《Spell Weaver》 1. Monotony The alarm went off, and Alex rolled over to grab his phone from the nightstand. In the process, he knocked his headphones onto the floor. Fuck. Groaning, Alex squinted against the sunlight coming through his curtains. Mmm, five more minutes. His hand flailed around, trying to find the button to snooze his phone. After a couple more snoozes, Alex realized he¡¯d have to drive and be late if he didn¡¯t get up quickly. He forced himself up and searched for the comfortable slides beside his bed. Inspirational quotes pinned to the walls seemed to mock him¡ª ¡°Embrace the chaos,¡± ¡°Creativity takes courage.¡± Easier said than done. Coffee. I need coffee. After pressing a few buttons on his coffee machine, the bitter smell filled his small kitchen. He leaned against the counter, waiting for the coffee to brew. A glance at his phone showed a new text from his mom, reminding him about the family dinner that evening. The thought of it threatened to bring on an early migraine. It was another obligatory family gathering where he¡¯d be expected to ¡°discuss his future plans.¡± He grimaced and sipped the fresh coffee, the heat a welcome distraction. Two hours later, Alex was walking into his office. He ignored most of his surroundings as he walked through the downstairs lobby and into the elevator. As soon as he stepped onto the work floor, he heard, ¡°Alex! Just the man I need. Team meeting, now.¡± His manager, Mr. Henderson, stood by the conference room wearing his usual mask of professional urgency. Alex had time to drop his bag at his desk before being ushered into the room. The meeting was a blur of marketing jargon and ambitious deadlines. Fueled by coffee and a new project, his colleagues fired off ideas at a dizzying pace. At times, Alex struggled to keep up. His mind latched onto a single detail, but just as he was about to process it, someone would move on to the next topic. He felt the pressure to keep pace but often fell behind. Don¡¯t fixate. Just be a bit more flexible. I can keep up if they can. He repeated the phrase over and over. Alex knew he tended to beat himself up about these things, so it was unsurprising for him to hear his parents'' voices drown out the reassuring mantra Sarah had taught him. ¡®We did everything we could to present you and your brother with these opportunities. It¡¯s up to you to capitalize on that. Don¡¯t let it go to waste just because you find it troublesome.¡¯ The meeting ended, and Alex escaped back to his desk. He unlocked his computer, and the Teams Task page on the screen mocked him. Task: Up Next: Alex Moore - Ad Campaign Pitch Deadline & Slide Deck (Due Friday 11/22) Several unproductive minutes went by as he tapped his pen on the space bar of his keyboard. I¡¯ll have a brilliant idea any minute now¡­ ¡­Ugh. Nope. Nothing. His gaze fell on the notepad next to his keyboard. Without thinking, Alex spun the pen in his hand and started to doodle. Lines flowed onto the page, intricate patterns forming under his hand. A swirling vortex here, a labyrinth of interconnected lines there. It was a familiar comfort, a way to find order in the chaos. The repeated, consistent movements of the pen in evenly spaced lines¡ª ¡°Lost in your little world again, Mr. Moore?¡± Mr. Henderson¡¯s voice broke his concentration. Alex flinched and quickly closed the notepad, feeling color rise in his cheeks as he kept his brows from coming together. Henderson¡¯s expression showed disapproval, and Alex fought down the urge to defend himself. ¡°Deadlines, Alex. Remember? We¡¯re counting on you.¡± ¡°Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.¡± Alex said while lowering his head slightly. Henderson shook his head before continuing down the open space toward the next desk. Fuck. Alex''s head lolled back in defeat. He looked up at the bright lights, forcing his eyes to stay open for a few seconds before closing them and seeing bright purple and yellow outlines where the lights were. As he straightened in his chair, Mark caught his eye from across the office. His large friend raised an eyebrow when they made eye contact. Alex shook his head in answer before returning his attention to the creative block that always came with forced projects. A few unproductive hours later, Alex met up with Mark in the office breakroom for lunch. Alex was pretty average in height, 5¡¯11¡±, and was proud of the fact that he was a few inches taller than his older brother. Mark, on the other hand, made both of them look short. Mark was one of those people who was awfully close to needing to duck when walking through doorways. He was a solid four inches over six feet. His Polish ancestry came through strong in his height, brown hair, and blue eyes. ¡°So, you doing anything exciting tonight?¡± ¡°Not really. Just dinner with the folks.¡± Alex picked up half of his turkey wrap. ¡°Ah, the weekly inquisition?¡± Mark teased, knowing how much these dinners drained his friend. His parents meant well, but their constant comparisons to his brother and ability to make any of his accomplishments feel inconsequential was hard to deal with. Alex forced a chuckle, ¡°Something like that.¡± ¡°Well, at least they feed you, right?¡± ¡°True.¡± Lunch was the same as it had been in recent weeks. They exchanged some banter before Alex flipped on his tablet and then passed a headphone to Mark so they could listen to the latest news.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. The familiar homepage of The Nexus Hub website greeted them as he did so. The Rifts had become a morbid fascination of theirs. The fact that they could tear through reality and house creatures of myth and magic was terrifying and completely out of the realm of what everyone thought was possible. Some people saw it as an opportunity and were excited to adventure. Some people said it was the end of the world. Alex felt it was more accurate to call it the end of the world as they knew it. I can¡¯t imagine something so drastic that humanity couldn¡¯t overcome it¡­ even if it is as crazy as all of this. They scrolled through the latest reports. People had disappeared into a Rift in Nevada and never returned. No trace at all. A Rift in Tokyo had been sealed off but had eventually unleashed a horde of grotesque insect-like creatures. The death toll from that incident was still climbing. What would it be like? To step through one of those Rifts? Facing the unknown, fighting for...something more? The powers people supposedly gained from surviving the Rift were even more intriguing. The Nexus Hub website had started as a bit of a joke, poking fun at the early ¡®super power¡¯-like reports. However, as weeks passed, it became the fastest and most reliable forum for Rift reports, updates, and information on The System. Alex almost laughed. What am I thinking? I¡¯m a graphic designer who¡¯s stuck in a dead-end job. My life at the moment consists of drowning in deadlines and managing expectations. All too soon, lunch was ending. They both stood to dump their lunch trash and bumped fists before returning to their workstations. The rest of the day passed in a blur, and before he knew it, Alex had changed and was on his way to his parent''s house.
"Alex! You''re a sight for sore eyes, ¡° his mom said, her voice laced with her familiar brand of concern. "Hey, Mom." He offered a tired smile, leaning in for the obligatory hug. His dad appeared behind her with a wide grin. "Look who decided to grace us with his presence." He pulled Alex into a bear hug, his aftershave a mix of sandalwood and something herbal. "So, how''s work been?" Jesus, that didn¡¯t take long. "Eh, nothing really new to report," Alex said as he sat in his normal spot on the couch and accepted the glass of tea his mom handed him. The familiar scent of pot roast wafted from the kitchen, and they made small talk until Jake arrived and the food was ready. "Your father had a rough day at the firm," Mom said as they sat around the table. "One of those clients," His father said. He sighed as he sat down in the chair at the head of the table. "You know the type." Alex nodded, though he didn¡¯t really know the type. His experience with high-powered clients began and ended with approving ad font sizes. The conversation flowed around him. The usual stuff. Complaints about traffic, updates on Aunt Carol''s hip replacement, and the latest Maplewood, New Jersey gossip. He nodded at the appropriate times and chuckled at his dad¡¯s jokes. He knew how to play the part. The evening continued to pass, and Alex did his best to be mindful of the things that would set his mother off on a tangent. They made it through most of the dinner before the dreaded conversation was brought up oh-so-casually. "So, Alex," His mom began, her voice carefully neutral. "Tell me more about how things are at work." He forced a smile. "They¡¯re busy, as always. We just landed a big account, actually." "That''s wonderful, dear," Her smile was a touch too wide as she tapped his dad¡¯s arm. "But you''re still working on that- what was it¡­ social media campaign?" "Yes, Mom. Still working on it." Why does it always come back to this? "It''s just¡­," she continued, her eyes darting toward her husband, seeking backup. "Well, your father and I were just discussing¡­" Alex¡¯s father cleared his throat, and his brow creased slightly. "We just want what''s best for you, son." Fuck. There it is. "And what''s best for me is¡­?" "Stability," His mom interjected. "A career with a bit more of a path forward. Not just some¡­ artistic pursuit." The judgment hung in the air. Alex could feel his face flushing. He pushed the food around on his plate, the roast suddenly looking unappetizing. A part of him wanted to speak up about his choices, but the words wouldn¡¯t come. He felt the heat rising in his cheeks. "Alex?" his mom¡¯s tone was laced with genuine concern. He glanced up to see her eyebrows and lips pursed. He looked toward his dad, but the older man¡¯s gaze was avoiding his eyes. This is so awkward. Why do we keep doing this? The silence stretched, each tick of the dining room clock sounding louder than the last. Say something, Alex. Anything. Stick up for yourself. Tell them you don''t like your job, but at least you picked it. Tell them you have a plan. Or at least a goal¡­ "So, Alex," Jake said, his voice carrying its normal carefree lilt. "Jamie told me you and Mark are still slaying dragons in your free time." He chuckled. Is he serious right now? "Jake!" Mom hissed, her eyes flashing a warning. "Don''t be ridiculous. Alex gave up such childish fantasies years ago." "Do we need to discuss your future career plan, too?" Their dad said in a mock, threatening tone. "What, me?" Jake raised his hands, feigning innocence. "No need to worry about me, I just got a promotion last month. My boss says that they¡¯re fast tracking me. Also, who cares if Alex plays video games still, we know Alex is the dreamer of the family." Alex¡¯s cheeks burned, a wave of shame washing over him. Something about the way Jake casually dismissed his hobbies or friends with humor annoyed him to no end. "Jake''s right, Alex," His dad said. "There''s nothing wrong with having a passion. You know that we love your art. Your mother and I just want you to be realistic. You have a stable income right now. We just want to make sure that you''re thinking about what comes next." Of course, he¡¯s right, Dad. In your eyes, Jake can do no wrong. Alex looked Jake in the eyes. Does he even realize how big of an asshole he is? Jake looked back, smiling as he took a big bite of his dinner roll, then looked away with an exaggerated innocence, acting as if he had no idea what was happening. While things had always been competitive between the two, Alex felt that things had become a bit more intentional as they reached adulthood. They made eye contact again, and Jake winked at him. Dick. A high-pitched tone cut through the tension, and all eyes turned towards the living room. The TV blared the tone from the emergency broadcast system. "I''m not that hungry anyway," Alex mumbled, pushing his chair back from the table. "I''ll go see what''s going on." Anything to escape this conversation. The news anchor''s face was a mask of concern. Words like "emergency announcement" and "government initiative" flashed across the bottom of the screen. "¡­ the Hunter''s Association will be responsible for the registration and regulation of all individuals with abilities related to the Rifts," the anchor noted. "The government assures citizens that this is a precautionary measure, aimed at ensuring public safety and¡­" "Hunters Association?" Mom scoffed, her voice full of disbelief. "What are they going to hunt? Unicorns?" "Turn that off, Alex," Dad ordered his voice tight with annoyance. "It''s all a load of crap." "But Dad-" "It¡¯s propaganda, pure and simple," He said. The older man waved his hand dismissively at the screen. "They''re trying to scare us, distract us from the real issues. The elections are only a year away, remember?" Alex bit back a retort, knowing it wouldn¡¯t do anyone any good. It was always the same. Anything outside their personal worldview was dismissed as ludicrous or blamed as some sort of manipulation by the other political party. But Alex had seen the videos and read the articles. In the live video segments, the fear in the onlookers¡¯ eyes was real. There''s no way it can be staged. It''s been going on for over a month, and I don''t think they could sweep something this big under the rug. A rebellious part of him couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he could be a part of something this crazy. The news cut to a different camera. It panned across a crowd gathered behind a security cordon. In the distance, a swirling vortex of blue energy crackled and popped. The portal was terrifyingly large, easily matching the height of the two-story buildings nearby and hovering just off the pavement. Alex¡¯s breath caught. Even through the grainy footage, he could see a group of figures emerging from the swirling tear. The way the portal¡¯s glow backlighted their silhouettes made them look like miniatures. They look battered. But they are all standing tall. The man at the front of the group waved toward the crowd, and the concerned murmurs quickly became cheering. The TV abruptly turned off. "It''s all a hoax, I tell you. Rob from down the street was just telling me about how the kids nowadays can do this "deep fake¡± thing, and I''ll be damned if -" Alex stared at the black screen for a while, only half paying attention to his dad''s ramblings. 2. Firebolt! The lock clicked shut behind Alex. Finally home from work. He inhaled deeply, allowing the familiar temperature and scent to calm him down. A wave of exhaustion washed over him, reminding him that the stress from dinner with his parents two nights ago still lingered. Not to mention, Mr. Henderson was particularly bent out of shape today. He grumbled as he kicked off his shoes and thought about enduring another day of various pressures at the office the next day. Even though Henderson¡¯s demands seemed completely unreasonable at times, and it was exhausting, he refused to let it beat him down. Bending down, Alex grabbed his shoes before moving to the closet and setting them on the rack. He hung his work bag on its hook and noted that the leather was looking to be at the end of its life expectancy. Each scuff was like a battle scar from the daily grind. Alex chuckled at the thought, thinking that the scars looked cool and that he preferred the worn look. Stripping down quickly, he walked through the closet and into the bathroom, the cool tiles urging him to jump in the shower. He hopped in the shower and let the water wash away the tension and frustrations of the day. As he liked to do on particularly frustrating days, he stayed in the shower longer than necessary. Stepping out of the shower, he put on some comfy clothes and lit a candle. These were the familiar comforts he craved. No more starched collars or restrictive slacks. Just him, his space, and several hours of free time to do whatever he wanted. Grabbing the dirty clothes, Alex dumped them in the laundry basket and walked back into the living room. He ruffled his shaggy brown hair, ensuring it wouldn¡¯t dry in some crazy way. ¡°Hey Siri, turn on my Upbeat Playlist,¡± he called out as he crossed the open space toward the kitchen. It¡¯s definitely a night for simple comforts. He grabbed a pack of instant noodles from the pantry. The sound of crinkling plastic was drowned out by the AJR song coming over the TV speakers. A few minutes later, he carefully navigated back to his desk, cradling the steaming bowl of noodles. Alex set the bowl down, mindful of the keyboard and various knickknacks arranged on the desk¡¯s surface. Unlike the one at work, the desk at his apartment was his sanctuary. There, he could lose himself for hours, pouring his heart onto paper or losing his worries in the games on his PC. Despite his excitement for free time and the hobbies that could fill it, exhaustion tugged at his bones. Once the bowl was settled and he was sure there was no chance of spilling it on the keyboard, Alex promptly flopped face-down onto his bed. The crisp, clean scent of sheets helped him to relax for a moment. I¡¯m clean, and my space is clean. I have money in my bank account, friends, and free time. I¡¯m fine. Everything is fine. With a sigh, Alex rolled over onto his back and propped his feet on the desk chair while digging his phone out of his sweatpants pocket. Seeking a distraction, he scrolled through social media. The glow of the screen lit up his face as he got swept into the never-ending feed of posts and stories. He saw snippets of lives carefully curated and presented for him to see. He felt a twinge of envy even though he knew half of what he saw was fake. Before he fully lost himself to doom-scrolling, the scent of noodles pulled him back to the present¡ªa reminder that, for now, this was his favorite place to be. As he ate, he heard a chime from his phone and glanced at the screen. Mark: Dude, where are you? The new season patch just dropped. Get on! He groaned, pushed himself up in the chair, and grabbed his headphones. As he put them on, the world shrank and the music from the living room faded out.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. His computer hummed, and the screens lit up his face. Just a few clicks later, he was in the lobby. ¡°All right, all right, I¡¯m here,¡± he said, slurping the last of his noodles. ¡°What¡¯s up? New dungeon look tough?¡± Mark laughed, his mic coming through crystal clear. ¡°Brutal, apparently. Giant spiders, exploding mushrooms, the works.¡± ¡°Bring on the spiders,¡± Alex said. ¡°Been waiting for the new season for weeks, man. Oh hey, did you get a chance to check out that character design I sent you?¡± ¡°The fire mage? Yeah, man. Sick concept. The flames look awesome. Your digital skills have really taken off since school.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Alex said with pride. ¡°The hardest part was how the flames changed the lighting in the drawing. I really wanted to make it pop.¡± They played for a while, working their way through the challenging new season of their favorite game. Alex started feeling bored and wondered if he should hop off when Mark seemed to catch his mood. ¡°How was it at the office today? I¡¯m so glad they sent me on this business trip.¡± ¡°Same old, same old,¡± Alex groaned. ¡°Henderson really pisses me off sometimes, though. The Pearson project is just a shitshow, I swear.¡± ¡°Speaking of shitshow,¡± Mark said. ¡°Did you see the news on The Nexus Hub today? More Rift stuff and it was pretty big. The video caused a huge stir and then was taken down, but the moderators say it wasn¡¯t them.¡± ¡°Oh really? What was the video? I caught the tail end of a report the other night at my parent¡¯s place, but it was about some new government initiative program.¡± ¡°Dude, they¡¯re saying these ¡®Awakened¡¯ are people who literally have powers from the Rifts. Like actual superpowers. Telekinesis, energy blasts, the whole nine yards.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s not really new; we¡¯ve been hearing about that stuff for a few weeks.¡± ¡°Yeah, but¡­¡± Mark paused dramatically, ¡°Someone posted a video on The Nexus Hub of them using magic.¡± ¡°Seriously?¡± Alex asked, his voice rising. ¡°And they took it down?¡± ¡°Dead serious. But once something¡¯s on the internet, it¡¯s never really gone. Check your messages.¡± Alex¡¯s phone buzzed, and he opened his messages to see a video file. ¡°You saved it?¡± ¡°Well, someone else did. But I found it pretty quick after I saw that the post was taken down. I didn¡¯t want to let it slip by! Come on, watch it before I have to go.¡± When Alex opened it, three figures were clearly visible in what looked like an abandoned quarry. Dust and scrub brush surrounded them. Maybe somewhere out West? One of the boys glanced at the camera, and Alex noted that they looked like teenagers. ¡°Bruh, you recording yet?¡± A thumbs-up appeared in view from the cameraman. The boy in the center laughed a bit nervously. He held out his right hand and grasped the wrist with his left as if to steady himself. ¡°Firebolt!¡± For a moment, nothing happened. A pinpoint of light bloomed in the air in front of the boy¡¯s palm. It grew rapidly into a blinding white sphere, and then it stretched, morphing into a fiery red dart of energy. Alex¡¯s held his breath and he leaned forward in his chair. Alex heard a hissing sound through the audio, like air escaping a tire. The air around the boy¡¯s hand shimmered. Then, his clothes and hair fluttered as if caught by a gust of wind. Without further warning, the red bolt streaked past the gray surroundings of the quarry. There was a beat of silence before a distant crack echoed through the speakers. As the projectile slammed into the far wall, it erupted into a shower of sparks and dust, leaving a clear scorch mark on the flat stone. The camera began to shake violently as the boys exploded into cheers and excited chatter. Alex could barely make out their words as they called out over one another. The video ended abruptly, leaving him staring at the last frame, his heart in his throat. Fuck. Magic. Real magic. Not illusions or digital editing, but raw magical power. Even after seeing it, the thought felt insane. The implications weighed heavily on him, and he wondered if he could ever be part of something like this. Yeah, right. My superpower would be turning into a doormat or something lame like that. ¡°Mark,¡± he managed to say after a few long moments of silence. ¡°What¡ªwhat was that?¡± ¡°Told ya!¡± Mark said, the excitement in his voice clear. ¡°They¡¯re calling them ¡®Awakened,¡¯ and those powers that they use are called ¡®skills.¡¯ Apparently, some people can just¡­ do that now. Like, we¡¯re really in some sort of fantasy world.¡± Mark needed to go, and Alex barely registered his parting words. Something about needing to meet a client tomorrow and that he¡¯d be back next week. Alex¡¯s mind was still stuck on the video as he replayed it, watching it in slower motion as he scrubbed through the video with the bar at the bottom. The way the light gathered in the boy¡¯s hand, the hiss of energy, the sheer force of the impact¡ªit all just seemed so impossible, yet there it was: real video proof. He leaned back, his chair creaking in protest, and ran his hands through his hair. Excitement bubbled up in his chest, and his interest was piqued. He moved the now-empty bowl of noodles to the side of his desk and opened a new browser tab. The Nexus Hub website was easy to navigate, but as the night went on, he realized the forums lacked concrete information. Most of what was on the site seemed to be speculation or second-hand reporting. There were a lot of reposts from other more established news sites. The site''s purpose was to compile all of the information related to Rifts. Is someone intentionally filtering the articles or posts? Why would they even do that? Alex felt his curiosity pulling him down the rabbit hole. He clicked into any interesting threads, stubbornly pursuing every piece of information he could. He was eager to escape the monotony of his everyday life, even if it was only for a moment. 3. Rift Detected Bang! Alex jolted to attention, throwing his headphones onto his desk. Startled, he looked up, trying to gauge the source of the loud noise. He spotted a group of coworkers leaving the office together. Through the glass, it was easy to see them laughing as they made their way to the elevator. The office door had a habit of slamming if someone didn¡¯t guide it closed. Getting his racing heart back under control, Alex glanced at the clock in the corner of his monitor. 1:32 pm. Crap. Lunch had technically been over for half an hour. I really need to stop losing myself like that. Either I can¡¯t get into a groove, or I¡¯m so focused that something needs to physically pull me out of it. He rubbed his forehead. The strain of concentrating for a few hours crashed into him all at once. Mark would give me hell for skipping lunch again. ¡®Gotta keep your strength up, man,¡¯ he¡¯d say, usually while eating something greasy and delicious. ¡®How else are you gonna slay those deadlines?¡¯ Alex stood and stretched. I really should go grab some lunch. With Mark gone for the next few days, I guess I¡¯m on my own. Maybe I should grab a quick bite at the diner down the street. They make a mean cheesesteak. And okay, maybe the cute waitress who works the lunch shift also has something to do with it. He snickered as he called himself out and grabbed the jacket from the back of his office chair. A cold gust of wind hit him as he stepped outside the building. November in Hoboken meant the sky was the color of old concrete and held the threat of snow. He pulled his coat tighter, burying his chin into the collar. The diner was warm and smelled like coffee and fried foods. It was a classic greasy spoon sort of place. All dark wood and red booths. They¡¯d hit the perfect balance between looking vintage and not looking run down. Alex scanned the room, hoping to see a flash of dark hair and a bright smile. She¡¯s not here today? Fuck. Oh, well. There was just something about her, something about the way she smiled that always seemed so genuine. Realistically, he knew she wasn¡¯t interested in him the same way. He didn¡¯t know much about her, and it was all just surface-level attraction, but it did make lunch nicer. He slid into a booth by the window, the leather creaking under him. Maybe it¡¯s the cheesesteak I¡¯m here for, after all. The waiter greeted him, and Alex gave a tight smile before sliding the menu away from himself. ¡°Just the cheesesteak and fries for me, thanks.¡± The server, a heavyset guy with a bored expression, scribbled on his notepad. ¡°Coming up,¡± he said, then disappeared back into the bustle of the diner. Alex drummed his fingers on the table and scanned the other customers. His eyes felt the drag of the afternoon, even though it wasn¡¯t even two o¡¯clock yet. Another day, another deadline. Another week, another round of Mom and Dad asking when I¡¯m going to get a ¡°real¡± job. The memory of this week¡¯s dinner made his stomach churn. It was the same fight every single time. His gaze fell on a flyer taped to the napkin dispenser. ¡°Join the Hunter¡¯s Association! Protect Your City! Secure Your Future!¡± Alex''s thoughts drifted to a grim and spiteful sort of fantasy. What would his family think if he left his current job to live in a fantasy world? He remembered his father¡¯s frustration and anger at the entire situation, thinking that it was some sort of political move. They¡¯d never understand, but the thought of escaping their expectations felt enticing. Surprisingly, it was Sarah¡¯s voice that popped into his head. ¡®Alex, you¡¯re looking for an escape again. You always do this when things get tough. You dive headfirst into something new, something exciting, to avoid dealing with the real issue.¡¯ She had this way of using her psychiatrist dark magics to psychoanalyze him and give him really sound advice. It was so annoying when she was right. And she was right. He knew that. But there was something about these Rifts and about the possibility of something more. Something beyond the mundane grind of his everyday life¡­ it was an intoxicating thought. I mean, sweet Jesus. Who am I kidding? Fantasy magic, powers, and monsters coming to Earth through portals? It¡¯s every closet nerd''s wet dream.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. He pulled out his phone and loaded the Nexus Hub website. A slew of news articles, forum discussions, and recruitment ads flashed before his eyes. After Mark sent him the video last night, he couldn¡¯t go to sleep. He stayed up and read most of the recent articles on Nexus Hub. Alex was surprised that there wasn¡¯t very much specific information on there. To the point that he¡¯d probably agree with Mark that the information was getting pruned off of the site. Either by the moderators or by a third party. There was some general information and definitely a lot of recruiting, mostly from the groups that were calling themselves different ¡®Guilds.¡¯ Guilds seemed to be the people¡¯s version of the government''s ¡°Hunter¡¯s Association.¡± They posted recruitment posts based on location as if they were sports teams, offering incentives through pay, training, and more. The previous night, Alex set up push notifications from the site, hoping to catch something posted with more details before it was pruned off of the site¡ªsort of like how Mark caught the video before it was taken down. But so far, the notifications had just been reports of breaking news articles from other sources. Suddenly, as if summoned by his thoughts, his phone dinged, and he saw a small banner drop from the top of the screen. He almost swiped it up before reading it, as he was actively on the site, but his thumb froze as he scanned the words in all caps.
RIFT DETECTED NEAR YOU // RANK E // COORDINATES: 40.7289¡ã N, 74.0328¡ã W
The words halted his thoughts, and his heart stuttered. He clicked the banner, bringing up a dropped pin in his Maps App. That¡­ that¡¯s right here. Alex shoved his phone into his pocket and stood up quickly. It was like watching a car crash in slow motion. He knew he should look away, but he couldn¡¯t help but stare. Could this be my chance? I¡¯ve read so many articles, and all I could think about last night was that kid using magic¡­ I should slow down and think this through, right? What if I¡¯m too late? What if the government steps in and closes it down? Cash. Table. Gotta go. The bell above the diner door jingled angrily as he shouldered his way through. Cold air bit at his face, snapping him out of his haze. He pulled up the notification again, his fingers fumbling against the screen. 0.22 miles. Almost a quarter of a mile. What the hell does that even mean? How far is that? A few blocks? More? The map app showed a little blue dot pulsing on the screen. He started following the trail of digital breadcrumbs, making a beeline away from the diner and toward the Rift. Don''t be stupid, Alex. You''re not really going to... are you? Despite the question, his feet continued to pound against the pavement. I want this. I need to experience this for myself. What if someone tries to stop me? Or worse yet, what if I talk myself out of it? The buildings seemed to press in around him, and he picked up the pace. As he closed the distance, he noticed a change in the air that made the hairs on his neck stand up. This is insane. This is completely insane. But still, he kept running and loosened the tie around his neck. The closer he got, the more crowded the streets became. People were clustered on corners, pointing in the direction he was running. They all seemed frozen, standing behind cars, many of them holding their phones to their ear or held aloft to get a recording. He slowed down. Where he stood, there seemed to be an invisible barrier where people had stopped moving away and were willing to stop and look back to investigate from a safe distance. He looked down at his phone, his finger hovered over the destination pin. Alex took off his tie and held it in his hand as he looked at the phone and took in ragged gasps of air. Damn, I¡¯m out of shape. What am I even doing? The reasonable part of his brain screamed the question at him. But surprisingly, it was drowned out by a different, more insistent voice. This is it. This is your chance to see if any of it is real¡­ to see if it is all real. Alex realized then that he desperately wanted it to be real. He moved forward again, slowly at first. He was surprised that his body was able to act despite his fear. It was also surprising that he seemed to want to move toward the danger rather than away from it. Ahead of him, a woman pulled her baby from the stroller and abandoned the walker. She nearly knocked him over as she barreled past. With wide eyes, she kept running, and her baby started crying. She cradled it closer as if to shield it. The last stragglers disappeared around the corner, leaving Alex alone on the sidewalk. He could clearly see the glowing portal now. Cars were abandoned in the middle of the street, some smoking or beeping from accidents. Other than the noises caused by abandoned vehicles and shops, there was no one around. It was unnerving to see in a city setting like this. It made him think back to some of the scenes he saw when watching The Walking Dead. A normal and functional world, up and abandoned due to panic and chaos. Alex¡¯s feet continued to move without conscious thought, carrying him toward the pulsing blue dot on his phone screen. Each step felt heavier than the last like he was wading through water. The air around the tall blue portal crackled with energy, and buildings all around were cast in an eerie light. The portal hung in the air, just off the street. It was terrifying and beautiful. Tons of different hues of blue swirled toward the center, and the surface shimmered and sparkled like water. His phone slipped from his cold fingers, clattering to the pavement. Alex barely noticed. His eyes were glued to the Rift, his entire being drawn towards it. He could feel it pulling at him, drowning out the last bit of reason that was whispering at the back of his mind. Don¡¯t be stupid, Alex. This is crazy. You have no idea what¡¯s on the other side. But to his surprise, he didn¡¯t care anymore. For the first time in ages, he felt free from deadlines and the weight of expectations. He was chasing something real. He bent down and grabbed his phone without taking his eyes off of the portal. Then his feet were moving before he could talk himself out of it. The air grew heavier as he got closer to the portal. One last look back at the empty street and the familiar cityscape. It looked surreal from this angle, empty and awash in an ethereal light. Alex tossed his tie to the side before stepping forward into the portal. This is it. No looking back now. In a fleeting thought, Alex wondered if what he was feeling was any different from those who participated in extreme sports. He stood at the edge of something insane and dangerous; all of the logical parts of his brain were screaming at him that he should stay where he was in safety and not take that next step. Alex pushed those fears aside and he knew that he¡¯d always be able to rationalize the safe and cautious choice. Not this time. I won¡¯t hesitate and miss the opportunity. The world dissolved into a kaleidoscope of color and muted sound. He was weightless for a brief moment, then there was the feeling of falling forward through a narrow tunnel. Then, just as suddenly as it began, it stopped. 4. Slime Oh, fuuuuuuck. Alex''s stomach lurched, and he tasted bile. What have I done? He blinked several times, but the scene refused to change. Okay, so- not a hallucination. His eyes traced the slopes of the landscape stretching out around him. The rolling green hills were broken up by sporadic patches of wildflowers. The air smelled clean compared to the city he had been standing in mere seconds ago. Looking up, the sky seemed impossibly large and Alex couldn¡¯t tell if it was a trick of the eye. The trees were enormous, yet even compared to them, the clouds seemed extremely high in the air. As he took in the surroundings, one thing was hammered home: he was not in Hoboken anymore. There were two suns hanging in the sky. One was just past its peak, while the other was beginning to set behind the trees. The second sun set the field awash in pink and orange hues. Despite this, Alex''s surroundings didn''t dim as they normally would during a sunset... as there was another sun. Two suns. Fuck. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, enjoying the fresh air. Within moments of opening his eyes again, his gaze was drawn back to the sky and the floating crystals. They floated lazily across the open air, refracting the light from the setting sun and sending gorgeous beams of yellow-orange light in different directions. Alex tried to gauge their size, but it was hard. None of them were close enough to something he could compare them to. They reminded him of the time he had spent an entire weekend designing a logo for some new-age crystal healing shop. His parents had been thrilled when he told them about that project. Yeah, well, it¡¯s not always about what you want, Mom. He shook his head, trying to rid himself of the memory. How the hell am I thinking about that here? I¡¯m here. In this- this impossible place. A place where magic is real and there are TWO suns! A place where I can maybe just take a second to breathe and distance myself from all of that nonsense out there. A laugh escaped his lips from sheer disbelief. This had to be a dream. Perhaps it was a hallucination from the stress of work or from staring at his computer screens too long? Any minute now, I¡¯ll wake up back in my apartment. He knew it wasn¡¯t true, even as it crossed his mind. Alex mentally shook himself and thought back. The articles had mentioned something about needing to kill a monster to awaken. That¡¯s what they called those who had skills or powers. The reports varied wildly on what kinds of creatures were actually inside the Rifts. Some people claimed to have seen giant spiders. Others talked about fire-breathing lizards, and a few even swore up and down that they¡¯d encountered talking mushrooms. Talking mushrooms. Riiight. It reminded him of the game he and Mark had played the night before. He shook his head, pushing the ridiculous image away. Then again, what else would I expect to see in this place? His eyes flicked toward the sky once again. Alright, Alex. You wanted this. Get your shit together and figure out what comes next. The trees loomed ahead of him. They looked like the huge pines of the Pacific Northwest that he had only ever seen in pictures. There seemed to be very little underbrush, and even from this distance, he could clearly see a good ways into the forest. He continued walking toward the edge of the forest. Two suns. Fuck. At the thought, he peeled off his winter coat, beginning to sweat from the heat of the suns. He closed the distance to the tree line and he couldn¡¯t help but think of what came next. One of the consistencies throughout all the articles he read was the need to kill a monster in a Rift in order to awaken. Can I actually kill something? If it comes down to it, I have to be prepared to face whatever this is. He began walking the line between the edge of the forest and the field. He could convince himself that it was to get a better view of both areas, but he knew he was really just scared to walk into the shaded area beyond. Can I? Can I kill something? The thought sent a shiver down his back. He had never even killed a bug before. Well, at least not intentionally. He would always try to catch them and release them outside. Jake used to tease him when they were little, calling him a Saint. Jake was the type of kid to pretend he was King Kong while kicking over ant hills and sandcastles. But these things¡ªthese monsters. They¡¯re different, right? Some of the comments on those articles he had read last night argued that they couldn¡¯t be real. Not really. They were just projections or simulations created by the Rifts, almost like an advanced video game. But what if they¡¯re not? What if the monsters are real creatures? He scratched the back of his head, and he thought of Jake. His older brother was always so confident and ready to take on a new challenge, especially if there was something to be gained. Alex knew that his brother would likely go charging in head first and more than likely come out on top. I¡¯m not like Jake though¡­ I need a plan. A worst-case scenario or a line that I won¡¯t cross. If it¡¯s a real, honest-to-god monster, then I¡¯ll try to fight it. But I''m running away if it¡¯s anything remotely human or sentient. Alex looked over at the portal across the field. It hung in the air like a giant egg. Many of its patterns and other-worldly qualities seemed to be lost to his eyes at this distance; it just looked flat and smooth, like a weird banner at a fair. It was less than 100 meters away. He should stay close enough to it that he could make a run for it if needed. There was no telling what was lurking in the woods. But what if it closes before I get back? A thought struck him and he pulled out his cell phone. The screen was blank, and he was unable to power it on despite trying more than once. Fuck. His stomach tightened as he put his phone back in his pocket. If something went wrong he would be trapped here, alone, with no way to contact anyone. No way to even know if he could get back. Stop it. He took a deep breath. One step at a time. First things first: Find a monster. Then, kill it. See what happens. Turning back to the forest, his eyes scanned the shadows for any sign of movement. It smelled so nice¡ªthe pine needles and scent of earth gradually overpowering the scent of the grass and field. Maybe I¡¯m supposed to go in there to find a monster? He took a hesitant step into the forest. Then another. Alex could feel his body waffle between wanting to relax or panic. He had never been one for the great outdoors. He¡¯d take the concrete jungle any day of the week. At least there, he knew what to expect. Rats, pigeons, and the occasional crazy homeless person yelling at you while they were living out their own fantasy.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Here? Here, anything could be lurking behind those trees. Come on, Alex. For now, he decided to just keep walking along the edge of the forest. There was still plenty of the field that he hadn¡¯t checked out yet, right? Yep, that¡¯s all. That¡¯s when he saw it. Movement to his right in the tall grass, just a bit further ahead in the field. Alex froze for a moment, his breath catching in his chest. Trying to stay low, he crept forward to get another look at the thing. It¡¯s¡­ a blob? A small, green blob about the size of a basketball. It jiggled and bounced in the grass, its surface rippling like gelatin. Holy shit. It¡¯s a slime. He had played enough video games and watched enough anime to recognize it on the spot. A classic low-level monster. Perfect. His heart was still ready to jump out of his throat at a moment¡¯s notice, but there was a thrill of excitement mixed in with the fear now. This was his chance to see if this whole ¡®awakening¡¯ thing was real. Not that I¡¯m really doubting it at this point¡­ He pointedly didn¡¯t look at the sky. Watching the slime for a moment, Alex studied its movements. It was slow and predictable. It really doesn¡¯t seem to be that dangerous. Glancing around, he looked for something¡ªanything¡ªthat he could use as a weapon. His eyes landed on a fallen branch lying a few feet away. It wasn¡¯t much, but it would have to do. Keeping his eyes on the slime, he backed away slowly. Once he was a safe distance away, he turned and jogged toward the tree line to scoop up the branch. It was surprisingly heavy. The weight made it feel solid in his hand. Alex returned to the field with his makeshift weapon held loosely in his hand. The slime hadn¡¯t moved far. It was still bouncing around in the grass, oblivious to its surroundings. Time to find out what you¡¯re made of. As he got closer, the little monster seemed to finally notice him and began to undulate faster than before. The slime jiggled, a tremor running through its form. It bounced once more with a small hop before launching itself forward. Faster than I expected. Alex stepped back and raised the branch. He almost slipped as he tried to backpedal faster to keep up with his moving body. The slime splattered against the ground where he had been standing. Okay, maybe a direct hit isn¡¯t the best strategy. If I remember, slimes are typically resistant to physical damage, right? The slime pulled itself back together, reforming into its vaguely spherical shape. It wobbled, then hopped again. This time, he was ready for it. Bending his legs and watching his footing, he stepped back and swung the branch, catching the slime in mid-air. The impact sent a jolt up his arm. It was like hitting a water balloon filled with jelly. The slime contorted around the branch for a moment before being sent off to the side. It didn¡¯t break; it just dropped to the ground with a wet thud and started to ooze back toward him. It didn¡¯t seem hurt or even bothered, for that matter. Stubborn little thing, aren¡¯t ya? The next time it lunged at him, he swung again. Each time he did, he caught the slime just before it reached him. It was exhausting work, and his arms started burning after only a few minutes of this. Come on, slime. Give up already. But the slime just kept coming. Its movements were slow and relentless; each time Alex hit it, it deformed, stretched, and reformed. There has to be a way to kill this thing. His mind tried to flip back through memories of fantasy novels and video games. What were the weaknesses of slimes? Acid? Fire? A scene from a comic he had read came to mind. The main character battled against a giant slime in a dungeon. He tried slashing it, but it didn¡¯t matter how much he tried; his sword didn¡¯t work. Then, he used a fire spell, and the slime had almost exploded. Fire. Slimes are weak to fire. But of course, I don¡¯t exactly have any spells handy. No lighter. I definitely don¡¯t know how to make a fire from scratch¡­ Alex glanced around, hoping for a stroke of luck. Maybe there was a conveniently placed torch or magical flower. No such luck. He was on his own. He gritted his teeth. If brute force was the only way, then brute force it was. Alex raised the branch like a baseball bat and gripped the rough wood tightly. This could take a while. He swung the branch again and again. Each time, the slime went flying, landed, and reformed. It never seemed to really get hurt from his swings. Even after minutes of repeating this over and over, it just kept coming back for more. This is ridiculous. Alex¡¯s arms were burning, and his breaths came in ragged gasps. He was sweating under the heat of the suns now. His coat was tied around his waist, and his work shirt was untucked. This little slime was giving him more of a workout than he¡¯d had since high school sports. While he went to the gym a few times a week, it was normally just to lift some weights or walk on a treadmill. But here? Here, he was practically dancing around. Dodging, weaving, and swinging this damned branch like a lumberjack. And¡ªhe was actually enjoying it? The thought surprised him. This whole situation was insane. He should be terrified. He was terrified. He should be running for his life. Well, maybe not. It is just a slime, but still. Instead of all that, Alex was laughing. Laughing as he dodged another lunge from the little green monster. I¡¯m actually doing this. For the first time in a long while, he felt alive and completely invested in what he was doing. The slime bounced again, higher this time. Alex backpedaled to put some distance between them and continued to analyze this feeling. But his foot caught on a root hidden in the tall grass. Shit! He stumbled and fell backward. His arms flailed, and he tried to regain his balance, but it was too late. The slime landed on his leg with a sickening splat. ¡°Gah!¡± His yelp broke the serene silence that had filled the field since his arrival. It was cold. The wet slime seemed to soak and seep into his work slacks. It wrapped itself around his calf, its gelatinous form pulsating against his leg. Alex could feel it trying to ooze its way under his pant leg. Panic surged through him, and he remembered that slimes were acidic. ¡°Get it off! Get it off!¡± he yelled. He clawed at the slime, but it was no use. It was like trying to grab a handful of thick water. His fingers just sank into its form, then began to sting. Alex pulled his hands away and wiped them off in the grass as he tried to scrape his leg backward against the ground. Think, Alex, think! His eyes darted around, searching for anything that could help him. ¡°Ahh! Just get it off!¡± he yelled again. A thought struck him. He began to hastily undo his belt and push his pants down. Putting his hands close to the skin of his legs, he pushed frantically, trying to push the slime off of his leg along with the entire pair of pants. Come on, you slimy bastard! Finally, it came loose. He pulled his pant leg down, the slime sliding off with it. He kicked off his shoe, feeling the slime had already begun to reach within. Unintentionally, his pants flipped inside out and over the slime. Alex scrambled backward, his heart thudding against his sternum. Breathing hard, he wiped the sweat from his brow and let out another yell. He realized this one didn¡¯t actually contain any coherent words; it was really just meant to let out some stress. He glanced down at himself. No pants and one shoe. He was unable to shake the feeling of that thing pulsing and wiggling on his leg. I feel violated somehow. Looking over at the slime, which now happened to be trapped within his work slacks, he tried to think of what to do next. It still jiggled and moved. It reminded him of a time when his ex¡¯s cat got trapped under the blankets on their bed. It just sort of wobbled around within the constraints. ¡°Ok, think. Acid, it¡¯s acid, right?¡± Alex looked around for something¡ªanything. Maybe he could pour something on it¡ªwater? Dirt? Would that even work? Ugh, okay. Back to brute force. He took some time to search around, looking for a big flat rock. Alex felt crazy scrambling around the field with one shoe and no pants, but at this point, that slime was going down one way or another. Eventually, he found a rock that had a satisfying weight to it, and the bottom was flat and wide. Returning to the slime, he knelt down and brought the rock up over his head before letting it crash down onto the pant-slime. The impact reverberated up his arm, and as he lifted the rock, the slime just reformed. It didn¡¯t even seem to notice the attack. Here we go again. He swung the rock again and again. And again. Each time, Alex put every ounce of his strength into it. His arms and lungs burned while sweat dripped down his forehead and into his eyes. Despite this, he didn¡¯t stop. He told himself that he couldn¡¯t stop, not until this thing was dead. The slime, to its credit, was so much more resilient than he thought it would be. It just kept jiggling and bouncing, no matter how many times he hit it. Come on, you slimy bastard. Alex swung the rock again, his vision blurring from the sweat. This time, however, something was different. The slime made a strange, gurgling sound, and it shuddered violently under the rock. When it stopped moving, his heavy arms flipped the rock to the side. He rocked back onto his heels to take some of the weight off of his scratched and dirty knees. Staring down at the slime, his chest continued to heave. The mass of the slime was still there, trapped inside of his pants, but now it wasn¡¯t moving. For the first time in what felt like the longest hour of his life, it wasn¡¯t jiggling. Wondering what to do next, Alex let his heavy arms rest in his lap. A few moments went by, and then the space within the pants seemed to fade. It was like someone was letting the air out of a pool floaty. The fabric sagged, drooping around the now non-existent form of the slime. And then, something even weirder happened. Tiny blue motes of light began to rise through the fabric. The motes of light swirled and danced in the air like miniature butterflies. Mesmerized, Alex watched as the lights began to float up into the air, and then, without much warning, they rushed into him. If he wasn¡¯t so tired, Alex was sure he would have flinched or tried to move out of the way. The feeling that came with them entering his body was strange and warm. It tingled like some sort of stimulating pre-workout, prickling at his skin. His chest and stomach began to feel almost like they were vibrating, and then he gasped. The tingling on his skin intensified and coalesced toward his abdomen. His lower stomach burned. He bent over and grabbed the tall grass with his hands, clenching against the brief flash of pain through his navel. Heaving once again, Alex stared at the ground beneath him when two things happened at once. The pain disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. And a blue screen materialized in front of him. It hung in the air, defying gravity. Its surface lacked any sort of visible support or source. The thin floating window was the same color blue as the motes of light. Across the panel, words appeared.
Congratulations and Welcome to the System, newly Awakened. Trait Manifested: {Primordial Will}
5. Primordial Will ¡°What the fu¡­¡± The screen shimmered in front of Alex. The pain in his stomach began to fade, and he pushed himself up from all fours into a seated position on the grass. ¡°Trait manifested,¡± he muttered, reading the words again from the screen. ¡°Primordial Will?¡± What does that even mean? Is this real? Did I hit my head or something? He reached out a hand to touch the screen. The tingling feeling returned as his fingers approached where the screen should be, and his fingers passed right through the blue window. ¡°Weird,¡± he said to no one. As soon as he pulled his hand from the space, the window returned to its perfectly still shape. As he moved his head from side to side, it moved with his vision, anchored to some invisible place. ¡°Hello? System? Can I get some more information here?¡± No response. ¡°Information on¡­ Primordial Will?¡± he tried again. The screen stayed the same. ¡°Ugh, this is like trying to get a straight answer from automated tech support.¡± He exaggerated his words, saying, ¡°I¡¯d like to speak to a representative, please.¡± Shit, maybe I shouldn¡¯t say that. What if some sort of alien answers me? What is this ¡°System¡±? What is ¡°Primordial Will¡±? And what the hell does this have to do with the slime or the Rift? ¡°Status!¡± he blurted out, remembering a term used in a few of the articles that talked about awakening. The screen was replaced by a new one in the blink of an eye. There was no flickering or movement; the old one was just gone, and a new one appeared.
Status Name: Alex Moore - Level 1 Class: None HP: 50/50 MP: 60/60 Traits: (1/3) {Primordial Will} Physical Stats: Strength: 4 Agility: 5 Constitution: 5 Vitality: 6 Magical Stats: Intellect: 6 Willpower: 3 Mana: 6 Wisdom: 6 Active Skills: (None) Passive Skills: (None)
¡°Okay,¡± he said. ¡°Now we¡¯re getting somewhere. Voice commands seem to work, sort of like my home entertainment system.¡± He stared at the screen for a few minutes, his mind trying to process all of this crazy information. Strength 4, Agility 5, Constitution 5, Vitality 6¡­ Those are underwhelming. Is five average? What does that even mean in this context? Who am I being compared to? God, what does that mean about my Willpower? "Physical Stats," he said. The screen seemed to respond to his thoughts, expanding the Physical Stats section.
Physical Stats: Strength (Physical Power) Agility (Physical Control) Constitution (Physical Capacity) Vitality (Physical Regeneration)
Okay, that''s a bit more helpful. But "Physical Power?" What constitutes "power"? I mean, I managed to kill that slime thing, didn''t I? Do I get more power? And Strength, what does that mean? As if reading his mind, a new window popped up. "Well, guess I don''t need to say it out loud¡­"
Strength - Represents pure physical power, determining a character''s ability to lift, carry, and deliver powerful blows. As this stat increases, an Awakened One''s muscles may grow larger, becoming more defined and powerful, allowing them to perform feats of strength with greater ease.
"Okay," he muttered. "So basically, how ripped I am." He flexed his arm. Definitely not ripped. Not even close. Agility. What''s that about Physical Control? He intentionally directed his thoughts to try and understand more about Agility, and the window changed again.
Agility - Governs how strength is applied. It focuses on speed, coordination, and explosive power through momentum. Awakened with high Agility move more fluidly and with greater precision, their muscles becoming more defined. They appear more graceful, with quicker reflexes and smoother movements.
Ok, maybe this is "ripped"? Strength is more like being "jacked." This System seems to have a thing for muscles. What about Physical Capacity?
Constitution - Reflects an Awakened One¡¯s overall health, life points, and endurance. Those with high Constitution tend to have a sturdy appearance and strong bones. They can endure more physical punishment and recover from wounds more effectively.
His eyes drifted back to the top of the screen. "Traits: (1/3) {Primordial Will}." So, that''s what it is¡ªa Trait, not a superpower or a skill. The two sections would suggest that there¡¯s a difference between the two. Disappointment pricked at him. He had thought for sure killing that slime would''ve given him some kind of cool ability. A skill? Maybe I was supposed to absorb more of those blue things? Was that experience like in a video game? Maybe I just got unlucky? No fireballs for me; instead, I got a Trait? Focusing his attention on the Trait¡¯s name, he tried to will the System to show him more information than just the name. The blue window in front of him changed again, shrinking slightly from the expanded view of Physical Stats.
{Primordial Will} - (Weighted Stat): You are the Chosen of Zaamis. Harnessing your inner strength, your mastery of magic becomes more defined, echoing whispers from the lost Primordials. Your Free Points may only be put into Willpower.
Who the hell is Zaamis? Weighted Stat? What does that even mean? Is that like¡­ extra strong Willpower or something? He read the description again and again. Each time, hoping that the words would say something different. "No. Way." He could feel his heart sinking. "This has to be a joke, right?" He glanced back at the spot where the slime had been. It was gone, completely dissolved. Did I get stuck with some kind of garbage Trait because I killed the lamest monster in this place? Should I have gone for something tougher? The thought almost made him laugh despite the disappointment he felt. He could barely stand. His leg was throbbing, and he was half naked, yet here he was, worried about not picking a harder fight. He shook his head, trying to clear the unhelpful thoughts. This is messed up.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. All those videos and stories about people getting crazy powers¡­ and I get this? He remembered the video Mark had sent him. The one with the kid shooting a freaking fireball out of his hand like the Human Torch. He''d made it look so easy. So cool. And here he was, stuck with¡­ more Willpower? I mean, I guess it will help me make up for my weakest stat. But only being able to put stats into one thing is never good in games. Of course, some people did it to make cheeky builds, but it was almost always better to go with a well-rounded build. He groaned in annoyance as he stood up, his legs shaking slightly under his weight. In a huff, he scooped up his pants from where they lay, careful in case there was any slime-goo stuck on them. ¡°Great,¡± he muttered. He lifted up his pants to see a gaping hole staring back at him. It was an odd shape, but there was clearly a gap in the lower leg, right where the slime decided to get friendly. He shuddered. Acid, right? Whatever it was, it didn¡¯t agree with my slacks. So¡­ no pants or shredded pants? Decisions, decisions. ¡°Shredded pants, it is,¡± he sighed and pulled them up. He was grateful at least that the slime didn¡¯t seem to leave any residual gunk on them. Thankfully, the belt held... even with the new ventilation system. His gaze dropped to his right shoe. Or what was left of it? The once-tan leather was gone, reduced to a sad, melted puddle around the rubber sole. He wrinkled his nose. Leaving the ruined shoe behind, he limped back toward the portal. Each step sent a jolt up his leg, a sensation that felt like a mix of sunburn and closing his leg in a car door. A blue screen popped into his vision unbidden. It made Alex flinch. He scanned the written words before grumbling and swishing his hand in the air to make the screen vanish.
Personal Quest: Culling the Forest Kill 20 Creatures.
Rift Quest: Defending the Meadow As waves spawn during the red moon, protect the meadow from being overwhelmed.
I honestly don¡¯t even want to think about that right now. My head is pounding, and my leg hurts. The adrenaline must be wearing off. Fuck. Seeing that the first line said something about killing 20 monsters made Alex want to laugh out loud at his pathetic state. He¡¯d struggled against a slime and barely come out on top of that fight. What other, scarier creatures did the forest have lurking within? Now that he was thinking a bit more clearly, Alex found it odd to note that he could feel a sort of pulling from his stomach toward the portal ahead of him. It was almost like the Rift was calling to his body. The portal loomed closer, a swirl of blue light. The orange and pink hues from the setting sun mixed and created streams of lavender. It was mesmerizing, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to appreciate it right now, not with the throbbing in his leg and the bitter taste of disappointment in his mouth. Awakening. They had made it sound so cool in those articles. Like winning the lottery, but instead, he felt like he had just been handed a participation trophy. Primordial Will. What a joke. I don¡¯t even have the will or confidence to stand up to my own family. He could already hear Mark¡¯s laughter. His friend would try to make it a compliment or something that had an upside rather than the negative it appeared to be. ¡°Willpower, Alex? That¡¯s what you got? Man, you always were a stubborn bastard!¡± His socked foot found a rock, causing him to hiss, sucking in a breath through his teeth. He grumbled at the injustice of it all. Gritting his teeth, he did his best not to limp anymore as he approached the portal. I won''t let this damn world know it''s getting to me. The swirling blue portal shimmered, a one-way ticket back to¡­ well, not normalcy. But at least back to familiar misery. As he got closer, movement at the portal caught his eye. The surface shimmered and then rippled out from the center as if a rock were dropped in the middle of a pond. Five figures emerged, their forms rippling before solidifying. They strode through the portal with a confidence that made Alex feel a bit ashamed of his last few hours. They moved with purpose, fanning out, all of them continually scanning the environment. One of them, a woman with red hair pulled back in a tight braid, caught his eye. Her gaze swept over him and lingered for a moment on his barefoot and the shredded remains of his pants. She said something to the group in a quick, clipped tone that he couldn''t quite hear. Several of them glanced in his direction and then, just as quickly, dismissed him. He stood frozen, unsure of what to do. His hand instinctively went to the jacket tied around his waist. Untying it, he held it in his hands nervously. Should I say something? Should I wave? Maybe they¡¯re friendly? The thought felt absurd the moment it entered his mind. Friendly? Who comes to another dimension armed to the teeth with- His thoughts stuttered for a moment. Wait, what? Swords and spears? The man in the center of the group took a step forward. He was dressed in cargo pants and a dark T-shirt, like he was out for an evening hike. The only thing that seemed out of place was the spear, which caught both the setting sunlight and Alex¡¯s eye repeatedly. A weapon. Of course. Why didn''t I think of that? Wait, why not a gun? That would make things a lot easier, wouldn''t it? Yeah, okay, Alex. You''ve never even held a gun before. Alright, asshole-me. I¡¯ve never killed anything before today, either. The man stopped a few feet away and stared at Alex. It was clear he had already assessed Alex as a non-threat, and to this group, he probably was. ¡°You alone?¡± the man asked in a gruff voice. ¡°Yeah, just me.¡± Alex¡¯s voice cracked a little, betraying his nerves. ¡°I was just leaving, actually, when you guys came in.¡± The man didn¡¯t move, but Alex could see his jaw tighten as he adjusted his grip on the spear shaft. ¡°Will you answer a few questions first?¡± Alex¡¯s pulse quickened, and he glanced at the portal. It suddenly felt very far away, and the man clearly meant to block his way unless he answered. Alex forced a nod, trying to keep his voice calm. ¡°Okay.¡± The man¡¯s eyes took at Alex¡¯s state once again. His exposed leg and the dirt smudged across his shirt and hands. Alex resisted the urge to look down and brush himself off. ¡°What kind of monsters are in here?¡± ¡°Monsters?¡± Alex repeated, the word feeling strange and out of place to say out loud. ¡°You didn¡¯t do that to yourself, did you?¡± the man gestured with the butt of his spear. ¡°Right, yeah. Of course not.¡± Alex cleared his throat, trying to regain some composure. ¡°I, uh¡­ I didn¡¯t go far from the portal. Just over there by the trees.¡± He pointed, hoping the man didn¡¯t notice his hand shaking slightly. ¡°There was a slime monster over there. That¡¯s what I fought.¡± The words hung in the air for a few heartbeats, and Alex began to feel self-conscious. A slime monster? Seriously, Alex? What are you, twelve? The woman with the red hair snorted. ¡°Slimes, you¡¯re serious?¡± Alex¡¯s cheeks burned. ¡°It was my first time fighting something like that,¡± he mumbled, shifting the jacket in his hands. ¡°Didn¡¯t exactly have a strategy when I came in here.¡± Stop talking. Just shut up. The man with the spear let his expression soften a bit. ¡°What else? Anything else you saw? Any other¡­ slime monsters?" Alex shook his head. "No, just the one." The man grunted, seemingly unconvinced. "You killed it, then?" He shifted his weight, the spear held loosely in his hand. "The slime? Yeah." Alex gestured vaguely in the direction of his earlier scuffle, hoping it was enough of an answer. The man nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly. "So you''re Awakened, then?" Alex repeated the word, feeling strange on his tongue. "I¡­ I guess so? I mean, I got access to the System, if that''s what you mean." "You part of a group?" "A group?" Alex shook his head. "No, I just¡­" He gestured back at the swirling blue portal, at a loss for words. "Just wandered in?" The woman finished his sentence, her tone laced with disbelief. "Look," the man with the spear cut in, his voice firm but not unkind. "We''re not trying to scare you or anything. But this place¡­" He gestured around them at the strange, double-sunned landscape. "It''s not something you want to tackle alone." He paused as if considering something. "We''re heading deeper in. We''re only Recruits with The Guild, but we''ve cleared a few of these Rifts already. You''re welcome to join us." Alex¡¯s head spun. A group? A guild? The Guild? Deeper in? It all brought up too many questions. He raised his hands and waved passively. "N-no. Thank you. I''d just like to leave at this point." The man with the spear held up a hand, his expression softening. "Easy there." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, rectangular card. "Here." He held it out to Alex. Alex took it, confused. It was a business card. Simple, white, with a name and number printed in neat black lettering. "John Riley," Alex read aloud, his brow furrowing. "What''s this for?" John shrugged. "Call me. If you decide you want to team up. Or if you just¡­ you know, have questions. Phones don''t work in here." "Oh." Alex tucked the card into his pocket, more out of habit than anything else. "Right." "So," John said, his tone casual. "What''s your Trait?" "My¡­?" Alex blinked, momentarily thrown by the question. "How did you know it was a Trait and not a skill?" John smiled again, this time a little wider. "Everyone unlocks a Trait first. Skills come later. Either learned or earned." "Oh." Alex felt a flush of heat creep up his neck. "Right." "So?" John prompted. "What is it?" Alex hesitated, and John tilted his head. "It''s¡­" Alex cleared his throat, the words catching in his throat. "It''s called Primordial Will." "Primordial Will?" The woman with the red braid raised an eyebrow. "Sounds kinda cool. What''s that do?" Alex ignored her, focusing on John. "It says I can only put Free Points into Willpower." There was a beat of silence before one of the men standing behind John let out a snort. John coughed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, that''s¡­ uh¡­" He glanced at the woman with the red braid, then back at Alex. "Look, every Trait has its uses, right?" "Sure," Alex muttered. He shifted the jacket in his arms and shoved his hands into his pockets, wishing that things were different. "Willpower is¡­ important," John offered, his voice lacking conviction. "For magic and stuff." "Right." Alex¡¯s voice was flat. The men behind John exchanged glances, their amusement palpable. Alex could practically hear their thoughts. Fuck me. "Well," John said, clapping a hand on Alex¡¯s shoulder. "Good luck out there." Alex nodded curtly, his face burning. He brushed past John, ignoring the stares of the others, and headed straight for the swirling blue portal. His socked foot found the pavement, and the sudden shift from grass to concrete made him wince. He shielded his eyes, blinking against the sudden noise and light. It took several seconds for him to adjust just to the real world again. The cascade of noises and chaos of the city disoriented him briefly. The relative peace he felt in the Rift, when he wasn''t worried for his life, fleeting in an instant. People. So many people. Where did they all come from? "Hey, someone came out!" A voice cut through the general murmur. "Over here! Look this way!" Another voice, closer this time. The crowd surged forward, a wave of bodies and noise. Alex stepped back from the flashing lights of what he realized were cameras. "What was it like?" "Did you see any monsters?" "Are you one of the Awakened?" The questions came at him from all directions, making his head spin and his pulse quicken. Panic clawed at the edges of his mind. I need to get out of here. His eyes darted back and forth, searching for an escape route. To his right, a group of police officers began to push their way through the crowd. They''re coming for me. He turned and ran, not giving it any more thought. Ignoring the shouts of protest from behind him, he pushed his way through the small group of people gathered on the backside of the portal. "Hey, get back here!" "Stop him!" His sock-covered foot scraped against the pavement, sending a jolt of pain up his leg. He ignored it, pushing himself harder, and soon, the shouts of the crowd faded behind him as he weaved between abandoned cars. Alex didn''t look back. He just kept running, his one good dress shoe pounding against the pavement. Away from the portal. Away from the crowd. Away from it all. 6. Mana Core Alex threw the lock closed and leaned his head back against the door. He wanted to slide down to the floor and just sit there, but his nerves were too wound up to stop moving. Ashley saw me when I was coming up the stairs. She could clearly tell something was wrong. He glanced down at himself and almost laughed at the sight his neighbor must have seen. Who wouldn''t be able to tell something was wrong? I look like I just got mauled by an animal, rolled in the dirt, and then ran several city blocks. Come to think of it... that is kind of what happened. Sweat stained his shirt and his sock was torn from fleeing the Rift location. Surprisingly, despite his frantic state and disheveled appearance, he was largely ignored on the subway ride back to his apartment. They probably thought I was homeless or on drugs¡­ I¡¯ll need to think up an excuse and reassure Ashley that everything is fine later. I don''t think my hasty yelling really did anything to help convince her I was alright. He paced forward and kicked off his single ruined dress shoe, annoyed. Fuck. Why did I run? I¡¯m not in trouble, right? Running his fingers through his sweat-matted hair, he walked to his room. I need some water. He backtracked and stood in his doorway for a moment to stare blankly at his apartment. The living room was open and had a small set of windows on the wall opposite the entry door. His living room consisted of a comfortable rug, a coffee table, and an old couch that served to view the flat screen. Past the couch was an island countertop, which marked the start of the kitchen. The fake stone counters and white cabinets combined for a clean presentation, and he was thankful that he had a decent-sized refrigerator. Normally, the apartment felt large for just him. The ceilings were vaulted in the living room with exposed brick walls and natural wood flooring, which gave the feeling of a large and open loft. Today, however, it felt entirely too small, like the walls were closing in on him. He walked past the couch and into the kitchen to grab a plastic cup. His hand shook as he filled it with water from the fridge and gulped it down. I killed something. That can''t be good, right? But it was a monster. Killing that kind of makes me a hero, right? Fuck, why is it so hot in here? He moved to the other side of the living room and turned the thermostat down further before continuing to berate himself. Hero? Don''t be an idiot! I almost died trying to fight a damn slime. A slime! Looking down at his leg and the state of his ruined work clothes, he shook his head. People clearly saw me exit the Rift. Some of them had cameras. Are they going to be able to find me now? The government is recruiting people for that initiative program. Will they try to draft me into the program? Panic began to rise in his chest, and he quickly moved to the bathroom, stripping off the ruined work outfit. What should I even do with these? Burn them? Seems drastic. Trash chute? He groaned and decided to tackle one thing at a time. First, he needed to just breathe for a second. Then, he needed to shower and assess his leg. No one was going to come banging down his door looking for him in the immediate future. Just breathe... everything is going to be okay. Probably. He stepped into the shower after letting it warm up. The water felt relaxing as it ran down his face and shoulders, ridding him of the layers of sweat and grime that had built up over the last few hours. He glanced down at his legs, still slightly splotchy from where the slime had attached itself to him. The memory of the little green monster squishing and pulsing against his leg made him shudder. I need to relax. The heat from the shower was doing its job and helping him to unwind. Maybe this was all just a dream. A really fucked up, vivid dream. He turned off the water and stepped out onto the bathmat. Shaking his head, he grabbed the towel off the nearby hook and started drying himself off. He would have an easier time convincing himself that all of this was just a vivid dream if the area the blue motes entered his body didn''t hurt as he dried himself off. He tossed the towel onto the counter and walked into his bedroom. He opted for something more comfortable, throwing on some sweats, knowing that the apartment would get chilly as the AC kicked in. Grabbing a trash bag from the kitchen, he tossed his ruined clothes inside and set the bag by the door. I¡¯ll figure out what to do with them later. Thinking about how cool this all could have been, he considered telling Mark. Partly to let someone else in on the secret and partly to vent his frustration. Everything was so crazy, and the System windows even looked like they were straight out of some game. Should I tell him? His feet moved before he even consciously registered the thought, pacing back and forth across the room.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. He''d think I was insane for doing it alone. Then he''d breeze past that and just want to hear about what Trait I got. "Primordial Will." Alex scoffed. What the hell kind of useless trait was that? "It might not be useless," he muttered aloud, stopping his pacing to stare at the wall. "I just don¡¯t know how it works yet." He ran a hand through his damp hair and sighed. The justification sounded lame, even to his ears. No, I can¡¯t tell him yet. Not like this. Not when I don¡¯t even understand what happened to me or what my Trait does. "Monday," he said, nodding to himself. "I¡¯ll tell him on Monday." Alex sighed in resignation and laid down on his bed. When things were back to normal and they were back at work together. The word echoed in his mind for a moment, and he sat up straight on his bed. Wait. His stomach dropped. Work. He''d left during his lunch break without telling anyone. Henderson is going to kill me. And then another, even more pressing thought: Fuck! The deadline. He scrambled across the bed to grab his phone from the desk. Panic seized him as he fumbled with the phone lock. It was due tonight at midnight. The time flashed on the screen: 10:47 PM. He stared at it, his chest constricting. And then he just started laughing. It was a chuckle at first, then nervous, and finally, a full-bodied laugh that was a bit manic. The stress of the last few hours escaped him, and he allowed himself to get it out. Work. Deadline. Henderson. It all seemed so absurd now. So utterly insignificant compared to the impossible things he''d just experienced. He laughed until his eyes watered, and there was no breath left in his lungs. He just couldn''t bring himself to care at that moment, not after stepping through a tear in space into another miniature world with an entire ecosystem, multiple suns, and crystals floating in the sky. Hell, I have magic now, right? He moved from his bed to his desk chair and leaned back in it, willing the System Status Window to show up for the first time since he used it in the Rift. He looked specifically toward the section labeled "Magical Stats."
Magical Stats: Intellect - 6 Willpower - 3 Mana - 6 Wisdom - 6
At first glance, this made him think that he could actually do magic. And surprisingly, all of these stats were higher than his physical stats. I guess I was always more of an intellectual than a meat head, but still... only a four in strength? And come on, a 3 in Willpower? I¡¯m not that weak-willed, am I? He let out a sigh and turned his attention back to the floating blue screen, which looked so out of place in his normal setting. This bedroom had been largely the same for years, and for some reason, this little floating screen seemed to change everything. "Can I get more information on Intellect but leave the Status Window open?" he asked. Unsure if he was asking himself or seeing if the System had a response for him. Rather than a response through conversation, the System merely obliged. A smaller window appeared with the description of the Intellect Stat. He read through the description, and it made a lot of sense to him. It checked out with most of the video games he had experienced in the past. With another shift in focus, he queried the System to see if it would bring up a description of the three other magical stats in the same window. It did so, showing him all four magic-related stats.
Intellect - Represents an Awakened One''s raw magical power and their ability to comprehend and manipulate magical energies. As Intellect increases, spells become more potent, and the Awakened can wield more complex and powerful magic. This stat also reflects a deeper understanding of arcane knowledge and the ability to tap into greater sources of magical energy.
Willpower - Represents an Awakened One''s ability to harness their determination and intent to expertly direct their magical energy. As this stat increases, spells are cast with increased speed and precision, allowing for more effective manipulation of magic that aligns with the caster''s strong will.
Mana - Represents the total reservoir of magical energy an Awakened can draw upon. A higher Mana stat increases one¡¯s Core capacity, allowing them to cast more spells before needing to allow Mana to regenerate.
Wisdom - Represents an Awakened One¡¯s ability to regenerate mana and their understanding of the deeper, spiritual aspects of magic. A high Wisdom stat allows for faster mana recovery, enabling one to cast spells more frequently. Awakened with high Wisdom may also display an aura of calm and insight.
This was a lot of information. Mana and Wisdom functioned as he would expect. Alex couldn''t help but focus on Willpower. {Primordial Will} stated he could only add his Free Points to it. He began to theorize. So, if I can only ever put points into Willpower, then the amount of mana I have and how quickly it regenerates will never increase? Doesn''t that sort of screw me over a bit? His brain kept running, and more questions popped into his head as he glanced at the total Mana available to him. 60/60 Mana? This must mean 10 MP per 1 Mana stat. Does that mean I¡¯d forever only have 60 mana? How much is that? I wonder how much mana it took that kid to cast firebolt in the video Mark sent me. How often do I get Free Points? Do I get one per level? Would having high Willpower and being able to cast complex spells matter if I don''t have enough Mana to do so or the Intellect to understand what I¡¯m doing? Fuck. There were just too many unknowns, and he just wanted to set aside all of these question marks for now. So, he did what he often did. He got up from his chair, walked to one of his shelves, grabbed a notebook, and began to brain-dump all of the questions he had. Once most of them were out of his head, he set the notebook aside and tried to move on. Knowing himself well, it was all too obvious that he could get lost in a sea of questions that he¡¯d never be able to answer. Let''s try something more concrete. Sitting back in his chair, he thought about how the System seemed to be used mainly through intent. With this thought in mind, he stared at his blank computer screens and thought about that pain in his stomach. While he had been suspicious before, after reading the Mana description, he felt that he was right in his assumption. Absorbing those motes of light from a monster was what helped humans form their Core. If it was anything like other fantasy books he had read, this was a little ball of energy that lived in the pit of his stomach. Assuming these two things, he tried to will some of that mana to move around. He wasn''t exactly sure where this Core was, but the burning feeling in his stomach from the awakening wasn''t easily forgotten. In his mind, he pictured his desire to travel to that same space and try to push something around. Woah. It was an odd feeling. It was not quite like someone was moving his insides, but there was clearly something inside him that he was able to move just by wanting it to happen. Mentally, he equated it to when he was in a pool or hot tub and cupped his hand along the surface of the water. The water moved and shifted with his hand, though it all stayed in the pool. What if I try to scoop some of it out? With a bit more effort, he tried to do just that. Surprisingly, it worked! It felt extremely clumsy, and almost as soon as he pulled the energy away from the Core, it dissipated, but it was clear that he could move it away from the main body of energy. Out of curiosity, he opened his Status Window again and confirmed his theory.
Status Name: Alex Moore Class: None HP: 50/50 MP: 47/60 Traits: (1/3) {Primordial Will}
Oh, fuck yeah. Magic! 7. Mana Shaping After a few minutes of messing around with the mana in his Core, Alex decided to stop and see if he could get some outside advice. He glanced at his mana pool in the floating blue window before dismissing it. 47/60 Leaning forward, he rolled his desk chair closer to the edge of his desk, where his cracked phone lay. If he stuck with the analogy of mana being water in a pool, then what he¡¯d been doing so far felt like the equivalent of a toddler splashing around in the kiddie pool. The mana hadn¡¯t been pushed or moved to any effect, just thrown from the Core to dissipate in his body. Navigating to the Nexus Hub website, Alex checked for any notifications or recent forum posts. He was mortified to see an article posted 20 minutes ago, one with a picture of him as the thumbnail. His stomach jumped up into his chest. Worried that he¡¯d be easily identified, he pulled up the article and zoomed in as far as his phone would allow. He let out a sigh of relief when he realized the picture was too hard to make out. The light of the portal behind him made him look more like a silhouette than anything else. On top of that, he had been covering most of his face with the arm that had his jacket in it, as he was caught off guard by the change in scenery and lights from the outside. Alex scanned the article just to see what they were saying. ¡®John Riley¡¯s group of five enters yet another Rift!¡¯ ¡¯¡­protectors of the city¡­¡¯ Blah, blah, blah¡­ ¡®¡­rescued a solo Awakened from grave danger. Judging by the state of the poor soul that was¡­¡¯ He forced his face to go deadpan as he skimmed the article. It didn¡¯t really matter since they didn¡¯t actually know who he was. But, for some reason, it really rubbed him the wrong way to think that the article was written as if he were some damsel in distress. I fought that monster on my own, thank you very much. Backing out of the article, he began to scan through the other articles. There wasn¡¯t much of interest there. An idea came to him, and he locked his phone, scooting the chair up to his desk while double-tapping his keyboard to wake up his computer. It didn¡¯t take long to turn on the VPN and create a throwaway email address. From there, he made a new account on Nexus Hub, making up a silly, throw-away username. His main goal in all of this internet cloak and dagger was to make a post asking for more specific information. While this wasn¡¯t abnormal, and he had even tried doing it from his main account, he hadn¡¯t known anything about anything last time. Most of the posts that were just asking for information never went anywhere. The only people commenting on those were others with more questions. Alex had a feeling that if he added some information about his experience in the Rift or made it clear that he¡¯d been awakened, then he might actually get some responses this time. He opened the page to post a new thread and paused. What should I ask? There are so many questions. What should I share? Enough, but nothing too revealing? He was already kicking himself for telling John and his group what his Trait was. He had a feeling that wasn¡¯t something people normally shared.
I¡¯m a newly Awakened One and wanted to see if someone could help answer some questions for me.
  1. My magic stats are all higher than my physical stats, how is that possible? I¡¯ve been moving my body all my life, but have never had magic before today?
  2. How can I cast a spell? I can feel my mana move now, but what do I actually do with it?
I unlocked my trait but don¡¯t want to share it here. I¡¯m surprised that we can end up getting three traits. Is there also a cap on Active or Passive skills?*** Any help is appreciated, thanks!
Refreshing the page every few seconds, Alex waited for any response or messages of help. He noticed his foot bouncing under the desk and forced it to still. A direct message appeared in his inbox. Then another. And another. He refreshed the page and found two comments on the post. Leaning forward, he checked out the first comment response.
BUZZLIGHTYEARLOVER99: Are you really an Awakened? I have some questions too. Can you DM me? I want to know what magic feels like!
Then the other comment from someone with a barcode username.
IIlIIIlll: Yo! @2Stupid4Magic Welcome to the club, bro! You¡¯re not going to find much help here. I¡¯ll see you later, when you find The Guild. Also, love the username! Melee for life!
More DMs began to flood his inbox, but Alex looked at the post for another few seconds. It seemed that one person who responded was awakened, and one was just looking for answers, like he was. Ignoring the one, he reread what the other said.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. Find the guild? He wrote it like The Guild was something specific, though. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Alex muttered to himself. He also just says outright that I won¡¯t get much help here. Clicking the reply button, Alex tried to respond; however, as soon as the page refreshed to open a comment reply, he received an error from the website. ¡°What?¡± He refreshed the page and tried again, but it didn¡¯t do anything. They must have already taken it down? That fast? Navigating back to the homepage, Alex checked. Sure enough, his post wasn¡¯t listed among those from the last hour. He groaned, wishing he had checked and remembered that guy¡¯s username. His attention was drawn to the 30+ direct messages he received. At least I can get some answers here. Oh, how wrong he was. Of the close to 40 messages, only two had any relevant information. All the others were spam links, recruitment messages, or offers to pay him to sponsor some sort of product and mention that he was Awakened. One of the useful messages was actually a cryptic warning, telling him that the people who ran the site were probably linked to the Hunter¡¯s Association and that they would definitely scrape information from his account and attempt to contact or recruit him. They suggested he delete the post before they did or be prepared to deal with military recruiters banging on his door. I¡¯m really glad that I took the time to make this throwaway account¡­ The second message was a lot more helpful, though the message was short and focused on answering only one of his questions.
TimonNotPumbaa: Hey, you won¡¯t find a lot of help here. Just a quick tip for you, though, spells come from skills or learning, as far as we can tell right now. Some people have gotten spell books as rewards from Rifts to help them learn a new skill, but you won¡¯t be able to just throw mana around and figure one out. They¡¯re really complicated. Same username in AG. Look me up when you get in. PS - - Try visualizing your mana. It was the most helpful for me.
This response alone made all the nonsense of creating the post and it getting removed worth it. Alex began to feel a bit nervous about somehow being tracked. He wouldn¡¯t put it past the government to use some means of tracking people they found out had awakened. Without waiting any longer, he deleted the account from the page and closed his browser, turning off the VPN and shutting down his computer. Only after a few minutes of staring at his black computer screen did he let out the breath he was holding. Idiot. It¡¯s not like they¡¯re going to come right now. Wanting to distract himself before his brain grasped onto the paranoia, Alex thought back to the advice from TimonNotPumbaa. Try to visualize my mana? Feeling more than a little silly, he moved from his desk chair to the bed and found a comfortable position before closing his eyes. Starting from the beginning, he did his best to imagine his mind traveling down toward the area where he believed his Core to be, envisioning a floating blue ball of mana. From his exposure to fantasy games and novels in the past, his brain wanted to think about mana flowing like water. Maybe that was from anime? Fuck. Focus, Alex. He started again, forming the image of the Core in his mind and thinking about a small stream breaching out from the Core. He was used to visualizing things through images from doing art for so many years. Alex tried to lean into that experience as much as possible. Almost immediately, he could feel a difference. Focusing his attention on the movement of the mana and how it flowed from the source to where he wanted it to go seemed to help his control. His grip slipped on the small tendril, but even this was significantly more than the first time he had tried splashing around. Alex lost himself in the repeated exercise of slowly teasing the streams of mana from the Core, doing his best to hold onto them and manipulate them into different directions. As a random exercise, he began to try bending that stream into different general shapes, which greatly increased the difficulty. However, after each repetition, he could see gradual improvements. A headache began to form, and he pulled up his status screen. He was surprised to see that he was down to the last 20 points of mana. Did I use too much of it too quickly? The ache wasn¡¯t too bad, and he felt close to a breakthrough. He had been able to make a circle so far, and a square wasn¡¯t too much harder, though he had been trying to work the shape into something a bit more complex. Unwilling to stop playing with his new toy¡ª Literal magic¡­ He continued the exercise. A certain masochistic part of him was also interested to see if the headache continued to worsen as his mana levels continued to drop. It was hard for him to keep track of time as he worked with the mana. He closed his eyes and dedicated his focus and intent completely to the task at hand. A short time later, he reached a breakthrough.
New Skill Learned: [Mana Shaping] (Novice - Level 1) Do you accept? Yes/ No?
This notification surprised him for a few reasons. First and foremost, his eyes were still closed, yet he could see the blue screen, clear as day. Second, he couldn¡¯t figure out why he would want to deny gaining a skill. He opened his eyes and thought through the situation. I just learned a skill? From what, sitting on my bed and playing with imaginary shapes? Alex mentally accepted the prompt and received his new skill. "Mana shaping", he tested the skill''s name on his tongue. "That sounds pretty straightforward." He willed the description to appear.
[Mana Shaping] - Allows the Awakened One to shape mana more easily to their will.
"Hmm, very straightforward, but magic is magic - and I''ve got it." If I ever meet up with that Timon dude, I¡¯m really going to thank him. He gripped his head and winced, feeling even more sluggish than before. Pulling up his status, he saw that he was down to his last ten mana points. For some reason, the way this had escalated made him really not want to push himself down to the single digits. Despite the pain, Alex felt a sense of exaltation and smiled. Hell yeah! I¡¯ve got magic. I killed a monster. I learned a skill. I¡¯ve got a System in my head that shows me my stats. Oh¡ª and I can¡¯t forget the fact that I traveled to an entirely different world today. As he thought about it, the stress of the day finally caught up to him. He was exhausted. Did all of that really happen today? It was overwhelming and entirely too much. And yet¡ª he couldn¡¯t stop smiling. 8. Recruiter Come on, just a little more. The edges of the mana blob wavered. Alex pushed past the slight throb behind his eyes, doing his best to maintain total concentration on his attempt at a cube. It would be easier if he could actually see the mana he was moving over his hand, but instead, he was left to just ¡°feel around¡± and direct it as best he could with his own mental images. I wonder if there is a mana sight skill or something. He finished messing with the shape and let it go. He had made great progress and could now make some vague shapes with his mana. He would extend a tendril of the mana and do his best to mentally mold the mana at the end of the extended mana. He was surprised at the difficulty of the task. After gaining the skill the night before, he¡¯d noticed an interesting change in his ability to grasp and manipulate the mana. If he didn¡¯t consciously keep it active and instead used his own will and focus to try and direct it like he¡¯d been doing before he gained the skill, things were significantly harder. On the other hand, if he did activate the skill and then used his concentration to shape the mana, it was a lot easier as if he¡¯d been training for many more hours. Even with the System¡¯s aid, though, the task was difficult. It was comparable to grabbing something semisolid that moved and wriggled from his grasp like an eel. What made it even more difficult was that rather than his actual hands and physical coordination, he was forced to use his mental focus and his intent. He had to will the mana to move and actively focus on what he was doing, and if he lost focus, the small structure would crumble, and the mana would be wasted. This reminds me of like some mages in stories. I could totally see how this would require tons of practice. Is there a Hogwarts for Awakened? He closed his hand into a fist and used his knuckles to massage his forehead. The headache was terrible, something he wasn¡¯t sure he¡¯d ever get used to. Three days of constant practice will do that. I guess I don¡¯t have to push my mana so low every time I practice, but then it just feels like I¡¯m being inefficient. Eh, who needs sleep when you can make magical shapes with your mind? Yer a wizard, Alex! Alex did his best to hold in a chuckle, realizing it might seem out of place in the office. Seriously, though, this is insane. He snuck a glance at the time on his computer screen. 11:47 am. Almost lunchtime, which meant Mr. Henderson would likely be doing his rounds through the office. I swear, that man has a sixth sense for when I¡¯m even remotely slacking off. Well, not that I¡¯m actually working right now. So, I guess he¡¯s in the right. Uhm, let¡¯s ignore that and check out the Status Window.
Status Name: Alex Moore - Level 1 Class: None HP: 50/50 MP: 18/60 Traits: (1/3) {Primordial Will} Physical Stats: Strength: 4 Agility: 5 Constitution: 5 Vitality: 6 Magical Stats: Intellect: 6 Willpower: 3 Mana: 6 Wisdom: 6 Active Skills: [Mana Shaping] (Novice - Level 3) Passive Skills: (None)
Just looking at the jump in levels to [Mana Shaping] made Alex beam with pride. Why is it so satisfying to see the number go up? Is it going to feel this way from now on? His eyes traveled up to his current mana level. It was about where he¡¯d expected it to be. The headache had set in, and he¡¯d pushed just a bit past that. If he had stopped just a few points sooner, he could have avoided this dreadful migraine. Over the last few days, he had repeatedly dropped his mana to around 20 before letting it regenerate. The regeneration rate seemed consistent, taking about 30 minutes to get back 40 points of mana. That meant he was getting a bit more than one point of mana back every minute. It had been hard to keep up with at times. At the apartment, Alex had started setting a timer to go off after 35 minutes. That way, he could practice until he got down to the last 30% of his mana, start the timer, and then go about doing whatever else he needed to do while it regenerated. It¡¯s almost like working out a muscle¡ªexcept that muscle is my brain instead of my body. Where my arms or legs might get sore and need a rest, I feel mentally drained and kind of spacey if I push too far.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. On Saturday, he had pushed pretty hard, getting down to his last five mana before passing out. Won¡¯t be doing that again. Once is enough to learn my lesson, thank you very much. ¡°Earth to Alex! You alive in there, buddy?¡± Mark waved his hand in front of Alex¡¯s face, passing right through the Status Window floating in Alex¡¯s vision. ¡°You look a little constipated, dude. What¡¯re you thinking about so hard?¡± Alex jerked back and jumped slightly. Embarrassed, he hastily dismissed the Status Window, still worried that others might somehow see it. ¡°I, uh¡ªjust daydreaming. You know how it is.¡± ¡°Right, because ¡®daydreaming¡¯ about spreadsheets is your idea of a good time.¡± Mark elbowed Alex¡¯s shoulder before continuing. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go to the break room and grab our lunches before all the good seats are taken.¡± Nodding, Alex hopped up and followed Mark. Mark made easy, idle conversation as they weaved through the open workspace. At the back of the office, they reached the shared space, retrieved their lunches from the refrigerator, and found some of the only comfortable chairs in the break room. Eating usually helped with Alex¡¯s mental fatigue. As soon as they sat down, he bit into his chicken salad sandwich with fervor. ¡°You alright, man?¡± Mark asked, eyebrows coming together as he unwrapped his sandwich and looked at Alex. ¡°Yeah, why?¡± Alex¡¯s knee stopped bouncing, and he paused mid-chew to look at Mark. Fuck. Don¡¯t just stare at him like a deer in headlights, idiot. Act normal. ¡°I don¡¯t know, you just seem a little on edge.¡± ¡°Yeah, just a lot on my mind.¡± Alex picked at the celery sticks and peanut butter in his plastic container, then abandoned it and returned to his sandwich. ¡°Wanna talk about it?¡± ¡°Eh, I don¡¯t think it would really help.¡± Mark smiled. ¡°Work stuff? Henderson can be a drag sometimes, huh? Or is the family dinner inquisition still on your mind from last week?¡± Alex gulped, his delicious lunch sandwich suddenly tasting like a lie. ¡°Both, I guess? Just trying to figure stuff out.¡± ¡°No worries, man. I¡¯m here for you if you want to chat about it.¡± Alex nodded, staying focused on his food. The rest of lunch passed in a blur of forced conversation, with Mark doing a great job of ignoring the fact that Alex dodged his questions. Mark kept steering the conversation to safe topics, keeping things light, which Alex appreciated. The entire time, Alex¡¯s mind replayed the epic events of the last few days¡ªfighting a slime, blue screens, and controlling actual magic in his body. What good is any of this cool stuff if I can¡¯t even tell my best friend? He shoved the thought down, telling himself that it wasn¡¯t even worth mentioning. It¡¯s not like he could do anything impressive anyway. No fireballs, no telekinesis, no superhuman strength. Just¡­ mana manipulation. A trick that I wouldn¡¯t even be able to show him if I wanted to since there¡¯s no visual sign I¡¯m using it. Ugh. ¡°Moore!¡± Alex tensed as he immediately recognized the voice. Speak of the devil¡­ ¡°Mr. Henderson,¡± he said, forcing a smile as he turned to face his boss, who was walking toward their table. Henderson walked up a bit too close for comfort, standing over Alex while he sat at the table with his food. Hands on his hips, Henderson looked down at Alex with a red face. ¡°Care to explain why you left in the middle of the day on Friday without informing anyone? Even more importantly, you missed your deadline on Friday. It was a big one for the contract.¡± Even though Alex knew this was coming when he decided to ignore the deadline, he was still caught off guard by Henderson¡¯s direct approach. ¡°I, uh¡­ I apologize, Mr. Henderson. I was feeling really under the weather. I¡¯ll make sure the proposal is sent in before the end of the day today.¡± Henderson stared at Alex for a few long heartbeats before glancing at Mark and the others sitting nearby. ¡°See that you do. If you pull another stunt like this, you¡¯ll be out a job.¡± Fuck you. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Alex said, maintaining the forced smile as Henderson turned and walked out of the breakroom. ¡°Dude,¡± Mark said with a flat face. ¡°What was that about? You missed a deadline? You never miss deadlines. He even said that was an important deadline. Was that the deadline for the Pearson contract?¡± ¡°Stop saying ¡®deadline.¡¯¡± Mark just continued to stare. ¡°I just wasn¡¯t feeling well on Friday. I went to lunch and had to bail.¡± ¡°What was wrong? You seemed fine when we were talking over VC on Thursday night.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, just a stomach thing. It came on out of nowhere.¡± Mark raised an eyebrow. He¡¯s not buying it. Sighing, Mark leaned back in his chair. ¡°Look, man, I get it. You¡¯ve been stressed lately. Between work and your parents, it¡¯s not surprising if you get hit with something out of the blue. I don¡¯t want to sound like your minder here, but have you been sleeping lately? I know it¡¯s your M.O. to start ditching your sleep when you¡¯re stressed.¡± ¡°I really haven¡¯t been sleeping well, but most of it¡¯s not a choice.¡± Alex forced a smile and rubbed his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll try to get some more rest tonight.¡± ¡°You better. You¡¯re no good to anyone, especially yourself, when you¡¯re running on fumes.¡± Alex nodded, picking at the rest of his lunch. He¡¯s right. I know he¡¯s right. But how can I tell him the truth? That I¡¯ve been up all night practicing magic? He¡¯d think I was crazy. Maybe I am crazy.
The bell above the door jingled as Alex entered. The smell of fried chicken and cleaning supplies hit him all at once. He wrinkled his nose. Despite loving both scents, they didn¡¯t go well together. The place was mostly empty, with most people opting to stay in their cars and wait out the drive-thru line. A group of teens occupied one booth, all of them looking down at their phones. Otherwise, the place was empty. Alex approached the counter and greeted the woman behind the register. ¡°What can I get you?¡± ¡°Uh, can I get a number 1 combo, please? With a Diet Coke to drink.¡± She nodded and punched the order into the computer. ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°Just a pack of Chick sauce with the order, thanks.¡± ¡°My pleasure. Your total is 12.48. Cash or card?¡± She took his money and gave him a small stand to mark his order number, letting him know it would be a few minutes. Alex walked over to a nearby booth and sat down, idly scrolling through his phone to kill the time. Seeing nothing of interest on Nexus Hub, he set his phone down and focused on his hand, beginning to use [Mana Shaping] to practice while he waited. It felt like no time had passed before someone called his name. ¡°Alex?¡± Startled, Alex looked up to see a large man in a nice suit standing next to the seat across from him. When did he get there? ¡°Do you mind if I sit?¡± ¡°Uh, yeah, I¡¯m Alex.¡± He stared at the man¡¯s face for a moment, trying to see if he recognized him from somewhere. Work, school? The man smiled, continuing to stand as if waiting for permission to sit with Alex. ¡°Sorry, do I know you?¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t met before, no,¡± the man said, taking a step closer and extending his hand. ¡°My name is Andrew, and I work as a recruiter for The Guild.¡± 9. Registration ¡°¡­ the people are calling for justice. This comes after the events that transpired here last night when a Rift opened on the top of a parking deck. The fight that ensued, between two people who are now being referred to as ¡®Awakened,¡¯ caused the death of a family of three in the adjoining apartment building.¡± The reporter on the TV spoke animatedly, gesturing behind her toward the large screen in the studio, which showed a picture of the parking deck with obvious damage and scorch marks on the cement. ¡°Now, passing it off to Cynthia Walters, who is on location, for more details. What do you have for us, Cynthia?¡± The camera cut to a slightly more chaotic scene, with emergency vehicles and a close-up shot of the neighboring apartment building, where a large hole was visible in the side. Man, I¡¯m so glad that the one I went to wasn¡¯t like this. He sighed and rubbed his temples. Maybe Andrew was right. The Guild recruiter he had spoken with the night before had been persistent. Andrew was so extroverted and friendly, it was almost off-putting. Alex couldn¡¯t help but think of those people who go door to door, attempting to sell something, doing their best to convince you it¡¯s something you want¡ªno, something you need. He shuddered. Extroverts. Andrew had assured him that The Adventurers Guild was more than just a ragtag group of power-hungry people looking for superpowers. He''d said a bunch of things that really did sound appealing. He mentioned the sheer amount of knowledge and material available on the app they used. He had also mentioned some other things that piqued Alex¡¯s interest, such as first notifications on Rifts, the potential to link up with a mentor of a higher rank, and the ability to buy and trade materials from others who had gone into Rifts. Andrew also tried to sell him on some other stuff, like a tight-knit community, safety, and support. But most of that just sounded like a pipe dream to Alex¡ªthe last thing he needed was to join some sort of magical fight club. Especially with how secretive the entire thing has been. Andrew had sat with him for a bit, letting Alex ask questions about the app and how registration worked. Andrew was happy to answer any questions about The Adventurers Guild but flat out refused to answer any about The System, Rifts, skills, and Traits. He simply said that all of that information was already compiled in the app, and Alex just needed to register if he wanted access. Alex could join for free or pay the Mana Stone fee for full access. I still can¡¯t believe that they are the actual people behind The Nexus Hub. Clever bastards. It had been a shock for Alex to find out that they were the masterminds behind the reporting site everyone used as their main source of Rift information and news. They would scrape the site for anyone posting questions or information that flagged them as newly awakened, then send a recruiter to approach the person before the government had a chance to ¡®get their claws in.¡¯ Alex was really surprised at how shameless Andrew was about their methods, just giving a rueful smile and shrugging his shoulders. Idly, Alex opened his System Status Window to check his mana. Even though he knew it wasn¡¯t filled back up yet¡ªotherwise, his phone¡¯s timer would have gone off¡ªhe still found it hard not to check. Not for the first time, he noticed how easy it was to just flick the screen up, check his status, and let it disappear again. His mind wandered to the scary thought of social media networks getting their hands on this sort of technology. The ease with which he could pull up videos and swipe would be terrifying. Not to mention the absolute horror that ads would be with something like this. The screen is even visible when I close my eyes. We¡¯d never be able to escape the ads. God, I¡¯d probably have to help with ad campaigns that no one could escape¡­ What, System? No notification about unlocking a new nightmare? The screen changed away from the reporter, bringing Alex¡¯s attention back to the TV and away from his one-sided conversation with The System. ¡°Join us! You can be part of the solution, not the problem. The Hunter¡¯s Association: your partner in safety and security in uncertain times.¡± The cheesy slogan blasted from the TV with bright colors with someone dressed in something that looked uncomfortably close to superhero tights. Alex chuckled. Subtle. They were definitely laying it on a bit thick. He didn¡¯t doubt that their ad was intentionally placed after such a horrific story was reported, either. They swooped in, promised order, and insinuated that anyone not a part of their group was untrained or a threat to the public. A short montage of training even played as the music continued. It looked similar to some of the Navy or Army commercials Alex had seen in the past, promising leadership and strength. As someone who did ad-work for a living, the message they were pushing was clear: The government can protect you. The government has this under control. Any chaos is not due to them, but it is their goal to stop it.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Damn, am I starting to sound like my dad? He switched channels, wanting to avoid letting his thoughts slip to work and propaganda. The temptation to start practicing his mana shaping again grew, as he sought to avoid thinking about opening the most recently downloaded app on his phone. His phone vibrated, snapping him out of his thoughts. Sarah: Hey stranger! We need to hang out soon, it¡¯s been ages. Let¡¯s catch up, maybe grab dinner? The text had a few emojis at the end, which made Alex smile. Sarah was the kind of person who used at least one emoji with almost every text she sent. She once told him it was to make sure people knew the tone she was sending the text in and that there were fewer misunderstandings because of it. Alex: Hey! Yea, definitely down for that. Mark and I are hanging out at his place on Friday after work. You should join us! Her response was almost instant. Sarah: Yes, can¡¯t wait! Mark¡¯s the worst at responding to my texts. I¡¯ll call him and see if I can¡¯t bring some food. I have some crazy stuff to tell you guys about. Yea, I¡¯ve got some crazy stuff to tell you guys too, Alex thought, his gut twisting a bit as he remembered not telling Mark everything that happened yesterday. If he was being honest with himself, he wasn¡¯t sure if he was going to mention it to them on Friday, either. Fuck. Thinking about everything that happened at the end of last week, an unexpected person popped into his head. He got up from the couch and walked through his bedroom to his closet. Maybe he could give me some advice. As he was searching, he heard the timer going off on his phone from the other room. It took him a few minutes of rummaging around, but he finally found what he was looking for. ¡®John Riley | (201)-555-9820¡¯ Alex had tossed the card out of his pocket when he was in a rush to remove his clothes after the Rift and hadn¡¯t really thought of it since. Returning to the living room, he turned off his timer and sent a text to John, introducing himself again and letting him know it was his number. He then asked if John and his group were part of The Guild or if they knew anything about the group. After sending the text, Alex was happy to kill some time practicing with his [Mana Shaping] skill. He sat down on the couch in a comfortable position and closed his eyes. With a deep breath, he sent his consciousness inward, beginning to pull out tendrils of mana and shape them into the cube he had been working on perfecting. He was surprised when his phone buzzed after only a few minutes, breaking his concentration. Glancing at the screen, he saw that John had responded. John R: Hey Alex! Glad you reached out.¡± The next message popped up before he even finished the first one. John R: YES! My group and I are all AG members. Best decision we¡¯ve made so far, man. You should definitely join! The app is incredible and the forums have a ton of information. We¡¯re already premium members, too. We actually got the last two Mana Stones that we needed for our memberships from the Rift that we met you in. It¡¯s expensive, but totally worth the cost. Alex¡¯s eyebrows shot up. Alex: Expensive? I thought the price was just a Mana Stone? John R: Well yea, but a single Mana Stone is somewhere between $500 - $1000¡­ I wouldn¡¯t give them out to just anyone that asks, but the benefits for the membership to The Guild has already been worth it for our group. That¡¯s quite the endorsement. A cynical part of him wondered if John got any sort of kickback for pushing him toward the Adventurers Guild. You reached out to him, dumbass. He didn¡¯t try to push you anywhere; he¡¯s just being nice and answering your question. He sent a response, thanking John for the information and letting him know that he would be signing up tonight. John was nice enough to casually offer for Alex to join them for a Rift or two after he finished his registration. But remembering the reaction of some of John¡¯s group members when they heard about his trait, Alex felt this might be more of a friendly gesture than a genuine offer. Excited at the possibility of really finding some more information, Alex swiped up from his messages and navigated to the most recently downloaded apps. There, he saw the icon labeled as The Adventurers Guild. A simple golden sword pointing down in front of a brown shield. Behind them both was a blue vertical oval, which clearly represented a Rift. It all fit together well, and the simplistic icons were easy to make out. Cool. When Andrew had shown him the app last night, Alex was surprised that it didn¡¯t show up in the app store on his phone. Andrew had chuckled and said they were trying to keep it more of an invite-only sort of group right now. From there, Andrew had opened his own app and shown Alex a QR code that was apparently only available to recruiters. After scanning it, the app had downloaded on his phone. This was the first time Alex had actually tried to access the app, though. He was surprised that it opened to a simple login page, with a username and password input and a register button under those. No slogan or pitch. I guess the people downloading the app are already interested if they scanned the code from the recruiter. No need for them to oversell. Alex spent the next few minutes filling out the registration form and was slightly surprised to find that they wanted a good bit more information than just his name and email address. Though maybe I shouldn¡¯t be. You¡¯re trying to put together a group of people who have recently obtained superpowers and were only able to do so after murdering a monster. It might be smart to have some additional information. They wanted him to put things like his birthday, class, subclass, level, and even skills and traits, though they didn¡¯t ask for their levels. He hesitated a bit, not really wanting to give them information on his skills¡ª Skill. You¡¯re a noob. You¡¯ve only got one skill. In the end, that was the driving force for him to just give them the information. They weren¡¯t asking for a description of the skill or traits, just the names. Even then, Alex was woefully uninformed, and that was the main driving force for him to join The Guild. I need information. Who cares if they know about my crappy trait¡¯s name and the fact that I don¡¯t even have a class yet. Hell, I didn¡¯t even know you could have a subclass! That¡¯s not on my Status Window. I want some magical spells, damn it. I¡¯d probably give them access to my bank account for that information at this point. I can¡¯t see any amount of money compared to being able to actually cast magical spells. His inner nerd screamed as he sent in the registration form and received a notification in response.
Thank you for registering! A local recruiter will be in touch soon to verify your information and grant you full access. Welcome to The Adventurers Guild!
Alex tossed his phone back onto the coffee table. Yay, more waiting. He closed his eyes and began to pull on his mana. 10. Not a Guild Member Alex shivered in the chilly night air. Not for the first time, he wondered if this was a mistake. I¡¯m sure I¡¯ve seen this in a horror movie somewhere. Alex waited near a park bench, and paced to keep warm. The lights of the park allowing him to look back and forth for anyone who was heading in his direction. He was surprised that it had only been a few days since he registered for The Adventurers Guild. For some reason, he¡¯d expected it to take a week or two for them to get back to him. He didn¡¯t have to wait long before a man walked up and pulled back his beanie to reveal a familiar face. ¡°Alex! Good to see you again.¡± It was the same recruiter from earlier in the week. ¡°Andrew, right?¡± ¡°You got it. I¡¯m glad you decided to register. You seemed a bit skeptical when we spoke on Monday, so I really wasn¡¯t sure.¡± Andrew said before reaching his hand out to shake. He still had the same smiling eyes that made Alex think he was just a generally happy person. Ugh. Extroverts. ¡°I was hesitant; you guys want a lot of information. I¡¯m surprised knowledge of skills is so open. Wouldn¡¯t people want to keep that close to their chest?¡± Alex asked, then shook the man¡¯s hand. ¡°Hide your abilities? Why would you need to do that? Are you planning on doing something shady?¡± ¡°Huh? What¡ª no, I¡­¡± It took a moment for Alex to realize that Andrew was smiling at him with an eyebrow raised. ¡°I¡¯m just joking, man. Skills are largely private. Even though you gave that information to the Moderators during registration, that sort of information won¡¯t be put on your profile. It¡¯s just there in case the Peacekeepers need to step in, and they rarely do that.¡± ¡°Peacekeepers?¡± Andrew shrugged. ¡°There is a write-up on the welcome page of the App. When you get access here in a bit, make sure you read through it. There¡¯s a lot of useful information there.¡± ¡°Okay, so now what? Am I a Guild Member?¡± ¡°Not quite yet. It¡¯s a small thing, but they take ¡°Guild Member¡± seriously as a title, and you only get that title after you get the premium subscription. A bit silly, I know, but your title will be an ¡®Outer Member.¡¯ It just means that you have been vetted and are trusted, but you are missing some access to more features or information.¡± ¡°Alright, an Outer Member then. What did you need to meet with me for then?¡± Andrew pointed to his eye before saying, ¡°I have to use my skill on you before you get full access. I read your profile before coming over. I just need to use my skill to make sure you didn¡¯t lie about your information.¡± ¡°You can see my information?¡± ¡°Most scanning or analysis skills pit my Willpower stat against yours. The higher mine is, the more information I get. Since you¡¯re a lower level, I shouldn¡¯t have a problem seeing enough to verify. Now, hold still, please.¡± Alex shrugged, though he felt a bit uncomfortable as Andrew just continued to stare at him for a few seconds. Andrew¡¯s eyes flashed blue, and then he breathed out. ¡°Alright, Alex. You¡¯re all set, man. Welcome to The Guild.¡± Huh? ¡°That¡¯s it? What did you do? I didn¡¯t feel anything?¡± Alex asked. The older man laughed, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s it.¡± Alex asked him what exactly his skill did and if Andrew would be willing to share the information. The recruiter just shrugged and said that the information is common knowledge in The Guild, so he didn¡¯t mind sharing. Andrew¡¯s specific ability was called [Analyze], and it allows him to scan almost anything with System Access to see a brief read-out or description. Alex was surprised to hear that the skill was used on everyone who joined AG and that it was even used on every Rift that the guild found in the local area. Apparently, using an [Identify] or [Analyze] skill on a Rift would show its Rank and Rarity. That information would then be recorded in the app and sent out to those who were in the appropriate strength range for the Rift. ¡°So, what is my rank?¡± Alex asked. ¡°You¡¯re going to be an E Rank Outer Member, which you¡¯ll see on your ID Card within the app when it populates. It should only take an hour or so.¡± "E-Rank? That is what the Nexus Hub notification said the Rift I went into was." ¡°Yes, that sounds right. E Rank is the lowest rank, so a Common E Rank Rift is the most common and easiest to tackle.¡± Andrew nodded. ¡°What level are you, then?¡± Andrew shook his head, ¡°Now that is a rude question. So far as etiquette has been established, even me using my skill on you to get your information is considered rude.¡± ¡°Okay, I do have one more question. Just about the Guild in general. How can a group like this even exist? Doesn¡¯t the Hunter¡¯s Association have the full weight of the military behind them, not to mention their resources?¡±This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Andrew chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "You''d be surprised how often I get that question. The truth is, the government''s got its hands full right now.¡± "What do you mean?" "Think about it. Rifts are popping up all over the country, sometimes multiple at once. The National Guard''s being stretched thin trying to contain them all." Alex''s eyes widened. He hadn''t realized the situation was that dire. Fuck. No wonder they''re scrambling for recruits. Andrew continued, "That''s where we come in. We''re nimble, we''re local, and we''re not bogged down by all that red tape." "But they¡¯ve got to have more resources, right? More manpower?" Alex asked. Andrew smiled at him. ¡°Manpower isn¡¯t everything these days. One Awakened can take on dozens of normal humans or soldiers. It¡¯s about quality over quantity now.¡± He paused before clarifying, ¡°Not that we¡¯re actually going around fighting against the government¡¯s forces or the military, mind you. But, there have been some instances where our guys have made it to a Rift first, and they don¡¯t bother to try and push in when they see someone else is helping handle the situation. It would likely be more of a headache than it¡¯s worth to try and force Awakened away from the Rift, especially if a fight breaks out.¡± The realization hit Alex. Of course. That makes sense, too. If they¡¯re already struggling to contain the breaches, what¡¯s the point in potentially fighting over who gets to close them? "Plus," Andrew added, interrupting Alex''s train of thought, "you''d be surprised how many people prefer us over the government option. Lot of folk out there who''d rather keep Uncle Sam out of their personal business, you know?" Alex nodded slowly, processing the information. It all made a lot more sense when it was explained like that. He could imagine people wanting to maintain some sense of independence in the face of such drastic changes, especially if there was a lot of power or wealth to be gained from Rifts. "I get it," Alex said. "It''s not about competing with the government directly. It''s about filling in the gaps, being there when they can''t be." Andrew beamed. "Exactly! We''re not trying to replace the Hunter''s Association. We''re just another line of defense in this crazy new world." As they continued talking, Alex found himself reconsidering his skepticism. The Guild wasn''t just some ragtag group of vigilantes. They were organized and purposeful, and apparently, quite a large number of people were willing to support them. Eventually, Andrew raised his hand, cutting off the torrent of questions. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to be rude, but I¡¯ve got to head to two other recruits before the night¡¯s over. The last thing I need to tell you is to try and stay under the radar. We aren¡¯t in direct competition with the Hunter¡¯s Association, but we certainly can¡¯t go head-to-head with the government if things turned in that direction. We¡¯re a group of normal people who wanted to create a safe haven of information and growth outside of Big Brother¡¯s umbrella. If you get approached by their recruiter, reach out to the Moderators through the app and let them know what¡¯s going on. Almost any other question you could want to ask will have answers in the forum section of the app.¡± He smiled guiltily after finishing his speech. Alex put his hands in his pockets. ¡°Right. Sounds good.¡± Andrew waved and began to walk backward away from Alex. With a smile, he added, ¡°Also, read the FAQ. Don¡¯t make a post about every question you¡¯ve got.¡± Alex waved back and began to make his way back to his apartment. As he traveled, his thoughts swirled. Andrew said that I would need to get a premium subscription to the AG app before becoming a Guild Member. John mentioned that his group just finished getting the ''Mana Stones'' required for the subscription after about a week and that it was definitely worth it. I think I should make that my next goal, then. Guess that means I need to head back into a Rift. Alex was surprised that the prospect of going into another one didn¡¯t scare him but instead excited him. While on the way home he checked the app a few times, but the access to his account still wasn¡¯t ready. It wasn¡¯t until he got home and was making some dinner that the notification pinged on his phone. Excited, he sat on the couch and began to browse through the articles in the welcome section.
¡®Welcome to the Adventurers Guild App!¡¯ Introduction: ¡®Welcome, Adventurer! You¡¯re now part of a growing community dedicated to exploring the Rifts and unlocking the potential of your newly awakened abilities. This app serves as your hub for information, training, and connecting with fellow guild members. With your current membership, you¡¯ll have access to limited resources and insights that will enable you to navigate the world of Rifts and power. The app is still in development, and we¡¯re adding new features regularly! If you want to recommend a feature or see the roadmap for updates, subscribe to the [Newsletter Thread].¡¯
The welcoming article continued with some generic community guidelines and rules. Alex was particularly interested in the bit that mentioned it was best to keep personal information to oneself to ensure safety and that the Guild was not responsible for its members'' safety. They want it to be very clear that they are not trying to be a police force- just a community trying to band together. It had some references to other articles on how to find Rifts and set up notifications through the app, as well as proper decorum for connecting with other adventurers. Out of curiosity, Alex clicked on the one about Rift explorations and notifications and was impressed to see the comprehensive article that they¡¯d written. It had some tips and tricks and even a checklist of things that everyone should take into the Rift. Looks like a camping packing list. Alex backed out of the article and navigated to the forums tab within the app. He had to close out of a premium membership pop-up that let him know they were creating training games and classes exclusive to the membership. There were articles on all sorts of topics and posts about people sharing their abilities or asking questions about specific monsters that they had encountered. Woah. This is a lot. Despite the sheer volume of information he now had available to him, Alex couldn¡¯t help but feel excited. He knew, without a doubt, that he wouldn¡¯t want to do anything else but dive head-first into the app. Before diving into any of the articles, he wanted to check out his ID card. There was a button at the bottom of the screen with an icon that looked like a driver¡¯s license. When he clicked on it, an image of what looked to be a digital ID card presented itself in landscape mode. He turned his phone sideways to get a better look. He was surprised to note that the photo was the same one used on his government-issued ID, and the card had information neatly arranged around the card. Hate that picture. Alex remembered taking it two years ago. He¡¯d been wearing a black hoodie and had tried to smile, but the woman behind the counter had yelled at him for it and then told him to take off his jacket. So, instead of looking his best, he looked like a criminal being processed. A flat face, tousled brown hair, and unamused dark brown eyes staring into the camera. The card showed that he was an E Rank Recruit, Level 1, and had no class. He was relieved to see that it didn¡¯t say anything about his Trait on there. Pretty lackluster, huh? Maybe they¡¯ll put more on there as I level up. There wasn¡¯t much to it right now. He shrugged and leaned back while tabbing back over to the forums to see if there were any interesting posts. It didn¡¯t take long until he had found several that interested him. One article, in particular, caught his attention, though. It was titled ¡°Learn to Use Mana and Empower Your Body.¡± His eyes lit up, and he tapped on the article, but before he could begin to read, he heard a loud hissing sound behind him. Fuck! He jumped up and moved quickly to the stove as the water boiled and splashed over the side of the pot. 11. Rift on the Outskirts Alex closed his car door and quickly turned the vehicle on to warm it up. After getting access to the Adventurer¡¯s Guild App last night, he had barely been able to sleep. He was so excited and overwhelmed with the amount of information that was suddenly available to him. Not only that, but he had a goal now- something more to do than just spend all day using his [Mana Shaping] skill. He decided that he was going to try and get a Mana Stone that very day. After making his own copy of the list of gear that the Adventurers Guild recommended Rift essentials, he got a few hours of sleep before waking up and going straight to his local Walmart. While there, he was able to get all of the missing items from his list. Most of them came from the camping section in the back of the store since he wasn''t much of an outdoorsman. Now that he had everything he needed to pack in the new hiking backpack in his backseat, Alex planned to head west out of his city toward High Bridge or some of the areas around Round Valley. Some of the tips for finding Rifts mentioned that being in the city made it hard, as there tended to be more of a presence of Hunter¡¯s Association members or even other Awakened looking to get stronger. Hopefully, an hour or two away from the city will make it a bit easier to find a Rift that¡¯s not as contested. There was a tab in the app that allowed someone to look at an interactive map and see locations of Rifts around their area, but it was limited to full members, so for the time being, he needed to search for them and rely on the app¡¯s notification for nearby Rifts. Alex rubbed his hands together before taking off. He¡¯d been driving for about 35 minutes when his phone chimed. He glanced at it and saw that the notification was from the AG App. The banner still showing at the top of his phone was a nearby Rift notification. Should I check it out? Or just stick to my plan? Deciding that it wouldn¡¯t hurt to check things out, Alex got off at the next available exit and pulled into a gas station parking lot before checking his phone for more details. When he opened the notification, it showed that the Rift had been marked by a small party of Guild Members in a park that was still about ten more minutes in the direction he was already traveling. After clicking on the notification, he had more options than before when he¡¯d gotten the dropped pin notification from Nexus Hub. Now, it had details such as who was a contact at the Rift, who was in control of the site, a price to enter, and an available slots counter. There are still plenty of slots. I feel like I should check it out, at the very least, to see how the Guild Members handle something like this. The counter currently showed 4/100. He could click the ¡®Interested¡¯ and ¡®Nearby¡¯ buttons that he assumed would be visible to the group in charge of the Rift. He continued on, using the geolocation feature to get directions toward Lord Stirling Park. It didn¡¯t take him long to reach his destination, and he parked in the public lot that led into the national wildlife refuge. Looks like I¡¯ve got to go the rest of the way on foot. Alex grabbed his bag from the back seat and began walking down the trail toward the Rift. It was a short 10-minute walk, just enough to get him warmed up in his winter clothes. ¡°Hey!¡± A shorter, stocky man called out. Alex raised his hand in greeting, his steps faltering for a moment as three other men stood up and moved beside the one who had called out. ¡°You¡¯re NotXela from the AG app?¡± the man asked. Alex couldn¡¯t help but snicker at the username he¡¯d chosen to register with. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me.¡± ¡°Nice, welcome! We¡¯re the group that found the Rift and reported it to The Guild.¡± ¡°Yeah, this is my first time doing this. Can I ask some questions?¡± ¡°Sure, come have a seat.¡± The short man scratched his beard, and the five of them moved together back around the bend that they had walked from. Alex was surprised to see that they¡¯d brought a portable butane heater out this far down the trail. The small plastic wheels couldn¡¯t have made that easy. Alex followed them over to the logs that were around the heater and looked around. All four of the men seemed to be strong and dressed in sturdy outdoor clothes. Comfortable and warm, definitely prepared to sit outside all day if needed. ¡°So, what did you want to know?¡± Another one of the men asked. This one had on a red beanie, making it easy to distinguish him from the others. ¡°Well, I guess first, where is the Rift? I thought it would be here.¡±Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s just down the trail a ways. The energy in the air is a bit unsettling near those things, so we decided to stay a bit further down the trail.¡± Red Beanie said. Alex nodded in response. That made sense. ¡°So, how does all this work? You guys seem like a strong group. Why aren¡¯t you going into the Rift?¡± The short man picked up this answer, ¡°Well, we might end up entering later. But for now, we earn some reputation within The Guild for reporting a Rift and extra for being able to maintain the entrance. Normally this is just ensuring only people from The Guild enter. Part of the benefit, though, is that we can set a price for entry.¡± The man smirked a bit guiltily. ¡°Yeah, I saw that. One Mana Stone? I¡¯ve only ever been into one rift before when I awakened. I went in alone and left shortly after awakening. Part of my whole reason for finding a rift was to try and get a Mana Stone to change from a Recruit to a Guild Member.¡± Red Beanie seemed to sympathize a bit, making a face that told Alex he felt a bit bad for charging entry. Short Beard didn¡¯t seem nearly as bothered. He shrugged and answered, ¡°Yeah, but even that isn¡¯t all that expensive. This is an Uncommon Rift, too, which means the rewards will be higher. Even entering by yourself, you¡¯re likely to get at least one Mana Stone drop, not to mention the rewards if you manage to finish your personal quest.¡± ¡°That does make sense¡­ but I don¡¯t have a Mana Stone to give you. I¡¯m assuming I can¡¯t just promise to pay you later?¡± Alex asked. ¡°Oh, yeah, you can.¡± Red Beanie said. One of the two men who had been quiet so far stood and walked over to the tree line before beginning to relieve himself. ¡°We just mark it in the app, and the debt gets marked against your Recruit ID. The Guild will pay us a Mana Stone, and you can pay one later to one of the available people from the Guild when you get one. Mind you, you can only put one or two stones on your name through credit.¡± Well, damn, that¡¯s convenient. ¡°Smart,¡± Alex responded out loud. ¡°Well, I¡¯m going to need to do that.¡± ¡°Mind telling me a bit more about what an Uncommon Rift is? Anything I should be worried about?¡± The third man returned while fixing his jacket. ¡°Damn, he¡¯s green, ain¡¯t he?¡± The fourth man shoved him as he sat down, ¡°Shut up.¡± Short Beard just gave the man a look before answering Alex¡¯s question. ¡°This is pretty common knowledge, and you should definitely be able to find this information, even as a Recruit. Have you been reading articles on the app?" When Alex nodded confirmation, he continued, "But yes, there are two things that govern Rifts. The first and most important is Rank. E Ranks are the most common by far, though more D Rank Rifts are beginning to be reported. Whatever you do, don¡¯t enter a D Rank. They¡¯re significantly harder than the E Rank Rifts. From what we can tell, Rank directly affects the difficulty of what nasties are inside the rift. You shouldn¡¯t be entering a D Rank Rift until you¡¯re at least level 30.¡± ¡°Maybe higher.¡± Red Beanie chipped in. ¡°Maybe higher,¡± the other man affirmed. ¡°There just aren¡¯t that many people leveled that high yet, so it¡¯s hard to know. The Guild is trying to copy this difficulty range to the Ranks that it gives out to members, and as far as we know, The Hunter¡¯s Association is trying to do the same.¡± ¡°Alright, good to know,¡± Alex said. ¡°Well, to come back to your question. The second factor is Rarity. They have a few different Rarities, but the main ones that you¡¯ll see are Common and Uncommon. A few things change as the Rarity bumps up. One, the quests that the System gives you get harder or more complicated. Two, the area within the Rift gets larger. And third, time seems to stretch while you¡¯re in the higher rifts.¡± The man paused dramatically, looking at Alex with eyes wide. What? ¡°What?¡± Alex asked, realizing he¡¯d not spoken his thoughts. ¡°Each increase in Rarity doubles the time-stretch effect. So, in a Common Rift, time passes normal. But in this Uncommon Rift that we have here, you could spend two whole days inside, but when you leave the Rift, only one day has passed.¡± Fuck. ¡°That¡¯s crazy.¡± Alex translated his thoughts aloud again. ¡°It¡¯s definitely something weird to experience,¡± Pissy-man said. I don¡¯t like his tone. He gets a stupid name. ¡°So, what about aging? Are you saying I¡¯ll age twice as fast if I move in there?¡± Alex asked in bewilderment. ¡°That''s what I thought at first too. The Guild has some really good sources that they keep secret. They write a lot of the articles on stuff like this. There''s an article up there for Guild Members that talks about aging. Apparently, it doesn''t work how you would think. Rifts aren''t full worlds and it talked something about how your soul was still tied to Earth. It''s more like the System overlays the Rift or reality over what''s already here. Honestly, it was too much mumbo-jumbo for me to really get. If they say I''m not gonna age twice as fast, I''ll take their word for it until I start to notice something otherwise. So far, all of their articles have been really accurate,¡± Red Beanie answered. ¡°If you decided to move in, though, you¡¯d have to contend with monsters and whatever else is in there.¡± ¡°So, you''d actually live twice as long? That¡¯s crazy,¡± those seemed to be the only words that Alex could find. Short Beard laughed. ¡°It is. Well, what else do you want to know? We¡¯re here all day, so you¡¯re welcome to hang about for a bit if you want. Otherwise, we can mark your credit in the app and escort you over to the Rift.¡± ¡°Might as well get in there,¡± Alex shrugged. ¡°I like that mentality,¡± Red Beanie answered. He pulled his phone out and clicked for a few seconds before motioning for Alex to follow him. Before leaving he called over and told Short Beard to continue his watch on the trail. When they got to the Rift, Alex¡¯s heart began to beat faster in his chest. Fuck. ¡°Good luck in there. Hey, also you said this was your first time going into a Rift after awakening?¡± The pair stopped a few yards from the two-story tear in space. ¡°Yeah,¡± Alex said. He found it odd how quiet it was. Seeing the movement of the portal in the corner of his eye, he felt like he should be yelling over some sort of ambient noise. But everything was so still. ¡°Well, just as a heads up. You¡¯re going to get a blue window popping up in your face as soon as you step in there. Don¡¯t freak out. Just dismiss it and make sure to check your surroundings. This was a tip someone else gave us, and it¡¯s been really helpful.¡± ¡°That''s the Quest Window, right? I think I read about that,¡± ¡°Yep, it¡¯s going to be the Personal Quest and Rift Quest that the System assigns to you.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Alex said. ¡°You know what they are, right?¡± Alex just nodded, glancing repeatedly toward the spinning blue mass of energy. That leads to another freaking world. The concept was still insane to him. ¡°Alright, good. Well, If I were you, I wouldn¡¯t leave until you¡¯ve at least completed the Personal Quest. If you¡¯ve got the time, stay and finish the Rift Quest as well, or at least contribute as much to it as you can before you leave. The System will still give you rewards if the Rift Quest is finished, even if you¡¯ve already left the Rift.¡± ¡°Alright, thanks.¡± ¡°No problem. Good luck again,¡± Red Beanie said before waving and beginning to make his way back toward his group and the heater. Shit, should I have asked what the inside of the Rift was like? The last one seemed so peaceful. Deciding that it would just be best to rip the Band-Aid off, Alex forced his body to move before any more of the fear could set in. Alex walked toward the Rift and reached his hand out before leaning into the feeling of weightlessness as his body was pulled to another plane of existence. 12. Level Up Gravity reasserted itself on Alex¡¯s body, causing his hair and clothes to fall back down. His forward momentum continued at the same walking pace he¡¯d had when approaching the Rift from the other side. Even though Alex found himself in a forest once again, it was clearly different in a number of ways from the park that he¡¯d just left. Alex looked at his surroundings and dismissed the blue window that appeared in his vision before he took the time to read it. He continued to look around but couldn¡¯t see much movement. The only sounds that could be heard were a light drizzle of rain and the drip of water from higher branches. His shoulders tensed as he scanned the wet underbrush and the dense foliage that surrounded him. Even though he hadn¡¯t felt like his life was in danger while in the last Rift, Alex knew that things could, and likely would, be very different this time around. After a few tense seconds, Alex was fairly sure that he wasn¡¯t going to be attacked and didn¡¯t see any other humans standing around. He moved a short distance away from the portal and looked back at the window the System had prompted him with.
Personal Quest: Culling the Boars Kill 10 Forest Boars.
Rift Quest: Corrupted Forest Uproot the corruption before the Ancient Forest Biome becomes a Corrupted Forest.
Alright, fighting some boars. That¡¯s pretty standard for a fantasy game. Taking another look around, Alex took his pack off and set it on the ground. He stripped off his winter coat, did his best to wrap it tight, and tuck it in the backpack while removing the hatchet he¡¯d gotten that morning. His thoughts drifted back to the sturdy-looking spear that John Riley had carried with him when they met. It made his small hatchet look inadequate. It¡¯s not all about size, right? He couldn¡¯t help but snicker to himself as he picked up the pack and slowly made his way through the forest. Alex did his best to continue on in a straight line, curious to see how far he¡¯d have to walk before finding any signs of life. The forest floor was wet as if it had recently been in a downpour. He was thankful that it was only misting while he was there. He¡¯d bought a small poncho from the camping section that morning, but it looked more like a trash bag than a rain jacket. I¡¯m sure I¡¯d be sweating to death out here if I had to wear that. He clipped the waist belt from the new hiking pack and kept walking on, feeling the pull in his Core toward the portal. Even though the feeling was odd, it did comfort him to know that he could make his way back if he needed to. It took Alex 15 minutes of walking through the underbrush before he was annoyed, and everything from his waist down was soaking wet. Fuck. Wet socks are the worst. He did his best to lift his feet over the large, wet leaves. He was focused more on avoiding tripping over sticks than on his surroundings when he suddenly heard a crashing sound from his left. The snapping of sticks and snorting were terrifyingly loud, especially compared to the relative silence from a few seconds ago. ¡°Oh, shit!¡± Alex yelped as he tried to run to the side and get out of the charging boar''s line. A few heartbeats later, a small blurry brown wrecking ball barreled through the space that Alex had previously occupied. Oh shit. For some reason, those two words seemed to take over the entire plan that Alex had spent the last 15 minutes putting together. He¡¯d had all kinds of theories on how to bait the boar into running into a tree, dodging it at the last second, and then striking with his hatchet. He¡¯d spent most of the morning¡¯s car ride going over the steps and theory behind the article he¡¯d read the night before. He could potentially use mana to enhance a punch or a weapon strike by pushing mana into a limb. All of his planning immediately went out the window as Alex ran out of the boar¡¯s way and did his best to find a thick tree to put between them. He looked over his shoulder and lifted his arms over the waist-high foliage, holding the ax in a way that he wouldn¡¯t hit himself with the blade. He had to lift his knees abnormally high as he stepped over the dense undergrowth and sticks that threatened to trip him. I probably look like fucking Captain Jack Sparrow. REALLY!? That¡¯s where my brain is going? Focus, Alex. Alex berated himself as he skidded behind a tree that was twice as thick as he was. He forced himself to take deep breaths and focus on what was happening around him. He could hear the beast rummaging around and snorting a distance away. Probably trying to smell where I went. Thinking back to some of his games with Mark, he knew that a boar was one of the more common, low-level monsters that they had to fight. They charged and screeched a lot, but the only other tidbit of information Alex could remember was that the animals had a very thick hide. Alex glanced down at his hatchet. It feels a whole lot scarier when a real beast is charging me at full speed. If it hit my knees¡­ I¡¯d never walk again. That simple. He was doing his best to maintain some amount of steady breathing, but his heart was hammering away in his chest, and the fear dragged the breaths from him in gasps. The sounds of the beast were getting closer, and Alex knew he had to make a decision. Commit or run. Fuck it. Taking one more deep breath, Alex stepped out from behind the tree and positioned himself between the tree and the boar. As he did, the sounds went quiet. He stood there, the whole forest falling silent. The forest seemed to explode around him again as the snorting and smashing of branches came back in full force. It was hard for him to see where the boar was, but he could see the bushes and big leaves moving. He felt like he was playing chicken with a semi-truck. ¡°Ahh!¡± Alex dodged to the side and couldn¡¯t help but yell in fear and excitement. The dull thunk that sounded out as the boar slammed into the tree made Alex wince. Turning, he shifted his weight and regripped the hatchet. He swung down with the short weapon as the boar lay on its side, momentarily stunned. As soon as he struck it a second time, the beast began to thrash and squeal. The sound was at least two or three times louder than he expected it to be, the animal clearly in distress. With no time to feel bad for the animal, Alex leaped back, fearful that the tusks might gore him. Almost too late, he realized that he was far too close to the boar.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. If I want it to charge again, I¡¯ve got to get distance. He put the large tree between the two of them and found another suitable tree nearby. Alex took off as fast as he could, glancing back over his shoulder. As he got closer, he saw the sea of leaves begin to part again as the boar screamed in rage while charging a second time. He had barely made it to the tree when he needed to dive to the side to avoid his rear end from being impaled. Alex sprawled into the dirt and quickly got back onto his feet, though he had lost his hatchet in the fall. With panic filling him, Alex stepped forward and let his practice with [Mana Shaping] take over. He pulled mana from his Core and guided it to his hand, letting it take the rough shape of his fist before punching forward. As he extended his arm to the full distance and made contact with the boar, he pushed out with the mana. This caused a small explosion of air and mana to emit from his knuckles as they made contact with the monster¡¯s side. The boar let out one more squeal before laying on its side. Its chest and ribs were caved in from the blow. Blue motes of light floated lazily into the air. This time, as they rushed into him, something different happened. They hit his chest, and small golden motes of light began to fall around his head and down to his feet like giant snowflakes.
You have slain Forest Boar - Level 1
Congratulations Awakened. You have leveled up! You have 3 Stat Points to distribute.
New Skill Learned: [Mana Infusion] (Novice - Level 1) Do you accept? Yes/No?
It took several minutes for him to compose himself. It was odd, Alex had heard about how much adrenaline and fear can affect a body. But he wasn¡¯t expecting the rush of emotions that followed. His hands shook as he gripped his knees, and while he searched for the hatchet in the underbrush, he couldn¡¯t tell if he wanted to laugh or cry. After finding his hatchet, he took a few more minutes to reassess everything that had happened and how he¡¯d done it. Overall, things had gone about how he¡¯d planned; he just hadn¡¯t anticipated the fact that he¡¯d be scared witless at first contact. Now, I know what to expect. Just¡­ nine more times. Yeah, that¡¯s all¡­ Sitting on the damp ground with his back against the tree beside the now-dead monster, Alex pulled up his Status Window. He accepted the offered skill and pulled up its window as well. However, he was most interested to see how things had changed with his level up and to see how much mana he¡¯d used in his terror-filled punch.
Status Name: Alex Moore - Level 2 Class: None HP: 50/50 MP: 18/60 Traits: (1/3) {Primordial Will} Physical Stats: Strength: 4 Agility: 5 Constitution: 5 Vitality: 6 Magical Stats: Intellect: 6 Willpower: 3 Mana: 6 Wisdom: 6 Free Points: 3 Active Skills: [Mana Shaping] (Novice - Level 3) [Mana Infusion] (Novice - Level 1) Passive Skills: (None)
[Mana Infusion] - Grants the ability to infuse mana into objects that are mana-receptive.
Alex winced as he saw he¡¯d used almost half of his mana on the single punch attack. Knowing it was likely pointless, Alex tried to guide his free points to enter intellect. If using the System was considered intuitive and could be guided with thoughts and intent. Then Alex attempting to put points into Intellect or Constitution, could only be described as the mental equivalent to pushing against a brick wall. There was no give at all, and he could tell instinctively that it wasn¡¯t going to work. Fuck. With a sigh, Alex directed his thoughts to enter a point into Willpower. He put one free point into the stat, then rubbed his eyes and looked at his Status Window.
Physical Stats: Strength: 4 Agility: 5 Constitution: 5 Vitality: 6 Magical Stats: Intellect: 6 Willpower: 6 Mana: 6 Wisdom: 6 Free Points: 2
He¡¯d only put one point toward the stat, but it had increased by three. Alex put the remaining points into the skill and was pleased to see his Willpower stat at 12. In just one level, it had quadrupled, and it was already his highest stat. This must be what the description meant by ¡®Stat Weights.¡¯ Hmm. Alex paused for a minute. Maybe this isn¡¯t so useless after all? What does an increased Willpower mean? Will it be worth it even if the trade-off is that my HP pool is at 50 points forever? Alex scoffed, as he was certain that the trade-off would not be worth it. Whatever, nine more boars to go. Where he¡¯d been feeling excited about receiving a new skill and the level, suddenly, he just didn¡¯t care very much. It felt hollow to know that he wouldn¡¯t be able to make any other choices with his Free Points, no matter how many levels he might gain. Another hour passed as Alex walked, found, and fought his second boar. This time he didn¡¯t receive a level-up with the kill, but he did hear something else after the kill. Clapping. ¡°Good shit!¡± Alex spun around to see a young man wearing very bloody clothes walking out of the woods toward him. ¡°Uh¡­ thanks?¡± ¡°You made that look easy.¡± Alex took a small step away from the man, staying near the tree that he¡¯d just finished the boar by. ¡°Hey, no reason to be all skittish. Just heard some fighting and thought I¡¯d come check it out,¡± he said while raising his hands. Now that he was closer, Alex could tell the other person was much younger. He can¡¯t be much older than 18. Why is he so covered in blood? ¡°Did you want something?¡± Alex asked. The kid seemed a bit put off, ¡°Nah, just wanted to say, hey. I haven¡¯t talked to many other Awakened.¡± Alex shrugged, ¡°I¡¯m really new. I barely know what¡¯s going on here.¡± Putting his hands in his pockets defensively, the kid answered. ¡°Alright, well no need to be all weird.¡± Alex sighed, ¡°Look, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m on edge. I work a desk job, and this is all very different to me. There have been posts on the Guild app about people attacking each other in the Rifts. Not to mention that you¡¯re covered in blood. I¡¯m just on guard. No hard feelings.¡± For some reason, this seemed to make the younger man perk up. ¡°Ah, yeah. I did read about that! Okay, well, look. Maybe you can hit me up after we¡¯re out of here?¡± ¡°Uhh¡­ sure?¡± Alex said it, though the last word came to sound more like a question. ¡°Awesome! What¡¯s your AG ID?¡± ¡°My what?¡± ¡°You know, the username that you have in the Adventurer Guild App. The ID that is on your Guild Card?¡± ¡°Oh right, sorry. There are a lot of new terms to remember. It¡¯s NotXela.¡± ¡°Okay..? Then, what is it?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°What you mean, what do I mean? If it¡¯s not Xela, then what is it? I don¡¯t even know what Xela means.¡± Alex smiled, remembering one of his grandfather¡¯s favorite skits. ¡°Here, I¡¯ll spell it for you, ready?¡± After he¡¯d given the boy the spelling, he just shifted his weight and gave Alex a strange look. ¡°Ok, a bit of a weird name, but I¡¯ll send you a DM when I get back to the portal. My name is Dylan, by the way.¡± Alex looked at him for a moment and then shrugged again. ¡°Alright, man. Well I¡¯m going to go keep looking for boars.¡± Alex began walking away, but he only made it a few steps before the red-headed boy called after him. ¡°Wait!¡± He stopped. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to check for a Mana Stone?¡± ¡°Check?¡± The boy jogged over to where the boar was still lying and gave a breathless laugh. ¡°Well, yeah. You have to pull it out if you want it.¡± He pointed to the monster¡¯s caved-in chest, ¡°Where you punched it. If there¡¯s one there, it¡¯s usually in the chest cavity. I got two of ¡®em since I¡¯ve been here.¡± Alex walked closer to where he was standing. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah, it was nasty, that¡¯s why my clothes are so bloody. This is even after I tried to wash off a bit in one of the creeks!¡± He laughed. Ahh, I guess that solves that little mystery. Alex set his pack down to grab his hatchet. He kept the boy in his peripheral vision as he started digging into the boar. It was messy, and after a minute, the boy called from a few feet away and said that it might not have had one. ¡°Unlucky,¡± he added, seeing Alex¡¯s sour expression. Is he fucking with me? Just wanted to watch me do all that work for nothing? No, what would be the point? ¡°Oh, well. Better luck next time, I guess.¡± Eight more to go. Alex and Dylan exchanged a few more words before continuing their separate ways. After walking for several minutes, Alex couldn''t help but feel frustrated about the messy harvesting attempt and not getting a stone for his effort. Was he messing with me? No... he was covered in blood for a reason. Maybe I just really did get unlucky. When he found and killed his next boar, Alex was more methodical about checking the chest cavity. This time, his search paid off. He found a rough crystal about the size of his thumb hidden in the gore. The stone looked natural and uncut, like something you''d find in a cave. There were little chips in the side of the thin stone and it had a dim glow. Alex could feel it resonate with his mana as he cleaned it off. It was clearly filled to the brim with energy. Well, that''s one for the Guild fee at least. If I can find more, I can really start saving them up. Alex carefully stored the stone in a side pocket of his pack while making a mental note to thank Dylan if he saw him again. Even if the harvesting process was gruesome, knowing how to get the mana stones made it all worth it. 13. Quest Rewards Alex made his way through the forest; each subsequent boar fight was smoother than the last. I¡¯m just lucky that they aren¡¯t together in groups. While moving between locations, Alex allowed his mana to regenerate. Each time it got close to capping out, he¡¯d practice infusing mana through his hands. The use of the skill made it easy to move the mana within his body. After a few tests, he found that he was able to pull the mana back toward his Core if he didn¡¯t push it outside of his body. Even though it was challenging to pull it back toward his Core, since he was switching from using the skill to infuse the mana to just using his own will and natural control over mana to pull it back in, it was great to not waste the mana each time he practiced. There was still a loss of mana overall, but it was better than letting it fully dissipate. After killing the fifth boar, Alex decided to take a brief break. The sun was beginning to set and he put some thought into his timeline while in the Rift. He needed to meet with Mark and Sarah that evening, and he arrived at the entry location around 10:00am. But even though it was going to get dark in the Rift soon, he knew he¡¯d only been in the forest for a few hours at most. It was clear to him that time worked differently within this Rift. I should leave in about 7 hours to make it to see Sarah and Mark. Red Beanie said that since it¡¯s an Uncommon Rift, time would be dilated by 2x, so maybe it would be closer to 14 hours? Mentally, Alex thanked the packing list from the AG app. Included in the list were some camping rations, a tent, sleeping bag and fire starter. I¡¯ve never been camping before. Do I even want to try to sleep in here? What if there are things more dangerous than the boars out here? Alex shrugged and figured he might have an extra hour or two before it got dark enough for him to be concerned. If I really don¡¯t want to spend the night in here, I can just walk back through the Rift and wait outside for a few hours. He continued his way through the forest in search of his next boar but stopped a short time later when he came across something interesting. ¡°What the¡­¡± Alex trailed off. From deeper within the forest, a purple and brown tendril seemed to snake its way along the ground, growing in the direction of the Rift entrance. Alex may not have noticed it at all, as it was beneath the large leaves and bushes of the forest floor, but there was a large round plant that grew out of the ground up to his head height. Cautiously, Alex walked forward. Where he had begun to notice small sounds of life through the forest during his time there, now there were none at all. No bugs, no birds, nothing other than the sound of dripping rain. The bulbous plant sat on a stem that seemed too small for it, keeping the majority of the plant off of the ground. It seemed like the roots of the plant had sucked all of the nearby life from the ground. No underbrush or greenery of any kind was within a five-foot radius of the gross-looking plant. Alex followed the path of the tendril along the ground. To him, it looked like a large octopus tentacle reaching out across the forest floor. He took a few minutes to study the surroundings and think of what he should do. This must be the corruption that the quest mentioned. If I¡¯m supposed to stop it from spreading, do I try to kill the plant? Alex wanted to smirk. If he¡¯d come into this Rift, like he had the first one, he wouldn¡¯t know what to do. This time was different though, now he was more prepared. He pulled off his backpack and fished the hatchet back out before walking toward the corrupted plant. Thinking that the radius around the plant might be a trap, he stopped just outside of its range and poked the ground with the hatchet to see if the roots might move or if the bulb might do something. His mind couldn¡¯t help but picture the worst-case scenario, where it might be like some sort of giant man-eating plant that would try to swallow him whole. After several different tests, however, nothing changed. Stepping forward, Alex avoided the roots the best he could. When he got to the stem, he began to chop at it. He felt a sense of accomplishment as it spilled over on its side and felt the sudden need to yell ¡®Timber!¡¯ into the empty forest. Pulling up his System window to check the quest, Alex was expecting to see a change in the Rift Quest, perhaps a percentage of his help or maybe a change in objectives. He stood, stretched, and wiped his brow as he looked at the window. Huh, it¡¯s still the same. His thoughts were interrupted as a strange sound came from the plant that now lay on its side. A scratching sound could be heard, followed by a loud crack.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Alex scrambled back as three oversized purple centipedes came skittering out of the pod. The ensuing fight was hectic and sloppy and after all three of the corrupted bugs were killed, Alex lay on his back with his chest heaving. Fuck me. The first centipede had died quickly, but the second had latched onto his leg, and its many sharp legs cut through his pants and scratched his right leg quite badly. Even now, on his back, the leg was beginning to sting and feel warm, almost like the time it had been scratched by Sarah¡¯s cat.
You have slain Corrupted Centipede - Level 1
You have slain Corrupted Centipede - Level 1
You have slain Corrupted Centipede - Level 1
Blue lights floated into his chest, and he wondered if he was close to getting another level. That would at least make this feel worth it. Alex got himself up and assessed his leg before deciding it would be best if he began the trek back to the Rift exit. If there were corrupted monsters like this lurking in the woods, there was no way he¡¯d trust the thin mesh tent to protect him through the nighttime. He wasn¡¯t all that tired, considering his body thought it was still the middle of the afternoon, but there was no way he could continue to fight these sorts of beasts in the dark. He¡¯d brought a headlamp with him, but unsurprisingly, just like his phone, it didn¡¯t work. I guess I¡¯ll need to find an old-timey lamp or something. As Alex approached the Rift exit, he saw two people setting up a fire near the large tear in space. Alex cautiously greeted the group, slightly worried that it might be some kind of ambush. Both of the individuals were friendly and older than Alex had thought. The couple introduced themselves as Bill and Susan and they told Alex that they were camping inside the Rift to still capitalize on the time dilation, especially since it wasn¡¯t even nighttime out in the normal world. Alex saw some logic in this and asked if they minded if he joined them and that he brought his own gear and food. They agreed easily and welcomed him to join. Alex set up his tent, struggling through the pain in his leg until Bill came over and asked Alex if he was injured. The man was a doctor in his normal job and offered to take a look at it. While the leg looked red and irritated, Bill told Alex he should do his best to wash and clean the scratches. Susan offered to show him to the creek nearby and that they could boil some water to make sure that it was clean. Alex agreed, wanting to return to the camp before it got much darker. After cleaning the wounds and changing into his spare pair of pants, Alex had a pleasant few hours chatting with the strangers by the fire. Unsurprisingly, most of the conversations revolved around all of the changes in the world and how crazy things had become since Rifts began to appear.
Alright, that¡¯s the tenth boar. Alex wiped his brow and looked down as the blue lights floated up from the boar and into his chest.
You have slain Forest Boar - Level 1
Congratulations Awakened. You have completed Personal Quest: Culling the Boars! You have one Personal Quest Reward available.
Congratulations Awakened. You have leveled up! You have 3 Free Points to distribute.
Wow, that¡¯s so satisfying. Where was ¡®leveling up¡¯ all my life? Without needing to put much thought into it, Alex put his three Free Points into Willpower and watched the stat climb up another nine numbers. He directed his attention to the second window that appeared, curious how he would get his reward for the quest. The System, as it seemed to so often do, responded to his intent. Blue flecks of light appeared in front of him and slowly coalesced into a small, thin shape. As it solidified, Alex reached out and plucked it from the air before it could fall. Excitement filled him as he looked at the small item in his hand. Feeling like a giddy child, Alex lifted the stick and pointed it at a nearby tree while using [Mana Infusion] to push mana into the item. With barely any resistance, his mana was pulled into it, followed by a whistling sound as a dart of blue mana flew off at speed. It smacked into the tree, and a few splinters flew off. Oh, hell yeah! Alex laughed out loud and couldn¡¯t help but raise his new wand into the air over his head and try to get a better look at it in the light streaming through the forest canopy. ¡°Now we¡¯re talking.¡± He glanced back at the notification that had expanded from the System.
Congratulations Awakened. You have completed Personal Quest: Culling the Boars! You gain: 1x Uncommon E Rank Mana Dart Wand.
The System¡¯s item naming convention seemed to follow the same rules that the Rift naming did. It was Rarity, followed by Rank, followed by the item¡¯s name. Feeling accomplished, Alex made his way back to the exit. He was running out of time and he felt like he¡¯d done enough with both completing his Personal Quest and aiding in the Rift Quest. He¡¯d made significant progress in the last few hours with the latter objective. After brainstorming with his camping companions the previous night, they¡¯d come up with the idea to set the small insectoid pods on fire. They were curious to see how the plant-like structure would respond. The only other solution, that didn¡¯t seem as plausible, was some sort of pesticide meant to target plants or insects but that would require leaving. Alex tried the fire method and was happy when it worked spectacularly. The corrupted pods were extremely flammable and went up in a blaze so fast that it was similar to a propane explosion. This led to Alex setting several pods on fire as he looked for more boars. At first, he¡¯d been worried that the surrounding forest might catch fire, but that had quickly proven to be a non-factor. The surrounding vegetation was too wet, and the fire burned too hot and quickly for the forest to catch fire. He was confident that he¡¯d receive at least some sort of reward whenever a group came along and finished the Rift Quest. Upon exiting the portal, Alex hoped to see Red Beanie or Short Beard to show off his new item, but the group of four men was gone. Must have gone into the Rift at some point. With a growing sense of confidence, Alex began the short walk back to his car. His back was straighter, his strides more sure, and his pockets three Mana Stones heavier. 14. No More Lies Alex got into his door, locked it, and leaned back against the wooden frame, much like the last time he returned from a Rift. His state, though, was much different from the last time. Last Friday, he returned home in a state of panic and was injured after a scuffle with the lowliest of monsters. This time, he was calm, relatively uninjured, and fully clothed. He couldn¡¯t help but look down at the wand he still held in his hand. Almost the entire way home, he had it in his lap, lazily running his fingers over the runes etched into its side. The feeling was similar to when he got a new piece of expensive technology, like his drawing tablet. It felt so sleek and real. He couldn¡¯t wait to try it out some more and learn all of the intricacies. He sighed and fished his phone from his pocket, having turned it on during his drive back. Past the cracked screen, he saw messages from Mark and Sarah, each having texted him several times on his longer drive home. It was clear that they were worried about him, but he had decided that he needed to give himself the drive to recompose himself. Even though things went much better in this Rift, he couldn¡¯t get over the fact that he¡¯d had to fight for his life several times in what felt like the last 24 hours. How long was I gone for? Man, that time-dilation effect from the higher rarity Rift is going to mess me up for a while. He fumbled to unlock his phone and did some mental math. It was now 8 pm, much later than he¡¯d intended to be gone. He¡¯d left his apartment that morning at around 8 am. Even though he¡¯d been gone for a full 12 hours, he¡¯d lived through something closer to 18 or 20 hours, with his time spent within the Rift being counted as double. Those guys mentioned that they weren''t sure how aging worked. I should look into that some more. It was a chilling thought, and he decided to look it up on The Guild forums later. Alex: Hey guys, sorry I went a bit dark. Everything is fine. I¡¯m at my place now. I know we were going to meet at Marks, but just come over whenever. I¡¯ve got to shower up. After sending the text, he shoved the phone back into his pocket. He glanced around the room and noted that it was pretty clean, with the exception of a few dishes still in the living room. He walked over and picked them up while fixing the pillows and giving the counter a quick wipe. Not wanting to waste any more time, Alex moved his new Rift gear and pack into his closet and hopped into the shower. Alex knew that when his friends arrived, they would just let themselves in. As the water heated up, Alex caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror, which made him double-take. While he didn¡¯t often think that he had a manly appearance, Alex couldn¡¯t help but smirk at himself in the reflection. This was a look he¡¯d never seen before. His brown eyes were a bit bloodshot but looked hard and serious. His face had some smudges of dirt on it and a bit of 5 o¡¯clock shadow was beginning to show around his chin. He also had a scratch on his cheek that he didn¡¯t remember getting. I look¡­ different. Looking at the rest of his body, he gave a slight frown. Alex had always been a skinny kid but gained some unwelcome weight during college. While he wasn¡¯t fat by any means, he hated the way his belly looked soft. He jumped into the shower and washed away the grime and sweat. While soaking in the warm water, he wondered if he¡¯d be able to lie to his friends and wondered what he should tell them. A short while later, he¡¯d put on some clothes and was in the kitchen making himself a bottle of water when he heard the electric keypad to his door being activated. ¡°Dude! Where the hell have you been?¡± Mark asked before he was even fully in the door. ¡°Sarah¡¯s been freaking out.¡± ¡°Shut up. You were freaking out more than I was.¡± Alex could hear Sarah¡¯s voice and see Mark stumble into the door. He could imagine Sarah shoving him from behind. ¡°I was¡­ busy,¡± he said lamely. ¡°Sorry, I should¡¯ve called.¡± ¡°Yeah, I tried to call you a few times, but it just kept going to voice mail,¡± Mark said. ¡°Uh, I¡¯ve been trying to mess with my phone¡¯s Do Not Disturb mode when doing things with my family. You guys know how my mom gets if I¡¯m on the phone.¡± Neither of those are totally a lie¡­ Just not very relevant to today¡¯s situation. Mark walked in and stood across from Alex on the other side of the island countertop, while Sarah walked toward the coffee table in front of the TV and set down two plastic bags. ¡°Family stuff?¡± Mark asked. His eyebrows came together a bit, ¡°Dude, I was worried you got mixed up in one of those Awakened fights from the news.¡± Alex shrugged and scratched the back of his head, unable to meet his friend''s gaze. He went back to pouring the water into his bottle, ¡°Yea my parents needed some help around the house and when Jake showed up the whole dynamic changed.¡± Fuck. That one was totally a lie. He felt horrible about lying, and he knew he wasn¡¯t even a good liar. If it weren¡¯t for his parent¡¯s reputation for being unreasonable, he wasn¡¯t even sure what he would give as an excuse. He could see Sarah narrow her eyes from the corner of his vision, though she stayed quiet.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Sensing the momentary lull in conversation, Mark launched into an excited recap of the latest Rift sightings. ¡°Well, if you were at your mom¡¯s, you probably didn¡¯t see that video from Philly? There was this one awakened-guy that was shooting lightning bolts from his eyes! I mean, we¡¯ve seen laser beams from eyes in movies, but literally, lightning was shooting out of this guy''s face!¡± Mark laughed, turned back to the open section of the connected living room, and flopped onto the couch. ¡°I didn¡¯t see that one. Was it on Nexus Hub?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll see if I can pull it up.¡± Mark found the video in short order and tossed his phone to Alex. Sarah unpacked the Chinese food from containers and laid them out on the coffee table. ¡°Man, how awesome would it be to have some powers like that?¡± Mark stared at the ceiling while lying on the couch and raised his hand into the air, no doubt imagining some kind of magical light show. Before Alex could answer, Sarah cut in. ¡°Mark, cut it out. I actually wanted to mention that to you guys tonight. Stay away from this stuff. It¡¯s seriously dangerous. I can¡¯t get into specifics, but we¡¯re starting to get people in my clinic who are being affected by these Awakened. Their lives are getting torn apart.¡± Alex felt his stomach twist. He knew that Sarah¡¯s clinic worked with veterans suffering from PTSD. ¡°So, some of the soldiers that are coming back¡­¡± He said, letting it hang in the air. Sarah nodded her head. She pushed her blond hair from her eyes as she kept unpacking the food containers. Mark scoffed, but Sarah pressed on, ¡°I¡¯m serious. If you could hear some of the stories I get¡­ even from the civilian side of things. The nightmares people are having¡­ They are worried that the walls of their house might blow up again or that debris could land on their car while driving down the road.¡± Their overzealous friend did seem to temper his excitement after that. ¡°Okay, I can definitely see how it would be a problem. Wow, they never mention any of that in the Marvel movies¡­¡± Alex patted his shoulder and decided it was a good time to try and change the subject. ¡°So,¡± he intentionally dragged out the word, hoping to make light of the somewhat tense atmosphere. ¡°Have either of you put up Christmas decorations yet? I feel like the whole city is slacking this year with all the Rift craziness going on.¡± Sarah blinked at him, her mental gears shifting. She smiled and shook her head. ¡°Oh gosh, you¡¯re so right! My parents have been hounding me about getting a tree up, but I just haven¡¯t had the time¡­¡± Alex could feel the tension in the room ease as they fell into some familiar conversation about the upcoming holidays and picked at cold Chinese take-out. He sank back into the couch, feeling the familiar comforts of his home and the closeness of his friends settle over him. Alex nodded along as Mark ranted about their infamous ugly sweater party from a few years ago, saying that the three of them should try to organize another event this year. After a while, Alex got up to reheat some of the food that he still wanted to nibble on. Over the hum of the microwave, he could hear Mark and Sarah talking to each other in low voices. ¡°¡­ seems really off, ya know?¡± ¡°...You know how he gets when he¡¯s¡­¡± His shoulders sagged, and he scratched his forehead as the guilt formed a pit in his stomach. He stared at the spinning container of reheating noodles and the faint reflection on the microwave''s surface. This isn¡¯t going to last.
