mission, just scouting for information rather than any actual scouting like I¡¯m thinking of. I am quiet some of the time walking back toward the city, Lock must know how I feel about what Millerney said and so stays quiet. Koda and Wotjek give us some space to practise recon some more. These two are getting good. Chapter 47 - Bullshit. After a few hours of walking back toward the city we arrive back at the gates, showing our Right to Return cards which are collected by the guards at the gate. It''s gotten late, it¡¯s already nearly evening and there are only a few people entering or leaving the city. There are however quite a few people setting up night stalls, fast foods and other goods are scattered around the place. Amber lights from both crystals and lamps light up the night sky, some crystals even free floating above the street, granting light to all underneath them. We walk down the road and Lock finally breaks the silence, ¡°Let''s head to the Society, you want to grab dinner again or just go home? Wait, I mean¡­¡± ¡°Mate it¡¯s ok, I know what you mean. I''ll just head home tonight.¡±, ¡°You¡¯ll be ok?¡± asks Lock a bit concerned. ¡°Oh yea I''ll be fine, was just thinking you know. All these people and lights in the city, didn¡¯t notice them before. Is it some kind of special occasion?¡± ¡°Yea, once a week we have a night market, it''s very popular.¡± replies Lock, as we walk down some more we near the city centre, in the distance we can see the night markets are in full swing. Tons of lights floating in the sky, and underneath the floating lights, dressed in City Guard gear are a group of City Guards; a red Gambeson with armour over the chest, arms and legs. All of which have those same opal coloured carvings as the rest of the buildings in town, and most of them armed with swords. Swords are not too commonly used around here¡­ I check the Map Mode I keep open almost all day and night and nothing, no blimps. As they approach several people see the group heading in our direction and start moving either out of their way to closer to the people next to them, whispering what I¡¯m guessing is the local equivalent of ¡°what''s going on?¡± The City Guard stop in front of us, we turn a bit to move around them and get out of their way but they just turn to face us again, the group of eight stretch out to cover the entire street, blocking us from moving pass. Oh I knew this would happen sooner or later. Lock steps forward, looking to say something to the guy who looks in charge, an older Elf who is actually unarmed, but he beats Lock to it. ¡°Michael Hayes, you are under arrest for the murder of one Alaline Feaph. I would ask you to come with us without a fight if you will.¡± Whoa Whoa Whoa, murder?! The hells going on! ¡°You sure you got the right person mate?¡± I ask, ¡°I¡¯ve been out of the city the whole day, I¡¯ve got witnesses.¡± Pulling out a notebook from a pocket he flips it open and finds the right page, ¡°According to our notes you have the same ability as Muahaix Aiwatito, any one of your duplicates could have done this, but as the original they would only obey your orders.¡± Ok, if you don¡¯t mind me I¡¯ma start panicking right now, what the fuc¡­ ¡°Sir!¡± Yells Lock, ¡°He has been in the city with me for the last few days, this is not Michael¡¯s character! I demand this be taken up with Adventurer Master Carson Allerchester.¡± ¡°All in good time, Lockness Nessgray, sole heir of the Nessgray family.¡± turning towards me as Locky stiffens, he asks me again. ¡°If you would come with me without issue this would all be a lot easier on us all.¡± At that the other guards place their hands on their swords and pull them out the tiniest bit, yea I get the message lads no need to be so aggro. I look around and can see a lot of people behind us and behind the guard watching, whispering things in all kinds of languages curious at what¡¯s going to happen. I place my hands up and say silently into Voice Chat; If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Koda and Wotjek, stay with me. Lock, go and wake up Master Carson. He may be able to get to the bottom of this.¡± ¡°You can''t be serious¡± replies Lock out loud, looks like everyone else if taking that as a reply to my raised hands. ¡°Hells yes i¡¯m serious, these are City Guard not Institute, someone higher up might be pulling the strings for them to get an OutWolder in custody but these guys seem like good people?¡± I say aloud, that last part directed at them and loud enough for everyone to hear them. The head guard replies, ¡°You will be taken to the Guard Headquarters for investigation, please hold out your hands straight out and do not use any of your Powers.¡± Begrudgingly doing so, I stretch out my hands and a guard to my left moves toward me with what looks like a straight jacket, directing me to place my arms through the arm holes they get secured. Once all wrapped around me over top of my gambeson I notice that I feel a crystal on my right side, right next to where my Well is located near my right Kidney and Appendix. I feel my Powers dim, the mana from the well has slowed and not obeying me at all, System Interface is glitching out like a bad video game and I barely have a connection with Koda and Wotjek with our Voice Chat, the Party of Lock and I as well as that Voice Chat is cut off. Some kind of Anti-Magic or Disruption crystal? Thankfully the Memory Palace is ok, I can enter and leave at any time. I would otherwise applaud the ingenuity of this but right now I am (to use the old Australian saying) shitting bricks. The other guards surround me and guide me away while Lock watches on absolutely dumbfounded before yelling out a panicked ¡°Michael! I¡¯ll get Master Carson!¡± before running through a side street, pushing onlookers out of the way. As I get perp-walked through the city with my head held high all eyes are on me and my ¡°escort¡±, there is a small group of people walking behind me, rumour mongers telling everyone the skinny as it were. As we walk I can see other guards along the streets, some of them look up in surprise while others nod as if it was expected or knew in advance. After not even after 5 minutes there is a commotion up ahead, tabloid and news are trying to get a story. Some even push toward long crystals and are pushed back by the guards surrounding me. ¡°Capitan Lincastle! Is it true that this is the OutWolder accused of murder?¡±, ¡°OutWolder, any comment?¡±, ¡°How did you do it Alien?¡±, ¡°Is it true you are a Muahaix Aiwatito?¡± Dam them, I am really getting pissed off. I automatically frown and open my mouth to respond before Guard Capitan Lincastle elbows me lightly in the ribs, ¡°No talking, it won''t do you any good.¡± ¡°What''s wrong Capitan Lincastle, scared they¡¯ll find out it was the Institute who put you up to this?¡± I reply aloud. ¡°The Institute had nothing to do with this, now silence or i''ll gag you.¡±, ¡°Sure thing¡± I reply whispering a quiet ¡°corrupt bastard¡± under my breath, barely audible even to me. But not inaudible to the media who must have some kind of listening Power, a ton of new questions are asked with fervour. ¡°Capitan Lincastle, is it true the Institute asked for the OutWolders arrest?¡±, ¡°OutWolder, are you actually innocent of these crimes?¡±, ¡°Any comment Alien?¡± ¡°Innocent, you bastards¡± I reply out loud, doing so must have woken the wrath of that Capitan cause he moves quick, quicker than I have seen someone move other than Lock and grabs me by that straight jacket lifting me up onto my toes. Silently, barely audible he says, ¡°Last warning.¡± I nod my head and he puts me down again, god dammit I am not some brave storybook or anime protagonist! I am this close to either pissing myself in fear or wanting to burn this whole town down in rage. I am shaking, I don¡¯t know from what. This kind of thing, false accusations of something major is one of my biggest fears dammit and now here it is. I can barely keep my eyes from watering and just keep them closed, I slowly walk. Koda and Wotjek see what''s happening but I manage to tell them via chat not to do anything. We finally arrive at the Guard Headquarters, guess what. It¡¯s right next door to the Institute building and up the road a short while from the Adventurer Society, dammit this might be bad. Hopefully the Resurgence Team and Oasis Team are still ok, I would hate it if this Anti-Mana jacket is fudging with Shadow Clones but then again they are still active even when I¡¯m asleep... How the hell did they even find me, I evade them all this time and the one time I head into a city I get caught! I know it wasn¡¯t anyone I have checked out with Trust but Verify so how the hell did they do it?! This is Bullshit! Chapter 48 - Institute Interlude II. Taal - Institute Operative - The day after Michael, Master Carson and others went to celebrate. Taal is at his desk in the Institute Building, this OutWolder department has been understaffed for years. What would have been a good place to quietly retire turns out to give me more work to do. These OutWolders, they have Powers that boggle the mind, especially if they already had Powers from their homeworld. After the disaster that was the Adventurer Exam and this ¡°Michael¡± Alien getting away it¡¯s possible he could get away permanently, especially if he is smart and moves to another city or live in the outskirts, where only a handful of Institute operatives patrol. The sheer amount of information that could be gleaned would be astronomical! Thinking back I remember my early days, my fascination with OutWolders, researching the archives, getting assigned for interviewing suspected OutWolders and my getting old, all the way up to yesterday, I remember the face of the Alien who got away, the events of the day playing out, the operatives in play, faces, locations¡­ Wait a minute, did he? Taal pulls a memory crystal from his small desk, activates it and thinks back to that day, that time when Michael was leaving the Society building. There were five Institute Operatives in the area close by, and yes. From my point of view I can see them¡­ My gods, he knew! That Alien is smart, he didn¡¯t realise it but he had looked directly or in the direction of each of the Operatives but one, who was about 40 metres from his position but in plain view down the road. It must be a Power of some kind, is it able to detect if someone is tracking him, but it may be that it has a range of less than 40 metres! Now I wonder what the specifics for that Power is? A smile is growing on my face, something good to tell Sir. I begin planning for Operatives to test this Power when Vonway walks into my office, this guy is just some trainee I need to look after. ¡°What do you want Vonway, I¡¯m kinda busy at the moment.¡± ¡°That''s just it sir, I thought I saw something but¡­ you know when that OutWolder was in that fancy restaurant celebrating?¡± ¡°Yes, so?¡± ¡°Well after the hunt was called off I went to the library for my studies and I could have sworn that it was the same guy in the library. In one of those rooms you can hire.¡± Confused and frowning I reply, ¡°The same? How sure are you?¡± ¡°Very sure sir, it was a crazy resemblance.¡± ¡°Hmm¡±, this could be bad, we might have another Muahaix Aiwatito on our hands, that¡¯s one of our big fears and there is no way that we could contain that if he¡¯s at a high enough rank with that Power, if it even works on our ranking scale. Dam. ¡°Vonway, take a photo of the OutWolder and show it to the librarian there. They should be able to confirm it and give us copies of any details. Also look up what information he¡¯s looking up at the library.¡± ¡°Yes Sir, i''ll get right on it.¡± replies Vonway as he turns to leave. Just before he¡¯s out the door I get an idea, ¡°Vonway, how close did you get?¡± ¡°Sir?¡±, ¡°To the OutWolder, how close?¡± Thinking for a moment he replies ¡°About this distance sir, 3, 4 metres.¡±. Well that¡¯s interesting, ¡°And he didn¡¯t react at all?¡± ¡°No sir, but I will say that at some point he got really angry. Started yelling in the room, throwing note books, talking to himself, could almost hear it even with the soundproofing. The librarian had to come up and scold him.¡± ¡°Interesting, thanks Vonway. You¡¯ve been a big help.¡±, ¡°Why thank you sir¡± he replies all smiles, gods I remember when I was his age¡­ This is interesting, so not only does it have a range limit but it seems to only activate when, what? He¡¯s actively under investigation? Let¡¯s put myself in his shoes I think as I close my eyes. If its a Power it could come from three sources, One: It''s from his planet. Two: A Gifted Power. Three: A Creation Power. I have personally never heard of a Power like this one before but that does not tell me much, but instinct is telling me it¡¯s not Option One. Option Three is also out, we don¡¯t know how long he¡¯s been on Land but I doubt it¡¯s possible to create that many Powers without help, assuming he¡¯s from a world that doesn''t have Powers but that has occurred in the past¡­ This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. It¡¯s got to be a Gifted Power, and it would make some kind of sense I suppose, only Knowledge would know the inner workings of another''s mind and so it stands to reason why Vonway wasn¡¯t flagged by this Power but we were. We were hunting him, Vonway was not. Is that it? A Power to detect if someone is going after or hunting him? gods help us if it was a Rule of Three Question or a Gifted Power Ability, if that''s the case he could have many different Powers, more than what we could consider¡­ Filling a crystal with mana I speak into it ¡°Sir, I have an update on the OutWolder situation, we may have a lead on how to detain him.¡± ¡°Give me all the details¡± replies the disembodied voice. The next day during the evening I get a response from a concerned citizen from the Society, the OutWolder and his friend, a Lockness Nessgray, had taken and completed a mission on clearing the sewers of Coblousceene but where they say they found and disposed of nests are all across the city. Four Coblousceene nests in four different parts of the sewer. I don¡¯t care how fast you are, those sewers are a maze. Maybe a detection Ability or Power? He must be a Muahaix Aiwatito, think about it. Someone who can create duplicates of himself could create teams to find and clear out other nests. Which means he must have some kind of Power or Powers which he can use to defeat an entire nest. And not only that, the amount of Coblousceene reported was less than what was found by the cleanup team who put in their report, but the listing was marked closed and completed. A discrepancy in numbers of reported to recovered is normally investigated but with this guy it was allowed. Which means he must have some Power that disposes or removes the bodies. There are definitely Powers like those. Well maybe, it might be he said he has Powers that can do that as he may have told Master Carson and is just lying on the report. That¡¯s not too uncommon. Also what''s not too uncommon is that Adventurers would take jobs day after day, it''s possible that this pair will do the same. If that''s the case then this could be an opportunity for us. I call in Vonway again via crystal, the confirmation from the Library was invaluable so lets give him some more to do. ¡°Sir, you called for me?¡± he asks as he opens the door to this tiny, cramped office Ugh. ¡°Yes Vonway, I want you to go to the Society, get me a list of all job listings ranked Hasmagne rank and below.¡± ¡°Yes sir, i''ll be right back.¡± I call Sir again as Vonway leaves, ¡°Sir, I have a plan for recon.¡±, ¡°Yes?¡± asks the deep voice. ¡°It is likely that this OutWolder will take on a job tomorrow. I would request that we have members of the institute take jobs ranked Hasmagne rank or below. I am also under the belief that he may be able to detect Operatives who are actively hunting him. As such they must be told to not think about hunting or capturing him.¡± ¡°Interesting, I will call off the men we have following him now.¡± ¡°I would recommend that we keep to a 40 metre radius from him, I believe that is the limit of this Power.¡± ¡°I see, very well. Feel free to use my name to get things done. I will sort out his capture personally with Capitan Lincastle¡±, ¡°Understood¡± I reply surprised and with raised eyebrows. Sir must really want this OutWolder detained to get Lincastle in this, he¡¯s not too bad but is very Institute aligned, in my opinion too aligned. Over the next few hours I reach out to as many of our members as we can, trying to get most of them assigned to jobs. I would go out for jobs as well if not for my job to coordinate this and plan. The next morning I awake from my desk, I slept here to plan as long as I can, but now I am sorted, all the Hasmagne Rank jobs and below have at least one Operative working on them, now I just have to wait and see. I press and fill a crystal with mana and contact downstairs, ¡°Alaline, can you send some breakfast up here please.¡± ¡°Sir! You didn¡¯t go home last night?!¡±, ¡°No, I was up all night with something. Use the Institute day funds, get something for yourself as well, I know you normally skip breakfast.¡± ¡°Oh, thank you Sir, I¡¯ll be right back.¡±, ¡°Thanks Alaline¡±. She¡¯s one of our newer trainees, only joined a few months ago. As I sit and wait for news to come in I hear a buzz from my communication crystal. Pressing it I hear one of our Operatives, ¡°Hello Sir Taal, It is Millerney Creik, Operative 116523. I have located the OutWolder and¡± ¡°You idiot! You are not supposed to think about capturing, detaining or tracking him, think about something else!¡± ¡°Um, yes sir. What do I do now?¡± ¡°Ugh, Millerney just shut up and do your job like I told you. If you run across him, play nice and when you are definitely alone and far away from the OutWolder then you call me. Understand!¡± I yell angrily after sounding oh so calm. These idiots would be the death of me, thankfully he¡¯s using speechless communication. Disconnecting, I stand up and move over to my unopened window covered in curtains, opening them and blinking into the sunlight. I wait for good news from Millerney and hope that that idiot does not stuff it up. As I wait I see most of the city below me, thousands of people who we protect from the madness that is OutWolders. Sometimes we get it wrong but most of the time we get it right, that Detection Pen means we got it right. I wait for a few more minutes before Alaline returns with a small box of grilled fish, a typical breakfast in this area of the world, they love their fish and wood here. ¡°Sir, where is everyone?¡±, ¡°Out on a mission, we found an OutWolder in the city, we¡¯ll be detaining them soon enough. If you¡¯ll excuse me I need to make a call.¡± ¡°Oh wow, um, yes sir.¡± replies Alaline, closing the door after placing the boxed breakfast on the desk. Sitting down and activating the communication crystal again I make one final call. ¡°Sir, I have confirmation. The OutWolder and his friend Lockness Nessgray are currently on a mission and are leaving from the north gate.¡± ¡°Understood Taal, you have done a good job, I will take it from here. Your work these last few days has been greatly appreciated.¡±, ¡°Yes sir, thank you sir, i¡¯ll let you go now.¡±. It¡¯s out of my hands now, finally time to eat and get a proper amount of sleep. Chapter 49 - Interrogation I. The road leading up to the Guard HQ and surrounding it is starting to draw a crowd, lots of people standing around, Trax, Elves, Humans and even a few Intelligent and Greater Beasts that look and are dressed like they are extras in the Narnia movie, fitted leathers and cloths. The Guard HQ is a large building, about the same size as the Adventurer Society building and again covered in a large amount of opal carvings on grey walls lit up by the yellow of the floating lights of the festival that¡¯s on at the moment. Speaking of, I even see some people selling food to the people watching, think this is part of the festival do ya? The doorway is a large metal door with no handle or hinges but does have a hand print image in the middle of the door, as one of the guards splits off of our group and walks toward the door ahead of us he places his hand on the print and the door slides to the left, with what looks like other doors behind the front door also opening in sequence, other doors open and slide right, up and down and are all covered in a large amount of opal carvings in geometric patterns. We are walked into the Guard HQ, the walls are thick, make that thiccc. Easily a metre thick with the width and inside wall also covered in opal carvings. Inside there is a long corridor room, some seats in the middle and a long short wall that must act like a desk on either side with closed doors behind them, no pictures or windows, also devoid of people except for us of course. The lighting is not that friendly festival yellow but a white light, this has been the best place I¡¯ve seen that has replicated the inside of a modern office so far. We walk down toward the end of the corridor and go through another set of palm print multi doors, the room behind them are filled with offices, desks and Guards, there is a staircase of metal next to the door that leads up to a second story, its all open so the middle of the second story is open to the bottom. At the back of the room and past the desks is a large set of red Crystals projecting holograms of the streets, maps, city gates and more. But I don¡¯t get to have a good look as I am led into a side room, the only way to tell it is a room is due to the door set into the grey opal carved walls. A guard opens yet another palm print multi door and I am directed in. The only things in the rectangular room are a small grey metal table with a grey metal chair on the opposite side of the room which after moving around the table I sit in. The guards who entered the room I am in leave, leaving me with only Capitan Lincastle standing opposite me behind the table and with his back to the door. My arms still bound by the anti-magic straight jacket, I look up leaning my head back almost like I¡¯m looking down on him from my seat. ¡°So, you gonna leave me here till the end of time or what?¡± ¡°We will be back, how about you sit here and think about it.¡± Lincastle turns to leave me but I interrupt, loud enough to be heard by whoever''s outside. I hope anyway. ¡°One word mate, Lawyer.¡± Turning back around, Lincastle looks at me in the eye, without blinking and replies in an uncaring voice, ¡°OutWolders are Aliens, you do not get a lawyer.¡± I respond with a raised eyebrow and lean forward, ¡°I am an Adventurer though, won¡¯t that make a difference?¡± His only response is hesitated silence as he turns around and walks back through the doorway, with a buzz of Powered equipment the doors slide back into place in sequence. The only illumination from the single white light from a crystal in the middle of the ceiling above the desk. I lean back a little further before slumping forward, breathing out. Well, this did not go to plan then. Ok, I need to think of a new plan like right damn now so calm down a little will ya. I tell myself as I close my eyes and lean my head back to rest of the back of the chair. So, unless Lock gets delayed or something then Master Carson gets contacted and once I do not return then Resurgence will head to the Society to find me which should lead them to Carson. Bunch of Kage so might be able to get a message inside to me. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Interface is still active and I can access it silently with my mind but it''s still glitchy. Speaking of Powers, is my Protection of Mind and Body still active? I could be spreading a bunch of germs to these people who have no defence against them. And vice versa I suppose. Reaching out with my mind I try to access the window that shows my Powers but when I try to pull it up, a new window appears to only glitch more and more, yeap that''s not working. Looks like I¡¯m stuck with what I had open at the time, Voice Chat with Koda, Wotjek and Lock who got kicked. Maybe because I have a better connection with Kage instead of Lock. As both of them are still in my shadow and my legs can reach under the desk I can have them move into another''s shadow. I send a mental message via Chat to the both of them. ¡°Koda, Wotjek. On my signal head into an interrogators shadow, collect recon on what, if any evidence against me they have and what the general vibe is with our investigators. I refuse to believe that everyone is corrupted by the Institute. Whatever you do tho, try to avoid any high ranked or Powerful people. We haven¡¯t really tested it but there is no way to tell how well your stealth works against either people or Powered items.¡± Silent acknowledgement from both Koda and Wotjek follow, you guys are just not much for talking are you. I really need to read that report from Number 2 about them. I sit there in silence, the only sound in the room is my breathing and the occasional squeak from my boots as I wiggle my feet a little on the floor. I didn¡¯t even realise they did that. I don¡¯t have a way to track time at all, it feels like ages because I only have my mind which is overthinking things at maximum speed. You know the feeling, like it''s late at night and you stay up thinking about things for what feels like all night but in reality only five minutes have passed. As I sit there I shake my head to clear my thoughts a bit. Hi God, me again. Yea uh quick question here mate, how in the¡­ how do I get out of here. Give me some ideas will ya? After that quick break I go back to overthinking my situation, then thinking about similar situations in media, books, movies, TV shows and the like. I know I have good people on the outside, and the vibe I get from Carson is that he¡¯s not one to take something like this lying down¡­ So I need to delay, not give them anything. Agh, but in saying that if I say nothing then I might speed up their plans, nonsense. Let¡¯s give them nonsense. A smile pulls at my cheeks, I¡¯ll give those Institute everything about Earth, yet nothing at the same time. I spend the next 20 minutes (or what feels like 20 minutes) in the memory palace, grabbing things to the forefront of my mind, ready for use. Some Ideas already in place thanks to Number 5 with more ideas starting to form, and I percolate on others. I¡¯ll give you a cup once their ready. The door suddenly starts to open, the buzzing of Powered equipment opens the doors and two people walk through. A tall female elf wearing a guard uniform but without the armour. Long brown hair tied into a braid and an older, shorter, older Trax wearing what has been described to me as an Institute uniform. A grey uniform, nondescript, straight lines and no collar but something like a collar hugs the neck. They stand a bit behind the table for a moment before two chairs rise up from the floor and stop at different heights, as they take their seats they are sitting at the same eye level with each other. The Elf speaks as she places a red quartz crystal on the metal desk and a file in a brown folder on the table, opening it. ¡°OutWolder, Michael Hayes. Crossing detected on the 17th of Triloth in the year 3407, the Array was unable to detect where you had arrived, you were again detected a year and a half later entering through the South gate pretending to be a medical student with a Dr Rath.¡± ¡°You then signed up to the Adventurer Society that same day and then completed your exams the next morning, completing them and travelling in a group with Master Carson to the ¡°Waves of Oghqoa.¡± restaurant of which you had an early lunch. The day after that you were reported to have completed a nest hunt in the sewers which you completed and again earlier today travelled to Basswood Chain for a scouting mission.¡± Pausing she turns to the Trax, placing her elbow on the table and resting her head on her hand. ¡°I hate it when they do that with missions, a ¡°scouting mission¡± is really just a fetch quest. Rates are cheaper and everything.¡± Turning back toward me she looks at me in the eyes, ¡°I have a lot of other information we have here on you. So you should know it is a bad idea to lie to us.¡± She says tapping the crystal with her knuckles. Chapter 50 - A seed of doubt. Ok, ok, typical interrogation tactics, I¡¯m also guessing that the crystal is a Lie Detector like what Lord Head had back on Farmers Rest. I know from Number 1 and 2¡¯s crystal research that crystals work independently of their gods so they can¡¯t read my mind. Therefore it must be reading biological info like an Earth lie detector, which I know how to beat. Thank you late night YouTube recommended. Let¡¯s start things off easy. ¡°And you are?¡± I ask sitting upright with a raised eyebrow. ¡°You¡±, replies the elf ¡°can call me Adoazze, my colleague here is called Taal.¡± Ooh that came out a bit forced. ¡°Hi there, so why don¡¯t we cut to the chase. What do you want to know?¡± Adoazze is a bit surprised there. ¡°Let''s talk about you then, did you know Alaline Feaph?¡± Ado asks. Yea Ado is a bit easier to pronounce. ¡°Nope, who''s that?¡±, ¡°That is no way to respond, after all we have you on Crystal recording so you might as well confess.¡± ¡°Oh really?!¡± I reply in mock surprise, ¡°Well in that case sure.¡± Now that got their attention, both of them blinked that time as I lean forward and rest my restrained arms on the table. Now that I think about it, the metal chair and table may be connected so I don¡¯t need to touch the table for them to read my bio-info if it needs to at all. Let''s stay calm Michael. ¡°Lets see, I am an OutWolder and did arrive at those dates and did those things you mentioned earlier, except about my name and this Fearth? Is that someone I should know about?¡± Ado is about to reply before this Taal fellow butts in. ¡°Your name? Our records have you recorded as Michael Hayes, you''re not going to tell us we got the wrong guy are you.¡± ¡°Oh yea, cause you definitely got the right guy right here. The only OutWolder in the entire city in god knows how long and you grab me.¡± I reply pointedly toward Taal. I then shake my head from side to side as I lean back with a bump, not seeing Taal¡¯s reaction. ¡°Well, you are right with the name, kind of, I have been calling myself as ¡°Michael Hayes¡± as it¡¯s my shortened name. My real name, well it¡¯s hard to say¡± Now that got Taals attention. He¡¯s about to reply before Ado butts into his reply. Not working too well together are we? ¡°How about you just tell us the wearabout of your duplicates, obviously you or they had known Mis Feaph¡± Replies an irritated Ado. ¡°How would I know, they are free to do their own thing. It¡¯s not like they get to keep all their memories either. Do you realise how much of a pain it would be to manage?¡± In a deeper voice I say, ¡°Hey you, I created you to distract that thing, die for me.¡±, ¡°Like come on?¡± ¡°We have you on Crystal¡±, ¡°Ok fine then¡± I say butting in this time, ¡°show me.¡± I dare. Ado didn¡¯t like that, frowning. That pause gives Taal enough time to ask. ¡°What¡¯s your name? Your full, legal name?¡± ¡°Why should I tell you, you two are a pair of Koda and Wojek¡¯s you know.¡± A pause there, they have no clue what those words mean, but they do! Koda and Wojek move into each of their shadows silently and without any outside appearance that they were detected. I breathe a mental sigh of relief. ¡°Um, what are you talking about?¡± asks Ado. ¡°Oh¡± I replied, shaking my head again. ¡°Sorry, Koda and Wojek were the names of two detectives from a show back home, they both worked real well together, fighting the injustice and solving unsolvable cases. But they were a bit dense.¡± Ado looks quite angry at that, she leans forward, elbows on the table, hands in a ball and chin resting on them with the slow grace of a coiled snake. ¡°I think you should take this seriously, someone is dead, you killed them and now you¡¯re telling jokes?¡± This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. I feel my jaw clench, lips form a line and eyebrows frown, all the slight ease from the wait and planning gone. I lean forward again, trying to not scream at them and in a dead calm voice reply. ¡°Do not mistake calm for ease Coblousceene, I¡¯m furious. I¡¯m furious because there is someone dead out there and you have me in here, so either you''re letting someone get away with murder, or, you have killed someone to frame me.¡± I reply, turning to Taal at that accusation. ¡°After all, you did see the body. Did you?¡± I ask Adoazze. A very pregnant pause rings out loudly, who knew silence could be this loud. Standing, Ado makes to leave the room but Taal remains seated, eyes having gone a bit wide and hidden from Ado, but not from me. ¡°Taal?¡± she asks before leaving the room followed quickly by Taal. The chairs that came up earlier stay up, the doors slide close behind Taal. Leaning back once again I close my eyes and rest, the crystal and file left behind. And that is how I sit for a few minutes, I am tempted to have a look at that file but if they are watching, which they might be, it might not look too good if I have a look at their files. It can¡¯t have been more than five minutes before the doors again slide open. It¡¯s Taal, and all by himself now. He takes a seat and places another crystal on the table, ¡°This is a recording Crystal, I have been asked to ask you some questions. I will know if you are lying.¡± ¡°What happened to Ado?¡± I ask keeping myself leaning backward, head resting on the back rest. ¡°She is discussing the case outside. Now, if you will. What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to say. Good thing you brought a recorder, this will take a while.¡± I am a lot calmer now, at least as calm as I can be in this situation. And right now it sounds like a lot of fun to mess with Institute lads and clear my head. ¡°What, some kind of secret?¡±, ¡°No just difficult to pronounce. My people have three names that make up their full names. My first name is:¡± Pausing to take in a deep breath I reply with the kinda well known tongue twister I learnt ages ago. ¡°Jugemu Jugemu Gok¨­-no surikire Kaijarisuigyo-no Suigy¨­matsu Unraimatsu F¨±raimatsu Kuunerutokoro-ni Sumutokoro Yaburak¨­ji-no burak¨­ji Paipopaipo Paipo-no-sh¨±ringan Sh¨±ringan-no G¨±rindai G¨±rindai-no Ponpokop¨©-no Ponpokon¨¡-no Ch¨­ky¨±mei-no Ch¨­suke¡± Emphasis with a slow and deep voice on the Ch¨­suke. Taal looks at me dumbfounded, before shaking his head in bewilderment. ¡°That''s your name?!¡± ¡°First name, I have three. There¡¯s also a song that my cousin wrote for me when I was young to help remember it. And don¡¯t even get me started on where I live!¡± ¡°Why is it so long? Some cultural significance?¡± ¡°Nope, see when I was born my parents couldn¡¯t think of a name so they travelled to this guru, that means ¡°Wise Man¡± to get a name, each one meant something like ¡°Good fortune¡± or something lucky like that. But they just, could, not decide on one. So after the guru got sick of them and tossed them out they decided that they liked all the names and so¡­ yea.¡± Thank God I practised tongue twisters when I was a kid! Weird young Michael interests + Memory Palace, with our Powers combined we spout: A whole load of bullshit! A thought quickly came to me, Agh! I should have just said my name was ¡°It¡¯s hard to say.¡± It would have been funny. Making jokes and outright lying to distract myself from this crappy situation aside, Taal replies. ¡°Alright, alright, second name?¡± ¡°We call it middle name, now middle name is a bit trickier. It is¡­ Uvuvwevwevwe Onyetenvewve Ugwemubwem Ossas.¡± Taal is once again dumbfounded, ¡°Um, ok. Last name?¡±, ¡°Ah! now the last name is easier, it¡¯s the name of my suburb. Now that is all one word and is pronounced¡­ Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.¡± ¡°Ok, what on Land does that mean! That''s just some made up crap, just a bunch of sounds! They don¡¯t even sound like they are from the same language!¡± ¡°Now excuse me Sir! I''ll have you know that my world is made up of many cultures and languages, of course they sound different, they are!¡± I reply in mock offensiveness. ¡°Alright, what does¡­ that, mean?¡±. Quick glance at the memory palace later and sure enough I have the answer, YouTube Comments. ¡°Uh, the translation is a bit difficult but it means something like¡­¡± "The Church of St Mary in the hollow of the white hazel, near the fierce whirlpool and the Church of St Tysilio by the red cave." I would use another word to describe Taal¡¯s apparent confusion aside from bewildered but I don¡¯t happen to have a Thesaurus on me right now and I can¡¯t come up with a word that describes how confused he looks enough. While I am talking out of my¡­ Koda has come back, says Taal stood outside and after talking for a moment with Capitan Lincastle and some other big wigs, walked away as if to get some privacy and stood there silently for a few moments before moving again and getting the recording crystal. He may have been either thinking about something or talking with someone, silent mental comms are not uncommon in fantasy, hell I have one. As I prepare to answer more questions with bull I wonder how the others are going. Chapter 51 - A mild amount of panic. Lockness (Locky) Nessgray - Shortly after Michael Hayes arrest. I watch as Michael holds his arms out and is willingly placed in the Suppression Jacket, the crystal placed over the well will keep Michael from using his Powers, the City Guards and Captain Lincastle surround Michael as he is walked down the road. As they start walking I yell out, panicked. ¡°Michael! I¡¯ll get Master Carson!¡± I turn toward one of the side streets and make my way to the most direct path to the Society, pushing onlookers out of the way, the City Guard normally take any prisoners they have down the main road as it is safer than going through side streets where you can get ambushed. So because of that they will be a bit slower to reach the Guard Headquarters. The crowds around for the street markets block a lot of the roads, there are even some people just watching the market and festivals from their windows. The city has a law that you cannot use any Powers in the city unless they are used in an emergency, on a willing participant or a passive Power or Ability that does not affect anyone, like communications, lights, maps and the like. A pity, if there was no one or not many people around I could use Lightning Travel to get me most of the way there but as the Guard know who I am and the likelihood that Institute are involved I could definitely see them detain me as well. I run as fast as I can, slowing down to dodge either people, stalls or carts filled with items, food, drinks and all manner of stuff for sale, as I run I try to pull up the Interface that Michael has but it is gone, I saw a brief message that I was disconnected but it was acting strange and breaking apart before it disappeared. I run through side streets, fewer people here but some small stalls are around, children selling old toys, sweet drinks and cakes either they or their parents cooked for them. As I break out of one alleyway and along a main road I know I am only a few minutes away from the Society building. As I run toward it I hear my name yelled behind me. ¡°Lock! Locky! Slow down a moment!¡± Slowing and turning around I see three Michaels running toward me, one or two people in the crowd notice the duplicates but are soon back drinking or bartering with the yellow lights still lighting overhead. ¡°Michael¡¯s been arrested by the Guard, he¡¯s been accused of murder and they are taking him there now, I¡¯m¡± ¡°What! Murder!?¡± interrupts a clone with one or two heads turning around upon hearing that. ¡°Yes, I don¡¯t know all the details, it just happened a few minuets ago. I¡¯m going to talk with Master Carson right now.¡± The clones look ready to start running again but before we break into a sprint one clone slows and asks ¡°Wait, would he be at the Guard building yet?¡± ¡°No, should be a few minuets now. Why?¡± Grinning he takes off running down the main road, as we follow and run alongside or behind he says, ¡°I was training our newer Kage from the sewer mission, I can see if I can get them to infil.¡± ¡°Smart!¡± replies another clone, ¡°Go 4, we¡¯ll sort things out from back here. Drop them off and report back, remain unseen if you can, if not, poof.¡± ¡°Rogger Number 1.¡± Soon enough, Number 4 breaks off and heads toward the Guard Building with the rest of the Kage. Despite my feelings of the entire Power being a bit skin crawling it is certainly a handy Power. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. We quickly arrive at the Society building and there run in dodging a few people who are about to leave and run directly to the reception desk, a newer receptionist I have met before watches us run in and instead points his arm toward the Hoist room, or elevator as Michael calls it. ¡°Master Carson is waiting for you, go up now.¡± Turning almost 90 degrees we sprint into the Hoist room and I fill the crystal with mana, it takes a normal amount of time to get up but it feels like an age, we are all out of breath and the clones are leaning forward taking in deep breaths. As the Hoist reaches our floor we run through the carpeted hallway and reach Master Carson''s office, before we even knock his secretary, Hope, opens the door to let us in. ¡°Go all the way in¡± she says as we barely slow down to a jog through her office and through the door to Master Carson¡¯s. As we all enter I see him seated at his desk with a hand firmly placed on a mana crystal. Gripping it hard, his brow scrunched and looking serious before noticing us and directing us to sit. I do and so does Number 1 but the others have to stand, Hope closes both sets of doors behind us and enters Master Carson¡¯s office. Master Carson holds up his other hand gesturing to wait a moment. As we take a breath for a minute before Carson takes his hand off the crystal and looks at us. ¡°I was informed about a minute before the Institute arrested Michael, there was nothing I could do.¡± ¡°Carson, how do we get Michael out of there? Also, shouldn¡¯t we try and get a lawyer or something?¡± asks Number 1. ¡°I have already begun talks with some contacts I have in the Guard and the local governance. If there is something that can be done it will be, as for this murder I lack a lot of details. And I have already contacted one of our lawyers¡­¡± Another of the clones speaks up, ¡°Sir, knowing Michael, as ironic as that sounds, he would delay. He knows that at the very least you and Lock would try to get him out. And if there are Institute there then he¡¯ll feed them dummy information.¡± ¡°What kind of information?¡± I ask? ¡°Number 5 and Michael had a discussion before we left for Oghqoa about some things, tongue twisters, fictions, stuff like that. We hope small things like that would be enough to keep them occupied.¡± ¡°Also Sir.¡± I add, ¡°Michael took with him both Koda and Wojek, I don¡¯t know what effect the Suppression Jacket would have but it definitely interfered with that Interface Power he has.¡± The clones then all utter sounds of ¡°Uh-Huh¡± with Number 1 saying ¡°Yea¡­ That makes sense.