¡°Alright, spill.¡± Alex had closed the door behind Mark after he had decided to walk home. ¡°Huh?¡± Alex said. He turned and found Sarah standing from her spot on the floor in front of the wooden living room table. ¡°What¡¯s going on with you, Alex?¡± Her voice was more firm than normal. ¡°I told you, just some family stuff.¡± He said. Alex tried his best to seem casual as he waved his hand and smiled. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. That story doesn¡¯t add up. You didn¡¯t even tell us what you helped them with; you just said ¡®something. ¡®¡± Alex opened his mouth to reply, but Sarah cut him off. ¡°Alex, I can read it all over your face. You were only partially in the conversations all night.¡± She sighed and walked to him before putting her hand on his arm. ¡°You know you can trust me, right? Whatever¡¯s going on, I¡¯m here for you, no judgment.¡± He swallowed hard and avoided the sincerity in her eyes. Part of him really wanted to share with Sarah. With their past and her knowledge from working as a psychologist, it normally helped him a lot to talk to her about his feelings. But this felt different. It might feel good to offload some of this and share it with someone, but she¡¯s clearly not a fan of everything that¡¯s happening with the Rifts. What if she thinks I¡¯m a freak or something now? ¡°I- I can¡¯t. I¡¯m sorry, Sarah.¡± ¡°Try me.¡± She challenged. He shook his head and took a step toward the kitchen to create some space. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll make a deal with you then. Tell me the truth, and if you say it¡¯s your parents again, I¡¯ll give your mom a call and check out the story. If it¡¯s really what¡¯s happening, our next group sushi outing is on me. If it¡¯s not, you tell me what¡¯s going on.¡± Alex stopped mid-step. Shit. He turned to face her, knowing he¡¯d been caught. ¡°No.¡± ¡°No? Then tell me what¡¯s going on. No more lies, Alex. We don¡¯t do lies between the three of us.¡± She looked at him, almost pleading. Alex sighed and decided to cave in. ¡°Alright, alright. Fine. You¡¯re right. I wasn¡¯t at my parents.¡± He said. He began walking to his bedroom, and as she was about to say something, he held up his hand to forestall her questions. Returning a moment later, he held out his hand and heard her sharp intake of breath. ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± There was a tense silence as he held the wand out between them. ¡°I- I became an Awakened a few days ago.¡± The words came out slowly at first before he began to rush in his explanation. ¡°The Rift appeared a few blocks away from me last Friday. I didn¡¯t really plan to go over there; it was just so close, and I was so curious, you know? Like- Sarah, it was seriously an entirely different world when I went in there. Now I¡¯ve got this System and skills and a really stupid Trait¡­¡± He rambled on for a few minutes, Sarah listening patiently and nodding at the right times. ¡°Alex, this is incredible.¡± She smiled at him slightly, but the concern was clear in her eyes. ¡°But it sounds so dangerous. You can¡¯t keep throwing yourself into these situations. We¡¯re already seeing cases equivalent to PTSD from active war zones. People are coming in with night terrors, panic attacks, and severe anxiety or depression. These are real life-and-death situations.¡± You think I don¡¯t know that? ¡°They are terrifying. I know how real it all is. But something about it keeps pulling me back in. I want more, Sarah. I¡¯m sorry if you don¡¯t get it.¡± ¡±Oh, I know you well enough to at least get an idea of what¡¯s going through your head, Alex.¡± Alex restrained himself from flinching. Sarah smiled at him wryly. ¡°But you know I¡¯m not going to just start analyzing you and giving you advice unless you want it. Ask, and I¡¯ll be here for you. If you need help working through any of this or your feelings, you just need to let me know.¡± Some of the tension left Alex¡¯s shoulders. Of course, she¡¯d offer to be there for me. Fuck. He scratched his head. ¡°What about Mark¡­ you know, if I¡¯m interested in this stuff, he¡¯s probably going to do something stupid as well.¡± ¡°Ideally, yes, you should tell him as well; however, I can understand if you don¡¯t want to go there yet. He would probably go on and on about wanting to do it as well.¡± Alex sighed. ¡°I won¡¯t tell him, but you really should soon.¡± He nodded. ¡°Alex,¡± she said. When he made eye contact, she said in a soft tone, ¡°No more secrets, okay?¡± He nodded and gave her a hug. At the time, he had only been thinking of himself. Because of her past, he knew how much lies and the truth meant to Sarah. I really should have told her. ¡°Okay, no more secrets. I promise.¡± 15. Best Friend Mark tapped his foot and stared at his phone. He idly scrolled through the Nexus Hub home page, watching his cold breath puff out in clouds of smoke as he did. Why¡¯s that so entertaining? Mark chuckled and made a large cloud with warm breath. The door next to him opened, and he pushed his phone back into his pocket when he realized it was Sarah. ¡°Oh, oh- hey! Sarah, wait up.¡± Sarah looked over her shoulder and rolled her eyes. ¡°Ambushing me? Really?¡± ¡°Who me? Never! I¡¯m just here to walk you to your car.¡± Mark said, feigning innocence. ¡°Mhmm,¡± Sarah said. They walked to the edge of the block in silence. ¡°Soooo,¡± Mark said in his most convincingly casual tone. ¡°How¡¯s he doing?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Oh, come on, dude. I know you guys talked when I left. It¡¯s part of the reason I dipped out of there. No one knows him better than you, and that pains me to say,¡± he added while raising an eyebrow and leaning into his short blonde friend. ¡°Don¡¯t try to butter me up.¡± ¡°I know he probably talked to you too. Did you use your therapist juju on him?¡± She shoved him. ¡°I hate when you say that. ¡®Therapist juju¡¯ makes it sound like I have a disease or something.¡± ¡°Oh, but you know what I mean. Your deep, dark, secret powers of making people spill their secre-¡± Her glare cut him off, and he coughed. ¡°All out of the deepest compassion and care, of course.¡± Sarah rolled her eyes again and they crossed the street together. There was an odd silence to the chilly night and they walked from the light of one street lamp to the next. ¡°It¡¯s not my place to share, Mark. I¡¯m sorry. You¡¯ll need to talk to him if you want to know what he¡¯s got going on.¡± Mark was almost an entire foot taller than Sarah, and he shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Nahh. I trust him; he¡¯ll let me know when he¡¯s ready to talk.¡± Mark patted the top of Sarah¡¯s beanie affectionately to get a rise out of her. She swatted his hand away. ¡°He could use you, you know? It might help him a lot if you reached out rather than waiting for him.¡± Mark nodded and looked away as cars passed. Yep. That might be best, but Alex hates to be smothered. I¡¯ll give him some time, and if he doesn¡¯t come around, I¡¯ll knock some sense into him. They continued to walk, and Mark pointed out a few of the Christmas lights that were set up in the windows. ¡°I feel like the last few years, Christmas gets set up earlier and earlier each year. This year, all the Awakened stuff is really causing people to shift their attention. All of this increased crime the news keeps talking about is pretty crazy. Especially if you think about people fighting against the cops with powers.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Sarah said. ¡°The major stations mentioned preparing supplies in case of a government shutdown or riots.¡± They¡¯d heard things like that in the past, as large political movements or rallies weren¡¯t uncommon in Northern cities. This feels different. Maybe I should hit up Walmart on my way home and grab a few things. ¡°Mark¡­¡± Sarah said, her tone turning serious.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. He looked down at her, waiting for her to gather her thoughts. ¡°I know that this probably seems like your and Alex¡¯s nerdy dream come true, but please. Stay away from this stuff. Some of these soldiers and veterans that I¡¯m seeing at work are really messed up from whatever is going on. They¡¯re hurting in a way I¡¯ve never seen before. They talked about PTSD from wars when I went through my training with the Department of Veterans'' Affairs, but I really wasn¡¯t prepared for it to be like this¡­¡± Mark laid a large hand on her shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m just worried that this will be too much. We have trained soldiers, and even though guns work in the Rifts, none of our electronic technology does. There¡¯s no way to communicate and¡­ and whole groups of them can go missing in a single Rift. I¡¯m worried that things are changing too fast, and we won¡¯t be able to keep up.¡± There was a long silence as they walked, and Mark spoke up when they reached her car. ¡°I know you might not want to hear this, but I¡¯m being serious¡­¡± He made sure that he had her eye contact as he continued, ¡°The only way to ¡®keep up¡¯ may be to embrace the changes. And that¡¯s not me speaking as a huge fantasy nerd. It¡¯s me talking as a friend and someone who wants to make sure his friends are safe.¡± They looked at each other and embraced. Mark had always been a touchy guy, and his mom had always said that sometimes a hug could help lighten the load of a heavy heart. Maybe I shoulda given Alex a bigger hug. When they parted, he smiled down at her. ¡°Besides, knowing you- you¡¯d probably get some wicked cool healing powers and go about trying to save the world.¡± His smile grew to a grin as she scoffed and gave him a friendly shove. ¡°I can¡¯t save the world. I¡¯ve got to go feed Mittens. He¡¯s going to be angry at me for not getting him his wet food yet.¡±
Mark kept walking toward his apartment. He lived a bit less than a mile from Alex¡¯s house, so it was often easier for him to walk than drive. He watched a video on his phone, one headphone in, keeping an ear out for traffic or approaching footsteps with the other. He had gone halfway home when he heard shattering glass and several kids screaming. Mark looked up from his phone, trying to pinpoint where he had heard the noises. The sounds bounced off of the tall buildings in the surroundings, making them sound like they were coming from more than one spot. A moment later, a car alarm began honking and Mark threw his phone in his pocket and began running toward the sound. When he rounded a corner, he saw a small group of teenagers gathered on the far side of the street. ¡°Hey, are you alright?!¡± Mark called. Several of them looked up and ran, scattering in different directions. Why are they running? Mark looked both ways and rushed across the street. One boy lay unconscious on the ground, and a girl was over him, yelling his name. ¡°Jared! Jared, wake up!¡± Mark moved swiftly to her side and examined the boy. There wasn¡¯t any blood that he could see, but the glass was shattered from the nearby car. It had dents in its door and all four windows were broken. ¡°What happened to him? Are you okay?¡± Mark said. He gently directed the girl¡¯s attention to him and kept his voice calm while inspecting her for injury. While the girl stopped yelling, she didn¡¯t look at Mark. She sat back on her heels and just kept staring at the boy named Jared, tears welling up in her eyes. Mark pulled out his phone and dialed 911. Mark put them on speaker while telling the operator their location and that he was CPR-certified. He found it challenging to remember the lessons they took last year before becoming camp counselors for Sarah¡¯s niece. "Hey, hey. You said his name was Jared, right? I can help Jared." Hearing her friend''s name, the girl finally looked up at Mark with tears in her eyes. "I need you to tell me before I move him- did he hit his head or have anything fall on him?" The girl shook her head and stammered several incoherent sentences about powers and fainting. Mark did his best to manage the situation and speak to the stunned girl while checking to make sure that Jared was truly unconscious. He gently shook the boy and called his name several times, asking if he was okay. The lack of response seemed to make the girl even more upset, and she began to cry even harder as she stood and paced back and forth. Mark ensured the boy¡¯s head was tilted, and his airway wasn¡¯t blocked by anything. He removed his gloves and held his hand over the boy''s face but couldn¡¯t feel anything with his cold hands. Leaning down, he placed his cheek close to Jared''s face and felt a faint warmth from shallow breathing. Mark took off his coat, and the 911 operator let him know that paramedics were en route. He rolled Jared into a recovery position on his side to keep his airway open and prevent any choking on vomit. Afterward, he covered the boy with his jacket and monitored him closely for several minutes until the EMTs arrived. Once the professionals took over, Mark felt a lot better, but he struggled to regain his calm breathing. The wrap-up of the scene took almost an hour as people interviewed both him and the young girl who had stayed behind. Mark found out the story from the officer who spoke with him last. So, the boy had powers and wanted to show them off to his friends. When it worked, his friends got excited and egged him on to move something bigger with his telekinesis. From there, the girl had described, through tear-filled sobs, that Jared had tried to move the car and struggled for several seconds. Suddenly, the car door had dented, and the others had cheered, but then the glass broke, and Jared passed out. He seized on the ground and then lay still, which is when Mark had arrived. Mark gave the paramedics and officers his number in the event they needed to follow up with him. The rest of the walk home was quiet as Mark considered the sobering events of the evening. He wanted to call Alex, but he knew that his friend was going through something of his own. He decided to replay the events in his head and consider whether there was anything he could have done differently. 16. VossBoss Sipping on his coffee, Alex leaned back into his couch. Sarah had stayed for a bit longer the night before, but she could tell Alex was exhausted, and as soon as she left, he fell asleep on top of his covers. He¡¯d slept fitfully. Thoughts of monsters chasing him through the forest, unable to be seen through the thick underbrush, had him tossing and turning. When he woke up, though, he felt well-rested and noted that it was well past the time he usually woke up. Now, after getting his morning routine out of the way, all he could think about was the wand that lay on the coffee table in front of him. His mana was full, making him feel the need to do something with it. In the last week, he''d practiced his mana shaping whenever he¡¯d caught his pool of 60 mana points getting close to capping out. Now, he was curious if he could set up a miniature shooting range in his apartment to play with his new wand. He knew that it wouldn¡¯t be a good idea. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that he wasn¡¯t sure what he¡¯d actually shoot the mana bolt into, he probably would try to do it regardless of the consequences. So, instead, he found himself sitting on his couch, occasionally playing with the wand between his fingers while scrolling through The Adventurers Guild app. Alex¡¯s goal for the day was to find some combat related threads and to read through what people were doing that worked for them. The secondary goal was to try and find some advice on places to practice things like his wand. I wonder what they¡¯d say if I walked into a pistol shooting range with this thing. The thought made him snicker. Surprisingly, it didn¡¯t take him long to find a post that was made by one of the Moderators.
For those of you who haven¡¯t heard from me yet, I¡¯m @VossBoss. I am one of the original Moderators for AG, and I wanted to put this offer out there for anyone near my area. I live in the North East and have some property I can offer Recruits or Members to come and train. I think it would be a good opportunity for us to meet each other and see what our different skills and abilities can do. I¡¯d like to make it something that happens semi-regularly. So, if you¡¯re interested, shoot me a direct message and I¡¯ll let you know when the next group is getting together.
Alex wondered how far the drive might be, thinking he would be willing to drive a few hours if the opportunity worked out. That could really be worth it. I hate being social, but meeting people who might know more than me could be helpful. Not to mention, meeting one of the Moderators face-to-face could be a good networking opportunity. As soon as he had the thought, he couldn¡¯t help but think how odd it was to be thinking about this like a meeting at a work conference. It was common to think about those conferences as a chance to schmooze some of the higher-ups or make good networking connections. While this was technically the same sort of situation, it was massively different. These people have all fought or killed at least one monster. The entire point is to have space to practice with skills or weapons. Would I be willing to just go meet up with an internet stranger at their personal shooting range out in the country? When he thought about it in that light, he hesitated. Pros and Cons, Alex. He locked his phone and set it to the side while picking back up the wand. Running his fingers over the engraved runes, he laid his head back on the couch and thought through the consequences of doing something like this. In the end, the decision for him was simple. He picked his phone back up and sent a message to @VossBoss telling them that he wanted to attend the next meeting if possible and to ask for more details. While waiting for the message, Alex resumed looking at the wand. The runes fascinated him. Can I make these? He thought about how cool it might be to be able to make runes like these and to craft magical weapons for himself like an enchanter from fantasy novels. Shrugging to himself, Alex stood and got his drawing tablet from his bedside table before returning to the couch. He sat down and pulled out the pen while laying the wand in his lap to get a good look at the runes. After some time, he found it hard to continue. His hand-eye coordination was fantastic. He knew that it was one of his strongest assets in drawing. While he felt his imagination was limited, he was always good at being able to draw almost anything if he could see it for reference. The runes, however, seemed to shift subtly as he looked at them. One moment a line would be perfectly straight, then the next moment, it would appear to have a slight nick or indent on the bottom half. Frustrated, he set the drawing pad aside and decided to kill some time while practicing his mana shaping. Now that he was level three, his Willpower had jumped significantly from where it was when he was level one. The mana-shaping exercises that he¡¯d been struggling with before his most recent Rift adventure were suddenly much easier. So now he was attempting to make some more distinguishable shapes in the air with his mana. He found it hard to maintain his concentration, shape the mana, and perform any sort of task but assumed that it would be great practice to keep trying. He strained his mind to do so. Alex also found it convenient that he had learned to reabsorb some of the mana from each exercise, pulling it back toward his Core rather than letting it go and dissipate into the air. It allowed him to practice for longer since reaching that bottom third of his mana often led to headaches.
Congratulations, [Mana Shaping] has leveled up!
The window popped into his vision, almost causing Alex to almost lose concentration. He was happy to see that the mana construct didn¡¯t crumble this time. Finishing the exercise, he absorbed what mana he could from the cube before checking his status screen to see his progress after the recent dive into the Rift.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.
Status Name: Alex Moore - Level 3 Class: None HP: 50/50 MP: 18/60 Traits: (1/3) {Primordial Will} Physical Stats: Strength: 4 Agility: 5 Constitution: 5 Vitality: 6 Magical Stats: Intellect: 6 Willpower: 21 Mana: 6 Wisdom: 6 Active Skills: [Mana Shaping] (Novice - Level 5) [Mana Infusion] (Novice - Level 3) Passive Skills: (None)
He couldn¡¯t help but smile as he looked at the floating Status Window. I wonder if this amount of growth is normal. It¡¯s only been a week, but I¡¯ve already gotten one of my skills up to Level 5. When I awakened, we¡¯d already been hearing rumors about Rifts for a few weeks, so some people out there are likely a lot stronger than I am. Alex mentally stepped back, surprised that it didn''t bother him. If anything, it made him feel a bit competitive, as if he wanted to show them that he could catch up and become better. This isn¡¯t a video game, dumbass. Getting levels means risking your life and fighting monsters. Again, he was interested to note that this didn¡¯t bother him. Who am I? Alex laughed as he thought to himself. Something about the System, access to magic, and totally new worlds within the Rifts seemed to make him feel like he was free. He could do or become anything he wanted, his parents, and the consequences be damned. His eyes drifted back to the wand on his coffee table. He walked over and picked it up, staring at it for what felt like the hundredth time. Screw it. Consequences be damned, right? He noted that the distance from the front door to the outer wall was the shorter width of the living room. With the open kitchen attached to the living room, he could aim toward his TV to get more distance. He moved back to the island countertop, eyeing his TV ten yards away. He took two steps to his right, and instead of looking at his TV, he could see through his bedroom door and to his bed. A plan formed, and he quickly piled pillows and blankets against his headboard. When he was finished, he took a step back and looked at the plush mound. That probably won¡¯t work. He glanced around, spotted the large board hanging on his wall, and shrugged before pulling it down. It was a piece he had made in college, and he felt no real attachment to it. At least not when compared to messing with a new magical weapon. Alex gripped the wand and moved back into the living room. He stopped short of the kitchen, deciding to start with a shorter distance. His art-target was propped against the pillows and rested against the wall over his headboard. Alex gripped the wand and tried to remember how they did it in those wizard movies. He gave it an experimental flick, pushing the tiniest bit of mana he could manage into it with [Mana Infusion]. Nothing happened. He tried again, this time with a more dramatic swish of his arm, and pushed just a bit more mana into the wand. The wand responded, but the bolt went wide, smacking the right side of the doorframe, not even coming close to hitting the target. Alex winced at the small scorch mark it left. Right. Maybe less Harry Potter, more... Voldemort? Alex held the wand¡¯s base in his palm and let the length of it follow his index finger. He aimed, feeling as though he was pointing directly at the board. He pointed, keeping his hand steady, and aimed at the center of the board. This time, he sent the smallest flicker of mana into the wand, and there was almost a pull from his core as the wand drew more out than he¡¯d meant for it to. The runes along the wand''s shaft flickered dimly, but the bolt formed and flew through the air. He frowned when it fizzled out halfway across the room. Must need more mana. In his next attempt, he used just a touch more mana. The bolt cracked across the room, and recoil shuddered through his hand as the mana dart flew. It made a popping sound as it connected with the board and left a small scorch mark on it. Alex grinned. He continued flicking bolt after bolt at the board. Seeing how it felt to fire two shots in quick succession. Just as he felt he was finding a sweet spot, a banging could be heard from the other side of his wall. ¡°Hey!¡± his neighbor shouted. ¡°What the hell are you doing over there?¡± Alex froze, wand still in his hand raised just over shoulder height, and pointing at the wall in the direction of the angry neighbor. Right. Apartment. Neighbors. Shit. ¡°Sorry!¡± he called back before lowering the wand. ¡°Just¡­ uh, moving some furniture!¡± Okay, maybe I should think about the consequences just a little bit. Alex flopped back onto his couch, slightly embarrassed but grinning nonetheless. Despite his grumpy neighbor, he glanced at the circular scorch mark on the doorframe to his bedroom and found it hard to regret his impulsive decision. Alex had a feeling that things were about to get very interesting and very dangerous around the world. If people had access to skills, powers, and items that allowed for just any normal person like him to be slinging magic and grow stronger, he couldn¡¯t imagine that the power balance would stay the same. Part of why government structures and balance could be found, was because most people were on a level playing field. We¡¯ve largely moved past the days where the largest or strongest person was in charge. Now, things are handled by alliances, connections, money, and intellect. How will things change as people emerge who are stronger than a tank? He knew that these concepts weren¡¯t novel, as they were brought up in all sorts of modern fiction and literature. The most common example that seemed to pop into his mind was Superman. People were scared of him being different. This caused some people to hate him and some to fear him. Ultimately, they could do nothing to stop him from doing what he wanted. He was simply that powerful. It¡¯s a good thing he ended up being the good guy¡­ The thought lingered in Alex¡¯s mind. What if he wasn¡¯t, though? Surely there are going to be people who awaken who don¡¯t have good intentions or are only looking out for themselves. For the first time, Alex began to think about some of the deeper societal impacts of people emerging with powers like this and how the government reacted with the military and the Hunter¡¯s Association. Alex puffed out his cheeks and let out a deep breath. Luckily for him, his thoughts were interrupted as his phone chimed from beside him.
VossBoss: We¡¯re having a meeting tomorrow afternoon. Here¡¯s the address. You¡¯re welcome to come by whenever you want between 11:00AM and 7:00PM. People come and go as they want. I¡¯ll have food for lunch and dinner, so don¡¯t feel like you need to bring anything. Normally, about 10-20 people show up. Make sure to drive all the way down the driveway and park around the side of the house. Hope to see you then!
The message was friendly and to the point. Alex responded, letting them know that he¡¯d likely be coming by. Alex was really interested to think about the kinds of people who might come and what sort of powers they might have. For a minute, he debated texting John Riley to see if he wanted to meet him up there, but Alex didn¡¯t feel like they were really friends like that, and it might end up being awkward. Better to just go at it alone, then. He might be there anyway since he¡¯s local to this area, too. While Alex disliked social situations, it was something that he knew he could navigate quite well if he needed to. Phone still in hand, Alex decided to continue doing his research through the forums, looking for any interesting information on magic, wands, or combat. There were all sorts of articles and complaints. Some made him chuckle, like, ¡°Why does ritual magic suck so much?¡± or ¡°Who needs a gun? I can shoot fire from my fingertips!¡± Some of them were more practical, though, such as: ¡°Mana is measurable through the Status Window, but I think there¡¯s also a hidden Stamina Stat.¡± This one pulled his attention enough to click into the article and begin reading. 17. Wand Training Alex drove slowly down the fully paved driveway that seemed to go on for miles. These people have to be loaded. Do they own, like, the whole mountain or something? He¡¯d entered a private road that turned out to be the driveway a while ago, passing through an opened metal gate that marked it as private property. The switchbacks and fog slowed him down. Alex was used to the city and the stress of traffic, but this was a different kind of stress. Most of what he thought about during the drive was how excited he was to practice with the wand and imagine what kind of people would be there. Now, though, as he rounded a bend and pulled into the driveway proper, his thoughts stopped. Fuuuuuck. Yep, loaded. The house that he saw was something straight out of a movie. It was a three-story building made of sharp edges and glass. The second floor, which faced out from the mountain, was almost entirely made of glass. Several vehicles were already parked around the side of the house, and he felt a bit self-conscious as he parked his old Nissan Sentra in the driveway next to a nice SUV. He got out and held a mostly empty backpack in his hand as he made his way over to the side door. Before he made it there, though, someone around the back of the house called out. ¡°Hey! Come around back, we¡¯re out here!¡± The female voice called. He shrugged and walked in that direction, pulling his coat tighter around himself. Why would they be out here? It¡¯s freezing. He turned the corner, and it made a lot more sense. There was a large, covered awning that people were under. The covered space was close to 20 meters wide and at least 30 or 40 meters long. There were tables set up at one end and a few dummies set up at the far end. ¡°Welcome!¡± The same voice as before called out and beckoned Alex over. He pulled the strap on the backpack a bit tighter as he approached the pair that was having a conversation. As he got closer, Alex could hear tension and some aggression in the man''s voice. He hesitated a few feet away, unsure if he was intruding on something. The woman spoke up again, signaling an end to her conversation with the taller man next to her. ¡°How¡¯s it going? I¡¯m VossBoss; you can just call me Elana, though. Most people know my name at this point; don¡¯t feel like you need to share yours if you don¡¯t want to.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you,¡± Alex said to the both of them. Taking a closer look at the tall blonde man, it was clear that they were siblings. Both of them were good-looking, tall, and had hair so blonde that it was almost white. ¡°I¡¯m Alex,¡± he said as he shook her proffered hand. The woman, Elana, was about Alex¡¯s height, and she gave him a smile. ¡°Well? Are you going to deflect?¡± The man said ignoring Alex completely, and apparently refusing to accept the end of their previous conversation. His blue eyes were intense, and he stared at Elana. ¡°We can talk about this later, Rylan.¡± She said stiffly. ¡°Tsch.¡± He made a harsh sound and walked away without saying anything to Alex. ¡°Sorry about him. It¡¯s nice to meet you, Alex. I¡¯m assuming your username in The Guild is NotXela?¡± Alex scratched the back of his head. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s me.¡± She laughed and turned her body to open up the semi circle to the rest of the people gathered. ¡°This is my home. I¡¯ve started to put together some stuff to help those in The Guild train. We have a small range here. A few of the weapons you could take with you into a Rift are gathered here on the tables.¡± She walked forward and gestured at some of the tables that three others were gathered around. ¡°Feel free to ask anyone to spar or for pointers, but please don¡¯t take things too far. We¡¯re all just trying to get better so we can live longer in the Rifts out there. The same rules apply here, as in the app. Please don¡¯t ask for personal information, but feel free to share as much as you¡¯d like.¡± ¡°Wow, this is pretty amazing,¡± Alex said, dumbfounded. The entire underside of the awning was lined with heaters and fans, making it clear that it would be comfortable to train here, regardless of the temperature outside. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind me asking, why is this outside? Why not a building or something?¡± Elana laughed. ¡°Well, that¡¯s the end goal, but we¡¯ve only been putting things together for the last few weeks. Getting a building set up will take some time, especially if we want to ensure that it¡¯s sturdy enough to let Awakened train in there.¡± ¡°Ahh¡­ that- makes a lot of sense,¡± he said nervously. Elana laughed and made small talk before excusing herself. ¡°I¡¯m going to go check on my brother. He can get a bit moody at times. Enjoy yourself; let me know if you need anything.¡± Alex was left standing alone and feeling a bit awkward. Just to find something to do without looking like a total loser, he decided to go and check out the weapons spread across the tables. There were all sorts of weapons, ranging from ranged weapons like bows and other thrown objects to hammers, swords, and daggers. I guess these are just easier to practice with than guns? Still not really safe¡­If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. While Alex didn¡¯t like the thought of some random people shooting guns near him, he didn¡¯t think he¡¯d want someone swinging a sharp blade at him any more than that. He¡¯d read that in a few of the earlier articles from The Adventurers Guild App as it was a big reason that even some of the lower level monsters had skin or shells so tough that bullets didn¡¯t do anything to them. This had been a large reason that some of the military expeditions struggled to tame the Rifts. Add to the fact that the System hadn¡¯t been reported to give any skills related to guns, but gave plenty related to medieval style weapons, even the Army was starting to set aside the use of guns. Because of that, he¡¯d never even bothered to try, and this seemed to cement the fact. Alex took his backpack off and removed the main item from his bag. He felt a bit silly as he pulled out a nylon case that was zipped shut. He opened it and removed his wand. At the end of the day, Alex didn¡¯t care if he looked like a total dweeb. I can use a fucking magic wand. Who cares what the bag looks like? Also, so what- it was $20 on Amazon to buy a drumstick case. Bite me. The three standing at the nearby tables watched him with interest as he stepped up to the range lane and decided to fire off a few bolts at the target. He took a few shots, not really caring if he missed or hit the target dummies at the end of the range. After every few shots, he¡¯d pause and then resume. After about five minutes, he was interrupted. ¡°You miss quite a bit,¡± a feminine voice said. ¡°Hmm?¡± Alex responded, still not really paying attention. ¡°The targets? You miss a lot,¡± the woman behind him said. ¡°Oh yes, uh- this is all new to me.¡± Alex turned and smiled awkwardly as he dismissed his Status Window. ¡°Also, I¡¯m trying to get a feel for how much mana is being used. It looks like I can actually spend less mana than I was originally using. So, I¡¯m trying to figure out what the least amount I can use is while still firing off a bolt.¡± The silence hung in the air for a minute. Fucking nerd. Good lord. Alex was suddenly very, very aware of the cute girl standing in front of him. She was an inch or two shorter than he was, but she seemed athletic. Her dark hair was pulled behind her in a ponytail. Why¡¯s it so hot in here? Fuck. He realized that he never took his jacket off. He was preoccupied between not wanting to be awkward and wanting to play with the wand, that he¡¯d completely forgotten it was on. Suddenly, it was uncomfortably hot. ¡°That¡¯s actually clever.¡± She turned her head to the side. Her arms crossed, and she seemed to look at him in a new light. ¡°How much?¡± ¡°How much? For the wand?¡± Alex asked; he unconsciously took a half-step away. No way I¡¯m giving this thing up, are you crazy? I just got it! ¡°What? No, how much mana.¡± Her eyes lost a bit of the light that was in them, giving him a dull look. ¡°Oh- duh. Um, it seems like a bolt takes about five mana if I keep it as low as possible. Using seven seems to hit the dummy with a lot more impact, though.¡± ¡°Hm. Not bad.¡± She stepped forward and offered her hand, ¡°I¡¯m TimonNotPumba on the AG App.¡± Alex¡¯s brain spun for a moment, looking at the hand. He couldn¡¯t remember where- ¡°Oh!¡± he said and seemed to startle the girl. ¡°Sorry, uh- wow, this is cool. I¡¯m NotXela in the App, you actually messaged me through Nexus Hub a week or so ago.¡± ¡°I did?¡± This brought a small smile to her lips. Alex shook her hand and returned the smile. ¡°Yeah, your tip about visualizing the mana really helped. Seriously! I ended up getting a skill after practicing with it for a bit.¡± ¡°Oh really?¡± Her eyes lit up, ¡°Was it [Mana Manipulation]? That¡¯s the one I got.¡± ¡°No, it was [Mana Shaping]. Hmm, I wonder why we got different ones?¡± Her head moved to the side again, and her ponytail swished behind her head. ¡°No idea; maybe we¡¯re visualizing different things? Interesting¡­¡± She seemed to zone off for a few seconds before Alex cleared his throat and pointed down the range. ¡°Can I really keep shooting those things? Aren¡¯t they made of foam or something?¡± Alex asked. As he had gotten to the lane in the range, he could see the targets better. They were the same humanoid looking dummies that were used in MMA or boxing classes, that were made of the upper torso and head with no arms. ¡°Do your worst. Elana¡¯s brother bought some enchanted disks that go on the bottom of them. They modified them to take some serious punishment.¡± Now it was Alex¡¯s turn to get interested. ¡°Enchanting? Like this?¡± He held the wand up to her so that she could see the runes etched on the side. She bent forward at the waist to inspect it closer. ¡°Yeah, but they don¡¯t look quite that complex. You could ask him about it, but he can be a bit sour.¡± She made a bit of a stink face. ¡°Yeah, he completely ignored me when I walked up. I wonder if I could find some stuff on the app about it?¡± She shrugged but then shook her head. ¡°It might be hard. From what I understand, it¡¯s really sought-after stuff. People want it badly and most of the info is bought up as soon as it¡¯s posted. Elana and Rylan are loaded, though, so he can buy most things or outbid others who are interested.¡± That makes a lot of sense. ¡°Does he do the enchanting or he just likes to buy the stuff?¡± She found something about the question funny and laughed before shaking her head. ¡°That meat head? No he doesn¡¯t even like magic. He¡¯s actually a pretty strong fighter, but he looks down on magic users.¡± For some reason Alex felt the need to be defensive at the statement. ¡°But he wants enchanted stuff?¡± ¡°Eh, he at least has enough sense to realize that even as an axe fighter, he can use some items to boost his power.¡± ¡°Think they¡¯d be willing to share any of that knowledge?¡± She shrugged again, ¡°Couldn¡¯t hurt to ask? But I don¡¯t see him being willing to share. If I were you, I¡¯d look into rituals.¡± ¡°Rituals? I¡¯ve seen a few posts about them. Everyone seems to think they¡¯re trash.¡± ¡°One man¡¯s trash is another man¡¯s treasure, right?¡± Alex thought about it for a moment, then shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t think I could use them. While I want to use magic, I don¡¯t have a lot of mana. My total MP is pretty low.¡± ¡°Hmm, well then, that¡¯s even more reason for you to stay away from enchanting. The runes apparently take a lot of mana to inscribe and then cost mana again to actually activate.¡± ¡°Really? I didn¡¯t know that.¡± She nodded in response and he continued, ¡°Aren¡¯t rituals really expensive with mana, too, though? One of the things I read mentioned that the ritual book had some schematics and they all called for at least three people to combine to have enough mana for one ritual.¡± She smiled at him, her teeth white and brown eyes shining. Alex noted that her demeanor changed to much more energetic when talking about magic. ¡°Oh no, people are just kind of stupid. I don¡¯t know much, but I do remember reading that rituals are supposed to be one of the most mana-efficient forms of magic. Those people were probably looking at some wide range or area effect ritual.¡± He scratched the back of his head and looked at her again. ¡°Well, alright. You sold me. I¡¯ll check out rituals when I get home. Hey, thanks for all the help. How do you know so much about all of this?¡± She grinned, ¡°I just love magic. My trait focuses on stealth, but with my [Mana Manipulation] I actually got a stealth skill to go with it. So I¡¯ve been practicing with my mana since pretty much day one.¡± ¡°Wow, that¡¯s awesome.¡± The two continued to talk for a bit before they exchanged their real names. Timon¡¯s real name was Olivia, while Xela was easily guessed to stand for Alex. She¡¯d laughed at him quite hard when he guiltily suggested that he should change his own username. They were soon joined by one of the others, and the three took turns in some more target practice. Alex allowed Olivia to use the wand while Ian practiced with a bow. Alex felt that he learned more in the four or five hours he spent at Elana¡¯s than he had in the last several months of his life. He left later than he¡¯d originally wanted because he¡¯d gotten so caught up in actually enjoying himself and those he was with. Before he¡¯d left, he¡¯d found Elana and thanked her for hosting the event. She was friendly and seemed to have a presence around herself that exuded confidence with a friendly ease. He¡¯d asked her if he could give the Mana Stone payment for full guild membership to her, and she¡¯d been happy to take it. She told him that his app access would be updated in the next few hours. On the drive back, Alex thought about the people he¡¯d met and gotten some fighting tips from. He felt highly outclassed by most of the Members that he had talked with, but they were willing to share information and had been very friendly. He was particularly interested in talking more with Olivia, as her mana control was definitely a step above his own. Yes, I am purely interested in the mana control. 18. Return to Lord Sterling Tossing his phone onto the bed, Alex let out a calming sigh. He had just finished speaking with Mr. Henderson to let him know that he wouldn¡¯t be coming to work next week due to a family emergency. No idea if this is the right choice or not, but I can¡¯t imagine going back to work after stepping into this world. After spending hours the day before with a small group of people, practicing magic and fighting as if it were a fantasy story, it seemed utterly insane to go back to a job that he hated. His new plan was to spend one week going to Rifts and trying to level up. He wanted to see how many Mana Stones he could get and how much progress he could make in a short period of time when he applied all of his attention to the task. If he could make anything close to a livable wage, he would never have to go back to that shitty job. While he loved the idea of getting several years of experience as a graphic designer on his resume, he wasn''t doing the actual work of a graphic designer; he felt like a cog in a bigger machine. As always, he walked to the kitchen to make his morning cup of coffee. He paused, though, as the machine warmed up. Alex felt like his brain was already moving much faster than normal and he was completely awake. Is this the Willpower stat? Alex could admit that he wasn''t the best in the morning. He tended to be grumpy when he woke up, especially on Mondays. It gave him a chuckle as he thought about what the System might show if he could [Analyze] a cup of coffee. +10 to Willpower for three hours. Or maybe +10 Vitality? It definitely gives me life. Alex looked at the coffee machine and shrugged before turning away. He just didn''t feel like he needed the caffeine. He moved to the couch and flipped through the Adventurers Guild app to see if there was any news and if his ID had been updated to reflect his new membership status. Sure enough, it had already gone through. Now, his ID card clearly showed that he was a Guild Member. This got him excited, as he had a new goal for the day, and being a full member was the only way that it was likely to work. While he wanted to immediately go and try to return to the Rift he¡¯d been in earlier this week, he decided it might be best to do a bit of research. After talking with Olivia the day before, he could not stop thinking about rituals. Her suggestion that they may be the answer to his low mana excited him. His first step was to look through the app and find the social features, then to add Olivia and the other new adventurer who had helped him the day before. He was surprised to find that he already had a pending friend request. Oh, right, I totally forgot about that kid. He was actually really nice. After clicking on the username associated with the request, he saw the same young face he¡¯d run into while hunting the boars. Alex felt bad for how he acted, so he added him and then moved on to Olivia¡¯s ID. Oh shit. She¡¯s a Peacekeeper? She didn¡¯t mention that. Alex was surprised and impressed. Olivia must be strong if she was one of the Peacekeepers for The Guild. It did soften the blow a bit, for how badly he¡¯d been trounced in their spar. After making the connections, he moved on to the available training content and was pleased to see that it had grown by a large amount. Additionally, Alex now had access to the Auction House section of the app. This was how Olivia had recommended he should get the ritual training material. Feeling the need to sate his curiosity, the first thing that Alex looked up were manuals on spell casting. He assumed this might give him a baseline of understanding. What?! If he sorted the trading section of the app by ¡®Magic¡¯ and then added the tag for ¡®Manual / Skill Book¡¯ and sorted by cost, he could view the cheapest item. 50 Mana Stones? That seems so excessive. Even as he thought about it, though, a part of Alex¡¯s brain wanted to try and figure out what he might be able to sell in order to get his hands on one of those books. If he could equate a Mana Stone being somewhere around $500, then that one book was somewhere around $25,000 USD. In one sense, it boggled his mind to think that this was the cheapest available item in this search. On the other hand, it wasn¡¯t surprising that there were people all over the country who would be willing to spend a ludicrous amount of money to be able to do real magic. He shook his head and changed the search to look up Enchanting manuals and Skill Books. Alex began to laugh. The cost of these manuals was, on average, double or triple that of the spell-casting manuals. I wonder if that¡¯s because it¡¯s so rare or because so many people are interested in it. He moved on, once again, to what he was really there to search for: manuals and Skill Books for Rituals. They were much, much more affordable. Several lower options were titled ¡°Basic Rituals¡± or ¡°Ritual Pattern Layouts,¡± which cost less than 10 Mana Stones. After paying the Mana Stone to Elana, I have two left over... and I still owe one to Red Beanie and his crew for entrance into the Rift. If I spend a day or two back in that Rift, fighting boars, I should be able to get up to that pretty easily. He looked through the available material more before stretching and gathering his pack. He¡¯d used some of the rations last time he was at the Rift and one of his pairs of pants had been ruined, so he took a quick inventory of what he needed to replace. After making his list, he got dressed and packed what he needed into his car before heading to the necessary stores. He decided to get extras of a few things, mainly thinking about socks and food. His socks had gotten so wet during his trek through the rainy forest last time. In this same line of thinking, he went to the nearby outdoor store and got more durable pants, and waterproof gaiters to protect his ankle and lower legs against the constant moisture. He began his drive to the west and checked the Adventurers Guild app to see the stats on the Rift he¡¯d visited before. He was surprised to see that it was much more occupied than before. Wow, 52 of the 100 available slots are taken this time. I wonder if that means they¡¯re any closer to completing the Rift Quest. A short time later, Alex was surprised to meet a different group of people from the Guild. They asked to see his ID, and when he showed it to them, the group of young men became a lot more friendly. They were all either level two or three and were there as a voluntary detail to get entrance into the Rift over the next week.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°How long do they think that it¡¯ll take to complete the Rift Quest?¡± ¡°Complete it?¡± The leader of the small group asked. ¡°They aren¡¯t going to complete it for a while. Actually, it¡¯s a good thing you asked. You can participate and gain contribution toward the quest, but don¡¯t go in there trying to complete it. There¡¯s a Peacekeeper in there, and the whole point is to allow AG to abuse the time-stretching effect. There are some higher-level people in there just practicing and training, rather than actually trying to kill monsters or level up.¡± Oh, that¡¯s interesting. ¡°I guess that makes sense. Twice as much time to train if they¡¯re in there.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± The man said. ¡°The Moderators have said that if they find an Uncommon Rift that spawns in a more convenient location, or they get ahold of a Rare Rift, that¡¯s when they¡¯ll let us complete this one.¡± ¡°Okay, so what about me then? I¡¯ve already completed the Personal Quest here. Will I get another one?¡± One of the girls standing to the side shook her head. ¡°Nah, sorry. Personal Quests only come around once. So you can enter if you want, and the cost is reduced, but you can really just practice killing the boars in there. You can also get some experience for fighting the corruption, and that¡¯ll increase your Rift Quest reward down the road, but that¡¯s really it.¡± The leader shrugged and nodded. ¡°That¡¯s about it. We still think it¡¯s worth it, the monsters are low-level, and you can get some experience in fighting and gain some Mana Stones pretty safely.¡± Alex nodded and thanked the group before asking him to put the entrance fee on his Guild ID. When he entered the Rift, Alex was surprised to see that a large area surrounding the Rift had been cleared and there were tents and camping equipment spread out around it. Wow, there¡¯s a lot here. People must come back in the evenings. He shrugged and decided that he¡¯d do the same, but during the day, he didn¡¯t trust leaving his pack somewhere that others might decide to rummage through it. Even though they were all a part of The Adventurers Guild, he didn¡¯t personally know the people who were hunting in the Rift. Alex stepped away from the camp area and into the forest, his wand gripped firmly in his right hand. The smooth wood felt reassuring against his palm. He felt a lot more confident than he had from his desperate and unprepared first attempt at fighting boars in the Rift. He looked down at the wand and smiled. Much nicer to use this than that ridiculous hatchet. At least I can get some distance now. Moving carefully through the underbrush, he could hear the familiar grunting of nearby boars. Soon, he spotted two boars rooting around near a corrupted pod. He positioned himself behind a thick tree trunk, knowing that he¡¯d need the cover based on his previous experience. The wand would be great for attacking, but he¡¯d still need to rely on the tree as a way to dodge and avoid the boars¡¯ charge. Taking a deep breath, he pulled at the mana from his core and channeled it into the wand. He could feel how the focused energy gathered at the wood held in his palm, and he forced himself to loosen his iron-like grip. Relax, you missed all of those tense shots yesterday. Keep a loose grip. His palm began to tingle as he felt the wand pull on the mana and knew that he could begin to throw the seven-mana-charged bolts toward the boars. Here goes nothing. 60 mana total, so I¡¯ve got about six good shots before the headache really starts to kick in. Better make them count. Alex aimed carefully at the nearest boar. The air around the tip of the wand chilled, and he felt a recoil ripple through his arm as the bolt flew off at speed. The bolt struck true, hitting the boar¡¯s flank with enough force to send it tumbling into the dirt. The creature squealed in pain, its companion jerking its head up in alarm. Both boars turned toward him, zeroing in on his position. 53 mana left. When the first boar charged, Alex ducked behind the tree. The creature¡¯s tusks scraped against the bark, though it was a glancing blow, and it continued past the tree rather than connecting head-on as he had hoped. Alex spun around the trunk, taking an extra second to aim before sending another seven-strength bolt into the beast¡¯s hindquarters. 46 mana. Still good. The second boar was already moving to flank him. Alex backed away, keeping the tree between himself and the creatures as best he could. He looked around for his next piece of cover, unsure if he could afford to look away. His heart pounded as he heard them circling and lost vision of one of the boars in the thick underbrush. One of the boars burst through the underbrush to his left, and Alex fired quickly, causing him to only charge the bolt with five mana. Worse yet, the shot went wide and barely grazed the creature¡¯s shoulder. Fuck. Wasted shot. I''ve got... what, four good shots left? Maybe five? He steadied himself and took a deep breath. The next bolt, properly powered and aimed, caught the boar in the face as it turned to face him once again. It caused the beast to squeal, dart to the side, and stumble to the ground after a few steps. Getting tired. Three or four shots left before I''m in trouble. His arms were beginning to tremble, and he couldn¡¯t tell if it was from the mana fatigue or just the adrenaline coursing through his veins. The injured boar struggled to rise, giving Alex an easy opening to send another bolt into its head. One down. Can''t have more than two good shots left. The remaining boar seemed more cautious now, circling just beyond the trees. Alex waited, controlling his breathing, trying to conserve what energy he had left. A dull pressure was building behind his eyes, and he recognized sure signs of mana fatigue. The boar finally charged, and Alex managed to sidestep at the last second. The creature barreled past him, crashing through a patch of thick undergrowth. Taking advantage of the opening, Alex sent another seven-mana bolt into its side. The pressure in his head spiked sharply, and he winced at the sudden pain. One shot left. Make it count. The boar staggered from the hit but maintained its footing. Alex tried to steady his shaking hands as he aimed the wand. The mana felt sluggish, resistant, as he attempted to channel it through the wand. His stomach lurched, but he forced himself to focus through the growing nausea. With the last of his concentration, he pushed seven more mana into the wand and released the bolt. It struck the boar''s head, and the creature collapsed mid-stride. Alex sagged against the nearest tree, and his legs barely held him up. The headache had turned into a pounding behind his eyes, which caused the forest to tilt and spin around him. He slid down to sit at the tree''s base, his hands still trembling from the mana drain. Note to self: Passing out in a Rift is probably a bad way to go. He closed his eyes and focused on taking slow, steady breaths. He decided the corrupted pod could wait. First, he needed to let his mana recover before the symptoms worsened. As his head continued to pound, he couldn''t help but appreciate the irony. He was definitely getting better at fighting, but for some reason, maintaining that distance and managing his mana felt just as hard as when he was fighting in melee. After taking time to recover his mana, he got up to check each of the boars for mana stones before moving on. Alex spent the rest of the day in the Rift fighting boars and clearing out the corrupted pods. When the night began to fall, he made his way back to the portal entrance to set up camp. He had to wonder, yet again, if he was seeing his abnormally high Willpower affect his mental faculties. He felt so much more in control of his thoughts during each of the day''s fights. Even when things went poorly, he felt calmer and could continue to keep track of his remaining wand shots despite the panic he felt. Making an effort to be social, Alex introduced himself to a few people near the camp''s outer edge as he set up his tent. They invited him to their campfire a short time later and the gossip that they had was informative. The most interesting bit was a conversation between the group''s leader, who seemed to be some sort of warrior carrying a sword and shield, and his wife, who had a bow in her lap. He talked about how his old military contacts told him that the government would be trying to swap part of the backing for the U.S. dollar to Mana Stones. Several of the others argued against it, saying that backing currency on any item was a futile gesture and that the government had to have learned its lesson. ¡°There¡¯s a reason they moved away from backing it on gold and silver. I don¡¯t see any reason why they¡¯d try to do it again; it¡¯s just setting them up for failure.¡± Regardless which direction they took, everyone agreed that the stones had a high value that was likely to continue to increase in the coming weeks. That became even more clear as the conversation continued. They said that the Mana Stones could be ground down for a source of energy that could potentially solve the energy crisis. If the Mana Stones could be used as a resource to replace fossil fuels or reduce the strain on the electrical grid, then the government was willing to go all in on the Rifts. It suddenly changed the dynamics from ¡®clear the Rifts quickly, for everyone¡¯s safety¡¯ to ¡®farm the best Rifts for materials.¡¯ Money makes the world go round, I guess. The advice he took away from the conversation was that he should hold onto his Mana Stones for as long as possible. Since things were still in such flux, their value was likely to skyrocket over the next month. While this made sense to him, his main goal was still to get the ten stones needed for the basic ritual information. He planned to continue saving after the needed amount. If he continued to find around four stones per day, as he did today, he could easily earn more than ten stones in the next few days. Despite feeling safe with the camp¡¯s numbers, Alex slept fitfully before rising the following day to continue hunting boars. 19. A Plan Forward ¡°Are you sure you¡¯ve got to head out?¡± ¡°Ahh, yeah. I really need to restock, and I think it¡¯s time for me to head to another Rift. The boars are too easy now, and I want to check out the rewards from other Personal Quests.¡± Alex waved and smiled at the group he¡¯d been camping with for the last four days. While they¡¯d largely done separate fighting and grouping during the day, Alex found himself enjoying their company each evening. The group had a good dynamic with lots of friendly banter and inside jokes. ¡°We¡¯ll send you a connection request in the AG app. Hopefully, we can link up later.¡± ¡°Sounds good, take care.¡± Alex waved again over his shoulder as he turned and walked through the ever-growing camp toward the Rift exit. It had been four days inside the Rift, and Alex was pleased with his progress. After being in the Rift and removed from the distraction of work and electronics, Alex found his mind clear. It was easier for him, without those distractions, to plan his next few steps. Stepping out of the Rift, Alex took a few moments to assess his surroundings before stretching his back and beginning the short trek to his car. It¡¯s only Wednesday, and I¡¯ve already been able to accomplish my goal. I gained another fifteen stones over the last four days in the Rift, bringing my total to 17 Mana Stones. This should easily let me purchase the entry material for Rituals and pay off my Guild tab. Alex was surprised to realize that if he accounted for the value of the stones, he had made between $6,000 and $12,000 in the last four days. Even more impressive is that it¡¯s only been two days out in the normal world. He watched as his phone powered on and he checked his missed notifications and saw the date and time. Exactly as he¡¯d planned, it was Wednesday morning, and according to the timeline he had set for himself, he still had two days left to adventure. Alex felt guilty after he closed the missed notifications from Mark and Sarah as he didn¡¯t want to field their questions. He berated himself, as he knew he was being a shitty friend by not telling them more about where he was or what he was doing. Before he made his way back to town, Alex tapped the logo of the Adventurers Guild App on his phone. The sword and shield on the background of a portal expanded, and the app had a few missed notifications as well. He saw that Olivia had accepted his request, and he had even received one from Elana Voss. Once he accepted the new request, he opened a message to Olivia and asked if she had some free time to meet up this coming weekend and to exchange phone numbers. Okay, that wasn¡¯t too bad, right? Alex often found it very hard to step out of his comfort zone or stand up for himself, but he felt like something within him was changing. Normally, after reaching out to someone like Olivia and asking if they wanted to meet up, he¡¯d get too in his head, worried that they might get the wrong meaning or make fun of him. It was the same lack of confidence that often led to more tension and stress in his past relationships or family dynamics. Is it from the Willpower stat? Or from actually putting my life in danger to fight and survive- to grow stronger? He didn''t want to think much harder on the topic, deciding that he was happy with the way things were going. To him, it didn''t much matter if the growth was a result of stats gained from the System or from personal experiences. Flipping through the app''s navigator, he found the area where he could request to be put on a waitlist for any nearby Rifts within a two-hour drive. This had been something that Alex debated on in his tent each night. The Boar Rift was great for two main reasons. The first and most important was the time-dilation effect. While at first, he hadn¡¯t quite understood the impact of such a thing, it quickly became apparent. The advantage of being able to spend twice as long inside the Rift should have been clear as day to him, and he was still a bit embarrassed that one of his camping mates had to explain it to him. It was the biggest conversation next to infinite resources. People could live multiple times longer if they were willing to forego technological comforts and risk monsters. Even then, as magic was better understood, Alex could see a world where the rich and wealthy lived within Rifts while hiring people to thin the monster populations. They could have magical comforts and luxuries even nicer than those on Earth. The second advantage was that it was easy. The boars only presented between the levels of one and four, making them quite easy and predictable to manage. Also, some of those at the camp had explained to Alex that, normally, Rifts would contain small ecosystems and many different kinds of beasts. That particular Rift seemed to be having issues because of the spreading corruption. Regardless of the logistics, I need to step things up. I¡¯m interested in making money and getting Mana Stones. But I¡¯m even more interested in leveling up and gaining experience. It had been obvious after reaching the fourth level, that when he was a higher level than the hardest boar, he would be gaining experience much slower. It had taken him significantly more boars to hit level four then compared to level three. Setting his phone down briefly, Alex pulled up his Status Window.
Status Name: Alex Moore - Level 4 Class: None HP: 50/50 MP: 60/60 Traits: (1/3) {Primordial Will} Physical Stats: Strength: 4 Agility: 5 Constitution: 5 Vitality: 6 Magical Stats: Intellect: 6 Willpower: 30 Mana: 6 Wisdom: 6 Active Skills: [Mana Shaping] (Novice - Level 6) [Mana Infusion] (Novice - Level 5) Passive Skills: (None)
While he was satisfied with his progress, seeing his Willpower stat so drastically outscale his other stats was still slightly concerning. And this is only at level 4¡­ Rubbing his forehead, Alex decided he¡¯d need to begin considering possible solutions to this. He assumed allowing one stat to get too far out of balance with his others could be dangerous. He navigated to the trading section of the site, shown as a little house icon and named The Auction House, within the app. Part of him wanted to wince at the commonly used video game terminology. But I guess you started off strong with The Adventurers Guild. Might as well stick with the theme. Alex found the proper manual for learning rituals and put up the buyout price for 10 Mana Stones. He instantly received a notification letting him know that there would be a set day and time for him to meet with a local Guild representative to pick up his purchased item. With his immediate steps taken care of, Alex hooked his phone to the dash and began driving back toward town. He stopped at the nearest supercenter to restock his supplies and checked his phone a few times, seeing if he¡¯d gotten a reply from Olivia.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. It wasn¡¯t long before he got a notification from the AG app. He was walking back to the front of the store when his pocket vibrated, and he pulled the cart over. He was slightly disappointed to see that it was an automated notification to alert him to a nearby Rift he could enter. The Rift was a Common E Rank Rift, which meant he wouldn¡¯t be benefitting from the time-dilation effect anymore. That didn¡¯t bother Alex, though; he was interested in getting stronger, and his first Personal Rift Quest had given him the wand. The small magical weapon had drastically changed how he fought the boars, and he was significantly safer with it than when he was trying to punch them with a mana-infused fist. The Rift showed ¡®2/30¡¯ slots were taken in the Rift. Alex was curious why but soon found the answer to the question.
Common E Rank Rift Distance: 21mi. Slots: 2/31 Entry Fee: 2 Mana Stones Additional Info from Host: None
2 Mana Stones seems a bit steep. I was able to get into the Uncommon Rarity Rift for just one Mana Stone. I guess there¡¯s no point in being stingy. This will be a good test to see what comes out of a Common Rift. With a shrug, he checked out and made his way thirty minutes South, excited to see the difference in Rifts. During the drive, Alex received a response that he¡¯d been waiting for. Olivia reached out, and soon after, so did a Guild Moderator. Olivia responded to his message from the app, by sending him a text. She said that she was free to meet on Saturday morning and sent him the address for a breakfast spot that he¡¯d never heard of. The Moderator¡¯s response was short and to the point. They let him know that a representative would be able to meet with him Friday evening, and a specific time would come in a message that morning. Feeling content, Alex parked his car and retrieved his bag before walking a distance down a gravel driveway. After he¡¯d been walking for about 10 minutes, he came across a sign that was clearly handwritten. ¡®Warning. This is private property. If you have not been invited, you will be met with hostility.¡¯ Fuck. I¡¯ve been invited, right? Alex removed his phone and took some time to reach out to a Moderator. It took a few minutes to get a response, but once he received confirmation, he continued to walk down the gravel road. After another 10 minutes of walking, Alex was halted by a voice from the woods surrounding him. ¡°Stop where you are!¡± Alex did so, slowly raising his hands. ¡°You¡¯re from The Guild?¡± ¡°Y-yes. I¡¯ve got my ID here and I read your sign. I took the steps in the app to reserve a spot.¡± ¡°Open the ID on your phone and hold it in the air.¡± Alex fumbled with his phone for a moment and was able to get his ID pulled up on the screen. ¡°Alright, you can continue down the road. Go about 50 meters further down the path. There is a dirt path off to the right that will take you down by a creek. That¡¯s where you¡¯ll find the Rift.¡± ¡°Okay, thanks. What about the cost of the Rift? I was confused, why is it two Mana Stones for this Rift when it¡¯s just a Common E Rank?¡± ¡°You can set the stones down at your feet and leave them there. The price is two stones because I say it is.¡± The man said. ¡°Right,¡± Alex grumbled a bit and rubbed the back of his head. He pulled the two stones from his pack and set them at his feet. ¡°Well, there you go. Anything you can tell me about the Rift?¡± ¡°No. Not really. It¡¯s got some monsters that look like rabbits that range from one to three. Then some snakes and wolves.¡± There was a bit of an awkward pause as Alex processed the information. ¡°Okay, thank you. I¡¯ll likely camp outside of the Rift at night, only because it¡¯s safer out here than in there.¡± There was a chuckle from the woods. ¡°Don¡¯t be so sure of that, kid. Humans can be some pretty nasty monsters. I wouldn¡¯t forget that if I were you.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Alex said. As he began to walk down the road, ¡°Thanks!¡± Alex called, letting his eyes scan the woods. I wonder if he¡¯s got some sort of stealth class. I don¡¯t see any sign of him. This made the hair on Alex¡¯s neck stand on end. Wow, I really don¡¯t like not knowing what¡¯s going on around me. It¡¯s terrifying to think he could kill me with an arrow if he wants, and I¡¯m almost a mile from my car. Maybe I¡¯ve been a bit too trusting in The Guild. I¡¯ll need to check with a Moderator when I get out and see if this is really allowed. Alex followed the woodsman¡¯s instructions and found the Rift. Once he arrived at the Rift, he glanced around once more to remember the direction he¡¯d come in from, then stepped into the tear in reality. Weightlessness overtook him, and he was pulled through space to the Rift¡¯s inner land. As soon as he stepped foot onto the dry leaves, he began moving forward. Alex kept his stance low and ready to move while scanning his surroundings. Unlike the Uncommon Rift that he¡¯d spent most of his time in so far, the entrance to this Rift had no one in sight. The blue windows with his Rift Quests immediately popped into his vision unbidden. Sensing no danger, he took a moment to skim through them.
Personal Quest: Culling the Wolves Kill 10 Wild Wolves.
Rift Quest: Tame the Woods Slay 600 of the Rift¡¯s principal inhabitants: Rabbits, Snakes, and Wild Wolves.
Alex decided that he¡¯d do his best to find some of the lower-level rabbits before moving on to try and fight some of the wolves. The idea of fighting snakes seemed horrible, especially with his lower Physical Stats. He shuddered. That doesn¡¯t seem like a good match-up for me. I¡¯m glad that the Personal Quest isn¡¯t for them. Alex walked out from the Rift and kept his eyes peeled for any of the small rabbit creatures that he¡¯d decided to hunt first. His first several attempts to find and shoot a rabbit with his wand, all went the same. There¡¯s one! Alex saw one at the very edge of his vision. The small brown hare would be sitting on its hind legs, its ears pointed straight up. As soon as he began to close the distance to get in range for a decent shot with the wand, the small creature would dart away faster than he could catch. After getting the same results a few times, Alex knew he needed to change up his strategy. With the slime and the boars, I was more passive. I let the mindless monster approach me while kiting it away or dodging, then striking after it was vulnerable. It doesn¡¯t seem like that will work with these rabbits. During his first ten fights with the boars, Alex had been forced to use [Mana Shaping] and [Mana Infusion]. At the time, they were his only tools, though as he¡¯d gotten his wand, they¡¯d slowly fallen down in favor. The wand was more efficient with his limited mana pool, and since it was a ranged option it kept him out of harm¡¯s way. When he had been forced to fight in closer range, though, the two Mana related skills had been a great help in boosting his body to keep up with the attacking boars. Maybe instead of sending mana into my fists to punch, I¡¯ll empower my legs and attempt to dash toward the rabbit. Alex couldn¡¯t help but grin. This was fun to him, strategizing and being forced to adapt to the scenario. It didn¡¯t matter what he needed to do; he¡¯d finish the Personal Quest before his self-imposed deadline came. I can spend a few hours trying this method against the rabbits. If it¡¯s still not effective, I should abandon them and just go after the wolves directly. He nodded to himself and resumed his search for the rabbits. When he found the rabbit, he crouched a bit lower and focused on the mana within his Core. He took two tendrils and sent them down his legs before shaping them loosely around his thighs, calves, and feet. Alex was surprised at how easy it was to control the mana; it took shape around his legs with ease. It was evident that his increased Willpower was beginning to affect how his mana moved. Still grinning, Alex used [Mana Infusion] to flood his legs with some mana and leaped forward, doing his best to imitate a sprinter. As his legs began to move, Alex had the last-minute thought to expend a bit more mana to use the same tactic he¡¯d used when punching at the boars. He released a small wave of mana from the bottom of his feet as he stepped. In hindsight, Alex realized that was where he went wrong. He took off more quickly than expected and started off heading in the same general direction that he wanted travel; however, that was all that went right. His extended left leg was slightly off center and it caused his trajectory to shift in an odd direction. He didn''t have the reflexes to save himself. Alex skidded face first through the leaves and dirt until he came to a complete stop. Fuck. Alex groaned and pushed himself up on his hands. After standing, he brushed off his stomach and gently touched his hip while pulling up his Status Window to check his mana. 23/60, that used way too much mana. Knowing he¡¯d need to wait for his mana to regenerate before he could try again, Alex sat down against a tree and began to massage his hip. I can feel it, that was the right idea. I need to slow it down and use a smaller amount of mana. He looked back and saw that the dash forward had brought him close to twenty meters. Alex laughed. I¡¯m not sure I can call that a dash. It was more like falling forward really quickly. After a few minutes of brainstorming, Alex stood, ready to try once again. No sense in finding a rabbit right now. I might as well practice a few times without the added pressure. After an hour of testing small steps with mana bursts, followed by short lunging steps, Alex began to find the right output and timing to propel himself forward. He was grinning like a madman after his first successful lunge, where he didn¡¯t hold back on his mana. It was still a bit of a sloppy landing, but the grin threatened to split his face. Not because he¡¯d done it successfully but because of the System prompt that appeared in his vision.
New Skill Learned: [Empowered Step] (Novice - Level 1) Do you accept? Yes/No
20. Bonded Companion The following two days passed in a blur as Alex fought wolves for his Personal Quest. After earning his new [Empowered Step] skill, he learned several things about how the System worked. When Alex first met John Riley, the older man mentioned that skills were ¡°learned or earned.¡± Learning, in that case, Alex realized, must refer to discovery through experimentation or being taught directly. Alex was confident that if he were to try, he would be able to walk someone through the process of gaining the [Empowered Step] skill as well. As long as they had the ability to sense and move mana like he did. Earned implied that there was some way to gain them through merit. Perhaps through Personal or Rift Quests? Aside from acquiring the skill, Alex was surprised to see that he used less mana when he consciously activated the skill compared to his sloppy mana infusion. It seemed that the use of a skill through the System was more efficient than the original way he taught himself. Alex resolved to study the use of skills more when he was back home. Was there a difference between using the skill granted by the system and using the shoddy version I was creating when I earned it? He noted that he could choose to do one or the other. It was still possible to perform the action as he had before without actually activating the skill. At the point he was at, though, if it was a decision between using his version of the movement ability or using the system-granted version, it seemed like a no-brainer. The System version was quicker to activate, easier to control, and more efficient with his mana. But Alex couldn¡¯t help but think that it came too easily. He¡¯d always heard those motivational sayings along the lines of ¡°most things in life worth having, didn¡¯t come easily.¡± While it usually sucked to hear, especially when you were going through something hard, he¡¯d always been one to generally agree with the sentiment. So, what¡¯s the difference between the two? While Alex knew that things would be much easier if he had someone to answer these questions, he found it fun to experiment and test the mana himself. This same stubborn desire to test his skills and abilities almost caused a grave issue during one of his fights with the wolves. Alex had begun to get in the rhythm of using the movement skill to continually outpace the Wild Wolf while kiting it and pelting it with mana darts from his wand. This was effective, though it took most of his mana pool to take down a single wolf. Depending on how things went, it took nearly an hour within the Rift for his mana to recharge. This left him time to brainstorm new tests and reflect on the previous fight. He¡¯d begun to try and cut down on his use of [Empowered Step], curious to see if he could alternate or swap easily between normal dodging and his skill-assisted movement. It worked well and saved him a good chunk of mana in the first fight that he tried it. The second fight was where he almost had issues. He continued to alternate between monitoring his surroundings, pelting the wolf, and keeping his distance. This is when he wanted to test something from his fights with the boars. Rather than dodging back early to keep distance, he wondered if he could wait until the last minute to activate his [Empowered Step] to conserve the amount of time he was moving and hopefully get off another shot with his wand. The wolf almost bit off his right leg as he tried. The wolf lunged and closed its jaws where Alex had been a moment before. The [Empowered Step] safely moved him out of the wolf''s path; however, to Alex¡¯s surprise, the wolf hunched its upper body and sprang forward again. It was this second launch that had almost allowed the wolf¡¯s jaw to close sideways around his knee and sink in its teeth. It was more like he fell to the side than dodged the follow-up lunge. While on the ground, he let out a yelp and raised his wand. He pumped as much mana as he could afford into two shots and let the mana bolts fly. The close-range effect was devastating. As the first shot connected just behind its head, blood sprayed onto Alex¡¯s hand. The thought hadn¡¯t even occurred to him to readjust on the second shot; they were so close he just let the second bolt rip from the wand with as much power as he could push infuse into it. It hit the wolf just behind the eye and caused gruesome damage to the beast¡¯s skull. After the desperate scramble and a very sloppy finish to the fight, Alex decided to save any more of the testing for practice and sparring matches. It served as a real reminder for him that things could go horribly wrong in the Rifts, and he¡¯d have little to no help. He had no way to heal or mend wounds and other than the Guild App, there was no record of knowledge of him being in this Rift. Alex played out the rest of his wolf fights with caution and kept plenty of distance between himself and the wolves. He¡¯d been surprised when the Personal Quest Reward appeared in his vision. Alex was unsure of what to make of the reward name and decided that he¡¯d take a closer look once he was somewhere safe. For the time being, Alex dismissed the System window and began to make his way out of the Rift. He was a bit ahead of his self imposed deadline by this time, but he didn¡¯t see much of a need to continue fighting at the moment. Alex was wound tight, and now that he was almost at the end of his allotted training period, he felt his mind begging to relax. A nice hot shower and a big chicken sandwich. His mouth began salivating as he thought of the food and comfort of his home. Thanks to his camping provisions, he¡¯d been eating Meals Ready to Eat for the last week; some real food sounded delicious. As Alex walked back down the gravel driveway toward his car, he thought back on his last two days in the Common Rift. While he did, he kept an eye out for the mysterious man in the woods who had taken his payment upon entry.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. The wolves were a significant challenge. They were higher level than the boars and much more cunning. The first few fights pushed Alex hard. He gained a lot in the two days: another level, several more Mana Stones, and more experience in combat. This didn¡¯t even take into account his strange Rift Reward. Overall, Alex felt very satisfied with his five-day training stint. Once he was safe and in his car once again, he eagerly looked at his Personal Quest windows.
Congratulations, Awakened. You have completed Personal Quest: Culling the Wolves! You have one Personal Quest Reward available.
Congratulations, Awakened. You have completed Personal Quest: Culling the Wolves! You gain: 1x Bonded Companion Token
Bonded Companion Token. Does that mean what I think it means? Alex was giddy with excitement and spent the drive back to his house imagining all of the possibilities. One that kept returning to the forefront of his mind was that he could be getting some kind of wolf companion. The quest that I got the reward from was to kill wolves, so it might make sense that it¡¯s giving me something similar, right? It took him a lot of self-restraint not to accept the reward the moment he walked in his apartment door. Instead, he forced himself to wait. Shower first. Then check AG to see if anyone else has used one of these. Having a plan always made this sort of thing more bearable. It wasn¡¯t long before Alex sat on his couch, flipping through his phone while waiting for his food delivery. Soon, he found several articles on companions. Most of them were people who somehow formed a pact with an animal. Most of the articles cited that it was with a long-time family or personal dog, and in one case, a zookeeper had bonded with one of the silverback gorillas. There was useful information in some of these posts, such as how companions share specific stats or skills. Alex returned to a few after finding more information on someone who had used one of these tokens. He was only able to find two posts of this happening. Both of them confirmed something that bummed Alex out. So, the companion that¡¯s given has nothing to do with how you get the token. It has to do with which option you choose and is then chosen at random. Both posts talked about the Awakened, who bonded with the token monster to receive animals or creatures not of Earth. They both also seemed to gain a great deal of power from the bond, which could not be said about those who bonded with their average house pets. While those bonding with normal or older animals might receive a few stats, it was unlikely that those animals had skills or stats comparable to a System-chosen beast. While some part of Alex thought it might be extremely cool to have a wolf pet follow him around and aid him in combat, he had no idea how that would truly work. He glanced around his living room. The wolves from that Rift were somewhere between the size of his coffee table and his couch. Where would I keep an animal like that? How would I even pay to feed the thing? Questions and complications continued to crop up in Alex¡¯s mind. Regardless of how many potential hurdles there would be to overcome, one thing was clear. Bonding with the companion token would give Alex a boost in power and a potential ally in combat. Should I look up how much the Token sells for? He couldn¡¯t dismiss the idea outright. Alex had played enough games to know how economies like this tended to go with a very limited supply and a high demand. Those who got their hands on rare items early and sold them for a huge profit could turn around and use that currency for even more gains than the single item could have benefitted them. This strategy only worked at the launch of new games or seasons because as the economy leveled out and the supply began to match the demand, prices would quickly drop and level out. Those at the forefront tended to benefit the most, as they could use this to gain even more of an advantage and rarer items. I need to commit. Whatever the consequences are, I¡¯ll deal with them once I see what sort of companion it gives me. Alex then accepted the quest reward. A small item resembling a poker chip shaped like an animal¡¯s head appeared in his hand. The posts had described a need to break the token in half to activate it. A new window appeared, exactly as he had read about. Three options were now before him, different for each person to break the token.
Option 1: Your companion comes from a category of highly durable and hardy creatures. Constitution and Strength are the Primary Stats from the beasts in this choice. Size: (Small-Behemoth)
Option 2: Your companion comes from a category of swift creatures. All options in this category will carry a Wind Affinity. Size: (Small-Medium)
Option 3: Your companion comes from a category of mana-attuned creatures. Affinities can vary widely based on the Awakened One. Size: (Tiny-Medium)
He read through each option multiple times. It feels like the System is really giving me options that are great for me here. The first option will have beasts that have high Health and Strength, which are two areas that I¡¯m really lacking in. With every one of the companion posts confirming that there was some amount of stat sharing, this became a very enticing offer. Alex was already quite scared to see his Constitution so far below his Willpower and worried that after a few more levels, things would be able to kill him with ease. The thing that troubled him about this option the most was the size range. What does that even mean? Tiny, as in a bug? Behemoth, as in something like a dinosaur? Larger? How would that even work? Even though Alex wanted to laugh at the absurdity of the idea, he was too nervous about the reality of the situation to do so. From what Alex had already seen the System do, he had no doubt that an extremely large monster could plop out of nowhere and into his apartment. The second option seems to align with how I¡¯ve been fighting over the last week. An agile companion, along with its shared stats or skill, could really help me keep ahead of the monsters I¡¯m fighting. We could synergize very well together. This was the first option that Alex decided to discard. While he thought there could be some synergy, and the Wind Affinity was interesting, he wasn¡¯t sure that he¡¯d continue with this fighting style in the long run. He hoped to turn into a full-blown spell caster after receiving his purchased material for rituals later in the evening. This third option sounds perfect for me wanting to be a spell caster. While it looks like a random shot for the affinity the bond might have, I don¡¯t really care. I don¡¯t have an affinity at all right now, so maybe that will get me started down a good path. Alex knew himself, and knew that he could talk himself in circles when it came to a decision between two things. There were pros and cons to both and he was surprised to notice that he felt a draw toward the third option. When he thought again between the two options, there was a natural pull from his desire to learn more magic. Huh, making the decision was that easy? He mentally pushed toward the third option. The broken token in his hand disintegrated into floating golden motes of light, similar to those that he saw when reaching a new level. The lights picked up speed and condensed into a small ball before flashing brightly. Alex stood up and screamed. In his haste to back away from the two round eyes and sharp teeth before him, he flipped backward over his couch and onto the wooden floor beyond. 21. Valtherion Alex got to his feet, making incomprehensible noises as he fought down the desire to attack the odd beast that had appeared. While he knew to that something was going to appear, he wasn¡¯t quite prepared for it to be only a few inches from his face, flying, or this¡­ ugly. He looked over the back of his couch to see the floating, eel-like creature in the same position it had been in before his totally manly and dignified reaction. Jesus, what are you? Alex¡¯s fascination grew as he looked at the blue floating beast. Its head looked almost like a piranha, with big bug-like eyes and teeth that protruded slightly from his lower jaw. Except, instead of a fish¡¯s body, it had one more like an eel. The companion floated in the air, its long body lazily moved as if pulled by an unseen current. On the top and bottom of its body were some very thin-looking membranes, like long transparent fins. Oh, right, I can check its Status. Alex remembered that the companion posts mentioned the first thing you normally wanted to do was to give it a name, then he would be able to access the Beasts Status Window, similar to his own. Well, shit. I have no idea what to name you¡­ ¡°There¡¯s really only one thing to do here. I¡¯ll pick your name, the same way I pick everyone¡¯s name in games that I¡¯ve played.¡± Cautiously, Alex moved back around the couch to grab his phone. Doing his best to keep one eye on the floating monster, Alex opened his phone and went to his browser to open a fantasy random-name generator. Sylphor, Aegirion, Vireon, Kytheris¡ª Blah. All these sound so pretentious. We want something cool sounding, but we need something that can at least be shortened. Alex continued to scroll through names. I refuse to name you something like Chompers or Jerry. ¡°Ah, here we go. Still sounds a bit pretentious, but at least it sounds pretty noble. Also, it¡¯s easy to shorten it.¡± Alex smiled and looked up to the small companion, which was still floating passively where it had appeared, watching him intently. ¡°I¡¯ll name you Valtherion.¡± As soon as he finished the sentence, a golden light enveloped the floating eel monster, and Alex heard a sound in his mind, something akin to a dolphin¡¯s call underwater. He reeled a bit as he realized that it had made the noise directly into his mind, rather than out loud. Before he had fully recovered, the two-foot-long animal had floated over and was gently running its forehead into Alex¡¯s chest. Alex froze, unsure of how to respond and not wanting to anger the little beast. A few tense moments passed before it swam through the air and did two laps around Alex¡¯s head. Uhm. Okay. That was kinda cute. ¡°Uh- Status Window,¡± Alex said, somewhat uncertain. As he would normally use the same command on himself, this time, he attempted to direct his thoughts toward the little creature above him. Without issue, the window appeared.
Status Name: Valtherion - Level 1 Race: Mana Wyrm (Tier 1) HP: 100/100 MP: 300/300 Traits: (1/6) {Mana Glutton} Physical Stats: Strength: 5 Agility: 12 Constitution: 10 Vitality: 12 Magical Stats: Intellect: 18 Willpower: 15 + 19 Mana: 30 Wisdom: 21 Bond Skills: [Mana Infusion] (Novice - Level 5) Primary Stat Shared - Willpower Active Skills: [Mana Siphon] (Novice - Level 1) [Create Lesser Illusion] (Novice - Level 1) Passive Skills: [Magical Resistance] (Tier 1)
Alex¡¯s eyes threatened to jump from his skull. What?! This little beast has better stats than me in almost every single category. He slumped down against the couch and stared at the blue window floating before him. I¡¯ve reached Level 5 after a few weeks of actually putting my life at risk, and¡­ Fuck, I¡¯m glad you¡¯re on my team. Alex simply absorbed the Status window for several minutes. Noting the increased trait slots, the significantly higher stats, and the fact that it had three skills at level 1. He noticed that there was a section above Active Skills that was labeled Bond Skills. This must have been what the posts were talking about in the AG app. The Bond was two-way, and the companion could use one skill from Alex, and the highest stat would be shared at 50% of its current total. Curious to see what he was receiving, Alex pulled up his own Status Window. Once there, he saw that there was also a Bond Skills section, but it simply showed that the Primary Stat of Mana would be shared, not anything about skills. Maybe I get to choose it? Alex looked back to the mana wyrm¡¯s Status and decided to poke around the skills and see which one he thought might be best to use. Just as he did so, his phone dinged, and he received a notification reminding him that he would be meeting with the recruiter in a bit. ¡°Shit.¡± Alex stood. What am I going to do with you? Alex looked around the living room as the little wyrm continued to swim around in the air. It seemed curious about things around the room. Approaching them cautiously before elongating and sniffing them as if trying to keep its tail as far away from the object in question as possible. There¡¯s no way I can get into a subway car with you. Could I take my car? There¡¯s probably not going to be too much traffic this late. What¡¯s my other option? What would I do with a dog? The bathroom?This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Alex walked from the living room and through his bedroom to open his bathroom door. There¡¯s only so much in here that it could mess up if it¡¯s angry for being alone¡­ The thought of leaving it here made him feel somewhat bad. Alex looked over his shoulder to find the two large eyes only an inch away from him, floating silently. HOLY- He stumbled away. ¡°Jesus, you scared me. You¡¯ve gotta give a guy a warning.¡± Alex said. To his surprise, there was another noise in his mind. ¡°What? Can you understand me?¡± There was no response this time. ¡°Uhh- can you go over there?¡± Alex asked while pointing over his bed. The wyrm looked in that direction before silently drifting to float above his bed. It turned back and looked at Alex. Fuck. Well, I guess that¡¯s helpful. If it can listen, then I guess I could take it with me. Thinking about how he might get it to the car without anyone seeing, he looked around his closet until he found a shoe box. Alex walked to the kitchen and punched some holes in the box and looked at it. The creature had followed him into the kitchen and seemed to be observing what was happening. Creepy. Alex kept looking at it, and the wyrm blinked back. I guess I should start thinking of it as Val? ¡°Are you a boy or a girl?¡± Alex asked. There was a noise in its head, again sounding like a distant dolphin¡¯s call under the water. ¡°Let¡¯s try again. Are you a male?¡± Val gave a response in a similar tone. ¡°Or a female?¡± Once again, Val responded in the same way. ¡°Fuck. Well, I don¡¯t know how to understand that. We¡¯ll just go with male for now and figure out some way to communicate later.¡± Alex looked down at the box and then back at Val. He felt a bit guilty and decided to pull a fresh washcloth from his closet and fill in the bottom of the box. ¡°Can you get in this and lie down?¡± There was a pause as the two stared at each other, and as Alex was about to rephrase the question, he could swear that he saw the little wyrm¡¯s head droop. It then flew down and curled into a tight ball with its head sticking out of the coil. ¡°Perfect. Alright, let¡¯s go,¡± Alex said. It took close to twenty minutes for Alex to park in the lot near the meeting spot. He was early and decided to take the lid off the shoe box so Val could move around in the car. To kill some time, Alex pulled up the description for the three skills that Val had at level 1 and his Trait
{Mana Glutton} - Grants the ability to store absorbed mana beyond normal capacity.
[Mana Siphon] - Draws mana from the surroundings or opponents, replenishing one¡¯s own mana reserves while gradually draining the target¡¯s mana.
[Create Lesser Illusion] - Can create simple illusions with limitations.
[Magical Resistance] - Provides a natural resistance to magical attacks, reducing their effectiveness.
While it was interesting for Alex to see the descriptions, he found himself slightly annoyed at the lack of real information that they gave. No shit, [Create Lesser Illusions] can create simple illusions? Who would have thought? It reminded him of the first time he¡¯d read his {Primordial Will} trait description. It had largely left him in the dark on what ¡®Stat Weights¡¯ were. He still had no idea who Zaamis was and only gave him the brief detail that he wouldn¡¯t be able to put Free Points anywhere but Willpower. ¡°Ugh.¡± Alex almost jumped as he felt something on his arm before he realized that it was Val. The small wyrm had brushed past his arm, much like a cat might. He was surprised to note that if he focused his attention on the idea of the bond, he could feel a small awareness in the direction that the beast was floating. That¡¯s interesting. Alex closed his eyes and could easily sense where the small wyrm was in the car as it made lazy laps. This only seemed to be the case if he was actively thinking about the companion, if he let his thoughts stray, the connection seemed to get muted. That same connection was dropped moments later as his phone chimed to let him know that the Guild representative had arrived as well. Alex shooed Val into the box again before getting out and opening the back door of the car. He rummaged through the pocket at the top of his camping bag and pulled out the ten Mana Stones that he needed to trade. When he approached the other car in the lot, he noted it was Andrew again. Two others got out of the vehicle with the friendly Recruiter, which caused Alex¡¯s steps to falter for a minute. Andrew seemed to notice and waved exaggeratedly at Alex. ¡°Alex, it¡¯s good to see you again. Sorry, I¡¯m sure it¡¯s a bit alarming to have three of us meet you here after dark.¡± The man smiled disarmingly and raised his hands as he approached. Alex was acutely aware that he¡¯d left his wand in the pack in his back seat. ¡°It is a bit intimidating,¡± Alex answered, looking between the three men. ¡°No need to worry. They¡¯re here as my protection. There have been some incidents of local gangs using Awakened to attack Guild members and steal Mana Stones. These are two of the local Peacekeepers who are here to make sure that your payment gets to the right people.¡± This explanation put Alex at ease. ¡°I see, that makes sense. Sorry, you guys have to deal with that.¡± Andrew smiled in response, ¡°Not a problem. We¡¯re expecting there to be some hiccups as the powers begin to settle. The Peacekeepers go a long way in ensuring that Guild members are safe.¡± Alex nodded, curious to know what level the Peacekeepers might be. Would it be rude to ask? Yes, idiot. That¡¯s part of the Guild rules, no asking for names or levels. Just ID¡¯s if it¡¯s needed. It¡¯s a bit more accepted if they aren¡¯t apart of the Guild, but definitely not Peacekeepers. Andrew coughed, bringing Alex out of his thoughts. ¡°So, we¡¯ve got your purchase here. Please take care to keep it safe. The Guild can not be held responsible if something happens to it or you report it lost. We can offer to escort you back to your place, but most people don¡¯t want Guild reps to know where they live.¡± Alex reached into his pocket and removed the small bundle of cloth that he¡¯d wrapped around his 11 Mana Stones. It felt strange to hand over a few thousand dollars so casually. ¡°Don¡¯t you already know where I live?¡± Alex asked, thinking back to his registration form. ¡°Ah, no. While the Guild has information like that on record, we try not to pry into people¡¯s details. That is only accessible if there is an emergency.¡± ¡°Makes sense. There¡¯s 10 for the Manual and the one that¡¯s owed on my account for my recent Rift. I think there¡¯s a partial Mana Stone also owed, but I¡¯ll have to pay that in a few days,¡± Alex said. He accepted the small, hard case that looked like it could be holding a pistol. The two exchanged a few more pleasant words and Andrew wished Alex well, saying that he was happy to see the younger man was doing well in this crazy new world. The parties went their separate ways and Alex walked back over to his car. When he got into the car, he felt a bit nervous after all of the talk about Awakened being robbed for valuables. He locked the car door and looked at the case in his lap. Unlocking the latches, he opened the lid and was ecstatic to see the leather-bound tome within. Basics of Ritual Magic was written across the front of the book in flowing gold cursive. Excitement built in his chest, and Alex could not wait to get home and begin learning how to do something with his magic other than use the wand he had gotten from a quest. He closed the lid to the box and reached over to set it in the passenger seat. Alex froze. The lid to Val¡¯s box was tilted and fallen off to the side. The little beast was nowhere to be seen. Alex looked around, focusing his attention on the companion like he had earlier in the car. He breathed out a sigh of relief as he realized it was directly behind him and in the car still. ¡°What are you doing back ther- Shit!¡± Alex yelled. As he looked in the rearview mirror, he caught a glimpse of Val sitting on top of his pack, entwined in the upper lid and compartment. He watched as it lifted its head back, a Mana Stone between its sharp teeth. Then, he swallowed the stone even with it being larger than a normal sized crystal. ¡°Hey! No! Bad!¡± Alex called, trying to undo his seat belt and turn around. It took several minutes of chastising the small companion and ordering it to come back to the box for it to do so. Alex got out of the car and looked at Val curling up into the box. Why do I get the feeling it¡¯s not remorseful at all? It looks like a damn Cheshire Cat, full and pleased as can be. Look, it can¡¯t even coil up properly because of the bulge in its small belly. Alex had seen some videos of snakes eating a rat and how the process was visible even from the outside. It looked much the same. He quickly opened the backdoor and began to count his remaining Mana Stones. After spending 11 on the ritual book and losing two to Val, he was down to seven remaining Mana Stones. Not a bad haul for a week, especially with Val and the book as rewards. But still¡­ Alex went to turn a glare on the small wyrm and couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. ¡°Hey! No! Get back in there!¡± Alex called, closing the rear door quickly, he jumped back in the front seat. Val had, very quietly and very stealthy, begun to elongate himself and reach out of the book¡¯s box. The companion was showing an interest in the hard briefcase that sat on the seat in front of the box. ¡°I swear, if you try to eat that book, I¡¯m getting rid of you tonight. I bet some rich prick would pay a ton for a magical flying worm.¡± Alex said. He reached over and moved the case, to rest under his legs to rest on the floor of the front seat. There was a keening noise in his mind, and the companion curled back into a ball within the box while tucking its head into itself. ¡°Mana Glutton, indeed¡­¡± Alex grumbled as he drove back home. 22. Developing Together Alex¡¯s hand flailed around his nightstand. The incessant tone managed to pull him from his sleep through sheer annoyance. He found his phone and blindly pressed the screen until the noise stopped. Thank god. Ugh. ¡°¡­llo¡­nyone there¡­¡± Huh? Alex sat up in his bed. When he looked at his phone, realization dawned on him. Fuck. He cleared his throat and picked up his phone, which had an active call in progress. Rather than turning off his alarm, he¡¯d answered a phone call. He wondered why she was calling so early. ¡°Hey Olivia, can you hear me?¡± Alex said. He tried to play off the delayed answer and rubbed at his tired eyes. ¡°Yeah, that was weird; I couldn¡¯t hear you before.¡± ¡°Yeah, weird. What¡¯s up?¡± There was a pause on the other line. ¡°Did you forget or something? We were going to meet up this morning.¡± She sounded slightly annoyed. ¡°Yea but that wasn¡¯t supposed to be until 10, right?¡± Alex rubbed the back of his head. Another long pause. ¡°Um, Alex, any clue what time it is right now?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Alex felt like a kid in school. What time is it? He pulled his phone away from his face and looked at the small printed time at the top of the screen. ¡°10:15?¡± He read aloud. ¡°Yes, 10:15.¡± Olivia repeated, clearly getting more annoyed. ¡°Oh, shit. Olivia, I¡¯m so sorry. Look, I can explain!¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m all ears. Go ahead.¡± Alex noted that her voice took on a slightly amused lilt. ¡°Okay something really kind of crazy happened last night. Have you seen Bonded Companion Tokens mentioned on the forums?¡± ¡°No, I tend to just focus on the magic material that I can.¡± ¡°Hmm, okay it might be easier to just show you. Can you come to my place? I¡¯m only like 10 minutes from that restaurant address you sent.¡± ¡°Your place? Really?¡± She sounded very skeptical. Alex rolled his eyes, ¡°Look I¡¯m not trying to be weird. But I feel like I really need to show you this so you understand why I overslept. There¡¯s a small monster now living in my apartment.¡± Yet another long pause. ¡°Oh, what the hell, okay. Don¡¯t try anything funny, we both know I can kick your ass.¡± ¡°Yes, yes. It wouldn¡¯t even be a contest, really. I¡¯ll text you the address.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± she said before hanging up. Fuck. Alex sent her a text with his address before looking at the state of his apartment. While he did often keep it very clean, things had been a bit hectic since he¡¯d returned home from the latest Rift runs. He jumped up and straightened things up. As he moved around the room, Val followed him. The mana wyrm showed a keen interest in whatever Alex was doing, occasionally becoming distracted by where it knew the Mana Stones were stored in his pack. ¡°Hey, hey, hey. Knock that off, you''ll get more mana soon. Come on, let''s go make some coffee.¡± He said to Val. A short time later, Olivia arrived and knocked on his door. She entered and looked around. Again, Alex was struck by how pretty she was. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and she wore an unzipped bomber jacket over a white t-shirt. ¡°This is a pretty nice place,¡± she said. Her light brown eyes finally settled on him, clearly waiting for an explanation. Alex glanced around, surprised that Val wasn¡¯t anywhere in sight. He knew that the little glutton wasn¡¯t in his room, as he¡¯d closed the door to prevent the loss of more Mana Stones. Alex felt the tug on his mind and realized that his companion was close to his back, as if hiding from Olivia. ¡°Uhh, one second.¡± He turned and looked at where he felt Val should be. There was nothing there. ¡°Wait, what?¡± He said to himself. He moved his hand toward where he felt that his companion should be. As his hand got close, there was a smear of colors that moved upward, and as soon as it stopped, he felt Val¡¯s movement stop. Holy shit, are you invisible? ¡°Okay, now I¡¯m just a little freaked out, just so you know,¡± Olivia said, tension clear in her voice. ¡°No, no.¡± Alex turned and held his hands up. ¡°Shit, just look. Watch.¡± He turned back to where Val was, a few inches above his shoulders. He moved his hand and there was another quick blur of colors as the wyrm dodged his hand.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. ¡°See! Did you see that?¡± ¡°What am I even supposed to be looking for?¡± Olivia asked. She squinted at him and took a step back toward the door. ¡°Ugh- Val, knock it off. Is this your illusion skill?¡± ¡°Illusion skill? Who are you talking to?¡± Olivia was beginning to look at him like he had lost it. Alex saw her inching toward the door but continued to talk to Val. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a Mana Stone if you show her!¡± He called. There was a pause and Olivia reached behind her for the door handle. Just then, Val appeared floating above Alex. He made a calling noise in Alex¡¯s mind before swimming through the air toward his closed bedroom door. ¡°Ha! See,¡± he said, turning back toward Olivia. The naturally tanned girl had her mouth hanging open as she watched the beast fly-swim through the air. Val bumped his head into the corner of the door before twisting his head to look at Alex with big, round eyes. ¡°Give me a second, let me grab a stone for him. Please, come in and sit. I swear I¡¯m not crazy.¡± He laughed nervously and retrieved a stone for the mana wyrm before returning to the living room. Olivia was sitting on the couch when Alex returned with the wyrm in tow. Alex couldn¡¯t help but smile a bit as the wyrm sagged a bit in the air before making a struggled swimming motion to regain its height. It was as if the Mana Stone were causing Val to be overweight and require more effort to maintain its flying state. Alex explained what had happened to Val, and as things became more clear, she relaxed. She got even more interested when he told her about his talent and skills. She went from interested to jealous when she learned that Alex would be able to use one of the bonded companion¡¯s skills. ¡°That seems so strong!¡± ¡°I know! I haven¡¯t made a decision yet, but I feel like there¡¯s really only one choice for me.¡± Alex said sheepishly. He couldn¡¯t go into more detail without telling her about his talent, and she didn¡¯t pry. Alex told her that several times through the night, Val had tried to get into his small stash of Mana Stones and that it was becoming increasingly clear that the wyrm ate Mana Stones instead of any food. After the second attempt, he¡¯d abandoned any effort of sleeping and just moved the stones under his pillow while beginning to read through the ritual manual again. She was happy that he¡¯d followed her advice on pursuing rituals. They spent the next hour going through the book, and Alex pointed out the places where he¡¯d begun to notice patterns and consistencies in the shapes used in the basic rituals. ¡°See, and if you look here,¡± Alex said as he pointed to a ritual meant to make objects within the area lighter. ¡°The circle is used in many of these contained rituals. I think the main shape decides how the mana flows in the ritual. These are the guesses that I¡¯ve made so far.¡± Alex stood and walked to his room to grab some of the sketches and notes that he¡¯d made the night before. He returned and spread them out over the coffee table. Olivia giggled as Val rubbed up against her side. ¡°He¡¯s kinda cute.¡± ¡°Cute? You¡¯re the kind of person who thinks pugs are cute¡­ aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°What! They are!¡± Olivia said defensively. Alex snorted. ¡°No, they¡¯re not. I don¡¯t think something can be so ugly that it becomes cute. Anyway, if Val is a he, then he¡¯s a menace. Look, he¡¯s only buttering you up because I bet that pocket is where you¡¯ve got something containing mana. Either stones or an item.¡± Olivia scoffed as she realized he was right and used a single finger to push Val further away. The small flying wyrm then drifted over to Alex and did a lap around his head before brushing against his shoulder. Okay, maybe you are pretty cute. Alex held out his hand and let Valtherion fly under his palm so that the ethereal top fin gently brushed against it. He smiled and gave his companion a pat on the head before returning to focus on the ritual theory. ¡°Here, look at this. The three main shapes seem to be circles, squares, and triangles are used in either. Circles look like they¡¯re used in rituals that want to contain the mana flow to an area and allow it to flow to other parts or sub-shapes. Squares also contain the mana but rarely have anything connecting or branching from them. I¡¯m guessing that they hold in mana but allow for less flow of mana. Triangles, on the other hand, are used to point the mana in a direction, I¡¯m guessing, for the rituals that need a specific outlet.¡± She looked over the drawings on the table. ¡°Well, that makes sense. Mana does seem to work better for my skills when it¡¯s moving; it would make sense that rituals circulate the mana really well. Why haven¡¯t you started trying it yet?¡± ¡°Well, it seems like most of them have some sort of symmetry or balance to the ritual schematics. I haven¡¯t quite found the pattern for that yet. I was going to see if you might put some fresh eyes on it.¡± ¡°Sure, show me what you mean by balance.¡± The two continued to go over the ritual book and interact with Val. As they did, they avoided talking about each other¡¯s skills in any detail. Alex was impressed with Olivia¡¯s grasp of mana and its movement; with her help, they made real progress in understanding the ritual schematics. Specifically when it came to mechanics like mana flow and the channeling of mana. Through her knowledge, they were able to pinpoint smaller components within the ritual that they began to call nodes. Just to make things easier to understand, rather than calling lines, shapes, they began to call them by the terms that were used in the manual. Lines that made up the shapes of a ritual were called pathways or conduits, depending on their purpose. Nodes were theorized to influence the ritual in many ways depending on where they were placed within the flow of the conduit or the connections between different pathways. To Alex, it was all a bit overwhelming, but he felt like the progress was leaps and bounds more than he¡¯d expected to make. Olivia¡¯s help was crucial, and Alex was thankful for her company and the help. They¡¯d begun to identify something that commonly appeared in most rituals, which was an ingredient or source of power that was sacrificed to the ritual to modify or adjust the raw effects. This could be anything from a generic category like ¡°five herbs¡± or something more specific like ¡°eye of newt.¡± These would be placed into key nodes within the ritual. The manual referred to the items that were consumed by the ritual as catalysts and they fueled the basic function of the ritual. Some catalysts were things that Alex was sure didn¡¯t exist on Earth, but for some of the more general ones, he was sure that he could use items that he had available. They decided it would be something else to tackle at a later date. Olivia pointed out of his third-story window, and Alex realized how late it was getting. The sun had already begun to set, and he felt guilty for keeping her longer than they¡¯d planned. ¡°Oh, sorry. Do you want me to order some food?¡± Alex offered. ¡°No, that¡¯s alright. I should head out. I had fun, though; thanks for today.¡± ¡°I should be thanking you. I¡¯m getting close to feeling comfortable putting one of these together.¡± She laughed, ¡°Don¡¯t jump the gun. I can only imagine that the backlash from messing up a ritual is pretty harsh.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t, I won¡¯t. Thanks again for understanding about this morning, I¡¯m sorry you were waiting.¡± ¡°Eh, don¡¯t mention it.¡± She said as she walked to the door and put her jacket on. Alex scratched the back of his head and shifted to his other foot. Before he could say anything too awkward, she stepped in. ¡°Hey, Elena is hosting another meet-up tomorrow. It¡¯s a small group again, you want to come?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯d like that.¡± Alex smiled. ¡°Hey, before you head out. Have you heard about Guild Members getting attacked in the city? I¡¯m wondering if it¡¯s dangerous to be a part of the Guild.¡± Olivia shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ve heard some of it, but I feel like it¡¯s bound to happen. People are suddenly much stronger than others, I feel like it¡¯s human nature for people to try and capitalize on that.¡± This troubled Alex further, and she must have seen it on his face. ¡°I mean, we¡¯ve got to be realistic, right? Our government works mostly because we were equal and could vote and they hold a ton of power with the military. Now, with one high-level person being able to take on a military unit by themselves, the dynamic of power is bound to shift.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t think the government will be able to get a handle on this? What about the Hunter Association?¡± ¡°Hunter Association? What a joke. Our government barely had a hand on things before monsters and magic started showing up. One large social issue and people would riot, or threaten to topple everything that was built.¡± Olivia¡¯s face darkened, and it was clear the topic was a sensitive one. The conversation ended awkwardly. Olivia was clearly unwilling to talk about this further, and they were already standing near the door. They said goodbye, and Olivia headed down the nearby stairwell with her hands stuffed into her jacket pockets. 23. Ritual Magic Alex sat at one of the long tables under heaters at the Voss Estate. Of the five people here training at Elana¡¯s place that morning, Alex was the only one to completely monopolize a table and sit for most of the day. In my defense, I¡¯ve made some tremendous progress. Alex placed his hands firmly on the table and pushed himself up to look at his sketches, which were spread liberally across the wooden tabletop. While Alex didn¡¯t consider himself to be one of the brightest students, he felt that if it meant he could learn magic, he was willing to stubbornly grind through learning material until he got something through his thick skull. As if to emphasize the point, Val gently head-butted him and made a chittering noise within his head. ¡°Haha, yeah, yeah.¡± Alex laughed and gave him a gentle pat before pushing the wyrm away. A louder call followed, and Val resumed his idle loops around Alex¡¯s chair. The patterns are really starting to make more sense. He took a deep breath and rolled his shoulders while stretching his back. Deciding that he needed a break, he walked away from the table and wandered over to the mats where Olivia was currently sparring with one of the other new Peacekeepers. As he watched the two practice, he tried to observe how they fought. Both were fast and light on their feet, and they both used daggers. ¡°Who do you think will win?¡± A voice asked from beside him. ¡°Oh, John. Hey. Hmm, I¡¯m not sure; they seem similar to me.¡± Alex answered noncommittally. John Riley, as tall and handsome as the first time Alex met him, chuckled. ¡°It might seem like that, but watch them move. They both want to fight in really different ways. Watch how Ian lunges and stabs. He uses his Agility for explosive speed. In contrast, Olivia uses her Agility to keep a center balance and almost dance away. Her way is a lot harder to do, and for most people, his is more effective. It¡¯s always been that way in a brawl, even before the System. Unless you have a lot more fighting experience than the other person, the aggressor is usually at a big advantage.¡± Now that the older man pointed it out, Alex could see the difference in the way that the two moved. Olivia kept her back straight and her feet seemed to sweep across the ground, where the other man, Ian, seemed to crouch and spring with power. Alex was thankful that it was pointed out to him. Since he now knew what he was looking at, he saw Olivia¡¯s victory for what it was- inevitable. She patiently waited until Ian committed to another full-on rush and countered him by manipulating his momentum. Her two practice daggers both found vital points the next moment. ¡°Ahh shit. How do you keep doing that?¡± The boy said. His voice was quite nasally, and even though his eyebrows looked severe, he had a friendly smile on his face. ¡°You just keep charging at me, and I have the speed to react in time. I doubt John could do the same. Don¡¯t worry, Ian, keep doing what you¡¯re doing, but maybe when fighting someone like us, just slow it down a bit, yeah?¡± Olivia said as she extended her hand to help him up. ¡°Yea, he is slow, huh?¡± They laughed and shook hands before stepping off of the mat. John called out to Ian, challenging him. ¡°Hey, Ian. Get back over here. Let¡¯s see if you can get away with that with someone ¡®slow¡¯ like me.¡¯¡± Olivia approached Alex as he watched the two men banter and begin wrestling before they could even grab practice weapons. ¡°Meatheads, all of ¡®em,¡± Olivia said. She smiled at Alex, ¡°How¡¯s your research going over there? I was beginning to wonder if you¡¯d just come all the way out here for a bigger table.¡± ¡°Eh, I feel like I¡¯m getting a grasp on it. I¡¯m so close, I can feel it.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired? We looked over those designs for hours yesterday.¡± Olivia asked. ¡°I love this kind of stuff. Before all the Awakened nonsense, I¡¯d spend hours zoning out while drawing. In my mind, I might be able to turn drawings into actual magic circles soon.¡± He answered. Wouldn¡¯t that be pretty fucking cool. He smiled to himself. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s pretty fuckin¡¯ cool,¡± Olivia said, barely paying attention to their conversation as she looked toward the two wrestling on the mat. His head turned to her sharply, and he looked at her with a raised eyebrow. Across the yard, yelling interrupted his thoughts, and most of those in the training area turned toward the huge house that belonged to Elana Voss. ¡°¡­you know that I don¡¯t care. I will get it if I really want it. You won¡¯t stop me.¡± Rylan Voss¡¯s words came through the crisp afternoon air. His tone was full of conflict and confidence. ¡°Rylan, just come back inside. We can-¡± ¡°No, Elana. Enough. I¡¯m leaving. I¡¯ll talk to you later.¡± Rylan turned and stormed down the stone stairs. He shot the group a condescending glare before disappearing into the garage. Elana bent her head and covered her face with her hand. Her shoulders could be seen lifting through a deep breath and she squared her shoulders before shaking her head toward the departing car. She nodded tersely to the group before turning and walking back inside the house. ¡°Wow, he¡¯s such a prima donna,¡± Olivia said in a completely neutral voice. Several snorts could be heard from Ian and John from where they¡¯d been frozen mid-wrestling. That devolved as they fell back onto the mats with laughter and let go of one another. Alex couldn¡¯t contain a slight grin either. ¡°Hey, you two better knock off that laughing and get back to training. Until you can beat me, you had better keep at it.¡± ¡°Aw, come on, Olivia. When I hit level ten and get my class, too, I know it¡¯ll be a closer match.¡± Ian complained. Olivia has her class already? ¡°Excuses,¡± she said before turning and walking toward the table Alex had been working at. Val was sniffing around the top of Alex¡¯s bag. ¡°Val! Get out of there. You already had one this morning.¡± Alex called as he ran past Olivia to protect his wallet. Olivia laughed as she approached, and Val flew over to her and spun around her head a few times. ¡°I swear, he¡¯s going to be more expensive than any spell I can find on the Auction House soon. He¡¯s eating one or two Mana Stones a day! That¡¯s crazy, forget making enough to make a steady living.¡± Alex let his shoulders slump in mock defeat. ¡°Aww, come on. Look at the little guy, he¡¯s so-¡± ¡°Cute? You want him?¡± Alex grinned evilly as Val seemed to understand what was happening. ¡°I¡¯ll sell him to you for five, no four Mana Stones!¡± An indignant keening could be heard in Alex¡¯s mind as Val wobbled back and forth in the air. Olivia laughed and grabbed her sides, ¡°Don¡¯t tease the poor guy like that. Look at him!¡± She reached out and patted the little wyrm¡¯s head. He smiled and held his hand out, which Valtherion promptly swam-flew over to rub the side of his head against the open palm. The teeth that stuck up from his underbite brushed against his palm, but they weren¡¯t so sharp as to hurt from such minor contact. ¡°Anyway, I didn¡¯t know you hit level ten. Congrats, that¡¯s big!¡± Of course, you didn¡¯t know, moron. You guys spent the entire day yesterday looking at your new companion and all your shiny new rituals. You didn¡¯t ask about her at all. ¡°No big deal. I¡¯ve been an Awakened for almost a month now. So, I¡¯m actually going pretty slow.¡± Olivia shrugged and just continued to look at the drawings on the table. Man, she seems so calm and unfazed by everything. Where does all of that confidence come from? ¡°So¡­ what was it like?¡± Alex asked. ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Hitting level ten, picking a class. What was it like?¡± Olivia paused for a moment and tilted her head to the side while looking up at the rafters. ¡°Well, I¡¯ve been reading most of what I can relate to picking a class. It wasn¡¯t much different than others have reported. I had a few options based on my life and how I¡¯ve done things as an Awakened so far. The System confirmed that you can change your class later, but you know how it is.¡± She shrugged, ¡°The System is really vague on a lot of things. While I got to see the class name and a brief description, I didn¡¯t know what abilities I¡¯d get. It does tell you what the main stats are, but not exactly how many you¡¯ll get. I did see an article written by one of those Guild representative sources that always seem to be weirdly accurate¡­ They said that Common Classes only get two Stat Points from their class per level. From there, it''s doubled for each subsequent rarity.¡±The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Stat Points? We won¡¯t get the free points at each level anymore?¡± Alex asked, feeling panic begin to rise in his chest. ¡°Not quite. You¡¯re talking about Free Points, right? Stat Points are different. You get Free Points every time you level, and it¡¯s always the same. But Stat Points are something you get related to your class. For example, my class gives me eight Stat Points each time I level. That happens every level while I have this class, regardless of where I put my Free Points.¡± Alex settled down at that. Wait a second¡­ Alex pulled up his Status Window after Olivia finished explaining the difference.
Status Name: Alex Moore - Level 5 Class: None HP: 50/50 MP: 210/210 Traits: (1/3) {Primordial Will} Physical Stats: Strength: 4 Agility: 5 Constitution: 5 Vitality: 6 Magical Stats: Intellect: 6 Willpower: 39 Mana: 6 + 15 Wisdom: 6 Bond Skills: [Mana Siphon] (Novice - Level 1) Primary Stat Shared - Mana Active Skills: [Mana Shaping] (Novice - Level 6) [Mana Infusion] (Novice - Level 5) [Empowered Step] (Novice - Level 2) Passive Skills: (None)
He was particularly interested in pulling up the description of his Trait again. He hadn¡¯t looked at it since he got it more than two weeks ago. Before he pulled it up, though, he got distracted and smiled at seeing how high his mana number was after bonding with Val. That alone is worth feeding the little worm with Mana Stones. As if on cue, Val bumped against his arm. Alex smiled again and rubbed his fingers along the ethereal fin that ran down his spine. Alright, where was I?
{Primordial Will} - (Weighted Stat): You are the Chosen of Zaamis. Harnessing your inner strength, your mastery of magic becomes more defined, echoing whispers from the lost Primordials. Your Free Points may only be put into Willpower.
¡°Oh, fuck yes.¡± ¡°What was that?¡± Olivia said, her head popping up next to Alex. ¡°Ah!¡± Alex called out, startled. He jumped and tried to recover smoothly, embarrassed that he¡¯d been so focused on the screens. ¡°Sorry, uh- it¡¯s nothing. I just got distracted by my Status Window.¡± It specifically says Free Points. So, if we get other points from our class, does that mean that I could get points in other stats? Alex¡¯s head spun as the implications and possibilities suddenly opened up to him. Should I just try to get a tank class or something to give me a bunch of health? That could save me from being stepped on at later levels, right? ¡°Hey, you¡¯re zonin¡¯ out again,¡± Olivia said, waving her hand in front of his face. They both laughed and Alex sat back down in his chair. He debated just telling her everything then and there. She¡¯d been extremely helpful when thinking through the ritual schematics. Hell, she was the one who gave me the idea for rituals to begin with. ¡°Anyway, don¡¯t worry too much about it. It tells you that you can change your class later, so people in The Guild are just saying to pick what you think works best for you now.¡± Olivia continued, oblivious to Alex¡¯s internal thoughts. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be smart to pick a higher rarity class though?¡± Alex leaned back and looked at the rafters. ¡°If you get points at every level, wouldn¡¯t picking a lower Rarity class waste potential points? Also, what happens to the points you gain if you get rid of your class? Do you go back to level one?¡± Olivia laughed at him, and he felt heat rise in his cheeks. ¡°Well, yes. Obviously, people have only made it so far, so we¡¯re just taking some of these articles as gospel. They haven¡¯t been wrong yet. So, yes, grab a high rarity class, but you want to make sure that it¡¯s what you want to be doing. Apparently, classes aren¡¯t tied to your level. Your levels are your experience in life and combat, whereas your class is more like a job.¡± She saw his questioning look and explained, ¡°The article gave this example: You might gain stats as a warrior all your life and want to change to a teacher thirty years down the road. You can change classes, and the new class will start back at Novice, but you keep your stats from being a warrior. Those stats are apparently a part of us. The changes happen to our mind and body and aren¡¯t taken away. It did mention that leveling is harder later, so your early choices do still seem to matter the most, as that¡¯s when you¡¯ll get the largest influx of points.¡± He nodded and looked across his drawings on the table. This would definitely require more thought and some planning. He didn¡¯t want to make any hasty decisions, and if getting a class could help shore up some of his early stat problems, he might have a hard decision to make. She sat down opposite him and turned a few pages to face her direction. ¡°These are getting more complex. Have you tried to make one yet?¡± She asked. ¡°No, not yet. I wanted to try and gather the proper materials for it. I have some of them,¡± he said, patting his camping backpack that was on the ground next to his chair. ¡°What else do you need?¡± ¡°Honestly, not much. Most of the catalyst material is pretty mundane if it actually exists on Earth. The ritual material is what I¡¯m trying to decide on. Most of them don¡¯t even specify the base material. I think that they are often drawn with chalk or painted on surfaces, but there are certain mentions of more potent circles being created by mages combining their mana pools and making the entire construct of mana.¡± Alex rambled a bit as his head went back and forth from side to side as if it might help him see the drawings in a different light. Not that I¡¯d have the mana to do that. The tendrils of mana I create take up too much mana to even make small shapes complex or 3d. I guess that¡¯s why the notes mention multiple ritualists. ¡°Well then, if all it takes is the drawing on a flat surface, you could probably try one now. What if you did a little one here? This area is meant for magical training. You¡¯re not going to find a much better place to do it.¡± She gestured to the side where the pavilion area was clear of tables and was an open space under the covering. ¡°It¡¯s all made of cement, as long as you don¡¯t pick something destructive, I feel like Elana wouldn¡¯t care.¡± Alex thought about it and felt slightly nervous. If I try it here and it fails, that would be pretty embarrassing¡­ ¡°I don¡¯t know-¡° ¡°Oh, come on. What? Are you going to try and do this in your apartment? That would be so idiotic. You¡¯ve clearly got this basic stuff down. Here, let me see the book.¡± She held out her hand. Alex passed it over and watched as she flipped through the pages. ¡°What materials do you have in that pack of yours?¡± He didn¡¯t answer but instead pulled a list from his smaller pocket notebook that he¡¯d begun to carry around with him. The loose sheet of paper slid across the table, and she glanced at it. Olivia¡¯s eyebrow slowly rose. ¡°You have all of this stuff in your bag? Just carrying it around?¡± Alex scratched the back of his head and looked down at the fully packed bag. ¡°Heh, well, if this is how I¡¯m going to do magic¡­ I might as well be prepared. Right?¡± She laughed and pushed a loose hair from her face before standing and walking away with the book and list. Alex watched her and watched as Val followed after her, his head tilting to the side as he did so. ¡°Alright, bring a Mana Stone, a feather, ash, and your stick of chalk.¡± Just from hearing the list of materials, Alex knew which ritual she¡¯d picked. Alex smiled and got the materials from the bag, along with an extra feather. He walked over and bent down with the chalk and began to draw. He started with the central shape, a pentagon. Its base was also used as the base of the triangle that was placed within it. While he drew, he talked himself through it but also went over it with Olivia. ¡°The pentagon is for balance and multiple components like the ritual structure, gravity, weight, and the influence of mana. The triangle is what the rituals use for directing the flow of mana to a point, but since this is a small area ritual, the curved lines double back alongside the triangle, depicting that it will flow upward instead of directly from the point of the shape.¡± Before drawing the final shape, he added the two main catalysts while tucking the chalk into his pocket. Val sniffed at his hand, clearly interested in the Mana Stone he was carrying around in the open. ¡°The feather sits in this small node at the base of the pentagon and triangle, while the ashes are spread evenly along the curved lines. The last two components are the containment circle and Mana Stone.¡± Alex tried his best to focus on the circle and make it as smooth as possible. While he was able to create almost perfect circles on a page, that became much harder when making one several meters in diameter. The chalk created a gritty feeling of resistance as it slid in a large arc across the concrete. At the top of the circle, over where the point of the triangle was, he made a small square node with two lines coming out parallel to the containment circle. ¡°This node is for the Mana Stone,¡± he said. ¡°It should help to regulate the mana from the stone and spread it evenly through the ritual. The book mentioned that the ritual would last about ten minutes without adjustment, and the feather and ashes would be completely consumed while only part of the mana within the stone would be used. ¡° He stood up and pocketed the chalk again, clapping his hands back and forth to get the dirt and excess chalk off of them. He took a small step back and observed the ritual circle. To his eyes, it looked almost identical to the schematic he¡¯d studied in the manual. A small applause took his attention away, and color rose to his cheeks as he saw Olivia smiling at him and several of the other having gathered behind her to watch. ¡°Dang, that looks pretty wild,¡± Ian said as his head poked up from behind John¡¯s broad shoulders. ¡°What does it do?¡± John asked. ¡°What¡¯re you waiting for, huh? Set it off already!¡± Olivia said happily, closing the manual in her hands with a snap. Alex would have preferred to use the manual to check over his work, but the way she smiled at him and tucked it under her arm made him feel embarrassed to ask. No, it would be more embarrassing to fail. Stop being dumb. Just ask her. He did, and she even looked a little sheepish as she realized that she¡¯d considered him done. It only took him a few moments to check his work, and soon, he sighed with a smile of excitement. He crouched down and held his hand over the ritual while using his [Mana Infusion] to pulse his mana into the activation node. The entire circle began to glow, and the areas where the three catalysts were grew brighter and brighter. It was a beautiful blue that reminded Alex of the blue motes of experience that would rise up from monsters. This must be the color of mana? It¡¯s often blue in games or stories; it¡¯s surprising that it actually looks like this. After a few long heartbeats, the ritual stopped glowing, and the group stared at it. ¡°Well, shit. That was a bit lame.¡± Ian said in the silence. Olivia and John both laughed while Val flew over to Alex. Alex stood and stepped into the circle; now that the ritual had been activated, he wasn¡¯t worried about smearing the chalk. With the mana having charged through it, it would be as sturdy as the cement it had been drawn on for the duration. He looked at his feet and smiled as he could already feel the effects. With an effort, he crouched down and jumped as high as he could. Laughing like a maniac, Alex flew up toward the rafters overhead. He made it so high that he was almost able to touch them. ¡°Woah!¡± John and Ian called out at the same time. Alex landed and encouraged the others to step in and try. While he knew it was childish, it felt like stepping on a trampoline with his brother. The sense of weightlessness took over his stomach and granted a sense of wonder. When he stepped away to look at the two others jumping and flipping around in the circle like a trampoline park. Olivia nudged him. ¡°Pretty cool.¡± She said. ¡°Not sure how it¡¯ll help me kill more monsters, but it¡¯s a start,¡± Alex said with a smile. That smile lingered as others came over to inspect and test the phenomenon. All the while, Val flew around and under those who were joining him in the air. 24. Celestial Sect War ¡°Later, Alex!¡± Ian called after him. ¡°That ritual was cool; you¡¯ll have to do it again next time!¡± He smiled and waved in response. ¡°Yeah, sure- if you supply the Mana Stone!¡± ¡°I was worried you were going to just sit at that table all day and play with your books,¡± John said to Alex. Alex leaned forward to look past Olivia at the older man. The three walked on the driveway toward their vehicles, preparing to leave the Voss Estate. ¡°I think that¡¯s going to be a trend. I want to try and use magic, as crazy as that sounds to say out loud.¡± Alex shrugged. ¡°It makes sense that I¡¯ll need to spend more time with my nose in a book than you meatheads.¡± Even though he didn¡¯t look to his side, Alex knew that the two were glaring at him with mock severity. They soon said their goodbyes, and Alex got back into his car. Man, I wish I¡¯d thought to warm this up before deciding to leave. He shivered and tossed his pack into the passenger seat. ¡°Let¡¯s head home, Val.¡± There was an answering call in his mind, sounding more tired than usual. The small mana wyrm curled on his lap and closed its eyes as soon as Alex started to drive. They drove for some time. Val was sleeping, and Alex was thinking contentedly about how the day had gone. After creating his first ritual successfully, he felt his confidence soar. It was like everyone was looking at me in a different way, too. The recognition of those around him had felt good. Alex knew that part of his reasoning for enjoying art in his younger years had come from the joy he got after showing his work to others. He had always been talented and others would praise him for his efforts, which caused him to become more and more interested in the craft. Will the same happen with magic? It seems like most people are focused on fighting with more physical means. Other than Olivia, Alex only knew of Rylan Voss as an individual interested in magic. However, based on what Olivia said, he was more interested in buying and collecting it than actually using it. Maybe it just takes more effort to learn magic. But¡­ I mean, it¡¯s magic. Who wouldn¡¯t be willing to spend some time with their nose in a book to learn magic? It¡¯s not like I¡¯m learning something boring like Calculus. Alex decided to ask John and Ian why magic didn¡¯t interest them the next time they all met up. While Alex was lost in his thoughts, a sudden blur of movement and screeching in his mind caused him to almost swerve off the road. His heart roared to life in his chest, and he yelled instinctively while gripping the steering wheel. When he got the car back under control and pulled over to the side of the road, he glared at the small beast in his car. ¡°Val! What the hell?! You scared the shit out of me!¡± His companion ignored him completely. The mana wyrm was focused on the corner of his door, his head in the crack and his tail wiggling behind him at full speed like a wind-whipped flag. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Alex asked, fear and frustration morphing into concern. ¡°Are you alright? What¡¯s wrong? There was another screech in his head, though this one sounded full of longing. ¡°Are you trying to get out of the car?¡± He looked past the scene and saw only woods beyond the edge of the road. ¡°There¡¯s nothing over there, buddy.¡± The answering call was louder in his mind. Alex winced and thought about it for a moment. The only thing that Val gets worked up over or tries to go after is mana. Could there be an item that way? Like Mana Stones or my manual? He gave it some more thought before pulling the car further down the road where there was more of a shoulder. The little Nissan pulled onto the gravel shoulder and still left several feet of space between it and the pavement. Next, he pulled his pack to his lap and removed his wand. He stepped out of the car and slung his bag onto his shoulders before walking to the passenger door. ¡°I¡¯m going to let you out, and I¡¯ll follow you, but you have to take it slow. We need to go together, alright? I want to keep you safe.¡± Alex opened the door a crack, and as soon as it was wide enough Val began to try and immediately push his head through the crack. ¡°Val! No,¡± he said and closed the door again. Fuck. He stood there for a moment, dumbfounded and unsure of what to do. Looking around, the road was empty. This road is so remote because of the mountains; I hope the car is fine to leave here. Alex looked at his companion, wiggling against the glass and thought about getting back into the car and just ignoring whatever was potentially hiding in the woods. In the end, his curiosity won out. He walked around to the driver¡¯s side once again and grabbed Val from behind. Holding the wriggling mass tightly in his arms, Alex let his head stick out. There was a moment of panic as Val tried desperately to squirm free and move in the direction of the woods, but Alex held tight and began moving, which caused the small wyrm to settle down a bit. It took almost an hour of walking through dense northeast foliage before he saw what had been drawing Val. When Alex stepped from the wood line and into the small clearing, he was surprised to find what had interested Valtherion so much. A Rift? Out here, in the middle of nowhere? He approached cautiously, looking at his surroundings. When they were within a few meters of the glowing blue portal, Val lit up with the use of his [Mana Siphon] ability. Even though the first Rift he¡¯d been to was in the city, he¡¯d gotten there so quickly that no one contested his entry. Since then, there had always been Guild representatives or members managing the entry of the Rifts. Do I report it to the Guild? They said that this is normally worth a big reward. As he walked a circle around the Rift, Alex did his best to keep an eye on Val. After just a few minutes, Val stopped drawing at the mana and drooped sleepily in Alex¡¯s arms. He went completely limp and cooed inside his mind. ¡°Full are you? Little glutton. You can¡¯t try to run off like that.¡± Do I need to get him a leash or something? He moved away from the Rift and sat at the edge of the woods for a while, catching his breath and thinking about what he should do. I mean, it¡¯s not that hard of a decision, right? Either I report it like this and take a set reward for reporting it to the Guild. Or I can enter and scout the Rift and get more rewards for a detailed set of information to present to the Guild.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Alex checked his bag and let Val stay wrapped around his upper arm and shoulder as he stepped toward the Rift. I want to get stronger; there¡¯s no reason for me not to check out the Rift. He smiled and thought about John and Olivia¡¯s reaction if he was able to get a few levels closer to them by the next time they all met up. With that thought, the decision was made. Reaching his hand out, Alex entered the Rift.
All of the Rifts Alex had entered until that point were awe-inspiring and clearly of another dimension. The world that lay out before him as he entered the unknown Rift in the Catskill Mountains caused his jaw to hang open. He looked down and saw a small crack in the earth that seemed to start between his feet. It spread out before him as a crack, then a crevasse, and ended in a canyon, causing the land before him to divide. Each side was a stark contrast to the other. To the right was a dark landscape made of purples and yellows. Clouds hung heavy in the air and most of the grass that covered the rolling fields was dead and made of a sickly hue. The trees in the distant forest were scraggly and barren. In the far distance, he could see a mountain filled with snow. To the left of the split, the land seemed fertile and safe. The grass was tall and green, and the sun shone through sparse cloud covering. The sky was blue, and the trees in the distance bloomed with cherry blossoms. He looked from left to right and felt a bit of vertigo at the impossibility of the two areas. His thoughts were interrupted by a blue window appearing in his vision to show his Personal Quest and the Rift Quest.
Personal Quest: Unmasking the Saboteur The Celestial Lotus Sect suspects that someone is secretly sabotaging their efforts to secure peace. Work with the Sect leaders to uncover the traitor in their midst.
Rift Quest: Heavenly Sealed Prophecy Destroy or Fulfill the Sealed Prophecy that lies where two worlds collide.
Wow, okay. That¡¯s a bit more complex than killing a few boars or wolves. This must be a higher rarity Rift! Excitement filled Alex, and he forced himself to remain calm and gather more information. Alright, they said that the most helpful information would be details about the terrain, quests, and types of monsters present in the Rift. I don¡¯t have the ability to analyze like Andrew, so I won¡¯t know what level they are. Maybe it¡¯s best for me just to view them from a distance and report back what kind of beasts are here? He looked from left to right, and the decision was clear. There is no way in hell I¡¯m going to the scary-ass forest. He began walking through the shin-high green grass. The field before him was vast and for as far as he could see, there were no signs of life. ¡°Guess we better get moving, huh Val?¡± Alex asked, but there was no response. Val continued to sleep on his shoulder as Alex walked through the plains toward the cherry wood forest. As the crack to his right gradually grew into a canyon, Alex would peer over the side to look at the drop. While it certainly grew wider, he was surprised to see that its depth wasn¡¯t quite as horrifying as he had first thought. What made this split so terrifying was the distance. From where he¡¯d seen on the rise where the Rift entrance was, it had disappeared into the horizon. He kept the edge as a landmark and walked away from the Rift, hoping to spot whatever monsters might be here from a distance. While the side he was on seemed peaceful, he could see crows flying in the distance on the other section of land. Alex continued to walk for an hour before deciding to take a break. The edge of the cliff was rocky, and it was easy to find a seat for himself. He pulled a snack from his pack and faced the edge, interested in the running water below. It was only a few minutes before something across the gap made itself known. A snake? Oh shit, that is a big snake. He felt himself go still as the snake continued to move by in the dead grass across from him. While he couldn¡¯t see the head of the snake, the body had to be close to the size of a small car. It took several seconds of it slithering by for him to see the tail and for it to disappear into the sea of yellow grass. ¡°I¡¯m so glad we didn¡¯t go on that side,¡± Alex said to Val. He tried to keep a close eye out for the black and shadowing movement of the snake while he crunched on his trail bar but didn¡¯t see any more movement during his break. The rest was largely uneventful until he heard the thunder of hooves approaching him from behind. Fuck. Alex shoved the wrapper into his pack and grabbed his wand in the same motion. Not knowing what was about to clear the rise ahead of him, he widened his stance and prepared to make a run for the Rift exit with [Empowered Step]. To his surprise, a man came over the hill on horseback. Several meters behind the man, a small group of four others ran after him. They all wore robes of white and bright yellow. Alex lowered his guard some as they approached, and raised their hand in greeting. He could see the emblem of a golden flower on their chests. This is the Celestial Lotus Sect? The man on horseback reached Alex first and pulled on the reins. ¡°Ho- Greetings, stranger. I don¡¯t recognize your sect colors. Where are you from?¡± ¡°I was looking for your sect! I''ve been lost, and I''m glad you found me.¡± Alex answered, trying to think up a lie on the spot. The pause grew as they stared at each other, "Who is the first Elder?" the man asked. Shit. The wand in Alex¡¯s hand began to point toward the ground as he thought of a response. "Where are you from?" He asked as Alex struggled for an answer. ¡°What?¡± The man shifted his head, and his long hair spilled from his shoulder. He raised an eyebrow in a condescending manner. ¡°Hard of hearing boy? Where. Do. You. Come. From.¡± He began speaking slowly and punctuating each word as if Alex was a toddler. Alex¡¯s brows came together. ¡°I¡¯m from Hoboken.¡± ¡°Ho-bow-kin?¡± The man seemed to taste the word. The others arrived; all of them seemed to be breathing normally and were unphased by sprinting uphill after the man on horseback. ¡°Senior Brother, you apprehended the spy! Great work.¡± ¡°Spy?¡± Alex asked. "No, no. I''m not a spy. I''m here to help you!" ¡°Yes, his struggle was not great. I feel the Elders will find him to be interesting. Bind his hands, Gu-Feng.¡± ¡°Yes, Senior Brother.¡± A young man said as he stepped forward. ¡°Woah, woah. Wait a second,¡± Alex said. He held up his free hand and clenched his wand tighter in the other. ¡°Bind me? No way, who are you guys? Why¡¯re you all talking like that?¡± ¡°How dare you speak to our Senior Brother that way!¡± ¡°Do you know who we are!¡± ¡°Bow down before our Senior Brother!¡± All of the young men who had arrived on foot exploded at once, yelling at Alex for speaking out. ¡°What the fuck, man?¡± Alex couldn¡¯t get his mind around what was happening. As the one continued to step forward with a rope, he looked at the man on the horse. The smile he was giving Alex was wicked, almost to the point of perversion. What is with these people? I¡¯m out. ¡°Val, hold on,¡± Alex said as he grabbed his pack, used his skill at the maximum output, and pushed off toward the Rift exit. There were startled cries of surprise from behind him as he took off at full speed. ¡°He¡¯s a cultivator?!¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t feel his Qi!¡± Alex glanced over his shoulder and saw that two of those on foot had begun to chase after him, and the one on horseback was maneuvering his steed around the slower ones. Can I outrun a horse? The thought seemed absurd, but it made Alex laugh aloud. The wind whipped at his face, and he held up his wand and sent a shot toward the two pursuing him. While he wasn¡¯t expecting to hit them, he was hoping that it would serve as a threat and slow their approach. Damn, how do people do this in movies? The chase continued for several minutes, and Alex was curious to see how his mana was holding up. He still had more than half of his available Mana, thanks to his increased pool size from Val. He looked over his shoulder again to see that he was slowly outpacing the horseman. His smile froze on his face as he saw the man unsheathe a sword that promptly began to glow a gold flecked with purple. The blade fell and sent a slash toward Alex, his eyes widening in shock. Alex dove to the side just as a blade of magical energy sliced vertically through the air where he would have been if he had continued running. He cursed and scrambled to his feet before continuing to run. He continued to look over his shoulder but knew that things had become more complicated and dangerous. He threw wand potshots over his shoulder in a panic, but the man seemed unconcerned as the distance was slowly closed. The crack to Alex''s left narrowed as they made their way back toward the Rift. When the group was almost upon him, and he knew there wasn¡¯t an hope to escape, he swallowed his fear and leapt into the chasm. His stomach felt like it lifted into his chest as his body plummeted toward the water below. Val chirped at him indignantly and quickly unwound himself from Alex¡¯s arm and shoulder before taking off in flight and disappearing from Alex¡¯s peripheral vision. Flailing his arms, he looked up and heard several voices of outrage call after him. He slapped into the water in an awkward angle and when he surfaced he struggled to keep his head above the water as his backpack attempted to surface from the air held within it. It was too awkward to keep the straps on, so he wrestled them off and pinned the bag beneath himself, using it to stay afloat. He looked up and saw several heads peaking over the edge, watching him drift down the river. They followed for a short distance before he heard distant calls of panic, and they disappeared. Moments later, a large, scaled head twisted into view on the opposite side of the crack. The inky black skin was sharply contrasted by the beady-read eyes. Its tongue flicked out once, then twice before the beast disappeared over the edge once again. He did his best to hold in any expletives, but as the current of the river pulled him into a branching split, he couldn¡¯t help it. ¡°Oh, fuck me.¡± The branching current of water pulled him into a secondary canal that moved directly toward the dark side of the Rift. Alex kicked and struggled against the current, hoping to reach the edge of the river, but the current was too strong and continued to pull him along. Soon enough, it was all he could do to keep the backpack under him and keep his head above water. 25. God, Is That You? Alex coughed, each breath scraping his throat as he dragged himself across the sand. His limbs trembled, and his muscles ached from the hours of struggle against the river current. He collapsed to his hands and knees onto the small beach, chest heaving, causing coarse grains to cling to the wet surface of his skin. While floating down the river, he did his best to keep track of the twists and turns the branch had taken, hoping desperately that it would rejoin the main river or perhaps even wind back to the light side of the Rift. That¡¯s not exactly how rivers work, though, is it? Genius. Alex gulped for air and flopped onto his back, his bag dropping beside him. He closed his eyes, squinting against the filtered sunlight. The clouds above were thin and offered little relief from the sun''s harsh rays, only adding a dull, grey tint to the scene. He flinched as a shadow crossed his vision and covered his face, realizing only a moment later that it was Val¡¯s shadow crossing over his head. The mana wyrm cooed into his head before coming to rest on the backpack. He must be tired, too. He doesn¡¯t normally fly around for such a long time. Sitting up, Alex did his best to assess his surroundings while catching his breath. I¡¯ve never been this far from the Rift exit before. I can tell the direction of the portal, but I have no idea how to get there from here. Fuck. Alex put his head in his hands, and part of him wanted to cry. The abnormal amount of stress and adrenaline that was dumped into his body was more than he had ever had to handle. Even compared to some of the other fights, he hadn''t felt that he was in this much danger. Idiot. Why did you even come in here? For some extra money? Adventure? The fight with those robed lunatics, leaping off the small cliff, treading water through the river for so long, and now being lost all threatened to overwhelm him. What do I even do here? This was so stupid. Alex looked at his bag and felt a bit of comfort, knowing that he had begun waterproofing everything in his bag after the second trip to the boar rift. The rainforest environment had made him realize how annoying things could be when wet. He had several days'' worth of food within, and he could fill up his canteen and CamelBak while he was at the river. Val stayed coiled on the bag but lifted his head and made a noise in Alex¡¯s head. Unsure of what to even say to his companion, Alex returned to observing their surroundings. They were on the side of the river bank in a small sandy space. Driftwood and dead trees surrounded them while the water rushed past. The land rose up on either side of the river, easily three times higher than the place where Alex had jumped from. He eyed the rock faces and had no confidence in his ability to climb out. He entertained the thought of trying to use his magic like a weight-reducing ritual, but he knew that it wouldn''t let him get high enough. He looked around at the debris that was near him and found a small clearing through the driftwood. It appeared that a small path was made to the rock face. Alex got up and checked his arms and legs. While there were a few scrapes and small cuts, he knew he¡¯d bruise badly over the next few days from where he¡¯d crashed into other rocks during his float. ¡°Val, stay here, okay? If you see anything coming near you, call out to me.¡± Alex said. He received a single chirp in response, surprised to see the wyrm¡¯s head raise back up and begin to swivel back and forth. Atta boy. Now¡­ where¡¯s my wand? Panic began to take hold once more as the thought settled. His wand wasn''t anywhere in sight and wasn¡¯t in his bag. I was holding it when I made the jump, and... No, no, no. Fuck. Alex paced back and forth before forcing himself to get a grip. While he was without his ranged weapon, he still had the hatchet in his bag and had fought before by empowering his body. If it was needed, he could do it again here. He forced himself to take a deep breath and grab the hatchet first before looking around at the beach. With weapon in hand, he walked up the sloped sand and through the wide path. It was wide enough to fit three people shoulder to shoulder and kept the same width the entire way up. When he reached the cliff face, Alex stopped and held his aching side. A large opening of a cave stood in front of him. He looked around but couldn¡¯t see any signs of movement or life in the front of the cave. The light from outside didn¡¯t reach far, so he could only see about ten meters into the mouth of the cave before things got too dark. Walking back down the hill, Alex carefully pulled out an antique oil lamp. It had been a surprisingly hard find while making his preparations, and he spent too much time fiddling with it beforehand. Alex looked around the bank of the river one more time, hoping he¡¯d notice something that he hadn¡¯t already. There were only three options to try and get out of this deep crevasse, and he didn¡¯t consider the first two to be realistic. Climbing out and jumping in the river aren''t great options. He scratched his head and let out a sigh. ¡°Into the cave we go, Val. I''m sorry buddy, I really wasn''t taking this serious enough. I shouldn''t have brought us in here but I''m going to get us out.¡± Alex was surprised at the conviction he felt in his voice. I''m supposed to be looking out for you. There''s really no amount of money that should have let me come in here alone. I''m running around these Rifts like a kid on a playground. He ran his hands through his hair again and his confidence wavered. Realizing for the first time how truly trapped he was, several hundred or thousands of meters from the Rift exit, with no real idea how to survive in the wilderness. Part of his preparation supplies had been a survival manual, which might help, but if you factor in actual monsters and large stakes, Alex wondered what his odds of survival really were.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Alex picked up his pack and Valtherion wrapped around his shoulder. He limped back up the slope, holding the lantern in one hand and his hatchet in the other. The two made their way down into the cave. Alex was surprised to find that it was a tunnel that seemed to continue into the earth. He found it even more interesting when they¡¯d been walking for thirty minutes, and the tunnel continued with little to no variation in direction or size. He became more cautious, and they moved more slowly through the tunnel, wary of any noise that they heard. At first, he wondered if it was man-made and used by a group of people similar to the white and yellow-robed individuals who had tried to capture him. He remembered the quest mentioning that there was a ''traitor in their midst''. That means there has to be another group, right? After an hour, he came to a three way split where the tunnels had a slight curve. He wasn¡¯t sure which one to take, so he decided to go in the direction that his Core was pulling toward the Rift exit. As he went to the rightmost branch, Val called out to him through their link. Val was hovering next to the middle branch, the one that continued in the direction that they had already been walking. ¡°What¡¯s over there? You¡¯re probably just chasing more mana. Come on, we want to get out of here, not go deeper in.¡± His companion responded with a deep sound that made him think that the wyrm was sad. It was in the second hour of walking through the tunnel system that Alex had a truly terrifying thought. He''d finished berating himself some time ago, and found that the only way to move forward, was to keep taking action, though he resolved to think carefully. After that, he''d felt a surge of confidence at his newfound mentality, though it was slowly eroded by the thoughts that monsters could lurk just beyond his lantern light. That huge black snake. It was about the size of these tunnels¡­ wasn¡¯t it? Alex gulped. Suddenly, the tunnel walls felt like they were closing in. Alex also realized just how deep underground they likely were and that after all of his walking, the tunnel wasn''t angling upward. He was torn between wanting to proceed with even more caution, or throw it all to the wind and get through these tunnels as quickly as possible. No, think. He forced himself to take a few deep breaths and push the fears to the side. Soon they walked into an open cavern that had a small creek running from one end to the other. They sat together and had a small snack. Alex finished his wrap, and he gave Valtherion a Mana Stone while doing his best not to think of all the ways that this could go horribly wrong. The lantern light caused their shadows to flicker along the rocky walls. It wasn¡¯t long before they were back in the winding tunnels, heading in the general direction of the Rift exit. Sometimes, there wasn¡¯t a tunnel heading in that direction, so Alex tried to pick the next best option. At most intersections, Val continued to make his pick of direction known. They passed several underground creeks, one cavern almost as big as a baseball stadium and one that opened into a chasm. It was awe-inspiring to Alex that as the tunnel opened up, it turned into a trail following along the side of one of the cliff faces. When he looked over the edge, it continued much deeper than the light of his lamp could reach. Alex wondered what time it was outside of the Rift and how high of a Rarity it was. He was beginning to feel tired, so he was assuming that at least five hours had passed. Alex had been pushing through so far, hoping that they¡¯d be able to emerge from the tunnels, but his legs felt tired and sore. The excitement and adrenaline from the chase and cliff jump had long since passed. It felt like he¡¯d been awake for close to twenty hours. He¡¯d woken up early to meet the others at the Voss Estate, and when he found the Rift he¡¯d already been quite tired. So much for just poking my head inside to get more information. He sighed and realized they may need to set up a small camp in one of these caverns. The thought caused him to shiver involuntarily, and he was unsure even excluding the giant snake of what animals or bugs could be in this sort of place. The small cavern that they were in had one entrance, and on the opposite side, there were two exits. A right and left path. Once they¡¯d packed up from the snack and break, Alex walked toward the right path, feeling that the Rift was closer in that direction. Val went to the left path and called out. Alex shook his head and took two steps down his rightmost path before freezing. He held his lamp out down the tunnel again, but there was nothing there. That was a red eye, right? I¡¯m not seeing things? Nope, no, nooo way. Alex turned around and entered the left path instead. Val chirped in his head, seemingly unaware of Alex¡¯s panic and mistaking his quickened pace for excitement. Alex continued to look over his shoulder and held the swinging lantern up behind them as they moved. It wasn¡¯t long before he caught a glimpse of passing black scales just at the edge of his light. Fuck. It¡¯s really down here. Alex started running. He knew Val would have no problems keeping up with his pace, but he was worried about keeping an eye on where they were running and the large monster behind them. Val. Of course! ¡°Val, I need you to fly ahead of us. Pick whichever tunnel you think is best, we just need to go fast.¡± He called. Val seemed to pick up on his urgency this time and sped away in front of Alex. This made it much easier for Alex to tell where he was going without necessarily needing the light to be pointed in that direction. He could keep the light facing behind them to monitor the snake while using his bond with Val to tell where he should be jogging. His muscles burned, and his sides began to cramp, but Alex didn''t dare to slow down. The occasional glimpses of scales or a ruby-red eye were enough to keep his blood pumping and his heart racing. Just as he thought, his legs might give out, and he¡¯d need to make a stand with his hatchet. The decision was taken from him. The floor beneath his feet vanished, and he began to fall. At first, there was nothing beneath him, and then he was skidding, sliding, and rolling through a steep downward tunnel. Alex did his best to tuck his head and pull his arms in, but the fall was a tumbling mess. His bag jutted into his back, causing him to bounce or shift every few rolls. At some point, he lost consciousness and woke in the prone position on a cold stone floor. The lamp flickered beside him; part of its glass shattered across the ground. Alex groaned and blinked his eyes several times, trying to figure out where he was or what had happened. He noted that the lamp wasn¡¯t necessary to see in this cave. There was another light source somewhere, creating a gentle golden glow through the large cavern. It was one of the bigger caverns that they¡¯d been in. He scanned his surroundings before finding the source of the light and sucking in his breath. What in the world is that? ¡°You¡¯re awake, little human?¡± A deep voice said. Alex cleared his throat and swallowed several times before finding his voice. ¡°I- uhm, yes.¡± It took some more time for Alex to wrap his brain around what he was looking at. There, in a very tight crouch, was an extremely large being. If the ceiling was around 50 meters, this creature took up more than half of that height while forced into a crouch. His generally humanoid figure was in a kneeling position, with one foot planted on the ground and his rear so low that it touched his other leg¡¯s ankle. His chest was then held against his knee. He was held down into that tight pose by innumerable black ropes or chains. As Alex took in the figure''s position, he located its head and was startled to see its many eyes staring back at him. Reassessing its humanoid shape, he noted that while it had two legs, it had six arms that were individually bound to either its side or the ground. ¡°It¡¯s been some time since I¡¯ve had a visitor.¡± The rumbling voice came once again. Alex was struck with awe, not just because of the being''s size or powerful-looking muscles. Not even its glow and otherworldly colors shocked him as much as the sheer presence of the being. ¡°A-Are you a god?¡± Alex asked, but he found it difficult to form his words. There was a sort of pressure weighing down on his consciousness, threatening to make him black out once again. There was a slight moment of panic as Alex thought the cave was crumbling, but after a few moments, he realized that the sound of grinding boulders and rumbling was laughing. He clutched his head and winced. ¡°Why is there so much pressure? I think you¡¯re going to make me pass out again.¡± This being was clearly on another plane of existence from him or anything he¡¯d seen. The laughing slowly stopped, and the next time he spoke, the figure''s voice was much more gentle, and the pressure on Alex began to subside. ¡°Just from your first few sentences, I can tell you¡¯re not of this world, little human. No, I am no god, though the people of this Broken World once considered me to be something close.¡±
Congratulations Awakened. You have found one of the Hidden Quests! Continue this path to gain more information and an Accept/Deny prompt.
26. Do You Accept
Congratulations Awakened. You have found one of the Hidden Quests! Continue this path to gain more information and an Accept/Deny prompt.
Well, that¡¯s new. A Hidden Quest? ¡°If you¡¯re not a God, then what are you?¡± ¡°I was once Head of the Celestial Lotus Sect and one of the supreme martial existences on our planet. I was talented enough to gain a Planetary Title in my youth. You may call me Eura.¡± Many thoughts went through Alex¡¯s head in response. Supreme Existence? Yet something trapped you here? Celestial Sect, isn¡¯t that what my Personal Quest talked about? ¡°I was trapped here by our mortal enemies. The Shadow Serpent Sect. Currently, we are several miles below their main training facility.¡± Alex¡¯s thoughts continued to churn, but he asked the most pressing question that came to his mind. ¡°How could something capture a being like you? If you were so powerful¡­ do they also have people as strong as you were?¡± The multi-armed man snorted with derision. ¡°No. They had their sect leader, who was nearly as strong as me. But the Shadow Serpents used trickery and sacrificial magic to bind me here. The one and two-star warriors of my sect united to capture and bind their sect¡¯s leader in much the same way. With both leaders being captured and subdued, the sects have been stuck in a stalemate for the last decade.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t seem too bothered by being trapped here.¡± ¡°Well, I know my people are mostly safe, and without Rakshasi to lead them, the Shadow Serpent Sect has likely devolved into a less-than-organized group.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been trapped down here for ten years?¡± Alex asked, horrified. ¡°Oh yes. Truly, it is not so long. I¡¯ve lived for several hundred years.¡± ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not a God?¡± Another low chuckle answered Alex¡¯s skepticism. ¡°After myself and Rakshasi were subdued, much blood was spilled, and both sects relocated their Headquarters to occupy the space directly over their captured prizes. These tunnels go on for hundreds of miles underground and make it very hard for my people to come and rescue me, especially with Rakshasi¡¯s brood of serpents lurking about.¡± Alex shivered involuntarily and stepped closer to the light being emitted. ¡°There are more of those things down here? More monsters?¡± ¡°Of the shadow serpents? Yes, many more. And many more species as well, though several of them are peaceful creatures that do their best to avoid the Night¡¯s brood. How were you able to get past them, human? Were you sent by my people on one of your quests?¡± ¡°You know about quests? Sorry, there are so many things I don¡¯t understand.¡± Alex shook his head. ¡°I did meet some of your people, but they attacked me. I¡¯ve never seen humans in a Rift before, so I was caught off guard when the quest said that there was a sect in the Rift. When I jumped off of the cliff and into the river, I floated until I could enter the tunnels. We kept runn-¡± We. Val? Alex felt a momentary panic as he realized he hadn¡¯t seen his companion since he¡¯d woken up. He reached out through their bond and could feel Val on the other side of the crouching golden man. ¡°Val!¡± Alex called. Alex walked cautiously around the bound celestial entity and saw his companion using one of its favorite abilities. ¡°Gah, you scared me. What are you doing?¡± Alex walked up and saw that the little mana wyrm was using [Mana Siphon] on the black chains. Uhh, is that such a good idea? Val, hey. Stop that. Just wait a minute; let¡¯s figure out what¡¯s going on. You definitely deserve some mana for getting out of that last run alive, but the last thing we need is to weaken this guy¡¯s bindings and then for him to kill us both or something. Reluctantly, Val ended his ability and flew over to Alex with a heavy wobble. Alex couldn¡¯t help but smirk as his companion looked to be drunk on mana and unable to fly in a straight line. Golden-flecked eyes followed them patiently. Alex noted how odd the man looked. Eura¡¯s skin was pale with a golden tint, and his eyes were like miniature cosmos. The sclera was white like a normal eye, but the iris was outlined in bright gold, while the center was colored black and had small spots of gold. The pupil itself was a starburst of yellow and orange. Alex craned his neck to look up at the being. He was so large that all of his details seemed magnified. He thought for several long moments before speaking up. ¡°While your people weren¡¯t really friendly toward us, you are their leader, and you¡¯ve been trapped here for ten years. I¡¯m assuming you want to be set free?¡± Alex asked. From hearing the celestial being¡¯s story, Alex had a strong feeling he knew what the hidden quest would be. ¡°Of course, I¡¯d like to be set free. In the last ten years, my people have not been able to find me in this cavern. I can only ask that you do so and offer you a reward as compensation for your selfless act.¡± ¡°A reward?¡± Alex¡¯s ears perked up at this. ¡°Yes, little human. My eyes are special and give me sight of one¡¯s mana and presence. I can see the mana you possess. Despite that axe you fell in here with, I can see that you are a practitioner of the magical arts as opposed to the martial ones. You are young and have only recently started your journey, still in the Initiate Phase. We would not even give you a star ranking at this point in your journey to power.¡± Alex bristled slightly, wanting to mention that he¡¯d managed to escape from several of those beings, and even though it was an accident, he didn¡¯t get eaten by a giant snake.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Okay, maybe not the most solid ground to stand on in an argument¡­ ¡°However, I can also see a strong foundation within you. You possess a will that was once weak and has grown in strength. You¡¯ve faced life-and-death situations and not had your spirit break. You even have a soul bonded companion, which will grow with you as you continue down your path.¡± He let out a deep sigh and thought for a moment. ¡°Seeing this, I know of one thing that I could offer you. Something that would aid you more than any of the items on the altar behind me.¡± Alex tilted his head to the side. Items? He glanced past the large man and toward a stone altar, past the chains where Val had been siphoning the chains. There were, indeed, items piled on it. His attention was brought back to the conversation as the sect leader continued. ¡°Your reward will give you a growth item. While its benefits will still be useful now, a growth item¡¯s true power comes from its ability to grow with the user. Since you are just starting your journey, this gives you both much room to grow and increase in compatibility.¡± ¡°A growth item? I haven¡¯t heard that term before.¡± Alex said. ¡°There are other terms, but I¡¯ve always thought that this is the most appropriate. The item is bound to the user¡¯s soul, much like your companion there. As your soul grows in strength and power, so too does the item. Depending on how you fight and live, the item will adjust it¡¯s abilities every evolution to fit with you personally.¡± ¡°Wow, that sounds amazing.¡± Alex thought of a mighty sword or staff that would grow more powerful with him as he leveled up. He didn¡¯t think that the people from the sect knew about the System or levels how he had been learning them the last few weeks. That was different for Eura, who seemed to know more about what was going on outside of the Rift and could even tell that Alex wasn¡¯t naturally part of this world. Maybe that comes from him attaining a certain level of power. Does that mean that Rifts are parts of other worlds? Or copies of other worlds? Thoughts for another time. Focus, Alex. ¡°This sounds like a good deal to me. What¡¯s the catch?¡± Alex asked. ¡°Don¡¯t be hasty in your decision, human. While the reward will be great, this world will go through a drastic change once again. With my release, the Shadow Serpent Sect will gain strength, and those of their sect will regain much of the Qi they sacrificed to bind me here. The Firstborn of the Shadow Serpent especially will grow in strength, and my guess is that she will chase you to get revenge for my release.¡± ¡°She¡¯d chase me? Why not go after you? You¡¯re the threat to them.¡± ¡°I am weakened from my original state. While I was once a peak three-star warrior, I¡¯m only at that of a Peak Initiate while bound here. Not much stronger than you, small one. Once the chains are broken, I will begin to regain my strength, though it may take days to get back to my original state and the same goes for her. She is no match for me with even half of my power. Only her mother was my match. I will hold off the Firstborn for some time, but I¡¯m guessing she will use the shadows to vanish as our fight drags on and I regain my powers.¡± ¡°So, she¡¯s just going to abandon trying to fight you and come after me instead?¡± Alex asked in disbelief. ¡°Yes, they are a vengeful sect with very little honor. I will be able to hold her off from pursuing you for a time, but when she decides to move through shadows, it will be hard to stop her without the full power of my celestial light.¡± Fuck. Okay, so I think I¡¯ve got a grasp on what the System is offering me here. A blue screen appeared in his vision as if to confirm his thoughts.
Congratulations Awakened. You have found one of the Hidden Quests! If you free the Celestial Lotus Sect Head from his chains, he will reward you and assist in your escape; however, the Rift will become more challenging, and both of your Main Quests will change.
Offered Reward: Growth Item
Do you accept this Hidden Quest? Yes/No To Accept: Release the Celestial Lotus Sect Head from his chains. To Refuse: Leave this place before you¡¯re found.
That¡¯s pretty much what I¡¯d gathered. The Rift itself will change, possibly meaning that things here will be higher level than they were before. So if I accept this, shit is going to hit the fan, and Val and I need to get away from here as fast as possible. ¡°I think that this is something I can handle if all we need to do is run and not actually fight the serpent,¡± Alex said aloud. ¡°But I don¡¯t know how to get out of these tunnels. Can you tell me how to get back to the surface?¡± He shook his head. ¡°I do not know a direct route to the surface, though I know that there are many entrances into this Underworld. Follow trails that lead upward, and as a traveler, you should be able to feel a pull from your Qi that will guide you toward your home.¡± It took Alex to translate what the man was saying. It seemed that he knew about the way Alex¡¯s Core would gently tug toward the Rift exit, though they called this Qi. Didn¡¯t one of the warriors chasing me say something about Qi? He refocused on what was at hand as his pulse quickened. The thought of being chased by one of the giant snakes again got his heart pumping. ¡°Well, I might as well see if I can get the most out of this.¡± Alex said to no one in particular as he walked toward the altar. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Going to look at some of these items. There has to be some good stuff here, right?¡± The man chuckled. ¡°Yes, they do put items of value on the altar while praying for the return of their Sect Head. Though it will likely set off some alarm if you remove those items.¡± Alex shrugged in response. ¡°They¡¯re already going to be chasing after me if I accept your quest, right?¡± ¡°So you will aid me?¡± He asked, hope clear in his voice. ¡°I don¡¯t see a real reason not to. If the serpents are already going to hunt me in these tunnels and I¡¯m trying to get out anyway, I might as well get a reward for it.¡± ¡°You¡¯re either a brave human or a very naive one. I¡¯ve warned you of the dangers and won¡¯t attempt to talk you out of helping me. I am gratified that you are willing to lend me aid.¡± Alex nodded, trying not to think about the additional cryptic warning in that statement. He approached the altar, careful not to touch anything as he observed the items. ¡°I¡¯m really not sure what most of this is. Do you know what the items are? What is worth taking?¡± Alex scratched the back of his head. He saw various weapons and herbs. Some rotting carcasses were there as well as a few books. ¡°Hmm¡­ for you? Or in general?¡± ¡°In general, I guess.¡± ¡°You may find the most interest in the dagger belt at the back of the pile. It was given by a high-ranking sect warrior several years ago. They¡¯re highly spirit-attuned, which allows their users to empower them with shadow Qi. Also, the flute is a conduit for aura manipulation. The most valuable thing on the pile is the high quality spatial bag at the bottom of the pile. It was left in the first year of their Master¡¯s absence by the Sect Head¡¯s mate. Everything else isn¡¯t very useful for you unless you want a spare sword to carry.¡± ¡°It wouldn¡¯t hurt to have a sword, I guess. Which one should I take if I want one?¡± ¡°The one closest to you is the only one I¡¯d recommend for your own use. It¡¯s light and was created for the Shadow Serpents¡¯ Shadow-Illusion style, which they teach to their initiates. The others are likely too heavy for your small frame to use.¡± Ouch. I get it. I¡¯m weak. ¡°What about those few books? They look like a manual I got before.¡± There was another pause before the Eura answered. ¡°I¡¯d prefer you didn¡¯t take those from this place.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°They are training methods or manuals for the Shadow Serpent Sect techniques. I¡¯d rather they stay here and not travel to other worlds. While they are not inherently wicked, they do allow for a certain kind of power to be born.¡± Alex thought about this for a moment before deciding to grab the manuals anyway when the time came. Eura was requesting he leave them, rather than demanding it. ¡°So what do I need to do to release you? And how much time will Val and I have to run before we need to fight.¡± ¡°I¡¯d suggest that you do not fight under any circumstance. In your current form, you would be no match for the Firstborn. If you do get cornered, fight and hope for the Architects'' luck, but beware of her venom. To release my chains, you need to push your Qi into the rune engraved into the floor on the other side of the room. If you¡¯re going to do so, I¡¯d get your items from the altar before you do. As soon as the chains begin to break, flee with all haste.¡± ¡°Got it, run like Hell.¡± 27. Run Like Hell Alright, anything else that I need before we do this, Val? Alex heard the sound that his pet made when hungry drifted through his mind. You just want more mana from the chains. Exhaustion weighed heavily on Alex, and for a brief moment, he considered rushing through the next steps. He felt anxiety about the danger to come and worried that if he didn¡¯t go immediately, he¡¯d talk himself out of it. But then he stopped himself. Clearly, this was a rare opportunity, and there was no sense in moving too quickly without understanding what was happening around him. The celestial being had been trapped for a decade and didn¡¯t seem to be in a rush to be released, so Alex figured he could do two things at once. Rest and get information from something so powerful it was hard to wrap his mind around. He took a deep breath and walked back to his backpack and the flickering lantern on the floor where he¡¯d woken up. He turned the dial down to conserve the oil. Even though the glass had broken, the wick could still burn, which wasn¡¯t needed in the cavern. The natural golden glow radiating from Eura was enough for him to see. He put the hatchet back in his pack and walked back over to the altar with his belongings. His muscles cried out in pain, and his feet dragged across the stone floor as he moved. Setting the backpack down, he sat on the hard, cold stone floor and leaned against the altar. There were several quiet moments as Alex gathered his thoughts and forced himself to breathe. He used his hands to rub the tired muscles in his legs and wished he had spent more time exercising or training before entering the Rift. The sight of Eura¡¯s restrained form and calm demeanor reminded Alex that this was someone with immense knowledge, and perhaps he would be the key to surviving the Rift. ¡°Eura,¡± Alex began, ¡°I need to understand a few things before I go through with this. I don¡¯t know much about Rifts or how they work. This is the first I¡¯ve seen people like me, humans, inside of a Rift. Are they aware of what the Rift is? Can they leave it? You called it a broken world. Why?¡± Eura smiled and blinked his many eyes. ¡°This is called a broken world because it is no longer whole. It was once a full world that failed its integration. Not enough of my people embraced the System, and there was too much infighting. When a planet is deemed too far gone, the God can decide if it should be turned into a broken world or left as a dead world. My home was torn into a fragment of its former reality to be used for future integration.¡± ¡°I remember more than most because I am so long-lived, and I had grown strong enough that my unstructured magic could allow me to live on even once the System was removed from me. As for your other question, most of my people do not understand what the Rift is. I remember from my time, so I know that to escape the Rift, there must be peace. However, our two peoples have never known peace. The bad blood between us prevents us from breaking out of the Rift, as the constant fighting of sentient races is considered culling. My people know that the Rift is there but only view it as a natural point of volatile Qi, so it¡¯s often avoided.¡± Alex had to restrain his jaw from hanging open. This was more information on how the System and the integration worked than he¡¯d received in the last few weeks. Even with the reliable information from the Guild, he felt like Eura was a goldmine of information. ¡°So what about the System? Do they know about it like you do?¡± Eura sighed, ¡°The System is ever-present. However, it does not bind itself to the people of a broken world, as our time for progression has passed. The System is removed from most, and those below a certain threshold of power forget about it completely. Within a few generations and a few careful bits of influence, the System is forgotten, as is the way the world once was. Only once the broken world has reached a certain state will the System deem it ready to use in an integration. So, you will only find a small handful of people like me, once strong enough to retain our memories of the System, despite the time and influence to forget.¡± Alex paused to consider everything Eura had said. He wished that he had his tablet or a notebook to jot down notes. He was about to ask another question when Eura spoke up. ¡°Little human, if you are being pursued by one of Rakshasi¡¯s brood, you should not linger here too long. I fear it may find its way to this chamber if given enough time. They live and hunt these tunnels, they will be able to track you here eventually. Nodding, Alex felt some of the pressure return. He wished he could camp out in the room and pick Eura¡¯s brain for more information about the System and how he had grown so strong. With a groan, he forced himself to his feet and looked at the pile of items on the altar. While his limbs were tired and the threat of being hunted hung over his head, the small greedy goblin inside of him looked at the loot and wondered if the bag was what he was hoping it was. ¡°That pouch on the altar, you said it¡¯s a spatial bag? How does it work? Can¡¯t I just put more items from the altar in it?¡± Eura chuckled, and Alex could feel it in his bones. ¡°It is a spatial bag, so yes, you can take more- you only asked what was most valuable. When you hold it, simply push another item against the opening and envision it being stored. The bag will respond to your intent.¡± Eura¡¯s many eyes watched Alex. ¡°But remember, the alarm will be triggered once you take it. You must be prepared to break the seal as well.¡± He nodded and shouldered his backpack. His body ached from the day¡¯s physical effort, but he felt much better than he had before the rest. Groaning, he let out a tired sigh. ¡°Val, you can [Siphon] some more mana from the chains if you want. We¡¯re going to break them in a minute anyway. But-¡± He held onto the little wyrm as it tried to return to the mana chains immediately. ¡°But, you need to come back to me when I say, okay? We will need to run as soon as the chains break.¡± At the responding echo through his mind, Alex let go of his ever-hungry companion and looked back at the altar. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m going to grab as much of this stuff as I can and run over to the rune. I¡¯ll infuse it with my mana, and then you¡¯ll hold off the serpent, right?¡± ¡°Yes, human.¡± ¡°My name is Alex, by the way. Sorry, this is all a bit overwhelming to me.¡± ¡°Worry not. I remember the start of my journey.¡± Eura chuckled and blinked slowly. ¡°The path to power is different for everyone, Alex. Never let your warrior spirit be crushed. Focus on your strengths and reach for the top. To aim lower than the pinnacle is to hamper your own growth.¡± Feeling like they were parting words of wisdom, Alex nodded and stepped forward, grabbing the items in quick succession. At the bottom was a pouch made of soft leather, the same dimensions as a brown paper lunch bag. It had a drawstring and a purple lining that seemed to disappear into nothingness if he peered inside. He only took a moment to inspect it, as he knew his timer started as soon as he lifted it from its place in the pile. Next, he focused on the items Eura had mentioned. The dagger belt and flute went directly into the bag without issue, followed by the sheathed rapier and belt. Before stepping off the altar, he crouched and began grabbing as many items as possible, careful not to cut himself on any exposed blades. He kept stuffing items into the pouch and couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud from the stress and sheer absurdity of the bag. When he began to feel mental resistance as he tried to push an item into the bag, he cursed and jumped off of the stone altar. He made eye contact with Eura before grabbing the three books from the altar and taking off his camping pack. Before zipping up the lid, he put the pouch and the manuals in his bag. The large man closed his eyes and shook his head. ¡°I fear that they do not have the power in them you seek. They are just the sullied techniques of my enemies, but perhaps they will give you the edge you need in the challenges ahead.¡±Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. His stomach did a flip as Eura mentioned how much harder things were about to get. Alex ran across the open cavern. It felt odd to know that his bag had so many items in it, though it felt to be only slightly heavier than before. He skidded to a stop over the engraved rune and wondered if he should have tried to study it rather than ask Eura questions. The time to worry about regrets had passed, though, as his timer had already started. Crouching, he used [Mana Infusion] to begin channeling his mana into the rune. At first, it was difficult, as if the cold stone floor didn¡¯t want to accept his mana, but as he continued to push, he felt it begin to absorb the energy. Alex grew worried as his Mana pool continued to drain and he pulled up his status window, noticing that he was getting dangerously close to the lower third of his mana pool. Shit, I¡¯m going to run out? He reached into the top pocket of his bag and grabbed a Mana Stone before using his shared bond skill from Val. [Mana Siphon] drained mana from the stone and refilled his pool at an increased rate.
Congratulations, [Mana Siphon] has leveled up!
As he continued to drain the Mana Stone, it lost some of its shine. Alex continued to infuse the rune, which eventually shone a bright purple. Just as he was beginning to worry that his mana would empty again, he heard a deafening pop. Link after link, the chains began to snap. As soon as a chain was severed, it would fall limp to the ground and begin to turn into smoke. ¡°V-Val! Come on, buddy, it¡¯s time to get out of here!¡± Even though he was supposed to run, Alex was struck by the scene before him. As the chains began to snap like vines, the Celestial Lotus Sect Head began to struggle to stand. He strained against his bindings. As those restraints strained, Eura roared out his victory. As chains snapped, Eura began to stand but was unable to straighten completely. As if the restriction didn¡¯t bother him, the large, six-armed man shrunk and flexed his arms while flinging off the last of the chains. Eura looked toward Alex before giving him a nod and reaching one hand up toward his many eyes. The celestial being''s hand covered his leftmost eye for a moment before closing the rest of them tight as if wincing in pain.
Awakened, you have accepted a Hidden Quest.
Calculating Rewards. Processing¡­ Reward Upgraded by System. Reward Upgraded by Quest Giver. Reward Upgraded by Quest Giver.
You gain: 1x Unique E Rank Growth Item - Heavenly Eye of the Celestial Sage.
Congratulations, Awakened! You have gained a Title! You gain: Title - Pathfinder
Adjusting Rift Difficulty. Epic E Rank Rift Adjusting¡­ New Rift Difficulty: Epic D Rank Rift
Adjusting Rift Quest: Rift Quest: Heavenly Sealed Prophecy Destroy or Fulfill the Sealed Prophecy that lies where two worlds collide. New Rift Quest: Rift Quest: Security The Rift¡¯s balance of power grows uneven. Choose a side and help to establish security and safety for the surviving inhabitants.
Adjusting Personal Quest: Personal Quest: Unmasking the Saboteur The Celestial Lotus Sect suspects that someone is secretly sabotaging their efforts to secure peace. Work with the sect leaders to uncover the traitor in their midst. New Personal Quest: Personal Quest: Wrath of the First-Born Survive.
Alex¡¯s vision blurred from pain, and he closed his eyes tightly. It felt like someone stabbed his left eye, and he called out in pain while covering it with his hand. System windows continued to appear in his vision despite them being closed. Oh. Fuck. Alex opened his left eye and looked at Eura as the large humanoid shrunk. His vision swam with colors, and it hurt to look at the being before him, but he did his best to focus on the humanoid to see what he was doing despite the thick blue haze around him. What the¡­ Above Eura¡¯s head, a small window appeared that was only there for a moment. As he looked at what was in the window, his mind seemed to scream at him, and a lancing pain ran through his head. He clutched onto his face as he turned and began to run. He tried to blink them open, but his left eye was in excruciating pain, and after a few seconds, he could feel hot liquid running down his cheek. ¡°Val, I need your help. You need to show me the way. Right now.¡± Alex let out a yell of pain as he stumbled on his feet. He used his left hand to reach out in front of him. His eye hurt so badly that he felt the instinctive need to cover that side of his face with his hand, but he had to remove his right hand from his face to grab the handle of the lantern and begin running. A roar made the cavern at his back rumble, and in his heightened state, Alex couldn¡¯t even tell if it was made by Eura or the monster he was holding back. He cursed to himself as the shaking of the ground caused him to miss a step and almost fall to the ground. For some time as he ran, following Valtherion¡¯s link through the bond, he could hear yelling and the smack, grapple, and slam of combat. It sounded unlike anything Alex had ever heard in his life. The fact that the beings were so powerful that simply being nearby almost knocked him off of his feet, Alex ran for everything he was worth. They made their way through the tunnels as quickly as possible. He used [Empowered Step] frequently, but soon ran out of mana and was left to the mechanical action of running. He hated the idea of burning through his limited supply of Mana Stones, but he removed another and used [Mana Siphon] to refill his mana. The strain on his lungs caused a stitch of pain to bloom in his side with each inhale of air. I¡¯m just too exhausted. I feel like my body is going to give out. While Alex knew he wasn¡¯t in the worst shape, he certainly hadn¡¯t done any extended strenuous activity like this in all his life. For a time, he could hear yells and thrash from behind him, but as they gained distance, the sounds grew muted, and the tunnels stopped shaking. Alex¡¯s run slowly turned into a shuffle as he began to feel the mana fatigue earlier than before. Unwilling to refill his mana again, he trudged on by the power of his own legs. He leaned forward and used his hiking backpack to counterbalance his weight, falling forward just enough that he was forced to catch himself to move. As he was beginning to feel that he couldn¡¯t make it any further, they emerged into another open cavern and cliff face. The path of the tunnel became open on the left side, showing that it was created along the edge of a huge drop. When he glanced over the side, Alex vaguely saw another ledge and white netting. Are there others here? Have I stumbled into a Serpent Sect base? His vision blurred, and he realized that he¡¯d accidentally let his hand drop. He covered his face, fearing the pain in his head may return from the Heavenly Eye. Val screeched in his mind, and Alex turned to see an enormous serpent emerge from the tunnel behind them. It moved slowly, head weaving from side to side. I¡¯m not dead yet. What do I do here? He looked around, feeling strangely calm in the tense moment. The edge across the chasm seemed impossibly far. But, compared to fighting the giant shadow serpent, it seemed the less impossible of two options. He turned his body and pushed against the tunnel¡¯s far wall, trying to give himself a small running start. Alex could see the ledge, and his vision swam as he uncovered his eye to give a slightly better depth perception. Fuck. He covered his eye again and could no longer see the netting below the ledge that was there before. Guess I¡¯ve got to make the jump. One more time, he looked to his left at the ruby-eyed snake. No way in Hell I¡¯m fighting that thing. Alex pushed off from the wall and ran the remaining four strides, using the dregs of his mana for [Empowered Step], before leaping off the edge and reaching as far as he could. An involuntary yell escaped his lips, and for a brief moment, all drowsiness left his mind. The world went quiet as he was airborne, and Val sped ahead of him. The jump was close to superhuman, something Alex could only attribute to sheer adrenaline-induced strength and skill. He sailed through the air like an Olympic long jumper. Reality crashed back into him as his midsection collided with the corner of the ledge. All the air left his lungs just as his nose and forehead cracked into the floor. The weight of his pack pushed him into the ledge at first, but as his momentum faded and his body bounced from the wall, so too did the pack. Panic flared in his mind, and he let go of his eye as he scrambled desperately for anything to grab onto. Naturally, he released his hold on the damaged lantern to grab for any cracks or rocks. There was nothing there. Cracking his fingernails as he clawed at the stony floor, Alex slowly slid back off of the ledge and fell. He only dropped a few feet before his momentum was arrested, and he felt like he was floating on a cloud. His vision swam, and Alex fought for consciousness. Unsure of what was happening, he looked around and saw the serpent staring at him with blood-red eyes from across the chasm. His vision swam, and it turned and slithered to the tunnel it had come from. Out of immediate danger, all of Alex¡¯s stress and pain from the last day overwhelmed him, and he passed out. His final thought was the embarrassing realization that he¡¯d pissed himself when he thought he was sliding into the abyss. 28. Mana Spinners Alex groaned and shifted his weight. His pack dug into his back as his eyes fluttered open and he saw Val hovering over his face. He¡¯d felt his presence right before opening his eyes, so it wasn¡¯t quite as terrifying as it should be. ¡°Hey, buddy.¡± He blinked several more times and tried to sit up. He kept looking up at Val as he did so, confused by his appearance. ¡°Since when do you glow? Are you using a skill?¡± Val¡¯s normal wyrm-like appearance was the same, with the addition of a small blue halo of light that outlined his entire body. It fit the shape of his body well, and it glowed with a deeper blue than his fins but not as dark as the scales on his belly. His companion called out in his mind with the eerie sound of a sea creature. ¡°One day, I¡¯ll figure out what you¡¯re saying.¡± Alex began to stand and looked down at his feet. He felt a bit of vertigo as he saw that he was standing on the same net he¡¯d noticed before. It looked like a finely woven layer of mesh. Alex felt his legs wobble as he saw the endless chasm through the webbed openings. He made a few uneasy sounds and thought briefly about throwing up before he regained his balance and put one hand against the wall. Alex felt pain in his left eye and used his other hand to reach up and cover the eye. As soon as he did, the netting beneath his feet disappeared, and he called out. His knees tensed in anticipation, and he waited to fall. But he didn¡¯t move. What the hell? Part of Alex wanted to curl up and just have a quick meltdown, but the thought of his damp trousers made an amount of indignant rage well up within his chest. He looked down into the abyss and took several deep breaths while clenching his fists. This place isn¡¯t going to break me. Alex realized that this could be because of his eye. As he uncovered it with his hand, the netting came back into view. When he covered it again a moment later, it vanished, and he appeared to be floating in the air. He repeated the action several times, and each time he covered his eye, the net would disappear, making it appear as if he were floating. He looked around, deciding to keep his eye uncovered for the moment despite the pain building in his forehead. Several feet above him was the ledge that he¡¯d attempted to jump to. With some effort, he threw his pack up and lifted himself up after it. His body ached all over and he was certain his body had never taken this much punishment before. This is the life of adventure you wanted, right? Partly out of spite, Alex realized that it really was. Even though all of this was terrifying on a level he never quite thought that would be possible, it sure beat Henderson or his parents nagging him. He laughed and laid back on the floor, laughing loud, long, and hard as all the pent up stress left him. After he felt some of the stress and tension from the last day leave his body, he wiped his eyes and sat up¡­ Promptly causing all of that tension and then some to return in full as he screamed and pushed himself back against the tunnel wall. Hovering in front of him was the largest spider he¡¯d ever seen. It was easily the size of a large dog and hung from the ceiling, staring straight at him. The spider was suspended in the air, and other than two small arms at the front of its body, which seemed to rub together, the spider exhibited no movement. What the fuck are you?! Alex screamed in his mind. A pulsing sensation rushed through his head as if to answer his question, and words floated into existence over the spider¡¯s head.
Mana Spinner- Level 41 Class: Ethereal Web Hunter
Level 41? Nonhostile? Am I getting all of this from my eye? Alex was torn between wanting to relax, wet himself again, or try to yell and make the beast leave. All three options held a certain appeal, but before he could make a decision, the spider lowered itself to the ground and scurried over the ledge Alex had climbed over. Cautiously, Alex followed it and stuck his head over the edge. The spider was moving rapidly back and forth over the net, fixing several areas where Alex had messed with the pattern of the net. Oh, holy shit. That¡¯s not a net. It¡¯s a web. He moved back from the edge and sat against the wall, horrifying thoughts of one of his favorite scenes from Lord of the Rings playing back in his head. Alex entertained the idea that he might be losing his mind, but as he peeked over the edge again and saw that the spider monster was still there fixing the web, he decided that the world had just gone crazy instead. Spiders. Why does it have to be spiders? There was chirping noise in his head as he heard Val calling out to him from further down the tunnel. ¡°Now what?¡± He gathered his pack and the broken lantern he dropped. It had stopped burning at some point, so he took a moment to refill its small tank from the container of oil in his pack. He then walked down the tunnel to find his companion. He ducked under a few of the spider webs that were spread across the side and ceiling of the tunnel. Val was a short distance away with his forehead to one of the spider webs. ¡°Dude, how do you eat so much? Be careful. Don¡¯t eat too much of those; we don¡¯t want to get these things angry,¡± Alex said as he poked the mana wyrm in the side. It chirped at him before returning to stare at the web. ¡°It¡¯s great that they¡¯re ¡®non-hostile,¡¯ but that might change if you¡¯re breaking their stuff.¡± Interested, Alex took a step back and tried to open his left eye a bit wider to look at the web. The web that Val had found was bigger than the others that hung from the ceiling and covered the whole opening of the tunnel. At the far side of the tunnel, he saw a glowing shape. He stepped forward only to realize that it was something caught in the web and the glowing was it¡¯s mana signature. The beast seemed to be leaking mana, and when it noticed Alex, it thrashed about. It was unable to get itself free and stopped thrashing. The creature was unlike anything Alex had seen before. It looked to be made of skin and bones, but the skin was wrinkled and pruning, with a round bulbous body. He held the lantern closer and saw a single eye that took up close to 80% of the space on its head. The other 20% was taken up by a mouth with jagged teeth and a slithering tongue. The large eye looked around wildly until it locked onto Alex. It tried to flail around, but its knobby limbs caught snuggly into the web across the tunnel. Jesus, it looks like that Disney character¡­ just with old man skin. While his left eye could see the mana of the beast, his right could still see the dark outline of its body as it struggled. From the corner of his right eye, Alex saw a small black blur. He jumped as he noticed that it was one of the spiders. He looked around and saw that it was just a single spider, and there were no others around. He thought it was the same one that had been at the ledge behind him. Why can¡¯t I see any mana from it? Out of curiosity, he tried to focus more intently on the spider and once again saw its information appear. Weird, maybe it just doesn¡¯t leak any mana? At the thought, Alex looked down at the bare skin of his lower arms. He could see very faint wisps of deep blue light curling off of his skin. It looked similar to fog or dry ice that barely escaped from beneath his skin. When he looked up, he saw the spider staring at him. It was standing next to the trapped beast, and it waited for a few moments. Then one of its little arms seemed to point at Alex, then to the beast. It repeated this movement more than once. ¡°You want me¡­ to? What?¡± It repeated the motion before skittering away a few steps and continuing to watch him. Does it want me to kill the thing? Slowly, Alex set down his bag and removed the spatial pouch from it. He tied the container around his belt with the strings and reached his hand inside to remove the rapier. Focusing his desire to remove the item, it suddenly appeared in his hand as he pulled it out of the bag. Alex looked at the light sword with awe. Though the spider looked back with no change, so Alex took a step closer to the trapped monster. Still no change. Well, alright? Alex pulled back his arm and empowered it, using a bit of his mana to infuse the blade and drive it forward. The blow seemed to do little to no damage to the monster. It thrashed, and Alex noted that it had five gangly limbs and an abnormally long tongue. He took a step back and decided to try his thrust again while gaining some momentum with [Empowered Step]. He did so, and there was a noticeable reaction from the creature this time. When stepping back again, he noticed that the spider was still watching him patiently.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Alex attacked again and again, sweat dripping down his face, and the creature thrashed most desperately with each strike. His struggle reminded him, in a grim way, of his first stubborn fight against the slime. This time, each thrust was empowered with his mana. By the end, he was panting and had to put his hands on his knees. He¡¯d gained a level in [Mana Infusion], and the headache from low mana was beginning to creep in. He was willing to push himself with the spider watching, and his mana had lasted longer than anticipated. He was preparing for another thrust when the blue window surprised him. He got a notification for killing the monster as well as another title.
You have slain Cave Crawler - Level 40
Congratulations, Awakened! You have gained a Title! You gain: Title - Unbound
Another pair of notifications surprised him even more and he felt his head spin as the blue lights rushed into his body, followed by a shower of golden motes.
Congratulations Awakened. You have leveled up! You have 3 Free Points to distribute.
Congratulations Awakened. You have leveled up! You have 3 Free Points to distribute.
Two level-ups from one monster? Everything is happening too fast. I haven¡¯t even gotten to stop and look at the Hidden Quest reward or anything else. I need to put these points in and look at what the hell these Titles are. After distributing his Free Points, he received another notification about receiving a title. He dismissed it and looked over the massive changes his Status Window had undergone in the past day.
Congratulations, Awakened! You have gained a Title! You gain: Title - Control Freak
Status Name: Alex Moore - Level 7 Class: None HP: 160/200 MP: 170/370 Traits: (1/3) {Primordial Will} Titles: < Please Choose Display Title > Pathfinder Unbound Control Freak Physical Stats: Strength: 19 Agility: 20 Constitution: 20 Vitality: 21 Magical Stats: Intellect: 21 Willpower: 102 Mana: 21 + 16 Wisdom: 21 Bond Skills: [Mana Siphon] (Novice - Level 2) Primary Stat Shared - Mana Active Skills: [Mana Shaping] (Novice - Level 6) [Mana Infusion] (Novice - Level 6) [Empowered Step] (Novice - Level 5) Passive Skills: (None) Bound Items: Unique E Rank Growth Item - Heavenly Eye of the Celestial Sage
Alex¡¯s jaw almost slammed into the floor as he saw his stats. What is going on?! He focused his attention on the titles and read Pathfinder first.
Title: Pathfinder You have dared to venture into the unknown, and are rewarded with the title of Pathfinder. This honor reflects your courage, quick wit, and strength as one of the first 100 of your planet to accept a Hidden Quest. +10 to all stats
¡°Oh my¡­¡± The words slipped from Alex¡¯s mouth unbidden. 10 to all stats? My base physical stats were six or lower! That¡¯s an insane jump and even crazier, my trait multiplies the other points that go into Willpower- not just the Free Points? The reality of him accepting an unknown and ¡°Hidden¡± quest finally began to sink in a bit when he saw how large the reward was for simply accepting the quest. He thought back to the notification that the System had shown him that showed the Rarity and Rank of the Rift. It jumped up an entire Rank. Meaning that many of the monsters and beings in here went from E to D rank. I guess that makes sense as to why the Spider and Cave Crawler were so high-level. Fuck. I¡¯m a level 7 and am now stuck deep in a Rift surrounded by monsters at least level 30. ¡°System, you stingy bastard. You¡¯re only giving me +10 Points in my stats for this?¡± Alex said to the ceiling. When he thought about how bleak the situation was, he couldn¡¯t help but think that he¡¯d actually been short-changed. Grumbling, he opened the information panel for the title he¡¯d just received.
Title: Unbound You have defeated a monster ranked above your own, shattering the limits imposed upon you. This victory proves that no barrier can truly bind your potential. +5 to all stats
After seeing the ten to all stats from the last title, this one felt a bit more disappointing, even though he knew it was silly to feel that way. I didn¡¯t have to struggle for the kill at all. The spider just trapped the thing, and I fought it with zero risk to my life. Also, what are you being such a baby for? +5 to all stats would have doubled your stats yesterday, and you would have likely sold Val for such a title. Sharp chittering interrupted his thoughts as Val stopped siphoning mana from the web and ran his head into Alex¡¯s forehead. ¡°Yeah, okay, probably not.¡± Alex looked over to the spider and noticed that it was watching them. It rubbed its front legs together before turning to walk down the tunnel. After a short pause, it reappeared and looked at him before gesturing. Follow? Sure, why not¡­ Alex followed the spider for a bit before they arrived at another web, and it made similar motions for him to kill the Cave Crawler. It was easier to do this time around and he couldn¡¯t help but marvel at how fluid his body felt like he was moving. After killing the monster, the trio moved deeper into the tunnels. As they approached a third web, the monster stopped Alex from approaching. It took rushed steps toward Alex and raised its two shorter front arms. Then, it moved over to the web and wrapped up the creature in a web cocoon. Before it had finished, Alex noted that this was a different creature, almost like a giant insect. When the Mana Spinner was finished wrapping up its prey, it attached a few of the webs and brought them over to Alex. It set them down and scurried a few steps away. Ahh, I see what¡¯s happening now. You let me kill the monsters you don¡¯t want to eat, and in return, I act as your pack mule. He thought about this for a moment before shrugging. Sure, I¡¯ll carry your food around if you¡¯re willing to power-level me. This is a shitty situation, and the levels should really help me out. This process continued for the next several hours. Alex killed most of the monsters caught in webs while they wrapped up the insectoid creatures. His increased strength and stamina were immensely helpful in dragging the bodies. The stat increases must have been how I could run so far after accepting the hidden quest. Not to mention that jump. I didn¡¯t even make it with three times my original physical stats. I wouldn¡¯t have even been close if it weren¡¯t for the title. Alex promised himself that if he made it out of this scenario, he¡¯d begin working out and doing a better job of maintaining an athletic physique. Every certain number of tunnels, they¡¯d come to a web pattern that was abnormally thick. The spider would walk up and cut the web in the center. It would then usher Alex and Val through the opening before following through and resealing the wall of webs. After a time, Alex understood that they acted as checkpoints. Nothing could make it through the thick webs without alerting the spiders. He wondered how far they could detect the webs and wished for the hundredth time that he could communicate with these interesting creatures. Whenever Alex felt that he needed a break, he¡¯d stop and eat or drink. The spider always seemed to notice and would halt and watch him patiently. Val was in a particularly good mood as the spider didn¡¯t seem to mind him snacking on the webs. Alex was slightly embarrassed at how long it took him to realize that the webs were made of mana. He might have noticed it sooner, except that Val had trouble actually Siphoning the mana at first. The spider had noticed this and watched him for two stops with interest. When Alex was slaughtering the next trapped monster, the spider approached Val and created a small ball of mana for the mana wyrm. To Alex¡¯s eye, it appeared to be a wound ball of the mana string. He thought it was adorable as his companion carried it in its mouth from one trapped monster to the next. It took an hour of the mana wyrm continually trying before it finally started to glow brighter. With his new vision, it was really interesting for Alex to witness the [Mana Siphon] skill in action. It looked like the ball of webbed mana was being unraveled and turned into smoke, while on the other end of the skill, Val was inhaling the smoke. He¡¯s literally eating the mana. Mana Glutton, indeed. Hey! Maybe now you can stop eating all of my Mana Stones, I need to sell those! From that point on, Val had no problems adjusting to consume the web. However, during one particular Crawler, which was level 45 compared to most of them that were in the low 30s, Alex took a while longer to kill it. Val had apparently siphoned enough of the web corner away that the spider felt the need to come over and repair it. Alex was beginning to tire, and the spider noticed. Soon, it led them to an area that was particularly thick with mana webs and eventually opened up into a gigantic cavern. All around the cavern, small indents in the wall housed spider families. His heartbeat quickened despite the tired state, and he felt his skin begin to crawl. The hair on his neck stood on end, and Alex slowly started to back out, and into the tunnel, they¡¯d entered through. There are so many of them, holy hell. The Mana Spinner he¡¯d been following for hours rushed behind him and prodded him forward. He and Val were taken to one of those alcoves on the ground level. Several other spiders met them there, exchanging silent communication of some kind. Alex watched with interest as their mandibles moved quickly and their short arms moved about. Sometimes, they would point or turn their bodies to look at Alex and Val before returning to the conversation. One of the other spiders came over and gestured for Alex to step away from the cocoons he¡¯d been dragging along. At the end of their exchange, the spider he¡¯d been following gestured for them to enter before sealing up the patterned web door. They looked similar to the thick patterned checkpoints that Alex had noticed in their travels, but they were a bit more uniform and covered most of the other alcoves. No idea if we just became guests or prisoners. At least they''re nonhostile... Alex rubbed his forehead and let out a long breath. With his eyes closed, his tired legs threatened to give out. Level 9 and Level 7. I gained four levels, and Val gained seven in just a few hours of walking around and killing a half dozen trapped monsters. Maybe I should look more into some trap rituals, like how the Mana Spinners capture and fight. A few basic ones were listed in the book, but this just makes things too easy. He took a moment to stare at the title he¡¯d gained and dismissed after hitting level 7. While the name peeved him a bit, he couldn¡¯t help but thank his trait for skyrocketing him past 100 Willpower at such an early level. I wonder if there are more of these at different stat levels?
Title: Control Freak Your control over magic and strong will push you to the forefront of your race. You''re the first of your planet to reach 100 points in the Willpower stat. +2% to Willpower
Alex hadn¡¯t even known about titles and he felt a bit overwhelmed to get three of them in a single day. It was becoming increasingly clear that his situation was anything but normal, even by fantasy System standards. Look at that, Val, world first... literally. Mark is going to shit himself. Also, this kind of growth can¡¯t last forever. The walk between monsters was getting longer toward the end of the day. Not to mention that the gap between myself and the monsters will only grow smaller, meaning less experience per kill. I''ll have to figure this out after I rest. My thoughts are too scattered. ¡°Val, I¡¯ve got to get some sleep. I need you to keep watch.¡± Alex didn¡¯t feel guilty asking his companion to stay up and keep watch. The little wyrm had curled up and slept on his shoulder multiple times during their trip through the tunnels. While it felt unnerving to be in a spider jail cell in the middle of their colony, Alex felt safer than he had since he stepped into the Rift. He sat down, rested his back against the wall facing the door, and put his pack on his lap to protect his stomach and neck. He rested his chin on the top of the pack and fell asleep within seconds. 29. Ritualist Urgent chittering woke Alex from a deep sleep. His mind did its best to kick into gear and remember where he was and what was happening. By reflex, Alex shoved his bag to the side and stood up in a crouch, looking around the dark alcove they¡¯d been sleeping in. Before his sleepy brain had fully recovered, light flooded into the small cave as the door made of webs was sliced open down the middle. A spider was on the other side of the opening. It moved back to create space for them and waited patiently. A minute went by as Alex caught up to everything that happened, and he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He grabbed his pack and ushered Val out of the room as well. Alex stretched when he stood to his full height and felt very well rested, though still sore and battered from the experiences the day before. The spider moved its mandibles and gestured for Alex to follow as it moved off out of the central nest. Alex looked around the large colony of Mana Spinners once more before he followed the spider. As they walked, he thought through the events that had transpired the day before. It had all happened so fast, and his body was pushed to its limit. He¡¯d learned a lot of valuable information from Eura, namely, that the System integration could fail, which would result in all of Earth getting fractured into ¡°broken worlds¡± to be used as Rifts. This terrifying thought added a whole new level of gravity to the situation. Alex wanted to berate himself more for taking the entire situation too lightly and not approaching this with his friends. Then, after meeting a friendly spider and killing a half dozen monsters, he¡¯d gained six levels. While Alex was elated with that, he couldn¡¯t help but be a bit confused. Their levels had been so much higher than his, and he¡¯d seen two levels received for the first kill. So why didn¡¯t I get more levels? He was sure that it might be dangerous to do so, but he tried to apply video game logic to the System. Am I getting some kind of penalty because I¡¯m not doing the work? If that was the case, Alex couldn¡¯t help but think that the System was actually being quite generous. The thing that was eating away at Alex the most, though, was the reward he¡¯d received for accepting the hidden quest. The eye and Val¡¯s bond were the only reasons he could navigate the spider tunnels with any certainty. The spider''s webs were frequent and spaced through the tunnel, and they glowed faintly in the view of his left eye, giving him the ability to tell the depth and side of the walls within the dark tunnels. His right eye was largely useless in this environment, where the only thing he could really see was the occasional movement of Val or the spider he was following. As they walked, Alex pulled up his Status Window and was startled to note that he could see the System window in perfect clarity through both eyes. He focused on the Heavenly Eye under ¡°Bound Items¡± to get more details on it as a growth item.
Bound Items E Rank Growth Item - Heavenly Eye of the Celestial Sage Rarity: Unique Type: Ocular Enhancement This ocular enhancement replaces the eye of the wielder, granting the passive ability to perceive mana and its movement within the environment. As the wielder''s control over magic increases, the clarity and strength of this vision will enhance accordingly. The Eye lets the user focus their will to reveal detailed information about items, materials, or entities through the System. The accuracy and detail of the information obtained are contingent on the wielder¡¯s Willpower being greater than the target''s, with more details accessible as the gap in Willpower widens.
Alright, that''s terrifying but makes sense. These hues of blue that I¡¯m seeing are mana from my surroundings. Val has been glowing as he emits some mana, and apparently, so do I. Our spider friends leak very little mana. Maybe this is to aid them in hunting? More importantly, the second part explains how I saw the information about the spider yesterday. I was scared and wanted to know what the spider was so I must have activated the eye unintentionally. Alex decided to try it again on the spider that was leading them now, but he felt that he was unable to do so. The sensation was odd. Alex felt the same pulse in his forehead as before, and he could feel his Will push forward. However, as his sense of purpose and desire reached out toward the spider, it was like hitting a brick wall. The spider froze for a moment before turning back to him. It gestured around erratically and then stared at Alex as if waiting. The three of them stood in silence for some time with the spider just watching him. Maybe it wants me to try again? That, or it¡¯s pissed that I tried, and this is going to annoy it even more¡­ Alex tried again and was surprised to find some information appearing with no effort at all.
Mana Spinner- Level 41 Class: Ethereal Web Hunter
The spider dipped its head before continuing down the tunnel as if they hadn¡¯t just stood in silence for the last few minutes. Alex let out a sigh of relief and wondered if this was the same spider from the day before. The information presented was the same as the one before. Did it work this time because he wanted to show me this information? I¡¯m guessing that means his Willpower is higher than mine. This was slightly surprising to Alex. Even though the spider drastically out-leveled him, Alex had been getting nine points into his Willpower for every level, not to mention the bump from his recent titles. Val bumped his head against Alex¡¯s. He gave Val a scratch and thought of his companion, who was also a beast. Alex took his index finger and ran it along the top fin and against the cold scales of his bonds back. He thought about the progress his companion had made and the growth that was already evident. You get a lot more stats when leveling up compared to me. Maybe all monsters do, and the Mana Spinners just get more in Willpower? Valtherion keened, and Alex wondered what he was trying to communicate. He smiled and gently pushed away his companion. The small wyrm did a lap around his head before zipping around the tunnel. Alex wanted to inspect some of the items that he¡¯d gained yesterday to see how they worked on items. He drew his rapier and inspected it, having no issue as the pulse from behind his eyes looked down at the weapon in his hand.
E Rank Item - Shadow Serpent¡¯s Fang Rapier Rarity: Common Type: One-Handed Sword
Gah, the names of the things in this Rift are ridiculous. He sheathed the rapier and was interested to try and scan the spatial bag that he¡¯d taken. It was attached to his hip, and he carefully untied the bag. That item, in particular, was of great interest to Alex. He had played a few tabletop RPG games with Mark, and he¡¯d always thought that the idea of a bag of holding was just so cool. He focused on it and was surprised to see that it was just considered an Uncommon item, not something higher like epic or legendary.
E Rank Item - Spatial Satchel of the Abyss Rarity: Uncommon Type: Container
Maybe they¡¯re somewhat normal? At least that would make it easier to find more. Alex shrugged, happy to have gained this one for free. Regardless of their System-graded rarity, he could only imagine how much one might sell for in terms of Earth currency. Curious to test how it worked, he bent down as he followed his spider guide and grabbed a rock. He dropped it into the bag and was satisfied to see that it vanished and the weight of the bag didn¡¯t change at all. Alex reached his hand into the bag and tried to feel around. It was eerie to move his hand around and be unable to feel any items or even the walls of the bag, which his eyes were telling him should be only a few inches away. It gave him the chills and was unnerving that it reminded him of when he needed to stick his hand into the garbage disposal. Guess an entire generation can thank a certain movie series for that irrational fear¡­ As he turned his thoughts back to the rock he¡¯d just dropped into the pouch, he felt it slap into his palm. Removing his hand, he had to stop himself from laughing out loud. Just as Eura had told him, the pouch operated off of intent. Alex just needed to think of the item he wanted, and it would leap into his hand from the space beyond. Happy as a little kid on Christmas, Alex reattached the spatial bag to his belt and began thinking about all the different things he could potentially store in it. How big is the space? Can I fit my whole backpack in there? Then I wouldn¡¯t even need to lug all of this weight around. Though I did go on a bit of a looting spree, so there¡¯s a clear limit I was hitting. While he wanted to test it out, he knew there would be plenty of opportunities later. At that moment, the spider was waiting for his attention. They¡¯d arrived at the first web, and Alex was up. He removed his rapier once again and went to work. As they moved from one to the other, Alex devoted himself to thinking about classes and potential choices he might make. Since he¡¯d jumped up four levels the previous day, While he knew that he should look for something that aided in survival, the recent titles took off some of the immediate pressure to go all in on Constitution or other physical stats. Alex came to the conclusion that he¡¯d continue to look for a class dealing with magic or rituals, more specifically. Alex knew that he¡¯d been relying heavily on his body rather than magic this entire time. Even when he was using his wand, he was still empowering his body for movement and using the [Empowered Steps] skill. Since he¡¯d lost his wand he¡¯d been using physical attacks even more, but this isn¡¯t what he wanted to be doing. It was more out of necessity, and he didn¡¯t know how to use any magic other than rituals yet.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. He made the plan that as soon as he hit level 10, he would look at his options and then think through them during the rest of their day hunting. The current method of killing the trapped creatures for the spiders held very little danger for him, so there wasn¡¯t a need to rush the decision. It was only a few hours before he had killed a Cave Crawler and gotten a particular notification.
Congratulations Awakened. You have leveled up! You have 3 Free Points to distribute.
Congratulations, Awakened. You have reached Level 10. Please choose your Class. This choice can be changed at different points in your journey.
He grinned from ear to ear, and as he breathed out, it came out shaky with excitement. But he forced himself himself to wait, his excitement dulled as he remembered what he¡¯d missed out on the day before. Alex went to the slain monster and used the knife from his pack to cut into the Cave Crawler¡¯s chest. He¡¯d forgotten to check for Mana Stones in his exhaustion the day before and the desire to keep up with his monster-guide. He was slightly concerned at the greed he was experiencing in this new way of life but still diligently checked each of the kills that day. He¡¯d been adamant about stopping at every monster after finding the first Mana Stone and noted that it was purple instead of blue and slightly larger than his other Mana Stones. He could only assume that was due to this now being a D Rank Rift. This additional time seemed to make the spider slightly impatient as it took a few more minutes, but there were no outward signs other than how he moved his little arms back and forth faster as he watched Alex. Once the trio moved through the tunnels again, he held his breath and mentally selected the class window to see his options. He was surprised by the number presented to him.
Rogue Common A stealthy individual skilled in agility and cunning. Rogues excel in evasion and surprise, often relying on quick strikes and clever tactics to outmaneuver their foes. Primary Class Stat: Agility Secondary Class Stat: Vitality
Mage Common A practitioner of the arcane arts, Mages harness magical energies to cast spells. They are knowledgeable in various forms of magic, focusing on power and overwhelming magical force. Primary Class Stat: Intellect Secondary Class Stat: Mana
Upon seeing the second option, Alex let out a sigh of relief. Worst case scenario, he had some sort of magical option to fall back on and he would hopefully receive Stat Points in two very useful stats. He continued on to the rest of the classes that were presented.
Duelist Uncommon A master of one-on-one combat, Duelists rely on precision and skill to outmatch their opponents. With quick reflexes and tactical prowess, they thrive in controlled combat, turning every encounter into a dance of blades. Primary Class Stat: Agility Secondary Class Stat: Constitution
Wizard Uncommon A disciplined spellcaster. Wizards specialize in the art of controlled magic. They focus on the intricacies of spellcraft, utilizing their knowledge to manipulate magical energies with precision and finesse. Primary Class Stat: Willpower Secondary Class Stat: Intellect
Padfoot Uncommon A swift and silent infiltrator. Padfoots excel in moving across distances with speed. They employ agility and nimble movement skills to bypass obstacles. While a sibling class to the rogue, Padfoots trade stealth for speed. Primary Class Stat: Agility Secondary Class Stat: Vitality
These looked even more promising. He was surprised that he was getting so many agility-based classes. Though maybe I shouldn¡¯t be. Olivia said the System gives classes based on personality and how you¡¯ve gained your first ten levels. I¡¯ve been doing a lot of running and dodging instead of just spellcasting. As he looked at his last two class options, both in the Rare category, Alex couldn¡¯t help but smile broadly.
Ritualist Rare A practitioner of ancient rites and ceremonies, Ritualists tap into mystical forces through carefully crafted rituals. They summon energies from the ether, weaving spells that can protect allies or bind enemies. Their deep understanding of the esoteric allows them to manipulate the fabric of magic with intent. Primary Class Stat: Wisdom Secondary Class Stat: Constitution Tertiary Class Stats: Agility, Intellect, Willpower
Arcane Scholar Rare Devoted to the pursuit of arcane knowledge, Arcane Scholars focus on the theoretical aspects of magic rather than its direct application. They immerse themselves in research, seeking to understand the intricacies of mana and magical lore. Their analytical minds excel in crafting spell-formulae for scholarly exploration and experimental purposes, often prioritizing understanding over utility. Primary Class Stat: Intellect Secondary Class Stat: Willpower Tertiary Class Stats: Wisdom, Vitality
While Alex had planned to wait until the end of the day to pick his class option, after seeing the options, he didn¡¯t feel it was necessary. The only two real choices in his mind were the rare options presented to him. While Arcane Scholar sounded like a great choice, there were a few reasons that Alex was leaning toward Ritualist. Arcane Scholar, while following the path that he was currently on with a focus on Willpower and studying magic, it felt like there were too many redundancies with things he already had. Did he really need analytical spells if he just got something like the Heavenly Eye? Also, even though he was interested in the study of magic, the scholarly option seemed to be heavily focused on research rather than adventuring. The idea of being stuck inside, designing spells for other adventurers rather than using them himself, felt too much like his old life. Lastly, Alex feared that if he didn''t prioritize getting more Constitutions, it would lead to an early death. Additionally, getting too much Willpower with his trait could cause an irreparable imbalance in his stats. He¡¯d seen superhero movies or cartoons where someone with far too much dexterity and speed lacked the constitution or physical strength to withstand the high speeds. In turn, it led to scary side effects like breaking bones or tearing muscles with every movement. The idea that Ritualist gave him stats he felt he was sorely missing was a big boon. Additionally, it leaned into the kind of magic he¡¯d already begun studying. It¡¯s got to be Ritualist. It¡¯s a perfect fit for what I¡¯ve been doing and even what I plan to do in the future. With growing excitement, Alex mentally selected Ritualist as his class and opened his new Status Window.
Status Name: Alex Moore - Level 10 Class: Ritualist (Novice) HP: 220/220 MP: 246/400 Traits: (1/3) {Primordial Will} Titles: < Please Choose Display Title > Pathfinder Unbound Control Freak Physical Stats: Strength: 19 Agility: 21 Constitution: 22 Vitality: 21 Magical Stats: Intellect: 22 Willpower: 144 Mana: 21 + 19 Wisdom: 24 Bond Skills: [Mana Siphon] (Novice - Level 9) Primary Stat Shared - Mana Active Skills: [Mana Shaping] (Novice - Level 7) [Mana Infusion] (Novice - Level 8) [Empowered Step] (Novice - Level 5) [Ritual Insight] (Novice - Level 1) Passive Skills: [Efficient Rites] (Tier I) Bound Items: Unique E Rank Growth Item - Heavenly Eye of the Celestial Sage
Alex smiled as he saw his new Status Window and felt pleased with himself to see it growing longer each time he checked it. His mana had increased, which meant that he would need to check on Val¡¯s Status Window soon, too. In the meantime, he just focused on his two new skills and read their descriptions.
[Ritual Insight] - Allows the Ritualist to gain insights into the functionality of a new ritual and potential enhancements for a known ritual.
[Efficient Rites] - Reduces the mana cost for activating rituals.
Satisfied with his choice, Alex closed the System windows and refocused on the task at hand. He¡¯d be able to spend more time in the evening testing out his new skills with rituals. They spent several more hours making their way through the long tunnels and corridors. Alex found it fascinating that the Mana Spinner never got lost or passed through the same hunting ground more than once. Once they¡¯d finished, Alex was dragging six bundles behind himself. They bounced and dragged across the rocky ground. He¡¯d thought about trying to put some of the corpses into his spatial bag but remembered it was full of the items he¡¯d swiped from the altar. So he was forced to pull them manually. Val followed along, perfectly content to share in the experience that Alex was getting and to eat the mana webs. When they returned to the colony, the spiders dragged the corpses away. However, Alex and Val were not immediately ushered into their room this time. They were able to sit and rest in the open cavern while eating some of the rations from Alex¡¯s pack. The cavern was spacious, and a nice breeze entered from a high overhead space. That same space let in some light in the morning, though that was long passed. Alex now could only see around the cave with the use of his left eye, but he was thankful that the only thing that contained visible mana in the cave were the webs. Some of the arachnid monsters leaked mana, but Alex assumed they were the children, as their profiles were even smaller than his guide''s. Alex observed their movements and interactions. He noted that the colony was full of life and activity. The constant interactions and bustle of the Mana Spinners made him once again wish that he could listen in on their conversations through the mana webs. As time passed, Alex grew bored and decided to enter his ¡°room¡± and mess with some of his supplies and ritual training material. If he could move the ritual materials to the spatial bag, it would make it much easier to put one together quickly rather than digging through his pack for the particular materials the ritual called for. He flagged down a nearby spider and first tried to speak to it. Several of those who were skittering around halted and shrunk away from his voice. He was surprised by how loud it sounded in this naturally quiet environment. Alex held up his hands and instead tried to gesture to the door of his little alcove and ask to be let in. The spider watched him and then ran away, causing Alex to sigh and sit back down. Val flew over and nestled into his lap, and Alex began to stroke the soft fin along the back of his body. With my gains, I can¡¯t even be annoyed at them making me sit here. I¡¯m level 11 now. That¡¯s six levels in a day and a half, and I¡¯ve barely had to do anything. He thought back to the fights he had with the boars and the wolves. He¡¯d risked his life several times in the last two weeks just to gain his first five levels. Now, he¡¯d gained more than that in just two days of being trapped in this hell-like Rift. I guess this is the difference between playing it safe like I did when camping with the others in the boar Rift, killing just a handful on my own here and there, compared to risking it all and accepting an unknown Hidden Quest that ends up boosting the rank of the entire Rift¡­ Val cooed softly in response. An hour later, a spider appeared and immediately cut the door, letting Alex into the room. Alex was unsure of how to thank the little spider without words and just waved at it lamely. Soon, the door was sealed back up, and the two were alone. While Alex felt somewhat tired, he was sure his stats affected his energy levels. He felt like he¡¯d have no problem staying awake for two or three more hours. He turned off the lantern to conserve oil and instead brought out two chem-lights from his pack and cracked them. They created a green glow in the small space that was soft enough to see by but wasn¡¯t overly bright. Alex grinned, excited to test how his new Ritualist class and skills worked. 30. Consumables Alex¡¯s third and fourth days with the Mana Spinners went much the same as the first two. They would wake up early, or at least what felt like early to Alex¡¯s internal clock, and begin walking the tunnels. As Val¡¯s level increased, so did Alex¡¯s Mana. This allowed him to begin using his [Empowered Step] between the web traps. He was surprised to note that the Mana Spinner had no problem keeping up with him, as it could attach a web to him as he leaped forward and glide along the webs of mana with almost no friction. While this increased the speed of the group throughout the day, the distance between traps with monsters in them continued to grow. After another two full days of farming hapless monsters, Alex managed to reach level 15, and Val had all but caught up and was level 14. It was beginning to get to the point where Alex felt uncomfortable with the rapid growth. It felt unearned to him, at least compared to how much he''d had to struggle for his first five levels. It was on the fifth day in the Rift that Alex found himself a bit confused and bored. While Val had woken him up as soon as the spiders approached their small room, they hadn¡¯t immediately left to begin hunting the webs. Instead, the spider had constructed a two-foot high semi-circle fence of webs around his room''s doorway. It gave him something of a minimal, city-sized ¡°front yard.¡± This allowed him a small amount of space to move in or out of the room, but it was clear that they wanted him to stay put. At first, Alex had shrugged and busied himself by looking over Valtherion¡¯s Status Window.
Status Name: Valtherion - Level 14 Race: Mana Wyrm (Tier 1) HP: 230/230 MP: 860/430 Traits: (1/6) {Mana Glutton} Physical Stats: Strength: 5 Agility: 12 Constitution: 23 Vitality: 25 Magical Stats: Intellect: 31 Willpower: 28 + 96 Mana: 43 Wisdom: 34 Bond Skills: [Mana Infusion] (Novice - Level 9) Primary Stat Shared - Willpower Active Skills: [Mana Siphon] (Novice - Level 9) [Create Lesser Illusion] (Novice - Level 3) Passive Skills: [Magical Resistance] (Tier 1)
While the titles had done a lot to ease the sting that Alex felt about his low stats, it was clear from seeing Val¡¯s growth that the little mana wyrm would greatly outstrip him in the long run. Seeing that the Ritualist class did, in fact, allow him to gain Stat Points in other categories also helped greatly. When he saw that he got eight stat points per level, he thought back to his talk with Olivia. Even though it had only been days before, it felt like it had been weeks ago. She had mentioned that her class received eight points, which he now understood to mean that she picked a Rare class as he had. On each level up, he¡¯d begun to gain 3 Points in Wisdom, 2 Points in Constitution, and then 1 Point each into Agility, Intellect, and Willpower. Once he¡¯d seen the distribution of points, Alex had spent some time during their tunnel walks to think about why the System set the class up this way. In the end, the only magical stat that wasn¡¯t awarded at least one point with the class was Mana. At first, he¡¯d found this odd until he remembered reading in the forums on the AG app that many of the ritual schematics called for multiple people to participate because of mana costs. If people using rituals were used to working pairs and having multiple mana pools to draw from, then it would make sense that they might not be concerned about increasing their Mana stat too much. Not receiving any strength also made sense, but he had been somewhat surprised by the agility increase. Alex assumed that the increase was less likely to be used by most Ritualists for dodging and instead as a way to increase coordination. After checking over Val¡¯s and his own Status Window, Alex found himself out of immediate things to do. So, he began to rearrange his supplies. He entered his small alcove and pulled the door as closed as possible before cracking two more chem-lights. They lasted for a long time, and if he tossed one on the floor and held the other, it was easy to see. After the glass on his lantern had broken, Alex tried not to use it as much and mainly had gotten by with seeing Mana through his new ocular enhancement. He laid out all of his belongings and was sad to see that the rations of food he¡¯d packed were almost at their end. He wasn¡¯t sure he¡¯d be able to stay with the spiders much longer if he didn¡¯t find a food source. Next, he emptied the contents of the spatial bag. There were all kinds of items that he hadn¡¯t taken the time to look at as he grabbed them and stuffed them into the bag. There were different articles of dark-colored clothing, several vials of liquid, and many, many weapons. Repacking his bag, he left out the most used items and the most valuable items; this included the items that Eura had advised him to take. It also had some other things like his cell phone, a survival manual that he¡¯d bought from the camping store, a water filter, a small first aid kit, a small mirror, and a Swiss army knife. In addition to the important survival items, he had prebagged materials that he thought he might use for rituals. They were neatly organized and labeled into waterproof bags. Alex was able to fit all of these into the spatial bag without issue. He began packing up most of the heavier or pointier items after the essentials, knowing that they would be the most difficult to carry if he didn¡¯t abandon his camping pack altogether. When he was done organizing and sorting his look, Alex reached into the bag and pulled the three manuals he¡¯d taken from the altar room out. Each was dark purple and clearly made by hand. The paper was thick, and the spine was bound with thick thread. Alex was surprised to find that he could read the words on the manuals with no problem. Even skimming through the pages, the words and images all made sense. Maybe it shouldn¡¯t be that surprising. The manuals that people are selling at the Auction House are from Rifts, right? Come to think of it. I could understand Eura and the Celestial Sect members that chased after me¡­ He decided that there wasn¡¯t much point in running his mind in circles around the issue. The System clearly had immense power, and if magical skills and spells weren¡¯t causing him to overthink things, an innate ability to translate human languages also shouldn¡¯t been too surprising.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ¡°The Veil of the Viper: The Arts of Shadow Fencing,¡± Alex read aloud. He flipped through the pages and saw several different forms of fighting with a rapier similar to the one he had taken. Knowing that this would be very helpful, he set it to the side and looked at the other two. ¡°The Shadowed Path: Initiate¡¯s Primer and Mirage: Mastery of Phantasmal Deception.¡± He flipped through the first and was pleased to see that it was a basic manual, similar to the one he had gotten on Rituals. These three skills, or as they were referred to in the manuals, techniques, were the foundation for the Shadow Serpent Sect¡¯s fighting style. It was harder to understand the opening in the Mirage manual, but it appeared to be a higher-level illusion technique, perhaps given to the altar by someone high-ranked in the sect. For the moment, Alex decided to put away the high level manual and just focus on the ''Initiate¡¯s Primer''. If this has got more skills in it that could help me fight back or escape, I need all the help I can get. Sorry, Eura. Before opening it, Alex decided to scan the manual using his Celestial Eye. He¡¯d begun practicing scanning items and materials, interested to see what information the System would return him. Doing this also gave him a better understanding of how much he could push the ocular enhancement before he began to feel some backlash in the form of a painful migraine. The text appeared above the manual was not that surprising, however the System message that appeared was very intriguing and caused Alex to sit back against the wall and give it some more thought.
E Rank Item - The Shadowed Acolyte: Initiate¡¯s Primer Rarity: Common Type: (Consumable) Technique Manual
You have identified a Technique Manual. Would you like to consume this item? Yes/No
Consumable item? Can I consume my ritual manual? What about these other ones? Excitement built in his chest as he removed his Basic Rituals Manual and the other two manuals from the shadow sect. He scanned each of them in turn. Alex cursed to himself as neither the ritual manual nor the sword technique manual contained the ¡®Consumable¡¯ keyword in the type category. The only upside was that the advanced technique book did have it. He wondered at what might be the difference between the manuals, but couldn¡¯t figure out what it might be. He returned all of the extras, once again, to the bag and looked at the ''Initiate¡¯s Primer''. There were three techniques within and he could see their names, some diagrams of mana flow that the book kept referring to as Qi, and the specific way he should think about the technique activating. Do I want to learn these skills? Lunge, Shadow Step, and Blur. Lunge and blur seem useful but are clearly geared toward melee fighting. Shadow Step seems cool as hell¡­ it doesn¡¯t fit well with what I¡¯m going for, though. I already have [Empowered Step] for a movement skill, would it be smart to have another? Alex thought back to his time with the wolves in the Common Rarity Rift. He had empowered his own steps with [Mana Infusion] several times before earning the skill and he noticed how the skill activation seemed to just be a more efficient version of the crude one he had made on his own. Could I just learn and practice these skills without consuming the book, and try to work them into my own skills with their teaching as a concept? The one of the three that interested him the most was Shadow Step. If he could incorporate part of that speed and point-to-point movement that the manual described into his [Empowered Step] skill, he might get something truly unique. To Alex, Lunge seemed like something he could already do by empowering his rear leg and stepping forward with power, causing him to slide forward along the ground. He had been doing this almost nonstop with the rapier and trapped monsters. Lastly, while Blur seemed interesting, it looked like a weaker version of the illusionary technique that the advanced manual had. Alex sat back and began reading through the section of the manual that had information on Shadow Step. The concepts were a bit more esoteric than the information in the ritual manual. Connect your mind and spirit with a destination¡¯s shadow¡­ Cycle your Qi to the Rhythm of the Earth¡­ An hour passed, and Alex decided to call it a day and move on to something else. He wanted to try the new [Ritualist Insight] skill he¡¯d gained with his class and to practice some of his rituals using the spatial bag. He scratched his head as he swapped the manuals out and wished for the hundredth time that had a more modern way to produce light, like a headlamp or a flashlight. Alex removed one of his sketchbooks and looked over some of the last notes he¡¯d been working on before stumbling into this Rift. The Weight-Reduction ritual was the one that he was most familiar with at this point, though it was likely not one that he¡¯d need to use very often. The composition of shapes and the lower mana cost had made it an easy ritual to practice so far. I have no idea how this even works. Alex looked at a drawing that had very few notes on it, but almost the entire page was taken up by the ritual circle itself. While the drawing was too small actually to use as a ritual circle, he had tried to emulate the Ritual Basics Manual when making his drawings, keeping everything proportional and precise. Can it work on this, or does it need to be an actual full-blown ritual? With a mental push, he willed [Ritual Insight] to activate. The effect was immediate; he felt a pulse from behind his eyes, similar to what he felt when activating his Heavenly Eye. Then, everything he already knew about the ritual was amplified as if knowledge were being put directly into his head. He suddenly had a better understanding of the base shapes of the ritual and how the mana flowed through it. Not only that, but he felt a few small hints when looking at the drawing that seemed to jump out at him. Holy hell, that¡¯s a crazy way to learn something. Other than feeling slightly violated, like he was suddenly a human USB getting information uploaded to his brain through the System, he couldn¡¯t believe how smoothly that worked. There was almost no resistance when activating the skill; it simply activated, and then knowledge streamed into his head. Just by looking at the same drawing he¡¯d made before the use of the skill, Alex could see a few minor ways to improve the Ritual schematic. He could adjust one of the node locations that housed a catalyst, which would make the ritual more mana-efficient. He also thought he had an idea of how to flip the ritual''s purpose from a Weight Reducing ritual to a Weight Increasing ritual. Wow, that¡¯s trippy. Where was this kind of learning when Mark and I were in college? Alex spent several more minutes flipping through the rest of his drawings and attempting to activate the skill again. Unfortunately, it didn¡¯t work on a single one. Alex could only think of one reason why it wasn¡¯t working. Does the skill have some kind of cooldown? Even if I don¡¯t know these rituals, as well as the Weight-Reducing one, the skill states that it would at least work to reveal the functionality of a new ritual. So, I would think that I¡¯d get some kind of feedback or mana drain if it was activating. Alex shrugged and resolved to try the skill several more times over the next few hours to get a feel for how long the cooldown was. The alcove was beginning to feel a bit stuffy and Alex thought he might like to watch some of the spiders moving about as he prepared the ritual. He cautiously moved out of the alcove holding the chem-lights, unsure of how the Mana Spinners would respond. I guess if they freak out, I¡¯ll need to keep them in the room with the netting closed¡­ Alex flipped through the manual as he stepped out of the sliced web door. His small, allotted area had just enough space to make some of the less complex ritual circles. He watched the Mana Spinners¡¯ reactions. A few stopped and seemed interested, but he was happy to see that they didn¡¯t respond to the soft glow as poorly as they did to loud noises. Now, I just need to figure out which ritual to practice that won¡¯t disturb them too much¡­ 31. Bonds Alex spent a few minutes flipping through his ''Basic Rituals'' manual before he found one that he was comfortable practicing with. He was trying to be considerate to the Mana Spinners around him, so he took extra time to find something that was nonlethal, didn¡¯t cause bright lights or loud noises, but was still in the range of difficulty that he could complete it. While he could go with the Weight-Reducing ritual, he¡¯d already made that one multiple times and thought it would be best to practice creating more abstract ones. He wiped his foot across the stone ground, doing his best to remove debris, as he got the chalk out from his pouch. Taking a deep breath, Alex read through the basic instructions on the Silencing Ritual. ¡®Silencing Ritual¡­creates a small, localized area of 2-3 meters, where all sound is dampened or fully muted for a short period.¡¯ Hmm¡­ it looks like a bit more complicated than the one that reduced weight, but it¡¯s still got a pentagon as the core. Skimming the shapes and their purpose, he noted that this ritual used an ellipse in the center of the outer square to create soft focal points and draw in the sound waves. There were more straight lines to guide the energy toward another set of curves that were meant to absorb residual energy. It says here that the most common mistake is drawing the outer set of curved lines too hastily or imprecisely. The effect may be too weak to absorb the sound, which would then cause the sound to be muted rather than completely silenced. Alex crouched and got to work, doing his best to make the chalk lines clean and precise despite the slightly uneven cavern surface. Once he finished, he pulled the three Catalysts needed for the ritual from his pouch. He was pleased with how easy it was to mentally call the correct items to his hand and then remove them from their waterproof bags. A soft cloth, a bit of sand, and mana from a Mana Stone. He pulled the items out in sequence and placed them into their nodes before pulsing his own mana into the ritual structure. Just as before, there was a soft glow of blue energy, that appeared very bright as he was able to see it in both of his eyes. His right eye saw the worldly glow of mana coming into the physical plane through the ritual. At the same time, he was fascinated to see the process through his left eye. Before the mana was brought through the ritual, he could see how the pathways and shapes moved or distributed the mana. Nice. Alex thought as he saw the ritual didn¡¯t even take a tenth of his overall mana pool. Between my increased mana pool, the new passive skill, and adding a Mana Stone to the catalysts, this just got a whole lot better! Once the ritual finished, Alex stepped back, pleased with himself. From the corner of his eye, he noticed that he had a small audience. There were five Mana Spinners quietly watching him. With their mana control, I¡¯m sure they¡¯re able to tell that I¡¯m doing magic. I wonder what they¡¯re thinking¡­ Alex smiled and picked up a nearby rock. He tossed it up a few feet and watched with satisfaction as it landed in the ritual center but made no sound at all. His smile only grew as he felt the childish urge to step into the circle and yell at the top of his lungs. Normally when he even spoke at a normal volume, the spiders would react and move away from him. But even with him screaming bloody murder in the middle of the ritual circle, his five onlookers didn¡¯t even flinch. Wow, they really can¡¯t hear me at all. This is awesome. A few minutes went by, and Alex began to clean up the materials and wipe away the chalk. As he did so, he thought about how he might use this ritual in his normal life. While there might be use if he was making a lot of noise himself, he thought that it might be more interesting if he prevented sound from entering the ritual area. At least then, I might get some more peace and quiet in the city¡­ As he had the thought, Alex paused. Why can¡¯t I make it do that? I¡¯ve learned the basics of these rituals. Could I just change some of the nodes or the mana flow? What if I changed the curved lines that absorb sounds to instead funnel noise through triangles and instead of an internal ellipse that softens the sound, I use a square to prevent the flow of sound and mana? I¡¯ll need to draw it out, but that really could work¡­ He finished cleaning up the materials and noted that several of the spiders had moved away, but one was slowly making its way closer. Through his Eye, Alex could see a small mana web reaching out toward him, vibrating softly. He tried his best to gesture and shrug his shoulders to let the little monster know that he couldn¡¯t understand what it was saying. There was a pause, but it must have understood as it retracted the web and stared at Alex. After a few moments, it began to gesture with its smaller forearms toward him and then the ground. It moved its legs around and bounced up and down in an expressive manner. Alex held up the piece of chalk and the spider pointed at it, then the ground. Do you want me to do it again? Figuring that it would just be more practice, he crouched down and began to draw the circle again. The green glow guided his chalk as he did his best to focus and keep the shapes precise. About halfway through the base shape, his hand slipped due to a distraction. He stood up and stepped back, surprised. Holy¡­ Through his left eye, he could see mana webs that had been following after his chalk. They were leading back to the small spider outside of his small area. Are you tracing the lines? To make your own ritual? Excited by the thought, Alex continued to redraw the Silencing Ritual. The mana webs followed it the whole way through the process; at the end, a small layer of webs hovered over the exact shape of the entire circle. Alex reached for his pouch to grab the Catalysts once again, but the Mana Spinner moved forward quickly and raised its little front legs. It skittered off, leaving Alex alone. He scratched his head and looked closely at the webbing, interested in how fine the detail was with the thin threads. Shortly after, the spider returned holding two small wrapped bundles against its chest with its small forelimbs. Both bundles were wrapped in a fine silk cloth that seemed to glow a blue-white in his enhanced vision. One bundle held crushed-up dirt, while the other held a shattered Mana Stone. The spider handed him both bundles. Intrigued, Alex shrugged and placed them in the Catalyst position. As he handled the cloth, he realized that it had been woven from the spider¡¯s mana webbing. While he might have expected it to be more ethereal because it was essentially made from mana, it was clear that they¡¯d mastered the process of making the mana webs solid and strong. Once the materials were in place, he stepped back and gestured for the spider to step up. Rather than moving, the spider sent out a tendril of mana that Alex could see with his eye. He was fascinated to watch it touch the top of the ritual circle. Then, it flashed quickly with mana, causing the ritual to activate. Well, that¡¯s a clever way to activate the ritual. Mentally, Alex took notes. If he could extend or project his mana, he wouldn¡¯t need to touch the ritual while in combat to activate it. Once it was activated, the spider was very animated and skittered away before coming back with a small group. They talked through their mana threads and gestured around as they spoke silently. After several minutes, one of them approached, and Alex was curious about what they might do. It gestured several more times before Alex thought he understood. Do they want me to teach them more? I mean, it would be good practice for me too¡­The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Alex pondered the request before deciding there was something he might want in return. He did his best to extend his mana in a very small tendril toward the spider. This frightened it at first, but as Alex stopped its extension and did his best to focus on making it vibrate several times, the intelligent beast seemed to understand. Several of the surrounding spiders bounced up and down, and Alex was certain that they were laughing at him. Before he could begin to feel self-conscious, the spider in front of him bowed up and down several times. I guess we have a deal, then? The next several days followed this pattern. Alex would wake up, and they would not go hunting the webs. Instead, Alex would practice in his room. He would spend some time alone, focusing on combining the Shadow Step theories with his own knowledge of [Empowered Step]. He was surprised to see it level to level nine on the second day, as it had been stubbornly stuck at level 8. To Alex, this confirmed that he was on the right path. In the afternoon, he would go out with a spider to get food, which ended up being moss and some other underground vegetation. At first, he¡¯d been dissatisfied with this, but as he thought about it, his only other option was to try and eat monster meat. From what he¡¯d seen of the Cave Crawlers, with their sickly colored and loose skin, he¡¯d rather avoid that. They would gather enough for him to eat for that day and the next, keeping it in his pouch before returning to the colony. Alex would practice some of the forms from the rapier training manual, and then the entire evening would be spent working on rituals. With each passing day, more of the spiders came to watch him. He began to speak aloud, explaining what he was doing. The key to this had just been for him to whisper so softly that he didn¡¯t think anyone could hear him. But as he¡¯d tried this, it was clear that the spiders could hear and understand him. Small tendrils of mana would creep from each spider and go to the edge of his circle as if receptors for the sounds he was making. Alex did the best to teach them what he could with his limited knowledge. Showing them the shapes and components that he¡¯d pulled from the consistent ritual shapes. He found that explaining it to someone else, forced him to have a better grasp of the concept as well. After the ritual lessons had finished for the evening, most of the Mana Spinners would disperse, but three would stay behind. He assumed that they were the same three every time, but he couldn¡¯t be sure as they almost all looked the same. The only one that stood out in the group of three was the one that helped him the most. It was missing one of his small front two arms, so he could tell that it was consistent in coming to the evening lessons. They would then show Alex how to proceed with his [Mana Shaping] and then how to connect or control the small tendril of mana in a way that he could understand what was being said. After a few days of following the exact same pattern, Alex noticed a flurry of activity as several of the Mana Spinners scurried around. A group of them began to gather in the center of the cavern, and as Alex tentatively approached, one of the larger creatures came over and corralled him back into the small fenced-in area around his cave. He watched a group of seven leave the central cavern, and it wasn¡¯t until his evening class that he realized the group was smaller than before. Alex worried that the firstborn might be closing in and tried to think of how to get out of the situation without getting more of the spiders killed. Spending the next two days trying desperately to learn their way of communicating, Alex hoped to try and communicate with the spiders. Once, he attempted to leave the fence and was more forcefully guided back into the area. Suddenly, his safe haven with the Mana Spinners was beginning to feel like a prison, and he had no way to talk with the group. It wasn¡¯t until the seventh day that he was able to hear anything from the others. It scared him when he was successful, as the voices he heard were in a language that he could understand and sounded like higher-pitched human voices. The trick had been that he needed to get the tendril thin enough to allow it to oscillate at the appropriate speed, causing it to transmit sound. The concept reminded Alex of the time that he and Jake had taken two plastic cups and tied a wire between the two. It allowed them to make out some of the garbled speech that the other was shouting on the other side. Except, instead of cups and yelling, we¡¯re using mana and thoughts¡­ totally reasonable. Yep. When he was able to hear snippets of what the Mana Spinners were saying, it was overwhelming in the sense that they seemed to be able to share some snippets of emotions along with their words. Rather than using all of the words that Alex might use in a sentence, they would instead opt to send two or three words along with a feeling. It felt like a natural way of communicating for the creatures, and Alex had no doubt that with a bit of practice, he and Valtherion could do something similar through their bonded link. After all, he had already felt brief flashes of emotion through their link at more stressful moments. Even though he¡¯d managed to get a grasp of the method they used for speech, he was far from being able to repeat the feat consistently. While he had a ton of Willpower, the control required was staggering to him. His [Mana Shaping] leveled as well, but he was having a hard time getting his mana tendril any thinner than his pinky. He realized he wasn¡¯t anywhere near the skill level of the Mana Spinners, but it did give him a good goal to shoot for. Alex spent the rest of the seventh day practicing and attempting to hear the excited speech of the Mana Spinners. He went to bed with high hopes for reasoning with the spiders and planning a contingency plan if needed. The Mana Spinners had been nice so far, but Alex was beginning to wonder how they viewed him. After a few days of being their pack mule, they put him in a barn of sorts and have been making sure that he gets fed. Do they see me as some sort of work animal? Aside from feeling a bit used, they¡¯ve helped me a ton. I don¡¯t want them to die if the Firstborn is beginning to track down my location. Refocusing on what he could do moving forward and what he still needed to work on, Alex knew he could continue to improve his [Empowered Steps] and train his [Mana Shaping] to make thinner tendrils. His understanding of rituals was improving through teaching, and while he¡¯d mostly been swinging his sword through the air in preset patterns, he felt like a certain amount of muscle memory was building. Alex enjoyed watching Val in his downtime. The mana wyrm would alternate between playing with or devouring small balls of mana webs that their hosts would make. Then, when the little glutton was full of mana, he would leave whatever they were doing and go into their alcove. The first few times, Alex¡¯s interest had piqued when he saw the flashes of light from through the crack in their ¡®door¡¯. Intrigued, Alex had followed Val to the room once to watch what his companion was doing. The small wyrm began to glow and, after a short pause, would explode with mana. A sphere of mana would expand out from his little body several feet in every direction. Val would repeat this several times until his mana reserves were lower, and then he¡¯d take a nap before returning to siphon more mana from the spiders. Alex just laughed and felt a fondness for his bond. The little mana wyrm must have seen Alex training every day and decided to do some training of his own. Alex found it extremely cute. He had spent some time trying to mimic the Mana Spinner¡¯s ball of mana that Valtherion enjoyed siphoning from. However, he wasn¡¯t able to make it stable and stay like the spiders could. Whenever he broke the connection to the clumsy ball of mana, it would dissipate. Even when he kept a link to it and tried to offer it to Val, the wyrm turned its head away from it. Alex moved it closer to him, but his bond just floated backward and gave a small huff while turning his head in the other direction. Alex sighed and pulled what mana he could back into his body. Of course, it couldn¡¯t be that easy. You just want to eat all of my money¡­ On his eighth day with the spiders, he was beginning to reach a peak of unease at being held in his small space. Grabbing his belongings and his sword, he left his fenced-in area ready for a confrontation. He was hoping he could stand his ground without things devolving into a fight. Alex was severely under-leveled, even after the level boost, not to mention surrounded on all sides. He already knew that their hunters could keep up with his movement skill, and they knew the tunnels better than him by a long shot. Within moments, two spiders rushed over and began to use their many legs to push him back toward the opening of his alcove. Alex held firm and gripped his sword tightly. He didn¡¯t want to get in a fight with the spiders, but seeing their pointed and hairy legs get closer and closer as they expected him to back away. He made a loud, incoherent noise and drew his sword. The moment the blade left its sheath, the creatures skittered away in a hurry. Confused, Alex looked around and found the spiders giving him a wide berth. Not wanting to aggravate or scare them any further, he resheathed his sword and looked around. After several long minutes of him standing and none of the Mana Spinners approaching him, Alex began to slowly wander around the open cavern. The bottom level was spacious and he noted how many fewer alcoves were on the lower floor when compared to the upper floors. After a time, he noted that the Mana Spinner with the missing forearm came and was following him from a short distance. When Alex did note him, he stopped, and they looked at each other. The spider bowed up and down several times before slowly extending a mana web to within a few feet of Alex. It waited patiently as he made several attempts to connect his own mana tendril to it. ¡°Out colony.¡± Its broken speech came through along with several overwhelming feelings of fear and danger. ¡°In colony.¡± With the second statement, Alex felt the emotions being shared through the link as safety and comfort in the darkness of home. It repeated the short statement and emotions again. After some more back and forth, the spider allowed Alex to walk around more freely within the colony and he realized that they truly did think he was some sort of simple beast. They believed that they were keeping him in the alcove for his own protection, rather than out of any attempt to capture or, as his overactive imagination had begun to worry, eat him. I guess it is for my own protection. With the giant snake chasing me out in the tunnels, I doubt I would have lived this long without their help. There was no class with the Mana Spinners that evening, as another small group left the colony in a rush. Alex began to have a sinking feeling in his gut once again that it was the Firstborn getting closer and closer to tracking him down. Despite their help and willingness to keep him sheltered, he was using the Mana Spinner''s home as a sort of hiding place and was the cause of the destruction that was sniffing around outside the colony. The feeling of anxiety and guilt built in his stomach for the rest of the night as he settled down into his bed and made up his mind that he needed to secure a guide out of the tunnels and make his attempt to leave the Rift. 32. The Firstborn Threat Alex was pulled from his slumber with flashing of images and emotions. The sight of the Rift, exultation at jumping off a high cliff, and a view of Alex splashing into the water. These images were accompanied by the excited feeling of consuming mana and what sounded like chittering. ¡°Ugh, Val.¡± Alex groaned. He rolled over on his makeshift bed. In the last several days, he¡¯d abandoned his defensive sleeping posture for something more comfortable. Using his packed camping blanket to soften the cold floor and his backpack as a pillow. Since Alex had begun to learn how to communicate with the spiders through broken words and a mix of emotions or mental images, Val had begun to copy the process Alex was learning. While the spiders and Alex were using words and cave-man-like speech, Val stuck with his mental calls that reminded Alex of dolphin noises. He did start to tie in a mix of feelings, images, and sensations to his speech that traveled quite naturally through their System Bond. While it was disorientating at times, especially while sleeping, it allowed Alex to have a better idea of what his companion was feeling. Alex sat up and rubbed his eyes. ¡°How long has it been since we came into this Rift, Val? Just over a week? We need to get out of these tunnels soon.¡± While they were able to learn a lot and gain more levels than would normally be possible, the confined space and lack of sunshine were beginning to wear on Alex¡¯s psyche. Val came over and circled over his head while projecting feelings of safety in darkness and fear in sunlight. ¡°Yes, I know it¡¯s safer here, but we need to escape. We can¡¯t just stay here forever. Plus, we both know you just want to keep snacking on mana webs.¡± The only response was the sensation of a full belly, which reminded Alex of leaving an all-you-can-eat restaurant. Alex laughed before standing, packing his blanket into the spatial bag, and setting his mostly empty camping backpack against the back wall. He began to perform some stretches and wondered when they¡¯d get more food. Man, I miss meat¡ªugh, and potatoes. Fuck me, french fries sound good. Despite the sensation of a full stomach, it only highlighted to his subconscious that he¡¯d been on light rations for days. After stretching, Alex began to do a small stationary workout including pushups, burpees, and sit-ups. He was determined to work on his physical fitness after the poor showing at the start of the Rift. He¡¯d begun to work up a sweat when he heard a piercing screech. Compared to the colony¡¯s typically quiet environment, the jarring sound was enough to make Alex jump. He picked up his scabbard from where it lay and drew the rapier. He sliced open the webbing that blocked his doorway and emerged from the room while surveying the open cavern with his mana vision. The scene was chaos. Alex knew that he didn¡¯t see many of the Mana Spinners due to their ability to conceal and hold in their natural mana, but there were always exceptions. He had begun to note that many of the younger spiders and what he assumed to be old or female arachnids didn¡¯t bother with keeping their mana concealed, though these groups were often kept away from him. At that moment, he saw large numbers of those groups being taken toward one side of the colony or exits on that side. There was a stream of Mana Spinners exiting a tunnel not far from his ground-floor alcove, which all had their mana concealed. Are those fighters? Is something happening? Feeling some panic rise for his new companions, Alex rushed into his room to grab his pack, belt on his sword, and attach the spatial pouch to his waist. When he emerged and walked out of his fenced-in area, none of the Mana Spinners tried to stop him from moving, all too preoccupied with current events. He took off down the tunnel that he¡¯d seen the other spiders going down and toward the source of the loud screeches. He used [Empowered Steps] to move quickly through the tunnel, finding it easy to follow the signs that were left by the Mana Spinners. After travelling the tunnels and spending time with them, he could see markers that they would leave on tunnel walls or in certain webs to mark a direction. It wasn¡¯t long before he caught up with the group in a large cavern and paused at the horrible sight. At least five of the spiders were currently throwing themselves with reckless abandon at a large writhing shape. It only took a moment for Alex to recognize the large shadow serpent that had cornered him and forced him to make his leap across the chasm. The Firstborn, it found me? The normally blue mana that leaked from his rituals and the few spiders he¡¯d seen so far looked so different in the snake. Its mana curled off in furls of smokey grey mana or dripped like oil from other places. Between the dark black scales and the grey mana, it was hard to track even with his Heavenly Eye. From his vantage point, the spiders¡¯ strategy was clear. The five spiders upfront were throwing themselves at the larger snake, attempting to poke or stab at it with their legs and mandibles. This seemed ineffective, and they knew it, but from where he stood, Alex could tell what the real purpose was.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. They¡¯re buying time for the few in the back¡­ wait, they¡¯re using rituals? ¡°Val, wait!¡± Alex called, reaching out for his bond. Val seemed to want to go down there, but Alex knew that there was nothing the two of them could do against this monster. The thought of jumping in would only serve to mess up the trap that the spiders were laying. Despite the sounds of conflict, his voice cut through the cavern. This caused the snake''s head to whip up and make eye contact with Alex. He gulped and moved a bit further back from his small ledge, breaking his line of sight with the serpent. The sounds of fighting renewed, and Alex leaned back out to see the fight unfold. Alex couldn¡¯t believe the speed and precision with which the Mana Spinners were setting up individual ritual circles. The rituals took shape and Alex could see them clearly with his mana sight, but he knew that they would be all but invisible to the serpent. The closest of the circles looked to be made for restraint while the two just beyond it were to set off a detonation. Seeing the power and mana placed into those rear explosive rituals, Alex took an involuntary step back. It was then that the spiders proved their intelligence once again. The group setting rituals finished and retreated in multiple different directions, scattering into the darkness. Two of the five that had engaged the snake were already dead, and two more were injured. The third moved speedily away from the snake, deftly avoiding the ritual traps. Alex stood transfixed, watching as the two remaining spiders skittered across the floor and acted as bait. The snare trap activated and caused webbing to appear from the circle and restrain the snake. As if anticipating its reaction, the two stood just beyond the snake''s reach. Enraged, the serpent let out a hissing sound. Slowed by the webs, it coiled before springing forward. The wounded spider to the right was the target, and the shadow serpent¡¯s mouth clamped down on it, killing it almost instantly. In the blink of an eye, the snake had crossed the distance and killed the smaller monster. This caused the snake to cross the explosive ritual circle, which detonated under its elongated form. The explosion rocked the cavern, and Alex covered his eyes at the bright light. The snake hissed and retreated quickly, leaving a black smear of blood across the broken cavern floor. Both of the last spiders died, leaving four dead in that room alone. They lay on their backs, with their legs curled and pointed up toward the ceiling. Alex retreated back toward the colony, feeling sick to his stomach. There was a long and low call from Val in his mind as his companion trailed along beside him. There¡¯s nothing we can do against that monster, buddy. I¡¯m sorry; I wanted to help, too. The two shared a feeling of guilt through their link, and Alex did his best to push it aside while thinking of his next steps. When the two returned to the cave, there were many spiders huddled and webs connecting them as they spoke. Clumsily, Alex reached out and connected a thicker mana tendril to the group¡¯s web of communication. ¡°Small Rakshasi attack, why? We stay quiet. We are in the big tunnel, quiet.¡± This came with the feeling of outrage and sorrow. Helplessness could be felt in answer to the spider¡¯s words. ¡°Many dead. Injured enemy. But will return.¡± Pain filled the thoughts of this Mana Spinner, bringing Alex¡¯s guilt to the surface once again. ¡°Council when?¡± Accompanied by the feeling of urgency. ¡°What do?¡± Followed by the feeling of the collective colony. Alex decided that it was time to move. The colony had been kind to him and Val, allowing them to rest and even gain levels while asking for nothing in return. ¡°The Firstborn is chasing me. We will leave and draw the Shadow Serpent away from the colony before it returns to do more damage to your nest.¡± Alex spoke up, doing his best to send forth a sense of confidence. He was well aware that he did not do a great job at projecting his emotions, and a fair amount of guilt also seeped into the communication. Chatter continued through the web, though directives were soon given, and the huddle split. Three spiders remained connected and reached webs out to Alex. ¡°Council prepared gift. You take. You leave.¡± ¡°Elder will guide to surface.¡± There was a sense of one Mana Spinner, which Alex had begun to associate with the word Elder. The spiders didn¡¯t tend to use names or even pronouns; instead, each specific one was associated with the community''s role and certain feelings. It was complicated to follow, but Alex was touched to realize that they had a certain collective feeling and term for him that resembled magical circles and companionship. Who would have ever thought this sort of thing was possible? I¡¯ve been living with a group of giant magic-wielding spiders who think of me as a friend. Or¡­ maybe a pet? If it weren¡¯t for the stressful situation, Alex thought that he might feel more touched and want to stay with the group longer. However, he knew that he needed to leave soon, regardless, and it didn¡¯t feel right to stay hidden in the colony any longer. He had already brought trouble to the group and didn¡¯t want to be the cause of any more of their deaths. Movement brought his attention back to the group, and the one Mana Spinner Alex could recognize easily stepped forward and offered him a roll of cloth. It took a moment for Alex to realize that it was a thick roll of spider silk. The spider reached out and referenced Alex and ¡®hungry-flying-baby-snake¡¯ before speaking to the gift. ¡°Special spider silk. Holds much mana. Good at look changes. Help hide.¡± Alex did his best to piece the words together as they were accompanied by other concepts like vastness, hiding, and the change of time and appearance. Unsure of how to respond, Alex dipped his head and, rather than speaking, just sent the feeling of gratitude, relief, and admiration through the linked mana. He couldn¡¯t help but wince as he also felt feelings of guilt and urgency slip through. The spider bowed the front of its body before unwinding its web from Alex¡¯s crude tendril that was still the size of a rope rather than the delicate threads that the Mana Spinners used. Some rushed preparations were made, but in fewer than 10 minutes Alex set off following after the Mana Spinner that was missing one of his front arms. This is one of their elders? Alex hadn¡¯t realized that his lessons in speech had been coming form someone important to the colony, but perhaps their hierarchy didn¡¯t work like humans. He pushed the thoughts aside and made sure to pay attention to their surroundings. While he traveled behind the spider, he used [Empowered Step] to keep up and couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the Mana Spinner¡¯s skill for the second time. So far, he¡¯d largely seen them move slowly and deliberately to repair webbing or learn the rituals. Seeing the speed with which his guide could spin threads of mana to leave a trail behind them while also using them to skate along in the tunnel blew Alex¡¯s mind. Over the last week that he¡¯d spent with them, he¡¯d begun to think that he¡¯d soon reach their level of control or Willpower through leveling. Now that he saw what they could do when motivated to move fast, he knew that the gap was much wider than he had thought. 33. Alone in the Shadows Alex felt weary to the bone. The small trio had been moving at top speed through the tunnels and Alex was using his mana as quickly as it could regenerate without giving himself a headache. [Empowered Step] was making great progress, and it was the only reason he could keep up with the Mana Spinner as it seemed to glide along its mana webs as if they were rails or tracks for a train. Val would fly along beside them until he was too tired and he would wrap around Alex¡¯s upper arm and shoulder. When the group stopped for rest, Alex began to use his mana to practice his mana tendrils. [Mana Shaping] was struggling to allow him to thin out his mana. Gah, I really just can¡¯t get it even close to as thin as the spider¡¯s web. While Alex¡¯s tendril had shrunk in diameter, it was still thicker than an a dry-erase marker. The thinner that he got it, the easier it seemed to be able to maneuver and reach greater distances, but he felt that it was still clumsy. The mana webs that the Spinners used were as thin as real spider webs, and so light that they were affected by the currents in the air if not strengthened. Alex felt a jolt in his side that caused him to jump and break his concentration. ¡°No. Again.¡± Said the elder. He also sent across feelings of impatience and frustration. Alex sent feelings of frustration right back at him. During their first day of travel, the elder had seen Alex practicing with the mana tendrils, trying to make them smaller. At first it had been helpful, and the coaching led Alex to have a quick breakthrough. The second day, things had changed. The elder had begun to send small shocks of mana or loud thoughts and emotions through a mana web link to distract and disrupt Alex¡¯s train of thought. Most of the time this caused the web to crumble and fall apart. Sometimes, the elder would compare Alex to a baby Mana Spinner, and other times, like the most recent attempt, he would just be frustrated. Alex grumbled and looked around, glad to see that Val was still watching the entrance to the cavern they were in. At the beginning of their dash from the colony, Alex had been wary of letting Val keep watch on his own. Many of Val¡¯s mannerisms still seemed so young and childish to Alex, though he did tend to forget that the mana wyrm was a beast on the same level as him now. That fact had been quite obvious when two Cave Crawlers attempted to attack the group, and Alex had been able to see Val¡¯s new skill in action. There was a short pause of panic as Val charged and began to glow a bright blue, but when the following flash and explosion ensued, Alex instantly received two notifications about his bonded companion slaying two creatures. Not for the first time since then, Alex found himself eyeing the blue wyrm and wondering if it was already stronger than he was. With the Mana Glutton Trait, it seemed like he could super charge that mana discharge with twice as much mana as he¡¯d normally be able to with that level mana. From where he sat on the rock, Alex felt another jolt as the elder used a bit of pinching pain to regain his attention. Alright, alright. Relax. He refocused on the training, knowing that he would only have another day or so of attention from the elder. The tunnels in the last day had begun to slope upward at a steep angle. A clear sign of their approach to the surface had also been noticeable with Alex¡¯s Heavenly Eye as mana seemed to show itself in the different ways. Small patches of vegetation became common in the tunnels or caverns, most often moss or hardy vines. Seeing the blue-green tint of the plants, Alex found himself distracted by questions about mana types and what dictated the different colors that he was starting to experience. Once they began traveling again, Alex focused on their next steps. After reaching the surface, he and Val would be on their own, and Alex had been attempting to look through the survival manual that he¡¯d bought from the camping store. After some time looking through it in his downtime, he was unsure of how helpful it would be in this scenario. It was clearly meant for the Earth¡¯s environment and covered certain key points of focus for survival that revolved around setting up a ¡®home base¡¯ of sorts. While surviving was obviously the main goal in their current situation, that was with the caveat that they made it out of the Rift. If surviving meant setting up a home base and building a shelter near a water source, Alex would prefer to just make a break for the Rift exit and attempt to gather what was needed as they went. He had several days'' worth of the greenery he had been eating during their time with the colony and was uncertain of what would await them on the surface. Alex did his best to remember the scenery of the darker side of the Rift from the few minutes he¡¯d spent viewing it at the Rift¡¯s entrance. From that distance, the forest seemed dark and dead, the trees completely barren and looking like a haunted forest. Not likely to have deer or rabbits frolicking around for an easy source of meat, huh? Training, sleeping, or moving at all times caused the two days of travel to the surface to pass in a blur, and by the end of his tenth day in the Rift, Alex was happy to take a deep breath of fresh air. Finally, back on the surface. Even though the sun was setting, Alex could see his surroundings with normal vision without a lantern or chem lights for the first time in over a week. Tears came to his eyes briefly and he realized that reaching the surface was a major milestone for his return home. Subconsciously, ever since he¡¯d washed up on the small sandy landing by the river, the Rift exit had just felt like it was a world away- impossibly hard to reach. Reaching the surface made it feel like there was a relatively straight shot to his freedom. His thoughts were brought back to the elder as a mana we reached out to him for communication. Alex tended a tendril of mana and could feel the sense of thought that the elder sent through the vibration of magical energy. ¡°Must faster return. Be safe.¡± There was a short exchange of emotions and parting words before Alex reluctantly let the elder Mana Spinner break off the connection. While spiders had always been a bit creepy at the start, the large arachnids had been the source of safety and growing power for Alex over the last week. Even if they did view him as some sort of pack animal, they were kind, and he knew he wouldn''t have survived in those tunnels without them. He suddenly felt very vulnerable when he realized he was back on the surface with just his own wit and strength to rely on. Val bumped his head into Alex¡¯s. Okay, yeah. Your strength too, buddy. Alex wished for the support of his friends and wondered how Mark and Sarah were doing. He then began to think about how they might do in this situation. Mark would probably be making jokes or light of the situation. Oh god, Mark, with a super-powered sense of energy, is a terrifying thought. Sarah would be analyzing the situation for sure. She¡¯s so analytical. I bet it would be a lot easier to get out of here with her making a plan. His heart ached a bit at the thought of his friends. Alex didn¡¯t feel like he¡¯d been a very good friendly lately. He¡¯d thrown himself into the entire Awakened experience while keeping Sarah at arm''s length and Mark in the dark. And for what? I know that they''d support me and want to help... just because I was embarrassed by my trait? That reasoning didn''t sit right with Alex and he knew that he was beating around the real reason he hadn''t said anything. I¡¯ll remedy that as soon as I get out of this mess. He tightened his jaw and straightened his shoulders as he touched the sword belted to his waist.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. I¡¯ll get out of this Rift. No matter what. Feeling motivated, Alex turned in a 360 to survey his surroundings. The first thing he noted was the temperature difference. While it wasn¡¯t hot in the tunnels, Alex wouldn¡¯t classify it as cool either. In contrast, the wind of this dark forest was already nipping at his cheeks and causing the hair on his arms to rise from the chill. He had a good view through the forest, as there seemed to be very little underbrush, and the trees were barren of leaves. He could see the snowy mountain peaks off to his left. His Core was subtly tugging toward his right, indicating that the exit was in that direction. He turned to look that way and saw uneven terrain and sparse growth, though more than he had seen below. His Heavenly Eye was catching sight of more mana than he had ever seen with it. The air carried some tint of grey to it, while the plants also carried grey, green, and brown colors. The trees themselves drew Alex¡¯s attention as they were black spots in the vision of his left eye, indicating that they didn¡¯t have any mana in them at all. With the sun beginning to set, Alex had a hard time seeing with either of his eyes. The right was adjusting to the dim light, while his left attempted to make sense of the flood of sensory information. Alex decided to ¡®enjoy¡¯ the scenery more on his way out of the Rift. He took off at a jog and had Val fly higher in the air to get a better view of the surroundings. While Alex had been learning to communicate with the Mana Spinners, he and Val had come up with something of their own way to communicate. Val had grasped the concept of sharing emotions from observing the spiders and had begun to imitate that through their bond link. The emotions weren¡¯t nearly as complex as what the Mana Spinners could send, but sending through the feeling of excitement, fear, or hunger was quite easy for the little wyrm. Alex was determined to begin teaching Val how to speak English when they returned home. It was clear from looking at his companion¡¯s Status Window that he wasn¡¯t lacking in intelligence. In Alex¡¯s mind, it wasn¡¯t a matter of if the little guy could learn to speak; it was a matter of when. They¡¯d been jogging through the dry swamp for less than an hour when Val signaled that there were others in the area. When he flew down and landed on Alex¡¯s shoulder, it pointed in the direction they were coming from. Alex was relieved that it was from the opposite direction of the Rift exit. Guess that means we just need to pick up the pace. And so they did. Alex began using [Empowered Step] to enhance his speed and covered three or four times the distance he would have been able to at a normal run. He gained distance until Val could no longer see or sense them from the air and then found a small alcove of trees to hide in when changing their direction slightly to get out of the way of pursuers. Not for the first time, Alex marveled at the wonder of Stats. My body has changed so much in the last ten days. I can run further and faster than an Olympic level athlete and almost all of the fat has fallen from my body. The changes weren¡¯t just physical, either. Running from the pursuers was significantly different than his initial flight from the Celestial Lotus Sect members ten days prior. As his magical power and control had increased, he was able to use [Empowered Step] with more power and with greater mana efficiency. He was just beginning to feel good about himself and give a small pat on the back when a rustling of leaves to his left caused him to instinctively jerk to the side. He turned his upper body away from the noise as he fell, doing his best to shield himself and the shoulder that Val was resting on. After the fact, Alex would realize that this small movement was the only reason that he lived through the ambush. In a mad scramble, Alex got his feet under himself and felt hot liquid run down his arm, and it was clear to him that his shoulder was cut badly. Val flew upward and Alex drew the rapier into his hand, unsure of if he should run or fight. Alex scanned the trio of dark, garbed individuals as they stepped from the shadows of surrounding trees. The one in the lead flicked his blood-smeared rapier to the side dismissively. ¡°Hei Fang, you missed him! Ha, wait until I tell senior brother about this.¡± The shadowed figure to the left said. Unsure of how to handle the situation, Alex activated his Heavenly Eye and attempted to scan the trio in front of him.
Hei Fang - Level 35 Class: Serpent Acolyte Primary Stat: Agility
Ren Ying - Level 32 Class: Serpent Acolyte Primary Stat: Agility
An Liang - Level 34 Class: Serpent Acolyte Primary Stat: Agility
There¡¯s no way that we can fight against these three. We¡¯re still too low leveled. Fuck. Just as he was frantically thinking of a way out of the situation, Alex saw Val silently descend behind the trio. His eyes widened as he saw Val begin to glow. Alex dove away from the group, ignoring their mocks and jeers at his flop to the ground. Uncaring, Alex covered his head and waited for the explosion. It followed a few heartbeats later, ruffling his clothes and sending dirt spraying over his back. He didn¡¯t get any notifications, so he knew that the fight wasn¡¯t over yet. Despite bracing for the impact, Alex¡¯s ears still rang as he searched the nearby area. He found the three sprawled acolytes easily. Two were unconscious and badly injured, while the third was missing a leg and screaming at the top of his lungs. Alex''s eyes widened, and he lunged forward with his rapier, just as he''d done hundreds of times against the trapped higher-level monsters in the tunnels. He was terrified that the noise would alert others to come and investigate. As soon as the sword sunk into the young man, all that Alex felt was relief as their surroundings grew quiet. It wasn¡¯t until the notification appeared and he saw blue motes of light form that Alex felt sick to his stomach, and the realization slammed home that he had just killed another human.
You have slain Human - Level 34
Congratulations Awakened. You have leveled up! You have 3 Free Points to distribute.
Before Alex could have a meltdown, he heard one of the others nearby begin to groan. He took a hesitant step toward the man but stopped. His hand felt numb, and he worried he might drop the rapier. Alex stared at the sight of the broken boy on the ground. He could hear calls of concern or confusion a short distance away in the forest, and Alex had to assume that they were closing in on his location. It¡¯s them or me at this point. Alex had to convince himself that this was okay. He didn¡¯t want this fight. Not only had these three started the fight, but they¡¯d attempted to ambush and kill him without any warning or an attempt at resolution. He firmed his will and moved swiftly, letting his body take control of the situation where his mind was wavering. Alex stabbed both of the others, waiting for two more kill notifications before he continued to run. As he ran, blue motes of light streamed after him. Alex and Val ran, slowing only when it was absolutely necessary. In an attempt to distract himself from recent events, Alex worked on his [Mana Shaping], gaining several more levels through desperation and willpower. He convinced himself that if he had the ability to leave trails of mana webs as the Mana Spinners did, then he could have been alerted before the ambush and perhaps left before the fight even happened. The webs could help them be safe. This continued for several days. Alex and Val would run hard and long, stopping only when necessary. His shoulder throbbed, and he used some supplies from the first aid kit he¡¯d brought from the camping store to clean and bandage the gash. Though his shoulder ached, he knew that if he could get out of the Rift in time, he¡¯d be able to get to a hospital and get it taken care of. Getting out of the Rift was proving to be much more of a challenge than he thought it would be. Even though Alex was changing their path and doing what he could think of to throw others off of their trail, small groups seemed to constantly find the two. This caused Alex to get progressively less sleep. Less sleep then meant that he was moving slower as he had to flee or fend off ranged attacks. He had less time and less mana to then work on his [Mana Shaping] causing him to feel like he was fighting a losing battle. Alex knew that he¡¯d only been able to make it this far from his sheer stubborn pride of not wanting to give up after coming this far¡­ and his enhanced Stats. That played a part, too. After three more days of running and operating on barely any sleep at all, Alex decided to lay a small trap and see how the groups kept finding him. He set up two snaring rituals and hid himself in a tree that had clear line of sight of anyone who may be approaching his direction. Not more than an hour later, a group of four crested the small rise. It look Alex several long heartbeats to notice a small black serpent leading the group of four humans. Its head was raised and its tongue was flicking in and out in a rhythm. Knowing that the group was too much for him and Val to handle, he abandoned the ambush and decided to run and think about the information he¡¯d gathered. The snake was tasting the air. Are they using the smaller snakes as a way to track me? Like a hunting dog tracks game? It puzzled Alex for the rest of the day, and he couldn¡¯t figure out what would allow the group to track him so consistently. It has to be magic of some kind, right? How do I fight against the unknown magic? Val cooed in his head and sent the feeling of safety, darkness, many legs, and mana. Alex recognized this feeling as how Val referred to the Mana Spinners and the Colony. The Mana Spinners? What about them, buddy? We only saw them fight once. It seems like they hide instead of fight most of the time. When we saw- Alex cut off, and a thought struck him. They hide. Of course! Val, you brilliant blue bastard! Despite the fatigue and injury to his arm, Alex continued to run. Even though their situation had barely changed, Alex now realized what he should be working on instead of the [Mana Shaping] exercises. I don¡¯t need mana webs. I need to be able to hold in this mana that¡¯s leaking from my body! Alex looked down at himself and through his left eye, saw the small whisps of blue smoke that curled from his skin. After the thought settled in, he was willing to bet that the snakes were able to track his leaking mana like a hound on a scent. A plan formed in his mind, and a feral grin crossed Alex''s face on his 13th day in the Rift. 34. Ill Gotten Gains Alex took an extra hour to make sure that he was able to maintain his current state. It felt odd to know that his eyes were open, but for the first time since he had released the Celestial Lotus Sect Head, he couldn¡¯t see anything at all. The vision in both of his eyes was completely dark. Even when he looked down at his own arms in the tightly confined space, he couldn¡¯t see any mana leaking from his skin. It¡¯s almost time for some payback, Val. It had only taken the small mana wyrm a day to figure out how to hold in his natural mana, whereas it took Alex almost two full days. After realizing that he was being tracked through his leaking mana, Alex searched for a way to hide his presence while he learned to get it under control. The solution had been surprisingly simple, and he wanted to kick himself for not seeing it earlier. The trees. As he¡¯d noted earlier with his vision, they prevented any mana from traveling or soaking into the wood. He¡¯d begun to see the blank spots in his vision as obstacles to avoid but otherwise ignore. After he had the thought, it was just about finding one of the dead trees that had a large enough hollow center for him to hide in it. Unable to stretch his muscles more than a few inches in either direction, Alex had slept for several hours before practicing holding in his mana. At first, he¡¯d thought about it as if he were holding his breath, but with his Core. That didn¡¯t seem to work at all, and it took several hours of experimenting for him to figure it out. Even though Val attempted to help through their limited communication, it was ultimately more confusing to understand than Alex continuing to test independently. What worked in the end was Alex thinking of his skin as a porous surface, which, with his modern understanding of the body, made a certain amount of sense. As he worked on the theory, he tried to direct his mana to react to his skin as if it were a shell or a boundary rather than its natural state. He saw immediate results and spent the next several hours testing it with his restricted movement. He knew it would require a certain amount of concentration to perform while moving outside the tree; however, that was still better than his mana acting as a constant tracking beacon. Alex had wondered why Val was able to pick up on the method faster than he could, despite the fact that he knew he had a higher Willpower stat than his companion. Alex could only guess that it had something to do with being a beast. Perhaps their natural ability to hide and stalk prey makes this something easier to grasp? I don¡¯t know, but either way, it¡¯s time to start working our way out of here. He stretched his shoulder and knew that it would be stiff. It still hurt, though the gash was largely scabbed over by this point. The largest point of worry was that the bandage he¡¯d applied was also scabbed over and likely stuck to the cut. I¡¯ll just need to be careful with how I move my left arm¡­ Knowing that he needed to find more water and food soon, Alex shimmied his way back out of the hollowed tree and sat on a branch. The breeze was chilly but refreshing after his confined space for the last two days. He¡¯d taken those two days to plan and think through how he would tackle these patrols and escape through the Rift exit. The first step, regardless of the plan was going to be to use one of the consumable manuals from the altar room. Sitting on a high branch, he looked around. There was no movement in sight. So, he reached into his spatial pouch and removed the advanced technique manual. When the prompt appeared to consume the manual, he accepted and watched the book turn into purple motes of light. They looked similar to the experience that came from killing, but instead of flowing into his chest, the lights rushed to his forehead. Knowledge flooded his mind, and Alex marveled at the fact that he had just instantly absorbed information on how to complete the advanced skill. He was surprised at the ingenuity of how the mana moved to activate the skill and formed to create complex illusions. Now he knew how it was formed and knew that he could create at least passible illusions using the technique. If his magical control stat wasn¡¯t as high as it was, he didn¡¯t believe that the consuming process would have worked. Can it fail? Would the book have been wasted? Alex was thankful that didn¡¯t happen, and as if to confirm his previous thought, a window appeared in his vision.
New Skill Learned: [Mirage] (Journeyman - Level 3) Do you accept? Yes/ No?
Journeyman? Well, that¡¯s new. Also, why is it already level three? Is it because I learned it from a manual? As he considered this, Alex surveyed the surroundings and wondered about the manuals he¡¯d seen on the Auction House section of the app. Are any of those consumable? Do people understand the value of this yet? What about scanning these things? I doubt it would carry over the magical properties, but someone could at least study the written theories, right? At the last thought, Alex felt a bit of loss at the fact that he hadn¡¯t saved the manual to do just that. He wasn¡¯t sure he needed this skill to get out of the Rift, but he wanted to have it in his available skills in case it was needed. He shrugged the thoughts away and accepted the prompt. Deciding that such thoughts were unimportant for his current situation, Alex climbed down the tree and thought about how he would proceed. While exiting the Rift was his primary objective, a part of him eagerly wanted to get a bit of revenge on the group that had tormented him for the last few days. He was hungry and tired and had been forced to kill to survive. Nope, I don¡¯t need to think about that now. These people work with or worship monsters. They¡¯re hunting me. I¡¯m weak and I will use them to get stronger. He felt a sense of bloodthirst that he¡¯d never experienced before build up in his chest. His breath quickened, and he set off in the general direction of the Rift exit, certain that he would soon get a signal from Val that there were enemies in the area. As they ran, Alex attempted to split his mental focus. Keeping in the mana was becoming easier, though it still required a certain amount of thought. He pushed his own limits by extending a small tendril of mana and trying to thin it out. Any time the process of forming the mana tendril would interrupt his mana restraint, he would let the tendril dissipate and get his leaking mana under control as quickly as possible. With Val on overwatch, Alex focused on keeping his feet moving toward the Rift and improving his skills. It wasn¡¯t long until the alert came, and Val flew back down to Alex. They made a plan, and Alex began to draw a ritual circle on the ground where they stood. They don¡¯t know that we¡¯re here yet, but once the trap is set and hidden, we¡¯ll lure them over this way. The plan that Alex had thought of while stuck in the tree was to use hit-and-run tactics. They would set up a trap and prepare to receive the group; if they were too large, they could run immediately. If the size was between one and three, then they would ambush and fight. Alex had absolutely zero shame in the tactics he was planning to use. He was significantly under-leveled and had been hunted by these people for days. The next four days consisted of the pair perfecting this style of hit-and-run tactics. Concealing their leaking mana, setting up traps, and using the terrain to their advantage. Once everything was ready, Alex would release his mana and hide. If the group was too large, they would flee without revealing any of their cards. If the group was small enough, Alex would use the Mirage skill to create a stationary illusion of himself sitting by a fire or sleeping against a tree. Each and every time, the groups fell for the bait and attacked him, believing him to be weak and vulnerable. As they attacked, Alex would use a trick he¡¯d seen the Mana Spinners use. He¡¯d extend a mana tendril to the ritual set up under his illusion and activate it from a distance. It would catch the groups in sleep, snare, or shocking traps. While he had also been studying the small demolition ritual that the spiders had used, he was hesitant to use it in this scenario for fear of alerting more nearby groups to come investigate the small explosions.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Alex made slow and steady progress toward the exit but was more than happy to reap the benefits of the Shadow Serpent Sect. His level rose rapidly, soaring to 20 in just those following four days. While some of the fights were quick and hectic, most of them posed little danger to Alex as long as he was able to set up the trap rituals properly ahead of time. There were a few close calls as the groups moved too quickly or happened to stumble on them before the stage was set. This led to several hours of dodging and running at top speed. He would intentionally leak mana for a time before concealing it again and changing directions abruptly to lose his pursuers. He continued to work on controlling his mana, and as his Willpower rose higher with each level, so did his control over mana, making the task more manageable. He took many interesting items from the groups that they slew. Some had carried smaller spatial bags. Many had swords similar to his own rapier, which he took as backups. He took a nice dagger as a backup weapon, and there were many potions and antidotes that the initiates kept on their person. The first time he¡¯d analyzed a healing potion, Alex had been elated. He drank the contents immediately, and his shoulder healed rapidly. Within minutes, the wound that had been plaguing him for days became nothing more than an itchy scar. Fuck, magic is awesome. The next fight had gone smoothly, and they¡¯d killed four Serpent¡¯s Acolytes with little struggle. The last one, who was in charge of the group, had broken free of his restraints in a rage when he watched Alex silently stab his comrades. The rest of the fight would have been very dangerous for Alex, as he was still 14 levels beneath the small group leader, except Alex had begun to set up a backup trap for this kind of scenario. It appeared that the mana or skills the initiates used could be enhanced or overcharged in a way when their emotions reached a certain state. This wasn¡¯t the first person to break the hold of the rope ritual, so Alex had begun to prepare. His confidence rose as the acolyte stepped into the Sleep Ritual. As soon as the man stepped into the circle center, which was covered by the dead vegetation Alex had dragged in front of the chalk lines, Alex activated the ritual. He knew that the Sleep Ritual wasn¡¯t as instantaneous as the Binding Ritual that he¡¯d been using and that it was possible to shake it off if the target was in a rage. To ensure that it would work, Alex needed to change the target mood from rage to confusion or fear. He¡¯d learned early on that fear wasn¡¯t easy to produce, as all of these sect acolytes believed themselves wholly superior to Alex. The arrogance was blinding. It wasn¡¯t until it was too late that they ever realized their mistake. So, he¡¯d found that confusion was easier to work with. Alex used [Mirage] to make it look like he vanished. This would only work if Alex held perfectly still and concealed his leaking mana. That could be dangerous, as all the enemy had to do was continue running forward and stab his rapier where Alex had last been seen. Which is why he and his companion had added the final layer of deception and confusion. Alex scanned the man to confirm his name before projecting his thoughts. You¡¯re up, buddy. His name is Ru Xuan, got it? Ru Xuan. Alex smirked as a woman''s scream came from the opposite side of the sect¡¯s team leader. Following the scream, a voice in the distance called the man¡¯s name. ¡°Ru Xuan!¡± came the disembodied and creepy-sounding voice. The man spun in confusion several times. Unsure of where Alex had vanished to and what was calling him by name. As he spun, his rage sputtered out, replaced by confusion. It was this change in mental state that allowed the ritual to take effect. Within moments, Ru Xuan, level 41 Serpent¡¯s Acolyte, fell asleep on the hard forest floor. ¡°Hungry food mana!¡± Val came flying from the woods as the man slumped to the floor. Alex snickered before answering his companion. ¡°Good job, Val. Yes, you can check if he has any Mana Stones. Only take one!¡± Alex had not been the only one improving in the last week. Val leveled alongside him, and his intelligence continued to climb. The mana wyrm monitored Alex¡¯s thoughts and internal dialogue and began to mimic some words on his own. Val had quickly learned to ask a question followed by an emotion, and Alex would do his best to decipher the request. He¡¯d then tell the wyrm what the word was and they had begun to communicate this way. The first time Val had yelled ¡®Fuck¡¯ into his mind, it had caused Alex pause. Do I need to start watching what I think? I basically just taught a toddler how to curse in his first handful of words. ¡°Fuck!¡± Valtherion yelled again in response. The loud curse word came immediately and without hesitation, like a toddler discovering its new favorite word. It was accompanied by a feeling of joy and satisfaction. Alex had groaned and continued on at the time. He now approached Ru Xuan and gave Val a pat on the head. ¡°Nice job. The scream was a nice touch.¡± For a moment, Alex wondered if it was sad that Val had learned to mimic some of the screams of the sect members they killed, especially this early in his life. Nothing to do about it. This is the situation we¡¯re in and it¡¯s the best way to get out of here. Alex began removing Ru¡¯s clothing. His own clothes had become torn and shabby long ago and he was long since able to smell his own stench. His confidence had grown, and he decided that it was time for a wardrobe change and a larger attack before they broke off and finished the run toward the Rift exit. The dark black and purple sect robes would allow Alex to blend in with a slightly larger group and begin an attack that they¡¯d never expect. Val was sniffing at a pouch that was attached to the man¡¯s sash, and Alex noticed that it was another spatial pouch. While not all of the members had them, it was at least the fifth he¡¯d found. He¡¯d tested and been disappointed to note that he could not put one spatial pouch inside of another, even if one of them was empty. This led him to have one spatial pouch that he used while emptying any others that he found and keeping them folded into a normal midsized pouch that he¡¯d found from one of the other initiates. While it might be greedy, Alex couldn¡¯t stand the thought of leaving something so novel as a spatial pouch behind. Even if they were small, on Earth, they would fetch a handsome price; he was sure of it. He emptied the most recent pouch, raising an eyebrow as several purple and several blue Mana Stones fell onto the ground. This guy was loaded- ¡°Hey! No, just one! Ah!¡± Alex jumped toward Val as the little beast scooped up one blue and one purple stone. The little glutton was swallowing them before Alex could even close the distance with an [Empowered Step] to catch the bond. Grumbling, he scooped up the items that had been emptied from the pouch. His main spatial pouch was tied to his right hip, and he put most of the contents in it. The mid-sized pouch was slightly smaller than the size of a shoe box, and he kept it strapped length-wise across the backside of his belt. He reached behind himself and opened the regular pouch, storing the most recent spatial bag with the other four. Alex gathered the man¡¯s clothes in his arms and set them on the ground by the others that he¡¯d killed first. He walked back and killed the now-naked sect team leader. Blue lights flew toward his body, and golden lights danced down around Alex before he dragged the man¡¯s body to one of the many sinkholes that filled the dry, swampy forest environment. The entire ordeal had Alex questioning his humanity. He knew that if he stopped to give what he was doing any more thought, he¡¯d likely throw up and have a melt down. It was one thing to strike at someone who¡¯d ambushed him, but here he was doing the reverse. He brought his pursuers into traps, killed them, and then looted them like they were monsters. He looked down at the dark-colored robes he had stripped off of the man and felt his throat tighten and his jaw clench. For the sake of continuing on, he mustered his Willpower and shoved the thoughts aside. A Cinder Frog watched him curiously as he slid the man into the pool. Alex heaved and looked back at the frog while waiting to ensure the body began sinking. Once it did, Alex returned to the others and cleaned his sword before returning it to the spatial bag at his hip. Alright. Now, we just need to go clean off in that river we saw earlier, change our clothes, and move on to the last ambush. "Home?" asked Val through their link. While Val could project sounds through [Create Lesser Illusion], the voice still sounded slightly off, and the little wyrm seemed to prefer the mental form of communication to the stilted vocalizing. Yeah, then we¡¯re headed home, buddy. At the thought of home, Alex thought of Mark and Sarah. His thoughts began to spiral to his last week filled with survival and killing and the look that Sarah might give him. Alex quickly squashed the thoughts and feelings again, telling himself that it wasn¡¯t the time or place to think about something like that. At that moment, and until he left the Rift, he needed to remain ruthless and confident. As he stripped off his clothes and stepped into the extremely cold river water, Alex firmed his resolve once more. He washed and dressed in the robes of the sect leader. Abandoning the clothes and tattered camping backpack that he¡¯d been using, Alex felt like he was making a conscious step away from his humanity and the life he had on Earth. He was a killer now, and he did his best to shed the guilt of that thought along with his camping clothes. I guess it¡¯s time to review my ill-gotten gains and make our final preparations.
Status Name: Alex Moore - Level 21 Class: Ritualist (Novice) HP: 426/430 MP: 102/460 Traits: (1/3) {Primordial Will} Titles: < Unbound > Pathfinder Unbound Control Freak Physical Stats: Strength: 19 Agility: 31 Constitution: 42 Vitality: 21 Magical Stats: Intellect: 32 Willpower: 266 Mana: 21 + 25 Wisdom: 54 Bond Skills: [Mana Siphon] (Novice - Level 9) Primary Stat Shared - Mana Active Skills: [Mana Shaping] (Novice - Level 19) [Mana Infusion] (Novice - Level 13) [Empowered Step] (Novice - Level 17) [Ritual Insight] (Novice - Level 12) [Mirage] (Journeyman - Level 5) Passive Skills: [Efficient Rites] (Tier I) Bound Items: Unique E Rank Growth Item - Heavenly Eye of the Celestial Sage
35. According to Plan Alex held his hands out to the warmth. The fire and small natural shelter were a welcome change to the chill of the forest. He¡¯d found an enormous tree that had fallen over. Its roots brought up huge clumps of dirt when it tipped to its side, causing a small crater in the ground where the roots had once been. This refuge allowed him to easily nestle in and create a small fire without fear of being seen or the wind blowing it out. He¡¯d set up a ritual around the camp to keep any sounds he or the fire made from escaping to the surrounding area. The only way he could be found would be from the light or happenstance. Val was also circling the area, watching for anyone who might be coming in his direction. This allowed Alex some peace of mind and time to think through the ambush he¡¯d planned for the following evening. He stared into the fire, holding a cut piece of the silk that the elder Mana Spinners had given to him. It had an odd blue sheen to it, and while it was light and mostly see-through, it had a bit of a sticky texture. Alex held the silk mask to his face, marveling at its transparency. Even without activating [Mirage], the material clung to his features, smoothing them into an eerily featureless visage that reminded him of a mannequin. This could work, but let''s see how it handles the illusion. Activating [Mirage], Alex infused the mask with mana, causing the silk to become even more transparent. The illusion of his old face settled into place, but as soon as the mana flowed through the material, he winced. Shit. Alex was forced to squint his left eye. The silk¡¯s mana-conductive properties, combined with his Heavenly Eye''s ability to perceive mana, created an effect not unlike staring directly into a bright blue light. It was disorienting and potentially dangerous if he needed to rely on his enhanced vision. He pondered the problem for a moment before an idea struck him as he remembered how well the dead trees had blocked his mana from the sect members. Standing, Alex walked out of his ritual circle and began to cut at the side of one of the dead trees. When he had a small piece broken off he held it up to his left eye, pleased to find it blocked his vision entirely. Perfect. This should solve the problem. Carefully, Alex positioned the wood beneath the mask, covering his left eye. When he activated [Mirage] again, he found the bright blue light was gone, replaced by simple darkness on his left side. "It''s not ideal," he muttered to himself, "but it''s better than being blinded by my own magic. I''ll just have to be extra aware of my left side." The trade-off was clear: he could use the mask effectively but at the cost of depth perception and his enhanced mana vision. It was a compromise he''d have to live with for the sake of his disguise. More accurately, it was his own face with a normal left eye and a shaved jaw. Alex reached up and idly touched the stubble on his chin while thinking about what the elder had said when the spider had passed on the gift. ¡®Good at look changes. Help hide.¡¯ He hadn''t understood at the time, but now he realized that it was meant to be a cloth that would be very receptive to mana and absorb skills easily. He didn''t have any idea how the Mana Spinners knew he''d learn the [Mirage] skill, but the ability to use the silk to make a detailed mask solved one of his big fears. While he was doing his best to stay grounded in the situation he was fighting through, part of his mind couldn¡¯t help but wander to once he made it out. With the time that had passed in the Rift, he was close to having been gone for two full days at this point. He¡¯s sure that Mark and Sarah would have noticed something was wrong by now. My parents would probably just think I¡¯m ¡®being dramatic¡¯ and not answering my phone or something. Shit, my car is still out there. Stress filled his chest as he thought about how screwed he¡¯d be if his car was towed. Though as he thought through the situation, he found that he wasn¡¯t nearly as worried as he might have once been. He had already travelled many miles during his time in the Rift; all he would need to do is use his movement skill and follow a road and he¡¯d reach civilization quickly enough. The threat of the New Jersey winter also seemed like such a small worry when compared to his current predicament. He had also been stressing about how others would react to the visual changes to his left eye once he returned¡­ but with the discovery of how to use the silk, he had a way to hide it, at least until he could assure them that he was okay. Then he would want them to hear the full story, including how he had gained the eye from Eura. In the meantime, the mask would play a crucial role in allowing him to blend into the encampment he wanted to ambush the following day. He had planned to use a hood before and approach in the night, but with the discovery of the mask, he would be able to enter in a much less conspicuous way and get more intel during the day. The [Mirage] skill was extremely powerful, and Alex was thankful to have found the consumable manual. He could create complex illusions by activating the skill, and depending on the size or detail of the illusion, an amount of his total mana pool would be reserved and unusable as long as the illusion was in effect. Both [Mirage] and the silk were just two examples of all the rapid progress he¡¯d made in the last three weeks. While he¡¯d been pushed to the brink physically and mentally, he couldn¡¯t deny that the gains were immense. His level had sky rocketed, along with Val¡¯s. The stats from his titles added to the stats gained from his class and levels, made him stronger than he ever would have thought possible. While all of these gains were good, Alex felt that he was beginning to lose a grip on his situation. Too many new tools in his tool kit were causing him to second-guess his plans. The stats specifically made it hard for him to determine what he was capable of. Physically, he could run further and faster than the most fit human. He could jump higher and had no problems lifting the deceased sect members. His entire body and appearance had changed. While bathing earlier in the day, he¡¯d been surprised to note how much more pronounced his muscles were and how much fat had shed from his body. While the change in his mental and magical stats felt a bit less noticeable to him than the physical, Willpower was definitely the most apparent. His mind felt sharper and quicker. It wasn¡¯t that he was smarter, but his mind processed the information that it was taking in at a much faster rate. He¡¯d most noticed this in his fights with the Shadow Serpent Sect members. This allowed him to make a decision faster, and though he couldn¡¯t be certain, he felt more confident in himself. Is that because of the stat, or because I feel more competent? Stats aside, Alex had gained skills, a new weapon, and a style of fighting with that sword and his Heavenly Eye. Adding even more confusion to that, he was actively trying to improve his [Mana Shaping] and [Empowered Step] skills. [Mana Shaping] had reached level 19 and Alex could feel a sort of mental block that was preventing him from pushing into the next level. He believed that innovation or an improvement to how he was using the ability was the key to making the next step. Alex¡¯s solution to this was to keep working at his fine control of the mana tendrils with [Mana Shaping] while emulating the Mana Spinner webs.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. The final layer of chaos in his progression came from Valtherion. His companion had gained stats and abilities as well, and they¡¯d largely been operating as two separate components. There were combinations of their abilities that he wanted to practice and train in using. The most prominent was that after a bit of testing, Alex learned that Val could use the [Mana Infusion] ability that the wyrm got from their bond to send mana directly into Alex¡¯s body. Now that Val was level 21, his base mana pool was 500. When {Mana Glutton} was taken into account, it doubled to 1000, and if fed to Alex, it would effectively triple his available mana. With all of the new and potential upgrades to his power, he felt that he should slow down and allow himself some time to practice and experiment before continuing the raids or gaining more experience. But what¡¯s the option there? To wait in this nightmare for another week, dodging these guys that are hunting me? Alex knew that things had been going too smoothly so far and that it would only be a matter of time until he ran into a group with someone too strong for his rituals to handle. Even if they had someone who was too fast or too smart, his traps wouldn¡¯t work properly. ** No. No more waiting, no training. The ambush tomorrow is the last attack since the camp is between myself and the dead fields that lead to the Rift exit. As soon as the attack is finished or enough damage has been done, I¡¯m sprinting out of this place. It excited him to think that he could be back in his apartment by tomorrow evening. That thought of comfort was almost enough to make him abandon the ambush the following day and just try to sneak around the small encampment. It¡¯s just fifteen people, and the attack will be set up to hit all of them at once. They won¡¯t ever see it coming. While the groups had gotten more careful when traveling through the forest, Alex had done surveillance on the camp, and they were much more lax when in greater numbers. He pushed his hesitations aside and began to review the supplies he¡¯d gathered and the preparations that he¡¯d made. Now that he¡¯d had some time to calm down and think about his next actions, he realized there were many things in the forest that he wanted to take back with him. He grabbed several logs and branches of the dead trees. Alex found it fascinating that they didn¡¯t conduct any mana and seemed to block any flow on the other side. He had also killed and stored the corpses of some of the wildlife or lesser monsters of the swampy forest area, wondering if someone from the Guild would be interested in studying them. He continued to mentally catalog the items in his spatial bag and back pouch. When he felt satisfied that he was as ready as he could be, Alex tightened the stolen black cloak around himself and settled back against the tree¡¯s roots to review the plan.
Everything with the plan and preparation of his ambush had gone smoothly. In the morning, he snuck into the camp. Alex couldn¡¯t help but feel like he was in some sort of movie as he set a fire at one end of the camp, near the tent of the person who was in charge. While the camp of 15 men ran to put out the fire before it could spread, Alex snuck into the mess hall tent. Just from watching the group for a day, he knew that this was the area where most everyone in the camp congregated together at least once per day. Once he¡¯d snuck into the eating area, it had been nerve-wracking to crawl under most of the wooden tables and draw explosive and slowing ritual circles under most tables. The entire time, Alex had been worried that someone would enter to find him doing something suspicious. There were no issues, and once the fire was put out, most things went back to normal. Alex had staged it to look like a lamp had fallen over in a nearby tent to cause the fire. The man was disciplined harshly, and the area was cleaned. Alex had almost abandoned his entire plan when two more small groups of five to seven acolytes joined the camp. Suddenly, he was facing twice the original numbers and Alex was getting more nervous that he wouldn¡¯t be able to accomplish his goal. He used his Heavenly Eye to scan most of the enemies in the camp as he did his best to blend in. The levels ranged from the low thirties to the low forties. The exception was the leader of the camp.
Hong Xiu - Level 49 Class: Shadow Adept Primary Stat: Agility
He was easily recognizable with the purple sash to signify his position and long black hair tied into a ponytail. It made Alex very nervous to have someone so high leveled in the camp. He did his best to stay far away from the man and stall until the sun began to set. The plan had been to wait until the evening meal to activate the rituals. With the new additions, he¡¯d been worried that things could not continue how they had in the previous nights. His fears were quieted as the Hong Xiu sent word through the camp that he would be giving a speech during the evening meal and everyone was required to meet at the mess hall tent. Alex¡¯s heart beat wildly in his chest as the long line of people entered the tent. He hid outside of the tent with Val hidden beneath his robe top. Despite the tension and stress, Alex extended a tendril of mana toward the tent. He made it as thin as possible and let it snake into the tent to activate the chain of rituals from a distance. Everything in the plan had gone perfectly. He had even received a notification and several windows to signify that he¡¯d broken through to the next level of his [Mana Shaping] ability. He dismissed them and forced his breath to steady. He was hesitant and couldn¡¯t help but feel that he was the bad guy in this situation. Even though these people had attacked and hunted him, he was about to set off a bomb while they were gathered and preparing to eat. This wasn¡¯t honorable combat, it was going to be a slaughter. Were there innocents here? They were all fighting age males and in sect robes. They wouldn¡¯t show me the same mercy, would they? In the end, Alex realized that he wasn¡¯t strong enough to fight these people one-on-one in an honorable fight. Even though that would be his desired choice, they were all higher level than him and they outnumbered him by a vast amount. The Shadow Serpent Sect had already shown their willingness to be ruthless and that they would look down on him and take his life without a second thought. He stilled his thoughts and activated the chain reaction of rituals through his mana tendril. He ran out of mana halfway through, and Val used [Mana Infusion] to send a large flood of mana back into Alex, allowing him to finish the chain reactions. The multiple explosions shook the air, and Alex stumbled back from the tent. His vision became crowded by a startlingly large number of notifications.
You have slain Human - Level 32
You have slain Human - Level 31
You have slain Human - Level 34
You have slain Human - Level 38
Congratulations Awakened. You have leveled up! You have 3 Free Points to distribute.
You have slain Human - Level 40
You have slain Human - Level 33
You have slain Human - Level 33
You have slain Human - Level 36
Congratulations, Awakened! You have gained a Title! You gain: Title - One Against Many
The notifications continued, and Alex couldn¡¯t look at them. He dismissed them quickly and surveyed the chaos he¡¯d caused. As the mess hall tent collapsed, several people scrambled out, covered in dirt and blood. People within the tent screamed, and he saw lumps on the ground moving as the tent fell slack and onto the bodies on the ground. Everything had gone according to his plan and with the added casualties and sect members, it had gone better than Alex expected. Things lined up perfectly throughout the entire day, even with Hong Xiu calling everyone to one area. Blue motes rose from the bodies, and gold light began to rush toward Alex. At the same time, a sword slashed through the tent, revealing a calm and confident man. Instantly, Alex recognized the purple sash he wore and watched as his head swiveled around the camp. His angry eyes landed on Alex, and he shouted at him while pointing his rapier. This is where everything began to fall apart with his plan. 36. The Best Laid Plans Hong Xiu pointed his sword directly at Alex as they locked eyes. Alex watched as the other man stepped forward. To his normal eye, it looked like he had faded from existence before stepping out of a shadow not ten feet away. ¡°Acolyte, what are you doing over here? You look suspicious.¡± Hong Xiu said. Alex took another step back as his mind ran through possible ways to get out of the situation. He stopped and stood straight before bowing with his left palm clasped into his right hand. ¡°Junior Fang greets Senior Brother Hong.¡± This deferential greeting was how he¡¯d seen others interact with the elder brother. It was the closest Alex had been to the higher-level leader, and he was surprised to note that Hong Xiu was much younger than he thought. Xiu looked to be just over twenty years old. No wonder this guy is cocky. He¡¯s still a baby, and he¡¯s this strong. That¡¯s like me being Superman in college, but it¡¯s culturally acceptable to throw my weight around. The younger man lowered his rapier a fraction as he heard the standard sect greeting. Alex maintained his position in the bow, knowing that it wasn¡¯t proper for their group to stand until the senior-ranked person responded to the greeting. The silence stretched, and Alex began to feel uneasy. He felt his legs shake from the tension and he was beginning to wonder if he should flee. Knowing that he needed to act quickly, Alex pulled up the notification he¡¯d gotten just before setting off the ritual circles. It only took a moments thought to bring up the System windows.
Congratulations, [Mana Shaping] has leveled up! You have reached the Tier threshold of an active skill. Would you like to advance or evolve this skill?
Advance: This skill stays the same and advances to an improved version in the same tree. Evolve: This skill changes based on the different ways you may have used it or pushed the bounds of its purpose. You will lose levels in this skill if you choose this option.
Advance / Evolve?
Alex continued to clasp his hands and keep his head down to prevent Xiu from seeing his eyes flick back and forth across the prompts. He hadn¡¯t been prepared to have a choice. He assumed that the skill would level up and change or grow stronger. There is really not any time to unpack all of this right now. I want the skill to change, but how much will it change? It says it will change based on how I used it¡­ He mentally selected the Evolve option and watched both windows disappear to be replaced by a new one.
Analyzing skill usage¡­ New Skill Learned: [Mana Thread] (Novice - Level 7)
[Mana Thread] - Create impossibly thin and tightly controlled tendrils of mana. Your control and mastery over shaping mana reaches new heights.
While Alex felt a soaring sense of excitement, his thoughts were cut short by a condescending sneer. ¡°Tchh, go fetch water with the others and put this fire out.¡± ¡°Yes, Senior Brother!¡± Alex said. He bowed a bit deeper before standing and turning to go and join the others. Before the tension could fall from his shoulders, he heard a slight shuffle of feet from behind him. Just as Alex glanced over his left shoulder, he saw Xiu crouching with his sword raised. Alex threw himself to the side just in time as the younger man used [Lunge] and slid his sword through the same place Alex¡¯s shoulder blades had occupied a moment before. Xiu laughed and straightened from his martial stance and looked down at Alex with contempt. ¡°Good awareness ¡®junior brother,¡¯ but I¡¯m curious¡­ how is it that an acolyte knows the [Mirage] technique? It¡¯s reserved for those of us who are at least at the First Star.¡± Alex pushed himself backward quickly and got back to his feet, creating as much distance between them as possible. ¡°No answer? I thought not. You are the imposter, the one that the Firstborn is seeking.¡± Xiu said. He looked down his nose at Alex, clearly pleased that he had seen through the ruse. Alex looked around for an exit but found none. Around them, people ran back and forth, tents burned, and injured continued to scream or call out for help. Pieces of wood from the tent, along with the canvas, began to catch fire and threaten to spread throughout the camp. While Alex¡¯s panic grew alongside the rising smoke, Xiu seemed to grow more calm. ¡°Let¡¯s end this swiftly. You have done great damage to our Sect, and your ambushes were well executed. As an enemy, you have my respect for your fighting spirit.¡± Xiu flicked his wrist, and his rapier made an audible swish as it cut the air. In response, Alex dropped all pretenses of being submissive and fooling the man. He drew his own rapier and turned his right shoulder forward, slimming the target. Crouching and leaning forward on his right leg, he adopted the stance in the practice manuals. Xiu leaned his head to the left as if to look at Alex¡¯s foot placement. ¡°Not bad, but it¡¯s clearly self-taught. If you did that within the sect, Elder Brother Ming would beat you senselessly.¡± Alex ignored the idle talk and watched the man carefully while planning his escape. Xiu vanished, and Alex¡¯s instincts screamed at him. He dodged to the side just in time to avoid Xiu¡¯s rapier. ¡°I¡¯ll give it to you. You¡¯re quick, but that won¡¯t be enough. I¡¯ve gone through my first class advancement already. The gap between the two of us is too large.¡± He shook his head, almost sadly. ¡°Let me show you.¡± Alex swallowed hard and allowed his thoughts to race. There must be a way out of this situation. He¡¯s way more trained than me. His stats are higher than mine. Fuck. I should have just left. I didn¡¯t need to do this. It would have taken an extra day or two, but I could have gone around them. Time to gamble. Alex activated his new [Mana Thread] ability. A small thread of mana slips down his left hand and toward the ground. He was surprised at the speed and efficiency of the thread. While the tendrils felt like a significant drain on his mana pool, he could tell the new skill felt like a trickle in comparison. It took all of his willpower and confidence not to glance down at the thread, ensuring that it was invisible to the naked eye. If I take my eyes off of him, I¡¯m dead. Even if I survive, it could give up the ruse. He snaked the thread to his side, beginning to shape the ritual in the direction of the Rift exit. Alex did his best in shaping and controlling the tread the way he¡¯d seen the Mana Spinners do. Both men had been staring at each other for the last few heartbeats. Alex was distracted and doing his best to watch for any movement, whereas his opponent was looking at Alex¡¯s stance and watching for openings. Alex saw him split into two people without warning, and his outlines became blurry. They crouched and sprung forward with explosive speed. [Mirage] and [Blur]? Shit. Alex was ready; with mana infused into his legs, he activated [Empowered Step] and leaped backward. In his haste and fright, he¡¯d pushed more mana into his legs than he had wanted, which sent him flying back into a nearby tent. He crashed into the tent and it took everything he had not to lose concentration on his mana thread. It was quite easy to recognize [Blur] and [Lunge] as signature abilities of the Shadow Serpent Sect, especially after studying them in the manual. Xiu¡¯s use of the [Mirage] skill was beyond what Alex was currently capable of, making him hesitant about other skills he might not know.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Come on, just a bit more. He brought up his Status and checked his mana, trying to catch sight of Xui through the growing smoke. He saw his mana was dangerously low again, and Val sent him another pulse of mana through [Mana Infusion]. Such a good little mana battery. I¡¯m gonna give you so many Mana Stones later. Alex jumped back to his feet and held out the rapier once more. Unsure of where his opponent was, Alex swished the blade back and forth wildly. With the majority of his attention focused on the ritual, he had returned to swinging the sword around wildly. Dropping all pretenses of his ¡°training.¡± ¡°Are you even going to use that thing?¡± Xiu laughed. He came into view as a dark silhouette through the smoke, and he threw aside broken and knocked-over pieces of the two wrecked tents, causing the smoke around him to stir. Even though he knew that he should stall or attempt to draw the man into a longer conversation so that he had time to finish the ritual, Alex felt like his mind was being pulled in too many directions. What do I say? Shit. Do I reason with him? Pissing him off wouldn¡¯t work, then he¡¯d just want to kill me harder¡­ Before he could settle on a stalling strategy, the younger man stepped forward and raised his sword dramatically. Rather than a quick lunge, Xiu approached calmly and with measured steps. Alex noted the way his eyes were studying every movement and shift in weight. The ritual was almost complete, and Alex was unsure of how to dodge this next attack while finishing the last bit of the ritual. ¡°Wait! Wait, wait, wait. Hold on, do you even know why you¡¯re trying to kill me?¡± Alex held up his hands. ¡°No more waiting. I¡¯m tired of this game.¡± ¡°Let me just get these useless things out of my bag. I was always told that your entrance into the afterlife is based on what value you carry with you.¡± Alex said. ¡°What? The heavens?¡± Xiu stopped in confusion as Alex removed a rope. He raised his sword as the rope sailed through the air but landed harmlessly several meters away. It¡¯s no wonder he¡¯s confused. I don¡¯t even know what I¡¯m saying. Alex removed some dense rocks from his time in the tunnels and tossed them to the same area. Lastly, he lobbed a purple Mana Stone. ¡°What a waste of time. Stop stalling and accept your fate.¡± Xiu moved forward again and held his rapier at the ready. Just a bit more. Xiu attacked, and Alex was too slow. He was wholly focused on completing the ritual, and his reaction time with the sword was too slow to match the other man''s greatly increased stats. The other man¡¯s rapier was extended perfectly straight, and as he lunged forward, it struck toward Alex with deadly precision. Alex could tell, too late, that the sword was coming directly toward his face. He felt the sword cut into his cheek and struck the bone there. Panicking, he turned his head to prevent the sword from piercing into his head. A sickening sound could be heard in Alex¡¯s head as the blade scratched the bone and slid across the bridge of his nose, cutting the other side of his cheek. Even though the reaction was too slow, he jerked his face away, horrified. Unfortunately, the damage was already done. While he didn¡¯t think he¡¯d die immediately, he began to feel lightheaded as he knew the cut was severe. He could see part of his skin hanging down, even from the bottom of his normal vision. It was bleeding profusely, and his face stung. As horrific as the damage was to his face, the real kicker for the fight was the damage that was done to his mask. Blood ran down his cheeks, and Alex was caught between panting for breath and spitting out the metallic taste of blood. Hong Xiu stopped and stared at Alex with a dumbfounded expression for several moments as the mask fell away. ¡°You- you¡¯re one of them! That eye. You¡¯re a high-ranking member of the Celestial Lotus Sect!¡± Xiu took a step back as he registered his words and the bloody, blinking Heavenly Eye across from him. But then, he stopped himself, and he began to gain confidence once again. ¡°No, that doesn¡¯t make sense. You¡¯re far too weak, even with the sacrificial binding.¡± Alex moved in a small semicircle to his right. Having dropped the rapier, he wanted to cover his cheek with one hand but didn¡¯t want to actually touch the wound. His other hand was raised in a placating gesture. Xiu smiled wickedly at Alex. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m going to enjoy this. You will not get a swift death. I¡¯ll cut you to pieces bit by bit and take that eye from you while you¡¯re still breathing.¡± Fuck me. I guess pissing him off was the right answer to stall. Despite knowing that he wasn¡¯t going to die in the next strike, Alex bent his legs and continued to reposition. The Shadow¡¯s Adept raised his blade, bringing the cross guard to pause in front of his face. With an exaggerated movement, he raised his empty hand and moved two fingers along the blade as his sword hand pulled the blade down and flicked it out to the side. ¡°This will slow you down and make everything much, much more painful.¡± Alex removed the hand from his eye and could see through his bleary-enhanced vision now that the spider silk had been torn away and the wooden puck dropped to the ground somewhere in his dodge. The rapier was now coated in a sickly green mana that seemed to drip from the blade. Poison? Knowing that he was close to death, Alex decided to let the chips fall where they may. Even though it was entirely too early to dodge an attack, Alex threw himself to the side and landed in an ungraceful heap on the ground. He groaned as he landed hard on his side, and dry dirt flew up to cling to his bloody cheek. When he opened his right eye, he saw Xiu approaching him at a normal pace. The sword was held out to the side, certain not to brush the mana-poisoned blade against himself. The sneer on his face was almost enough to make Alex laugh. The younger man had thought that he had won and that Alex, in his fear, had tried to flee and had tripped instead. ¡°You Celestial Lotus are all trash. I¡¯m glad I¡¯ll get to kill you like this, laying on the ground and bleeding in our dirt.¡± Come on, just a few more steps. In total confidence, Xiu strode forward and raised his blade, prepared to cut into Alex¡¯s lower body. It was with that same confidence, that he walked directly into the ritual circle Alex finished preparing. NOW! The ritual circle activated through a pulse of mana through his [Mana Thread], and ropes shot out from the ground and latched on to Xiu from many different angles. As soon as they were settled, they changed from ropes to solid rock, holding him firmly in place. Hurting in several places, Alex got to his feet and looked at Xiu. The sect leader stared in horror and outrage. Alex walked forward and punched him in the face as hard as he could. Xiu¡¯s head rocked to the side, and Alex hopped back while shaking out his fist. Pent-up stress, excitement, and fear all rushed out of him with a single word. "FUCK!" He bent over and grabbed his bare fist before deciding to just press it to his side. He¡¯d felt like his body was growing more tough with the increase in stats, but his stats were lower than Xiu¡¯s and it was clear that the punch had hurt Alex¡¯s knuckles more than the other man. The pain subsided after a second, though he felt a dull throb in the ring and pinky finger knuckles, and Alex reached for the dagger at his side. He took a single step toward Xiu and then heard shouts nearby. ¡°Hey, they¡¯re over here!¡± ¡°Senior brother!¡± ¡°Senior brother!¡± Alex groaned in frustration and took off at a sprint. He used [Empowered Step] to speed up the retreat. He had placed the ritual in such a way that he had a direct route to run toward the Rift exit. His Core pulled in that direction, showing him the way to freedom. He crossed through the last hundred meters of wooded terrain before he emerged in the open plains. He remembered seeing this field of sickly yellow tall grass when he entered the Rift. Almost home. Almost home. He continued to run, so close that he could almost taste it. When he was about two hundred meters away, heading up the hill, he could see the Rift. He focused on it and willed himself to cross the last bit of distance. His mana was running low enough to cause his head to throb, his body hurt, and his face was beginning to feel numb on the left side where the blade had cut deep. Just as it felt that his escape was guaranteed, the grass far ahead of him parted. It looked like a shark swimming through the water. The odd sight caused Alex to skid to a halt and assess. He heard a hiss and then saw a large black snake made of shadowed scales pull itself up and eye him. The ruby red eyes were cold and reminded Alex of two beads, staring without emotion or fear. Its tongue flicked out several times, and instinctively, Alex clamped down harder on his own personal mana to ensure that none was leaking from his body. He looked past the monstrous snake and toward the glowing blue tear in space that would lead him home. Fuck. This sucks so much. Alex knew that there was no way to get around this serpent. It was too fast and too strong. Part of him wanted to use the Analyze skill to see its Status Window, but he knew that the distraction might cost him his life. Alex only saw one way out of this situation, and unfortunately, it wasn¡¯t his way home. He jumped back and turned inland, back toward the forest. As soon as the snake began to move at an angle to cut him off, Alex spun around and used as much mana as he could to empower his legs. He ran directly at the chasm that divided the two sides of the Rift and threw himself with all of his power to the other side. While jumping through the air, he remembered how, just a few weeks ago, his weak legs had only carried him a foot or two into the air, which caused him to fall into the river below. Then, not long after, he¡¯d jumped into the open cavern, attempting to make a fifteen-foot jump to another ledge with his stats increased from a title. He¡¯d almost cleared that jump and only lived thanks to the Mana Spinner webs that caught him. These memories flashed through his mind in an instant, and he grinned wide as he realized that this was different. Despite the space being close to twenty feet, Alex could tell that he would make the jump. He hit the other side and rolled several times across the ground from his momentum. Bits of grass and more dirt clung to his bloody face, and he heard a cry of pain from Val as he rolled. He raised himself to his hands and knees, spitting grass and blood, to see the large serpent on the other side staring at him. Sorry buddy. Is it my imagination, or do I see frustration there? The thought caused him to smirk, and the snake hissed in turn. It backed away and began to head up the hill toward the Rift. I¡¯m safe for now. But it seems to realize I want to go toward the top of the hill. Does it know about the Rift? Alex let himself collapse for a moment, feeling glad that he was on the other side of the large crack from the snake. Wait. Up the hill- the crack! Alex got to his feet and could see the grass parting in a wake as the beast made its way up the hill. Alex remembered his view from the apex of the hill, where he¡¯d emerged from the portal. The crack starts there. If the snake makes it up to that point, it can just go right around the crack and come down on this side of the river! Alex whimpered as he turned and began to limp away from the hill. He reached into his spatial pouch as he moved and brought out a Healing Potion. He drank the red liquid and was relieved to feel it take effect quickly. Next, he removed a Mana Stone and gave it to Val before removing another for himself. He used [Mana Siphon] on it, allowing him to use mana to empower his travel once more, heading further inland, away from the Rift and toward the cherry tree forest. 37. An Expected Capture Alex was exhausted. He¡¯d been running for an hour straight, using his mana as he got it to increase his speed. He wasn¡¯t sure if the Firstborn was even chasing him at this point. He just didn¡¯t want to stop and find out. The potion he¡¯d drank had done its job, and the cut on his face had healed, though the blood had long since dried onto his face and neck. He cackled at a thought that jumped into his head. I wonder what Mark or Sarah would think if they saw me right now. Crazy hair, haven¡¯t bathed with soap in weeks, facial hair growing a bit wild, and my left eye looks like it¡¯s been replaced with a solar system. I think my face is scarred despite the healing potion, and I¡¯ve got dried blood all over my face, neck, and hands. Not to mention that I am running around in what anyone from Earth would think looks like ninja clothes. It was an odd kind of dark humor that he was surprised to think in his tired state of mind. He knew that it was only their disbelief that would amuse him. The thoughts of a follow up conversation were sobering. You killed people? He did his best to steer his thoughts away from this and back to the present. I need a plan. He blinked rapidly as he approached the cherry blossom forest. The vision in his left eye began to overwhelm him as he looked around. It was a stark contrast to the other side of the Rift. Everything in the forest ahead of him contained mana. From the green grass to the blooming cherry blossoms, colors and movement bombarded him. He closed his eyes and thought about what to do next and regain his bearings. Alright, so last time I was here, some people tried to kidnap me. I can assume that¡¯s going to happen again. Last time, they thought I was a spy¡­ Alex looked down with his normal eye and sighed. Well, this time, they¡¯re definitely going to think I¡¯m a spy. Val flew back down as Alex stopped in the tall grass. He went to his knees and took a quick breather as his companion gave him a quick head butt. ¡°Hey, buddy. Thanks for keeping watch.¡± "Watch!" Val said in response. ¡°Yes, watch. Good job.¡± Alex said as he patted the wyrm¡¯s head. ¡°Keep it up, and let me know when you see people. I¡¯ll give you Mana if you do, okay?¡± ¡°Mana!¡± Alex laughed tiredly. He reached into his spatial pouch and pulled out a piece of wood from the other forest. He used the knife in his pouch to begin whittling off a piece of the dead wood. When the piece came loose, he returned the larger piece to the pouch and stared at the knife for several minutes. He couldn¡¯t help but remember the fact that he was going to try and stab a restrained man in the chest only a short while ago. Sighing, he continued with his small project. After ten more minutes of working with the small wooden puck, he had something resembling a small disk about the size and shape of an Oreo. Damn, I want an Oreo. ¡°Mana?¡± Ha! No, better than Mana. ¡°No.¡± Oh yes. I swear, if you stop eating my Mana Stones, I¡¯ll be rich when I can sell them all. I promise you¡¯ll get an Oreo when we go home. "Home, when?" Those two words tore at Alex¡¯s heart, and he didn¡¯t respond. He wanted so desperately to get home and out of this nightmare. Yet, here he was, moving further and further away from the Rift exit once again. He cut another piece of the spider¡¯s silk to make a fresh mask and placed the puck over his left eye. Happy that this method worked, he had a way to temporarily block out the overwhelming amounts of mana in his vision while still having a normal appearance. Just to make sure, he removed the mirror from his spatial bag and looked at his face after using [Mirage] on the mask. At least now I won¡¯t get a headache from walking in the forest. I can¡¯t tell if the eye would make these people freak out or hero-worship me if they recognize it. Alex prepared himself for the worst, knowing that if he surrendered himself to the sect members that would inevitably find him, he could talk them into understanding what had happened. The best case scenario was if he could talk directly to Eura as the celestial man would know that he wasn¡¯t a spy. Would it just be best to strip down and run through the forest naked? Then they might just think I¡¯m a crazy person. Crazy is better than enemy spy, right? He felt too tired and hungry to worry about what the Celestial Lotus Sect might think of him. He had run out of food almost two full days ago and had been able to eat some of the sparse field rations that the Shadow Serpent Sect members had on them. They thought I was an enemy spy when I was in my normal street clothes. I doubt being naked would make a difference. He knew he needed to move, but he quickly looked through his System notifications. He dismissed any of the kill notifications and instead just looked at what he¡¯d gained. Three levels and another title. He wanted to stop and look at the title but felt a bit sick to his stomach at the enormous jump in experience. He glanced at the benefits to make sure that it wasn¡¯t anything abnormal; however, when he saw that it was another five points to all stats, he stood and began to move to divert his thoughts. Alex ran on and was surprised that it took as long as it did for a sect patrol to run into them. When Val spotted them, Alex called him back down and had the small mana wyrm hide in his shirt under the robes. As the group approached and began yelling at him, Alex raised his hands to show that they were empty. While there were no attacks, the group was clearly more rough than they needed to be. Several of them seemed to love the idea of free punches on an enemy who couldn¡¯t defend themselves. Alex tried to explain himself more than once but was silenced with physical violence each time. The first time he¡¯d been hit, he¡¯d tried to yell at the man to tell him to stop. The second time he¡¯d tried to reason with the group to understand why they wouldn¡¯t listen to him. After the third time, Alex did his best to turtle up and protect Val and vital parts of his body. He stopped trying to talk with them and decided he¡¯d take a different approach to the conversation when they got to wherever the sect stayed. They took his spatial bag and the larger pouch on his back. The idea that everything he¡¯d accumulated and survived with being taken caused him to almost have a panic attack. Of course, they¡¯d take your stuff, dumbass. You have a small pocket dimension on your hip. There is no telling what you could be hiding in there.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. I¡¯m really committed to this now. Alex berated himself. On instinct, he tried to use his Heavenly Eye more than once to inspect the sect members who tied him up. It annoyed him that his eye was still covered, and he couldn¡¯t remove the dead-wood puck without removing the mask first. There was no real way for him to tell, but for some reason, Alex felt that this set of sect members was lower level than he was. The thought surprised him since he wasn¡¯t sure what gave him that idea. He pushed it aside. The System had clearly said that the Rift Rank had increased. His hands were tied, and a bag was placed over his head. The group walked with Alex for some time, and after an hour, Alex heard the sounds of civilization. They were not the sounds of his home, with traffic, yelling, and city birds. But the sound of a few horses, people talking, kids running, and guards calling out. For some reason, with his vision being inhibited, it really drove home the fact in a different way that he was in a fantasy world. He listened to the group¡¯s conversation as they made their way through the city. Catching a few odd bits about the fact that they were annoyed to be reduced to such a low state of power. One of them mentioned something about Alex¡¯s Qi and that the Serpent Sect must regard them lowly to send such a ¡°beginner¡± to spy on them. Alex was yanked along, and he could hear those who¡¯d tied him up bragging to some others as they passed. He made the mistake of trying to clarify, once again, that he wasn¡¯t a spy, but the men had gladly turned to beat on him some more. Alex had wondered if they might not use such violence when in the company of others, but he turned out to be quite wrong. They were more than happy to ¡®teach him his place¡¯ as a ¡®Night¡¯s dog.¡¯ Whatever the hell that means. Alex coughed after a particularly solid kick connected with his stomach and resolved to keep his mouth shut until they got him wherever they were taking him. At first, the village had seemed large. They walked through the area for some time before Alex realized that the assholes were parading him in a large circle past the houses. The longer that they were out there, the more people came out to see the spectacle. The chill settled into his bones as several hours passed, and night began to fall. The ordeal only ended when the men clearly became bored and were no longer getting the attention they had when they first arrived in the village. Alex was taken into a damp and cool area underground that he assumed was a prison. He felt cold metal manacles clamp around his wrist before the bag was removed. He looked around at the four men who still surrounded him and could see violence in their eyes. Fuck. ¡°Hey, wait. I¡¯m telling you, I¡¯m not a spy! I know, Eura, please just g-¡± ¡°Who in the endless Night is Eura.¡± ¡°Brother, shut him up.¡± There was not even a second pause before a fist connected with Alex¡¯s face. He was stunned but had the wherewithal to ball up in the turtle position to protect Val and his stomach while covering his head. Blows reigned down, and at some point, he lost consciousness.