¡± He turns to Master Carson and says, ¡°I suppose at the moment this Suppression Jacket was put on then the Interface was cut off, it barely works for us right now. We figured something had happened and came running which we then ran into Lock.¡± Master Carson nods his head before asking, ¡°How many duplicates are there right now?¡± ¡°Five of us, Number 4 has taken some newer Kage to the Guard building to see if they can get in and infiltrate, but he will be cautious. Number 5 took another small job for the sewers, he¡¯s been underground most of the day but with Interface out he should be on his way here.¡± ¡°Yes, he took on a job that came in midday to determine and chart the wear and tear of some of the more distant parts of the sewer system, I signed him off myself actually¡­¡± ¡°Speaking off, yesterday we did have an abnormally large number of people take jobs, every single Hasmange ranked job has at least one person on it. I wonder if that was the Institute?¡± ¡°Makes sense, if they get at least one person on each job then the Basswood Chain job that Michael and Lock took would have had at least someone there. But how did they get past the Map Mode?¡± asks Number 1 ¡°Ill look into it¡± replies another clone before Master Carson takes over. ¡°No matter how they did it, Michael¡¯s safety is paramount. As unfortunate as it is for his capture we must tread lightly, we do not want to accidentally reveal ourselves or any plans we may have. Number 4 and the Kage is a risky move however the information that we might gain would be of great use.¡± He turns to me and asks, ¡°Lock, do you know the name of the person Michael is suspected of killing?¡± ¡°Um, uh.¡± Sogh!, in my rush to get here I forgot who this victim was. I am about to say that I cannot remember before a clone behind me passes a memory crystal which I take. The crystal has an image projection ability so I replay the events of Michaels arrest from my view point. Once the name is said by Capitan Lincastle, Master Carson presses on the same communication crystal as before and as it glows a little he begins to silently speak to someone again. Like the rest of the clones and Hope I stare at Master Carson, waiting to hear an update. Chapter 52 - Kage Team - Koda and Wojtek - Guard Headquarters Recon. Koda. We watch as Friend Michael gets walked down road, we are silent and on lookout. We stay deep in the shadows, the lights from above leaving only small amount to hide in. The Voice which we use to talk is buzzy, it no more work like normal and so is hard to walk but can talk with Brother Wojek. Friend Michael¡¯s shadow is light, not as deep as it can be because of light, as we live in shadow Michael¡¯s shadow becomes deeper with us in it but no one notices. After time we reach a big tall building, doors open with press of hand and then walk through. As we walk through it becomes harder to move. The entryway feels like trying to keep us out but we push slightly and pressure lessen. We walk into large room and into smaller room, the pressure we felt entering is still there. It feel like trying to swim, harder to move. Michael sit at desk and places feet under table, table has shadow and so stay near feet and table. We listen as he talks through Voice, it is buzzy, we don¡¯t understand fully. ¡°Koda, Wo¡­ On my signal ¡­ into an interrogators shadow, ¡­ recon on what ¡­ evidence against me ¡­ general vibe is ... I refuse to believe that everyone ¡­ Institute. Whatever you do tho, ¡­ igh ranked or Powerful people. ¡­ ested it but there is no ¡­ stealth works against either people or Powered items.¡± Voice is not complete, sounds buzzy, crackle, unable to hear all words correctly but we send acknowledgment. We will be ready to move into shadow. Soon people come in and talk with Michael, can feel him become anxious, angry, like how I felt time ago when we first meet. We listen out for our queue and after a few moments it comes. Michael says, ¡°Why should I tell you, you two are a pair of Koda and Wojek¡¯s you know.¡± to the confusion of the two interviewers. We move into their shadows, the pressure makes it hard to move into shadow but we do so. It is strange. The shadows we are in have a heavy pressure, heavier than the outside. Need to concentrate to stay inside but just manage. When Brother and I travelled along through the city we passed through many peoples'' shadows and none of them had a heavy pressure like this except for one person who we avoided. We felt that pressure from far away but other peoples did not. We stay in small room for a short time before both interviewers leave room and we re-enter the big room in the middle of building. I stay in person named Taal¡¯s shadow while Brother Wojek stays in person named Adoazze¡¯s shadow. Taal and Adoazze leave room and on the wall looking next to door is a hologram as Michael calls it, that shows Michael sitting in room, it was not there before. Several other holograms are showing Michael and room from different angels. No angels showing under table so Brother and I infiltrate without detection so far. The man named Capitan Lincastle is in front of holograms and turns to Taal and Adoazze. He says, ¡°Is he going to give us anything?¡± Adoazze replies, ¡°Sir he is right, I do not have enough information to fight him with. I would like permission to look over the recording and view the body.¡± If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Capitan is quiet for a moment before saying, ¡°All in good time, for now Master Falldwell Naaf would like to talk to you in his office.¡± ¡°Of course¡± she replies before moving away, taking Wojek with her. Taal then begins to speak. ¡°Sir, if I may I would like permission to begin asking the OutWolder information about his world as is standard Institute protocol.¡± ¡°Oh course, Operative Taal. You may at your pleasure.¡± ¡°Thank you¡±, replies Taal lowering his head a little before leaving to stand in the middle of the big room and stood still for a moment. A few moments pass before he moves again back into room with Michael. I report on what has happened so far. Wojek After Adoazze talks with Capitan Lincastle we move away from Brother and up metal stairs to second floor. Walking a short time we stand in front of door before Adoazze knocks. A light appears above door and Adoazze opens and walks through doorway. Standing behind desk is a tall Greater Beast, he stands on two hoofed legs and covered in brown coloured fur like his eyes and two large horns twisting next to his head, both of them looks cut, maybe horns too long? Too near head? He waves his hand to motion closing the door and Adoazze does so. Adoazze speaks, frustrated and annoyed, ¡°Sir, I need more. I can¡¯t do a interrogation without any information aside from Castle¡¯s notion that he killed this Alaline Feaph who I have not even been able to see.¡± The Greater Beast named Master Falldwell or Sir replies, voice gruff and deep but also soft, ¡°I agree, Capitan Lincastle seems to be too quick to the mark today. I suppose you had asked him?¡± ¡°Oh course sir, he said ¡°All in good time.¡± that bastard.¡± ¡°Hmm, what we discuss here does not go beyond this room. Understood.¡± ¡°Yes sir, what''s going on?¡± ¡°I had a call with Master Carson Allerchester just a moment ago, he informs me that there has been Institute running around trying to catch this OutWolder, Michael was it? For the last few days.¡± ¡°That and our Guard Affairs Office mentioned in a private report that Capitan Lincastle has strong ties with the Institute, his quickness is likely due to the Institute. There is a lot of political manoeuvring going on behind the scenes right now. We need to tread lightly.¡± ¡°Sir, what is your position? If this OutWolder really is innocent then we can¡¯t just arrest him. He might very well be right that we are letting someone get away with murder here.¡± ¡°Yes, I saw the recording of the interrogation. I do think his anger is genuine, he even called you a Coblousceene.¡± he replies with a friendly smile and Adoazze responds with an eye roll. Master Falldwell moves over to one wall in the dark windowless room, it turns from a dark wall into a clear one, looking out and into the main room below. ¡°Officially, we need to make sure justice is done. Unofficially, the higher ups are getting manoeuvred into keeping him here or in Institute hands¡­ Personally however, I don¡¯t like being pushed around and our people used. Do whatever you can, Kearmer, if he is indeed innocent he really needs our help.¡± ¡°That being said¡± his voice becoming gruffer, harder, ¡°If he really is a murder, be cautious. OutWolders can be unpredictable.¡± ¡°Yes sir, I''ll do what I can. But knowing my team and with Lincastle in the picture I can see Milrich being a real pain.¡± replies Kearmer Adoazze. Chuckling and losing the hard voice he says, ¡°Yes, he really can be. Dismissed Investigator Adoazze.¡± ¡°Sir!¡±, Adoazze turns around and walks back into the main room, there are some guards coming from the outside. They feel¡­ similar. Adoazze walks to a group of desks and people and talks with them, I regret that I did not pay attention to their sayings. I was too focused on the new guards¡­ After some study, I do not recognise their faces but their shadows. More Kage for recon! But no way to communicate. Need to wait for best time. Know if get back to Michael that new plan can be made. Chapter 53 - Interrogation II. Taal and I are still in the Interrogation room, Taal has only just started with his questions and I with my lies about Earth. After shaking his head in surprise about my last name, which I pronounced alright I¡¯d like to think, Taal asks some more questions. ¡°Alright, now you did say don¡¯t get you started on where you live, but I¡¯ve got to ask. Protocol you understand.¡± ¡°Yes, of course. Now for the city I am from, the name is like my name, long and complex. It is:¡± ¡°Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.¡± ¡°And that means?¡± ¡°Uhh, Some of those won¡¯t really translate well so ill translate what I can, it means:¡± ¡°The city of angels, the great city, the residence of the Emerald Buddha, the impregnable city of the God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous Royal Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukarn.¡± Taal looks at the Lie Detector crystal and taps it a few times before turning back to me. ¡°Um, alright. I hesitate to ask but, country?¡± ¡°Yes, so a bit of backstory, the country started after a traveller started another city on a hill so the name is quite old and strange. At least for me.¡± ¡°Yes of course, please.¡± Taal replies with a sigh, resigned to his fate. ¡°Taumatawhakatangi-hangakoauauotamatea-turipukakapikimaunga-horonukupokaiwhen-uakitanatahu¡± ¡°Which means¡± I say before coughing a few times quickly. ¡°The summit where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, the slider, climber of mountains, the land-swallower who travelled about, played his nose flute to his loved one." Man, young me really liked tongue twisters and am I right? ¡°The Land-Swallower?¡± ¡°Mate, I didn¡¯t really do well in ancient history and languages class, I don¡¯t know what it means.¡± I really don¡¯t, just one piece of info that I never googled, now onto an idea I have cooked up, it might not be a good idea but I need to get a read on this guy. ¡°So, now that I have answered two of your questions, mind if I ask some?¡± ¡°Um, sure. What do you want to know?¡± ¡°Well first off, I know it''s not really a question but I would like something to eat and drink. I only really had a small lunch so I¡¯m downright starving at the moment mate.¡± I ask as friendly as I can. ¡°I¡¯m sure we can accommodate something for your continued cooperation, your other question?¡± Slowly wiping my fake smile off my face I ask, ¡°Yes, um. Did the Institute setup this fake murder or did you?¡± A quiet pause, Taal is tense, Koda tells me that he¡¯s tensed his legs, hard. They definitely did. ¡°You see, that was a rhetorical question.¡± I say leaning forward, arms on the desk. ¡°I know that the Institute set this up cause I know that I would never do something like this, so what I want to know is¡­ Is this Alaline Feaph a real person? A fake who exists on paper only? Or a body that you can¡¯t tie to a murder?¡± ¡°I am afraid I cannot say, I don¡¯t know all the details here. I am just here to collect information about your World.¡± Taal replied diplomatically. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ¡°Yea I¡¯m calling bullshit on that, dick. OutWolders are common but not that common, Oghqoa is not some massive city but something mid size. The possibility that an OutWolder arrives here is low as hell so they are not going to bring in some low rank bucko to do this. Especially in Guard territory. You ought to know what¡¯s going on here.¡± Taal stays silent for a few moments before Koda tells me that his legs have un-tensed. His old voice becomes hard and venomous. ¡°Michael, or whatever your name is. You are right, not about everything but some. Us Institute have protected Land from the madness of OutWolders, do you know how many would be tyrants have Crossed over and tried to just take over whole countries. Some have even succeeded!¡± Taal, the old, almost battle weary man, leans forward in his chair and slowly rises. ¡°Muahaix is estimated to have killed off half a million people by himself, he nearly took over a massive country to the west. People like him, people like you who come here through some tragedy or bad luck end up ripping our world apart in more ways than one.¡± ¡°So before you even get to know me at all you just, assume and frame me for murder?¡± I ask shocked. ¡°You¡¯re an OutWolder!¡± He laughs standing up, ¡°OutWolders are completely unpredictable! One moment they wage war, the next they become some great advisor to the King, like that Droaldoph Ca from a few years ago. He gave some solid advice but he was just some old man from before his Crossing, some no-body who gained a very reputable position just because he¡¯s from another planet.¡± ¡°And don¡¯t even get me started on the ones who limit their protection Powers, yes I know that Creature and Power gave you some kind of Power to limit germ spread but too many have messed with it and caused all sorts of brand new diseases to come and sweep across the world.¡± ¡°One kept turning people to stone for Creatures sake! What kind of person just messes with that Power to keep us all safe and instead risks the health of an entire world!¡± ¡°I get your point Taal.¡± ¡°Oh I don¡¯t think you do!¡± he says, slapping his hands on the metal table. ¡°Oh I get it, The Institute: Fighting for justice, for good, and animals everywhere. Well guess what mate, we have a saying. "the road to hell is paved with good intentions". If you can¡¯t see that at least sometimes, it¡¯s wrong. What do I have to do to prove it to you? Stay stuck in some cell in that Institute City out west, telling you every little thing about Earth until I die of old age?¡± ¡°Hump, you OutWolders are all the same.¡± he says leaning back up, collecting his things and walking to the door. ¡°I will let you calm down a little. I will be back.¡± The door closes and leaves me in silence, Koda stuck with him. ¡°Wow.¡± As the door closes behind him my initial thoughts are of disgust, how could someone be this corrupt and still be in this position! But as I sit there in silence for few I start to put myself in his position, just from Number 2¡¯s small mentions of OutWolders so far over conversation (not Recollection Report) some have been really bad, like kill off everyone and anyone kinda bad. And he¡¯s right, OutWolders do mess with their protection Powers, I mean look at me. I messed with it by training it, lowering almost to zero some times, that and the alcohol allowance I added a while back. With a world history of the native population getting either killed off or is better off from OutWolders I suppose it''s no wonder that some would think of that. Great, so I now not only have to put up with the Institute but I may just need to put up with normal people hating my gut as well. Well, I say that but we already met someone like that, Illiard from Farmers Rest¡­ Time passes, I sit there in my Suppression/Straight Jacket for what is definitely a few hours. Yea that food is not coming any time soon I suppose. I go through the Memory Palace looking at police interrogations and other methods I have seen online, JCS on YouTube and others are a big help, as I sit there I start to feel strange, like a tingling near my Well moving from it up my Mana Network and pathways, across my entire body I feel a heat, pain, dizziness. My hands start to shake in the jacket, my legs jitter and spasm, I cannot control my head at all as I gasp for breath. I can feel my heartbeat, fluttering, heart palpitations, like I have a butterfly in my chest. As my body shakes I fall off the chair sideways, the chair unmoving as I jitter along the floor. My mind is blank, in pain and feeling this strange heat, like I am burning from the inside or have a high fever. My eyes fluttering open and not seeing anything of worth aside from the floor and wall. As I fall, I do not realise that the multi-door has opened with Capitan Lincastle, Taal, Adoazze and some others, one stands nearby and takes charge directing them to let me flail about and to take off the Jacket as she pulls a circular tube from her shirt with a blue crystal in its tip. As it lights I can feel a foreign feeling spread into me, it enters my Well and after a moment I start to feel better. Some minutes pass and I am sitting upright but hunched over, arms by my side resting on the floor and sweating like I had just run two marathons back to back. My throat is parched and raw, was I screaming? Blinking tears from eyes that can barely move and just able to see, I find Adoazze and this doctor? standing in front of me, as I appear awake the blue light from the crystal attached tube fades and I start to feel a little better. Adoazze hands me a glass of water which is stopped before I can take in big gulps, I cannot hear anything more than a tiiiiii so Adoazze mimes sipping from the glass which I do. Ahh, sweet, delicious water, oh sweet nectar of the gods, oh grandest of all beverages! Coughing a bit I take in a deep breath and look up toward the both of them, ¡°Thank you.¡± I croak. So, that was the Shakes huh, great. Chapter 54 - Institute Interlude III. Investigator Kearmer Adoazze - Leaving Master Falldwell Naaf¡¯s Office I leave Master Naaf¡¯s office and walk down the stairs toward my teams group of desks where they should be reviewing our latest case. I had asked them to get started researching Michael Hayes and but with what little information and misinformation around. As I walk some Guards walk through the main security doors. I walk over to my team, Milrich Co is watching me walk up toward them and alerting the others that I have arrived. ¡°So, what is this Michael like?¡± Milrich is an Elf who has always been fervent about justice, sometimes to his detriment as he can sometimes believe that someone is indeed the culprit and so stalls the investigation. But being said, if he is right then he will find them out. No matter what convoluted way they did the deed. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, he¡¯s quite sure of himself but also cautious. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if he detected the tension between me and Taal. Speaking off?¡± ¡°He went back in the Interrogation room right after you left.¡± says Lourhurst Imi, a young but intelligent Trax, she is dressed in casual clothing, short sleeve blue shirt and long pants, hair tied in a long braid down her back. Lourhurst, or as we just call her Imi joined my team a few years ago and has become our best analyst in the Guard. She¡¯s able to track down the minutest of details in the records room here in Headquarters or any other record store. Also able to fight as best as any other Guard member. I look over toward the Interrogation room Michael is stuck in, Capitan Lincastle is watching by himself but is not entering, only viewing Taal¡¯s interrogation of Michael¡¯s world through the holo-projector. He should have someone else watching but from what Master Naaf tells me, I think he might object. ¡°Milrich, I know you might object but for now I want you to investigate this if Michael is actually innocent.¡± ¡°Innocent? He¡¯s in our interrogation room!¡± He whispers, at least he knows to keep his voice down. ¡°We have had it wrong before, just trust me. He¡¯s an OutWolder and Institute has done all sorts of stuff to capture OoutWolders. There is a chance, just a chance that he¡¯s innocent.¡± ¡°Milrich I want you to check out the body that Lincastle says is connected, go look at the scene, murder weapon, all that. Try and see if there is any kinks in the story. Ini I want you to check out the files, is this Alaline Feaph a real person just a name, anything strange you can think to check and link to Institute then find it.¡± ¡°In saying that, he is a murder suspect and an OutWolder so they can be definitely unpredictable. Anything we have so far?¡± Milrich shakes his head, ¡°I was just about to ask Lincastle the details about the murder, location, body number, method. Just got here while you we¡¯re in Naaf¡¯s office.¡± ¡°Just that Michael did enter the city at the dates we thought, I have asked to see his and his party members Society jobs. See what they have been up to and if they could have been in the area at the time. Just waiting on the paperwork to be copied over.¡± Ini points over to a small stack of blank papers covered in a faint grid of opal colour, transmission papers. Short range, documents and papers can be sent to a specific address or person. Guard and Society have a agreement as sometimes in a crisis we need to work together on a more official level than what we are working at now. ¡°I am also getting some messages from the news and tabloids, they want more information about Michael.¡± ¡°Leave it to public relations, they can deal with it. Lets just hope Master Naaf has persuaded the Institute to delay publishing anything. Ini, i''ll join you in the records room in a moment.¡± Capitan Lincastle - Watching Taal¡¯s interrogation of Michael Hayes The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. I watch Taal¡¯s rant, going off at the OutWolder, what a waste of time. He¡¯s never going to answer any of your questions any more Taal. And knowing Master Naaf he is also watching, as I watch over the holo-projector I hear Taal say, ¡°I will let you calm down a little. I will be back.¡± He exists the room and the security door closes behind him as he turns towards me. ¡°I need a moment, I¡¯ll keep an eye on him.¡± I don¡¯t reply and only grunt a response, this entire setup is a massive pain in my ass, that lie detection crystal might as well be an ornament, not lighting up at anything he says. There is no way he should be able to get around it! I turn away from the holo-projector and walk toward the stairs to the second floor, my office is on the opposite side of Master Naaf¡¯s office. As I walk in the security door closes behind me and locks shut, holo-projections appear over my desk showing me the Interrogation room. I sit and lean back in my chair. My office is spartan, aside from my empty desk there is nothing personalised here. Except, in one of the bottom desk draws I keep a small bottle of high proof alcohol and a single shot glass hidden under some old papers. I pour myself a shot of the clear and shoot it down before putting it and the bottle away. That damable Sir from the Institute, I made one mistake and I ended up in his control. Normally it was small things like being told to patrol in one section of the city instead of another but today, no, today was very different. I have to work with that old man Taal, who was weeks away from retirement when he suddenly gets wind of an OutWolder and then I am being asked¡­ all sorts of things. I am corrupt, a horrid scumbag who made one bad mistake and had it held over my head for years. And now this sucker is going to pay for it. I stare at the interrogation room video, for what feels like an eternity trying to keep my mind clear of thoughts before a crystal on my desk suddenly glows. Groaning I lean forward and fill it with mana, the voiceless communication buzzes for a short time before connecting. A secure channel and there is only one person I know who would contact me like this. ¡°Capitan Lincastle.¡± the disembodied voice commands. ¡°Sir, how are you?¡± ¡°Master Carson and Naaf have been communicating a lot recently, I fear that our arrangement may be in jeopardy of failing and you know how I feel about that.¡± ¡°Sir, this was moving too fast, we needed to get all our setup done before detaining the OutWolder, right now we have a flimsy case at best. If Taal did not move so fast then we would have¡­¡± ¡°I do not need you to tell me how to organise my personnel, Capitan.¡± ¡°Y, yes sir.¡± ¡°I am calling as I have heard something, there was an incident earlier today in the far western quarter of the city, involving one of the OutWolders duplicates. I want you to ensure that no patrols are sent toward the western quarter.¡± I know better than to ask questions, but what could a single duplicate do, and why is it even there? ¡°Yes sir, I will make the necessary changes.¡± ¡°See that you do¡± I am about to cut the connection before Sir also adds, ¡°And Lincastle, if this OutWolder is not captured and eventually detained by the Institute then¡­ things will be set into motion.¡± I stay quiet, in silent rage before replying in a steady voice, ¡°Oh course sir.¡± I cut the connection as I sit up straight, I bring my arm up and smash it on the metal desk, leaving a massive dent in it. That bastard! He has no need for me after he gets an OutWolder here, he can get promoted and transferred from this small posting into the major leagues. After all, if the cost of failure is one Guard Capitan then thats worth it. But what will happen with my son? Learning that his father is some corrupt Guardsman, maybe even losing the house. I lean back in my chair a little, dammit. I wish I could undo this, I wish I was never there on that day! As I sit there an alarm rings out. I look up at the holo-projection of the Interrogation room and I see the OutWolder shaking on the floor. I get off my chair and sprint toward the interrogation room, jumping off the second floor railing and onto the main floor without issue, bouncing up I run the few metres toward the room as Adoazze, Dr Roselin and a few other guards run into the room with myself just behind them. Dr Roselin normally has command in medical situations and as she walks forward toward Michael she does so. ¡°Take the Suppression Jacket off of him, he¡¯s having OutWolder Shakes!¡± As we pull them off I see the pain that this Michael is going through, silently I apologise for what I have to do to him, I have to deliver him to Sir, I have to make sure he gets detained. As Dr Roselin uses some medical device to make him well again, all I am thinking is; What am I going to do? Chapter 55 - Resurgence Team - Clone Memory Recollection Report - Number 5’s Sewer Excursion. Number 5 here, the self proclaimed security and espionage guy. Well, not like we¡¯ve done any espionage recently or at all you know. Anyway, yea in the early morning I got up and did some chores, helped clean up Dr Raths place as a thanks for letting us crash but quickly got bored. With the sight of poor Number 2 banging his head on the table at dinner I figure that research may not be the best so I headed down to the Adventurer Society to grab a job, there was not much but I did end up finding a mission back to a familiar place, the sewers. So thats how we find ourselves, in the far western part of the city, deep underground and even under the city walls in some parts. The job is to check the sewers out like a quality job you know, what parts need repair and stuff like that. I only considered this job because their sewers are much better than the ones on Earth and there is always the chance I can grab some more Kage. I walk overland to the far western side of the city and then descend into the depths via a specialised sewer maintenance room and Hoist. When I arrive I have immediate regrets, some pipes must be leaking nearby cause the smell is ugh. The walls feel old, moist from condensation, and cracking apart, the cracks filled with webs. Oh yea, this is going to be my whole day isn¡¯t it. The one good piece I news I have, the nose is awesome and after a few minutes the smell will go away. So that''s how I spent my day, I had a map of the area they wanted me to mark when there is stuff to fix and mate, the entire map was filled in with stuff to fix. Seriously it looks like no one has been in this part of town for decades. After a few hours of trudging through the sewers I fall into a rhythm, I¡¯m practising walking and paying attention to my surroundings while I have a look through the Memory Palace, As I have taken the mantle of ¡°The Security and Espionage Guy¡± so I¡¯ve been having a look at cyphers, codexes and any constructed languages I know, some examples are Klingon (looked at translations from Star Trek), Elvish (Same reason but for Lord of the Rings) and Elian Script (A constructed language that I and a few mates looked at cause we wanted to make our own spoken and written language. It did not get far, looks hella cool tho.) I did get into a few fights, some of those giant rats we came across on that first mission with Lock, either a scout or one who got away. Ended up with one more rat-like Kage who is just sleeping things off in my shadow. I keep walking, on and on and on and¡­ hold on. What''s that sound? It''s not the constant dripping of roof and pipes, the sounds of water moving through pipes, the distant noise from the streets above or even those rats. It sounds like, wood? I crouch down and stealthily walk down the tunnel, closer and closer to the sounds of wood on wood I reach a T section, the tunnel I¡¯m in continuing further down while there is a side tunnel to the left. Strange¡­ This side tunnel is blocked by bars and a curtain, none of the tunnels down here are blocked. Peeking around the corner and pulling away a corner from the rough blanket being used as a curtain I see that along the right side path of this tunnel there are crates and crates of boxes piled up and down the tunnel with two very bulky guys walking down the tunnel away from me. Oh yea, this is giving me bad vibes, moving around so I am next to these stacked crates I pull back the curtain to get behind the closest crate, it looks like a normal wooden crate. Can''t see any security protections or magical things which I was expecting but considering our location¡­ Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. I put back the curtain and lean against the tunnel wall and reach out to the new Kage via Voice Chat. ¡°Oi mate, you awake?¡± ¡°Affirmative. Awakened.¡± Ok. ¡°Mind going into one of those crates behind us? I wanna see what''s in them.¡± ¡°Roger. Query: Do you want me to collect a sample? Over.¡± Uhh, ¡°Confirmed, Over.¡± ¡°Wilco, Out.¡± I watch as the very PROWORD Kage leaves my shadow and moves along the brickwork into the tunnel and into a small gap in the wooden crates. I can slightly hear grunts and heavy footsteps in the distance coming up the side tunnel. I don¡¯t dare take a peek and instead slowly and silently shuffle a bit down the tunnel I am in to be as far away from these guys as possible. I hear another crate stacked with a smack of wood on wood and grunting, they then walk back down the tunnel leaving behind the sound of slightly creaking wood settling from the weight. I wait for a few more moments and hear the two guys come back with yet another crate further down the tunnel before it is silent once again. I sit there in the slight light from the automatic lights, hidden only from the stacked crates and this blanket as I wait, I keep my breathing low and slight, waiting for an update. As I wait I strain my ears to hear something, listening out for either something coming up the tunnel I am in, these guys again or from our newest Kage. I hear something, a slight creaking of wood. Ever so slight it sounds like someone is carefully prying a wooden panel away. I shuffle back toward the intersection and move away the blanket, one of the wooden panels is bulging out. I carefully insert part of my right hand behind the panel and my left against the panel on my side to carefully and silently move the wood away. As I move the panel further and further away the Kage who I definitely need to name pushes out a small vial. There couldn¡¯t be more than 10 millilitres of liquid in there, as he pushes the vial out it starts to tip precariously and then is about to fall. I take my left hand away from the panel and catch the vial just as it starts to fall, moments before landing and cracking apart. But as I had taken my hand away the iron nails made a horrendous creaking sound which those other two may have heard. I quickly place the vial of whatever it is into my Inventory, it takes a ton of mana to place in for something so small. I hear running a moment later, oh yea they definitely heard. Picking up the Kage I carry it in my arms as I start sprinting down the tunnel retracing my steps. I remember on the map there is a more local exit that I can take to get upstairs. As I keep running I hear, ¡°Oi, you stop!¡± I turn around for a moment and see one big burly bearded guy standing in the tunnel I was just in and another guy walking right through the bars and curtain as if it''s not even there, like it''s a hologram or they have some kinda Power that does that. I pick up the pace as the Kage moves back into my shadow, I am way too far away for the Voice Chat to reach the others so I just need to run and run quick, as I sprint down the tunnel dodging pipes and puddles of water I turn back again. Oh come on! These guys are just walking right through the pipes that are in the way, that¡¯s just not fair! I dodge a pipe, ducking under it and then sprinting again, these guys are slower than me but I have to dodge all those pipes which slows me down. As I jump over one pipe I spin around to check their location, still about 10 metres away from us but catching up, and about 10 minutes away from a Hoist back up to the surface. This was just supposed to be a simple mission, how do I get out of this now? Chapter 56 - Resurgence Team - Clone Memory Recollection Report - Number 5’s Sewer Excursion II. Running, ducking, weaving, dodging. That¡¯s all I¡¯m doing as I run from the two burly guys through the twisting tunnels of the sewer system, ducking under pipes leading into the central pipe that runs along the middle of the sewers. Those two burly guys are having no problems catching up, some Power they have allows them to literally walk through stuff¡­ But now that I think about it does it even have a limit? I can¡¯t keep up this pace for long, I did do a bunch of running in my training but damn this is hard, lets see if we can slow them down a little. As I run down the tunnel I see a side tunnel to my left, I jump off of a pipe as I spin around bringing my fists up next to my head like a boxing stance, using Elemental Avatar to bring up a wall to block their view. As the wall comes up I duck into the side tunnel and as I enter use almost the last of my mana to make another wall to cover the entrance, rolling onto the floor. It blocks off all light from either tunnel and I do not see or hear anything from them. I quickly get up and run down the tunnel some more, the lights quickly illuminating ahead of me and going out behind. I quickly pull up the Map Mode, the little blue box starts glitching out on me but I can''t see them, I can''t see where they are. Are they not Institute?. They must be looking around but it will be no time at all till they find my trick, they could have who knows what Powers. Or, they don¡¯t have anything and I¡¯ll get away scott free just this once? I continue to run through the tunnel and soon enough I hear them enraged, ¡°Where the hell are you kid?!¡± ¡°Oh shit¡± I say aloud, running further and further down the tunnel, leaving them behind in the darkness with only the slight light almost 30 metres away from us. Pulling out my map from my pocket I look at it before stopping as I nearly smack my head open on a head hight pipe, where is the Health and Safety?. I can¡¯t read this while dodging pipes and looking at the Map Mode in panicked vain every so often¡­ ¡°Can you grab the map from me and find us a way out of here? Also, we need to give you a nAmE.¡± I say stepping onto a pipe to launch off and breaking through it, falling to the floor with a thud. Grunting tiredly, my foot covered in god knows what and my body really wanting to take a break, I get back up and start jogging, thank gods (where applicable) for this Protection of Body and Mind Power. I could have broken my ankle there. That at least seems to be working unlike my Interface Power¡­ The Kage moves from my shadow onto my shoulder and grabs the map, ¡±Any ideas for a name?¡± I ask getting back into my run. ¡°Roger, Location Found, locating optimal EXFIL, Call Sign request at your discretion, Over.¡± ¡°Understood, for now Call Sign is Scout. We¡¯ll give you a permanent one when we¡¯re out of the woods.¡± ¡°Roger, Hoist located. Turn next right in 10 metres, then turn immediate left.¡± ¡°Right then Left, thank you!¡± Jumping over the middle pipe into the right tunnel and then into the left dodging a veritable blockade of pipes I enter a Hoist room, filling the crystal with 1 mana to activate it the room goes up. As I reach the top I hear some mumbled sounds coming from down below, they caught up. I move to exit the Hoist as it reaches ground level and then using the very last dregs of my mana to move a large lump of stone between the entrance of the Hoist¡¯s doorway and the maintenance room I am in. As the Hoist slowly descends it suddenly stops just after starting as an alarm sounds. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Might be some kind of warning alarm but I¡¯m not sticking around to find out. I take stock as I run out of the maintenance room, no mana, full HP, one Kage, a map, and five metal darts that are not really my style right now. Following the alleyway I exit into out I quickly find the main street and run down it as fast as I can, it''s late out and a festival it looks like is in full swing. I remember Dr Rath mentioning something earlier at breakfast. As I run, tiered and worn out with the map firmly held in my hand, I start heading toward the Adventurer Society building, they need to know about whatever this weird stuff is. As I run I try to pull up any other Interface windows, nothing, only a glitchy Map Mode that slowly updates. No red blimps, I¡¯m getting a bad feeling about this. Why is the Map Mode funking out? If I am getting it there might be two options, either its that vial I picked up or somethings happening to me. And if it¡¯s happening to me then its gotta be happening to the others and maybe Michael-Original so Society is probably better for us right now. I run and run for what feels like ages before finally making it to the Society building before some receptionist sees me and points to the Hoist, some of my mana is back so as I run and enter the Hoist room I am able to operate it again. Slowly running through the Adventurer Society room like this, dishevelled, smelling of poop, foot squelching and panting towards the Hoist is definitely drawing a few eyes. Thank the gods but the Hoist room has a comfy seat, I look longingly at it as we travel up, I am so tempted to sit and rest but I can rest once I reach Master Carson¡¯s room. Once the Hoist arrives I sadly leave the seat behind and jog through the corridor with the last of my energy as I see Hope open the doors and lead me inside. They all stand from their seats and I quickly take Number 1¡¯s from him, he can stand for a bit. Sorry not sorry mate. As I finally rest for a few, I ignore the quickly asked questions from everyone, slowly drifting, falling to sleep before 1 kicks my leg. Jolting awake again I lean forward taking in a deep breath. ¡°Ok, I don¡¯t know what''s going on but the sewer has a serious drug problem¡±. My now captivated audience then listens to my and Scout''s heroic story of Adventure and Daring-do, for about five minutes before Master Carson holds up a hand to stop me. ¡°Do you have this vial on you now and know where these are?¡± ¡°Yeap, Inventory and I also have this map which I can point to. Speaking of, it is bugging out like mad so I can¡¯t get at it, you guys have that?¡± ¡°Yea, long story.¡± says Number 2 as Master Carson grabs the map and looks at it for a moment, a short moment later Proctor Wellingpar enters with Number 4 in tow. They look at me for a moment before Number 1 asks 4, ¡°How¡¯d you go?¡± Shaking his head he replies, ¡°Of the 24 Kage I was training only 4 managed to get in. There was just too many randoms around and I limited them to one Kage per person. I also have no clue if they would get detected if we put a bunch in shadows.¡± Master Carson turns to Wellingpar and explains the situation for a moment before adding, ¡°Outfit yourself for a search and capture mission, I want those people found and evidence taken, if it is what I think it is we need to grab those drugs before they are moved again.¡± ¡°Sir!¡± Wellingpar replies as he leaves the room again, he¡¯d be heading upstairs to his office. ¡°So it is a drug¡± I say, ¡°I was just guessing to be honest.¡± ¡°Yes, from your description I believe it is Shae-Eq, the Ocean Domain booster drug.¡± ¡°Booster? Like Steroids?¡± Number 2 asks. ¡°Don¡¯t know what those are, but that liquid you found is mostly likely from the Ocean Domain and highly concentrated with mana. A few doses spaced apart far enough won¡¯t harm and it was used in times of war as a boost for a soldiers Powers and Abilities but it can seriously damage a person if misused.¡± ¡°Number 5, I would ask you to guide Wellingpar to this location and apprehend the smugglers, do you know what Powers they might have?¡± ¡°Just one that was obvious, they had a Power that allowed them to phase through walls and stuff, ran after me like a Terminator.¡± ¡°Terminator?¡± asks Carson and Lock. ¡°I¡¯ll have to show you some time.¡± I reply before Number 1 jumps in, ¡°I would also ask that Number 4 and the Kage go with them as well, they may be able to help some.¡± ¡°Granted, it appears that this location is not too far from an emergency teleport platform, Wellingpar will take you to it.¡± ¡°Teleport Platform huh? Why aren''t those used all over the city?