Alex woke to someone splashing cold water on him. ¡°Strip him.¡± Came a cold voice. The voice made him jerk awake, and rough hands began to pull at his clothes. Alex tried to push back, but he was struck hard before he could even gain his bearings. His robe and shirt were removed, which revealed Valtherion, who flew around behind Alex, poking his head out only slightly. "Scared." The bond said the word and sent a feeling of fright so strong that it made Alex dry heave. He tried to send feelings of comfort or confidence to the wyrm but knew he was sending too much of his own stress as well. ¡°There¡¯s a beast. You, Junior Brother, go and fetch a mana cage.¡± Said the original cool voice. Alex saw the other man for the first time. He was not one of those who had been in the patrol group. He looked at Alex with a calm face that held no passion and seemed to take in every detail. Alex could tell that the man was in charge of the others, but he still didn¡¯t present the confident and dangerous aura that Hong Xiu had. He glanced around the cell to see if there was any hope of escape or fighting back. Every side of the room was covered with stone tiles, some with symbols etched into them. When Alex used his willpower to reach for his mana, he was terrified to notice that he could not draw it from his Core. He felt the hackles on his neck stand up, and he glared at the man. Play this smart. They¡¯ll just beat me senseless again if I try to yell or make demands. ¡°Please, don¡¯t hurt him. I¡¯m not a spy. Please, just let me tell you what¡¯s going on. I know Eura, he-¡± Alex was slapped on the head. Internally, Alex screamed in frustration. Externally, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Well, at least he didn¡¯t punch me. I¡¯m going to start losing some teeth here soon. ¡°This one apologizes, Senior Brother. He keeps talking about this, Eura person. He must have some faulty information on the sect.¡± Said the man nearest to Alex. He looked at Val warily and took half a step away. ¡°Hmm, wait.¡± Said the Senior Brother. ¡°Hit him again.¡± Alex looked up in bewilderment. ¡°Wait, what?¡± A blow rocked his head to the side, and Alex hissed in pain. He felt his lip split and blood fill his mouth. My increase in Constitution has got to be doing something for me here. There¡¯s no way I would have been able to take a beating like this before. ¡°His face doesn¡¯t react when you strike him. Are you not angered, Night¡¯s dog?¡± Said the Senior Brother. The man had black hair tied back into a ponytail, and he squinted his eyes as he leaned forward to look at Alex through the bars. ¡°Yes, Senior Brother. He¡¯s been like that this entire time. We thought it was impressive that he wasn¡¯t scared or angry or anything as we caught him. Even as we hit him and brought him into the cell, he didn¡¯t show any fear. Their training must be frightening if even someone as weak as him isn¡¯t worried about this situation. ¡° ¡°Hmm¡­¡± There was a pause for several moments before the man snapped his fingers. ¡°That¡¯s not it. He has an illusion on his face.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it break when entering the cell?¡± The ¡°senior brother¡± gave the man in the cell a flat look. ¡°No. The ancient scripts suppress the use of Qi, it doesn¡¯t destroy Qi within. If it did, as a cultivator, you would die from stepping in side.¡± Bending forward at the waist, the man nodded eagerly and called himself an idiot while praising the other man¡¯s wisdom. It wasn¡¯t long before they found the mask and pulled it off, causing the puck to fall to the ground. Several of the younger brothers within the cell gasped as his face, scar, and eye were revealed. ¡°Interesting.¡± Said the senior brother. ¡°Why would you make a mask of yourself? Why not one of another person, like a member of our sect?¡± Alex spit blood from his mouth before responding, some of the fresh blood from his lip clinging to his chin. ¡°I¡¯m telling you. I¡¯m not a fucking spy! I made the mask of my own face to hide my eye because I didn¡¯t want it to alarm anyone.¡± Alex looked at the man, attempting to convey sincerity and confidence through his gaze. Someone returned with a cage, and they forced Val into the small metal container. Alex had yelled and tried to rise as the companion called out loudly. Feeling the fear through their bond was heartbreaking, and Alex almost welcomed the blows that sent him back to the ground. The pain was more welcome than the terror from Val. ¡°We will not harm the beast. Calm yourself. How do you have that eye?¡± ¡°I keep trying to tell you. Eura gave it to me. The Heavenly Eye was a reward for releasing him.¡± For the first time, the senior brother responded with emotion. He stepped forward quickly and grabbed the bars. ¡°What did you just say?¡± ¡°Eura gave it to me? Look, I know it¡¯s hard to believe, like how do you give someone an eye, but-¡± ¡°No, not that. What did you call it?¡± ¡°The Heavenly Eye? The actual name was longer; it just sounds ridiculous to say.¡± Alex tried to remember the name but gave up and pulled up the description.
Bound Items E Rank Growth Item - Heavenly Eye of the Celestial Sage Rarity: Unique Type: Ocular Enhancement This ocular enhancement replaces the eye of the wielder, granting the passive ability to perceive mana and its movement within the environment. As the wielder''s control over magic increases, the clarity and strength of this vision will enhance accordingly. The Eye lets the user focus their will to reveal detailed information about items, materials, or entities through the System. The accuracy and detail of the information obtained are contingent on the wielder¡¯s Willpower being greater than the target''s, with more details accessible as the gap in Willpower widens.
¡°Heavenly Eye of the Celestial Sage.¡± He read aloud. ¡°How¡­¡± the words trailed off as the other man stared at Alex with a look of shock. ¡°What do you mean how? I keep telling you how¡ª asshole. You just keep punching me. Eura gave it to me when I let him out of those shadow chains in the tunnels.¡± The senior brother recoiled as if Alex had struck him. There was a silence, and the two stared at each other before the man straightened. His calm composure returned, and he looked down his nose at Alex. ¡°I will verify this story. Junior Brothers, tell no one of this until I have confirmed it.¡± He said, while holding eyes with Alex. He looked like he would turn and leave right then but he stopped. He turned back and added, ¡°Beat him again. Don¡¯t break anything. I doubt it¡¯s true, but even if he is telling the truth, I don¡¯t like how he looks at me. Know your place, outsider.¡± Fuck. Several minutes later, the three juniors left the cage, patting each other on the backs and laughing. They bragged about certain shots and seemed pleased with themselves. I won¡¯t forget a single one of your faces. Too tired for even his rage to fuel him, Alex spat out some more blood and forced himself into a seated position. He leaned his head against the wall, frustrated that Val was in the smaller cage just outside of his cell. He sent feelings of comfort to his bond before laying his head back and dozing off. It¡¯s alright, buddy. We¡¯ll get out of here, and I¡¯ll make sure they pay twofold for what they¡¯ve done here. Bastards. "Mana?" A smile brushed across Alex¡¯s face as he fell asleep. 38. Rage Alex jolted awake and looked around in a panic, but he didn''t notice any immediate danger. He winced in pain, and he could tell instantly that his lip and cheek were swollen. What woke me up? He had his back to the stone wall and was facing the metal bars of the cell, his knees pulled up in front of him, and his legs felt like they were asleep from sitting in the position on the hard stone floor. His eyes naturally drifted to Val¡¯s cage. Panic filled him, and he froze. Val? The cage was open, and Val wasn¡¯t within. Alex reached out through his bond, only to find that Val was very close. Alex looked down and saw the small wyrm curled up in his own lap. How did you get out? The small blue head lifted, and the fish-like eyes closed, and Val opened his mouth. It reminded Alex of a dog panting happily. ¡°Me, Mana. Open small bag.¡± It took him a minute to realize what the proud companion was saying. You ate the mana from the cage, and it opened? Alex stifled a laugh as Valtherion didn¡¯t know what a crate or cage was but compared the container to a bag, which he¡¯d only learned because the spatial bag was where the Mana Stones were kept. I guess they did say it was a mana cage. Little do they know that they basically just gave you a free meal. The small act of defiance made Alex smile and pat Val on the head. Alex took some of their time in quiet to observe the stone cell. Now that his eye was uncovered, he was able to look around and inspect the cell with the Heavenly Eye. There were carefully cut square stone tiles that lined the floor, walls, and ceiling of the cell. The tiles around the outer edge of each surface had inscriptions on them that glowed with the faint blue. He debated crawling to the closest wall to inspect them, but even as he shifted his weight, he knew that it would be painful, and he wasn¡¯t likely to glean anything from them. I wonder if those are runes that people can use for enchanting. They seem to be charged with mana. He looked around the room and saw that there was an empty cell across from his own. There were two sets of manacles in his own and the opposing cell, though he was the only one there. The area was relatively clean, and other than the small wooden puck that had fallen from his mask, there wasn¡¯t anything else in the cell. Alex entertained himself with thoughts on how he could get out of his current situation. While the start had been rocky, things had largely gone according to plan. Minus the whole- feeling helpless and thinking they might hurt Val¡­ Letting out a sigh, he had to acknowledge that things really hadn¡¯t gone to plan. He hadn¡¯t thought that the sect would be so hostile or belligerent. In the end, he¡¯d been able to tell them that he knew Eura, and based on the senior brother¡¯s reaction, he was sure that things would begin to fall into place. He let his thoughts drift to more satisfying thoughts of a revenge fantasy. Surprised at how easily his thoughts turned to physical violence, he thought back to just a few weeks before when he¡¯d been hesitant to stand up for himself at work. Compared to that, he was contemplating how best to trap or subdue a small group of snobby-robed individuals and beat them senseless. After a short time, Alex heard someone descending the wooden stairs into the holding area. Val, someone is coming. Fly out of the cell and stay near the ceiling. Use your [Create Lesser Illusion] skill to hide. Don¡¯t move, okay? Val flew out of the confined space and used his skill just as the person came into view. Alex reached over to pick up the small piece of wood that he¡¯d used to cover his eye before. As the man stepped into view, Alex tried to use the active function of his Heavenly Eye to inspect the man. He hoped that since it didn¡¯t use mana and wasn¡¯t a skill, it would still work inside of the enchanted space. He felt a pulse from behind his eyes before the information appeared in the air over the younger man''s head.
Lin Xue - Level 19 Class: Lotus Disciple Primary Stat: Strength Secondary Stat: Constitution Most Used Ability: (Passive) Qi Cultivation
He got a lot more information than he was expecting to. The mana that Alex could see from the man was the same yellow-gold of Eura¡¯s skin. ¡°Hello. This one apologizes for any inconvenience my brothers have caused to you.¡± The young man bowed deeply before opening the metal door. Inconvenience? Alex watched as the disciple walked into the cell and smoothly moved to place a set of clothes in front of Alex before unlocking the manacles that kept him chained to the wall. The disciple looked at the now open mana cage. "Was there not a beast companion of yours in there?" Hesitantly, Alex nodded. "He broke out and I told him to fly out of the city." He decided to give no further context and let the silence hang in the air. The disciple uncomfortably cleared his throat. ¡°My name is Lin Xue. I am but a lowly disciple, but I¡¯ve been sent with instructions to prepare you for a meeting with the Sect Head.¡± To Alex, he looked to be a child. His face was slightly round and his eyes were wide. He had short-cut black hair, and his cream-colored robes lacked the yellow-gold stitching of the others Alex had seen so far. Alex sighed and got to his feet. He knew that this wasn¡¯t the person he needed to get angry at or lash out at. What a dirty move to send this innocent kid. None of those bastards even came back, probably too guilty to look me in the eye after they found out my story was true. ¡°Where are my clothes?¡± Alex asked. He bent to pick up the new set on the ground. There were dark brown pants, a white shirt with a loose neck, and a robe. The robe was cream-colored like the disciples with the addition of a large lotus on the chest that became whole when the robe was tied. Alex found them to be softer and more loose-fitting than the clothes he¡¯d taken from the Shadow Serpent Sect member. Alex dressed, and the man retrieved his spatial bag and the larger mundane bag he¡¯d used to hold the other four spatial pouches. He held them out in two hands while bowing again. ¡°The weapons within were removed and await you in the Elder¡¯s armory. Otherwise, you will find everything as you left it.¡± Xue said. ¡°Where are the others who brought me here?¡± Alex stepped out from the cell and reached down to access his Core. The mana answered his will without issues, and he was relieved. He used [Mana Thread] just to feel the sensation of his mana being used. ¡°Some of the sect¡¯s warriors have been sent back out on patrol and will regrettably not be here to greet the Honored Guest.¡± The young man bowed again. Alex took a deep breath and closed his eyes. His face was swollen, and his lips cracked from being hit multiple times the day before. After taking a few deep breaths and making sure that he remembered the pulsing sensation of pain in his cheeks and brow, he reached into the pouch for a health potion and drank it down. Xue just watched him quietly while fidgeting with the belt that tied his robes. It was clear to Alex that they should be moving somewhere, but he didn¡¯t mind making these assholes wait a bit. Even if it was Eura. Alex knew Eura was significantly stronger than anything he could handle, but Eura¡¯s people had done this to him. Something about the thought triggered a memory in Alex¡¯s mind. He hadn¡¯t thought about it since his first day in the Rift because his quests had changed so quickly, but three weeks ago, when he¡¯d entered the Rift, he¡¯d been given a quest. There is a spy here, in the Celestial Lotus Sect. Maybe none of this was Eura¡¯s doing¡­ I should mention this to him when I can. ¡°Alright, what are you supposed to do to prepare me for meeting with your Sect Head?¡± ¡°If you¡¯ll follow me this way, Honored Guest. I¡¯ve been instructed to give you access to one of our private residences and time to bathe. Afterward, we will take a walk to the Grand Pagoda, where the Sect Head is working.¡±If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Alright, lead the way,¡± Alex said. Val, follow behind us, but move way above us and keep your skill going. You¡¯ll look like a blur, but in the air, no one should see you. At least stay hidden until we make sure everything is safe. The two walked through the village, which turned out to be more of a city than he¡¯d originally realized. The streets are wide and paved, with cherry trees lining both sides. Pedestrians walked calmly down the street and he was surprised to note that most did not wear the sect¡¯s robes. Maybe the sect is just a smaller part of the city? ¡°What is the name of this city?¡± Alex asked. ¡°Tianluo, which means Heaven¡¯s Fall,¡± Xue answered calmly while continuing to walk. Alex noted how different the culture was in this city compared to the city he lived in. While the people here were mostly quiet and disciplined, the people of New Jersey were naturally loud and crass. He loved the chaos and movement that came with the city. It was a large part of the reason he had stayed after college. Many of the buildings that they passed were made from white-washed stone. The architecture was full of sweeping, curved rooftops with gold or jade accents. It was odd how both sides of the street shared a certain amount of symmetry with each other. If one side had a building with an addition, so did the one mirroring it. They walked for some time and could see over the tops of the short buildings, a multileveled structure toward the center of the city that rose above all others. They walked toward it for a time, before turning and heading to the outer edge of a nice area. Just before they arrived at his accommodations, Alex noted a large field and staging area. ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°Those are the training yards, Honored Guest. The sect trains there each morning and for certain classes during the day.¡± Alex just nodded and kept following after Xue. When they arrived at the house, Alex was impressed. It was a small building, but it was completely enclosed in a fence with a small grassy front yard. A path lead up to the house and he could see a small garden around the side of the house. Xue opened the wooden sliding door and guided him inside. The house had polished bamboo floors and two other rooms. One was clearly a bedroom, where he could see a low wooden bed with some sheets on it. The other had an eating area with a wall that opened to the small garden. To the back of the house, Xue showed him where they could exit. Though there wasn¡¯t much room between the back exit and the fence, what was in between made Alex¡¯s eyebrows rise. There was a large stone setting and an indent filled with steaming hot water. ¡°Any water placed within the bath will heat up on its own and they have an enchantment worked into the base of the stone that will increase your recovery while you soak in the waters.¡± Alex whistled, and despite using a healing potion, he felt how sore his jaw was from the movement. Xue left Alex alone and told him to inject Qi into a stone left on the bed when he was ready. A finer version of his clothes was in the wooden cabinet opposite the bed, which the younger man instructed him to wear after bathing. While the bath was certainly a luxury, Alex noted the lack of particular accommodations he wouldn¡¯t want to live without. There didn¡¯t appear to be any plumbing or technology in the house, though with what he knew about Rifts, that made sense. A short time later, Alex let himself sink into the hot water. Man, it would be awesome to have my phone. I hope Mark and Sarah aren¡¯t too worried¡­ I¡¯ve been here for just over three weeks. That means it¡¯s almost been three whole days out there. They¡¯d definitely notice something is wrong by now. He sighed and tried not to think about it too much. Alex reached out to his bond with Val and felt that the mana wyrm had found an interest in the plants that were growing in the garden. Please don¡¯t eat anything, buddy. I¡¯ll give you Mana later, okay? ¡°Mana?¡± Alex felt Val fly over and stop an inch from his face. Alex''s eyes were closed, but he could picture the creature''s large eyes staring at him with the intensity that only came with the possibility of food. Later. ¡°Mana, now?¡± Alex cracked open his right eye and stared at the wyrm. He couldn¡¯t help but remember the sheer terror that had been projected through their bond as they¡¯d shoved Val into the mana cage. Fine. Mana now. Go bring me the bag. Valtherion left quickly, eager to receive his treat. I always wanted a dog. Now I¡¯ve got a talking and flying snake? Close enough. Alex allowed himself to soak a bit longer and decided that he needed to check all of his notifications from the last ambush in more detail. Everything had been so hectic since his encounter with Hong Xui, he hadn¡¯t had a moment to himself to read all of the blue windows. He laid his head back on the stone siding of the bath and mentally called forth the notifications in the order he¡¯d received them. There were a sickening number of kill notifications for humans. He also gained three levels and a new title. Level 24, huh. I¡¯ve almost gained twenty levels since coming here. Since he didn¡¯t get any variety with his Free Points, he threw all nine of the points into Willpower before pulling up the description for the new title.
Title: One Against Many Fight against ten or more opponents by yourself and win. +5 to all stats
Alex shrugged, welcoming the new blanket increase to his stats. Even including the three levels, Alex couldn¡¯t help but feel that his greatest achievement so far was evolving his [Mana Shaping] skill to [Mana Thread]. He decided to practice with it as he got dressed and waited for Xue to return. After getting out of the bath, he stretched and noted that he felt better than he had in weeks despite some minor aches and pains. Maybe even better than before I entered the Rift. He flexed his muscles and stretched his back. When he entered the bedroom to get dressed, he scanned the area. He found the clothes similar to those he¡¯d put on before. The new ones seemed to be made of better materials, though. After putting on the trousers, he turned to the polished metal in the corner of the room that created the hazier effect of a mirror. Good God. The image of the person in the mirror was not what Alex expected to see. While he was still the same height, almost everything else about him had gone through drastic changes. His muscles were more defined, and barely any fat was left on his body. For the first time in his life, he had six-pack abs. His shoulder and face were scarred. His hair was longer on his head than it had been for some time, and he even had the makings of a beard growing on his face. If I saw a picture of this person a few weeks ago, I would have said that there was no way it was me. He stepped closer to the mirror and got a better look at his face. While the healing potion had done quick work on the cut across his nose and cheeks, it was far from perfect. The fresh pink skin stood out from his normal skin tone and as he touched it, he could feel the area where the skin was slightly puckered on the topside of the scar. Even with the large scar, his eyes were drawn to the Heavenly eye. From a distance, it looked like he had heterochromia, but up close, it was much more obvious how unnatural the eye was. Instead of his natural brown, the eye was colored a light yellow with the outer edge teetering on golden-orange. There were flecks of white in it that, in Eura¡¯s larger size, he¡¯d thought looked like stars. Fuuuuuck. The changes weren¡¯t just physical, either. Alex could tell, just by the way he was standing in front of the mirror, that he was more confident and self-assured than he ever had been. Is that from the stats? Or because I¡¯ve actually fought for my life and come out on the other side? He stopped admiring himself and continued getting dressed. Alex debated pulling out the recovered mask and putting it on his face before the meeting but figured that this was going to be a time when he could not care about his appearance. I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll be wearing a mask a lot when I get home. At least until I can explain what happened to me in here. Instead of the mask, he tied a small ribbon of the mana silk around his head to hold the wooden puck in place. While the walk to the house hadn¡¯t been too bad, he did close his eyes several times in the livelier areas, worried about getting a sensory headache again. With his improvised eye patch, he would be able to avoid that in his meeting with Eura. Oooh- I wonder what he looks like in the mana sight from the Heavenly Eye now that I actually understand what I¡¯m seeing. Wait, or I wonder if I could see his level now? He remembered his panicked and accidental attempt to scan Eura just after he was released. At the time, Alex had been so overwhelmed with running for his life and the searing pain in his left eye that he hadn¡¯t even realized what he¡¯d done. He sighed before pulsing his mana through the stone to signal Xue. It was only a few minutes before Xue arrived and guided him from the fenced yard. Once back on the streets, the younger man was willing to answer some questions for Alex as they walked. He said that the senior brothers'' behavior was indeed out of line. Xue told Alex that much had changed regarding discipline and values in the last decade. Alex remembered that Eura said he¡¯d been imprisoned for that long, and he asked if the Sect Head¡¯s absence was part of the reason for the change in culture. The disciple hesitantly nodded in agreement. It was clear that he felt uncomfortable talking about anything that could be construed as negative toward his sect members, so Alex decided to drop the topic until he could speak with Eura about it. I guess I shouldn¡¯t judge the whole group based on the actions of a few, right? I just need to calm down. My original plan is still probably the best option. Getting help from Eura is probably my shot to get out of here. The pair walked on and came to a busier section of town. The quiet discipline was replaced with excited merchants selling their wares. Many people lined the streets and stopped at stalls along the way. The main street that they were on traveled in a straight path to the Grand Pagoda, which he could see so clearly above the other buildings. Several branching side streets held more stalls and vendors. To his left, there was a street that had a growing crowd and raised voices. Despite Xue¡¯s insistence on continuing to the Pagoda, Alex let himself wander to the crowd. ¡°Let¡¯s just see what¡¯s going on,¡± Alex said, craning his neck to see. Alex hoped to see some feat of magic or celestial artifacts. Ever since he¡¯d met Eura and felt the six-armed man¡¯s presence, he realized that there was still so much more out there that he had yet to experience. While Alex hadn¡¯t been able to relax in weeks, the bath had worked wonders for him, and he desperately wanted to take a moment to unwind and hopefully see something amazing. His hopes were dashed as he politely made his way through the crowd. There, on a blanket next to a stall, was a teenager sprawled on the ground. There was blood streaming down his forehead, and he covered his head with one arm weakly. A portly yet muscular man stood over him with a thick leather strap that looked like a blackjack. Alex took an instinctive step forward to intervene, but Xue grabbed his arm firmly. ¡°Please, do not step in. This is not a matter that concerns you. You are an Honored Guest but still an outsider.¡± Hesitantly, Alex stopped. He looked back in concern at the boy, wondering what could be the cause of a grown man¡¯s need to beat someone who looked to be in their early teens. He can¡¯t be more than 15 or 16. Something didn¡¯t sit right with Alex as he looked closer at the boy. Alex¡¯s skin was the lightest of those he¡¯d seen in Tianluo and even though the boy was more tan than Alex, his base complexion was still too light to be a native. The largest difference was his hair color. While almost everyone around had black hair grown out to a length, the boy was sandy blonde and messily cut around his ears. On impulse, Alex lifted the cloth covering his eye to use his Eye.
Samuel Grant - Level 29 Class: Verdant Healer Primary Stat: Wisdom Secondary Stat: Vitality Most Used Ability: Minor Heal
Alex stared at the words above his head for several long heartbeats. The name didn¡¯t make sense. That was an American name. Is he from Earth? How the hell is he here? He read the Status readout again and noted the lack of a ¡°Hostile¡± or ¡°Non-Hostile¡± tag. His brain continued to lag, and the urgent whispers from Xue were drowned out by the slowly building rage that flooded Alex¡¯s mind. He watched the boy sit up and lower his guard, and then the portly man grinned viciously and raised the small weapon for another strike. Alex didn¡¯t think or hesitate any further. Before the strike could land, he activated [Empowered Step] and crossed the distance in a single movement. 39. Savior Sam was hunched over with his hip to the ground and an arm raised to block the next blow. Zhao Jing was in a particularly foul mood that day, as he¡¯d begun to hit Sam the very moment that the boy had sagged to the ground. I just can¡¯t do it anymore. I¡¯ll either throw up or pass out if I use the skill again. His ¡°handler¡± didn¡¯t care about such things. Zhao Jing cared about only one thing: money. The first blow struck and rocked Sam¡¯s shoulder, causing him to grunt and readjust his blocking arm. He began to reel in his consciousness to that small place within himself where he could find some peace from the pain. ¡°Just heal one more person, and I¡¯ll let you stop for the day.¡± Sam could hear Jing¡¯s voice, though it sounded very far away to his mind. He¡¯s just tricking me. Does he really think I¡¯ll keep falling for that? If Sam healed another person, then Jing would beat Sam harder and for longer, saying that he must have quit too early or that he was trying to store up mana and reduce profits. Sam felt a few more blows come down before they stopped. There was a pause, though he didn¡¯t look up. Sometimes Jing liked to wait until Sam thought everything was over to start again. ¡°If you don¡¯t get up and heal my next customer, we won¡¯t be going to see your ¡®friends¡¯ tomorrow.¡± This caused Sam to bring his head up in an instant. This was a new low, even for the burly merchant. While the servants of the Celestial Sect weren¡¯t his friends, he found more peace with them than the sect¡¯s warriors. He tried to sneak them small amounts of healing to aid with aches and small sicknesses, though anything too much and Jing would think he was wasting precious healing that could be charged for. The man towered over Sam, his form a round silhouette against the setting sun and a wicked grin on his face. Tears welled up in Sam¡¯s eyes. How did it all end up like this? Why is it like this? I want to go home. His vision blurred, and despite the pain in his shoulders and his extremely low mana, Sam was about to position himself to heal the richly dressed man in front of him. Sam heard the wicked chuckle too late, knowing that there was still one more blow to come. It was the one that Jing liked to say was ¡°for good measure,¡± as if an extra few hits here and there would remind Sam of something important. He hunched his shoulders and braced himself, shutting his eyes tight. A heartbeat later, no blow landed. There was just the rustling of clothes, and while Sam heard the sound of leather smacking flesh, he didn¡¯t feel the pain. Did he hit my head again? What happened? Bewildered, Sam looked up to see a new tall and shadowy figure standing over him. From the angle on the ground, he could only see the stranger¡¯s back, but it was clear that he was wearing the sect¡¯s white robes. Did one of those guys finally feel bad for me? For almost a year, the sect members and guards had turned a blind eye to Old Man Jing¡¯s treatment. For the first few months, Sam couldn¡¯t figure out why. He had thought that people in any world would feel bad for beating a teenager, and he didn¡¯t see anyone else getting hit like he was. It had taken some time to really understand what was happening. ** ¡°Let him go, now.¡± Sam heard a deep and angry voice. It was a frighteningly quiet kind of anger that Sam didn¡¯t hear often in the portal world. Most of the time, Jing liked to yell and cause a scene while beating him up. This was the opposite. He squinted his eyes and looked up again to notice that the man had caught the metal weighted strap in mid-swing and was now standing just a few inches from Jing with his body between Sam and the merchant. Sam couldn¡¯t tell if he wanted to scramble away from the man or get further behind him. Something about the danger in his voice made the boy believe that he could back up those words. ¡°And who do you think you are? Move along before you get hurt. Do you know who my family is?¡± Jing¡¯s sneering voice sent a shiver down Sam¡¯s spine. While Sam didn¡¯t know who his family was, it was clear that they had a big name in the city. Whenever Jing said things like this in an argument, the other side almost immediately backed off. Sam sighed, sure that he knew what his mysterious savior would do next. The man would step back to apologize, Jing would laugh in his face or maybe spit, but then the merchant would take things even further. He knew that the round man liked to humiliate people, especially if they caused any kind of trouble for him. ¡°No. I don¡¯t give a fuck who your family is. You need to let him go now.¡± Jing took a breath to retort, but the man interrupted him. ¡°I swear, if you say another word, I¡¯m going to punch you.¡± His voice was calm but seemed to shake with rage. Why is this so much scarier than the yelling? Sam heard Jing make a ¡®tsk¡¯ sound and raise his other hand in surrender. ¡°Alright, friend. Alright. Let me get his key from my pouch.¡± It¡¯s a lie. The man released his hold on the strip of leather, and Sam watched from the lower angle as Jing turned to hide his arm from the stranger and prepare for a swing. Sam closed his eyes tight, feeling regret and sadness. There was a rustling of robes and a different sound than expected. Sam¡¯s head whipped up, and he saw that Jing was bent over and holding his throat while coughing loudly. ¡°Dumbass¡­ But man, it felt good to hit your smug face.¡± Sam saw the man shrug as he spoke to himself. He turned and crouched down to put himself at eye level with the teenager. His voice changed completely, no longer dangerous with a hard edge. There was an overwhelming amount of compassion that Sam hadn¡¯t heard since he was with his family. It instantly brought tears to his eyes.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. ¡°Are you okay? My name is-¡± The man paused as he saw Sam¡¯s lip quiver, and tears sprang forth, ¡°Hey, hey, it¡¯s alright. You don¡¯t need to worry. This won¡¯t happen to you again.¡± Sam did his best to compose himself, but the gates were open, and the tears continued to flow unbidden. When Sam saw his face, he knew that the stranger must be a high-ranking member of the Sect. A large scar ran from one cheek to the other, crossing the bridge of his nose. It was clear that the man was a warrior, if not from his calm confidence, then from the proof on his face. Even more telling was his eye. Since coming to this strange world, Sam had heard tales that their Sect Head would return one day. One thing that had been consistent in those stories was the powerful eyes of the Celestial Sage. He¡¯d had difficulty picturing what a ¡®celestial glow among shining stars in the night¡¯ would look like and had often thought it was an exaggeration. Is he the Sect Head? No, that doesn¡¯t make sense. They say his skin shines and is bald. Sam looked up and saw the disheveled, long hair atop the man¡¯s head and the unkempt beard. ¡°Val, watch out for him, okay? We have some company.¡± Val, who is that? Sam wiped his eyes as he heard rushed footsteps approaching. He knew the sect¡¯s people would likely respond before the guards. That was part of the reason Jing liked to work on the streets so close to the Grand Pagoda. ¡°What¡¯s going on here.¡± Someone called as they pushed through the crowd. ¡°Senior brother, this one begs forgiveness. Our Honored Guest does not know the way of things here in Tianluo.¡± Said another person in sect robes, though Sam noted that he was a disciple by the way he spoke and that the robes were unadorned. W-wait, an Honored Guest? Sam let out a strangled cry as he pushed himself into a sitting position and up against the wooden stall that Jing used. There was a floating blue monster only a few inches from Sam. Its large round eyes watched him for a moment and flew quickly around his head before returning its attention to the proceedings. ¡°Friend.¡± A small voice came to Sam¡¯s mind. What? ¡°Well, if he doesn¡¯t know how things work, then maybe we should show him.¡± There was a wicked grin on the senior¡¯s face. ¡°Senior Brother, please. I must guide the Honored Guest to meet with the Sect Head. He has just bathed, and we are going there now.¡± This caused the other man to pause before his grin returned. ¡°Very well, but the boy stays here. He does belong to Friend Zhao.¡± Even with his back turned, Sam could see the head of the one they called ''Honored Guest'' shaking. ¡°No, he comes with us.¡± ¡°You¡¯re an outsider. Mind your own business; this doesn¡¯t concern you.¡± A second sect member said as he backed up the first. ¡°It does concern me. He¡¯s a child. Do you enjoy seeing a grown man beat on a child?¡± Some of the dangerous edges seeped back into the stranger¡¯s voice. ¡°How we treat our people is none of your concern.¡± ¡°Oh, but he¡¯s not one of your people, is he? This is my business, you see-¡± The man walked down the two steps to get closer to the men and Sam watched as his fingers stayed extended and pointed at the ground. They seemed unnaturally stiff, and Sam thought it looked odd compared to how relaxed the rest of his body was. ¡°This is my business because he¡¯s one of my people.¡± One of his people? I¡¯ve never seen you before¡­ ¡°We have the same home. So it is my business, and I can¡¯t think of any reason for you to stand up for someone like that child-beating trash over there.¡± He casually gestured at Jing, who had passed out on the ground next to Sam. ¡°You keep calling yourselves honorable, but I¡¯m really not seeing much for you to lean on here.¡± The same home? He¡¯s from Earth!? Oh my god. Tears blurred Sam¡¯s vision. The small speech caused the sect members to look around. Five were gathered then, standing shoulder to shoulder. ¡°Senior Brother, please allow me to escort both of the outsiders to the Sect Head.¡± Sam breathed a sigh of relief as the group took another step back, and it seemed like the mystery man would not be attacked. ¡°What a shame.¡± Sam heard. He watched as all of the fingers, except the index finger, relaxed on the man¡¯s right hand. The pointer finger was straight and rigid, pointing directly at the ground. ¡°You, on the left. You don¡¯t recognize me?¡± The man averted his eyes. ¡°Oh, you do recognize me. I was wondering because now I have clothes on, and I¡¯m not covered in blood.¡± Several of the men gave him an angry look and looked like they might begin to advance once more. The one in the front held up his hand to stall the others. ¡°You must think yourself strong to stand behind the Sect Head¡¯s power.¡± The man laughed. ¡°Buddy, I¡¯ve eaten things stronger than you in the last week alone. I¡¯m not hiding. I¡¯m right here. If anything, it looks to me like it¡¯s you hiding behind an excuse.¡± He then did something curious. Casually, he reached into a pouch and removed a feather, which he tossed on the ground to his left. Why is he trying to goad the men? He¡¯s clearly outnumbered. ¡°I was going to let you leave with the disciple here, but now I think I¡¯d like for you to bow down and apologize to the sect members here for the inconvenience.¡± The man snorted loudly and scratched the back of his head in a clear dismissal before reaching into his pouch for a heavy metal ball and tossing it onto the packed dirt to his right. ¡°Senior Brother, ple-¡± ¡°Enough! Apologize now, or we¡¯ll have a nice friendly sparring match before your meeting with the Sect Head. There are plenty here who would attest to your rude behavior.¡± Sam watched as the man shook his head and planted his feet. He squared his shoulders and looked at the group of five. To the teenager on the ground, this man¡¯s back seemed to be unbelievably broad and strong. I know that the sect warriors are powerful. They have even strong-armed Jing and his merchant guards. Sam had doubted the man twice now and been disproven. A desperate, very deep-down part of him wanted to see this man humiliate the sect members. That thought scared Sam a bit, as he¡¯d never wished harm on others, even Jing; he¡¯d just wished to be free of the situation and to return home safely. ¡°Well,¡± the man said. ¡°Quit stalling. Call it a spar if you want, I don¡¯t care.¡± The group shared glances before advancing. Sam was relieved to see that none of them drew weapons, signaling that things wouldn¡¯t get deadly. He could, however, see several of them with the telltale golden glow of the sect¡¯s Qi techniques. While they might not kill the outsider, it was clear that they meant him harm. Sam watched as the man stood still and didn¡¯t move an inch, even as they fanned out and approached him. The group leaped forward at once, reaching out to subdue the strange foreigner. While they were in the air or lunging across the ground, Sam saw the most subtle flash of blue from the man¡¯s fingertip. In an instant, his robes were pulled flat against his body as if drenched by water, though they appeared dry. The group of five crossed an unseen barrier, and all of them crumpled to the ground in unison. At first, Sam thought they had passed out, but as he heard struggling grunts and calls for help, he realized that they were being restrained somehow. Woah¡­ Sam stared at the man in awe as all five of the sect members were subdued in an instant. He watched on as the man slowly reached into his pouch and removed a rock. With struggling steps, as if he was under great pressure, he moved forward and positioned his hand over one of their heads. From his position, Sam couldn¡¯t hear what he said to the man, but he did realize that the sect member he was speaking to was the one who seemed to know him before the fight. Can you even call it a fight? There was a pause and no answer. The man said something again before letting go of the rock. The pull toward the ground made the rock fall with greatly increased speed, and it cracked into the ground only an inch from the man¡¯s skull. Several long heartbeats passed, and when the group stopped struggling, the man told them that the fight was over. ¡°I¡¯ll be taking Samuel with me; if you have issues, you can come find me at the Sect Head¡¯s office. Just remember, I¡¯m stronger than you. I came here willingly because I know Eura. I could have fought back,¡± A flash of anger crossed his face as he glared down at the man below him. ¡°Instead of hearing me out, you stripped and beat me, and I don¡¯t think this makes us even close to even.¡± A collective sigh of relief was heard from all five men on the ground as the pressure was released. The outsider turned and walked swiftly to Sam. As he did so, he reached up and pulled down a strip of cloth to cover his left eye. ¡°Can you walk?¡± He asked. Sam nodded, too awe-struck and nervous to trust his voice. Am I really saved? Free of this nightmare? Tears sprung to his eyes again. The small blue creature shimmered into a blur as if it flew up into the air, and Sam wondered if it had really been there at all. He felt a hand on his shoulder to guide him. Sam lowered his head and wept, doing his best to wipe the tears and not let the sobs escape. As they walked toward the main street, they passed the men on the ground. When they passed, he could see a small crater in the dirt next to the man¡¯s head, where the rock was still embedded. The sect member had sat up but was just staring at the indent with wide eyes. In front of them, the young disciple, only a few years older than Sam, led the small trio through the crowd that parted before them. I don¡¯t know who you are. But thank you. Thank you¡­ 40. A Taste of Power When the trio stepped through the sliding door and into the sect head¡¯s office space, Alex heard the tail end of a conversation. Judging by the robes and their elaborate embellishments, Alex assumed that he was a high-ranking sect member. Immediately, Alex recognized Eura. The bald celestial man was speaking to the man calmly, with his arms behind his back. Even from the end of the exchange, it was obvious that the Elder was restraining himself from an outburst. Noticing their entry, Eura dismissed the man, who huffed and turned quickly with a flourish of his robes before departing. ¡°Sect Head, this one presents the Honored Guest and¡­ Uhm-¡± Xue looked to Alex. Alex looked at the boy and shrugged. ¡°His name is Samuel.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, Disciple Zhao Xue. Thank you for guiding them here. I heard a bit of what happened at the market. I¡¯d like you to give a more detailed report,¡± Eura said, looking out of one of the large windows overlooking the city. While the young sect member recounted events, Alex looked around the office. They¡¯d come to the uppermost floor of the Grand Pagoda, where it seemed like the entire floor was just for the sect¡¯s leader. In this spacious room, there were minimal furnishings; only a few scrolls or paintings of a lotus hung on the walls. The floors were made of dark wood, and the doors remained the same sliding type that he had seen in his own temporary quarters. Alex''s eyes were naturally drawn to Eura, who stood by one of the windows over looking the city with his arms clasped behind his back. It took Alex a moment to notice what was off, and it was that he only had two arms. Okay, maybe this isn¡¯t Eura. I saw him change his size to fit easier in the cavern. Can he change his arms, too? He was tempted to remove the puck covering his eye to inspect the man, but it likely wouldn''t work if the Sect Head was as strong as Alex believed. Alex¡¯s thoughts were turned back to the retelling of events, and he couldn¡¯t help but scratch his head and shift his weight. Damn, did I really look like that? That sounds kind of cringy. Maybe I should have just hit him right away instead of talking. He was thankful that the disciple actually remembered to mention that Sam was from the same home as him. Hopefully, Eura understands what that means. I need to ask him how he knows about the Rift and System when no one else seems to. ¡°Very well. Thank you for the report, Initiate. You may leave us.¡± Xue bowed and glanced at Alex once on his way out of the room. ¡°You¡¯ve grown, little human,¡± Eura said as he turned to the two humans. When Alex saw the man¡¯s face, he saw only two eyes, though they were both the same as his gifted Heavenly Eye. ¡°Is that really you? Is your name even Eura? I tried to tell your people your name, and they just kept hitting me, saying that they didn¡¯t know someone by that name¡­¡± ¡°It is really me. Have you not tried to check? I¡¯m hurt that you¡¯re not using my gift.¡± ¡°I¡¯m guessing that it would be rude¡­ and that it wouldn¡¯t work anyway,¡± Alex said. Eura gave them a boyish grin, which seemed a bit out of place on the serious face he¡¯d just seen the Sect Head using with the Elder. ¡°You¡¯re correct. It would not work. But why are you concerned with rudeness? You just killed a man in broad daylight while surrounded by a crowd. Not only that but when confronted on the matter, you then subdued five of my men.¡± He died? Shit. Okay, I¡¯ve got to play this smart. Maybe I just pretend I¡¯m giving a pitch to a CEO at work. Alex looked at the regal celestial humanoid that stared at him with black and gold eyes, waiting patiently. Yea, no. That ain''t gonna cut it. What would Jake do? He handles these social situations so well. Damn it. He had to admit to himself that nothing in his normal life had prepared him for this moment. Alex held himself in place and suppressed the urge to shrug. He decided to turn this situation back on Eura and see what was really going on here. A vague idea was forming in his head from the information that Disciple Xue had given him, but he wanted to hear it from the leader. ¡°I¡¯m glad you brought that up¡­ Is it normal for your men to capture and beat children? Then, to make them spend enough of their mana to pass out? What¡¯s even worse, it looks like the sect members were protecting the scumbag, and when I confronted him on it, he tried to throw around the weight of his family.¡± Alex looked at Eura and could feel his pulse quickening. Is that because I¡¯m pissed or scared? Both? Alright, maybe I shouldn¡¯t just antagonize him, but those are all solid points, right? He knew that the man in front of them could kill him quickly. Alex looked to Sam, who looked like he was trying to remain as small and unnoticeable as possible. The teenager¡¯s body was partially behind Alex¡¯s as if worried about being seen by the stern-looking Sect Head. It seemed that Eura agreed with his thoughts because he sighed, and his straight-backed shoulders sagged as he exhaled. ¡°You¡¯re correct. That is not how our Celestial Lotus Sect should be. A lot has changed in the years that I was imprisoned, and it doesn¡¯t look like some even expected me to come back at all.¡± Alex shifted his weight, debating whether to share what he knew. "There''s something else you should know. The System... the Rift Quest changed when I accepted your hidden quest, but it did say originally that there is a spy in the Celestial Lotus Sect." Eura''s expression didn''t change. "I''m aware there are those within these walls who would never have been allowed to remain before my imprisonment." His calm response surprised Alex. "The sect has festered in my absence. Some wounds will need to be cut away before they can heal." Alex started to press the issue, but something in Eura''s steady gaze made him stop. The celestial man seemed to have things well in hand, despite his casual response. Eura walked toward Alex, causing him to tense up. But then Eura stopped and crouched down. ¡°Samuel,¡± Eura said with a startling amount of compassion. Alex glanced at the younger boy from the corner of his right eye and saw him lift his head to look at the sect leader. ¡°I am truly sorry for what you¡¯ve been put through because of my people.¡± Eura let his complex and unsettling eyes linger for a moment before standing and brushing off his robes. There was a long pause as Alex stood dumbfounded. ¡°W-wait. That¡¯s it? I don¡¯t even know how long he¡¯s been here, but judging by the fact that he¡¯s higher level than me and has just been forced to heal over and over, I¡¯m going to guess it¡¯s been a long ass time. You just say sorry and dust yourself off?¡± His voice rose slightly in disbelief. ¡°What would you like me to do for him? I can not turn back time and prevent it from happening. This is the way of things in most places.¡± ¡°The way of things¡­?¡± Alex realized that his eyes were open abnormally wide, and his fists were clenched. He forced himself into a more neutral position. ¡°Yes. While it¡¯s not this way everywhere, many believe that only the strongest should rule. That those with the power to take what they want, should do so. If it leads to fighting, then that will only lead to a victor who would be more suited to rule.¡± Alex sputtered in response, unsure of how to even answer. ¡°How is it done on your home planet?¡± The question was asked genuinely and took some of the fire from Alex¡¯s chest. ¡°It¡¯s done through holding a vote of the entire population to choose a leader based on policies. Other than government politics, most of the country revolves around money and business. It¡¯s been done this way for several hundred years.¡± Eura nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve seen a few places try this way of things. I have yet to see it work.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I mean, that most races, especially humans, will change such a system when power comes into play. Hearing that it has worked so long for your people and that you were so low-level when we first met, I would guess that you¡¯ve only recently been introduced to the System?¡± While Eura looked at Alex, his forehead rose as if raising an eyebrow, though he lacked one to finish the effect. Alex nodded in response. ¡°Well, even without the System, I¡¯m sure that you saw glimpses of this before. If your country runs off of business and money, I¡¯m sure those wealthy individuals are able to make certain rules bend in their favor. This will change even more as soon as more among you begin to gain real power. I would guess that you will see things change. It is natural for the strong to believe that they are owed more than the weak. While it is not my personal way of thinking, many in the wider world believe that the weak serve two purposes. They are meant to be consumed to gain more power, or they are meant to be ruled by those in power.¡±This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Alex¡¯s eyebrows came together, and he looked at the floor. ¡°That seems wrong. What¡¯s stopping people from doing whatever they want, then?¡± ¡°Nothing. It is the prerogative of the strong to do or change what they want. It is a dangerous philosophy, especially since there is almost always someone out there who is stronger than you¡­¡± Silence fell over the room for several long heartbeats. ¡°No, I won¡¯t accept that. I could see many on Earth wanting this to be the case, but I¡¯m sure we can do better.¡± ¡°Truly? You¡¯ve already gotten a taste of this, though.¡± This brought Alex up short. Huh? ¡°When the guards-¡± ¡°No. When you decided to save young Samuel here, you stepped in on your own and took matters into your own hands. Not only that but when a fight could have been avoided, it sounds as if you instigated it. While I don¡¯t blame you, and I even believe that your actions were righteous, there are those in the crowd who likely think you a tyrant.¡± When put into that perspective, Alex was forced to stop and consider. Fuck. It really did happen like that. Alex brought a hand to his head and closed his eyes tight. Things are just happening too fast. I haven¡¯t even fully processed the fact that I¡¯ve killed people. My power is coming too fast. I just need to get home¡­ Eura nodded, satisfied to see that Alex was taking his words seriously. However, he waved his hand as if to dismiss the topic of discussion before speaking again. ¡°This is not the reason I brought you here, Alex. I¡¯m quite surprised to see you at all. I thought your desire was to return home.¡± ¡°It is,¡± Alex said, bringing his head up. ¡°That¡¯s part of why I¡¯m here. I¡¯d like to ask for your help in getting to the Rift exit.¡± Eura was already shaking his head, ¡°I cannot leave Tianluo.¡± He sighed and ran a hand across his bald head. ¡°Despite my order not to, my sect took a similar approach to capturing Rakshasi as the Shadow Sect did to bind me. They traded a portion of their power to temporarily strengthen spirit bindings so that they were strong enough to hold a stronger being.¡± That¡¯s why all of the sect warriors I¡¯ve seen so far have still been such a low level? They sacrificed some of their levels to bind the enemy sect leader? ¡°Wait,¡± Alex said. ¡°So you¡¯re saying that by me releasing you, the Shadow Sect went back to their normal power because the gains holding you were limiting their power? And since your sect is still holding Rakshasi, your people are weakened?¡± Eura nodded and looked back out the window. ¡°So then, why don¡¯t you kill Rakshasi or something while you have her trapped and you¡¯re free?¡± "That was the original plan, but Rakshasi is a unique creature. While I might be old, she is ancient and comes from the Night." The celestial man looked chagrinned, "I am not able to kill her. We could potentially send her back to the Night Plane, but our priests say that it will require her to be unbound." His jaw tightened. "And we''re running out of time. The binding requires constant power from my people, weakening our entire sect. We cannot maintain it indefinitely.¡± ¡°So what is your plan, then?¡± ¡°We will hold her as long as we can while our sect continues to train. When she is released, both sides will be back to their original positions, albeit with fewer sect members.¡± To Alex, it was clear that this pained Eura. I¡¯m sure he feels like his imprisonment and those who died to get him out or capture Rakshasi in the first place were a waste. There was a silence before Alex spoke up. ¡°What if we could help each other, then?¡± Alex tapped his chin and continued to think. There was a situation that could potentially benefit them both, though it felt risky. ¡°You can send a team of your people with us to the Rift exit while you stay here to guard Rakshasi. Since you already know the Firstborn is hunting after me because I released you, she will try to stop us from leaving the Rift. I think she¡¯s already waiting for me to go that way again. Set up an ambush for her and use me going to the rift as bait.¡± I¡¯m still missing so much information about this situation, but this makes sense. The Firstborn is strong, and it could make the later battles easier for the Celestial Lotus Sect members if she were out of the picture. Eura nodded a few times, ¡°I believe I see where you¡¯re going with this.¡± Encouraged by his response, Alex continued. ¡°I¡¯m sure it would be a big loss for them if you were to kill a powerful enemy before Rakshasi goes back to her side of the Rift. Especially if she needs to gain her power back over several days like you did. You already mentioned that without Rakshasi¡¯s guidance, the Shadow Sect is likely disorganized. With those three factors, your sect could have a real chance to end things quickly.¡± ¡°Hmm..¡± Eura paced as he began to think through the implications. Alex waited quietly, though the tension was broken as he felt Valtherion move around in his robe. What are you doing? "Friend?" Yeah, he¡¯s still here. You can come out for a bit if you want. Eura already knows about you. Val flew out of the opening in the robe and did a spiral up in the air before locating Sam. The wyrm flew at a lazy pace, which seemed to work well for Sam who was still a bit skittish of the small creature. As Val got closer and stopped, Alex watched Sam hesitate. The younger boy looked to Alex and when he received a nod of encouragement, he reached his hand out. In characteristic fashion, Val ran his forehead into Sam¡¯s palm, which caused the boy to laugh. A smile crept onto Alex¡¯s lips, happy to see that the boy wasn¡¯t so wounded that he couldn¡¯t still laugh or find amusement in something small. So far, Sam reminded Alex of some of the shelter puppies he¡¯d seen. Mistreated and abused, he was just so shy and skittish. He looked to be 15 or 16, and Alex wasn¡¯t sure how he would have handled such a situation at that age. Fuck Eura¡¯s logic. I should have hit that merchant again while he could still feel it. Eura stopped his pacing and turned to face Alex fully. "You know, when I first regained consciousness after you freed me, I gave you a gift of power. At the time, I thought it adequate compensation." He shook his head slowly. "But then I learned how my sect treated you - the beatings, the public humiliation, ignoring your words about helping me. Even an enemy spy deserves better." His eyes fixed on Alex. "You''ve offered a good plan. One that could work. And while I still believe you were compensated for freeing me, I owe you something for how my people treated you after." He clasped his hands behind his back once more. "I have two requirements before agreeing to this." ¡°Okay¡­¡± Alex said, waiting for the hammer to drop. ¡°The first and most important is that you will not just be the bait and abandon my people like your fodder. There will be a fight, and I want you to help my people win it.¡± Fuck. ¡°Help? I¡¯m no match for that oversized reptile.¡± ¡°Neither are my people while their strength is reduced. The strategy will need to be well-planned and well-executed. I know that you have a strong will to survive, or you would not have made it here from that hell deep beneath the Shadow Sect¡¯s territory.¡± As Alex thought about it, it did seem like a fair requirement. Fuck, I just want to get out of this place. ¡°Alright, I agree. As long as you can agree that Samuel¡¯s not part of the attacking group. If there¡¯s a chance for him to get out of the Rift, he can leave immediately. He might help with healing if it¡¯s needed before that, but otherwise, treat it like an escort mission for him.¡± Alex did his best to look strong and confident. He would not bend on this fact. Regardless of Samuel¡¯s life outside of the Rift, he was still a child, and he¡¯d been through hell. If anyone was making it out, it would be him. Eura nodded. ¡°Agreed. The second requirement, is that we will wait to begin the plan. We will continue to hold Rakshasi in her bindings, and you¡¯ll only make the attack once we can no longer afford to have our forces weakened.¡± ¡°How long are we talking here? I just want to go home, Eura. Since I found you in that cave three weeks ago, I¡¯ve just wanted to go home.¡± ¡°There are benefits to be gained in doing it this way, even for you. My way to sweeten the deal will be to offer you personal training during that waiting period. Not just from me, but from our sect¡¯s martial masters as well.¡± ¡°Why would you do that?¡± "I have three reasons. First, your better training means a better chance of success for my people. Second, I was once like you - lost in a world beyond my understanding. But most importantly, I owe you a debt. Not just for freeing me but for the shameful way my sect treated you. A gift of power was not enough to balance that scale. Real training, the kind that will help you survive beyond this world - that''s how I start to make things right.¡± Alex went to speak, but Eura held up a hand to forestall the question. ¡°You mentioned earlier that people here do not know my name as Eura. You are right. Eura is not my birth name. But the first time I left my home planet for training and competition, I met someone who was stronger than I could comprehend at the time. They helped shape and develop my foundations, and they gave me the name Eura as their nominal disciple. It is the name I always use when traveling and meeting those outside of our world.¡± ¡°I want to ask you so much more about the other worlds and how you seem to know about the levels and Rifts while no one else seems to understand. Everything here mentions techniques and Qi, while everything in the System I¡¯ve seen talks about skills and mana.¡± ¡°Yes, this is one of the things we can cover if you accept my requirement for the deal.¡± ¡°If I say no, you won¡¯t help us get to the exit?¡± Eura shook his head. ¡°I won¡¯t endanger the lives of my sect members without the agreement. We could be patient just the same and allow Rakshasi to leave her bindings and start fighting with a fresh force rather than gamble elites on a strike at the Firstborn while they are still weakened." Alex sighed and looked over to Sam. The younger boy was having a good time moving his hand around in the air while Val attempted to nuzzle his palm. ¡°Samuel, do you mind waiting to go home? We¡¯ll probably have a better chance if we wait a bit.¡± Sam looked at the older boy with a strange look that Alex couldn¡¯t identify. He hesitated and then shook his head. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll wait. How long will you be holding her bindings?¡± ¡°Four weeks would be the most we could hold, though it will likely be less. I¡¯ll ask our scouts how much time we have before the Shadow Serpent Sect has regained enough of its power and coordination to strike. Once that time comes, we can no longer remain in this weakened state by holding Rakshasi.¡± Fuck. Four weeks?! Alex took a deep breath and let it out slowly, his shoulders sagging from exhaustion. ¡°Okay, four weeks it is. What do we do first? Gain some more levels?¡± Eura laughed and shook his head. ¡°No, little human. You do not need any more levels. You have already risked growing too much, too quickly. Even from what I¡¯ve seen, you have gained a lot of power. But you should know that right now, you are a big fish in a small pond. As things progress for your world¡¯s integration, you will still be challenged.¡± Alex paused to think about how he¡¯d been marveling at the fact that Olivia was level 10 just a few weeks ago. God, was that really only a few weeks? It feels like another lifetime. I wonder how Olivia is doing. Man, I really hope I get to see her again. Oblivious to Alex¡¯s internal drifting, Eura continued, ¡°In the wider worlds, you would be seen as a speck of dirt beneath someone¡¯s boot. I don¡¯t say this to insult you, but just to point out that you are not even close to the strongest thing, even in this Broken World, let alone the wider worlds.¡± Alex gulped, ¡°I get that. Can I ask how high of a level you are?¡± Eura smiled patiently as if talking to a child. Alright, no need to be an asshole. ¡°I won¡¯t give that information out, but you can know that there are 200 levels to be gained in the Lower Realm, and that I am past the halfway point.¡± Alex¡¯s jaw dropped, which widened Eura¡¯s smile. ¡°We need to train you and create a foundation before you reach your class Advancement. I would like for you to come tomorrow, with your bond, to perform some tests in front of my instructors. We will have you do some light sparring and test your strengths. In private, I will also ask you questions that you might think are sensitive about your System, but I suggest you answer them. We have many instructors here and they are specialized. The more I know about you, the better we can pair your instructors. We will split training into four weeks and train you as much as possible, though you must be willing to put in the effort.¡± Fuck me, am I about to get a training montage? 41. Assessment Alex rose the next morning, refreshed and eager to start the day. While the situation in Tianluo, the city where the Celestial Sect operated, didn¡¯t go as he had planned, Alex felt optimistic. He would learn from skilled fighters and had a clear path forward to get back home. The advisors and instructors would be a huge boon for him as well. Even before the ambush, he¡¯d begun to feel overwhelmed by his progression. His available skills and combinations with Val were growing more complex, and it was becoming difficult to manage. Even if he were to return home, he wouldn¡¯t get an opportunity to be taught by people who knew how to fight and use skills or powers. Everyone back home is just as lost as I am. He stretched and thought back to the previous evening. Alex had tried to draw Samuel into conversations over the rice dinner they¡¯d been given, but the teenager had mostly kept his eyes down and only responded with slight nods or shakes of the head. The only time he had shown any real reaction was when Alex offered to ask about separate accommodation. The boy¡¯s eyes had gone wide with panic, and he¡¯d shaken his head forcefully. After some thought, Alex understood. After what Sam had been through, he wouldn¡¯t want to be alone, either. They had slept in the same room, and even though Alex tried to give Sam the bed, the boy went to lay on the other side of the room on the floor without further discussion, lying down with his back facing Alex. In the dark hours of the night, Alex had woken to the sound of muffled crying. He¡¯d lain there quietly with his heart aching for the kid who was probably thinking about his family back home. Now, in the morning light, Alex found Samuel already awake and seated at the table overlooking the garden. The younger boy sat watching the morning light play across the plants with his hands folded neatly in his lap. When Alex entered, Sam turned to him with a hesitant and questioning look. When Alex asked about food, Sam just shook his head slightly and glanced back at the garden. Alex let Valtherion interact with Samuel while he walked back to the room and used the same small stone as before. The communication device was linked to another that Xue had, allowing him to call the disciple as needed. He was pleased when Xue appeared at the small home several minutes later. Alex explained their food situation and said they were to return to the Grand Pagoda in the morning to meet with the instructors, which caused him to turn around and leave in a hurry to fetch food and make preparations. While they waited, Alex tried talking with Valtherion, who was more interested in exploring the house than listening. Finally, Alex gave in and pulled out a Mana Stone to get his attention. Samuel watched them with clear interest, and his eyes followed the stone''s path in Alex¡¯s hand as the wyrm followed its movement perfectly. ¡°He¡¯s always hungry,¡± Alex explained as he tossed the stone for Val to chase. He was glad to see Sam paying attention to something. ¡°Kind of like having a flying puppy that eats magic instead of regular food.¡± That earned him a smile from the teenager. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was progress. Zhao Xue returned shortly and brought two changes of clothes and some food. The disciple explained the directions to the Pagoda, and Alex nodded along. During his short time in the house, Xue kept glancing at Samuel with a guilty expression. "Samuel," Alex said, trying to keep his voice gentle. "I need to go do some training today. This is part of the deal to get us home." Sam tensed slightly at being addressed directly, but he didn''t look away. "You don''t have to come with me, but I''d feel better if you stayed close by." He looked around the house, clearly contemplating if he¡¯d rather stay in the enclosed space or attend the Assessment. After a few quiet moments, he looked at Alex and nodded, the tension in his shoulders clear. "Good. Xue brought us both clean clothes, and these smaller ones should fit you. Why don''t you take a bath and get changed before we head out? It made me feel like new yesterday." Alex set the folded clothes near Sam. ¡°Friend.¡± The sound of Valtherion speaking surprised Alex; it wasn¡¯t often that the little wyrm bothered to try and project its voice when they could communicate through their bond. Samuel stared wide-eyed at the small blue wyrm. Alex grinned, ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s a friend.¡± Alex paused and scratched his head. ¡°I guess none of us have really done introductions. This Eye,¡± Alex pointed at his left eye, ¡°allows me to analyze or identify people and items. So, that¡¯s how I already knew your name was Samuel. My name is Alex. And this is Valtherion. He is my bonded companion. You can just call him Val, though.¡± There was a pause, and when it seemed like there wouldn¡¯t be an answer, Alex began to walk to the bath. I guess this is a ton to take in. I¡¯m not sure how much I should baby the kid. I mean, he¡¯s young, and he¡¯s been clearly through a lot- right? Also¡­ it could be a lot to realize that the flying magical snake could talk. ¡°Sam.¡± Alex stopped in the doorway. He turned back to the teen. ¡°Call me Sam.¡± The boy said while pointing at himself. ¡°Well, alright. Sam, it is.¡± Alex couldn¡¯t help but let his grin spread from ear to ear. Just as they finished getting dressed and ready, Xue returned to hurry them up. He told Alex that he, along with one of the senior brothers, had been told to escort the pair. Even though he didn¡¯t say it outright, Alex had a feeling that it was meant to act as an assurance that nothing like the previous day happened again. They walked through the streets and Alex lifted the makeshift eye patch from his face to scan their escort as well as some of the passing people. He did his best to take in all of the flows of mana and changes in density, but as they moved closer to a larger garden, the headache began to build and he was forced to pull the cloth and wooden puck back over his eye. They walked through the lower floor of the Pagoda, Xue pointing out all of the lecture halls and lesser sparring rooms along the way. When they passed through the building and emerged on the other side, Alex recognized the large open field. The rear of the Grand Pagoda was raised onto a platform that served as a stage. This positioned it naturally several feet higher than the field below, and from their vantage point, Alex could see that there was one central field with other sub-fields surrounding the outside. It took a moment but when Xue named the area as the Lotus Training Fields, it clicked. From their raised viewpoint, the fields made the shape of a green lotus and had sand or gavel paths that followed around the outside to send home the effect. ¡°This is where you¡¯ll train on normal occasions, though we have the second morning class starting shortly. The Sect Head wants your testing to be done in private to avoid distractions and ensure a fair assessment, so we are going to walk to the annex over there.¡± Zhao Xue pointed across the fields to a squat rectangular building that seemed to be built as an afterthought. ¡°Why there?¡± Alex asked as they made their way down the steps of the platform and began following the gavel path around the lotus-like fields. Val tried to curl around Alex¡¯s midsection, but it wasn¡¯t big enough to reach. Alex and Xue walked side by side, with Samuel trailing just behind Alex like a shadow. When they arrived at the training Annex, a group was already inside waiting. So much for private. Around thirty people were gathered inside of the warehouse-like building. Most were clumped together in smaller groups, talking quietly. In the center of the room were an assortment of mats, weights, and weapons racks. It was easy for Alex to spot Eura, as his robes were pristine white with no yellow or gold adornment. The bright, plain white seemed to make the golden tint of his skin stand out even more as if shining slightly in the low lighting. Eura spoke up and said a few words, likely for Alex¡¯s benefit. He explained the general purpose of the testing, which was to evaluate Alex. The instructors present would help assess his current capabilities and potential capacity, then suggest training plans for improvement and compile them into a four-week training program under the appropriate masters.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Valtherion transitioned from Alex¡¯s robes to Sam¡¯s arm. Alex instructed him to use [Create Lesser Illusion] to look like an armband. While some of the instructors saw when this happened, Alex thought it was best to keep Val as inconspicuous as possible. While Eura knew he was Alex¡¯s bond, he didn¡¯t want to risk misunderstandings. It served as an easy way for Alex to keep an eye on the boy as well and even though Val wasn¡¯t an actual fighter, he was powerful in his own right. If something goes wrong, he can act as a deterrent until I can get there. Alex began to get more attention and several of the instructors which caused the teen to get uncomfortable. Sam moved a short distance away and found a spot near one of the wooden support beams where he could watch without being in the way. While most of the instructors ignored him completely, Alex noticed a few giving the boy considering looks. It made Alex nervous, worried that they may get ideas about using him to heal for profit again. Alex said something to Xue while Eura was speaking to the crowd, and the disciple nodded before going over to Sam. The teenager looked over to Alex, and after receiving an encouraging nod, he followed the disciple to a seat that was much nearer to the Sect Head¡¯s position. It was a seat lower to the floor than the masters nearby, but it was close enough that if there was a commotion while Alex was distracted with the assessment, Eura would surely notice it. Alex gulped at the end of the speech. Wondering if all of those people were really necessary to test him, he stepped forward. Eura motioned for them to begin the first portion of testing, which caused the physical assessments to start quickly. Under Master Li Wei¡¯s instruction, Alex lifted heavy stones ranging from a small, manageable boulder to a large stone that strained his muscles. He sprinted in straight lines back and forth across the length of the building on a surface covered in rubberized gravel. The instructors had all yelled at him when he tried to use [Empowered Steps] during that particular test. Eura spoke up for the first time during the test and said that the purpose was to get his baseline and understand his form in things. So, he continued unassisted. They gave him a short break before heading to an obstacle course out back, which caused Alex to curse out loud when he saw it. ¡°Oh, come on. What is this, boot camp? Come on, Eura, can¡¯t I just tell you my physical stats?¡± Alex¡¯s answer had come in the form of a swift slap to the back of the head. ¡°Show respect. Now, go.¡± Master Li¡¯s answer was curt. None of the other instructors responded, and Eura watched impassively. Grumbling, Alex began the course and ended up having some fun with that test. He leaped over walls and ducked under wires. He balanced across beams and pulled wooden sleds with rocks piled on them. They made him run it three times back to back and it was clear even to Alex that they wanted to test his agility and endurance with that particular test. During a brief rest before his third lap around the course, Alex caught a glimpse of Sam leaning to the side to get a view of him around the head of someone taller. He gave the younger man a wave, which prompted the instructor to get annoyed at Alex for stalling. This resulted in a shorter break and the beginning of the third run immediately. Some instructors exchanged glances or whispered their observations, while others merely watched with their arms folded before turning and reporting back to Eura. Transitioning to combat evaluations, Master Shen Rong handed him a slender and short blade. Its weight was heavy compared to the Rapier that he normally used, though the length of the blade was comparable. ¡°Master Shen, can I use a different blade for these tests? I¡¯ve never really held another sword and only learned from a book how to fight the way that I know how.¡± The master had merely looked to Eura. To Alex¡¯s surprise, the celestial being shook his head before speaking up. ¡°We do not teach the rapier here, little human. It is the weapon of our enemy,¡± he raised his hand to stop Alex. ¡°I know your circumstances better than most, but I also know that you did not have that long to learn, and you weren''t in a structured environment. It would be best if you learn a new way from one of the many masters here.¡± Alex thought about it, unsure, and looked down at his sword. The explanation from their Sect Head seemed to frustrate some masters, who felt Alex wasn''t owed an explanation. Eura seemed unfazed by their reactions and looked toward the smaller human. ¡°This sword you hold is called a Jian. It is a sword of my people known to be used by those of higher birth or respected standing within the sect. The sword specializes in quick cuts and thrusts for dueling. It¡¯s similar in some ways to your rapier; I think that if you take the time to learn from the esteemed Elders here, you will find that it is superior in even more ways.¡± With that, Eura sat, and the tests began again. ¡°Show me your stance,¡± Said Master Shen. Alex did his best to show off the two stances he knew as well as some of the thrusting forms that he¡¯d learned from the "Veil of the Viper: Secret Arts of Shadow Fencing.¡± They engaged in one-on-one sparring. The sound of metal on metal echoed through the building, and Alex was a bit pained, if unsurprised, to see that Master Shen easily deflected anything that Alex could throw his way. Soon, he called for a halt and moved off of the mat while calling two initiates forward. They forced Alex on the defense and intentionally never struck him with their blades, stopping an inch short with each thrust or slash. It was clear to Alex that he was no match for one, let alone two, of the disciples in this kind of fight, but he did his best to keep up. His reactions became more instinctive, and he stopped worrying about maintaining the form that he¡¯d read in the book for the rapier. He relied on a stat that he knew the instructors couldn¡¯t ask for him to turn off like a skill: his Willpower. An advantage that he hadn¡¯t noticed during his ambushes was that his thinking speed seemed to be increasing along with the massive Willpower stat, which allowed him to be reactionary. Eventually, a misstep led to a sweeping kick that knocked him off his feet. He landed on the mat hard, and when he rolled over, he saw several of the observers shaking their heads. Next was the magical assessment. While he was confused in the beginning, Alex began to understand the requests in relation to Mana Control rather than Qi. Alex smirked at the startled reaction of several onlookers as he used his [Mana Threads] skill to show off his increased control with the fine threads. They asked him to perform a technique with the threads, to which Eura translated for Alex and told him to use his skills. Alex shrugged and mentioned that the thread was a skill, but he could make rituals with the threads. That was what he demonstrated, showing them three of the most common rituals that he used: Binding, Gravity Increase, and Sound Muffling. While they seemed impressed there were still some comments that Alex could make out. ¡°Too large.¡± ¡°¡­time-consuming for combat.¡± ¡°In battle, he would never¡­¡± Alex gritted his teeth but couldn¡¯t really argue with some of the comments. While the rituals were useful, they took time to set up. That speed and portability had increased now that he had access to [Mana Threads] since it eliminated his need to draw on surfaces with chalk. However, he thought back to his fight with Hong Xui and how close things had been there. He¡¯d been able to stall for a time while he set up a ritual circle, but it had cost him. He unconsciously reached his hand up to touch the scar across the bridge of his nose. Some instructors jotted down notes before returning to Eura, while some others asked him questions about his understanding of the rituals and what he was doing to form them. Alex felt somewhat confident here, as he¡¯d learned everything that he could from the Ritual Basics Manual. If anything, he needed to begin investing and learning from some higher-level rituals. Following the ¡°Qi Technique¡± tests, they began to test his mental acuity. This involved riddles and problem solving exercises. While Alex hoped that his Willpower stat might help him in those tests as well, he began to think that the tests they were presenting were more meant to test Intellect and Wisdom, rather than speed of mental thought. They presented him with complex tactical scenarios and Alex was asked how he might navigate ambushes or protect allies with limited resources. To him, most scenarios seemed like they were designed to make him fail. He did his best to answer and solve the problems presented, drawing on his modern-world experience. There was no doubt that some of his solutions were unconventional, as he received raised eyebrows more than once. He was given several different puzzle boxes to solve on a timer. Though he was only able to solve two of them, some of the masters appeared to be impressed. The final set of tests were repeats of previous tests with the added caveat that he was now able to use his skills as much as he wanted. Alex quickly realized that they were attempting to test the limitations of his skills and things like his total mana pool and if he was wasteful in his techniques. As evening approached, the tests ended. Alex lay in the middle of the room, drenched in sweat. He was exhausted and unsure of what the instructors thought of him. Part of him was frustrated that he even cared, many of them hadn¡¯t done anything but look down their noses at him since he began the tests. Alex knew he hadn¡¯t even been that fit a month ago, let alone received any kind of training for fighting or problem-solving. I¡¯m doing the best I can, damn it. I don¡¯t care if you judge me. While Alex rested, many instructors gathered around where Eura sat. They stayed this way for almost an hour. By the time they were done, Alex had long since recovered and was sitting off to the side of the building in comfortable silence with Sam. Through the long day of testing, Sam had remained a quiet but constant presence. While he never moved from his seat, he paid close attention and almost every time that Alex looked over to check on him, he¡¯d seen the teenager watching on with interest. To Alex, it felt like Sam was there silently cheering him on, compared to the instructors who were quietly watching and judging every movement. Eura broke away and beckoned Alex over to the center of the mat. ¡°Good job, you proved many wrong today, Alex. Most of the instructors thought you would give up before the first round of tests concluded. They are used to more entitled personalities among the young clan¡¯s elites.¡± This caused Eura to smirk, amused by the instructors'' underestimation of Alex. ¡°Tomorrow morning, we begin your training with three private instructors. Master Li Wei will be a Martial Master and will oversee your physical training. Master Shen Rong is also a Martial Master who specializes in the Celestial Lotus Sword Style; he will teach you the Jian. Lastly, I¡¯ll work with you on your skills and help increase your understanding of the System and classes.¡± Alex felt overwhelmed. ¡°This is a lot of help, Eura. Are you sure? Three private tutors seem like a lot.¡± Eura smiled, ¡°It is a lot. Some will be jealous of you, especially since I am allowing you to learn the Jian, but ignore them. Remember, you¡¯re not bound to this world like they are, that this is a temporary step on your journey, little human. This is not your world, and the drama here should not concern you or weigh you down. This is a fact that you¡¯ll need to learn.¡± ¡°Could one of the instructors try to help Sam?¡± Alex asked, looking over his shoulder at the young man seated against the side of the building. ¡°Well¡­ maybe not the martial training. He seems pretty timid, but could he sit in on our lessons for magic and the System?¡± Eura nodded, ¡°I had anticipated him to be with you. He¡¯s welcome to join in and ask questions if he feels the need.¡± Alex had no idea if Sam would be interested in learning anything about magic, or if he¡¯d want to just try to relax and wait until they can get home. He wouldn¡¯t blame the teen if he didn¡¯t want to participate, but it did feel like it would be something of a wasted opportunity not to learn form someone like Eura. At least he has the choice now. Nodding in thanks, Alex decided to talk to Sam that evening. ¡°So, rest well. The next four weeks will be hard for you.¡± His small smile turned into a grin. He clapped a hand on Alex¡¯s shoulder and then walked back to the gathered experts. 42. Foundations and Tensions Alex arrived at the training grounds at dawn. He yawned, causing Sam to do the same. Even though the younger boy was told that he could stay in their small house for the afternoon, Sam just shook his head and got dressed along with Alex. The training grounds were beginning to fill with disciples and other sect members as they stretched and talked. Alex took a deep breath of the misty and fresh air. While it was chilly, the sun was already beginning to crest the mountains, warming his skin and causing him to squint. As he stepped onto the gravel path toward the annex, Alex found that he was nervous and excited. Most of what he¡¯d done so far was run and fight to survive. This would be his chance to learn how to fight back and strike at his enemies instead of just running and luring them into ambushes. When he arrived at the squat training facility, there were three people there waiting for him. He recognized two of the instructors who had tested him the day before, though he couldn¡¯t remember their names. First, he was introduced to Master Li Wei. Alex looked at the man and noted that he was closer to Mark¡¯s height, though he was twice as broad in the shoulders. The instructor had sharp eyes that watched Alex as he approached. His gaze was strong and he greeted Alex with a firm handshake, ¡°I¡¯ll build your martial foundation from the ground up,¡± The way the warrior said the words was so matter-of-fact that Alex had no doubt he¡¯d do just that. Next was Master Shen Rong. As he stepped up next to Master Li, the man looked small and slender, though he moved with a dancer¡¯s grace. The man was older by at least a decade than the martial master, and his calm demeanor seemed to radiate a certain deadly confidence. He gave Alex a warm welcome with an elderly smile, ¡°The Celestial Lotus Sword Style is as much about harmony as it is about skill,¡± Shen Rong said. ¡°I¡¯m eager to see how you make it your own.¡± Lastly, Eura stepped forward. The celestial being was in his human form with only two arms, though his skin seemed to sparkle with flecks of white gold in the light that filtered through the windows. He nodded to Alex and gave him a sly smile. ¡°I¡¯ll be your advisor on how to continue to improve your Qi Techniques and magic. We will spend time together so that I may answer your questions about the System and classes.¡± Together, Eura and the other two instructors outlined his rigorous training schedule for the upcoming weeks. In the mornings, Alex would work with Master Li on physical conditioning and martial forms. In the afternoon, he would take a break physically, to go and practice his magic and development with Eura. In the evenings, Alex would meet back in the annex with Master Shen for sword techniques and sparring. The last section of time was vaguely referred to as ¡°his evenings,¡± and he was told to spend the time resting and for personal study. Good lord, am I going to be sleeping at all in the next four weeks? Eura wrapped up their meeting with some parting words. ¡°The goal of these four weeks will not be to make you a master warrior. That would not be possible. Even comparing yourself to others of the sect who have spent years diligently practicing the sword would be foolhardy. However, our goal will be to help build you a foundation to continue learning as you move on from this place. You will only get out what you put into this training. Apply yourself and listen to the wisdom of those who know better than you.¡± Alex nodded in response, noting how much more stoic Eura acted when others were around. ¡°I know I asked yesterday, but is there anyone that can train Sam? It wasn¡¯t part of our deal, but if we are talking about being ¡®mistreated by the sect,¡¯ he¡¯s had it way worse than me. The kid barely talks, and he¡¯s really skittish. He may not even need someone to talk to, but giving him some minor training to do might distract his thoughts.¡± Eura seemed to think about the matter before nodding. ¡°Yes. That is acceptable. I fear there will be many debts to repay with how things have been handled in the last few years. I will find someone that is an appropriate fit for the boy and send to work with him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great, thank you.¡± Soon, the sect head and Master Rong left, allowing Alex to immediately begin his first day of training with Master Li. Their training began with the martial master putting him through strenuous warm-ups like running, stretching, and strength exercises. Alex quickly realized that although his physical stats had grown, he wasn¡¯t as strong as he likely should have been. He struggled through the training, embracing the stubborn will to improve. He refused to be helpless like he had been in the woods. The master introduced him to the ¡°Lotus Roots¡± stance, which emphasized a low center of gravity and stable footing. Alex practiced holding the stance while Li Wei applied pressure to test his stability. Often, this was done by poking or jabbing at Alex in certain places. ¡°You¡¯re leaning too far forward,¡± Li Wei pointed out. "Your combat style right now is all about action and movement; you also need to learn how not to move. Impatience won¡¯t ground you. Focus.¡± Later that afternoon, Alex and Sam walked to Eura¡¯s office in the Grand Pagoda. Sam followed quietly behind Alex while petting Valtherion, who was riding on the teenager¡¯s shoulder. When they arrived at his offices, Eura was seated next to a small indoor pond with a single lotus floating at its center. The sect head started their training session by asking for all of Alex¡¯s Status information. His eyebrow went up as Alex described how his Trait worked and what his Willpower stat was already up to. He told Alex that this was his biggest strength. Alex had disagreed at first, but Eura convinced him otherwise. The celestial said that there were generally two thoughts about paths to power. ¡°One is to become highly specialized and be the absolute best at what you do, while the other is to be balanced and flexible. The first makes you an expert, unrivaled in your specialty, while the other is more flexible and lets you work well with others and fit into more groups or adjust in different scenarios.¡± Eura went on to encourage Alex to lean into his specialization. In his travels he had never heard of a Trait strong enough to multiply point allocation by three times. For comparison, he told Alex of someone he¡¯d met with a very strong specialization build, who only had a 1.2 times multiplier, and he was much stronger than his counterparts in the later levels. This did give Alex some hope for his future, though part of him was still skeptical that he shouldn¡¯t do more to shore up his weaknesses. I¡¯ve got to get out of this mess before I can think about any of that¡­ They moved on from his traits and theories to continue through his titles and abilities. Eura asked Alex to read him the details of each title. Eura nodded along as he read each of them. ¡°This is a very strong start for you, little human. Especially for someone who will likely specialize and use unstructured magic, the most dangerous time for you is early in your journey. Before your area of strength is developed enough to cover those weaknesses. So, for you, these titles will help to cover those weaknesses.¡± Alex nodded, have already guessed at something similar. ¡°I think they¡¯re the main reason I¡¯ve been able to live through everything so far.¡± ¡°That is understandable. Do not become reliant on them, though. As you go up in levels, their bonuses will seem small in comparison to what you get from your class or items. Think of them as a short term tool while you work with your unstructured magic.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve said that twice now. What is unstructured magic?¡± ¡°It is something that will require its own lesson to explain. For now, trust me when I say that your titles will give you a big advantage on your home world. But you must remember that others will have gone through similarly harrowing experiences as yourself. This is not said to belittle your experience, but to keep things in perspective. You¡¯ve grown quickly- exceptionally so. But, if there is one thing I can tell you, it¡¯s that there is always someone else who is stronger. Be careful of who you show your titles to and be strategic about which one you choose to display. It can be changed whenever you want, you will receive the bonuses from all titles, the displayed title is just what¡¯s shown by the System if someone uses [Scan] on you.¡±Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ¡°I knew they were strong, but didn¡¯t realize they were that important,¡± Alex said, more to himself than to Eura. ¡°You are only gaining titles like this because your world is so freshly integrated into the System and you¡¯re at the forefront of your people.¡± He sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to sound so dire. Most skills that scan or analyze are based on Willpower, even my own Heavenly Eye is the same. With your natural trait, it¡¯s unlikely that anyone in your world will be able to easily view your Status. This means while they might see your name and the display title, they won¡¯t get much information past that. Even then, there will be few in your world who will know the specific requirements to earn any of those given titles.¡± Alex nodded again, letting out a bit of tension he hadn¡¯t realized he was holding. It was then, that a thin, elderly man entered the sect heads office and quietly approached Sam. Alex watched as the man spoke softly to the teenager while looking around the room and at the garden. Even from his distance, Alex could see the distrust on Sam¡¯s face. He watched the elder as he spoke and glanced to Alex after a time. When he received an encouraging nod, Sam nodded and said something to the willowy, gray bearded elder. Smiling, the elder sat down painfully slow and settled into a comfortable position next to the teenager. Valtherion, no. His companion¡¯s head whipped around to look at him. Just because Sam doesn¡¯t trust him, doesn¡¯t mean that he¡¯s a bad guy. Just relax with Sam and try to make him feel better, we¡¯re safe here. Val sent back feelings of comfort and feelings of being full. Rolling his eyes, Alex refocused on Eura as he guided him through the concepts of how Qi and mana were related. Alex was surprised to hear that the terms were almost completely interchangeable. The aspects of Qi often had more to do with a spiritual aspect or profound understanding of Dao. These same concepts, when talking about stats and mana, were handled by the System through affinities and the Wisdom stat. From there he went into detail about the benefits of using mana cycling techniques and how meditation could help. The sect head guided Alex through a set of mana cycling techniques and told him that there were many different kinds. Depending on which techniques were practiced, the user might see different benefits. Eura equated this cycling technique to the mental and magical equivalent of lifting weights. The purpose was to help his mind and body adjust to the certain movements of mana, and because of this, there was no limit on the different number of cycling techniques Alex could learn or even create himself. Though he was encouraged to focus on the one given for the time being. Alex became even more interested when he learned that the cycling technique was meant to improve the potency of his magic and cleanse any impurities within his core. Eura said that over time, this could lead to him receiving increase Intellect and Mana stats. ¡°This is really just your mind and core improving. The System records that improvement by showing your stat number go up in the corresponding field, but this is no different than you exercising for a long time and pushing your body past it¡¯s limits physically. These results can be easier to see when your stat numbers are low, so it might take a while when you already have higher stats because of System-granted titles. Also, when you jump up to the next rank, which we call the first star, but you know it as D Rank, your body will be improved with magic to adapt better to increasing stats and power.¡± While Alex practiced through meditation, Eura began to speak to him about his use of ritual magic in the assessment. He proposed the idea that Alex should spend time working on making the rituals smaller. ¡°Large, time-consuming rituals won¡¯t serve you well in combat,¡± Eura explained. ¡°You don¡¯t need a binding ritual the size of three men if you¡¯re only fighting one man. You don¡¯t even need one the size of one man. It would be ideal to get your rituals to at least half of their current size with a goal not to restrain an entire person in a fight but their foot or a single leg. This advantage alone would likely win you most fights. With the ritual smaller, you should be able to conserve mana and increase the speed with which you can lay down the magic.¡± Eura watched Alex begin to practice but stopped him shortly after. ¡°You must crawl before you can walk. Tell me, is your [Mana Threads] a new skill?¡± When Alex confirmed, Eura continued, ¡°Don¡¯t make any rituals until I instruct you to progress. For now, I want you to focus only on shaping and moving your threads into the individual shapes that you use during rituals. Put all of your efforts into making the shapes as quickly as you can without sacrificing accuracy. Practice in as much of your free time as you can. Your willpower is the same as magical control, but you¡¯ve grown so quickly that you¡¯re not used to that level of control.¡± At the end of their session, Alex felt like he had a mountain to climb. His own perception of how much he had improved was shattered. It¡¯s probably for the best. I can learn a lot here. Eura gave Alex a potion that was meant to boost recovery and give a person energy. Eura said that it was needed if they were to do the kind of accelerated training that was planned, promising a single potion each day at the end of their lesson. Magical energy drink? Fuck yeah! Evening training with Master Shen centered on understanding the Jian short sword. Shen Rong highlighted its balance and the finesse that was required to wield it effectively. They worked on proper grip, primary thrusts, and basic cuts. Alex noted that there was a lot of emphasis on wrist movements and blade alignment. The sword master taught Alex the ¡°Willow Branch Sways¡± form, which focused on parries and deflections. ¡°This will match with your current fighting style and should show some similarities to what you began learning on your own. Observe and relax. Tension will hinder your flow,¡± Shen Rong said before demonstrating the sword form once again. Late that night, Alex reflected on everything he¡¯d learned on his first day. He sat at the table near his small personal garden and used a brush that was provided to him to write in a leather journal. Alex always found it easiest to get his thoughts and ideas out on paper and then review them; that way, he didn¡¯t forget or miss anything. Eura had encouraged him to set personal goals for this time and not to slack off or treat it as downtime. Alex decided his main focus in these self-guided evening sessions would be to work on breaking through the barrier he¡¯d reached in [Empowered Step]. He knew from when he¡¯d evolved his [Mana Shaping] skill, that it was likely a lack of knowledge or creative use of the movement skill that prevented it from moving forward. While the movement skill had served him well so far, he didn¡¯t feel that it fit with his current fighting style. It was too explosive and jerky of a movement, and if his first day of training was any indicator, he would be learning a new fighting style that was all about rhythm and flow in combat, not quick strikes and aggression. Alex felt that this fit his personality better as well. The second major thing that he wanted to focus on was his rituals. While Eura and the Masters planned to train him to use a sword and martial arts, they¡¯d also made it clear that he would not be a master of either by the end of the month. To Alex, that meant he would use what he learned to support his magic. Currently, that was strongest through his use of rituals. He told himself that he needed to be using his [Ritual Insight] skill more, as the knowledge that it gave him when it worked, was extremely beneficial. The knowledge I gained from the Weight-Reducing ritual schematic was the only reason I could alter its creation to make the Weight-Increasing ritual I used to subdue the men when I met Sam. A part of him felt guilty he hadn¡¯t been using the skill more, with a long cooldown, it felt like a waste if he wasn¡¯t keeping it on cooldown as much as possible. But the other part of him knew he hadn¡¯t been in a situation to take a breath and look at notes in the last week of running and fighting. He took a deep breath and told himself he would do better moving forward. Lastly, in any downtime he had while theorizing and attempting to improve the movement skill, Alex also wanted to focus on improving his speed and control at manipulating his [Mana Threads]. As the week progressed, Eura shared a report with Alex, stating that they had thirty days before a move needed to be made. This was a few days more than originally planned, so the sect head promised to adjust the timetable as needed. Training continued with his foundations for the next several days. On the third day, he was taught how to move from the Lotus Roots to the Flowing Water stance by Master Li. It wasn¡¯t until the fourth day that he was able to move to the next step in his sword training. From the Willow Branch Sways, Master Shen moved Alex onto the Eight Petal Steps, which was described as a foundational footwork drill. Master Shen had smiled with a mischievous glint and told Alex that he¡¯d be practicing this set of movements until it could be performed in his sleep. As Alex showed up to his evening sword training, which he had started to mentally refer to as dance training, he was surprised to note that the training annex already had other people inside. When he¡¯d first entered, Alex had been distracted while giving Valtherion one of the Mana Stones from his dwindling supply. Sam, who had been following close behind, made a noise of distress, which caused Alex to look up. ¡°Leave, Outsider. Elder Wu reserved this building for my team.¡± Outsider? Not ¡®Honored Guest¡¯? Alex looked around, confused. ¡°Is Master Shen here?¡± ¡°No. He left some time ago, maybe you should arrive earlier for your appointments. Now leave. You¡¯re distracting our training.¡± With how Master Shen is, I¡¯m sure he left a message for me with them, or he would have waited here himself. Alex tilted his head. During their first session together, the sword master forced Alex to remove the cover over Alex¡¯s eye, saying that it would be teach him bad habits to train with it to train with it. Each lesson, he¡¯d said the same thing, so Alex came without the cover. While he still found it overwhelming in some areas of high mana density, the training annex wasn¡¯t too much to handle. He used the scan feature and noticed that the team leader who was being so rude, was the highest level person present by a large margin, even five levels over Alex himself. So if he¡¯s at the peak of E Rank while weakened, then his real power level is likely the peak of D Rank. Is he intentionally trying to be rude? Maybe he thinks I¡¯ll try to fight him? Alex just shrugged and motioned for Sam to follow him. He turned to leave without another word, refusing to play into whatever games were going on within the sect. 43. Adapting Alex woke with a start. He looked around his small room and only saw Sam¡¯s sleeping form on the cot in the corner. His heart was beating as if he¡¯d just gone for a run. Val, who had been curled up on his chest sleeping, made an alarmed sound in his mind. ¡°Danger!? Where?¡± Taking a few deep breaths, he put a hand to his head and closed his eyes. Nightmare? Damn, even if we kill that big black bastard, is it going to be slithering after me in my dreams? Everything is okay, buddy. Come here. Alex held out his hand, and Valtherion quickly came down from his flight and curled tightly around Alex¡¯s lower arm. What day is it? Day five? It feels better to think of it as only 25 days left; at least, then, it feels like home is getting closer. Alex got out of bed and stretched his aching muscles. He¡¯d only gotten four hours of sleep, but that was more than the other nights of the training week. He¡¯d been staying up later and later while working on his personal projects. Thank you, Stats. Sam shuffled on the other side of the room and sat up quickly, his eyes wide as he looked around the room. When they settled on Alex, he visibly calmed. The young man didn¡¯t do well with loud sounds, similar to the Mana Spinners, so Alex just waved to him before moving to the kitchen.
The lessons of his first training week continued to pass, with all three segments of his day now being held in Eura¡¯s office. The two instructors had seemed annoyed that they were not able to use the annex for training any longer, grumbling about petty maneuvering and egos. Eura seemed unbothered, maintaining his calm and stoic exterior around the other Masters; then, while the offices were empty except for Alex and Sam, he would relax and show a more energetic and friendly version of himself. Alex made progress quickly, and he wondered if the System was helping him learn. Eura assured him that it was due to his stats and the fact that Alex had never done any kind of learning or training while his body was being heightened as much as it was at the moment. Master Li moved Alex from solo to half-speed drills under his guidance. The main exercise involved the instructor shifting between different fighting stances. If he was standing still or retreating, Alex would use Lotus Roots, focusing on his base and patience. When Master Li moved forward aggressively, Alex had to transition to Flowing Water, redirecting the attacks while trying to stay out of his range. Alex found the half-speed drills to be fun. There was interaction, and Master Li¡¯s expert movements, even at half speed, required him to focus his attention and constantly be thinking. At the same time, his life wasn¡¯t in danger, as if he were in a real fight, and he wasn¡¯t stressed like he would be in a live sparring match. He made rapid progress in developing his [Empowered Step] skill. The largest push was made from him practicing out in front of Eura¡¯s office as he waited for his evening training to begin with Master Shen. As the martial master watched him practice, he made several small comments about the movement of Qi and how it was wrong. The older man gave Alex several tips on the flow of Qi, or mana as Alex thought of it, and how he could use it to enhance the Eight Petal Steps the two had been training. Several more days passed to bring him to the end of his first week of training. With just 23 days left until the assault, Alex felt that he was slowly adjusting to the strenuous routine. It was unlike anything he¡¯d experienced in his previous life. For a bit, he tried to imagine being stuck at the ad agency, dawn to dusk, working on projects and his reporting skills. He would surely lose his sanity there; but the difference was that the training didn¡¯t feel like work. Alex was enjoying his progression. He enjoyed developing his body and his skills, and after the harrowing experience of running and ambushing others to fight for his life, Alex felt that his life had truly changed. Wherever he went after the Rift, he was certain that these skills would aid him and give him an edge. As those days of the first week passed, Alex found his fondness for Sam growing. The teenager had a kind heart, and while he certainly had his scars from everything he¡¯d been through, Alex was pleased to see that he wasn¡¯t broken. Sam spent time with Valtherion while Alex was training and it reminded him of how emotional support animals would help patients recover in a hospital. During the longer sessions, he could feel the teenager watching him at different parts of the day. Sam also didn¡¯t sit idle through the sessions. The older man with a thin frame and wispy beard visited frequently to work with Sam. To Alex, it looked like the two barely spoke, just sitting in silence with the occasional clipped sentence from the Elder. Val seemed to be enjoying the time more than either Alex or Sam, though. The little flying pest had free roam of the Grand Pagoda¡¯s upper floor. Eura had mentioned to all of his staff that the intelligent creature was not a threat and was to be treated as an Honored Guest. This allowed the mana wyrm to fly full speed through the corridors, though he¡¯d been asked to do so at the ceiling level after running headfirst into a servant carrying linens. Additionally, when Eura had learned that Val ate Mana Stones to sustain himself, he¡¯d asked Alex about it. Alex mentioned that he had stones from his time hunting and fleeing the other side of the Rift but was beginning to run low on the E-grade stones to feed to Val; soon, he would need to start dipping into the D Rank Mana Stones. To Alex¡¯s surprise, Eura encouraged this. He said that bonded companions were common in the wider worlds, as the power that could be shared between bonds gave most people an edge. By feeding Val Mana Stones above his rank, he¡¯d grow faster and get closer to reaching his advancement. He did warn that the growth might be a bit delayed in revealing itself. Just like stats that progress too rapidly, Valtherion¡¯s accelerated growth through consuming higher-grade mana stones was not harmful in any way, but might be delayed due to the body needing to adjust. Seriously? How much are these things worth? How many people can even get D Rank Mana Stones on Earth? They¡¯ve got to be 3-5 times more expensive than the other ones, right? ¡°Mana? Where?¡± God damn it, Val. Read the room! I don¡¯t want you eating $5,000 dollars and then floating around like a drunken sky-eel. Ugh. Alex took a moment of silence for his wallet and dreams of being rich. ** If it¡¯s what he needs to advance, then I¡¯ve got to start forking some of them over. Without your boost to mana and shared skill, I wouldn¡¯t even get to make it out of here with the Mana Stones. You¡¯re lucky I love you, little turd. Alex asked for more information on advancements after he¡¯d talked himself down off of that ledge. Eura explained that classes were reserved by the System for fully sentient races. Beasts and creatures were unable to get classes, at least not until they reached a certain level of sapience. All creatures could advance their race. For humans and sapient creatures, this was done at the threshold to each Rank increase and prepared the body to accept more stats from an advanced class. For beasts, he explained it to be a bit more nebulous but generally around the same level range that they could be expected to advance. He continued on to explain that most of the time, this was done by the creature experiencing life-and-death situations, hunting, and just generally surviving. If the beast lived long enough, it would eventually advance. A large part of this was based on what the creature ate. If a wild wolf came across a particularly enriched plant or prey, then the wolf would grow more quickly in proportion to what it consumed. This was why Eura recommended Alex feed the D Rank Mana Stones to the wyrm. Since Valtherion was a mana-attuned creature, the higher density of mana meant that Val would grow and progress faster. Eura must have seen the look of pain on Alex¡¯s face and taken pity on him. The Sect Head offered to supply Val with one D Rank Mana Stone per day and two more E Rank Mana Stones. Alex was surprised, but he waved it away, stating that it was a small amount for the sect. He still encouraged Alex to give Val more of the D Rank stones, but said that he could consider the amount from the sect a livable food wage for the young mana wyrm.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. After the discussion on companion advancement, their conversation had turned to Alex¡¯s own class advancement. Through the discussion, Eura made sure that Alex was devoting at least half of his attention to the [Mana Thread] shaping exercises that he¡¯d been taught. Alex would sit on the large stone tile within Eura¡¯s private garden while the sect head walked around the large open suite and explained concepts to him. Eura was just beginning to explain how classes worked within the System when they were interrupted. The sliding door snapped open, and three figures stepped into the room. Their brisk pace and explosive interest was a contrast compared to what Alex had begun to expect from the quiet and elegant sect members. He glanced up from his seated position on the stone tile as a servant quickly bowed and announced, ¡°Sect Head, this one presents Honored Elder Gu and his disciple.¡± The servant barely finished before retreating as the two newcomers stepped forward. The older man¡¯s round frame and red tinted face seemed stood out from the lithe warrior-like frames of the other high-ranking sect members Alex had seen. The younger man was wiry and wore the robes of a disciple while keeping his eyes fixed on the floor. ¡°This is him, then?¡± The Elder said, allowing his gaze to sweep over Alex before locking onto Eura. Eura remained seated with his hands resting on his knees. He didn¡¯t move or speak. Several long moments passed, and the silence grew louder and Alex unconsciously held his breath. With deliberate calm, Eura stood and clasped his hands together. He turned and gave the Elder a slow and formal bow. ¡°Elder Gu,¡± the bald celestial man said. His tone was neutral and carried the formality Alex saw the sect head adopt in public settings. ¡°You honor my office with your presence.¡± The elder¡¯s jaw tightened, and for a moment, he hesitated before returning the gesture. The bow was stiff and quick, but it was much deeper than the one that Eura had given. Alex caught the way that Eura¡¯s lip curled ever so slightly. ¡°We have concerns,¡± Elder Gu said as he straightened again. ¡°It seems an outsider has been granted training with Masters and even the Sect Head himself. Surely such resources could be better spent on our own disciples.¡± Eura tilted his head slightly. ¡°The sect¡¯s resources are mine to allocate as I see fit.¡± The elder¡¯s face darkened. But other than taking a measured step toward the round man, Eura didn¡¯t react. ¡°I do not act without thought, Elder. There is a debt to be paid and much that the sect gain gain in this scenario. If you feel I have made a poor decision, you are free to discuss this with the Council.¡± The Elder¡¯s disciple shifted, and Alex saw as his eyes rose and darted between the two senior sect members. Elder Gu opened and closed his mouth before clenching his fists at his side. ¡°Of course, Sect Head,¡± he finally said. ¡°We trust your judgement.¡± Eura gave a slight nod. ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear it. You may leave.¡± Without another word, the Elder bowed, turned, and left the room with his disciple close behind. The door slid shut behind them and the tension in the room seemed to dissolve. Eura sighed and rubbed his temples with the thumb and middle finger of one hand. Alex let out a breath he didn¡¯t realize he¡¯d been holding. ¡°What was that about? Well- obviously that was about me. But, why do they care so much?¡± Eura¡¯s expression had softened when he removed the hand from his face. ¡°This is a highly unusual case, it is not surprising to me that the Council is upset about my use of resources. However, the Council grew used to their authority while I was gone. It will take time for them to remember their place.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t even raise your voice and you had him out the door in less than five minutes.¡± ¡°The loudest person in the room is often not the most powerful.¡± Eura gave a tired smile. Alex found the situation interesting and decided to press Eura for more information and his thoughts on the matter. The talk returned to their debate of power and simply took what one could, if they could. Eura went into some more complex angles of the same discussion, talking about how easy it could be to abandon one¡¯s ideals or morals when it suited them. Eura said that it was one of the easiest things to justify, and he believed it should only be done in the most dire of circumstances. A situation where one is forced to sacrifice their morals for the greater good rather than a personal desire or advancement. Their lesson ran over normal time, and Alex waved Sam over to sit with them as the conversation shifted to some brief stories of Earth. Eura was interested in leaders and those who had gained or used power, which led to some darker stories of leaders from Earth who committed atrocities in the name of bettering the human race. Eura was a great listener and seemed genuinely interested in leaders and their people¡¯s experiences. He said that before his world was split into the Rift, they had tales of heroes and myth, but it didn¡¯t have detailed histories and such structured schooling. That answer had caused Alex to laugh and point out that their histories likely were only so accurate. Most of what was recorded was written by a person who had some sort of agenda, whether that be to paint their own country in a certain light or get their pockets lined by someone who had an agenda of their own. ¡°Stories of war are written by the victors,¡± Eura said while nodding. Alex had to agree. Feeling like Eura¡¯s profound words reminded him of a saying he¡¯d heard before on Earth. Alex and Sam left Eura¡¯s study as the evening light painted the sky orange. They descended the levels of the Grand Pagoda and walked through the courtyard that led out of the building. Yawning, Alex stopped as he looked at Sam, who seemed to hesitate at the steps. Is it the dark? ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Sam opened his mouth, but no words came out. After a moment, he shook his head and walked down the stairs to follow after Alex. I have no idea if I should push him to speak up or let him have more time to find his own confidence. As they walked down the stone path leading away from the Pagoda, Sam kept glancing at Alex before looking away. After the third time, Alex stopped walking and sent a [Mana Thread] reaching out to Sam, and when his own clumsy tendril connected to communicate, Alex sent him feelings of comfort and confidence. It had been through observing him and Val interact that Alex had noted the two communicating this way. It was exactly how Alex had learned to communicate with the Mana Spinners, and Sam seemed to feel a lot more comfortable with this mind-to-mind sort of communication rather than verbal exchanges. The same way that the spiders had been wary and skittish around loud noises, Sam was too. It had been a no-brainer for Alex then, and he demonstrated with his own mana how to allow them to connect and communicate so that they could send emotions and thoughts back and forth rather than normal words. Most of the time,, Sam was still unable, or unwilling, to communicate through the link of mana. But he responded better to Alex talking this way, so Alex was often willing to have their one sided conversations this way. So, Alex was startled when he received an actual answer to his question. ¡°Something on your mind?¡± Alex asked through the mana link. Sam fidgeted with the hem of his sleeve, then pointed toward the back of the Pagoda. He held eye contact with Alex before looking in the direction as well. ¡°Can we go there?¡± Sam sent through the link with his thoughts. ¡°I- uhm, yeah. Of course. You just want to go that way?¡± Sam nodded eagerly, some of the tension leaving his posture. ¡°Alright, lead on, then.¡± They followed a narrower path that curved around the building. The pristine gardens gave way to more practical spaces. Alex noted sheds and covered storage areas, work yards and several rows of more tightly spaced, small homes. The buildings were simple and functional, lacking any of the ornate decorations that adorned the Pagoda and many of the houses on the main streets of Tianluo. Pretty different back here¡­ Alex looked around quietly as he followed Sam. A woman hanging laundry noticed them first. Her eyes widened at the sight of Sam before darting nervously to Alex. She gripped a towel that hung from her belt and wiped her hands on it. She whispered something to another servant, who disappeared quickly into the building behind them. More servants emerged from their homes, keeping a cautious distance. They watched Alex with wary expressions until Sam made his way directly to a small wooden bench and sat down. The teenager waved at a few of those watching, which seemed to spur them into motion. An elderly man with a limp approached first. ¡°Samuel?¡± he asked quietly. ¡°Is- is everything okay? We heard about Merchant Master Jing¡­¡± Sam nodded and gestured at the bench seat next to him. As the servant complied, he looked at Alex with uncertainty. Seeing the look, Sam smiled again and patted his leg gently. Through his left eye, Alex saw Sam¡¯s hand begin to glow. It shifted from blue to a white that had a tint of green to it. He watched in fascination as the man¡¯s expression relaxed and he let out a shaky breath. Gradually, more servants approached, each bearing their own ailments. Some had burns, and others had sprains or chronic aches. Sam treated them all, greeting each of those that approached with a sense of confidence Alex hadn¡¯t seen from him. ¡°Samuel,¡± a middle-aged woman whispered when she sat down. She touched his arm lightly before he could heal her. ¡°Your mana¡­ if you use too much mana-¡± Sam was already shaking his head. He nodded at her encouragingly before pointing with his free hand to Alex. Alex pieced it together then, watching the grateful interaction with the other servants and the way that they all thanked Sam profusely. The old merchant must have forbidden Sam to use his healing like this. So, Sam had done it anyway as a small act of defiance and desire to help others. The people here seemed to know the danger Sam was putting himself in and didn¡¯t want him to push too far. An hour passed and Alex noticed Sam¡¯s movements becoming sluggish. When the teen¡¯s shoulders drooped and Alex saw the mana around his hand flicker, he knew that he must be close to mana fatigue. ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Alex said firmly. He stepped forward to support Sam as he swayed in his seat. ¡°Time to rest.¡± The servants bowed deeply, murmuring quiet thanks as Alex helped Sam walk. Valtherion chirped softly and nuzzled Sam as they moved. As they made their way back to their assigned home, Alex let Sam lean his weight against his shoulder, and he felt a surge of respect for the teenager. Despite everything he¡¯d been through, one of Sam¡¯s first instinct upon gaining freedom was to help others. He didn¡¯t ask for anything in return and pushed himself almost to the point of passing out. They returned without any further complications, and Sam quietly thanked Alex before going to the cot in their room and falling asleep instantly. Alex looked around before deciding to prepare a bath for himself in the magical tub and practice his mana-shaping exercises while he soaked. The next several days progressed the same. Alex made quick progress on his martial foundation at the direction of Master Shen and Master Li while he made slower but steady progress in his magical training with Eura. Soon, he began to work on evasion techniques with Master Li that were specifically made to work well with Flowing Water and continued to get advice from Master Shen on how to incorporate his movement abilities with the Eight Petal Steps. 44. Progression Alex was pulled from his sleep by the sound of Sam¡¯s rustling blankets. His eyes snapped open, and he looked around until he realized it was just the teen making the sheets on his cot look neat. Alex had noticed him doing it a very precise way each morning. I wonder if the merchant made him do it like that every morning. Or maybe his parents? Alex rubbed his eyes and stretched as he sat up. He wanted to get Sam¡¯s attention, and the boy looked over just at the sound of him moving. Valtherion must have heard them as well, since he came floating up from the small nest of blankets he¡¯d dragged under Alex¡¯s bed. Extending a thread of mana toward Sam, Alex waited to see if he accepted. After the last week, he¡¯d started to realize that Sam was much more energetic and willing to talk in the mornings. Weird kid. Sam smiled back at him. Through his left eye, Alex could see a small blue tendril of mana wobble away from his body. It was much harder for Sam to create the tendrils of mana than it had been for Alex. When he¡¯d been explaining the process of how to do it, he had told Sam about his old [Mana Shaping] skill and how much it helped him. Sam then did something Alex didn¡¯t even know was possible: He shared a System screen with Alex, letting him see the description for an ability.
[Mana Sensitivity] - An innate ability to sense and slightly manipulate mana in the environment, aiding in spellcasting efficiency.
After Alex had gotten over the idea that screens could be visible to others, he¡¯d been surprised to see that Sam had a sort of sensory skill. While it wasn¡¯t as easy to sense as Alex¡¯s ability to visually see mana, Sam was able to sense where it was outside of his body, which gave him a minor boost to manipulating it. Without the skill, Alex wasn¡¯t sure if he would have been able to learn to make the tendril at all. Twenty-one days left until the assault. How are you doing, Sam? ¡°Good, Mr. Moore. I want to go home.¡± Hey, knock that off. I told you to call me Alex. Mr. Moore is my dad, and I¡¯m not even that old. Alex sent some mental feelings of encouragement to Sam, along with the thought of ruffling his hair. Sam simply nodded, and their quiet conversation was interrupted by Val, who used his own mana to join the link. ¡°Home!¡± Both Alex and Sam laughed again, breaking the connection. Alex got up and walked to the kitchen to make some food for them both. Sam is way too polite. I wonder what his parents are like; he seems like a good kid. As he moved around the kitchen area, he practiced the mana shaping exercises that Eura had taught him, quickly making different complex shapes in the air in alternating patterns with his [Mana Threads]. He could already tell a huge improvement over where he¡¯d been a week ago. Sam quietly joined him a short time later and began to practice his own meditation at the table. They continued with their normal routine. His morning training with Master Li exhausted him and pushed him to his physical limits. Master Li told Alex that it was time to begin the next phase of his training, which was learning to read opponents¡¯ movements. The Master invited Sam to come onto the mats to observe. At first, the boy was nervous, but when Master Li told him that he was just to observe and not join in on the training, he was more willing. It wasn¡¯t long before Alex realized why this training could be beneficial for Sam as well. Master Li went through a wide range of movements and began to explain to Alex what to watch for. A large part of the explanation was to show where feints would come from and how to recognize subtle shifts in stances. A short time later, Alex was lying on his back on the mats, panting heavily. Even while gasping for air, he used his [Mana Thread] to practice his drills in the downtime. ¡°You¡¯re ready for the next step, little human.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Alex asked, sitting up. He wiped the sweat from his eye and turned to Eura. ¡°Your speed and control over your mana have improved enough to more efficiently utilize your Willpower. You should keep working to adapt, but for now, this is adequate.¡± Eura turned to the Martial Master, who had been waiting for Alex to finish catching his breath. ¡°Master Li, are you done with him for the day?¡± Master Li bowed and nodded his head. ¡°Yes, we are done for the day. The next step will be to go on to the more advanced form of Willow Branch Sways, which will allow you to evade attacks more easily. While focusing on this isn¡¯t normal, in the Celestial Lotus Sword Style, there is a branch that does. That¡¯s what we¡¯ll be doing with your training moving forward.¡± Alex tilted his head, curious to know more. Master Li was the least talkative of his trainers, so it wasn¡¯t normal for him to get such an explanation. ¡°The goal will be to improve on the style you were using naturally with your magic. We¡¯ve focused on grappling and throws up until this point, but it was just so you understood how they worked. As we move into the next stage, the point will be to move to trips and sweeps, using your new knowledge of weight distribution and reading opponents. Together, these things combine into something more, allowing for a very frustrating fighting style.¡± ¡°Thank you, Master Li.¡± Alex said, while standing to give a slight bow. ¡°Why don¡¯t more people use this branch of the style?¡± Might as well capitalize on his talkative mood, right? ¡°Hmm¡­ mainly because it requires a much higher mental agility. You need to be aware of your surroundings and constantly analyze your opponent¡¯s movements for it to work. We don¡¯t teach it to young disciples because they lack battle experience and the mental processing speed to fully use the style. The Sect Head assures me that you will be able to use this style better than most, so we put our trust in his judgment.¡± Eura winked at Alex when he looked over. Soon, the martial instructor left, leaving Sam and Alex facing Eura with Val zipping around between the garden plants. ¡°Let me clarify something for you both. Stats of the System have layers to them. There is how they affect your body, and then there is how they affect your abilities. Both physical and magical stats tend to affect your abilities in obvious ways. Those skills that are physical or that require some amount of physical action are enhanced by physical stats. At the same time, those dealing with magic and spells are enhanced by the magical stats. So, don¡¯t put too much thought into this layer. ¡°Where things get difficult is how they affect the body and mind. Physical stats, of course, directly alter your physical body. Whether that be muscle size, speed, longevity of life, or more. Most races tend to acclimate to these quickly, and their body adjusts quickly. ¡°Magical Stats, though, affect the mind. And to a lesser degree, parts of the soul. Because a human¡¯s mind governs their body, which can confuse people who see minor improvements in areas where they might not have expected improvement. The magical stats can have some lesser effects that others might not account for. He paused, but seeing that neither had questions, continued. ¡°Willpower is one of the more difficult stats to explain to the newly Awakened. For your abilities, it will increase their activation speed. It will also increase your control over Qi, or mana, as you call it. This increased control can aid you in completing more complex spells or techniques. A smaller byproduct of this increased control is often efficiency when Qi, as there is less wasted with the greater control. How Willpower affects the mind is unique. It is the mental equivalent of the physical stat: Agility. Similar to how Agility increases speed and physical control over muscles, Willpower does the same for the mind and magic. Your thoughts will come faster and your brain will be able to analyze a situation and make a decision quicker as the stat increases.¡± Hearing the last part allowed the explanation from Master Li to fall into place. ¡°I see, so this fighting style capitalizes on my high Willpower stat. What did Master Li call it? Mental agility?¡± Eura nodded, ¡°Yes, precisely. Since you told me your Trait after the assessment, I¡¯m well aware of how high your stat will become over time. It¡¯s likely that you will be able to utilize this fighting style better than anyone in our sect¡¯s history.¡± The thought excited Alex. ¡°But,¡± Eura said, while holding up a finger, ¡°you need to continue practicing. While our physical body might adapt to increased stats rapidly, the mind is very different. If you¡¯re not training and practicing, it will take much longer to adapt. It could be the difference between reaching your capabilities within months with practice, or decades without it. You saw how even when you released me from my restrictive bindings, I was reduced in strength. It took me several days to return to my original power, and I have had many years to adapt to my own levels of power before being bound.¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Eura steered the lesson to his next steps. The sect head instructed Alex to begin applying some of the theories that they¡¯d been working on in the last week on how to make the ritual circles smaller. Now that Alex¡¯s speed and control over the threads had increased, the next step was to make the rituals at least half of their current size. This meant that Alex would need to effectively restructure all the rituals he knew to allow the mana to flow properly in their new dimensions. While this had seemed like a daunting task to Alex at first, he soon fell into the project. Up until that day, it had all been theory. Now he would begin to do the actual magic. Also, Eura wanted to coach Alex through different methods of using [Mirage]. He pointed out that Alex had barely used the skill in his fight in the market or in his assessment spars. He started out the lesson that afternoon by explaining some of the various ways that the illusion skill could be used and how the Shadow Sect¡¯s warriors had become masters of illusions. From years of clashing with the enemy sect, Eura had seen many creative applications of the skill. He passed these concepts on to Alex and instructed the younger man to begin thinking through his own variations on the skills used. Master Shen must have gotten the same memo as Master Li because when he came to Eura¡¯s office for their evening lesson, he immediately began working on the next training phase. He pushed Alex hard, and in the next lesson, [Empowered Step] broke through the bottleneck. Once again, Alex was given the option to choose between advancing the skill or evolving the skill. He, of course, chose to evolve. After spending long hours with Master Li and Eura, Alex felt confident that the new skill would be much better for him. The System didn¡¯t disappoint.
Analyzing skill usage¡­ New Skill Learned: [Feather Step] (Novice - Level 3)
[Feather Step] - Move as light as a feather toward your destination.
Alex had been elated about gaining the new skill. He used it in that very same lesson with Master Shen, who was astonished at the sudden leap in improvement. Since he knew that most people in this Rift didn¡¯t understand the System, and thought instead of things in terms of Qi and techniques, to the master, it appeared that one moment that Alex was struggling to use the movement variation, and then the very next, he was using it flawlessly. Master Shen had been fascinated by Alex¡¯s sudden understanding, saying that he must have reached a bit of enlightenment. Alex could swear that the old man was looking at him with some reverence for the rest of the training session. The lesson for that day changed; instead of working on learning to slip and dodge different incoming sword attacks, Master Shen had Alex practice the Eight Petal Step combined with the new [Feather Step] ability repeatedly. While this was boring for Alex, he was thankful that he was made to do it. The use of the ability through a movement he already knew so well helped him to get a much better understanding of the skills, capabilities, and limitations. [Feather Step] wasn¡¯t necessarily a direct upgrade to [Empowered Step]. It was more of a lateral upgrade. The skill was more refined in many ways to his old movement skill and it had one big benefit that he¡¯d been striving to work into his variation. Point-to-point travel. By combining his new levels of mana control with his increased willpower, the knowledge he had from studying the [Shadow Step] ability from the manual, and his own experience with [Empowered Step], he was able to come up with something perfect. Alex and his teachers had noted that even in a fight where he was using rituals, most of his mana was expended through the movement skill. [Empowered Step] had several benefits, but by far, its largest downside for someone like Alex was that it was wasteful in mana consumption. Because of how he had created the skill, he was able to push as much mana into it as he wanted, which often led to far too much mana being used just to get from point A to point B. In stressful situations, he had a tendency to do this even more. While Alex wasn¡¯t feeling his mana issues as much as he once did, he knew that was mostly just because of his titles. He wanted to continue to make sure that he was being conservative with his mana and [Feather Step] helped accomplish that goal. Now, to use his movement ability, he simply needed to focus on a destination and activate the skill. His entire body and clothes would become lighter, and he could push off in that direction. His traveling speed depended on how hard he pushed off of the ground, which seemed to delight Master Shen. The older man had immediately gone into a rant about how Alex could begin to learn how to change his travel direction and speed at a moment¡¯s notice to throw off his opponent. Needless to say, this interrupted Master Shen¡¯s planned training outline for the next several days. The martial master put Alex through the wringer, testing every possible angle of the skill. While it was grueling work, Alex had to admit that the man was thorough. It made Alex feel guilty about not testing his other skills and abilities to understand their limitations and advantages. Okay, in my defense, when the hell have I had time for that kind of thing? I¡¯ve been running for my life or getting my ass kicked almost every day since I stepped into this Rift. ¡°Many arms!¡± An accompanying mental image of a Mana Spinner came through their bond. Alright¡­ maybe I could have done some testing while we were in the tunnels. But I didn¡¯t know what was going on. Hey, who¡¯s side are you on any way? ¡°Mana!¡± came Val¡¯s reply in a cheerful tone. Alex rolled his eyes and began to pack up from his lessons with Master Shen. After several days of training had passed, Master Shen allowed Alex to begin practicing with a sword again. This time, they worked the sword forms into the full Eight Petal Steps, and the master would call out at random times for Alex to use his movement ability during the next step. This kind of training was fun to Alex. It felt satisfying to achieve a level of physical proficiency while also challenging his mind. He slid the jian short sword into the sheath on his back and adjusted it for the hundredth time. All three of his teachers had agreed that it would be good for Alex to practice using the sword from the traditional carrying position. Even though spatial bags could make it work, sometimes they were even slower than having the weapon readily available, or sometimes they were taken or lost. Remembering how his captors had taken his spatial bag immediately, he had to agree. He¡¯d be sorely upset if he somehow lost the spatial bag or it was stolen, but he could understand the practical value of getting accustomed to the weight and movement of the sheath on his back. Both the sheath and strap were unadorned and made of simple leather; however, with Alex¡¯s life of modern technology and high-end engineering, he couldn¡¯t help but think of how much nicer it might be to wear something specially made to fit his shoulders and back. Guess it can¡¯t hurt to be prepared though¡­ He made a mental note to retrieve the rest of his confiscated weapons from Eura and begin carrying spares in his spatial pouch. Shaking off the thought, he focused on the servant as he heard a report being given to Eura across the room. The Council is at it again? We¡¯ve got 18 days left until the assault. Why are they playing such stupid games right now? Since Eura had denied the Council¡¯s demand of private tutoring for their own disciples, they had become bold and some spoke openly about their thoughts on Eura¡¯s choices. The two decisions that came up most often were that Alex was receiving special treatment as an outsider and that the assault mission was being led by an outsider while risking sect warrior lives. While the first one was true, the second one was blatantly false. Alex was not leading the attack against the Firstborn. While Eura continued his investigations for a spy, he¡¯d made the decision to keep the plan vague until the two-week mark. Only the general plan had been formed, and personnel weren¡¯t even going to be picked until the plan was decided upon. To Alex, it seemed like the Council was just attempting to stir the pot, though he couldn¡¯t tell what their goal was. Even if they get more people on their side and create unrest, Eura could lose his patience eventually and just slap them around. The power dynamic here is so out of proportion with how low the Council is. They¡¯re putting a lot of faith in Eura¡¯s moral compass. Alex was impressed with the sect head¡¯s patience and willingness to play the political game, and Alex was slightly worried at the realization that he might not react with as much grace. He wondered how he would act when he returned to Earth and was in a similar position of power. Sam walked over to join Alex as he adjusted the strap on his shoulder. He ruffled the teen¡¯s hair, who gave him a mocking glare. The look made Alex smile, and he was happy that he could move more freely around Sam. The boy seemed to trust him enough to not reflexively flinch around him anymore. That made Alex happy, and he felt himself growing more and more fond of the blonde-haired young man. Man, we¡¯ve got to keep you away from Sarah. She¡¯d go full mom mode, I¡¯m sure of it. With almost half of their training timeline finished, Alex found himself unable to keep his thoughts from home and friends. Something about this made his psyche relax in some ways and tense up in others. He found himself falling asleep easier, but on the other hand, he was having more and more nightmares about fights. His least favorite was when his mind would replay events in the fight with Hong Xiu, and he could see the sword coming toward his face impossibly slowly, but no matter how hard he tried, he was unable to move out of the sword¡¯s way. Another dream that he kept having was that he would come home and that his parents had all but forgotten about Alex and had completely put their attention on Jake. In that same dream, Jake had become a world-renowned Awakened and was, for some reason, accepted by his parents. When he woke up, the inconsistencies in the dream were obvious. The biggest one was that to everyone outside of this Rift, not even a full week had passed. It was more likely that Alex¡¯s parents thought he was ignoring them than they thought he had passed away. Also, he knew that his parents refused to entertain any talks about the Awakened, particularly his dad. This time dilation stuff is trippy. Can we create something that will keep track of both timelines side by side? Or if some sort of new standardized time will be created? How would that even work? A fancy magical pocket watch? Turning his attention back to the present and away from his dreams, Alex remembered that he needed to tell Eura about his new skill. He waited for the attendant to finish their report on the Council before crossing the room and greeting the sect head. With no one in the room other than the normal trio, Eura smiled at them warmly and motioned for them to sit. ¡°How¡¯s training, Alex? I congratulate you on your progress, you learn quickly.¡± Alex shrugged and felt some heat rise up his neck at the praise. ¡°Stats are a crazy thing. I can¡¯t take too much credit.¡± ¡°Bah, plenty of people have high stats in the later levels. Hard work is important, but there is a natural way with most warriors. You have that in you. Don¡¯t cheapen it by pushing your progress off on ¡®just stats.¡¯¡± Eura scoffed and waved his hand as if to blow away a bad smell. Unsure of what to say, Alex changed the subject to a new skill he gained unexpectedly ¡°I actually wanted to tell you about a new skill I got. It randomly came to me last night while I was working on reducing the size of a trap ritual.¡± ¡°Oh? What is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a passive skill called [Sleep Resistance].¡± Eura burst into laughter. At the sudden noise, Val zipped over to do a few circles over Eura. It was clear that he was interested in laughter lately. Seeing the full-body belly laugh, Alex paused and couldn¡¯t help but smile. When he glanced at Sam, he saw one corner of the teen¡¯s lips curled upward. After Eura recovered, he motioned for Alex to follow him, and they began to make their way outside of the city. Sam and Val followed closely behind and Eura didn¡¯t give them much indication of where they were going. When Alex had asked, the celestial said, ¡°We¡¯re going to go chat about structured and unstructured magic.¡± 45. Unstructured Magic Alex asked where they were going once, but after receiving a terse reply to be patient, he didn''t ask again. Sam and Alex followed behind the regal celestial for a while. When the teenager bumped into his arm from walking so close, Alex glanced at him but let it be. He knew Sam had been through a lot and likely saw him as a lifeline. The winding dirt path led away from the dark side of the Rift, deeper into the celestial side. After about twenty minutes, they arrived at a small meadow hidden within the trees. The grass was a vibrant green, and the mana vision in Alex¡¯s Heavenly Eye clashed with the mundane view from his right eye. The cherry trees'' colorful pink tops seemed to glow in the evening light. Alex thought they were entering a clearing and hoped his eyes might get a break from all the mana in the trees, but he was wrong. In the middle of the meadow was a perfectly square patch that radiated vibrant mana, shining so brightly that Alex had to close his left eye. ¡°Woah,¡± Alex said reflexively. ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°My garden,¡± Eura replied. Before they reached the small wooden fence surrounding the garden, a man stood up from within its depths and quickly moved to intercept them. When he saw Eura, his expression softened, and he became less hostile. Eura bowed and greeted the man warmly before asking for privacy. Soon, it was just the three of them, along with Valtherion. The little wyrm was curious about the plants but kept getting repelled by an unseen force. He flew to different positions around the garden, sniffing and trying to find an entry point. ¡°This is part of the example I wanted to show you before I begin to explain.¡± Eura held up his hands and gestured to their surroundings. ¡°I want you to look at the forest that surrounds us and compare it to my garden.¡± There was a pause as both Alex and Sam looked around. ¡°Let¡¯s start with the garden. Take a moment to observe it. It¡¯s beautiful, is it not? Every plant here is arranged precisely as the gardener intended. Even more interesting is the mana that flows through the garden. Alex, can you see it?¡± Unsure of what he was looking at, Alex took a guess. ¡°It¡¯s brighter than the normal forest. Do the plants contain a lot of mana?¡± Eura nodded, ¡°Yes, precisely. These are spiritual herbs, and it is important that they are grown in the right conditions. For some, they must be grown in a specific combination of Qi, while others must be isolated by a certain distance. It¡¯s a challenge to create a harmonious garden.¡± ¡°There are a lot of plants, though,¡± Alex said as he watched Sam. The teen was looking with interest at the surrounding trees. He walked to a nearby cherry tree and gently touched its large trunk. ¡°That¡¯s the key point. Look at the forest around you. It¡¯s chaotic, uncontrolled, but within that chaos lies a different kind of beauty and a vast number of different trees and plants.¡± He gestured to the small garden, ¡°Much more than there could be in here.¡± Alex frowned. ¡°That goes without saying, right? A garden is always going to be smaller than a forest, but the benefit is that it¡¯s controlled.¡± ¡°Precisely! The garden thrives on structure. The gardener decides what to plant, where to plant it, and how to tend to it. There¡¯s a certainty in what will grow here. If the gardener plants a seed, there is no doubt about what will sprout from it. It¡¯s predictable.¡± Sam crouched down to look at the ground around the tree and Val flew over to look with the boy. Alex watched with his mana vision as he saw power flow from Sam into the tree. Before he could ask, Eura continued. ¡°In the forest, on the other hand, those trees have the freedom to grow wherever they want. They can reach for the light and spread their roots however they please. They may flourish, or they may wither, but it¡¯s a direct reflection of their surroundings and resilience.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯m guessing this ties back to magic somehow¡­¡± ¡°Think of the garden as structured magic. It¡¯s well-defined, reliable, efficient, and much easier to begin using how you direct it. In contrast, the forest represents unstructured magic. It¡¯s full of potential, yet less predictable and more wild. If you were to tame the forest, it might take many years of dedication and careful attention. Each of these has its purpose. Let me show you an example before we talk about which approach is better.¡± Eura crossed the remaining distance to the garden with grace and crossed the unseen barrier without issue. Seeing that entry was possible, Valtherion redoubled his efforts to reach the mana-filled plants. Eura ignored the companion and stepped in carefully before plucking two flowers from the same bush. They had broad, bright yellow petals. Eura handed one of them to Alex as he returned. ¡°You mentioned that, through your bond, you have a skill to infuse mana into an object. This flower is meant to absorb foreign mana; as it does so, its petals will change one at a time to a different color. Please use that skill now until the flower is full of your mana.¡± Alex did so, watching with fascination as the petals filled up one by one. It seemed surreal as they looked like the progress bar of a phone battery slowly filling up, changing from yellow to bright green. It only took him a few moments and close to 100 mana to completely change the color of the flower¡¯s petals. ¡°Good,¡± Eura said. He held out his hand to take the flower and presented the second one to Alex. ¡°Now do the same thing again, with only your natural control over mana. Don¡¯t activate the skill.¡± This time, the process was significantly harder. The task took more of Alex¡¯s concentration and almost three times the amount of mana. Once the flower was filled with his mana, he breathed out a sigh and handed it to Eura. ¡°This is one of the easier examples to see the differences between structured and unstructured magic. You can think of structured magic as magic that is controlled and directed by the System. The System introduced it to allow weaker races to survive in a newly integrated world. There are a few different ways that structured magic can be learned. Most commonly, it¡¯s through trial and error, teaching, or a technique manual- sorry.¡± Eura cut himself off. ¡°Hmm, for the rest of this explanation, I¡¯ll refer to things by the terms you know and that the System uses rather than the terms of my world.¡± ¡°As I was saying, these forms of structured magic can be learned in several ways, but what is consistent is that they are always presented in the form of skills. Structured magic is meant to be easy to use and quick to pick up, as it¡¯s meant to be a method of survival in a chaotic and dangerous world. Much like my garden, you know exactly what you¡¯re getting with the skills, and you can see a predictable form of growth with them since so much of System progression is guided through intent. The System has also put some safety measures in place with structured magic. Meaning that you can¡¯t activate a skill if you don¡¯t have the mana or stamina for it, as it would likely kill you. Instead, you might receive some backlash in the form of mana fatigue or passing out. This prevents many fledgling races from killing themselves early in the planetary integration.¡± He mentioned the ¡®integration¡¯ when I asked him about broken worlds in the tunnels. Integration into what? The System? Is that what we¡¯re going through is called? ¡°Unstructured magic is more like the forest. It¡¯s wild and untamed, unpredictable, and often time-consuming to tackle. This kind of magic is the natural magic in the universe. It goes by many different names and has many different ways of being wielded, but the common factor is that this is the individual, personally shaping mana to produce magic. When you infused the mana into the flower without the use of a skill, that was unstructured magic. With many hours of practice, repetition, and focus, you could achieve the same results as the structured, skill version you performed.¡±Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°I think I see what you¡¯re saying. What would be the point of me spending weeks or months learning to do that, if I can just do it so easily with a skill.¡± Eura nodded, ¡°That is part of it, yes. Because you are young and your world is likely in chaos, you must choose how to spend your time wisely. Should this ability become the focus of your training? Not likely. But, in some cases, for others, it might be the right path. While I¡¯ve spoken about the benefits of each method, as with all things, there are also downsides. Structured magic¡¯s greatest detriment is that there are a limited number of skill slots available to an Awakened.¡± ¡°There are?¡± Alex asked. Sam also looked up from his seated position next to the cherry tree. ¡°Yes. Through the System, an Awakened can only have ten active skills and five passive skills. Traits slots vary depending on the race of an individual.¡± ¡°Shit, does that mean we¡¯re locked into the skills we¡¯ve already chosen?¡± Panic began to rise in Alex¡¯s chest. Not because he regretted the skills he was currently using but because he didn¡¯t know what might be offered down the road. Am I hampering my future growth by accepting skills like I have been? ¡°Yes and no. You will be able to drop the skills that you chose but let me come back to that in a moment. For now, I want you to realize that it¡¯s often the people who focus on structured magic early that live long enough to become powerful. There are downsides, such as less flexibility and limited slots, but in a world filled with danger, the immediate use of powerful skills can save a life many times over. On the other hand, those who use unstructured magic are not limited by skill slots. Rather than learning just ten spells, if each one were to take up a skill slot, a mage using unstructured magic could learn hundreds. It may take him decades of practice and rigorous study, but they would be much stronger in the long run due to their knowledge and adaptability. Unfortunately, many who follow this path don¡¯t live long enough in a newly integrated world to see the fruits of their labor.¡± Alex fell silent, thinking of his use of rituals. Living is definitely a priority. Should I use the consumable Shadow Serpent manual to gain some more skills? ¡°Now, I want to ask you both. Which method is better? Structured or unstructured magic?¡± After a long silent pause, Alex spoke up, ¡°Structured magic? While it makes sense to think about the long game, living to get there is more important. Isn¡¯t it?¡± Eura smiled and looked to Sam who was looking at a protruding root next to his foot. ¡°Samuel?¡± Alex looked over to the teenager and saw Val who had given up on breaking through the garden¡¯s barrier and was weaving through trees in the background, chasing a colorful dragonfly. Sam opened his mouth hesitantly, as if to speak, but shrugged and looked at his feet again. Eura¡¯s smile dimmed with sadness, ¡°A combination is typically the best answer. Early, it might be best to learn more structured magic, but with the goal to set yourself up for a more unstructured approach in the later ranks. Alex, you¡¯ve already been doing this without realizing it. You¡¯re using a combination of skills to facilitate movement and your magic, while most of your actual potential and flexibility come from your use of rituals. Those are a less common form of unstructured magic.¡± While that made sense to Alex, and he felt a sense of relief that he hadn¡¯t ruined his potential on accident, something didn¡¯t quite make sense. ¡°Do the rituals still count as unstructured magic, even though I¡¯m using the skill [Mana Thread] to lay the ritual circles?¡± ¡°Oh, certainly. The most common approach when a magic user reaches my level of power is to have their skills be ¡®tools¡¯ to facilitate or increase the potency of their unstructured magic. As long as it is your dedication, practice, and knowledge shaping the spell or ability through mana, then it is unstructured magic. There are even others who have skills to store the most recent copy of their used unstructured magic to be instantly used again through the skill. Even though the magic is coming through the use of a skill the second time, it can only copy the potency and unstructured spell that the wielder used prior, so the System still considers this unstructured magic.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Alex¡¯s head swam. ¡°So, by using the [Mana Threads] as a tool to create my rituals, it is still considered to be unstructured magic?¡± Eura nodded. ¡°I might normally encourage you to save such a deep study of unstructured magic until you are at a higher rank and to focus on structured magic for the time being. But, between your Titles shoring up some of your immediate weaknesses and your Trait giving you such a boost to magical control, my advice for you would be different. Even though it¡¯s a more dangerous path to walk, you will see significant benefits from unstructured magic much earlier than others would.¡± ¡°So what are you saying? To continue my training with rituals?¡± ¡°Continue studying the rituals, yes. That being said, I don¡¯t see their base form and traditional uses being a very sustainable kind of unstructured magic if you plan to focus on combat.¡± There was a pause and the celestial raised an eyebrow at Alex as if asking an unspoken question. ¡°What? Do I continue to focus on combat? I haven¡¯t really given it much thought.¡± I find certain parts of it fun, but up until two weeks ago, I had only been fighting as a means to survive. No, that¡¯s not true. I willingly entered those Rifts to gain levels and combat experience. Wait. Do I like fighting? It was an odd revelation for Alex to realize that he did find something satisfying about coming out of a life-or-death situation as a victor. The entire recent experience within the Epic Rift had put those feelings to the back of his mind, as his thoughts hadn¡¯t been focused on winning but rather on surviving. It brought back clearer thoughts on the real reason he¡¯d decided to attack the final camp before leaving the Rift. He could have spent more time sneaking around the camp, or used his abilities to pass through the camp with minimal risk of getting caught. Instead, he¡¯d tried to ambush the group and get more gains while striking back at his tormentors one more time before leaving. Holy shit. I do like fighting. I like progressing and surviving. Realization painted Alex''s face. "And what if I do decide to focus on combat? Am I completely screwed since my whole class is for rituals?" Eura failed to hide a quickly growing smile, "Do not worry much. Changing your class is a fairly easy matter." Alex visibly relaxed a bit at this and his memory caught up with his briefly fear-filled thoughts. He remembered the conversation he¡¯d had with Olivia about classes and realized that he already knew they could be changed and he wasn¡¯t locked into his own class. Even more embarrassing, was that he remembered the System specifically saying, when he¡¯d chosen a class, he could change his class. "There are particular crystals that can be used to revisit class selection. Additionally, the System naturally handles class advancement much like it does skill advancement. You will be given the choice to evolve, advance, or drop the class. It will give you a preview of the different routes to let you know what the class will evolve or advance to, which will resemble the glimpse that it gave you when you chose your class originally. This is another reason why grasping the fundamentals and learning to utilize structured and unstructured magic is so important. Classes and skills can change, be lost, locked, or dropped. Your knowledge and the skill that you learn through dedication will not ever be lost." Suddenly a bit more relaxed, Alex asked, ¡°Okay. What about Sam? What should he focus on once we get out of this Rift?¡± ¡°Samuel, while I don¡¯t know all of your Status, my eyes can see much. I think you¡¯re on the right path. My advice for you would be similar to most others. Continue to focus on structured magic, but as you go down your path to power, continue to think of what sort of unstructured magic you will use and when you will begin to make the transition.¡± Sam smiled and nodded. Alex could clearly see the relief on his face. Even though he kept his distance from us, he was listening closely to the entire conversation. I am surprised he cares at all after what he¡¯s been through, it¡¯s impressive if he¡¯s thinking about his future... He¡¯s had even less guidance than I have. At least I got to read some articles from the AG app before making decisions. Eura answered a few more questions for the boys, and Alex was able to convince the sect head to tell them the kind of unstructured magic that he used. He was unsurprised to find that it revolved around a sort of wide area, celestial projection magic. When Alex had tried to pry more information from him, he¡¯d been politely chastised and informed that other high powered individuals might kill him on the spot for such an invasive question. Alex had gulped and let Eura continue to guide the conversation, perfectly content to keep his life. ¡°Before we head back, I have a question that¡¯s been on my mine,¡± Alex said. He remembered the lingering confusion he¡¯d felt since he had first read his traits description. ¡°Do you know who Zaamis is?¡± Eura¡¯s expression shifted subtly, his brow furrowing. ¡°What makes you ask that?¡± ¡°Well, I told you how my trait works. But the description reads differently than my other skills and titles. It has some flavor text to it that says I am ¡®the chosen of Zaamis,¡¯ but I¡¯ve never heard that name anywhere else. When we spoke in the tunnels, you mentioned a God overseeing the integration¡­ so I wondered if-¡± ¡°No,¡± Eura said with a firm tone. ¡°Only one God will oversee an integration. But, there are seven Gods who oversee the Wider Worlds, and Zaamis is not among them.¡± He glanced at the darkening sky and his expression became distant. ¡°We should return. The evening meal will be served soon and I have an appointment shortly after.¡± Alex wanted to press further, the quick dismissal and change in tone wasn¡¯t normal for Eura and it made him more curious. It was also the same change in tone and demeanor that made him hold off on asking further questions. He nodded, filling away the celestial¡¯s reaction for later. As they began their walk back to the sect, Val swooped down to perch on Alex¡¯s shoulder. The little wyrm''s presence was comforting as his mind churned with questions about unstructured magic, skill slots, and most of all, the mysterious Zaamis. 46. Challenges Mount The next several days passed the same as the previous few, with the only change being that Alex now had an easier time staying up into the late hours of the night, even with his exhausted body. The new [Sleep Resistance] passive allowed his mind to continue functioning through his fatigue. Though he noticed it didn¡¯t actually reduce the amount of sleep that his body needed and his tired brain wanted, it just allowed him to function on less of it. 15 more days until we break out of this place. Alex pulled up his Status Window and checked his progress. While his level and stats hadn¡¯t moved, he felt like his progress over the last two weeks of being trained by the Celestial Lotus Sect¡¯s Martial Masters was night and day. He had a newfound confidence in himself and his capabilities that he¡¯d never had before. After Eura¡¯s explanation the previous day, Alex couldn¡¯t help but let his eyes linger on his trait and think that he might really have a promising future in this new world and just how wrong he¡¯d been in those early days to think that his trait was bad. As long as we make it out of this nonsense alive¡­
Status Name: Alex Moore - Level 24 Class: Ritualist (Novice) HP: 530/530 MP: 520/520 Traits: (1/3) {Primordial Will} Titles: < Unbound > Pathfinder Unbound One Against Many Control Freak Physical Stats: Strength: 24 Agility: 39 Constitution: 53 Vitality: 26 Magical Stats: Intellect: 40 Willpower: 318 Mana: 26 + 26 Wisdom: 68 Bond Skills: [Mana Siphon] (Novice - Level 13) Primary Stat Shared - Mana Active Skills: [Mana Thread] (Novice - Level 13) [Mana Infusion] (Novice - Level 14) [Feather Step] (Novice - Level 5) [Ritual Insight] (Novice - Level 15) [Mirage] (Journeyman - Level 6) Passive Skills: [Efficient Rites] (Tier I) [Sleep Resistance] (Tier I) Bound Items: Unique E Rank Growth Item - Heavenly Eye of the Celestial Sage
Alex knew he was just trying to distract himself. He was in a different environment that morning compared to the previous two weeks. Rather than Eura¡¯s offices, which were largely private, he stood in one of the lotus petals of the main training field. He wore his robes and the sandals provided to him, and his jian was loosely strapped to his back. I should probably be more nervous, all things considered¡­ He dismissed his Status Window and looked around the outer ring of the petal. Groups of people had gathered and more who were passing stopped to ask what was happening. I hope Eura knows what he¡¯s doing. In the last two days, the Council had hounded Eura publicly and privately to allow a sparring match to occur between Alex and one of the other disciples. Eura had remained silent at first. But to Alex¡¯s surprise, as the council began to make more and more of a fuss, he seemed to become more pleased rather than more frustrated. After the tension built, Eura put on his public persona and addressed the council in a way that made it appear that he was caving into their demands. There was a deeper game, and Alex was frustrated that he was being pulled into the middle of it. While he was sure that the council didn¡¯t like him, it was even more clear that he was not their target. Eura was. Alex scratched his forehead, feeling slightly bored. While he felt some anxiety, he realized quickly that it wasn¡¯t because of the upcoming spar or the potential loss; he was just uncomfortable with this many people looking at him. Before the fight, Eura had told Alex to agree to whatever terms were set for the spar. Alex had raised an eyebrow but just nodded. Since it was a spar, his life shouldn¡¯t be in danger. They would be using practice weapons that were enchanted to feel the exact same as a counterpart blade. Alex clenched his fist around the hilt of the wooden sword as he waited. After some time, a disciple walked up to the sandy area and bowed to Alex. Alex recognized the man as the Elder Brother who had come to him during his time in the cell. He was unsure if he should be frustrated that they clearly picked someone with a lot more experience in fighting than him or elated that he¡¯d been given a chance at some revenge. The fact that they picked him can¡¯t be a coincidence, right? From behind the disciple, the same portly council member called out. Even though he was acting like he was talking to Alex, it was obvious he wanted the entire crowd to hear what he had to say. ¡°This is a spar between a disciple and an outsider. A mock battle between warriors, you may not use your filthy beast.¡± Alex felt some heat rise in his chest. Not at the fact that it was a dirty tactic to prevent Alex from using a big part of his personal combat kit, but that the man would insinuate Valtherion was just a beast on a leash and not a bond. Through an effort of will, Alex pushed down his rage at the silly politics and called Val out of his robe. He heard some people begin whispering as the blue mana wyrm rose in the air in a spiral. At Alex¡¯s instruction, Valtherion flew over to Sam, who was seated on the ground near Master Shen. Sam smiled as wyrm flew around him and settled on his shoulders, though he quickly blushed as everyone¡¯s eyes watching Val suddenly stared at him. A few more pleasantries, insults, and conditions were set, and as the time to fight drew closer, Alex could feel his pulse begin to quicken. He watched the other man¡¯s posture and where he distributed his weight as he paced. The Heavenly Eye did little to reveal new information to Alex other than the disciple¡¯s name and most used ability, which was [Qi Cycling]. This was unsurprising; as by now, Alex had realized that most sect warriors had this as their most used skill since it was something that they began practicing at an early age for many hours each week. As the sparring match started, Alex fell into the Lotus Roots position. He allowed his mind to concentrate completely on the fight in front of him and to tune out the distractions of the crowd. His eyes followed every movement of his opponent, and he waited patiently. As soon as the man stepped forward, Alex transitioned into Flowing Water and shifted his weight to the side for the third Eight Petal Step. He¡¯s going to use a movement skill, I¡¯ll use Willow Branch Sways. As Alex moved to the right, the other disciple launched forward with a movement technique that was common in the sect. His sword was extended toward Alex¡¯s face. There was a split second where Alex¡¯s body wanted to freeze up; seeing another sword travel toward his face frightened him at a fundamental level and caused him to remember the Shadow Serpent Sects member¡¯s sword. Just before the sword came into contact, Alex activated [Mirage] and swayed to the left, narrowly avoiding the wooden sparring sword. To his opponent, it would appear that he was going to strike Alex until the very moment that the blade passed through the illusion with no resistance. At that moment, Alex stuck out his foot, causing the other man to stumble and follow along with his own momentum. As he passed, Alex tapped the back of his head with the flat of his sword. Okay, maybe it was a bit harder than a tap¡­ Alex didn¡¯t allow himself to lose focus as he knew that he needed two contacts to win the spar. However, when he saw the anger on the other man¡¯s face, he knew how the rest of the fight would go and that it would end quickly. Before the Elder Brother could finish gaining his balance, Alex used a [Mana Thread] to begin forming a foot-wide ritual several feet behind himself. He waited patiently for the other man to straighten back up and assume a fighting position, as was customary. He knew from the start that the elder brother was more skilled than he was, and the easiest path to victory lay in continuing to fight as he had for the last several weeks. By capitalizing on a more confident opponents sense of superiority which he noticed was blown even further out of proportion by the way that the sect warriors behaved. When they were both set, Alex pretended to note the anger in the man¡¯s face and changed his own look to one of panic or fear.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Immediately, Alex looked over his shoulder and activated [Feather Step] and jumped back to the far side of the sandpit. He held the jian at a slightly odd angle, intentionally letting it fall out of its normal position. The Elder Brother, in his confidence and anger, took the bait. He smiled and, to his credit, did not use another movement ability to close the gap. Instead, he moved forward with perfect form, using a style that Alex hadn¡¯t learned. Watching him move, Alex was impressed by his use of the form, there were no openings he could see to strike or counter. But Alex wasn¡¯t looking for an opening that existed. He had been planning to make his own. And¡­there! Alex turned his body to the side, right shoulder leading forward. His right hand, holding the sword, came up to his cheek, and he pointed the blade forward at eye level, passing his shoulder and leading his body. He bent his legs and activated [Feather Step] again, stopping the movement a few feet in front of his own ritual. At the same moment, he sent a pulse of mana through the thread he¡¯d been holding on to, allowing it to activate the small version of the Binding Ritual. This particular ritual was special in that the only material Alex needed to use as a Catalyst were additional [Mana Threads]. While the binding wasn¡¯t nearly as strong as if he used a rope in a Binding Ritual, it did work as a physical manifestation of the thread, slowing movement within as if held back by spider webs. He¡¯d used the long cooldown of [Ritual Insight] to better understand how to progress the ritual. The results were astonishing. The System responded to his desire to progress the ritual, specifically how to achieve it with fewer materials. Information flooded his mind as he realized that Catalysts, while essential for rituals, represented a universal essence of their being rather than mere physical forms. Alex had to admit, even after three hours of explanation from Eura, it all felt too esoteric for him to fully grasp. He could repeat the information he¡¯d absorbed thanks to the System, but any kind of true understanding eluded him. By the end of Eura¡¯s detailed discussion, Alex resolved to explore the distinctions between Catalysts and Reagents. Eura had clarified that they were fundamentally different; but most modern practitioners found it easier to use Reagents where Catalysts were intended, as it required less intricate knowledge and coordination of mana flows in rituals. A fragment of insight lingered at the back of Alex¡¯s mind: rituals, in their truest form, weren¡¯t supposed to consume physical materials at all. Yet, due to the training material he had available, he had learned to treat Reagents as a shortcut rather than appreciate how Catalysts should ideally function. He felt a growing desire to find something or a method that could better represent the concepts that were originally intended for the catalyst nodes. What mattered most in that moment to Alex was that the ritual worked perfectly in the fight. It caused the Elder Brother¡¯s lead foot to halt for a mere moment. Thanks to Alex¡¯s timing, this was the exact moment he would need to center his weight and prepare to receive the incoming blow. Unable to plant his feet firmly or reposition how he should, Alex¡¯s sparring sword connected with a resounding crack as he stepped forward and stabbed it into the other man¡¯s sternum with as much force as his momentum would allow. Alex released a grin as he heard the sound, confident that the other man¡¯s sternum was at least cracked. Serves you right, dick head. Alex had nightmares about the beating that had followed the Elder Brother¡¯s visit. There had been a special kind of frustration and helplessness that followed him, thinking that he had finally gotten someone to listen to him and verify his story, only to have that person order his beating. Worse yet, the reasoning behind the order was simply because he didn¡¯t like the way that Alex looked at him. Part of Alex wanted to let out more of the frustration and lay into the sprawled-out man. But, he felt that just as the Council was playing a bigger game, so was Eura. He forced himself to step away from the man as he allowed his focus to return to all of his surroundings. The scene that played out seemed like it was directly out of a television drama. Rather than take the loss in any form of grace, the Council member began to spout excuses and insults toward Alex and a few less-than-subtle jabs at Eura¡¯s decision-making. This seemed to be the moment that Eura was waiting for. The celestial sect leader stood, and it felt as if a blanket of tension spread out over everyone gathered, causing them to fall quiet. Is he doing that? What is this feeling? It reminded Alex of the first moments that they¡¯d met in the cavern beneath the dark side of the Rift. The celestial man¡¯s presence seemed to fill the area, almost making it harder to breathe. Eura stepped forward, mirroring the Council Elder¡¯s earlier stance. Just as the other had done, he addressed the man while speaking to the crowd. ¡°The Council demanded this spar to validate my use of training resources and to see if the Honored Guest is on the way to joining an expedition with our sect warriors,¡± he declared. ¡°Yet, in the face of irrefutable proof that our guest has triumphed two to zero, you instead seize the opportunity to question my leadership?¡± The portly Council member opened his mouth to protest, but Eura held up his hand and continued. He could be clearly heard over the murmuring of the onlookers. ¡°I¡¯d like to ask, are you issuing a personal challenge? Because if so, I assure you, I am more than prepared to defend my honor.¡± The man¡¯s already pale complexion drained noticeably. He shook his head fervently while raising his hands. Eura took a visible and measured breath, letting the moment between them drag out. ¡°Let me be clear. The Council does not dictate martial matters. Your purpose has always been to manage logistics and supplies for the sect, and it will remain that way unless you continue to push me or attempt to call my authority into question.¡± Nobody dared to speak as Eura delivered his final words and made his stance clear in front of the entire gathered crowd. The Council¡¯s illusion of continued authority cracked under the public declaration, and Alex could even see many in the crowd nodding in approval at the entire situation. He could hear quiet whispers of things like, ¡°¡­back to how things should be,¡± or ¡°The true leader of the sect¡­¡± Without waiting for further dramatics, Eura left with his head held high and a clear statement made in front of a large audience: The sect leader is back, and he¡¯s in charge, not the Council. Alex left with Sam and Valtherion, heading back to the Sect Head¡¯s offices to continue with their daily training. As they walked, he was surprised to see Sam extending a mana tendril, initiating a conversation on his own. Alex connected with a [Mana Thread] to hear the boy¡¯s thoughts. ¡°That was a good fight. The ritual worked well.¡± Alex smiled down at Sam. Thanks, buddy. Yeah, it felt good to teach that guy a lesson. Did you know he was one of the ones who beat me while I was tied up when I first came to Tianluo? Sam¡¯s eyes went wide in response, and he shook his head. Yeah, anyway¡­ could you feel it when I started to use the ritual? Sam nodded with a sly smile. Cheeky kid. Your sensitivity is getting better. What¡¯s the level up to now? There was a pause, and Sam shared the window with him rather than responding. Alex squinted at it and nodded. The skill had grown a lot in the last two weeks. Since Sam¡¯s captor had no knowledge of skills or the System, he had only forced Sam to use his healing ability over and over rather than finding out if the boy knew any other skills. Hey, I¡¯ve been avoiding this a lot, but things are going to change a lot when we go back home¡­ I¡¯d be very careful about who you show your Status Window to, okay? I don¡¯t think people out there share that sort of thing, and with your healing ability, I think there are a lot of people who would want to recruit you. While he didn¡¯t say it outright, Alex knew that some people might take it even further than that. If they believed that Sam could cure diseases or save soldiers from battles, who knew what lengths people might go to? Sam nodded somberly and walked a bit closer to Alex. They walked with the connection for some time, though neither spoke. Instead, Alex just sent through reassuring feelings of confidence and contentment. They spent a few hours in Eura¡¯s office talking about the fight in greater detail. Alex was pleased with the positive feedback he received and had expected more criticism about the moment he¡¯d frozen up. To a Martial Master, something like that was very noticeable. When Alex mentioned the reasoning behind it, all three of the mentors just nodded after sharing a glance. Eura explained that those kinds of wounds were normal in any seasoned fighter. Wounds were inevitable and healing from them often went deeper than just the physical healing. Thanks to modern medicine, Alex likely knew more about psychological damage than they did. If he took into account the second-hand knowledge he had from hanging out with Sarah during her college studies, he was above even more people on Earth in terms of general understanding, even if he was far from an actual expert on the subject. Alex sighed. Knowing about it isn¡¯t the same as using it or making sure I can heal from it. I really hope Sarah is willing to chat or point me to someone I can talk to¡­ While he knew she would be there for him in an emergency, there were also some professional lines he didn¡¯t think they should cross. If- when he was ready to seek some professional help about the Rift experience, he¡¯d need to do it with someone who was not one of his best friends. Their conversation was interrupted as a knock came through the wooden sliding door frame. When Alex went to the door, there was a note pinned to the softwood; he removed it and walked it over to Eura. The sect head just sighed and shook his head. ¡°Rather than be humbled, it seems that the event from this afternoon has only made the Council more petty than ever,¡± Eura said as he passed the note to Master Shen. After the note made it¡¯s rounds, the three discussed the implications and sent Alex and Sam back to their small house. The paper was a notice of asset requisition and supply allocation. The Council had taken Eura¡¯s lecture literally and realized that while they could not make martial changes within the sect, they had the ability to divide resources as they saw fit. In Alex¡¯s particular case, that just meant fewer magical supplements for training. ¡°Ugh, that¡¯s going to make staying up and keeping this sort of training pace almost impossible. Even with [Sleep Resistance], I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to stay up without those Stamina potions.¡± For Valtherion, this meant that he would no longer be receiving the promised Mana Stones from the sect¡¯s treasury. Back to burning through our personal funds, I guess. Val! ¡°Yes, Alex?¡± his companion responded in an oddly clear and well dictated voice. It almost reminded him of one of the AI home devices from the modern world. Gah, stop that. Use your normal voice. I¡¯ve got bad news¡­ You¡¯re going on a diet, bud. Sorry. ¡°Diet?¡± Val asked, saying the new word slowly. It means less mana for now. ¡°Noooo!¡± His companion, who had been flying above and in front of the two humans, dropped to the ground like a rock. It reminded Alex of seeing a bird go limp and fall through the air mid-flight. Sam, who hadn¡¯t been privy to their conversation, called out in alarm and ran to check on the mana wyrm. Alex just rolled his eyes and covered his face with his hands. So dramatic¡­ 47. Bonding Because of his busy schedule and the lack of sleep, thanks to the absence of stamina potions, the next three days passed in a blur for Alex. Master Shen moved on to a new form of sweeping strikes that used the Flowing Water stance to slash as he moved. It was mesmerizing for Alex to watch the forms showed by the sword master. He had an entirely new appreciation for the detail that went into martial arts. The new form was called Dragonfly Touches the Water. Some cuts also included quick flicks of his wrist toward vital points, and Alex was unsure if the form would work at all if it weren¡¯t for a stat-enhanced body. Eura and Master Shen Rong had worked together on a portion of training meant to teach Alex how to infuse a sword with mana in case there was a magically oriented attack that needed to be blocked. However, when Alex showed how easily he could complete this with [Mana Infusion], they quickly let him move on. Alex had been curious about something since his sparring match a few days prior and decided to present his theory to Eura. ¡°I think it should be possible for me to make my Mana Threads manifest in the physical world. It clearly happened when I used the binding ritual during the sparring match, and I saw the Mana Spinners do it regularly. Do you know how I could make this happen?¡± Eura rubbed his smooth chin for a moment before smiling at Alex. ¡°I think I might, but I think it would be best for you to figure it out on your own. Continue your drilling with Master Li and Master Shen, but during our lesson time, I want you to try to solve this question by yourself. If you need resources, ask me, and I¡¯ll get them for you. Also,¡± Eura paused and reached behind his desk to lift a small package. ¡°This is for you. Think of it as a gift for being a devoted student.¡± Alex opened the box and was surprised to find a Basic Rituals Manual and two Advanced Rituals Manuals. His mouth dropped open, and he looked at Eura, speechless. ¡°Eh,¡± Eura waved his hand. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I sent for the books more than a week ago. It just had to come down from one of our branch sects in the mountains.¡± ¡°Eura, thank you. This is huge,¡± Alex said. He thought of how much progress in his magic he¡¯d been able to make with a single manual and dedicated study. The thought of having more advanced materials to study without spending a ton of Mana Stones excited him. As he looked down at the manuals, Alex noted the rest of the statement. He asked Eura about how large the area of the light side of the Rift was. Eura contemplated for a few moments before stating it was the size of a small continent, and the same went for the dark side of the Rift. Alex was stunned, unable to believe that the Rift was so large. Up until that point, he¡¯d really only thought of Tianluo as the main hub of the light side of the Rift, not bothering to go any deeper into the landmass. Well, my goal this entire time has been to get out of the damn place. I¡¯m not sure why I¡¯d want to go any deeper in¡­ ¡°Alright, enough stalling from you. I¡¯ve got work to do here. Go and begin your tests.¡± Alex groaned but felt excited about diving deeper into [Mana Threads], which had quickly become his favorite skill. He spent the next two days devoting all of his attention to the threads and attempting to figure out a way to manifest them into the physical plane. He put aside the training that he¡¯d been doing with [Mirage] and even the idea of studying the advanced ritual materials that Eura presented him with. While he loved the work and ideas Eura had given him the previous week for [Mirage], Alex felt that he was missing something there. He believed it was just that the options with illusion magic were so broad; he could do many things with it, and he just didn¡¯t have the time in his limited days to experiment as much as he might like. Illusion magic required a subtlety that came from hours of dedicated practice and experimentation. There was even more practical application for it if he took Val into consideration. The mana wyrm¡¯s [Create Lesser Illusion] could be used at the same time as [Mirage] to compound the illusion or to further divert someone¡¯s attention. Alex had toyed with the idea of using Val for an anchor that he could attach a [Mirage] of himself to, then allow the companion to move around and direct the illusory Alex. The illusions always seem to work better if I have something to anchor them to. Just as he had the thought, Alex sat bolt upright. Sam, who was nearby, looked over at him and tilted his head. ¡°Something to anchor it to! That¡¯s it!¡± Alex got up and walked over to a small sandy area of the garden. He scooped some of the sand into his hand and pushed a mana thread through it. At first, nothing happened, but as Alex sent more mana through the thread, he could see it lighting up, and after a few seconds, he could feel the thread brushing against his fingertips. He exclaimed and jumped while pumping his fist in the air. Sam laughed at him from somewhere else in the garden. Alex sent a thread weaving through the garden plants until he found Sam and lightly touched his [Mana Thread] to the leaking mana that Sam had coming from his body. This let him establish a sort of pseudo-link where Alex could project thoughts but not hear them, at least not until Sam allowed him to. Hey, I hear you over there. Alex smirked as he heard Sam yelp in surprise. Do you realize that I¡¯m literally like one step away from being Spiderman?This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. His smirk grew into a grin as he heard Sam begin to laugh loudly and without care. He broke off the connection and felt a sense of happiness just from making Sam laugh. Alex walked over to Eura and gave a brief report, glad that he was able to solve the problem in a small window of time. ¡°Great job, you figured that out quickly. I¡¯ll give you one hint for your next step. Test different materials.¡± Alex¡¯s brain immediately began to try to process the hint, thinking of all the different materials that might give his mana a good source to latch on to. ¡°Think about it another time,¡± Eura said. ¡°You are exhausted. I can see the bags under your eyes. You need to go get some sleep.¡± ¡°But-¡± ¡°No. I need to go take care of something urgent anyway. You need sleep. You¡¯ve been doing this for almost three weeks straight. It¡¯s clearly catching up with you. Go rest.¡± Eura looked over to Sam, ¡°Samuel, please make sure that Alex gets to rest. He sorely needs it.¡± Sam flinched at the sound of his name but then nodded as he realized what Eura was asking. A short time later, Alex crashed into his low bed on wooden slats and fell asleep within moments. He wasn¡¯t sure of when it happened, but at some point in the night, Alex awoke with a start. He looked around in the dark, his right eye completely useless. His left eye, however, saw an explosion of greens and yellows surrounding him in their small room. Alex sucked in his breath in momentary fright, unsure if they were under attack by a spell. It took him a few moments to realize that there was a form seated on the floor next to him and that the mana was no moving, rather just radiating from the small form. After Alex moved and jerked his body up, the beautiful green mana surrounding the figure and his bed shattered and retracted, and he saw the figure flinch through his mana sight. ¡°Sam? Is that you?¡± Alex used his left eye to analyze the figure and saw that it was Sam. He saw the vague outline of the mana leaking from the boy''s body, so it was a surprise to see the boy huff as if annoyed and then extend a tendril of mana to talk. Reaching out with his own thread of mana, Alex connected to the mental communication, projecting caution and curiosity. Sam, what are you doing? What time is it? Sam sent back feelings of annoyance and frustration. ¡°Helping you recover.¡± Completely caught off guard by Sam¡¯s somewhat forward and confident response, Alex didn¡¯t even think to stop the boy as he reached forward and flicked Alex on the forehead. Half asleep and stunned, Alex sat there for several long moments before he began to laugh. Guess you¡¯re feeling a bit more confident around me, huh? Sam sent back feelings of satisfaction and a happiness before nodding. His next question came through with a hint of tiredness and frustration. ¡°Sleep some more.¡± Alright, I¡¯ll go back to bed. Just tell me what you¡¯re doing first? Rather than send feelings or words, Sam shared another part of his Status Window that he hadn¡¯t shown Alex before.