¡± Asks Number 2. ¡°Cost, the mana cost is too high unless in an emergency. In saying that I don¡¯t like how close they are to it, if they are somehow using it for transportation they could teleport to almost any location in the city,¡± Chapter 57 - Lawyers Finally Here. I am tired man, I¡¯ve been awake all day and night, in quite a stressful situation and now I am getting over the Shakes, I can feel myself almost dozing off as I sit there on the floor. The Dr lady who seemed to ¡°cure¡± this for now is sitting next to me checking my vitals by hand and waving some wand around me. Someone has moved behind me, holding me up so that I don¡¯t fall backwards, leaning gently back. I feel horrid, I¡¯ve never had sea sickness before but food poisoning too many times and it feels like that, queasy, and a general feeling of ugggh, room spinning and tinnitus. As I sit there a middle aged Trax walks in dressed in a black suit and carrying a briefcase, as he sees me he starts yelling at the group and they start talking back trying to either calm him down or explain what just happened. I can¡¯t hear anything from them aside from some mumbling breaking through the tiiiiiiii that I hear as I yawn for a few seconds. My eyelids are getting heavy, like they are tied to bricks. Ugh, sleep. That is my last thought as I fall into slumber, a long and quiet sleep. Waking up I am in a new room, lying on a bed staring up at the smooth stone roof and wall. The bed is in the far left corner and turning to my right I can see the bars of my cell, some clear energy running between each bar. Electricity? I go to sit up, lifting myself up with my hands, I feel something around my waist. It¡¯s a belt tied around my stomach with a large crystal over where my Well is. Arms free I can finally stretch my arms and shaking them to get the pins and needles out. I feel so much better, the effects from the Shakes are all gone now. They did take away my gambeson and needles and have just left me with my pants and undershirt. No cuffs on my hands or legs so that¡¯s something. I have no idea what time it is or any updates. My interface is still bugging out, no new messages on the proverbial answering machine. As I sit up and walk toward the bars I get a new message! Koda is in my shadow and has texted me an update. ¡°Friend Michael, You have been asleep for many hours and you have been moved underground, still in the City Guard building. Scouting of the Guard has revealed that they have doubts that you had murdered. Some new Kage have also made it inside thanks to Number 4, I have tasked them to scout and remain hidden.¡± ¡°We were really worried.¡± Koda was worried for me? I, I don¡¯t know how to feel about that to be honest. As a matter of fact I haven¡¯t even acknowledged that he was calling me Friend Michael. After what I had done with them I had thought that they might not feel happy at the prospect of getting killed and then resurrected into a new body, they did accept but. I am starting to have second thoughts about this Power now. I need to think about this. ¡°Thank you Koda, I really appreciate it¡± I reply aloud, not caring who hears with a sad smile on my face. As I reach the electrified bars I can¡¯t see too far, it looks like a long corridor that stretches up and down this underground tunnel. The lights are all on and a light inset on the wall in front of me is the only light I have at the moment. Guessing it''s like a dim lighting system? If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. I stand there for a moment as I stretch as I hear a sound down the corridor, a multi-door opening and footsteps, multiple people walking down. As they approach I see that Trax in a suit from earlier, the Dr lady and Adoazze. Taal is nowhere to be found thankfully, I could go without seeing that guy for a bit longer. I stand there as they position themselves in front of me, the light fixture in my cell lights up with a bright white light. The bars stop being electrified and the Dr lady walks up to the bars, waving a wand at me for a few seconds before stepping back. ¡°He¡¯ll be ok.¡± She says turning toward the others. Adoazze walks forward, ¡°I suppose you know what that was?¡± ¡°Yeap¡± I reply, ¡°The Shakes, first time so that was an unwelcome surprise. And you two are?¡± ¡°That explains why it was so severe.¡± Says the Dr Lady. ¡°This is Lourhurst Imi, our analyst and medic.¡± Before turning toward the Trax, ¡°This is Eastree Choaene, your Lawyer.¡± ¡°Lawyer huh? Master Carson send you?¡± ¡°He did¡± Eastree replies, his voice is young and full of confidence, just like some big shot lawyer you see in TV series. ¡°Now that your feeling better, we¡¯ll leave you two to talk.¡± Adoazze says as she and Lourhurst walk back down the tunnel. Some of the bars slip into the floor and Eastree walks in with them closing behind him. ¡°So, Mr hot shot lawyer, what''s the plan?¡± ¡°Well first off we need to talk, I can¡¯t be your defence if I don¡¯t know all the details.¡± Shrugging I turn around and sit on my bed saying, ¡°Well by all means, please step right into my office.¡± Joining me on the bed I give him the play by play of the last few days, my arrival into Oghquoa, meeting Lock, becoming an Adventurer, the Missions and stuff. After a few hours of monologue broken by the odd question we reach todays events, with Eastree caught all up he sits there in thought for a few moments before asking, ¡°Ok, Now you¡¯re not going to like this next question but I will really need to know. Did you kill Alaline Feaph?¡± Looking at him for a moment, I sadly shake my head, ¡°Mate, No. How many times do I have to say this?¡± Shrugging he replies, ¡°In my kind of work, it''s better if I know my client is guilty. Then I can focus on getting them out.¡± ¡°Well mate, now you know. Any ideas?¡± ¡°Several, there are a lot of laws and legal presidents around this sort of situation, Loaphax vs The Dominion of Exted is one, Heesh vs Gatbumland is also another one.¡± ¡°Mate, what''s the bloody game plan?¡± I ask frustrated. ¡°I need to have a look at finding out what evidence they have against you and what defences we could use against them. OutWolders are a very grey area in the law.¡± I pause for a few moments, thinking back to some ideas I was running through. ¡°I was thinking, the only way for me to prove that I am not the killer, if there was one to begin with, is to find the real killer.¡± ¡°You want to make a deal with them to let you in on the investigation? There¡¯s no way they¡¯ll go for it!¡± ¡°Think about it, we¡¯re in that grey area right now. I get the feeling that if we bring it up, that I¡¯m willing to do this then they might just let me.¡± Shaking his head he gets off my bead and walks back toward the bars, as they move down he turns back and says. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll see what I can do. At the very least I can see about getting you on some kind of parole.¡± Chapter 58 - Making a deal. Eastree Choaene - Adventurer Society Lawyer - Oghqoa Guard Headquarters. I have just finished talking with my latest client, the OutWolder known as Michael Hayes. Somewhat normal for an OutWolder, I would have thought he was a normal guy if not for the recording I saw of him going through the Shakes. As I move up the Hoist and into the main complex I head toward Master Naff¡¯s office, getting a look from Capitan Adoazze as I pass her team''s desk. I had worked on some minor cases with them and Master Naff in the past but nothing this large and damming in scale. Master Naff is a Just individual, that''s his character, Justice. If this is indeed some scheme from the Institute to get their latest OutWolder specimen then there is no way that Naff would be going along with it, and neither would Adoazze or her team. I hope not anyway. That my secretaries have only been able to confirm that the victim was an actual person shows just how little evidence there is or how much is being covered up. If that¡¯s the case we need to find them. As I cross the complex I look up to Master Naff¡¯s office and opposite it sits Capitan Lincastle¡¯s office. He was the arresting officer and office rumour is that he might be dirty, but the same could be said for the majority of the city servants in any city. If I can word this deal to Master Naff in just the right way to get some of the subtext across then I can¡¯t see Master Naff deny it. But then again, almost all of the conversations that take place in that room are recorded, leaving out a conversation is normally not a fuss but a conversation between an accused Murderer/OutWolders lawyer and the head of the Guard being unrecorded could get messy. I need to make sure that Master Naff understands that if Michael is innocent then he will most likely find corrupt Guards or if he¡¯s guilty they just need to catch him in one lie to confirm it. Let him dig his own grave. Despite asking him if he was guilty it¡¯s only a way to make them feel like I am on their side, so if a bad deal comes along but it¡¯s their best option then I can get them to take it. I walk up the stairs and into Master Naff¡¯s office, an idea for our deal forming as I enter. As I enter, Master Naff looks up from his desk taking a hand off a communication crystal, as I stand and close the door behind me he asks, ¡°Eastree, talked to the OutWolder?¡± ¡°Yes, and I think we both know that this entire situation is nothing more than a bunch of messily made up shit.¡± ¡°Oh? How do you figure?¡± he says, leaning back and gesturing to me to take a seat. As I sit on the small and uncomfortable chair I reply, ¡°Oh come on Falldwell it''s not that difficult, the only thing you may have had on him was the scan from the City Gates showing that he¡¯s possibly an OutWolder, I¡¯ve been having my legal secretaries look around and they can find no real evidence as to why the Guard figured it was him for this murder, and to top it all off there are five Guard buildings throughout the city. Protocol states that if arrested that person would go to the nearest Guard building, not walked past two of them to here.¡± ¡°He is an OutWolder, everything to do with them is a grey area. And we might have evidence that you don¡¯t know about.¡± ¡°Sure, but that won¡¯t matter if the Guard is found to be in the Institute''s pocket.¡± Or if someone is. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Is that a threat?¡± ¡°It¡¯s an insinuation, as soon as I walk out that door I¡¯ll be starting corruption and malicious prosecution charges against the Guard and Institute, and a subpoena to get any of the ¡°evidence¡± you might have.¡± ¡°It¡¯s an OutWolder situation, what makes you think a judge is even going to give you these to begin with?¡± ¡°As you said, it''s a grey area. But, there is a way to get around all this right now.¡± Master Naff thinks of this for a moment before gesturing to me to continue. ¡°Please.¡± ¡°I can tell you¡¯re a reasonable man, and from what I know of you, you favour justice above most things. You want to make sure that whatever body is in the morgue downstairs is tied firmly to the one who killed it.¡± ¡°So, why should I care? Justice can come about in many different ways.¡± ¡°Yes, but what if I told you that Michael want¡¯s to make a deal?¡± ¡°A deal? Why would he want to make a deal if he¡¯s innocent?¡± ¡°Oh gee I don¡¯t know, maybe his fear of getting autopsied by the Institute. After all, if even a handful of people told him about some of the Institute horror stories that have happened in history then that might instil some fear.¡± ¡°Alright, if he¡¯s not guilty of this what does he want?¡± ¡°He figures, and I agree, that if the real murderer is found then this whole thing can get swept under rug.¡± And hopefully any evidence of corruption is quietly dealt with. ¡°And what makes you think he¡¯s not the real murderer? What makes him think that we aren¡¯t already looking for the real murderer either?¡± ¡°He has no way of knowing that, so he suggested this; Allow Michael and the Adventurer Society to join in the investigation.¡± ¡°And add even more of the Society in the mix? It¡¯s already a tense enough situation as it is, tabloids are running all sorts of stories, rumours are spreading. Sogh!, I just got off talking to the Governor''s office asking what is going on. Why should I allow it?¡± ¡°Well, if he¡¯s innocent then you get an ally of a brand new OutWolder and whatever knowledge that comes with, and if guilty then you get to be the one who takes down a rogue OutWolder before he does too much damage. But I¡¯ll tell you what you better think fast cause this deal is going to go quick.¡± Come on Falldwell, I need to play it up a bit here and I hope you understand that! ¡°Deal? This sounds like just more work on my plate?¡± ¡°Work that might just be worth it, come on Falldwell, if he¡¯s guilty then all you need to do is catch him in one lie and you¡¯ll get confirmation. It¡¯s a lot better than waiting gods know how long if this gets to trial, which by the way I will win.¡± And you¡¯ll also get confirmation if anyone is corrupted in the Guard. Master Naff pauses for a few moments in thought, brushing his furry chin with his hands, ¡°Fine, he is able to join. However, on the following conditions.¡± ¡°One, he will have the Suppression Jacket on at all times unless counter-ordered from Capitan Adoazze or myself.¡± ¡°Two, he can only bring two extra people from the Society into this mess and they must sign a Non-Disclosure agreement prior to joining that will ensure any details of this investigation do not make it outside of it.¡± ¡°Three, he will be covered in a disguise Power if for any reason he leaves the building.¡± ¡°Four, He will follow any and all orders given to him by any member of Adoazze¡¯s team or me.¡± ¡°Five, Any breaches of this or tricks and he goes into solitary till trial and then handed over to the Institute.¡± ¡°Understood, I¡¯ll give him the good news. When I return I¡¯d like it in writing, just to make it official.¡± After a nod of reply I stand from the uncomfortable chair and exit the room, walking outside for a moment to communicate with my Office before I talk with Michael again. As I head outside I see Adoazze walk up toward Master Naffs office. Hopefully this all works out and Master Carson didn¡¯t just call in a favour to defend a murderer. Chapter 59 - Drug Bust. Lockness Nessgray - Master Carson¡¯s office - Shortly before Numbers 4, 5 and Wellingpar¡¯s departure. I listen as Number 5 tells his story to Master Carson and then watch on as Wellingpar leaves, preparing to depart. I really want to go with them, I don¡¯t want to just sit around on the sidelines waiting for some news, I want to get out there and help at least a little. Making up my mind I face Master Carson. ¡°Sir, I would like permission to join Number 5 and the others with this mission, I can¡¯t just sit around here waiting.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine with me, Number 5?¡± ¡°No objections, was hoping you¡¯d be willing to join us on this drug bust.¡± replied a smiling Number 5, I give him a nod back and start checking over my gear, I haven¡¯t taken anything off so all my combat gear is ready to go. ¡°Very good¡± replies Master Carson, ¡°As you might expect Wellingpar will be in command. So in total there will be how many?¡± Number 5 replies listing them off with his fingers, ¡°Wellingpar, Lockness, Myself, Number 4 and 20 of the Kage Team, all of them Coblousceene between F and E Rank, in total twenty four.¡± Silent nodding comes from Master Carson as he thinks upon the situation, ¡°I would ask that we collect as much as we can as evidence and capture anyone there.¡± He is interrupted by a crystal embedded in the desk glowing for a moment before he places his hand upon it. After listening for a moment he looks back at us. ¡°Wellingpar is almost ready and will meet you at the Teleport Platform, you leave right now. Hope, direct them please.¡± We start to get up and walk out of the office leaving Numbers 1, 2 and 3 behind. If anything else is needed they should be able to handle it. ¡°Follow me¡± says Hope as we jog back down toward the Hoist and rapidly descend past the main lobby/entrance. Going down a little further we arrive at another long corridor that runs straight ahead for a few metres before ending in a large room area covered in opal carvings and steadily glowing with Mana. As the team and Hope arrive in the room we find Wellingpar standing up to the far wall upon which has several crystals embedded into it. He tosses a communication crystal to Hope before she then backs out of the room. ¡°All here?¡± asks Wellingpar. With a quick head count we nod, Wellingpar quickly reaches into his pockets and hands us all a communication crystal of our own, linking us (Including Hope and Master Carson) together. ¡°Ready?¡± Wellingpar¡¯s question is answered with nods and the drawing of weapons, my Lightning Sword, Michael¡¯s clones draw needles and Wellingpar draws a small short sword. At which Wellingpar presses a crystal and our bodies instantly become energy, it feels like how I do when I feel the pull of the lightning using my Lightning Travel Power. In a moment we arrive in an identical looking room, empty and with no one around. Voicelessly, Wellingpar talks over the communication crystal. ¡°Cover the doorway.¡± he orders and we obey, I walk over with the others to the doorway, miming to them not to go past the open door, past the door is another long hallway and after a few metres another Hoist. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Wellingpar has moved over to the crystals that are on the wall, the controls for the Platform. After a moment he comes alongside us and sees that there is nothing there. ¡°Follow behind me, we are going to split into teams; Lockness is with me, Numbers 4 and 5 are your own team. We¡¯ll split the Kage in half, ten each. Remember, we need answers so our objective is to capture. Understood?¡± ¡°Understood¡± is our only reply as we make our way to the Hoist room, Wellingpar gets us to stand against the wall so that we are not seen from the doorway and slowly fills the Hoists crystal with mana, making it slowly go up. Ah, he¡¯s mimicking the automatic levelling system where it will slowly move to its main floor. Which in our case is the main floor of the sewer system. As we arrive, the Kage move out of cover to take a peek around the door frame. Number 4 tells us there is nothing but boxes in the way. At this we move out again, walking through the sewer tunnel as we duck over and through pipes. Some of these boxes are in impossible locations, wedged between pipes in such a way that the pipes would have had to be added after the boxes. I am silently watching the boxes to see if anything is in them but Number 4 has already sent Kage into the boxes. ¡°I can still communicate with the Kage mostly clearly¡± Says Number 4, ¡°Nothing in these boxes but those drugs, we can grab them later.¡±, ¡°Understood¡± is Wellingpars reply. Hold on, Number 5 did say that the two people from before had a Power that allowed them to move through solid objects. It obviously worked for their clothing so maybe it also worked for anything they carry? Give¡¯s them more places to store the boxes at least. As we move forward the lights turn on and off as we pass, making a dead giveaway, but we silently push forward hoping that we might be able to catch up with them if they do spot us. Unfortunately we don¡¯t have a way to stop the lighting system from going on/off. Nor do we have an easier time walking down this tunnel, with so many crates and so many pipes in the way it¡¯s lucky there is space for us to squeeze through! As the Kage go through more and more of the boxes the situation becomes clear. The amount of vials in one box alone is ridiculous. But all these could power an army! After a few moments of walking an entrance appears to the left, I and Wellingpars side of the tunnel, it is also filled with boxes, floor to ceiling and wall to wall, there is no way to tell how big the room is as it is blocked off by the amount of boxes in the way, we only know it goes deeper thanks to the Kage passing through it. Number 4 speaks through the communication crystal, ¡°I¡¯ve had one of the Kage count up the number of boxes in here, we know that there are about a hundred vials in each box and we just passed the 70 mark. There could be as many as 7000 vials in just the ones we have passed by, there could be another hundred boxes down here for all we know.¡± Wellingpar pauses at this, thinking as he squeezes between pipe and box, ¡°Why have this many? They are all in vial form so it¡¯s likely they are going to be given to people to drink but who, and why here?... We need more information, we can¡¯t make assumptions right now.¡± ¡°Understood¡± we reply, but I know for a fact that it does not keep our minds away from thinking up what might these be used for. After what felt like an hour but was only ten minutes we reached the end of the tunnel, the exit covered in iron bars and a cloth. ¡°This is the spot I think¡± says Number 5, ¡°I was hiding behind that cloth when I found this place.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve come across no other tunnels or rooms aside from the one from earlier and the Kage said it did not have an exit.¡± Says Number 4, ¡°Did they just leave all this here?¡± ¡°It could be that they went through the Teleport¡± I say, ¡°If that¡¯s the case they could be unloading right now and then will come back through again soon to grab more, maybe even with more people.¡± ¡°I agree¡± says Wellingpar, ¡°Master Carson, I request additional resources down here to secure these vials, in the meanwhile we will lay a trap for them.¡± Chapter 60 - Tunnel Fight Part 1. Wellingpar Dernear - The Oghqoa Sewers. We started to prepare ourselves for this trap by walking back down toward the tunnel entrance; it would make sense for them to grab the boxes closest to the Teleport Platform instead of the boxes at the far end of the tunnel. After making my suggestion for reinforcements to Master Carson he responds, ¡°Approved, you will have a contingent of Adventurers there as soon as possible.¡± The message is broadcast to all members of the team, as we walk forward the one named Number 5 asks a question, ¡°Wellingpar, are these things volatile? These are filled with extra mana right?¡± ¡°Yes, however they are water and not pure energy. As such they can be damaged without issue, but be sure to keep collateral to a minimum.¡± ¡°I have been thinking of a combat plan¡± I add, ¡°There are multiple types of Powers that deal with passing through objects. As such there may be several or no options for us. We will need to be cautious and adaptive during the fight, especially as these pipes and boxes are blocking our effectiveness.¡± ¡°Understood, we¡¯ll play it by ear then. Permission to darken the lights a little, if they are already back it will help us be less visible¡± says Number 5. I approved and soon afterwards I see our shadows move, the Kage as he calls them, climb up the wall and onto the roof, covering up the light crystals above us to mask our approach. Dim light is all we have available, the Kage allowing just enough light to make it through their bodies to keep things dark but still allow us to see a little. We are only a few minutes away from the tunnel entrance when we hear the grunting of bodies and the straining of wood. We all manage to hear it but remain out of sight behind boxes and pipes, as we peek around the corners we see the lights on up ahead, two large men dressed in a mix of loose clothing with knives on their belts are moving large boxes and themselves through pipes. The tunnel which was filled with boxes when we arrived is now clear of boxes behind them already. There is no way for us to determine what Power they have exactly and so I signal to approach slowly. The Kage are the front line, swiftly approaching with ease, myself and our other more physical members move slowly. Via the communication stones I ask Number 4. ¡°Have the front line check if they can touch them, and if they have shadows.¡± After a moment, a response. ¡°They cannot touch them, nor do they have shadows¡­ Correction, there appears to be four small ball shaped shadows on the floor.¡± That was what I was afraid of, as the Kage are physical but made of mana that means that physical objects or objects made of mana will go right through them, nor will normal mana based attacks work as well. The lighting crystals produce light using mana, as they do not have shadows light is also passing through them. But how do they see? Their eyes are probably the only physical thing about them right now, but as they can walk through walls and pipes at head height it must be something they can turn on and off. There is only one Power that fits that description, Drio¡¯s Physical Invisibility. A high value Power, very sought after and not easily taught either, it''s only downside is the concentration needed to use it. I share this information with them, including the one Power I have that may be able to hurt them in this state. We make our way forward silently as they walk away from us, muttering between themselves hurried remarks of quickness and complaint, not work repeating. We stop our advance near the next boxes to be taken and sit behind, awaiting their return for the rest. ¡°Number 4, have the Kage fully darken all the lights, we will let our eyes adjust. Our plan will be thus; As they lift up the box I will run forward and attempt to¡­¡± Foot steps again, that was too quick! ¡°Alright, follow my lead. I¡¯ll try and stop their Power temporarily, you attack to keep them down and out.¡± The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. They are not able to respond as the men arrive and pick up a box sitting on top of a pipe, the one I am hiding behind. Perfect. As the other man starts to move around the pipe I spring forward, swinging my short sword towards his head at speed. A moment before my sword hits his head he and I activate our Powers. He activates his Power fully, allowing his eyes to become un-physical. While I activate mine. True Strike. As my sword swings through his head I run through him and spin towards the other slashing downwards as if to cleave in two but not following all the way through. As I finish, the first man screams out in pain. True Strike is a Power to turn a near miss or deflected attack into actual, physical damage onto an opponent, no matter who or what they are. A gift from my family elder for reaching my current rank. The attack however does not hit the head but instead slashes through the body, leaving a massive cut on the first man''s arm and a cut on the second one''s leg. A quirk of the Power. As the first man cries out from pain the strike he becomes physical again, tangible to Lockness¡¯ and the clones attacks. Lockness with weapon ready shoots a Lightning bolt to the first man, shocking him into submission for a moment before falling unconscious. One of the clones then uses their Elemental Avatar Power to move a chunk of stonework toward the second man¡¯s head, knocking him unconscious as well. Good teamwork and target choice! The Kage, which had stayed in place during the fighting then move down and wrap themselves around the men, holding them in place till reinforcements arrive. So long as they are unconscious they will not get back up. But the fight is not over yet! From down the tunnel we see the entrance to the Hoist as it slowly arrives. Two more men standing in it run forward through the tunnel, passing through the pipes. These guys will be harder to handle. The two men are running directly toward me on my right side of the tunnel, one turning his foot physical for a second, jumps onto the large central pipe before crossing over onto the left side of the tunnel, where Lockness and the clones are. I reach down to the man at my feet and pull a small knife from his belt, throwing it and activating True Strike, it just misses him before he grunts in pain from a small cut, blood staining his chest and shirt but still moving through the pipes if only a little slower. I am told of this after the fact however as the man on my side of the tunnel is quick to approach and goes to place his arms through me, I lean back and pull my outstretched arm back just enough so that his fingers just enter my hand. It quickly turns physical and we each take a lot of damage, my hand glowing red. Without Shipton¡¯s Damage Translocator my hand might as well be worthless. His fingers however, appear mangled but are quickly healed with a sickly green glow, as he kicks with his leg toward my chest I run around him jumping on pipes while swinging my sword upwards, as it hits the ceiling it bounces off and I bring it back down again, two True Strikes in a second causes slight bleeding from his leg and arm but only for a few moments. I was too far away. I am dealing with the smallest distances for a near miss. A centimetre would be a small amount of damage compared to a direct hit or one just scraping by. I have now moved around so that my back is to the Hoist. I know that Lockness, the clones and the Kage will watch my back as I watch theirs to see if they need assistance. We are silent and gauge each other, a battle of feints, movements, and gauging the enemy occurs but for a moment as we feel each other out. We clash again and again, in a flurry of blows, I run through my Powers in my mind, trying to find one that might creep out an advantage. I test Force Wall, the only other Power that might have a chance against it but it does nothing as he punches forward easily through the Wall and nearly through my head as I duck out of the way. The Kage are dropping from the roof in a surprise attack as I duck away, trying to at least poke his eyes to break his concentration. But they just slip right through as if through air, there has got to be an option to get around this dammable Power! Otherwise it will just be a war of attrition and while I may have some luck facing one I doubt the others will. These men are high ranked, if not in Powers then in martial skill. I dodge around another kick that just clips me and adds further damage to my Damage Translocator stone, in retaliation I slice back up and down the leg. Adding three more cuts to his body that slowly heal. I need to find some way of winning this! I will not allow my charges to get killed off or captured in their first real fight! I just need to think of a new way, a new strategy! Chapter 61 - Tunnel Fight Part 2. Number 5 - The Oghqoa Sewers. Right after Wellingpar throws the small knife at the man on our side of the tunnel he is upon us, as he brings a knife out from his belt we get ourselves ready to fight, as he rushes forward I punch forward with my fists sending a wave of fire at head hight but it goes right through him and he runs right through me, turning so his fist is the last to pass through. Just before it does it turns solid where my spine would be, obliterating his hand in the process and taking a large chunk out of my HP, as he¡¯s now between myself, Number 4 and Lock, they can¡¯t get a clean shot or risk hitting me with Lightning or another Power, we dodge around, trying not to get touched by him but again and again he lands a punch or kick that turns solid and takes out HP or adds damage to the Damage Translocators. We jump over and around pipes and crates spinning away to try and get away from him, when we do have clean shots it just passes right through him. Even from blind spots he sees it coming, it''s like he has eyes in the back of his head. The Kage surround us either on the walls or roof making quick attacks to try and take out an eye or keep an eye on the shadows to see if his eyes or another part of his body takes physical form again. On and on we go for what feels like minutes, dodge a kick and he spins using his momentum to move into another direction towards Lock. Miss a punch to his head and his shoulder rematerialises, taking out his shoulder and some of out HP with it. We can¡¯t keep this up, we will attrition quickly at this rate. I then get notified by one of the Kage, Wellingpar is landing hits on the guy he is fighting through some kind of Power of his. Which means if he can finish him off we might stand a chance. But it looks like he¡¯s in the same predicament. These guys are mad, Power after Power we chuck at them but still nothing, they don¡¯t even flinch at nearly loosing an eye or damaging their hands or feet which I can somewhat understand if you have a Power healing you each time you take damage. I back off for a moment to catch my breath, Number 4 and Lock are keeping him busy. Through the communication crystals I let them know that I¡¯m going to see if I can come up with a plan and will swap out Lock in a few. I get no responses back other than the gunting of trying to move past the mass of pipes and crates¡­ Crates which are filled with a mana booster drug which can cause sickness or poisoning in the right amounts. I quickly run forward and take over from Lock, as I do so I send a short message to the Kage, telling them to grab vials from the crates and be prepared to throw them on my signal. I also send a message to Number 4 and Lock that I have a plan and to get as far away from this guy on my signal. Grunts and out of breath breathing are all the response I get as Lock and 4 keep up their attacks with renewed vigour, we are moving further and further back down the tunnel and away from Wellingpar¡¯s fight just incase. After more dodging and close calls saved only by HP and Translocators the Kage come back, vials in shadowy, ethereal claws hiding in the dark corners of the pipes, roof and crates, Our adversary has taken station on top of the main pipe that runs down the tunnel with Lock, Number 4 and I fighting in a circle around him, keeping him stationary as we launch as much material towards his face and any other part we think is becoming physical. Fire, Lightning, Stone, Waste Water, even Air to try and knock him off balance to no avail. With the Kage ready I coordinate with Number 4 and Lock. When Lock is just behind him he pulls back as 4 and I cover the area in fire, fire from our fists cover his entire body and air spins the fire into a mini twister, spinning around him. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. At that moment, when he has no visibility, no physicality and no idea whats going on I instruct the Kage to loose their barrage. The fire immediately dies down as dozens of vials are launched toward the man. I don¡¯t know why, or how but as the vials land either at his feet or on his body the liquid in them react immediately, even within the vials that were about to pass right through him, the contents of dozens of vials immediately are absorbed into his body causing the Power to flicker him in and out of physicality. 30, 40, 50 vials are shot at him, we can feel his mana increasing and increasing, whatever mana is not immediately absorbed or misses him lands in its liquid form, we can feel it, almost like a thickness to the very air it takes up. He starts to scream a silent scream, as he faces down the tunnel and launches Power after Power down it in an attempt to get rid of the excess mana in his system. Fire, Blinding Light and even creating papers and books out of thin air but nothing is stopping the mana in him, his skin starts to glow a green red mix, green from the healing Power no doubt but the red I don¡¯t know. Soon that dies down as more and more of the mana in his body is ejected, I have long ago told the Kage to stop and Wellingpar also seems to have finished with his fight, watching on as the man empties his entire mana pool out in panic. We watch on in horror, I didn''t mean to do this, I had thought the increase in mana would disrupt his Power and allow us to get some hits in, not cause¡­ this. Slowly his Powers die down and he faints, falling on the main pipe and sliding down landing with his face looking in my direction in wide eye¡¯d, silent pleading. Even without a Power to check it I know his mana is dangerously low for someone who needs the mana to survive like we need the air to breath. We take a moment to catch a breath as we had held our breath watching this play out. Now that each guy is out for the count I direct Number 4 to start checking them out with the first aid knowledge we know, Lightning and stuff is not really healthy for people you know. I shake my head a little, jokes are not right for right now. Lock is out for the count, sitting against the tunnel wall recovering his mana, I still stand to take stock of the situation for a time but slowly sink down to the floor. Looking behind me at the vast amount of high density mana vials behind us I get a strange feeling, what would happen if we just leave these here? Most likely confiscation, destruction or kept in some storage room for who knows how long. If these guys don¡¯t give us any answers then all this will be for nothing, and we don¡¯t even know if this will be enough leverage to get Ol Original out of lockup. At the very least, if we take some of these, a crate or two then we can at least run some experiments. Maybe even find a way to use these for our benefit, to just leave them here would be a horrid waste. I look on at the man we had fought and realise that he has taught us a valuable lesson on how to handle these drugs. Discreetly I message the Kage through the Voice Chat despite it still acting funky, ¡°I want every member of the Kage Team to secretly collect vials from the crates in the tunnels and hide them in some manner. I want as much as we can carry.¡± I almost feel a hesitation from the Kage for a moment before they silently move away from us, Number 4 sees them move and looks at me, before looking away as I shake my head. I will explain my actions to him later, right now we need to get these guys in restraints. After Number 4 checks them all out and they appear to be somewhat stable, Wellingpar uses two of his Powers on these people. Some kind of healing Power which glows their skin a rich green colour and his Luminous Shackles Power that he had used in his exam fight with Lock, holding them in place. As the reinforcements finally arrive some time later I feel the Kage return, sliding into my shadow. I receive a message from one of the unnamed Kage, letting me know that they had recovered 100s of vials of the booster drug and have hidden it within themselves. I will need Number 2 to explain or figure out all the different abilities that the Kage have, it seems there is more to them than our System Interface Power can see. As the Adventuring Teams who reinforce us take over the scene, Lock, Wellingpar and I¡¯s walk back toward the Teleport Platform silently, spent from the fighting we had just gone through, fighting against people is definitely not what I had thought. There is no witty banter, no after fight quips, just silence and tiredness, an obsession to sleep well into the afternoon and considering it is late at night that is a definite possibility. Chapter 62 - Leverage. I have been sitting in this damn room, for 10 hours! I haven¡¯t slept, I haven¡¯t eaten, I am bored out of my mind and on top of all that I am tired as hell. I have sat here, counting the seconds! Wotjck left me to shadow Eastree, my Lawyer. I am sitting there counting the seconds and waiting for inspiration to bludgeon me with a baseball bat with some idea on how to get out of here. I get some ideas but nothing I can do until I get out of here, ¡°Any moment now¡­¡± I say aloud. Just afterwards I hear a door open up the corridor and footsteps walking down, I get up from my bead and look about as presentable as someone in my position can. (Not) A guard walks up to my cell and opens it, bars moving down into the floor and lights turn fully on, my eyes take a moment to get used to the brightness as this random guard walks up to me and holds onto my shoulders, escorting me out of the cell and down the corridor towards the Hoist. After a short trip we soon exit the Hoist and move into the main room I was in yesterday? I''m not sure right now. May have missed some hours here or there. I am walked toward a group of desks where Dr Roselin and Guards Addoazze and Imi are seated along with two others, two recognisable others. ¡°Lockness Nessgray and Number 1¡± I say as I walk toward them, ¡°Come here often?¡± ¡°Glad to see your OK boss¡±, ¡°Oh haha Michael.¡± says 1 and Lock sarcastically. ¡°Dr, Guardsmen¡± I say directed to the others, I get nods back from Roselin and Imi but an actual response from Adoazze. ¡°Master Naff has agreed to your lawyer''s deal, but there are some conditions.¡± ¡°Shoot, I¡¯m ready and eager to prove my innocence.¡± ¡°You will continue to wear the Suppression Jacket and will have a disguise Power used on you to place you undercover. You get to bring in two members of the Society, Mr Nessgray and your clone volunteered, they had to sign a Non-Disclosure agreement to be here.¡± ¡°And lastly, I will warn you that if you try anything or do anything that I don¡¯t like, you immediately go back into that cell.¡± ¡°Done, why didn¡¯t Eastree come and tell me himself?¡±, ¡°He was, but he was called back to the Society.¡± ¡°I can fill you in boss¡± says 1. I nod my head and say. ¡°Well, let''s get this show on the road then shall we?¡± I start walking slowly for the door and they follow, taking up positions around me for a moment. I can see Imi making a gesture in my direction and suddenly I feel like I have a poncho or raincoat on. Number 1 turns to Imi and gives a thumbs up, I only later find out that I had completely changed to appear as a Guardsmen human with a long beard and hair, very pale white skin and no eyebrows. That was Number 1¡¯s idea and one he will surely pay for. He is also disguised but to look like a local with sharper features, different hair, build, eye colour and more, he spent more time talking with Imi about his disguise then mine! That bastard, he¡¯s definitely my clone all right. As we walk out of the Guard HQ I can see a large amount of people walking the streets but only a few passing glances. I say that but there were also a large amount of people standing outside who looked like reporters holding crystals to get images or a good sound bite. But seeing us with no OutWolder they quiet down a bit. After passing through the throng of reporters and onto the main road we start to get comfortable, people are giving us a wide berth as we walk down the middle left of the street dodging wagons, steeds and people. Number 1 slides up to me and tries to use the Voice Chat ability, it gets stuck for a few minutes but after some nearly visible exertion and concentration he finally makes a connection, at the cost of nearly getting run over. The sound is a bit staticy but we can talk ok. ¡°Yo, we did some testing at the Society and figured out a method to communicate through the Jacket. How¡¯s things?¡± ¡°Meh, fine. You?¡± ¡°5 found a massive drug cache in the sewers, some kind of mana boosting drug. It''s literally sea water from the Sea Domain. Lock, Wellingpar, 4 and 5 went back and caught four goons who were moving the stuff through this City-wide teleport system. We are trying to keep it under wraps right now, thinking we can use it as leverage.¡± ¡°Wow ok, I disappear for a few hours and this happens, dam. What¡¯s the plan?¡± ¡°You remember that TV show dad pirated? Blacklist?¡± ¡°Blacklist. Blacklist! You want me to bargain with them in this situation to get me some amount of freedom?¡± ¡°Yeap, this excursion should hopefully get some proof that it''s not you who did the murder so add it with this and we might sway them a bit.¡± I am about to reply but the connection collapses, 1 looks exhausted from that. He says aloud, ¡°Soz, takes a ton of mana to play Doom in Interface you know?¡± as he gets some weird looks from Imi and Dr Roselin. After a few minutes of walking through side roads and a small alleyway we arrive, a section of the small street covered in a gravel mix is cordoned off with some kind of shielding, not allowing anyone to see or hear through it. Adoazze walks through it in a specific spot which opens a doorway into the area. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. We all walk through and it closes behind us, once inside we can see the front door of a building, a set of stairs leading up to it and the sidewalk. An outline of a body is marked on the ground and small flags are pegged into the sidewalk surrounding it in various areas. The area being covered is about 10 metres in diameter, circular and allowing us to see through the shielding. People are looking as we walk in but quickly look away. Standing on the inside of the shield is another Guardsman, who looks at myself and the gang with disgust and contempt. Great, what did I do to this guy? As we move around the area Imi turns off the disguise Power and we move carefully not to step on anything, the new guy giving Adoazze a look, ¡°We should not have these people here, this is a crime scene.¡± ¡°This is a unique situation Milrich, suck it up.¡± replies Adoazze, guess that saying is common here too. Milrich is an Elf, mid size, yellow hair. Typical Elven lad, he gives me and Number 1 a look, not telling who is original or clone. ¡°The report I have from the records room is here, victim Alaline Feaph, Human, mid twenties, lived alone, works as a receptionist at a shipping company. Parents have ID¡¯d the body already.¡± He starts pointing to some of the flags in the ground. ¡°We found blood splatter here and here, bags of shopping dropped here and here, keys were found in the door. Looks like she was opening it but then got stabbed by a sharp object, fell down the stairs, landed here.¡± Adoazze asks, ¡°Any idea on the weapon, anything missing?¡± giving me a glance. ¡°A long, round object with a sharpened tip, nothing missing from what we can tell.¡± ¡°Do you have a list of everything that was found here, some kind of inventory?¡± I ask. ¡°Yes, I have it right here.¡± Milrich says, patting his papers before Adoazze swings her arm towards me. Obviously upset at this he hands it over and I get to have a look. ¡°Clothes, keys still in door, two paper bags, assorted foods, fruits, packaged fish and tea, handbag, makeup and¡­ Lock what¡¯s that say?¡± I ask pointing to some glyphs I don¡¯t know yet. ¡°Packaged Hair Style Crystal.¡± ¡°Crystals for hair? You guys think of everything¡­ Ok so let''s see here, wallet with some small change¡­ And that''s it?¡± ¡°Yes, questions?¡± sasy Adoazze. ¡°Um yes two, the first one being why not try to enter the house? Keys in the door?¡± ¡°The doorway was only partially unlocked, a full mana signature needed to be added, it wasn¡¯t completed.¡± Number 1 also adds, ¡°Biometrics, each door and key are tied to a specific mana signature.¡± ¡°Yeap got that¡­ Do we have any security footage?¡± I asked pointedly to Adoazze. ¡°I still haven¡¯t seen me doing this supposed crime.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because it was stored away in records, Milrich if you will.¡± He pulls out a holo-crystal and a blue outlined image of the street appears superimposed over the street we are standing in, like we have just stepped into a Holodeck from Star Trek. We watch as Miss Feaph walks into frame, up the stairs and juggles around her bags and reaches into her handbag. The holograph does not give us much to see, it''s like watching an outline of the main features but no detail. It''s the crappy CCTV equivalent of this world. Miss Feaph is human, about 5 ft 6 in and thin. From behind I see the man who is supposedly me walk into frame, same height, same hair, same face. God damn it''s a spitting image of me! He walks up the stairs silently, Miss Feaph not even noticing. From a belt he takes out a needle, the same kind I normally use and stabs right through the back, straight through the spine. Down she falls as the figure looks on, he stops for a moment by her side and, oh god I will not repeat here what happens, he finishes the job and rummages around in her bag before leaving. Soon afterwards bystanders arrive and the image pauses. That, that can¡¯t have been me right! I, we definitely didn¡¯t do that! We had been at home at this hour, not¡­ I squat down, trying to catch my breath and keep last night''s prison slop down. As I have my eyes closed I hear Number 1, ask in a quiet voice. ¡°Can you replay him walking into frame, like, walking into the street.¡± I look up at him but see a shocked face, pale and sick, grimacing at the thought. Adoazze and the others, even Lock are out of my mind right now, my only thoughts are on the man walking into frame. Number 1 says to stop with Milrich pausing the recording. He scrutinises the image from every angle before giving up and walking to the side. ¡°Restart it, from the beginning please.¡± he asks softly. After a moment the recording replays, the Anti-Michael walks into frame, and up the stairs. ¡°Again¡± 1 asks. A quizzical look from Milrich and the others are responded by Number 1. ¡°Again!¡± he says louder this time. The scene replays, he walks in and up the stairs, ¡°Again¡± he says and it is done again. As the image reaches the top of the stairs he says ¡°Stop!¡± We are all quiet for a moment as 1 moves into the position where the Anti-Michael walked in from. He walks, following the path and up the stairs. ¡°Can you replay my steps just now and this recording at the same time?¡± ¡°Um, why?¡± asks Milrich. ¡°Cause I said so just do IT!¡± says Number 1 yelling that last part. Adoazze gives Milrich a nod before he fiddles with the crystal, turning it in his hands and filling it with more mana. ¡°Here¡± he says before starting the recording. Number 1 and Anti-Michael start walking forward but there is something different. The gait and stride are different, Anti-Michaels legs are further apart, longer. The way he moves his arms and more are different as well, as they walk up the stairs the differences continue. ¡°Stop¡±, Adoazze says before addressing Number 1. ¡°That proves nothing, you could have just changed the way you walked.¡± ¡°Maybe, but can I change how much weight I place down on my foot?¡± ¡°What?¡± replies Adoazze before I get what Number 1¡¯s saying. ¡°The footprints!¡± ¡°Yes, while my gait is different it might be faked, but there is no way that they could have faked the depth of my footprints right... Right?¡± Milrich looks at the crystal for a moment before nodding. ¡°The footprints left by each are different, the clones and Hayes¡¯ footprints are identical.¡± Adoazze looks at the footprints, the crystal, Number 1 and myself before reaching into her pocket and grabbing a communication stone. Speaking aloud for our benefit she says. ¡°I want every forensic expert we have to go over each piece of information we have from the recording and examine the footprints and recordings of Michael Hayes we have on record, compared to the record of the murder. I want this confirmed now.¡± Getting off the proverbial phone she turns to me, ¡°Well Mr Hayes, it seems that allowing you to come along may have helped your case after all.¡± Chapter 63 - Blacklist. After hearing Adoazze say that this whole experience may have just helped my case I stand up a little straighter. Seeing this death, recreated right in front of me, it has opened something within. I will find who did this and either someone else arrests them or I¡¯ll¡­ do something unkind. Before I can complete my thoughts, Milrich makes a sound of shock. ¡°What!? You think just because the foot depth is a little different that we¡¯ll just let him go? To me all this sounds like is bad acting, you can definitely fake the depth and stride of your steps. Especially with some of the Powers out there! We should just chuck him back in the cell and do a proper investigation!¡± Adoazze and the other Guardsmen look between Adoazze and Milrich before being interrupted by Number 1, who seems to be keeping himself composed way better than I. ¡°Milrich, who stuck a stick up your ass?¡± says 1 sounding pissy. An angry ¡°What?¡± is Milrich¡¯s only reply as he gets angrier and angrier. ¡°Woah, woah, take it easy mate, the veins in your neck are popping, you risk death via papercut!¡± ¡°Are you threatening a Guardsman!¡± asks a furious Milrich as he starts to walk towards us. I look worried and give Number 1 a WTF face before Adoazze moves over and grabs him by the arm. The atmosphere is tense and chilling as she sends a hard look at Number 1 and I before settling on Imi, ¡°Imi, please escort them back to Headquarters, I need to wrap things up here.¡± Imi practically jumps out of her skin before composing herself and replying, ¡°Ma¡¯am. Alright let''s go.¡± As we all file out of the shielding, Adoazze and Milrich stay behind, the doorway closing before we hear anything but I know Koda or one of the other shadows should be in there so I¡¯ll eventually find out later. The camouflage is re-added and we are all escorted back to the Guard HQ and find ourselves seated at Adoazze¡¯s teams desks in the main area. Once we take a seat I turn and give Number 1 an exhausted look, we had tried to talk through the Suppression Jacket again but no luck so far. ¡°Mate, the hell were you doing?¡± Shaking his head he replies, ¡°Yeah, should not have antagonised the people who we are working with¡­ But we do have a plan so let me work on it.¡± I turn to look at Lock, seated next to me, ¡°You know what the plan is?¡±, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a most interesting idea.¡± I sit there perplexed for a moment, this is definitely not what I was thinking in my cell, maybe some kind of parole or deal or something, not some TV show script. Number 1 turns to Imi and asks, ¡°Miss Imi, I would request a meeting with all of us here with Master Naaf as soon as he is available.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡­¡± says Imi as she looks cautiously at us, ¡°Imi, we are in the centre of Guardsman Headquarters, your main suspect is in a Suppression Jacket and no way to get out of here. If you don¡¯t mind?¡± Imi looks between us and Dr Roselin before walking away up a flight of stairs and through a doorway. We wait for a moment before Imi walks out and heads into another room next door to the one she entered. After a moment she peaks her head outside and waves at us, we get up from our seats with Dr Roselin and walk up the stairs. As we move we can see and feel several eyes on us, Guardsmen watching the four of us walk up the stairs. Entering into the room, it is a large conference room with a large rectangular table and chairs all around. Light crystals hang from the roof and larger crystals are embedded into the carved dark wood of the table, there are some crystals at each seat but all of them are turned off. All of them but the ones at the end of the table. Seated at the end of the table is a tall Greater Beast, he is covered in brown fur like his eyes and two large horns twisting next to his head, both cut short. He¡¯s wearing a loose cloth in an almost roman style with fitted leather greaves. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. He stands and directs us in, speaking in a gruff and heavy voice he says ¡°Hello Michael, about time we should have met.¡± ¡°Guard Master Naaf I presume? Good morning, or is it afternoon?¡± I ask. ¡°About midday, what can we help you with?¡± he says, directing us to sit. I nod to Number 1 and he leans forward. It¡¯s his show, I''ll let him run it. ¡°Master Carson, I am not one for small talk so I''ll just come right out and say it. We have a list, a list of criminals which are a part of a criminal empire that has been growing right under your nose for who knows how long.¡± ¡°A list?¡± ¡°Yes, let''s call it the Blacklist as we seem to be in quite a similar situation. Here¡¯s the deal, we give you our information and you let us have a more equal, working relationship.¡± ¡°Interesting, and how do I know that this information is correct?¡± ¡°You can call Master Carson right now, and if you don¡¯t believe him well, I¡¯m sure you have other ways of confirming it.¡± He pauses to think about it a moment before asking, ¡°What kind of ¡°relationship¡± are you looking for?¡± Number 1 grins softly before replying, ¡°Oh nothing so fancy, it''s quite simple really. We, and by we I mean Original Michael here and us clones didn¡¯t do this killing. We want to find out who and help you catch them, so in return we hand over the information we have on this criminal empire and we can help each other.¡± ¡°What makes you think I can¡¯t get this information from somewhere else?¡± ¡°Oh you might, it¡¯s a definite possibility but consider this. There is more out there. Historically OutWolders end up in the thick of things, making drastic changes to the lay of the land. It''s been what? Three, four days in this city and I find a bunch of people who are corrupt and a criminal empire that you definitely didn¡¯t know about or are complicit in!¡± Naaf frowns at that comment, I hope he knows what he¡¯s doing. ¡°Working with the Institute, well you caught me, a whale. But if you want the leviathans on my list then we need to work out a deal.¡± Leaning back, Master Naaf pauses for a moment, eyes darting between the five of us seated at the table. ¡°I¡¯m listening, what are the specifics of this deal?¡± ¡°Simple, The Guard works with the Adventurer Society to solve both of these cases. All information shared between us. ¡± ¡°Michael, original Michael goes on a parole and assists with the investigations, unencumbered by these quite impressive Suppression Jackets I might add.¡± ¡°Both investigations are coordinated with yourself and Master Carson, we keep the Institute out and keep them guessing as they are a prime subject.¡± ¡°And lastly, most importantly, I work only with and am protected by Adoazze and her team.¡± Holy shit Number 1 what was that! You''re kidding, there¡¯s no way he¡¯ll go for that! ¡°An interesting proposal, I actually was talking with Adoazze recently. She¡¯s on her way, matter of fact she¡¯s been listening in. She says you came up with a good idea, details that were skipped over in the initial investigation.¡± ¡°She¡¯s almost willing, as am I, but. I want to know just one thing¡­ why should we just trust you?¡± He turns his head and directs that question to me instead of Number 1. I give Number 1 a glance for a moment before trying to come up with a good response, ¡°Right now I haven¡¯t really proven myself much, I could be lying, I could be a horrid evil man. But if I am telling the truth then can you really, really afford to just let this go on? When the next time an OutWolder arrives in the city, how are they going to be welcomed?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not really giving me much to go on.¡± ¡°True, so I would recommend talking with Master Carson. Maybe if you see what we have with your own eyes you might change your mind. But unless there is anything else I think we are done here, don¡¯t want to take up too much of your time.¡± I moan internally, hopefully that comes across as polite and not overly sarcastic He scratches an arm for a moment before waving us out, we all stand and begin to walk out before he asks ¡°Mister Nessgray, what do you think of Michael?¡± Taken aback, Lock replies after a moment half standing and sitting, ¡±Um, well. Yes, I don¡¯t think he did it. And the criminal empire we found is definitely real. I helped capture some of them myself.¡± Master Naaf stares at Lock for a moment before standing up and exiting the room through a side door leaving us behind. We also decide to leave and walk back down to our desks and chairs. The balls in his court now. Chapter 64 - Meeting of the Masters. Master Falldwell Naaf - Shortly after his meeting with Michael Hayes As I walk through the streets toward the meeting place my mind is filled with thoughts, some larger conspiracy is moving through the shadows. I have seen small things that have come to light, little things that don¡¯t add up or may even be unrelated to each other, but if that clone is telling the truth then this may be the part that connects them together. My discussion with Master Carson right after my conversation with them was short and cryptic. ¡°We should discuss this in person, the usual place?¡± The usual place is Miss Celies, a restaurant which doubles as a meeting place for business, adventurers, guards, institute and more. The tall five story building has a large signage blinking with lights and outdoor dining areas. I head inside and make my way to reception. I find Cheryl, an older elf with a few grey hairs but I have known in my past times here that she is quite resourceful and friendly, like in a grandmotherly way. ¡°Ah Naaf, welcome, welcome. Here to meet with Carson?¡± ¡°Yes, thank you. The usual?¡± ¡°Oh yes, please go up and I''ll be there in a moment hon.¡± I smile back at the old woman and head to the Hoist, after reaching the top level I make my way past the ornately carved walls and roof and to a sliding door. Opening it I find Carson sitting on one side of a long table, normally kept for meetings and lit by a large window looking out over the city. Carson sees me and lifts his glass in a wave. Stepping inside and closing the door behind me he asks. ¡°Naaf, how are you doing?¡± ¡°Well thank you, Cheryl will be up in a moment.¡± I take my seat opposite him, sitting down on the cushioned seats. Carson takes a sip from his drink and I take him in, his eyes are starting to go baggy like he has been up all night and seems tired, although he is doing his best to not appear so, sitting upright and looking attentive. We wait a moment in silence before a knock comes from the door and Cheryl enters, we all know not to start business before we are ready. ¡°Alright boys, what will you like?¡± ¡°Some small nibbles please.¡± says Carson, ¡°I¡¯ll have a glass of water please¡± I add. Carson gives me a look and insead says into his glass, ¡°Make it a beer. You¡¯ll need it.¡±. I nod to Cheryl who writes it down on a small notepad before stepping out, closing the door behind her. ¡°That bad?¡± I ask Carson. ¡°Remember all those years ago, with that rogue adventurer when we were first starting out?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Worse.¡± I frown at that, that''s bad, very bad. That rogue caused a city wide man-hunt and lockdown for a week. To think this could be worse than that is¡­ ¡°You''re right, I will need it.¡± We stay in silence for a few minutes before Cheryl comes back with our food and drinks, along with a small pitcher of beer. ¡°Just let me know if you need anything alright?¡± she says before leaving. Carson reaches over to a set of crystals in the table and activates the anti-surveillance crystals built behind the wall and cleverly into the glass. I refill his glass before picking up my own, this is going to be a long rest of my day. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°So, how do we start this?¡± I ask Carson. ¡°I¡¯ll go first, unbelievably it is the more pressing matter right now.¡± Carson then proceeds to tell me Michael¡¯s deeds since he entered Oghqoa only a few days ago. Avoiding Institute members, Jobs taken from the society, the find that his clone called Number 4 found and, the fight that resulted from it. ¡°The Teleport System? How by the Tides did they get access to it, it''s locked down for a reason. It can only be used by a small group of people so our list of possibilities are low¡­ But¡± Carson puts down his glass. ¡°That¡¯s right, the only people who should have access are Adventurers and Guardsmen.¡± ¡°Wait, even if someone found a way to use it, the logs and mana expenditure should have been logged. We almost never use it.¡± ¡°I thought of that, here are the usage and mana reports for the last month.¡± says Carson pulling out a sheaf of papers out of thin air from a storage Power, graphs of usages, scheduled safety checks and more are logged but nothing stands out. All are low or are logged within accepted amounts for testing, nothing is out of the ordinary. I finish scanning over the documents before looking at Carson. ¡°I thought that it might have been during scheduled testing and maintenance but those are well within limits. These have been scrubbed.¡± ¡°Yes, I got these from our logs but I¡¯d suggest checking your own when you go back¡± ¡°You, you think someone in both our organisations may have changed the logs?¡± ¡°Maybe, there are too many unknowns for us right now. What do you think?¡± ¡°Well,¡± I say, tiredly rubbing my hands on my head and horns, ¡°We definitely work together on this, and with trusted teams. Michael¡¯s proposal is smart, especially for this situation. Did you suggest it?¡± ¡°I thought about it, but his clone beat me to it.¡± ¡°His clone?! So his duplicate Power is very different to Muahaix Aiwatito.¡± ¡°They are smarter than Muahaix¡¯s, and also retain their memories.¡± ¡°That''s! Preposterous, crazy!¡± I say taken aback, duplicate Powers are always theorised to never have the clones retain memories, or even stay at the same level of intelligence due to personality drift. ¡°A little, but they are his Powers. I won¡¯t tell you what other Powers he has, but his clone gave me permission to tell you this about his Power. He said he wants an ¡°Ace up his sleeve¡± whatever that means.¡± Shaking my head in disbelief I think about our plan. ¡°How sure are you that the Institute has a hand in Michael¡¯s arrest. I¡¯ll admit I was a bit surprised when he walked into Headquarters.¡± ¡°I see no reasons as to why they wouldn¡¯t, just because it has been a long time since there was an OutWolder in public view doesn''t mean there are not OutWolders appearing each year.¡± ¡°True, even if it''s a random arrival between the three domains there should be several known OutWolders in more local history. It would also be a great step up for whoever gets Michael to the Institute City.¡± It only takes me a moment before following that line of logic. ¡°By the gods, Sir Falgus of Haven Isle. You think the head of the Oghqoa Institute is behind this?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s, that can be a carrier killer. Tides, we could be arrested if we are wrong, no wonder you wanted to have a private meeting.¡± ¡°And thank the Tides that Cheryl runs her business like this, or we¡¯d have nowhere to talk. Even Communication Stones can be tapped.¡± ¡°Oh Tides, if old man Brominster heard of this he would have smacked me upside the head!¡± I mutter, thinking back fondly to my old mentor in my early Guardsmen days. ¡°What do you think about the Shae-Eq dealers, they moved a lot of their product recently but we have most of it.¡± Asks Carson who leans back a little to let me think about it. I shake my head at that, ¡°Crime is down, it might have been because of a new group. I can¡¯t see the Troson or Killingson Families doing this, they mostly work with fraud. I don¡¯t remember anyone in the smuggling business who could move this much, we caught all the main ones. Up and down the coast to¡± ¡°And if it¡¯s not the normal families, or some new guy who would have the necessary reach too¡­ Oh Tides only some noble, another country or Institute could manage something like this. What have you gotten us into Carson?¡± Chapter 65 - Leverage II. Capitan Lincastle ¨C During Masters Carson and Naafs meeting. I am seated in my office, going over some other non OutWolder related reports when my communication crystal buzzes notifying me of an incoming call. As soon as I place my hand on it to charge it with Mana I know it is encrypted, a call from Sir. I mentally grown as the call connects, what does he want now? ¡°Lincastle!¡± he yells, ¡°Why did that OutWolder leave your headquarters?!¡± I flinch from the yell, ¡°Sir? What are you talking about, Hayes should be in the cell. He wouldn¡¯t be cleared to leave.¡± ¡°Then why did I get a report that it and its duplicate left along with Adoazze and her team?¡± ¡°What? That doesn''t make sense.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care that it doesn''t make sense! You assured me that it would fall into Institute hands and now it''s doing whatever it wants! And to top it off Carson and Naaf are having a meeting at Miss Celies right now! Probably about this very damn situation!¡± ¡°Sir, I can¡¯t help you, it''s out of my hands. I only just finished cleaning up the records and files so that it looks like Hayes did it. I don¡¯t know how else I can help you.¡± ¡°I know, you''re too useless to solve this. I will sort this mess out. I want you to do something else instead.¡± ¡°Sir?¡± ¡°I want all units to avoid the Terrenberg docks and warehouses for the next few days.¡± ¡°Warehouses? That¡¯s what you want me to do? Not trying to sort out this OutWolder situation?¡± ¡°Yes, because it seems that''s all you''re capable of doing. If it turns out that I need you for this OutWolder then you¡¯ll be the first to know. If not, then you¡¯ll be the last and everyone else will be first.¡± The threat of being found out by the other Guardsmen makes my heart skip a beat and I feel the anger bubble up inside of me. I keep it from exploding by thinking of my son. ¡°Yes Sir.¡± The connection cuts off, Sir had cut the connection leaving me to deal with this situation. I just can''t escape, just can''t get away from him. I lean back in my chair and lay my hand on my face, letting out a little groan. What should I do? How can I get myself out of this mess... What is in those warehouses? Why would they give a suspect that much leeway to operate and even leave the facility? Why are the Masters meeting, for Michael or maybe more? The last time we had talked Sir had said that one of his duplicates was near the far western quarter of the city, there''s nothing down there. The Terrenberg docks are hardly even used much except for local fishing, and crime. What could be in there? Maybe, just maybe if there is something there I can use it as leverage against him, get Master Naaf to help me. I am not so stupid that I leave right away however, so I leave a recording for Master Naaf incase I do not return. It explains everything, the mistake I made all those years ago, how Sir got me on his payroll and how I had manipulated evidence. I pour out all my feelings into this recording, all the regrets and pain I had hidden away and slowly realise that I have wanted to say this for a long time. ¡°Master Naaf, I just want to say that, I¡¯m sorry for what I had done. But I hope you can understand that my telling you this now is not something done out of necessity, although it did start out like that but, it''s been something I have wanted to get off my chest for some time now. All I ask is that my son isn¡¯t told. He shouldn¡¯t have to deal with his old man''s mistakes¡­ That¡¯s all.¡± With the recording ready and set to be delivered to Master Naaf via internal crystal messaging I don my gear and head out. Not telling the Guardsmen to stay away from the docks and instead directing them to move into the vicinity of my house and my boys school. Some slight lie about possible mischievous youngsters in the area. I walk out as if I am leaving to go home for the day. As I walk out of the Headquarters I feel a slight weight off my shoulders, almost as if all the guilt is washed away. Or maybe that''s just me imagining things. I smile a sad smile and start walking towards the Terrenberg warehouses. It is late in the afternoon, soon it will be dark, as I walk down the road I look down a turn, another road. I could just walk home, see my boy again, come back tomorrow and delete the recording I made. Just leave it all and hope that this all disappears but that temptation is quickly removed with a shake of the head. ¡°This is something I need to do.¡± I say under my breath, I have one last look down the familiar road before turning away, away towards the docks. Soon enough the sky darkens and the crystal lighting turns on, yellow lights turn on and the week-long festival is back in full swing, only a few days left before it is over. I must be the only sad person walking through this festival of cheer and happiness. I walk down dark alleys, back streets and eventually find myself in the vicinity of the warehouses. The lights are still lit but not as close together which leaves gaps in the shadows, some lights flicker. Either from bad maintenance or mana is being syphoned off from them. A minor crime, but not one I am looking for. I walk for hours, and either enter or look through the windows of dozens of warehouses, the locking crystals easy to pick with the taught Power I have, my rank as a Guardsmen allowing me to open whatever doors I want. Within reason of course. I do get some looks, homeless or vagabonds sleeping in the streets or living in boxes see me entering and leaving warehouses but only give me a side eye. They are not interested in me unless I take interest in them. I have searched about a dozen warehouses so far, filled with boxes of old equipment, goods that were never shipped or other items long forgotten. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. I finally come across a lone rectangular warehouse, hidden behind derelict buildings crumbling to dust. I make my way through this forgotten area known only by Coblousceene and other vermin, I walk up to the front large double door and press on the crystal on its lock. Strange, the crystal is not unlocking. It¡¯s not that it''s broken, it wont allow me because of my rank? I think I found the spot. I do a loop around the building, with a more careful eye. Despite looking run down and abandoned no windows are broken, no loose stonework and nothing missing from the roof. It''s been camouflage to just look like it''s derelict, from the windows I see nothing but an empty room with decaying cloth hung up in the rafters. At my current rank I am given a few Powers that would otherwise require a higher security clearance. One of which is the Passthrough Power, a Power that allows its user to walk through any wall or object they choose. A Power specially created for Guardsmen a long time ago for situations just like this one. I activate the Power, my body and items become intangible. The Power allows me to see, breathe and walk or touch without becoming tangible again. I become almost invisible, as if I am a holo-image instead. Once ready I walk through the wall. The outside is easy to pass through, as if it is not there but I can''t walk completely through it. I push hard, harder. The only grip I have is my feet, not giving me much traction but I eventually get my fingers on the other side, then my hands, elbows, head, a leg and finally I am through. I breathe in again as I become tangible, the Power forcibly deactivating. I look at the wall in shock as I realise that all of my Powers won¡¯t activate. Or at least I try to look as there is no light in here, it''s dark as pitch in here. Touching the wall I can feel Powered wire laced within it, a grid of wire running along the entire wall, slightly embedded within it, even the floor and maybe the roof. The lights, if there are any, thankfully stay off but I doubt they will stay off for long, there must be a security system in place, but as to what that thing was I don¡¯t know. From my side I pull out my Powered weapon, a sword with crystals embedded to project force, cutting and mana drainage. I try to charge the sword with Mana but it immediately drains away. Nothing? Checking, I see if I can imbue myself with the local mana. Only a little, drops that would otherwise be a healthy stream of mana flow into me. I do get some more as I move around but otherwise it is stagnant. Is it because of that wire grid? I place my hands on the grid again and try to draw mana from it with no luck, as it moves from the wire and into me it gets drained away just as fast. No Powers, No Powered Sword, old school it is. I prepare myself for the worse as I step away from the wall, the room is not luminated, no light flows from the windows. In fact they appear boarded up¡­ The outside windows are modified to show a fake inside. Clever. I walk around the edges looking for the doorway I saw from the outside, I soon come across it. Another crystal lock on the inside? What kind of security do these people have? I need to have a talk with the Crystalists Guild when this is over, who made these? I feel around the door looking for something to unlock it but nothing. Just flat walls with wire within the stonework. I follow along the inner wall again, nothing. Just endless wire, not even a door. I try to drain mana from it as a walk, trying to find a break in the wire but nothing. Who could have made this? I do a complete loop and arrive back at the front door again. Sighing I turn my back to the door and walk in what I hope is a straight line toward the centre of the room. Maybe I¡¯ll run into something. I slowly shuffle forward, sword in hand trying to feel around. The only sounds are the sounds of my feet and the odd squeak of my leather boots. Thump, thump, thump, crack. My foot had just kicked something wooden. It''s only at foot height and I lean down to touch it. Definitely wood of some kind, a box or crate of some kind? This could be just what I am looking for. Now what is it? I think for a moment as I feel around the box, as I do I brush against more boxes, several of them are placed next to the box I found, with more placed behind those ones. I need a way to light things. I try to pull in mana from the wire grid, as I do I try to light it, excite the mana to light it a little. A dim light glows, barely giving off any light. I pull as much as I can from the wire in an attempt to make it brighter, my eyes now used to the darkness sees the box in front of me more clearly, but cannot even see vague outlines of the other boxes unless I move closer. Bringing the light as close as I can to the crate I use my sword to pry away the nails and wooden boards. It''s not supposed to be used like this but under the circumstances I¡¯m sure the sword won¡¯t mind. An audible crack is heard, as if a massive explosion was set off despite it being a slight creek of the wood. It¡¯s too damn quiet in here. I slowly pull away more and more of the wood. Allowing the light to fade and going by feel, I eventually pry a board from the top of the crate and reach inside, feeling small glass bottles secured in place with wooden supports and surrounding in packaging. I pull out one of the bottles and create light again, I lower the bottle next to the dim light so that I can finally see what is so important here. A bottle, or vial of a clear, watery substance. I pry the metal cap off the top of it carefully so as not to spill anything, which is quite tricky to do with one hand. I bring it to my nose and give it a sniff, smells like the ocean, seawater. Why would¡­ I gently place the vial on the ground and knock it over, spilling the liquid onto the grid. Immediately the grid surrounding the water glows and the light brightens, the mana in the grid flowing through and dissipating through it causing nearly the whole floor, parts of the wall and even some of the roof to glow a dim white light. I am very thankful that I didn¡¯t get any of that on me. What in the Tides is Shae-Eq doing in Oghqoa? And in vials no less¡­ This must be what Sir wanted us not to find, why he wants to move Guardsmen away from here. How many are here? I try to feel around and count how many vials there are by feel, hoping that none of them are broken or leaking. I can''t confirm how many there are but probably over 50-60 vials, I slowly move away from the Shae-Eq, just in case there is any leftover that was not drained by that grid. I try to count how many boxes there are as I move around them, 10, 20, 30 boxes and that¡¯s just around the edge. As I reach over the crate to see how far deep it goes I touch other boxes stacked higher. How many are there? Thousands of vials? As I walk around in the dark I suddenly hear a whirring from behind the crates, a light appears on the back wall, squinting I walk around the crates. Hiding behind them I look around a two high stacked crates just hiding me, peeking around the corner I see two people carrying a crate from a Hoist onto another crate. The Hoist is in the middle of the room and must have travelled vertically. Those are not used commonly, only for temporary usage, who are these guys? I stay out of sight as these two load crates and crates out of the Hoist and into the warehouse, the Hoist goes down and up again and two more guys appear with a fresh load of crates. Three of them picking them up and moving them around with one moving away and over to a wall. I can¡¯t see what he¡¯s doing from my vantage point and he quickly disappears. I keep watch hoping that I stay hidden in the darkness as the light is only directed toward the back wall. I stay low, lying on the ground, quiet and keep only my eyes out of cover watching them, once I get out I¡¯ll grab a memory recording of these and give it to Master Naaf, he should. Crack! Something smacks me in the head from behind and a man yells out to the others who come running over. I quickly try to stand up from the ground but I am hit again and fall to the floor, I am kicked and hit with something, my defensive Powers not activating in this low mana environment. My final thoughts are cut off as it all goes black. Chapter 66 - Understanding. I am currently chowing down on what could be described as a sandwich but made and cooked in a bowl. Bread, cheeses, meats and sauces compose this dish in Motzart-ian harmony as I wait for Adoazze and her team to get out of a conference she pulled them into when she returned with Milrich. Lock and Number 1 had went out earlier and grabbed us a long awaited dinner. It¡¯s getting to be late afternoon at this point and so far we¡¯ve just sat around. Lock and 1 filled me in with what was going on outside via paper notes and I filled them in on my fun times in lockup. Slowly the conversation moves from serious topics to more friendly subjects. As Lock starts to joke about how Number 2 snores like a volcano erupting while Number 3 doesn''t for some reason, Adoazze walks back into the main opened lobby room with the rest of her team and heads towards the desks. ¡°Ah, Adoazze. Come here often?¡± I ask her. ¡°More often than I¡¯d like. We¡¯ve decided that you and your clones will have full access to the records we have on hand and see if we can sort this sordid mess out. But until then, you will be remaining here.¡± ¡°Fine with me, just so long as it''s a more comfortable bed this time.¡± ¡°No promises.¡± Adoazze replies with a smile. We all sit down at the desks as we start to look through their systems, it don¡¯t look at it but the city is very well surveilled. Crystal cameras on the outer wall and covering all the docks, cameras at every intersection and dead end. Also there are ¡°Aerial¡± crystals that tracks if someone is flying above or on the rooftops. There are definite blind spots, sewers for example, but quite a lot is covered. Between the cameras and Guardsmen walking about it¡¯s well patrolled. I mention this as the tiny recording of the Anti-Michael we have committing the dead is all we have as right afterwards he slips into an alleyway and disappears. Could be a teleport, could be a Power like Locks Lightning Travel but for now we just can¡¯t tell. The recording we do have of him is carefully checked against any and all recordings of yours truly, you can see me enter and exit the city through the gates, my walking around, even the clones walking around. While those are being checked against my gait and depth of foot I do catch some movement in the shadows when either Koda, Wotjek or another newer Kage move out of the shadows but it''s so minimal that it can easily be mistaken for the shadow of a bird flying overhead or trees moving in the wind. I am handed a binder with some documents of myself, looks like they were building a profile and so far they don¡¯t have much, under Powers they only have my Clones, nothing else thankfully. A Power like Mana Beast Uprising could definitely sway opinion against me. On the other side of things in my profile they mention that Earth is my planet of origin and that I can be belligerent, cheeky, somewhat manipulative and suspect. Most of those notes were written shortly after my discussion with Taal by him so I can see that, I pass the binder back to Imi asking, ¡°I was thinking, all the information and records you guys have must be stored somewhere. Where do you keep all of this?¡± ¡°Downstairs, we have a records room and it''s almost fully Crystal stored, but we do end up using a lot of paper, thankfully we can access some information from the Crystals we have for storage.¡± I know that feeling, I once worked at a company who told everyone internally that; ¡°We are going paperless!¡± Then when I was up at the small head office I found they were printing almost constantly. ¡°Where are the other investigators, the ones doing the forensic work?¡± ¡°Upstairs, level 3. They have their own office space and everything. Bit jealous actually.¡± ¡°Yea, I was wondering why have your investigative teams in a large open room on the main floor, almost open to anyone?¡± ¡°Oh, does your world not do that? It gives our investigations good optics as told by one of my trainers. Gives the public a feeling that all eyes are on the cases we are working on.¡± ¡°Fancy that.¡± I reply before going over more documents with everyone, as Adoazze had asked forensics to go over everything with a fine toothed comb. We have a lot of documentation old and new to go through. With that fine toothed comb we did find some discrepancies, some information was altered. Things like fingerprints, fibers, and other small details were added which for a time did point a finger at me. But these guys have a lot of forensics on their team upstairs and they quickly find that some of the details were entered by Guardsmen who were either not on duty or away from their desks when they were entered. No cameras caught who entered it but unlike outside there are not too many cameras in here. Just the main room and corridors. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Hours of this go by well into the evening, file after file after file. I¡¯m liable to get a papercut at this rate, if I could get papercuts. Seriously these guys have everything, Footprints between Myself and Clones (Same), Myself/Clones and Anti-Michael (Different) Blood splatter (No Powers involved) Population density (Who was nearby) Sounds (Some form of noise cancellation Power was used) Fingerprints (None, used gloves) Fluids/hairs/fibers (None) Murder weapon forensics (Pointed needle like object, similar to needles used by suspect; me.) Profile on Murderer. Profile on Me. Profile on Alaline Feaph. Autopsy¡­ When I see the label of the report, I just stare at it for a few. Do I really want to know exactly and in detail how this person died? Someone who may be dead because of m¡­ Lock, who''s sitting next to me sees my hesitation and my heavy breathing which I did not notice myself, grabs the binder and adds it to the ones he¡¯s reading. Tunnel vision. As I feel my heart rate and adrenaline slow down I take a deep breath out and nod in thanks. Some of the others notice while others not so much, I stand up and stretch my legs a little before asking. ¡°Uh, random question but where¡¯s the bathroom in this place?