{Nature¡¯s Refuge} - When at peace, the Awakened manifests an ethereal domain of nature around themselves. The Refuge will increase the Vitality and natural regeneration of those within its embrace.
Wow, that¡¯s actually really awesome for your other ability, Sam. Is that why you¡¯ve been practicing meditation so much while I¡¯m training? Alex saw Sam¡¯s head nod through the mana outline. It made sense to Alex, and he thought it was a smart choice to work on reaching a ¡°peaceful¡± state. He couldn¡¯t help but think that Sam might have a hard time finding peace in most moments, though, after his rough experience here in the Rift, he seemed to be skittish with most things. Sam let some guilt leak through, clearly noticing where Alex¡¯s thoughts were going. Alex sent back the feeling of comfort and ruffled the teenager¡¯s hair. It¡¯s alright, buddy. We¡¯ll get through this. Alex could tell through their connection that Sam wanted to share something more, so he waited and didn¡¯t push the boy. Sam sent through the feelings of trust, while showing Alex his full Status Window. ¡°Can you look?¡± Part of Alex wanted to reprimand the teenager again, telling him he shouldn¡¯t share such things. Instead, he took a deep breath and could feel the unwavering trust Sam put into him and he decided not to say anything. Fine, but this is the only way to make it fair. Make sure to keep this a secret, alright? Alex pulled up his own Status Window and willed for it to be visible to the naked eye. He saw Sam stiffen, and then a feeling of awe came through the link as he looked at Alex¡¯s window. A feeling of pride and satisfaction coursed through Alex, and he smiled. He looked through Sam¡¯s abilities and his class, noting the great synergy that Sam had. He was impressed with the choices that the boy had made, especially in the desperate situation he¡¯d been placed in. Alex sent through his own feelings of impressed admiration when he saw that Sam had is own world-first title for being the first human from their world to enter an Epic Rank Rift. Sam closed up a bit at the mention of his entrance into the Rift, but at some gentle encouragement, he sent back an embarrassed smile and shrug. After a bit more back and forth and getting a better understanding of Sam¡¯s abilities, Alex started to understand how Sam had progressed while in the Rift. He¡¯d gotten his Trait in a mad dash and accidental kill against a monster in the Rift. While he was injured he¡¯d managed to gain a healing skill from his knowledge of herbs and an instinctual understanding of mana sensitivity. When he combined those two things, he was able to get a [Healing Touch], all within a few days of being in the Rift. When he¡¯d healed himself and begun to make his way back to the Rift exit, a patrol from Tianluo had scooped him up. After being unable to confirm where he¡¯d come from, and unsure of if he was from the other sect, the kept him as a prisoner for a time before deciding to use his healing technique to their advantage. Aside from the terrible sequence of events for Sam, Alex had been interested to learn that as a healer and non-combat class, Sam gained experience by healing people. With the merchant continually making Sam heal, day in and day out, over his time in the Rift, Sam quickly became high-leveled while remaining in relative safety. Because he was forced to heal warriors who were fighting against the Shadow Serpent Sect, he¡¯d had no shortage of people needing healing and had been able to earn another skill called [Cure], which helped him fight against poisons. Even though it was difficult to get the boy to speak, he was able to piece the story together bit by bit. It often came down to him asking questions in the dark and waiting for certain responses from the teen through their link. Soon, the conversation died down, and Alex got ready to fall back asleep. Do you want me to give you some of my mana? Sam sent back a smug feeling and turned his upper body some more. Through his mana vision, Alex could see a blue coil of mana wrapped around Alex¡¯s upper arm. He realized Val was taking a nap on his shoulder and infusing a slow trickle of mana into the boy. Alex felt tears begin to sting his eyes and felt an overwhelming amount of gratitude toward the pair. They¡¯d gone out of their way to help him recover even though he hadn¡¯t asked for anything. Fuck. You guys are gonna make me cry. ¡°Fuck?¡± Val lifted his head and entered the conversation. Alex and Sam both began to laugh, doing their best to stifle the noise and stay quiet in the late hour. A short time later, Alex was in a deep and restful sleep. 48. Crisis The next morning, Alex woke feeling more refreshed than he had since his first night in Tianluo. Despite his body¡¯s recovery, he woke to chaos in their bedroom. Hearing noises of distress, Alex pushed himself up quickly but felt his blankets wrap around his waist and legs. It took him a moment to orient himself and reaching for his jian, he noticed another mana signature in their room. He assessed and processed the situation quickly thanks to his high Willpower stat, noting that Sam was backed into the corner with his eyes wide while Val hovered in front of the teen with his many teeth bared at the stranger in the doorway. Wait, is he growling? When the hell did you learn to growl? ¡°Friend.¡± Val sent back, and Alex was surprised at the amount of confidence and protectiveness he felt come through the bond. He slid from the bed, sword drawn. As the figure spoke nervously, Alex let out an explosive breath as frustration filled him. ¡°Val, relax. It¡¯s just Xue.¡± Alex leaned his sword against the wall and sat down on the bed hard. His heart was pounding, and he ran his hand through his messy hair. ¡°The Sect Head has called an emergency meeting.¡± Xue repeated, a bit less nervous now that the sword was set down. ¡°Alright? Why does that matter for us? Isn¡¯t it sect business?¡± Alex asked, rubbing his eyes. ¡°He requested the two of you specifically. Please get dressed in your nicer robes and meet me out front when you¡¯re ready.¡± Alex groaned and gave a tired smile to Sam. The two of them got dressed and met Xue out front. Tianluo was busier than normal despite the darkness and chill of the morning. They were met by a contingent of sect warriors that Alex recognized as those who worked closely with Eura. Alex began to get a bit worried once he realized they were there as a personal escort to the two of them. A bit later, they entered a large room on the lower floor of the Grand Pagoda that Alex hadn¡¯t been in before. It was open, with many different seat cushions on ledges at varying elevations facing toward a central stage. Their small group entered through a side door and were seated near the stage with one guard sitting on either side of them. Once everyone was gathered, the meeting was shockingly brief. Eura addressed all of the Elder Brothers and Council members of the sect to let them know that two spies had been found. One was intercepted delivering a report of their plans of their assault to a Shadow Sect member. He ended the meeting abruptly after telling everyone to remain in their homes until the situation was under control, that everyone was being investigated regardless of their standing or background, and that these were direct orders from the Sect Head of the Celestial Lotus Sect. Throughout the terse speech, Eura blanketed the entire room in the suppressive feeling that Alex had felt in the training yard a few days before. Just glancing over his shoulder, Alex saw many faces filled with fear and even more filled with outrage. I wonder if that¡¯s at the thought of there being a spy among them or at the orders that they weren¡¯t allowed to leave. Alex and Sam were quickly escorted out of the same side entrance and back to their small house. The two were told to stay put and that they¡¯d have guards placed day and night for their protection. They both felt overwhelmed by the rapid order of events, but quickly, that turned to boredom. For the previous three weeks, Alex had been training nonstop. At any time he was either pushing his mind, body, or magical abilities past their previous limits. Now, in just a few hours, all of that had changed and he was placed under some sort of martial law, house arrest situation. Naturally, he decided to just continue with his personal training until he heard more from Eura. He tested various substances around the house for several hours to create solid mana threads. Eventually, he began to feel antsy, like he needed to move his body. Damn, is this what extroverts feel like? So productive. He set aside his personal study to talk to some of the guards that were watching the house. He asked if one of them would come into the yard and spar with him. At first, they were resistant. After some good-natured jibes, one of the guards relented. When sparring weapons were given to both of them, Alex realized he may have accidentally angered the sect warrior. Alex apologized and greeted the man formally and with deference. It seemed to take some of the anger out of his attitude, though he still took the spar seriously. They exchanged blows, and Alex tried his best not to use his superior stats to his advantage since the sect''s warriors were still under the restrictions of restraining Rakshasi. There was a valuable learning moment as Alex activated his [Feather Step] to move backward, and the guard had charged forward and struck Alex hard. While he was able to block the attack, his reduced weight from [Feather Step] meant that he went flying in the direction of his end-point anchor. He lost his balance and crashed into the wall of the house. Alex felt the wind escape his lungs as his back struck the wall hard, and something in his shoulder popped. Sam had already cast a healing spell on him before he had finished regaining his feet, it was his first time seeing that particular healing spell. After seeing Sam¡¯s status window the night before, he had asked the boy about his other healing spell.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. The one that he¡¯d already seen several times was the [Minor Heal], which could be used with physical contact. He¡¯d been interested in the other one, that he hadn¡¯t seen Sam cast before. It was the active skill that came with his class called [Rejuvenation]. The ability created a heal over time effect on the target. Through his Heavenly Eye, the sight was mesmerizing. At varying distances within a one-foot radius around his body, ethereal green and brown leaves floated down around his body. It was clearly the mana manifesting for the spell, but he¡¯d yet to see a skill with such a stunning effect. His attention was pulled back to the sparring partner, who bowed to him from across the yard. ¡°I apologize, Honored Guest; I know that hit was harder than it should have been, but I hoped to make a point.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Alex asked. He glanced at Sam and winked. ¡°Yes. While your movement technique is very quick, and you have worked its use into the Eight Petal Steps very well, there is a flaw in it. When you step off, your weight is greatly reduced; while this allows you to move quickly, it also leaves you vulnerable. If you block an attack in the air under its effect, you will absorb the momentum of the strike while losing control of your own bearings.¡± Alex nodded, ¡°It¡¯s a good point. Thank you for the lesson.¡± The guard bowed again, ¡°It is the kind of error that can take one¡¯s life in the heat of combat. I hope the demonstration wasn¡¯t too harsh.¡± Shrugging, Alex stepped out of the crushed flower bed near the house and back into the yard. He realized that he¡¯d had a Mana Stone tucked in his pocket to siphon from between his training sessions. It was now broken from the impact. He tisked before saying, ¡°No apology is necessary. Can we continue?¡± The desire to continue training was met with the guard¡¯s approval. They continued sparring, and while Alex didn¡¯t use rituals in the sparring match, he did his best to anticipate where he might use them and even went as far as to see if he could form them from his threads fast enough. The rest of that day and the following were filled with personal projects and sparring with the guards. Sam watched closely and was quick to heal Alex if it was needed, since the guards liked to punctuate their lessons with the sparring swords. Despite the monotony of the situation, he felt like he was polishing his sword skills by sparring against so many different skilled opponents. It wasn¡¯t until almost two full days after the declaration of spies being found, only seven days before the planned assault, that Eura appeared at their small house. A flustered Xue entered their house while Alex and Sam were eating breakfast to announce the sect head. Eura waved him away before walking to the table and requesting to join them somewhat informally. Even to Alex, Eura seemed stressed and tired. Man, what do you have to do to stress out such a powerful existence? I guess this world¡¯s Council is the equivalent of Earth¡¯s Karen? There was an awkward pause, with both Alex and Sam sitting quietly, waiting for Eura to explain what was on his mind. The odd tension was broken by Val, who flew into the room and circled over Eura¡¯s head before dive-bombing onto his bald head. There was a dull thunk as Val¡¯s little head clearly lost against the celestial¡¯s smooth dome. After the three of them finished laughing at the wobbling mana wyrm, who curled up in Alex¡¯s lap, Eura expressed his concern. It was clear after investigating that there were members of the Council who had reached out to the Shadow Serpent Sect to make a deal. While not all of the specifics had been discovered as of yet, the general idea was that if the Shadow Serpent Sect aided the Council in getting rid of, or recapturing, Eura, then the Council of the Celestial Lotus Sect would back off all attempts to contest the others for the prophecy. This led to the Council agreeing to allow spies and other implants into the Celestial Lotus Sect¡¯s forces so that they could counteract the plans at the end of the week. The Firstborn now knew specifics of where they were going, the objective of the assault, the idea of using Alex as bait, as well as when they would strike. Eura was of the mind to call off the entire assault. Alex was whole-heartedly against the idea. After all of the training he¡¯d done, the joint assault was the only way to get out of the Rift. He said as much to Eura, which seemed to cause some distress in Sam. Through several back-and-forths, Alex was finally able to convince Eura that they could still continue with the plan without too much of an increase in danger to the sect¡¯s warriors. The solution was to simply take care of any remaining spies and traitors before completing the plans of the operation. Then, whatever the plan was, move the timetable forward by several days. By doing it this way, they should catch the enemy off guard before they¡¯ve finalized preparations. Eura gave the idea some thought before agreeing to the plan. He seemed sad and like a very tired father returning from work. The reasoning became clear as he mentioned what would have to happen next. ¡°I¡¯ve tried to play by their games and give them grace. I did not want to use might to subdue those who would oppose me; rather, I wanted to win them over through reason and honor.¡± Eura rubbed his two celestial eyes with his thumb and index finger. ¡°You and I have spoken on more than one occasion on the use of might¡­ ¡°This is a time when I could choose to stick close to my ideals and let events play out without acting harshly. This would likely be at the cost of more lives and knowing that such evil would come out victorious. But¡­ I am not so righteous. ¡°Let me pose a question for you to think on. Is it more selfish of me to stay strong in my convictions, regardless of what happens to those around me? Or is it more selfish to take what I desire and say that it is for the good of my people?¡± Alex let the words hang in the air, unsure of what to say to console the older man. Over the last three weeks, Alex had truly begun to see Eura as a mentor. The celestial being sincerely cared for people and wanted his people to prosper; even more so, he was kind to Sam and provided them with many benefits that he didn¡¯t need to, simply because he thought it was the right thing to do. To his surprise, Alex found himself leaning toward the belief that while having the power to change something didn¡¯t necessarily mean that he should, nor did it necessarily give him the right to change something. It would certainly give him the ability to do so, and that was a scary thought. While he might trust his own judgment and ability to reason through problems, he knew that perspective could easily change what someone thought was right or wrong and he wasn¡¯t so sure he had the same faith in the rest of humanity on Earth to show restraint or wisdom. In the end, Alex encouraged Eura to do what the man thought was right. The ancient sect head had seen more human relations and dynamics of power than Alex had ever even dreamed of. Just a few weeks ago, Alex had issues standing up to his own family and coworkers, let alone leading an entire population of people. Eura nodded along somberly before excusing himself and thanking them both for their time. He told Alex to expect a summons in the next day or so and that they should plan to continue ahead with the assault even if plans change. When the man left, Alex let out a pent-up breath of tension. I can¡¯t imagine how hard that decision is for him to make as a leader. But it sounds like he knows what he needs to do and just the thought of dealing with the Council makes him sad and tired. While they weren¡¯t connected for mind-to-mind communication, Sam seemed to pick up on Alex¡¯s line of thought. The teen nodded his head and reached over to pet the snoozing Val. 49. Planning the Escape The following two days passed in a similar routine, with Sam and Alex continuing their training and personal projects. Sam began to get more comfortable about using his skills as he realized that people weren¡¯t going to try and kidnap him for his abilities. Alex was surprised to see his {Nature¡¯s Refuge} manifest during a sparring session. The guards had stopped to look, even Alex was impressed. When seeing it in the dark several nights before, Alex didn¡¯t realize that there was a visual component to the Trait that could be seen to the naked eye as well. In a ten-foot radius all around Sam, regardless of the surface that he was sitting on, grass began to sprout. Small flowers and cloves bloomed at random points in the grass patch. After maintaining it for several minutes, the grass was thick and lush, brimming with life that seemed abnormal even compared to the life-filled light side of the Rift. The onlookers could tell Sam was shy as a tint of red crept up his neck and onto his cheeks. The teen''s ears, which seemed to stick out from his head a bit more than normal, turned a shade of crimson as his peaceful concentration faltered, causing the skill to shatter. As he got up to leave, Alex smiled. The red tint stood out on the boy¡¯s lighter complexion and his sandy-colored hair. Just as Sam was about to open the sliding door, everyone in the courtyard froze, their attention caught by an overwhelming sense of dread that seemed to press down on them from all sides. A feeling of intense rage and anger crashed down onto them all. Alex had felt something similar when Eura stilled the crowd during his public spar, but the feelings were much darker than then. Alex peered over the small wall that surrounded his home, directing his gaze toward the top of the Grand Pagoda. His legs trembled at the feeling that threatened to suffocate him. What is this feeling? An explosion of darkness covered the entire Pagoda; no damage was caused to the building, but the entire area was surrounded in darkness, as well as a two-block radius around the central building. As he looked closer, Alex was shocked to note that the jagged outline of transparent black was in the rough shape of a lotus. After a few tense heartbeats, small flecks of bright gold began to burst into existence throughout the darkened space. Alex realized that it looked similar to the night sky, where bright stars of light shone at different distances. Everything in the world seemed to be holding its breath, waiting to see what was happening and what would happen next. A booming voice rolled through the stillness. "To those who sought power while I was absent, I am disappointed¡ªnot for the ambition you harbored, but for the path you chose. The Council, who was trusted with the lives of this sect in my absence, chose greed over duty and treachery over loyalty. You conspired with our enemies and jeopardized the lives of those you swore to protect." The sound of Eura''s voice could be heard in his very bones. Fuck. What kind of magic is this? How is he doing that? Alex watched as numerous specks of golden stars throughout the projected night sky began to elongate, his eyes widening with a mix of awe and fear at the sight. The stars stretched and transformed, their points extending until they resembled swords of golden light suspended in the darkness. "I have tried patience, reason, and forgiveness, yet you met my offered hand with a dagger. The people of this city deserve to know that your actions are a stain upon our legacy, but it is a stain that will soon be washed clean.¡± As if to punctuate the statement, the bottom points of the celestial swords grew longer and slowly changed their direction as if pointing at specific targets. The celestial swords rose in the air before dropping like comets toward the earth. Alex could only see part of the Grand Pagoda''s roof, but the light seemed to phase directly through the building''s walls instead of causing the expected destruction. He could hear screams of panic, but there were no dramatic explosions or crashing destruction. After the chaos subsided, everything fell quiet. The celestial lotus remained around the Pagoda for several more minutes before it, and the suppressive presence seemed to retreat. "Fuuuuck," Alex said, letting the word out in a single, long breath. He turned to look for Sam. The teenager stood in the open doorway with his eyes and mouth opened wide. He turned and quickly retreated inside, looking like he might be sick. The guards seemed serious, and Alex decided to call an end to their training session. He followed Sam inside. Alex sat with Sam for some time, allowing the blonde boy to calm down. At first, he''d been shaking in fright, his hands trembling uncontrollably. Part of Alex wondered if it was more than Sam simply being scared, but it was because they had finally seen exactly how strong Eura was. They''d spent countless hours with the man, and he was so informal at times that it was easy to forget just how powerful he was.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Is this what Mark and Sarah are going to think of me when we return home? It felt a bit silly to compare himself in any way to Eura. The display of might they had just seen would be etched into Alex''s mind until he died. As an onlooker, it was both beautiful and terrifying at the same time. Despite that, he knew, in a way, when he and Sam returned to Earth, they would be far stronger than those around them. Alex knew that Eura had struggled with the decision to step in and use force, but he agreed with the sect head''s choice. What is the point of power if you can''t fix the wrongness and evil that surrounds you? Sam reached out a tendril of connection to Alex. Once they had, he spoke without prompting. "I want to go home." The words surprised Alex, as Sam didn¡¯t speak often, especially not unprompted. In the last three weeks, Alex could count on both hands the number of times he''d used his words to communicate, rather than nodding or shaking his head. Normally, Sam preferred to show emotions or flashes of memories through the bond, punctuated by his own physical gestures. Alex nodded and felt a pang of sadness for the boy. I know you do. Sam... Alex hesitated, unsure of the impact the question might have on the boy and if it was something he even needed to know. In the end, his curiosity to understand the boy and his situation better won out. Sam, how long have you been here? Do you know? The boy shook his head, causing the short blond hair to move back and forth. "Two years? I stopped counting." Sam sent along feelings of helplessness and exhaustion. Fuck. Alex couldn''t believe he''d been stuck in the Rift for so long. Even with the time dilation, he must have been one of the first people to enter a Rift. The thought reminded Alex of the world-first title Sam had. He should have realized then that Sam had been trapped for a long time. He reached out a hand and rested it on Sam''s shoulder. Alex was happy that the boy didn''t flinch, but he felt his heart being pulled in so many directions. Anger at the sect leaders who let this happen to a boy, sorrow for Sam''s pain, concern for Sam¡¯s parents, and several others that he couldn''t quite pin down. The two sat together, with Val joining in the conversation shortly after. The little companion must have sensed Sam''s sadness because he went over and began to comfort the boy with head bumps and cuddling in his lap. Sam smiled tiredly and began to pet the fin along Valtherion''s spine. With just five days left until the originally planned assault, Alex knew Eura would need to call for a meeting soon. They would need to make rapid plans to attack the Firstborn.
The very first thing the following morning, Sam and Alex were both summoned to Eura''s office. They were accompanied by an armed escort once again, though the entire city of Tianluo seemed subdued and lifeless. A grim curiosity filled Alex as he wondered how Eura''s massive spell worked. Does it only kill presented targets? How did it not affect the buildings but was clearly able to deal damage as an attack? When they arrived at Eura''s office, there was already a small group gathered around a large table. Eura took charge of the entire strategy meeting and outlined his plan. Just as they had discussed, Eura moved the timetable forward by two days so that they could catch the Shadow Serpent Sect members by surprise. He said that because of their original plans being leaked, a small encampment had popped up between Tianluo and the location of the Rift exit. Eura explained to the team that they could not see the Rift exit, though those with Qi sensing skills may notice something strange about the area. Regardless, the group''s main objective would be to deal a fatal blow to the Firstborn. Eura explained that there would be two teams. The first team would act as bait, with Alex at their head. Five people would be selected, including some of the guards who had already spent time with Alex, and they would act as if they planned to assault the encampment. After an intentionally failed attack, the group would retreat to the West near the ravine that split the two sides of the Rift. Ahead of time, the second team would get into position. They would use climbing gear to move along the inner edge of the ravine and lie in wait. As the Shadow Serpent Sect followed the bait group, they would be ambushed by the second group in waiting. Eura stressed the importance of the bait group and how they would need to "sell" that they were retreating in a panic. Alex looked at the map as Eura explained the plan. Tianluo was in the South East corner, with the Rift exit''s location being roughly at the top center of the map. The encampment was on the light side of the Rift, protecting the exit from the South East side, which was the most likely direction of approach. As Eura moved the markers to represent the teams, he saw his own team represented as a red chip, move North West toward the Rift exit. As they hit the hastily built structure, they would retreat South and further West, bringing them closer to the ravine. The plan made sense in Alex''s mind, though the thought of being with only four others against a force estimated to be around thirty was nerve-wracking. Worse yet, they would be retreating. Alex''s way of thinking had changed after the previous three weeks of training, and he knew that this wouldn''t be a simple foot race. Both sides would be using Qi techniques to enhance movements and attacks. It''s time to put my life on the line again. He glanced at Sam. But it needs to be done. We need to make it home. Alex was surprised that when the planning session is wrapping up, Eura stresses the fact that Alex is being placed in charge of the first team. The sect head made sure to receive verbal confirmation from each of the four other members that they were willing to take orders from an outsider. At that moment, Alex was glad that he''d spent the time sparring with and getting to know the men over the last five days of his lockdown. They were soon returned to their house, and Alex felt too nervous to go to sleep. Instead, he stayed up and continued to work through the concept of giving his Mana Threads substance. When he sat at the table, he saw the broken Mana Stone from the previous day. On a whim, he moved a mana thread through it and was shocked at how easily the thread formed in the physical plane. The mana seemed to leap at the chance to anchor itself to the Mana Stone dust. Of course!! I''ve been trying sand, dust, water, sugar, all of these things that are normally in the physical world. A Mana Stone should have been my first thought! Sam, followed by Valtherion, came into the room when Alex began banging the pommel of a dagger onto the stone to break it up further. The young man watched Alex curiously for a moment before shrugging and coming to sit with him. "Mana?" No! This is mine, Val! Alex groaned and decided he would sacrifice one stone for the sake of his experiments. He reached into his pouch and removed one of the last dozen D Rank Mana Stones that he had, and tossed it across the room. It rolled awkwardly across the floor, but Val flew after it like a happy dog chasing a ball. 50. The Eve of Battle Alex could feel the tension building in the spot between his shoulder blades. With the timetable for the assault being moved up, the evening before the attack had arrived almost suddenly. While Alex was ready to go home and he¡¯d gained confidence in his fighting abilities, he suddenly felt a lack of confidence. He remembered the powerful presence of the Firstborn and wondered what level the giant serpent was. Even with his progress, he felt unprepared to take on such a fight. Fuck, I feel like it was just yesterday. I was sitting at my desk doodling in a notepad with Henderson grouching at me. He smirked, wondering what his old self would say if he saw the current version of Alex. He¡¯d think I was badass, no doubt. Alex reached up and touched the slightly puckered and firm skin of his scar. He¡¯d kept his Heavenly Eye uncovered for the last several weeks of training. With the thought of being home so close, with seeing his friends and being back in the normal world, he wondered how his shocking change in appearance might ostracize him. He didn¡¯t enjoy the idea of needing to cover up his scar and eye, just to fit in with others, but felt it might be necessary for a time. Not from my friends, they deserve to know the truth and everything about me¡­ and everything I¡¯ve done. It was strange how his thoughts were pulled back to his fights and flight from the dark side of the Rift. The people he¡¯d killed and his justification for killing because his life was on the line. He couldn¡¯t really use that excuse now, however. His jaw clenched and he felt the knot of guilt form in his stomach as he thought back to the merchant who¡¯d kept Sam as a slave. When he¡¯d struck the man, he hadn¡¯t planned to kill him, but did that make him any less of a murder? The feeling of guilt intensified as he thought to the brief moment of satisfaction he¡¯d actually felt when Eura told him that the scummy merchant had died. It was one thing to cross a line when it was needed or when he was forced to do so, but that hadn¡¯t been the case in the market square. He let out a breath and closed his eyes. Alex wanted to be hard on himself and he wanted to explore all of the feelings involved in the dreadful thought that he was a murderer. Part of him wanted to wallow in that feeling and have someone else tell him that he was a horrible person. Another part of him wanted to justify and explain, and to have someone tell him that he was in the right and the man deserved it. Grunting, he used his ever increasing control over his emotions to squash the thoughts and push them deep. Now isn¡¯t the time for this. None of it will matter if we don¡¯t make it out of the Rift. Master Shen and Master Li stood in formal dress opposite Alex, on either side of the desk, as they waited in Eura¡¯s office space for the sect head to join them. Alex could feel where Valtherion was through their bond and knew that he and Sam were seated a short distance behind him in the garden. Eura joined them shortly and stood behind his desk. ¡°This was supposed to be a bit more of an event, but with how things have changed, it¡¯s been pushed aside. I apologize for that. The plan had been to have a final assessment so that you could clearly see your growth. With the attack being in a few hours and the ambush team already making their way through the crevasse, I wanted to make sure that your teachers had a chance to see you off and present any last words of wisdom.¡± Eura raised his hands to both sides, giving Master Li a chance to speak first. The Martial Master bowed and then reached into his robes. He held both hands out, each containing a small roll of cloth. ¡°This is a small token and not worth the time and effort you put into improving yourself, but I hope that you will accept.¡± Alex accepted the cloth as Master Li continued to talk. ¡°As a teacher who has spent many years cultivating the sect¡¯s talent, I am pleased with your progress. My only regret is that you are an outsider and will not be staying with the Celestial Lotus Sect. You would serve us well.¡± Master Li Wei¡¯s smile was brief but genuine as he took a small step back. He gestured to the two rolls in Alex¡¯s hands, so he looked down at the sturdy canvas-like fabric. ¡°These are the hand wraps that all core disciples of the sect use when engaged in missions. They wrap around the knuckles and down past the wrists on each arm. They will help strengthen your fists and the cloth is treated in a way that strengthens the flow of Qi.¡± Master Shen Rong stepped forward with a wrapped bundle in his hands. As was his personality, the man said little. Oh¡ª fuck yes. This is awesome. The Sword Master gingerly unwrapped the oiled cloth that contained a sheathed jian. The short, straight sword sang as he removed it smoothly from the black leather. The sheath and strap were both black leather with a golden clasp. The hilt of the sword was golden, and the leather of the grip was dyed black to match the casing. Tied to the pommel were two foot-long white and gold ribbons. He wiped the blade once for the show before sliding it easily back into its sheath and passing it to Alex. ¡°May this blade serve you well, Honored Guest. It has been a pleasure to guide such a dedicated student on their path.¡± After Alex thanked each of them, they nodded to Eura and quietly left the office space. When it was just the two of them facing each other, across the desk, Eura gave a bright smile.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Alex paused before smiling back, noting that Eura¡¯s smile looked more tired than normal. His thoughts were pulled back to the somber talk they¡¯d had just before the planning meeting. Before, Eura had used the area-wide skill to kill the traitors of the sect. Part of Alex was surprised to see him smiling like this, as it had clearly been a hard decision for the celestial man. ¡°There¡¯s no need to look at me like that,¡± Eura said. ¡°I didn¡¯t like what needed to be done, but I¡¯ve done much worse in my path to power. I¡¯ve waded through more blood than most ever will, and at times for much less reason than the traitors gave me.¡± Alex gulped, and nodded, thinking back to his own thoughts before the sect head had arrived. ¡°Enough of that, for now. Dwelling on the guilt doesn¡¯t do anything, for anyone. These are for you.¡± Eura presented Alex with a new set of sect robes. Though they still had the markings of an outsider, they were clearly made from a high-quality and sturdy material. Upon closer inspection, Alex realized that all three of his gifts had the subtle markings of enchantment. Eura, seeing where his attention was drawn to the robes, nodded and spoke up. ¡°They are all enchanted. You should use your Celestial Eye to inspect them.¡± Alex did so.
D Rank Item - Celestial Jian
Rarity: Common Type: One-Handed Straight Sword
Enchantment - Sharpness II
D Rank Item - Wrist Wraps of the Celestial Lotus
Rarity: Common Type: Glove
Enchantment: Strength I, Mana Flow I
D Rank Item - Celestial Lotus Sect Robes - Custom
Rarity: Uncommon Type: Outfit Set
Enchantment: Auto-repair, Toughness I
Alex was stunned to look at the items. He thanked Eura with as much heart-felt gratitude as he could, bowing deeply to the older man. Eura cut off any further attempts at thanks, instead opting to give Alex some final words of wisdom before the small group needed to prepare for the assault. "Alex, before you go, heed this. You have grown strong, but the true test lies in how you wield that strength. You¡¯ll soon be the mightiest in your world, and with that comes a choice¡ªwill you be a tyrant, or will you be a protector? Unchecked power is a dangerous thing. It can consume even the best intentions. Remember that might does not always make right, but sometimes, it is the only language the world understands. Be the one who speaks that language only when necessary, and when you do, temper it with wisdom and a righteous purpose.¡± He looked into Alex¡¯s eyes. There was silence for a time as the weight of Eura¡¯s words sunk in. To Alex, it felt like this was the end of their ongoing discussion of power. They had started it weeks ago in that very spot, and it was now brought to an end with a much better understanding. ¡°Thank you, Eura. For everything you did for me and Sam. I don¡¯t think I have all the answers of power yet, and I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll make mistakes, but I feel better having learned at least the starting point from someone like you.¡± Alex bowed again, feeling a bit awkward at such a formal speech and response. Eura clapped his hands and said that they should move on to more gifts. He called out to Sam, who entered and walked over to join them. Eura apologized once again for the mistreatment that Sam suffered and said that he still felt that the sect owed the boy for a debt. Eura told him that he¡¯d grown in the last three weeks, and he hoped that Sam would learn to grow stronger from the struggles rather than be broken by them. The gift he presented Sam was a staff of cherry wood and he told him that it was one of the most rare enchantments that they could create.
D Rank Item - Cherry Lotus Healing Staff
Rarity: Uncommon Type: Staff
Enchantment: Healing I, Mana Efficient I
The trio chatted for several minutes, standing around the desk and discussing the items. Alex could see Eura¡¯s smile and had an idea of what he was waiting for. Over the short talk after Sam¡¯s staff was presented, Valtherion had become increasingly agitated, swishing his tail from Sam¡¯s shoulder. Alex started laughing as he reached for the mana wyrm, who unfurled himself and tried to fly over and headbutt Eura. The celestial laughed as well and addressed the little glutton. ¡°How could I forget about you, little Valtherion?¡± He reached into his robe and removed a D Rank Mana Stone. Val¡¯s tail began swishing back and forth in excitement. ¡°Mana!¡± Dude, you look like a dog. How can you even swish your tail without moving your body in the air? Eura tossed the stone across the open office space, and the bond darted after it, repeating his favorite word over and over. As they were getting ready to leave, to spend their last few hours in quiet, Eura stopped Alex once more. He told them that he wanted to release them from the initial part of their deal. While Eura wanted the safety of his people to come first, he knew that Alex and Sam both deserved to return home after everything that they¡¯d been through. He apologized for the mess that the Council dragged them into, and he made sure that he was clear in his new expectations. ¡°While I think that my people would greatly benefit from both of your aid, the reports are clear. With the ambush in place, they should secure the battle. To make up for their levels, I have also decided to release Rakshasi when the ambush begins. This will release the level restriction on my men, allowing them to fight on even footing with the enemies, even if outnumbered. This means your role of getting to the ambush site is the most fragile part of the plan.¡± Alex nodded at the adjustment as it made sense. The original plan had been to fight the Firstborn with a team of under-leveled sect members and to use surprise and numbers to win the fight. With their plans leaked and the Firstborn anticipating an attack, it would be harder to successfully execute the plan without releasing the restrictions. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you mention that in the planning? I think it would have hyped up your men a bit more. Some of them think that this is a suicide mission for the greater good. Knowing your men, I¡¯m sure they¡¯d be happy to fight to the death for the sect¡­ but I¡¯m pretty sure they¡¯d be happier to know that they will get out of this alive.¡± Eura gave him a smile. ¡°Ohh-,¡± Alex said. ¡°You wanted to make sure that it didn¡¯t leak, just in case?¡± The celestial man nodded. ¡°The group should be able to pull off the assault without your aid. I want you to make sure that you and Samuel make it out of the Rift. You have more lives yet to live, and this isn¡¯t even your world or your fight.¡± Alex could tell that this was his last goodbye. He gave the sect head one final bow, surprised to receive one in kind. Hours later, dressed and carrying their new gear, Alex and Sam met up with the four others in their team. It was a short walk to the edge of Tianluo and the small staging area that they would wait in. The plan was to begin moving toward the encampment to the North just before the first light. With the early attack combined with the time of day, they would hopefully catch the disorganized defenders off guard and begin the plan. 51. The Great Escape The small group of six crept through the tall grass, and Alex could see his breath as the sun began to rise. The encampment was less than 100 meters away, and he could feel his heart beginning to quicken once again. It had been odd for him, to notice that his body would begin to ramp itself up at different stages of their preparation. His heart rate had increased at several points where his mind and the anticipation of battle seemed to rule his body, more than him being worked up from any actual strenuous exercise. From this distance, Alex could see that the Shadow Serpent Sect had taken the time to create small wooden walls in a line that blocked most of their line of sight to either side for twenty meters. In the middle was a small opening meant to act as a funnel. Their plan was to attack at that point to draw out the enemies into their retreat. Several of the men on the team gripped their weapons and looked toward Alex. As their small team leader, it was his decision when to attack. Kind of funny because there¡¯s nothing that will actually decide when we should attack. The generalized time to start the attack was ¡°first light.¡± But the sun was already coming over the top of the trees on the light side of the Rift. He watched the small, makeshift battlements in hopes of spotting some sort of movement. There was none. With no reason to delay any longer, Alex signaled with his hand, and the men began to advance. Sam stayed several meters behind the group, doing his best not to attract any attention. As they came within 15 meters, all five of them began to jog in a low crouch and picked up speed as they stood and began to run. Their increasing momentum carried them toward the walls. As they had planned, none of them used any Qi techniques or skills to avoid alerting any sentries. They closed on the wall within a few seconds and began their assault. Within several feet of the wall, they were met with cries of alarm, and the clang of metal could be heard as the first blades crossed. Alex traded several blows with a man at the choke point, doing his best to see beyond the small walls. He was startled to see that the camp was much larger than they expected it to be. Enough tents had been erected for at least 40 people. Shit, was the scouting report wrong? Why are there so many of them here? One of the celestial sect guards took a cut to his thigh and another to his bicep. Through his mana vision, Alex could see Sam¡¯s healing effect begin to work on them. Okay, now they¡¯ve made us bleed. It¡¯s time to sell the feint and then retreat. ¡°Come on, men! Each of you is worth at least five Shadow Sect scum!¡± Alex called, doing his best to sound like a pompous Elder Brother but knew that he didn¡¯t have the same tone or the words to achieve the effect fully. There was no response to his rallying cry as the fighting continued. He could only hear the grunting of the men and the ringing of steel which was contrasted by the occasional shout and flash of a Qi technique. Twice Alex was fooled by the use of an illusion and quick strike combo, causing him to bleed before his wound was healed. Several other guards took deep cuts, and Sam¡¯s healing was beginning to lag behind the myriad of wounds they were receiving. We need to begin the fallback now, but it can¡¯t seem coordinated. ¡°Don¡¯t give up! We will fight to the final breath if needed!¡± Alex yelled the last sentence, making sure to loudly call the key phrase they had set ahead of time. Two of his team fell back, one even tripping as he did so and called out in panic. This left the best three fighters remaining and doing their best to move from the choke point. Alex could hear a few men from behind the wall cheering and laughing as they saw the attack group begin to break. Now that they believed the retreat was real, he needed to get out as well. Not needing to fake the tension and stress all that much, Alex called out to his men over the fighting, ¡°There are too many of them! Retreat! Retreat!¡± He made sure to project his voice enough that it would carry to those around them. Yep, the voice crack was totally for the acting. The group began their retreat, and Alex could see small wounds and scratches closing on his team as they moved away from the wooden palisade. He made sure to call out several more times and allowed his natural mana to leak from his skin. Blue motes of light streamed toward Alex, and he instantly dismissed the two kill notifications that popped up in his vision. We¡¯ve got to get them to follow us, especially the Firstborn. Alex heard shouting behind him as they ran along the hill, heading west toward the ravine. He risked a glance over his shoulder and his eyes widened at the sheer number of people pouring from behind the miniature wooden walls. All of them were fully dressed and armed. Just as he was about to turn back to running, he saw a large black form move out from behind the wall. As if pulled from his recent nightmares, he saw the tall, green grass begin to sway and part as the serpent rapidly approached the retreating group. Fuck. Why is she so fast? ¡°Fuck!¡± Valtherion yelled, sending feelings of excitement. Alex just groaned and turned back to focus on his footing. As they got closer to the deep split in the world, the ground became more uneven and filled with rocks while the tall stalks of grass began to thin. When they were within twenty meters of the ambush point, Alex could see the space clearly. He cursed to himself as he noticed that the area was slightly different than the map showed. Worse yet, with how many people were chasing them, if they set up the ambush on that small ledge, there would be no place for the ambushers to ascend the cliff and strike out.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡°Follow me!¡± Alex yelled. He pumped his legs faster and glanced back, both to check on the pursuers and to see Sam trailing behind. The teen was panting, and Alex could tell his endurance was flagging. ¡°Shit. Sam, watch out!¡± In what felt like slow motion, Alex watched the grass part just behind Sam and a large, red-eyed serpent rose up behind him. Sam looked up to Alex, hearing him call out, but he didn¡¯t register the words fast enough. Alex set his destination point and used [Feather Step] while pushing off with all of the power his stats could provide him. He blurred backward past the other sect members who¡¯d been following close behind him. Alex flew through the air, light as a feather, but he knew that he wouldn¡¯t make it in time. The snake struck faster than Alex¡¯s enhanced mind speed could keep up with. One moment, it was pulling back slowly; the next, Sam was screaming in agony, and the Firstborn sunk its fangs deep into Sam¡¯s back. As he landed next to Sam, Alex could see the black serpent begin to raise its tail for a strike as if to finish Sam off. Alex fully released his [Feather Step] before bracing his feet and drawing his jian again to block the tail strike. From the corner of his eye, Alex could see the two fangs pull down Sam¡¯s back, turning the two puncture wounds into long, rending tears of flesh. Before his mind could pick up on any more of the horrific details, the large tail connected and sent Alex tumbling. He heard feet pounding past him and the roar of the Celestial Sect warriors as they engaged the Firstborn. Alex pushed himself up and scrambled over to Sam, a few meters away. Sheathing his sword, Alex slid next to Sam and was relieved to see the teen had already cast [Rejuvenation] on himself, though he still writhed in pain and grunted through tensed muscles. While the wounds were sealing themselves as Alex watched, his back was already covered in blood, and his robes were torn in the back. ¡°Sam, you¡¯re alright. I¡¯m here, come on. We¡¯re almost there.¡± He slid his arm under Sam¡¯s and pulled the teen to his feet. Alex forced himself to focus as he used [Mana Thread] to set up a ritual circle a few feet away opting for the one that he knew didn¡¯t require any materials to use. Once the weaker version of a binding ritual was set, he called out to the sect guards who were holding back the Firstborn. As one, they turned and used movement abilities to create space. The massive snake used its own skill, which seemed to make it have zero resistance as it slid across the ground at an unnatural speed, Alex activated the ritual circle. Trusting in his own work to let the ritual slow the monster¡¯s speed, Alex turned his back to the snake and began to lead the way for his team to a position along the ravine just north of their original ambush point. The new position was on a small lip, raised above the medium-sized platform about twenty meters north of the original location. They had gone far enough west, just to reach the crevasse, that they were off to the side of the original wooden palisade. It broke Alex¡¯s heart to be able to see the Rift exit again, yet to have the last 100 meters feel so far away. Alex had thought that making it to the ambush point would be the hardest part of the mission. From here, they should be able to stall for a few minutes until the ambush party came out of their hiding place within the ravine to attack their flank. Now, with how outnumbered they are, the fight would be anything but simple. He held out hope for the superior training and coordination that the Celestial Lotus Sect warriors had. Once the ambush party attacked, they would release a flare to signal Eura that he could release the bindings. Alex hoped that with their returned strength, they would rally and be able to withstand the difference in numbers. The following battle was tough and filled with tension and wounds. The five sect warriors, including Alex, fought against the eight-to-one odds. There were only two reasons that they could last as long as they did. The most obvious was that the terrain forced the attackers to stagger their approach. The other key factor was that Sam continued to throw heals on each of the party members as they got hit and to Alex¡¯s Heavenly Eye, it looked like leaves were falling around them all like rain in a storm. At one point in the fight, Sam bent over and threw up. It took Alex a moment to figure out why, but he realized that he must be extremely low on mana. From personal experience, Alex knew that if he kept spending his natural mana reserves, he would get too low and pass out. Val, go help Sam! Give him your mana. ¡°Friend can have mana.¡± The feeling of determination and seriousness coming from the small mana wyrm made Alex smile for a brief moment. In the next moment, he was back to his desperate defense alongside the sect warriors. In his vision, he¡¯d occasionally catch motes of blue collide with his chest signifying that he¡¯d aided in the kill notification that followed. He even saw the golden lights that signified a level up and needed to ensure that the notifications didn¡¯t distract him. While fighting, he set up a ritual under the fighters'' central body. He pushed forward a few steps and tossed the metal ball along the ground. Shit, how do I make the feather move over there. ¡°Hua, can you keep them busy for a second?¡± The man to his right, a senior sect member, nodded with grim determination. He had blood covering his brow from a now-healed cut. Alex took a single step back and knelt on the ground. He reached into the spatial pouch at his belt and removed a Mana Stone. He set it on the ground and drew the dagger from the sheath in his boot. He used the pommel to smash the Mana Stone. Using [Mana Thread] he ran the line through the Mana Stone dust and watched it manifest as he fed it even more mana than normal. Holding out his hand, Alex focused on his mana control as the mana thread snaked up from the pile of dust on the ground and wrapped several times around the base of the feather. Within moments, it was traveling among the grass and under the attacker¡¯s feet. When it was in position, he activated the ritual through the thread and watched as nearly twenty enemy warriors were temporarily forced to their knees under the increased gravity. Several dead Shadow Sect members littered the ground in front of his four companions who faced south, stalling for the eventual ambush. Sam lay on the ground, still wincing in pain, with Valtherion wrapped around his shoulder and upper arm. Alex looked at Sam. Where the hell are they? He scanned the back lines of the fighters and could see the Firstborn raise its head, tongue flicking. Alex¡¯s mind went back to his flight through the dark side of the Rift and how the shadow serpents seemed to be able to sense his leaking mana. Fearing that could happen again, he quickly restricted his leaking mana, hoping to throw off the Firstborn¡¯s ability to sense where he was within the melee. Alex knew he was probably clear where he was, since there was only a small group of defenders, but any confusion he could cause for the giant serpent, the better. For the first time, Alex activated his Heavenly Eye and analyzed the Firstborn.
Naraka - Level 58 Primary Stat: Agility
Fuck me. I need to figure out how to get Sam and me out of here. This isn¡¯t our fight and as soon as the ambushers get here, we need to make a break for it. He looked at the open cross of land between their position and the Rift exit. While it was a relatively straight shot to the exit, it was a long distance to run while supporting the now exhausted and injured Sam. She¡¯ll definitely see us breaking away from the group. I¡¯m sure she¡¯d catch us before we get there. Through his left eye, Alex saw a bright ball of golden yellow mana fly into the air. As his eyes traced it through the morning light, he realized what it was. A heartbeat later, he heard a war cry as several warriors in white and yellow robes attacked the enemy¡¯s flank. Only a few moments passed before a huge pulse and surge of mana exploded out from the direction of Tianluo. Eura has released Rakshasi. We need to get out of here. Now. 52. Home Stretch Alex¡¯s mind raced, and a plan began to form. He stepped away from the sect warriors, knowing that they would be able to hold for the moment with their increasing power, and the immediate attention turned to the ambushers. He jogged the short distance to kneel next to Sam. Sprawled out on the ground and with his upper robes torn, there was blood around him from the gashes in his back. With a quick look, Alex turned the teenager on his side and moved the flaps of his top aside to see that the wounds on his back were already closed. Sam was crying, and his hands were shaking. Alex couldn¡¯t tell if he was shaking from mana exhaustion or fear and pain. But as he approached, through his heavenly eye, Alex could see him activate the [Rejuvenation] skill on himself, even though there were already leaves falling around him. Shit, did he already use the mana Val gave him, too? He¡¯s over healing himself because he¡¯s scared. ¡°Sam, how much mana do you have left?¡± The young blonde flinched and looked up at Alex with watery eyes. Alex reached out with a thread of mana to speak into his mind. As soon as the connection was made, he tried to send Sam feelings of calming comfort and confidence. It didn¡¯t work. Alex was surprised, as he¡¯d always been able to send feelings over to the teenager. As Sam connected back to Alex though, he realized what the issue was. As soon as the two-way connection was made, Alex almost threw up. The feelings of self-disgust, panic, and helplessness that came through the communication in a tidal wave. Sam, listen, buddy. We¡¯re going to get out of here, okay? The exit is right there, and we are going to make it. Alex looked away from Sam and Val to survey his surroundings. His plan continued to form, his mind worked at its maximum speed to connect the dots of his available tools. Alright, look at me, Sam. How much mana do you have? Alex reached up to his chest and undid the clasp of his new jian¡¯s shoulder sheath. He set the sword itself on the ground to free up his hands. When it was off, he reached into his pouch and removed one of his last five D Rank Mana Stones. He crushed it on the ground and began to weave mana threads in a tight wrap around either end of the empty sheath. ¡°I want to go home. Please. I don¡¯t want to die.¡± Alex froze as he heard the words spoken aloud, and his head rose to look at Sam. Sam looked at him with wide eyes and tears streaming down his dirty cheeks. The teenager looked so young at that moment as his lower lip wobbled. Even though Sam had spent two years in the Rift, bringing his general mental age and time lived to 18 years, his body was still that of a 16-year-old. And in that moment, he looked at Alex like he could solve all the world¡¯s problems. ¡°I¡¯m going to get you home, Sam. You understand? We are getting out of here.¡± He emphasized each word in the last sentence, holding eye contact with the boy. Water stung his own eyes as he heard the chaos around them and knew that they still had an enormous hurdle to overcome. Alex desperately hoped that he looked confident to the boy and that his plan would work. He returned to wrapping physical mana threads around each end of the sheath. He glanced over his shoulder to see the fight. The Firstborn was surveying everything from the back lines, occasionally striking out at one of the ambushers who fought their way too close. The attacking pattern was ruthless and similar to how it had attacked Sam. The Firstborn would bite down on the attacker¡¯s body with its large fangs to hold it in place just long enough for its tail to come crashing down for a finishing blow. Okay, Sam. Can you cast rejuvenation on us both? Sam shook his head, and a notification appeared in Alex¡¯s vision, but he quickly dismissed it. ¡°Just one.¡± Fuck. Okay, do you trust me, Sam? There was no pause as he nodded his head, complete confidence in Alex. Good. Stay right here and conserve your mana. Don¡¯t cast anything else for right now. Your back is completely healed, even if it still hurts some, okay? Sam nodded again and leaned against the rock beside him, clearly avoiding pressure on his freshly healed back. Alex took a few steps away and told one of the sect warriors that he needed the shield from his spatial pouch. It¡¯s a bit small. But I guess so is he. Shields were not widely used in Tianluo, but all guards kept several sets of different weapons or tools in their pouches. I should really start doing the same. If it weren¡¯t for that, I wouldn''t even be able to attempt this insane plan. Alex carried the shield back to Sam and knelt on the ground. Thanking Eura for the endless mana-shaping exercises, he was able to lay down a Weight-Reducing ritual on the inside of the shield in record time. Then, he put a feather and some ash into the nodes that required them and inserted one of his D Rank Mana Stones into the peak of the ritual.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Sam, lay on this. Sam moved over and looked at it awkwardly. He laid down, and the shield was enough to support from his shoulders to his rear end, but his legs and head hung off the sides. It¡¯ll have to do. As soon as Sam was settled, Alex crushed up another Mana Stone and began to use as many threads as he could produce to wrap the boy¡¯s chest to the shield in a tight cocoon. He saw some confusion and fear in the boy¡¯s eyes, but Alex just told him to trust him again and that getting Sam out was his highest priority. Val! Come here. Alright, buddy. This is it, you¡¯ve got the most important job. You¡¯re going to get us home. ¡°Home?¡± Yep. I need you to do this. Alex sent feelings of hunger and need, which Valtherion seemed to naturally understand. ¡°Mana?¡± Val sent back feelings of confusion. Alex finished connecting all the mana threads and attempted to push Sam side to side. He was satisfied that the threads would hold in their strengthened physical state. He connected the threads to the scabbard and held it up to Val. Bite onto this and pull Sam to the exit. If you do, I¡¯ll give you all the mana you want when we get out of here. Alex pointed to the Rift, and he felt a sense of understanding come through their bond. Valtherion looked at Sam before looking back at Alex. There was a brief pause before the wyrm was biting down on the dark leather sheath to be used as a bit, similar to how horses used. ¡°Friend, home.¡± Sam, now¡¯s the time for that [Rejuvenation]. Can you cast it on me? You¡¯re going to take some bumps and bruises, but it won¡¯t be anything too serious. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Sam said aloud, panic taking over his normally quiet demeanor. Trust me, Sam. I¡¯ll be right behind you. We¡¯ve got to do this now, though. Sam looked at Alex for a moment, face serious, but his eyes were dry. He nodded and cast the healing over time spell on Alex. Alex activated the Weight-Reducing Ritual. Val flew off at speed, barely hindered by the weight of the teenager. Blue light streamed into him, and Alex had a hard time distinguishing the blue motes in his right eye from a potential magical attack that his left eye might see. Shit, I wonder if there¡¯s a System way to turn that off. Turning, Alex saw that the Firstborn had already noticed the pair moving toward the exit. It ducked its head and began to weave its way after them. Alex let his mana begin to leak and did his best to push additional mana outward. While it was hard to do, he focused on the feeling he¡¯d had when Eura blanketed the area of Tianluo. There was a small wall of resistance, but out of necessity, Alex pushed through it and felt his mana explode out of his body. It wasn¡¯t a feeling he¡¯d ever experienced before, but it worked. The Firstborn stopped in its path after Sam and turned directly to Alex. Yeah, bring it on, you giant ugly noodle. You¡¯ve tried a few times already. As the snake drew closer, Alex bent to scoop up his jian and used the last of the Mana Stone dust on the ground to wrap threads around his hand and the sword. He looked behind him to make sure that Sam was directly behind him, and the Firstborn was in a straight line on the opposite side of him. With a final breath, he took up the position for Lotus Roots and tried to still his thrumming heart. Stay patient. This is gonna hurt like hell. As the serpent drew closer, Alex assumed an offensive stance. He felt a sense of Deja Vu as the black-scaled snake pulled back and struck at blinding speed. Alex struck forward at the same time and felt the giant fangs slide into his body. One entered his shoulder and pierced out of the back of his arm, while the other pierced high on the right side of his chest. He held in a scream. The attempted slash at the snake was a feint to ensure his sword arm wasn¡¯t caught in the monster¡¯s mouth. In his peripheral vision, he saw the snake¡¯s tail begin to raise up high, which is what he¡¯d been counting on. When the snake tensed its jaws, it turned Alex¡¯s body, and he saw Sam and Val vanish through the portal some distance away. Alex set his destination point as he felt hot venom flow through his veins. He hadn¡¯t anticipated any amount of venom. Idiot, it¡¯s a goddamned snake from another world that even the people curse as a sort of hellscape. Of course, it¡¯s going to have venom. The fangs pulled out of his body with a sickening sound, and he knew that the time had come. It was his only chance at escape, and despite the pain, Alex found the strength to raise his sword arm and step off the ground. He activated [Feather Step] just as he brought the sword up and braced it against the shoulder where he anticipated impact. A fraction of a second later, an impossibly strong blow struck him. In his relatively weightless state, Alex assumed the same speed as the blow he absorbed and was sent flying through the air. There was an odd moment of peaceful clarity as he soared through the air. He realized that his plan had worked, and the insanity of it all made him want to break out into maniacal laughter. If it had just been a few weeks ago, he would have thought that only in a movie or anime could someone be literally knocked through the air close to the length of a football field. He slammed into the ground and rolled more than once. When he saw how close he was to the Rift, he chuckled and coughed up blood. His wounds from the fangs were already closing thanks to Sam¡¯s [Rejuvenation], but the venom was fighting against the friendly mana in his body. Struggling to his feet, Alex looked down the hill at the two worlds that lay before him. Off to the right, and on the other side of the ravine, was the dark side of the Rift, where he¡¯d spent nearly a month running for his life and way out of his depth. To his left was the light side of the Rift, where he¡¯d learned a lot and made some true allies. From this distance, he couldn¡¯t see Tianluo, as it was nestled in the forest of cherry trees, but his breath caught in his throat as he watched two figures rise up over the crest of the horizon, larger than life. A six-armed, golden humanoid roared into the sky as all six arms were brought down onto a form that grew more slowly. Rakshasi. The Night¡¯s serpent grew larger than Eura¡¯s form and began to wrap its tail around the golden man. Several stars of golden light formed in the air around the two, several times larger than the ones he¡¯d seen in Tianluo. Eura fought against the Godzilla-sized snake, doing his best to fight with his multiple limbs and magic. Several notifications had appeared in Alex''s vision during the fight, but he¡¯d dismissed them without giving them attention. As the most recent one appeared, he took a moment to look at the updated Rift Quest. He shuddered and limped through the Rift exit. Nope. Just¡ª hell, no.
Adjusting Rift Quest¡­ Old Rift Quest: Security The Rift¡¯s balance of power grows uneven. Choose a side and help to establish security and safety for the surviving inhabitants.
New Rift Quest: The Clash of Titans The strength of each Sect will continue to grow as the Prophecy that has been laid dormant where worlds collide has come to pass in a way that no one expected. Both of the Rift¡¯s Titans have been released from their prison. Choose a side and help to establish security and safety for the surviving inhabitants.
53. Reunion Alex stumbled out of the Rift and into the small opening in the woods. There was snow on the ground, and even though the Rift had been chilly, it wasn¡¯t nearly close to freezing. Sam sat a few steps away. Blood from his clothes had smeared onto the undisturbed snowfall. Despite the horrific scene, he sat halfway up. His waist was still strapped down to the shield while he wrestled off the weakened threads around his upper body. The two of them made eye contact and there was a tense moment as they both tried to come to grips with the fact that they were finally out of the Rift. The tension was broken by an exuberant call from Val. ¡°Mana!¡± The little wyrm yelled happily. Alex looked to Sam¡¯s side to note that the two had a tendril of mana connecting them for communication, but at the same time, Val glowed. Through Alex¡¯s mana sight, he could see the funneling mana from his threads to his companion, a telltale sign that he was using [Mana Siphon] to eat the threads. Both humans burst into laughter. All the tension from the last month that had built up to their assault on the Firstborn spilled out of them. In a rare moment of joy, Sam called out with a victory yell. ¡°Woo!¡± He called into the forest. Alex paused, unused to seeing the quiet boy make any noises. He laughed harder and then yelled his own excitement. He stumbled toward the teenager and ruffled his hair. Wow, that snow looks comfy. Sam nodded into Alex¡¯s hand with a smile. Alex tried to get his rapid breathing under control. He¡¯d gone from combat to laughter in the span of a few seconds, and he needed to catch his breath. He put a steadying hand on Sam and then let himself fall down to the snow. He winced as the poison pulsed through his body. Once again, the healing spell seemed to do its best to combat it. Sam, can you use [Cure] on me? The boy shook his head. Alex groaned and pulled one of his last two Mana Stones from his spatial pouch and tossed it to Val. Eat this. You deserve it, buddy. Can you give Sam any more of your mana? After Sam got more of Val¡¯s mana and used his [Cure] skill on Alex, he fell back into the snow and let the cold environment cool him down. Several minutes passed as the two laughed and felt victorious, especially as Alex had a blue box appear telling him that he¡¯d completed his Hidden Personal Quest. He didn¡¯t accept the reward immediately, instead dismissing the window and deciding to look at it once he got to his apartment. Alex knew they needed to keep moving. He felt exhaustion creeping in, and his muscles could begin to lock up if he didn¡¯t keep moving. The two got up after Val finished eating away at the threads and consuming the Mana Stone. Val rode on Alex¡¯s shoulder, and the two limped through the forest in their torn robes. Alex returned his jian to the sheath and put the bite-marked leather strap back over his shoulders. He used Sam¡¯s staff as a walking stick and supported them both as they made their way through the forest. When they arrived at his car, it took a moment for Alex to even think about pulling out the key from his spatial pocket. It was a manual key, so he knew it wouldn¡¯t be damaged from the Rift, but the car just seemed so odd and out of place. There was still stuff in his front seat from when he¡¯d gone to the store last and when he¡¯d packed up his camping bag at the Voss Estate. Sam looked like he was about to fall asleep while walking, so Alex ushered him into the back seat. When he got into the front seat himself, he turned on the car and turned up the heat. Turning to Sam, who was already sprawled across the back seat, Alex addressed the teenager. Sam, where is your home? Do you want me to drop you off at your house? Sam¡¯s eyes opened wide, and he shook his head. ¡°No. I don¡¯t want to go back. Can- can I just stay with you?¡± Are you scared? I¡¯m sure your parents want to know where you are. ¡°No. Stay with you.¡± Sam sent along feelings of determination and a feeling of safety. Alex sighed, but they were both too tired to argue about it. Alright, you can come back to my place, but we¡¯ll have to talk about this, eventually. Sam didn¡¯t say anything. Instead, he closed his eyes. Alex let go of the mental connection to let Sam sleep and keep his thoughts private. I guess it doesn¡¯t really matter. We¡¯ve been living together for the last month and spending every waking moment together. I¡¯ll figure out who his parents are later. The car hadn¡¯t even fully heated up before Sam was asleep. Alex smiled and began the drive back to his apartment in Hoboken. It was an hour and a half drive from where they were near the base of the mountain, and Alex found himself getting antsy. He hadn¡¯t sat still that long with his thoughts since before he entered the Rift. There was always a next step and something else to run from or train toward. Suddenly, forced to keep his body still and think about the experience, he felt relieved and exhausted. The radio was a blessing, and he loved flipping through the channels to listen to different music. He almost always had something playing around his apartment or in his headphones on the subway, so no electronics for two months felt odd. There was some initial frustration as he struggled to find a station that wasn¡¯t talking about Rifts and how some famous streamer or celebrity was going to be going into a Rift on their livestream next week. Guess a lot did change in the week I was gone. They¡¯re not trying to hide this stuff anymore, but who would have thought someone like this influencer would be trying to go into a Rift to prove it¡¯s real? Do they not realize electronics won¡¯t work in there? It was interesting to him that talk shows and radio stations were talking about what a social media influencer was doing and how they thought things would play out, rather than actually talking about the Rifts or Awakened.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Haven¡¯t seen something this hyped since an influencer challenged a famous boxer. Wonder if this¡¯ll be a flop too. Valtherion cooed sleepily in his mind. Knowing that it wasn¡¯t something he could focus on, he dodged the political stations and found a station that was playing music and enjoyed the melody as he drove toward the city. When he got closer to his apartment and entered the city, Alex found himself laughing again, more than once. The first time was at a car that honked its horn, which caused Alex to jump. The second time was as he was merging off of the interstate and a car cut him off and tapped their brakes. He just couldn¡¯t stop laughing at the absurdity of it all. Such a thing would have made him mad at one point just weeks ago, and there was a satisfying moment where he imagined the sheer power difference between himself and the person who was likely driving that pickup truck. At one point during his laughing fit, Sam woke up, but after feeling his emotions, the teen fell back to sleep with a weak smile of his own. The busier parts of the city seemed oddly deserted to Alex, and he saw several areas where there were military personnel stationed as if a parade or public event was taking place. He couldn¡¯t tell what was happening or if they were a part of the Hunters Association. Too much felt like it was changing, and he began to feel overwhelmed. He¡¯d wanted to return to the comfort of his everyday life, but it felt like there was a tension hanging over the city. When they got to the apartment, Alex felt that his reality was slowly coming back. The neighborhood was familiar, and he couldn¡¯t wait to get inside and take a hot shower. Alex also desperately wanted some shitty modern food. He¡¯d been eating lean protein and rice for weeks. Alex let Sam sleep for a few more minutes in the back of the car as he gathered his thoughts and prepared for the next step. He knew what came next and knew that it wouldn¡¯t be easy. Turning on his phone, he put it in his lap and leaned his forehead against the cold glass of the window as he waited. At first, the phone vibrated once. Then it began to vibrate continuously for the next minute or so. When it stopped, he picked up the phone and flipped through the notifications. He closed all the pointless ones, like emails and work notices. He had five missed texts from Mark and 15 missed texts from Sarah. There were a few missed texts from Olivia as well. As he kept scrolling passed the text section, he got to the phone calls and found more missed calls from Mark and Sarah. Mark had left a series of voicemails that popped up as he was reading through some of the texts. Looking at the date and time on his phone, he noted that it was Sunday, November 15th, in the late afternoon. I guess that makes sense. I spent almost two months inside of the Rift, and Epic Rarity Rifts have an eight-times time dilation effect. So it¡¯s only been seven days. He let out a sigh and realized that his friends thought he¡¯d been ignoring them, then ran away, and then the last few texts were a lot more subdued. They read as if they were sending a text and didn¡¯t expect a response. Sarah must have shared his Awakened status with Mark, which led them to believe he died in an accident. They thought he died. Reading the text translation of a few of the voicemails, he saw somewhere Mark was cursing at him, then one where he was reminiscing about college. It hurt his heart to see how keeping the secret from his best friend had hurt him. He felt shitty and knew that he¡¯d been a lousy friend. Alex sent them both a text, telling them he was alive and at his apartment. He apologized and told them to both come over and that he would explain everything. He read through Olivia¡¯s texts and saw that she¡¯d sent him a few texts, but without a response, she sent one or two that made it seem like she thought he was ignoring her. There wasn¡¯t any drama or vindictiveness in her texts, but she seemed put off that he would ghost her. The text he sent her was similar to the one he¡¯d sent to Mark and Sarah. Alex figured that if there would be time to explain it all, he might as well do it all at once and let the two sets of friends meet each other. A more selfish part of him didn¡¯t want to wait to see her. Next, he woke Sam, and the two walked up to his apartment. There was an odd moment as his neighbor, Ashley, saw the two of them coming up to the entrance. She was staring with her mouth partially opened and in the shape of an ¡°o.¡± It wasn¡¯t until Alex was up the stairs and unlocking his door that he realized his face was uncovered, so his eye and the scar on his face stood out as extremely abnormal. And that¡¯s assuming she wasn¡¯t completely put off by the fact that the front of his robes was cut and torn from Naraka¡¯s Fangs, and he and Sam both had a fair amount of dried blood on them. Oh, don¡¯t forget the weapons. Those aren¡¯t normal here, either. He chuckled and couldn¡¯t bring himself to care. As soon as they were inside, Sam looked around. When he spotted the couch, he walked over and flopped onto it, ready to sleep some more. Alex stopped just inside the door and leaned against the door frame. He took a full minute to just breathe in the familiar scents and feel the climate control temperature. Home at last. ¡°Home.¡± Val echoed. The mana wyrm uncoiled itself from Alex¡¯s shoulder and flew over to coil up on Sam¡¯s chest and take a nap as well. While Alex knew he needed to rest, there was something calling his name even louder than his couch or bed. The shower. A hot shower sounds so amazing. He looked at the clock over his stove, out of habit. The electric lights seemed a bit out of place to him now. Doing some quick mental math, he guessed that he had at least fifteen or twenty minutes before Mark or Sarah arrived. He wasn¡¯t sure when Olivia might get there. Setting his phone on the countertop, he stumbled over to his bathroom and got in the shower. He took a moment to admire his changed physique in the mirror while the water warmed up. Without a mask on his face, he looked like a completely different person. His body had been changed drastically by his increased stats. All the muscles in his upper body were well-defined and larger than he¡¯d ever seen them. He now had a scar running down his chest, two differently shaped scars on both of his shoulders, and a horizontal scar across the bridge of his nose. Alex leaned closer to the mirror, his nose almost touching the glass. Since his time in Tianluo, he hadn¡¯t taken much time to really inspect the way it looked. With the only mirror at his disposal being polished metal, the reflection was quite hazy. The white part was normal, but the colored part was outlined in bright gold, while the center was black with small spots of gold scattered throughout. At the center, instead of a normal black dot, a starburst of yellow and orange spread out, reminding Alex of the celestial swords he¡¯d seen Eura create in the sky. He blinked, watching the eye move in sync with his natural one. It looked so alien to him. Yet as he pulled back and took in his reflection as a whole, the eye wasn¡¯t what caught his attention the most. The scars that lined his body, his unkempt facial hair which he normally didn¡¯t let grow past stubble, and the overgrown hair stood out most. There¡¯s almost no way for me to look normal and fit in now. At least I can use the Mana Spinner silk to make a mask in public or when talking to Mark and Sarah. Just for the start though, so that they don¡¯t lose their minds seeing the changes. He was adamant with himself that he¡¯d show them everything, all of the changes, all the scars and tell them everything he¡¯d done in the Rift. Alex took a deep breath and stepped into the hot shower. The pressurized water felt heavenly, and he leaned his head forward to let the water run down his face and shoulder blades. He got to enjoy the feeling of the shower for a few minutes before the relaxing moment was shattered. He heard Mark, and instantly, he knew things were about to get out of hand. ¡°DUDE!¡± The door burst open and from the other room, Alex could hear it slam back into the wall as it flew open. ¡°Where the actual fuck have you bee- Wait, who are you?¡± Alex could hear his friend talking and began to panic, as he knew Sam wouldn¡¯t react well to Mark¡¯s volume. He got out of the shower as quickly as he could, almost slipping on the tiled bathroom floor. Before he could wrap a towel around his waist, Sam yelled in fright. ¡°Ahh!¡± Mark yelled back, ¡°Wait, what is that? Hey, no, no, no. What the fu-¡± Alex turned the corner of his bedroom door and saw Val glowing at the edge of the couch, facing Mark and growling. Sam sat up, and his hair was sticking up at an odd angle as he pushed himself against the far edge of the couch, trying to figure out who the large stranger was. ¡°Mark?¡± Alex paused in the doorway. His own appearance wasn¡¯t the only one to change since he¡¯d been gone. His large friend looked to have put on at least ten to twenty pounds of muscle on his tall frame. ¡°Alex?¡± Mark asked. He kept his hands held up defensively toward Val, but stopped as his eyes took in his best friend. 54. Small Comforts ¡°Alex?¡± Val, everything is fine. Don¡¯t attack him. ¡°Yes. Look, Mark¡­ I¡¯m sorry, I know-¡± Before he could even finish his sentence, the big man crossed the room in a few strides and absorbed his half-dressed friend in a bear hug. ¡°You¡¯re alive, you crazy bastard!¡± He shook Alex back and forth a few times before setting him back down. Alex coughed as the hug was released, and he was barely able to hold on to his towel. He gave his friend a smile and glanced over at Sam and Val. The two were still tense and watching the exchange. ¡°Mark, can you talk a bit quieter? This is Sam, and he doesn¡¯t love loud noises.¡± Mark winced as he saw the clearly scared teenager and realized that he must seem like a crazy person after that entrance. He scratched the back of his head before talking in a much more quiet and gentle voice, ¡°Sorry, man. I¡¯m Mark and Alex is my best friend. Until a few minutes ago, I thought he was dead.¡± Mark casually punched at Alex¡¯s shoulder, only for the playful strike to be batted aside on reflex. Oops. ¡°Mark, I¡¯m really glad you¡¯re here. I promise I¡¯m alright. Can we wait until Sarah is here before I start explaining things?¡± Mark nodded, but he took several long moments to look over Alex. With only a towel covering him and a mask still not in place, Mark was able to see all the changes out in the open. ¡°Yea¡­ explanations¡­¡± He let his words trail off as he kept looking at Alex. ¡°Hey dude, my eyes are up here.¡± Alex quipped, feeling their natural banter return easily. Mark smiled in response. ¡°Look, do you mind hanging out here for a minute so I can get dressed and find some clothes for Sam? If Sarah gets here, just keep her here and tell her I¡¯ll be out in a second.¡± Mark nodded again before moving over to sit on one of the stools on the countertop. Sam¡¯s eyes followed him the whole way. Alex saw Sam and Val communicate, and the mana wyrm returned to the boy''s shoulder and used his illusion skill to hide his appearance. Mark raised his eyebrows as he witnessed the magic, but didn¡¯t press the skittish pair. Seeing that Val wasn¡¯t going to use a mana burst to explode his living room, Alex walked back into his closet to grab a fresh set of clothes and find a second pair that might fit Sam¡¯s thinner frame. He sent a [Mana Thread] across his floor and into the living room, knowing that Mark couldn¡¯t see it, to tell Sam to come to the closet as well. Alex handed the teenager a black t-shirt, some jeans that would definitely be too baggy, and a green sweatshirt. ¡°Here, take a quick shower and put these on. We¡¯ll get you some fresh clothes later tonight or tomorrow.¡± Sam nodded and walked into the bathroom. Alex heard Sarah arrive and his two friends talking in hushed tones from the other room. Bracing himself, Alex reached into his spatial bag, which was resting on his dresser, and pulled out some of the Mana Silk. He took the boot knife from the bag as well and cut a piece that would fit well for a mask. After the mask and a piece of the dead wood were in place, Alex used [Mirage] to create an illusion and walked into the living room. It¡¯s not perfect, but it¡¯ll help me get through the first part of this conversation before they see all the changes. When Alex entered, they stopped talking, and both looked over to him. ¡°Alex!¡± Sarah called and rushed over to him. ¡°Alex?¡± Mark asked, confused at his change of appearance. Now, with clothes on and a mask to mimic his old appearance, he likely looked the same other than having lost some weight. ¡°Hey, Sarah. Look, I¡¯m really sorry, I owe you guys-¡± ¡°Alex!¡± Sarah cried. She gripped him in a hug, and he could feel her shoulders start to shake. Just as Mark had done, Sarah interrupted his apology by throwing her smaller body into his. She crashed into him and buried her head in his chest while letting out some pent-up tears. Alex¡¯s hand hovered awkwardly for a moment before hugging her back and putting a hand on her back for comfort. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m back.¡± He murmured, though the words felt lame as he said them. He glanced over her and at Mark, who was watching the scene unfold from the bar stool across the room. He had a slightly confused look on his face, but he smiled and nodded. Just as Alex was about to continue, the sound of the front door creaking open wider could be heard. He turned and saw Olivia standing in the doorway with her arms crossed and eyebrows raised. ¡°Alex?¡± Olivia asked. Shit. He could hear the tension in her voice. Sarah immediately tensed in his arms and pulled back just enough to glance over her own shoulder at the door. Mark stood from his seat. ¡°Who are you?¡± Olivia narrowed her eyes a bit before responding, ¡°I could ask the same. I don¡¯t know either of you.¡± She jerked her chin toward Sarah as well. ¡°Guys, please. Hold on a second,¡± Alex tried, but his voice was lost in the rising volume. Sarah loosened her grip to face Olivia. ¡°Wait, what? What¡¯s going on?¡± Before Alex could answer, Sarah turned her attention back to him. Her eyes focused on his face, and her eyebrows drew together slightly. ¡°Are you mad? Your face¡­ you look-¡± ¡°Sarah, I¡¯m not mad. I-¡± ¡°Then why do you look so serious? You¡¯ve had the same deadpan expression.¡± She interrupted him, and her fingers trembled on his arm. Damn, she picked that up way too quickly. I wasn¡¯t thinking about how much of my facial expressions are limited with the mask. He opened his mouth to respond, but Olivia¡¯s voice cut through the room. ¡°Because that¡¯s not Alex.¡± She said. Her voice was calm and serious, very unlike the teasing, flirtatious behavior he¡¯d heard from her just before leaving Elana¡¯s estate. The room seemed to freeze. Sarah¡¯s hand dropped from Alex¡¯s arm, and her gaze snapped back to his face, eyes wide. Mark instinctively stepped forward, ready to shield her from the ¡°imposter.¡± ¡°Wait, what?¡± Sarah said again. Her voice quivered. Mark¡¯s jaw clenched as he moved to stand between Alex and Sarah, his posture protective. ¡°You better start explaining yourself,¡± he warned, his eyes flicking from Olivia to Alex. Mark seemed more confused than on edge, while Olivia seemed ready to fight if anyone made sudden movements. Olivia¡¯s expression remained unchanged, unimpressed by the looming tension. She took a step into the room, her hand resting on the hilt of a dagger at her waist. ¡°There¡¯s an illusion on his face,¡± she said calmly, and Alex¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I can see the mana. So, who the hell are you?¡± Alex groaned internally. This is not how this was supposed to go. I need to rein everyone in. He raised a hand in an attempt to ease the situation. ¡°Olivia, wait¡ª¡± ¡°Illusion? Are you a shapeshifter or something?¡± Mark asked, squaring his shoulders as if ready to pounce. Sarah¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°I don¡¯t understand¡ªwhat¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°You know I¡¯m a Peacekeeper with the Guild, right?¡± Olivia said. Her eyes didn¡¯t leave Alex¡¯s as he said, ¡°And if this is some sort of trap, you¡¯re going to regret pulling me into it.¡± ¡°Wait, you¡¯re with the Guild?!¡± Sarah¡¯s voice shot up in confusion. ¡°Stop!¡± Alex finally yelled, his voice booming over the chaotic voices. ¡°Just... stop.¡± Silence. Everyone froze, their eyes locked on him. Alex took a deep breath and pulled the makeshift mask off his face. The Mana Spinner¡¯s silk tried to cling to his face as he pulled at it from the edge. The illusion shimmered, then dissolved, as it broke. Removing the mask revealed the scar that ran across the bridge of his nose and the glowing, golden left eye that only Mark had seen.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. The room held its breath. Sarah gasped audibly, her hand flying to her mouth. Mark¡¯s eyes widened in realization. Olivia raised an eyebrow, but her expression stayed neutral. ¡°Alex?¡± Sarah whispered, her voice soft, like she was afraid to hear the answer. ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± Alex said. ¡°I know I look different. A lot¡¯s happened since we last saw each other. Just let me explain to you guys what¡¯s going on.¡± They all stood in stunned silence for a beat, staring at his changed appearance. Finally, Sarah stepped closer, tentatively raising a hand to his face as if she needed to touch him to believe it was really him. ¡°Your eye¡­¡± she murmured, her fingers grazing his cheek. Alex glanced at Olivia out of the corner of his eye. He caught her watching the interaction with a closed-off expression. She didn''t say anything, but there was a flicker of something on her face. Annoyance? Shit, she¡¯s folding her arms again. ¡°Sarah, it¡¯s really me,¡± Alex repeated gently, stepping back from her touch. He felt the need to create some space, not just for Sarah¡¯s sake, but because Olivia was watching, and he could already feel the tension rising. Sarah blinked and looked down. Her cheeks reddening slightly. ¡°I¡ªI¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s just... I thought you were dead, and now you¡¯re here, and¡­¡± she trailed off. Olivia cleared her throat. ¡°So, can someone explain what¡¯s going on and who she is?¡± she asked while pointedly avoiding looking at Sarah. Sarah blinked at the tone in Olivia''s voice. ¡°What do you mean ¡®who I am¡¯? I¡¯m one of his best friends. We¡¯ve known each other for years! Who are you?¡± she asked, her tone defensive. ¡°And so what if you work for the Guild? I work for the Hunter¡¯s Association.¡± Olivia¡¯s lips twisted into a wry smile, one that didn¡¯t quite reach her eyes. ¡°Of course you do,¡± she said under her breath. ¡°That explains a lot.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Sarah shot back, her brows furrowing. Olivia rolled her eyes. ¡°Is that where you¡¯ve been for the last week, Alex? Double dipping? It seems like they like to keep their hands in everything.¡± Good lord, why is she being so hostile? I could understand if she thought I was still an imposter, but I took the mask off. Jealousy? This is not at all how I wanted this to go. ¡°Fuck, I¡¯m tired.¡± he accidentally said out loud. Sarah opened her mouth to reply, but Alex quickly stepped between them. ¡°Enough,¡± he said firmly. Mark and Sarah looked at him with surprise, as the friend they knew almost never took charge of a situation. He turned to Olivia. ¡°Olivia, I¡¯ll explain everything later. This... this is a lot for them to take in. I should have handled this differently. I¡¯m sorry. No I¡¯m not working for the government; I was stuck in a Rift. Can we talk later?¡± Olivia¡¯s eyes lingered on him for a moment before she sighed, her annoyance barely concealed. ¡°Fine. Text me when you¡¯re ready. I¡¯ll decide if I¡¯m free,¡± she said coolly before turning on her heel and heading for the door. Alex covered his face with his hands as she left and closed the door behind her. ¡°Well, that could have gone better,¡± He said into his hands. ¡°Wait, who are you?¡± Sarah said. Alex lifted his head to see Sam emerge from his bedroom in clothes that were definitely too big for him. ¡°This is Sam,¡± Alex said, gesturing to the teenager. ¡°He¡¯s been through a lot with me in the Rift, and even more before I found him. Sam, these are my best friends, Mark and Sarah.¡± Sam waved without making eye contact before sitting down on the floor across from them, only a few feet from Alex. Now that it was just Mark and Sarah, Alex felt the tension in the room ease. He took a deep breath and steeled himself for the conversation. ¡°I guess I should start from the beginning,¡± Alex said. ¡°It started almost a month ago when I found a Rift near the office¡­ it was that day you were out of town, Mark.¡± As Alex began recounting his experience, he watched his friends¡¯ expressions shift from disbelief to concern to awe. He described the initial terror and flight from the sect within the Rift, the strange beauty and quests on the other side, and all the challenges he¡¯d faced. ¡°¡­ and that¡¯s when I met Sam,¡± Alex continued while nodding to the quiet teen. ¡°He was trapped there even longer than I was. I¡¯m glad I was able to help him, and Eura could help us both.¡± Mark leaned forward, his eyes wide. ¡°Man, that¡¯s insane¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, it sounds crazy, doesn¡¯t it? But it¡¯s all true. The Mana Spinners, the sects, all of it.¡± Sarah¡¯s brows came together as she listened, her mind clearly analyzing his behavior more after the story. ¡°Alex, the things you must have experienced¡­ are you- are you okay? This kind of stuff can be a lot to cope with.¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡­ managing. It¡¯s a lot to process, but I think being home will help a lot.¡± She gave him a slightly skeptical look, but let the matter drop with a nod. Alex delved deeper into his story and described the betrayal that the sect had faced and the last rush to escape the Rift. Both Mark and Sarah had questions and wanted more details at certain points of the story. Once he finished, Alex leaned back and felt drained. ¡°So, that¡¯s what happened to me. What happened to you guys while I was gone?¡± Mark and Sarah exchanged a glance, and Alex raised an eyebrow. ¡°What? Don¡¯t tell me you two eloped or something.¡± Mark let out a nervous laugh. ¡°Not quite, man. But, uh¡­ we kind of awakened too.¡± Alex blinked, surprised. ¡°What, what? Both of you? I was only gone for like a week?¡± Sarah nodded and her expression was a mix of excitement and guilt. ¡°After you disappeared, we were worried sick. I told Mark about you awakening, and well¡­¡± Mark jumped in, and Alex could hear the emotion in his voice. ¡°I couldn¡¯t just sit around doing nothing, you know? I thought if I had powers too, maybe I could help find you or¡­ I don¡¯t know, do something.¡± ¡°And you, Sarah?¡± Her cheeks flushed slightly. ¡°Well, I didn''t just rush in like this lug. I did it through an affiliation program at my work. The Hunter¡¯s Association offered me a job because of my work experience. One of the conditions was being Awakened or being willing to awaken. After what happened with you, and then Mark¡­ it felt like the right thing to do.¡± ¡°We weren¡¯t opposed to the idea from the start, man. If you had just let us in on what was going on, we could have helped with all of this.¡± Alex winced and knew his friend was right. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know what to say. I¡¯m so, so sorry I didn¡¯t talk to you guys. Looking back, there was no reason for me to keep it from you other than I was a bit embarrassed by my trait, and I didn¡¯t think you guys would support the idea. I know you want to support me, but you''re both also great at talking sense into me.¡± He let out a sigh and rubbed his forehead. ¡°I think part of me was worried you¡¯d try to talk me out of all of this because it was dangerous.¡± Mark and Sarah looked at each other, but stayed quiet. ¡°There¡¯s really no excuse. I know you both better than that, and after the fact, I can tell how stupid I¡¯ve been. So impulsive and barely thinking through what I¡¯m doing. I was telling myself that I was being brave by throwing myself into these things, but¡­ it was just stupid.¡± ¡°Hey,¡± Mark interrupted, reaching out to grip Alex¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t go down that road, man. What¡¯s done is done and we all make our choices. And honestly? We probably would have tried to talk you out of it, despite me thinking it was cool as hell from the start- I don¡¯t think I would have done it without this circumstance. As scary as it is, I¡¯m glad we did it in the end. I feel like we can help people now, you know?¡± Sam watched on, clearly drawn by the conversation. Sarah nodded in agreement. ¡°It¡¯s true. It¡¯s scary and honestly still doesn¡¯t feel real, but it feels good to be part of something that can make a difference. "You guys are amazing, you know that? I can''t believe you did all this in just a week." Mark grinned. "Well, some of us handle grief by taking action. Plus, someone had to step up and be the hero while you were gone." They all laughed, the tension in the room finally breaking. As they continued to talk, the conversation drifted to the world and what had been rapidly changing. The Hunters Association had been trying to recruit people to the cause, and that Rift breaks were being reported more widely, though many people didn¡¯t seem to believe what was happening despite the reports. In the last week, the Hunters Association had started to set up refuge posts and response teams in cities in case a Rift might spawn. With Sarah having a direct connection with the government, Alex felt the pressing need to tell them both a bit about the information Eura had given to Alex. He explained that it was possible to fail this ¡°System Integration¡± and that if they did, the world would be turned into a broken world or Rift to be used in some other planets integration. Both of them had been stunned and Alex answered what few questions he could, but his information was limited. He told her that his hope was to have the information passed along anonymously to the government, then they could do whatever they needed with the information. He¡¯d also share the information with the Adventurers Guild and hopefully the more people working toward a common goal of not failing the integration, the better. Alex wanted to continue talking, but he saw Sam¡¯s head bobbing up and down from sleep exhaustion. He explained to the two what his plan was for Sam and how hectic their last week had been inside the Rift with the betrayal and assault. Promising more explanations later, he attempted to usher his friends out of the apartment. ¡°Oh hell, no!¡± Mark said. ¡°You¡¯re not getting rid of us. We can crash in the living room. You go get some rest and move Sam to your bed, also. It sounds like he¡¯s had even more of a rough time than you.¡± Alex smiled as Sarah nodded in agreement. ¡°Fine. But can you guys do me a favor if you¡¯re going to stay?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Duh.¡± Alex¡¯s grin widened at the immediate responses. ¡°Will you go grab some food for us? Good food? And can you make sure to get some Oreos? I need to make Val eat one. ¡± Mark and Sarah laughed before agreeing. Alex ushered Sam to the bed before returning to the kitchen for his phone. He sent Olivia a long text attempting to explain everything and asking her for a time when she¡¯d be willing to meet and talk one-on-one. I doubt I¡¯ll get a quick response after that scene. Ugh. He had one more thing to do before his friends returned or he fell asleep. He pulled up his most recent System window, deciding that he could save the other notifications for later. When his reward prompt popped up, he looked at the name of the item presented.
Congratulations, Awakened. You have completed Hidden Personal Quest: Wrath of the First-born! You have one Personal Quest Reward available.
Congratulations Awakened. You have completed Hidden Personal Quest: Wrath of the First-born! You gain: 1x Rare D Rank Mana Pearl
Intrigued and confused by the item, Alex accepted the reward and watched as it materialized in the air before him. The bright light caused Valtherion to come over, clearly interested in what was happening. A shining white ball with a polished surface landed in his outstretched hand. Valtherion was immediately interested and sniffed around it. Alex gently pushed him away and held the orb up to the light. It appeared to be made of a ceramic-like material and was the size of a melon. It had a gentle blue sheen to his normal eye, though in his left eye, it shone brightly with mana. Alex forced himself to look at it long enough to scan the item.
D Rank Item - Luminescent Mana Pearl Rarity: Rare Type: Material
He briefly wondered what the material might be used for. He supposed it could be for noncombat classes if there were classes like crafters for video games. He wanted to put more thought into it, but was too tired. Alex decided to put it away before Valtherion tried to eat it. He put it into a spatial pouch and slipped it into his dresser drawer. Finally, in his own bed, Alex face planted and fell asleep within seconds. 55. Decompress Alex paced back and forth in the park. There was a small path leading in a circle with some benches in the middle, where Sam was sitting. ¡°Alex.¡± Sam sent him the feeling of an exacerbated sigh, followed by a feeling of comfort and confidence. Hey, hey. Don¡¯t you start! You weren¡¯t even there to see it. She made me wait two days before wanting to meet up. I¡¯ve got to try and explain what happened. Sam sighed, causing a cloud of vapor to float from his mouth. Don¡¯t be all mopey and bored. ¡°I¡¯m not mopey, I¡¯m cold.¡± Alex laughed. You didn¡¯t have to come. You could have stayed in the apartment. He shrugged. ¡°Then I¡¯m bored.¡± Rolling his eyes, Alex scooped up some snow. Sam shook his head and held up his hands as Alex compacted the snow into a ball and tossed it at the small healer. The next ten minutes of waiting was taken up by a heated battle. As Alex sprawled out in the snow behind a tree, he heard approaching footsteps. Got you now! He stepped out and lobbed the packed snow. It hit Olivia square in the forehead. As the snow fell from her face, Alex could see her deadpan expression. From a short distance away, he heard a body hit the ground as Sam laughed and clutched at his sides. After apologizing profusely and explaining what was happening, Alex walked with Olivia to the bench that Sam had been sitting on. The teenager gave them some space at Alex¡¯s request. They sat in silence for a few moments before Alex took a deep breath and jumped right in. ¡°Look, I just wanted to apologize. A lot has happened recently, and I owe you an explanation.¡± ¡°I owe you an apology too¡­ I shouldn¡¯t have been so harsh the other day. Even if I was frustrated at you vanishing, I just thought you weren¡¯t that kind of guy. Also, when I walked in and saw everything, I was confused. Then, my guard immediately went up when I heard that they work for the Hunters Association¡­¡± Alex let out a sigh, somewhat relieved to hear that he wasn¡¯t the only one that was nervous. It seemed out of character for Olivia to ramble on about anything. ¡°Well, first, I want you to know I was stuck in a Rift for the last week. I wasn¡¯t ghosting you.¡± Olivia tilted her head as she looked at him closely. ¡°I guess that explains the scar- and, you know¡­¡± ¡°My eye? Yeah. All from the Rift.¡± ¡°But who was at your apartment, and why not just wait to explain this to me? I mean, I really don¡¯t want to come off all jealous here, it¡¯s just a bit confusing. She¡¯s your best friend¡­ and what? Ex-girlfriend? I felt like I was walking into some kind of ambush with your illusion and three other people there.¡± Fuck. He let out an audible groan before nodding. ¡°Look, Sarah and I dated for a bit in college, but it just didn¡¯t work out. There haven¡¯t been feelings there for a long time. It may look a bit more than that, but Mark and Sarah talk with me every day. You thought I ghosted you? Well, they thought I had died. Apparently, they came to my apartment a few times and could tell I wasn¡¯t home, and my phone was off¡­¡± He let the explanation taper off. ¡°There really isn¡¯t anything going on there. She was just scared and confused after finding out that I was actually alive.¡± Olivia sighed as well but nodded in understanding. ¡°That¡¯s good to know,¡± she said, putting her hands in her bomber jacket pockets. ¡°I don¡¯t do well with drama. If this is a tangled mess, I¡¯m really not interested in whatever this is.¡± Alex looked up at the pole lights that surrounded the circular path in the park. After gathering his thoughts, he decided to take a bit of a leap. I¡¯m not who I was. I need to stand up for what I want. ¡°You asked why I didn¡¯t wait to have you come over? The answer is I just didn¡¯t want to wait.¡± He felt heat rise in his cheeks despite the freezing evening air. Looking over, he caught a slight smile, which gave him the confidence to continue. ¡°The Rift I was stuck in¡­ the one that we were stuck in,¡± Alex nodded his head toward Sam, who was inspecting a tree with an odd amount of interest. ¡°I was stuck in there for two months.¡± Olivia¡¯s breath hissed as she looked at him sharply. Alex let it hang in the air for a minute. ¡°Sam was stuck in there for almost two years.¡± Alex watched the teenager squatting at the base of the tree. ¡°So, what?¡± She did some quick mental math. ¡°It was an Epic Rift?¡± Alex nodded. ¡°Eight times dilation. I don¡¯t think they¡¯ve even found one of those yet.¡± ¡°Well, I entered to get some information so that I could sell it to the Guild. And got trapped inside.¡± ¡°Trapped?¡± ¡°Well, it was really more my fault than the Rift¡¯s fault¡­¡± Alex nodded and looked back at Olivia. Time to spill it. ¡°Look, I¡¯m happy to tell you about everything that happened. But I just wanted to tell you that, so you understood¡­ I was running and fighting for my life almost every day in the Rift. I¡¯m not the same person that walked in there last week. I don¡¯t think my friends have realized that yet, but it¡¯s the truth. Mark doesn¡¯t work for the Hunters Association, but I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll want to join them or the Guild at some point. Sarah is the HA, but really just for work and because she thought I was gone.¡± He paused, thinking that he¡¯d gotten off track and about how to say the right words. Taking the flat of his palm, he rubbed his beanie back and forth a few times. He started again. ¡°I¡¯m really not the same, so I¡¯m not sure what was built here, between us, before would keep working anyway. Shit, wait. I mean, I hope it does- but I¡¯m just trying to say that it feels like the world is only now trying to decide if they are going to ¡®accept¡¯ the Awakened.¡± He shook his head. ¡°I am all in on this life. I¡¯m not going back to a normal life or a normal job.¡± He chuckled, ¡°You should have heard the voicemail my old boss left me¡­ The point is, Earth is changing and I actually like the changes, despite how brutal it can be. You live in this life already, so I think you know what I mean.¡± Olivia nodded and gave him another smile, this one a bit more open. ¡°Even if I did have any sort of remaining feelings for Sarah, which I don¡¯t, I feel like that was a completely different life. I¡¯ve¡­ killed people, and I still haven¡¯t even fully come to grips with that¡­¡± There was more he wanted to say. He just wasn¡¯t sure how to say it. ¡°Look. All of that makes sense, and I believe you¡­ I just don¡¯t want to do complicated. We can see where this goes. I just don¡¯t want any games. There¡¯s no pressure if you don¡¯t want to continue, and this isn¡¯t some sort of ultimatum. It¡¯s just how I am.¡± Alex nodded, ¡°Alright. No games.¡± Olivia sniffed while smirking. ¡°Honestly, it wasn¡¯t even about her. I was more confused about the mask on your face. Neat bit of magic, that. Wanna tell me the secret?¡±Stolen novel; please report. ¡°Oh, come on. Not even a little jealous?¡± ¡°Pshhh,¡± Olivia let out a dramatic breath through her teeth and continued to play it off. ¡°Me? Jealous? Not a chance.¡± They both laughed, and she leaned over to bump his shoulder with her own. ¡°Alright, alright.¡± Alex laughed and as he felt the mood return to normal, he broached a question that had bothered him since Sunday. ¡°What was up with your comments about the Hunter¡¯s Association.¡± Olivia stiffened next to him for a moment before answering, ¡°Really know how to keep the mood alive, huh?¡± Alex chuckled. Is it hot in here? ¡°I just really don¡¯t like them. It¡¯s a bit heavy. I¡¯ll tell you about it if you fill me in on what happened with you in the Rift.¡± ¡°Fair enough. Where should I start?¡± ¡°From the beginning, but before you start, introduce me to Sam? He reminds me of someone.¡± Alex glanced at her before sending out a thread of mana. Olivia seemed to notice it snaking along the footprint-covered snow, though she didn¡¯t say anything. After he asked Sam to join them, he introduced the two, and Alex was surprised at how soft Olivia¡¯s demeanor became. Sam responded well to her and flopped into a seated position across from the two in the snow. Olivia wants to know about the Rift. I¡¯m going to tell her my story. Are you willing to listen to it again? Sam just nodded and leaned back on his hands while kicking the snow off of his own boots and extending his legs. ¡°What are you doing with your mana?¡± Olivia asked. ¡°Talking to Sam. Sorry, it¡¯s a bit rude but we¡¯ve been talking like that for weeks. I just asked if he was willing to hear me tell the story again.¡± Sam nodded again, unbothered. ¡°Well, it all started when I was leaving Elana¡¯s last Sunday.¡± Alex began telling his story again. Just like when he told Sarah and Mark, he avoided giving specifics about his level or how quickly he had progressed. He wasn¡¯t sure why, but he wanted to make sure that people didn¡¯t think it was a good thing to go and do what he did, and he didn¡¯t want them to think that he thought it was a good idea. The event had been traumatic in a way Alex had never understood possible. The last thing he wanted was to try to make the experience sound cool. Olivia was particularly interested in the Mana Spinners, fascinated by their control over magic and their ability to communicate through connecting mana webs. He told her about his escape from the Firstborn in the tunnels and his fighting retreat toward the Rift exit. He tried to breeze past the exact number of Shadow Sect members that he had killed, but it was painfully obvious to him that she was watching him closely. When he got to the fight with Hong Xui, she touched his shoulder and asked him to take off the mask he was wearing. Alex pulled it off, and she looked at his eye closely and the puckered flesh across his face. Silence hung in the air, and Sam broke it with a comical cough. The flush in his cheeks wasn¡¯t hidden this time as he pretended to glare at the boy. ¡°Practice your meditation or something; the story is for her, not you!¡± Alex leaned forward and ruffled the boy¡¯s hair, but with the beanie in the way, it just served to pull it down over his eyes. Alex continued to tell the story of his capture and how he met Sam. He breezed past most of the fight that happened in the market, and Sam just shook his head. He talked about all of his training through Master Li, Master Shen, and Eura. Olivia asked several questions about the Celestial Lotus Sect Head and about his personality. It was at this time that the surrounding space changed. Sam, sitting a few feet in front of the pair, lit up in his mana vision. Green sparks flitted around him before expanding in a several-meter radius around him. Grass began to grow around him in a large circle, and Olivia gasped. Even to the naked eye, it appeared that the grass of the park was growing up at a visible rate through the snow. Atta boy, Sam. Alex smiled and decided not to draw more attention to Sam, knowing that it was good practice for him and was happy that he felt comfortable enough for the trait to activate. Returning to his explanation about Eura, he talked about the man at length and his admiration for how he handled the Council. This led to further explanation of their last two weeks in the Rift and the tension that had built before the battle. Olivia gasped again at appropriate times during their fight against the Firstborn¡¯s forces and how they barely made the escape from the Rift. Alex talked about how crucial Sam¡¯s healing abilities were and how helpful all of his martial training had been. She asked for a demonstration of his [Feather Step] ability, intrigued by the mechanics he¡¯d explained about the skill and how he¡¯d created it from a [Shadow Step] manual. He smiled and stood from the bench before taking a few steps away. He paused and looked at the tree Sam had been inspecting about 15 meters away. He set the point and activated the ability. As he pushed off at a lazy pace, he felt his weight almost completely disappear. The snow near his feet kicked up, and his jacket floated up around him in a dramatic fashion. He touched down lightly after a few lazy pushes, loving the way that he felt when he was gliding along with the ability. On his way back, he pushed off in one strong push, clearing the distance in a fraction of the original time. Olivia whistled appreciatively, and Alex smiled. He reached into the spatial back, which he¡¯d tucked into the inside pocket of his winter coat, and removed the manual he¡¯d found in the altar room. He handed it to her. She took it and read the cover aloud. ¡°Do you have an inspect or analyze ability?¡± he asked her. ¡°No,¡± she answered as she shook her head and leafed through the first few pages of the book. ¡°It¡¯s consumable, so the System should be able to prompt you to consume it and absorb the knowledge instantly if you want to.¡± Her eyes went wide, and she looked at him. ¡°You can¡¯t give me this. Are you serious? Have you seen what something like this costs on the Auction House? It¡¯s like a few hundred thousand dollars.¡± She tried to hand it back to him, but he held up his hands. ¡°Look, seriously, I don¡¯t want it. I want you to have it, no conditions attached.¡± She looked uneasy. ¡°Seriously, even if we never talk again from today forward, I won¡¯t regret giving this to you. It fits your kit perfectly, and I¡¯ve already studied it to get what I want out of it.¡± He shrugged and said, ¡°If you want to just study it and learn what you can and turn around and sell it, you can do that too. I didn¡¯t know they were worth that much.¡± Olivia looked at him at the mention of money. ¡°I don¡¯t want any money. Gah, it¡¯s a gift. Don¡¯t make me feel bad for giving it to you. I¡¯m sure the Guild is going to pay me and Sam a stupid amount of money for the information about the Rift. I did mention that it¡¯s D Rank now, right? That¡¯s probably more worth it to them than the Epic Rarity.¡± She raised her eyebrow skeptically, ¡°No way.¡± ¡°Yes, way,¡± Alex chuckled. He fished out his last purple Mana Stone and held it up. ¡°This is a D Rank Mana Stone. I know everyone wants these things and a ton of trade is based around the E Rank ones. I¡¯ve got to imagine having a D Rank Rift where they can get these will be extremely valuable.¡± He waved the stone in the air. ¡°Okay, well, thank you. This is incredible, it looks like it really does fit with my kit perfectly.¡± She clutched the book to her chest and gathered her thoughts for a moment. In the following minutes, Olivia told them both her story. Much like Sam, she was one of the first people to really be affected by the Rifts before people even really knew what they were. She told them about how a Rift was found near her small town and that the National Guard had been called in during October. They had quarantined the Rift and told everyone that it was safe and the problem was solved. Alex winced as she explained to him what a Rift break was. ¡°It¡¯s what happens if no monsters are killed within the Rift. After a certain amount of time, the mana builds, and there is a Rift break. A wave of the monsters within are able to leave the Rift and enter the real world. The articles I¡¯ve read about it on the AG app say that not all of the Rift can come out at once, only a small portion at a time, periodically. But¡­ they were enough to do serious damage.¡± Olivia continued her story and told them about how the National Guard had been routed because they were so under-prepared and largely performing tests on the odd tear in space. Monsters descended on her hometown and killed almost everyone. At the time, Olivia was living with her best friend, Emily, who had a son named Liam. When an enormous bug monster burst into their apartment, it killed Emily within a few seconds, and it was trying to get into the bathroom to kill Liam. ¡°I grabbed a kitchen knife and fought it right there in the living room.¡± She stared at the ground as she touched the knife that Alex could see was still strapped to her waist. I guess that explains why she always has a knife on her. There was some silence, though it wasn¡¯t awkward, just filled with pain and genuine sympathy. Olivia finished her story by telling them that Emily¡¯s parents lived in Hoboken. When she didn¡¯t know where to go, she¡¯d brought Liam down to live with his grandparents and decided to pick up a bartending job nearby to stay close to the boy. She said that, in some ways, Sam reminded her of Liam. She asked the teen if he¡¯d be willing to spend some time with Liam, even though he was a few years older. Sam opened his eyes, having been listening while meditating. As his eyes met hers, the {Nature¡¯s Refuge} space around him continued to pulse warm and refreshing mana. He smiled at her brightly and nodded. They made some more small talk about things that had been happening since he¡¯d been gone. She scoffed at the stupidity behind how much hype was being built around Rifts now that a social media influencer and streamer was building an event around it. Mainly because so many people wrote it off as fake when videos were around and even the Hunters Association was announced. She equated it to the time the government announced aliens were real, and everyone just ignored it because they didn¡¯t see the proof or that it had just been a conspiracy theory for too long. Alex was happy to note that by the end of the conversation, Olivia was sitting a lot closer to him than at the start. She stood to leave and told Alex that there was a meetup at Elana¡¯s on Friday. She asked if he wanted to meet her there while warning him that the meeting would be a bigger one than normal since Elana was inviting most of the Guild members on the East Coast to come if they wanted to make the drive for an Early Christmas Party. Alex loved at the idea and agreed. As Olivia walked away, Alex watched her go. It was because he was watching that he saw a white blur fly from his peripheral vision and smack into the back of her red beanie. Olivia turned around slowly, and Alex¡¯s eyes went wide. When he turned to look at Sam, he saw that the boy had an innocent look on his face and was pointing a single finger at Alex. Oh, you little shit. 56. Awakened Event Alex looked at his phone to kill time, flipping through videos about the big event Taker was streaming the next day. Sam stood next to him, with Mark and Sara paired up behind them. He looked up from his phone to see the line still had close to 30 people in front of them. Glancing at Sam, he couldn¡¯t help but smile. In the days leading up to the meetup at the Voss Estate, they¡¯d gone shopping for clothes. Alex had been slightly annoyed to find that a lot of the modern clothes felt fake and itchy compared to the thicker, handmade clothes of the Celestial Lotus Sect. He had gotten several pairs of clothes that fit his new, more muscular frame and also taken Sam to several shops to find clothes he liked. He just won¡¯t give up the baggy green sweatshirt. Despite offering to buy him a new hoodie that fit better, Sam refused and just clung to the green one that Alex had given him. When Alex compared their own clothes to those around them, he found that most people attending were in practical or tactical clothes. Some wore something closer to dress attire, but if the event had been a black tie-something-or-other, he would have just denied Olivia¡¯s invitation. He looked around for her but hadn¡¯t seen her anywhere, so he assumed she was off doing Peacekeeper duties. Out of boredom, Alex checked his Status Window.
Status Name: Alex Moore - Level 26 Class: Ritualist (Novice) HP: 570/570 MP: 540/540 Traits: (1/3) {Primordial Will} Titles: < Control Freak > Pathfinder Unbound One Against Many Control Freak Physical Stats: Strength: 24 Agility: 41 Constitution: 57 Vitality: 26 Magical Stats: Intellect: 42 Willpower: 343 Mana: 26 + 28 Wisdom: 74 Bond Skills: [Mana Siphon] (Novice - Level 15) Primary Stat Shared - Mana Active Skills: [Mana Thread] (Novice - Level 17) [Mana Infusion] (Novice - Level 16) [Feather Step] (Novice - Level 10) [Ritual Insight] (Novice - Level 17) [Mirage] (Journeyman - Level 8) Passive Skills: [Efficient Rites] (Tier I) [Sleep Resistance] (Tier I) Bound Items: Unique E Rank Growth Item - Heavenly Eye of the Celestial Sage
He¡¯d leveled a few more times during their final fight against the Shadow Serpent Sect. Though he hadn¡¯t been paying attention to the notifications at the time, he did remember gold light swirling around him at least once during all the fighting. Alex sighed as he closed the window, knowing that he¡¯d soon reach the point of advancing or evolving his class. Eura had talked with him about the process. Even though the exact timeline was vague, class advancements were tied to a person¡¯s experience gained with the class, not their level. Eura said someone could be ready for advancement between levels 28 and 30 if they immediately accepted a class at level 10. The thought stressed Alex for some reason. He liked what he had going now and still wanted to do a lot of studying Ritual schematics with his current class ability. So, at first, he said that he would just keep his current class no matter what, but his mentor discouraged that approach. ¡®Keep your mind open to the possibility that an even better class will present itself. Be ready to take it when the time comes.¡¯ His thoughts were pulled back to the present as he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. Man, two months without this thing makes me realize how annoying it is to be tied down to communication. He doubled down on the sentiment when he saw who had texted him. Mom: Alex, hello sweetie! I texted you last week for a family dinner, but you didn¡¯t respond. Your friends came by and said they were worried about you, but I assured them that everything would be fine! I¡¯m glad to see I was right and my texts are sending again! Mom: We rescheduled to this weekend, please make sure to fit time on your schedule for your family! We will have dinner on Sunday at the normal time. Fuck. I¡¯m not going back to my normal job. Can I just skip family dinner too? Alex chuckled a bit at the thought, but realized that the thought of going to the dinner didn¡¯t stress him out as much as it used to. Compared to Naraka, his mother¡¯s nagging about his future career plans seemed almost cute. Another text came through. Mom: Jake will be coming to town for dinner. He says that he has big news about his job that he wants to share. We want to be positive and support him, remember? Alex: I¡¯ll be there. He just rolled his eyes and locked his phone. Scanning his surroundings, Alex found that he didn¡¯t like to be without his sword. Some people had weapons around them, but it appeared to be for show more than any kind of practical use. Well, no one should be trying to kidnap or stab me here, so it can just stay in the spatial bag on my hip. It¡¯s not like it¡¯s much slower to draw it from there, anyway. Alex tapped the pocket of his coat and busied himself by making sure that his leaking mana was pulled in tight. While he didn¡¯t think it would have any effect in a setting like this, Alex wanted to continue practicing, and it was a good distraction from the social event. ¡°Why do you look mad?¡± Alex looked over at Sam and forced a large smile on his face. It¡¯s the mask, and you know it. Sam shrugged and sent through the connection the feelings of Alex¡¯s tension that were slipping through the link. Yeah, okay. I am a bit tense. This is a lot of people for me. I don¡¯t normally do social stuff. ¡°But Olivia asked?¡± Alex looked at the teen from the side of his eyes before nodding. Have you noticed their levels? Sam shook his head. Alex knew he didn¡¯t have an analyze ability like the Heavenly Eye. Still, with his ability to sense mana, he wondered if Sam could tell vague power ranges just from people¡¯s mana. It didn¡¯t appear that Sam¡¯s sensing skill was strong enough to sense what Alex¡¯s eye could see. They¡¯re really weak. Almost everyone is between levels three and five, with some of the Peacekeepers barely hitting ten to twelve. With Alex¡¯s Willpower stat being so high above those around him, his inspection ability with the Eye gave him much more information than he needed. Not for the first time, Alex wondered if there was a System Settings menu or something similar that he could use to adjust what information he was given. He shifted his view from the people to the setting. While he¡¯d seen the Voss Estate several times when visiting, he¡¯d spent most of his time in the back training with other Awakened. This would be his first time going inside the enormous house. Even the outside looked bougie, with its white Christmas lights, blocky structure, and huge glass windows. The party they were at was a much bigger event than any he¡¯d been to so far. Both the indoor and outdoor spaces had small huddles of Awakened chatting and mingling. While there were lights inside, the patio and training areas were dimly lit by the decorative seasonal lights and with firepits to encourage gathering. Both areas had catered food and drinks were being served by waiters who made circuits the entire time they were standing in line.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. After a bit more waiting, they reached the front of the line and the man checked Alex¡¯s Guild ID. When he asked for the other three, Alex told him that they were Awakened guests who were interested in joining the Guild. The man stressed that Alex was responsible for their actions and welcomed them to the party before calling for the next in line. Sam told Alex that he was tired of being cold, so the group made the decision to find a comfortable spot inside the large house. They followed the general crowd through an opening room and a small hallway before entering into the central room of the bottom floor. The far wall was entirely made of glass and even in the evening darkness, it was easy to see how spectacular the view would be as it overlooked the Catskill Mountains. Alex looked around and was surprised at the number of people present. The event was dimly lit by what looked like thin tube lights hanging from the ceiling, but there had to be close to 100 people or more who were packed into small groups. Were there really this many Awakened? Wanting to find a good position that wasn¡¯t in the middle of the commotion, Alex found a cocktail table in the far corner of the room that allowed their group to see most of what was going on. There were various tables around the outer ring of the room, and in the center was a small lounge area with low-seated couches. The general color scheme in the house was black and white, but for some reason the entire place looked like it should be in a TV show where they turn the lights way down low and have a DJ blaring in the background like a club. He looked to his companions and couldn¡¯t help but smile. He was glad that Mark and Sarah had come, even though it wasn¡¯t his idea. Similar to how they¡¯d stayed at his apartment with him the first few nights after he returned, when they found out that he was coming to a party for Awakened in the Guild, they refused to let him go alone. Part of Alex knew that they wanted to stay close to him after thinking that he¡¯d died. But he could sense that the other part of it was a protectiveness that he¡¯d never noticed about his friends before. Am I only seeing it now because I¡¯m stronger and don¡¯t need the protection? Did I always let them stand up for me like this? He smiled and looked between the two. Mark seemed enormous in his puffy winter coat, and something about how his flannel shirt barely fit his shoulders, made him look even bigger when he took the coat off. Sarah was in more professional clothes, though it was still just slacks and a dressy shirt without sleeves and a beige coat. Mark loomed over Sarah¡¯s small frame as he leaned over to whisper to her. Alex swapped places with Sam to get closer to Mark so he could tell the two about some of his experiences with the Guild so far. Sam grumbled about being swapped to the outside of the group, but Alex continued to explain his few interactions so far. In reality, he¡¯d only been with them for a few weeks, but most of his experiences had been very pleasant. Mostly, people were helpful and didn¡¯t care much for some of the overly formal rules, like using each other¡¯s usernames instead of real names. The only unpleasantness he¡¯d seen in the Guild had been Rylan¡¯s attitude a few times that he¡¯d been to the Voss Estate before and the grumpy woodsman guarding the Wolf Rift. As if she were summoned by his thoughts, Elana Voss stepped into his vision, and he could tell that she was coming directly toward their group. She had several people in tow and Alex couldn¡¯t help but show a hint of a smile as he saw that one of them was Olivia. ¡°Alex, is that right?¡± Elana asked as she approached the group. He nodded and gave her an exaggerated smile so that the mask would move with his face rather than look blankly at her. They did some quick introductions and Alex introduced Mark and Sarah as other Awakened who might want to join up with the Guild. He breezed over Sam as he didn¡¯t want to bring attention to the teenager. ¡°I heard you¡¯ve made a lot of progress in the last two weeks. How does one get so strong so quickly?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve heard?¡± Alex parroted back. He forced himself not to look at Olivia. ¡°Yes, I apologize for the rudeness, but I¡¯ve been having one of my recruiters follow me around for most of the evening to analyze folks to have a gauge on their levels. I believe you two know each other?¡± Andrew stepped out from the other side of Elana. He gave a smile and a wave, charming as ever. Still an extrovert, I see. ¡°I¡¯m curious, what comes back when you try to use [Analyze] on me now?¡± Andrew scratched the back of his head sheepishly. ¡°Just your name and a title. First time I¡¯ve seen that happen, to be honest. Control Freak sounds pretty funny, though.¡± Olivia¡¯s eyes widened slightly at the subtle hint that Alex must be higher level than most. She didn¡¯t pick that up from the entire story I gave her? I mean, I know I avoided levels and all, but I mentioned all the stuff I had to fight¡­ Elana nodded and spoke up, ¡°So, that makes me curious just how strong you are and how you got so strong so quickly.¡± Alex raised an eyebrow and smiled again before shrugging. ¡°I feel like I¡¯m pretty strong, but I¡¯m absolutely certain that I¡¯m not the strongest thing out there.¡± His thoughts couldn¡¯t help but return to the final vision of Eura and Rakshasi fighting in their giant forms. ¡°Also, wasn¡¯t it you,¡± Alex said to Andrew, ¡°who told me that scanning people was considered rude?¡± Elana laughed and told Alex that it was and that it was her fault that he was doing so. Alex sidestepped the question about his level and now wanted to broach the topic of the Epic Rift information he had. ¡°Elana, I actually wanted to talk to you.¡± Alex took a pause to extend his [Mana Thread] and form a full-sized ritual that surrounded his small group and their table. He reached into his jacket and dropped the two catalysts onto the ground, getting a strange look from Elana. As the group¡¯s attention was shifted down to the floor, he heard Olivia gasp as he pulsed his mana and activated the Sound-Dampening Ritual. ¡°If I have information on an Epic Rarity Rift, do you think the Guild would be interested in buying?¡± She perked up, and Alex could see her switch from social to business mode in an instant. ¡°Epic Rarity, you¡¯re sure?¡± Alex sighed. ¡°Oh yes, more than sure. It¡¯s also D Rank, which will make it difficult to handle but should make it even more valuable.¡± ¡°No way,¡± Andrew said in disbelief. ¡°You¡¯re serious?¡± Alex nodded and waited to see how Elana reacted. She asked him some follow-up questions about whether he knew the type of monsters inside and the general level ranges. Alex nodded, and then, as his final trump card to seal the deal, he pulled the D Rank Mana Stone from his pouch and handed it to her. He told her that since it was a D Rank, it also dropped higher-ranked stones. He asked her to see how much she might be able to get for that one and let him know its value before she sold it. He thought about also offering up his Hidden Quest Rift reward, to see how much money the Guild would offer him for a Rare material. The morning after he¡¯d gotten the Mana Pearl, he realized that it was a Rare Material item, while even something like the Spatial pouches was only Uncommon. But he decided it wouldn¡¯t be good to show everything in his hand right away. Maybe I could talk her into creating some sort of actual in-person auction. I¡¯m sure if people started bidding on it like that, the price could climb really high. Elana looked shell-shocked for a moment while holding the slightly larger purple crystal, but then she looked up and smiled at Alex. Their conversation ended soon after she told him that she would have a Moderator reach out to him through the AG app, and she left grinning like a miner who¡¯d struck gold. Andrew went with her, but Olivia stayed behind. She waved at Sam and gave him a knuckle bump before greeting Sarah and Mark. Turning to Alex, she hissed, ¡°He couldn¡¯t scan you?? You didn¡¯t tell me you were that high leveled. And when did you put that ritual down?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t tell you my level at all.¡± Alex pointed out with a sly grin. ¡°Ugh,¡± Olivia looked at the ceiling. ¡°Wait, what does that mean?¡± Mark chimed in. The two had stayed quiet for most of the conversation, other than a friendly greeting at the start. Olivia looked to Alex, who just shrugged. ¡°It means he¡¯s higher level than me, at least. Which really doesn¡¯t make sense. Even with the crazy story you told me.¡± Alex shrugged. ¡°Sam¡¯s higher level than me.¡± All three heads turned to the teenager, who looked at Alex with a mock glare before stepping back and slightly behind a chuckling Alex. Alex couldn¡¯t help but notice how beautiful Olivia looked, even without apparently putting in much effort. She didn¡¯t have on her normal bomber jacket but wore practical, well-fitted clothes with just a bit of mascara. Her hair was up in a ponytail, much like it was when they were training. Well, that makes sense; she¡¯s here as a Peacekeeper, not an attendee. ¡°You look very pretty tonight,¡± Alex said. He felt lame after saying it, but realized it was already out there and just waited to see what her reaction might be. He normally wasn¡¯t one to say something so bold, but after their conversation earlier in the week, he thought Olivia preferred things to be said plainly. Some color rose in her cheeks, and Alex knew he¡¯d said the right thing. There was some more back and forth before she politely excused herself and said that she needed to continue to make rounds around the building. As soon as she left, Mark spoke up. ¡°OoooOooh!¡± Mark said while wiggling his eyebrows. ¡°You look very pretty tonight? Who the hell are you?¡± Sarah asked in disbelief. Alex laughed, and the good-natured ribbing continued for a few minutes. At one point, Alex glanced down at Sam, who had a big grin on his face, seemingly enjoying how the other two poked at Alex. Another half hour passed as they talked about Rifts and some of the information Alex had thanks to being a member of the Guild. The conversation about picking a class was interrupted by a loud clanging on the other side of the room. Alex let out a sigh as he realized that it was Rylan Voss, finally making an appearance at the party. The large man was currently making a scene after one of the waiters had bumped into him. That¡¯s unlucky, man. If you spilled that on just about anyone else, there wouldn¡¯t have been an issue. Out of curiosity, Alex took advantage of all the eyes being on the scene and lifted his mask enough to move the wooden puck that covered his eye. He used the Heavenly Eye on the spoiled rich man.
Rylan Voss - Level 21 Class: Bruiser Primary Stat: Strength Secondary Stat: Willpower Most Used Ability: Intimidating Presence
Alex raised his eyebrow when he saw the man¡¯s level and class. I wonder if he¡¯s got access to his own high-rarity Rift. Either that, or he¡¯s throwing himself into combat almost nonstop. Rylan was yelling at the waiter, and many of the eyes in the room began to turn toward the scene. The waiter shrunk, trying to look small, and apologized profusely. But as the man submitted and more eyes turned toward the situation, Rylan was emboldened rather than ashamed of his outburst. At Alex¡¯s side, Sam shrunk back a little further, likely reminded of how the merchant in Tianluo had treated him. 57. Sure. Lets talk. Alex felt bad for the waiter, who was berated for entirely too long. While he didn¡¯t feel the need to step in himself, he found it odd that none of the Peacekeepers stepped in to make Rylan back off. Is it because he¡¯s Elana¡¯s brother? When the man had his fill, and the tension in the room had built to a peak, Rylan excused himself and said he needed to go get entirely new clothes. The waiter hung his head low and walked into the kitchen. The buzz around the room after the large man left was filled with gossip and speculation over what had happened. Sam let out a breath after the situation was over, and Alex placed a hand on his head to ruffle his hair. Annoying, huh? ¡°Scary,¡± Sam sent back. You want to hang out with Val? ¡°Here?¡± Sure. Why not? The people here are all Awakened, and he¡¯s probably stronger than everyone here. Sam smiled and nodded energetically. Alright, Val. Come on out. Don¡¯t eat anything unless Sam or I give it to you. Got it? You¡¯ll be in big trouble if you do. The mana wyrm flew out from his hiding spot on Alex¡¯s arm, where he¡¯d been using an illusion to blend in. He soared up and did several loops around the ceiling before making a lap or two around their table. Sam laughed and reached his hand out to the flying companion. Some attention was drawn to their group due to Valtherion¡¯s excitement. Mark and Sarah perked up at Val¡¯s appearance. After interacting with the companion over the last few days in the apartment, they had come to love his energy and mannerisms. Mark was convinced that the wyrm was part dog and doubled down once Alex made the comparison to a pug with his large black, round eyes. A short time later, more familiar faces appeared at their table. John Riley and Ian approached and said hello to Alex while introducing themselves to everyone else. Alex was glad to see them both doing well but could tell that John was upset by something. He mentioned later that the red-headed woman in his party passed away during a Rift the week before. Even though they weren¡¯t that close, Alex felt for the man. He was friendly and clearly cared about his team, which had been obvious to Alex since they¡¯d first met. When he looked at Ian, he noticed the younger man was more serious than the last time he¡¯d seen him and carried himself differently. He now had a scar across the bottom of his jaw that came up an inch onto his chin. That must have been a tough fight. Alex¡¯s own face itched as he looked at Ian¡¯s scar. As the conversation continued, he opened up and Alex did see some of the same brotherly goofiness he¡¯d seen between Ian and John. The two seemed to relax even further as Olivia rejoined the group. After doing a few laps at Elana¡¯s side, she was able to take a break for a while. ¡°Hey, John. Hey, Ian. What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Hey, not much. Glad to see our favorite bookworm, here, hasn¡¯t gone and turned into monster food.¡± John gestured at Alex and winked. ¡°How¡¯s work?¡± ¡°It¡¯s good, everyone¡¯s in a pretty good mood. Elana is tense though, this whole thing tomorrow is really stressing her out.¡± ¡°The thing with Taker?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the streamer?¡± Mark asked, finding an easy entry into the conversation. ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s worried that it¡¯ll go really wrong and that it¡¯s going to give the Hunters Association more ammunition to crack down on private groups like ours or normal people trying to enter Rifts.¡± ¡°I still don¡¯t even get how it¡¯s gonna work,¡± Ian said. ¡°Doesn¡¯t he get that electronics don¡¯t work in Rifts?¡± Olivia shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m sure a ton of people have told him. He¡¯s said on his stream that they have something prepared specifically to help the cameras work inside, which is why so many people are excited to watch his stream. Elana has had several members of the Guild try to reach out and offer help, but he¡¯s cut off almost all communication other than his streams.¡± She rubbed her forehead. ¡°I don¡¯t know; he just keeps saying that he¡¯s got the location of a remote Rift, and only he and his camera crew are going to go in. Everyone else can, ¡®enjoy the show.¡¯¡± She had only been back with the group for a few minutes when Rylan made his appearance at the top of the stairs in a new set of clothes. Olivia groaned and rolled her eyes. The large man made a scene of everything he did as if he loved the eyes and attention on him. There was a difference to him, though, as he descended the main set of stairs. Rather than a menace, he seemed like an enigmatic noble greeting his court. There was an odd sort of gravity that interested people. He greeted a group of three other large men, and they walked over to a table that had been reserved for them.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Despite the fact that he¡¯d just so clearly been a complete asshole to one of the working staff, Alex noted that the party seemed to grow livelier around Rylan now that he was in a good mood. Several other smaller groups approached the man and his friends as they lounged, sharing drinks and jokes. Alex took the time to inspect the man with his normal vision. He had long blonde hair and a perfectly defined jawline. He had broad shoulders and large muscles, which Alex guessed was partially good genetics and partially due to a high Strength stat. He was now dressed in well-fitted, athletic leisure clothes and wore a gold chain around his neck. Through his left eye, Alex could tell that there was mana coming from two of his rings as well. Enchanted items? ¡°Why are you guys letting him act however he wants?¡± Alex asked, watching Rylan closely. Olivia sighed and covered her face. ¡°It¡¯s stupid politics. He¡¯s Elana¡¯s brother, but it also came out recently that he¡¯s been the one providing most of the Guild¡¯s reliable information about the System. He doesn¡¯t write the articles, but he pays someone else to and has been keeping it a secret for a while now. When it came out that Rylan was the one to provide all of the useful information on the System, Rifts, and classes, he gained a ton of popularity. Or at least, people want to get close to him to learn more about his skills and how he got so much information. I doubt anyone actually likes the oaf.¡± Alex nodded along. Now I¡¯m sure he has access to a high-rarity Rift. If it¡¯s got a sentient race in there, like the sects, then they likely gave him the information. The question is, why hasn¡¯t he shared the Rift with the guild or even his sister? ¡°And honestly, even if it weren¡¯t for that, there are several Moderators who do like him. They want to try and bring him on to the team as a Peacekeeper because he¡¯s apparently really strong. Ugh, I¡¯d hate to work with him.¡± ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t feel like giving power to that dude is a smart decision,¡± Mark mumbled. Alex watched him for a few more minutes but lost interest. He reminded Alex of the council members who threw their weight around, even though they didn¡¯t have the power to back it up. The difference was that Rylan did have physical power over most people in the Guild, and it looked like he enjoyed lording it over people. One of his conversations with Eura echoed in his head as he said aloud, ¡°Not all power is physical.¡± ¡°I miss Eura,¡± Sam said. Alex ruffled Sam¡¯s hair again, and the boy scowled at him before fixing his hair and glancing nervously at Olivia. I miss him, too. He was always so calm and strong. ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Olivia responded. ¡°But in this case, he really does have physical power. It doesn¡¯t help that some of our higher Peacekeepers have gone more of a mage route than a fighter route.¡± ¡°Why does that matter?¡± Alex asked. She looked at him strangely. ¡°You haven¡¯t heard? Everyone has been talking nonstop about how much better it is to be a physical fighter compared to being a mage.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yep. Since you get health and a generally stronger burst of power early, a lot of the warriors are leveling fastest of all the groups.¡± ¡°I guess that makes sense. What about healers?¡± ¡°Healers?¡± She blew air from her lips. ¡°Almost nonexistent. I know a lot of the Recruiters have been trying to hang around the hospitals to see if any pop up, but there have barely been any. Those who do usually get scooped up quickly.¡± Sam stiffened imperceptibly to his side and grabbed the back of his sleeve. Val flew down and greeted Olivia with a head butt before continuing to do laps. ¡°Anyway. Rylan definitely perpetuates that idea, flexing his high-level and fighter class on anyone that butts heads with him. Even if the Peacekeepers wanted to step in, it would be hard to subdue the man. Elana is normally the one who has to rein him in, and that¡¯s just because they¡¯re close. She¡¯s not any kind of combat match for him.¡± Hearing the discussion of immediate power reminded Alex of his talks with Eura about structured and unstructured magic. He knew that immediate power wasn¡¯t everything, but it could make the difference of living long enough to gain power down the road. After seeing Eura¡¯s power and getting a better perspective on just how weak they were on Earth, he felt that it wasn¡¯t at all surprising that people believed physical fighters using skills were stronger than most mages. ¡°You¡¯re stronger than him.¡± Alex just smiled and turned to Sam, only for the boy¡¯s eyes to widen, and Alex looked over his shoulder to see Rylan approaching their group. Alex pulled his mana in a bit tighter on reflex. Oh, joy. Can¡¯t he just stay over in his corner? God, I hate bullies. ¡°Olivia, my sister¡¯s favorite Peacekeeper,¡± Rylan said, using the term in a clearly mocking tone. ¡°Rylan, my boss¡¯s favorite headache.¡± Olivia answer. She had a tight smile on her face but didn¡¯t seem concerned to Alex. Rylan made an ¡®oooh¡¯ sound, clearly enjoying the banter. He probably thinks that she¡¯s flirting with him, not insulting him to his face. Alex forced down a smile and turned his back to their conversation. He knelt down in front of Sam. The short teenager was already looking at the loud man with slightly widened eyes. Alex put a hand on his shoulder and looked up at him from the kneeling position. Sam. You¡¯re okay, buddy. This is very different from before. You¡¯re safe with me. I promise. Sam nodded in return and sent back the feelings of hesitant confidence. Alex made sure to keep eye contact with the boy for a few seconds before nodding happily. Good. From his spot, Alex stood and looked at Mark and Sarah. The two were clearly uncomfortable after seeing the scene Rylan had made earlier and didn¡¯t want to draw his attention to them. Valtherion, sensing the mood, swooped down and did a loop around Rylan¡¯s head. A large, meaty hand swiped through the air, though it wasn¡¯t even close to hitting the agile mana wyrm. ¡°Friend?¡± Haha, no. We call someone like him a prick. Say it with me, Val. ¡°Prick!¡± Val said in time with Alex. This time, he couldn¡¯t suppress his smile, and it seemed to show through his mask. Rylan reacted to his confusion and embarrassment with anger. ¡°What is that thing? You brought a monster with you?¡± ¡°Knock it off, Rylan. You know it¡¯s a bonded companion. Stop looking for a fight,¡± Olivia said lazily. His mock outrage turned to a smile then. ¡°But I like to fight. Besides, I only came over because Jason saw that there was someone using magic over here.¡± Maybe he¡¯s not an idiot, then. He did that to see if I¡¯d take the bait. Rylan stepped forward, likely expecting Alex to move back. But Alex stayed where he was and let the man invade his personal space. He was a few inches taller than Alex but shorter than Mark. At the thought of his protective friend, Alex looked at Mark who looked as if he were going to leap across the table any moment now. Mark was focused on Rylan, but Sarah was looking right at Alex. He gave a small shake of his head, and she seemed to get the message. She placed a hand on Mark¡¯s arm to calm him down. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t look over at them. You and I are talking now.¡± Alex smiled, ¡°Okay. Sure. Let¡¯s talk.¡± 58. The New Alex Sarah had been watching Alex closely for most of the evening. While Alex had never been helpless, she''d seen him struggle with self-doubt and a lack of confidence for almost ten years. After hearing of his harrowing tale from the Rift, her professional instincts were on high alert. She and Mark were both surprised by the person they saw across the cocktail table. The number of life-and-death situations he''d been in would break most people. She expected to see the sort of trauma that could manifest when soldiers came back from war zones and stressful combat situations. As a therapist specializing in trauma, Sarah had extensive experience helping people process their experiences. Her expertise, combined with her newly awakened Trait, made her particularly valuable to the government in dealing with System-related mental health cases, with one high-value patient being her position¡¯s focus. Her system-granted trait was already powerful, but her knowledge and experience made it even more valuable.
{Aura Perception} - Grants the ability to see the auras of living beings.