¡± I know in my discussions with Lock and 1 that they don¡¯t know where the bathroom was either, we we¡¯re planning to ask when they returned but we kinda got stuck into it. ¡°Milrich, can you show Michael the men''s room?¡± Asks Adoazze. ¡°Come with me.¡± Milrich replies, getting up with the binder he is reading and walking me toward the front doors before turning and walking through a short curved tunnel. We pass a few doors on the left that appear to be locker rooms before arriving at a men''s bathroom. The stalls are similar enough to Earths and thankfully the thrones are also very similar¡­ As I wash my hands and splash water on my face, Milrich is still waiting for me just outside out of view. I ask him, ¡°Can I ask you something?¡± ¡°You just did. Go on.¡± Rolling my eyes I ask ¡°How do you deal with it, the bodies I mean¡­¡± He pauses for a moment before I hear him breathing out and the rustling of papers; ¡°You don¡¯t, each one has an effect on you. You do it long enough you do get jaded by it, and on top of it you also have to act like the Guardsmen people are expecting you to be. No need to let them see you panic.¡± Softly he adds, ¡°But at the same time, at those hours late at night, you definitely feel it. There are some in the tabloids who say that Guardsmen get paid too much for just walking around, but see a scene like that, and no amount of money per hour would be worth it.¡± ¡°What helps?¡± I ask. ¡°Most things, losing yourself in a hobby, a good book, talking with your lover, friend or therapist. But drink, food and medications¡­ That¡¯ll only get you into an early grave.¡± By medications I think he means drugs of the illegal kind. ¡°Thanks. You''re a lot less; hard lined towards me. Does that mean you¡± Interrupting he says, ¡°I¡¯m less hard lined as you put it because Master Naaf and Adoazze said to give you the benefit. So I will, simple as that.¡± ¡°You must have a lot of respect for them huh?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He says before I hear the rustling of papers again and he is silent once more. I wipe the water from my face and leave, he follows me back to the desks where we silently get back to work. After looking through more of the files I make a decision, I try to get my brain into a clinical/detached mode, when I was taught and attended first aid events I knew what I was doing, but nothing major ever happened with me. I was a damn white cloud, no major incidents or accidents happened and so I have gone through life without really seeing much of anything in person. Reaching over I grab the autopsy report, I take in a breath and open it. Stab in lower spine, severing spinal column. Stabs (x2) to the left upper chest. Death from major blood loss. Those are just the cliff notes, there are tons of more details and images in there but I mostly gloss over them. I look up and see Milrich watching me as I read. He looks away when he sees me. I am about to continue reading when I hear footsteps coming from behind and see Adoazze and the others stand up. As I stand I see Master Naaf walking behind me, coming to a stop just behind my chair. Addressing the group he says, ¡°I¡¯ve had a meeting with Master Carson, there has been a development recently which may tie into this case. As such we have agreed to share resources. Adoazze, your report?¡± ¡°He¡¯s clean sir, nothing solid ties him to it.¡± ¡°In that case Michael, you are free to go. However, I would like to ask for your continued assistance with these cases. You can talk with Master Carson about it tomorrow if you wish, but for now if you want to return to your house then you are free to do so.¡± Imi, who is standing behind her desk, moves over to me and takes off the Suppression Jacket. Instantly there is a flood of Interface windows that appear, Voice Chat messages, notifications, and more. Feeling a bit better I push those to the side for a moment before saying, ¡°Thank you sir, if it''s OK with you I¡¯d like to sleep in my own bed tonight.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± I turn towards Adoazze¡¯s team and say, ¡°Thank you all, I know it''s a kinda unusual situation but, thanks.¡± Chapter 67 - Confession. After saying thanks to the team we all decide to call it a night and start to head outside, due to how this world measures time it''s about 1am while on Earth it would be closer to 11pm (I think?) so not too late, but due to all the reading and discussion we have been slogging through it feels like 3am to me. Master Naaf apparently has a room upstairs and so retreats to get some rest, we as a group grab our things (In my case my confiscated Adventuring Gear) and leave through the front doors, I am finally a free man. As we exit the Guardsmen Headquarters the festival is wrapping up for the night, there are a few eateries still open and a couple of bars but most everyone else has either moved on home or is sleeping it off. Speaking off, some people have been dumped outside the front door and are being moved onto stretchers and taken inside, guess they are too drunk to go home. ¡°Hey Locky, what''s this festival about anyway, and it goes on for how long? I thought you said it was a night market.¡± ¡°Ah, yea I kinda forgot that this was on, it''s the mid year festival. Ten days of fun. We¡¯ve got a few days still before it''s over.¡± Before I ask a question about markets and cool things to do at this festival I hear a commotion from one of the open eateries, from a small outdoor table a small kid sprints forward towards us, with two people in tow at a slow jog, as he gets closer I notice he has very red and puffy eyes and looks tired. ¡°Lee! What are you doing here?¡± says Adoazze as she steps forward to hug him, he¡¯s short and about 10 years old with light brown hair and as of right now very red, puffy eyes wearing a loose shirt under a oversized coat several sizes too big for him. ¡°Zeze, Kiphesh isn¡¯t home yet. Is he here?¡± ¡°No sweety, Kiphesh isn¡¯t here. He left hours ago, are you sure you haven¡¯t missed him?¡± ¡°Investigator¡± says the Guardsmen who approached. ¡°Junior Guardsmen Brentvons, I found Lee here wandering through the streets, I brought him to the eatery here to calm down and get a statement but he¡¯s been crying. All I could find out is that his father¡¯s missing. I was actually just about to head inside. This is the owner of the.¡± ¡°Where did you find him?¡± Asks Adoazze, waving to the apparent owner of the eatery to leave. ¡°The Waves of Hingmagne Street, he was heading in this general direction and I sent my partners to look at the house, they are on their way back and reported that the house is empty.¡± ¡°What, why would Lincastle?...¡± ¡°This is about Lincastle? Who¡¯s Kiphesh?¡± I ask surprised. ¡°Kiphesh means something like daddy.¡± Says Lock, I note that down for later. Need to study more. ¡°Could he be inside and we didn¡¯t know it?¡± Says Lock, Adoazze picks up Lee and starts walking inside. ¡°He might be, but he would have let Lee know.¡± We walked back in and talked to the Guards on duty at the gate, Capitan Lincastle did not come back and had left earlier in the afternoon, he should have long ago arrived back home. Adoazze sends a silent communication to Master Naaf and proceeds to tap into the city crystal camera network at her desk to trace his path back. Lee has calmed down slightly and Imi is currently holding him on her hip away from the desk while Adoazze shows us the cameras as we crowd around her. We see Capitan Lincastle leave the Guardsmen Headquarters, move down a few streets and then come to a stop just before the street he lived on. We see him pause for a moment, shake his head and move on towards the docks. We watch as he enters an older, more run down part of town. Which is where we run into trouble, cameras are on the fritz or not working, some have been moved to face buildings or windows instead. We quickly reach a dead end. ¡°What''s he doing down here, there should be nothing down there but, Terrenberg Docks? Why go there?¡± Says Adoazze, literally and figuratively scratching her head. ¡°Has there been any reports of crime or stuff down there?¡± Says Milrich, Master Naaf replies, ¡°Only the usual, nothing that would warrant Lincastle to go there today.¡± Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Could it be something new?¡± I ask. ¡°Back home we can report crimes and stuff anonymously, maybe he got a direct report?¡± ¡°Hmm, we can check.¡± Says Adoazze who looks at Master Naaf for a moment who nods. Getting up from her chair she heads upstairs towards Lincastle¡¯s office as we follow, Imi staying behind to calm Lee. Adoazze reaches the door and places her hand on the crystal to open the door, she frowns for a moment before opening the door. ¡°It¡¯s unlocked?¡± We follow through as the lights turn on and move around the desk, there''s nothing else in here aside from the desk and a few chairs. Not even a poster on the wall or stacked papers on the desk, spartan isn¡¯t the right word, empty is better. Adoazze sits in his chair and touches some crystals, filling them with mana. She quickly frowns and a holographic image appears over the desk as the lights dim leaving us in near darkness, it¡¯s a flat image of Captain Lincastle sitting at his desk with a bottle and glass filled with an amber liquid nearby. An unspoken command through the crystals and the recording plays. Lincastle starts the recording in a mellow tone. ¡°Hello, I don¡¯t know how to start this but I¡¯ll start at the beginning. I was a damn good Guardsman, me and Shernia, we did so much. Fighting to keep this city safe almost no matter what, taking down bad guy after bad guy, from minor drug busts to crime lords.¡± ¡°We made a lot of friends and quite a lot of enemies¡­ Too many. As some of you might know, Senior Guardsmen Shernia Holywick died¡­ in the line of duty almost twenty years ago. It was an ambush, some scum from the old Ogegus Cartel decided to get rid of us after we raided one of their warehouses. Ambushed us not three blocks away from my own house. Twenty seven of them versus us two, we drew swords and started cutting them down, Powers flying, civilians getting hit in the crossfire, missing death by a hair''s length.¡± ¡°It was down to the last two, each of us covered in blood, theirs and ours. We fought, flying around the street trying to get the upper hand. Shernia got pushed back and rolled a few paces at one point in the fight and the scum ran at me, nearly got me in the back but.¡± Lincastle pauses to take a sip from a small amber cup on the desk. ¡°But, she activated a teleport Power and intercepted it, the sword went right through her and I didn¡¯t even notice. I killed that final scum and turned to find her dead behind me and her murderer nowhere to be seen.¡± ¡°I tried to help but it was too late, and next thing I know I¡¯m waking up from a surgery to fix my inners. She, didn¡¯t make it. I, failed her when she needed me the most. I¡­¡± Lincastle wipes his eyes, takes a breath and looks back at the camera again, his face with a slight unnerving smile. ¡°Afterwards there was a whole ceremony and funeral and all I could think of was, Where is the bastard who did this, why is he free?¡± ¡°A year later he¡¯s found dead in a back alley, a single sword thrust through the front and out the back. Of course I was talked to by Guard Affairs but they couldn¡¯t find anything. Ruled it as Inter-Cartel business and left it at that. A clean death, scum killing scum.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t a clean death, my partner was barely starting her life, twenty-five years old with a kid on the way. I had been tracking him for weeks between my duties, just waiting for the right moment to get him alone, and there he was, walking out of some Souscrobre House without a care in the world, no protection either.¡± ¡°He saw me, he knew why I was there. You could see it, in his eyes. So I smiled at him, just before my sword went through his back, looking him in the eyes before dumping him in that alley.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t regret what I had done, felt it was righteous. By then, I was doing a job for the Institute, someone had broken into a laboratory and they wanted to know who. Sir Falgus of Haven Isle called me up to his office asking about the case. The next thing I know he¡¯s showing me a recording of me killing off that scumbag from the day before. He said, that if I don¡¯t do him any favors when he asks then he¡¯ll release the video and me, and Shernia would be stripped of our ranks.¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t do that, so I went into his pocket, and for every day after that I regretted it. Regretted murdering a piece of shit who deserved it more than anyone. But, that was only because I got caught.¡± ¡°Today I realised that, I was always becoming increasingly hostile towards them, the scum of the city despite her trying to help. On and on she would try to slow me down but I just kept ignoring her. She saved my life, she saved me from myself and I didn¡¯t even realise it, or thank her for it, nothing!¡± Yelled Lincastle in anger, banging his hand on the table. ¡°So I¡¯m going to set things right, Falgus told me to direct Guards away from the Terrenberg warehouses. He was also worried about something with Michael Hayes, one of his duplicates finding something or other. I don¡¯t know what but, I am going to find out if it¡¯s the last thing I do.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry for breaking your trust in me, for all these years, and yes Falgus also told me to arrest Hayes. I suspect that the killing was also set up by him but I can¡¯t be sure. I was just given a name to tie it to that case. I am¡­ very sorry.¡± ¡°Master Naaf, I am sorry for what I have done. But I hope you can understand that my telling you this now is not something done out of necessity, although it did start out like that but, it''s been something I have wanted to get off my chest, without even realising it for some time now. All I ask is that my son isn¡¯t told. He shouldn¡¯t have to deal with his old man''s mistakes¡­ That¡¯s all.¡± The holographic image cuts off, leaving us behind in the darkened room, an unspoken question speeds through our minds. ¡°Where is Capitan Lincastle?¡± Chapter 68 - Search and Rescue. Standing around the desk in the dimmed room the lights slowly brighten, we are all standing around in shock, all this time we had looked over files and files just to get a confession at the top of the hour. Slowly it dawns on us the full gravity of the situation Lincastle has told us and what we have found ourselves in. The head of the Oghqoa Institute has been playing us like a fiddle. ¡°Sogh¡±, ¡°Shit¡±, ¡°Tides¡±, ¡°Dammit Lincastle¡±. Says Lock, Number 1, Dr Roselin and Milrich. ¡°Hmm, I had thought so.¡± Said Master Naaf who received states from us. ¡±Master Carson and I talked about the possibility that Sir Falgus was behind your arrest Michael and the recent drug bust your clones and the Adventurer Society did the day before.¡± ¡°Drug Bust Sir? What drug bust?¡± asks Adoazze. ¡°Shae-Eq, about a thousand vials worth. One of Michael¡¯s clones called Number 4 found it.¡± ¡°A thousand vials?!¡± Yells Adoazze and Milrich, Milrich looks between Number 1 and myself, a look of amazement on his face. And one of realisation. ¡°We should get there, now. Lincastle may need help.¡± says Adoazze standing up. ¡°Sir, permission to¡± ¡°Granted, get your team. I''ll have Guardsmen and Adventurers head out as well.¡± We all start moving out of Lincastle¡¯s office and down the stairs. ¡°I¡¯ll call the other clones¡± says Number 1, ¡°We can at least get some backup.¡± ¡°Just poof and I can get them here?¡±, I replied confused, jumping down the stairs to the bottom. ¡°They¡¯re carrying equipment for us, we¡¯ll need them. They are on their way, they¡¯ll catch up.¡± ¡°Imi! Leave Lee here, we¡¯ve got to go.¡± Says Adoazze as she runs towards him. As Imi puts down Lee she says ¡°Grab your gear¡± as she squats down to be at Lee¡¯s eye height. ¡°Lee, I need you to stay here. My friends and I are going to help daddy, I need you to stay here ok? My friends here will look after you.¡± She says pointing to other Guardsmen standing around who are starting to come out of offices and side rooms wondering what the ruckus is. ¡°Is daddy ok?¡± Asks Lee, he¡¯s scared, trembling and only standing due to Adoazze holding him by his arms and shoulders. ¡°He¡¯ll be ok, we¡¯re all going to help him. Now I need you to stay here ok?¡± ¡°Alright¡­ Thanks¡± Ruffling his hair a little she stands and addresses the room, more and more Guards have entered the main room or are watching on from the second floor. ¡°Guardsmen, one of our own, is missing in the vicinity of the Terrenberg Warehouses. I want anyone we can spare to search Terrenburg and the docks.¡± Master Naaf jumps in, ¡°Also, we will be working with the Adventurer Society with this. I want teams to detain anyone who says they are from the Institute in Terrenberg. I also want teams at each of the Teleportation Platforms in the city.¡± Surprised muttering sounds from the attending Guardsmen, with Teleport Platforms in the mix they know it is a big deal. I quickly make sure I¡¯m all set and stand next to Adoazze¡¯s team. Lock¡¯s and Number 1¡¯s gear materialises from Number 1¡¯s Inventory space. As we turn to leave I look back at Lincastles kid, I give him a wave and a friendly smile before running outside with the team. It¡¯s a weird feeling, rushing to help Lincastle after all he¡¯s done to me. For a moment I must confess that I did feel almost upset that we were going to help but¡­ Agh! This is no time to psychoanalyse myself, later, later. We move into a jog, speeding through the city easily. Imi pulls a crystal from somewhere and a loud siren and lights flash, Blue, Brown, Red and Green in that order. As we run straight through the middle of the streets towards Terrenberg Warehouses I pull up my Interface messages.
Main System Interface (Rank CCC) Current Features available: MP and HP Meter: MP: 589 points. HP: 675 points Map mode: Tactical, City, National, Globe Map mode sub ability: Institutional Awareness (Live). Map mode sub ability: High Definition Map Mode and Globe Voice Chat: Local 67+ metres Party Creation: 35 members Patry Creation sub ability: Trust but Verify Active Parties: Alpha Team - Oasis (16) Resurgence Team (5) New Settings (4/5): Low alcohol intolerance. (On/Off) Thought Updatable UI Show uncompleted achievements New!: Simple Logs Logs: Alert! Affected by Suppression Jacket > Powers Suppressed. (Conscious Activation Unavailable) Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. --- Alert! Suppression Jacket Effects Breached - Voice Chat Communications With Pre-Initialised Chat Available (Kage: Koda/Wotjek) (Temp) --- Alert! Voice Chat Communications with Lockness Nessgray failed with result of failed. --- Alert! Biological Data Inquiry detected > Auto Suppressing. --- (*&%WARNING: SHAKES(*&^OCCURRING - BIOLOGICAL(&^*^$INSTABILITY > ATTEMPTING&%$#%#$@TO^$@^%^)_SUPPRESS (FAILED).(*&$&%$@ --- Warning: Biological Instability Resolved > Damage Sustained. --- Warning: Gained Status Effect - Healing > Increase in total HP and Biological Repair. --- Warning: Gained Status Effect - Unconscious (Mid) (Temp) --- Alert! Suppression Jacket Removal Detected > Powers Unsuppressed. --- Alert! Affected by Suppression Jacket > Gained Status Effect - Powers Suppressed. --- Alert! Suppression Jacket Effects Breached - Voice Chat Communications Available (Temp) --- Warning: Elevated Heart Rate/Blood Pressure > Gained Status Effect - Horrified-Visual (Low) (Temp.) --- Alert! Suppression Jacket Removal Detected > Powers Unsuppressed. Secret Abilities: 2/3 enabled
Aside from some light changes, the Logs are the best new feature. I don¡¯t know how I had activated them but I can see the entire time frame between my initial arrest by Lincastle to a few minutes ago. That message during the Shakes is a bit scary but I can think about it later. I continue to look through message after message, I can see messages sent to me from Koda and Wotjek while connected, and more from Kage who had seemed to sneak in. I only glance at them for a moment, not really paying them any attention. I keep looking until something catches my eye.
Powers: Creation Power Forming: Alchemical Elementalist Generating: 1x Break Through Points to complete till creation possible. Creation Power Forming: Teleportation Generating: 5x Break Through Points to complete till creation possible.
I¡¯m close, very, very close to Alchemical Elementalist. Now that I realise that, I can feel it like it''s something on the tip of my tongue. A Power based on Full Metal Alchemist and utilising any bit of information about elements and chemical processes I have ever come across. Teleportation will eventually come into being but it will take time. The name will also change as it gets closer and closer to completion. I will have to congratulate Number 2, he¡¯s done a hell of a lot in a short amount of time. My thoughts are interrupted as I nearly run past the corner we sprint around, we run through the early morning without even breathing hard. Wait what? I look down and notice ethereal smoke around our legs, helping us move and stay on track. Someone''s Power, wish I had this when on hikes. Sure-footed and speedy we made damn good time to Terrenberg and we slow down a little, stopping in the middle of a four way intersection. Another Power activates, this time from Milrich. The stones under our feet start to glow a yellow red colour through the ethereal smoke that is still around our feet, then our footsteps behind us, footsteps in front of us, to the side, everywhere. The footsteps brighten and dim, barefoot, cloven hoofs, wheel marks, shoes and more light and darken, a symphony of light. Soon only one set of tracks appear lit, and then glows green. ¡°That¡¯s him, those are the only recent Guardsmen Issue shoes that went through here.¡± As we are about to start off running again we hear voices behind us. ¡°MIIIIICHAEL! RE-IN-FORCE-MENTS!¡± Turning around I see my other Numbers, 2, 3, 4, and 5 with several other Kage in tow all hidden in the shadows but known to me via Interface. The Resurgence Team bend down and take bags from the Kage in their shadows, appearing out of the shadows to Adoazze¡¯s team watching on. ¡°Hi Boss¡± says Number 2. ¡°Where you want us?¡± he asks directed toward Adoazze. ¡°Stay with us, we have a lead. Let''s move!¡± she says and soon we start jogging despite the gowns from the Numbers. Slowly the ethereal smoke covers their legs as well and they quickly catch up to us. As we run we cut some corners, Milrich is directing us to cut across to another newer set of tracks or letting us know that tracks down one street just loops around up ahead. While we run Number 5 says through Voice Chat, ¡°Oi boss, we¡¯re missing a Kage. He was one of the team who went inside the Guard HQ.¡± ¡°What? He should have been with us?¡± Through the Voice Chat, Koda speaks up. ¡°¡±Koda directed the new Kage to infiltrate high-important people to find more information. Maybe one still in Guardsmen¡± I quickly had a look again at my Voice Chat messages, I did notice some from newer Kage but I just skipped over them¡­ Well I found what I was looking for, probs should have checked them out first: ¡°Kage will shadow Capitan Lincastle, Stay in Shadow, Will Report.¡± ¡°Looks like one of the Kage stuck with Lincastle, he should still be in his shadow.¡± I reply through the Voice Chat. But without communication from that Kage in particular we cannot locate Lincastle in a faster method. We keep running, further and further into the rundown buildings, we are making good time but more and more of the trail is dimming, the Power must be running its course or have a range limit. We keep running right up till the lights go out, in the middle of a rubble filled street next to falling down buildings. ¡°Damn, what happened here?¡± I ask but get silence in return. We disperse and look around trying to find a clue to what trail he might have taken when a notification hits my Voice Chat! ¡°I have relocated originator. Your commands?¡± asked the unnamed Kage as it slithers along the ground in plain view into my shadow. I get some looks from Adoazze¡¯s team and so speak aloud. ¡°It¡¯s a scouting Power, kinda.¡±, ¡°Kage, I need you to direct us toward Lincastle. Where do we need to go?¡± ¡°Follow¡± is all it replies as it leaves my shadow and makes a beeline through the rubble. Imi sends out a light orb overhead and we can see the Kage clearly, I know it could be more hidden but it is purposely visible. We rush behind it, myself in the lead as I feel the questioning glances from Adoazze¡¯s team, they really want to know how this works but are keeping that to themselves. Going over a small pile we reach the front door of a very run down warehouse, as we slow down and step forward the Kage moves vertically up the door and points towards a crystal we did not see before with its clawed hand, paw? Adoazze steps forward, quietly brushing aside the Kage¡¯s hand and filling the crystal with mana. ¡°This is an illegal crystal lock, it should open. And it has a alarm attached to it. Milrich, send a message and our location to Master Naaf, we may have found Lincastle.¡± Stepping back she draws her sword from its scabbard and brings it high over her head. Crystals in the middle part of the blade start to glow a yellowy colour, she brings it down with the might of a meteorite, cracking the lock into fragments of sharp crystal that go flying. A silent alarm is triggered, the doors unlocked. Pushing them open requires force, all of us push together and only then just manage to open it wide enough for us to squeeze through. As we enter the air or rather the mana feels stale. Like a room without any fresh air in years¡­ groggily the mana moves around. In front of us is a large pile of boxes and blood stains on the ground. Chapter 69 - An inexperienced first fight. Slowly we shuffle forward in the dark, illuminated only by the outside light conjured by Imi. The entrance around and on the doors are covered in a plaster that has wires running through them in a grid. What for I have no clue. Almost all of the Kage in our shadows move forward toward the boxes ahead of us, surrounding them, the blood stains on the ground and on the crates. As we approach I summon a small flame in my hand, slight enough to not give away our position. The blood spray travels on the floor around the corner and into the dark, like something or rather someone was dragged through. Behind me I can hear some crates being opened and the clinking of glass, I hear Milrich let out a low hmm before placing the drug back into the crate. Looking back I can feel the mana behind me, it''s still slow, lethargic except in the areas we walked through as it slowly spreads, as if we had woken the mana up which is weird as it¡¯s just supposed to be energy. Adoazze taps me on the shoulder and grabs our attention, pointing she directs herself, Milrich, Lock and I to walk around the corner while the others will move around the opposite way. I point to the Kage and motion that they can go over the crates, a three pronged attack. She nods and I direct the Kage via voice chat, letting them know to stay quiet and attack on queue. Number 5 also adds in the voice chat to move around the crates to see if there is anyone hidden on the opposite side of the warehouse, just in case. As we receive acknowledgements from them I give Adoazze a nod before turning around. Adoazze walks around me and takes point followed by Milrich with Lock and I in tow. I quietly hear the sounds of the others moving away from us until they are inaudible. As we walk around the warehouse that is still darkened, we follow Milrich as he tracks the blood trail while Adoazze, Lock and I keep watch, looking to see if there is anything around. Milrich stops as we reach what I thought was a stack of crates is instead a Hoist system. The trail ends there and the Hoist is filled with more crates. Whether unpacking or packing we can¡¯t tell. It¡¯s so quiet, not a sound is being made aside from our shallow breathing, the slight sounds of the others walking around the crates, they should be in position soon. Adoazze and Milrich walk up to the Hoist while Lock and I stand with our backs to them outside the Hoist. Lock, in his combat gear and superman cape looks nervous and is gripping his lightning sword like his life depends on it. The pressure is immense, I have never felt this before. Like at any moment I¡¯ll get skewered. My heart¡¯s beating so quickly I feel like I¡¯m running a marathon at a sprint all the while standing still. My hands are cold and clammy, wrapped hard around one of my needles that I had pulled out unconsciously earlier. Guess I needed something to ground me a little. I take a deep breath in and blink, when they open again I feel a pressure on my chest, like something¡¯s just smacked into it. Looking down I see it, a sword point resting on my bare chest as it has torn through my gambeson. ¡°CONTACT!¡± Yells Lock as he catches a sword strike with his Lightning Sword and channelling Lightning through it and onto the others sword. I snap out of it as I hear Adoazze, Milrich and the others run forward. I grab the sword blade with my hand, chipping away some of my HP as I pull it forward and twist my hips, bringing the sword with me. Letting it go and dropping it to the ground I punch with my left arm from down low into a long uppercut, I launch fire in a wall all in its yellow red glory, lighting up the immediate surroundings and a few crates suffer my fear and adrenaline fueled fire, getting slightly charred. I move my right palm over my belt and pull my needles out of their bandolier with Psychokinesis, shooting them forward into the fire hearing the cracks of splitting wood. As the fire travels a figure runs through the fire and grabs a hold of my arms, I send a kick up between his legs but it goes right through him. Off balance he pushes me back and I land on my back, ethereal yellowy chains lash out above me and wrap around his body, the Greater Beast who looks like a bull standing on its hind legs is my attacker. He tries to turn incorporeal again, and I can see parts of his body become see-through for a moment but the chains keep him grounded, not allowing the parts touching him to change. I roll onto my side and see Milrich standing behind me, he looks down and barks. ¡°Get up, NOW!¡± I quickly jump up, no time to think, I need to fight. Leaving the guy in chains behind I run forward to a skinny elf who¡¯s standing behind a bit, trying to stay in the dark. As I run forward the lights come on. A massive orb of light erupts into the rafters above us and beams of light immediately land into the eyes of all our targets, blinding them like a laser in the eye. I rush forward and bring my arms up into an X shape, two pillars of flat store erupt from the floor smashing into the elf from below, one right into his liver. As he bends over the other smacks him in the head. (I was aiming for the chin) and he goes down like a sack of bricks. I turn around and see Lock and Adoazze fighting two on their own. ¡°Kage Team, assist Lock and Ado and come back to hold this guy.¡± I say aloud. I run forward and another elf jumps over the stacked crates next to me and tries to tackle me but I jump past him just in time, I quickly spin around as this guy jumps back up from his crouch. He¡¯s practically naked aside from some cloth around his waist, his whole body is covered in tattoos, black and dark. He pushes forward with his arms and the ink from his arms flows out of his body and into two inky water-like whips, I jump to the side again to dodge however I smash into some crates with ink getting onto me. I can feel my HP declining as it tries to burrow into my skin but to no luck, instead it tries to wrap around my legs, arms and mouth to stop them from moving, I reach out with my mind and touch on my needles behind him stuck into the wood. They move forward and sink into his back only a little as they are being blocked by larger patches of ink that have amassed around where they would have impacted. I keep trying to drive the needles in but without much luck. It¡¯s getting hard to breathe, a critical weakness of the Protection of Body Power. Suddenly the ink loses cohesion as the others run around the corner finally. One of the numbers runs towards the elf and reaches out with his mind, using Elemental Avatar to effect the water in the ink and move it away. Instead the elf loses some of its control but I can see the clone straining to keep it contained. He instead gives up and then moves towards the elf, tackling him in the side to break his concentration. The ink falls away from me like oil on water onto the ground as the Power is interrupted. Some of the Kage arrive moving in black inky dots along the open floor and into the elfs shadow and around his body, holding him tight. The clone, (Number 3) stands back up and uses Elemental Avatar again to place heavy weights of stone on top of the elf, hoping that he does not move as Number 1 arrives on scene next to Milrich. I don¡¯t even have a moment to breathe as the Hoist starts to move behind Milrich, who is now containing two more Elves and the Greater Beast from earlier. As the hoist descends he and 1 move away from it dragging the unconscious enemies towards us to get them out of the way. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Lock is still in battle with the first guy, they are a whirl of mana and Power, lightning blasts from both sides crack out as both try to get the upper hand, their lightning swords smacking against each other while the red colour of their Protection Powers keep any excess electricity from damaging them. Adoazze has also captured two others, an elf and a human but she¡¯s just standing there on the opposite side of the warehouse from me, looking on as Lock fights this Trax lightning user. There is just too much lightning and charge around for anyone else to get in there and help safely. If that''s even an option in a real fight. I hear a yell from behind the crates stacked behind us. ¡°All Clear back here. Red, Yellow, Two!¡± yells Imi, I look at Milrich who gives us a nod, must be an all clear sign. The Hoist quickly returns and three more people rush out, but aside from Lock who''s still fighting, Adoazze and Milrich, we¡¯re ready. One guy exits the hoist first and holds a hand up, Milrich and Number 1 suddenly fly backwards at speed smacking into a pile of crates as his ethereal chains disperse into light. He moves to bring his other hand up but I and numbers 3 and 4 shoot needles into his hands, even the copied needles created with the Shadow Clone Power work to full effect. Stabbing deep into his hands from the front and side like he tried to pet a porcupine. He is about to move forward again as another needle lands in his neck, only penetrating a short amount, his eyes quickly glaze over as he falls to the ground. A quick glance shows that Dr Roselin had sent that one, might have been a knockout drug. Another jumps over his sleeping comrade and turns into a dark smoke that flows around the floor leaving deep groves and cuts as it passes. As one, myself and the clones breathe out a mixture of air and fire, covering the floor and blowing the smoke upwards. It quickly changes into the shadowy appearance of a person with two long daggers who glides towards us, needles saturate the smoke as it flies but no hits. As it lands the smoky dagger slashes up and down number 3 next to me before breezing behind him and kicking him into the fire covered floor. I turn towards the smoke man and spin my arms around, trying to gather enough wind to try and blow him away a little, instead it only pushes him away from me and so decides to attack Number 2 who was standing next to 3. Number 2 seems to have gotten water from somewhere as a whip of it flashes out from behind him and into the smoke, instantly it has an effect. The smoke flares upwards towards the rafters like a fire getting a ton of air at once, instantly soaking up all of the water. The smoke dissipates after a moment leaving no trace of the smoke man behind, as I look up I catch a glimpse of him just as he falls from the rafters above us onto a crate unconscious. The fire along the floor has quickly gone out with 3 only receiving some minor burns on his gambeson and hair. There are still two more combatants. One ignoring Adoazze and Lock as they cannot get close without getting hit by the stray lightning. While we were fighting the smoke man, one of these guys has changed into a large beast that appears like a large bull like animal but with clawed hands for front paws and four horns, two bull like and two goat like, it is covered in fur that does nothing to hide the massive muscles under its skin, it¡¯s also the size of a massive tiger. Growling it swipes at Imi and Dr Roselin before being stopped by a large wall that slides in the way, the massive claws rip into the stone wall, cracking and breaking parts of it, its claws undamaged. Number 5 who had created the wall creates more walls around it as he runs on top of crates around the large person turned animal, creating wall after wall trying to close it in. Number 4 in the meanwhile is getting its attention, sending needles and small rocks towards its face and nose but only a few get through, being dodged or blocked by the horns. Number 5 finally gets behind it and creates another long wall effectively placing it in a giant U shape corner. As he sprints towards Number 4 they both let out a massive stream of fire with little effect. Out of breath they walk slightly backwards and pull small vials from their Inventories as the creature struts forward in apparent superiority. The amber liquid inside them is quickly swallowed as the creature runs forward. It slashes at them but its arm is caught by Number 4, the other arm swipes but is caught by 5. A glowing yellow colour glows from within them as the creature tries to walk backwards on its hind legs or pull them away, but it¡¯s useless, it¡¯s like they have glued themselves to the creature. Slowly the yellow glow appears in the creature''s skin and flows under its fur. As Imi and Dr Roslin move out from behind the wall to take stock of the overall situation the clones let go of the arms and jump backwards almost into Imi and Roslin. As they do, yellow chains follow them, attached to the creature. They grab onto the chains and pull, more ethereal chains sink out of its fur, covering it in a mass of twisted chains. Slowly it shrinks, and shrinks and shrinks with the creature becoming smaller and smaller until it has transformed back into a person, the chains effectively cutting off the Power being used. The fourth and final guy who exited the Hoist is the last to leave it, peeking out of the Hoist behind crates he points a crooked, old finger at the main group of clones he can see in view; myself with numbers 2 and 3. ¡°Hemorrhage!¡± he yells in a sickly, gleeful voice as he moves out of cover, we don¡¯t even see him exit the Hoist as 2, 3 and I fall to the ground. It feels like our own blood is trying to jump out of our skin, just barely holding on as Protection of Body tries to kick in. We can¡¯t do anything other than scream out as our very blood decides to move out. Our skin becomes redder and redder until a blast from some broken crates smacks into the last enemy, forcing him into the back of the Hoist, ragdolling into crates on the way. The Kage closest to them quickly captures him as the Power stops. Taking in a breath I see a flashing Interface window appear in the corner of my vision.
Log: WARNING! Protection of Body under effect from higher ranked Power, Suppression of status effects and further damage may be affected while the attacking Power is active. --- Alert! Higher Ranked Power has been deactivated.
Well that¡¯s handy¡­ I look up from the ground, the only fight ongoing is Lock¡¯s but his foe is quickly distracted by the fact that all his friends have been taken out. He spends too long looking around him as Lock seizes on this chance and stabs forward with his sword, landing a direct hit to his opponent. The amount of electricity being flung around cuts out suddenly and is only surrounding Lock¡¯s foe, a bolt of electricity arcing around each joint of his body before he falls. Lock remains standing for a moment, looking down at his defeated foe before he too kneels down, sword in the ground leaning on it as Adoazze steps forward, now finally able to move around to the rest of the opened area. The smell of ozone is intense, it¡¯s like nothing I have ever smelt. Adoazze carefully steps around ensuring not to touch either Lock or his opponent, a soft glow spreads from her hand towards Lock. She crosses over and yells out to the rest of us. ¡°Everyone OK?¡± She gets a few ¡°Yes¡± as replies but it''s mostly groans as I, 3 and 4 try to peel ourselves off the ground and from Milrich and Number 1, who are trying to untangle themselves from the broken crates that had broken their horizontal fall. Falling out of the splinters, snapped wooden boards and package stuffing Milrich asks, ¡°How by the Tides did we not break any vials?¡± ¡°That was the Kage, they managed to break our fall a little. Any vials that were in the way were quickly removed. But some of them¡­¡± Looking up at me after a short pause, Number 1 says. ¡°Sorry, we have casualties. Ten of the Kage overdosed on broken vials. I don¡¯t think they¡¯re coming back.¡± ¡°Dammit!¡± I yell smacking the scorched ground. ¡°Koda, Wotjek?¡± ¡°Here, We¡¯re OK¡± says Koda, transforming into his full bear size white standing over the tattooed elf holding him down. Wotjek also appears in full size and softly stands next to us as he tries to get us up onto our feet. Letting us lean up against him or using his paws to lift us up. Adoazze and her team start to take stock and heal up anyone who needs it. My only thoughts right now are on the missing, probably destroyed Kage and my body. ¡°Ouch¡± Chapter 70 - Dead Ends. Painfully I sit up next to numbers 3 and 4 as the pain and flash of anger from losing those Kage starts to go away. I am tired man, the adrenalin has worn off and I feel like I could sleep right here, on the cold concrete floor. But, number 1 decides to come over and talk to me, numbers 3 and 4, with Koda and Wojtek standup and move away, going to help where they can. In saying that, Adoazze and her team are already putting these guys in Suppression Jackets, stored from some kinda Inventory Power. Lock seems to be doing ok, breathing in and out heavily while leaning on his sword, the sword acts as a lightning rod like this, grounding him and allowing any excess electricity to leave. He looks at me for a moment and nods while catching his breath. I may have been awake for what feels like an age but he¡¯s most likely gone through most if not all his mana. As I shuffle backwards to lean against some crates, Number 1 joins me, sitting under the light of Imi¡¯s blinding orb Power which has just become a light for now. He flings me a copy of the message he had received when the Kage disappeared.
Mana Beast Uprising: Warning! Local Kage affected by intense mana overload. Attempting to shunt excess mana into atmosphere. (Failed with Result of Failed.) Warning! Kage ¡°fabric¡± has been irreparably damaged, loss of Kage imminent. Kage Lost - X10
¡°Didn¡¯t even ask them to do it, they just did. I don¡¯t know what would have happened otherwise to me or Milrich.¡± replied Number 1 to my silent question. Silently I stare at the Interface window, the words I had spoken to the Kage only a few days ago sound in my mind. ¡°Arise, join your Queen and Brethren under the rule of the Just, as Friends.¡± Friends? I didn¡¯t even know those Kage, just some large rat-like creatures that I fobbed off onto 5 so we could train them for espionage and fighting. Why they would help us just like this, without even asking, knowing what this drug does and the effect it has on Powers¡­ I don¡¯t understand it. ¡°Yea, I don¡¯t know how to feel about it either¡± said Number 1 as if replying to my thoughts, ¡°We had promised that they would have free will and we¡¯d just be basically working buddies but. Do you think Creature and Power have them? Like in that forest that Koda and Wotjek described?¡± I shake my head a little, ¡°I don¡¯t know, haven¡¯t even read Koda¡¯s Report yet¡­¡± Standing up he says with a frown, ¡°Make sure to read it, it gave us an idea about them. Talk to them about it, once we are out of this mess.¡± I almost feel like I¡¯m being told off which is weird considering who¡¯s talking, the speed of the fighting and now the sudden quietness has shifted the mood for everyone. ¡°Will do.¡± is all I can do in reply as I lean my head back to look up at the roof. Dr Roselin walks between us all but mostly checks up on Lock, Milrich and then I. A quick wave over me with her wand-like device and she sends me some healing in the form of a glowing yellow mist that slowly sinks into my skin. Lock has expended all of his electricity from his body and just lies-down as Roselin watches him, he has burns under his clothes from the electricity but she says he¡¯ll be ok. Adoazze who sees my clones working while I sit around trying to sort out my emotions about this mess looks at Milrich and shakes her head at me, outside of my view. Milrich, who at first tries to back out of it waving his hands is told via a stern look to go to me, he slowly walks over as the others stand near the Hoist on guard or talking through communication Powers. The only people nearby are Lock and Roselin who haven¡¯t moved from where Lock dropped. Sitting down next to me, Milrich brings his knees up to his chest as he looks at me. Feeling his gaze on me I look over. ¡°What?¡± I ask tiredly, looking at Milrich and away from the rafters. ¡°You did well, you remembered what training you must have had and listened when I told you to move. I¡¯m sorry about those shadow creatures.¡± ¡°Yea, so am I¡­¡± We stay silent for a few minutes as Adoazze starts interrogating one of the guys we captured, the elf who had tried to stab me at the beginning of the fight with the intangibility Power. After activating a crystal, She, Number 1 and Imi disappear into a grey, swirling dome that appears around them. ¡°It¡¯s a type of Guardsman silent communication crystal, allowing us to corner off an area in a dome. Not even light or sound will escape it so long as it is Powered.¡± says Milrich. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡°You¡¯re allowed to just start interrogating people like this? I don¡¯t suppose she¡¯ll be gentle.¡± ¡°No, in situations like these and under very specific conditions we are allowed it. But afterwards it goes under immediate review by a 3rd party, normally Adventurer Society or a city official¡­ How are you taking it? Losing those shadow creatures?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, on the one hand I¡¯ve created them to help me and I them, they have agreed to this weird lopsided arrangement we seem to have with Power and Creature and then just go and¡­ I didn¡¯t even know them, you know? It¡¯s like an acquaintance or someone you¡¯ve only met once has died¡­¡± ¡°You''re sad but not upset over it. I understand that.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be honest Milrich, before this whole thing started I was just going to chill here for now, in the city, slowly building up my Powers and trying to find a way home, but now¡­ Now I don¡¯t know how far they¡¯ll go.¡± I choke out, ¡°I want to go home man, back to Earth, home.¡± Milrich nods his head as he looks back toward the grey dome, ¡°I can¡¯t help you there, but hopefully we can make your time here¡­ be a bit better. I¡¯m actually surprised by you a little¡± he says in a smile. Confused, I ask him, ¡°Surprised?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve spent who knows how long here, and despite your setbacks, despite the Institute, despite Lincastle and yes, myself, you still didn¡¯t give up. You may have felt like it, I don¡¯t know, but you still didn¡¯t give up when many others would have. Keep on not giving up.¡± I sit there shocked looking at Milrich, thinking about all that has happened so far, how crazy it is that I¡¯m even in another world let alone what I have had to go through¡­ Can I keep that up? I almost miss the grey dome dissipating with Imi and 1 dragging out the elf and bringing in the older elf who attacked us with that powerful attack Power. Milrich makes a sound of disgust as the elf is dragged into the dome, disappearing behind it. The elf who was brought out is silent, sitting there until Roselin goes past and checks up on him as well. ¡°I hate that Power he used on you, I¡¯m glad that you were about to fight against it.¡± he says. ¡°Yea, it''s a Gifted Power¡¯s ability I have, that Power was called Haemorrhage right?¡± ¡°Mmm, it''s a Power that tries to instantly rupture the skin, boiling the blood and trying to force it out of the victim by creating needles out of the blood itself to break the skin. It¡¯s illegal in every country for a reason.¡± We sit in silence for a few minutes longer as I try to sort these feelings out some more. I¡¯ll read Koda¡¯s report when this is over, I''ll talk with the other Kage when this is over, I¡¯ll¡­ rest when this is over. The grey dome suddenly disappears, inside of it Adoazze stands over a kneeling, frail elf who looks beyond pale, hand resting on his forehead. Number 1 looks at me a moment before looking back at the elf. Adoazze takes her hand off him as he drops to the ground. Walking away she turns to us, back to the Hoist and says, ¡°Everyone over here, we have a lead.¡± Milrich easily gets up and holds a hand out for me to take, I look at it for a moment before taking it as he pulls me to my feet. As we approach Roselin walks next to me. ¡°Roll up your gambeson please, I¡¯ll give you something to stay awake.¡± Doing so with some difficulty she jabs me in the arm with her wand, not even breaking the skin but rubbing the tip into me hard. She removes the wand after a moment and says, ¡°It¡¯ll kick in soon, slowly.¡± as she walks towards the old, fainted elf. We all, aside from Roselin, gather around Adoazze with Koda and Wotjek sitting on hind legs behind me and my clones. All of us, including Lock, are different levels of tired but we still have a job to do. Adoazze turns on the grey dome crystal as she begins her report, seemingly confident that these prisoners will not run. ¡°From what we can gather the boxes here are the same ones that you Number 5 found in the sewers, they were then supposed to be transported away but by who and with what we didn¡¯t find out.¡± ¡°After talking with Master Naaf over comms, our plan for right now is as follows; we will move down the hoist and secure the tunnels below us while reinforcements who are already nearby will take charge of these ones here. Once cleared we are to report back, Masters Naaf and Carson are currently heading to secure Sir Falgus so they will be out of our direct communication for now. We will communicate with Headquarters for now. Rest up.¡± Silently we move away from the circle, all of us take up positions in clear view of our now prisoners, the Hoist and the sides of the wall. Number 2 and Koda volunteer to keep an eye on the front door, walking to the wall and leaning against it. In no time at all the Guardsmen arrive, a team of six in their red gambeson and opal engraved chestplate follow 2¡¯s directions towards us and quickly take control of our prisoners. Despite being held captive they look like they haven¡¯t moved, haven¡¯t talked, haven¡¯t even looked at us. I am almost tempted to ask what¡¯s wrong with them but the thought comes to me too late as we get ready to depart. Lock¡¯s had some extra mana injected in thanks to Roselin and so is a bit better considering. Once ready we enter the Hoist and begin our descent downwards as Milrich fills a crystal with mana, we find ourselves in a small room filled with crates with a thin tunnel running through it in the back of the room, walking around the stacked crates and through the tunnel we find it and the room to be man made, or at least Power-made. Large digging marks cover the stone and are supported by beams of a different, stronger stone arching over our heads. After 10 metres of walking in the dark only slightly illuminated by smaller lights from Imi we arrive in a familiar location, a sewer system, and right across from us is a tunnel leading towards a Teleport Platform. As we exit the tunnel and enter the sewer several shapes come out at us from the shadows, Adoazze and Milrich who are in front instantly bring up their defences and Powers before three swords come to a stop, hovering in mid-air. They slowly move backwards as people walk out of the shadows, the unnaturally deep shadows. ¡°Stand down lads, these are Guardsmen. Hullo Ma¡¯am, Sir. Adventurer Society member Shefde reporting, code 445-TIDES. Master Carson had us take the Teleport Platform and the original sewer location in case they decided to double-back. I take it they have been captured?¡± ¡°Yes, thank you Shefde, counter-code 673-WAVES. No one else has come through here?¡± ¡°Nope, and whatever drugs we¡¯ve found so far seem to be all of them. I don¡¯t think they had a contingency for their contingency.¡± Shefde replied. Now that we¡¯ve all exited the tunnel I can get a better look at him, a young (25ish) Trax with reddish, almost sunburnt skin with a single horn jutting out through his forehead. Short Sword and dagger in hand with three more smaller blades floating behind him which are quickly sheafed. ¡°What do we do now?¡± I ask Adoazze, an unasked question added in subtext. Where were these being taken to? Chapter 71 - Closing In. ¡°What do we do now?¡± I ask Adoazze, an unasked question added in subtext. Where were these being taken to? ¡°We contact HQ, give them an update and move on. Shefde, please continue to stand guard.¡± ¡°Yes Ma¡¯am, you heard her lads, secure this hole!¡± replied Shefde turning around to his party who have started to place down traps and camera crystals up and down the tunnels. Meanwhile Adoazze steps away and talks with HQ via her silent communication crystal. I lean against the wall with Lock while the others take it easy for a moment, Number 2 walks over to Shefde and starts talking about the traps and crystals they are using, trying to help and learn. Turning to Lock I ask, ¡°How you feeling mate?¡± ¡°Better now, but that fight was horrid, took almost everything I had but¡­ I learnt a lot. Gramps was right, after a hard fight you learn a lot.¡± ¡°Glad to hear your good, any guesses on what we¡¯re doing next?¡± ¡°Probably security, patrol, reinforcements. No way to tell right now. You?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be kinda honest, letting us sleep would be amazing right now.¡± I reply, causing Luck and I to chuckle a little under the white light of the sewer system. ~~~ If there is one thing this whole experience has taught me is that there is a lot of waiting around and then suddenly fighting. Ages of waiting in HQ followed by our fight here, now we have waited for about thirty minutes for Adoazze to come back to us with an update on what to do. Shefde, his team and Number 2 have completed their setup of the traps and cameras and are now patrolling up and down the sewer and Teleport Platform in case there is anyone else. During this downtime I taught Lock how to play Scissors, Paper, Rock¡­ ¡°Scis-sors, Pap-er, Rock!¡± we chant, slamming our fists into our left hands in time to the beat. ¡°Scissors, sorry Lock!¡± I say, winning for the twelfth straight time in a row, ¡°It¡¯s got to be luck, there¡¯s no way this is a skill, we agreed no Powers!¡± says a very confused Lock. ¡°Yeap, no Powers, none at all!¡± I cheekily respond. On Earth I learnt the trick to winning almost every game of Scissors, Paper, Rock; First throw and ties will mostly be random but if you lose the first round, switch to the thing that beats the thing your opponent just played. If you win, don''t keep playing the same thing, but instead switch to the thing that would beat the thing that you just played. In other words, play the hand your losing opponent just played. Thank you random website I found all those years ago talking about it after I lost a game, and Memory Palace for remembering the exact text. My grin makes it look like I have just come from a shit-eating festival, Lock looks at me very frustrated before Milrich who¡¯s been looking on (and betting/losing with Shefde on who¡¯ll win) finally says. ¡°You know, he¡¯s just playing what you just played.¡± said Milrich thoughtfully. ¡°Dammit Milrich! Why¡¯d you tell him!¡± ¡°Wait what!¡± yells Lock who realises why he¡¯s been losing for the past 5 minutes before going silent as his eyes look like a lightning storm. ¡°You little¡± ¡°W, w, wait, wait, hold the phone¡± I quickly stammer out before jumping and hiding myself behind Shefde who''s suddenly rather scared and upset that not only does he have an angry lightning user right in front of him but cannot scam Milrich out of any more coin. Before Lock, who now has a very manic, serial killer grin on his face moves closer Adoazze finally comes back and interrupts us. ¡°Calm down you lot, I¡¯ve got a message from Headquarters. They want us over at the Institute Headquarters. Turns out when Masters Naaf and Carson went there they found a bunch of Shae-Eq, almost everyone in the Institute is being detained for questioning. Even have the backing of the city.¡± Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Sounds of amazement come from everyone present, this is way, way bigger than anyone had thought. ¡°Holy shit¡± I say aloud with a confused Lock turning back to me, the serial killer face gone. ¡°Um, I don¡¯t think the gods actually¡­ you know?¡± ¡°Oh hell Lock, it''s an expression. How the hell did Naaf and Carson get that approved? Like this is ultra massive news!¡± I say, directing the question to the floor. Adoazze answers, ¡°They must have talked with the city government before they left for the Institute. In any case, they want people there and we¡¯re not doing anything. There¡¯s already another team guarding the warehouse and the team that took our captives has moved them to the cells. Grab your gear, we¡¯ll leave via Teleport Platform.¡± We quickly get out gear together and head through to the Teleport Platform saying goodbye to Shefde and his team as we go through. Adoazze activates the Platform with the control crystals in the wall and we quickly teleport away. Into the lion''s den. ~~~ Sir Falgus of Haven Isle - Shortly after Lincastle was discovered in the Terrenburg Warehouse. Damn him! Damn that impertinent, useless, idiot Lincastle! How dare he move against me, move against my work! I had that scum brought up here and chucked him into a cell with one of my less than kind associates, interrogating him to see if there¡¯s anything else to know. Any tricks or information that he knows. I hear a loud knock from my large wooden office door, carved with technical diagrams and fierce creatures. Pressing a crystal on my desk to unlock the door to my darkened, massive office and personal research station. The doors are flung open on their perfectly balanced hinges, softly slowing as they reach the wall. ¡°Sir! I have an urgent report!¡± ¡°Is Aq already finished?¡± I ask, Lincastle should not have broken that quickly could he? ¡°No Sir, I got a report from one of my contacts in the city government, they have given the Guardsmen and Society to apprehend and detain Institute members, up to and including you, Sir.¡± ¡°What!¡± I yell, slamming my hands on the desk. They can¡¯t do this to me! Don¡¯t they know how much I pay them! How much we¡¯ve done for them! ¡°Call, wait¡­¡± Wait, I cannot call the Institute leadership, if word of this gets out I¡¯ll be ruined! My membership revoked, funds removed, new findings classified. Dammit I need to sort this out quickly. ¡°Call every Institute Member we have and have them come back to the offices, we¡¯ll delay them as long as possible.¡± Yes, that should delay them, I can then get rid of anything in the confusion. ¡°Have Taal remove the items in storage. He has till right now to dispose of them.¡± ¡°Um, yes si¡± My aide is cut off as we hear heavy footsteps run up the corridor, another of my staff arrives out of breath. ¡°Sir, M, Master Naaf, and Master Carson. They just came through the Teleport Platform underneath us with a small team, there are more on the way and are moving up here!¡± ¡°WHAT!¡± I yell enraged and surprised, this is not what I wanted, everything was going to plan, nothing was out of the ordinary¡­ That Lincastle, he told them, he must have! Society and Guardsmen are not smart enough to figure it out on their own, they haven¡¯t before. I¡¯ll teach that traitor a lesson, his final lesson. ¡°LEAVE! FULFIL MY ORDERS!¡± My aids quickly scuttle away, the doors closing automatically. I move around my desk and toward my research station, I¡¯ll destroy the evidence, kill Lincastle and then get my politicians in line! I have enough evidence against them, they must be using this chance to discredit me, to remove me like a thorn to be scorned! Turning on my customised communication crystal I securely connect with my interrogator ¡°Aq, The Society and Guard are here, I want you to dispose of Lincastle and get out. Use the passage and leave nothing behind. Is that clear?¡± ¡°Yes Sir, Money in the usual spot?¡± ¡°Yes yes yes yes now hurry up!¡± I say cutting the connection, the interrogation room is sealed, nothing can get in and out. A secret room that only I and Aq know of, all I need to do is secure my files and¡­ BOOM! My doors slam open, smashing into the walls with such force that the doors have cracked and bent from the strain, loose papers from my desks flutter away from the wind as the emergency white lighting comes on. Through the door walks through two people, a Human and a Greater Beast, Master Carson and Master Naaf standing side by side as they waltz into my office. ¡°Ah, Master Carson and Master Naaf. Welcome to my humble office, to what do I owe the pleasure of my visit? Surely you did not come all this way just to destroy my door!?¡± I say, angrily yelling my last question. ¡°Sir Falgus, you¡¯re under arrest. If you¡¯ll come with us quietly this can be taken care off. Quite sorry about the door.¡± Chapter 72 - Masters Carson and Naaf vs Sir Falgus: Fight! Master Carson Allerchester - Just before breaking through Sir Falgus¡¯ door. We had used the Teleport Platform to enter the Institute headquarters, taking both myself and Falldwell into the depths of the Institute. The entrance is the same as all the others, a single tunnel leading to a Hoist. Falldwell had used the Teleport Platform in his headquarters to arrive at the Guardsman HQ and then onto the Institute. There is little resistance, unlike the Society or Guardsmen, the Institute is not normally made of combatants unless in proximity to a war or aggressive neighbour, the vast majority we come across were small time researchers doing peer testing for newer formulas and techniques that have been discussed and tested prior. A few trainees as well. We are dressed in combat gear, Falldwell in his red gambeson and light armour and I in my gambeson and scale mail armour, lined with Cogar scales, a large mammal that comes up for air but lives in the sea. Michael calls it a scaled whale. I have my normal weapon with me, a large halberd with crystals embedded into the handle. Falldwell has his swords, four of them are strapped to him with four more stored in an inventory space via a specialised crystal. Each one is thin and designed to cut rather than stab, each has a slightly curved single edged blade. We quickly move past the numerous offices, laboratories and research stations and find a Hoist that would take us to the higher levels, there can be several hoists in a building for security purposes. Within 5 minutes of teleporting in we reach the highest level, the level which Sir Falgus and his offices are. As we walk down the corridor I turn to Falldwell and ask a simple question. ¡°Are you ready?¡± ¡°Yes, time to settle this. This may have been a fast turn of events but I look forward to capturing Falgus, you?¡± ¡°Yes, let¡¯s get him.¡± I reply with a wide smile, I must confess that I have missed the thrill of a fight. We arrive after passing two young Institute members, non-combatants and soon find the grandiose wooden doors which are the entrance to Falgus¡¯ laboratory and office, carved in all manners of ferocious beasts and Mana Formulas. Falldwell turns to me and backs up a little while waving his hand in a mockingly kingly wave. ¡°After you.¡± he says. I send him a smirk before activating one of my Powers, placing my hand on the closed wooden double doors I activate; Destructive Waves! Upon activation it sends a shockwave through the door, bending and snapping the wood in the middle, forcing both doors to slam against the wall. We enter with no resistance, and find Sir Falgus standing behind his desk with a window behind him, the room is filled with benchtops and laboratory equipment only vaguely seen through the darkened room. From the desk a figure walks out as the emergency lighting illuminates the office/laboratory. ¡°Ah, Master Carson and Master Naaf. Welcome to my humble office, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit? Surely you did not come all this way just to destroy my door!?¡± Yells Sir Falgus. He is a Human, a Uspeta as we call them here. Standing 5 ft 11in he is a lanky build with little meat on his bones but a sinister look in his intelligent eyes. Greying hair is the only determining factor of his age as otherwise he appears to be in his mid thirties with a fair soft skin and minimal sunlight, no facial hair to speak of with a single monobrow being the defining characteristic. An old man but of high Rank, maybe on par with myself and Falldwell who are both Neonnot Rank or as Michael calls is A3 (AAA) Rank. ¡°Sir Falgus, you¡¯re under arrest. If you¡¯ll come with us quietly this can be taken care of. Quite sorry about the door.¡± I say, replying and sending a message to Society HQ to transfer to Guardsmen HQ; ¡°We have engaged Sir Falgus.¡± ¡°Well¡± replies Falgus, ¡°As you have entered my office it is only proper that I start things off shall I?¡± We quickly prepare ourselves as we bring our hands up into a ready position. ¡°Access Dimensional Space!¡± Chants Falgus, dimensional spaces are incredibly tricky to enter in the first place, what kind of Power would allow him to throw us into one just like that? Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. A bubble of black surrounds us as the outside lights dim and blink out, leaving us blinded in the dark for a moment before we feel disoriented, as if experiencing a severe bout of sea sickness which I had not felt for many years. The light which had gone out is now back, blinding like a sun overhead, blinking our eyes open we see Falgus at a similar distance from before his Power activated, but in a new location, gone is the office and laboratory and now we appear walking on water as it moves underneath us, making us rise and fall with the tide but not losing our footing. The water is a dark green colour with some tall coral sticking up out of the water, appearing in a pinkish colour. The mana in the air is lesser than normal, however not missing, more like it is minimised and projected from below us, under the water, we could quickly run out of Mana in this environment. I walk backwards a little to where I know the broken doors are but feel nothing, we have somehow moved into a dimensional space. What kind of Powers have the Institute been working on? ¡°Well, how do you like that!¡± Yells Falgus from across the water, ¡°The Institute itself we¡¯re unable to create a Power to break into Dimensional Spaces but here we are, my Creation Power is above all in the Institute!¡± he proclaims. I give a quick glance to Falldwell who rolls his eyes at the display. We''ve been in this business a long time and know when an opponent is only boating about their Powers. Wanting to quickly get this over I ask one last time. ¡°Falgus, surrender, this is your last chance before we detain you ourselves.¡± Protocol states that if a suspect does not surrender after two verbal warnings then we can legally detain then, using Powers if they fight back, which this Dimensional Space counts as. ¡°Ahahaha! You really think I would let this go? Let the Shae-Eq go!? Hahaha! I will destroy you, leave you as food for this Space and take over this city! Then finally I will complete my research!¡± What is he talking about? He appears deranged, laughing with a sick smile on his face. This might be a side effect of the Shae-Eq or another drug influence. As we stand there preparing for battle we pull out our weapons, my halberd. As Falldwell wields two of his swords in each hand we feel a shift in the water. Slight tremors in the water, unexpected changes to the waves. We react with only a moment''s notice, with a splash two large tuber creatures jump from the water, missing us by inches as we slightly dodge them. They are long, easily two metres in length and as thick as a thigh, coloured with blue on their back and pale white on the belly. Their mouth is round and with multiple sets of teeth and only slight fins on their round body. Falgus also dodges with us, narrowly dodging two of the tubers that jump out of the water, he then moves into the air, probably a Flight Power, before this fight starts. Falgus holds a hands out in front of him, palm out towards us as he hovers in the air, we feel a heat on our bodies and a bright reddish glow from our bodies, our Shipton¡¯s Greater Damage Translocator Power appears to be soaking up most of whatever invisible damage is being dealt by Falgus¡¯ Power but we can feel some of it is too much and seems to get past our defences. Falldwell and I each place a Force Wall to intercept the attack to little effect, the wall is slowly ripped apart, as if flayed by a nine tailed whip, deep gorges rip though the shield. Faldwell dismisses his shield as I run away, moving around to the side of Falgus to get into a better position, the water holding me steady as if it is solid ground, expect for the strange tuber creatures that jump from the water trying to latch onto me, however my Springvern¡¯s Greater Increase Physicality Power is helping me spot the creatures before they jump from the water, this Taught Power that both Falldwell and I have increases our Strength, Dexterity, Mobility and more by twice our normal base level. Faldwell attempts to use his Absorb Elements Power that allows him to temporarily absorb any Power based attacks, its downside being its inability to block any physical attacks that land. A dark, black glow emanates from his hand as the Power activates, a small black ball appears behind him, the stored mana from the attack is being stored there as it would otherwise be corrosive to his Well and Mana Network. Falgus dismisses the attack he had launched and turns towards me as I reach an optimum range for one of my other Powers, using Flight I launch into the air at his left, activating Destructive Waves at my feet just prior to my leaving the ground, a cylinder of water shoots upwards around me, focusing into a point above me as I bend the Power to my will, it should normally not work like this but if your in this job long enough you pick up a few tricks. The fine point slams into Falgus¡¯ chest, pushing him backwards a distance as his body glows a slightly different shade of red than our defence Power, must be a Institute version of Shipton¡¯s Greater Damage Translocator though how it is created is beyond us. Faaldwell takes advantage of Falgus¡¯ distraction and pulls from his Inventory space his remaining swords, placing them on his legs, shoulders, armpits and across his chest, a Creation Power of his allows him to stick items onto his body like metal to a magnet. With all eight swords now placed in a specific position onto his body using his Weapon Stuck Power he flies into the sky using a Flight Power and quickly makes his way towards Falgus, our fight has just begun! Chapter 73 - A game of extradimensional chess. Falldwell and I may not have been active Adventurers or Guardsmen in the last few years, swapping our old Powers out as needed, but we have enough Powers and combat experience to make a difference! Falldwell with his swords placed onto his body looks like a pin cushion as he flies towards Falgus, spinning in the clear blue sky his blades swing towards him, being blocked by a Force Wall but still causing damage to Falgus, his skin glowing a lighter shade of red as it absorbs the damaged launched by Falldewll¡¯s True Strike Power. I am midair and hovering to the side while Falldwell swings his swords into the Force Wall, slowly increasing the damage dealt onto Falgus. Let¡¯s make things a bit trickier for him shall we? I chant ¡°Gladnach¡¯s Power and Mana Anchor!¡± letting Falldwell know the invisible Power is in use, as Falgus sneers at me while blocking Falldwell¡¯s swords he faces me, ignoring the damage and swords and I feel the heat on my skin only for a moment as it disappears into a dark orb that hangs behind me, I use Mahobriand¡¯s Advanced Instant Teleport to move out of the way, I don¡¯t know what this Power is but I get the feeling I should not get in its way. The Teleport feels slightly different, as if hesitating for a moment. As I move behind Falldwell and on the water, he sees me in the corner of his eye and sends an Astral Arm through the small of his back and makes a hand sign letting me know his plan, his ring finger sticking up in his closed fist. Guess he decided to make things even harder on Falgus With the activation of this Power unknown to Falgus he continues his attack, Falldwell¡¯s Astral Arms arrive in force, glowing a yellow colour as they grab onto weapons, elongate and start to move around Falgus attempting to score direct hits onto him. The Force Wall wraps around Falgus into a cocoon shape as it weathers the attacks, but damage is still being done. Falldwell is a natural with weapons, in another time he would be a Master Swordsmaster, the Powered swords activate their Powers, ripping into the Force Wall and slowly slanding hit upon hit. Directed Force, Lightning, Razor Sharpness and more ripping and effecting the Force Wall. Falgus is not doing so good, we can see him panicking, sweating from the constant barrage of sword blows, we may not be equipped Power wise for a fight but we are definitely powerful enough to take him down. I get a feeling in the back of my mind as another tuber jumps out of the dark green water, I manage to strike it with the flat of my halberd, knocking it up into the sky where it flops about before splashing into the water. I keep my eyes on Falgus however, watching him to see if he tries to escape. Falgus suddenly smiles a manic grin as he crosses his arms and lowers his Force Wall, Falldwell seizes the opportunity to capture him as the Astral Arms back off a little to give us the room to apply Luminous Shackles. ¡°Fall¡± Falgus says in a deep voice, suddenly all of Falldwell¡¯s Powers cease to be, Astral Arms disappearing and dropping the swords, swords stuck to his body fall away and the Flight Power drops him back onto the water, landing hard as if falling onto concrete but not going below the water. The fallen swords landing either on or stuck in the water, as if stuck into the ground, moving slightly up and down with the waves. Falldwell quickly gets to his feet, having only taken a slight amount of damage. Falgus standing in the air looks down upon us, ¡°Fools, I have Power Analysis, with my skill I can rip apart any Power I see! Truly, I am the greatest mind in the world! Hahaha!¡± Falldwell struggles for a moment but an astral arm appears from his back again, giving me the same signal as before, the Power is still in effect or he has re-cast it. Either way it¡¯s my turn. I raise my halberd above my head, as if about to slice down, teleporting up into his face I let go of my halberd in the air. I have a pleasant moment of seeing his panicked face before I disappear again next to Falldwell, Falgus¡¯ eyes following my teleportation, all attention on me. My Halberd starts to fall, getting faster and faster. It slams into Falgus¡¯ shoulder, for a moment it appears that it breaches through the Damage Translocator and into the collarbone, snapping bones and pushing inwards but it quickly is covered in a deep red colour and bounces away, leaving no apparent damage but moving Falgus from the force. Moving back and stretching his arms he turns to me, halberd forgotten as it falls to join the swords on the water. ¡°Where is your bite? Where is the man worthy of being called The Monster of Felworth!? Screams Falgus at me, placing his hands out front of him. He quickly teleports behind us and places his hands on me and next to Falldwell. We teleport away as soon as we notice him, both of us move to different locations at different distances. A teleportation race occurs, with Gladnach¡¯s Power and Mana Anchor active thanks to me Falgus cannot shoot attacking based Powers at a target as it will be anchored in place, however at close range it does not work as well. We teleport away, Falgus chases after us, we teleport again, midair, on the water, upside down even, a deadly game of trying to get the upper hand, getting close enough for his Powers to affect us while we attempt to capture him and hopefully break this Access Dimensional Space Power. His focus slowly shifts to Falldwell, he may be noticing the effects of Falldwells Power that he had activated, it is strange though, I¡¯m starting to feel off, slightly different. Maybe it''s the effects of this space, maybe the strange Power he had used that seems to only heat our skin, maybe a mix of both, however at our current rate we will eventually run his mana reserves down. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Eventually the teleport race slows down, we end up stopping for a moment breathing in and out trying to catch our breaths a little and recoup what little mana we can from the atmosphere. Falgus however seems to be doing worse, he¡¯s definitely not used to this kind of combat, or any kind of combat outside of a research station. ¡°Strange don¡¯t you think, that for some reason I seem to get damaged harder when fighting Carson than against you Naaf, why is that I wonder?¡± ¡°Why are you doing this, Falgus?¡± says Falldwell. ¡°Why? Oh you mean the OutWolder, yes well that''s just standing orders for this kind of thing, we find an OutWolder we capture him.¡± He says, waving his hand as if to say that it¡¯s situation normal. ¡°What about the Shae-Eq?¡± I ask him. His face changes, maniacally grinning, like he''s thrilled, excited. ¡°The Shae-Eq is a different matter entirely, you of course know of the great barrier, the one that must be crossed to breach into the highest ranks of Power, to become Basbron ranked!¡± Basbron Ranked is what Michael calls S ranked, only very few reach this and higher ranks due to the great barrier to entry that must be breached, many do not go beyond this level and most, including myself, settle at Neonnot Rank (AAA Rank) in skill and amount of Powers (17 Powers). Michael really needs a better system to understand the Powers in play¡­ ¡°Do you know how close I have come? So close to the Gi¨¦, so close to my Masterpiece! Did you know that Shae-Eq can be used to increase the overall level of Powers, their overall strength! I suspect I am using the very same base Powers you are and yet I have upgraded those Powers simply by consuming tiny amounts of Shae-Eq, forcing my body to take in and make changes to the mana signatures of the Powers themselves!¡± ¡°Think of it! A creation Power that utilises the Shae-Eq to increase the base of all Powers, a man may become Basbron Ranked quickly, easily, the life expectancy alone would grant people near immortality! Surely such a small breach of laws warrants my research, this would allow people to live for centuries, travel between domains, maybe even breach the barrier and travel to other worlds like the OutWolders!¡± It is silent for a moment, the only sounds are from the waves until we hear a deep rumbling sound from behind us, a massive tidal wave rises behind us. We all turn to look at it, the dark green water moving towards us at massive speed, quickly covering the tiny by comparison pink coral which is sticking out of the sea. Within seconds it closes in on us, just behind the wall of water I can see a massive maw of circular teeth, it¡¯s a massive version of those tuber creatures that were attacking us which speaking of appear to be in front of it, jumping in and out of the water in the wave as if running away or directing it towards us. Falldwall, Falgus and I teleport away, into the sky in different directions, however the creature under the waves seems to have decided that I¡¯ll be its lunch, massive fins break through the water, as it gets closer. Its dark blue top and white bottom breaches out of the wall in a massive spray of water, a maw a hundred metres in diameter, millions of long, thin needle teeth promise a painful, quick death. I am on the opposite side of Falldwells and Falgus¡¯ teleport, my teleport Power only will give me 60ft of movement per teleport, factoring in each of the teleports and its necessary cooldown time I don¡¯t think I can get out of its way, especially as it seems to be able to turn exceptionally well. ¡°Well, well, well, I¡¯m in a tricky spot aren''t I? Environmental Bureau, I hope you don¡¯t have too much of a fuss¡­¡± I say to myself, a small joke to calm my nerves a little. This could be close. The giant tuber creature bears down on me as Falldwell and Falgus move out of its way, teleport race back in gear and our little discussion is firmly broken by this creature. Falldwell knows I can get out, otherwise I would have contacted him to help. Standing on the water I place my hands above me, as if I am holding a two handed sword in both hands overhead as I pull on my mana reserves, this will take quite an amount. I begin to grin like a madman, gods I have missed this feeling, this excitement of battle and uncertain odds! The massive amount of mana is pulled into my hands as I prepare to cast it, ¡°Summon Greater Weapon!