With her typical habit of analyzing those around her, the ability to see auras was interesting and fed into the habit. As far as she could tell, auras were a representation of someone¡¯s emotion and will, or perhaps their soul. The Hunters Association had very little information on the subject, but she¡¯d already noticed some consistencies in auras over the last week or so. Auras typically appeared as colored outlines extending a few inches around a person. While she couldn''t pinpoint what determined each color, they reminded her of the mood rings from her childhood. She theorized the colors corresponded to different personality types or the kind of magic that was being used. The auras she had seen so far had a tendency to fluctuate in subtle ways based on emotions or thoughts. Mainly with the soldiers and Hunters that she¡¯d worked with so far, this presented itself in jagged cracks through the aura in terms of trauma or a very shaky and unstable aura in terms of strong emotions. Alex''s aura, however, was unusual. It was a neutral blue, matching the shade of a Mana Stone, and had remained perfectly uniform and still since their arrival at the event. Even during conversations or when he smiled, it didn''t fluctuate. This was strange because normally, when someone felt happy, their aura would concentrate toward the upper body and undulate with their laughter. His remained completely static. In fact, as soon as Rylan began to approach, his aura clamped down even further and was pulled into a finger¡¯s width from his body. While it hadn¡¯t been quite as restrained when he first came home from the Rift, she hadn¡¯t seen many of the signs in his aura as she might have expected. Rather than coming back traumatized or shell-shocked, he seemed different- enhanced, somehow. It¡¯s like he¡¯s undergone some sort of extreme confidence training. But in such a short time? As the party went on, she¡¯d observed as people gravitated towards him. They¡¯d been casually introduced to John, Ian, and even strangers on the periphery of their group seemed somehow drawn to them. Alex handled it all with an ease that was entirely new to her. She watched Rylan approach their table, and the atmosphere in their group shifted noticeably. Most people around them remained absorbed in their own conversations, unaware of the brewing confrontation, but a few at nearby tables watched with interest. Her gaze flicked to Alex, and she expected to see some familiar signs of discomfort from the man she''d grown accustomed to over the years. Instead, she found herself staring at a man who seemed perfectly at ease, and one eyebrow raised as if amused. She caught a quick shake of his head, signaling for her not to intervene. Glancing at Mark, Sarah noticed he looked about ready to leap to his friend¡¯s defense. She grabbed his arm and gently pulled him back while continuing to watch the exchange. ¡°Okay. Sure. Let¡¯s talk.¡± he said. "Enjoying the spotlight, are you? Flaunting your magic as if you have some special privilege here." Alex''s lips quirked up at the corners. "Special? No, just enjoying the evening. You?" Sarah blinked, taken aback by Alex''s casual confidence. This was miles away from the Alex who used to stammer during tense conversations with his coworkers or even his parents. Mark leaned in close and whispered, "What the heck is this dude''s problem? Also, why did you pull me back? We can''t just stand here and let this guy walk over Alex." "Watch him, though. He''s not getting walked over." "You carry yourself with quite the air of superiority for someone so new," Rylan''s voice was amiable, as if telling a joke, but there was an edge to his voice. "Enlighten me, what''s your class? Something arcane and utterly impractical, I¡¯d guess?" Alex shrugged. "Underwater Basket Weaver. It''s got its uses." Several people at nearby tables snickered, unsure whether to laugh at Alex or at his deadpan delivery of such an obvious lie. Rylan''s eyes narrowed, clearly unamused at being the butt end of a joke and having other people witness it. ¡°What the heck?" Mark relaxed and continued to watch the exchange. Sarah stopped feeling pressure from her large friend, and she removed her own hand from his arm when he didn''t seem like he''d try to intervene anymore. "Is it me, or is Alex actually enjoying this social attention?" She nodded, unable to pull her eyes away from the scene unfolding before them. Rylan stepped closer, putting the two just inches apart. Just like before, Alex didn''t budge. His eyes just followed Rylan as if there wasn''t a care in the world. "This is my home, asshole. Do you have any idea what my name is in the AG app?" Alex''s facial expression shifted from one of smiling ease to interested contemplation. He looked off to the side as if attempting to think. "Well, at least you''re asking me what your own name is and not your family''s name."A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. The exchange continued, and all of Rylan''s attempts to intimidate or bait Alex were met with an unflappable, calm, or witty response. She turned her gaze to Sam, noticing how the teen seemed to shrink into himself. A moment later, Val appeared, swooping down to wrap protectively around Sam''s shoulders. The blonde-haired young man flinched for a moment before realizing that it was the companion. Olivia stood nearby, her posture clearly tense. She seemed ready to step in at a moment''s notice. She attempted more than once to interject and tell Rylan to drop the nonsense, but he ignored her and pressed on. Sarah guessed that this behavior was normal and part of what upset the dark-haired woman when she realized Rylan had returned to the party. But, despite their group¡¯s tense demeanor, it was Alex who held her attention. His stance was relaxed, feet shoulder width apart, and while he wasn¡¯t showing any threatening signs at all, she could tell that his hand was kept near the jacket entrance to where his spatial pouch was kept. When did he learn to carry himself like that? She felt a growing sense of worry. Despite Alex¡¯s apparent confidence, it had to be a facade, and Rylan¡¯s aggression continued to grow with each denial of a conflict. "You want to step outside and settle this?" Rylan growled as his fists clenched at his sides. Alex''s response was calm. "I don''t think that''s necessary. We''re all here to celebrate, aren''t we?" She looked back at Rylan, and it wasn¡¯t just his aggressive posturing that caught her attention. Using her trait to see auras, she took in his aura for the first time. It was a reddish-black color and appeared to move with a purpose. It reached out to Alex¡¯s in a predatory manner, attempting to engulf those around him. Is he controlling it consciously? Or is it tied to his personality? Maybe a skill? Sarah¡¯s breath caught in her throat, and she wondered if there were attacks that could target an aura. She almost called out, worried that a skill would target Alex¡¯s aura. She had seen nothing like it before except perhaps one of her government clients, Johnathan. But even Johnathan¡¯s massive aura was uncontrolled. It was simply ¡®on¡¯ all the time, whereas Rylan¡¯s was moving with intent. Her focus shifted back to Alex to see if he had any sort of reaction. Do I need to call for help? As she watched, her eyes widened. His aura¡¯s reaction was amazing. Normally, when auras clashed, they could not occupy the same space, often one moving or shifting the other. As Rylan¡¯s aura crashed into Alex¡¯s, though, nothing happened. The black and red waves crashed against the unmoving wall that was Alex¡¯s will. He seemed completely unbothered. Then Alex¡¯s head tilted to the side. She heard him say, ¡°Are you using a skill on me?¡± His posture stiffened for the first time, and there was a brief pause as he shifted and looked down at himself. ¡°Oh, well, now that¡¯s interesting. Is this [Intimidating Presence]? A test of Wills?¡± His aura suddenly expanded under the onslaught of black, pushing back against Rylan¡¯s aura. As soon as the black aura retreated, Alex¡¯s retracted into the same reduced and even-keeled state she¡¯d seen all evening. It was over in an instant. How is he controlling it like that? It was as powerful as Johnathan¡¯s for a moment, but it¡¯s nothing like the constant and uncontrolled output he has. Rylan''s face twisted in anger, though he took a small step back as his confidence was visibly shaken. "Do you honestly believe you can come here and behave with such audacity?" he snarled. He dropped his voice to a threatening whisper. "Tsch, your recent success is nothing but a fleeting stroke of luck, I assure you." "Lucky? I bet you don¡¯t even realize how true that statement is," Alex replied in a light tone light despite the hostility directed at him. Sarah shared a glance with Mark, who looked as dumbfounded as she felt. The surrounding crowd had grown quiet, all attention drawn to the standoff. She noticed Elana watching from across the room with an expression of concern. She began making her way toward their group with haste. Just as the situation seemed ready to boil over, Elana appeared at their table. "Rylan," she said in a firm tone, "I think that''s enough. Why don''t we go talk about the new contract system?" Rylan''s aura still pulsed with aggression, but he hesitated and eventually backed down. "This isn''t over," he muttered to Alex before allowing Elana to lead him away. As soon as Rylan was out of earshot, Alex''s demeanor softened. He turned to Sam and let out a pent-up breath. "You okay there, buddy?" he asked quietly. Sarah watched as Alex''s aura quivered ever so slightly, showing the first sign of tension since the confrontation began. Was he just pretending to be that confident? She had the thought and wondered if, perhaps, the old Alex wasn¡¯t as far gone as she¡¯d thought. "That was intense," Olivia said, stepping closer to Alex. "Was that a ritual under your feet? You were doing that while he was posturing?" Alex smiled, and Sarah saw Olivia''s eyes light up as she grabbed his arm. "What did it do? It looked so small compared to the one I saw you make a few weeks ago, and you made it so fast!" Something twinged in Sarah''s chest as she watched their interaction. Am I attracted to this new- no, to this unrestrained Alex? She shook her head, trying to analyze her own reactions. Is it just a response to seeing him so changed? A psychological phenomenon where sudden transformations trigger a reassessment? That must be it, she decided, reminding herself that things hadn''t worked out between them before and certainly wouldn''t now. Still, she couldn''t help but admire how he''d handled the situation, showing both strength and compassion. I''m happy for him, she told herself firmly. And it needs to stay at that. Sarah watched the tension in the nearby area of the room dissipate and everyone gradually returned to its previous state of laughter and chatter. She observed Alex for a bit longer, and how he seamlessly transitioned from the confrontation back to his role as a caring friend. It¡¯s still him. Just¡­ more. Alex checked on Sam with a low and reassuring voice. She could see the gentleness in his eyes as they spoke, and it was clear that he cared for the younger man. The change in his state, from the resolve he¡¯d shown before, to the smiling and caring personality that he was showing to Sam. It was a reminder that beneath the confidence, the same old and compassionate Alex she''d always known was still there. Her professional curiosity was piqued as she watched through her trait and considered the implications of Alex having control over his aura. Is it something he¡¯s doing intentionally? If he could teach that level of emotional regulation¡­ The potential applications for her work and patients were staggering. She made a mental note to discuss it with him later, away from the busy energy of the party. As the night wore on, Sarah found herself drawn in by watching Alex navigate the social situations around him. He engaged with various guests, and his laughter seemed easy and genuine. He¡¯s found his footing, and it suits him. She sipped her drink and allowed for one last moment of reflection. She acknowledged the brief flutter of attraction she¡¯d felt earlier and recognized it for what it was. A natural response to witnessing such a dramatic transformation of someone I care about. But as quickly as those feelings had come, it had faded, replaced by a warm sense of happiness for her friend. She nodded and turned to rejoin Mark and stop trying to over-analyze Alex¡¯s behavior. Part of her was still unsure of how he was doing with more of the dark part of his journey, having breezed over the fact that he¡¯d killed other humans to survive. Sarah knew it was a lot to unpack, but she¡¯d seen men who were good at holding in their feelings, and didn¡¯t get the same impression from Alex, even in this changed form he was showing. While there was a lot she wanted to do to help him heal and process everything he¡¯d been through, she knew it wasn¡¯t ever good to be so personally attached to a client. She resolved to spend some time reaching out to contacts she had through work and talking to Alex about speaking with someone for any help he might need. For now, though, she was content to watch one of her best friends thrive in his new skin. The confidence and changes were inspiring, especially considering the challenges he¡¯d faced. 59. Unbound ¡°No way!¡± Mark yelled. ¡°How the hell is this kid so good!¡± Alex laughed and tossed the control onto the coffee table after he died. He reached into the chip bag in front of Sam and chomped down on a chip before ruffling the teen¡¯s hair. ¡°Man, I don¡¯t know, but he kicked both of our butts.¡± He stepped over Sam and walked to the kitchen counter, where he¡¯d left his phone. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s about that time. Sam, you¡¯re sure you¡¯re good to stay with Mark?¡± Sam looked over his shoulder and nodded at Alex. ¡°Go on, dude. He¡¯ll be fine! You¡¯re just hoping he says he wants you to stay so you don¡¯t have to go to dinner.¡± Sam looked back and forth between the two quickly before raising his eyebrows at Alex. ¡°Ugh. You and Sarah are too much. Don¡¯t answer the door, and don¡¯t go out there. It¡¯s a madhouse since Taker disappeared yesterday. Can¡¯t believe Elana saw this coming. I¡¯ll be back later; don¡¯t burn the place down. Val, let¡¯s go!¡± The steadily growing mana wyrm flew from the bedroom and dove into Alex¡¯s coat. You really like that cat tree, huh? ¡°Home.¡± Alex chuckled and grabbed his keys. A short drive later, he was knocking on his parent¡¯s door. His brain flashed back to the last time he¡¯d been here, a bit more than a month ago in normal time, and a completely different person. He¡¯d felt like a superstar during the event on Friday and felt invigorated after standing up for himself after Rylan had tried to intimidate him. It had been surprising to find that he could see through the man¡¯s blustering. When he compared someone like Rylan to someone like Eura or even some of the formidable warriors of the Celestial Lotus Sect, he was nothing. He was an oversized kid with some powers, whereas they were weakened warriors with decades of training. He knew that if he could hold his own against them, then someone like Rylan Voss wasn¡¯t worth getting worked up over. He did his best to carry that same confidence and growth to his parent¡¯s house, but for some reason, he found it hard. Why does the idea of talking to my parents scare me more than getting into a fight with someone who¡¯s got superpowers and 100 pounds on me? When his mom answered the door, Alex gave her a hug and walked into the entryway. His dad called a greeting from the living room and they walked to meet him. Alex looked around curiously. While his parent¡¯s house felt small, it wasn¡¯t the same suffocating feeling as before. Instead, he, himself, felt larger than the small dwelling. The smell of home-cooked food was more comforting than he remembered it being, and he was able to relax when he sat on the couch. It was clear that his mother was excited for Jake to arrive, and she hinted twice that he had some sort of big news to share. Alex idly wondered if he should share with them any of his own recent successes. Nah, I guess tonight is about Jake. Knowing my parents, they¡¯d probably just freak out if I tried to explain to them that Awakening was actually a good thing. Mom has always compared money to success, though; I think she¡¯d weep if she heard some of the initial numbers that Elana was throwing around¡­ Maybe I will tell them in a few days? At the very least, it might get them off of my back for a bit. Jake arrived after a time, and they made small talk until dinner. Alex noted that his clothes were new and looked to be expensive. He also kept checking his phone for the time or a notification, which he thought was weird. His mother fussed over him some, but after some time they gathered around the table in their normal seats. Alex had to stifle his laughter as Jake casually ate his food, and their mother looked like she was about to explode from anticipation. ¡°Alright, son. What is it that you wanted to tell your mother and me?¡± What am I, chopped liver? ¡°Well, it¡¯s close enough.¡± Jake started dramatically, ¡°I¡¯ve recently quit my job.¡± The entire table was silent, and the clink of forks on plates ceased. Their parents loved Jake¡¯s job and how successful he was at pharmaceutical sales. His mom loved to hear about his achievements and share them with nearly anyone who would listen. Jake checked his phone again before locking it and putting it in his pocket. He then stood and smiled. ¡°Actually, before I explain why, there¡¯s something you need to see. Let¡¯s go to the living room, really quick. It¡¯s important.¡± Alex noticed an unusual seriousness in his brother¡¯s normal, carefree attitude. Their parents exchanged confused looks before following Jake¡¯s lead. Jake muttered to himself as he fiddled with the remote and turned on the TV. It was still on a sitcom rerun station that his mother loved to watch. ¡°Jake, what-¡± ¡°Just one second, Mom,¡± Jake said while rechecking his phone. ¡°Any minute now.¡± The sitcom cut off mid-scene and was replaced by the harsh, beeping tone of the emergency broadcast. The strange test pattern filled the screen, though Alex supposed it wasn¡¯t a test this time around. The President of the United States appeared on the screen, standing at a podium. There were people standing to either side of him, but Alex¡¯s eyes widened as he looked at the country¡¯s leader. Holy shit. He awakened. There¡¯s no way he didn¡¯t. He has to have increased his Vitality. The current president was at the end of his term in office. He¡¯d been old at the start of his term, but the stressors and pace required to live in the White House took its toll on the man. In the last year, there had been countless memes and jokes made about his slow intellectual responses or failing memory. The president that stood behind the podium looked at least ten or fifteen years younger, his eyes were bright and attentive as he looked into the camera. He had a solemn expression as he glanced down at the podium and waited for several long moments. Alex could imagine that even though they were quiet and watching in the living room, the odd silence and seriousness of the situation would likely cause a hush to fall over even the rowdiest of sports bars. ¡°Good evening, my fellow Americans.¡± There was a slight whine from the microphone before he continued. ¡°Today, I address you not only as your President but as a concerned citizen of this great nation. Over the past two months, we¡¯ve faced an unprecedented challenge. One that has changed everything we thought we knew and will continue to do so. The emergence of the Rifts has brought with it dangers that we must confront head-on.¡± He shook his fist in a show of force that all but confirmed to Alex that he was Awakened. ¡°Yesterday, we witnessed a truly tragic event. A beloved member of our online community, known to many of you as Taker, entered a Rift in an attempt to understand the unknown, only to be lost. Despite the camera¡¯s inability to work within the Rift, he and his team set the livestream pointed at the portal and entered with promises of returning victoriously. The live broadcast of Taker¡¯s disappearance was seen by hundreds of thousands. I understand the fear and uncertainty that many of you are feeling. We mourn the loss of Taker and recognize the grief this event has caused many of you at home. ¡°But from this tragedy, we must find a way to rally together. We must use our collective strength to move forward. Not just for ourselves¡­ but for our families and our future. The Hunters Association was established to protect us from these very dangers, and it is now more important than ever to support their efforts. ¡° Their dad immediately began to grumble and huff about the fake news and propaganda that was being pushed by ¡°The Media.¡± ¡°Dad,¡± Jake said while waving a hand. He got up from his recliner and called their neighbor. ¡°Rob, are you watching this shiet?¡± Alex tuned out his father and listened with rapt attention to the public announcement. He realized that this was an event that would be recorded in history, and nothing would ever be the same moving forward.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°The Hunters Association, led by brave individuals like the Crimson Warrior, is here to protect us and guide us in this changing world. These Hunters are ordinary citizens who have stepped up in extraordinary ways to defend their communities, and we are asking more of you to join their ranks. To all who have the strength and will to protect others, we need you. To those who cannot fight, we will continue to do everything in our power to keep you safe. ¡°We understand that these times are frightening. We understand the anger, the frustration, and the questions without clear answers. But we must turn that fear into determination and that anger into resolve. Together, we will face this threat, and together, we will overcome it.¡± There was cheering, and the President raised his hand with a smile and waited for the noise to die down. ¡°To help protect our citizens, the government has designated Safe Zones across the country. These cities are places where you will find protection, support, and community. We ask that those in more remote or isolated areas consider relocating to these Safe Zones, where we can concentrate our efforts and resources effectively. Our goal is to provide assistance with relocation, including temporary housing and financial support for those in need. Our aim is to ensure that no one is left behind. ¡°In the coming weeks, you will see increased military and Hunters Association personnel in your communities. They will be there to provide security, assist with relocation efforts, and help establish local defenses. We are also coordinating with state and local governments to set up temporary shelters and provide essential resources for those affected. ¡°We have also established community support programs that will help those relocating and provide training for those who wish to assist in the defense efforts. These programs will be vital as we move forward. ¡°We are not alone in this fight. The Hunters are our shield, and they are fighting on behalf of every one of us. As we honor the courage of those we have lost, we must also look ahead and build a future where we can face this threat with unity and strength! ¡°Please, everyone, listen to a few words from our strongest shield in this fight. Many of you have seen this man from afar, closing Rifts alone and fighting against the unknown. This man has recently joined the Hunters Association and is working with our full support to continue fighting against the Rifts. The Crimson Warrior. ¡°Thank you, and may we all find strength in each other in the days to come. ¡° He¡¯s closed Rifts by himself? Alex¡¯s eyebrows rose unintentionally, and he wondered what level the man must be at. He was impressed by his sheer size and clear physical power as he stepped forward into the same space that the white-haired president had been. The current speaker, who introduced himself as Jonathan Reeves, seemed like he could crush the podium in a bear hug. Jake turned down the volume once the main speech was over, and the room remained silent for several moments. Jake stood before them, his usually confident smile replaced by a searching look. ¡°That¡¯s actually why I wanted to talk to you tonight,¡± he said. He looked at their dad, who had returned and was staring at the TV in shock. ¡°You see, I got an offer for a better job!¡± ¡°A better one?¡± Their mother asked, confused. ¡°Yes! Well, you saw the speech and the government incentive program, right?¡± No¡­ ¡°Bah, it-it¡¯s just got to be a fake.¡± Their father said, but the normal conviction with which he dismissed things was absent. ¡°No, but it¡¯s not, Dad! I met some friends, and we went to check out one of those portals. I¡¯ll have to tell you all about the adventure later. But anyway, I awakened my power and when I applied at the Hunter¡¯s Association, they said that it was one of the most rare Traits that they¡¯d ever seen.¡± No. Their mother looked like she might break down into tears at any moment. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mom,¡± Jake said. ¡°I won¡¯t be in any danger! I¡¯ll still be a salesman of sorts, but I¡¯ll just be working for the government now. They offered me an exclusive contract. Do you want to see the offer letter?¡± He reached into his jacket¡¯s inner pocket, removed a piece of paper, and handed it to their father. The man looked at the paper, and Alex actually saw it begin to shake in his hands. Fuck me. There¡¯s no way you can be better than me at this, too¡­ He looked at Jake, feeling a familiar sense of futile frustration rise from the pit of his stomach and into his sternum. His brother just smiled back and waited for their parents to read the letter. ¡°Son¡­ is this real? How? Why would they offer you- us so much?¡± ¡°Well, family is important to me. So when they offered me a contract, we were all a package deal. You too, Alex.¡± Jake winked at his younger brother. I want to punch him. Their mother looked at the contract as it was passed to her, and then she began to cry, but her smile made it clear that it was from happiness. ¡°That¡¯s great, son, but why? The offer seems unreasonable. Are you sure it¡¯s not a scam?¡± Jake laughed and shook his head. ¡°No, it¡¯s not a scam. I met with the Hunters Association recruiters in person, and it caused quite a stir. Why? Like I said, I happened to get a very unique Trait. It unlocks a special ninth stat called Charisma. The government thinks that if I¡¯m able to raise the stat, they could use me as a diplomat or negotiator with other awakened countries.¡± Alex took a deep breath and sucked in his leaking mana. He¡¯d let it slip out there for a minute, forgetting to keep up his practice. What does it matter if he¡¯s Awakened? He won¡¯t be better at this than me. He may have a strong Trait, but Eura showed me what I can become with unstructured magic and that my own Trait wasn¡¯t broken. He called it stronger than any other multiplier he¡¯d seen and with the potential to stand out even among the strong. Sam and I are likely the two highest-level people in the country. What the hell does it matter if Jake, of all people, is Awakened? As the thought settled on Alex, he found that it really wasn¡¯t forced. He believed it. There wasn¡¯t a need to compare himself to his brother. They were different people, and even more so after Alex¡¯s most recent experience. If traits were given based on a person''s past life and potential future choices, as the articles suspected, then his brother would certainly be the type of person to get a charisma-based Trait. For once in his life, despite all the reactions around the living room, Alex didn¡¯t feel inferior to his brother in any way. Maybe a bit like my thunder was stolen, at least about the awakened bit, but it doesn¡¯t really matter. I¡¯m happy with where my life is headed and how I¡¯m living it. He debated once again sharing his recent accomplishments with his parents but came to the same conclusion as before, if for a different reason. That evening was for Jake and all about Jake; he didn¡¯t want to take that away from his brother. He was also surprised to find that he felt very little need for his parents'' approval. They were happy, Jake was happy¡­ Alex was happy. Feeling his mentality shift, Alex took a deep breath and smiled at Jake. The smile was genuine, and he was sure that it was big enough to show through the illusion mask he wore. ¡°Congratulations, Jake. I¡¯m happy for you.¡± The conversation for the evening continued to revolve around Jake and how much his change in status will affect the family. His parents began discussing what would be involved in moving and what would happen next. Alex sighed sadly as he noticed the inevitable shift in conversation. Rather than ending on a high note, the familiar tug of competition and the weight of comparison began to settle on the room. He realized that despite his newfound confidence and power, he was still stuck in the same old narrative. I¡¯ve grown, but this just feels like it¡¯s going to stunt my growth. Jake boasted next about being able to provide for the family and implied that Alex should be contributing more, then leaned back with a smirk. It was clear he wanted to get a rise out of his brother, though it was said in a way so as not to sound malicious. ¡°I am sure I could talk to those recruiters again and see if we can get you a job, too, Alex. You might even be able to help me in whatever they have me do. You know? We could work together. That would be cool!¡± Jake winked at him. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t want to be a freeloader, right?¡± Instead of rising to the bait, Alex stood calmly. ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m not going to stay for this, guys. I love you, but it¡¯s time I focus on my own journey.¡± Jake¡¯s eyebrows raised high on his forehead as he leaned forward. ¡°What journey? You¡¯ve had it easy, Alex. You¡¯ve been ¡®following your passion¡¯ for years now and don¡¯t have anything to show for it. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s time to step up?¡± Alex laughed incredulously and shook his head. Ahh, it¡¯s a little cringy¡­ right? Fuck. I should do it. I really should do it. But which one? The room fell quiet, and his parents looked at him with surprise etched on their faces. Alex opened a window in his System and willed it to be visible so that Jake could see. His mother gasped from behind him as the blue screen appeared in the air.
Title: Unbound You have defeated a monster ranked above your own, shattering the limits imposed upon you. This victory proves that no barrier can truly bind your potential. +5 to all stats
He might not even understand what that means at this point. Damn, I hope he asks one of those government goons. It would be hilarious if they explained it to him. Jake¡¯s face scrunched up in confusion as he worked through the realization that Alex also had access to the System. Valtherion, you should say ¡®Hello¡¯ as well. Come on out. His bond had remained on his shoulder the entire evening, using his illusion skill to hide his appearance. The camouflage was almost perfect since he was still so small, and as long as he didn¡¯t move, the illusion didn¡¯t break. There was a slight blur as Valtherion moved down his arm, and when he got to Alex¡¯s hand, he broke the illusion. Just a few inches from Jake¡¯s face, Val¡¯s face appeared. Bug eyes, jutting teeth, and all. His brother reacted much as he had the first time the companion had materialized so close to his face. Jake yelped and fell backward over his own feet. At least he had carpet to land on. Their mother screamed and his father yelled out in surprise, demanding to know why he brought a snake into the house. ¡°I love you guys,¡± Alex said again as he walked to the front door. ¡°I¡¯m going to be skipping the next few family dinners. Merry Christmas!¡± Alex took a deep breath of the cold winter air as the door closed behind him. He let it all out in one go while taking off the illusion mask. It billowed into the air, and he couldn¡¯t keep in a laugh. Damn, but that felt good. I don¡¯t know the last time I felt this light! Skipping down the steps of their house, Alex walked to his car and started it up. It¡¯s just a few days until Christmas. I need to get Sam a present. Shit, I don¡¯t have gifts for Mark or Sarah either! I should get something for Olivia, too, right? He pulled out his phone and opened up a message with Elana, hoping she might be able to help him get some goodies from the Auction House in a rush order. 60. Gear & Christmas Cheer Alex took a deep breath while he sat with his back against the brick wall. It wasn¡¯t a normal spot for him to sit, but with his back to the far apartment wall, sitting under the window, he was next to the tree and could see the entire open living area and kitchen. After all of the tension and fight-or-flight moments he had in the last two months during the Celestial War Rift, that moment made it all feel worth it. He looked to the left, just past the sparsely decorated tree, and saw ¡®Fireplace and Christmas Jazz¡¯ playing on the smart TV. In front of the TV, Olivia lay on the ground with her head near his outstretched legs. She had spent the morning with Liam and his grandparents before coming over to relax and spend Christmas brunch and afternoon with him. Her dark hair spread out on the carpet as she looked up at her phone, scrolling through the AG forums. On the other side of the coffee table, Mark lay stretched out on the couch, also flipping through his phone, though he was surfing social media. The smell of cookies filled the apartment as Sarah and Sam worked together in the kitchen area to bake several different kinds of cookies. The shy teenager seemed to open up easily to Sarah, which didn¡¯t really surprise Alex. He¡¯d want to ask her some questions later on what she thought of the boy¡¯s state of mind since she had a tendency to analyze the people around her all the time. Alex was excited to give his friends their gifts, but they had all wanted to hold off for a bit and just enjoy the morning. This is how Christmas should feel. It¡¯s so relaxing. Nothing needs to be done or a goal that has to be achieved. ¡°WOW! I hate this guy!¡± Mark complained, his volume much louder than necessary. From a few feet behind the couch, Sam jumped involuntarily and glared at the couch. Val, sensing Sam¡¯s frustration, took the opportunity to fly up the high ceiling over the unsuspecting Polish man. Alex smiled as he saw his companion do one loop before divebombing into a headbutt, catching the unsuspecting Mark on the forehead. ¡°Ow!¡± he cried. The impact startled him and caused him to drop his phone, which also landed on his face. The group laughed, including Mark, who grumbled after the blue creature as it flew back over to Sam for a reward. Sam handed him a cookie, and Valtherion happily said, ¡°Oreo!¡± so that everyone could hear. ¡°Hey, he¡¯s getting better! That didn¡¯t sound nearly as creepy as before.¡± ¡°Val, that¡¯s not an Oreo. It¡¯s a gingerbread cookie.¡± Olivia called. ¡°You little blue turd! Just because my Constitution is high doesn¡¯t mean you can just keep headbutting me.¡± Mark rubbed his forehead, and the group laughed again. Mark tossed his phone to Alex, and he saw what his friend had been complaining about before. Alex rolled his eyes but was curious about the most recently posted picture. ¡°What is it?¡± Olivia asked, scooting back next to Alex and leaning in. He smiled nervously and did his best not to move. Wow, she smells like vanilla. ¡°Ugh, him. Yep, hate him.¡± Alex looked back at the most recent picture Rylan Voss had posted on his social media. While he didn¡¯t really feel all that much animosity toward the guy, he could understand the sentiment. Rylan was a beacon for everything that Alex wanted to avoid becoming as he gained power. He zoomed in on the picture to take a closer look at Rylan¡¯s hand which was draped across a woman¡¯s shoulder in the picture. He wore the two rings that he¡¯d noted at the event several days before. They were definitely enchanted. Wondering if he could see any runes on the rings, he continued to zoom in, but due to the pixelation, it was hard to make out all of the details. The most central logo that was prominent on both rings was an embossed sun emblem. Both rings were yellow gold and stood out as wealthy, but the logos were the same on each ring. Maybe it¡¯s a maker¡¯s mark? ¡°Ah!¡± Sarah called out in surprise from the kitchen. She hissed and took a step back from the oven after dropping the last batch of cookies onto the countertop. Sam stepped forward and grabbed her hand. There was a moment when she resisted, but his grip was firm enough that he held on. He reached up with his other hand, and Alex saw his hand glow green through his mana vision. Alex unconsciously reached up and brushed his fingertips across his face, feeling the weirdly smooth area of skin. Alex had stopped wearing the illusionary mask around this small group of friends. It felt better for him to be able to see the flow of mana, and when he covered his eye with the mask and mana-blocking patch, he felt like he was missing more than just the normal vision in his left eye. He knew the mask wasn¡¯t perfect, which was clear from his reunion home with friends. But strangers and most people in public couldn¡¯t tell at all that there was a mask on his face. The lack of emotion and facial response was odd, but unless they knew the real Alex, it likely just looked like he was bored or tired. For now, it makes me feel a bit better to fit in and not be looked at like a weirdo. He still did double-takes as he walked past mirrors or other reflective surfaces in private. The Heavenly Eye and scar stood out more than he might have thought before. Olivia bumped her shoulder into his, causing him to look over at her. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Alex shook his head and noted how close she was. ¡°I think it looks pretty hot.¡± She said casually and looked off in a random direction. Alex felt butterflies in his stomach. The moment was ruined by her phone chiming. She reached over and grabbed it from where she was on the floor and opened a notification from the Guild. Sam and Sarah entered the sitting area with the trays of cookies. Sarah kicked Mark¡¯s feet off of the couch to make room for them, and everyone but Olivia dove into the gingerbread and sugar cookies. ¡°Man, the space feels pretty small when we have everyone in here.¡± ¡°Mhmphf-mmhm,¡± Mark said through a mouth full of cookies. Sarah gave him a glare and Sam watched quietly while taking a small bite out of a gingerbread man¡¯s head. ¡°I wonder if I should get a bigger place? It¡¯s probably about time I look at buying a house, and the cash from Elana is going to be more than enough for something I¡¯d like.¡± Alex thought out loud. Mark swallowed quickly and nodded before his mouth was even clear. ¡°Yes! Seriously, how cool would that be? A big community house and we can just hang out whenever we want. It¡¯d be like... the complete opposite of working under Mr. Henderson. Man, that guy probably had a heart attack after both of us bailed like that.¡± Alex chuckled. ¡°Yeah, I still feel a bit bad for leaving without much notice. But screw that guy, I was a bit busy running for my life. Anyway, I¡¯m sure that after the government announcement a few days ago, a lot of things are about the get shaken up.¡± Sarah slapped Mark¡¯s arm and began to lecture him on attempting to spend Alex¡¯s money. While Alex appreciated her assist, he actually wanted to give the idea some more consideration. While living together seemed like it might be a lot to handle, all of their lives were about to change. Adventuring, jumping in Rifts, fighting monsters, it would make him feel a lot better to at least be near his friends each evening, even if they did all go to different teams. Nah, who am I kidding? We¡¯ve got a dream team in the making right here. I guess that¡¯s just more of a reason to get a huge house and share it¡­If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Sarah turned and asked Alex what was next. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯re all sort of in this together now, right? What happens now that you¡¯re back from the dead and apparently super strong?¡± ¡°There is some training I¡¯ve been wanting to do-¡± The typically quiet Sam groaned loudly causing all eyes to turn to him. He covered his face as he realized everyone was looking and flopped back on the couch. ¡°Ha! Sounds like Sam isn¡¯t a fan of training some more.¡± Alex grinned sheepishly. ¡°Well, there¡¯s a lot left to do. I want to help teach you guys what I learned and, at the very least, explain structured and unstructured magic. Also, Eura gave me some Advanced Ritual Manuals that I want to study. I need to look into what I can do with my reward item. I¡¯d really like to buy some manuals on enchanting, even though they''re expensive. I¡¯m tempted to see if I could use them in the rituals somehow. I still need to keep up with at least some of my sword training and physical training. I could-¡± This time, Mark groaned loudly and imitated Sam by flopping back on the couch. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re the same Alex I¡¯ve known for ten years? The guy I know would never just want to jump into even more work.¡± ¡°Well, not unless he¡¯s trying to distract himself from something else.¡± Sarah chimed in. ¡°Both of you, knock it off,¡± Alex said while laughing. ¡°Speaking of your sword training, I think we should spar soon! After hearing how intense that training was, I¡¯m sure you¡¯d at least have a small chance of beating me now, right?¡± Alex laughed a bit harder. Olivia looked offended before turning to Sam, ¡°Come on, Sam. You¡¯ve got my back. Who wins in a fight? Me or Twinkle Toes over here?¡± ¡°Twinkle Toes?¡± Alex stopped laughing and sat back up. Sam shook his head and pointed at Alex, causing Olivia to fake pout. The conversation continued with friendly banter, and Mark got up to do some dishes while Olivia went to the restroom. Alex got up to mess with some decorations on the tree when he heard Sarah say something from the couch. ¡°Do you think we could really do some of this Rift stuff together? I mean, three of you are with the Guild now, and I¡¯m working for the Hunter¡¯s Association. We¡¯re not exactly enemies or anything, but the groups aren¡¯t friendly either.¡± ¡°If I were you,¡± Olivia said, walking back into the living room. ¡°I¡¯d get out while I still can. The government is bound to screw something up with the Rifts, probably focusing on profits, and it will be innocent people who get hurt for their greed.¡± Sarah seemed to bristle. ¡°What are you even saying? You get that you guys are literally working for what¡¯s equivalent to a superpower vigilante-led organization? And since when have private organizations not been focused on profits and personal gain?¡± ¡°Okay, okay, you two. Cut it out, it¡¯s Christmas! No arguing on Christmas!¡± Both girls looked to Alex and he shrugged at them with a smile. ¡°Those are the rules!¡± He shrugged again before turning back to the tree to avoid their gazes. Olivia¡¯s phone chimed again. This time, she spoke up and said that some of the Moderators had been talking all week and decided to host something last minute at the Voss Estate for New Year''s Eve. She paused and kept reading before saying that the invitation mentioned a tournament-style event for attendees to watch and that if it wasn¡¯t possible to attend, they would be streaming the tournament directly to the AG app. She read further while everyone listened, and at the end, she groaned and closed her eyes. ¡°Want to guess who sent out the invitations?¡± ¡°Elena? She set up the other one, right?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°Rylan?¡± She nodded. ¡°Who wants to place bets?¡± Olivia pointed at Alex. "That he gets an invitation as a fighter.¡± ¡°Is that weird?¡± Mark asked. ¡°Not really, but he still shows up as a Level 5 in the Guild Systems.¡± ¡°How would they even make a tournament fair? Aren¡¯t people¡¯s levels all over the place? Even at the same level, it would be crazy for me to try and fight Mark.¡± Sarah said. Mark flexed and pretended to kiss his biceps, causing Sam to laugh. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. At the least, they¡¯d have to make two different brackets for people under level ten and those over it, so classes don¡¯t give an unfair advantage. Even if it¡¯s just people with classes, I bet he gets an invitation to fight.¡± ¡°Hey! He¡¯s right here, you know?¡± Alex waved to the group. ¡°But why? Just because Alex wasn¡¯t scared of him the other night?¡± ¡°Oh yeah. He¡¯s got one of those tiny male egos and would for sure feel slighted by something like what Twinkle T- Hey!¡± Olivia jumped as a solidified mana thread poked her side. ¡°Don¡¯t try to be sly. You know we can all see it when it¡¯s physical, right? I can follow that glowing blue line right back to your finger.¡± Alex just continued to be very interested in the windowsill while whistling. I knew keeping a small pouch of ground-up Mana Stone dust on me was a good idea. Mwahaha. The group laughed again and kept talking about the potential tournament and that it was painfully obvious what Rylan was doing since it was on such short notice. When the conversation tapered off, Alex announced that it was time for gifts. Alex wanted to save his for last as they all felt a bit more personal than a normal gift. He knew that some of them were expensive and didn¡¯t want to make things awkward, almost deciding to wait and give each gift one-on-one. Olivia gave Alex an old mechanical pocket watch, saying that she¡¯d heard him complain several times about keeping track of time in Rifts since he¡¯d gotten home. Mark got Sarah a gift card to her favorite music store, saying that he hadn¡¯t heard her play in a while, even though she loved to do so. Even though he was new to the group, everyone pitched in to buy Sam some clothes and a cell phone. When Alex had suggested it, Sarah had tried to convince him all over again to speak with him about his parents and his home. He said he wasn¡¯t going to keep pushing the teenager to go somewhere he didn¡¯t want to. Sarah had pointed out the potential consequences and the fact that the local law enforcement might come looking for the young man. Alex found himself unable to care about potential consequences like that. He knew Sam and knew that the boy was happy and safe for now, and it was extremely unlikely that the government or local law enforcement had the spare manpower to search for every missing person''s report to come across their desk with the national state. His main concern and source of guilt in the entire situation was that he wanted to at least try and find Sam¡¯s parents to let them know that he was alive. Still¡­ until he got the full story, Alex felt like red flags were going off. He told Sarah that the only time he¡¯d seen Sam shut down to the state he was when they¡¯d first met was when Alex talked about taking him home. After that conversation, Sarah hadn¡¯t brought it up again, but Alex noticed her watching the boy more closely, no doubt picking up on all of his subtle body language. Dark magic. I swear. Sarah had dark magic before the System even came to Earth. Lastly Alex went to his room and pulled out his gifts for each friend. All four of the gifts were wrapped in identical boxes the size of a tissue box. He lined them up in front of each person based on color. Dark blue in front of Mark, orange in front of Sarah, green in front of Sam, and a deep purple in front of Olivia. ¡°Go ahead, no specific order.¡± Everyone opened their boxes and was confused as each of them removed an empty leather bag the size of a paper lunch sack. ¡°What?¡± Sarah asked Sam smiled and immediately reached into his. Marks eyes went wide, ¡°NOOOO WAY. No way. You had more of them?!¡± Mark stood up and jumped while opening the bag and to look inside. He laughed maniacally. ¡°Dude this is awesome! Thank you!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a spatial bag?¡± Olivia asked, surprised. Alex nodded, but Mark interrupted. ¡°No! It¡¯s a¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say it.¡± ¡°Bag of Holding!¡± He hoisted it over his head and made a horrible imitation of the Zelda tune that played when looting a chest. Alex face palmed and shook his head. God, help us all. ¡°Just reach your hand inside and think about wanting to remove a list. I loaded them up with some supplies and an actual gift for each of you. I tried to get something related to your trait or class. If we¡¯re going to go into Rifts, we need to be more prepared. Hopefully, this helps.¡± He smiled and looked out of the apartment window as each of them fiddled with their bags. There was one thought on his mind. I feel good. Better than I''ve felt in awhile. Alex knew there were emotional hurdles to work through but it didn¡¯t matter in the moment. He was safe and back in his space. He was with friends. He had a plan to keep getting stronger and even a challenge in his way. Not that Rylan Voss is much of a challenge¡­ Olivia interrupted his musing. ¡°Do you know what these bags are worth?¡± ¡°Not more than the price of good friends.¡± Olivia snorted in response. ¡°Yeah, that was pretty cheesy, huh?¡± Still true, though. She bumped him again, and he blushed a bit, happy to be facing the window. ¡°I¡¯m serious. These things are worth a few times what that manual was.¡± ¡°Oh yeah. Did you get a chance to use that yet?¡± When she nodded, he smiled back at her. ¡°It feels so crazy, right? I told you I used the manual for [Mirage], and I still can¡¯t get over how weird it is to have knowledge put straight into my head. What¡¯s strange, though, is that it doesn¡¯t feel like the knowledge is mine. While I learned it immediately, I don¡¯t know the skill nearly as well as I know ritual circles after breaking down everything I could about them.¡± ¡°It was really weird.¡± She touched her head. ¡°I think I¡¯m going to try and find some manuals on Runes or Enchanting. Keep an eye out for me?¡± She nodded again but still asked, ¡°Are you sure? The rituals sound like they¡¯re working pretty well for you, yeah?¡± He just shrugged. ¡°They are. But the runes are what I wanted in the first place, I just got lucky that your suggestion worked out so well for me. It can only help me to learn more magic, right?¡± She agreed and they both turned back to the living room after hearing Mark squeal like a small child. Sam almost fell off of the couch he was laughing so hard as Mark waved around the engraved shield Alex had gotten for him from the Auction House tab in the AG app. Olivia raised her eyebrow at Alex. ¡°Well, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and look in yours, too. There¡¯s something special in there.¡± Val flew over and began to sniff with interest at the bag in Olivia¡¯s hand. ¡°Hey, no. That¡¯s not for you,¡± Alex said. He reached out and gently grabbed Val, who wriggled in his grasp. ¡°Is friend Mana?¡± Val asked. Alex and Olivia both laughed, ¡°Yes, buddy.¡± Alex let the mana wyrm curl around his shoulder and upper arm. He¡¯d been surprised at Valtherion¡¯s continued growth since they¡¯d emerged from the Rift. ¡°That¡¯s Friend¡¯s mana. Good job.¡± He gave his bond a scratch on its scaly head. ¡°Fuck!¡± The room fell silent before several people burst out in laughter. Sarah glared at Alex while Sam and Mark doubled over with more laughter. Valtherion seemed to beam with pride as Alex used his palm to slap his own forehead, and Olivia just smiled at the pair. Better than I''ve felt, ever. 61. Tournament Finals Alex leaned against the wall of the small preparation room, listening to the muffled chatter on the other side of the door. The tournament had been interesting, if not challenging. Watching the world continue shifting around him in the weeks since he¡¯d returned from the Rift felt surreal. People¡¯s builds were becoming more creative, and it was fascinating to see how the System worked with their intent to make combinations work. He¡¯d faced a guy who used a bow enhanced by a wind skill, a girl who could turn her skin to steel, and even a kickboxer who used fire to propel his attacks mid-strike. But none of them had the raw stats or training to pose a real threat. Alex knew that compared to the masters from the Celestial Sect, he was still seen as a novice, but in his world, there were very few people familiar with how to use such weapons. After working with Master Li and the other sect leaders, Alex was operating on a different level. Even by holding back Valtherion and limiting his use of magic to a few of his favorite rituals, the matches had been mostly one-sided affairs. Rylan was different, though, and Alex had known from the start that they¡¯d likely meet in the finals. All the Awakened might be relatively new, but based on his own experience, he knew that Rylan had to have access to a higher Rarity Rift of some kind. But what has he been doing with that power? Just bullying people. The only upside, I guess is that he¡¯s been spreading solid information through the AG app. He pushed off from the wall and adjusted the leather scabbard across his shoulders. He turned and opened the door to the large open warehouse that had been built at the Voss Estate. The warehouse had been under construction while they were at the mansion for Elana¡¯s Christmas party. Still, Alex was impressed they managed to finish everything in time for the New Year¡¯s tournament. Walking to the edge of the raised platform, he used his increased Strength and Agility to lightly hop onto it, his robes fluttering quietly as he landed. Rylan was already waiting for him, covered from head to toe in armor. His heart began to pick up its pace, feeling the thrill of competition for the fight to come. Alex wanted to use his Heavenly Eye to scan the larger man, but with his mask and the mana-blocking cover, he couldn¡¯t. He looked over to the area where his friends stood, watching him. Mark had his hands in the air and was smiling while giving him a big thumbs-up. Sam watched on, holding Val in his arms with wide eyes. A Peacekeeper that he wasn¡¯t familiar with stepped onto the stage and asked if they were each ready. Alex nodded and saw Rylan do the same as he slowly hefted his large sword to his armored shoulder. Alex had watched some of his earlier matches; almost all were won with raw power and strength. There was little to no finesse in the way he fought. From what he¡¯d seen in those previous fights, he could guess that Rylan was more than likely going to open with a [Charge] skill. Alex drew his jian and gripped it tightly, already planning to sidestep the initial rush and counter while Rylan''s momentum left him exposed. Despite knowing what was coming, the speed that Rylan had approached as soon as the match began, almost caught him off guard. Even as he watched, it was still unnatural to see a movement skill allow someone to barely bend their legs and still burst forward across the open space. Fuck. Alex dodged backward while shifting his weight to the side. His heart hammered in his chest as the greatsword slammed into the ground where he¡¯d been standing. How the hell did I think this wouldn¡¯t be a problem? He wanted to kick himself for not seriously considering Rylan¡¯s use of a heavy weapon. After watching it from afar, he thought it would be something easy to avoid, but as he felt the vibrations in the floor from the first powerful blow, he questioned his sanity. Alex had barely trained against heavy weapons with Eura, as both of the sects used light straight swords and occasionally a spear. The weight and length of Rylan¡¯s enchanted greatsword were intimidating, even if it didn¡¯t make Alex worry too much. At first, the gear difference had worried him; even showing up in his gifts from the Celestial Lotus Sect Head and his teachers, he was exceptionally under geared compared to the wealthy warrior. Rylan had an entire suit of enchanted armor and, despite its size, he moved in with a fluid grace that Alex could only attribute to stats. Alex could faintly hear Rylan call out something in frustration, though he didn¡¯t truly hear it. His brain was working in overdrive on how to close the gap and deal a solid blow. The sounds of the onlookers had turned into a dull roar, and after Rylan¡¯s initial verbal jabs fell flat, they¡¯d both focused on the fight. Going into the match, Alex challenged himself to try to beat the warrior at his own game. Rylan was taller than Alex, and his huge form gave away his primary stat allocation, even if Alex hadn¡¯t scanned him. But after training with the sect masters, even if for a short time, Alex was feeling on top of the world. After all, who else had been able to be trained in such medieval weapons- surely not this self-important bull of a man¡­ Stupid Alex. Really stupid. Rylan¡¯s lips curled into a smirk as if he could read Alex¡¯s thoughts. He pulled his blade back, scraping against the cement stage, and hefted it with practiced ease. Its tip lazily drew arcs in the air as Rylan watched Alex. I really didn¡¯t give him enough credit. He¡¯s clearly trained and is a lot smarter than I thought. Alex could feel a tug of concern through his bond with Val, who was currently restricted to the sidelines with Sam. In hindsight, Alex realized how foolish that had been as well. He was supposed to be a pair with the mana wyrm, but he''d accepted Rylan''s request to meet each other one-on-one. If anyone asks for such a stupid thing again, I¡¯ll laugh in their face. Valtherion is just as much a strength in my kit as my Mana Threads. He winced as he thought about how his own ego had him putting a restriction on his tools in the match. Sighing, Alex accepted that he should stop messing around and face the fact that Rylan was more than just a spoiled, lazy asshole. He¡¯s still a spoiled asshole- just clearly not that lazy. Alex refocused on the fight as Rylan stepped forward, his lead boot slamming into the ground as he thrust forward with the greatsword. Alex used the Willow Branch Sways to avoid the thrust and couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the effect of stats in combat. The greatsword must weigh at least three or four times the weight of his own sword, and Rylan was able to move it with such ease. Seeing that the slash missed, Rylan stepped further into the lunge and rotated his body to let the blade drag across the ground. As he spun, the flat of the greatsword came up to rest on his shoulder, and he used his forward momentum to throw his upper body forward and catapult the greatsword in a downward arc with increased force.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Alex activated [Feather Step] and lightly danced to the side. The power of the slam cracked the cement, and even through his focused state, he could hear the crowd release a collective gasp and then cheer with approval. I doubt that my physical threads alone would be able to stop him. His Strength is so high that he¡¯d probably just walk right through it. He thought about his own weapon¡¯s nature. The jian was sleek and nimble, and the style he¡¯d been taught was used to analyze opponents¡¯ fighting styles and then capitalize on openings when found. So far, Alex hadn¡¯t seen many openings in Rylan¡¯s form. Even if his form was practiced, Alex realized that the weapon itself had flaws. It was slower and, despite being powerful, required Rylan to commit to his attacks wholly. Alex smiled wide enough for it to show through his mask as he accepted the man as an opponent and pulled on his mana. He used [Mana Thread] to create several strands from his left hand. Even though he¡¯d only leveled the skill once since Christmas, that still put the skill at (Novice - Level 18). Alex knew that he was getting close to the skill¡¯s next advancement and had specifically been attempting to put it forward in a way that would enable easier multi-thread use cases. He allowed three threads to form. Two went forward to begin laying a ritual and another behind him in case he decided to set a trap to draw Rylan into. He placed a half-sized ritual with his modified structure on the ground between the two of them, even though he knew that laying the catalysts would be the most challenging part of the fight. He finished laying it in a few seconds and began a careful walk forward using the Flowing Water stance he¡¯d learned from Master Li. Rylan saw Alex¡¯s first offensive move since the fight started and eagerly moved forward to meet the advance. Splitting his focus, Alex paid some attention to Rylan¡¯s predictable left-to-right slash as he worked on an opposing ritual with the thread he¡¯d placed behind himself. Alex dodged another slash, and the two exchanged positions after moving in a tight circle. Alex moved backward over his half-sized ritual circle and dropped a metal ball onto the ground along with a feather. He did his best to turn to the side, hiding his movement of reaching into the spatial pouch at his side, though several in the crowd undoubtedly saw what Rylan could not. The two clashed again; this time, Alex was forced to use his sword to deflect the heavy blade, putting his wrapped hand behind his blade to stabilize it as he angled the larger steel away and toward the ground. Back on their original sides and in position, Alex held out his left hand and sent a pulse through the threads extending from his index finger and thumb, causing the ritual circle under Rylan to activate. The heavy man froze in place, and Alex was surprised to note that he didn¡¯t crumple to the ground. Damn, that¡¯s some crazy strength. He¡¯s still standing even with the Weight-Increasing ritual active and his heavy armor on. Is Strength better than Willpower? ¡­ Nah. Alex smiled and assumed a more normal stance before walking up to Rylan and extending his blade. The magically modified tip and edges were dulled for the tournament match, but the symbolism of Alex placing the tip under Rylan¡¯s chin was not lost on the crowd. ¡°Do you give up?¡± Alex asked, returning the same smile he¡¯d seen from Rylan during the fight. ¡°God, you¡¯re so fucking smug. No, I don¡¯t give up.¡± Rylan almost spat the last sentence. If Alex had kept his Heavenly Eye uncovered, he might have seen the gathering of mana around Rylan¡¯s legs as he activated a Skill with the telltale signs of movement ability. From a complete standstill, and without moving his legs, Rylan dashed forward and crashed into Alex. Even though his heavy blade had been weighed down and was out of position, the taller, heavier man in full metal armor won the contest for the occupied standing space. Alex fell backward and groaned. He rolled twice and came close to the edge of the small arena. His ears were ringing, and when he looked back up, he saw Rylan charging at him with the greatsword raised. At that moment, Alex realized that if the sword fell on him, even if it was dulled through magic, it would break bones or cripple him outright. Fuck. He stayed in a crouch and allowed his stat-enhanced mind to formulate a plan. Risky plan¡­ Well, at least this is more fun than working for Henderson. Despite the real danger in the situation, Alex found himself having the same kind of irrational fun he¡¯d felt during certain points of his escape from the Epic Rarity Rift. He reached into his pouch and willed a single feather into his hand. At the last moment, just before Rylan reached him and just after he fully committed to his attack, Alex used [Mirage] and [Feather Step] simultaneously. To Rylan, it would look like he stood straight up, but Alex took a step back and couched lower, hiding behind the illusion. As soon as the sword came through the illusion, Alex activated his movement skill and slid past Rylan. He stood on the other side, with two yards of space, as Rylan spun in frustration to face him. Clear from immediate danger, Alex activated the Weight-Reducing ritual under the larger man¡¯s feet. Having dropped the feather before his gliding movement, the ritual activated, and Alex could see the shoulder guards that Rylan wore rise from his shoulders as if weightless. Alex almost laughed out loud as Rylan called out in surprise, clearly caught more off guard by the reduction in weight than he¡¯d been by the increase in weight. Alex knew that the increase in weight was something that could be fought through, especially with Strength, whereas the ritual that reduced weight was much more abnormal and wasn¡¯t something that people were used to. Not bothering with a movement skill, Alex used his title-boosted Agility to rush forward and jump feet first into Rylan¡¯s chest. When his boots connected with the metal plate, Rylan was sent sailing from the arena. As he exited the boundary of the ritual, his armor regained its weight, and he crashed to the ground in a heap. Standing, Alex looked at the larger man¡¯s form, taking several heavy breaths. He looked down at the jian that Eura had given him and sheathed it in the black leather scabbard across his back. That was close. Way more close than it should have been. His hearing slowly returned, and he became aware of the large number of onlookers cheering his name. As he surveyed the crowd, he noted that quite a few seemed displeased with the results of the fight. Most surprisingly was the noted silence from several Peacekeepers on the other side of the stage. Suddenly uncomfortable at the continued praise and phone cameras pointed in his direction, Alex waved nervously before he felt a small skull collide with his own. Hey buddy. ¡°Prick. Sit down.¡± Alex let out a laugh as he let the small mana wyrm nuzzle into his open palm. Ever since Alex told Valtherion that Rylan was a ¡®prick¡¯ rather than a ¡®friend,¡¯ the bond had taken the difference in terms seriously. Sam and Mark also joined Alex on the small stage, and several others began to approach him to offer congratulations. Faces and words were exchanged in a blur, and Alex shook several strangers'' hands before the small crowd began to part and grew quiet. Alex saw Rylan approaching and wondered if the host of the tournament was about to make a scene about losing. The blond-haired man surprised Alex once again as he silently extended a hand for Alex to shake. ¡°Congratulations on the win,¡± Rylan said. As Alex accepted the handshake, he expected a crushing grip or subtle show of strength, but none came. The only outward appearance of anger or frustration was the totally deadpan look on Rylan¡¯s face. His eyes were hard, and Alex felt that there would be another match between the two of them in the future. Well, who knows? He¡¯s surprised me twice already¡­ Maybe he¡¯ll let this drop. Without saying anything else, Rylan released his hand and turned to walk off of the stage and out of the room, followed by a small stream of people. As he saw the big man''s shoulders disappear around a corner of the house, he turned to see Olivia standing a short distance away from the crowd, smiling at him. He returned the smile and pulled his head backward while raising an eyebrow. She simply shook her head and scanned the group of people gathered. Alex knew she was working the tournament hosted at the Voss Estate in her role as a Peacekeeper. She¡¯d snuck away a few minutes before the fight to give him a kiss and a pep talk. ¡°Man, that was AWESOME!¡± Mark said. He was standing just behind Alex, and it caused the smaller man to jump in surprise. No subtlety at all. ¡°Haha, thanks, man.¡± ¡°Oh dude, it¡¯s going to feel so good when we pick something from the Auction House and know that jerk has to pay for it himself.¡± Mark rubbed his hands together. Alex shook his head. ¡°What do you mean, we?¡± ¡°Aww, come on!¡± Alex laughed and saw Sam smiling at their exchange. He saw a small mana tendril extending from the teenager, so he sent a thread of mana to connect to it. ¡°I told you you were stronger.¡± Hey, I didn¡¯t dispute the fact! I did almost lose, though. I guess that¡¯s a good lesson for me. I should have taken him more seriously. ¡°It wasn¡¯t that close¡­¡± Alex raised an eyebrow. He knew Sam seemed to view him through some sort of hero lens at times. Were you watching that fight? I should have just smacked him in the head when he was restrained instead of trying to sound cool. ¡°Yeah, but you didn¡¯t use your eye or Valtherion at all.¡± Alex didn¡¯t respond, but he did smile along with Sam as the boy laughed at the fact that Alex really did sound silly by offering to let Rylan surrender. Next time, I¡¯ll just hit him right away. 62. Spoils of War After the fight, Alex was approached by many of the Guild Members and Recruits. He was surprised by the number that seemed to know him from one thing or another and the fight seemed to solidify his strength in their minds. In truth, he¡¯d been a bit embarrassed by the whole thing, but he couldn¡¯t deny that the recognition felt good and rewarding for everything he¡¯d been through in the last two months. When most people continued on their way to the dining room, ushered by the house staff to the free food, Alex was left with his three friends in the outdoor training area. The heaters were blasting to keep away the winter chill, and various bits of trash littered the ground where people had left cups or plates. It reminded Alex of how a baseball stadium looked as everyone left the stands. ¡°Good fight,¡± Elana said as she approached their group. She had two men following behind her, who Alex didn¡¯t recognize. ¡°Thank you,¡± Alex said while stepping forward from his group. ¡°Your brother was a much tougher fight than I had expected him to be. It was close.¡± She smiled and thanked him, saying that Rylan would be pleased to hear him say so. Doubt that. The conversation quickly changed to her purpose for approaching their group. ¡°I was hoping we could chat in private. This is Derrick Holloway, executive coordinator for the Guild¡¯s Rifts.¡± Alex shook the offered hand before Elana continued, ¡°And this is the Guild¡¯s contract lawyer. He¡¯s helped us write up all of the contracts for those who sold us Rift information.¡± Ah, now I see. ¡°Oh, you want to exchange the details now?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re open to it. The sooner we can begin to capitalize on such a Rift, the more the Guild will benefit.¡± Alex looked at his friends and shrugged. Mark and Sarah smiled and waved to him as they ushered Sam toward the food. Valtherion refused to leave his side after the fight, and as Alex followed the trio toward the Voss estate, the growing mana wyrm curled around his shoulder. It was a short walk through the house and down a set of steep stairs for them to reach a large, comfortable room. ¡°Wow,¡± Alex said. ¡°Please, make yourself comfortable. Would you like a drink?¡± Elana gestured toward the room. His teeth clicked as he forced his jaw shut. Unused to the wealth the Voss family had, he had expected the negotiations to happen in a room meant more for business or conferences. Something similar to the ones that he¡¯d sat in on during his time with the ad agency. This room though, was spacious and cozy. Leather and wood covered most of the room, softened by various red and black carpets. The far wall was lined with an enormous bookshelf, and to the right was a well-stocked bar. Elana poured herself a drink and stopped the bottle as Alex shook his head and moved toward the leather sofa in the center of the room. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I have a lawyer too?¡± Alex asked, feeling oddly confident despite being out of his depth in this situation. Too bad I can¡¯t reach out to Dad or Jake. While he didn¡¯t feel as meek as he once did, they could handle the situation better than he could. He had to acknowledge that their jobs made them, even Jake, much more equipped to handle something like this. Elana waved her hand in the air, ¡°You¡¯re welcome to contact one if you want and we¡¯ll cover the cost for you. But, you¡¯re a Guild Member, and we want to take care of you. He is a lawyer for you as much as he is for us. Normally, we offer the same contract to anyone bringing us information on a new Rift. But-¡± She stressed the word and raised both eyebrows, ¡°Well, this isn¡¯t just another Common Rift. We want you to feel good about giving us this information.¡± She looked to the man who¡¯d been introduced as a lawyer, and he nodded at her before reaching into a briefcase and laying a packet of papers on the table. ¡°I¡¯ll be very honest with you, Alex. If this is truly an Epic Rarity Rift, we probably don¡¯t even have enough funds on hand to pay you an equivalent value. The eight-times time dilation alone is worth an absurd amount of money.¡± Alex wasn¡¯t sure what to say, so he remained quiet. ¡°Think about it this way. There are billionaires across the country who have open contracts to purchase slots in a Rift that will let them live eight times longer than they would on Earth. Most of these contracts start in the several million dollar range. It will be up to us to make that Rift feel livable for them and have enough amenities that they¡¯re interested in giving up their current lives of comfort, but the allure of living eight times longer is very strong for some people.¡± Damn, I didn¡¯t even think about that. Alex¡¯s mind had been engrossed in the idea of training in an area where he could make more progress than others. But of course, there would be people willing to spend money to live longer, even if they had no desire to level up or fight in the Rift. ¡°That¡¯s not even the most valuable part here, though. The fact that this is a D Rank Rift means it¡¯s one of the few out there that anyone knows of. Most Rifts appear as E Rank. If there are other D Ranks, the government is likely keeping them under lock and key. This could give us a huge advantage in terms of a place to train our Peacekeepers or get our hands on a steady supply of those purple D Rank Mana Stones you showed me.¡± She shook her head and took a sip of her drink.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Alex laughed and adjusted the Celestial Robes he was wearing from the fight. ¡°Am I selling this thing to you, or are you selling it to me?¡± Some of the tension eased out of the group as they all laughed. ¡°Ms. Voss is just attempting to let you know that the Moderators of the Guild all recognize the potential value you are giving us. We appreciate that, and while we want to give you something of equal value, that just isn¡¯t possible right now.¡± Derrick spoke up for the first time. He had no hair and a white beard. While the man wasn¡¯t overweight, he was clearly someone who either hadn¡¯t Awakened yet or hadn¡¯t begun to increase any of his physical stats. His smile was genuine, and he seemed excited by the possibility of what was being offered to the Guild. Alex nodded before accepting the paper that Elana slid across the wooden center table. He was immediately glad that he didn¡¯t have a drink in his hand, or else he might have spit it across the beautiful couch and carpet. It took a conscious effort to keep a mostly neutral face. Even though Elana had hinted at a large sum in their previous talks and she¡¯d been willing to help him get a few items from the Auction House section of the AG App, he hadn¡¯t anticipated the numbers shown in the contract. ¡°The lump sum is more than we originally spoke about,¡± Elana said, noting his raised eyebrow. ¡°But the other Moderators assure me that this is still not a fair sum. We¡¯ve added additional stipends to allow your account and payment to grow as we pull benefits from the Rift. Even with the mask on, he had to keep his face neutral as he stared at the first line. Val stirred on his shoulder, drawing the eyes of those sitting across from him. 50 million dollars? Is that for real? He looked at Elana and then back down at the page. 20% of all Mana Stone entry fees collected from those entering the Rift. 5% of the value of all D Rank Mana Stones harvested from the Rift. 5% of the value of all other resources extracted from the Rift. Alex coughed and skimmed the lines several more times. The amount of wealth being offered immediately and even over time seemed completely unreasonable to him. ¡°Because the monetary value isn¡¯t as much as we¡¯d like to offer, we¡¯ve added a few additional benefits. You¡¯ll have personal and exclusive access to enter the Rift for at least 24 hours each month, and if those hours aren¡¯t used, they can accrue to a maximum of 72 hours. The Guild will allow you access to any of the trainers you want to learn from or some of the training material we¡¯ve acquired. Lastly, you¡¯ll get the first right of refusal to purchase any items of exceptional value that come from the Rift. You would need to offer a fair market price for the item, but we¡¯d reach out to you first before putting it up on the Auction House tab.¡± Alex sat in silence for a few heartbeats, scanning further down the page. Several more sections related to duration and contract renewal allowed him to renegotiate after five years and ensured the contract would last for a minimum of ten years. The Guild was also willing to offer him liability protection and protect his information if he agreed to sign a nondisclosure agreement on the Rift information. Makes sense. Guess it wouldn¡¯t do them much good if I turned around and tried to sell this to someone else as well. ¡°Sorry, this is pretty crazy.¡± He laughed once again and had to rest his hand on his knee to prevent it from shaking with excitement. Elana smiled at him. ¡°Is there anything that you¡¯d like to negotiate?¡± The Guild lawyer spoke up. ¡°Please keep in mind that this contract is very generous. We don¡¯t want to close off any additions you might want, but please understand that we could not offer much beyond what is already on the table.¡± He smiled apologetically, and Elana smiled as well, acknowledging the point. Alex skimmed the lines again before speaking up, ¡°This is honestly more than I would¡¯ve thought to get. I don¡¯t want to cause any offense, so please don¡¯t take it that way, but there is one thing I¡¯d like to change. I have no desire to return to the rift any time soon, but eventually, I¡¯ll want to bring my friends in there for their benefit. Could I lower some of the monetary incentives to get more slots?¡± The three of them exchanged looks, and Alex wondered if they were speaking in some way similar to his mana threads. ¡°Interesting¡­¡± Elana said. ¡°Did I say something wrong?¡± ¡°No, not at all. It¡¯s just surprising.¡± Alex just raised his hands in question, looking between the three. Derrick coughed. ¡°Well, it¡¯s just odd that you wouldn¡¯t negotiate for more money. Instead, you¡¯re trying to get spots in the Rift for your companions.¡± Alex scratched his head. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± He asked, a bit defensively. ¡°Nothing,¡± Elana answered. ¡°It just reveals something about you, at least in the professional, negotiator sense of speaking.¡± The tightness in his chest eased as he realized they were just surprised he was looking out for his friends and he hadn¡¯t slipped up or offended anyone. Well, of course- who wouldn¡¯t do that? They probably need to get in there more than I do. ¡°Unfortunately, that¡¯s probably the one point in the entire contract that¡¯s most difficult to negotiate.¡± Elana continued. ¡°You see, those slots have an extreme value right now, and likely even more so in the future as we get more Guild Members who reach the high levels of E Rank and are looking to push into D Rank. Giving more slots means less eventual profit and growth for the Guild. That¡¯s especially true if monthly availability is left open for you to use.¡± ¡°Why are the slots an issue? I know you had them on the lower Rifts, but that¡¯s just there to prevent groups from stepping on each other¡¯s toes right? I¡¯m telling you, the inside of this Rift is huge, I don¡¯t think you need to worry about slots.¡± Elana shook her head. ¡°I think you misunderstand. We aren¡¯t putting the limitation of slots on the Rift. That¡¯s a System thing. There will be more slots for an Epic Rift, compared to a lower level Rift. If my brother¡¯s information is right, then there should be 1,000 slots in an Epic Rift. After that, the System prevents anyone from entering.¡± I had no idea¡­ ¡°What if,¡± the lawyer spoke up while flipping through his own copy of the contract. ¡°instead of dropping your own benefits, we just add an addendum that states you can give your monthly slot to someone of your choosing if it¡¯s assigned through the AG App?¡± He looked at Elana and Derrick. Alex watched as they both nodded and agreed to the change. While part of him was sure that there were some different areas where he might be able to gain more from the Guild if he had a personal lawyer present, he didn¡¯t feel any pressure to push back against the generous offer. Especially with the ability to re-enter, gain more money over time, and renegotiate if needed in a few years. Alex was happier with the offer than he felt he had any right to be. It¡¯s not like I had to work for the Rift or anything. Val just chased the mana through the forest. Entering that damn place may have been the biggest mistake of my life, but it also seems to have made the biggest payoff of my life. The group exchanged a bit more talk, and Elana had another drink as Derrick asked Alex about his time in the Rift and the different sects. The large man took copious notes as Alex explained what he could about the humans within and the political dynamic he¡¯d seen while in Tianluo. Alex warned them of the generally hostile nature and attitude of most of the sect members. He described their expected power levels, now that the restrictions on both sides had been lifted and the whole Rift was officially D Rank. He also encouraged the Guild to meet with Eura at the very least whenever they felt comfortable sending people in. After a bit of time, Valtherion uncoiled from his arm and flew around the room to investigate. Elana was fascinated by the mana wyrm. When Alex had told her to hold a Mana Stone in her hand and Elana did so, she had laughed like a little kid when Val happily curled up in her lap and began to siphon the stone. Fuck. I¡¯m rich. Like¡­ filthy rich. 63. Peacekeeper An hour passed as Alex talked with Elana and Derrick. Alex told them more about his time on the run from the Shadow Sect. After explaining the dynamic between the two sects and how much they could learn from Eura, Elana gave an assurance that they¡¯d attempt to make contact with the Celestial Lotus Sect after entering and asked if he would mind meeting with Derrick at a later date to go over the Rift information in more detail. ¡°Uh,¡± Alex said while scratching his head. ¡°There was one other thing about the Rift. I know it might be a bit of a stretch, but I really do have so say something.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s really not even likely that anyone could find them¡­ but if you happen to find a group of large spiders in the tunnels on the dark side of the Rift, please don¡¯t attack them.¡± ¡°Okay?¡± Elana drug the word out, clearly confused. ¡°Don¡¯t fight the monsters in the Rift?¡± ¡°No, sorry. Just these ones, the System even marks them as ¡®Nonhostile¡¯ if you scan them. They are really the only reason I survived in the Rift. They helped me a lot and if you could just put the word out not to harm them, I¡¯d really appreciate it. This sounds crazy, but I want to go back and find them at some point.¡± Elana raised an eyebrow and looked at him in silence for a few minutes. ¡°Alright, I can do that. But you have to understand how strange that sounds, right? Especially with the number of Rift breaks going on around the country right now?¡± Alex nodded and didn¡¯t say more on the topic, pleased that she was willing to do that much. After a time, the Head Moderator cleared her throat and asked for some privacy between herself and Alex. Valtherion had fallen asleep in her lap like a fat and happy cat. ¡°There is something I wanted to ask you, aside from our deal for the Rift information.¡± She finished her drink, the single large cube of ice half melted. ¡°About what?¡± ¡°Are you aware of what¡¯s been going on with the Hunter¡¯s Association in the last two weeks?¡± ¡°Well, I mean, it¡¯s been all over the news since the President¡¯s announcement. And obviously, there¡¯s more military around the city than I¡¯ve seen before, but they haven¡¯t really bothered me at all yet.¡± She nodded in response, as if it were expected. ¡°Well, we have been able to keep close tabs on the Hunter¡¯s Association, just from a few family contacts that we have. In the last two weeks, specifically leading up to the new year, the government has begun to change the message that is being pushed to the public. Originally, they were attempting to become a group similar to what we have here with the Adventures Guild, but backed by the government. The hope was that they would then keep people registered and organized as the main body of Awakened in the country,¡± Elana said. ¡°That¡¯s a large reason we¡¯ve been working to create our own group, is to avoid being under their purview.¡± Alex nodded. ¡°That was a selling point Andrew talked about when I joined.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s begun to change. I think that they¡¯ve seen how large the Guild has gotten and how many smaller guilds are popping up to follow in our footsteps. They¡¯ve given up trying to compete with that and have found a more strategic route. The government is now positioning itself to be¡­ well, a governing body. Rather than being their own group, The Hunters Association would work like a regulatory body, meant to present and enforce rules on any guilds in the country.¡± ¡°Well, that still kind of defeats the purpose of what you¡¯re trying to do, right?¡± ¡°Exactly; there¡¯s not a real purpose to have our own group separate from the government¡¯s rule if they plan to position themselves as the group that regulates all guilds. As I said, small guilds are popping up all over the place, and the Hunters Association has already started to bring them in with the promise of protections, organizational benefits, and other offers.¡± ¡°Have they tried to bring us under their umbrella?¡± Elana shook her head in response as Alex activated his Mana Thread ability and began to form small circles in the air. Elana didn''t seem to notice, so as Alex thought through what she was saying, he idly made the practice forms that Eura had taught him. ¡°No, not yet. They have started to apply pressure on us, though. Apparently, there was some sort of radical group that there was an incident with in December, and they¡¯re trying to say that it was a part of our organization.¡± Alex raised an eyebrow and his concentration faltered for a moment and he almost lost the shape he was constructing. ¡°It wasn¡¯t, of course. Disgusting group calling themselves the Untethered. They were preaching some of the same stuff we tell people, just to a total extreme. They were recruiting people and keeping them as slaves, forcing teenagers to fight against monsters in pits to awaken¡­¡± Elana had to compose herself. She let out a breath and tucked a loose hair behind her ear. ¡°The other Moderators and I believe they were just stating to be affiliated with us because we are currently the biggest privately run group out there. We¡¯ve got branches all across the country at this point and have been bringing in a lot of resources.¡± ¡°The pressure isn¡¯t too great, just them letting us know that we¡¯re being monitored and they¡¯re looking into our dealings. The real problem will come when enough of those smaller guilds submit. Then it will look like we aren¡¯t being a team player- or at least, that¡¯s how they¡¯ll spin it.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Alex said slowly. ¡°What does this have to do with me?¡± ¡°Well, right now, we¡¯re actually the ones with the public favor. A lot of polls are showing that people don¡¯t want this Awakened business to be controlled by the government. We¡¯re running social media campaigns and are organizing a press conference to keep pushing for the idea of a free Awakened community and the safety of Earth.¡± Wow, she¡¯s doing a whole lot of prefacing here¡­ Alex didn¡¯t comment, letting Elana finish her train of thought as he cycled through smaller and smaller shapes with his mana. She let out a sigh, recognizing that she was stalling. ¡°I wanted to know your thoughts on joining the Peacekeepers. You¡¯re already a Guild Member, and after tonight many Moderators would jump on the opportunity to bring in someone who can put Rylan in his place.¡± Huh? His concentration faltered and as the threads of mana over his hand burst, he saw Val dive for the space above his hand. Alex smirked, as he knew that if he were to remove his mask to look with his mana sight, the cloud of ethereal mana that was created from his failed skill would be gone. ¡°I know that you¡¯re familiar with the role, as you and Olivia seem to have gotten closer in the last few weeks. She¡¯s one of our best and strongest. This might seem rushed, but I¡¯ve given it some thought. I¡¯ve seen how you act and carry yourself. You¡¯re loyal to the Guild, as evidenced by the huge Rift deal we just made. Also, you¡¯re strong. We need trustworthy, powerful people in the right positions. As we continue to expand, negotiations will soon be between the Guild and other branches, possibly even other countries. Having someone like you in the spotlight could go a long way for our goals. The Hunters Association has done something similar with the Crimson Warrior they are showing all over the place.¡± ¡°I-uh, woah. Sorry, this was not what I was expecting. There seems to be a lot of trust here. Where is that coming from? No offense, but we haven¡¯t interacted much, and I¡¯ve only been with the Guild for¡­ a month?¡±Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Fuck, more than that? The time dilation from the Epic Rift is still messing with my head. ¡°Sure, it hasn¡¯t been that long since you joined. But again, there are people watching you, especially since you mysteriously returned before Christmas. Also, even if you and I haven¡¯t interacted much, Olivia and I are together almost every day. She¡¯s local, trains here constantly, and works most of the Peacekeeper contracts that I put up. If she trusts you, I don¡¯t see a reason not to give it a try and get to know you better.¡± There were several awkward moments as Alex floundered. ¡°I¡¯m flattered, Elana. Really, thank you. But I don¡¯t think this is right for me. Two weeks ago, I was fighting for my life and unsure of what my life might look like if I got back home. I¡¯m just happy to be back with my friends.¡± He smiled, a bit embarrassed, ¡°And it doesn¡¯t hurt that you just helped me turn that nightmare into a fortune. I¡¯m not in the right headspace for a responsibility like that. I want to spend some time with my friends, recover, and help them grow stronger. I learned a lot in that Rift, and I want to make the most of those gains.¡± Elana looked at him, her eyes searching his face for several heartbeats. She slapped her legs and stood. Stretching, she walked back over to the bar and poured herself a drink. Alex realized he hadn¡¯t paid much notice of her appearance before she let her blonde hair down from the professional bun it had been in during their earlier meeting. ¡°It¡¯s hard for me to get upset at that response. It sounds like a shockingly reasonable and rational answer. For some reason, that makes me want you to take the job even more.¡± Alex chuckled awkwardly. ¡°How did you expect me to respond?¡± ¡°Eh,¡± Her back was still turned to Alex, but he could see her shoulders shrug. ¡°I had it at a fifty-fifty on if you¡¯d accept. A lot of people jump at the opportunity for power and leadership, and most of the Awakened I deal with seem to be all too eager for more power. Even if it¡¯s just the hierarchal power, as opposed to the leveling kind of power.¡± She returned to the couch across from Alex and sat back in a much less professional manner than before. I denied her offer, and her mask came off. It¡¯s a bit funny, but I prefer this anyway. ¡°There is something else that I need to tell you, but I thought it was better to wait until we could talk privately.¡± Alex lowered his voice a bit and tried to seem more serious so that there was no way what he was about to tell her could be taken as a joke. ¡°Eura also told me something else about the integration. He¡¯s retained some of his memories from before his world was broken and was a big reason I gained a lot of information about the System and training, so I do believe him¡­¡± He took a break and just let it come out, ¡°He said that it¡¯s possible for us to fail the integration. That¡¯s how the worlds inside the Rifts are created in the first place.¡± Elana met his eyes and he was surprised to see her own serious look. ¡°We would then become just another Rift in someone else¡¯s integration, likely with the System removed and most of our memories as well?¡± Alex straightened, and the surprise must have been clear on his face. ¡°You¡­ you already know about that?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Elana said, leaning back in her chair. ¡°Why do you seem so shocked?¡± ¡°I- I guess because I learned it from someone who had lived through all of that. Eura has lived for hundreds of years and is really strong. I thought it would be pretty scarce information.¡± He shook his head. ¡°If people know about this, why isn¡¯t everyone working together? All of this political maneuvering and power grabbing seems¡­¡± he trailed off, not wanting to offend Elana. ¡°Short-sighted?¡± Elana supplied with a smile. ¡°Yeah,¡± Alex said, relieved that he hadn¡¯t been the one to say it. ¡°I mean, this isn¡¯t just about the US anymore. We¡¯re talking about the fate of our entire planet- as insane as that sounds to say out loud. Shouldn¡¯t that be enough to make people set aside their differences?¡± Elena''s expression turned grave. "It should be. And it''s one of the main reasons I push so hard to strengthen the Guild. But people..." she sighed, "people don''t always make rational choices, even¡ªor especially¡ªwhen faced with such huge threats. Some refuse to believe it. Others think they can profit from the chaos. And some..." she met his eyes again, "some are just afraid, and fear makes people do stupid things." "I get that," Alex said softly. "But knowing what''s at stake, how can we¡ª" "Change their minds?" Elena finished for him. "As far as I understand it, this isn¡¯t something that is decided quickly. The decision of whether or not we pass the integration isn¡¯t made in a few years, but likely over decades. For now, the world powers know about this and all of them are keeping it quiet. We have more immediate problems to deal with that if aren¡¯t worked through, we won¡¯t have a say in how things are handled in the future. So, we are also keeping it quiet and focusing on our immediate position and growth." Alex sat in silence for a few long moments, looking down at his hands and processing the statement. ¡°How did you find out? Is this another one of your brother¡¯s sources?¡± When Elana nodded, he asked her a question that had been bothering him. ¡°How does he get so much information on the System and Rifts? I¡¯ve been thinking that he has access to some sort of high rarity Rift, like I did. But, seeing how much you just paid for access to the Celestial Rift, I don¡¯t think that there¡¯s some Rare or Epic Rift that you¡¯re keeping a secret.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not something I feel comfortable sharing, since it¡¯s his secret. But no, he¡¯s told me that it¡¯s something that¡¯s been granted to him by the System. If he had access to some high rarity Rift and didn¡¯t tell me about it, I¡¯d probably kill him myself. I can¡¯t even tell you how many problems this deal with you is going to solve for us.¡± She let out a breath and laughed. ¡°While we¡¯re on the topic or Rylan, do you mind if I ask you something¡­ a bit personal?¡± Alex asked, watching her closely to gauge her response. He saw her eyes grow a bit more sharp as she looked at him, but otherwise, her posture and body language didn¡¯t change. ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Rylan. Why do you let him get away with so much? I know he¡¯s family, but if you¡¯re talking about reputation and appearance of the Guild- he seems¡­¡± Alex tapered off, thinking of an appropriate word that was still polite. ¡°Loud?¡± Elana offered. Smiling guiltily, Alex nodded. ¡°Ugh, Rylan is my problem, really. We¡¯ve been close since we were kids. But not in a loving kind of way. Our parents were high performers and expected us to be, often putting us against each other. Our relationship has been filled with competition for as long as I can remember.¡± Damn, don¡¯t I know what that¡¯s like? ¡°Rylan is smart, sometimes too smart for his own good. You might not believe this,¡± She said with a rueful smile. ¡°But he was a research scientist before awakening. PhD in Chemistry and was doing really well a few years ago before his lab had a freak accident. Being the team lead, he took the brunt of the blame. Our parents were really hard on him from that; despite us both being adults and pretty set, he felt like I was lording my own career over his head. No matter what I did to try and help, he took it as an insult.¡± Alex couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Jake felt this way. Am I too sensitive? Is Jake just doing his own thing and I¡¯m putting myself down? Nope. Jake¡¯s an asshole, not at all the same. ¡°Anyway, when the Rifts began showing up. He jumped at the opportunity to get away from the science field and has been obsessed with gaining physical power since then. He¡¯s always had a tendency to be a sore winner, so it often comes off like he¡¯s lording that strength over others¡­¡± Alex waited, wondering if she would offer some excuse, but it seemed like she saw her brother¡¯s tendencies and acknowledged them. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right though. We¡¯re going places with the Guild, and he¡¯s got to get himself together.¡± ¡°I really only ask, because I¡¯m assuming that the entire tournament tonight was set up by him?¡± Elana nodded. ¡°I¡¯m also assuming that happened just because we butted heads during the party a few weeks ago?¡± Another nod. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be dragged into some sort of Guild politics. I¡¯m happy to spar and train, but I don¡¯t want to be Rylan¡¯s stepping stone to fame or whatever else he thought he might get from tonight. If I had to guess by the look in his eyes after the match, he¡¯s not going to let this loss go either.¡± Elana sighed. ¡°You¡¯re right. That¡¯s not really like him. I¡¯ll talk to him and do my best to head off anything else like this. You¡¯ve got my word that this won¡¯t continue to escalate. I should warn you though, Derrick is talking about creating a sort of team event and competition. This has nothing to do with my brother and is more about us trying to get people out there and closing Rifts. Initially, we were focused on keeping them open and farming the experience or quests as much as we could for our Members, but now, with the Rift Breaks happening around the country, it would be a lot better for our standing if we could be seen closing Rifts.¡± Alex let the tension fall from his shoulders. ¡°Thank you for heading that off. But this sounds interesting, you said it¡¯s a team event?¡± ¡°Yes, the goal would be to have teams contribute to closing Rifts. We haven¡¯t worked out all of the details yet. But there would be a scoring system for how much your team contributes to the Rift quest and how difficult of a Rift is attempted. We¡¯re hoping to have those contribution points be used by teams to purchase items from a select list.¡± Wow, that sounds awesome. ¡°I¡¯m really interested in that. When do you think it will start.¡± ¡°Probably soon. With that speech from the Hunters Association, we really want to step up our presence and make sure that people know we¡¯re helping keep things safe.¡± With his concern taken care of and his interest piqued, he looked at his watch, and Elana noticed the look. They exchanged a few more pleasantries before Elana downed the rest of her drink and walked Alex back to the main room of the estate. Despite two hours passing, there were still plenty of people enjoying the food and music inside. Alex took out his phone and used his right hand to text Mark while using the other to pat Valtherion on the head. There are still a few hours until the ball drops. I wonder if we could find an empty couch area to set up and relax. ¡°Mana?¡± Haha, yes. If we find a good spot, I¡¯ll give you some mana. 64. House Shopping Alex sat on the couch in his apartment, scrolling on his phone. The articles on the AG app were filled with useful information, and he found himself wanting to spend hours at a time reading through various articles. The most recent one was a passing fancy that made him curious about how Sam¡¯s class worked. At the thought of the teenager, Alex looked up from the article and into his room. Sam was lying on his bed with his head hanging off the end; he was tossing a Mana Stone up and down and watching Valtherion follow it closely, trying to stay within range of the stone to [Mana Siphon] without actually touching it. That¡¯s an interesting way to train. Alex snorted and returned to reading the article. ¡®Experience is given to Awakened through the intent of the task. Noncombat personnel are able to gain experience by performing a task with the intent of getting better and improving. It¡¯s a matter of mindset and will. Someone who is out in the Rifts, trying to gain experience through combat to eventually get a fighting class, is not likely to gain experience when they go home in the evenings and cook dinner; however, someone who wants to get the Chef class might be cooking with that very goal in mind. The latter would gain small amounts of experience from each dish that they made. So far as we can tell, combat classes tend to gain experience at a much, much faster rate.¡¯ ¡®As a warning, it¡¯s not encouraged for someone who wants to become a combat class, to attempt to accelerate their early experience by trying to complete tasks from safety in their off time like I mentioned for the Chef class. Like many things we are discovering about the System, a lot seems to be based off of intent and actions. If you want to be a warrior or fighter class of some sort, you should do everything in your power to only gain experience through those means, or else your options at level ten may not be what you are expecting.¡¯ ¡®A final note on this topic is that you can gain some experience through training. Though again, just like with the non-combat classes, it needs to be done with purpose and a desire to train for combat. The experience gain is much slower, but it has been confirmed that you gain small amounts by training and practicing.¡¯ Even though Alex was happy with his progression and had no desire to change his class to a noncombat one, it was an interesting concept. He let a [Mana Thread] snake across the floor and touched Sam with it. Boo. Sam yelped and didn¡¯t catch the crystal on the way down. It hit him in the forehead and rolled away on the floor, trailed by Val. ¡°Hey! Not cool.¡± Alex laughed. I¡¯m reading something on noncombat classes. Did they make you go fight in Tianluo, or did you gain all of your experience through healing? Alex could feel hesitation and tension from Sam through their connection, but after a moment, he got a response. ¡°It was just healing. I wasn¡¯t allowed to leave the city.¡± Hmm, okay. We don¡¯t need to talk about it anymore. I was just curious. He sent along feelings of comfort and reassurance. ¡°No, that¡¯s okay. I want to talk about it- to you, I mean. Not to Sarah.¡± Even from across the room, Alex could see Sam wrinkle his nose, which caused him to laugh again. Ever since Christmas, Sarah had been trying to corner Sam into telling her more about himself and his life before the Rift. She was subtle about it, or at least Alex had thought so, but Sam clearly picked up on what she was trying to accomplish. Alright then. I know you don¡¯t have a lot to compare it to, but how quickly did you level from only healing? ¡°It was slow, but some things made it go faster. If the sect warriors were hurt badly, then I¡¯d get more experience. I could see the blue light rise up from the healed wound, and there were easily two or three times more when I did something hard. The other time I saw more was when I pushed myself or tried new things with the healing skill.¡± Alex thought about that for a few moments and nodded. I see. That makes sense. So you got more experience when you were pushing yourself or pushing your capabilities in some way. Thanks, bud. He broke their connection and turned back to the article. It annoyed him that such a well-informed article was one of the ones marked to have been written from Rylan¡¯s information. Just before he was about to start reading again, he saw a text drop down from the top of his screen. Mary Powell: Hi, Alex. I¡¯m here. Fuck, it¡¯s already 3:00pm? ¡°Sam, we¡¯ve got to go. The realtor-lady is here.¡± Sam rolled off the bed, grabbed the green sweatshirt off the coffee table, and put it on as they walked toward the door. ¡°Come on, Val, bring it with you, or I¡¯m going to leave you here,¡± Alex called as he put on his own jacket. He grabbed his spatial bag from the small table by the door and attached it to his belt. It felt a bit odd to be wearing a leather satchel the size of a popcorn bag on his hip when he was also wearing blue jeans and an REI all-weather jacket. As Alex opened the door and turned to close it, he held open one side of his unzipped coat for Val to fly into its cover. Locking the door, the three of them descended the apartment stairs quickly to meet with Mary out front. They introduced themselves to the realtor that Elana had recommended a few days prior when they were leaving the New Year¡¯s Party. She¡¯d gotten back to Alex quickly, eager to talk about a large sale and help him find what he needed. After introductions, they piled into Mary¡¯s Escalade, Alex and Sam slid into the car''s back seat and buckled up. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s been a week or two since I¡¯ve been into this side of town. There¡¯s a lot of military here now. I guess that announcement they made wasn¡¯t any kind of joke.¡± Mary said to break the silence with some awkward small talk. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m just glad that they¡¯re not forcing everyone who¡¯s awakened to participate in all of this,¡± Alex said noncommittally. ¡°It¡¯s all so surreal.¡± There was a somewhat awkward pause before her voice bubbled up with excitement and changed the talk to a topic she was clearly comfortable with. ¡°Alright. We¡¯ve got three house tours lined up, Mr. Moore. I¡¯ve got one in mind that I think will be a winner. It¡¯s in your price range, and checked all of the boxes you gave me on Wednesday. The only downside is that all three options are outside the designated Safe Zone. Unfortunately, the announcement from the President was so sudden that we had to broaden our searches. Do you want to go straight to the option I think will be best?¡± Alex and Sam looked at each other. When Alex saw Sam¡¯s grin, he could tell that the teen was just excited to go shopping for a fancy house. Who am I kidding? I¡¯M excited to go shopping for a fancy house. ¡°Best for last. Always, the best for last.¡± They didn¡¯t have anywhere that they needed to be, and Alex was looking forward to doing some looking around at what his money could buy. He¡¯d spent the last two days talking to one financial advisor after the next, followed by an investment counselor and more. Now it¡¯s time for the fun part, damn it. He was surprised at how much of a headache it was to find his money worries gone suddenly. God, what a stupid thing to complain about. My past self would definitely slap me right now. ¡°First up,¡± Mary said as she began to drive. ¡°it is a very new smart home. It¡¯s a 10,000-square-foot gorgeous house of modern architecture¡­¡± She continued to talk about the house and answered Alex¡¯s questions about the buying process of such a large home. When they arrived at the mansion, Alex refused to continue to think of these buildings as simply homes if the other two were anything like this. Alex couldn¡¯t help but laugh and break down into nearly hysterical giggles as they toured the insanely nice house. Mary¡¯s description was spot on, down to the sleek and sharp design of the house, with floor-to-ceiling windows that reminded Alex of the Voss Estate. It had state-of-the-art features like the full smart home system, alarms, a home theater, and even an infinity pool that overlooked the valley. It was a six-bedroom hou- mansion with five baths and an in-home gym that was connected to the garage.Stolen story; please report. Even though the house was gorgeous and more than anything Alex would have dreamed of a few months ago, it wasn¡¯t exactly what he was looking for. It checked many of the items off of the list that he¡¯d sent to Mary, but there were a few more that he desperately wanted if he was going to invest this much of his newfound wealth. They got back into the car and drove another 45 minutes to the second showing. They passed through two checkpoints set up by the Hunters Association, and Alex kept feeling a nagging sensation like they¡¯d be stopped and arrested for something. But the military personnel simply waved at them as they drove through. I know that they¡¯re doing this for the monsters and not for the people¡­ it just feels so dystopian. When they got to the next house, they saw the difference immediately. Where the first option was the peak of modern design and technology, the second option was larger and older. ¡°This is a historic manor built in the 19th century. It sits on 15 acres of manicured grounds, complete with a hedge maze and private lake. The house itself is 12,000 square feet, with eight bedrooms, a grand ballroom, and a modest library. The previous owners modernized the kitchen and master bathroom but maintained the original hardwood floors and intricate moldings throughout. It¡¯s a beautiful piece of history, but it might require more maintenance than you¡¯re looking for, and the layout isn¡¯t ideal for the ideas you had about training.¡± Sam laughed and ran up the stairs. It made Alex smile to see the teenager let loose a bit and act goofy. Something about the ridiculousness of them shopping for a several million dollar home had Sam pretending to be a butler and pretending to dance through the ballroom. They finished the tour as planned, but Mary could tell that Alex wasn¡¯t as interested in the second option as he was in the first. Alex knew Mary was good at her job, and it was even more evident as she read the mood between him and Sam as they got into the car. The teenager had lost some of his steam over the last hour of walking around the large estate. Mary dropped just a bit of her professional demeanor and sounded more excited than she had when describing the prior properties. ¡°Alright, gentlemen, just like you asked¡­ we¡¯ve got the best for last! We¡¯re heading back to Montclair, which isn¡¯t all that far from your current apartment but, unfortunately, is outside of the designated safe zone. This property is quite special and only came up on the market in the last day or two. Like I said before, it¡¯s hitting most of the things that you wanted me to find and it¡¯s just a bit out of the price range you sent me, but I think you¡¯ll find it¡¯s worth it. Do you want me to walk you through it now, or should we wait until we get there?¡± Alex looked at Sam and saw him perk up. He shook his head and said, ¡°Let¡¯s wait.¡± Mary smiled, hearing him speak for only the second time that day. The thirty-minute drive was filled with small talk, and Alex wanted a bit more background on the house before they got there. ¡°It belonged to the Harrington family - old money, very prestigious. But with all the changes happening in the world lately, especially with the recent announcement about Safe Zones, they decided to move closer to their business interests in Europe. They''re motivated to sell quickly, which is why such a stunning property is available at this price. It''s a rare opportunity, especially for someone looking for a place that can accommodate a team of Awakened individuals like yourself.¡± They got to the house a bit later, and Alex started laughing as soon as they turned into the driveway. It looked like something out of a movie, long and straight with thick, trunked trees on either side of the gravel road. The front of the property was blocked by a few dozen yards of trees to either side, but past that, they could see flat and open grass to either side of the trees. Sam made a few sounds of amazement and began to laugh as well. When they got to the house, the driveway pulled into a roundabout with a stone fountain in the center that was currently not running. There were stone steps leading up to large wooden double doors. The building looked similar to the second house, with the old manor style estate, stone and brick building with ivy climbing up the front left corner of the house. They parked, and Mary began to talk as they walked through the house. ¡°The manor has been recently renovated and strikes a great balance between our first two options. It¡¯s got large ceilings and open rooms that are the signature of older construction, with many modern amenities and convenience. It¡¯s on about 20 acres, with a mix of beautiful open grass, like you saw out front, a personal garden in the courtyard, and a natural woodland area for privacy.¡± They walked into the foyer, and Alex ran his hand through his hair. It had a high ceiling and a large chandelier hanging overhead. Directly ahead was a cozy greeting area with comfortable chairs and a coffee table for guests. There were also stairs leading to the second floor at the far end of the welcoming room with a dark wood railing that matched the floors. ¡°The house itself is an impressive 15,000 square feet. You¡¯ll notice the exterior is a combination of stone and brick, partially covered with ivy on lattice to give it a timeless sort of feel. There are nine bedrooms in the main building. Two are downstairs in the west wing for any house staff you may decide to hire. The west wing also has a master suite with a balcony upstairs, an office, and a second bedroom.¡± Wait¡­ House staff? ¡°If you¡¯ll follow me this way,¡± Mary said as she took a left and walked into a dining room. ¡°Here is the dining room. I know it¡¯s a bit more formal than you¡¯d described, but that can be changed with just a bit of work and redecorating. What you¡¯ll really be interested in is this way.¡± They walked through the dining room and into an enormous kitchen. The appliances all seemed brand new to Alex, with several stoves, two fridges, and an oversized island countertop in the middle. The countertops were some sort of stone, and clean white cabinetry surrounded most of the kitchen on different sides. However, most noticeable was the glass door they could see leading out into a courtyard. Sam wandered over to the door to look through as Mary continued to talk. ¡°The kitchen is almost brand new. At the far end, there¡¯s a walk-in pantry, and past this is the laundry room and hired help housing suites. They have their own kitchenette and bathroom within the addition to keep their personal living quarters separate form the main house. Before we head into the courtyard, let¡¯s walk back to the east wing. There¡¯s a nicer entrance from over there.¡± Sam turned around wide-eyed, and Mary couldn¡¯t contain her smile. The three walked back through the foyer and into the right part of the building. ¡°It¡¯s shaped like a U?¡± Alex asked. ¡°Yes, exactly. The entrance and dining room are the base of the U-shape, and the kitchen and staff quarters make up the left side of the building. This living room heads straight back and connects to the home gym, which makes up the right side of the building. Connected to the living room,¡± she pointed across the large open room, past the double-wide couch and oversized TV, to a door, ¡°is the garage. It fits four cars comfortably and five if you¡¯re willing to squeeze them in.¡± They walked through the living room and Mary explained that the furniture they saw currently in the house would mostly stay. There were a few things marked to leave with the sale, but part of the offer to get the house sold quickly was to sell it furnished. When they got deep enough into the living room, Alex looked to his left toward the inner part of the U-shape. The wall was almost completely glass, and I looked into the courtyard beyond. ¡°The courtyard is quite unique and adds a real bit of Zen to the house. It¡¯s a mix of cobbled stone and grass patches with a small pond of water that backs up to the base of the ''U,'' which is where the stairs travel over and upstairs.¡± The group walked toward the glass wall and into the courtyard. Alex¡¯s breath caught as he took in the peaceful sight. The courtyard was mostly open to the weather, though protected from winds on all sides except one by the building. It got sun, and he assumed that there was a nearby hose or sprinklers to keep it watered. Well, what do you think? You wanted a space for a garden like Eura¡¯s. ¡°I- wha- no. For real? I could have it here?¡± Sam turned to Alex, with his mouth hanging open in disbelief. Of course. You¡¯re welcome to stay here as long as you want, Sam. Alex saw tears begin to well up in the teenager¡¯s eyes, and the blonde teenager rushed forward and gave Alex a hug. Mary, who was not privy to their conversation, paused in her speech to smile at them patiently. As Sam collided with Alex, they heard a muffled ¡°Ouch¡± from within Alex¡¯s jacket. Sam tensed, and they both began to laugh as Valtherion vocalized his displeasure. The rest of the tour passed quickly, but Alex could already tell that this was the perfect place for them. Even without seeing the upstairs, the gym, courtyard, backyard, and extra rooms were exactly what he was hoping to find. Once the tour was finished, Alex let Mary know that he¡¯d like to begin the purchase paperwork immediately. She laughed and said that Elana warned her he was a decisive person. She was even more surprised, though, when Alex mentioned that he¡¯d like to make a full cash offer for the house to simplify the offer. She was a bit speechless until he asked if they might be able to offer the Harrington family a bit less if he was willing to buy it quickly and in cash. Mary seemed to think that they would gladly accept the proposal. She stepped outside and left the boys to wander around the estate, as she called the seller¡¯s agent to communicate the offer. Alex and Sam wandered upstairs and into the master suite. There was a regular bedroom next door, and Alex told Sam it would be his if he wanted a place to stay. Across the hall from that was the study Mary had described, and Alex was pleased to see that even though the shelves were empty of books, they covered the two side walls. There was a large window behind a grand desk that overlooked the front yard of the property and several leather chairs in one corner. Alex was daydreaming about studying magic and filling the shelves with skill manuals when Mary found them. ¡°I¡¯ve finished talking with their agent, and they agree that the Harringtons will most likely accept. Assuming that they do, we can proceed with the paperwork immediately and likely get the keys into your hands in the next day or so. I would just need you to meet me at the bank and sign some paperwork to make it happen. Would that work for you, Mr. Moore?¡± Alex noted that Mary had regained some of her professional bearings after the statement that he¡¯d pay the nine million and change upfront to speed up the purchase of the house. While he knew it was a significant purchase and almost 20% of the lump sum he¡¯d received from the Guild, he felt it was worth it to own the house and the property and not need to worry about a mortgage or dealing with a landlord of any kind. With things changing so much in the last few months, and more changes to come, Alex didn¡¯t want there to be any sort of potential issues if he had payments that went up or banks decided to change how things were working. He was well aware that he¡¯d never had to face a problem like this one before, but felt confident after hearing the same advice passed to him from several of the advisors he¡¯d spoken to. "I think that will work just fine for me, Mary." Sam stepped up next to Alex as they looked out of the second-story study and over the long driveway. The entire afternoon had felt surreal, and Alex had a feeling that it would take quite a while to adjust to this new concept of wealth and financial security. Home. 65. The Help Well, this should be interesting. Huh? Sam nodded as the two of them climbed the stairs to the large wooden doors. The sky was clear, and the morning air was cold and fresh. I haven''t trained properly in days. Alex''s thoughts wandered as they reached the top of the stairs. This house is exciting, but I need to get everything settled soon. I can''t let my progress stagnate. He was itching to get back to leveling up and pushing his skills further. Alex turned to look at the gravel roundabout and the large front lawn. The snow had melted, revealing beautiful green grass with straight lines. He took a deep breath, smiling. Sam stopped and turned to look back at the front lawn with Alex. The teenager had fed off Alex''s excitement since their tour. Mary said Alex should have the keys by Monday. Even though it was the day before that, Alex had gotten permission from the Harringtons to use the house as a meeting spot for hiring potential staff. They¡¯d been happy enough with Alex¡¯s willingness to purchase the property quickly and with cash upfront that they assisted him in lining up connections for the interviews. Alex reached into his spatial pouch to remove the mansion key. At the same time he checked the pocket watch that Olivia had gifted to him. The old timepiece had taken some getting used to, but the two-month break from his cell phone had helped. He was making it a habit to carry the watch and looked forward to testing it in the next Rift. 9:18. Not much time until he¡¯s supposed to get here. Alex felt butterflies in his stomach as he thought about interviewing a lifelong butler. The Harringtons knew the property well and had recommended that Alex ideally hire three people: a chef to stay on-site full time and a maid to come for a few hours per day, five days per week. The third, and they had assured him, the most important, was a head butler. The butler would also stay on-site full time, but there was a noticeable difference in this recommendation, Alex noticed. For the chef and maid positions, Alex had received multiple recommendations and resumes to look through; however, for the butler, there was just one recommendation. They had been insistent that Alex take the man seriously and strongly recommended he hire the man on the spot. I hope it¡¯s a good recommendation and not just a family friend or something¡­ Alex felt some amusement come from Sam¡¯s connection and he turned a mock glare on the teen. ¡°You¡¯ve been spending too much time with Mark. I know he¡¯d think this was funny, too.¡± Sam smiled in response, and they entered the large house together. As they entered, Sam moved immediately toward the courtyard. In the last two days, Sam had been abnormally talkative about the prospect of having his own garden and trying to grow special, magical plants. It wasn¡¯t long before Alex saw a car coming up the driveway from the second-story office window. It felt awkward to take the stairs two at a time and compose himself before opening the grand door. He couldn''t help but feel a pang of jealousy at how well-dressed and composed the man appeared. Damn. That¡¯s a good-looking old guy. Edwin Hartley was an experienced butler who¡¯d recently lost the head of his house to a Rift excursion. This was one of the main reasons Alex was interested in meeting with the man. He was used to the idea of Awakened people. Alex took in his appearance as he ascended the stairs and was immediately impressed. He looked every inch the stately butler Alex would have imagined, even down to the white hair and perfectly groomed mustache. Is this a requirement of being a head butler or something? He looks so suave, what the heck. Edwin looked fit for his age, wearing a well-tailored waistcoat and shined shoes that conveyed his professionalism. His blue eyes scanned the front of the mansion with quiet appreciation. As he reached the top of the stairs, he paused to adjust his sleeve cuffs. It was a small gesture, but to Alex is seemed calculated and like one that spoke to a great attention to detail. Alex continued staring at the man''s impressive mustache until Edwin reached the top of the stairs and cleared his throat politely. ¡°Mr. Moore, I presume?¡± Presume? Pre-suuume. Alex had to restrain himself from mimicking the man¡¯s perfect posture. ¡°Um- yes, sorry. I¡¯m Alex, welcome. Thank you for joining me today.¡± Alex extended a hand for the man to shake. Edwin looked at it a bit shocked but took the offered hand before scanning the front of the house. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure. I appreciate your consideration for this position. You have a beautiful home, Mr. Moore.¡± Alex laughed and scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, it is. Let¡¯s head inside and talk." Did that make me sound like an asshole? He opened the door, relieved that Edwin followed with a neutral expression, seemingly unbothered. They walked up the stairs and to the office, where Alex offered the man a seat before sitting in the other chair next to him.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. The butler¡¯s face remained neutral except for a slight twitch of his eyebrow as he looked from Alex, seated next to him, then to the empty chair across the desk. Alex looked from him to the desk, then decided to stand in front of it instead. He leaned on the sturdy wood and faced the older man. ¡°Mr. Hartley, you come very highly recommended from the Harringtons. Did you know them well?¡± ¡°No, sir. I did not, but my previous Head of the House knew them well.¡± ¡°Well, you must have made an impression. Could you tell me a bit about your work experience?¡± "If I may, I have had the honor of managing estates for notable families for over three decades. My duties have included overseeing large households, coordinating events, and managing finances.¡± Alex scanned the man¡¯s resume again as he spoke. That¡¯s putting it modestly. His resume is crazy. Can I be in charge of someone like this? Henderson was my boss for the last few years, and he seems like a less qualified manager than this guy¡­ Time to just lay it all out on the table, this is only going to work if he understands where I¡¯m coming from and what I need. ¡°Look, can I be honest with you?¡± After a nod, he continued. ¡°I¡¯m way out of my depth here. Hiring full-time staff to manage an estate is not something I imagined myself doing in my lifetime, let alone at the age of 28. I don¡¯t want to be rude here, but I don¡¯t even know what to do with you. I¡¯m not used to ordering people around or hiring people. You have been doing this for a long time, and if we are going to work together, I need you to understand that I¡¯m likely not going to be anything like your previous employers. Will that lack of formality bother you? I just want to be comfortable and for the house to be comfortable.¡± Edwin cocked his head to the side as if looking at Alex in a new light. ¡°Very well, Mr. Moore. Your candor is refreshing. I have served individuals of varying dispositions, and I assure you that my role is to adapt to your needs. It is clear you value a certain ease in your household, and I shall endeavor to provide that while maintaining order. My duties will be carried out without undue stiffness if that is your preference." Alex felt a weight lift off his shoulders. ¡°That sounds perfect. Honestly, I just need someone who can handle all this stuff that¡¯s over my head and help me make sense of it all.¡± Edwin gave a small nod, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. ¡°I believe we shall manage quite well, sir.¡± ¡°One more thing,¡± Alex added, ¡°I want to make sure you¡¯re properly compensated for your experience. I¡¯d like to offer you a generous salary, enough to make sure you¡¯re comfortable and happy here.¡± Edwin raised an eyebrow slightly, then gave a small nod. ¡°I appreciate your consideration, Mr. Moore. We can discuss the specifics, but rest assured, I am quite content to serve to the best of my abilities.¡± ¡°There is something else important to talk about before finalizing anything. I hope this isn¡¯t too sensitive of a topic, but your previous employer was an Awakened?¡± Edwin nodded solemnly. ¡°Yes, he was. He passed away several weeks ago when entering a Rift near his hometown.¡± Might as well rip off the bandaid. Alex reached up and took the illusory mask from his face. The [Mirage] that was running through the Mana Spinner silk flickered before it shattered, and his normal face was revealed. There was a brief moment where Edwin¡¯s eyes widened, otherwise, he remained composed. ¡°I¡¯m Awakened, and the friends that I plan to come live here with me, are also Awakened. This is the life we plan to immerse ourselves in, and I¡¯d like to make sure you¡¯re alright with that. We¡¯ll put ourselves in danger, perhaps get injured or come home battered. I plan to use the estate grounds to train my friends and create a space for them to grow stronger so that they don¡¯t die out there.¡± For the first time in the conversation, Alex felt his resolve firming. This is what all of this is for. I can¡¯t forget that. ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a requirement, but I¡¯d also like you to give some thought to Awakening with us.¡± The statement caught the butler by surprise, and he inhaled sharply. ¡°Me? Why?¡± Alex shrugged. "There is more information coming out about non-combat classes, and I thought it might interest you. You¡¯ve devoted your life to this, so why not see what happens when you Awaken? It could help make your job easier or enhance your abilities." He raised his hand when he saw Edwin shaking his head. ¡°Don¡¯t say no right now, but think of it as an open offer and something we could revisit later. Like I said before, it¡¯s not required for the job, and I won¡¯t force it on you either. But I really believe this is the way our world is moving, and I¡¯m realizing that I¡¯m currently at the forefront of that push. I think it could be helpful to surround myself with other capable people.¡± There was a tense pause as they looked at each other, and when the seated man nodded, Alex let out a sigh of relief. ¡°That was really everything I needed to talk with you about before offering you a job. If you¡¯re not bothered by this life,¡± He gestured at his face, with the large scar and Heavenly Eye of the Celestial Sage in full view. ¡°I¡¯d be happy to have you join me as the head of staff. I¡¯m sure there are a lot of other logistics we¡¯d need to work out, and I¡¯ll need your help navigating that, but you¡¯re sort of my only option for this position, and I know I¡¯ll need the help.¡± Edwin smiled, ¡°If you are comfortable with it, I shall take the liberty of making initial arrangements to bring the estate to your desired state of comfort and function.¡± ¡°Yes, please. That would be a huge help,¡± Alex replied, relieved. ¡°Welcome aboard, Mr. Hartley.¡± ¡°Thank you, Master Moore. I shall not disappoint you.¡± Alex noted the change in the way the older man addressed him and waited for him to speak. ¡°Please, call me Edwin. Mr. Hartley is too deferential for our positions if I am on your staff. It is the proper way of address.¡± Oops. ¡°See, that¡¯s the kind of stuff I need to know. Alright, Edwin, it is.¡± Alex felt a bit odd calling a man more than twice his age by his first name, but by the small smile on Edwin¡¯s face, this seemed to make him more comfortable. Alex leaned back slightly, considering Edwin for a moment before making a decision. "Edwin, instead of just sorting through these resumes, would you mind staying this afternoon? I have a few more interviews lined up for the chef and maid positions, and I''d really appreciate your feedback." Edwin nodded. "Of course, Master Moore. It would be my pleasure to assist you." They spent the remainder of the afternoon interviewing candidates. Edwin''s presence was invaluable¡ªafter each interview, he offered concise feedback, pointing out details Alex hadn''t considered. Alex found himself gaining more confidence, learning how to evaluate potential staff, and understanding what qualities mattered most for his household. By the end of the day, Alex felt relieved, knowing he had Edwin by his side to guide him through the process. They finished their afternoon by discussing the logistics of Edwin moving onto the estate grounds. Edwin agreed to return each day over the coming week, not only to assist Alex and Sam in getting settled but also to continue familiarizing himself with the estate and the other staff. They also arranged for the chef and maid candidates they had selected to come by during the week, even if they weren''t ready to fully move in yet. This way, Edwin and the other staff could meet Alex''s friends, who would begin moving in on Monday, and Alex would have a chance to build rapport with them before everyone settled in permanently. 66. Moving in Excitement ¡°Come on, dude! Just spill it already.¡± Alex let out an exaggerated groan from his spot in the backseat of Mark¡¯s SUV. The car was filled with the sound of rustling jackets and the low hum of the heater, providing a warm refuge from the cold outside. The mood was light, with a sense of anticipation. Next to him, Sam was squeezed into the middle of the row between him and Olivia. Sarah was in the front and gave a light hearted laugh as Mark looked into the rear mirror. ¡°I mean, Alex. Really. Look at this kid¡¯s grin! He¡¯s just looooving the torture, huh?¡± Sam¡¯s mischievous grin caused the entire car to begin laughing at Mark¡¯s frustration. ¡°Stop being such a baby. We¡¯re almost there,¡± Alex said. He scrolled down through the lists of items that were posted on the Auction House section of the AG app. I was hoping that things would begin to drop in price since returning from the Rift, now that more people are awakening and closing Rifts. As he scrolled through the app, he noticed something odd. While some manuals were listed at astronomical prices with a ¡°Consumable¡± tag, others were marked as ¡°Study Copy¡± and cost a fraction of their counterparts. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s with these price differences?¡± Alex asked Olivia. ¡°Some of these are way cheaper and marked as ¡®Study Copy.¡¯¡± Olivia leaned forward to look past Sam. ¡°Oh yea, didn¡¯t you see the posts about that? Hm, maybe not. That was while you were¡­ gone. Anyway, someone figured out that you can photocopy manuals. It can scan the information from them, but the consumable function doesn¡¯t transfer over with them. So, we can make study copies of some of the better manuals and sell them for way cheaper to share information.¡± Alex stared dumbfounded, ¡°That¡¯s¡­ pretty mundane. Isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t it work though?¡± Olivia shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know, I guess I just expected there to be some sort of magical interference or that the System wouldn¡¯t let us do that. Like we would need some sort of skill or class to transfer the information.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure that¡¯s the answer to making more of the consumable manuals, but looks like our tech works just fine out here in the real world, so taking pictures of a manual or scanning copies is the way to go.¡± Alex quickly switched to the AG forums and found several trending discussions from a few weeks before about the development. Apparently, the ability to create study copies had caused quite a stir in the community, with many celebrating how it made knowledge more accessible. This changes everything. I could actually build up a decent library without breaking the bank. He tapped through the app until he found a filter that allowed him to sort through the listed manuals by type. When he found several basic runic manuals marked as study copies, he appreciated how the normal bit of technology had made learning more accessible. While the consumable versions still had prices of several hundred Mana Stones, actually increasing from where they had been before he entered the Epic Rift, the study copies were surprisingly affordable. Following the same approach he''d taken to learn rituals, Alex chose manuals that focused on general basics rather than specialized approaches. He hoped that this would allow him to learn and test the basic concepts and grow from that foundation. This is perfect. I can actually study these, and the cost is way easier to stomach. Even with my new wealth, this would¡¯ve hurt to eat the price of the other manuals. Alex added a few more study copies to his cart and completed the purchase, feeling good about the investment in his education. As he looked around at the quickly passing scenery. ¡°Mark, slow down some. We¡¯re almost there.¡± ¡°What? Here?¡± He slowed down and looked over at his phone which was plugged in and resting in one of the cup holders. ¡°No, that can¡¯t be right¡­¡± He mumbled the last words, but Alex was able to hear them and he forced down the smile that crept up his face. Sam nudged his side with an elbow. When Alex met the teen¡¯s face and saw his grin, he couldn¡¯t keep his own down any longer. ¡°Whaaaat¡­¡± Mark dragged out the word in disbelief as he turned the SUV onto the gravel driveway. The crunch of tires on gravel could be heard as everyone in the car grew quiet with disbelief. Alex felt his excitement bubbling to the surface as his friends took in the overhead trees, the lawn, and as they emerged into the roundabout, the beautiful estate. ¡°Dude- what!¡± Mark repeated the word in the same drawn-out fashion. The car exploded into chaos as everyone started asking questions and talking over each other. Olivia went so far as to lean forward into the front of the vehicle and press the button to open Mark¡¯s sunroof. Once open, she stood up and leaned in front of Sam to get her head out of the car as they continued up the drive. Once they reached the roundabout, they all piled out of the car, and Alex couldn¡¯t contain his laughter anymore. The winter air was biting, but the sun and their winter jackets did a lot to keep them warm. The front door opened, and Edwin stepped out onto the front porch along with the chef and maid who¡¯d accepted the positions during interviews the day before. Alex noted the difference in clothing that each attendant wore. Specifically, Edwin and Gabriella looked like they had stepped out of a fairy tale stereotyping their profession. Alex walked ahead of his friends, who, other than Sam, were all still gawking at the house. ¡°Guys, please meet Edwin Hartley. He¡¯s going to be our head of staff.¡± ¡°Hello, Mr. Hartley.¡± ¡°Good morning, Mr. Grant. Please call me Edwin,¡± Edwin said to Sam. ¡°Head of what now?¡± Mark asked. ¡°Uhh, my head hurts,¡± Olivia said, giving the three a wave before introducing herself.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Sarah finally spoke up, ¡°Alex.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± He said with exaggerated innocence. ¡°I¡¯m guessing that AG deal was more lucrative than you let on, right?¡± ¡°Maybe.¡± ¡°Dude! This is insane- are you serious right now? How much does something like this cost to rent?!¡± Mark threw his arm around Alex¡¯s shoulders and jostled them around as he hopped up and down. ¡°This is a tiny step up from your apartment, huh?¡± ¡°Rent? What do you mean?¡± ¡°Noooo.¡± ¡°Oh, yes.¡± Alex couldn¡¯t help but smile up at his large friend. ¡°It¡¯s big enough for all of you if you want to move in. But first, say hello!¡± He dipped out from the muscular arm and took the stairs two at a time. At the landing, he met with Olivia as she finished introducing herself to the maid, Clara. ¡°Everyone, like I said,¡± He held out his arm and gestured to Edwin. ¡°this is Edwin. He¡¯s the head of staff and going to help me make sure that I don¡¯t let this place fall apart. This here, is Chef Gabriella Cruz. Next to her is Mrs. Clara Mitchell, who will be helping us keep the estate clean.¡± Sarah stepped forward to introduce herself to the staff, and Alex saw Mark mimicking how he had said ¡®estate.¡¯ All the staff greeted the group in turn. ¡°Good morning. I¡¯m at your service.¡± Edwin said simply. Alex saw the older man¡¯s mustache twitch as the loud chef stepped forward. ¡°Hi everyone! Hope you¡¯re ready for some great food and a little kitchen chaos. Please call me Gabby,¡± She said. There is going to be some adjusting there for Edwin. During their interviews, Edwin had wanted to go with a different chef, but there was something about Gabby that reminded Alex of an older, more motherly version of Mark. She seemed genuinely happy and like she wanted to treat people to her love of cooking. She¡¯d become even more excited at the prospect of the job when Alex had mentioned potentially Awakening the staff, which just sold him on her even more. Edwin believed that the staff should be quieter, more out of sight, and a bit more deferential. In contrast, Alex felt that Gabby wanted there to be a relationship bordering on friendship while still keeping the line between boss and employee. After the introductions had finished, Alex began to guide everyone into the house. As they stepped inside, everyone removed their jackets, and Alex took off his own, allowing Valtherion to fly free. The tiny creature let out a joyful chirp and began to excitedly explore the house, zooming around Mark and Sam, who laughed at his enthusiasm. However, he hadn¡¯t even made it halfway through the tour before Mark, with a huge grin on his face, was practically bouncing as he tried to call dibs on a room. "This one''s mine! I can already picture my name on the door," he said, his enthusiasm infectious. Alex was surprised to see Sam glower at the Polish man and walk into the room, which Alex had already said he could have. ¡°Hey, hey! That¡¯s cheating!¡± Mark called. He left the group and ran to a different room, soon followed by Sam, who was laughing at the grown man''s silliness. Never change, Mark. Never change. ¡°Well, I should have seen that coming,¡± Alex said. ¡°Can I see the gym?¡± Olivia asked. ¡°Yeah, of course. It¡¯s right through here.¡± He led them back downstairs and into the living room. From there, he pointed to the far side of the open living space at a set of double doors that led to the gym. Alex sat down on the couch and laughed nervously. ¡°Pretty surreal, huh?¡± Sarah nodded and sat at the edge of another section of the couch. ¡°I don¡¯t want to sound like your mom, but did you think this through? This seems like a huge purchase.¡± He tensed before understanding her point. ¡°I know it probably seems like a crazy purchase. But I really did put some thought into it. Hear me out.¡± He sighed and explained that he''d consulted advisors specializing in sudden wealth. He¡¯d also spoken with a realtor recommended by Elana and gone from there. ¡°Look, the biggest reason I want to do this is to keep us all together. You and Mark are Awakened now. I don¡¯t want Sam to keep sleeping on my couch if he decides to keep staying with me. I want us to stay together and safe. I have some resources and training information now, after the Rift, and I want to share it with you guys. Mark made the joke during Christmas, but it really stuck with me- this idea of having a ¡®Team House¡¯ where we can all have a sort of home base¡­¡± He trailed off, realizing that he¡¯d been rambling. Sarah watched him quietly, letting him spill it all out. God, she¡¯s so analytical. She¡¯s probably thought through all of this already, anyway. After a few silent moments, she nodded. ¡°Yeah, okay. That makes sense. It¡¯s not my place to criticize you, but I just wanted to make sure you hadn¡¯t gone and done something crazy. I think it¡¯s a great idea.¡± ¡°I know you¡¯re just looking out, thanks.¡± She smiled, and Mark burst into the room from the foyer. ¡°There¡¯s a pool?! Why didn¡¯t you say so?¡± Alex laughed. ¡°Well, you ran off in the middle of the tour!¡± Another half hour of everyone excitedly exploring the large mansion and Alex was able to shepherd them onto the comfortable sofa in the living room. He wanted to explain to the rest of the group some of what he and Sarah discussed. ¡°Listen, I know this is a lot to take in. I just wanted to provide a home base for us¡ªsomewhere we can all grow stronger together, train without distractions, and support each other in this crazy shitshow. There''s no pressure to move in; just know you all have a key and are welcome anytime.¡± Sam and Mark instantly agreed to move in. Olivia spoke up first among the girls. "I''ll definitely be around to train and hang out, especially on the weekends. But with Liam and my Peacekeeper responsibilities during the week, it makes more sense for me to keep my place for now." She caught Alex''s eye and her smile widened slightly, both of them silently acknowledging that moving in together would be too much too soon. "I might not be able to move in full-time either, just because of my work. But it''s great to know I have a place here, especially to experiment and train with you," Sarah added. Alex felt tension he wasn¡¯t aware he¡¯d been carrying leave his shoulders. ¡°That¡¯s fine, seriously. I know it¡¯s a big decision¡­ but I¡¯m going all in on this life.¡± He reached up and pulled off the mask that had been covering his face as a matter of habit over the last few weeks. The spider silk stuck to his face and stretched slightly as he pulled at it, though he knew that from the outside it looked even more strange as the illusion distorted and broke. ¡°I don¡¯t want to keep hiding like this or feel weird about how strong I¡¯m becoming. It¡¯s just who I am now. Since I¡¯ve gotten home, I¡¯ve been trying to hide my eye and my scar, worried it would make me seem like an outcast or a freak; but when I gave it some more thought, I realized that I really just don¡¯t care. Fitting in seems like such a petty concern after the last few months and my focus is on getting stronger, regardless of what other people think. I want you guys to get stronger with me, and this can be a spot for us to grow without dealing with city neighbors and nosey people judging us.¡± I¡¯m done hiding. If people want to stare at my scar or my eye, let ¡®em. I¡¯m proud I made it out of that Rift in one piece. There was some more light-hearted conversation before Mark brought up the pool a second time. He talked Sam into joining him as they went to enjoy the indoor portion of the climate-controlled water. Sarah and Olivia, though stiff and a bit awkward together, went up the stairs to look at the unclaimed rooms. Alex looked out through the glass portion of the living room, taking in the expansive courtyard with its neatly trimmed hedges, stone pathways, and the sprawling open backyard beyond. The sun shone off the bare branches of the trees which cast shadowed patterns on the ground. The entire space was peaceful and full of potential. There¡¯s so much space¡­ His mind was drawn back to his purchase in the car. I wonder¡­ she¡¯s been talking about building a training facility, right? Alex pulled his phone out and called Elana to ask about training equipment and how to begin outfitting such a large space. After she gave him a number, he saved it to his phone and began to dial the company¡¯s number. He stopped as he heard a cough from the doorway. ¡°Edwin?¡± Alex asked. ¡°Master Moore, if I may?¡± He removed his own phone from his inner vest pocket and gestured at it with his free hand. Ah, you¡¯re saying this is the kind of thing I should delegate. Wow, I¡¯m dumb. ¡°Yes, please. That would be great, thank you. Can you also look into what sort of security the house has? If we need to, we should install some cameras or an alarm system or something. I¡¯ve never had money like this, but I don¡¯t love the idea of someone breaking in to steal it,¡± Alex said with a slightly nervous grin. Edwin bowed before stepping back through the doorway and out of sight. That¡¯s going to take some getting used to. 67. Downtime Alex stepped into his new office, cluttered with boxes and stationery items that had been moved in. Sam peered in from behind Alex at the door. ¡°What are you going to do first?¡± Maybe get the computer started up? I really need to organize my thoughts. Alex felt some uncertainty through Sam¡¯s feelings. ¡°Relaxing is important.¡± He knew that Sam was right, but he was beginning to feel antsy in a way that he¡¯d never experienced before. All his life, Alex had done various tasks and hobbies. He had a tendency to throw himself into something at full speed and lose himself in learning and exploring it, completely pushing aside his other fears or stressors, even if it was unhealthy to do so. He knew that¡¯s what he was craving, and the System integration, along with the possibility of learning real magic, was his perfect focus. He¡¯d been intentionally trying to take things slow since Christmas, but as he pulled up his Status Window and saw the meager progress he¡¯d made in the last two weeks, Alex felt the need to begin training.
Status Name: Alex Moore - Level 26 Class: Ritualist (Novice) HP: 570/570 MP: 540/540 Traits: (1/3) {Primordial Will} Titles: < Control Freak > Pathfinder Unbound One Against Many Control Freak Physical Stats: Strength: 24 Agility: 41 Constitution: 57 Vitality: 26 Magical Stats: Intellect: 42 Willpower: 343 Mana: 26 + 28 Wisdom: 74 Bond Skills: [Mana Siphon] (Novice - Level 16) Primary Stat Shared - Mana Active Skills: [Mana Thread] (Novice - Level 18) [Mana Infusion] (Novice - Level 16) [Feather Step] (Novice - Level 10) [Ritual Insight] (Novice - Level 17) [Mirage] (Journeyman - Level 8) Passive Skills: [Efficient Rites] (Tier I) [Sleep Resistance] (Tier I) Bound Items: Unique E Rank Growth Item - Heavenly Eye of the Celestial Sage
Seeing that he¡¯d only gained a single level in [Mana Siphoning] and [Mana Threads] was a bit depressing to him after all the rapid progress he¡¯d made. He felt like he¡¯d been wasting time over the last few weeks. No, I can¡¯t think that way. The downtime is good for me and spending time with everyone has also done my nerves a lot of good. He thought back to the first few nights after returning from the Rift. In hindsight, he was thankful that his friends stayed with him in his apartment. Some of the nightmares had been hard to deal with. More than once, he¡¯d wake up in a cold sweat or punched at the air like he thought a Shadow Serpent would crawl from a dark corner of his room. He wasn''t sure if he was willing to admit it to himself, but a deep down part of him knew that he hadn''t even taken the time yet to stop and really process everything that happened in the Rift and everything that he had done. After Sarah had realized just how much he¡¯d been through, she¡¯d really suggested that he meet with one of her coworkers. When it was clear that the idea of talking to someone made Alex uncomfortable, she made it clear to him that she was willing to listen and help him how she could. Something within him stirred as he realized that he¡¯d be burdening his friend with the things that he¡¯d done. She didn¡¯t deserve that kind of weight, especially not after they¡¯d spent the an entire week thinking that he had died. He knew he had some amends to make and felt like these issues he was having in the Rift experience and killing fell on him to sort out. The world was changing, and he¡¯d already decided that he wanted to change with it. Maybe this is the first step in that direction. Sometimes, I might just need to get my hands bloody. If it¡¯s what¡¯s necessary to keep myself alive or to protect my friends, I¡¯ll do what I need to. He felt his Willpower affecting him and didn¡¯t mind at all. The conviction was forming within him, and he knew that if it was between his friends or someone else, he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to do what was necessary. Alex knew that Sam was staring at him, but his thoughts were moving so quickly that only a moment or two had passed. He smiled back at the teen before deciding that brooding wouldn¡¯t do anyone good. He walked across the room and opened a small bag that was set next to the large wooden desk. He put the bag on top of the desk and then turned to open the curtains of the large window. With a beautiful view that was only disrupted by the faint sounds of construction equipment from the backyard, he flopped back into the leather chair and tipped the bag over. Alex admired the sleek packaging for a moment, feeling a flicker of excitement at the prospect of new tech. Just as he slid the box out for the brand-new laptop, Mark appeared in his doorway, towering over Sam. The large Polish man ruffled Sam''s hair, and even though the teenager swatted the arm away, Mark gave them both one of his infectious grins. In the space over Mark¡¯s shoulder, Val squeezed and flew past them and into the office, greeting Alex with a small head bump. ¡°Hey buddy, what are you up to?¡± Alex gave the mana wyrm a few pats on the head. ¡°Dude, how does this whole having a chef thing work?¡± Mark said from the doorway. ¡°Like, can I just grab some food from the kitchen?¡± ¡°Why are you asking me? Go ask Gabby.¡± ¡°She scares me. She¡¯s always walking around with that wooden spoon.¡± Sam snickered from right in front of Mark. Mark squinted his eyes and looked at him suspiciously, his voice hinting of mock offense. ¡°What¡¯s so funny ¡®bout that?¡± Alex rolled his eyes and ignored the two. He pulled the new laptop from the bag and opened the box, enjoying the feeling of new technology. As it began to boot up, he got up and began to open some of the nearby boxes. Some of the things he¡¯d ordered were simple office supplies. He found pens, sticky notes, paper clips, and more. The box he was looking for contained a small stack of leather-bound journals for him to use as sketchbooks and notepads. When Alex located the box, he sat back at the desk and began to get out all of his thoughts, as he so often did when he felt overwhelmed. Every once in a while, he¡¯d need to select an option on the laptop screen as it went through the setup process. Once he was done, Alex stood and walked with the open notebook over to the rolling whiteboard that Edwin had gotten for him. He grabbed a marker with his free hand and popped off the cap with his teeth. He began to restructure all the thoughts from the unorganized mass in the notebook into a more structured list on the whiteboard. He placed some of the bigger and more ambiguous questions at the top of the board and then began to structure a series of to-dos and fleeting thoughts about training and skills. By the time he had finished, he stepped back and looked at the board, feeling like he was already on a better path forward. ¡°Hey, we¡¯ve got to talk about how to start getting you guys ready to¡­¡± Noticing the quiet surroundings, Alex trailed off and glanced at the doorway and saw that both Sam and Mark had gone. They must''ve gone to get food. I need to make sure they know about the team event that Elana mentioned is starting soon and if I can get them into some Rifts to train before it starts, it would be even better for us. He turned back to the board and looked at the top of his list. The one, all the way at the top, was a question that had been nagging him for months now.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. "Who is Zaamis?¡± He read aloud. This was a big one, especially since Eura hadn¡¯t even known who the being was. Below that were some consistent notes for himself, such as ¡®Unstructured Magic > System Magic¡¯ and ¡®Use Ritual Insight.¡¯ His failure to optimize his use of the class skill was a point of major frustration for Alex. While playing video games, he wasn¡¯t really one to follow the ¡°meta.¡± But balance was needed, as he never wanted to be unoptimized. The fact that this was his real life just really increased the feeling that he wanted to do everything perfectly. The more he thought about the days he¡¯d gone with the skill not on cooldown, the more he felt like he was wasting an opportunity to gain strength. Below those key points was a list of to-do items. He had written some of the more pressing things that he wanted to accomplish, like checking the Auction House for more training manuals. As he thought about that, he stepped forward and added a small note to reach out to Elana on his order for the Rune Manuals that he¡¯d made a few days before. Other pressing items included brainstorming ways to use [Mirage], researching companion advancement, studying his new Advanced Ritual Manuals, and documenting what he''d learned from Eura. Though Alex had a good memory, the celestial had taught him numerous techniques and theories. They''d covered mana shaping exercises, mana circulation techniques, and methods for improving mana flow through the body¡ªparticularly through what Eura called "tempering rituals," which he expected to find detailed in the advanced manuals. While he¡¯d already begun to capitalize on a few of these more basic things himself, he wanted to share the information with his friends. Olivia, in particular, could benefit from a lot of the magic training Eura had shared with him, as her kit was something between a rogue and a shadow mage as far as he knew. If they wanted to work seriously together as a team, they needed to sit down and discuss each other¡¯s strengths and skills. He wanted to help them all grow stronger, and in his mind, he wanted to believe that assisting them to grow together would make them stronger than if he just focused on his own power. The power of friendship and all that. Right? There were some repeatable tasks toward the bottom that he hoped to begin doing every day. They included setting aside time for reading articles on the AG app, made easier by his new laptop, and practicing his mana shaping and circulation exercises. Lowest on the list, but far from least important, was his continued physical training. While he wasn¡¯t even close to the physique that Rylan had, he¡¯d been proud of his progress in the Celestial Rift. He wanted to continue that trend, and he planned to work on personally enhancing some of the gym equipment, either with runes or rituals. Hopefully, with the Rune Manuals, there are some runes I can implement. Otherwise, I can always use the Weight Increasing Ritual. He grinned at the thought. Alex walked back around the desk and finished setting up the laptop. As he began to click around on the desktop and install some of the most crucial apps, he called for Edwin. ¡°Sir. What can I do for you?¡± ¡°Edwin, can I ask you to do something for me?¡± ¡°I believe so, Master Moore. That is the entire purpose for my being here.¡± Alex was sure he saw the man¡¯s perfect white mustache twitch at the corner. ¡°Well, alright then. I wanted to see if you would be willing to study up on articles from the AG forums. I¡¯m going to be doing some reading myself every day, and I¡¯ll try to get everyone else on it as well, but I¡¯d like to make this a specific part of your job.¡± ¡°I like to read.¡± Alex paused for a moment, caught off guard by the straightforward and simple statement, which made him want to laugh. ¡°Okay¡­ well, that¡¯s good. There¡¯s a lot here to read. The information posted in these forums is the sort of information that can save our lives in the Rifts. If I had been able to do more reading and studying before I chased Valtherion into that Rift, things may have gone differently in there.¡± ¡°Hindsight, Master Moore. Hindsight.¡± Alex nodded in agreement. ¡°Do you have a computer or something to do this research on?¡± Alex grabbed one of the leather-bound books from his stack and handed it to Edwin. The man accepted the book and stood with it behind his back as he nodded and affirmed that he had a personal computer. ¡°Great, I need to reach out to Elana anyway and check on my manuals. I¡¯ll make sure that we get you added to the Guild as a member so that you can get access to the better articles on the forum. Try to condense the most important notes in that book, and with any of those notes, just make sure to write the article title if necessary so that we can go back and find it if needed.¡± ¡°Would you like me to begin compiling hard copies of these forum files for on-premise use? Also, if you¡¯d like I can call Ms. Voss in your stead.¡± Alex thought about it for a moment. "Yes, to the on-premise files. It can''t hurt to have the files handy. Having physical copies will make it easier to reference during group training sessions, and we can mark up important sections." For some reason, he found himself preferring to have crucial information in multiple formats, and he loved the idea of filling up his office as a miniature library with a wealth of knowledge. "As for Elana, don''t worry about that. I want to keep that contact open between us.¡± Edwin didn¡¯t say anything else, just bowed and silently retreated from the room. Alex sat back in his chair and decided to check something off his list. He opened the AG website, logged in with his account information, and began to hunt through the Auction House section. He began looking for skills that fit with the general theme Eura had explained to him more than a month ago in the grove. After giving it a lot of thought, Alex liked Eura¡¯s advice. Even though it might make him weaker at the moment compared to some others who were focused on structured magic or skills. Alex resonated with the concept of setting himself up for huge success down the road. His plan was to find skills or manuals that would enable him to learn casting magic or spell patterns that he would then practice and cast on his own. It would take a lot more time to learn those spells through the unstructured method, but it would give him a lot more freedom and flexibility down the road. After a half hour of searching, he didn¡¯t find anything that grabbed his immediate attention for the cost of what was being posted. It wasn¡¯t until he started clicking through the forums that he found a post that caught his eye. The post was from a user complaining about an item that they¡¯d found in a chest during their Rift run had a restriction. They attempted to break the token multiple times but kept receiving a System error, telling them that their Willpower was too low to learn the skill. The user was angry, especially since they¡¯d invested more of their points into Willpower than they had originally wanted, attempting to meet the unknown threshold for the skill. While the person wasn¡¯t really offering to sell the item, Alex felt like this was a big opportunity for him. If his Control Freak title was any indicator, he had the highest Willpower stat of anyone on Earth. He sent a direct message to the original poster offering a fairly generous amount in either USD or Mana Stones. Feeling a bit guilty about spending even more money, Alex closed the laptop and thought that later he should do some searching for how standard spell casting differed from the use of rituals or runes. He knew that mana needed to be moved in a very specific pattern through the body and outside of the body, and he knew that most of them required incantations of some kind, but that was all that was mentioned. Shaking off the thought, he decided to focus on training he could actually do in the moment. He walked to the middle of the room and sat cross-legged on the floor, recalling his time with Eura as he prepared to practice the mana circulation technique. Alex closed his eyes and focused on his Core, where mana naturally pooled. The exercise Eura had taught him differed from what most sect initiates learned. During their early sessions, Eura had explained that many students needed to first master control over their Qi through cycling techniques with complex movement patterns. From the assessment he''d gone through, it was evident that despite Alex''s recent introduction to magical energy, he already possessed an abnormally high level of control. Alex knew that this was his trait, but to the other instructors, it seemed like he was very gifted with control. Because of this, Eura had made an unusual choice. Rather than starting with the basic circulation techniques taught to most initiates, the celestial had decided to teach Alex an advanced method typically reserved for those who had already mastered the fundamentals. "Your control is not an issue that you''ll need to worry about as you grow," Eura had told him. "What you need now is to purify your mana to make each drop more potent. This technique is challenging, even for those with years of practice, but your unique trait and titles make you capable of attempting it now." Eura explained that to purify mana, the technique focused on rotating the core at such a high speed that the impurities would begin to move further and further from the center. Eventually, they would be expelled from the Core entirely. Alex knew from experience and initial training with the celestial that it was much harder than it sounded. He focused his will on his Core. The mana responded instantly to his call. He began drawing it in, concentrating it into a single point at the center of his Core. Imagining that his Core was flat, he visualized pinching the center around the focal point, then twisting it with his magical might. He pictured the way cloth bunches up when twisted tightly in the middle, focusing on maintaining a gradual, controlled spin that tightened with each turn. Slowly, the outer edge of his Core began to pick up speed. Maintaining a uniform movement wasn''t difficult; the challenge was getting the spin up to the required speed. It was like trying to rotate a heavy weight with nothing but his mind. Every rotation demanded slightly more force than the one before, and applying that force evenly across the entire mass of mana was exhausting¡ªan entirely different kind of fatigue from simply using a skill or forming a ritual circle with his [Mana Thread]. With the exercise being meant for advanced practitioners, his relatively low Intellect stat made itself known, and his lack of raw magical power felt like a constant hurdle during the exercise. Despite that, Eura was confident that Alex could handle the exercise and would see great benefit from it over time. After fifteen minutes, Alex could feel the strain building in his temples. Each rotation moved more sluggishly than the last, but he forced himself to continue. He knew his spin wasn''t near the speed Eura had demonstrated, let alone sufficient to begin separating impurities from his mana. Still, he pushed forward, remembering Eura''s calm instructions and gentle confidence. Another five minutes passed before he was forced to stop. Panting, Alex relaxed from his rigid sitting posture, stretching his legs out as he leaned back on his hands. He considered his approach and the technique. Raw power is always going to be a weakness for me. Without his titles, he knew he''d be far weaker. As others leveled up and created more balanced builds, he would gradually lose his advantage unless he found new ways to compensate for this weakness. Is there a way to make each rotation more efficient? He stood up, heading over to his whiteboard and adding the thought to his list of ideas to revisit. For now, though, he was satisfied with completing another session. He couldn''t see any immediate difference in his mana, but that wasn''t the point. This exercise was about building his foundation, and Eura had assured him that the results would come with time and dedication. Same time tomorrow. He promised himself. After a quick stretch, he walked over to the cat tree to give Val a scratch on the head. The mana wyrm blinked lazily at him before curling back into a tight coil, settling down to sleep once more. 68. Training Equipment ¡°You can put that one over here,¡± Alex called as he waved the workers over. He was endlessly impressed with how much could get done if there was enough money. He¡¯d been burning through some of his available funds to get the backyard set up and ready for training, despite the cold weather. More than half of what he wanted to order was unavailable due to shipping and supply issues. Even with the limited availability, it felt worth it, though, as the final touches were coming together and the equipment arrived. ¡°Man, for an old guy, he sure can get stuff done,¡± Mark said from beside Alex. Alex chortled, ¡°No kidding.¡± He looked over to see Edwin in his dress pants and shoes, walking through the grassy portion of the backyard. While he still wore his vest, the older man rolled up his sleeves and directed the offloaded equipment. Occasionally stepping in himself or making minor adjustments to the equipment. ¡°I had to convince him that it was okay to take his jacket off.¡± ¡°I saw that,¡± Mark laughed too. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m glad he took over. I barely knew what to say to those guys, and they just stared at me like I was an idiot. Like, they¡¯re the movers. Shouldn¡¯t they know how to unload things? Why do they need more direction?¡± Mark snorted in response. Alex glanced at his tall friend. ¡°What the hell has Gabby been feeding you this week?¡± While Mark had always been taller than Alex, the height difference was emphasized by his friend seeming more solid than ever. Not really a better word for it. His muscles are a bit bigger, but he just seems like he¡¯s built like a brick house. Mark grinned and flexed his bicep. ¡°Gym, good food, and naturally superior genetics, my friend.¡± ¡°Yeah, okay. Did you finally finish allocating your Free Points?¡± Mark deflated a bit, causing Alex to laugh. ¡°I don¡¯t know why you were hesitating anyway. Your trait is perfect for you, and you know you always play the tank in games anyway.¡± ¡°Hey, hey, hey. I¡¯m sure you would¡¯ve been struggling even more than me if you were actually able to choose where your points go.¡± ¡°Ouch, not cool.¡± Just then, Valtherion flew through the open space of the backyard and over to the two of them, where they stood on the new training platform. The training area was a large, leveled section of the backyard, made of wooden decking that was raised just a few inches above the grass. It took two steps up from any of the four sides to access the platform. The training area was divided into several distinct sections: one part had thick mats for sparring and practicing hand-to-hand combat, another had a couple of small lanes for ranged training with targets set up at the far end, and there was also a dedicated section with a sturdy rack filled with a variety of training weapons. The whole setup gave off a professional vibe and reminded him of a slightly smaller version of what Elana and made at her house. Hey, Val. Where¡¯s Sam? ¡°Plants. Want mana.¡± Nope. You¡¯ve gotta try harder than that. Alex felt feelings of frustration slip through their bond. ¡°He¡¯s with plants. I want mana.¡± And the last part? ¡°¡­please.¡± Atta boy. Alex grinned and gave the floating wyrm a poke with his index finger before reaching into his spatial pouch. He pulled out a blue Mana Stone. As soon as it was in the open, Val began to pulse with feelings of hunger and excitement. As he¡¯d begun to do with the ample open space, he floated backward a few feet and wiggled his tail in anticipation. The wyrm looked like a flying snake, with shimmering blue scales that caught the light as he moved. A few light blue fins adorned his back and sides, giving him a graceful, almost aquatic appearance as he glided through the air. His head, unlike that of a snake, resembled a piranha''s, with sharp teeth visible even when his mouth was closed, adding an edge to his otherwise sleek form. ¡°Fine.¡± Alex laughed the word before pulling his hand back and throwing the mana-filled rock with all of his might. A small squeak came through their bond as Valtherion shot forward, eager to try and catch the stone in the air. ¡°He¡¯s getting bigger,¡± Mark said. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve started to notice that. It wasn¡¯t that noticeable in the Rift. I wonder if it¡¯s delayed from all the D Rank stones he ate while in there. Eura explained a similar reaction in humans and how it takes our bodies time to adjust to big stat changes,¡± Alex answered with his thoughts aloud. Valtherion had grown significantly since their return. Once just a couple of feet long, he had nearly doubled in length, and his body had thickened considerably. It made him look much more formidable than before. Mark nudged him before speaking, ¡°Hey, while we¡¯ve got the mats, show me some more of that fancy footwork.¡± ¡°What? Come on, man. It¡¯s freezing out here.¡± Alex said as he used his elbow to jostle the wide man. Mark shadowboxed, ¡°Some sparring might warm you up!¡± Alex laughed, ¡°No, I need to go check on Sam and Gabby. You shouldn¡¯t be learning this style anyway. You¡¯ve got your shield; you¡¯re just gonna have to wait until the manual we ordered for you comes in." ¡°Okay, what if I grab my shield and you just try to hit me? Not learning bad habits, then, right? Eh? Ehhh?¡± Mark wiggled his eyebrows as he reached toward the pouch at his side with exaggeration. ¡°You¡¯re a maniac,¡± Alex said as he walked away before Mark could begin pulling out his gear. ¡°We should all meet up in the gym, though. You might convince Sarah to train a bit with you if you-¡± He was cut off by Edwin stepping into his field of view, waving to catch his attention. Confused, Alex strode over to the butler, who had put his jacket back on and returned to his normal stoic behavior. ¡°Master Moore, there are two guests waiting for you in the foyer.¡± ¡°Guests?¡± Alex¡¯s eyebrows came together. ¡°Who are they?¡± ¡°They said that they are from the Hunters Association, sir.¡± Fuck. What are they doing here? ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Want me to come with?¡± Mark asked. ¡°Nah, Edwin will be with me. I¡¯ll grab Sam when I¡¯m done and meet you all in the gym.¡± Mark nodded and trudged back toward the house. Alex felt a sense of nervousness wash over him as he and Edwin walked through the courtyard and living room to the foyer. As Edwin guided him into the foyer, Alex¡¯s heart began to race. Two representatives from the Hunters Association stood at the entrance, both in suits that reminded Alex of television secret service agents. ¡°Alex Moore?¡± one of them asked. He was a middle-aged man with sharp features and a serious expression. ¡°We¡¯d like for you to come with us. We have some question for you.¡± Alex¡¯s stomach dropped. ¡°I-¡± he hesitated. They didn¡¯t seem hostile, but both seemed confident and in control of the situation. ¡°What¡¯s this about?¡± Shit, am I in trouble? I¡¯ve never been in trouble with the law before. What are they here for? Sam? His thoughts rapidly shifted through worst case scenarios and how lately he¡¯d been struggling to work out how to approach Sam¡¯s situation. Before he could continue to spiral, the agent interrupted his thoughts. ¡°This is regarding intelligence that was provided by you, concerning the outcome of the recent Rift events.¡± The second representative, a woman with dark hair pulled back into a tight bun, stepped forward. ¡°We received intel that you have indicated a potential global emergency as a result of failing the awakening or System Integration. This is confidential information and not something that we want spreading to the general public.¡± He swallowed hard and glanced at Edwin, who looked on with his eyebrows drawn together. His mental gears shifted as he realized that it was likely related to the information he¡¯d given to Sarah and Elana about what happened if the integration was failed. ¡°Why do I need to come in? You want to question me? But I¡¯ve done nothing wrong.¡± ¡°This is a matter of public safety. The information you¡¯ve provided could have dire national or global implications and has the potential to cause widespread panic if spread carelessly. We¡¯ve been sent here to get questions answered, how they¡¯re answered, is up to you.¡± There was a hard edge to the man¡¯s voice. Alex felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end as two sides of his mind warred against each other. On one side, he was raised in a world where he was taught to be respectful and wary of the power that came with a badge. The other side remembered the last time he willingly surrendered himself in good faith in Tianluo. I doubt it would be that bad, but the situation feels way too similar. In the new light, Alex saw the government officials for what they were. Bullies. He doubted that they¡¯d be able to force him to come in. So far, they¡¯d only asked him to come with them and hinted they could push things further. Alex hated these kinds of games. He had nothing to hide and was willing to help, but if going with them meant being tossed in a dark cell somewhere, he would control the way that things went.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. How much can I share with them? I signed the NDA with the Guild- so, what? I just can¡¯t tell them about the Rift or the location of the Rift, right? I can tell them what I know from Eura, but even then, it¡¯s not much. ¡°Listen,¡± he said, standing a little taller. ¡°I¡¯m willing to talk with you guys. I intentionally gave that information to someone so that it would get to the right people¡­ but, if you expect me to just come with you, without proof of who you are, why you¡¯re here or that I¡¯m legally obliged to come with you¡­ it¡¯s just not going to happen.¡± He raised his hands and gave them a shrug. The woman''s posture stiffened slightly. "Mr. Moore, we''re representatives of a federal agency dealing with matters of national security. The information you''ve shared could have severe implications, and it''s our responsibility to verify and contain potentially destabilizing intelligence." Her tone remained professional, but there was an edge of frustration in it. "We''re simply trying to do our jobs.¡± ¡°I can understand that you¡¯re just doing your jobs, but you can¡¯t say things like ¡®how they¡¯re answered is up to you,¡¯ like some vague threat that you¡¯ll beat them out of me and then turn around and act like you¡¯re not here to intimidate me. Do you have legal documentation or a warrant or something? I don¡¯t know how this works, but everything about this feels pretty shady.¡± Alex looked to Edwin. ¡°Edwin, can you go get Sarah, please.¡± ¡°Of course, sir.¡± The representatives exchanged glances, and their stances shifted uncertainly. Alex realized that the dynamic in the room had suddenly changed, and he felt the knot in his stomach begin to loosen. ¡°Look, Sarah is my friend, and she works for the Hunters Association too. She¡¯s the one I gave the information to. This entire thing was supposed to be handled anonymously and it doesn¡¯t sound like you got this information from me in the first place, just that you want me to keep it to myself. Right?¡± Sarah entered the entry room, led by Edwin. Her expression shifted from concern to frustration as she took in the situation. ¡°Everything okay, Alex?¡± ¡°Yeah, I think so. This is- actually, I didn¡¯t even get your names. Do you have badges or something?¡± ¡°We do,¡± the female agent said. ¡°Can I see them?¡± Both of them reached into their pockets and removed small leather wallets containing an official-looking ID badge. They held the wallets up for a moment, long enough for Alex to make sure that the pictures matched but not long enough to read all the details on them. ¡°Hold on a second,¡± Sarah said, but Alex raised his hand. ¡°It¡¯s alright, that¡¯s enough.¡± He pointed his already raised hand over his shoulder. ¡°That home defense system Edwin installed has some really great cameras. I¡¯m sure if we needed to see the badges again, we can¡± Both agents looked increasingly uncomfortable. Realizing that the entire exchange had been recorded seemed to push them over the edge. There was a long moment of silence as the lead agent processed the shift in the room. ¡°Look, we didn¡¯t mean for this to be so confrontational, Mr. Moore,¡± the male agent said, his tone more respectful. ¡°We understand the situation seems a bit dubious, but from what we¡¯ve read in your file, we didn¡¯t know what to expect. You have two connections to the Hunters Association, through Ms. Lee, here,¡± he nodded his head to Sarah. ¡°and through your brother. Despite that, you are a declared member of the Adventurers Guild.¡± ¡°Is there a problem with that?¡± Alex asked. ¡°No, not necessarily, but it does make us wonder why you would join such an organization. Also, the fact that I don¡¯t get anything but a name back when I try to scan you, immediately put me on edge. I apologize for our approach to the situation.¡± ¡°Wait, so you knew that I work with the HA, and you still came here to- what? Interrogate him?¡± Sarah asked incredulously. ¡°If you saw his file, you likely saw my own. You know my role in the Association, and this was still how you decided to handle the situation?¡± Both agents looked chagrined. Alex was surprised by the quick backpedal, but wondered if it was sincere or only given now that the situation had changed. He crossed his arms. ¡°I appreciate your change in tack here... and just so we¡¯re clear: I¡¯m more than willing to discuss what I know with the Hunters Association and answer questions. However, I¡¯d prefer to do it when I¡¯m not feeling ambushed in my home.¡± ¡°Absolutely,¡± the man replied quickly. ¡°We can set up a time to meet that works for you. Our goal is to work toward the best outcome for humanity.¡± That¡¯s a pretty grand and vague statement. The representatives nodded, clearly chastened but relieved that the conversation had turned in a direction they could work with. ¡°We¡¯ll be in touch,¡± the woman said. ¡°Thank you for understanding, Mr. Moore.¡± With that, they turned to leave the foyer. The woman glanced back at Sarah before walking out of the large wooden doors. As they left, Sarah stepped further into the foyer, still fuming a bit from what little she could glean from the conversation. ¡°What was that about?¡± ¡°I guess they figured out it was me who gave you that information about the consequences of failing the integration before Christmas.¡± Her eyes widened in realization. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. I had no idea that they¡¯d respond like this.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, really.¡± He waved his hand dismissively. ¡°It¡¯s big news, but when I told Elana about it on New Years, she said that the world powers already knew about it. So I doubt they heard it from me for the first time¡­ I guess they just don¡¯t want someone out there potentially spreading it around or ¡®causing panic¡¯ like they said. They just came in really strong, so it caught me off guard. I¡¯ve got to stop thinking of things like it was before.¡± ¡°You handled yourself exceptionally well, Master Moore.¡± ¡°Thanks Edwin, though that was really intimidating.¡± ¡°Were they high level? Their auras looked small.¡± Sarah asked, curious. Alex shook his head. ¡°No, they weren¡¯t. But, I wasn¡¯t really intimidated by them. It¡¯s the idea behind them- the government as a whole, that¡¯s intimidating. But, if I caused a scene here and fought back and caused an issue, it could look bad for the Guild or end up with me on some kind of black list or something.¡± Just then, Mark and Olivia entered the room. ¡°What¡¯d we miss?¡± Mark asked while eyeing the door where the agents had just departed. ¡°Nothing serious. Two agents for the Hunters Association wanted to ask me some questions, but tried to intimidate me into going with them.¡± Olivia snorted, ¡°Sounds like a great way to end up in a dark cell in a black site or something.¡± ¡°Oh come on, it¡¯s not like that.¡± Sarah said. ¡°Yeah, I think you¡¯ve both been watching too much TV.¡± Mark added with a chuckle. Alex shrugged, "I don''t know. It would be naive to think they don''t have some secret facility where they make supernatural threats disappear. I just hope they don''t think I belong on that list. While they''d have a hard time bringing me in by force, my fight with Rylan showed that I''m not invincible¡ªI''m strong, but not leagues above everyone. The government probably has some really powerful people too, like that Crimson Warrior they keep showing on TV." Sarah shifted subtly at the mention of the Hunters Associations poster boy and looked as if she were going to say something before closing her mouth. There was an ominous moment of silence as they thought about how much the world had changed in the last three months. ¡°Alright, everyone back to the gym!¡± Alex said, shaking his head and changing gears. ¡°We¡¯ve got some training to do and I want to run something by everyone. I¡¯ll go grab Sam and meet you guys there.¡± As he turned to walk through the dining room and into the kitchen, he heard Mark attempting to convince Sarah to spar with him. ¡°C¡¯mon! I¡¯ll let you swing at me all you want, I will just use the shield.¡± He couldn¡¯t help but smile as their voices faded and he found Sam in the kitchen with Gabby. I need to contact Elana and ask her more about what is restricted in our contract and how I should navigate a situation like this. Both of them were leaning over a pot and staring into it with such interest they didn¡¯t notice Alex enter. Smiling to himself, Alex activated [Feather Step] and drifted silently through the kitchen to land just behind the two of them. ¡°Whatcha cookin¡¯?¡± ¡°AH!¡± Both of them yelled at the same time. Alex laughed as Gabby chased him around the island countertop with her wooden spoon, her face flushed with mock fury. Gabby''s exasperation only grew as Alex made a show of narrowly escaping, his grin widening each time he glanced back at her increasingly dramatic expressions. The older woman was heavy set, and she didn¡¯t stand a chance of catching him, even if he didn''t have greatly increased stats. ¡°You little-¡± Sam recovered from his fright and joined in the laughter as he watched the two. When Gabby caught her breath and moved back to the pot, she straightened her apron and carried on as if nothing had happened. She fits in so well here. I like how casual and lively she makes everything. It¡¯s a nice change of pace from Edwin¡¯s sometimes stiff approach. ¡°Seriously though, what¡¯s happening in here. Sam, are you learning to cook?¡± The teenager shook his head and just raised a hand that was filled with a bushel of herbs. ¡°He¡¯s just being a sweetheart. He brought me some of the herbs y¡¯all had extra from what was planted in the courtyard.¡± Sam reddened a bit, but otherwise didn¡¯t move from his spot next to the chef. ¡°Well, that¡¯s great. Sam, maybe when we start getting some magical plants like Eura had, you can help Gabby make some magical food. That¡¯s got to be a thing, right?¡± Both of them brightened and looked at each other before looking back into the pot on the stove. Alex smiled. She has a really great way of bringing him out of his shell. It¡¯s only been a few days and she¡¯s got him interacting with her. ¡°Sam, when you¡¯re done you should come meet us in the gym. Mark wants to train a bit, you and I can work on some of what we learned in the Rift with Eura.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Sam smiled at Alex before quickly handing the handful of plants to Gabby. Alex shook his head and walked back through the courtyard and through the glass doors on the other side to enter the living room. He took a deep breath and enjoyed the view of luxury that surrounded him. This is still so crazy. If I had known I¡¯d get all of this by surviving that Rift, it might not have felt like such a nightmare at the time. His thoughts flicked to the terrifying fight he¡¯d had with Xiu, an Elder Brother of the Shadow Serpent Sect. He tightened his cheeks and felt the scar across his face tighten. There had been odd moments of normal sounds or sensations that took him back to those memories, and he did his best to shrug them aside. The feeling of cold steel biting into his flesh and only changing direction because of his cheekbone was not something he wanted to relive. As Alex headed back through the courtyard, he found Olivia waiting by the glass doors. She was leaning against the frame, arms crossed, with a concerned look that softened when she saw him. ¡°You okay?¡± she asked. ¡°Those government goons can be kind of intense. I¡¯ve had a few run ins with them, and it¡¯s almost always tense.¡± Alex smiled and felt warmed by her concern. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m good. Just wasn¡¯t expecting to deal with all of that. My mind actually went to Sam, when they showed up.¡± ¡°To Sam?¡± He shrugged, ¡°Like they were here to take him away or to his parents or something. I know we need to find them, I just really don¡¯t want it to turn into a traumatic experience for him. He¡¯s already been through a lot¡­¡± Olivia nodded and stepped forward, while touching his arm. ¡°It¡¯ll work out, you just need to make the time to talk with him one on one. He looks up to you like some kind of hero and he¡¯s most comfortable with you.¡± Alex sighed and crossed his other hand across his body to rest on her hand that gripped his arm. ¡°I know, thanks. Honestly, the reason that they were here was just as surprising. Sarah said that she gave that information to the HA anonymously for me before the New Year, so I wonder how long they have known it was from me and if something spurred them to actually approach?¡± ¡°There¡¯s really no way to know. But, either way, you handled it well.¡± She smiled up at him and her voice grew more quiet and playful. ¡°Edwin said you were very authoritative. Almost wish I could have seen it. It reminds me of our date the other night, except, you know¡­ completely different.¡± Her lips curved into a teasing smile. Heat crept up Alex¡¯s neck as he remembered their kiss. ¡°Yeah, that was¡­ different.¡± He¡¯d been so nervous while walking her to her apartment, but when she¡¯d made the first move and kissed him, everything had just fallen right into place. Even his embarrassing admission about feeling like a teenager around her had turned into something they could laugh about. ¡°Different good?¡± She raised an eyebrow and moved into his personal space, keeping her hand on his arm. ¡°Definitely good,¡± he managed, while being all too aware of how close she was standing. ¡°Good enough to try again?¡± Her eyes sparkled with mischief. Before Alex could respond, Edwin cleared his throat from the doorway. ¡°Pardon the interruption, Master Moore. The movers have finished and I¡¯ve signed for their completion in your stead; however, Miss Voss is calling on the phone.¡± Olivia stepped back with a knowing smile. ¡°Duty calls. We should probably join the others in the gym after your call anyway.¡± She started walking past Edwin with a quick wave, heading toward the gym, then paused. ¡°Oh, and I¡¯ll need to head out early tonight. Elana wants me to check on the new Guild HQ they¡¯re building at the Epic Rift site. Construction crews have been working around the clock to get it set up.¡± Damn it, Elana. Alex coughed, ¡°Already? That was fast.¡± ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s throwing money at permits and inspections to speed things up. The moderators really want to establish a presence there.¡± She gestured toward the gym. ¡°Go take your call. I¡¯ll let the others know you¡¯ll be there soon.¡± Alex nodded and watched her walk away before following Edwin to take Elana¡¯s call. 69. Shared Secrets
Congratulations, [Mana Thread] has leveled up!