¡± I scream out, a massive golden glow emanates from my hands and up into the sky, taller than the tallest building I have ever seen, taller than some mountains even. A massive sword has appeared in the sky, a slight backwards curve to it and thin, the blade itself made entirely of water giving it a dark green look, almost black at the edge due to the density of the water there. The handle is the perfect size for me, as if I am holding a normal sword hilt. As the giant creature swims towards me on top of the water I steady myself, preparing a downward strike, ¡°Greater Weapon Control¡± helping me keep the sword upright and hold what feels like an ocean''s worth of water at bay. My mana control is breaking, there is too much!, far too much!, I may just run out of mana at this rate. I drop Gladnach¡¯s Power and Mana Anchor and almost every other passive Power as I prepare myself. It¡¯s fast approaching, an avalanche of water and teeth, all white from the spray except for the dark blackness of its stomach. I clear my mind of all unnecessary thoughts, close my eyes and wait, Greater Weapon Control will guide my hand. I hear the fighting, the roar of the sea but close that off as well, moving into an old phase, a meditative phase I have not entered in some time. I feel it! I place all my strength, feel, weight and Power into my swing, bringing the sword of high pressure water down into the creature, as it touches its head the high pressure water in the blade edge shoots out, a massive, long jet of water that would rival a Power all on its own, that would cut through even the toughest steel! The wave of water and creature rushes past me, blood and gore fly past me at speed as the massive creature is bisected lengthwise, I am now holding the blade to the ground but the tip of it still has not reached the creature, showing how massively long it is. Both sides slowing in the water as it slowly comes to rest, momentum is all my blade needs to cut the rest of the creature in twain. The massive water blade dissipates from the air and my hand, giving the surrounding area a heavy, then light rain for a minute. The massive creature is dead, I am standing at about the middle section of it, the dark red blood colours the sea as if a green dress was dyed with a lake worth of red colouring. As I stand there for a moment, mana almost fully spent I stand there, waiting, waiting for Falldwell to let me know that this is finished. Falldwell¡¯s Power he had activated, signalling with his Astral Arms was Scrupulous Duel, a Power that would damage a target if they attack someone other than the caster, which is why Falgus was taking more damage when attacking me. I feel horrid, the only Power I had active, Springverns Greater Increase Physicality has been turned off from the lack of mana left in my Network and Well. I feel nauseous, like my stomach is twisting twine, my eyes cloud a little and I feel strange all over, this is not mana exhaustion, I know what that feels like. I turn to where I can hear the fighting continue, but the massive creatures corpse is in the way, bobbing in the water. Guess I''ll stand here then, on this strangely solid water. I rub my head a little in an attempt to remove the incoming migraine. I feel my head a little, before looking at my hands, puffs of my hair cover my hand. What¡¯s going on here? Chapter 74 - A chilling turn. Master Falldwell Naaf - Just before the large tuber monster appeared. ¡°Think of it! A creation Power that utilises the Shae-Eq to increase the base of all Powers, a man may become Basbron Ranked quickly, easily, the life expectancy alone would grant people near immortality! Surely such a small breach of laws warrants my research, this would allow people to live for centuries, travel between domains, maybe even breach the barrier and travel to other worlds like the OutWolders!¡± It is silent for a moment, the only sounds are from the waves, gently flowing underneath our feet. A deep rumbling is heard from behind as a massive tidal wave takes station behind us. It takes our focus away from the fight, the massive green mountain of water speeding faster than it has any right to. Just behind the wall of water I can see the gleaming of white needle teeth arranged in a circle, it may be a fully grown adult of those tuber creatures that were attacking us. Speaking of, they appear to be in front of it, launching out of the water in front of the wave as if directing it towards us. Carson, Falgus and I teleport away, into the sky in different directions, however the adult tuber must have noticed this and has moved closer to Carson. He lowers himself to the water and gathers a massive amount of mana, almost tactile it is so dense even from so far away. My gaze of it is interrupted as Falgus attacks again, apparently not caring or interested in the massive creature, my skin and fur heats up as he uses his Power again, causing whatever damage it is doing that is somehow getting through my Force Wall. We teleport around again, chasing each other. I work on grabbing my swords from the water as we go, using Astral Arms and Weapon Stuck to grab and stick them to my body as I attack again, landing slash and stab into his Force Wall as the damage travels through thanks to True Strike. Eventually a large crack is heard from him, the Damage Translocator Power he was using breaks the protection stone and as such cannot be used until replaced. I pull back my swords and Astral Arms for the moment, to give Falgus a chance to see that he is outclassed, and that eventually we will wear him down. I don¡¯t go to kill him or render him unconscious as we would then have no method to get back. We pause for a moment in surprise and turn as in our peripheral vision we both notice the massive blade conjured by Carson as the tuber bears down on him, as he brings it down we see the massive blood splatter as the creature is split in half. This adult tuber must be almost five or ten kilometres long! ¡°My, my. Carson is quite strong, makes sense as a retired Adventurer but what of you Falldwell? Are you alone strong enough to defeat me?¡± He says in a mocking tone. Turning to him I simply, seriously respond; ¡°Yes.¡± Falgus flinches back a little at the quick response but quickly tries to compose himself, making himself angrier and angrier in the process. ¡°FINE THEN! If you''re so confident then I¡¯ll simply defeat you here. I have more dice ready to roll!¡± Screams Falgus as he teleports away for a moment back to stand on the water. I remain in the sky, Flight Power still in effect. A massive amount of mana coalesses around Falgus, sucked up from the ocean and from within him, the massive amount of mana I can sense must be from a Mana Container Power that most people have, but this is even greater than mine. Despite being mentally damaged from the Shae-Eq drug, his mad experiments seem to have paid off a little. A Power activates, using this mana and sucking in a great, massive amount of air, the wind blowing so hard it forces me to the ground. Looking up, a tornado of air is generated, being pulled down and amassed around Falgus. Yeah, this could be bad, as the wind dies down a little I teleport over the water and strike out with my swords and arms, but they are blocked before they can reach, his body being covered in a frozen, cloudy layer, the extreme cold causing the water and air to chill and at his feet and freeze. The blizzard, snowstorm like coldness is suffocating. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. His face is the only part that is not cloudy, his manic grin clearly visible as the wind dies down leaving only the frozen air behind. Slowly the ice at his feet grow as the water he stands on becomes colder and colder. It¡¯s getting too cold, any normal person would be suffering here but I am just hanging on due to Springverns Greater Increase Physicality, but I need to pump more mana than normal into it, far more mana. Now that most of the wind has died down I can see it is more of a liquid, a pale blue liquid of air wrapping itself around his entire body. How is he even surviving in that? I backed off as I observed this Power, my swords have a frost on them that quickly turns into vapour and back to air, as I watch on the temperature continues to drop more, faster and faster. The liquid air starts to harden, becoming pale blue ice shaped as a suit of full armour, small amounts of vapour steaming off the ice. Around us in the sky, clouds slowly begin to form, created by the difference in temperature as the hotter air starts to quickly rise. ¡°Well Falldwell, will you give up? You cannot defeat me in this manner.¡± ¡°That does not matter, this place does not have the mana that our Dimension has, you¡¯ll eventually run out, you¡¯ll eventually need to get back. Impressive that this is, you will still lose.¡± Smirking, I add, ¡°You should have made it with water, it would not have taken as much mana.¡± He growls as he sprints forward, disappearing as he teleports away leaving a platform of ice behind, the temperature immediately rises and then drops as he moves behind me. A spear of air ice shoots out from his hand, I block it with a Force Wall as it shatters against it, quickly turning back into air. We continue this dance, again and again, teleporting around and around trying to get the upper hand, I sheathe the swords that have ice crystals and bring forward the fire, sharpness and concussive force swords, trying to smash the ice apart but more air compresses around it to reform it. The oppressive cold and all this teleporting is running my mana reserves down quicker than I¡¯d like. Falgus cease¡¯s teleporting around, coming to a stop on the water as I do the same, the light green water ice sinking under the water from my weight. Another arm lifts up and an ice spear shoots forward, blocked again by a Force Wall, but as the spear travels the Force Wall suddenly loses cohesion, cracking apart similar to earlier in the fight, with the Power that seems to heat our skin. The solid, icy air slips right through the Force Wall and smashes into me, pushing me backwards and cracking my Damage Translocator stone, the red light it generates around my skin quickly disappearing, the cold freezing the outer layer of my chest plate before quickly heating and turning back into air, still extremely cold air but air nonetheless. The Power Falgus is using to heat my skin does nothing for the cold, the mana from my container and well are almost all gone. I attempt absorbing the Power with Absorb Elements, a Power which should allow me to sap mana from any attacks being made. An intense pang of dizziness and nausea hit and drop me to my knee. The black orb that has been hovering behind me, which holds some of the mana of the Powered attacks I have sustained is leaking out, the raw, personal mana of Falgus being corrosive to my body. Also whatever Falgus'' Power is might also be causing damage. Damn it, I am out of practice. As the nausea passes I can feel the gambeson and armour rub against my skin, not fur. Rubbing my furred hand some of it comes off, leaving redness and blistering like an intense sunburn. The nausea comes back, causing me to lose my lunch. The vomit sliding over the green seawater as if it was oil on water. I lose my conscious control over the passive Powers in action and the nausea hits again with reinforcements. I look up, up towards Falgus who still dons his air ice armour, grinning maniacally at me. ¡°Well, well, well. Seems I have defeated you both, which means as the two best and strongest fighters in Oghqoa right now I should have the run of the city. Maybe I¡¯ll bring my Shae-Eq back here, might be a bit quieter.¡± ¡°You will be stopped Falgus, there are many that are stronger than me, than us. Your hollow victory means nothing.¡± ¡°Oh I know that, I know both you and Carson over there are not in top shape, your old Powers gone with stupid administrative Powers to help you run the day to day, I know to you it may seem hollow, but it is but one step of many.¡± Sighing Falgus looks toward Carson as my eyes darken a little, the exhaustion has hit hard. As my head hits the water and I fall unconscious I realise that Falgus may indeed have succeeded with his experiments, even in my office job state I can tell that Falgus may have reached S Rank, Basbron Rank. Before my consciousness departs I feel the water replaced with the hardwood floors of the office/laboratory, Carson''s heavy breathing and the tinkling of glass. Chapter 75 - Inside the lions den. Michael Hayes - Just after using the Teleport Platform under the warehouse. We arrive in the Teleport Platform underneath the Institute, the Teleport Platform is the same as usual except that instead of a tunnel leading to a sewer system or even a short tunnel there is a Hoist right in front of us. We quickly enter it and move up a floor. Upon arriving, the foyer for this research area is in disarray, large gashes cover the walls, floor, research stations and more with all sorts of Powered attacks. Ice spikes in the floor shattered on the ground, burnt walls and door. Even furniture did not seem to be safe, though some may have been used as weapons, as we walk through the foyer to another hoist we see some furniture in odd positions, almost like they were walking. ¡°Great, they have Powers to make furniture into mimics¡­ Number 2 you can look into that.¡± ¡°Ugh¡± is all Number 2¡¯s reply, it¡¯s kinda an ongoing joke that anything new goes to Number 2 to research. We all help when we can but it is kinda fun to joke around a bit, helps keep my mind off of the upcoming, possibly dangerous fight against this Falgus fellow. He also sends me a message that he¡¯s having some of the Kage peel off to grab loot from this research area. Stuff like notes, documentation and stuff like that. Stealing may be wrong don¡¯t get me wrong so let¡¯s think of this as payment for damages rendered ok? The foyer is completely empty, and it¡¯s just helping to get me on my nerves about this fight, I¡¯m getting kinda nervous to be honest. ¡°Do you think that Masters Carson and Naaf have¡± BANG! I am interrupted as a fight spills out into the foyer, the room filling with sound due to the open doors that banged open which must have some noise cancellation, several people in the fight are easily identified as Guards while the rest must be Institute, some ran past them and towards us but quickly slowdown as Adoazze and her team pull swords a little and turn to them. They start to lie down as the fight comes to an end, a quick set of temporary Luminous Shackles keeps them detained while the Guardsmen who have arrived sort things out. Some jog up to us to detain these now protesting Institute members while one peels off to talk to Adoazze. ¡°Ma¡¯am, Masters Carson and Naaf went up to Sir Falgus¡¯ room on the top floor, I have a map here that you can use.¡± ¡°Excellent, thank you Guard, any word from them?¡± Asks Adoazze passing the paper map to Milrich who studies it with us. ¡°Nothing yet, but it¡¯s only been about ten minutes so far.¡± ¡°Understood, how¡¯s it going?¡± she asks, nodding toward the now captive Institute members. ¡°We¡¯re getting there, as it was at night most we¡¯re in bed so we got quick access, but many more must have been waiting for us. We had more resistance than we had expected, but about as much confusion as we thought.¡± ¡°Upper floors?¡± ¡°Mostly cleared, you should have limited contact if any.¡± ¡°Thank you¡± Nodding the Guardsmen turns and starts walking back with his new captives, Adoazze turns back to us and silently we get ready to move up. Up a maze of hoists we end up on the same level as Falgus¡¯ office, silently and with weapons ready we sneak down the hallway ready and waiting for any ambushes or surprises. We pass one door, two, three when a loud bang is heard behind us. Spinning around we see a door had burst opened and two people in Institute garb are running out of a room with massive tomes of documents and files stacked in their arms, they don¡¯t even see us as they sprint for the Hoist but do not get very far as a set of Luminous Shackles appears once again to grab them. Falling to the floor I know 2 has sent some Kage to grab those documents and in the meanwhile we kick the tomes out of the way as we approach. ¡°W, wait! I¡¯m Sir Falgus¡¯ personal aide, I can help!¡± The other Institute member is silent, he looks young and absolutely terrified. ¡°Where is Falgus and Masters Carson and Naaf?¡± asks Adoazze calmly. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°We ran past them earlier, they broke into Falgus¡¯ office and then we heard a loud sound. Nothing else I swear!¡± ¡°And these?¡± Milrich says, kicking one of the tomes to the side, bumping them against the wall. ¡°Research notes! Nothing more, you can check!¡± he yells panicked, almost going into shock from the looks of things. Imi, who does a ton of research for the Guardsmen has a quick look. ¡°Yeap, just notes.¡± ¡°Chuck them in the Hoist and send a message to HQ, have them come and pick them up?¡± I suggest, turning to the poor Institute guys, I say ¡°After all, you¡¯ll not make any trouble for yourselves right?¡± Quick head nods and stammered ¡°Yes Sirs¡± follow as we put a pair of manacles on them that Milrich has in an Inventory-like Power and they are quickly sent on their way, tomes left forgotten. ¡°If there has been no sounds after that, then where are they?¡± asks Lock, turning back towards the office, we can see that the doors are off their hinges a bit from our angle but nothing much else. ¡°Could the fighting have fallen out into other rooms or outside?¡± I say. ¡°Possibly other rooms, but outside not, there would be an update then¡­ Let''s move inside the office, beware of traps.¡± says Adoazze. We slowly move into the office, the doors blasted off their hinges like a tank round had hit them. The office floor is stone or concrete type with some wood shavings on the floor, an almost comically sized window is behind a large desk on the left of the room. The rest of it is filled with bookshelves and lab tables filled with notes, weird tools, glass boxes with gloved hand holes and a bunch of Shae-Eq vials. Other than that, nothing is out of the ordinary, no broken windows, no burnt floors, nothing aside from wood chips. ¡°Emergency Lighting is on, don¡¯t touch anything, we have no clue if anything is trapped.¡± Says Milrich reinforcing Adoazze''s command. Number 2 has a sad field day looking at the notebooks already opened on the tables. ¡°I have no clue what these say¡­ And it''s all in base twelve math too dammit.¡± ¡°What''s base twelve?¡± asks Imi, ¡°You know how in your maths you mainly use one through twelve? Yea on earth we use one through ten.¡± Everyone except for myself and my clones turn to look at 2 like he grew a set of massive pink fluffy arms before shaking their heads saying to themselves a mixture of ¡°That¡¯s so weird¡±, ¡°That sounds fake¡± and ¡°Why ten?¡± After searching around some more we find nothing, no secret exits, entrances, mechanisms, nothing. Milrich used his Footstep Mapping Power to see what movements were made but aside from Falgus moving towards a lab desk containing only note books and Shae-Eq and another set with the Masters entering, there is nothing else¡­ Looks like they didn¡¯t even leave. ¡°Where in the depths of the sea did they end up?¡± says Milrich annoyed, ¡°It¡¯s not like they just upped and disappeared?¡± ¡°Looks like that''s exactly what happened though. If they fly, would that get tracked with the Footsteps thingy?¡± I ask. ¡°Yes, it would appear as lines in the air¡­¡± Adoazze turns around from a desk and addresses the group. ¡°Lets move out of here, Michael can those shadows talk to you with silent communication?¡± ¡°Yeap, got clear comms for about 35 feet.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s head back to the corridor, we¡¯ll leave the shadows there, if anyone comes back they¡¯ll let us know. Meanwhile I¡¯ll contact HQ, see if there is someone they can send down here or locate them.¡± We all head back into the corridor and further back down nearer to the Hoist, some chairs are grabbed from the other rooms and we place them against the walls. We chill for a few minutes just waiting. I ask Adoazze who¡¯s sitting in a chair opposite me, ¡°So if they cannot find them out here, what do we do?¡± ¡°Just secure the area, which we are already doing.¡± I turn to Lock and share a shrug while we wait some more, about five more minutes pass before Number 5 suddenly jumps up. ¡°Their back!¡± he whispers. We all jumped up with him and quickly make our way back toward the office, the air getting colder and colder with vapour flowing out of the door. Moving around the corner we find Masters Carson and Naaf in a bad way on the floor out cold with Falgus in some kinda ice armour at a lab table, back turned to us messing with some vials. Dr Roselin squats down next to them as her hands light up, motioning to us we silently drag them out of the room for Roselin to attend to them. The slight sounds we were making must have alerted him as he turned around, the pale blue ice covering everything but is clear around his face. Smiling a manic smile he sees us and slowly walks towards us. ¡°Well, well, the OutWolder and his Duplicates. I would say well met but¡­¡± he says shrugging. I feel my heart beat a mile a minute, Carson and Naaf are incredibly good, high ranked and everything. What has Falgus been doing? Adoazze suddenly steps forward, taking the main position in our group. ¡°Falgus, you are under arrest. Please deactivate your Powers and surrender.¡± Chapter 76 - Break Through. Adoazze steps forward towards Falgus, taking the main position in our group. ¡°Falgus, you are under arrest. Please deactivate your Powers and surrender.¡± ¡°Please?¡± I say under my breath, looking at Adoazze. The temperature drops again and a light breeze flows towards Falgus, as if drawing us in. The air is easily cold enough for us to see our breaths steaming in the air and flowing gently towards Falgus. My question ignored, we begin to spread out slowly as Falgus¡¯ face turns sour. ¡°Surrender? Me?¡± he says tapping the front of the ice armour, ¡°What makes you think you can stop me? I defeated your Masters and have broken through into the highest ranks! I will take this and you Michael to the Institute, at the highest levels I will show off this new method and I can join the ranks of the highest! The Ribini! All of us, everyone will live almost forever, travelling the domains better than the Harden and yes, maybe even break through into other worlds like the OutWolders!¡± Now that¡¯s got my attention, aside from the threat of taking me to the Institute, if Falgus who was a respected scientist thinks that this could lead to other worlds then we definitely need to grab his notes¡­ ¡°Maybe so, but I¡¯ll need you to deactivate this Power and hold your arms out straight.¡± says Adoazze. ¡°Why do I have to keep explaining it to you people! Long life, travel to places we could only dream of! Why does that repulse you?!¡± screams Falgus before leaning forward, almost limp. ¡°No matter¡± he mutters, ¡°I will bring my vision to the world if its the last thing I do!¡± he screams, placing his arms forward, one with vials clutched in hand and screams ¡°Acces-ack!¡± His Power cut off as blood spurts from his mouth and the ice armour he¡¯s wearing starts to quickly turn into vapour, but before we can capitalise on it he chugs down several vials at once and the ice becomes harder once again. We quickly sprint towards him. With Dr Roselin, Imi and Numbers 3, 4 and 5 staying behind as a backline and to tend to Carson and Naaf, Milrich and Adoazze launch several Luminous Chains and Lock a bolt of Lightning towards Falgus, I sprint along side next to Lock and launch fire from my fists, Numbers 1 and 2 doing the same next to me. We are all moving in an arc towards Falgus, the Lightning twisting around and the fire splashing against the ice, melting a lot but quickly becoming ice once again. The Luminous Chains wrap around Falgus¡¯ arms and legs in an attempt to hold him but the ice flows, sloughing them off and re-wrapping around, solidifying again. We approach quick, but not quick enough as Falgus re-raises his hands and our skin starts to heat, a Interface message pops up which stops myself and the clones in our tracks as the others rush forward swinging swords around in an attempt to chip away at the armour or get a direct hit with Lightning.
War#i%g! E@pos%re to high levels of Gamma Radiation! Gamma Radiation will effect In^erf!ce and HP%^. Unable to block all damage via HP with direct Gamma Radiation effects.
The Interface window is glitchy, parts of it in the way of the Gamma rays are fraying, ripping apart, my HP stat is also bugging out¡­
MP and HP Meter: MP: 598 points. HP: %$&6*&$^%&7)(*^%5 points
A teleport chase ensues, Falgus teleporting around the room, knocking items off benches and desks as he lands on them, grabbing vials when he can as Adoazze and Milrich chases, leaving Lock and I behind. large ethereal yellow walls appear from Imi, blocking off the broken entrance and the large window behind the desk just before Falgus attempts to break through and leave, his mana reserves must be low. I yell out; ¡°He has some kind of radiation shooting Power, stay out of its way!¡± I had nearly said ¡°It¡¯s messing with my Powers a little¡±, too much information might make me a target. A silent communication pings me from Dr Roselin who asks, ¡°What kind of Radiation?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you call it, but it is on the high frequency side of things. Like how mana is out of phase gamma radiation.¡± ¡°Gamma? Oh! Got it!¡± she replies before cutting the connection, my HP has quickly stabilised now that Falgus has been teleporting away and so only lose some HP when Falgus teleports above me, trying to kick me with the ice armour. The cold is almost indescribable, but the Interface manages it for me. His armoured foot whips past me as he then teleports away, the boot missing my head but clipping my right ear, instantly it starts to crack and blister, the side of my head going numb from the frostbite.
Warning! Affected by sub zero temperatures exceeding -220 C. HP is limited with physical damage reduction and as such you may sustain damage. MP and HP Meter: MP: 598 points. HP: 620 points This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
¡°Ow, dam. That armour is -220 C, how the hell is he even staying warm in there?¡± ¡°Maybe theres a gap between the ice and him? Warmer air inside?¡± says Lock as he stands by, this fight is a bit outside of his abilities until Falgus stops teleporting everywhere. ¡°Michael¡± says Number 2, ¡°Did your window show the same glitchiness as us?¡± ¡°Yea, part of the window was glitchy, why?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, there''s¡­ something on the tip of my tongue, something¡­¡± Number 2 is lost in thought, frowning as he stares up in the air as the teleport race goes on, each time Falgus teleports the air is chilled leaving frost on the glass or stone walls and a hint of salt in the breeze. Suddenly Falgus falls out of the air, landing heavy on a desk, breaking it and rolling down to the ground. Some ice breaks off and turns into vapour but aside from some large cracks it is all still present and healing. The few vials that were leftover are empty, drunk during the teleport chase. Adoazze and Milrich appear in front of him as he slowly gets up out of breath, Adoazze and Milrich also slightly out of breath. Luminous Chains appear from them as he stands, wrapping around the ice armour and clamping down around his arms, legs and chest holding him tight. ¡°Haaaa, now¡± Says Adoazze breathing out, ¡°End your Power, and surrender.¡± ¡°Hahahaha!¡± slowly chuckles Falgus, ¡°What was that that cancelled my Teleport, Prebrants Anti-Teleport? Or maybe some kind of Anti-Power?¡± Becoming dead serious he says, ¡°As if that would be enough to stop me.¡± A low buzzing sound comes from Falgus before going away, the layer of air on the outside of his armour begins to glow and change colour very quickly, from a dark red to yellow, green, blue and purple before the glow disappears. I soon get another message.
Warning! Exposure to high levels of X Radiation! X Radiation will slightly effect Interface and HP. Able to block ~50% damage via HP. Warning! Levels of X Radiation rising to beyond dangerous levels, Gamma Radiation detected. Unable to block all damage via HP.
¡°Oh shit!¡± If I can¡¯t block it out there¡¯s no way that the others would be able to! ¡°Everyone retreat! He¡¯s spewing a ton of radiation, your Damage Translocators won¡¯t help!¡± Already we can see the effects that the Gamma Radiation is having on Luminous Chains, the chains are breaking apart, disintegrating like sugar in water. Already feeling the effects Adoazze turns to us. ¡°Get out of here, retreat!¡± She starts waving to us to move towards the door, Lock runs, seemingly unable to Lightning Travel, I also start to run before I get grabbed by the hand, spinning around I see Number 2 with eyes wide. ¡°I did it! We can stop this, stop this right now! We¡¯re the only ones who can!¡± ¡°Michael! Move it!¡± yells Adoazze whos starting to look worse for wear, and is grabbed by Milrich and pulled towards the door. Of which there is a massive yellow ethereal wall in front of it, way thicker than before but still flaying apart, the wall in front of the window gone. ¡°Us clones can be a block, we can protect the others from a chunk of the radiation but it¡¯ll be up to you.¡± ¡°What? What are you talking about!¡± I yell back, pulling at my arm as I feel my skin heat to uncomfortable temperatures before lessening. Turning to Falgus I can see that he¡¯s focused the Gamma Radiation towards the wall where now everyone is, holding his hands out towards them. Dr Roselin in the back has a massive green ball of energy streaming into the others, some kind of healing spell. I can see some other people standing behind them as well, reinforcements? ¡°Well Michael The OutWolder. Do you want a way home? Cause I can give that to you, a way back! I vow on my very soul that I would not damage your World, its people or you if you help me now!¡± I look at Number 2 who nods, his earlier suggestion might just work¡­ I bring my hands together into a plus sign, ten more clones appear. They all look at Number 2 for a moment before nodding. Together they walk past a confused Falgus, right in front of the yellow wall and stand there, taking in a ton of radiation, but hopefully blocking some of it. ¡°Michael! What are you doing!¡± Yells Lock and Adoazze as the others look on. Falgus also looks between me and my new clones confused. ¡°OutWolder? What is this, what are you doing?¡± Number 1 moves away to the edge of the wall, away from the radiation and soon to be fight, the Kage long since hidden away from the radiation behind desks or other places, small cracks in the wall and edges. Number 2 looks me in my eyes with a massive smile, ¡°Oh you''re gonna love the idea I have for this.¡± He poofs away, his memories and mind flowing into me. I instantly smile, copying Falgus¡¯ old manic smile as I turn to look at him as a large Interface Window pops up. ¡°OutWolder this, OutWolder that. I¡¯ve always preferred the name; Michael Hayes! The Australian!¡±
Creation Power Formed: Alchemical Transmutation (Rank CCC) Integration into other Powers: Possible Alchemical Transmutation: A Power to control natural forces through supernatural means. Once glamorised in fiction is now reality, let the elements themselves bow to you! Through a high level of understanding and study on Earth, and your clear imaging of this Power you have discovered the steps necessary to make impossible changes to the world at large! However it is impossible to create something out of nothing, if this Power is overused it may draw on something more than you wish to. Note Added by Number 2: Alchemy: the science of understanding, deconstructing, and reconstructing matter. However, it is not an all-powerful art. It is impossible to create something out of nothing. If one wishes to obtain something, something of equal value must be given. This is the law of equivalent exchange; the basis of all alchemy. - FMAB Current Abilities: Transmute Object (Change the atomic structure and shape of an object at will) Change Atomic Structure (Change specific elements/atoms at will) Change Chemical Structure (Low) (Change chemical structures, bonds, and compounds) Ping Object (Determines the elements in the structure and what needs to be done/how much to transmute into the required material(s)) ¦Á/¦Â Decay - Fusion/Fission Energy Absorption (Low) (Adsorb the heat, electrons, protons, and neutrons when manipulating atomic structures into Mana) ¦Ã decay generation absorption (Low) (During the manipulation of atoms gamma radiation is produced, this radiation will dissipate within seconds/minuets/hours/days depending on amount changed and may cause damage, at higher levels this radiation will be absorbed into the body as Mana.) Secret Feature #2 activated
Chapter 77 - Alchemical Transmutation. As Number 2 poofs away, his memories and mind flow into me. I instantly smile, copying Falgus¡¯ old manic smile as I turn to look at him as a large Interface Window pops up. ¡°OutWolder this, OutWolder that. I¡¯ve always preferred the name; Michael Hayes! The Australian!¡± Everyone looks at me, my manic smile on my face and sudden demeanour instantly makes everyone wonder, makes everyone scared and worried about what has changed. But I ignore all that, focused only on the fight, on the plan, on the chance that Number 2 had created. Two memories that Number 2 had given me were shot to the forefront of my mind, instantly making me aware of them, the first being a combat plan and the second being what the Breakthrough was that had created Alchemical Transmutation, Number 2 realised that;
  1. Powers are made from Mana (Gamma Radiation) and in part by Power the god.
  2. Gamma Radiation in phase with normal reality will affect active Powers either in their active or pre-cast state.
  3. As Alchemy is the Power to control natural forces through magic, and that the out of phase Gamma Radiation and Powers can be considered ¡°natural¡± forces then we should be able to effect Powers as well, if only in a limited way at first.
With the abilities of Alchemical Transmutation known and the battle plan that 2 had come up with, there is no way we¡¯ll lose! I rush forward, jumping up a little to send a kick with my right using Elemental Avatar, launching a sharpened pillar of stone from the floor and smashing it into the air/ice armour. Falgus is pushed back a little as he breaks off his attack on the others, I continue to run across the room and Falgus teleports away again into the air, hovering there for a moment. Without having tested it, number 2 suggests that we keep 50% of our mana in reserve for the attack and the rest we try on defence. It also gives us the opportunity to practise a little. He is behind me, I just need to touch him, just once! but not right now. I sprint straight towards the others, standing in front of the clone wall I clap my hands together and slowly bring them apart as blue lightning appears from my hands, arcing between them. The knowledge of what I need to do floods into me, everything I knew from Earth about atoms, physics and more are brought to the forefront of my mind. Kneeling down I slam them into the ground, Ping Object activates and I instantly know the composition of the stone, it''s not a concrete but some kind of natural stone, of what type I don¡¯t know but this stone is comprised of light elements, the heaviest being Iron and that''s only 2-3%. Most if it is comprised of Oxygen and Silicon, it¡¯ll take a massive amount to make it, and I need to save my mana. 50% it is. I send a mental command to my Power, Transmute Object and Change Atomic Structure are hard at work, forcing the elements in the stone to move closer, to combine and restructure, the mana in my body pushing at the elements, the individual atoms to fuse and overcome the strongly repulsive electrostatic force all atoms have that stop them from just fusing whenever they want. One atom, then another, and another fuse together. Each releasing energy, slowly the energy grows larger, and larger, and larger. About 10/15% of that energy looping back into the Power as mana with the rest of it going to waste, arcing with the lightning. The process gets faster and faster, more and more atoms move, fuse, release energy, get collected and fuse more. I reach a critical mass where I am getting more mana from the fusion than what is needed, faster and faster, the floor is moving now, a massive chunk of floor lighting up and slowly moving behind me. The floor dips down, threatening to leave a hole in the floor, it and a large percentage of the wall which apparently is also made of the same stuff lose mass as a small wall with a dull silver colour rises just in front of the clones and the ethereal wall, the thin wall becomes thicker and thicker the more i push into it until I reach that 50% mark. The wall of Lead I had created took a lot to make and I slowly walk up out of the ditch I had made in the floor, residual lightning arcing along the ground and new lead wall. This, and the ethereal wall will hopefully stop the radiation from hitting again.
MP and HP Meter: MP: 299 points. HP: 538 points Falgus had stayed still in that time, about 30 to 45 seconds, only floating down to the ground and staring on but not paying too much attention¡­ If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°What is that, what is that sound? Drums? And horns?¡± Mutters Falgus under his breath, concentrating on whatever phantom sound he hears for a moment before re-focusing on me. ¡°Well done OutWolder, that Power, I have never seen anything like it before!¡± Standing up I silently look at him and through Voice Chat direct my clones to prepare to attack. From behind Falgus, Number 1 is there with the Kage ready to run out of harm''s way. I must have tipped Falgus off with my eyes as he rapidly turns towards 1 and raises a hand to shoot radiation again. A clone next to me sends a pointed pillar of stone horizontally through the air from behind him to the opposite side of the office at head height, effectively splitting the room in two but leaving a gap above and below it, the white stone remaining solid as it rammed into the far wall, cracking and penetrating it. Number 1 books it, straight towards us as I rush forward towards Falgus, another clone runs past Number 1 and pulls on stone behind Falgus, this time blocking the space above him, creating a false roof of stone sticking out of the wall. To his left is the only natural place to escape to. That escape is blocked off by yet another pillar, slamming into the left side of the office, causing a desk to fly as it slams into the wall, a single passageway between myself and Falgus. He¡¯s distracted by it, the quick succession of sounds causing him to whip his head around, eyes not focusing for a moment before locking onto me, the salty vapour from his ice armour flowing out of it and onto the floor. I continue forward as Flagus focuses his attention on me, the full force of the radiation slams into me, but does not slow me down! I just need to touch him! I clap my hands again, ready to spend the final amount of mana I have! ¡°What is that sound!¡± Screams Falgus. Lightning flows from my hands as I reach towards him, the information comes flooding back. Falgus attempts to teleport away but he coughs out more blood. My bare hands slam into the ice, protected only by a small layer of air, superheated to counteract the ice! By pumping the leftover mana from earlier back into the Power I am able to excite the air particles, causing a rapid heating. Falgus looks shocked before grabbing my arms and holding them there, intending to break my concentration with the ice. I am not fast enough as the nearly space cold temperature seeps through my gambeson. I send the mental commands to the Power as I mindlessly pump mana into it, a clone, number 3 rushes under the pillar on the right of me and grabs hold of Falgus¡¯ arm with fire burning in his hands, number 4 on the opposite side doing the same, trying to wrench and melt the armour off of me. Slowly, they pry the arms away from me, a small stream of green energy flows into my back, Dr Roselin and the reinforcements are healing me up! As my skin is blistering, cracking and bleeding whenever he touched me, my Ping Object ability is in full effect, travelling through the slight barrier of air I have I make contact with the ice. It is definitely made of air. 77% Nitrogen, 22% Oxygen and a bunch of other trace gases, nothing unusual aside from the slightly different mix. I send a mental command to my Power once again, Transmute Object and Change Atomic Structure start, slowly splitting the atoms in the ice armour, as the blue lightning moves further in I can feel it, there is definitely a layer of heated air moving just in front of Falgus, that''s what''s keeping him warm. Slowly the ice starts to fill with bubbles of gas, the ice becoming hollow with the heavier atoms in the ice becoming smaller and taking up less space, becoming more and more hot and gaseous, the same is said for the swirling gas inside the suit. ¡°What are you doing? WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?¡± Screams Falgus again, staring down at me enraged. I send a message through Voice Chat, telling 3 and 4 to move as far away as possible when I do so. ¡°You look cold Falgus! Let me help you a little!¡± I say in reply, the warm air covering my hands also transforming, becoming less dense. I quickly sprint away, back the way I had come with 3 and 4 running next to me opposite of the stone pillars, leaving behind a trail of warm air in my wake that is lighter than before. I quickly turn around and from my hand comes a glow before erupting into fire! Elemental Avatar creating the fire, which ignites the trail of warm air. The air which I have just changed to have a very high Oxygen and Hydrogen content, the same with the gas pockets in the armour and some of the air in the suit. Ever seen the Hindenburg? A line of fire shoots outwards from my hands at speed, lighting up the room in a yellow blaze before it arrives at his armour. The 77% nitrogen in the suit had become ~46.5% nitrogen and ~30.5% hydrogen, all I could do in that short few seconds. A shockwave erupts, easily cracking apart the stone and pushing me backwards into and through the thin lead wall, 3 and 4 poof, shredded by shrapnel from the pillars, the glass window shatters and ears burst¡­ It quickly dies down, the slight remaining echo of the blast far louder than I had expected, as it gets quiet a small breeze flows through the window sweeping away the dust falling from the roof. I quickly fall asleep, Interface windows popping up ignored as I welcome unconsciousness. My fight is truly over now.