Alex smiled at the screen. It was becoming more and more clear that the System rewarded someone for pushing the limits of their skill, especially the last few levels before advancement. For the last few hours, Alex sat with Sam on the steps leading from the living room into the gym. While Sam had been practicing his meditation, Alex had been testing different ways to alter his [Mana Thread] skill. The thought came when he was attempting to lay a full-sized ritual with his threads, and the ratios weren¡¯t quite right because of how thin the threads were. While he could have still activated the ritual, he had a feeling that it would have been at the cost of more mana or reduced efficiency. One more level and I can advance the skill. I wonder how the System will change it when it jumps up to Journeyman. I¡¯ve only evolved two skills so far, this will be my first advancement. ¡°At this rate, she¡¯ll be ready to fight a monster by spring,¡± Olivia said from the floor next to Sam. Alex rolled his eyes and let a thread dip into the pouch at his waist. He sent it snaking toward Olivia, but she saw it in time and was able to draw one of the knives he¡¯d gifted her with the dagger belt. She used her mana manipulation skill to coat its blade and cut his thread. ¡°Ugh, I should have never taught you that.¡± Olivia snickered. ¡°It¡¯ll be good for you not to get too complacent. Also, you know I¡¯m right.¡± Alex groaned and shook his head. ¡°One, she¡¯s already fought a monster. It¡¯s how she awakened. Two, you¡¯re way too critical of her.¡± ¡°Am not. Also, she told us that the Hunters Association sent an entire team with her to kill the monster,¡± she said, but when Sam cracked his eye and looked at her, she turned red in the cheeks. As Sam opened his eye, it was obvious to the both of them that he¡¯d been distracted as the ethereal field of grass that had been under them retracted back into the teenager. ¡°Hey, both of you are supposed to be training!¡± Alex said with mock stern. ¡°I¡¯m bored of training,¡± Olivia said while standing. ¡°I want to spar some more or head into a Rift. I feel like I¡¯m right at the edge of getting a new skill.¡± ¡°Well, you can¡¯t spar with them. They¡¯re more than ten levels down on you and without a class. Plus, you¡¯ve got to work in a bit, no time for a Rift.¡± ¡°We could-¡° ¡°We¡¯ve already sparred five times today. Even with my levels, you¡¯re better at hand-to-hand than me.¡± She gave a small smile at that and then turned to look at Sam. "What about you, Sam? You''re going to have to learn how to defend yourself at some point." "No thanks," Sam said while looking at his hands in his lap. "Okay, here. I''ve got an idea." Alex stood and called over to Mark and Sarah. "Hey, you guys! Come over here for a second!" Mark didn¡¯t take his eyes off of Sarah, but he called over his shoulder, "Yeah, okay, one sec!" Alex watched with a smile as Sarah used a light short sword that was supposed to represent something close to what Alex used while fighting. Her blonde hair was up in a ponytail and she stepped forward on a heavy front foot as she awkwardly tried to both slash and stab the sword. How did I never realize that she was so uncoordinated? While Alex wasn''t the most athletic person, he felt that even without the aid of stats, he was more coordinated than she was. To Mark''s credit, he was extremely patient and encouraging with her over the last half-hour as he held his shield and allowed her to practice swinging the sword. After a few more swings, Mark lowered his shield and held up his hand to give Sarah high-five. She returned the gesture and slapped his hand, though her shoulders sagged and the wooden sword dragged across the rubberized flooring of the gym. Despite her somewhat sour attitude, Alex couldn''t help but feel a sense of pride. Several times over the last month, he had felt the need to apologize to them for not letting them know what he had gotten himself into. But now, seeing them working together to get stronger and work with him made his heart soar. "I just don''t want to hit things," Sarah was saying to Mark as they approached. ¡°Well, that¡¯s good,¡± Alex said, rubbing his hands together. ¡°Look, I feel like this is where we should have started, and I feel stupid for not bringing it up sooner.¡± Olivia and Sam both looked at him with interest. ¡°Wait, where¡¯s Val? I want all of us here for this,¡± Alex said as he looked around. He felt through his bond and could sense that the small wyrm was in the direction of the kitchen. Well, maybe medium-sized is a better descriptor. Val! He projected the last thought through their bond, and within moments, the flying blue creature zipped into the gym from the open living room door. It reminded Alex of a dog as he watched his companion fly to each person in the circle and either try to headbutt them or their hands. Once the greetings were finished, he settled on Alex¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Alright, like I was saying. This is probably where we should have started; I just wasn¡¯t thinking about your progression like I have been thinking about my own. How do you guys feel about sharing skill and trait info with each other.¡± He put the statement out there and let them process the idea before continuing. ¡°I know that this is pretty personal information, and it¡¯s really not something that we should be sharing with people¡­ but my whole idea with this,¡± Alex gestured at the house around them. ¡°is to try and build a place for us to all work together and grow stronger. The first step in that is going to take a little trust.¡± Mark shrugged, and Sarah glanced at Olivia, who had her chin in her hand as if thinking. ¡°I already know all of your traits from different conversations. I think a big part of us working as a team, though, is going to involve all of us making sure we know what the others are capable of and helping each other improve.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mind sharing,¡± Mark said, putting his shield into the spatial pouch he¡¯d begun to carry on his hip.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Alex gave him a look. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you and Sarah would mind. I¡¯ve known you guys for years. I was thinking more about Sam and Olivia.¡± Sam turned a bit more red and shrugged, ¡°Yeah, okay.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mean to put you on the spot. But I think this really should be the first step¡­¡± All eyes turned toward Olivia, who still had her chin in her hands. There was a tense moment before she started laughing and waved her hand. ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll share. There does need to be some sort of serious talk about keeping this private, though. With me being a Peacekeeper, it could cause problems if my information is spread around.¡± Alex was nodding before she even finished her sentence. They all agreed that the information was extremely private and talking about anyone else¡¯s trait or skills was strictly off limits, regardless of the situation. Alex went first, reading his trait for everyone and fielding a few questions. ¡°Wait, so stat weights,¡± Mark said, leaning forward. ¡°that¡¯s like you put in a point, and it counts for more? I¡¯ve seen that in a few games before.¡± ¡°Yeah, I didn¡¯t really get it at first. But when I put a point into Willpower, it counts as three points each time I put one in. But, I can only put points into Willpower.¡± Mark¡¯s eyes went wide, and Sam looked skeptical. ¡°What about class points?¡± Olivia asked, already thinking of ways to get around the potential shortfall of the trait. He smiled, ¡°Class points and Titles will still put points in other stats for me.¡± She snapped her fingers and nodded along. ¡°That makes sense. You said you got some titles. Is that how you¡¯re so fast and strong, even though you can¡¯t put points in other stats?¡± Alex scratched his head, finding it a bit funny that they¡¯d been getting so close in other areas, yet hadn¡¯t even taken this step to get to know one another. It all felt so personal and like he was sharing some big secret. ¡°Yep. I¡¯m a bit worried, though. I¡¯ve been reviewing some of the advanced ritual manuals that Eura gave me, but some of the concepts for the ritual compositions just keep slipping away. I¡¯m worried that even though my magical control is getting insanely high, I won¡¯t have the intellect to understand stronger spells.¡± There was a slight wince from everyone in the semicircle. Alex shrugged and played it off before looking toward Sam. ¡°You want to go next?¡± ¡°Uhm, sure. I have {Nature¡¯s Refuge}. It says, ¡®When at peace, the Awakened manifests an ethereal domain of nature around themselves. The Refuge will increase the Vitality and natural regeneration of those within its embrace.¡¯ That¡¯s what happens when you see me trying to meditate and the grass and stuff appears.¡± Sam said. He finished a bit awkwardly, but the group could all hear him getting excited while reading the description. ¡°Oh, I thought your trait had something to do with healing,¡± Sarah said, looking at him closely. ¡°Well, it kind of does¡­ The increased Vitality will slowly help someone heal. But I think it¡¯s strong when combined with my class passive.¡± He looked at Alex, who nodded encouragingly. He¡¯s definitely getting more comfortable with the group. This is a big step for him. He¡¯s got to believe that no one is going to abuse him for his healing powers here. ¡°Well, my Class is Verdant Healer. The passive says, ¡®All of the Awakened One¡¯s healing abilities are amplified when they or their allies are within areas rich in nature. Additionally, healing spells cast by the Verdant Healer have a chance to cleanse negative status effects.¡¯ When I was working with Master Jiu, we found that my Nature¡¯s Refuge counts as an area of ¡®rich nature.¡¯¡± ¡°Ooooh!¡± Mark said, bouncing from one foot to another. ¡°That¡¯s so cool!¡± They continued to make their way around the group. Sarah and Mark didn¡¯t have a class, but their traits were interesting to Olivia, who hadn¡¯t seen anything like them. Mark had a trait that had a very vague description that said that Mark would gain a bonus to all stats when he was defending another person. They all agreed it was something that would require a lot of testing. Sarah¡¯s trait allowed her to see someone¡¯s aura, and no one was quite sure what that meant. When questioned further, she said that everyone had different blobs of color around them that moved and changed depending on their emotions or thoughts. She said that her work was helping her to test a lot of things, but no one was quite sure what an aura was yet. Alex and Olivia promised to keep an eye out for any information from the Guild¡¯s resources and to help her in her testing when possible. Olivia went last, and everyone thought her trait was the coolest of the bunch. ¡°What?!¡± Mark yelled, ¡°I¡¯m so jealous! Read it again, read it again.¡± ¡°{Shadow Affinity}: Increases effectiveness of stealth abilities and shadow abilities. Naturally gifted with the ability to use and channel shadow affinity mana.¡± Olivia laughed at his infectious energy. Alex found himself smiling as well. Partly because he found her laugh adorable and partly because he felt so happy to be home and share this new life with his friends. ¡°Well, now that we¡¯re all on the same-¡± Valtherion ran his forehead into Alex¡¯s, and the group laughed. Alex rubbed his forehead and looked at the wyrm who had turned his head up and away as if pouting. ¡°Alex, stupid. Val is best.¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Mark cheered, happy to see that the impressionable companion had begun to repeat the phrase that he was teaching him. ¡°Ugh- stop corrupting him,¡± Sarah said. ¡°Okay, okay. Everyone, Valtherion, has a trait called {Mana Glutton}. It allows him to store any mana that he absorbs to double his normal mana capacity.¡± Olivia whistled, ¡°I¡¯d love something like that for my magic.¡± If a flying snake could move haughtily, Val did it. He almost sauntered as he made a lap around Alex¡¯s head in the air. Everyone laughed again as it was all too obvious to them what emotions the wyrm was feeling. ¡°As I was saying,¡± he looked at Val pointedly. ¡°Now that we know where everyone is at, I need you all to start thinking of a path forward. It doesn¡¯t need to be specific, but have a goal in mind and talk with me or the others about it. One thing that Eura stressed during our training, and I¡¯ve seen it more and more in Guild articles, is that the System is based largely on intent. It¡¯s designed to help us and force us to progress. This gives you more flexibility than you might think when trying to advance your skills. Take the next few days and think about it. Come to me when you have an idea, and we¡¯ll put together a training plan to start working toward that goal. ¡°I want to help you guys get stronger and start to catch up to where Sam and I are at, but I can¡¯t stretch my attention but so many directions. I need everyone to be reading articles from the Guild and getting a better idea of how things work and what they want to do. It hasn¡¯t been announced yet, but Elana mentioned that there would be some sort of team competition happening soon where we can earn contribution points as a team and help out the Guild.¡± Everyone nodded along and agreed to Alex¡¯s plan. ¡°She mentioned that to you?¡± Olivia asked, surprised. When Alex nodded she gave a short hum, ¡°She probably wasn¡¯t supposed to do that. It hasn¡¯t been announced yet. But, since you already know, we might as well capitalize on getting our group ready.¡± Alex nodded again, ¡°I agree.¡± He saw Mark from the corner of his eye as a grin spread across his face, and he shifted his weight in anticipation. ¡°I¡¯ve been looking into how non-combat classes work, and I think I¡¯ll try to take Edwin and Gabby to awaken in a Common Rift tomorrow or the next day.¡± Sarah frowned and started to say something, but Alex held up his hand to forestall her. ¡°We talked about this before they were even hired, and they were interested. I want them to awaken and begin getting experience in classes related to their jobs to get the proper class; with noncombat classes, it is apparently just something that happens over time. After we¡¯re done making a game plan here, I want to try and get all five of us here on a list to get into a higher Rarity Rift and we can plan to stay there for a few days. With the time dilation effect, that will be the most effective way for us to level up and get you guys some experience.¡± He let out a sigh at the end of his small speech and saw Sarah deflate. ¡°I mean, if it¡¯s what they want¡­¡± ¡°I made it very clear that they didn¡¯t need to do it in order to get the job. That¡¯s why Clara isn¡¯t coming, she wasn¡¯t interested. She said that she wasn¡¯t willing to risk her safety while her son depended on her.¡± She nodded again, and they chatted for some time before wrapping up the conversation. Alex let them continue to talk about random things from the news as he pulled out his phone. He scrolled through the available Rifts and found two Uncommon Rifts that he could put a reservation for five people on. They didn¡¯t give him an estimated wait time like the Common Rifts did. He sighed, hoping that the wait wasn¡¯t long before scrolling back to the top of the list. He looked through the available Common Rifts and smiled as he found one in particular. There was a several-day wait to get in, likely because it was Friday, but Alex couldn¡¯t help but smile at the irony. It¡¯ll be worth the wait. ¡°Hey, I¡¯ll be right back,¡± Alex said, standing from his seat on the stairs. He ruffled Sam¡¯s hair as he turned to walk into the house and find Gabby and Edwin, likely at their own living quarters by this time of the evening. ¡°Let¡¯s move to the living room unless you guys are going to keep training,¡± Olivia said. She grumbled but said she could practice more of the mana-shaping exercises on the couch before she had to go to work. Sarah asked if Sam could use {Nature¡¯s Refuge} again. She liked the feeling of sitting in the ethereal grass and the sense of rejuvenating energy it gave her with the boost to Vitality. 70. Oh! Piece of Candy. On Sunday morning, Alex strode through the kitchen to the back of the western wing of the house, where Gabby and Edwin had rooms. His footsteps echoed off of the marble floors, filling the silence. He found that it was a bit strange to not see Gabby in the kitchen humming along to a pleasant tune only she could hear. He found Edwin¡¯s quarters and knocked. ¡°Come in, Master Moore.¡± Alex smiled, excited by the day¡¯s plan. He pushed open the door to find Edwin already dressed in what had to be the most practical yet somehow professional outfit he¡¯d ever seen. Dark slacks made of a canvas-like material that were pressed to hold a crease down the front of the pant leg, and a vest that was dark brown and had many pockets on it. Alex took in Edwin¡¯s appearance, still getting used to how put-together the man always looked. His silver-gray hair never had a strand out of place, and his light blue eyes seemed to catch every detail and anticipate his need. The trimmed mustache brought together Edwin¡¯s entire look and, in Alex¡¯s mind, really solidified his entire appearance as a butler. The mustache was also one of the few things Alex had started to notice could give away Edwin¡¯s thoughts, as it could move for several reasons, when his posture and sense of decorum wouldn¡¯t let Alex know anything otherwise. ¡°I see you¡¯re ready,¡± Alex said. ¡°Did you manage to get everything I asked for?¡± Edwin¡¯s mustache twitched slightly. ¡°Yes, though I must admit, the materials you asked for were¡­ quite specific, and there was some difficulty getting my hands on some of it. The supply chains are really being affected by the Safe Zone creation. I have them staged and waiting in the garage.¡± He paused, reaching for something on his desk. ¡°Also, these two packages arrived for you yesterday evening.¡± There were two black Pelican cases with a black and white Adventurer¡¯s Guild sticker on the top. Alex accepted the first box and held it on one forearm while opening it with his other hand. On the soft, ridged foam within, Alex saw a white piece of card stock paper covering a small metallic item. He started to get excited, realizing what the item was. The man who sold it to Alex told him that even though his friend had a scanning skill, his friend had a lower Willpower; which meant that when he tried to scan the item, it only told them that it was an Active Skill Token, with no other information. Unlike when Alex had gotten Valtherion¡¯s bond token, he now had the ability to use his Heavenly Eye to scan the item. What he saw made a smile spread across his face.
D Rank Item - Active Skill Token Rarity: Uncommon Type: (Consumable) Token Skill Type - Willpower
It¡¯s D-Rank? How was this in a random chest within an E-Rank Rift? Does that mean higher-ranked items have a chance to come from a lower-rank Rift? Alex made a mental note to check into that later. It could mean that there was a lot of value in staying safe and farming a lower level Rift, even if the chance was low to get something a Rank above. Since they couldn¡¯t scan it, it likely means they didn¡¯t realize it was a D-Rank item. So, it¡¯s probably worth even more than I paid for it. He let out a breath, as he¡¯d worried that he¡¯d overpaid in the end. It had taken some back-and-forth over the last several days for Alex to convince the Guild Member who had gotten the item to be willing to sell it. They had tried to use it multiple times and ran into an error each time; the System saying that they didn¡¯t meet the Willpower requirement. Despite not being able to use it, Alex had to almost double his offer of Mana Stones to convince the man to part with the item. Both Alex and the mage, named N0lan on the AG App, figured that if the requirement was high enough, it must be something worth having. At that point, since there was so much money on the line, the man had grown very suspicious of Alex and refused to talk further without a Peacekeeper¡¯s involvement as a mediator. If the token worked anything like the consumable skill manual that he''d used to learn [Mirage], it would be a quick and painless process to learn the new skill. He didn¡¯t hesitate. Cracking the token in his hand, he saw purple motes of light form in the air before rushing into his forehead. The system window that greeted him made him giddy with excitement.
New Skill Learned: [Parallel Mind] (Journeyman - Level 1) Do you accept? Yes/ No?
He accepted the skill and was surprised that it was different than the skill manual that he¡¯d consumed. It was closer to the way he¡¯d gained access to the [Ritual Insight] skill from his class. Where the manual presented him with knowledge about the skill and how the author of the manual had used the skill, the token instead gave him the ability to use it instantly, but no additional knowledge outside of that. Curious about the System description, he brought up the skill window.
[Parallel Mind] - Splits the Awakened One¡¯s consciousness into separate streams of thought.
Alex felt like his eyes might bug out of his head. ¡°Holy. Shit.¡± Edwin coughed politely. ¡°Sorry, Edwin. One second, this is wild,¡± Alex said as he reread the description. He couldn¡¯t help himself; he had to try it. Alex calmed down and accepted the second box from Edwin. He checked it quickly, noting that it was the shield training manual that they¡¯d ordered for Mark. Alex asked Edwin to pack his car with the supplies while he went to find Sam and drop off the second box in Mark¡¯s room. ¡°Master Moore, are you certain you do not want me to drive?¡±The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll drive. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± He was already moving out of the door as he answered, flashing Edwin a reassuring smile before jogging through the kitchen and into the foyer. Still loving the feeling of having such an abnormally high agility, he took the stairs three at a time with ease and turned to the right hallway. He moved over to Mark¡¯s door and knocked out of habit, though he knew his friend wasn¡¯t home. Since he¡¯d known that Alex would be gone, he wanted to run some errands in the Safe Zone. Alex set the case on top of Mark¡¯s bed and turned the light off as he walked out of the room and dashed down the hallway to Sam¡¯s room. ¡°Sam!¡± ¡°Yes?¡± The muffled voice returned. Alex knocked gently on the door. ¡°Do you mind if I come in?¡± Sam opened the door and smiled up at him. Taking a deep breath, Alex smiled back. ¡°Would you mind watching over me for a second? We¡¯re about to leave, but that skill token finally came in¡­ it looks amazing.¡± After receiving a nod in response, they both walked to the next room over, and Alex sat on the mat in the center of the room in front of his desk. There had been the two chairs there originally, but Alex had moved them, finding more use for a spot to sit and practice, rather than try to host meetings with others. Alex extended a mana tendril. Okay, I¡¯m going to try it. Ready? ¡°Ready.¡± Alex could feel Sam¡¯s trepidation, but there wasn¡¯t really another way around it. To understand the skill''s application and limitations, they just needed to try it. There wasn¡¯t a very high likelihood that the skill would harm Alex in any way, but the precaution made them both feel better. Activating the skill, Alex could immediately feel its effect. It felt like his consciousness was unzipping, splitting down the middle at a seam slowly being pulled apart. It wasn¡¯t painful, but as he monitored the feeling, he almost had the urge to throw up. He knew his mind wasn¡¯t supposed to be doing something like that, especially not in such a pain-free manner. Suddenly, he was thinking about both the upcoming Rift expedition and analyzing the feeling of the skill¡¯s activation simultaneously. He had two distinct trains of thought running parallel to each other. ¡°What the¡­¡± ¡°Are you okay?¡± Yes. ¡±Yes.¡± Woah, that¡¯s trippy. His secondary line of thinking observed the mental communication with a magical fascination. He followed that to look at himself from a different perspective. It was still his consciousness, so there wasn¡¯t a physical kind of sight, but he could analyze his feelings and emotions, particularly those that were shared through his bond with Valtherion and the mental link with Sam. He ended the effect in a slight panic, feeling that the sensation was completely bizarre. As the two halves of his mind seemed to ''rezip,'' he felt a slight sense of vertigo before the world snapped back to a perfect, single line of clarity. Alex held out his hand to the side, feeling a smile creep over his face. The best part of the skill became apparent to him immediately. He could remember both thought processes clearly. He wanted to check his stats during the effect, to see the mana cost, to experiment with- ¡°Alex?¡± Sorry, Sam. I¡¯m good. Wow- that skill is great. I¡¯ll need to test it more later, but¡­ just, wow. Alex stood and ruffled Sam¡¯s hair before reaching out to Val through their bond. He let the wyrm know that they were leaving. Thanks for watching out for me. I¡¯ll see you later tonight. Don¡¯t forget the food Gabby left in the fridge for you. Sam smiled and tried to ruffle Alex¡¯s hair, but he stepped back and easily dodged the attempt. Laughing, he used [Feather Step] to move out of the room and then drift down the hallway at unnatural speeds. When he reached the top of the stairs, he looked back at Sam, who was only just stepping out of the office, and walked back into his room. Alex shook his head and pushed off the wall while anchoring his movement skill down the stairs and to the other side of the foyer near the front door. With the added momentum, he drifted through the air at an angle, almost like gliding, and picked up a bit more speed as he traveled. While he was moving through the air, Valtherion flew into the foyer at speed and did a lap around him. ¡°Alex, flying like Soup Can Val!¡± Alex landed and laughed. He opened the door and saw Edwin and Gabby waiting for him next to his Nissan Sentra. Val, stop calling yourself that. It¡¯s not a title! Mark was comparing how big you¡¯ve gotten to a soup can. We were only laughing because of how weird it was. He felt momentary disappointment drift through their bond before he got distracted and flew off to the car. The contrast between his butler¡¯s practical yet professional attire and Gabby¡¯s bright yellow t-shirt and cargo pants couldn¡¯t have been more stark. She was practically bouncing on her feet while Edwin stood perfectly still, hands clasped behind his back. "Ready for an adventure?" Gabby called out, waving enthusiastically. Alex couldn''t help but grin. "Adventure might be stretching it. This is a pretty controlled environment we''re heading to." He pulled his keys from his pocket, catching Edwin''s slight frown as he moved toward the driver''s side. "Master Moore, are you certain you wouldn''t prefer me to¡ª" "Nope," Alex cut him off, still smiling. He felt abnormally happy. "My car, my rules. Besides, I picked this Rift location specifically. I have a grudge to settle. It''s better if I drive us there." He unlocked the doors, and Gabby immediately climbed in the back seat, sliding across to sit behind the driver''s side. Edwin hesitated for just a moment before joining her in the back, maintaining his perfect posture despite the car''s modest interior. As Alex adjusted his mirrors, he caught Gabby''s reflection as she started humming what sounded like the theme from Indiana Jones. Edwin''s mustache twitched, and he shifted slightly away from her enthusiasm. "It''s about an hour''s drive," Alex said, starting the engine. "We should go over what to expect when we get there." He backed up and then pulled out of the circular drive, acutely aware of the irony of his old Nissan pulling away from his mansion. "Edwin, I know you¡¯ve been reading up on this stuff, but Gabby hasn¡¯t. So, I¡¯m going to start with some basics. There¡¯s been a lot more information to come out in the last month, thanks to Rylan posting concrete information on the System in the forums. The Rift we''re heading to is what''s called a Common rarity, E-Rank. That means it''s perfect for first-time Awakening." "And we''re absolutely certain about the safety protocols?" Edwin asked, his tone carefully measured, though Alex suppressed a smile. While Edwin was always professional, he wasn¡¯t normally as rigid as he was at that moment. ¡°Yep. Thanks to the Guild¡¯s posting, we know exactly what¡¯s in the Rift. We know what monsters there are, what their levels are, and what the Quests will be. We¡¯re plenty prepared, and neither of you are in any real danger.¡± Edwin nodded in response. ¡°Now, Gabby. You won¡¯t be going into many Rifts, but you should know a bit about this so the System makes more sense, and you can understand what certain things mean as you purchase magical materials later.¡± ¡°Okay, boss. Lay it on me.¡± Alex chuckled. ¡°Alright. Well, there are two main factors in Rifts. The first and most simple to understand are the Ranks. The one we¡¯re going to is E Rank, which means it¡¯s the lowest. As the Rank increases to D, C, B, A, and S, the level of monsters in the Rift goes up; make sense?¡± He looked in the mirror and watched as she nodded, and he was happy to see Edwin nodding along beside her. ¡°Rarity is more important and affects more within the Rift. There are three things it affects: Time, Scale, and Complexity. That¡¯s just how they write it in the articles, but each of those things has more meaning. Time refers to the time-stretching effect that happens in higher rarity Rifts. You don¡¯t need to worry about today. We¡¯re just going into a Common Rift.¡± ¡°So there isn¡¯t an effect in Common Rifts?¡± ¡°Not to time, no. But Scale and Complexity are affected by every rarity. Scale refers to the internal dimensions of the Rift. A Common Rift is usually the size of a small state in the US or something. But an Epic or Legendary Rift might be the size of a large continent or even larger. Complexity refers to the quests that are assigned by the System. The higher the rarity, the more complex or challenging the quests will be to complete. The articles say that it scales this way with the time dilation to allow us to have more time within the harder Rifts to actually complete the quests.¡± ¡°Okay, so we¡¯re going into the lowest Rank and Rarity Rift?¡± Alex nodded, ¡°Yes. Since your goal isn¡¯t to fight to get stronger, all we need to do is get you to kill a monster to gain your first bit of experience to awaken. After that, you guys can decide if you want to keep fighting or just call it quits for the day.¡± Gabby stopped humming long enough to add, "Yeah, what exactly are we going to be fighting? Please tell me it''s not something gross." Alex caught their eyes in the rearview mirror and tried not to smile too wide. "Well, about that..." 71. Awakened Staff Alex stared at the Rift¡¯s shimmering surface and his heart hammered against his ribs. The now familiar blue-tinted portal shimmered in waves, but all he could see was the same entrance he had stepped into with Valtherion several weeks ago. He knew that it was a different Rift. He knew that it wouldn¡¯t lead to him appearing in the same Epic Rift as before, but with nothing to see the inside of the Rift, just the swirling blue tear in reality, his over active imagination couldn¡¯t help but wonder if there was a chance it somehow did send him back to that horrible place. ¡°That¡¯ll be three Mana Stones,¡± the Guild member said. Her voice pulled Alex back to the present. She was young, probably the one who¡¯d found the Rift entrance on the farm grounds they now stood. She wore jeans, a sweatshirt and a puffy gray vest. The beany and gloves seemed worn and she kept her hands in her pockets while she spoke, though removed them to extend a hand to accept the payment. ¡°One per person.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Alex said. He fumbled with the spatial pouch under his jacket, well aware that Gabby and Edwin were waiting patiently behind him. Handing off the payment, he took a deep breath and looked back at the portal. Get it together. This isn¡¯t even close to the same thing, and I¡¯m not the same either. If he couldn¡¯t calm his nerves, he figured that he might as well hype himself up and talk his body into understanding that it wouldn¡¯t be a repeat- even if it was the other Rift. ¡°First time?¡± the attended asked him while glancing at the trio. She had a friendly smile on her face, and she looked at them with her eyebrows raised almost like she was looking at a cute puppy. Alex wanted to laugh, but he realized that he really was acting worse than he had when entering his first Rift. He shook his head and Edwin and Gabby both responded, assuming that the girl was talking to them. ¡°Indeed,¡± Edwin replied. ¡°Yep! Is it going to feel weird? Going through, I mean?¡± ¡°Like going over the peak of a rollercoaster,¡± Alex said, looking up at the tall portal. ¡°It goes away quickly though, just keep your feet under yourself, and you¡¯ll be just fine.¡± The attendant nodded. ¡°Exactly. Just walk straight through, and you¡¯ll be fine. The main cavern is well-lit and usually has other groups present.¡± ¡°Alright, you two ready?¡± After getting two nods, Alex led the way into the portal. His heart rate quickened and he felt a cold sweat begin to run down his back. Alex¡¯s muscles tensed involuntarily as gravity reasserted itself, but he forced himself to relax and quickly dismissed the quest window. He looked around the main cavern that the attendant spoke of. The luminescent cavern stretched before them. Its walls were dotted with crystalline formations that pulsed with a soft, blue-white light. Alex''s Heavenly Eye revealed streams of mana flowing between the crystals like ethereal rivers, creating patterns that reminded him of constellations. "Evening!" A group of younger Awakened passed them, hauling what looked like mining equipment. Alex nodded in response, noting how their eager chatter echoed off the cave walls. They¡¯re likely here for that guild contract I saw when we applied here. Seems like a decent way to earn a few guaranteed Mana Stones. Just bring back some specific materials from the Rift, turn them into the Guild, get a pay out. The Rift had become something of a training ground for new Guild members, though Alex preferred to find a more secluded spot for Edwin and Gabby''s first experience and he quickly found his thoughts pulled away from his own experiences as he thought through a plan of action for the other two. As they walked deeper into the tunnels, Alex found his attention drawn to the moving shadows cast by the glowing crystals. The light caught the rough stone walls at odd angles, creating shifting patterns of darkness that his mind kept trying to transform into passing scales. He tensed twice at different times in the first few tunnels they walked down. While he was able to hide his thoughts and struggle from Gabby and Edwin, who were just happy to be there and fascinated with everything going on around them, he wasn¡¯t able to hide his emotions and small reactions from his companion. Val stirred in his jacket, likely sensing his unease. ¡°Val keep watch?¡± Yeah, buddy. That would be great. Thanks. Valtherion moved out from his jacket and used his tail to swish in front of Alex, sending feelings of reassurance as he flew up to the top of the tunnel and around the next bend to scout ahead. Better safe than sorry. His thoughts of how silly he was being were pulled to times when he was a kid and still lived with his parents. When he¡¯d watch a scary movie and later that night, when he walked around the house, he felt the need to walk faster or go up the stairs quickly. While he knew that there was nothing there in the dark, his skin still crawled and his imagination could so easily play tricks on him. He knew that his fears were irrational and that there was no chance a shadow serpent would be present in an Common E-Rank Rift. Channeling his nervous energy into something productive, he touched his hand to the top of his spatial pouch and quickly began to call items into his hand to make sure he hadn¡¯t forgotten any supplies. After ten to fifteen minutes of walking at a decent pace, Alex looked back at the two to check on them. "How are you both holding up?" Alex asked. The spatial bag at his hip felt weightless despite containing their gear, another reminder of how far he''d come since his own first Rift experience. Edwin maintained his usual composure, though Alex noticed his butler''s eyes darting between the glowing formations with interest. "Quite fascinating, Master Moore. The rock formations are unlike anything I''ve heard of." "These crystals are gorgeous," Gabby said, her usual energy tempered by genuine wonder as she studied the formations. "Do you think we could bring any back? They''d make beautiful decorative pieces for the house." "Let''s focus on the task at hand first," Alex said, suppressing a smile. He guided them around a corner, away from the main paths where most Guild members gathered. The tunnel was narrower but still tall enough to stand comfortably. "We''re looking for a smaller chamber. Something a bit more removed, where we can set up properly." The mana streams visible through his Heavenly Eye grew denser as they moved, swirling in lazy eddies around certain crystal clusters. He''d learned enough about Rift dynamics to know this usually indicated a monster spawn or breeding ground nearby. It was perfect for their needs, but they''d need to be careful. "I hear water ahead," Edwin observed, his voice echoing slightly off the crystalline walls. The cavern they entered opened up into a roughly circular chamber about forty feet across. A small stream cut through the far side, its gentle burbling echoing off the walls. The ceiling rose in a dome shape, covered in hanging formations that caught the light from the crystals below and scattered it throughout the room. "This is where we''ll set up." He patted the spatial bag. "Time to put all that gear to use." Alex set down the spatial bag and pulled out three large coolers, their metallic interiors gleaming. "Alright, this is perfect. We can set up here, away from the other groups."If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. "Master Moore," Edwin said, eyeing the equipment. "Perhaps now would be a good time to explain exactly what we''re hunting?" Alex couldn''t help the grin that spread across his face. "Slimes." "Slimes?" Gabby asked, her nose wrinkling. "Yep. Blue ones, specifically." Alex started arranging the coolers near the stream. "They''re actually perfect for first-time Awakening. Low level, predictable movement patterns, and¡ª" he paused, remembering his own first encounter, "¡ªtechnically speaking, they''re not too dangerous." Edwin''s eyebrow rose. "''Technically speaking, sir?" "Let''s just say my first Rift experience involved slimes, and it didn''t go great." Alex pulled out three sledgehammers next, their heads covered in protective wrapping. "But that''s why we''re going to be smarter about it. No charging in like an idiot this time." He explained the plan as he set up, demonstrating how to bait the slimes toward the coolers using their tendency to leap forward in a predictable rhythm. Once trapped within the cooler, the dry ice would freeze them solid, making them brittle enough to shatter with the hammers. "This seems... elaborate," Edwin observed, accepting his hammer awkwardly. "Trust me, it''s better than trying to fight them head-on. Those things are surprisingly durable and borderline immune to blunt force. It makes things hard when you¡¯re unprepared and just pick up the nearest branch." Alex moved to position them, placing Edwin and Gabby on either side of the stream with their coolers ready. "I''ll stay back here, but don''t worry. If anything goes wrong, I''ve got a few tricks up my sleeve now that I can use to help." As if on cue, a wet slapping sound echoed from one of the smaller tunnels leading into their chamber. Alex''s Heavenly Eye picked up three small mana signatures heading in their direction. The blobs made their way slowly, not yet having noticed the humans in the open space. "Here we go," he whispered, stepping back to give them space. "Remember, let them come to you. If they don¡¯t notice you, step forward and wait for them to start to jiggle, then move back." The first slime oozed into view, its gelatinous body was a light blue color, rather than the green that Alex had first faced. He felt a ridiculous surge of satisfaction. Time for some payback. He watched as Edwin and Gabby tensed, their hammers resting by the coolers behind them. It would take a bit of time for the dry ice to freeze the slimes once trapped. So, Alex had recommended that they not burden themselves with the weight of the hammers until needed. The front slime moved exactly as he remembered, bobbing along with that deceptively innocent appearance. Two more followed behind it, and Alex couldn''t resist. He used his [Mana Thread] to draw a ritual circle in the slime¡¯s path. When he¡¯d seen that there was a Common E Rank Rift with slimes as a primary monster, he¡¯d immediately begun to prepare his revenge. He¡¯d used the [Ritual Insight] cooldown on his Heating Ritual again to gain insight into the schematic. With the added understanding and some additional ritual shapes from the advanced manuals, Alex had created his first offensive ritual. Lastly, he used his off hand to create two more threads and dip them into the pouch of Mana Stone dust and pulled a small premade bag of materials from the spatial pouch. He used the thread to drag the pouch along the ground at high speed to rest where the ritual was formed. Knowing that this ritual was relatively cheap and that his modified version of the ritual was meant to allow both catalysts to be placed in the same spot, he planned to use it often for combat. He had prepared twenty bags of materials and was pleased with how well the combo worked. Concentrated Heating Ritual. A thin red line of superheated air struck the rear slime, instantly vaporizing a portion of its mass. The creature jiggled violently before expanding and rapidly deflating. It made a sad sound like a balloon losing air, but Alex just smiled. That''s for my first Rift, you little bastards. "Focus on the other two!" he called out, watching his staff prepare for their first monster encounter. "Remember the plan!" The remaining slimes noticed the movement and began their characteristic pre-jump wiggle. Alex watched as Edwin and Gabby executed the plan perfectly. "Now!" Alex called as the first slime launched itself toward Edwin. His butler sidestepped smoothly, revealing the open cooler behind him. The slime sailed through the air and landed with a wet plop inside the metal container. Edwin snapped the lid shut in one fluid motion, his composure never wavering. "Well done," Alex said, then turned his attention to Gabby. "Ready?" She nodded, eyes fixed on the remaining slime as it approached. "Come on, you Jell-O from Hell," she muttered, taking a deliberate step forward. The slime responded exactly as expected, gathering itself for a leap. Gabby moved with surprising grace, pivoting away at the last second. Her timing was slightly off, which caused the slime to catch the edge of the cooler. Despite that, she recovered quickly, tilting the cooler to nudge it fully inside before securing it. "Perfect!" Alex beamed at them both. "Now we wait for the dry ice to do its work. Should take about five or ten minutes." Edwin straightened his vest, which somehow hadn''t wrinkled during the entire trip and encounter. "I must admit, Master Moore, this strategy was quite effective. Though I confess, I expected something more... challenging." "Trust me, without the preparation, these things are a nightmare," Alex said, remembering his own first encounter. "Grab your hammers and get ready. Remember what we talked about in the car? The System works largely off of intent, so even though your awakening happens through combat, you will be able to gain experience later by doing things that you are attempting to improve in." Gabby lifted her hammer, testing its weight. "And you''re sure this will work?" "Positive. Just remember what I said. When you make your hits on the slime, try to picture your goals and what you want to do when you become an Awakened. Freezing them will make them brittle, so it should only take a solid one or two hits." Alex moved closer to the coolers, checking the frost forming around their edges. "Almost ready. Remember, this is just the beginning. The System will recognize the kill, and that''s when you¡¯ll feel some brief pain in your stomach, and the blue windows will appear." They waited in anticipation. The only sound was the gentle burble of the stream and the faint crackling of ice forming within the coolers. Alex smiled to himself, knowing that in just a few minutes, their lives would change forever. After another ten minutes went by, Alex could see the metal rims frosting over and the wiggling within had stopped. "Alright," Alex said, kneeling to check the coolers. "They should be frozen solid now. Edwin, you want to go first?" Edwin adjusted his grip on the hammer, maintaining his composure while clearly feeling nervous. "Very well, Master Moore." Alex helped him unlatch and flip open the cooler''s lid. Inside, the slime had become an icy blue sculpture, its final wiggle frozen in place. He tipped the cooler, and the chunk of slime-ice rolled out awkwardly. Edwin took a deep breath, and Alex could tell he was focusing his thoughts as instructed. The hammer came down with force. The frozen slime shattered like glass, crystalline shards scattering across the rocky cavern floor. Edwin immediately tensed, a sharp gasp escaping him as he doubled over. "Easy," Alex steadied him with a hand on his shoulder. "That''s your Core forming. It''ll pass in a few seconds." Gabby watched with wide eyes as Edwin straightened, blinking rapidly. "Sir, I... I can see it. The window, just as you described." "Take your time reading it. Remember that you can direct the System with your thoughts and those general commands we talked about earlier," Alex said before turning to Gabby. "Ready for yours?" She nodded, gripping her hammer tightly. Her frozen slime had taken on an almost artistic pose, caught mid-leap. Gabby planted her feet, took a steadying breath, and swung. The crack of impact echoed through the chamber, followed immediately by her sharp intake of breath as she pressed a hand to her stomach. "Oh wow," she managed through clenched teeth. "That''s... intense." Alex watched them both carefully as they processed their first System notifications. Edwin''s expression remained controlled, but his eyes widened slightly. Gabby was less reserved, her face cycling through surprise, confusion, and finally, excitement. "So," Alex said after giving them a moment, "sharing traits is not something that¡¯s normally done. The traits and skills you get are private. You don''t have to¡ª" ¡°It says [Intuitive Understanding]," Edwin read aloud immediately, his voice carrying a bit of wonder. "It seems... quite appropriate." Gabby beamed. "[Culinary Creation]! It says that if there are ingredients in any dishes that I make when I eat my own creation, I¡¯ll know the properties of that ingredient for future use!" Alex couldn''t help but laugh at their enthusiasm. "Those are perfect for both of you. But remember, traits are just the beginning. Now that you''re awakened, you''ll start gaining experience from activities aligned with your goals. We could head home right now, but I think we should wait.¡± ¡°What for?¡± ¡°Now that you¡¯re Awakened, you¡¯ll get presented with two quests after being in the Rift for a bit of time. Normally, they appear as soon as you enter the Rift, but for your first, you just need to wait long enough, and it will appear. I suggest that all three of us stay and slay the necessary number of slimes needed to complete the Personal Quest.¡± ¡°Ah, this is a Cull Quest?¡± Edwin asked. ¡°I remember seeing posts about people thinking these were the best kind of quest. There was also a lot of complaining about something called a fetch quest?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t seen one of those, but that¡¯s funny. People always hated those in video games, too.¡± Alex laughed and looked around their secluded chamber. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll leave the decision up to you guys. Do you want to go or stay?¡± Both Edwin and Gabby answered in unison, ¡°Stay.¡± Alex smiled, pleased with their decision. ¡°Great, I¡¯ve got a bit more revenge to get from these bouncy bastards.¡± He also thought that it might be nice to stretch his muscles a bit and try to collect some easy Mana Stones from the slimes. While these monsters wouldn¡¯t present him with much of a challenge or push his progress forward, it was an easy way to vent some of his frustration at his greatly slowed progression. Now¡­ let¡¯s see how many of these slimes I can kill in the next 10-15 minutes. I¡¯ll make a game of it and see what the total number of Mana Stones is, too. He couldn¡¯t stop a grin from spreading across his face. 72. Slime Slayer ¡°You should be safe here,¡± Alex said. He looked around their secluded chamber. He knew that from the direction they came, there were more adventurers, and he¡¯d be heading in the direction of the concentrated mana. ¡°The slimes only come from these smaller tunnels, and they move slowly enough that you¡¯ll see them coming. Besides, you¡¯ve already proven you can handle them.¡± He smiled as he thought of how efficiently their cooler traps had worked. Edwin nodded, still processing his Status Screen. ¡°How long before these quests appear, Master Moore?¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t be more than fifteen minutes. I¡¯m going to head deeper into the cavern system and take care of my share of slimes. I¡¯ll check back in about ten minutes to see if you¡¯ve gotten your quests yet.¡± He considered using his new [Parallel Mind] skill but quickly dismissed the idea. Better to practice that somewhere less dangerous. While he didn¡¯t think that the slimes were all that dangerous, he still wasn¡¯t quite sure how the skill worked or would affect him. Without Sam, he didn¡¯t want to risk taking an injury from the acidic monsters. He put his hand on his spatial pouch and knew that he had nineteen sets of ritual material remaining. ¡°Remember, if you need anything, just shout. There are plenty of other adventures in the main tunnels.¡± He gestured toward the larger passage that they¡¯d entered from. ¡°Besides, Val will be here to protect you. He¡¯s likely stronger than any of the adventurers anyway.¡± ¡°No, want bouncy food.¡± If you stay here and make sure that they¡¯re safe, I¡¯ll make sure to bring you back some Mana Stones. Okay? There was a brief pause in their mental communication. ¡°Val, protect!¡± The wyrm looped around the two staff members¡¯ heads, causing Alex to laugh at his quick change in attitude. Alex drifted toward one of the smaller tunnels using [Feather Step]. ¡°I won¡¯t go too far,¡± he called over his shoulder. His movement skill allowed him to glide swiftly and silently across the crystalline floor. The mana streams were visible to his Heavenly Eye, and see could tell that the flow of mana through the environment was growing thicker the deeper he went. He knew it was only a matter of time before one of the connecting tunnels arrived at a cluster of slimes. He wasn¡¯t disappointed. Around the next bend, three blue slimes bobbed along. Their gelatinous bodies caught the light from the nearby crystals, and Alex felt a feral grin stretch the scar on his cheeks. Quickly drawing a ritual circle with [Mana Thread], he placed one of his prepared material pouches in position with another thread. He took a moment to increase the size of the ritual by a small margin. When everything was in place, he stepped forward and got the attention of the trio of monsters. As they began to wiggle and launch themselves toward Alex, he casually hopped backward. It only took a few seconds to pull the small group into his waiting Ritual. Just as they landed, Alex used [Feather Step] to create a fair amount of distance between them before activating the ritual. Rather than the concentrated beam of heat that he was expecting, the slimes rapidly expanded before violently deflating with a loud pop. It surprised Alex, but he just began laughing as he realized that the concentrated acid and gas reacted violently with the heat. While he¡¯d seen something similar with the single slime before, the effect was magnified with three slimes together in a tight group. Where the slimes had been only moments before, were scattered droplets of blue gunk remaining from their rapid expansion and deflation. There were now streams of vapor drifted up into the air from the few spots of blue. A single Mana Stone lay in the blue carnage, and he jogged over to collect it. He checked the System prompt for his own quest.
Personal Quest: Culling Cave Creatures Kill 15 of the creatures within the Crystalline Caverns.
Rift Quest: Deep Dweller Slay the Rift Boss at the lowest point of the caves.
He was pleased with how quickly he could complete quests like this. Now that he was so high leveled, the slimes posed almost no threat to him whatsoever. Should I just be entering as many Common Rifts as I can to complete quests? I wonder if there are titles for completing a certain number of quests. It would certainly be efficient and allow him to reap rewards from the quests, whether items or tokens. The system-granted rewards seemed to be very valuable. He pushed the thoughts aside, knowing that it was an idle fantasy. He wanted to help his friends catch up to where he was before focusing on such selfish pursuits. As he moved deeper into the tunnels, he fell into an efficient rhythm of locating the slimes, setting up a ritual, triggering their rapid expansion and deflation, and collecting any potentially dropped Mana Stones. In the caverns, the walls glowed with each ritual as the crystal-lined walls reflected the flash of heat and rapidly evaporating slimes.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. While he was traveling through one particular tunnel, he heard grunts and shouts of fright. He turned quickly and moved to turn the corner and came across a young man backing away from four slimes. The adventurer clutched a wooden staff, jabbing ineffectively at the nearest creature. ¡°Need a hand?¡± Alex called out, memories of his own first encounter flooding back. Five minutes of hitting it with a stick and a rock, a ruined pair of pants, and a slightly burned leg¡­ The man¡¯s relief was evident. ¡°Please!¡± Alex stepped forward, quickly setting up a ritual. ¡°These things are tougher than they look, aren¡¯t they?¡± The man backpedaled, trying to create more distance from the creatures. ¡°I tried to use a stick on my first time, too. Rushed in like a total idiot, and it was the only thing around.¡± The following violent pop and spray of slime caused the man to yell and cover his head. Alex stepped forward and used his enhanced strength to grab the back of the man¡¯s pants by his belt and lifted him up. He used [Feather Step] to move him out of the way as a surviving slime jumped where he¡¯d been cowering. ¡°Want to take care of the last one yourself?¡± ¡°I¡­ yeah, I think I can handle one,¡± the man said while gripping his staff with white knuckles. Alex nodded before stepping back and gesturing at the monster. ¡°Just remember, they¡¯re predictable. Watch for the wiggle before they jump. The blunt physical damage can work, but it¡¯s going to take you a lot of effort. Magic makes it easier. You could maybe use one of the small streams of water too, if it works, you could potentially dilute them and cause their forms to break up.¡± He smiled, thinking how far he¡¯d come since his first encounter and what a little bit of research did to help. That day, he¡¯d been desperate and unprepared. ¡°Thanks,¡± the man said. ¡°Was- was that magic, then?¡± Alex scratched his head and scanned the man with his Heavenly Eye. ¡°Yeah, it was a heating Ritual. The slimes are very weak to fire and ice. I am probably not in a great position to lecture you on this, but you should definitely be down here with a group.¡± The young man was only level three and seemed to be quite far from the main channel of the Rift. ¡°I have two friends who I just helped Awaken. Do you want to walk back to the exit with us?¡± The man shook his head and re-gripped the staff. He looked over at the slime. Alex tried once more, and when his offer was rebuffed, he wished the newly Awakened good luck before departing. He lifted his hand in farewell and drifted away at a quick pace, leaving the adventurer staring after him. Thirteen ritual pouches left. I¡¯ve still got a bit of time before I need to get back to Edwin and Gabby.
Edwin brought his hammer down on the last of the frozen slimes. Over the last half hour, they had gotten efficient at packing up the coolers and hammers, migrating to a new area, and preparing. Alex would gather up a few slimes and bait them back toward the two newly Awakened, and they would take turns luring them into the dry ice coolers. "Well, that is quite beautiful to see," Edwin said as Alex saw his eyes trace invisible experience motes into the air before they rushed into him. "You guys did great," Alex said before giving Gabby a stern look. "No, Gabby." The large woman froze with her back to him, and Alex waited for her to stand and look at him with a guilty expression. "Okay, come on, boss! They''re just so cute." Behind Gabby, Alex could see where she''d dumped the dry ice out of the cooler and was instead attempting to bait a slime into the ice-box when it was empty. What does she think she''s going to do with the thing? Keep it in the cupboard? "I could just keep it in my room at the house, you''d never even know it was there!" she said with a beaming smile. Alex palmed his face and shook his head. "No, Gabby. We have no way to keep an acidic slime at the house. Maybe we can look into some sort of stable or something, but for now, there''s just no way." He had another thought as he imagined her taking care of the little thing. "Anyway, wouldn''t it be bad if you got a monster tamer class or something, instead of a chef class? At the very least, let''s wait until you hit level 10 and then we can think about it." Gabby deflated a bit but nodded in understanding. "Yeah, you''re right. That was a bit silly. I was just thinkin'' about how cool it would be to have the little guy cook with me. It could eat all my scraps and just bounce around all day." Alex had to force himself not to groan as he thought of her taking care of a slime. It''s definitely a different first experience with the monsters than I had¡­ They all packed up the supplies, and Alex decided not to press the issue any further. While it should be important for Gabby to think of the monsters as sufficiently dangerous, he didn''t think it was worth dismissing her daydream. They won''t be in the field much anyway. So their exposure to monsters should be minimal. As they walked toward the Rift entrance, Alex reflected on his own slime hunt. He''d run out of ritual materials faster than expected, mainly due to how effective the heating ritual had been. The way the slimes'' acidic bodies reacted to the extreme heat had given him an idea, though. If I can reverse the effects of the heating ritual as I did with the weight-reducing ritual¡­ I might be able to create an extremely cold ritual schematic. Or at least one that removes heat from whatever steps in it. The idea was interesting to him. Not just from a combat perspective, but he imagined other ways that such a ritual might be useful. What if I¡¯m in a Rift that¡¯s really hot, like a desert environment? Or what if I want to freeze food or make a ritual around an icebox while we¡¯re camping out in a Rift? The weight-increasing ritual that he¡¯d created before had quickly become one of his most used Rituals in combat and physical training. The practical uses of the magic were something that truly excited Alex. ¡°Did you see how those slimes just popped?¡± An excited voice caught his attention as a group of young adventures huddled near the entrance. The young girl was gesturing animatedly as she spoke. ¡°He was just zipping through the tunnels like it was nothing!¡± ¡°Yeah, I can¡¯t believe they just popped like that. I should have thought to bring something with fire, instead of a spear. I thought slimes were supposed to have a core or something I could stab.¡± ¡°The Slime Slayer strikes again!¡± Alex saw a fist pump into the air at the last statement, and he tried to look inconspicuous as they passed, but Gabby wasn¡¯t making it easy. She was practically vibrating with suppressed laughter, and even Edwin¡¯s carefully maintained composure couldn¡¯t quite hide his smirk. ¡°The Slime Slayer?¡± Gabby whispered once they were out of earshot. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Not a word,¡± Alex muttered, deadpan. He did his best to turn away from the pair behind him, worried they¡¯d see how completely red his face was. ¡°How do you guys feel after finishing your quests.¡± ¡°Quite good,¡± Edwin replied smoothly, and Alex was thankful that the man allowed him to change the subject. ¡°Though, I¡¯m not sure I enjoy this kind of outing. I¡¯d much prefer to be at the estate, where things are less prone to attack me. Though it seemed like you were having a blast, Master Moore.¡± Alex narrowed his eyes and looked back at Edwin, who couldn¡¯t suppress the slight twitching of his mustache. He groaned as Gabby finally lost her battle with laughter. Val sent Alex feelings of reassurance that felt like the mental equivalent of a head-pat. Not you, too. He looked up at his companion who floated along lazily overhead, a bulge in his long body from the two Mana Stones he¡¯d been given to eat. 73. Teams Event Sunlight streamed through the large windows of the new house¡¯s spacious living room. The white and gray space looked immaculate, and Alex was still finding it hard to adjust to having Edwin around to coordinate things and Clara around to constantly clean through the week. Alex sat cross-legged on the wide cushioned couch with one large book in his lap and another smaller one in his hand. His eyebrows came together as he used his newest skill, though he was quickly becoming frustrated with its particular limitations. Beside him, Mark lounged in an armchair, his attention glued to the AG app on his phone. He scrolled through the latest updates and occasionally paused to read something out loud. Sam sat quietly at the other end of the couch, a leather journal open in his lap as he worked through Alex''s recorded notes and training materials from their time in the Epic Rift. ¡°Dude, you¡¯ve gotta check this out,¡± Mark said, drawing Alex¡¯s gaze away from his books. ¡°Did you know that you can train your stat points?¡± His interest piqued, Alex felt his consciousness come together and focused on Mark fully. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°It¡¯s one of the ones from Rylan, but this article talks about how you can increase your stats by a small amount just by training. Like lifting weights or running to increase your Strength and Agility. It talks about doing mental exercises, brain teasers, and studying to increase your magical stats as well.¡± Alex perked up, and immediately, a handful of questions popped up in his mind. ¡°Does it say by how much? Or how quickly they can increase?¡± There was a pause as Mark continued to scan the article. ¡°It says that there¡¯s a limit, but the limit apparently increases every thirty.¡± ¡°So, with a class advancement?¡± ¡°It looks like it¡¯s more tied to levels and your actual rank advancement. Wait, actually, can you explain that to me a bit more? I¡¯ll get my class at level ten, right? So how does my class level up?¡± Mark set aside his phone, and Alex had to change gears to keep up with the redirected conversation. "Okay, let me break this down," Alex said, leaning forward. "Levels and classes are two separate things." Mark nodded and was completely focused on the explanation. "Levels are a measure of your overall power and stats. You gain experience for pretty much everything you do, and that increases your level. It''s a constant kind of progression that¡¯s easy to measure." "Okay, and classes?" Mark asked. "Classes are like a job. They have their own progression system, completely separate from your level. You gain class experience by performing tasks related to your class, just like you¡¯d get better at your job by doing it more." Alex paused, making sure Mark was following. "Classes have five proficiency ranks: Novice, Journeyman, Adept, Expert, and Master. These are the same ranks used for skills. Your class determines which skills you get and how many stat points you receive when you level up." "So, how are they connected?" Sam chimed in with interest. "They''re not really, except for one thing that I know of," Alex explained. "You can''t get a class until you reach level 10. But otherwise, they progress independently." ¡°But why do people keep saying that your class advances around level 30 if they¡¯re separate?¡± Alex shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m guessing because it just gives us a general way to track things. Theoretically if you only ever had one class, and most of the experience you gained for your levels was by doing actions related to your class¡­ yeah I guess you¡¯d probably go up a proficiency rank around every 20-30 levels.¡± Mark''s brow furrowed. "What if you change classes?" "That¡¯s where the problem comes in if you try to think of them as the same thing. It just doesn¡¯t work. You can change classes whenever you want, but you''ll likely start back at Novice rank, but your levels and stats will never be lost.¡± Alex waved his hand and dismissed the topic. ¡°There¡¯s not a lot of reason for all the hypotheticals right now. Just know that the key to progress your class is to focus on activities that align with your class. Do that, and you''ll eventually be offered an advancement. "There''s still a lot we don''t know about how it all works. The System isn''t exactly upfront with details. But that''s pretty much the gist of it." Mark nodded thoughtfully. "So, it''s not just about leveling up, but you also have to think about how you perform in your chosen class?" "Exactly," Alex confirmed, pleased with their understanding. "It''s quality over quantity. Pushing yourself in your class activities likely counts for more than just going through the motions." Alex sighed and rubbed his forehead. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯ve been a bit worried about this because I gained my experience and levels so fast. Worse yet, I wasn¡¯t really using my class when I gained half of those levels. It makes sense that Sam would be getting close to his advancement, considering he was healing almost daily for more almost two years. But I basically got boosted in the span of a couple of months.¡±Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°So you feel like you haven¡¯t done enough with your class yet to get an advancement in the same level time frame that you were talking about.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see, I guess. But yeah- that¡¯s what I¡¯m worried about.¡± Sam spoke up, ¡°But I really do think that doing things that are hard or push your class and skills get you more of that experience. Remember, we talked about this some with my healing skills?¡± Alex nodded. ¡°Well, you¡¯ve been adapting and modifying rituals pretty much nonstop since even before we met. That¡¯s got to count for more than just practicing the same beginner rituals over and over, right?¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Alex said. ¡°That¡¯s actually a good point. I still don¡¯t think it¡¯s going to be enough to balance out how quickly I jumped up there, but you¡¯re not wrong. Maybe I¡¯m not as bad off as I thought?¡± He thought on it for a few minutes and the two conversations so close to each other made a light bulb go off in Alex¡¯s head. ¡°Oh, shit.¡± He sat up straight before standing and running up to his office. Mark called after him in confusion, but he returned to the living room after grabbing one of the advanced Ritual manuals that Eura had gifted to him. He flipped through the pages, and both Sam and Mark looked at each other in confusion. ¡°Here!¡± Alex found the section at the front of the Body Tempering Advanced Rituals Manual. ¡°I hadn¡¯t really put much thought into it since it says early on that these rituals can¡¯t be used on anyone under the first star rank.¡± ¡°First star?¡± ¡°The cultivators in the Rift classified things differently than the System does. Basically, they called anyone who was E Rank an initiate, and anyone who was D Rank was one star. Then, the stars went up by a single count for each Rank. So, when this said it couldn¡¯t be used until the first star, I thought it wasn¡¯t worth getting into yet.¡± ¡°Alright, that makes sense.¡± ¡°But, if what you were just saying about gaining stats being capped or limited to each Rank, then this makes a bit more sense. There are a few different body tempering rituals in here and just glancing at the schematics, they¡¯re really complicated and will take a lot of materials and mana to start, but it describes the results as substantial. This makes some more sense if our bodies need to adjust and adapt by gaining more levels before they can undergo a big change, like what some of these rituals can do. Though the process sounds pretty gruesome in a few¡­¡± His sentence tapered off as he looked at the blood-tempering ritual. The group all sat back in their chairs and thought more on the implications and yet another potential avenue for their growth. Slowly, Sam went back to reading through Alex''s notes from the Epic Rift while Mark talked with Alex more about classes. ¡°How¡¯s that new skill of yours, anyway?¡± Mark asked. ¡°It¡¯s going well, but it¡¯s a bit more limited than I thought.¡± When Mark raised an eyebrow, Alex answered the unspoken question. ¡°Well, at first it was actually really hard to separate the two streams of information I was getting at once. While my mind is split to do two things, it took some practice on how to just focus on one and ignore the other one, letting it work until I end the skill.¡± ¡°Sound a little complicated.¡± Alex shrugged in response. ¡°I don¡¯t see many uses for me to actually want to try and know what¡¯s going on in two places at once. The skill seems most useful to focus on one thing, and then let the other half work through a problem or train in the background. Almost like a background process on a computer.¡± ¡°That¡¯s so wild,¡± Mark said, chuckling with disbelief. ¡°Seriously¡­ it gets crazier. From there, I wanted to see if I could read two things at once. Then maybe I could study twice as fast or something¡­ but, well- I can¡¯t look at two things at once. So, I guess I could read the book and let half of my attention focus on the book''s content, and the other stream of my consciousness could focus on a conversation with you. So I could still study while we chat. ¡°There¡¯s the huge benefit that the skills cost is a set amount and up front, so I feel like I¡¯m almost encouraged to leave it running longer, but I pulled up my Status Window, and I could see all of my mental stats get cut in half while using the skill. I guess it¡¯s literally parsing my mental capacity and using half for each half of the [Parallel Mind].¡± ¡°Damn, still. That¡¯s so cool. There¡¯s a lot you can do with it, even if you can¡¯t physically do two things at once.¡± Alex was nodding before he even finished the sentence. ¡°Yeah, definitely. I think I¡¯ll try to keep it running a lot of the time and practice shaping exercises or my cycling technique, even while I¡¯m doing other things. At least that¡¯s a form of training that I don¡¯t need to do much physically. Also, in combat, I see it being really useful. I can focus on my opponent and fight or move while letting the other half of my mind lay down rituals. I¡¯ll need to work on it a bit, but I think it will be a game changer.¡± ¡°Ugh, I want to just buy a bunch of stuff from the Auction House. Seriously, I need to try and get my hands on a skill manual or something.¡± ¡°Well, I can¡¯t be the only one getting cool stuff. I tried to get you that shout skill the other day, but you kept telling me not to. Why don¡¯t we look for something you think will work with what you want to do?¡± ¡°I want to get it on my own,¡± Mark said with a grin. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to us getting into some of those Rifts so I can earn my keep around here.¡± His forehead wrinkled as he thought about the Rifts. ¡°I know it¡¯s only been a week since you said you registered us for some of those better Rarity Rifts, but why is it taking so long for us to get in? I know you want us to train until we get in, but how long are we going to wait? I haven¡¯t been in a Rift since before you got home a month ago.¡± Mark rolled his head back to rest on the couch in a dramatic fashion. Alex laughed. ¡°Yeah, it is taking a while. I¡¯ll need to look into why we haven¡¯t gotten in. We shouldn¡¯t wait too long. While I want you guys to train, gaining levels is important, too, especially if there¡¯s a competition starting soon. If this goes on much longer, I¡¯ll just put us in for a few Common Rifts. I was able to get Gabby and Edwin in without problems within a day or two.¡± Mark nodded, happy with the response. They spent some time in comfortable silence, and Alex watched as Sam meticulously worked through his notes, occasionally making his own annotations in the margins. It was good to see him taking such an interest in understanding what they''d learned during their time in the Epic Rift. Alex felt a knot of guilt and anxiety well up in his stomach. We really need to talk about his parents, though. The more time that passes, the more wrong this feels. All three of their phones chimed simultaneously, and Alex was pulled from his thoughts.
[Adventurer''s Guild Announcement] Team Event: Rift Clearing Challenge Duration: 30 Days Objective: Clear and close designated Rifts to gain contribution points Teams: 2-8 members Special Note: Teams will be matched, accepted, or denied from Rifts based on power level and composition
74. A Part of Us Mark started laughing before Alex had even finished reading. ¡°You better go ahead and put us on the list for some Common Rifts, now!¡± Alex ignored him and clicked on the notification, which took him to a more detailed article containing more information on the event.
Posted by Derrick Holloway (Moderator) - 2 minutes ago Hey Adventurers! I''m excited to announce our first official Teams Event! Starting next Monday, January 20th at midnight EST, we''ll be launching a month-long Rift clearing challenge. I know many of you have been asking for more organized activities, and this is our answer. Here''s the deal: Starting tonight at midnight, you''ll see a new Event Tab in your AG app. This will allow you to register your team and, next week, will show you all the Rifts designated for the event. Teams can register and apply for specific Rifts they want to tackle. Don''t worry if you''re not in a team yet. You''ve got a week to get organized before the event officially starts. Important stuff first: Teams need to be between 2-8 people. I know some of you are groaning, but this is about working together. We''re looking at team composition and power levels before approving Rift assignments. This isn''t to limit anyone''s points. It''s to keep you all alive. Remember, dead adventurers can''t spend contribution points! Speaking of points, here''s how it works: You¡¯ll get a flat number of points for being there on Rift closure. You''ll need to prove your contribution to clearing the Rift for more points. Bring back monster parts, show us your System Message on Rift completion, and whatever physical proof you can get. Our Peacekeepers will verify everything when the Rift closes. And yes, you only get points after the Rift is fully cleared. There¡¯s no credit for partial work. We''ll have Peacekeepers patrolling the event Rifts to keep things fair and safe. If they tell you to back off or leave a Rift¡­ do it. They''re there to keep you alive, not ruin your fun and growth. The good news? Everyone who earns points can spend them! This isn''t one of those "only the top team wins" deals. When the event ends, you''ll be able to exchange your points for some pretty sweet items in our special Event Shop. Trust me, you''re going to want these. Quick reminder: Sabotaging other teams or trying to muscle in on their Rift clear will get you disqualified instantly. Play nice, work together, and let''s show everyone what the AG community is really about. Questions? Drop them below. I''ll be around to answer what I can. Stay safe out there!
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¡°I want to see these rewards,¡± Mark said, scrolling through the announcement. ¡°Hopefully, we can get some serious gear with contribution points. Can you get us signed up and ready to go by next week?¡± ¡°Maybe you could get a skill manual like you were talking about,¡± Sam said. ¡°Oh, yeah! It would feel like I earned it there, too. Now I¡¯m getting pumped. If I¡¯m going to be the tank, I¡¯m going to really depend on you, buddy. Oh man, I instantly feel nervous!¡± Despite the proclamation, he had a wide grin on his face. ¡°I see why you wanted us to prepare and train, I feel like going in even how we are could still be dangerous.¡± Sam shifted in his seat. ¡°Do you think we¡¯re ready? I mean I know I can heal, but¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯ll do great,¡± Alex reassured him, though internally, he felt his own pressure mounting. He¡¯d been briefly in charge of the small team of guards from Tianluo, but other than that, he hadn¡¯t been a leader or manager in anything. How do I even get better at being a leader? Do I need to start buying some self-help books or something? ¡°I think you¡¯re right,¡± he said, turning to Mark. ¡°We do need to train some more, but we also need to get you and Sarah into a Rift. At least one before the event starts. We can¡¯t afford to wait any longer for the higher rarity ones.¡± He said the words with confidence, but he wasn¡¯t sure if it was the right move or not. While he¡¯d be stronger than almost anything in the Rift, he hesitated to endanger his friends.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. With Sam, things should be a lot safer. He¡¯s a huge advantage that most other teams won¡¯t have. ¡°We¡¯ll need to really buckle down and train this week, too. I know you can¡¯t train much more than you already are, but you should keep reading as much as you can on the AG app and maybe link up with Edwin to go back and forth on some basic things.¡± Mark pumped his fist in the air. ¡°Yes! I¡¯m going to call Sarah and see if she can jump in on this.¡± He practically bounced out of the room while holding his phone to his ear. In the quiet that followed, Sam spoke softly. ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve been thinking¡­ maybe I could help out at the Safe Zones? I heard that there are a lot of refugees coming in who need healing, and it could be good practice¡­¡± Alex scratched his chest. ¡°That¡¯s not a bad idea. It could get you more practice for sure, but we¡¯ll also want to keep you in training with us here and definitely when we get into a Common Rift before the event. You¡¯re a higher level than all of us, but you have really little combat experience. You and Sarah are in a similar boat. You¡¯ll both be at the back of the group, supporting us. So it¡¯s more like we need you to see how Mark, Olivia, and I move so that you know what to expect.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I think I¡¯m ready,¡± Sam said confidently. There was another long pause as the two of them sat together and considered how the next week would play out. Alex sighed and knew that there was still one more Band-Aid that he needed to rip off. Every time he¡¯d thought to bring it up, he¡¯d had some sort of justification for it. ¡°Sam, we should really talk about meeting your parents soon.¡± Sam¡¯s shoulders tensed. ¡°I- I know we should. It¡¯s just¡­¡± he fidgeted with the corner of his book. ¡°Can we wait a little longer?¡± Alex let out a long breath and looked over Sam¡¯s head. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m not going to pressure you into anything. But do you mind me at least asking why you won¡¯t meet up with them? I don¡¯t know how bad things were, but I¡¯m sure they miss you, Sam.¡± He ran his hand through his hair and looked back down at the sandy-haired teenager. ¡°I was gone for only a fraction of the time you were, and Mark and Sarah thought I¡¯d passed away. Sarah is worried that something happened before you even entered. Were they mean to you? If it¡¯s a bad situation, you need to know that we won¡¯t force you to leave, Sam. You¡¯re apart of us, we want you to be here, but we also want to understand.¡± Sam stared at his hands for a few long heartbeats before speaking up. ¡°It wasn¡¯t anything bad, not really. We just¡­ had an argument. A stupid one.¡± He glanced up at Alex before looking away again. ¡°I got upset and ran off into the woods behind our house after dark. We have a huge property, and my parent¡¯s own a farm at the base of the mountain. I used to explore it all the time when I needed to think or pretend I was running away.¡± Alex waited patiently for Sam to continue, as it was clear he was gathering his thoughts. ¡°I found the Rift there, hidden between some trees. I was still angry, and curious, and¡­¡± Sam¡¯s voice trailed off. He shrugged. ¡°I just wanted to explore what it was; I¡¯d almost completely forgotten how mad I was at my parents. But then I got trapped inside. I never meant to stay away so long or make them think¡­¡± his voice cracked slightly. Alex watched as Sam clenched his jaw several times and used his sleeve to wipe at his eyes. ¡°They probably thought I died,¡± Sam whispered. ¡°How can I face them after I ran away. They¡¯re going to be mad that I put them through that. Just because I was being stupid and childish and ran away?¡± His fingers gripped the outer edges of the journal in his lap before he idly messed with the pages. Alex leaned forward. ¡°Sam, they¡¯re your parents. They¡¯ll just be happy you¡¯re alive. You¡¯ve got to realize that, right? I know you went through a lot in the Rift, but I see very few scenarios where they don¡¯t weep with joy at realizing you¡¯re still alive. It might be a bit awkward for a bit after that, but I don¡¯t think they¡¯d be mad at you.¡± ¡°But, what if-¡± Sam cut himself off, then took a deep breath. ¡°What if they don¡¯t let me stay here? Mom¡¯s always been really protective, and after everything that happened¡­¡± He looked up at Alex, genuine fear in his eyes. ¡°I should be almost 18 now, with how long I was in the Rift, but they¡¯ll still see me as their little kid who needs to be protected. I¡¯ll still just be the same shy 16 year old to them, and I feel like a completely different person¡­ They won¡¯t understand about being an Awakened, or healing, or that I need to be a different person than that, or any of it.¡± Alex felt his heart twist at the mixture of determination and vulnerability in Sam¡¯s face. ¡°I don¡¯t want to leave,¡± Sam continued, and his voice grew a bit stronger. ¡°I know it probably sounds stupid, but what we¡¯re doing here is important. I¡¯m learning so much, and I can help people- really help them.¡± His shoulders sagged, and he ducked his head. ¡°I just¡­ don¡¯t want to lose any of this.¡± Letting out a deep breath once again, Alex put his hand on Sam¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I can¡¯t make any kind of promises here, buddy. I don¡¯t know your parents or how they¡¯ll react. But I can tell you that you¡¯re welcome here, and I¡¯m happy to do whatever I can to keep you here with us.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Sam asked, waiting for the hammer to drop. ¡°But, I think you know that it¡¯s not right to keep them in the dark. Especially if they love you and think that you¡¯re missing or worse.¡± When Sam nodded in acceptance, Alex felt a weight lift from his shoulders. ¡°Alright, well, we can talk about reaching out to them in the next week. We don¡¯t need to rush things, but we should do it pretty soon.¡± ¡°Okay, sounds good.¡± It was Sam¡¯s turn to take a deep breath, but after nodding, he gave Alex a small smile and stood to walk to his room. He stopped before moving into the foyer to go up the stairs. ¡°Thanks.¡± Mark burst back into the room, grinning and completely oblivious to the gravity of the previous conversation. "Sarah''s in! She can join us after her shift tomorrow to talk strategy.¡± Alex nodded and pulled up the AG app to look at Common Rarity Rifts that might let them in on short notice. He found two with ample space for their small team and entered their information. As he sent each one, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he was making the right choice. Is this still rushing things? Should we wait longer and keep training? When he was done, he checked the time and saw that it was a few hours past noon. Guess I¡¯ve got some training and research that I can start right away. Might as well get to it. He rubbed his hands on his legs, stood up, and walked to his office on the second floor. 75. Preparations and Possibilities Alex settled into his new office chair, tablet in hand. Near the window, to Alex¡¯s left, Val lazed on his cat tree. The wyrm would occasionally flick his tail fins to catch the rays of sunlight streaming in from the windows. Smiling up at his companion, Alex watched as the small creature fought to keep its eyes open. Look like a lazy cat on a windowsill. I wonder how big you¡¯re gonna get, buddy. While he hadn¡¯t directly sent the thought through their bond, Valtherion must have noticed as he sent a sense of smug satisfaction through their bond along with the mental image of a building. Shit, you better not get that big. The office itself was still a work in progress, but Alex was happy to have brought the tree with them in the move. Val seemed to really enjoy circling it and resting on the many different levels available. It didn¡¯t exactly match the absurdly expensive house, but Alex didn¡¯t really care. The dark wooden bookshelves lined both walls, and though most of the shelves remained empty, Alex was excited to have added his own books up there. Though he¡¯d been making many purchases through the Guild Auction House lately, only the first of those orders had begun to arrive. His introductory texts on runes and magical theory stood out on the empty shelves, but knowing their value made Alex proud to have them. His desk had several sketches of ritual diagrams and tests for modified versions spread out across it. He hadn¡¯t set up his desktop computer since the move, but his new laptop rested on top of the various doodles and schematics. Alex leaned back in his chair and looked around his new workspace. His mind worked at a rapid pace, thinking through all the things that he could jump into. He looked over at his whiteboard and checked out his priority list. Should probably just focus on a few at a time. Researching Val¡¯s advancement is a priority. Practice with [Mirage] and check out one of the new Rune Manuals is a close second place. Then, I really need to tinker with [Ritual Insight] if there¡¯s time. ¡°What do you think, Val? Too ambitious?¡± The small wyrm cracked open his eye and looked down at Alex before blinking lazily. ¡°You¡¯re right. Might as well try!¡± He opened the Guild app, and navigated to the forums. He¡¯d bookmarked an article the day before to do some research on Val¡¯s advancement. Eura had mentioned that things were done differently for companions, and Alex didn¡¯t want to be unprepared for the process. He found the bookmarked section and opened ¡°Classes and Advancements for You and Your Companion.¡± It grated his nerves a bit to see Rylan¡¯s name at the top of the article, but he also knew that meant that the information was likely accurate. I still want to know where he¡¯s getting his information from. Elana said it was something granted to him by the System. Maybe an item or a way to communicate with someone who knows the System? There was a smaller name under Rylan¡¯s, crediting the person who actually sat down and wrote the article. ¡°Hey, Val. Want to read something interesting?¡± Alex asked. Valtherion¡¯s head perked up, and the wyrm glided over. He coiled around Alex¡¯s shoulder and peered at the screen, his small fishlike head bobbing almost like a snake. ¡°What reading?¡± Reading helps us learn, which will make us both stronger. Alex started reading aloud, even though Val could just listen to his thoughts. ¡°Monsters have five tiers. Tier I - V, where they can advance every thirty levels.¡± He knew they were both level 26, but he looked at Val and pulled up his Status Window, regardless.
Status Name: Valtherion - Level 26 Race: Mana Wyrm (Tier 1) HP: 350/350 MP: 1100/550 Traits: (1/6) {Mana Glutton} Physical Stats: Strength: 5 Agility: 12 Constitution: 35 Vitality: 37 Magical Stats: Intellect: 43 Willpower: 40 + 151 Mana: 55 Wisdom: 46 Bond Skills: [Mana Infusion] (Novice - Level 16) Primary Stat Shared - Willpower Active Skills: [Mana Siphon] (Novice - Level 18) [Create Lesser Illusion] (Novice - Level 12) Passive Skills: [Magical Resistance] (Tier 1)
Alex dismissed the window and continued to read through the post. ¡°As monsters or bonded companions approach level 30, they enter a preparatory phase for advancement. This usually begins around level 27, varying by the creature. During this time, they¡¯ll sleep more as their bodies ready themselves for evolution.¡± He glanced at Val. Guess that does make sense. You¡¯ve been sleeping a lot the last few days, huh? ¡°In the wild, monsters at this stage embark on a final hunt, seeking either powerful prey or rare, mana-rich natural treasures. This ¡®hunt¡¯ is crucial, as consuming these powerful sources of mana or spirit energy triggers the actual advancement process. ¡°For domesticated beasts or bonded companions, their human partners can provide this mana source. Once consumed, the beast enters a short hibernation to digest and convert the item¡¯s power. Upon emerging, they reach level 30 and complete their evolution.¡± "Nooo! You''re going to eat more valuable stuff?!" Alex groaned loudly. Valtherion cooed loudly and happily at the mention of eating. "Mana! Cookies!" Alex covered his face with his hands, exasperated but amused. I told Sarah not to keep giving you Oreos. "Guess we¡¯ve got to plan ahead," Alex said, scratching Val''s head. "Don¡¯t worry buddy, we¡¯ll find you something great to eat." Val''s fins fluttered with excitement at the idea of more food. The little beast was completely oblivious to Alex''s concerns or the idea of quality, only focused on the idea of more. He continued reading. "The advancement strengthens the monster, grants new abilities, and can alter their appearance. These changes align with the companion''s nature and experiences. For instance, a canine creature living near, or constantly in, water might develop aquatic adaptations over time, but won''t suddenly sprout gills in one evolution. Likewise, feeding a neutral element companion a rare fire material or beast, could lead to them gaining a fire affinity. Choose the source carefully!" Alex nodded, absorbing the information. "The type of mana source consumed can influence the evolution path," he read aloud. "So we''ll need to be a bit picky to help shape your growth, buddy." He grabbed his leather notebook and began to jot down key points from the article. The section about bond benefits particularly caught his attention. ¡°Listen to this part, Val. ''When you bond with a companion, you get half of their highest stat, and they receive half of your highest stat. The bond also grants access to each other''s highest-level skill, which can be changed once per tier.''¡± Val nudged Alex¡¯s cheek with his forehead.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. ¡°Share power is good. Stronger.¡± ¡°Yeah, though your [Mana Siphon] has been really useful. Not sure I want to change that. Same with you having [Mana Infusion], when I¡¯m distracted, you have been able to give me your mana.¡± He winced as he checked his own skill levels and remembered that [Mana Infusion] was his lowest-level Novice skill besides [Feather Step]. ¡°I need to get some of these up.¡± ¡°Weak.¡± ¡°Hey, hey, hey. We need to get you on a training schedule here soon, too. You can¡¯t be slacking while the rest of us train. We need to work on your illusion skill. If you really are going to be getting bigger, we need a way to get you around with me without drawing everyone¡¯s attention.¡± Alex continued reading, making notes about racial progression and evolution paths. The post emphasized how changes needed to make sense for the monster¡¯s race. No sudden or drastic alterations that didn¡¯t align with their nature or the upgrade material. So since he¡¯s a mana wyrm, he¡¯ll need mana material that makes- Alex¡¯s hand drifted to his spatial pouch, where the Rare D-Rank Material from the Epic Rarity Rift was stored. He¡¯d almost forgotten about it with everything that had happened since. That would definitely qualify as a ¡°powerful source of mana.¡± He glanced at Val, who was still contentedly perched on his shoulder. The wyrm had been invaluable during their time in the Celestial Rift, and their bond had only grown stronger since. It¡¯s got to be worth another fortune, though¡­ Still, the thought nagged at him. He wanted Valtherion to grow strong, and it would be worth a small fortune to see his companion thrive. Val was approaching level 30, and they needed to be prepared. Having a material like the Mana Pearl already in hand was reassuring, even if he wanted to look for alternatives first. Maybe I can browse the Auction House and see what mana-infused items are available. We¡¯ve got a few levels to figure it out, but with him getting so sleepy and growing, I¡¯ve got to imagine he¡¯s close to being ready to evolve. He scratched the top of Val¡¯s head gently. The wyrm¡¯s evolution was too important to leave to chance. If they couldn¡¯t find something more suitable, the Rare D Rank material would ensure the best possible chance at a powerful evolution. A knock at the cracked door interrupted his research. ¡°Alex?¡± Sam called through the door. ¡°Gabby wanted me to remind you lunch is ready in ten minutes.¡± ¡°Thanks, Sam!¡± Alex made sure the post was still bookmarked before opening a new tab and opening Google. Let¡¯s see what else we can find about wyrms. I remember it being some kind of snake or baby dragon from other fantasy stuff, but maybe there¡¯s some more accurate information since the Rifts have appeared. The search results were disappointing. Mostly, the results showed old fantasy games or fiction stories where wyrms were referenced. He started to get a bit concerned when he realized that almost every article hinted that wyrms were somehow distantly related to dragons. Alex stopped and sat up a bit straighter. He slowly turned his head to look at Val. Big bug eyes and a fish face looked back at him with teeth from his lower jaw jutting up. Alex couldn¡¯t help but think his bond looked goofy and a bit dopey. Nahhhhhh¡­. ¡­ Nope. He closed the tab and stood. Taking a breath, he prepared to call out for Edwin, wanting the butler¡¯s help. The door opened before he could even speak. ¡°Did you need something, Master Moore? This trait is quite useful.¡± Alex¡¯s train of thought was so interrupted by his early entry, that it took him a moment to collect his thoughts and actually get out the request. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s going to take some getting use to. I wanted to know if you have come across any books or articles about monster evolution in your reading the last few days?¡± Edwin nodded slightly. ¡°As a matter of fact, I have been researching various magical phenomena. In particular, I¡¯ve tried to research magical monsters, though that has been with a focus on monsters you and the others might encounter in the Rifts. It has not focused on companions. I could prioritize that material if you¡¯d like?¡± ¡°That would be great, thanks.¡± ¡°No need to thank me, Master Moore.¡± Alex grinned. ¡°I¡¯m going to grab some lunch. Coming, Val?¡± In the kitchen, Gabby handed him a plate of grilled chicken over diced potatoes and roasted vegetables. ¡°Don¡¯t let it get cold this time,¡± She warned with a knowing look. Alex glanced at Sam, who was sitting on the opposite side of the counter, grinning. He rolled his eyes and thanked Gabby before walking back to the office. Seated back at his desk, Alex set the plate aside on a corner and opened his notebook back up. He flipped through the pages and found a section where he¡¯d been working on a new application of [Mirage]. Lunch can wait a few minutes. He stood and walked to the center of the office, and focused on his core. Alex drew on the mana and activated his [Mirage] Skill through the System. The skill shattered almost instantly as he let his focus shift to an idea that popped into his head. ¡°Hey, Edwin!¡± He stuck his head into the hallway. ¡°Can you bring me a mirror? Just from one of the rooms is fine.¡± A few minutes later, Edwin was helping him prop a tall mirror against one of the bookshelves so that it faced toward the room. He thanked Edwin and returned to the center of the room. Activating [Mirage] again, he felt the mana drain from his core. This time, he watched his reflection carefully with the Heavenly Eye. The pattern of mana moved in such a complex way, and so quickly, he felt his mouth open in surprise. Fuck. That¡¯s crazy. I guess a Journeyman-level skill is no joke. I really need to look more into how this normal kind of magic, Spellcasting, works. It might help me a lot to learn how the mana flows. Could I mix incantations or something similar in with rituals? He practiced for a time, activating the skill, watching how the mana moved, and taking notes in his journal. When he was almost out of mana, he held the last illusion and continued on with his original training plan. While in the Celestial Rift, he¡¯d barely used the advanced skill and hadn¡¯t put much thought into how he¡¯d continue to advance with it. He brainstormed for a time while waiting for his mana to regenerate, and decided that he wanted to allow the illusion to move more freely. That way, if he needed it as a distraction or to fool someone, he could use more than the stationary image. Through directed concentration, he could get the image to move. Making that movement seem natural was proving to be challenging even with his high Willpower stat. He used [Parallel Mind] to see if having one set of his consciousness focus on watching the illusion while the other focused on directing it increased his odds at success, but if anything, his attempts were more sloppy. While stationary, the skill directed the mana and captured his appearance perfectly. Making it move through his own mana manipulation was the challenge. Alex concentrated, training to make it duplicate his walk from one end of the room to the other. The movement was far too stiff and mechanical. It reminded him of a puppet being moved by strings from above. He tried to adjust it, focusing on the subtle shift of weight from heel to toe. Focusing on only what was necessary at this stage, he didn¡¯t even bother with the swing of arms or movement of its head. I feel like I should look up some of those multi-frame images I used to draw with frame by frame animation. A lot more goes into that natural movement than I remember. Val watched with interest, flying circles around the illusion. Alex muttered under his breath, tweaking small parts of the mana as he did. ¡°The shoulders are so tight. Nobody walks with their shoulders that rigid.¡± After a half hour of practice, Alex had managed to create a somewhat natural walking motion, but maintaining it required his complete concentration. The moment his focus wavered, the illusion would revert to robotic movements or freeze entirely. Combat use will definitely have to wait on this one. His mana was reaching levels that threatened a migraine, and his stomach rumbled, reminding him he hadn¡¯t eaten lunch. He returned to the desk and found his now-cold lunch waiting for him. With a sigh, Alex drew a small heating ritual under the plate and sprinkled some ash from his pouch around the outer ring, carefully regulating the temperature. I¡¯ve gotten pretty good with these small utility rituals. Largely thanks to my class. Speaking of which¡­ Alex considered his own upcoming class advancement as he took a bite out of the now-warm food. He had to admit that even with his poor use of the skill, the largest advantage of the class was [Ritualist Insight]. While the [Efficient Rites] passive was also great, and he knew that it reduced the mana cost by a significant amount, it was something that just happened and wasn¡¯t something he noticed now. Without the active skill though, he¡¯d never have understood enough about ritual mechanics to modify the circles. Still, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder what other options might be available when he eventually got offered an advancement. Wanting to stay productive, Alex pushed aside the idle thoughts of future classes and thought to his next task. Reading runes would be a good use of his time while his mana continued to recharge. Then, maybe I could practice [Mirage] some more or spend some time messing with Ritual schematics. Standing, Alex walked to the bookshelves, running his fingers along the spines of his small but growing collection. He selected one of the new rune manuals titled ¡°Basic Runic Theory and Practice.¡± He returned to his desk and looked at the book and his plate. Unwilling to risk food to get on his new prized possession, he grabbed the small pouch of mana dust that was stashed within his spatial pouch. Using his mana, he moved the plate to the side before setting the book down. He then used the threads to turn to the first chapter while continuing to eat. The basic runes seemed simple enough at first glance. They were almost all straight lines and curves combining to form fundamental magical concepts. At first, it reminded him of some basic ritual concepts about how shapes combined to form a balanced mana flow. But as Alex read deeper, he began to appreciate the complexity. Each rune had specific rules about placement and interaction with others. A rune for ''strengthen'' placed above one for ''barrier'' would reinforce a shield, but the same rune placed below might cause the barrier to become brittle. "More reading?" Val asked, eyeing the manual. "Always," Alex replied, taking another bite. "The more we learn, the stronger we get. And when you''re ready for that evolution..." He grinned at his companion. "We''ll make sure it''s something special." Val''s fins fluttered with excitement. "Will be strong. Help Alex and friends more." Alex smiled, turning another page with his mana thread. The next section covered elemental runes, and he found himself wondering how they might combine with his existing ritual knowledge. The possibilities seemed endless. Man, I¡¯d love to enchant some items. He shrugged, though. The thought of studying magic was enough to excite him, and he doubted that any amount of studying would deter him from applying all of his brain power to the topic. Damn, I can do real magic. It was still a baffling thought, even months after his awakening. The afternoon sun shifted, casting long shadows across his desk. Alex realized he''d lost track of time, absorbed in his studies. But that was okay¡ªthis was exactly what he''d wanted when setting up his office. A place to learn, to grow stronger, to prepare for whatever challenges lay ahead. 76. No Cookies for Alex Alex leaned back in his office chair and rubbed his eyes. He took a moment to himself before returning to the runic manual on his desk. He¡¯d been studying for hours, and the sun had long gone down below the tree line outside his window. Many of the concepts of this runic magic resembled learning a language to him, whereas ritual magic had just felt like learning a new type of art style. He used his finger to trace along the lines and mumbled the words aloud. ¡°The art of inscribing magic requires a deep understanding of form and structure. While many traditions involve drawing or carving magical patterns, runic magic stands apart in its demand for precision. Each line, angle, and intersection in a rune must be exact. There is no room for approximation or adjustment once the rune is inscribed.¡± Alex paused, as this was a theme he¡¯d seen through the fundamentals of this manual. The use of runes is considered really rigid, especially when combining them into what they call arrays. The contrast was striking. Where he could reshape and adjust ritual components to match his desire, runes seemed to only work in very specific ways. "While this manual won''t cover runic arrays in detail, it''s crucial to understand that they allow even less room for error or adjustment than individual runes. The spacing and ordering of runes within an array are just as important as the formation of each rune itself. When engraving arrays, both the depth and angle of inscription must be precisely controlled to ensure proper mana flow." He couldn¡¯t help but think how he¡¯d so casually shrunk and rearranged ritual components over the last few months. There had been a lot of trial and error involved, as well as advice from Eura, who had a much greater grasp of mana than he had, but he¡¯d still been able to adjust and manipulate the rituals to become something that fit better for him. He hadn¡¯t had any idea how unusual that flexibility was until now. The next section caught his attention, as he was particularly interested in enchanting. He had only made it halfway through the section before he let his head droop. Of course. He read through the section again. ¡®The pinnacle of runic magic lies in enchanting with arrays or formations. This is the permanent binding of runic arrays to physical objects. This demanding art requires not only perfect execution of individual runes and arrays but also a complete understanding of how they interact with material properties over time. Many aspiring runic masters spend years mastering basic arrays before becoming enchanters.¡¯ Well¡­ fuck. Closing the book, Alex leaned back and rubbed his eyes again. Enchanting would clearly have to wait. He could continue learning and practicing the more fundamental aspects of rune craft, but he was drawn to familiar territory. Using his threads of mana, he began weaving a small ritual circle in the air above his desk. Slouched as he was, he manipulated the circle so that it faced him rather than horizontally along the surface of the desk. The threads glowed softly in his mana vision as they formed the patterns he¡¯d practiced so many times. Forming the modified shapes to channel and contain the mana into the proper nodes and catalyst segments. As he watched the circle float in a way that reminded him of a hologram, Alex had a thought that he¡¯d attempted once before. What if I could understand this even better? Alex¡¯s [Ritual Insight] was on cooldown after using it on the Ignition Ritual schematic he¡¯d been working on. Maybe¡­ He kept part of his concentration split on the ritual in the air while focusing his Heavenly Eye on the floating formation. He pushed the eye, willing the analysis functionality to activate. Immediately, he felt resistance, like trying to push his mental strength against a brick wall. He attempted to apply pressure to the mental block, applying his high Willpower. Though, there was no budge and he felt like he was just distracting himself by having the ritual in his hand be made with threads and maintaining it. ¡°This isn¡¯t working,¡± Alex said. Val lifted his head from where he had been dozing on the cat tree. When he realized Alex was talking to himself, he put his head back down into the coiled pile of tail under him. Alex let the circle fully dissipate and absorbed what little mana he could from the threads as they drifted into a smoky transparent form of mana. He stood and walked over to the whiteboard with his notes on them and turned it around to the blank back side. With a steady hand, Alex drew out the ritual circle on the board. He made sure each line was clearly made, and the shapes held the right proportions. Once he was finished, he stepped back from the board and took a deep breath. With no need to maintain the actual ritual with his threads, he hoped that he¡¯d be able to concentrate fully on using the Heavenly Eye on the ritual pattern. He felt the pulsing sensation run through his forehead and eye as it activated and he felt the mental resistance as before. This time, things felt different. Rather than a brick wall, it felt like a flexible board. He pushed harder with the ability, forcing more power into his observation. He could feel information on minor details about the ritual construction begin to enter his mind. A slightly crooked line there. There is a possibility for mana efficiency there. The strain built in his mind as he tried to pierce through whatever blocked his understanding. Just a little more, come on¡­ He was so concentrated and determined, feeling just at the edge of a breakthrough, that he didn¡¯t notice when his head began to feel disconnected from his body. The room started to spin, and darkness crept in at the edges of his vision. Before he could react and cut off the skill¡¯s activation, he lost consciousness. ¡°-oore! Master Moore!¡± Alex could tell that someone was shaking him, and he blinked groggily. Fuck. Edwin¡¯s worried face swam into focus above him, with Valtherion¡¯s blue form streaking past in the background. ¡°What happened, Master Moore? Are you alright? Shall I call an ambulance?¡± Edwin helped Alex sit up slowly, bracing his shoulder. Alex grabbed his head and tried to think through what had happened. He thought back to just before he¡¯d lost consciousness and remembered pushing through the pain and clear warning signs from his ocular enhancement. Okay, in hindsight, that was stupid. ¡°Stupid. Alex, stupid.¡± But, even as he thought about it and Edwin pressed him with more concern, Alex realized he had more knowledge about the ritual pattern than he had previously. Damn, this was a schematic that I used [Ritual Insight] on before, but I wonder if my new understanding would mean that I have a good enough grasp to use the skill on it again. Better yet, he realized that his mind had made connections on better understanding the schematic. He felt like he had a fantastic grasp on the Ritual, and he had the thought of trying to use this on a schematic at the same time as his class ability. Can they work off of each other? With the scan giving me the perfect knowledge of how it¡¯s formed, then the [Ritual Insight] giving me knowledge on how to improve that, based on the perfect knowledge? Alex pulled up the skill description again, just to refresh his memory of the exact wording.
[Ritual Insight] - Allows the Ritualist to gain insights into the functionality of a new ritual and potential enhancements for a known ritual.
Alex stood and put a steadying hand on the desk as he made his way to the large leather chair. He reasoned that the description made sense. He had used [Ritual Insight] on several schematics. Most of them, he had a fairly good understanding of, so he reasoned that those counted as ¡°enhancements for a known ritual.¡± But the skill was strange in that after the enhancements were known to him, the skill didn¡¯t seem to consider it a known ritual anymore. It was almost as if the System considered it to be a new Ritual when adjusted, and he would need to study it more and learn more about the skill before it was considered learned.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. I wonder if knowing these new insights about the Ignition Ritual, I could use the [Ritual Insight] skill on it again? Is that cheating? He felt the world spin as he sat heavily in the chair. He squinted against the bright lights in his office and wondered why there were spotlights in his vision and tingling down his back. Alex coughed and felt blood drip from his mouth onto his hand. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Alex felt his consciousness begin to slip from him again as he felt how truly exhausted his mind was.
¡°Alex? Can you hear me?¡± The voice sounded distant and unfamiliar. Alex tried to open his eyes, but they felt heavy. He closed his eyes tightly, bringing his brows together. As his senses returned, the scent of antiseptic hit him first, followed by the steady beeping of medical equipment. Hospital. Great. When he finally managed to focus back on his surroundings, he found himself in a brightly lit hospital room. He rolled his head to the side and saw Mark slouched in a chair near the window while Sarah sat beside him. They were both looking at him, and he saw their faces light up as he looked over. The nurse by his bed also smiled and asked how he was feeling. Sam sat cross-legged in a chair to his other side, with Valtherion curled in his lap. Edwin stood by the door, his usually impeccable posture slightly wilted. ¡°What time is it?¡± Alex asked, squinting against the fluorescent lights. The remaining heads in the room turned to him. ¡°Just past eight,¡± the nurse answered. ¡°How are you feeling Mr. Moore?¡± ¡°Thirsty,¡± Alex said with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll grab you some water and go and get the doctor. I think you¡¯re in good hands here.¡± She gave him a sly smile and glanced at the packed room. ¡°I tried healing you at the house,¡± Sam added quietly, ¡°but Edwin insisted¡­¡± He trailed off, absently stroking Val¡¯s scales. ¡°Edwin said you passed out at your desk,¡± Sarah said, and there was a brief pause during which no one spoke. ¡°I meant no offense, Samuel. I know that you can heal, but¡­ all of this is very new to me. It seems wrong to see blood and someone unconscious and not take them to the hospital.¡± Though Edwin gave Sam an apologetic look, his tone made it clear that he¡¯d likely do the same thing again. ¡°Well, he made the right call, bringing you here,¡± Sarah said, clearly miffed. ¡°After you had already passed out on the floor the first time. What the hell were you doing, dude?¡± Alex winced and looked back at the ceiling. ¡°I just tried to use my eye on a ritual schematic. I had to push myself to do it, but it worked. I gained some great information on the details of the ritual, but I can¡¯t believe it affected me this much. There was almost no negative feedback at all. Not like mana fatigue.¡± ¡°The doctors couldn¡¯t even figure out what was wrong. They seem to be used to that, though. The nurse mentioned that Awakened have come in since the New Year with different symptoms or injuries that they struggle to treat. If Sam hadn¡¯t been here to heal you, we all would have been freaking out¡­¡± Sarah grabbed her elbow and pulled her arm across her lap. ¡°¡­more than we already were,¡± Mark said as he ran a hand through his short brown hair. ¡°Master Moore,¡± Edwin stepped forward. Alex could tell his voice was formal, but laced with concern. ¡°I must insist that in the future, you exercise more caution with your magical pursuits. Perhaps having someone present during such attempts would be prudent?¡± Alex felt a pang of guilt as he remembered that he¡¯d found Edwin due to the misfortune of his previous employer dying in an accident as an Awakened. Frustrated with himself, he thought back to how he¡¯d been cautious enough to grab Sam before trying a new skill. He realized in hindsight that it would be during an unstructured bit of magical testing that he might need their healer¡¯s focus even more so. He felt the guilt solidify and drop in his stomach like a rock. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, everyone. I didn¡¯t mean to worry you. I really didn¡¯t even realize I¡¯d pushed myself that hard. I just wanted to push through the wall I felt and got so focused on making it happen that I must have missed some signs¡­¡± Is this the Willpower affecting me? ¡°Alex, stupid.¡± Valtherion¡¯s thoughts came clearly through their bond. ¡°Olivia¡¯s on her way,¡± Sarah said. ¡°She was at the Voss estate when I called.¡± ¡°Thanks for calling her.¡± Alex nodded, then immediately regretted the movement. ¡°The doctors, did they say anything?¡± ¡°Nothing conclusive,¡± Sarah replied. ¡°They ran some tests, but your vitals were fine. They said you were in a deep sleep, not unconscious. So, they said that hydration and rest were the only two things that they could do. Sam¡¯s healing seems to have addressed any potential physical damage before we even got here, but whatever you did really strained your mind.¡± ¡°Which is why,¡± Mark interjected, ¡°you¡¯re staying here until they clear you. At least another day of monitoring. No arguments.¡± Alex couldn¡¯t help but smile at his friends. ¡°Yeah, okay. I get it, I get it. No more dangerous magical experiments alone.¡± ¡°Or at all,¡± Sam added, surprising everyone with his firmness. A soft knock at the door drew their attention. Where he expected to see a doctor enter, he instead saw Olivia enter, with Elana just behind her. ¡°Hey,¡± Olivia said to him, barely glancing at the others in the room. ¡°You look terrible.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Alex said dryly. As his friends shifted to make room for the newcomers, Alex felt both foolish and grateful. The throbbing in his head was a strong reminder of how close he¡¯d come to seriously injuring himself, but the presence of his friends reminded him he didn¡¯t have to face these sorts of challenges alone. ¡°Hey,¡± Mark stood from his chair and patted Sam on the shoulder, ¡°let¡¯s go grab some food and take a quick walk. You¡¯ve been here and awake all night.¡± Sam nodded tiredly and gently lifted Valtherion and set him on Alex¡¯s stomach before the two left the room. ¡°Can we ask the nurse about those other injured Awakened she mentioned? I want to see if I can help heal some of them.¡± His voice trailed off as they left the room, and Alex felt a pang of worry for Sam. He knew that healing was still very sought after, and after what happened in Tianluo, Alex was torn between telling the teen to hide his power and telling him to do what made him happy. Mark is with him. He¡¯ll be fine for now. Olivia grabbed the back of Sam¡¯s chair and slid it closer to the bedside. She reached out and squeezed Alex¡¯s hand. He saw her eyes flick toward Elana, but whatever hesitation she seemed to have didn¡¯t stop her from showing him a bit of physical affection in front of her boss. ¡°You had me worried, you know.¡± Her usual casual confidence was replaced with concern. ¡°Sorry,¡± Alex said, as he gently squeezed her hand back. ¡°I didn¡¯t even know that the scan ability could affect me like this.¡± ¡°Mana fatigue?¡± He went to shake his head in response but caught himself. ¡°No, the Eye doesn¡¯t use mana. It¡¯s not a skill. Eura described it as some sort of mental resource. I¡¯ve felt a bit of a headache before by using it several times back to back, but nothing like this...¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± she hummed and Alex could see her gears turning. Olivia loved magic, and she knew he was usually careful and competent with what he was doing. At least she believes me. I wasn¡¯t doing something stupid. ¡°Still, I appreciate you both coming,¡± Alex said, glancing between Olivia and Elana. ¡°Though, I¡¯m sure Edwin¡¯s just being careful. The doctors said I was just sleeping, and Sam healed me more than once.¡± ¡°A sleep so deep they couldn¡¯t wake you,¡± Elana pointed out. ¡°What were you working on that pushed you this far?¡± Alex hesitated, then explained about his attempt to analyze the ritual circle. As he finished, both of the women¡¯s expressions shifted to something more thoughtful. ¡°I didn¡¯t even know that was possible. We¡¯ve had people try to scan enchantments from the Rift and never get much information outside of the System-provided prompt. You know,¡± she said after a moment, ¡°that reminds me of something I¡¯ve been meaning to tell you. About Rylan, actually.¡± Alex shifted a bit in his bed. ¡°What about him?¡± "Remember our conversation about his competitive nature? Well, since your fight in the tournament, he''s been different. He''s actually been showing up to Guild events and some of the Moderator meetings that I have invited him to. He''s even been volunteering to help train some Recruits who are joining up." She paused. "It''s the first time since his accident that I''ve seen him genuinely trying to help others instead of just proving himself." "That''s... unexpected," Alex said, remembering the several different versions he''d seen of Rylan in the past months. "I know it might not last," Elana admitted. "But seeing him contribute without trying to dominate everyone around him... it means a lot. Both to me and to the Guild." She shifted her weight, her expression growing more serious. "Unfortunately, the timing isn''t ideal. The Hunter''s Association is pushing for more oversight of the Guild. They want access to our training programs, member information, and even standardized testing for abilities. They haven¡¯t told us this directly, but I¡¯ve heard they¡¯re even talking about requiring registration with the Hunters Association to enter or exit the Safe Zones." Alex noticed Sarah''s slight frown at this information, and he tensed, realizing that Elana might not know Sarah was a member of the Hunters Association. He glanced between them, unsure if he should say something. Elana caught the look and gave a small, reassuring nod. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Alex. I¡¯m aware of Sarah¡¯s position with the Hunters Association. In fact, it¡¯s been a bit reassuring to think that there is someone near you, and the Guild, that would be able to let the Hunters Association know what we¡¯re doing.¡± Sarah¡¯s eyebrows rose. ¡°You knew?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Elana nodded. ¡°The Guild values the idea of transparency, and we have nothing to hide. We just have different ideas and goals than the Hunters Association, we¡¯re not enemies and we¡¯re not bad guys.¡± ¡°Well, just so you know, I¡¯m not reporting anything on the Guild. I try hard to keep my personal and work lives separate and I¡¯ve never seen anything from the Guild that would make me feel like I need to say something. You don¡¯t need to make me sound like a spy.¡± She said the last bit a bit dejectedly. ¡°Of course not. Not a spy, but you do have an insight that others don¡¯t.¡± Alex relaxed, relieved that the potential conflict he¡¯d imagined wasn¡¯t an issue. He cleared his throat. ¡°So, if you¡¯re not enemies, what¡¯s changed? I thought they were letting the Guild be for the time being. This feels like a move to keep people out of the Safe Zones who aren¡¯t a part of their organization.¡± "Officially? Public safety." The frustration in her voice was clear. "Unofficially, it feels a lot like they want to regulate how Awakened develop their abilities. They''re particularly interested in unique cases like yours." "Cases like mine? His eyes widened, and his eyebrows drew together. He looked at Sarah for a moment, startled by the realization. Though when she shrugged and he remembered the agents who had come by the house not too long ago, he felt a few other pieces fall into place. ¡°Yeah, I guess that makes sense.¡± "Not anything too drastic. They''re aware that you''re high leveled and a Guild Member. They''re mainly interested in cases like yours because you''re progressing faster than their models predict." She sighed, ¡°I know this is selfish, but it¡¯s unfortunate that this incident puts you out of commission. I was hoping that your team would be at the top of the Teams Event. The public goodwill from this competition could go a long way to getting us some relief from the government or at least the publi-¡± She glanced at her phone as it buzzed. Her eyebrows came together, and her lips formed a thin line. "Sorry, I need to get back. Emergency meeting. We''ll talk more later?" "Yeah, sure. Thanks for coming by." Olivia stood as if to follow her, giving Alex an apologetic look. ¡°No, you should stay. The meeting will just be at my place, and Rylan will be there.¡± She smiled at them both before leaving the room. As Elana left, Sarah and Olivia exchanged a look that Alex couldn''t quite interpret but his mind was still thinking through the idea that he was on some kind of government watchlist. ¡°Sarah, should I be concerned that the HA is interested in me? If they¡¯re looking for people who are more powerful than norm, I definitely fit that. If they¡¯re looking to recruit people, I probably fit that even more with my connection to you and my brother also working for the Hunters Association.¡± Sarah shrugged a bit uncomfortably before answering. ¡°I don¡¯t know. It would make sense that they¡¯d be interested in you, but I really don¡¯t have anything to do with this sort of stuff. I really do just go and do my job like anyone else.¡± Before he could ask her more, Val moved closer to Alex¡¯s head, coiling up next to his pillow. There was an exasperated fin flutter, and as he heard his companion''s reprimand, he couldn¡¯t help but smile and push the thoughts aside for a bit. "No cookies for Alex." 77. Grant Alex watched Sam fidget at the bottom of the mansion steps. The early afternoon sun was warming the entire group as they lounged on the front steps, there to support Sam however they could. Returning from the hospital the day before, Alex felt happy to be back at his house. Still ridiculous to think that this is my house. The temperature was still in the low forties, putting most of them in sweatshirts or coats. Sam''s nervous energy had been palpable, and he''d frequently gone between excited, nervous, and guilty since deciding to reach out to his mom. After all, from his perspective, he hadn''t seen his parents in around two years. Valtherion shifted on Alex''s shoulders, his now forearm-thick body doing better when stretched across both of his shoulders rather than wrapped around one. The mana wyrm had continued to grow since their return home, and Alex was certain that he was getting close to his Race Advancement. Luckily, in the last week, his companion had seemed to stop growing and was curling up and napping much more than normal. Despite his increased size, Alex loved that his bond still wanted to wrap around his shoulders like a scaly scarf, often even going as far as to use his [Create Lesser Illusion] skill to appear as a scarf. His head rested near Alex''s chin, watching Sam with apparent concern. A sharp flick to his ear broke Alex¡¯s train of thought. He abruptly ended his [Parallel Mind] skill and stopped his mana-shaping practice. ¡°Your aura¡¯s leaking again,¡± Sarah said. ¡°It¡¯s still getting messy when you split your focus like that.¡± Alex grimaced, immediately pulling his mana back within his body. He¡¯d been working on containing it better, but using his newest skill made it difficult to maintain the same tight control he¡¯d developed during his time in the Epic Rift. ¡°How bad was it this time?¡± Sarah smiled, ¡°Not as bad as yesterday. You¡¯re getting better at pulling it back in quickly.¡± ¡°Hey, getting better, though?¡± Mark chuckled from his spot a few steps higher than where Alex sat. ¡°Yeah, yeah. We¡¯ve all shown some progress, don¡¯t forget how you were getting tired just from a few laps around the back yard.¡± ¡°Hey, cardio isn¡¯t for me. I¡¯m happy to lift weights and tank the hits. I still don¡¯t get why you¡¯re making me run.¡± ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t even know the half of what the Celestial Sect would have put you through.¡± Sarah snickered in response to their banter. Alex wanted to check the time on his phone, only to realize that he¡¯d left it inside. Before he could move, Edwin appeared at his side, phone in hand. ¡°Thanks,¡± Alex said. He accepted the device from the butler. Edwin¡¯s [Intuitive Understanding] trait caught him off guard at small moments over the last week. It was helpful, without a doubt, but occasionally, the accuracy and timing unsettled Alex. He thought back to the System window that Edwin had shared with him the night they returned.
{Intuitive Understanding} - When performing actions in service of your House, you gain an intuitive understanding that will aid you in completing the task or aiding the head of the House in their needs. (Choose a House. This may only be changed once.)
He unlocked his phone and checked the date. It was Thursday, January 16th, which only gave them a handful of days before the Teams Event started. He opened the AG app and pushed down his frustration that they¡¯d wasted three days of preparation with him going to the hospital. Some of the sting was lessened as he saw that they¡¯d not been granted access to any Rifts in that time. Still no response to my request for access to any of the Rifts we applied to. He swapped the app on his phone to check the AG app but got distracted by a news ribbon notification. There was an article to read and a video linked to it. Alex skimmed the article and decided to turn the video on while waiting. A speech was given on the government finally appointing someone to the head of foreign relations for the Hunters Association. ¡°Oh, I like her,¡± Sarah said, leaning over to watch. ¡°She seems competent and wants to make a big push to work with the UN and other nations.¡± ¡°Have you gotten to meet her yet?¡± Mark asked. Sarah shook her head, causing her now short blond hair to sway. ¡°No, she will most likely be stationed at the Washington, D.C. branch.¡± Alex shrugged, closing the video. He refocused on what he¡¯d wanted to do in the first place and opened the AG app. He was frustrated that there was still no response to his request for access to any of the Rifts that he¡¯d applied to. It might be a bit more understandable if it were just the higher rarity Rifts, but not even getting accepted into the many Common Rarity Rifts that he applied to was starting to feel deliberate. He was glad that he hadn¡¯t waited to awaken Edwin and Gabby. Alex wondered if it was time to reach out to Elana directly. ¡°They¡¯re here,¡± Sam said suddenly. His voice came out loud enough for them to hear but cracked toward the end. Nervousness or puberty? A silver SUV turned into the long driveway, and Alex felt his own tension rise in sympathy for his young friend. The past few days had been a rollercoaster for him, but Alex knew the reunion needed to happen. During Alex''s days in the hospital, they''d finally made a plan about Sam''s parents. At first, Sam had been reluctant, worried his parents would try to take him away from the group. "They still think I''m 16," Sam had said quietly one evening, perched on the edge of Alex''s hospital bed. "They won''t understand everything that''s happened." It was the second time Sam had mentioned the fear, and Alex had asked if he was willing to let Sarah and Mark in on the conversation. If they all put their heads together, they could devise a plan for approaching the situation. The solution had come unexpectedly. While visiting Alex, Sam had started healing other patients in the ward. The hospital staff had quickly noticed the young man¡¯s gift, and within days, he''d become a welcome sight in the hallways. The staff loved his personality, and the patients began to tell whispered tales of a guardian angel moving through the hospital. "That''s it," Sarah had said the next day as she watched Sam work. "We show them what you can do now. Let them see how much you''ve grown. Do you remember how Edwin and I defaulted to wanting to have Alex brought to and stay in the hospital? That¡¯s nothing against you, but it¡¯s just because we¡¯ve spent our entire lives being told that the hospital is where to take someone when they¡¯re hurt or sick. Even if they¡¯re injured, if you can get them to a hospital, they can get better. Show them your powers and how even these doctors and nurses see how valuable your skills are and the good you can do." They''d decided Alex should make the first call. Sam''s voice might shock his parents too much, and Alex could explain things calmly. After getting released from the hospital after another full day of monitoring and after everyone was back at the mansion, they made the call together. The conversation had been tense at first. The Grants were understandably skeptical of a stranger claiming to know their missing son. They had almost hung up when Alex explained their plan to meet at the house first, then visit the hospital together the next day to see Sam''s healing work. Alex emphasized that by discussing the plans upfront, they could focus on reuniting with their son, rather than talking about logistics. The Grants agreed.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Only then had Sam taken the phone, his hands shaking as he spoke to his parents for the first time in several months, but to him felt like almost two years. Even from the couch next to Sam, Alex could hear the relief in his mother''s voice, bringing tears to Sam''s eyes. Now, watching the silver SUV approach, Alex remembered their agreement. Today was for the family reunion. Sam would return with his parents for the evening, and they¡¯d all meet at the hospital the next morning. Then, Sam''s parents could see firsthand how much their son had grown and what he could do. After the phone call ended, Sam had told the group again about how he¡¯d ended up in the Rift in the first place and Sarah had made a good point that Alex couldn¡¯t shake. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder how the Rift wasn¡¯t found. If Sam¡¯s parents had reported a missing child, there should have been an entire rescue squad out in the woods combing every mile of the large property until they found some more signs of the sixteen-year-old. It seemed odd, but Alex knew there must be a reasonable explanation. The SUV pulled up to the roundabout, and Sam stood from his spot on the bottom step and wiped his palms on his jeans. He wore Alex¡¯s old green hoodie, and he waved nervously. The car had barely stopped when both front doors flew open. ¡°Sam!¡± his mother called out while moving from the car¡¯s passenger side. She was a petite woman with Sam¡¯s same sandy blonde hair, but hers was pulled back in a neat ponytail. His father came around the front of the car more slowly as he pushed off of a cane with each step. His face showed the same desperate relief as his wife¡¯s. Sam took three steps forward before his mother reached him, wrapping him in a fierce hug. His father joined them a moment later, one arm around his wife and the other around Sam. They just held each other for a long moment, and Alex could see Sam''s shoulders shaking. Val stirred restlessly on Alex¡¯s shoulders as he clearly picked up on the emotional energy. Alex reached up and ran a finger along the wyrm¡¯s scales in an effort to soothe him. Since their time together in the Rift, Valtherion had been building a fondness for the teen. "My baby," Sam''s mother said, her hands trembling as she cupped his face. "We looked everywhere for you. The police, the Hunters Association..." Her voice cracked. "They kept telling us they were too short-staffed, that there were too many people going missing- and the Rift breaks.¡± Her sentences were broken, and tears began to stream down her face. ¡°Every week, it was the same thing- another agent saying they couldn''t spare the people for a proper search." "I''m sorry," Sam whispered, and the guilt could be heard in his words. "I''m so sorry I ran away." His father squeezed Sam''s shoulder as tears came to his own eyes. "We''re just glad you''re safe. We never stopped looking, ¡° he swallowed hard, ¡° even when they told us to prepare for the worst." Alex watched from the steps, his chest tight. The mother''s words confirmed what he''d suspected about his parents trying to find Sam. They had tried. The country was slowly slipping into a state where the authorities were spread too thin to help put together a manhunt through miles of wilderness in the mountains. Instead of trying to control the Awakened, they need to be using them. He considered general combat and healing applications and knew that an Awakened tracker must be able to do what several teams could before the integration. Between skills and increased stats, someone like that could relieve an enormous amount of stress from people who were desperately searching, like the Grants. His jaw clenched as he thought about the helplessness that they must have felt to receive that answer to their call for help over and over. He watched the reunion with a mix of relief and satisfaction. Sam had come so far from the terrified boy that he¡¯d found in the Rift, and seeing him face his fear and reconnect with his family felt like a victory for them all. This is what a family should feel like. Sam is young, but it¡¯s obvious how much they love him and want to support him. Alex shook his head as he tried to compare this reunion to the one he¡¯d received from his family. That wasn¡¯t fair to his own family. His parents cared. He just found the way they showed it to be suffocating. That was as much his fault as theirs. He pushed the thoughts away, focusing on Sam¡¯s mother as she broke away and walked toward the stairs. Sarah nudged Alex¡¯s arm, and he stood to greet her. Her eyes widened slightly as she took in his appearance. The scar across his nose stood out despite his skin being pale from winter. His mismatched eyes and trim, athletic build also drew the attention of others who had not seen many with an Awakened physique. He knew how different he looked now. Much more imposing than the slightly chubby office worker he¡¯d been just months before. ¡°Mrs. Grant,¡± he said, extending his hand. ¡°I¡¯m Alex Moore. It¡¯s good to finally meet you.¡± She surprised him by ignoring his hand and pulling him in for a quick hug. ¡°Thank you,¡± she whispered. ¡°Thank you for taking care of my baby.¡± Alex caught Sam¡¯s eye over his mother¡¯s head. He was still wrapped in his father¡¯s one-armed embrace but watching the interaction. ¡°Sam¡¯s part of our family now, too. We couldn¡¯t let anything happen to him.¡± Alex said as Sam¡¯s mother stepped back. ¡°I know Sam already told you this over the phone, but you two are welcome here anytime.¡± Mrs. Grant stiffened at the words. ¡°No. We just got Sammy back, I don¡¯t think-¡± Sam cleared his throat. ¡°Mom, Dad¡­ we¡¯ve all got a plan for the next day or two. Let¡¯s just see how that goes.¡± He hurried on before they could respond, hoping to head off any protest. ¡°I want to come home and tell you about everything that happened. Is that alright?¡± Alex smiled, feeling pride and relief at Sam¡¯s use of his own voice. It made him want to jump up and down and hug the boy who was expressing what he wanted rather than just accepting whatever was happening around him. Mr. Grant looked up at the mansion, then at Alex. ¡°You live here?¡± ¡°I do. Sam has his own room, and we have plenty of space. He¡¯s been training and helping our chef, Gabby, with her cooking and his own garden.¡± ¡°His own garden?¡± his father asked, looking down at Sam with a smile. ¡°What about his studies?¡± Mrs. Grant asked at the same time. Studies? Shit, I didn¡¯t even think about that. She could see his hesitation. ¡°Sorry, this is a conversation for another time.¡± She turned and walked to Sam, grabbing his hands as she said, ¡°We¡¯re just happy to have him back safe and sound.¡± Val chose that moment to lift his head, which caused the weak illusion to break and for his sharp teeth and round eyes to appear. The movement drew a startled gasp from Mr. Grant, who was still looking toward the group. Alex smiled reassuringly. ¡°This is Valtherion. He¡¯s completely harmless, especially to Sam. Actually¡­¡± Alex winked at Sam, who grinned in return. Sam moved out from under his dad¡¯s arm and reached into the spatial pouch he had under his coat. It likely looked like he was just reaching into an inside pocket to his parents. He pulled his hand out and threw a small blue Mana Stone across the front yard. Valtherion let out a happy chirp that could be heard by all and let his illusion skill fully break. He unwound from Alex¡¯s shoulders and flew across the open space to chase after the Mana Stone. Mr. Grant watched on open-mouthed as the companion took off faster than a modern drone. Sam walked to Alex and extended a closed fist, mimicking the greeting and farewell that he¡¯d seen Mark and Alex share many times. Alex bumped his fist and resisted the urge to ruffle his hair. "See you tomorrow at the hospital," he said. ¡°See you tomorrow,¡± Sam said, his voice steadier now. His parents nodded to the group, though Alex could still see the overwhelmed look in their eyes. From the back seat of the SUV, Sam turned to wave one final time, a genuine smile on his face. Val finished with his Mana Stone, curled back around Alex''s shoulders, and hummed contentedly. The car disappeared down the long driveway. "Well, that went better than expected," Sarah said, standing up from the steps. The mid-January air was getting colder as evening approached. "Should we head inside?" The group made their way into the mansion''s warm living room. While Mark and Sarah settled onto the couch, Alex pulled out his phone to text Olivia about how things had gone. "Texting your girlfriend?" Mark asked while drawing out the last word. He sprawled across the couch cushions. Alex rolled his eyes. ¡°Yes, Mark. She¡¯s my girlfriend. We¡¯re not in high school, can we be adults about this.¡± ¡°Oh, can we be adults about this?¡± Mark mocked, purposefully making his voice go an octave higher than normal. He caught the look Sarah gave him and quickly changed the subject. ¡°Hey, whatever happened to all of those rune books you were studying? You had your nose in them nonstop for a couple of days, then that was it.¡± Alex leaned against the arm of the couch while considering his response. ¡°They¡¯re still upstairs, but enchanting is¡­¡± he gestured vaguely in the air. ¡°It¡¯s not just about understanding the runes. The way I understood it is that I need to build up this massive foundation first before I can even produce an enchantment. Right now, I think it¡¯s better to focus on what will be most helpful to my immediate growth and the team.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re just dropping it, then?¡± ¡°More like¡­ putting it in the queue. The theory is fascinating, but with everything going on, I need to prioritize. These modified rituals?¡± Alex created a small air ritual on his palm and blew through the backside as he pointed it toward Mark. The resulting gust caught Mark square in the chest, causing the couch to slide back several inches. As the wind collided with his chest and spread out, the upward draft made his hair poof up in several directions. ¡°They¡¯ll give me some immediate results, especially since I¡¯ve been working on the foundational shapes and combinations for a few months now. I need to find some more combat-effective rituals to use like this and my ignition ritual, rather than just utility ones that I can use like traps.¡± He signed and thought about the idea of enchanting his own magical gear. ¡°Once things settle down, I¡¯ll get back to the runes. They¡¯re not going anywhere. It¡¯s time to get more focused rather than just jumping between different things.¡± Mark ran a hand through his hair, laughing. "Show-off. At least warn a guy next time." "Where''s the fun in that?" Alex said, but his mind was already on the next day¡¯s hospital visit. They had a plan, and he was determined to help Sam show his parents just how much he''d grown. 78. Those in Need The morning sun cast long shadows across the large house¡¯s driveway as Alex, Mark, and Sarah piled into Mark¡¯s SUV. The drive into the city felt surreal to Alex. Even though they¡¯d gone into the Safe Zone multiple times, the city was so different than he¡¯d ever seen. The immediate difference wasn¡¯t something he would have ever noticed before the integration of the System and his time spent in the Celestial Rift. As they drove through the city and Alex looked around with his enhanced left eye, he was again startled at how much more devoid of mana Earth was, when compared with the Rifts. He thought back to his walk through the cherry tree forest, to Eura¡¯s personal garden, and how overwhelmed his senses had been. At the time, it was hard for him to make sense of the flows of mana, and at certain times, especially with many cultivators around, it caused him to get a headache. However, in the concrete jungle of Earth, there were many zones completely devoid of mana, making the area seem gray in his enhanced vision. He would occasionally see a splash of color and mana from individuals who were easily recognized as those who had awakened or wore cheap enchanted gear that leaked mana. That paled compared to the strange feelings he got as they drove the SUV through a checkpoint to enter the Safe Zone. A few miles outside of the city, everything seems abandoned. There were cars pulled off on the side of the road and while there were some people moving around, they were often walking toward the Safe Zone entrance. Once through the checkpoint, even though the city had always been busy and full of people about their business, it now felt crowded and tense. ¡°More checkpoints than usual,¡± Sarah noted as they slowed down to pass through another military stop. Armed soldiers stood guard while a line of cars slowed to pass through the single-lane entrance. Most of them held guns, though Alex could see more medieval weapons among them, often carried by those that he could see mana leaking from. There¡¯s definitely an increase in the Awakened that they have at the checkpoints. From a sense of security for those in the Safe Zone, Alex was happy to see that they were embracing the way of things. If there was a nearby monster break and help was needed, someone with levels would be needed more than someone with bullets. He thought back to some of the early Rifts he¡¯d entered and the low-level monsters within. There was no doubt that the firearms would still be effective against those types of monsters. If I could punch a boar to death with a bit of mana enhancing my strength, a bullet has still got to have some stopping power. Alex assumed that the Unawakened with modern firearms wouldn¡¯t begin to run into issues until things were over level ten, had more stats, and had the potential to use a few skills of their own. If their defenses were too high, or they were too quick and aggressive, the bullets would quickly become ineffective. His phone buzzed with a text from Olivia. As he opened it, he saw just an eye-roll emoji and a link to an Adventurer Guild forum post. He skimmed it quickly and found himself rolling his eyes, too. The comments section was filled with praise for Rylan and his recent helpfulness at the Guild. ¡°What is it?¡± Mark asked as he glanced over before looking back to the road. ¡°Eh, Olivia sent me this post about Rylan becoming the talk of the Guild. Everyone¡¯s going on about how amazing and helpful he is.¡± Mark snorted. ¡°Good for him, I guess. I still don¡¯t like him. Just seeing how he acted at the Christmas party before we were even members¡­ I don¡¯t think someone like that changes overnight.¡± ¡°Not our problem to worry about,¡± Alex said as he sent a skull emoji back to Olivia. He asked what her day looked like the next day and if they could meet up. She said that she was working the Voss estate again for the next few days and said that he could come up and spar with her if he wanted to hang out. God, she¡¯s just as bad as Mark. He agreed to meet up with her and put his phone away as the hospital came into view. It was the same one where Alex had been treated just days before. Mark navigated the SUV through the packed parking lot and had to take a spot some distance away. All three of them stepped out of the warm car and into the cold air, quickly putting on jackets and hunching their shoulders. Alex came around the far side of the SUV, and they made their way toward the emergency entrance. Sarah bumped into Mark¡¯s shoulder, and Alex heard her mumble, ¡°Let¡¯s hope this works.¡± Mark nodded in response and shivered. ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t wanna lose the little dude. It¡¯s been awesome to see him gain his confidence back.¡± Inside, the fluorescent-lit waiting room buzzed with barely controlled chaos as nurses hurried to and fro. There were worried family members slouched in small chairs and a quiet whisper of conversation only punctuated by the occasional announcement over the PA system. They found Sam and his parents near the check-in desk, where a nurse in dark blue scrubs was gesturing animatedly as she spoke. ¡°But how can you be sure it¡¯s safe?¡± Mrs. Grant was saying as they approached. Her hands were clasped tightly together. ¡°He¡¯s just a boy, and these patients-¡±Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Mom,¡± Sam interrupted gently. ¡°I¡¯ve done this a lot in the last week and hundreds of times in the last two years. The nurses here already know about my abilities, too. That¡¯s why she¡¯s got things set up like this.¡± Mr. Grant placed a steadying hand on his wife¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Linda, remember what Sam showed us last night? Let¡¯s at least see how this goes.¡± Sam caught sight of Alex and the others approaching, his relief evident in the tired smile he offered them. The nurse took advantage of the moment to continue her explanation. ¡°We''ve selected cases where traditional treatment has been¡­ failing,¡± she said. ¡°Severe injuries, complicated breaks, conditions that would normally require extensive surgery or have poor prognosis. Dr. Singh reviewed each case personally. I have his notes here and will be going through each one with you as you work. If you are not able to help, that¡¯s okay. We have more that we can do for these people, but it could be more expensive or extensive than this.¡± ¡°Is this¡­ really okay?¡± Mr. Grant asked, looking skeptically between his son and the nurse. ¡°I assure you, sir, each of the participants has signed a waiver and agreement to be healed by Mr. Grant. Many of them are desperate for his aid, especially after word has begun to spread around the hospital of what he can do.¡± Sam¡¯s cheeks were flooded with some color, and he ducked his head in response. ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll do the best I can.¡± The nurse led them through the double doors and down a long corridor to what appeared to be a converted physical therapy wing. The large room was lined with beds and examination tables, and about a dozen patients were already waiting. Each had charts prepared, and two other nurses stood off to the side of the room, prepared to help as needed. The organized but communal setup made it clear that this wasn¡¯t a typical day at the clinic. They prepared this specifically for Sam to work. Alex smiled, happy that they were realizing the value in Sam¡¯s powerful set of skills. In a selfish way, this would also help further prove their point to Sam¡¯s parents. The first patient was an elderly man who¡¯d suffered multiple compound fractures in a car accident. As Sam approached the nurse, Alex noticed how naturally his young friend had slipped into his role. His voice was gentle but confident as he spoke to the man, explaining what he could do in simple terms that managed to comfort the patient. Even though Mark had gone with Sam each day to heal patients, while Alex was stuck in the hospital, and Mark had told Alex of how well the teenager did, it was a different case to see it in person. When Mark had been bragging to Alex about how well Sam had done on their first few trips to the hospital to heal, Sam had grown embarrassed. He explained those people needed something. Sometimes, it was just a friendly face; sometimes, it was the comfort of healing; sometimes, it was a confident silence. He had shrugged and said that his own troubles didn¡¯t seem so large when in front of those people. Alex had been impressed with the insight and was happy to see Sam thinking through his own feelings and what was happening. Sam smiled at the man with a broken arm and shoulder. ¡°This might feel a bit warm,¡± he said as he placed his hands carefully near the worst break. ¡°But I promise it won¡¯t hurt. Just try to relax and let me know if you feel any discomfort.¡± His eyes widened in wonder as Sam activated his [Healing Touch] skill, and Alex could see the mana light up his hands through his Heavenly Eye. The visible bulge of bone slowly smoothed beneath the skin. Angela made rapid notes on her tablet while Mrs. Grant watched with a mix of anxiety and amazement. As Sam moved to check the other injuries, Alex moved to stand next to Mr. Grant. The father¡¯s expression was complicated. Pride and concern warred on his face, and Alex could tell, even at a glance, that he was exhausted as he watched his son work. Probably hasn¡¯t slept since the first call with Sam. At least not a full night¡¯s sleep. ¡°He¡¯s different now,¡± Mr. Grant said quietly. ¡°When he told us everything last night¡­ about the Rift- about everything he went through and¡­ about you¡­¡± He trailed off and eyed Alex through the corner of his vision before shaking his head. ¡°Part of me wants to lock him away somewhere safe and never let him near danger again.¡± ¡°I can understand that,¡± Alex replied. He watched as Sam smiled encouragingly at a young girl with a broken leg. ¡°He¡¯s grown so much even in the time I¡¯ve known him. The Rift was terrible, and in some ways, Sam had it even worse than I did, but it didn¡¯t break him. I¡¯m not an expert at this like Sarah is, but I can¡¯t imagine that sheltering him away would help him heal. If anything, it would keep him frozen in his current state rather than letting him grow and continue to heal.¡± Mr. Grant nodded, and they watched in silence as Sam finished healing the girl. Her delighted laughter filled the room as she tested her now-healed leg. ¡°We just sold our house and property, you know,¡± Mr. Grant said. ¡°Moved into the Safe Zone because we thought it would protect us from all this.¡± He gestured vaguely at the air. ¡°But, the world¡¯s changing whether we want it to or not. And my son¡­¡± He smiled slightly as Sam began explaining his healing process to the next patient. ¡°He¡¯s part of that change.¡± ¡°He¡¯s good at this,¡± Alex said. ¡°Really good. Not just the healing itself, but with comforting people.¡± Sam¡¯s dad nodded and leaned heavily on his cane. ¡°His mother won¡¯t like the idea of him going back to your house, mainly because it¡¯s outside of the Safe Zone. She certainly won¡¯t like the idea of him entering another Rift.¡± He sighed heavily. ¡°She thought he was dead once already. But I¡¯ll talk to her. Try to help her see what I¡¯m seeing right now.¡± Sam looked over at them, and his face glowed with a boyish grin. The fear and uncertainty that had haunted him in the Rift were all but gone, replaced by something stronger. Alex smiled back at him and saw a small nod from his mother, who stood behind him. He looked back at Mr. Grant. ¡°I can¡¯t promise he¡¯ll always be safe,¡± he said honestly. ¡°It would be a hollow promise with how uncertain everything is. But I can promise you he won¡¯t be alone and that our group is strong. With us, he is likely one of the most safe places that he could be. Sam and I are likely two of the highest-level people in the entire country. ¡° He wasn¡¯t really sure if the Grants realized how large of an achievement it was that their son was close to reaching his class advancement. They may not care, but eventually, I¡¯m sure that they¡¯ll grow to understand how strong Sam is. Mr. Grant was quiet for a long moment as he watched his son continue to work. ¡°Sometimes,¡± he said finally, ¡°being a parent means learning to let go, even when every instinct says to hold on tighter.¡± He turned to Alex with a wry smile and water building in his eyes. ¡°Doesn¡¯t make it any easier, though.¡± 79. Sidelined ¡°Ugh, come on!¡± Mark sat up from where he was lying on the couch. ¡°Seeing how strong Sam is this morning and how much of a difference he can make gets me pumped! We¡¯ve been waiting forever to go into a Rift, dude. We¡¯ve only got tomorrow and Sunday before the Teams Event starts.¡± Alex released his main focus from cycling his mana but left his secondary focus on his mana-shaping practice. It was helpful to shift quickly between making the basic shapes of the ritual circles and practicing making the shapes smaller and faster. He could keep up the process for some time, and at the end of each session, he felt a slight difference. ¡°I know, I¡¯m sorry. We¡¯ve waited long enough¡­ I really just wanted to try and get us into a higher Rarity Rift so I wasted some time with that last week. I just thought we could do training before that, so you guys were more prepared than I was. I really rushed into things.¡± ¡°I get that, and I don¡¯t think Sarah is in the same kind of rush as me to get in there. But man, I want to see the inside of more Rifts. I want to explore and see what classes I get. If we train any more out here, it feels like we¡¯re just stalling. I¡¯m surprised you¡¯re not a bit more excited about this, and you¡¯re being so cautious.¡± ¡°I think I was just too excited and not cautious enough about this stuff last year. Besides keeping a secret from you guys, my second biggest regret was rushing into all of those early Rifts. I wasn¡¯t prepared and, looking back, I¡¯m lucky to be alive. I shouldn¡¯t have been trying to go at it alone and getting caught in that Rift sucked, and I wasn¡¯t sure if I was going to make it home. I don¡¯t want any of you guys to have to experience something like that.¡± Alex touched the edge of the scar on his cheek under his left eye. ¡°I think caution is the best approach.¡± ¡°Shit¡­¡± Mark¡¯s shoulders drooped. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, dude. I didn¡¯t mean-¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s really okay. You¡¯re right. You guys are already so much more trained and prepared than I was. Plus, we can work as a team rather than me just rushing in like an idiot by myself. I¡¯m surprised we haven¡¯t gotten accepted into any of the Common Rarity Rifts yet; I¡¯ll give Elana a call. At the very least, we should be able to get in there and get you some more experience and levels while waiting for a slot in one of the better Rifts.¡± ¡°Yes! Nice- okay, sweet. Sam, you want to spar some?¡± The teen looked up from where he sat on the couch, with his knees pulled up and a Basic Rune Manual in his lap. His face scrunched up. ¡°No, you just laugh at me while blocking.¡± ¡°Oh, come on. I didn¡¯t mean anything by it!¡± Sam shook his head again before returning to his book. I can¡¯t tell if he¡¯s actually interested in runes or if he¡¯s just wanting to read it because I was. Is this what it¡¯s like to have a little brother? ¡°Alright, alright,¡± Mark said while holding up his hands. "I¡¯m going to work on gaining my new skill." Alex and Sam groaned loudly at the same time. ¡°It¡¯s not going to work!¡± Mark waved over his shoulder as he walked from the living room toward the indoor gym. ¡°Yes, it will. If Gabby can gain a skill for chopping food by just focusing on her intent to gain a skill, then I can gain one like this, too!¡± Alex deadpanned and looked at Sam before rolling his eyes. ¡°I think I just need to let him loose in a Rift. As long as it¡¯s a low-level Rift, there¡¯s almost nothing I can¡¯t protect him from. Do you mind coming too? You probably won¡¯t get too much out of it, but it would make me feel better to know he could get healing if it¡¯s needed.¡± ¡°Duh,¡± Sam said. ¡°I wanted to talk to you, though.¡± ¡°Okay?¡± Alex asked, giving Sam his attention. ¡°Well, um, I have really liked helping at the hospital. I know I was sort of just doing it while you were there, and then we went back so my parents could see what I was capable of...¡± ¡°Alright, what did you have in mind? You can do whatever you want with your skills, Sam. We just need to make sure that you stay safe.¡± Sam shrugged and began speaking in a rush, looking suddenly awkward. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Um, well, I heard on the news that a lot of people have been moving into the Safe Zones. Some of them come in hurt or sick¡­ I thought maybe I could keep trying to help? It sounds like they could really use it.¡± Alex smiled. ¡°That sounds like a great idea. Why do you seem embarrassed by that, dude?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I just want to help some if I can.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Alex laughed. ¡°Well, this seems like a great idea- again, my only real concern is keeping you safe. While healing isn¡¯t unheard of, it does seem to be really rare, and there are lots of people who want or need healing. Let¡¯s just spend a bit of time thinking about how to make sure you¡¯re not running into any problems. But, what else do you need from me? Do you want to borrow my car or see if Edwin will drive you into the Safe Zone a few times a week?¡± Several other thoughts popped into Alex¡¯s head. ¡°Wait, do you have a driver¡¯s license?¡± ¡°Uh, I do. I got it a few weeks before everything happened with the Rift. But I don¡¯t have a car.¡± Alex gave a short laugh. ¡°We should talk with your parents, but you can buy yourself a car, Sam. You have a lot of money to your name now.¡± ¡°I do?¡± Alex raised an eyebrow, ¡°Well, yeah. After the Rift sale, you have a lot of money in your name. Edwin¡¯s been managing both of our accounts.¡± ¡°Really? That was your money, though. I really don¡¯t have anything that I need, and I wouldn¡¯t have gotten out of the Rift without you.¡± ¡°Eh, I don¡¯t want to hear that. I wouldn¡¯t have gotten out without you and your healing, either. Also, Sam, there are definitely going to be things that you want to buy. You could purchase supplies or skills for healing. You could help support your parents. As you get older, you¡¯re going to realize more and more how much of a difference money can make.¡± Sam nodded and seemed to chew on the idea for a minute. ¡°Look, there¡¯s something else I want to talk to you about while we¡¯re on this topic. In my mind, you¡¯re still a teenager, but definitely an adult. You¡¯ve lived through 18 years of life, which should make you legally an adult, and you¡¯re a whole lot more mature than some other 18-year-olds I¡¯ve met. I¡¯m going to just keep operating and trying to make decisions for you, to help you. But I don¡¯t want you to feel like I¡¯m controlling you. Alright? All you need to do is speak up if you don¡¯t like the way I¡¯m doing something or if you feel like you¡¯re not getting to do what you want.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡±Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡°Well, for example. I want to pretty much have someone with you at all times in the Safe Zone. Even if you do get your own car, it would make me feel a lot better if we got someone to drive with you or hang out with you while you work at the hospital. It would be even better if they¡¯re Awakened and have some ability to protect you.¡± Alex hesitated for a moment before saying the obvious fact. ¡°The thing is, I think you and I both want to avoid anything remotely similar to Tianluo happening again. Healers are valuable, and I can see many people making offers to you in the future for your services. It¡¯s not likely that you¡¯ll be willing or able to help them all. That¡¯s going to likely upset some people¡­ and with people getting powers, I have a feeling it¡¯s not going to be a simple situation.¡± Sam nodded, understanding the gravity of what he was saying. ¡°I get that. I will do anything to avoid that happening again¡­ it just- it feels like a waste to not help where I can. I can do so much for people, and I¡¯ve always wanted to be able to help others. I trust you and I think it would make me feel better to have someone else there with me.¡± ¡°Alright, well, good. Just keep up that communication, and let me know if I¡¯m acting overprotective. For now, though, let¡¯s talk to your parents about getting you a car, and I¡¯ll see if I can¡¯t get Edwin to begin looking for someone to drive you.¡± ¡°Yeah, that would be great.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s easy! See, no sweat. It could even be a good time for you to meet up with your parents while you¡¯re in the Safe Zone. I¡¯m sure they¡¯d love the attention. I still think your mom is taking this whole thing pretty hard.¡± Sam nodded slowly and chewed on the inside of his lip as he thought about it. ¡°Yeah, I think that¡¯s best. I do miss them. She¡¯s just¡­¡± he let out some air. ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t worry about it. She¡¯s just happy to have you back; I¡¯m sure that as time passes, she will loosen her grip and let you have more space to breathe.¡± ¡°There was something else. I have been level 29 for some time now. I think that if I go and spend a few days healing, I think I¡¯ll get my class advancement.¡± Alex¡¯s face formed into a big ''O.'' ¡°¡­and you¡¯re worried you don¡¯t know what to pick?¡± Sam nodded in response, and Alex thought about it for a few minutes. ¡°Well, if you want to share your options with me when they come up, I can give you my thoughts, but the decision should be yours.¡± Sam nodded again, and Alex called out for Edwin. ¡°Yes, Master Moore?¡± ¡°Edwin, would you and Sam look more into how class advancement works? He and I both know a bit, but I saw that was one category you looked into extensively. I can link up with you both tomorrow morning, and we can go over how everything works so Sam is ready, and I¡¯ll need information in a few levels as well.¡± ¡°Of course, sir. I¡¯d be happy to assist Mr. Grant. Would you like me to call Ms. Voss first?¡± Alex raised an eyebrow at the man¡¯s use of his trait. ¡°No, thank you. I¡¯ll give her a call and see if I can¡¯t get Mark set up to enter a Rift tomorrow. I¡¯ll also try to text Sarah and Olivia and see if they want to come.¡± Sam closed the book and smiled at the butler, who led him up to Alex¡¯s office. Alone in the living room, Alex looked around and let out a contented sigh. He pulled out his phone and checked the Adventurers Guild app to see if there were any movements on the Rifts he¡¯d put their names in for. He let out a sigh and shook his head. What the hell? We can¡¯t even get into the Uncommon Boar Rift that I was in before. Scrolling through his contacts, he pulled up Elana¡¯s number and hit ¡®Call.¡¯ ¡°Hey!¡± ¡°Alex, how are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m good, thanks. I was really trying to avoid calling you; I¡¯m sure you¡¯re busy¡­ but my friends and I have been on the waitlist for, like, six Rifts for over a week now. Is there a reason we can¡¯t get in? I would assume it would be easy, especially before the Team Event starts.¡± Elana groaned on the other line, ¡°Yeah, stuff has been pretty quiet the last month, but we¡¯ve lost access to several of our better Rifts. It just means there is more competition for the ones we have.¡± ¡°Lost access?¡± ¡°Yeah, with the Hunters Association announcing these Safe Zones, they¡¯ve backed off of their pressure from us a bit. At least openly. They¡¯ve been moving their ¡®community protection assets¡¯ into positions that are conveniently close to valuable Rifts. Which ones did you put in for?¡± ¡°Uhm, hold on, I can check the app,¡± Alex said. ¡°Actually,¡± She said before he could pull the phone away from his face, ¡°I¡¯ve got one of our Peacekeepers calling me on the other line. I¡¯ve got to take this. Do you have Derrick¡¯s number?¡± ¡°Derrick, from our meeting? I don¡¯t think so.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll send it over to you, but I wouldn¡¯t hold your breath if I were you. There are a lot of people interested in those slots, and it may just not be something he can make work.¡± ¡°Hmm, even the Common ones, though? Alright. Thanks, Elana.¡± There was a brief pause. ¡°No, that¡¯s strange. There are plenty of Common Rifts within driving distance that you should have no problem getting in. Let me just send this over. Derrick can check for you. I¡¯ll talk to you la-¡± ¡°Oh, wait! Before you go. Sam has been healing some people in the Safe Zone and wants to start making it a regular thing. Is that alright? It¡¯s not going to cause issues for you, is it?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t imagine that it would. If anything, it¡¯ll just look great for us. I¡¯ve got to go; if you need me, send me a text, and I¡¯ll call when I can.¡± ¡°Sounds good, thanks.¡± Alex stared at his phone for a moment before pulling up the new contact that Elana had sent him. He wasn¡¯t thrilled about having to pester people about answers, but Mark was right¡­ they¡¯d waited long enough. Derrick answered, ¡°Alex! Elana said you¡¯d give me a call. You didn¡¯t waste any time! What can I do for you?¡± ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ve been having some trouble getting into any Rifts, even Common ones. She said you were the one to talk to. We¡¯ve been waiting for a couple of weeks now. I just checked the app again, and I can see open slots in two of the Rifts we applied to. ¡°Ah.¡± Derrick¡¯s voice took an apologetic tone. ¡°The situation¡¯s a bit complicated. The Hunters Association has been¡­ let¡¯s say, assertive about their presence near valuable Rifts. They¡¯re not officially blocking access, but¡­¡± ¡°But they¡¯re making it difficult,¡± Alex finished. ¡°Exactly. And, well, actually, I¡¯m looking now and¡­¡± Derrick hesitated. ¡°There¡¯s a note in the Guild system that says your group wouldn¡¯t mind waiting to get into Rifts, given your already elevated power levels.¡± ¡°What?¡± Alex¡¯s face scrunched up in incredulity. ¡°Who would- that makes no sense. We need the experience just as much as anyone else. Especially my friends who are just starting out.¡± ¡°I can understand your frustration. I would have assumed you asked someone to put this note in here. I¡¯m looking at the logs now. It seems that the note was put in about about a week ago. I apologize. We should have reached out to you, but¡­ you¡¯re something of a VIP around here now. I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d want to be bothered.¡± Alex paced across the elevated portion of the living room behind the couch. Was it Rylan? He¡¯d wasted time being patient and playing by the rules. At the same time, it seemed like someone was trying to prevent them from getting into the good Rifts. And I just let it happen by trying not to make waves or inconvenience anyone. Fuck. ¡°Does it say who put the note in the system?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ no. It just says that it was put in by a Peacekeeper.¡± So, not Rylan? Olivia? Why would she do something like that without telling me first? That makes no sense. ¡°Right,¡± Alex said. ¡°Well, can you put us down for some immediate Common Rarity Rifts in driving distance? I don¡¯t care if they¡¯re low-level. We just need to get into one or two before Monday.¡± ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll make sure your names get applied. You should see entry access come through this evening or tomorrow morning. So sorry, Mr. Moore.¡± Alex sighed. ¡°It¡¯s alright, thank you. And Derrick¡­ please remove the note from the System. I¡¯d like for us to get into an Uncommon or Rare Rift soon.¡± After the call ended, Alex put his forearm against the glass at head height and leaned his head against it. Looking through the double doors and out past the courtyard. He watched Mark in the training area while he thought through his next steps. He¡¯d tried to be careful, to be strategic and not step on any toes. He wanted the group to be safe, sure, but other than Olivia and Sarah through their work, none of them had made progress but in a few skill levels. He had made big promises about them being a team and growing together, but that was almost a month ago, and there was basically nothing to show for it. Sam was close to advancing, which would potentially be a big power increase for the group. Alex had felt his own frustration growing at his lack of personal progress, but had pushed it off as a selfless gesture to help his friends get stronger. Yet, here Mark was, still level four and Sarah only a level higher from her noncombat experience gained at work. Unless they found a high-level E Rank Rift, Alex thought he would be hard-pressed to gain enough experience quickly to advance. But Sam was on the cusp, which could be a game changer and the only consolation prize in the current situation. He¡¯d also been waiting on Valtherion¡¯s evolution, hoping to find a better material than his Mana Pearl. In the new light of this situation, that also seemed foolhardy. The article said that Val needed to consume a high-quality material to push his race to advance and would enter hibernation for a period. There wasn¡¯t any reason to wait, and the idea of looking for something more valuable than a Rare D Rank Material seemed asinine. Time to stop being so damn passive. 80. For Narnia! Alex and Mark stood at the back of his SUV with the door lifted, looking at Sam, who sat with his legs hanging off of the back. ¡°Alright, you both have everything on the lists in your bags, right?¡± Mark and Sam nodded in response, and Mark tapped his hip. ¡°Yep, ready to go.¡± The large Polish man practically bounced from one foot to the other. ¡°Good, let¡¯s head down the trail.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t Olivia come?¡± Sam asked as he hopped from his perch on the back of the vehicle. ¡°She and Sarah both have to work.¡± ¡°Well, it is Friday.¡± Mark made a pfft sound and said, ¡°Imagine having a job.¡± When Sam snickered, Alex spoke up as he closed the back. ¡°Sam, don¡¯t listen to him. Jobs are good. I¡¯m already on thin ice with your mom for being the one to bring you in another Rift.¡± They wore layered clothes, bracing against the January chill, and talked as they walked down the small trail leading toward the Rift. Alex had opted for a dark windbreaker over top of a light-colored hoodie while Mark wore what he claimed was his ¡°lucky¡± leather jacket. Sam wore his green hoodie under a puffy black jacket, making him look twice his normal size. The surrounding woods showed the signs of winter with their bare branches. The sunshine was broken by the intricate pattern created by the branches overhead, and the dead leaves across the ground mixed with the fresh air created a natural smell. Recent rains left the dirt trail muddy in spots and caused their boots to leave deep impressions in softer areas. Highway traffic could be heard from a short distance off, though it quickly faded as they moved down the trail and further from civilization. ¡°It¡¯s weird not having Val around,¡± Sam said as he removed his staff from the spatial pouch. ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s been sleeping a lot more lately. I think it¡¯s a sign that I need to give him the Mana Pearl soon.¡± ¡°Do you still feel like you should wait?¡± ¡°Eh, I don¡¯t think I can find something better than that. Just that it¡¯s D Rank will make it better for him than almost anything else I could find. I just want to make sure I¡¯m doing what¡¯s best for him. Anyway, the articles said he¡¯ll be sleeping for a while as his body prepares to advance, so I¡¯ll probably give it to him in the next few days.¡± ¡°I wonder how he¡¯ll change,¡± Mark said as he stepped over a root on the trail. Sam saw him and began to try to only step on the roots rather than the dirt of the trail. Let¡¯s hope it¡¯s not a dragon. I have no idea how I¡¯d handle that. Can¡¯t he just stay small? Alex¡¯s thoughts couldn¡¯t help but drift back to the moment when Valtherion answered his question on how big he¡¯d get by sending the impression of a city skyscraper. ¡°Man, it would be cool to get a companion,¡± Mark said as he poked Sam, attempting to make him miss the next stepping root. Sam hopped onto the dirt, unbothered. ¡°What if you were a companion? I always thought it would be cool to be a dog.¡± ¡°Man, that would be a great life,¡± Mark said. ¡°No stressors other than when you get your next meal and if you can scare away the birds outside the window.¡± The group laughed and Alex knew that they had still another half mile to go in their walk, but he wanted to go over the plan again. ¡°You have any more questions about the Rift?¡± ¡°Me? Nah, dude, you¡¯ve been over this with me like five times!¡± ¡°Okay, okay. Fine.¡± ¡°Also, I don¡¯t care how many times you say it. I¡¯m going to get magic!¡± ¡°No one said that you can¡¯t! You¡¯re just doing it wrong, seriously. You can¡¯t just force a skill to manifest by willing the magic to happen. You have to at least try and guide or shape the mana on your own in the right way. Just let us buy you a skill to help with manipulating or using mana at the very least, and then you can work on earning the rest of the magic you want from there.¡± ¡°No, no, no. You both got magical skills on your own. I can too!¡± Mark¡¯s grin was infectious, and despite his boasts, Alex knew his friend wasn¡¯t too bothered by not having magic. It wasn¡¯t how he ever played games. The trio arrived at the Rift entrance after another ten minutes of walking. There was a large tent set up, similar to one that you might see at an event fair or farmer¡¯s market. Under the tent, was a small space heater and a portable generator, warming two men who sat in foldable chairs. ¡°Hey,¡± Alex called while raising his hand. He fished his phone out of his pocket and showed it to the man who stood to talk to him. ¡°First time in?¡± ¡°Yeah, first time in this one. All three of us are awakened and members. We should be on the approved list for the Rift.¡± ¡°Alright, let me see your IDs.¡± All three of them complied, pulling up the AG app on their phone and clicking into the section that turned their phone into a landscape mode image for their Guild identification. ¡°Great, one Mana Stone each.¡± ¡°You can put it on my Guild tab.¡± The man grunted, ¡°Well, you¡¯re all set then. Normal rules apply. Ya can¡¯t close the Rift, but you can do your personal quests and contribute to the Rift quest so that when it does get closed, you¡¯ll get rewards for participating.¡± Alex glanced over at Sam and saw him staring wide-eyed at the portal. Mark must have seen it, too, ¡°You¡¯re gonna watch my back in there, right buddy?¡± He placed his hand on the teenager''s shoulder and gave him a firm pat. Sam¡¯s jaw clenched, and he nodded several times. Mark let out a whoop and entered the Rift first; Alex knew his friend¡¯s nonchalance was more exaggerated than normal in an attempt to put Sam at ease. Alex extended a mana thread to speak with Sam privately. This is different than the last time. For both of us. We know what we¡¯re walking into and a good group to work around. Even if we didn¡¯t, you and I are so over leveled for this place, I doubt anything in here could pose a threat to us.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Right.¡± Sam nodded his head once more with more determination*.* Now, let¡¯s get in there before the big idiot does something he shouldn¡¯t. They grinned at each other and entered the Rift after their tank.