MP and HP Meter: MP: 2 points. HP: 12 points Secret Feature #2 deactivated Chapter 78 - Loose Ends - End of Foundations Arc. Capitan Lincastle - Hidden Room - Before Masters Carson and Naaf confront Falgus. I¡¯ve been beaten, tortured and more while blindfolded as I sit on this chair. My Powers don¡¯t work, it has the same feeling as that warehouse, the mana in the air not flowing or moving within. I hear a door close in front of me and the slow clack of shoes walking on stone. My blindfold is removed and I see a wiry, olive skinned man with green eyes, a round chin, flat nose, large ears and hollow cheekbones. He has curly, light brown hair, and seems unremarkable with his 5 o''clock shadow. The room is still dark, barley lit by a few candles. This must be the bastard who¡¯s been beating me senseless for the last few hours. I can feel my eyes are swollen and cuts all over my face from punch marks, a couple of broken ribs thanks to some stomach punches and broken fingers on my left hand while my hands are behind my back, cuffed behind me. He squats down to my level, his eyes dead, unconcerning become almost excited. ¡°Hello Lincastle, ready to talk yet? Cause if not...¡± He asks, smiling. ¡°What are you going to do? Bore me to death?¡± Standing up he slowly walks around me, ¡°You know what, no. I was thinking that if you can put up with hours of abuse like this and not break then maybe there is something else I could try¡­ Something a little more¡­ childish.¡± ¡°If you touch one hair on his head I swear I will kill you.¡± I reply venomously, full of hate. I won¡¯t allow him to kill Lee. ¡°Yes well I thought I would, oh hang on ooooone moment.¡± He says standing up, his entire demeanour changing from serious to excitable. After standing in silence for a moment he says; ¡°Yes Sir, Money in the usual spot?¡± he says to himself, some kind of communication crystal but how it works in here I don¡¯t know. The connection must have been broken as he slowly turns his head to look back at me, his eyes dead, something is wrong with this guy. From behind his waist he pulls a knife, long and wavy. It slowly snakes towards me as he shuffles along the wire embedded floor. ¡°Sorry Lincastle, nothing personal I hope you understand, just business. Rest assured that I won''t go after your kid, just a tactic there, I have standards.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Aq, I''m from out west originally.¡± He says thoughtfully. ¡°Ever killed someone Aq?¡± Cocking his head he replies after a moment, ¡°Not recently.¡± ¡°In this situation, there was always gonna be someone who¡¯d end up buried. In our businesses the most you can hope for is that someone holds your hand while you die¡­¡± ¡°Awe, you want me to hold your hand Lincastle? Oh! I forgot, I broke your fingers¡­¡± ¡°Yeah you did you bastard, that¡¯s why it was no big deal to break my thumb.¡± Cocking his head in the opposite direction he looks at me a moment as I slip my hand through the cuff, slapping aside the knife which falls onto the floor and lunging for his throat. In the candlelight we fall to the ground and I pull back firmly as the cuffs are wrapped around his neck We struggle on the floor as I pull hard, harder, harder, legs kick on the floor, slipping and bouncing on the floor. His nails scratch at my neck, leaving long marks as the air is cut off. Slowly his struggles stop, the only sounds are from me, panting. I slowly get up, and hobble towards where the door should be, leaning against the wall a moment before it suddenly opens and I fall onto the floor of a corridor. Mana comes rolling back in, I activate Luminous Shackles and wrap them around Aq. Him secure I activate another Power; Gowick¡¯s Call to Aid, any friendlies should pick it up and come running. Fight over I struggle to keep my eyes open and hold onto my Powers, definitely have brain damage, my hands are shaking from more than the adrenalin and pain. I soon enough hear footsteps from another room and the breaking of wood and stone. Help has arrived, the stress finally released, a calm takes me over and I fall asleep, my hold on the Chains ceasing, fading and unravelling into the air. --- Michael Hayes - The Australian Waking up I am laying on a soft bed, a bright light shines through a window in the wall, illuminating the white walls and bed sheets, a small crystal is on my chest wrapped on me under some bandages which sends through small amounts of heat. Moving my arms out of the sheets I see they are covered in bandages. Blinking and rubbing away the sleep in my eyes I look around as my eyes get used to the light, looking around I can see my clones, the ten I had created to block radiation plus Numbers 1 and 5 with Lock sitting around my bed, some dozing off in a couch nearby while most are on the floor with sheets on them, some snoring softly. Looking over them I shuffle up so I am sitting up and send a message to Number 1 whos close by, a very loud message pings him, waking him up from the chair with a jolt. Thankfully he is quiet enough to not wake anyone else. He looks over at me and is about to wake everyone when I place a finger over my mouth, shushing him. He silently walks up to me and whispers; ¡°Hi Boss, you doing ok?¡± he asks in English. ¡°Yeap, looks like HP is back to almost full and then some. Why¡¯s everyone here?¡± ¡°Oh, nurses figured that if we or most of us poof you might wake up again so we decided to sleep till you woke, you needed it, dumbass.¡± ¡°What can I say, 2s plan worked out well.¡± ¡°Yea well it also made you look like a madman, where¡¯d he get the idea from? The whole exploding thing?¡± ¡°FullMetal Alchemist, Roy Mustang.¡± ¡°Ah yes, that makes sense. You want a, I don¡¯t know, progress report?¡± ¡°Yes, what happened with Flagus? He dead?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be glad to know that he¡¯s alive¡± He¡¯s right, I would feel horrid if he had died, killing is not my thing. ¡°I will say I¡¯m kinda surprised.¡± ¡°Oh he''s not OK, very toasted. Like dads cooking.¡± Chuckling quietly at the old joke, I reply, ¡°How¡¯s everyone?¡± ¡°Doing good, Carson and Naaf are also in hospital with everyone else, lots of gamma radiation to repair... How close?¡± ¡°Very, the last message I have was HP at 2. One hard punch and it would have broken.¡± Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Thats dam close¡­ With the progress report, we grabbed a bunch of docs from Falgus¡¯ office and we have some of the Shae-Eq, 2¡¯s gonna have a fun time with those.¡± Replies 1 with a smile. ¡°Kage?¡± ¡°No more losses, out of the 26 Kage we started with, 10 disappeared in the warehouse, figure you¡¯d want to talk to Creature slash Power about them.¡± ¡°Yeah, when I¡¯m out of here¡­¡± Eyeing the bandages I ask ¡°Hey, I was bleeding at one point, is that all sorted?¡± Shrugging he replies, ¡°I don¡¯t know, you¡¯d think it would be vaporised in the blast. And I told the medic teams about the Protection of Body and Mind and stuff, should be ok¡­¡± He continued, ¡°I talked with 5 while you were out, we figure that this madness might draw some more unnecessary attention.¡± ¡°We sank the Hood huh?¡± The RMS Hood for those wondering was a British battleship that got sunk during WW2 by the German Battleship Bismark, Churchill is reported to mobilise everything to sink the Bismark in response, as we have taken down one head of the Institute, we may end up in a similar situation. ¡°I was thinking of¡­ if we should start producing Earth weapons¡± I say, ¡°Guns and other things, but I¡¯ve been thinking that the sheer amount of power that people have sometimes may not make a difference, while for us it is something we can use.¡± ¡°Not worried about spreading stuff we shouldn''t?¡± asks 1. ¡°It¡¯s either we do¡­ Or we don¡¯t, either way, so long as we don¡¯t give them info on the big bad stuff then¡­ Yea I think we¡¯ll be good.¡± ¡°At least I know you¡¯ve thought about it lol.¡± Smiles 1, ¡°Yeap, I¡¯m not your average transmigration fantasy protagonist!¡± Softly laughing 1 replies ¡°Right, cause you''re the protag here?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get cheeky you ass.¡±, ¡°Look in the mirror dumbass.¡± We silently chuckle for a few, laughing at the absurdity for a moment, distracting us a little from the tasks ahead. ¡°Teleportation Power next?¡± 1 asks. ¡°Yeap, 2 had some ideas about it so I¡¯ll pop him up in a bit.¡± ¡°Cool, cool. Food?¡± ¡°Please, How long was I out?¡± ¡°About a day, it¡¯s the next morning.¡± ¡°Damn¡­¡± Number 1 leaves through a sliding door and comes back a little bit later with a tray of food; stew, roasted fish, toast and a nurse. The nurse checks me out and tells me to take it easy, the crystal on my chest will take care of the leftover radiation damage. While that¡¯s happening, 1 wakes up the others and we chill for a while, eating a significant portion of the cafeteria morning food between us which the cooks were happy with while we joked about and talked. In a world full of healing magic, not many people who are not on death''s door get to enjoy their cooking lol. Number 1 had also sent a message to Adoazze and her team, turns out they had created a party with them, checked them with that Trust but Verify ability as a precaution but as we had guessed, they were fine. Adoazze¡¯s team with Masters Carson and Naaf walk through the door while some of the clones finish singing an old song very passionately about these small hours. ¡°Eyy, look who turned up! Carson, Naaf, how you doing?¡± I ask, putting down a glass of some kind of blue juice on my tray. ¡°We¡¯re well Michael, thank you¡± replies Naaf as he and Carson hobble into the room on crutches, larger crystals on their chests repairing the same radiation damage where it can. While the clones get some chairs together for them to sit on Adoazze approaches with brown papers in hand. ¡°Thought you might be interested, and also. Well done, you did well.¡± Adoazze passes me a newspaper, there are several pages however the front page is what grabs my attention. ¡°Wow, this whole thing turned out bigger than I thought, at least when we first got into this mess.¡± ¡°I would not have guessed it would have come to this. We¡¯re gonna have a party when you and the Masters are well, join us?¡± ¡°Definitely. Oh! Completely forgot about Lincastle!¡± ¡°He¡¯s fine.¡± replies Adoazze waving a hand, ¡°Broke out of a hidden room and took out a black-marked adventurer by himself with no Powers, he¡¯s resting in another room.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be honest, it¡¯s kinda weird, getting arrested by him, then trying to rescue him, then almost worried about him¡­ What¡¯ll happen to him?¡± I direct that to Master Naaf who''s sitting on a chair with a pillow on his back. As he leans forward Master Caron quickly steals the pillow without Naafs notice, placing it behind him with a finger over his mouth in a shushing motion. ¡°He¡¯ll go under an internal review, right now I cannot say¡­ It¡¯s possible he¡¯ll stay in the Guard but as of right now it''s, what''s the term Number 1 said? Up in the Air?¡± Nodding 1 looks at me, ¡°We had a chat about it, forgot to mention it¡± he says sheepishly. Shaking my head I reply, ¡°I should talk with him at some point, I¡¯ll let you know what I think?¡± I ask Naaf. He nods and leans back, noticing that his pillow has been stolen and glares at Carson before they quietly start fighting over it, slapping at hands almost like kids. ¡°Old friends.¡± says Milrich, who notices me looking at them. After about 10/15 minutes an old nurse walks in and admonishes Carson and Naaf from leaving their beds and almost drags them away like two naughty kids being caught. Lots of friendly laughs come from that. More food comes through, drinks and small talk happens for a while, hours go by as we chatter about all sorts of things, Proctor Wellingpar and Secretary Hope also drop by and we sing more songs and talk about what had happened over the last few days. Almost hard to believe how much stuff has happened, I¡¯m ready to take things easy for a while¡­ Soon it starts to get dark and the nurses have promised I can leave tomorrow, Lock has promised me to take us all on a dedicated tour of the festival, it¡¯s it¡¯s last day tomorrow so everyone goes all out if they haven¡¯t already. Slowly everyone disappears, heading back home, 1 and 5 head back to Dr Rath''s place and the rest of the clones disappear, poofing back into smoke. At night I decide to have a chat with him, walking out of my room it looks like a normal Earth hospital with sterilised corridors, just with crystals on the wall to wash hands instead of hand sanitiser bottles. Asking a nurse for directions I find myself outside of Lincastles room. I knock with no answer, I am about to leave, figuring he¡¯s asleep but the door slides open suddenly, looking up I can see Lincastle is mostly healed, with bandages wrapped around his left hand and chest. ¡°Michael.¡± ¡°Lincastle. I wanted, well I¡¯m not sure what I wanted¡­¡± ¡°I, I didn¡¯t want to do it if it''s any consolation, Falgus had me by the proverbial balls.¡± he says disgusted. At who? I can only assume himself or Falgus. ¡°That bad huh?¡± ¡°Yes, I did something bad, wrong many years ago and he found out about it.¡± ¡°I know, I saw the recording you left.¡± Nodding he is quiet, the nurses wanting the gossip are hiding around the corner, I¡¯ve got some Kage over there lol. Seeing me with a slight smile he asks, ¡°What¡¯s funny?¡± ¡°Nothing, the nurses are just curious, I knew some like that back home.¡± I reminisce, remembering the stories told to me by my friends in St John Ambulance all those years ago, back to just before I arrived here. ¡°Why are you here Michael? You want an apology?¡± He asks thiredly, he looks run down and there are still some slight bruising around his face. ¡°I know it might not be much, but, I don¡¯t think you did anything wrong. Yes I did think you were a massive dick and all that but¡­ I don¡¯t think you''re a bad guy, you know.¡± ¡°How in the depths would you know that about me?¡± he replies angrily. I pause for a few moments before smiling a little as I remember a particular memory, ¡°My old man once said, there is no such thing as bad people, just bad decisions.¡± I hold my hand out and Lincastle after a moment of hesitation takes it, ¡°What about Falgus, Taaf?¡± he asks. ¡°Meh, some people are just nuts, you know.¡± ¡°You''re a weird one¡± he says before letting go and stepping back a little, just before he closes the door he looks at me, ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°No worries¡± I say, giving him a two-fingered salute. I head back to my room and pass the nurses who are trying to look busy in these small hours. As I arrive back to my room the sun is almost fully set, the dusk sun filling my room with light. ¡°I leave you alone for how long and you end up like this?¡± says a familiar voice. Spinning around I find Dr Rath standing in the doorway in a white coat, medical wands sticking out of pockets. ¡°I know, right? This was supposed to be a shopping trip.¡± I say jokingly. Rath sits down on my bed as I get in it, ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you know as I was away but I was one of the doctors who had examined you and the Masters when you lot first came in. How are you doing?¡± Chuckling and looking back over the last few days, not even a whole week, I reply, ¡°Mate, let me tell you a tale.¡± Chapter 79 - Alpha Team: Number One (Oasis) - Clone Memory Recollection Report - Long time no see. So it''s been a minute, we have a bunch to catch up on and so lets start where we left off. As you may remember from our last recollection report, we had run into a cave system of stale air while clearing out the area. We fixed it by jerry-rigging some stone pipes (It was very difficult) to pump the air up over the mountain. Due to the very mountainous area we have found ourselves in, there are also deep pits between each mountain and normally filled with snow and ice. We¡¯ve run the pipe into there, deep into the snow. We¡¯ve also done that with the leftover stone and gravel, one of these pits have become our dumping ground where we chuck cubes of stone into it, we found that if six of us use Elemental Avatar to compress the stone as far down as it can into a cube then we can create highly dense stone that can take up little space. Once we¡¯re able to dispose of it properly then sure we¡¯ll remove it from the natural ice and snow but for now our new base needs fresh air. Once the stale air got removed we were able to get into the cave system. It looks like natural water or snow melt is leaking through here, from our ground level and from higher up the mountain. The cave system is rather typical of a large cave system, large underground areas, muddy floors, some pillars from the stalactites and stalagmites combining. It''s a pity that we had inadvertently damaged this underground area but if it''s any consolation there is nothing living in here. Speaking of living, it''s like the mana in here is non-existant or barely there. Only really present in small amounts of water, it''s as close to Earth caves or environment I¡¯ve ever seen. Not that I¡¯ve seen much of this world. The cave, while tall, is also long and slopes down away from us. Over the next few days we steadily moved more and more of the stone away, creating an arched hallway with a single elevated road along the middle with the sides not reaching the walls. Instead, along the road of compressed stone there are small staircases that lead down to what will eventually be other rooms. While this is supposed to be just a side entrance that might be reused in the future there are plans to create a ¡°Main Road¡± for the headquarters which is quickly becoming a city in scope thanks to feature creep. Anyone who works with software knows that eventually you need to limit the scope of your ideas, otherwise your product will have dozens upon dozens of features and then you have no idea where to start. The plans for an Irish pub and a few other fast food places instead of the cafeteria idea we originally had is either the others really wanting to RP as the owner of a tavern or don¡¯t like the idea of a central cafeteria. I was quickly voted out. There are also plans to move upwards to the top of the mountain, having a large lookout area with a section of glass disguised as stone from the outside is a dream for some of us. Maybe we¡¯ll chuck a chapel/lookout platform up there? We¡¯ve also been brainstorming about what stuff we¡¯ll need, Mr Original will probably want vehicles and such so we have plans for a ring track for land vehicles and an air tunnel to test air vehicles. Then there needs to be a hanger for those. Others are focusing on the more practical things, where we look at geothermal energy plants deep underground and a massive library/research area. Another thing we¡¯ve been working on is a path out of the Oasis. We¡¯ve sent a team of four out towards the south east which according to our maps is closest to normal land and not massive ice mountains. They were making a steady pace for a while but quickly ended up surrounded by massive storms, shooting ice spears, sudden drops in mana, extremely cold weather and slight hypothermia. They ended up turning around and arrived back to Oasis battered and bruised. We¡¯ve begun thinking of creating a tunnel system but unsure if it could be lead back to us by¡­ I don¡¯t know, seeing if it''s rock that¡¯s been Powered back together? Kinda surprised that people haven¡¯t found this place. Why not just tunnel through it, much easier than going around via sea ports¡­ Then again, not like I don¡¯t know if they have done that before or if there is another reason for it. Not really anything I need to worry about right now. End of Report --- Seven here, leader of the exposition towards the abandoned town at the opposite side of the oval oasis. I have Numbers 8, 9 and 10 with me also with a pack full of food and spare clothes. The plan is to get down there, map things out and bring back anything of worth. We followed the trail that Numbers 1 and 2 had followed in the morning and taking a break for an early lunch as we passed the 20km mark. Plenty of cloud cover and forest surround us, the chattering of birds and screeches of animals in the forest along the water a sort of music that would make people who say ¡°I listen to anything¡± suddenly wish for silence. After eating a quick lunch of fruit and meat we continue on our way, we arrive at the opposite side, there are some minor evidence of other people, some wooden planks, a very rotten wooden canoe or fishing boat, a small shack holding some more rotting fishing boats and a slight trail leading further inland towards the edge of the mountains. We continue onwards after a short break to investigate these and see if there is anything else around here but decide to follow the trail some more. Overall we found that the river is around 30km long and another possibly 5km to the edge of the oval. Overall we figure we had walked approx 35km in about 7 and a half hours. As we near the mountain edge, the forest starts to become less dense which we had expected but it is a lot less denser than we had thought compared to the forest on our end. We found a couple of tree stumps that answered that question. We finally arrive at a village as the trail we followed becomes more and more like a solid dirt path, like a fire trail in the bush, stony ground, flat and wide, not yet reclaimed by the forest even though it is trying. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. The trail has us arriving from the west of the village and dead ahead of us is a large log house with a chimney, as we approach the path splits off towards the mountain which allows us to see more of the village. The village is completely abandoned, trees are sprouting up and vines cover the walls of the buildings, sometimes breaking through as the weather over the years has made cracks in the walls and roof. We slowly move through the village entering when we can, each building is run down and falling apart. Kitchens empty, beds filled with old leaves, ferns and other soft bedding materials that now are long dead and crunchy. From what we can tell however, these people did not leave in a hurry. No rotting food, no animal furs or pelts except for one or two rotting in a corner, no mess or signs of a rush. It¡¯s like one day they just decided to leave¡­ The buildings are fairly typical, almost in a Tudor style of house with wooden or stone walls, thatched roofs and some windows. We found all kinds of buildings including some specialty ones like a blacksmith, farm pens, storage, tannery and more. All long abandoned and most missing things that you would expect to see left behind. I can imagine a blacksmith leaving a 50/60kg anvil behind if you¡¯ve got all those mountains in the way to make it back. All in all we found nineteen houses/huts with one along a more dirt trail into the woods a little till we found a small hunting lodge next to a slow river, must have missed it on our way in or it goes underground after a time. Looks like it is snow melt from the mountains as not only are there no fish but it is freezing cold and crystal clear. In the far right side of the village there is a small wooden bridge leading over the river towards what we can see are more animal pens, but the bridge is damaged and the pens empty. In the top left of the village there is an entrance to a mine but it has long been boarded shut, filled to the brim with rocks and stone, possibly from a cave in? We attempted to move some stone out of the way but only made it more unstable, so we decided to leave it for now. The village is empty, we are going to spend the next few days looking at the village doing a more thorough search but for now it''s getting late. We find a larger house that is not as damaged and make camp, not lighting a fire in the fireplace for now but a small fire on a dirt section of the floor, visible thanks to rotting floor boards. We spent the next few days doing a search through each building and found only small things that were thankfully well preserved. In one house we find a book filled with handwritten writing, in what language we don¡¯t know. It¡¯s about 500 pages long and a portrait of a young man and a smiling woman holding a babe which was wrapped in several cloths, wrapped in blankets and in a trunk. Some other smaller things are found like another book that has slowly been decaying, rusted tools, damaged crystals and beautiful carvings long since damaged by weather. We decided to grab those items and bring them back for proper preservation, for now we added them to our Inventory, there they will stay safe until we can get someone to look at them. Our job done, we make the long trek back towards camp along the other side of the river, passing a small river where the snow melt flows into the main river. As we had left late that day it gets late and is late afternoon by the time we finally reach our side of the shore when the Interface suddenly stops working as expected, causing us to start sprinting. End of Report --- Number 5 here, we seem to have an emergency on our hands. The Interface suddenly stopped working as expected, glitching out and not allowing us to swap windows, our Powers are working fine however. As we group up to discuss, Number 7 and his team of four rush in having just now arrived back from their adventure in the village. ¡°What''s happening?¡± says 7 as they run inside the now carved out cave system/road and join the circle of clones discussing the situation. ¡°Don¡¯t know¡± says 1, ¡°Our Interface suddenly stopped working.¡± ¡°It must be a Michael thing.¡± says 13 thinking aloud. ¡°It could be us, maybe the lack of mana in the cave is causing issues?¡± adds 2. ¡°Let''s assume that for the time being it is us. What do we do?¡± I say to try and keep them on track, I can see 1 lost in thought, obviously thinking of the other possibility. ¡°Well if it''s just us then we need to figure out the limitations of it and if we can fix it, if not then we wait for Mr 0 to redo us with the new Powers.¡± says 12. ¡°One, what do you think?¡± asks 11, who he¡¯s standing next to. ¡°I¡¯m more worried if this is a Michael thing, it could be that he¡¯s in a situation where something is blocking him or the Interface. But there''s no way for us to know. Hell it could be that the connection we have to Michael is just breaking down and the Interface is that breakdown manifest.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think so¡± says 2 jumping in, ¡°Interface should be still ours, like how we are able to do all our other Powers just fine. The only things I can think of is that either there is an environmental issue here or something to do with Michael.¡± ¡°And as we have been away for the last few days but it just happened to us at the same time and out of proximity then its probs Michael.¡± says 7, bringing the conversation to a halt, for a moment we stand there in the cold underground of the cave lit only by flickering flames we have set up. ¡°5, you''re the tactical commander, what do you think?¡± says 1. We had decided to keep the style of having Number 1 be overall leader and I strategic leader. I¡¯ve even been studying strategy and fictions to see if they can give us an edge, but I don¡¯t know what we can do from here¡­ ¡°We wait, it could very well be a temporary situation but there is no way for us to be sure. So here''s what we¡¯ll do.¡± I say, taking in a deep breath as a semblance of a plan comes to the forefront of my mind. ¡°We revisit the ¡°Over the Misty Mountains¡± plan and try to cross the mountains back towards the sea. Then once we do we make a beeline for Oghqoa and see what we can find. If not then back to Farmers Rest, travel by ship if we can, hitch a ride if we can''t.¡± ¡°In the meanwhile, until we figure out a definite method, we test our Powers and Interface as much as we can. Seven, I want you to take 2 and four more to go back to the village, find out how they got out. Maybe we can follow them.¡± A silence falls over the guys as we think over that plan with some nodding in agreement. Glad that thats sorted. ¡°That mountain was almost impassable, I¡¯m not sure what we could do differently¡± says 10, who was the leader of the original ¡°Over the Misty Mountains¡± plan. ¡°Then we just need to figure something out, brainstorm and then face that literal storm. Realistically, the way our Powers are setup there is nothing else we can do except sit here and work on HQ. I¡¯m gonna guess that none of you want to just sit around?¡± The only response I get is the only one I need, a look of conviction on our identical faces, ready to fight our own battle while Michael fights his. The days pass and eventually the Interface gets back to its usual self, but there is not much in celebration. Aside from a slight reduction in the number of clones looking for a path over these mountains we still are determined to get to Michael, we hope, really, really hope that it all works out. Maybe it¡¯s already been resolved and I don¡¯t have to come up with anything else, being the one in charge of these tactical and operational decisions is tough. Chapter 80 - Number 3’s Recollection Report of OutWolder Atrocities and Incidents. Number 3s Interview with OutWolder Historian and Assistant Museum Curator Danto Swithswin. We walk into Mr Swithswin¡¯s office in the Oghqoa museum, it is near the east wing of the museum¡¯s section on OutWolders, it is filled with shelves packed to the rafters with documents, boxes and small artifacts with tags on them ready for storage or display. As he slowly hobbles around a desk to sit down I take a smaller chair in front of the desk. ¡°I must say thank you again for agreeing to talk with me, Professor Swithswin.¡± ¡°Nonsense, nonsense, always happy to talk about OutWolders, and it¡¯s a rare opportunity to talk shop as it were with an actual OutWolder! Oh and please, just call me Danto or Professor if it suits you.¡± I had asked Professor Swithswin for an interview and get his rundown on OutWolders, he¡¯s the foremost expert on OutWolders in Oghqoa and once I told him that I was the OutWolder he¡¯s been excitedly reading about in the papers then he was more than willing to talk. He¡¯s an older gentleman, an Elf with a hunched back, greying hair and frazzled beard, he may need glasses as his eyes are almost always squinted, only opening in surprise or when studying an artifact for study. I had also checked him out with the Trust but Verify ability and he checked out ok, I am helping Number 2 with another of his research projects that we need an expert''s advice on. ¡°Thank you, I wanted to ask you about OutWolders funnily enough. How often it happens, notable figures, why the Institute used to publicly go after OutWolders, stuff like that.¡± ¡°Hmm, very wide net you''re casting there. Let¡¯s start with how often it occurs, what do you think?¡± ¡°I was told that each year the domains would get an OutWolder per year, the gods having a hand in making sure they end up in a safe spot.¡± ¡°You''re mostly correct, OutWolders do appear yearly, but only for a single domain. There have been times where Land has gone without an OutWolder for decades only to have one arrive and another decade of nothing.¡± ¡°We know this also occurs for the other Domains as historically, ambassadors from both sometimes talked about or referenced OutWolders to some degree, and then there are the ones who end up in local governance.¡± ¡°Like that Droaldoph Ca I heard about, royal adviser?¡± ¡°Yes like Ca, and there have been many before him in similar situations for good or bad." He replied nodding. ¡°The Institute, or rather the part that deals with OutWolders, is very secretive, very secretive. They have been in this business a long time and have a massive wealth of information in their city. Now, how do you think they know an OutWolder has arrived?¡± "Not sure, I know the usual method of using a specific Power or Crystal nearby, in city gates and that Adventurer Pen. Aside from those just boots on the ground, searching?" "Not quite, the Institute is said to have a detector that allows them to see that one has arrived in Land. I''m almost not sure it exists but this has been an ongoing conspiracy for a while with it being both announced that it does and does not exist by the Institute itself." "A detector? Interesting." I replied rubbing my chin stubble, but if there is a detector why did no Institute arrive on Farmers Rest Island when I first arrived? "Yes quite, now let''s move onto OutWolders. In our recorded history thus far and including you. We estimate there have been approximately 800 OutWolders that have arrived on Land, this is also guessing how many may have been captured by the Institute, it is the low estimate. The highest estimate is over 1150 OutWolders on Land. In actual artifacts or historical documents we have found, it''s around that 800 mark." "Not as many as I thought considering you''ve got what? 3000+ years of somewhat accurate history?" "Yes well it''s that "somewhat accurate" that''s the main point, could be that some were made up, some were just folk tales, maybe some are older mentions of mythological creatures and beings. Lots of study needed which is hard to do with the earlier histories." "Any other questions or move onto specific OutWolders?" "Let''s move on, thank you." "Let''s start with OutWolders who have had a net negative on the world." he says as he pulls out a tome from his desk drawer that has a large red crystal embedded in its centre cover, leafing through it for a moment before arriving on a page. "I''ll let you copy this book as well, this has the majority of information on OutWolders I have. The most dangerous OutWolders are the ones who already had Powers from their world before arriving here. This is because their Powers use different methods to power themselves whether from inner energy or natural, non mana energy and so cannot be detected by our Powers you see." "Direrth The Destroyer from the year 1324 was one such man, a large tailed man with a rudimentary hand on his tail giving him three hands, he was able to trick a city into revolting against its government and then stepped in, he then took over the city using a Power that allowed him to alter the memories of the citizens. Frightful, he then started experimenting on the populace to determine if they can be hosts to creatures from his world, worms that would take over the host and become an army. The entire city was destroyed by concentrated Artillery Powers by a dozen neighbouring countries till nothing but a crater remained. The region was then buried and now we have lost where the original location was over time." This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. He shows me an image that the book shows, it looks like a Tiefling from D&D but with a four fingered, clawed hand on the tail and no horns. It looks to be an artist''s impression but can''t be sure. "Rrikadyr, The Dark from the year 876 was another, he appeared as an Intelligent Beast, two legged and with small dark wings and horns. His Power allowed him to not only create a cloud of darkness that no one could see through but any dead that the cloud touched would awake, becoming undead and under his command. He was otherwise reported to be polite and only wanted a method to return to his kingdom but for his necromancy, his army and himself were obliterated. Also by Artillery barrages." The next image is of a sickly, skinny minotaur-like person with small bat-like wings on his back and dark clouds with glowing red eyes and pale skulls flashing in the background. I think a lot of these will be artist impressions till we get to more recent years. "Another is only known as "Wamere" from the year 2345 who was nicknamed "The Citadel Builder" His Power allowed him to shape the environment with his hands and it would create anything he could imagine, he could pick up sticks and clay and mould them in his hands into a weapon or device of destruction. Precious few of those exist anymore, like the citadels that he had created, massive structures hidden away in valleys, automatically attacking anyone who got close, creating wave after wave of metal soldiers and flying constructs who marched onto cities taking them by storm and sword. Many of these bastions were destroyed but some are still present, their energy depleted and left abandoned save for the local countries'' guards who watch over the remains." My previous thought was proven incorrect as a very real picture appears of a muscled man with a large mechanical left arm holding a massive mechanical war scythe. He¡¯s seen directing 1000s of robots on a grassy battlefield that look like an average human shape but with smooth metallic skin. ¡°And lastly from this list is another human who went by the name Xingshigong from the year 1089. He became an advisor to an old kingdom which then fell into disarray before creating his own in his image from the wreckage, and forced his ideology of cultivation, supremacy and martial arts, of defying the gods themselves to gain power. He was able to take in the natural energies of the world and is said to have cultivated them into something called a Dao, which would then grant him power and immense strength. He was later found deceased in his mountaintop home in a meditating pose. All that power, gone.¡± ¡°Are you kidding me? You guys had cultivators?¡± I say, shaking my head a little in disbelief. ¡°They are just fiction where I come from.¡± ¡°Yes, he''s also the reason for the trend of wearing loose fitting clothes, ponytail and thin one handed swords.¡± My eyes widen for a moment as that look pops into my mind. That''s why Lock wears long flowing clothes outside of Adventuring hours, and his ponytail, he''s a Xanxiaboo! Oh I¡¯m gonna give him hell for that, I can feel the schemes scheming. The image projected is of a young man who appears as a typical Xanxia protagonist. Fair skin, white hair, sharp chin, and Jian-type sword with long flowing robes of blues, reds and whites. ¡°There are so many more, and many who we have no details on.¡± Continued Danto ¡°There have been ones who went crazy over time and hunted for knowledge to return, torturing any who they came across. Beings who only had a single Power but would become stronger and stronger as time goes on, ones of living shadow, who flitter through the world like the shadow of a bird in flight.¡± He continued, eyes growing larger, gripping the table and standing slightly. ¡°Large, flying monstrosities that would be at home in the Air Domain, crushing cities with their weight, giant worms that can burrow deep into the ground creating caves that stretch countries, even ones able to breach into dreams and terrify the sleeping.¡± He takes a deep breath for a moment as the wide eyed look disappears. ¡°Sorry, I tend to get that way with students, especially young ones, it¡¯s quite entertaining for me.¡± ¡°You must know of Muahaix Aiwatito, the OutWolder who attempted to take over countries using a duplication Power?¡± ¡°Yes, matter of fact I was.¡± ¡°What many of the historical texts wont say is how close he was to winning¡± says Professor Swithswin. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for the assassins who managed to sneak into his camp in the year 2209, within three days he would have taken control of one of the worlds at the time most fortified cities on Land. Controlling that would have cemented his rule completely.¡± ¡°If it was that well fortified?¡± ¡°Their supplies were already dangerously low by that point, they only had food remaining for the children and babes in the city, everyone else we¡¯re starving by that point. In fact, many perished afterwards due to supply lines and reinforcements going slow to take care of any potential ambushes.¡± ¡°But, I don¡¯t want to only focus on the negative, there have been many who helped the people of Land in many situations. It¡¯s the bad ones who get all the publicity and study unfortunately. Cresbron for example is one of my favorites, he¡¯s renowned for the creation of modern agriculture in the year 82 when he arrived in a village that had no fertile fields to grow food and almost no other way to get food without hunting. He created fertile soil and better methods of farming, crop rotation and many more. There''s actually a statue of him in the city of Quaton.¡± An image appears of a statue in a large open square of a massive four armed, green skinned giant of a man holding an assortment of farming tools in each hand, held out as if handing it over to someone to pick up. ¡°For every OutWolder who causes people pain and misery there are a dozen who instead lived simple lives or who solved diseases, fought in wars, diplomats, advisors like Droaldoph Ca, many were just normal people.¡± ¡°Now I have skipped over quite a lot so I think it best you have a read of this first '''' he says passing over another tome, holding it over the now closed original tome for a moment before a flash of light moves between the embedded crystals in the covers. Handing it to me and opening it up I can see all the information on all the known OutWolders there have been that he knows of. This will be quite handy. ¡°Now, guess you won¡¯t need to know why the Institute hunted OutWolders, the reason is quite obvious.¡± ¡°Public perception around them, big bad guys ravaging the country, I can see people being scared of OutWolders.¡± We ended up talking some more about OutWolders and on Earth, but I had made him agree to hold off on writing any of it down for now as we or rather number 5 has an idea for this situation. But in any case that''s all we needed for now and I won¡¯t be going in depth on each and every OutWolder here, that would bore me to death and back. One thing I am worried about though, as of right now I almost embody the characteristics/Powers of three of these big bad OutWolders. Duplication, Matter Transmutation and ¡°Necromancy¡±. Wonder how we¡¯ll sort out public perception around us? Chapter 81 - Number 2’s tretice on Mana, Powers and how the hell it actually works. You¡¯ve read the title, you know what this is about, let''s get into it cause I don''t have a lot of time and don¡¯t want to redo the recording again you know. Let''s start off with the rankings for Powers as they are already confusing enough. So with their current setup they have this weird and old setup of rankings where you¡¯ve got for example A, AA, AAA, and the like, you already know that. Now that system has been around for what looks like 1000+ years at this point and has been added to everything. One thing to note is that the translation ability had automatically translated each specific word in those A, AA, AAA rankings into what we know. There is also a similar rank for how powerful an individual Power is and the level of Adventurer and what jobs they can take. Now, we¡¯ve decided to add more to this madness. For our internal use we¡¯ll be adding descriptors for Powers to describe their AOE. For example, the Taught Power: Minor Light can be a Utility Level Power, while something like our Shadow Clones would be a Battle Level Power as it can be used to decide the outcome of a single battle. So let¡¯s use Shadow Clones as an example; Currently Shadow Clones is a CC Rank Power making it on the lower end of the Power scaling, so in an updated System Interface window it would appear as:
Creation Power: Shadow Clone (Rank CC - Battle Level Magic)
Did I steal that from Log Horizon cause it¡¯s one of the best shows made? Yes. Did I do it so that the rankings and stuff makes more sense? Yeap. Did I do it so that it reminds us a little of home? Bingo. Now let¡¯s get onto Mana and Powers and stuff: Mana appears to be Gamma Radiation that is slightly out of phase with reality. Animals, plants and people are able to hold onto and take in the Mana from the air, water, plants, etc. Almost like in those Cultivation/Xianxia stories we¡¯ve read. Now, how this radiation is out of phase and how/why people are able (for a lack of better word) cultivate this energy is currently unknown but its probs the gods work. Gamma radiation is supposed to be high frequency particles moving in a tiny wavelength and are normally made of protons but until we find a way to study mana more in depth these could be made of anything else or maybe are converted into Protons when becoming in phase with reality. Powers are created by imagining how it works in miniscule detail. I suspect that without the Memory Palace it would take us a lot longer as we can better visualise it and save it. Powers also have a Breakthrough Point where a change of thinking about the Power or ¡°good¡± idea around the Power is enough to break through it, this results in better Powers overall. When creating and casting a Power, mana needs to be moved into a pattern and then once in that pattern will ¡°formalise¡± and become what you need. For example we¡¯ll use Shadow Clones again. Normally when casting place out fingers in a plus sign, the mana is then shaped like a stick figure with the head at the most vertical point, arms along the middle horizontal and legs along the side of the hand. Once in this pattern I just decide how much mana is to be added to this and then bingo, Shadow Clone. I can rotate or choose a position in my mind and also choose clothing but its default to just copy what I¡¯m wearing. How the Power creates solid objects out of mana so cheaply I still am unsure on so more investigation needed. Each Power as you can guess has a completely different mana ¡°signature¡± and so no two Powers are alike, even if you try to copy this signature (Stolen Powers) there are still enough differences that the Power does not work as well. That and the gods don¡¯t like you stealing Powers so they also step in to throttle the Power. Another interesting thing of note Power wise is the Interface Power, this is normally invisible to everyone else but me/my clones. We¡¯ve found that the Interface does appear, but the light from the interface only travels towards us, making it completely invisible to everyone else unless we decide to share it in which case the light is then made visible. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. There is a possible security concern if someone stands in the way they might see the Window but this needs more testing. Gifted Powers work just like any other Power except they are on average more powerful at the base and customised to the person. The information on the mana signature and how it works are added directly to the person. How this is done exactly I don¡¯t know but it¡¯s probs mind magic which I suppose only the gods can do. Taught Powers are a bit different, its basically teaching someone to be in the correct mindset and what the overall mana signature should be to get the required effects. Each signature is only slightly different but some can be slightly altered to be even more powerful or versatile. But you may be wondering, some of these taught Powers are old or the creator is not available to teach you one on one so how does this work? Well they use Crystals like an instructional video which is also able to create the mana signature for them to study. It normally takes between a few hours or days to learn a Taught Power in this method. The best Crystals for Taught Powers also contain the feelings, memories and more of its creator giving the learner a more in depth understanding of the to be learnt Power. Taught Power Suggestions: There are several, but one we should get a handle on are: Force Wall - Taught Power - Force Field to stop attacks. The Gulf of Stelcook¡¯s Understanding - Taught Power- Created by a Harden, grants the ability to understand the gist of most spoken languages, this includes Sea Domain languages and to a lesser extent the Air Domain languages. Luminous Shackles - Taught Power - Ethereal shackles that hold things in place. Astral Arms - Taught Power - Multi Arms for defence/attack. True Strike - Taught Power - When wielding a weapon, if you miss or are deflected are able to damage the opponent. Footstep Mapping - Allows the caster to select and highlight a set of footprints in the gound. Mahobriand¡¯s Instant teleport - Taught Power - Instantly teleport within 30ft Gowick¡¯s Call to Aid - Taught Power - SOS message spell. Emoaloft¡¯s Active Healing - Taught Power - Heals injuries up to a certain threshold, also able to sanitise medical tools, water, cloth, wounds, etc. These Powers will allow us to go on longer Adventurer Jobs, give us the ability to heal people outside of Earth First Aid and get help faster. Powers such as The Gulf of Stelcook¡¯s Understanding and Mahobriand¡¯s Instant teleport may just give us the insights needed to finish the teleport Power we are looking to complete and will also allow our Translation Ability to ¡°fill out¡±. Possible Limitations on the gods: Now I know what you''re wondering, how the hell does these self-proclaimed gods have limitations? We started thinking they had limitations after hearing about Falgus¡¯ Access Dimensional Space, this Power took Masters Carson and Falldwell into an extra-dimensional space, something they had never seen before. As we¡¯ve been looking for a way back we¡¯ve also been looking through every Power description we could find, even mythological Powers and so far we¡¯ve found nothing around a successful Power that achieves Dimensional travel. Everyone who tried to create a Power like Falgus had failed, stuck on an early on Breakthrough Point, some had theorised that such a high ranked Power would not be able to be created without a long life and meditation. But there are definitely some who theorised that the gods were preventing them from completing it, possibly as they broke the rules the gods have around Powers. But I think it''s different, only a handful of OutWolders I have come across have reached the technical level of Earth science, maybe that little bit of Earth science was enough for Falgus to Breakthrough? But even then, Earth hasn¡¯t cracked extra dimensional travel so either Earth had the missing step Falgus/the gods needed or something else is going on. I could definitely be wrong in my assumptions. In any case, taking into accord the types of Powers we¡¯ve not found and what we know of the gods then we have theorised (guessed) what limitations the gods may have/still have: Time Travel Plank level manipulation Quantum mechanics Cosmology (stuff like seeing far into space, black holes, how stars work, planets, etc.) Multi-Dimensional Spaces (Creation, Travel) End of Report. Oh hells yeah, finally! Three dam takes! Wooo! --- Number 3 here, I think 2 is getting a bit stir crazy, maybe get him out of his room and relax a bit? Involuntary Hiatus - Temp So you''ve probs wondered why I''ve been no contact for a while, not releasing chapters, not replying to comments, stuff like that. Unfortunately due to life and stuff that have a lot of work to do in a short amount of time (Too much to get into) I am slowing down with chapter releases to focus on this other stuff. In saying that I still want to continue writing and so will be continuing with my rewrite and releasing some chapters when I''m free and not burning out lol. What to expect: Chapters similar to the more recent ones where they are smaller interim chapters that give us other perspectives, info on the characters, setting up other, larger world building stuff and more. I am also working with a mate of mine for character art so we may get a chapter of character art and info in the future! Goals: Complete all my urgent/timely stuff quick as to continue writing, really like the story and the stuff coming up (even though I don''t have a set ending in mind but do have something like 45+ pages of notes and vibes.) I also want to get to 400,000+ words by Dec next year which is the end date for a lot of my major stuff so no matter what, after Dec I''ll have (hopefully) a lot more free time to write. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. What do you guys want? Like you want a discord to talk in? (I will not be mod lol) or want to help as Beta readers or rewrite/error suggestors? Idk I''m kinda new to all this lol. In any case, for the foreseeable future (a few months at most I hope) we will be in this Involuntary Hiatus and then back onto major chapter releases! The entire reason for my writing was for a Scouting challenge for a badge (18hrs working on a project, gotta do 6x of those in 4 different areas totaling 6x badges) and to finally write down my idea so to find something I like doing and getting over 150 people to follow is quite frankly amazing and something I did not think would happen! Thank you all for reading and hey if you''re up to this point maybe chuck a follow and get updated, ill have a big celebration when the hiatus is over! I''ll update this and the blurb if a discord gets created. Cheers, MadMike. Merry Christmas, Have a pressie Man, it has been a hot minute but I finally have the time to look at my fiction again, I wonder how its... 190 Followers > 296 Followers Oh my god! Anyway, I have finally done what I have needed to do, I''ve been awarded my Scouting awards, come back from Europe, did a ton of extra work but now its finally time to get back to it. So, come January I will be re-releasing Amateur Mad Scientist Isekai and will just keep writing like mad. Now idk when in Jan ill re-post but ill post an update here, the rewrite should hopefully go well and fix some of the pacing issues we had mid/end. Please go to the new launch and give it a follow when its out!Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! My plan is: A. Don''t stop writing, 1hr+ a day. 2. Try and get all the rewrite stuff finished in a few months. *. Stay ahead of the released chapters so I''m not rushing to get chapters out. IV. Post at least 1 chapter a week. That''s the goal, so fokes lets see how we go. I''d like to get this one finished at some point and I can only start now! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Cheers, MadMike Dashing through the bush, in a rusty holden ute Picking up the dust, esky in the boot Kelpie by my side, singing Christmas songs It''s summer time and I am in my singlet, shorts and thongs! Oh, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells Jingle all the way Christmas in Australia On a Scorching summer''s day Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells Christmas time is beaut Oh what fun it is to ride In a rusty Holden Ute! New Version Released Hi guys, the new version has been released, give it a rating, fav/follow. Maybe we get on rising stars? https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/103861/amateur-mad-scientist-isekai Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words, Extra words,Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.