His jacket came down as gravity reasserted itself, and he dismissed the blue windows that appeared in his vision. Looking around, he saw that the space just within the portal was a grey stone ruin with crumbling walls and green vines growing up the cracked surfaces. He saw Mark taking his jacket off and kneeling on the ground as he removed the spatial pouch from his waist. It was mind-boggling to see a large shield be pulled out of the small bag¡¯s opening. He set the large hunk of wood and metal to the side and reached back into his bag to remove the sledgehammer he had bought and been practicing with. Alex kept scanning as Sam also stopped to remove his jacket, and Mark finished stuffing his jacket into the bag. "Whoa," Alex said, looking past the crumbled walls to the forest beyond. The trees were similar to those they''d just left on Earth, but with subtle differences. The bark patterns didn''t look quite right, and the leaves were mixed between shades of green and purple. Despite the warmth, Sam shivered and clutched at his staff. ¡°Can we move away from this thing?¡± Alex looked back at the portal and nodded. It still made his hair stand up on end when close to one of the Rifts. ¡°Yeah,¡± Alex followed Mark out of the ruins, followed by Sam, and removed his own jacket while keeping a close eye on the plants nearby. The forest floor was clear of leaves, though it was covered in moss and twigs fallen from branches. Logs on their side sprouted mushrooms, and Alex could see through his Heavenly Eye that there were little floating bits of mana through the already mana-rich forest. As he put his own windbreaker into the spatial pouch, he willed his new wand to enter his hand and looked at it closely while smiling. ¡°No sword today?¡± Mark asked. Alex shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m just here to support. You¡¯re doing all of the dirty work today!¡± ¡°Nice!¡± Mark said energetically. ¡°What are the ones I¡¯m looking for again? Vine Snappers?¡± ¡°Snap-Vines,¡± Sam corrected, reciting the name that they¡¯d read in the article before entering. He walked over to the nearest fallen tree and crouched down low with his staff across his legs. He peered closely at the mushrooms growing on its trunk. Alex looked around and tried to use his mana sight to spot any difference in the surroundings, but he couldn¡¯t see anything noticeable other than how thick the mana was in the Rift compared to Earth. The entire forest was swimming with swirls of blue and green mana with the occasional splash of brown or purple. ¡°Not sure I¡¯ll be able to help much with scouting to start. At least not until I can see a bit more of what their mana looks like. You¡¯ll have to lead the way, Mark.¡± ¡°Nice, that¡¯s what we¡¯re here for anyway.¡± He bent down and set the hammer to the side as he scraped away the top layer of moss. Grabbing a large handful of dirt, he threw it on the front of his shield before taking another handful and rubbing it on the surface. Mark muttered to himself, quiet enough that the other two could barely hear what he was saying, ¡°Come onnn, Earthen Shield.¡± When he was done, he straightened and rolled his shoulders. The twenty-pound sledgehammer in his right hand swung at his side as if it weighed nothing. Alex let his focus split with [Parallel Mind]. He bent his arm at the elbow and raised his hand palm up by his side. He took a moment to orient his thoughts and only focus on the mainstream of consciousness, allowing the other to begin focusing on the Gust Ritual in the background. He¡¯d used [Ritual Insight] on it recently and felt that he was close to a breakthrough in his smaller, modified version of the schematic; he was just missing a component somewhere and was determined to figure out what it was. His main attention remained on watching Mark and Sam, cautious of any plant life movement around them. ¡°Alright, so Snap-Vines for Mark, and I¡¯ll take care of the Poison spitters if we happen to see one, just so you guys aren¡¯t dealing with the poison and Sam isn¡¯t wasting mana on curing it.¡± They moved through the forest together, and Alex knew that there were a few other groups within the Rift from the AG app but they couldn¡¯t see any signs of their passing. There¡¯s the chance that they¡¯ve been in the Rift for a while, killing the monsters or harvesting materials. He¡¯d been surprised to note the request that came through from the Guild after they¡¯d been accepted into this Rift. They were interested in offering additional rewards for poison sacs from the Poison Spitter creatures and small creatures that could be found in some trees called Sap Slugs. Alex had accepted, though it wasn¡¯t the group¡¯s focus to come to the Rift. Realizing that he hadn¡¯t looked since dismissing them, he checked the Personal and Rift Quests.
Personal Quest: Culling the Forest Cull a total of 15 forest creatures. Rift Quest: Cleansing the Forest Slay a total of 1,000 of any forest creature.
¡°O-Oh, look! Is that one of them?¡± Mark asked, pointing. Alex looked over and could see the brown bulb sticking out of the ground with slightly darker green leaves sprouting around it. He focused his Heavenly Eye and felt a pulse from behind his eyes as he scanned the plant.
Snap-Vine - Level 5 Class: None Primary Stat: Agility Secondary Stat: Vitality Most Used Ability: Lash
¡°Yep, that one¡¯s for you. Remember, try and work on getting [Charge], but don¡¯t just rush in. We don¡¯t know-¡± Mark called out with a whoop and raised his hammer over his head. He bent his knees and took off at a sprint toward the monster, his shield raised, calling, ¡°For Narnia!¡± Alex covered his face with his hand and shook his head. He looked up sharply as Mark yelped, and they heard a body slamming to the ground. His tight grip on the wand relaxed as Sam started laughing, and Mark called out a few more times in panic. They watched as several vines that had hidden in the mossy underbrush pulled themselves from the dirt and began to wave back and forth. All the while, the one that had wrapped itself around Mark¡¯s ankle slowly pulled him in toward the opening brown bulb. The blunt impact of the sledgehammer seemed not to bother the vine at all, but despite that, Alex was impressed with Mark¡¯s instincts. Despite being caught off guard, he landed on his hip and was able to keep most of his body protected from the other vines as he did his best to break the ones wrapped around his ankle. Just as Alex was getting ready to step in, Mark was able to bring the blunt weapon down on the vine in a way that made it loosen its grip. He scrambled backward, and even though he was panting heavily and favoring his other leg, he had a grin on his face. He raised his shoulder and ducked his head behind the kite shield as a vine slammed into it and then charged forward again. It was clear that he was watching his feet as he approached this time, carefully stepping over anything on the ground that might be a vine. Alex thought it looked comical and wondered how he must have looked in his early fights if someone had been watching him. He felt some heat rise to his cheeks, as he knew he¡¯d be embarrassed. Good thing no one saw those fights. Mark closed the distance with his shield raised, high-stepping and preparing his hammer. When he reached the bulb, he struck down with force, and a satisfying crunch could be heard, similar to a branch snapping over a bed of leaves. He took one more hit from a stray vine and had to deliver a final blow before the green, whipping vines fell limp to the ground. Laughing, he held up the hammer and called out to Alex and Sam with a grin before sitting down. ¡°Man, that was a rush. I¡¯m surprised at how much it hurts to take those hits, even through the shield.¡± ¡°Here, let me help,¡± Sam said. He stepped forward and crouched next to Mark while reaching out to hover his hands over his ankle. ¡°Well, this has gotta be the perfect Rift for you, huh?¡± Mark said with a chuckle. ¡°Thanks for the heal, bud.¡± Sam nodded in response. The Rift was all considered a nature zone, which increased the healing he did within its zone even without him needing {Nature¡¯s Refuge} active. Alex extended his hand and helped his friend up. ¡°Nice job. These might not be the best monsters to practice getting your [Charge] skill on. But let¡¯s do this a bit differently next time.¡± He reached into his pouch and removed a sword. ¡°Use this instead of your hammer. I know you want to use it, but the blade will work a lot better against the vines.¡± ¡°Do you have a whole armory in there? This isn¡¯t even your sword,¡± Mark said as he lifted the steel blade and looked at it. ¡°I have a lot in there; that¡¯s the whole point of a spatial pouch, right?¡± ¡°Bag of Holding,¡± Mark corrected. Alex rolled his eyes. ¡°Yeah, yeah. It¡¯s just one of the weapons I got while in the Celestial Rift. You can keep it with you in your own pouch from now on. In case you ever need to switch again. Also, I know you want to do some of this on your own to feel like you¡¯re earning it, but I think that Sam or I should start the fight. Then you can come and defend us while pushing forward.¡± ¡°Smart, then I¡¯m at least getting the bonus from my trait, right?¡± Alex nodded in response, and he felt excitement build as they began to theorize how they could best approach the Rift as a team. 81. Breakthrough Mark crouched behind his shield with the short sword by his side. The Snap-Vine¡¯s brown bulb protruded from the ground a short distance ahead. ¡°Ready?¡± Alex called from behind a tree to Mark¡¯s left. At Mark¡¯s nod, he lifted his wand and sent a mana bolt through the forest, causing several nearby bushes and branches to rattle together. The Snap-Vine reacted instantly by lifting its hidden tendrils from the ground and whipping them toward Alex. Mark burst forward, shield raised, no longer having to high-step over potential vines. He intervened between Alex and the appendages. Through his left eye, Alex saw mana swirl around Mark before rushing into him, a clear sign his trait had activated. With his blanket increase to stats, Mark moved forward, and Alex used [Feather Step] to create distance from the fight. ¡°Nice! This just got easy,¡± Sam called from his position near a fallen log. He held his staff at the ready, but the smile on his face told Alex that he was enjoying himself. Mark blocked a vine from his left, and as a second came in from his right, he stepped forward and swung in a fluid overhead slash. The blade of the short sword sliced easily through the monster. Unfortunately, this left Mark¡¯s back and left side open, and one of the many flailing limbs caught him between the shoulder blades. ¡°You just had to say it,¡± Mark said through gritted teeth. ¡°Oops!¡± Sam cast [Rejuvenation] while holding his staff forward. Sam normally cast his spells through his right hand, and Alex thought the way the boy cast with the staff looked like something out of a fantasy epic. He held the staff in his left hand and raised his arm horizontally while raising his right hand behind the knot at the top of the staff. He told Alex that while holding the staff, the Healing I enchantment allowed him to cast the skill through the staff and gain the bonus. Green mana coalesced around Sam¡¯s right hand and transferred into the head of the staff before bursting. In the next instant, Mark had ethereal leaves floating down around his body. ¡°Ha!¡± Mark reached the bulb and swung with three quick strikes, causing a purple liquid to bleed from the bulb before the vines fell limp. Alex received a kill notification in his vision, though he was certain that with how little he participated and how low of a level the monster was, he wouldn¡¯t get much experience from the fight. Alex smiled as Mark came back, holding the sword in the same hand that his shield was strapped to, and shook his free right hand. As he got closer, Alex noted that his hand wasn¡¯t empty. ¡°That strategy worked well. How¡¯s your back feel?¡± Mark shrugged, ¡°Fine, look! Too bad Val isn¡¯t here.¡± He held out a Mana Stone and tossed it to Alex before he bent and rubbed more dirt onto his shield. ¡°Hey, I think I see one of the other ones over there,¡± Sam said, pointing toward a dark mass of thorny vines in the shade beneath a fallen tree. ¡°One of the Root Crawlers?¡± Alex focused on it and nodded as the information appeared. ¡°Yeah, level 6. Want to try this one?¡± Sam¡¯s grip tightened on his staff, but he stepped forward. ¡°Will you help? I¡¯ll try to do what Mark did and get to the base.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Alex felt a small knot of anxiety in his stomach. While he knew the creature didn¡¯t pose any real threat to Sam, it would still hurt to get stuck with those large thorns on its body. ¡°Mark, hang back on this one unless you want to just help Sam block.¡± ¡°Just call if you need me, dude!¡± Sam kept his staff in his left hand and pulled a dagger from his belt. It was one of the many he¡¯d taken from the altar where Eura was trapped, and it looked almost comical in Sam¡¯s hand. The blade was closer to a kitchen cleaver than a pocket knife. ¡°How do you plan to tackle the fight? Don¡¯t forget that Mark and I are a part of your team; you can use us in this. Just like how Mark used me.¡± Sam hesitated and lowered his dagger. He looked toward the mass of roots, each as thick as a man¡¯s biceps and intertwined to look like a coiled mass of solid vegetation. ¡°Well, if you used your strong heating ritual under it, I think that would kill it right away, but then I didn¡¯t really do anything. I don¡¯t really know¡­ I want to try and fight it on my own first. Can you just watch?¡± Nodding, Alex took a step back but tightened his grip on his wand. He stopped using [Parallel Mind] to work on the Gust Ritual and instead focused his attention on actively creating a Concentrated Heating Ritual. He wanted to be ready in the event Sam did need his help. He was impressed with the teen''s resolve; even knowing he was likely to get hurt, he wanted to try to tackle the problem as he¡¯d seen Mark do. Sam squared his shoulders and raised his staff defensively before moving forward. All three of them were surprised to see how slowly the Crawler moved. Sam was upon it and swinging the dagger several times before it even began to lift itself from the ground. Alex winced internally as he saw Sam hack away at the thick roots with little to no result. It looked like taking a machete to the base of a tree. While the tool might be effective when used on a sapling, it was clearly the wrong weapon for his current fight. Sam kept at it for several minutes, and even though he¡¯d made little headway, Alex had to respect his resolve. Despite constantly being poked by the thorns, he had formed a plan to slowly tease out the roots from the bundle. If there was a blunt tap on the roots, they attempted to reach out or shift in that direction from the main body. The teen stopped trying to hack his way through and instead took a slower approach to lure its limbs away from the center mass by pulling some right and then shifting to its other side to pull the other side slowly away from the center. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. When the center mass was a loose mess of cords, Sam cast [Rejuvenation] on himself before stepping in and thrusting with the knife. He repeated the action once more, gaining long cuts on his arm both times. But, soon, the monster fell to the ground. Stepping back, he quickly put the knife into his pouch before reaching down with his free hand to use [Healing Touch] on his own arm. ¡°Way to go!¡± ¡°Great job, but how about we avoid doing it that way again?¡± Alex asked as he walked up to Sam. His long-sleeved shirt had been torn and stained with his blood. He could see Sam¡¯s wince, though it was quickly covered by a nervous smile. ¡°Yeah, that wasn¡¯t fun¡­ But I did it!¡± His smile morphed into something more genuine before he nodded. ¡°Yeah, next time you just blast it.¡± Alex reached into the center carefully and felt around for a Mana Stone. He found one and added it to his pouch before high-fiving Sam. ¡°One for each of you, nice.¡± He let his Concentrated Heating Ritual disappear before swapping back to his Gust Ritual testing. Sam scrunched his face and looked at Alex¡¯s hand. ¡°I can¡¯t tell what you¡¯re doing, but I constantly feel mana in that hand. What are you working on?¡± Alex smiled and pointed his hand at a nearby trunk before pursing his lips, blowing toward his hand, and pulsing the mana through his thread. The same gust he¡¯d hit Mark within their living room came out stronger as he put more mana into the blast. However, being that it was a single gust of concentrated wind, it didn¡¯t do much beyond slapping against the tree¡¯s trunk. ¡°Well, I am trying to figure out how to turn this into a bolt or a blade. The problem is, I¡¯ve never seen a ritual that has that effect or components that could help me turn this into something more like a projectile than a concentrated gust.¡± Sam bent over at the waist and looked at the thorny roots with interest. He answered distractedly, ¡°What if you change what you¡¯re putting in the Ritual?¡± Alex perked up. The catalyst? He deflated just as quickly. ¡°Well, I guess that could work. I didn¡¯t think of it, but I¡¯m trying to use this ritual specifically because I just need a source of wind and mana to activate it. If I can get away from needing to carry around and throw out catalysts, I¡¯m getting closer to practical magic.¡± ¡°Yeah, I guess it wouldn¡¯t work if you had to sacrifice a dagger or something each ritual to make it have a blade.¡± Sam continued to focus on the root with interest. He looked over to Mark, who was watching one of the floating bugs with interest. ¡°Hey, Mark, can you cut some of these up for me?¡± Mark trudged over. ¡°Yep.¡± He removed a hatchet from his pouch and started cutting up some roots. ¡°How long?¡± The two continued talking as Alex contemplated Sam¡¯s idea. The catalyst is supposed to be more about the concept of what¡¯s going into the Ritual. I remember going over this with Eura, but I still can¡¯t get my mind around the concept. He told me to stick to using physical items in the rituals for the time being¡­ but what about something that¡¯s not physical? Alex looked down at his hand and noted the wand. ¡°Oh¡­. shit.¡± He said to himself. Alex pulled up his Status Screen to check his mana and let loose three bolts rapidly at a tree at seven mana per bolt. The result was consistent, and he held his breath as he used his other hand to form a slightly larger Gust Ritual in the air. Rather than a concentrated burst, he formed the base of the Ritual from a square, forcing the mana to remain trapped within the confines for a time. When he finished, the completed Ritual was the size of a sewer grate. He looked at it with his mana sight before shaking his head and dismissing it. ¡°Ready?¡± Mark called. ¡°One sec,¡± Alex said. His thoughts moved rapidly, and he knew that his Willpower was working in overdrive. Realizing that his consciousness was still split, he ended the skill, hoping to put his full brain power into the problem. He began to think out loud as Mark and Sam walked over. ¡°I¡¯ve been trying to make my Rituals too much like magical spells. They¡¯re not meant to work like that. They are meant to be more lasting. What if¡­¡± He trailed off as his hand raised and [Mana Threads] spread from each of his fingers. He reformed the ritual, using a hexagon as its base with a square in the middle. He made three small mana nodes around the base and nodded at its final form. This should work. Come on, please work. He looked at his mana and activated the Ritual. He saw his mana drain by 30 and winced at the cost. Even with [Efficient Rites], his class¡¯s passive skill, the cost wasn¡¯t insignificant. ¡°Did it break?¡± Sam asked. Through his passive skill, he knew Alex had activated the ritual, but there was no effect. ¡°I hope not.¡± To his left eye, Alex saw the ritual hanging vertically in the air. The new ritual wasn¡¯t meant to cast a gust of wind as the previous one he¡¯d been working on. Instead, it was meant to alter mana moving through it based on the catalyst type- in this case, wind. At the moment, it hung empty in the air, waiting for mana to pass through it. Alex raised his wand and put the tip in the central square before infusing his mana into the weapon. The normal seven mana cost bolt came from the wand, but rather than the normal silent bolt of blue, there was a loud pop followed by a whooshing sound as the enhanced bolt took off. His arm and shoulder rocked back from the recoil, and all three of them felt a rush of wind as the bolt blasted through the center of the hanging ritual and flew off with greater speed and force than a normal bolt should. There was the barest pause in sounds as it travelled through the air and was followed by a cracking, splintering sound as it connected hard with one of the distant trees. ¡°¡­ Fuck.¡± Alex said. Mark started cheering, and Sam laughed at him. Alex felt a moment of fierce satisfaction at the result. He sent another bolt through the center to the same effect. He turned to point at another tree and frowned slightly as the Ritual stood stationary in the air. ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ll need to find some way to anchor it to myself. Maybe I can-¡± ¡°Hey, hey, hey. That¡¯s enough from you, magic boy. I need a skill, not you!¡± Mark said while throwing his arm around Alex¡¯s shoulder. Finally, some progress. I''ll have to thank Sam later for the idea. Alex laughed at Mark''s remark. "You''re right, let¡¯s focus on you." Before continuing on, Alex pulled out the pocket watch he¡¯d been given by Olivia to see how it was handling telling the time. The watch worked well; its purely mechanical nature was not disrupted by the Rift at all and continued to work normally. He smiled before he tucked the gift back into his pocket and set his [Parallel Mind] to work on the progress he''d just made. The trio continued through the forest for several more hours. Sam did little more fighting, but he jumped in to help bait a few of the Snap-Vines for Mark, and Alex burned any of the Root Crawlers that began to move toward the group. They all completed the Personal Quest before leaving and heading to the Rift Exit. 82. Sparring Alex pushed through the heavy door into the same training facility at the Voss estate where the New Year¡¯s tournament had taken place. As he looked through the thick glass window at head height, he caught his own reflection and was still shocked, even after being back for an entire month, to see the difference in his appearance. ¡°-and that¡¯s where the fundamental difference lies,¡± a woman¡¯s voice came from the phone. ¡°The Hunters Association wants control, regulation, and oversight. The Adventurers Guild advocates for freedom of choice, personal responsibility-¡± ¡°Morning,¡± Alex called. He dropped his gym bag on the floor, and the scent of leather and rubber training mats filled his nose. Olivia glanced up and gave him a smile. ¡°Hey.¡± She paused the video from where she was sitting cross-legged on one of the training mats. Her phone was propped against her water bottle. ¡°Did you see this video?¡± ¡°Nah, but sounds like some more drama?¡± Alex said, settling down on the mat beside her. ¡°Another hit piece on the Guild?¡± ¡°Actually, this one¡¯s pretty balanced.¡± Olivia stretched her arms above her head. Alex smiled at her, distracted for a moment by her beauty. His eyes were most often drawn to her button nose and dark eyes, but in her tight compression shirt and with her hair pulled up in a ponytail, his eyes were drawn to her slender neck. ¡°Some journalist finally did their homework. They¡¯re breaking down the ideological differences between us and the Association. As dark as it is to say, I think it looks pretty good for us that there is beginning to be more Awakened crime in the Safe Zones. It makes the Hunters Association look like they can¡¯t control their own circus. Did you know that they¡¯re talking about pushing for mandatory scans at the checkpoints entering the Safe Zones? Apparently if you¡¯re not registered to one of the guilds in the Hunters Association¡¯s purview, you won¡¯t be able to enter. Or at least need to be willing to be detained and register with them before gaining access to the rest of the Safe Zone.¡± Alex lay on his back on the mat and quickly blew air from his lips, causing his lips and cheeks to make an exacerbated noise. He brought his hand up to lightly scratch Olivia¡¯s back while looking up at the ceiling. ¡°Shit. That changes a lot of things. Does that basically make us outlaws or something? This is pretty crazy.¡± A silence hung between them as Alex thought through the repercussions of a mandate like that. ¡°It¡¯s got to be hard. I know you don¡¯t really like the Hunters Association, but I don¡¯t know what the right answer is for them, to be honest.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Well, think of how much damage any of us could do with some serious ill intent. It¡¯s not like it used to be, where firearms were the primary concern. That was bad enough, but now there are spatial pouches and people who can cast spells and blow stuff up by simply willing a skill to activate. They¡¯re trying to position themselves in a way to regulate and monitor Awakened, but the hardest part of that has got to be actually managing people like us.¡± Alex saw her ponytail bob as she nodded to what he said. ¡°Yeah, I can see that. But¡­¡± She let out a sigh, and he knew it was hard for her to want to side with the Hunters Association in any way, even if it was just to acknowledge the difficulty of their situation. ¡°Speaking of difficulties,¡± he said, changing the topic for her. ¡°You know we¡¯ve been in queue for a few Uncommon and Rare Rifts for a while now, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, why?¡± ¡°Derrick told me two days ago that there was a note in the AG system saying that our group didn¡¯t mind waiting if others needed to get in ahead of us. ¡®because we were already so high leveled,¡¯ or something like that.¡± ¡°What?¡± She twisted in her seated position to look at him with her eyebrows pulled together and her nose scrunched up. ¡°How does that make any sense?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I said. So, it wasn¡¯t you who put the note in there?¡± ¡°No. Why the hell would I put something like in a note for you guys. That totally goes against what you¡¯ve been talking to me about for your goals since you got home.¡± Alex nodded, ¡°Yeah. I didn¡¯t think it was you, but Derrick did say it was logged in the system that a Peacekeeper put in the note¡­ and, well, you¡¯re the only one that I ever really talk to.¡± ¡°Well,¡± she stood up and offered him a hand, ¡°I can ask around. See if anyone¡¯s heard anything similar or who might have made the note.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Alex said, while accepting her offered hand. ¡°I appreciate it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡± Olivia¡¯s serious expression melted into a mischievous grin. ¡°Besides, I need you focused for our spar. Can¡¯t have you distracted when I show you how much stronger I¡¯ve gotten.¡± Alex laughed. ¡°Oh yeah? Still got a ways to go to catch up to me.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see about that.¡± Olivia¡¯s eyes sparkled at the challenge and she moved to the center of the mat. ¡°Better quit slacking off. I¡¯m closing the gap.¡± ¡°Wait, seriously?¡± He focused and used the scan function of his left eye.
Name - Olivia Santoro Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Class: Nightblade - Level 18 Primary Stat: Agility Secondary Stat: Intellect Most Used Ability: [Shadow Step]
¡°Level 18? Wait, when did you get that title- how did you get that title?¡± There was a lot to unpack in her visible status, and Alex was reeling. Olivia laughed, ¡°Hey, rude! You shouldn¡¯t scan my status like that. It¡¯s still crazy to me that you can get so much information. Most of the other Guild people can¡¯t at this point.¡± Alex sputtered for a moment. ¡°Seriously, how did you get the Unbound title? Did you go into the Epic Rift?¡± He felt his heart twist a bit as she nodded energetically. ¡°Yes, a team of us were sent in to see if we could make contact with that leader you mentioned to Elana.¡± She paused and looked at his face. Maybe not hiding it as well as I¡¯d hoped. Alex adjusted his facial features quickly. ¡°I know it was dangerous for you in there and a lot happened in those two months. But it¡¯s a resource that we need pretty desperately and if we can find a way to fight some of those monsters safely, it¡¯ll allow our Peacekeepers to level faster than almost anyone else.¡± Alex nodded. ¡°I know, sorry. It was more a gut reaction, I know you¡¯re tough and the team you guys have is great. It¡¯s just¡­ even at 20 you¡¯ve gotta be at least 10 or more levels down on whatever you¡¯re fighting. Be careful?¡± She smiled at him. ¡°Of course. It really is needed¡­¡± She lowered her voice. ¡°You know, the Hunters Association found a D Rank Rift this week? If they¡¯re starting to pop up, we might seriously be screwed. It¡¯s hard for us to just keep up with closing the E Rank Rifts before they start breaking, if D Ranks are starting to appear, it might turn in to a pretty desperate scramble to keep up.¡± Alex gulped and thought back to his first conversation with Eura. Where he mentioned that if the integration was failed, Earth could be shattered and turned into a broken world. ¡°Hey, enough stalling. Let me show you just how safe I¡¯m gonna be in those Rifts.¡± Alex pulled his wand and one of his leather-bound notebooks from his spatial pouch. Olivia¡¯s eyes narrowed as she drew both of her daggers. He was pleased that it was the pair he¡¯d given her for Christmas- the ones he¡¯d taken from the Shadow Serpent Sect altar back when he released Eura. The metal of the dark blades seemed to drink in what light would normally reflect off of their matte surface. ¡°Really?¡± She twirled one dagger. ¡°The wand- and what? A book? I thought we were sparring seriously. Where¡¯s your sword?¡± ¡°Got some new tricks I¡¯ve been working on. Thought you might want to see them.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Olivia settled into a low stance and started to move to the side, her movements fluid. ¡°Don¡¯t complain when I close the distance then.¡± She¡¯ll probably use [Shadow Step] right away since it¡¯s her most used ability, and I¡¯m at a disadvantage in melee with the wand. Just as he¡¯d practiced so long ago in his apartment, Alex kept his index finger pointed along the length of the wand to help with aiming. Though, now, it helped him for another reason as well. He used [Mana Thread] and began to weave a quick restraining ritual beneath his feet, using the same method he had on one of the disciples during his time in Tianluo. It was finished in mere heartbeats, his speed having increased two-fold with the endless practicing he¡¯d been doing in the last two months. Olivia vanished in a wisp of darkness. Anticipating her to appear beside him, Alex pulsed his mana and activated the Ritual under his feet while using his own movement ability to move away. He drifted backward and landed several meters away, only to realize that he¡¯d been baited. Olivia had actually stepped to the corner of the room to his right. ¡°Too predictable!¡± she called, while launching herself forward. Her high Agility showed itself through her explosive movements. Alex backpedaled, his left hand flipping through the notebook while his right hand moved the wand rhythmically and in a pattern to more easily weave the threads of mana he was using. Thanks to [Parallel Mind], he could split his focus and allow one half of his mind to focus on the detailed notes in his book for the ritual components. ¡°Stand still!¡± Olivia growled. Her daggers blurred as she pressed the attack. Despite Alex¡¯s training with the Celestial Sect and his experience using the Eight Petal Steps, he quickly found that he didn¡¯t stand a chance against Olivia regarding speed and close-quarters movements. ¡°Come on. You¡¯re really fighting me while reading that book?¡± Her nose scrunched up in the cute way it did when she was annoyed. ¡°Take this seriously!¡± Almost got it. He thought while ducking another swipe and had to close the book for a moment to block with his left forearm as Olivia spun and sent a kick toward his chest. Jesus. Just as the last thread clicked into place, something cold wrapped around his ankle. Alex glanced down to see a shadowy hand emerging from his own shadow and yank his foot out from under him. ¡°Got you!¡± Olivia pounced forward. But Alex was already moving. He let [Parallel Mind] end, and all of his Willpower and mental agility crashed together as he formed one of the main rituals he was most comfortable with. It was formed under him even as he hit the ground. He dropped his notebook, and several loose items spilled out of the pages. He fell onto his back and placed a hand high on his chest, palm facing up toward the ceiling. A second later, Olivia landed on top of him, placing her dagger in a dangerous spot at the base of his chin. ¡°Do you yield?¡± Alex smiled, ¡°Yield? Why would I do that?¡± Alex pulsed his mana, and the weight-reducing ritual activated, leading to further confusion on Olivia¡¯s face. It wasn¡¯t until he pursed his lips and blew air toward her face that he saw the light of recognition in her eyes. As the small gust ritual activated over his palm, she was propelled ten feet in the air due to her weight being reduced from the larger ritual. She flailed and managed to hold on to both of her daggers. Alex rolled back to his feet and pointed his wand at her as she landed in a heap. ¡°Do you yield?¡± He asked in a teasing tone. ¡°Fine,¡± she laughed, brushing herself off as she stood. ¡°But I totally had you if you hadn¡¯t pulled that wind trick.¡± He laughed back. ¡°You can¡¯t even say that. What the hell was that shadow hand?¡± A note of incredulity crept into his voice as he thought of the cold sensation on his ankle and through his pant leg. ¡°Isn¡¯t it awesome? I don¡¯t know, the skill is just called [Shadow]. I can only make a hand appear now, but it¡¯s super useful for trips or in the dark; I can use it over my hand for more reach. Ugh- It¡¯s so cool.¡± Alex¡¯s smile grew as he saw his girlfriend in a similar light to one of the first times they¡¯d ever really met. He loved seeing her passion and excitement when talking about magic and skills. ¡°Want to go again? That was fun, I¡¯ve been teaching Mark and Sam so much lately I feel like I¡¯m going to get rusty without this kind of practice.¡± Olivia¡¯s response was to vanish in another [Shadow Step], this time appearing on the other side of the room. ¡°Less talking, more fighting!¡± She flicked the light switch off and started laughing. Alex smiled as well. While she had a huge advantage in the dark, he saw the mana leaking from her clearly despite the darkness. He sent a normal mana bolt from his wand toward her to let her know that he knew exactly where she was. He saw a flash of purple and blue mana in his vision as she used her movement skill, and their second match began. 83. Facades Alex lay spread-eagle on the training mat with his chest heaving and sweat cooling on his skin. The lights were back on, and the late afternoon sun was streaming through the tall windows of the training room. Beside him, Olivia sat cross-legged, drinking deeply from her water bottle. "You know," she said between breaths, "I thought I had figured you out after watching you train with Mark and Sam. But you''ve really been holding back on them, huh?" Alex turned his head to look at her. "Well, yeah, of course. Mark is so low-level, and Sam barely knows how to fight. They need to be learning how to fight, not getting into the weird stuff." "Weird stuff?" Olivia snorted and raised an eyebrow as she set her water bottle down. "You mean like reading and fighting at the same time? Or setting up those small rituals insanely fast? Seriously, we have one other mage here with the Peacekeepers, and it takes several seconds for them to cast the spells from two of his skills." "Says the woman who can literally grab people with shadows." He winced as he sat up, his tired muscles protesting. "That''s got some really crazy combat potential, you know? Especially if the area is dark." A comfortable silence fell between them as they caught their breath. Alex could feel the pleasant burn in his muscles and thought back to just a few months before and how he wouldn''t have been able to train even a fraction of the time. A smile tugged at his lips as he remembered how much his muscles had burned and how exhausted he''d been after simply beating on a slime. He continued to think about his time in the Rifts after the slime, and his mind went back to the time he spent with the Mana Spinners. The way they used their webs was unique, and Alex wondered, now that he had a better handle on his [Mana Threads], how they could turn the mana into something solid. Originally, he''d assumed that it was a naturally created substance as if it were a mix between an actual spider''s web and what he did with the Mana Stone dust to give the threads a physical substance to latch onto. However, after seeing Olivia''s skill, he had to wonder if there wasn''t an easier way to go about making mana manifest in the physical world. If the only base that her skill needed was a shadow and mana, then it could mean he wouldn''t need to continue using the Mana Stone dust for too long. "Can you show me that shadow hand again?" Alex asked. "I want to watch how it forms with my eye." Olivia nodded and extended her hand. A tendril of darkness stretched from the ground where the shadow under her hand was projected onto the mat. It formed into the shape of a large hand with lines and joints that were just slightly too angular to be real, almost as if drawn on paper in a quick sketch. Alex''s Heavenly Eye tracked the flow of mana, noting how it seemed to solidify at the edges while maintaining a fluid core. "Interesting," he murmured. "It''s almost like... you''re creating a shell of solid mana, where the skill is folding the outer edge on itself a number of times. But the center, the mana within that shell, is fluid. Is this how the spiders actually made their webs?" The thought boggled Alex''s mind. To think of the control required to have something so thin as their webs compressed a multitude of times and still act as a shell for the more fluid mana would require more control than he had thought. "The spiders?" Olivia''s nose wrinkled. "You''re still thinking about those creepy things?" "They were kind of cute once you got to know them," Alex defended but then laughed at her expression. "You think a bunch of large spiders are cute, and you had the audacity to think I was crazy for calling Valtherion cute?" This caused Alex to laugh harder as he remembered the first time she''d come to his apartment to meet the little mana wyrm. "Man, I''m so excited to see his advancement." He sighed for a second as he watched the mana within the shadowy hand move. Seeing his interest, Olivia directed the hand to move and flex in various ways. "But seriously, their webs were incredible. They managed to make something both physical and magical without using a physical anchor like the Mana Stones that I''ve had to crush up. I''d love to figure out how to replicate that." "Well," Olivia said as she ended the skill and stood up, "what if they did have a physical anchor? Like, couldn''t they produce something in their bodies?" "Huh?" "Normal spiders produce webs from their body, right? What if the Mana Spinners have the ability to create something as a physical anchor from their body? You just didn''t notice it because it seemed natural." She gave a dramatic shiver. "Don''t expect me to help with any spider experiments." She stretched and rifled through her bag to find her phone. She checked the time and cursed. "I''m a bit late. I''ve got to shower, change, and head to meet up with my team. This was great practice, though." If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. "Yeah, it''ll be nice when we can do this at the Guild Headquarters," Alex said. "It feels weirdly personal to just come over to Elana''s house to spar, train, and hang out with you." Olivia gave a short laugh and hugged and kissed him on the cheek. "Come on, I''ll walk you out to your car." "No, don''t worry about it. Don''t be late to meet up with the other Peacekeepers. You can head to the locker rooms; I know my way out. I want to chat with Elana anyway. You''re still coming over tonight?" "Yep," she said as she turned and made her way to the back of the room, where the single metal door led into the locker rooms. "I''m excited for the Rift event to start tomorrow." "I''m glad they could spare you for the first few days!" Alex called after her. "It''ll be nice to have the entire group together and in a Rift." She smiled and waved as she walked through the back door. Alex let out a breath and rocked himself up to his feet. It was a great feeling to have sparred and tried out some theories he''d been working on with the new use of the wand rituals. He shouldered his gym bag and headed out of the training facility. He wanted to catch Elana before heading home. The main house''s entryway was better temperature-controlled than the training room, and Alex was grateful for the break from the overheated addition. As he turned down the main hallway toward Elana''s office, he nearly walked straight into a small group of well-dressed individuals. Rylan stood at their center, speaking in a friendly tone about the Guild''s goals. One of the men exclaimed and two others stepped forward protectively. Alex saw through his eye as mana gathered around the more slender man''s head. There was some quick whispering between him and the shorter man. The entire group seemed to be of Asian nationality, but Alex couldn''t tell where from, by their appearance or from the language they spoke. "Excuse me," Alex apologized and glanced up at Rylan for some assistance. "I''m just passing by." The tall blond man stood silent for a moment, the gears in his head clearly turning as he thought through the best way to handle the situation. "Mr. Park, this is Alex Moore. Earlier, you asked who I lost to in our tournament. This is the Guild member that took the trophy home." There was some more quick whispering before the shortest man in the group stepped forward and extended a hand toward Alex. They shook, and he spoke to Alex in a foreign language. Barely a beat passed before the taller man spoke up, the one that he''d bumped into. "He says, ''It''s a pleasure to meet you. We''re happy to be here and see the strength of our future allies.''" Alex put a smile on his face and realized that he''d stepped into something he wished he wouldn''t have. "It''s a pleasure to meet you too, Mr. Park." The translator took over and conveyed his words, but before the man could respond, Rylan spoke up once more with a charming smile on his face. "We were just talking about our Guild''s Teams Event that starts tomorrow. Alex here will be leading a team of his own in the competition, right?" "I will," Alex said. He paused for a moment before letting himself be pulled into an awkward and formal conversation where he wasn''t quite sure what to say or share. For several minutes, the diplomat used their translator to act as a middleman and speak with Alex about his experience in Rifts and how he enjoyed being in the Guild. Rylan played the gracious host, smiling and assisting more than once to direct the conversation when Alex might stumble. Finally, Rylan gestured to a nearby Guild member and spoke up. "Would you please escort our guests to the conference room? I''ll join you shortly." As the group moved away, Alex found himself oddly impressed by Rylan''s composure and tact during the exchange and decided to try to offer an olive branch. "Wow, that was a pleasant introduction. Thanks for that. I''m pretty bad in these kinds of social situations. I''m assuming these are the diplomats for potential overseas trade and expansion?" Rylan''s polite smile vanished. "Don''t mistake political necessity for friendliness. I really don''t like you. I hate people who get lucky and think that they have it made or belong anywhere near me." "Lucky?" Alex''s attempt at friendliness cooled. "Yes, lucky." Rylan stepped closer and lowered his voice. "You stumble into an Epic Rift, somehow survive, and everyone acts like you''re special. You got lucky in finding a rare healer who follows you around like a lost puppy. But luck runs out. I''ve spent my entire life working to be exceptional in my social connections and work. All of that experience has carried over into this new life, and you think that a few months of fumbling around with the least desirable kind of magic after a lifetime of mediocrity makes you my equal?" He shouldered past Alex, and the force of it sent Alex stumbling back a step and into the hallway wall. The casual display of his Strength wasn''t lost on either of them. "Keep coasting on your luck. Keep playing mentor to your puppy. But remember this... your progression will plateau once your luck runs out. Mine won''t." Rylan''s voice carried as he walked away. "The Teams Event should make that perfectly clear to you and everyone else in the Guild." Alex clenched his jaw. The familiar burn of anger rose in his chest, but underneath it was a disappointment¡ªnot at Rylan, but at himself for actually believing that Rylan might be different than he''d thought. Should have known better. He''s been putting on a front the last few weeks, just pretending to be a nice guy. Still, something about Rylan''s words nagged at him. He felt like a lot had fallen into place for him despite the dire circumstances he''d had to live through to obtain it all. Even worse was that he did feel like his progress had slowed greatly since returning from the Celestial Rift. That''s intentional, though. I want to help the others grow stronger... Even though he knew that the words were true, they rang hollow after the exchange with Rylan, feeling more like an excuse than the goal he''d hoped it would be since returning home. He turned and walked out of the Voss Estate. The note on their status had been lifted, and he didn¡¯t feel like it would do any good to go to Elana and talk while he was angry or frustrated. With the Team¡¯s Event starting the next day, he¡¯d be able to help the others grow stronger. Right then, he needed to think about what came next and how to continue growing his own strength. 84. Rank Advancement Alex¡¯s boots dragged across the front steps of his fancy mansion steps. He looked down at his shoes as he trudged up the stone stairs, unable to pull his thoughts from Rylan¡¯s words at the Voss Estate. ¡®¡­your progression will plateau once your luck runs out. Mine won¡¯t.¡¯ Alex made a frustrated sound as the words rung through his head. He grimaced as he thought back to his original thought about wanting to help his friends and he knew it was true, but didn¡¯t lessen the sting of feeling like he was going to start falling behind if he didn¡¯t start progressing again. He went to open the heavy wooden door, only to have it open in front of his hand before it even made contact. Stumbling, he paused for a moment, then noticed Edwin standing on the other side of the door. ¡°Master Moore,¡± he greeted. ¡°Thank you, Edwin,¡± Alex said as he entered. He removed his jacket, and the butler stepped up smoothly to offer a hand and take the coat. ¡°Samuel is waiting for you in the living room. I believe he has something that he¡¯s excited to share with you.¡± ¡°Hmm? Alright, thanks.¡± Alex answered distractedly. Moving to the living room, he thought back to Rylan¡¯s smirk and the shoulder check that he¡¯d taken in the hallway. His mind couldn¡¯t help but daydream about how he could have responded differently in the situation to at least come out more on top. He¡¯d been so surprised by the larger warrior¡¯s change in attitude and demeanor that he hadn¡¯t even been bracing for the physical contact. If it had been a punch, would I even have reacted quickly enough? An idle, more childish part of his brain thought through how he¡¯d like to have slipped the shoulder bump or stuck his foot out and tripped the larger man. Then, he would have been able to look down at Rylan and make his own snarky comment. The worst part of the situation was that Alex didn¡¯t feel like Rylan was all that wrong. He hadn¡¯t gained a level since returning from the Epic Rift over a month ago. Sure, he¡¯d improved a few skills here and there, but his overall power had remained largely the same. The Teams Event shouldn¡¯t even matter that much. Rylan clearly thought it was a competition for his team to win, but Alex hadn¡¯t been thinking about it like that at all. His focus was on helping his friends grow stronger, making sure they could handle themselves, and trying to get the group to work together. He hadn¡¯t even put much thought into how they might win or place high on the board. They were just going to try to get into the Rifts that they could and gather points while helping everyone progress. So why does it bother me so much? ¡°Alex! Alex!¡± Sam¡¯s excited voice cut through his brooding. The teenager practically bounced up from the couch and over to Alex. His face lit up with an enthusiasm that was hard to ignore in the normally quiet young man. ¡°Something amazing happened today!¡± Before Alex could respond, a blue window materialized in front of Sam as he shared the System window with Alex.
Congratulations, Awakened! You have reached level 30. You qualify for advancement to D Rank. Upon accepting this prompt:
  • Your Race will be upgraded, and your physical and magical form will undergo enhancement
  • Access to Epic Rarity Classes will be unlocked
  • Your body¡¯s affinity for mana will increase
Do you accept? Yes/No
Alex felt a complex mix of emotions surge through him. The pride he felt for Sam warred with a hint of jealousy that he quickly tried to suppress. Sam was looking at him with such excitement, clearly seeking his approval and sharing the moment of triumph with him. Don¡¯t be that guy. He deserves this. ¡°That¡¯s incredible, Sam,¡± Alex said, forcing a big smile on his face. He stepped forward and pushed his hand through the glass-like window to ruffle the teenager¡¯s hair. ¡°What are you waiting for? Aren¡¯t you going to accept it? This is a huge step forward.¡± Sam smiled and dismissed the window. ¡°I just wanted to show it to you. Also, Edwin and I were talking before you got home, he has read up on this even more than I have. I¡¯m- I¡¯m going to accept it now.¡± ¡°Nice, do it!¡± Alex said, the teen¡¯s nervous excitement rubbing off on him. There was a pause, and Alex knew Sam was navigating his System window. Alex took a step back and wanted to witness the advancement through his Heavenly Eye, interested to see if there was mana involved in the process. The effect was immediate and spectacular. Golden motes of light materialized around Sam¡¯s body, swirling in complex patterns that reminded Alex of a more complicated version of the motes he saw around his own body during a level up. But something was different. He could see the lights around Sam. Normally the motes of experience, regardless of if it were from a kill, a level up, or a token, could only be seen by the person who they were for. Can I see them because of the Heavenly Eye? That made little sense to Alex. He hadn¡¯t seen Sam level up his [Rejuvenation] earlier in the week. ¡°Master Moore,¡± Edwin¡¯s voice came from the doorway to the foyer. ¡°I can see the lights as well. How peculiar.¡± The golden particles began to spin faster, lifting Sam several inches off the ground. Most of the motes spiraled up to his head and then fell lazily down like snow. Sam looked around with wide eyes and his shaggy hair and green sweat shirt lifted around him, floating as if under water. Slowly, all the motes pushed toward the surface of his skin and held there for a moment. They caused Sam¡¯s skin to glow a bright and golden yellow and moved along with his arm as he lifted his hand in front of his face for a better view. Without warning, the lights exploded outward and floated at varying distances around Sam in a sphere. It caused Alex to take a step back, though there was no damage done to any of the surroundings. Sam gasped as the golden lights hung, suspended like a small cosmos around him. He hung frozen in the middle of the round lights, suspended, and just as he opened his mouth to say something, most of the lights rushed together in a stream and directly into his chest. Those that didn¡¯t join the stream, about twenty percent of the total motes, all shot directly up and through the high ceiling of the living room. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. The entire process only lasted seconds, but when Sam¡¯s feet touched the ground again, there was something distinctly different about him. ¡°I feel¡­¡± Sam rolled his shoulders and his eyes were wide with wonder. ¡°Everything feels clearer somehow. I feel¡­ lighter? Like I¡¯ve been wearing heavy clothes my whole life and just took them off.¡± Edwin cleared his throat. ¡°If I may, Samuel. I recently read an article about Rank advancement, the one we were discussing before Master Moore arrived. While this transformation doesn¡¯t directly increase your stats, it fundamentally improves your body¡¯s ability to handle physical and magical energies. You¡¯ll find yourself more naturally resilient, and your future training will yield better results.¡± Sam looked at his hands in amazement. ¡°So, I¡¯ll get stronger faster?¡± ¡°It¡¯s more that your body is now better equipped to handle the increasing demands of higher stats and magical abilities. This is particularly important as you¡¯ll soon be choosing to evolve or advance your class, which will cause you to gain more stats.¡± Alex watched the exchange, trying to focus on Sam¡¯s joy rather than his own feelings of stagnation and thoughts of doubt that Rylan has fanned to life. His friend had earned this moment, and Alex wouldn¡¯t let his personal frustrations taint it. He spoke up, reminding Sam of something they¡¯d spoken about a week before. ¡°Remember those advanced rituals I was telling you about? It¡¯s making more and more sense why they want people to wait to use them. Now, I guess with your new and improved Rank, your body will be more receptive to get actual gains from the body tempering rituals.¡± Sam¡¯s eyes lit up further. ¡°Oh, man. I forgot about that!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll need to put some thought into what you want to do, though. They don¡¯t look pleasant. Almost all of them look like some sort of mental or physical test, and stopping halfway through could ruin the potential to do it in the future.¡± The warning seemed to temper Sam¡¯s excitement some, though Alex saw him gripping his hand and making a fist. ¡°I want to try one of them,¡± Sam said firmly. ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll be hard, and we can take some time to pick one. But I want to get stronger, too. I feel different now. Better. I- I really don¡¯t know how to explain it.¡± He flexed his hand again while looking at it closely. ¡°It¡¯s like¡­ everything is more real somehow.¡± Alex nodded, thinking that he had a good idea of what Sam was trying to describe. His mind drifted to Val sleeping upstairs in his office. The Mana Pearl had been sitting in his spatial bag for over a month now, waiting for the ¡°right moment¡± or in case something better appeared on the Auction House. Maybe seeing Sam was the push I needed. ¡°Come on,¡± Alex said suddenly. ¡° I want to show you something.¡± Sam followed him up the stairs as Alex led the way to his office and opened the door. Val was curled up in his favorite spot on the cat tree behind the door, at head height. His translucent fins rippled gently as he slept as if pulled by some unseen current. Alex put his hand down by his side and reached into his personal spatial pouch while willing the Mana Pearl to his hand. ¡°Is that¡­¡± Sam¡¯s voice dropped to an excited whisper. ¡°Are you going to use the Mana Pearl?¡± He lifted his hand, and the orb glowed with an inner light, casting soft blue reflections across the wooden floor. Even in his sleep, Valtherion¡¯s fins twitched at the presence of such concentrated mana. ¡°Yeah,¡± Alex said softly. ¡°I¡¯ve been holding onto it, waiting for the right time. But seeing you advance today¡­¡± He trailed off, a slight twinge of guilt mixing with his feelings of anticipation. Val would likely become stronger than him after this evolution. But isn¡¯t that the point? We¡¯re a bonded pair. He¡¯s my companion and just like my strength is his strength, his is also mine. Fuck, why am I feeling so greedy? I owe so much to my friends, and they are the entire reason that I pushed so hard to make it out of the Rift. Without Valtherion and Sam, I wouldn¡¯t have gotten out, anyway. They deserve everything I can give them¡­ and then some more. He took a step toward Val¡¯s sleeping form. ¡°Hey buddy, wake up. I¡¯ve got something for you.¡± Valtherion¡¯s eyes fluttered open, immediately focusing on the pearl in Alex¡¯s hand. The mana wyrm¡¯s head stretched up and out, his fishlike nostrils twitching as if smelling the mana radiating from the material item. ¡°Mana?¡± Val asked hopefully, his body slowly unfurling from his perch. Alex couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°Better than a Mana Stone this time, buddy. Way better.¡± He held out the pearl and Val circled it curiously before opening his mouth and gently picking it up with his teeth. Val¡¯s eyes went comically wide, and he zipped around the office in excited loops with the pearl glowing between his jaws. ¡°Good! Good mana!¡± Valtherion¡¯s voice was giddy with excitement, and Alex winced at the internal volume shared between their link. ¡°Val, you need to eat it, not just carry it around,¡± Alex said as he tried not to laugh. His companion did another loop around his head, and he turned from left to right to try to keep him in his view. Val paused mid-flight while hovering in place as he considered the statement. Then, he tossed the pearl up in the air and caught it in his mouth, swallowing it whole. The effect was almost immediate. Val¡¯s usually graceful movements became wobbly, and he started to drift sideways like a balloon losing air. His fins waved lazily, and his eyes had a distinctly unfocused look. There was a keening in Alex¡¯s mind that reminded him of Val¡¯s early method of communication, sounding like an animal calling out underwater. Slowly, words came through in a slurred voice. ¡°Room¡­ spinning¡­¡± Sam tried to stifle a laugh as Val attempted to right himself, only to do a slow backward somersault instead. ¡°You okay there, buddy?¡± Alex asked while reaching out to steady the wyrm. Val¡¯s response was a happy but drowsy purr that reminded him of a happy cat. Then, he slowly began to drift upward, weaving back and forth like a leaf falling in reverse. He made his way to the highest platform of the cat tree, occasionally bumping into the pillar before managing to curl into a tight ball. Alex and Sam shared amused looks. ¡°Well, that was¡­¡± Sam started. ¡°Something?¡± Alex finished, shaking his head with a huge smile. They could just barely see Val¡¯s curled form at the top of the cat tree, but what caught their attention were the two golden motes of light that began to drift lazily around his form. They were visible to each of them, similar to Sam¡¯s transformation. Every few seconds, another mote would appear and float slowly through the air before absorbing into Val¡¯s sleeping form. ¡°How long do you think it¡¯ll take?¡± Sam whispered, watching another light materialize. ¡°The article I read said it could be a few hours or a few days at the most,¡± Alex replied. He watched the motes of light, and a part of him wanted to use [Feather Step] to jump up and watch the process more closely. ¡°His evolution isn¡¯t instantly like your rank advancement was. But the end result is supposed to be really similar, since they¡¯re both essential advancing the Race, but since he¡¯s a creature, it¡¯ll be tracked in the System as going up a tier.¡± Sam nodded, still studying Valtherion. ¡°What do you think he¡¯ll turn into?¡± Alex remembered the mental image Val had shared with him last week, that of a massive building-sized creature that had made Alex¡¯s heart skip a beat. ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± he admitted. ¡°But, the article said he can only change small amounts each evolution, so I hope it¡¯s not too drastic. I like the way he is now, and I¡¯ll miss it if he can¡¯t ride on my shoulder anymore. They stood in comfortable silence for a moment, watching the motes that slowly appeared and disappeared. ¡°Alex,¡± Sam said hesitantly. ¡°I know you haven¡¯t leveled much lately, and I was worried you might be¡­¡± ¡°Hey,¡± Alex cut him off gently. ¡°My goal has always been to help my friends get stronger. That includes you, and it includes Val.¡± He smiled genuinely this time, and a memory rose to the surface of his mind. ¡°Besides, remember what Eura said? About taking time to build a proper foundation? You spent a lot more time using your skills and gaining your experience; mine all came to me really quickly. It¡¯s not bad for me to stay here and keep training for a bit longer.¡± Sam¡¯s eyes lit up with recognition. ¡°Oh yeah! He said rushing to gain power could cause problems later. That it¡¯s better to really understand what you have first.¡± They both thought back to one of the first conversations that Eura had with them when Alex had arrived in Tianluo. Alex nodded, feeling some of the day¡¯s frustration ease. ¡°Exactly. And, speaking of mastering things¡­¡± He grinned. ¡°The Teams Event starts tomorrow, and we should probably see what that new D Rank body of yours can do.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Mark¡¯s probably still in the gym. Want to go surprise him? I bet he¡¯d love to see your advancement firsthand.¡± Alex¡¯s grin widened. ¡°Plus, you¡¯ve got to be one of the first people to advance to D Rank. That¡¯s huge, Sam. We should celebrate with dinner after a workout. We can talk to Gabby and make whatever you want for dinner.¡± Sam groaned at the idea of being put through a workout, but Alex could see the excitement in his eyes. ¡°Really? A workout is your idea of celebrating?¡± ¡°Well, it won¡¯t all be a workout. But we should test out your reflexes, your endurance, even your balance.¡± They took one last look at Val¡¯s sleeping form before heading out. As they walked down the hallway, Alex found himself genuinely excited about the Teams Event starting. Maybe he wasn¡¯t advancing as quickly as before, but he was watching his friends grow stronger. That¡¯s its own kind of progress. 85. Team Event Starts Mark¡¯s SUV idled in the small lot off to the side of the Safe Zone checkpoint. Alex looked from the passenger window at the busy area as the chilly morning sun reflected off of the reinforced barriers that guarded the entrance to the city. There was a steady stream of people and vehicles flowing through the big gates, occasionally being asked to stop as he saw someone step up and activate an ocular skill to scan them. ¡°He¡¯s running a bit late,¡± Sarah said from the back seat. ¡°I hope he¡¯s alright.¡± ¡°This looks like a nightmare. Is this going to be the new ¡®rush hour traffic¡¯?¡± Mark said as he watched the lines. ¡°I feel like there¡¯s a lot of movement right now, as people get settled. Eventually, most people that are in the Safe Zone will stay in there.¡± Alex commented. Olivia joined in from her spot in the far back. ¡°What we really need are some more people willing to set up shop outside of the Safe Zone. It¡¯s ridiculous that most people just up and abandoned their lives and are cramming inside of this ¡®safe¡¯ zone just because the government said so.¡± ¡°It does feel weird to feel a bit like an outcast.¡± Alex agreed. ¡°I¡¯m glad Edwin and Gabby were willing to register with the Hunters Association to at least get a permit to enter. I don¡¯t really want to yet, unless I have to.¡± Olivia grunted in agreement, and Sarah rolled her eyes. ¡°You would think he gets some sort of preferential travel treatment, right? Everyone seems to love the fact that he¡¯s a healer.¡± ¡°Cut him some slack,¡± Mark said while drumming his fingers on the steering wheel to the beat of the music. ¡°Kid probably had to dodge his mom trying to stuff him with a fourth breakfast.¡± With how quiet and thoughtful Sam could be, Alex sometimes forgot the fact that Sam was so young. Almost half our age and he¡¯s already been through something more difficult than teenage-me ever would have thought of. ¡°I like Mrs. Grant,¡± Sarah said. ¡°Speaking of food, we should grab something when we hit the road. It¡¯s probably going to be a long day.¡± ¡°Gabby packed us some lunch,¡± Mark pointed down to his spatial bag, where he¡¯d stashed a small cooler with food. ¡°How much of your space did you take up with food?¡± Sarah asked with a smile. ¡°There he is,¡± Alex interrupted as he spotted the teenager¡¯s sandy blonde hair in the line exiting the Safe Zone. They watched as Sam approached the exit and pulled out a large laminated pass. He held it up for the guard to inspect, and they saw the man smile and wave Sam through after a quick scan and verification. Sam jogged toward the SUV, his backpack bouncing against his shoulders in time with the smaller pouch at his hip. ¡°Sorry!¡± Sam said as he climbed into the middle back seat. ¡°Mom wouldn¡¯t let me leave without showing her the Guild notification about today¡¯s event. Then she wanted to go through the packing supplies one more time, even though I told her we¡¯ve all been packed since Saturday!¡± Mark turned around in his seat, grinning. ¡°Dude, you¡¯ve got a pretty sweet deal. Hospital sponsorship, a special pass for the Safe Zone, and unlimited mom-food. Meanwhile, the rest of us are stuck outside the castle walls.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that great,¡± Sam mumbled, but a smile tugged at his lips just from Mark¡¯s delivery. ¡°The hospital is pretty great, and they found another healer. One of their doctors awakened and got a trait related to cleaning wounds, but he¡¯s still really low level. But I like it out here more than in the Safe Zone. The city was already too busy for me; now it just feels really packed, and our neighbors at the assigned housing are really noisy.¡± There was a pause, and Sam wrinkled his nose at Mark. ¡°Also, what do you mean the castle walls? You- we literally live in a castle now!¡± They all laughed, and Alex caught Sam¡¯s eye in the rearview mirror. ¡°How are your parents handling everything?¡± ¡°Better, I think. Dad¡¯s still not too happy about me being with the Guild instead of the Hunters Association, but¡­¡± Sam shrugged. ¡°They do like you guys a lot, so I think that makes them feel better to know I¡¯m with you. Also, the hospital sponsorship helps make it seem more legit to them.¡± ¡°Speaking of legitimate,¡± Olivia said, ¡°we should get moving. It''s the first day of the Team Event, and I don¡¯t want to be late for the start. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll have to deal with the media some when we get there.¡± ¡°Media?¡± Sarah asked, looking up from her phone. ¡°Guild¡¯s making a big push for positive coverage. They¡¯re trying to show everyone they¡¯re taking action about the Rift situation.¡± Olivia¡¯s tone was a bit more professional as she spoke on her Peacekeeper duties and the Guild¡¯s plan. ¡°There¡¯ll be interviews and coverage of the teams heading in. Especially since the whole point of the event is to close Rifts and prevent more breaks from happening. Good PR.¡± She tossed in the last sentence with a shrug of her shoulders. Mark pulled away from the checkpoint and merged into the lighter traffic, pulling away from the Safe Zone. ¡°Hey, maybe we¡¯ll get famous. This would be way cooler than being a social media influencer or something.¡± Alex groaned, and Sarah quipped, ¡°You¡¯ve got the ego for it.¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Mark said while tapping the brakes and causing everyone to lurch forward. As his friends¡¯ banter filled the car, Alex found himself running through their strategy again. They¡¯d practiced and planned, but this would still be their first actual test as a team. His mind absently reached out to Valtherion, wishing that he was with them. But Val needed the time to complete his own advancement, and Alex knew that the Rift they¡¯d been assigned to would be safe for the most part. ¡°Everyone remembers the formation we practiced?¡± he asked during a lull in the conversation. A chorus of affirmations answered him, and he nodded happily. He tried to ignore the flutter of nervous energy in his stomach. It¡¯s just a Common E Rank. Mark and Sam have already been in one with me and worked well together. Olivia is constantly in Rifts harder than this. Sarah is the only one I¡¯m still a bit worried about. Even though he knew this, he glanced at his friends that had become his team, and couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of responsibility. Mark caught his eye and nudged him with his elbow, ¡°Relax, dude. We¡¯ve got this.¡± Twenty minutes later, they pulled into the parking lot of an abandoned supermarket. Through the windows, they could see the store had been completely looted and the top of a Rift portal was visible around the building''s right side. The parking lot bustled with activity. News vans with satellite dishes dotted the perimeter, and a handful of reporters stood before cameras, gesturing at the tear in reality behind them. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Looks like the Guild really went all out,¡± Sarah observed as they grabbed their few normal bags from the trunk. ¡°There¡¯s Channel 4, 7, and¡­ is that national news?¡± Mark shouldered his pack with a grin. ¡°Think they¡¯ll want my autograph?¡± ¡°I think they¡¯ll want you to be quiet,¡± Olivia said with a grin. Mark made an ¡°Oooh¡± sound and tried to grab onto her backpack, but she smoothly stepped out of reach. Alex scanned the area, counting at least four other people who appeared to be Awakened teams. They were standing in groups and most carried larger bags and had their weapons and other gear on display. Benefits of having spatial bags. I bet to them, it looks like we¡¯re really unprepared. One group had two people willing to showboat for the cameras. They were showing off their weapons or demonstrating a skill with a small burst of mana that he could see even from that distance with his Heavenly Eye. There was one other team acting more serious about the whole thing and Alex could recognize some of their gear as enchanted or System-granted. They were standing by an event tent that was set up and talking with three people in white jackets. Three Peacekeepers stood at a folding table near the corner of the building closest to the Rift entrance. They wore expensive-looking winter jackets that looked like snowboarding jackets to Alex, though they had a patch on the chest and shoulder that matched the Guild logo. ¡°So fancy,¡± Mark said, clearly noticing the uniform-like jackets as well. ¡°That¡¯s Jamie,¡± Olivia said quietly to Alex. ¡°Glad he¡¯s here. He¡¯s been a Peacekeeper even longer than I have. He won¡¯t let the media interfere with the safety of the event.¡± She broke away from the group and approached her coworkers with a nod. Sam shifted closer to Alex as a report¡¯s gaze swept their way. ¡°We don¡¯t have to talk to them, do we?¡± ¡°No,¡± Alex said while flicking Mark, who was grinning and waving at the cameraman. ¡°We¡¯re here to work, not try and get any sort of recognition.¡± They made their way to the registration table, where Jamie was speaking with the other team. There were two younger looking Peacekeepers to his side, handing paperwork out to those in the first team. ¡°Olivia,¡± Jamie said warmly. ¡°Good to see you. These must be your teammates? You must be Alex- and Sam?¡± The man stepped forward as he introduced himself and shook Alex¡¯s hand while giving Sam and the others a nod. ¡°You guys have some heavy hitters on your team. I¡¯m surprised you¡¯re at such an entry-level Rift. You¡¯d get more points by going to one of the higher-rated ones¡­¡± Olivia shrugged and glanced at Alex. ¡°I think this is good for us to start with. It¡¯s what we were assigned to, but that¡¯s fine. Mark and Sarah are still lower leveled, and it¡¯ll be good for us to all practice together as a team.¡± Jamie nodded and shrugged his shoulders as if the details weren¡¯t any worry to him. After the last of the quick introductions were done, they moved off to the side to create space for the next team to check in with the Peacekeepers. ¡°Olivia,¡± one of the younger Peacekeepers called after them. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Jamie is giving a brief rundown of rules and safety before we open the Rift.¡± ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll be here.¡± The girl nodded before moving off to the next group to pass along the word. ¡°Can we get out our gear now?¡± Mark asked while looking around. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯ll be best to go in there ready for anything. This will let us check over our gear one last time, too.¡± Everyone nodded in response and let their normal bags rest on the ground while they began to reach into their spatial bags and remove their field gear. Alex felt like a few eyes turned toward their group, which was still in normal street clothes. One guy with a clearly magical staff actually smirked at them, thinking they were unprepared for the Rift. Mark reached into his spatial storage first, pulling out sections of gleaming armor. ¡°Sarah, mind helping me with the straps?¡± ¡°You¡¯re hopeless,¡± She said but moved to help him with the breastplate. The metal caught more of the light from the sun, and Alex noticed the smirking mage do a double-take. While Sarah helped Mark, Sam began pulling out his own equipment. Alex watched him set his staff to the side and pull out several mana potions to check their contents. He smiled at Alex before putting them back into the pouch. ¡°Both of them still full?¡± Alex asked. Sam nodded. ¡°Yeah, they provided it if I needed any while at the hospital. But I¡¯ve only needed that once.¡± ¡°Better safe than sorry,¡± Mark called over while holding his arms up and still as Sarah adjusted the final strap and pulled him backward. ¡°Besides, your parents would kill me if I let anything happen to you.¡± ¡°Speaking of better safe than sorry,¡± Alex said, ¡°you¡¯ve got the consumable necklace?¡± Sam pulled the silver chain from beneath his sweatshirt to show it to the group. ¡°Right here. Though Mark says I won¡¯t need it since he¡¯s going to be the ¡®best tank ever!¡¯¡± Sam¡¯s impression of Mark¡¯s voice was surprisingly good. ¡°Hey, you¡¯ve got it wrong. I am the best tank ever! Not going to be the best tank ever!¡± Mark hefted his war hammer for emphasis , nearly hitting Sarah in the process. ¡°Watch it, crazy!¡± she scolded while stepping back to check her own gear. She pulled out a small recurve bow and clipped the quiver to her belt. Of their group, Alex was most worried about Sarah. They¡¯d spent some time training with her on how to swing a sword and block some basic strikes, but in the end, she really didn¡¯t want to be in melee or stab anything. They wanted to get her with a wand or staff to keep her safe, but when she gained her most recent skill and seen how much of her meager mana pool it took to use the skill, she had offered the idea of learning the bow. It feels a bit rushed to have her in here still experimenting with things like this, but she isn¡¯t always going to be in the field with us. She¡¯s already so busy with her work. I¡¯m just glad she could make it. ¡°Bringing the Christmas present?¡± Alex asked? Sarah nodded, though her expression was uncertain and he could see her mouth pull into a thin line. ¡°I¡¯ve been practicing with it some at work. The ability to manipulate an aura from a distance is useful, but¡­¡± she glanced at the other teams. ¡°Maybe not best to try it here. Not until I¡¯m more confident with it. I wouldn¡¯t want to mess something up.¡± ¡°I saw you practice with it yesterday, you were great!¡± Sam said. Alex smiled, but he understood her hesitation. He knew she felt a bit out of place in this kind of environment, especially compared to the experience that everyone else in the group had. He reached into his own spatial bag and drew out his leather notebook. He opened the front page and checked the list he¡¯d made two days before and double-checked that he¡¯d packed everything he¡¯d needed for various rituals. He held the book in his offhand as he reached back into the pouch and removed his wand, placing it in the small leather holder at his hip. ¡°No upgrade?¡± Sam asked, eyeing the wand. ¡°I thought about it,¡± Alex said as he adjusted the front of his well-crafted robes. ¡°But this one works well with the new rituals, and we need to focus on teamwork more than raw power right now.¡± Olivia was the last to gear up, but her efficiency showed her experience. It only took her moments to transform from the casual street clothes into something more combat ready. Her light armor, that was placed over tight winter underclothes, was died a dark black with hints of purple in the creases. Alex could see the daggers he¡¯d given her for Christmas disappear into various sheaths with practiced ease. Looking around at his fully equipped friends, Alex couldn''t help but smile. The transformation was unreal. The sight of them switching from street clothes into their mismatched medieval and magical weaponry, all while standing in a supermarket parking lot, thoroughly confused his sense of what was normal. The mage with the staff was now pointedly looking away from their group. ¡°Teams, gather round!¡± Jamie called out. His voice carried across the parking lot. ¡°Safety briefing before we begin!¡± Five teams formed a loose semicircle around the Peacekeepers, with the cameras and other reporters also huddling in to hear what needed to be said. Alex counted numbers and saw that teams ranged from a trio of what looked like college students to a group of eight wearing matching colors and stitched patches on their arms. ¡°Alright,¡± Jamie began, his expression serious. ¡°This event marks a change in how we approach Rifts. Your goal isn¡¯t just to complete Personal Quests and gain experience. The Guild is focusing on actually closing these Rifts and protecting our surrounding communities. We expect all teams to stay until Rift Quest completion and the Rift is closed. This is the only way that you get points for the event and receive full credit. This Rift specifically is great for multiple teams working together. Rather than a Rift boss monster to slay, there is an objective to break several resonating crystals throughout the Rift to close it. We have scouted the immediate area around the entrance and located two of the crystals, but the remaining ten are spread out and will need to be located. When we¡¯re done here, before entering, feel free to come up and look at the map that we put together of what we do know about what¡¯s on the other side. He gestured to the two younger Peacekeepers beside him. ¡°All three of us will be monitoring different sectors. With five coordinated teams in here, we don¡¯t expect the closure to take more than a day or two. Before you enter, please grab a sulfur flare from one of the Peacekeepers and keep it on you. This is to be used in case of an emergency and only if your group needs help or someone is gravely injured.¡± There was silence from the gathered group as it sunk in for some people that this situation was dangerous and more than just a PR push for the Guild. Jamie made eye contact with each team and, after receiving a nod, told them that the Teams Event officially started in ten minutes. If there were any further questions, it was the time to ask. 86. Crystalized Alex leaned over the small hand-drawn map that was laid out on the folding table under the tent. Several others stood to either side of him, and while he was hoping for more information, the drawing didn¡¯t show too much. He moved away from the table to return to his team, standing a short distance away. Taking a deep breath of cold air, Alex looked around the abandoned supermarket parking lot. News vans crowded between old shopping cart corrals and dirty patches of half-melted snow were piled up in the corners of the lot. Alex found it surreal, standing there in his robes while reporters did interviews and moved back and forth, only casting an occasional wary glance at the blue portal. He had to assume that the Rift opening near the portal contributed to its looting and complete abandonment, but it looked like it hadn¡¯t been doing very well even before the New Year. The entire situation boggled his mind, and he was surprised to see such a shift in what was accepted and publicly tolerated. Just a few months ago, when he¡¯d stepped into his first Rift, people had been fleeing the scene in a panic and then law enforcement had shown up and blockaded the entire area. News outlets were shut down and not allowed to record in the area, and the only source of media was from people posting online. Even then, what was leaked was seen as fake or doctored video for a growing conspiracy theory. Now, some of the most reputable reporting sources were on site and interviewing the present adventurers as if they were professional athletes. It¡¯s amazing what people can accept as a new norm and adjust to fit their current lives. He knew that there was more to it than that, but as he looked back and forth at the gathered groups, he was impressed by the general population¡¯s resiliency. Just as his thoughts were drifting to his family and how his dad might be handling taking the changes, a woman wearing elaborate robes approached him at the same time he walked up to the rest of his group. She carried a staff that had a small red crystal set into the top of the wood. ¡°Heading in soon?¡± she asked in a serious tone. ¡°We should coordinate paths so we can avoid getting in each other¡¯s way.¡± Alex felt his friend¡¯s eyes turn to him and fought the urge to look to Olivia for help. ¡°We, uh¡­¡± he cleared his throat. ¡°We haven¡¯t really talked about it yet, but I think we¡¯ll take the left side. There was a ridge on the map they have up there, we¡¯ll probably follow that.¡± The uncertainty in his voice made him wince internally, but the woman just nodded. ¡°Works for us. We¡¯ll take the central path. I¡¯m Maya, by the way.¡± ¡°Alex,¡± he replied, offering his hand. She shook it and smiled at them all. ¡°Good hunting.¡± As Maya moved back to her team, Olivia nudged Alex¡¯s shoulder. ¡°For someone with such high Willpower, you looked ready to bolt there for a second.¡± ¡°Willpower doesn¡¯t help much when you have no idea what you¡¯re doing,¡± Alex said with a weak laugh. He scratched the back of his head. ¡°I mean, I can be determined or use my quick thinking all day long, but that doesn¡¯t mean I know which decisions to make.¡± ¡°You do fine in combat,¡± Sarah pointed out, adjusting her quiver awkwardly. ¡°That¡¯s different. I¡¯ve trained for that, lived through it a few times now. But this?¡± He gestured vaguely at the surrounding scene. The news crews, other teams, the Rift, and even their own group, ¡°Leading? Making a tactical decision or deciding what we¡¯re all going to do? Making decisions for you guys, instead of asking everyone what they want to do? I feel like I¡¯m making it up as I go.¡± ¡°That¡¯s literally what everyone does,¡± Mark said, adjusting his shield. ¡°You think she knew exactly what she was doing? She¡¯s probably just as nervous.¡± Alex shrugged and looked for a way to change the subject. He looked over Sam¡¯s head toward the shimmering blue portal and nodded toward it. ¡°Ready?¡± He asked his group of friends. After receiving nods all around, ¡°Then let¡¯s-¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Mark interrupted, fumbling with his spatial storage. ¡°One more thing!¡± Sarah groaned. ¡°If this is another-¡± ¡°Team photo!¡± Mark called while lifting his phone from the pouch. ¡°Come on, first official mission! We need to document this.¡± Sam bounced over, and his enthusiasm was infectious. He moved his staff from one hand to the other so that it wasn¡¯t hidden behind Mark. ¡°Where should I stand?¡± ¡°You¡¯re like a puppy,¡± Sarah muttered, but she was already moving into position. Sam¡¯s eyebrows came together in a frown, and Mark laughed. ¡°Our team mascot! The healing puppy!¡± He threw his arm over Sam¡¯s shoulder, causing the much smaller teen to bow under the weight. ¡°I am not the mascot,¡± Sam said with some embarrassment. ¡°That¡¯s Val, for sure.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not standing here all day,¡± Olivia warned, but she took her place next to Sarah. Her attempt to look annoyed was undermined by the smile tugging at her lips. Alex looked at his friends on the screen of Mark¡¯s phone as he held his arm out. He felt a good deal of his anxiety melt away as he joined them in the center of the photo between Mark and Sarah. Mark held up his hammer with a huge grin, and Alex felt Sam poke him in the side with his staff. Everyone chuckled as Mark snapped way too many pictures, the loud clicking sound making it all too obvious. ¡°Everyone say ¡®Teams Event!¡¯¡± Mark called. Only Sam said it, his excitement making Sarah laugh mid-eye-roll. Olivia managed a tight smile, clearly uncomfortable with such a public spectacle. Mark checked his phone screen for a moment before beaming. ¡°Perfect. That¡¯s going on the wall at the new house.¡± ¡°We are never doing that again,¡± Olivia stated flatly, but Alex caught her fighting back a proper smile. Together, they regrouped, ignoring the onlookers, and stepped through the Rift¡¯s entrance. The transition was smooth, almost unnoticeable, except for the slight tingle of mana across their skin and the momentary loss of weight. Then the new world opened up before them, and Alex heard Sam¡¯s quiet, ¡°Wow.¡± The blue windows popped into Alex¡¯s vision and rather than dismiss them, he used a trick that he¡¯d been working on in the last week. He focused his attention on the blue windows and mentally pushed them to the right of his vision. The windows shifted without noise or complaint, though Alex could only do it when he pushed his intent toward the windows. So far, no one else in their group had been successful in recreating the feat, so he assumed it had to do with his Willpower. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. With the blue screens out of the center of his vision, he did a quick scan of their surroundings and made sure that they weren¡¯t at risk of being attacked. When he saw they were safe, he looked to the quests, nodded, and dismissed them.
Personal Quest: Cull Crystal Wolves Slay 10 Crystal Wolves at any level.
Rift Quest: Shatter the Resonating Crystals Destroy all 12 Resonating Crystals within the Rift.
Alex blinked as his eyes adjusted to the strange light of the Rift. Above them, the night sky was bright with ribbons of blue and pink waves. Their boots crunched in snow that seemed to glow, though he wasn¡¯t sure if it was from magic or from the reflecting stars and lights overhead. He glanced at the others and saw most of them looking around the surroundings, which made him happy to know that they¡¯d likely followed the standard Guild advice of dismissing the quest windows first and ensuring the area was safe. ¡°Any surprises with the quests?¡± Olivia asked. ¡°Nope. A cull quest and the crystals that Jamie told us about outside.¡± Alex answered. Mark hefted his hammer. ¡°I¡¯m guessing my hammer will be better at smashing crystals than those stupid vines we were fighting last week.¡± Alex waved them to the left. ¡°Let¡¯s start moving to that ridge and get out of the way of the entrance. Other teams should start coming in any second now.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Sarah said seriously, gripping her bow tight. ¡°Formation like we practiced,¡± Alex said, feeling a bit foolish for taking everything so seriously. He pushed the thoughts away hard, being more aware than most just how dangerous the Rifts could be. Now¡¯s not the time for all of this second-guessing. Get your shit together. No one said anything in response, but they all moved into the appropriate positions like they¡¯d practiced at the house. Mark led the group, with Alex and Olivia behind him to either side. Sam stood behind Alex and Sarah walked next to him, behind Olivia. This had the four of them in something of a square, with Mark as a point out front. Mark started out their walk with his shield raised, though he lowered it after a few dozen meters. The environment was peaceful and looked truly magical. ¡°This place is beautiful,¡± Sarah said before the entire group tensed as a howl echoed across the meadow. It didn¡¯t sound close, but the timing was eerie. A flash of movement caught Alex¡¯s eye, and he instinctively raised his wand to point in the general direction. He stopped when he saw the white rabbit bounding past them, a trail of white, blue, and purple light trailing behind its tail as it moved. Mark chuckled after noticing Alex¡¯s reaction, and Olivia snorted as well. ¡°Are those the Crystals we need to break?¡± Sam pointed over the small ridge at a huge floating crystal. It was the general size and shape of a pickup truck if it was standing up vertically. It glowed a pink-purple that made it stand out from the white light of the surroundings and the blue light from the sky above. ¡°I think so, good catch. Let¡¯s head that way,¡± Alex said. ¡°Olivia, you can peel off and start scouting in that direction when we get to the tree line.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± she said. They closed the distance to the floating crystal and Olivia moved away into the shadows of the trees with [Shadow Step]. Alex glanced over to Sarah and saw her edging closer to the center of their group now that the other pillar of her side of the formation was gone. He was about to reassure her when a growl cut him off. Three wolves came out from behind a cluster of dull crystals that were spread across the ground. Their bodies were partially covered in pink and purple crystals, similar to the one that they were heading to destroy. Alex was a bit surprised to see that the wolves were on the smaller side. They were only slightly bigger than a fox and he quickly scanned them, wanting to make sure that they were the creatures that he thought.
Crystal Wolf- Level 4 Class: None
All three of the wolves were level four or five, and Alex was relieved that they would start out against the lowest range of monsters in the Rift. ¡°Alright, Mark. You¡¯re up.¡± Mark let out a whoop while loudly knocking the side of his hammer against the front of his shield. Through his left eye, Alex could see Mark release a wave of barely controlled mana. While it wasn¡¯t the same as pushing for a skill, they had theorized that while drawing the attention of the animals and releasing his mana in a burst around him, he could begin to direct the System toward some kind of taunt skill. For now, it actually didn¡¯t do much, but it wasn¡¯t that big of a waste since Mark wasn¡¯t doing anything with his mana, anyway. Alex split his focus with [Parallel Mind], letting one part of his consciousness begin weaving a ritual in the air for his wand, while the other monitored the approaching enemies and the fight as it started. The skill had become invaluable since he¡¯d gotten it, allowing him to do two things at once, which he felt was never more valuable than in moments like this. Two of the wolves charged at Mark, their crystalline growths glinting in from a combination of the strange lights in the sky and an inner glow. The third wolf, however, darted to the side, circling toward Sarah¡¯s position. ¡°Left!¡± Alex called out, but Sarah¡¯s arrows were already flying. She missed as she stumbled back from the approaching wolf and let out a strangled cry. ¡°Shit,¡± she muttered while nocking another arrow. He could see her hands shake, and the wooden arrow shaft bounced twice off of the side of the bow. Her next shot also went wide, and her growing frustration was evident in her quick mumbles and curses. Olivia materialized from the shadows behind the wolf, but Sarah had already released her third arrow in rapid succession. Olivia had to dive sideways to avoid it, losing her position for a clean strike. ¡°Damn it!¡± ¡°Sorry!¡± Sarah called out. Through his normal vision, Alex watched Mark handle the wolves. He showed no fear as his large frame and muscular arms wielded both shield and hammer with shocking ease. His kite shield kept the beasts at bay as he watched for openings to strike. Though a few attacks slipped through his defenses, they left only minor scratches and glancing blows. Even though Alex knew they were superficial wounds, it was hard for him to see tears appear in Mark¡¯s clothes and small patches of red begin to bloom on the snow at his feet. He was doing great, but¡­ ¡°Sam?¡± Marked called while taking a step back. ¡°Could use a quick heal!¡± But Sam had moved toward Sarah when she was threatened, leaving their tank without support. Alex saw Mark¡¯s expression shift as he realized he was backing into empty space. Time to help a bit. Alex released a bolt of mana from his wand, enhanced by the small wind ritual he¡¯d prepared in the air before him. The blue bolt passed through the hanging circle and took on a swirl of power and potential that crashed into the crystalline side of the wolf. There was the sound of muted, breaking glass as more red blood peppered the white snow. The wolf on Mark¡¯s left crumpled instantly, the level difference between them too great for it to survive the empowered shot. ¡°Thanks!¡± Mark called out, now easily handling the single wolf. Sarah finally found her rhythm, and as the wolf paused to look between her and Olivia, sent a shot directly into the monster¡¯s shoulder. Olivia didn¡¯t waste any time and stepped forward to hamstring the beast, preventing it from retreating or repositioning. The wolf went down quickly under their combined assault. ¡°Sam,¡± Alex said, ¡°you¡¯ve got to stick to the position unless called. Mark is your primary focus, he¡¯s got to know where to find you.¡± ¡°Right, sorry,¡± Sam said, hurrying back to his spot. The last wolf fell to Mark¡¯s hammer, and a brief silence fell over the group. Sarah was staring at her bow, jaw clenched and hair slightly disheveled from her initial stumble in the snow. ¡°That was¡­¡± Olivia started. ¡°Rough,¡± Sarah finished. ¡°My aim was horrible. I can¡¯t believe I came here thinking to use this after a few days of practice.¡± She held up her hand horizontally and looked at it as it shook slightly. "We''ll improve," Alex said. "Mark''s tanking was solid, and that last combination between you and Olivia worked well. We just need to¡ª" Another howl cut through the air and the group all turned in the general direction it had come from. "¡ªwork on it as we go," Alex finished his own statement. "Same formation, but Sam, remember¡ª" ¡°Stay centered, I know,¡± Sam nodded. Alex was happy to see that Sam didn¡¯t look upset or even frustrated. He knew Alex wasn¡¯t being hard on him, just trying to help him improve. I was worried that he¡¯d think anything I said to him would be me getting mad or being too critical. I¡¯m glad to see he sees it for what it is. Alex began weaving another ritual as they moved closer toward the hanging crystal, waiting to see more wolves step in their path. They had a long way to go, but at least they were learning. And no one died. That¡¯s a good start. The morbid thought popped into his head unbidden, as he realized it was his greatest fear in this entire situation. But after the first fight was out of the way, he realized it wasn¡¯t something he should be immediately worried about. The Rift they were in was well within their means to complete and between Alex and Sam, the team shouldn¡¯t ever be in any real danger. 87. Closure Alex crouched behind a natural crystal formation on the ground, using it as cover. Peering around the side, he watched the last floating crystal in the distance. The aurora above had intensified over the past two days, casting brighter lights and stranger shadows across the snow. Small, clear crystal growths had begun to spread across the ground, making the terrain a bit more hazardous. More than the terrain, the wolves had changed and evolved. It hadn¡¯t occurred to them at first, but the monsters and world within the Rift slowly changed with each crystal pylon that was broken. Where the Rift had started as a serene winter landscape with weak monsters and pretty lights, it now seemed to be a jagged and hard winter scape. The Crystal Wolves, which had once been the size of foxes, had grown in level and size with each of the twelve objectives. Maya moved closer, her red tipped staff making soft indents in the snow as she used it as a walking stick. ¡°Jason says there is some movement on the left,¡± she whispered. ¡°Two packs are circling.¡± ¡°How many?¡± Alex asked, scanning the area through his Heavenly Eye. He was reminded once again of the difference of natural mana in the environment within the Rifts compared to Earth. It had increased with each broken crystal, but now that they were down to the last one, the world was awash in colors. ¡°Seven total. He said they were levels ten to twelve.¡± Maya gestured to the groups left at the nearest pack. A wolf emerged from behind a snowbank, its head low. The size difference was still shocking to Alex, as the wolf¡¯s shoulder easily reached up to his waist in its altered form. He scanned the wolf out of reflex and saw that it was level 12. They had jumped up another level after shattering the previous crystal. Glancing over his shoulder, Alex saw Mark standing ready. His shield was on his arm and half raised toward the wolf with his hammer gripped in the off-hand. Sarah had an arrow already knocked, and Alex noted the difference in her stance and demeanor compared to how it had looked on Monday when they first entered. Sam stayed behind Mark and close to Alex. ¡°We¡¯ll draw most of them since Tim is a higher level than your tank,¡± Maya said. ¡°Your team can make for the crystal while we keep them busy.¡± She looked at her own group, spread out in defensive positions. ¡°Think you can handle any that break through? They¡¯re going to try to close on you when you make your way to the crystal.¡± ¡°We can manage a few,¡± Alex replied. He¡¯d seen how well Maya¡¯s team worked together after running into each other the day before. They should be able to hold. Maya tapped her staff twice in the snow. ¡°Ready when you are.¡± Alex nodded and turned to his group as Maya walked away to her own team. ¡°Alright, Maya¡¯s team will start the fight. We move as soon as they draw the wolves¡¯ attention.¡± He met their eyes. ¡°We¡¯re almost done here. You guys have been doing great. Same formation as before. I¡¯ll help as needed, so don¡¯t worry about the numbers; just focus on catching what you can and practicing like we have been. Mark, you¡¯re on point. Sarah, watch our backs. Sam-¡± ¡°Stay centered,¡± Sam finished with a smile. ¡°I know.¡± Alex smiled and shook his head. ¡°You¡¯ve been doing much better with that. I was going to ask if you can throw a [Rejuvenation] on their tank as we head out, the heal over time will likely help them a lot since they don¡¯t have a healer.¡± Sam nodded with a serious face. ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Olivia, stick to the shadows, but stay close. We don¡¯t know how many might circle around, and we¡¯ll need you to crack the crystal if we¡¯re tied down with too many wolves.¡± ¡°Right on.¡± Everyone nodded and gathered their courage for a final push. Alex watched his friends, pleased at the progress that had been made in just three days. The sound of Maya¡¯s staff striking crystal rang out across the area, signaling her team to begin their push. They moved forward, spreading out to draw the wolves¡¯ attention. Alex watched the pack turn toward them. ¡°Now,¡± he whispered to his friends. The group moved quickly through the snow, keeping low and using the scattered crystal formations for cover. Sam pointed his staff toward Maya¡¯s team, and Alex could see it glow a brilliant green as his mana traveled through it as he cast his nature affinity healing spell. Two wolves broke away from Maya¡¯s team almost immediately. They charged toward Mark with crystal-covered claws and shoulders. Mark called out with his normal voice as they approached, moving between Alex and the second wolf as well. His positioning is getting better. He didn¡¯t use his new skill, though. The first wolf met Mark¡¯s shield with a thunk and the sound of crystal scraping metal. The second wolf slowed its charge and circled to his right, but Sarah¡¯s arrows forced it to keep its distance. The wolf¡¯s crystalline hide deflected her first two shots, but the third found purchase in its shoulder. Alex began weaving a ritual while keeping his eye on the fight. Sam kept his position and sent a preemptive heal toward Mark, ensuring that any scrapes and cuts were healed as he took them. The healing kept Mark stable, but Alex could see his friend¡¯s arm trembling slightly after blocking a few blows. The level difference is still just too large. He gained two levels, but these monsters were still double his own. Alex did his best to hold back from helping his friends. They had asked him to help less and less as the previous two days had gone by, and he had to trust that they¡¯d ask him for help when they wanted it. Olivia stepped from a shadow and slashed at the front wolf¡¯s hind leg, preventing its continued assault on Mark. A third wolf emerged from behind a jagged crystal formation, moving to flank the group. Sam called it out, and Olivia moved fluidly, shifting her weight and vanishing again as she stepped through the shadows. It took Alex a moment to see her, as she¡¯d gained elevation by stepping into the shadows of one of the trees above the wolf. She dropped from the tree with two daggers in her hands and landed on its back, striking a vital point at the back of the head. ¡°Push forward!¡± Alex called out, seeing a good opening. The floating crystal loomed closer, but he heard Maya call out in alarm as the largest wolf they¡¯d seen yet burst through their defensive line. Its head was nearly as tall as Mark, and Alex¡¯s scan showed it as two levels higher than the other beasts. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. It charged them as it noticed they were making a B-Line toward the crystal pylon, letting out a roar that reverberated off nearby formations. It began to run toward the group, looking like it would hit their side, either aiming for Sam or Sarah; however, at the last second, Mark appeared and let out a shout. Through his eye, Alex could see the mana explode outward in a thin wave that covered about ten meters in any direction. As the mana washed over the large wolf, it turned its charge toward Mark and ran into him at full speed. Alex nodded, knowing that by defending the team, Mark had likely activated his trait and gained a small blanket increase to his stats. I guess it¡¯s a good thing he saved his [Taunt] after all. The wolf collided with Mark¡¯s shield and there was a moment of resistance as Mark held and his feet slid on the snow before he went flying and rolling several feet across the ground. Sarah¡¯s arrows bounced harmlessly off the wolf¡¯s crystal-covered hide, finding almost no flesh on its entire body. Olivia appeared to help Sarah as another wolf tried to circle behind her, leaving Mark alone on the ground with the larger beast. Alex saw his team being pressed and made a quick decision. He split his mind with [Parallel Mind], activating the ritual that he¡¯d already formed, that floated in front of him, while allowing his second mind to use mana threads to prepare another, different ritual. He pursed his lips as he activated the first and blew into the back of the mana formation, activating the wind ritual. Releasing several wind-enhanced bolts from his wand, he sent the first into the side of the large wolf that loomed over Mark. It struck its body with a blunt impact, and the sudden pressure pushed it off balance long enough for Mark to get back to his feet. The other three shots of high pressured wind crashed into the floating crystal. The shots cracked the crystal¡¯s surface, and Alex lowered his wand as he finished preparing the second ritual. With his wand holstered at his side, he reached into the spatial pouch at his side and pulled out a small bag of prepared ritual materials. ¡°Olivia, help Mark! I¡¯ve got the Crystal!¡± The dark-haired woman nodded, changing her direction from the crystal to aid their tank. Alex jogged forward to get closer to the pylon before tossing the ritual materials into the vertically floating Concentrated-Heating Ritual. Pulsing his mana, he felt a large amount of it drain from him as it activated. The ritual lit up, and a small pillar of concentrated, heated air burst from the ritual circle. While it was pointed away from him and his group, the area began to heat up, and the snow on the ground around the crystal began to melt rapidly. As Alex watched the large pink crystal heat up from the center, the cracks that he¡¯d made in it began to glow more red than pink before it completely shattered. The sound was loud enough to make Alex flinch and cover his face from the small shards that broke off from the main body as the pilon fractured and fell to the ground. The remaining wolves harassing Maya''s group fled. Alex watched as his team finished off the large beast, with Olivia and Sarah coordinating their attacks while Sam kept its attention. ¡°Well,¡± Mark said while panting. ¡°That was a bit easier than I expected.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t jinx it,¡± Sarah muttered. ¡°Seriously! Who says that!¡± Olivia said as she wiped off her dagger. Alex laughed. ¡°I¡¯m not sure things would have turned out well if it was much harder than that. These things were already double your level, Mark.¡± Mark shrugged in response as he looked at the scratches on the front of his shield. ¡°Dang, that last one was really strong. My arm is going to be numb for a while.¡± ¡°Sam!¡± Maya called out from a short distance away. Their group turned to see Maya kneeling over her team¡¯s tank. Shit. Their group rushed over just as a System window appeared in front of their faces. Alex dismissed it and focused on the situation. ¡°He took a bad slash as the large one broke through, you¡¯re a healer. Please help- please help him. Oh god,¡± Maya said fervently. The scene looked bad, with Tim¡¯s red blood spread and smeared across the snow as he¡¯d tried to move and his team had surrounded him to protect him from the last few wolves before the crystal was shattered. Alex was impressed as he watched Sam switch into a serious healing mode. He knelt down next to Tim and looked at his leg. ¡°Hi Tim, do you remember me?¡± The grown man nodded and gritted his teeth. ¡°Good, I need to look at your leg, but I promise you I¡¯ll be able to heal it. Okay? It¡¯s going to hurt for only a few more seconds. Then you¡¯ll be back to walking around. No problem.¡± Sam¡¯s voice was calm, and Alex saw Sarah step up as well. ¡°Do what you need to, Sam. Tim, can you look at me?¡± Sarah knelt down next to his head and held out her hand to touch his shoulder. Maya looked uncomfortable by the number of people beginning to surround the man, but as soon as Sarah made contact with him, Tim grew calm. His tense face and muscles relaxed, and he looked at Sarah with wide eyes. ¡°What- what is that?¡± ¡°Just one of my skills, don¡¯t worry. It is just helping you calm down, and Sam will have you patched up in no time.¡± Her smile was genuine, and Alex felt his heart swell to see his friends work so well to help a group of fellow Guild members. Sam checked the man¡¯s leg before nodding and grabbing his staff. He held the head of the staff over the leg and put his free hand behind the one that gripped the staff. His open palm, flat against his hand, began to glow as he sent mana through his body and into the staff, it changed to a deep and beautiful green as he sent the [Healing Touch] skill through the staff and into Tim¡¯s leg. In real time, the leg healed, stitching itself together under Sam¡¯s magic. Tim let out a breath, and his muscles relaxed further. ¡°Holy shit, that¡¯s crazy, kid. Thanks so much.¡± Sam smiled at the man and stood. Alex could see him waver as he stood to his feet. Saying nothing, Alex stepped forward to support the teenager and used his [Mana Infusion] skill to give him a bit of his own mana. He pulled up his own status window to monitor his mana and make sure that he wouldn¡¯t drop too low, but just to be certain, he kept his mind split and began to use [Mana Siphon] at the same time.
Status Name: Alex Moore - Level 26 Class: Ritualist (Novice) HP: 562/570 MP: 200/540
Maya collapsed onto Tim with tears of relief and thanked Sam over and over. The young man looked nervous and scratched his head while leaning on Alex. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯m happy to help.¡± They talked, and most of them were surprised as several blue portals appeared next to them. Even though Alex knew it was part of what happened when Rift Quest was complete, he was still surprised to see it for the first time. It¡¯s crazy that an exit just appears next to you whenever it¡¯s finished. No matter where you are in the Rift. He pulled up the previously dismissed System windows.
Congratulations, Awakened! You have completed the Rift Quest: Shatter the Resonating Crystals You have one Rift Quest Reward available. Rift Quest Complete: All Resonating Crystals have been destroyed! Warning: Rift collapse imminent. Exit through provided portal to return to planetary integration.
The feeling in the air was ominous after reading the second half of the System prompt. He knew from the articles that he¡¯d read to prepare for the event that the Rift would take an hour or more to close completely. The aurora above began to twist, and the light dimmed almost immediately, reminding Alex of household lights on a dimmer. ¡°Time to go!¡± Maya called out, helping Tim to his feet and wiping her tears from her face. Mark looked up at the sky. ¡°Woah, check that out.¡± ¡°Less watching, more moving,¡± Olivia said, pushing him toward the nearest portal. Alex made sure his team entered the nearest portal, walking through last. They stepped through and emerged together, back in the parking lot of the supermarket. News crews had already begun to gather, but Guild representatives kept them at a reasonable distance. ¡°Alright, wait until we¡¯re somewhere a bit more private to accept the quest rewards,¡± Alex said. He felt things were moving rapidly, and Peacekeepers stepped up from the groups exiting the portals to congratulate everyone. Maya¡¯s team gathered their gear while Alex¡¯s group celebrated their first Rift completion. Olivia was the only one of their group who had seen a closure happen before, so they chatted excitedly about the phenomenon. Sam was practically bouncing as he described the final fight from his perspective, talking about how cool Mark had looked when standing his ground against the last wolf. ¡°Good work in there,¡± Maya said, offering her hand to Alex. ¡°Your team did really well. When they catch up in levels, you¡¯ll be a powerful group for sure.¡± Alex shook her hand while watching his friends celebrate. ¡°Thanks for the help. We couldn¡¯t have done that last one without you guys.¡± Maya¡¯s team came over and thanked them all, several exchanging contacts and AG usernames before splitting off. 88. Advancement Late January sunlight filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows that led to the courtyard at the center of the U-shaped building. The modern living room was open with high ceilings, and the couch, living room table, and TV, all in the corner of the room, were depressed two steps into the ground. Slowly, things were changing around the comfy living space, and Alex was beginning to feel like it was his home, rather than he was squatting in a house that was far too nice for him. On the floor in front of the flat screen sat two gaming consoles that Mark had brought over. The couch had several new plush throw pillows and large blankets that Sarah had gifted to him, saying she wanted something comfortable there when they all watched movies. Edwin, at Mark¡¯s suggestion, had secured several minimalist back frames for pictures that he planned to fill with group pictures and selfies. Alex sank deeper into the corner of the couch, enjoying the feeling of the soft pillow and the smell of the coffee next to him. He watched Mark with a smile as he sprawled across the sectional. Past his friend, he could see clearly through the glass windows and through the courtyard. Gabby moved in the kitchen in a rhythmic manner that made it clear to him she was listening to music, despite not being able to hear the noise. ¡°Still can¡¯t decide what to do with it?¡± Alex asked, watching Mark flip a skill token between his fingers. Mark caught the token in the air. ¡°Three levels in three days, and this beauty on top of it.¡± He held the crystal-like chip up to the light that streamed through the windows. ¡°Can¡¯t say I¡¯m disappointed we closed that Rift.¡± ¡°It¡¯s definitely a shift from how they were doing things just a few weeks ago,¡± Alex said, though he couldn¡¯t keep the satisfaction from his own voice. ¡°You¡¯re right, though. Getting extra experience from completing the Rift Quest, not to mention two System Rewards from finishing both quests, feels really good.¡± He gestured at the token and thought of the Mana Stones sitting in his spatial pouch. ¡°Could have kept it open longer,¡± Mark pouted as he sat up. ¡°That sort of defeats the purpose of the Teams Event. I think we¡¯re going to need to close more Rifts rather than keep them open. If more are constantly spawning, and soon they¡¯ll be spawning at D Rank, it seems like the System is trying to hint at something by giving us additional experience when the Rift Quest is completed.¡± ¡°Yeah, I know,¡± Mark said as he stepped the token on the table and stared at it. The sound of sock-clad feet shuffling across the solid floor drew their attention to the entrance. Sam stood there, wrapped in a blanket that was supposed to be kept on the couch. Despite the obvious exhaustion on his features, there was an unmistakable energy about him that made both men sit up straighter. ¡°You¡¯re up early,¡± Mark said while checking his phone. ¡°Thought you¡¯d sleep till lunch at least, with that kind of late night at the hospital.¡± ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t push yourself too hard. We just finished up the Rift the day before, and then you spent like 12 hours at the hospital yesterday. Wasn¡¯t it you who told me last week that resting is important too?¡± Sam¡¯s tired expression broke into an excited grin. ¡°Couldn¡¯t sleep anymore. Guys, you¡¯re not going to believe what happened last night.¡± ¡°The hospital people decided to start paying you a ton of money for all your help and magical life saving?¡± Mark said, scooping his skill token off the table. ¡°Huh? Wha-¡± Sam said, confused. ¡°No, they already pay me.¡± ¡°They do? How do they pay you?¡± ¡°Edwin helped me set up a bank account, and my parents co-signed on an account while we were in the Safe Zone.¡± ¡°Aww, he¡¯s all grown up!¡± Sam glowered at the large Polish man and waved his hand. ¡°Look, that¡¯s not important! Ugh, I got offered my class advancement!¡± There was a moment of stunned silence before Mark and Alex both jumped up from the couch and rushed over to Sam to congratulate him. ¡°Dude! That¡¯s amazing!¡± Mark wrapped an arm around Sam and hugged him close while jumping up and down. With Mark¡¯s height, Sam¡¯s head only came up to the lower part of his chest, making the staggered jumping look comical to Alex. ¡°What does the System notification say? Did you already pick the advancement? Did you get something Epic?¡± Alex grinned at Sam¡¯s breathless laughter as Mark let him go and stepped back. ¡°Come on, sit down before Mark keeps asking questions. And yeah, tell us everything.¡± Sam practically bounced to the couch, exhaustion momentarily forgotten. ¡°I didn¡¯t pick anything yet. I wanted to read it and do it with you guys, kind of like the Rank advancement.¡± Alex and Mark both nodded. ¡°Well, here- it might just be easier to show you.¡± There was a brief pause as Sam willed the System window to become visible to them.
Congratulations, Awakened! Verdant Healer (Novice) is ready for advancement! You have reached the threshold of your primary class. Would you like to advance or evolve this class?
Advance: This class stays the same and advances to the next proficiency tier, improving the benefits from the class and granting a new skill in the same tree. Class Preview: Verdant Healer (Journeyman) - Level 1
Evolve: This class changes based on the different ways you may have used it or pushed the bounds of its purpose. Class Preview [Epic Rarity]: Druid (Novice) - Level 1
Advance / Evolve?
¡°Woah¡­¡± Mark breathed. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize that it showed you the ¡®Class Preview,¡¯¡± Alex said. ¡°That¡¯s amazing. Verdant Healer was your Uncommon pick, right? Now you got offered an Epic Rarity class for the evolution? ¡± Sam nodded excitedly. ¡°I know! Edwin said last week that normally, evolutions only offer to jump one rarity. I knew I had unlocked Epic classes since I went up to D-Rank, but I was worried, since my current class is Uncommon, that I¡¯d only get offered to evolve to Rare. ¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s a no-brainer, right?¡± Mark said excitedly. ¡°Just the stat gain alone from that will make it worth it to start back at the bottom of Novice, right?¡± Alex and Sam both agreed, thinking the same thing. ¡°Where is Edwin?¡± Alex asked. ¡°It couldn¡¯t hurt to have him here and just go through everything one more time before you make your choice, Sam.¡± ¡°That was part of the reason I wanted to wait. He was still sleeping when I got home this morning.¡± Alex hopped up and went to go find Edwin, only to have him turn the corner at that exact moment. ¡°Master Moore, how can I help?¡± The sudden appearance startled him a bit, but he recovered quickly. ¡°Great timing, Edwin! Sam got offered his class advancement.¡± Edwin¡¯s eyes lit up with interest as he walked closer to the couch with his arms behind his back. ¡°Congratulations, Samuel. Do you feel prepared?¡± Sam nodded but also shrugged his shoulders at the same time. ¡°Yes, but I just want to make sure. You¡¯re better at this than me.¡± The butler¡¯s eyebrows rose slightly as Sam showed him the System window. ¡°An Epic evolution? Very impressive.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not normal, right?¡± Mark asked, leaning forward. ¡°Sam was saying that normally the classes just jump one rarity. Why wasn¡¯t he offered a Rare class?¡± ¡°Typically, he would be offered a Rare class.¡± Edwin nodded. ¡°However, the System takes into account one¡¯s experiences and achievements.¡± Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ¡°That does make sense,¡± Alex said. ¡°Sam, you have a title for literally being the first person from our planet to enter an Epic Rift. Also, you¡¯re the highest level of anyone I¡¯ve seen since we¡¯ve been home. If it¡¯s tracking things like progression and what you¡¯ve done to earn your levels, you certainly would be up there.¡± Sam fidgeted with the blanket, and a bit of color rose to his face as he smiled. ¡°I just wish I could see more information about the Druid class. I looked up the name online last night when I couldn¡¯t sleep. There were a lot of different things that normal fantasy and stuff shows. I want to stay a healer, but the nature magic aspect sounds amazing¡­¡± He never talks this much. He must really be nervous to ramble like this. ¡°The System operates largely on intent,¡± Alex said thoughtfully. ¡°I doubt it would offer you something completely opposite to your goals. There are some druids in games that are tanks, but you haven¡¯t done anything like that since I¡¯ve known you. And if your goal and intent is to keep growing as a healer, then I don¡¯t think it would give you a class that pushes you away from that.¡± ¡°What about my current skills, though?¡± Sam asked. ¡°Will I lose [Rejuvenation] and [Roots of Restoration]? They both work really well with my trait.¡± Edwin shook his head and spoke up. ¡°Skills, once learned, belong to you, not your class. The class merely granted them to you at level ten. You¡¯ll keep both skills, and the Druid class will likely grant you two new ones suited to its nature.¡± Sam¡¯s head came up, and Alex could see some of the tension leave his body. ¡°Speaking of classes,¡± Mark interjected, ¡°what¡¯s the deal with his stat points? Sam would be jumping from Uncommon to Epic. That¡¯s huge, right?¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Edwin said as he straightened. It was clear to the trio that the man enjoyed lecturing and teaching. "Common classes grant two stat points per level. Uncommon four, Rare eight, Epic twelve, and Legendary sixteen. Samuel would triple his stat gain per level by choosing to evolve.¡± ¡°Then why would anyone ever advance instead of evolve?¡± Mark asked, confusion written across his features. ¡°Evolutions aren¡¯t always offered,¡± Alex said, remembering something he¡¯d read on the forums. ¡°Or at least not evolutions to a higher rarity. It could be an evolution offered at the same rarity.¡± ¡°Precisely. If evolution to a higher rarity is offered, it¡¯s often the optimal choice,¡± Edwin elaborated. ¡°Advancement increases your gains by fifty percent per tier. With Samuel¡¯s current Uncommon class, advancing to Journeyman would increase his gain from four to six stat points per level. Then it would go from six to eight points if he were to advance again to Adept down the road.¡± He unclasped his hands and held up a finger. ¡°But, by evolving to Epic, he would be getting 12 points per level, instead.¡± Sam¡¯s eyes widened, and the blanket fell from his shoulders. It looked like he was about to fall off the couch with how far forward he was leaning. ¡°Well, feels a bit obvious what I should pick then, huh?¡± Sam asked. The other three men agreed. "And, like Alex said, the System knows what you want to be. A Druid fits perfectly with your healing abilities and your connection to nature. Just look at your garden out there, dude.¡± Sam nodded, and the determination was clear in his eyes. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m going to do it.¡± There was a pause as Alex and Mark sat on the couch, looking at the younger man, and Edwin watched on with a passive interest. Before anything happened with Sam, however, a massive surge of mana rolled through the room. Alex was on his feet in a moment, scanning the area and worried that they were under some sort of attack. Sam yelped in surprise, his own mana sensitivity allowing him to feel the change in density as the wave passed by them. ¡°What was that?¡± Alex looked up at the ceiling. ¡°Val?¡± he said softly. He reached out through his bond and could feel something changing. ¡°I think he¡¯s finishing the advancement!¡± He looked at Sam. ¡°Can you hold off on accepting the evolution for a minute? I want to make sure he¡¯s alright.¡± ¡°Yeah, the option isn¡¯t going anywhere¡­ right?¡± He posed the last part as a question to Edwin. When the butler shook his head, the group all moved quick up the stairs and to the cat tree in Alex¡¯s office. Alex was the first to rush into the room and was greeted by another wave of mana as it pushed out through the room and caused his left eye to swim with shades of blue and white. He looked up at the top level of the cat tree and saw Valtherion¡¯s coiled-up form glowing a brilliant gold as the motes of light condensed near his body. The others joined him in the room and watched on in fascination as the small wyrm¡¯s body floated into the air and began to change with each pulse of the golden-white light. The piranha-like features of his face elongated into an elegant snout, and his brow became more pronounced. The fins pulled into the body and bunched to an area a few inches below his head. In a particularly large flash, causing Alex to shield his eyes, wings began to unfurl from the same area the fins were pulled from. A final pulse of mana and light pushed out from the companion, and everything returned to normal. Valtherion floated above them in his new form, and Alex did his best to blink rapidly and take in the sight. ¡°Hoooly,¡± Mark said, looking up with his jaw hanging open. Val¡¯s serpentine body retained its beautiful blue coloring, but now it shimmered with an opalescence that reminded him of the white streaks through the blue mana pearl he¡¯d consumed. Dark blue, bat-like wings sprouted from new shoulder joints, disrupting the previously slender form. Small blue and white feathers sprouted around the joints, creating a contrast with the darker color of the wings. ¡°Val?¡± Alex said, waiting for some sort of reaction. The newly evolved creature turned to face them, and Alex¡¯s breath caught. Gone were the somewhat comical fish-face and pug-like eyes. Val now had an almost regal appearance, with a head shaped like a lizard and golden eyes that looked like a lesser version of his own left eye. Even from the distance they were at, Alex could tell that they weren¡¯t the same complex pattern of the Heavenly Eye, but the light golden color was far different from the black they had once been. ¡°Look! Wings!¡± Val¡¯s mental voice was stronger and clearer than Alex had ever heard it. He did a quick loop around the room, his new wings flapping slowly as his form moved gracefully in a circle. With his wings stretched, Alex could tell that his companion had grown in size as well as form. He¡¯s got to be at least five feet long now, and wingtip-to-tip is close to the same. ¡°Am stronger! Much better! Can have Oreos now?¡± Mark burst out into laughter. ¡°Well, some things never change.¡± Alex looked over his shoulder and saw Edwin looking uncomfortable as the large wyrm flew around the room and stretched its new wings. I guess he¡¯s not a wyrm anymore? ¡°He¡¯s beautiful,¡± Sam said. Val preened at the compliment, then swooped down to land on Alex¡¯s shoulder. The attempt was clumsy, and his left wing flapped wildly, smacking Alex in the head several times before he could settle. The position was more awkward than before, with Val settling to stretch out the left wing to hang down in front of Alex. ¡°Alex? Oreos?¡± Alex smiled and reached into his spatial pouch. He held out a small chocolate cookie and looked closely at his companion as he gently stroked his new snout. ¡°Yeah, buddy. You can have one. You definitely earned it.¡± ¡°Okay, so¡­¡± Mark said, reaching out to stroke the creature along its spine while it eagerly ate cookies. ¡°He¡¯s totally a dragon, right? Like- you can¡¯t even pretend he¡¯s not at this point.¡± Alex sighed. ¡°Yeah, there¡¯s no denying it now. That looks like where he¡¯s going.¡± He looked at his companion and shook his head. He pulled up the bonds Status Window, interested to see how things had changed.
Status Name: Valtherion - Level 30 Race: Arcane Amphiptere (Tier 2) HP: 390/390 MP: 1180/590 Traits: (1/6) {Mana Glutton} Physical Stats: Strength: 5 Agility: 12 Constitution: 39 Vitality: 41 Magical Stats: Intellect: 47 Willpower: 44 + 177 Mana: 59 Wisdom: 50 Bond Skills: [Mana Infusion] (Novice - Level 16) Primary Stat Shared - Willpower Active Skills: [Mana Siphon] (Novice - Level 17) [Create Lesser Illusion] (Novice - Level 12) [Mana Burst] (Novice - Level 10) [Mana Bolt] (Novice - Level 1) Passive Skills: [Magical Resistance] (Tier 2)
"What''s an amphiptere?" Alex asked as he read Val''s status window. "I''ve never heard that term before." "Did you say amphitheater?" Mark questioned. "Like those outdoor concert places?" Edwin cleared his throat. "An amphiptere, if I recall correctly, appears in European heraldry as a serpentine dragon with wings but no legs. The general description matches Valtherion''s new form quite precisely." He studied Val with renewed interest. "They were often depicted as guardians of sacred places." Val preened at Edwin''s words and somehow managed to look even more smug as he balanced on Alex''s shoulder and looked down at the humans. "He looks awesome," Sam said, still staring in wonder at Val''s shimmering scales. Alex turned to Sam, only able to turn his whole upper body, careful not to disturb Val''s perch. "Sorry that I interrupted your moment, bud. Ready to do your evolution now?" Sam hesitated. "Actually... I was thinking maybe I could wait until tomorrow. See if my parents could come over for it?" "Dude, that''s perfect!" Mark''s face lit up. "We can make it a whole thing. Like, celebrate both your class evolution and Val looking cool instead of goofy!" Val''s head snapped around, and it was actually possible to see his brow crease in his new form. ¡°Not goofy before!¡± Mark was already heading for the door. "I''m gonna talk to Gabby about food. This calls for a proper celebration!" Alex watched Mark bound down the stairs before turning back to Sam. "You sure you''re okay waiting? I¡¯m sure it can''t be easy to hold off on something this big, and you worked hard for it." Sam nodded and gave a small smile. "Yeah, I''m sure. My parents... they worry, you know? I think it''d mean a lot to them to be here and be a part of this." Alex felt a surge of pride at Sam''s maturity. If their positions were reversed, he wasn''t sure he''d have the patience to wait. His thoughts were interrupted by his phone buzzing in his pocket. Pulling it out, he checked the notifications that were lighting up the screen. Mom: Your father said he saw you on the television. Please call us, we would like to have a family dinner. The warm atmosphere in the room suddenly cooled as Alex hesitated. His finger hovered over the screen. Finally, the urge to dismiss the message and pocket his phone won out. The TV appearance his parents had seen was probably from the recent Rift closures. Since the Guild had worked with local media stations, he should have anticipated something like this. Of course, they¡¯d want to chat if they¡¯re seeing me and my friends from college suddenly praised as heroes. He felt his brows come together as the sour thoughts surfaced in his mind. Luckily, they were brought to a dead halt as a small head bumped into his own. ¡°Want mana,¡± Val said aloud, breaking the moment. Alex laughed, reaching for his spatial storage. "You''re going to get fat." ¡°Am perfect size,¡± Val insisted as he opened his mouth for the Mana Stone that Alex held up. ¡°Perfect everything now.¡± "And so humble, too," Alex muttered, but he was smiling as they all headed downstairs to help Mark plan a small celebration for the next day. 89. Evolution The dining room was more elegant and formal compared to the rest of the house, though Alex was excited to have an occasion to use the room. The large oak table was set with dishes that Edwin had arranged and Gabby was preparing to fill. Soon, they would be seated, and Alex could smell the appetizing mix of garlic and onion wafting in from the kitchen. Above, the modern light fixture cast a warm glow over the room, which did a lot to change the room from feeling quite as stuffy or sterile as it might with bright white lights. Instead, the warm light worked well with the dark woods and large front windows of the house. As Alex looked over the scene, a feeling of nervous excitement washed over him. This gathering marked the first time that they were using the dining room space for any sort of actual event or large evening meal. Although this was beginning to feel more and more like home, Alex, Mark, and Sam usually took their meals in a more relaxed setting at the counter in the living room or on the couches. When studying, Alex even took back-to-back meals in his study on the second floor. The more formal dining room reminded him of how much he still had to embrace in his new life, especially with a professional chef in the other room cooking their meal. Despite the drastically different setting, the idea of everyone sitting around the table took Alex back to his typical family dinners at his mom¡¯s house. It won¡¯t be anything like that. Alex shook off the thoughts when the quiet of the room was broken by the sound of the front door opening. Mark bounded in first, a broad grin plastered across his face as he scanned the room. ¡°Woah, look at this setup. Fancy!¡± He stepped into the dining room, taking in the table setting. ¡°Man, whatever Gabby is making smells fantastic,¡± he added. ¡°Right?¡± Alex replied. ¡°She got excited when you said it was to celebrate Sam. I think she said she was going to use some herbs he¡¯s been helping her with.¡± ¡°Nice,¡± Mark said with a genuine smile as he waved to Edwin, who moved into the room. ¡°Good evening, Mr. Thompson. I trust your workout was satisfactory,¡± he said. ¡°It was great, thanks! Where is Sarah?¡± ¡°She has yet to arrive, though I believe someone is on their way up the driveway now.¡± Alex shared a look with Mark before he shrugged. ¡°That trait is almost scary. It gives him all kinds of intuitive feelings if he¡¯s doing something ¡®in service to the house.¡¯¡± Edwin nodded before moving to the front door and bringing in Sam and his parents. ¡°Woah,¡± Sam said as he walked in and handed Edwin his jacket. He had to lean forward to stay where he was in the foyer and look to the left, into the dining room. ¡°You guys really didn¡¯t have to do all of this.¡± Edwin accepted Sam¡¯s parents¡¯ jackets as well before guiding them the small distance to the dining room. They both said nervous ¡®Hello¡¯s as they entered the room and took everything in. ¡°Hi, good to see you guys again,¡± Alex said as he stepped forward to shake Mr. Grant¡¯s hand. ¡°Glad you guys could make it.¡± Mrs. Grant clasped her hands together in front of her waist and glanced at the table setting. ¡°This is lovely. I hope we don¡¯t stick out too much in this beautiful home. ¡° Mark waved his hand dismissively, eager to put them at ease. ¡°Not at all! You should have seen Alex¡¯s apartment just a few months ago.¡± Alex laughed. ¡°This is still a big adjustment for me. Trust me, you¡¯re not out of place- at least not compared to the rest of us. Make yourself comfortable. I think Sarah and Olivia should be here soon, and then we can get started with some food, or Sam can advance whenever he wants.¡± Mark stood and walked through the foyer to the living room to turn on the TV and some background noise before the group all sat down and got some of the initial awkward conversation out of the way. They talked about the weather and the trip from the Safe Zone to the mansion, pleased that there were no issues at the checkpoint. Just as the conversation was slowing to something more comfortable, Olivia strolled through the front door, guided by Edwin. ¡°Hope I didn¡¯t keep you waiting!¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± Alex replied, returning her grin. ¡°You actually beat Sarah, which is surprising. I thought she was supposed to have the day off.¡± He got up to give her a hug, and she took the seat next to his as the conversation started fresh with Olivia. ¡°Well, right now, I bounce between acting as something of a bodyguard for Elana, who is one of the people in charge of the Guild, and just taking contracts,¡± Olivia said with a smile as she pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. ¡°What are contracts?¡± Mr. Grant asked. ¡°They¡¯re just specific tasks that any of our leadership can put up for grabs. Most of the time, it¡¯s a specific objective, like going into a Rift and just grabbing some materials. Sometimes it¡¯s just to protect someone new in the Guild and allow them to gain a few levels, though those only really pop up when the Guild gets someone new that they think is going to be important.¡± ¡°Like our Sammy?¡± Ms. Grant said with a smile, causing Sam to groan and put his head in his hands. ¡°Well, similar. But honestly, ma¡¯am, Sam is higher level than all of us. But, yes, his role as a healer makes him really valuable. Though, lately, I¡¯ve been taking boring contracts to go and help watch over the new Guild Headquarters that they¡¯re building.¡± They continued small talk and it wasn¡¯t long before Sarah also joined them and she apologized for being late. ¡°I had a last minute meeting with Director Matthews and it ran a bit longer than it was supposed to.¡± ¡°Everything okay?¡± Mark asked. ¡°Yeah, it was a big meeting but honestly I¡¯m not sure why I was there. I think the Director just likes to hear what I saw in some peoples¡¯ auras after the meetings are over.¡± She waved. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it later, I don¡¯t want to talk about work. We¡¯re here to celebrate Sam and Val!¡± She smiled and gave Sam a hug and greeted his parents before taking her own seat. ¡°Wow, this is¡­ all really nice,¡± Mrs. Grant said softly. She rolled her shoulders as she leaned back in the comfortable chair and rested her forearm on the chair, reaching for her husband¡¯s hand. ¡°Wait until you taste Gabby¡¯s cooking,¡± Mark said with a cheeky grin. ¡°You say that like you¡¯re proud and help her do anything in the kitchen!¡± Sam jabbed back. Mark laughed, but Alex saw how Mr. Grant¡¯s eyebrows rose in surprise at his son¡¯s response. ¡°Hey,¡± Olivia said, pulling his attention away from the conversation. ¡°Where is Val? I¡¯m surprised he¡¯s not still strutting around with his wings like he¡¯s a peacock.¡± Alex rolled his eyes before pointing to the window behind him. Olivia turned her head and frowned. After a moment of looking out the window and then at the curtains, she laughed. ¡°What are you doing, Val?¡± The curtains moved, and in his normal vision, Alex saw the distortion he¡¯d begun to recognize as an illusion skill breaking. In his left eye, he¡¯d seen his companion since he¡¯d entered the room, as the patch of mana made it quite obvious that he was camouflaged on the red curtains. ¡°He got frustrated because with his wings, his [Create Lesser Illusion] skill is now not strong enough to change his entire body to look like something or to hide it. So, he¡¯s been practicing all morning on different places to hide and use the skill to try and get it to level up. It¡¯s only a bit from advancement.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Olivia said, eyeing the wyrm as it flew around the room. Ugh, can I even think of him as a wyrm now? He¡¯s an amphiptere¡­ but there¡¯s no way my brain is going to swap to thinking that. Do I just start thinking of him as a baby dragon? He watched as his companion made a lap around the room, and Sam¡¯s parents gasped. The teenager hopped up and excitedly began telling his parents about the advancement process and how much Valtherion had changed. The small gathering settled into the comfortable atmosphere, and Alex watched on with a growing sense of contentment. Seeing his long-time friends, girlfriend, and the Grant family all together and getting along so well together gave him a sense of family dinner that he¡¯d never had before. His thoughts were interrupted as Sam announced, ¡°Alright, I¡¯m going to do it! I can¡¯t wait anymore.¡± He smiled sheepishly as most of the eyes turned to him. ¡°It¡¯s about time!¡± Mark called. The room fell quiet as they saw Sam concentrate on the air in-front of him, navigating the personal System windows. Unconsciously, everyone leaned in, excited to see the evolution. A minute passed, yet nothing changed in Sam. He sat quietly, his expression focused and his eyes moving back and forth. ¡°Uh, is something supposed to happen?¡¯ Mark asked, breaking the silence. A few chuckles rose from the group, but Alex could tell that Sam¡¯s mom looked on edge. ¡°Just give him a minute,¡± Alex said to the table. Finally, Sam broke into an excited grin. ¡°It looks awesome! I love the class!¡± He could hardly contain his joy as he half stood up from the chair and looked at his parents and Alex. ¡°I¡¯ve officially got an Epic class; I¡¯m a Druid!¡± ¡°Wait, that was it?¡± Olivia asked, slightly confused. After a few heartbeats of silence, the excitement around the room ignited. ¡°Dude, that¡¯s amazing!¡± Mark cheered, jumping up and high-fiving Sam. ¡°Way to go, Sam!¡± Olivia exclaimed, covering her earlier reaction with a loud cheer. Between his green sweatshirt and light complexion, the red that rose onto Sam¡¯s face from everyone¡¯s excitement and attention was all too visible. Alex, sensing the moment''s momentum, turned to Gabby, who had just entered the room. ¡°Could you bring out the food now? And maybe you and Edwin can join us?¡± ¡°Absolutely! It¡¯ll be ready soon!¡± Gabby called back with a wave as she headed back into the kitchen. Edwin followed, offering a nod of acknowledgment as he held the door open for her. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. As everyone began enjoying Gabby''s meal, the atmosphere grew warm and festive. Conversation flowed easily as people discussed the delicious food, their laughter lightening the mood further. Mark and Gabby''s natural enthusiasm and outgoing personalities drew everyone into animated discussions and storytelling. As they grew to the end of food, Sam was pulled into a semiprivate conversation with his parents at their end of the table regarding his class and future plans. Alex, Mark, Olivia, and Sarah shifted to more pressing topics while the two members of the house staff listened with interest. Mark asked Sarah what had kept her late at work and as soon as she answered, Alex winced internally, knowing that it would likely lead to some back and forth between the two women. ¡°The meeting I was in earlier was actually a virtual meeting with several other national leaders. The UN is spearheading a global initiative to share information on the Rifts,¡± Sarah answered. ¡°The US plans to support it with a forum board connected to a database with curated information. All of the information that they have about awakening and safety measures will be put there and shared with everyone, including other countries who might need it.¡± Alex nodded and felt a bit of guilt rise in his chest as he realized that he¡¯d been ignoring most of the news and international state of affairs. But if the US was struggling to keep up with Rift breaks and was moving to such things as Safe Zones, he couldn¡¯t imagine how some of the poorer, less organized countries were handling things. ¡°Isn¡¯t that just another way for them to control everything?¡± Olivia replied skeptically. ¡°Sounds like they¡¯re trying to duplicate what the Guild is already doing with the AG app.¡± ¡°At least they are sharing the information. The Guild keeps it all behind a membership paywall. That kind of information could save lives and shouldn¡¯t be kept from the public.¡± Sarah shot back quickly. A tense silence descended on the group as Olivia bristled at Sarah¡¯s words. Both of their expressions became stiff, and Alex saw his girlfriend¡¯s face begin to darken. He knew that those kinds of implications hit close to home for her. Alex sighed as Olivia set down her silverware and pushed her chair back. The clatter caused the conversation around the room to stop and the mood was broken. ¡°I¡¯m just going to help start clearing the table or something,¡± she said, while grabbing her plate and moving toward the kitchen. Alex started to stand to follow her, but Gabby excused herself politely and waved Alex down. ¡°Please sit, boss. I¡¯ll start cleaning as well and chat with Ms. Santoro in the kitchen. You stay.¡± Gabby said as she followed Olivia into the kitchen. As the door swung shut behind her, Mrs. Grant turned to Sarah, her expression softening as she changed to topic. ¡°Sam mentioned that you like to play music?¡± Sarah nodded. ¡°I do. I grew up playing the violin and have recently started to pick up the flute, since it was a gift from Alex at Christmas.¡± ¡°Would you play something for us?¡± ¡°I¡¯m still figuring things out,¡± Sarah said hesitantly, ¡°but I can use the music to influence auras in subtle ways with this special flute. Maybe I could try to play something a bit upbeat?¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Alex said encouragingly. ¡°You¡¯ve sounded great the last few times I¡¯ve heard you.¡± ¡°Yeah, you really picked it up fast,¡± Mark said. Mrs. Grant clapped excitedly, and Alex couldn¡¯t help but to use his Heavenly Eye to scan the flute as Sarah pulled it from her purse. She must have the spatial bag tucked into the purse. That¡¯s pretty smart. Maybe I should start carrying around a normal backpack or something. He activated [Parallel Mind] to allow one half of his mind to focus on the best ways to carry his spatial pouch around and have it look normal, while the other used his eye to look at the flute and stay present in the conversation.
E Rank Item - Lumina Flute Rarity: Uncommon Type: Instrument Enchantment: Aura Harmony I
He loved how the dark gray wood looked, though he knew it differed from the dead trees that he¡¯d seen on the dark side of the Rift. Where they had not allowed any mana to flow, this wood seemed very conductive to certain types of mana, especially as Sarah began to play. She took a breath and began to play, filling the room with a gentle, uplifting melody. Edwin got up to turn the TV down that had been on in the background, allowing everyone to enjoy the melody Sarah was playing. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s so nice!¡± Mark said as he swayed slightly to the rhythm. ¡°We could totally get you to play for money or something. I feel like I just drank a cup of coffee and happiness.¡± The lighthearted jest broke through the tension, and Mrs. Grant listened attentively. Everyone sat a bit straighter and felt more awake than the previous food coma they¡¯d been slipping into. ¡°You really have a gift,¡± she murmured after Sarah finished. As the music faded, conversation resumed with an air of nostalgia. Mrs. Grant shared stories of her own musical past, and before they knew it, Sarah and Sam¡¯s mom were deep in conversation about the complexity of melodies and different kinds of music. Soon after, Sam¡¯s parents decided to excuse themselves for the night, thanking everyone once again for their hospitality and pride in their son, telling him to come see them after the weekend was over. After they left, Alex, Mark, and Sam began talking about how they planned to tackle their next Rift for the Teams Event. With Olivia and Sarah both working the next two days, they had decided to contribute as a three-man team for a quick Rift over the weekend. ¡°I wanted to ask you about your class,¡± Alex said, taking the opportunity once the Grants had left. ¡°You mentioned the Druid class? Do you want to tell Mark and me the skills it gave you?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Sam said excitedly. ¡°I wanted to show you guys earlier, but didn¡¯t want to get too into it with my parents. Here, let me share the status windows.¡±
Druid: Epic The Druid is a nature-bound magic user who draws power from the natural world. They excel in supporting allies with healing and regeneration while also controlling the battlefield with plants, weather, and animals. Druids adapt to their surroundings, using their connection to nature to protect, heal, and destroy. Balance is a core principle of both nature and the Druid. Primary Class Stat: Wisdom Secondary Class Stat: Vitality Tertiary Class Stats: Constitution
[Flourish] (Novice - Level 1) Allows the Awakened One to channel mana into plants over time to heal damaged flora, accelerate growth, and enhance natural properties. Effects are gradual and require sustained care.
¡°Woah!¡± Mark said, rocking back in his chair. ¡°That¡¯s awesome, dude.¡± He held out his fist to bump it with Sam as Alex kept reading. ¡°This is great, Sam. Did it not give you a passive skill, though?¡± Alex asked. The grin that spread across Sam¡¯s face let him know that there was a second skill granted by the class. ¡°Oh yes, I just wanted to save it for last. It seems so cool.¡± There was a pause before a new, enormous window appeared in the air between them.
[Spiritual Communion] (Tier I) - Choose a spirit of nature to commune with, gaining passive bonuses based on your choice, and a token totem to nurture the bond.
Option 1: Bear Spirit The Bear represents raw power and resilience. They weather storms and stand firm against adversity. Over time, the Druid may discover that this spirit encourages them to become more steadfast, enduring, and ready to take on even the toughest challenges.
Option 2: Raven Spirit The raven is a symbol of sharp wit and knowledge. With the Raven¡¯s spirit, the Druid becomes more attuned to their surroundings and uses their mind to work their way through problems. They may learn that the Raven aids in clarity of thought and the ability to act quickly and decisively.
Option 3: Turtle Spirit The Turtle embodies a steady presence in the face of adversity. There is a quiet wisdom in waiting and a quiet strength in not rushing. Over time, the Druid may come to realize that this spirit helps them remain composed and resilient in both body and mind.
Option 4: Wolf Spirit The Wolf is a creature of the pack. Their main focus is on survival through unity and family. While the Druid may not always fight alongside others of the pack, the spirit of the Wolf shows them that the hunter¡¯s greatest strength and resilience come from their group.
Option 5: Stag Spirit The Stag is the embodiment of swiftness, grace, and beauty. Over time, the Druid will discover that the spirit of the Stag helps them find fluidity in both body and magic, allowing them to act quickly, especially when they¡¯re in motion.
Mark whistled, and Alex¡¯s eyebrows came together. ¡°That¡¯s more complex than I¡¯ve seen a skill description so far.¡± Alex dismissed his [Parallel Mind] skill to put his attention on Sam. ¡°But, based on the class description, it seems like the whole flavor of the class is based on this. Hell, even seeing the option descriptions, I¡¯m guessing this is where the versatility comes from. ¡° The teenager nodded and agreed. ¡°They all seem like they could be strong, so I want to take my time and think through my options.¡± ¡°Man, there are so many possibilities!¡± Mark said excitedly. ¡°Oh- there are so many theory crafting options. Hold on, let me grab my laptop!¡± He jumped up from the chair, almost knocking it over in his haste as he jogged out of the dining room and to his bedroom. Alex and Sam both laughed as he left, and Alex read the skill again. ¡°Uhm, Alex¡­¡± Sam said tentatively. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°There was something else I wanted to talk to you about yesterday, too. It just got a bit hectic after Val changed.¡± Alex refocused on the young man as he realized he was concerned about something. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Well, while I was at the hospital on Wednesday¡­ someone came and offered me a job.¡± Alex tried to keep his brows from coming together in confusion. ¡°Okay? Was it not obvious that you were already working at the hospital because of your age or something?¡± ¡°No, they knew I was there healing. They offered me¡­ well, a lot of money. They want me to go and be a private healer for them and their family.¡± It took a few moments for Alex¡¯s brain to catch up; he was so caught off guard. ¡°Well, what did you say?¡± ¡°I- I just told them I wasn¡¯t that interested,¡± Sam said, trying to read Alex¡¯s face. ¡°Well, that¡¯s good. Did they seem weird? Why did you turn it down?¡± ¡°Not weird, really. They seemed nice enough at first, but they kept pushing. The offer was¡­ a lot of money, and I was thinking about helping them out just because he seemed a bit desperate,¡± Sam admitted. He looked off to the side. ¡°But¡­¡± Alex prompted. ¡°They wanted me to work for them, like, right away and only for them. Even after I said no, they kept insisting. The hospital staff had to intervene and removed the guy when he wouldn¡¯t take no for an answer,¡± Sam explained as his voice lowered a notch. Alex felt his chest tighten, and he knew that must have been hard for Sam. Especially with none of us there to back him but, I¡¯m sure he felt like someone was trying to pressure him again like in Tianluo. I¡¯m glad he¡¯s stronger now, and it turned out differently this time. ¡°That sounds like a bit much. I¡¯m glad the staff helped out. It¡¯s great they want you, but that¡¯s a lot of pressure.¡± He paused as he thought through the situation. ¡°It all comes down to what you want; the choice is really yours, bud.¡± ¡°Yeah, I mean I appreciate the attention, but¡­ I want to figure out where I fit in all of this,¡± Sam said while fidgeting with the edge of the table. ¡°You guys mean a lot to me, and I don¡¯t want to leave. Especially not just for some money.¡± Some of that tension left Alex¡¯s chest, replaced with a sense of protectiveness for the smaller teenager. ¡°All of that is understandable. You¡¯ve grown a lot as a person in the last few years, Sam. You¡¯ve been through a lot and come out the other side. Now, you¡¯re one of the strongest people in the world,¡± Alex said encouragingly and nudged the blonde boy¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You have some crazy potential, especially with healing. It makes sense that people would want to tap into that. But you shouldn¡¯t feel you have to choose one path just because it seems appealing right away or someone¡¯s pressuring you.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Sam nodded and took a breath. ¡°I just want to make sure I¡¯m making the right choice, you know? If I learned anything from Old Man Jing¡­ It¡¯s that money has power. I could protect and help my family with that. And I could help with what you¡¯re doing here. You know?¡± Alex nodded, impressed at Sam¡¯s sense of logic and how well he was handling the situation with his time in the Rift. It was a mature side to the teenager that he had seen little of. First, he was skittish and healing, scarred from his time of abuse. Then he rebounded quickly, and Alex found Sam was often trying to emulate Mark¡¯s energy and attitude. Now, there was a serious young man sitting in front of him, talking about helping and healing others and turning down personal recruitment offers while thinking of his future and what he wanted. The smile that slowly spread across Alex¡¯s face couldn¡¯t be contained. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Nothing, I¡¯m just proud of you, dude.¡± Sam looked away and turned an entirely different color as he shifted backward in his chair and adjusted his green hoodie. ¡°Thanks. That means a lot¡­ I just- it¡¯s like you said¡­ I want to stay with you guys. You¡¯re part of my family now.¡± Before they could keep going with the serious conversation, Mark burst back into the room. ¡°Got my laptop! Time to figure out all the Druid things!¡± Their chat faded into the background as Sam¡¯s earlier worries hung in Alex¡¯s thoughts. He felt a sense of relief and optimism as they shifted back into discussing the next Rift. He knew Sam was on the edge of something big, both in his path to power, as Eura referred to it, and his life choices. Supporting him through the transition was one thing Alex was determined to do. 90. Walk Under the Stars The last rays of sunlight had recently faded, leaving Alex¡¯s estate bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun. Rather than light spilling in through the windows, it spilled out from the dining-room window and into the early night. Alex could see how the light beams spread across the front lawn from his seat. Alex rose from his seat and told Sam and Mark he was going to find Olivia. His muscles were pleasantly tired from the workout he had done earlier in the day, and with a full stomach, he felt content. The evening had gone well, and everyone was impressed with Sam''s gains. There was only the smallest feeling of jealousy, seeing his young friend continue to progress while he couldn''t seem to shake Rylan''s words from the week before. He made his way into the kitchen, where he found Olivia helping Gabby organize leftovers into containers. ¡°Hey,¡± Alex said, leaning against the counter. ¡°Want to take a walk? It¡¯s chilly out, but actually feels pretty nice.¡± Olivia looked up, and a smile played across her face. ¡°Trying to escape cleanup duty?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t listen to her boss. This is my job. I keep trying to shoo her out, but she won¡¯t have any of it.¡± Olivia shrugged, and Alex smiled. ¡°Some fresh air will be nice; I¡¯ve been cooped up inside most of the day. Come with me?¡± ¡°Go on.¡± Gabby waved them away with her wooden spoon. ¡°Edwin and I have got this covered. I mean it.¡± They stepped onto the front porch, where the chilly evening air enveloped them. Olivia shivered and gave him a skeptical look. ¡°This feels nice to you?¡± She walked back into the house and grabbed a jacket. As he leaned against the railing, a vibration in his pocket caught his attention. Reaching for his phone, he found a text from his dad on the screen. Dad: Your brother said he needs to talk to you. Call him. Alex frowned before scoffing. If Jake wanted to talk, he should be texting or calling me himself, not using Dad as a go-between. He dismissed the message without a thought and tucked his phone back into his pocket as Olivia rejoined him. ¡°Aren¡¯t you from even further north? I thought this would feel like spring to you or something.¡± Alex teased, letting the irritation of his family dynamics roll off of him. ¡°No, being used to colder weather just means that I know how to prepare for it better.¡± Alex chuckled, and they looked around the porch and front yard. The wrap-around porch had stone steps leading down to the roundabout drive. As they descended the steps to walk around the house, Olivia spoke up. ¡°This was really nice,¡± she said as she bumped her shoulder into Alex and grabbed his arm. ¡°Must be much better than those stuffy family dinners you told me about.¡± He let out a snort and debated telling her about the text he¡¯d just gotten. Instead, he just gave a short answer to move the conversation along. ¡°Yeah, no passive-aggressive comments about career choices or being compared to the favorite child.¡± They circled around the grassy side of the house and picked one of the several paths that led further to the back of the property. The grounds were immaculate and well-kept. Crickets had begun to chirp in the woods nearby as they wandered along the pebbled path. ¡°I still can¡¯t believe how well Sam did today and how well that class fits what he wanted,¡± Olivia said. ¡°Did you see his face when he finished reading the evolution?¡± ¡°Like a kid on Christmas,¡± Alex agreed. ¡°Actually, he looked more excited there than he did on actual Christmas morning,¡± he chuckled as he remembered Christmas wasn¡¯t all that long ago. ¡°The team¡¯s really coming together. We just need Mark and Sarah to gain the levels at this point. You¡¯ve made incredible progress, too.¡± ¡°We all have,¡± Olivia replied, and she stepped closer to him and let her arm slide around his. They walked like that for a moment, arms linked at the elbow and moving through the curated grounds. The carefully maintained hedges and trees led them further from the light and toward the woods. Neither seemed to have a destination in mind, content to let their feet carry them where they would. ¡°Speaking of progress,¡± Olivia said, as they walked, ¡±you wouldn¡¯t believe what happened at Elana¡¯s the other day. A group of new recruits came and asked me to show them some combat techniques.¡± ¡°Why would that be surprising?¡± He raised an eyebrow and looked down at her, though as they moved closer to the woods, he saw more in the shapes of grey and mana from his eye. ¡°You¡¯re a Peacekeeper and really strong; to them, you probably seem like a total badass. That must have felt good, though.¡± ¡°It did,¡± she admitted. ¡°Apparently, word got around about my help in one of the recent Peacekeeper contracts for Elana. You know, the one where I had to step in for Pete after he got hurt?¡± ¡°Yeah, I remember you mentioning that.¡± ¡°Yeah. Though I think they were more impressed that I did it alone, but when I tried to tell them about the difference in levels, they didn¡¯t really seem to hear me.¡± She paused for a moment. ¡°The Guild¡¯s been pushing us hard lately. More Rift access for us, but more training and missions too. Sometimes I feel bad that I¡¯m not here as much.¡± Alex shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t. The priority access alone makes it worth it. If I¡¯d known Peacekeepers got privileges, I might not have turned down Elana¡¯s offer.¡± He said the last bit jokingly, and Olivia used her already tucked elbow to nudge him. ¡°It¡¯s not all perks, alright,¡± Olivia said in an exaggerated manner. ¡°There¡¯s a reason they¡¯re pushing us so hard. Have you noticed the checkpoints getting stricter?¡± They reached the edge of the woods, where the path split into different directions. Alex chose the only one that he¡¯d explored before, knowing that it would lead to a small clearing in the woods. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s getting harder to ignore,¡± he said. ¡°The Team House feels like an oasis sometimes, but¡­¡± He trailed off. ¡°But it also feels like we¡¯re cut off?¡± Olivia finished for him. ¡°Exactly. And we haven¡¯t even done anything wrong. It¡¯s just¡­¡± He gestured vaguely with his free hand. ¡°The Moderators are working on it,¡± Olivia said. ¡°They¡¯re trying to find a balance. Did you know the police departments are making another push for Awakened recruits? The Guild¡¯s trying to stay ahead of getting completely cut out of the Safe Zones, but it¡¯s getting more and more restrictive.¡± ¡°I remember that being part of the President¡¯s speech before Christmas.¡± ¡°Well, it seems like the push has become one of their primary focuses. I guess when crime in the Safe Zone starts to go from petty theft to super-powered robbery, they need some people who can handle that kind of threat.¡± Alex nodded and rocked his head from side to side. ¡°It¡¯s hard to be mad at them sometimes. It seems like such a big step, but considering that is what they have to deal with¡­ How is it working out with what the Moderators are trying to do?¡± ¡°It¡¯s complicated. The Guild wants to maintain good relationships with law enforcement, but they also want to protect Awakened rights and not get pulled into their umbrella themselves. Some Moderators are working on ways to get around the checkpoints, but they¡¯re trying to keep everything above board.¡± ¡°How would they even do that?¡± Olivia shrugged, ¡°The most reasonable answer would be to hire unawakened or get people who are Awakened but don¡¯t plan to participate in combat to register with the Hunters Association and the Safe Zones as sort of liaisons. Then they would be the ones to go into the city as needed.¡± This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Alex grunted, noting that would still make them feel like outsiders. They reached the clearing that Alex had remembered, and he stopped walking. The stars were clearer there, away from the house lights. A fallen log sat at the edge of the space, but otherwise, the clearing was mostly clear, if a bit overgrown. ¡°Can we talk about something else?¡± Alex asked suddenly. ¡°All of this political stuff¡­ I¡¯d rather talk about us or something else.¡± Olivia smiled and squeezed his arm as she, too, looked around the clearing. ¡°Us, huh?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, thankful for the cover of darkness. He led her toward the log and reached into his pouch to remove one of the sturdy outdoor blankets that he¡¯d gotten and kept rolled up. He undid the plastic buckle that held it together and unfurled it to its maximum size on the ground. ¡°Hey, I didn¡¯t even think to ask,¡± Olivia said as she watched him move. ¡°It¡¯s pretty dark back here. How can you see? I have my shadow affinity and a passive that makes seeing in the dark a lot easier. Does your eye let you see in the dark?¡± ¡°Not exactly. But I can see the mana around us, and there is something of a pattern to it.¡± ¡°What does it look like?¡± She held up her hand between them when he turned back to her. ¡°It doesn¡¯t shine like a light, but at the same time, the different colors do look like they are lit up. So the blue of my mana will look bright but won¡¯t cast a light on anything around it. So my right eye is a bit useless right now.¡± ¡°Does that make it hard to see?¡± "A bit. It can make seeing the terrain a bit hard, but I got used to that in the caves before. And it''s a lot easier now that I have [Mana Thread]. I can let one go across the ground right in front of me and see as it moves across the ground if there is something that might trip me." He looked around himself. ¡°My hope is to use a lot of threads eventually, like the Mana Spinners did. I¡¯m only one level from advancing the skill. Wait-¡± he held out his hand. ¡°Take your jacket off.¡± ¡°Why? It¡¯s freezing out here.¡± ¡°Humor me,¡± he said with a grin. She grumbled something Alex couldn¡¯t quite hear, but she took her jacket off and crossed her arms in front of her. Alex smiled and reached out with a mana thread to twist the blue strand into a circle on the ground around them. He started with a larger ritual than he¡¯d made in some time, letting it cover ten meters. The structure was a larger and weaker version of the heating ritual that he¡¯d learned, with the base shape made up of a hexagon to distribute the heat evenly around the entire ritual circle. He dropped a small pouch of prepared materials into the central node and pulsed his mana through it to activate the ritual. Olivia gasped as the air began to warm up. He wasn¡¯t finished, though, and allowed a second thread to snake from his fingers and form another larger and weaker version of his most used ritual lately. The wind ritual that he¡¯d been using to empower the mana bolts from his wand was now turned into a large and silent fan that helped to slowly churn the evening air. With a circular center and three triangles around the outside pointing clockwise, making the central structure more complicated than most of the basic rituals he used, he almost impressed himself. The modified ritual would take the gentle, cool evening breeze and cause it to circulate around them before continuing out the other side or up into the night. The thought had been to keep the air moving around them rather than allowing the warm air to feel stagnant. The result was exactly what he¡¯d hoped, and he breathed a sigh of relief as a nagging part of his mind worried that he¡¯d make it too strong and cause the wind to turn into something of a tunnel around them. ¡°Show off. Do you know how amazing that eye looks in the dark, by the way?¡± She asked as Alex took off his coat and they settled on the blanket. ¡°The gold really stands out, almost like it¡¯s glowing.¡± Alex touched the skin near his left eye self-consciously. ¡°Really? I¡¯ve only really looked at it a few times. I feel like that¡¯s not a good thing if our life is about to be filled with combat. A glowing eye seems like a liability.¡± She snorted. ¡°I feel like its benefits far outweigh the negatives.¡± ¡°True.¡± Alex leaned his back against the log. ¡°Really,¡± she said as she leaned her head against his shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful.¡± There was a quiet pause before she added, ¡°In a totally intimidating and manly way, of course.¡± He snorted and added his final touch to the impromptu romantic setting. ¡°I¡¯m going to make some lights,¡± she sat up and looked around just before he activated [Mirage]. Small motes of soft golden light bloomed around them. He kept them simple in favor of creating a dozen of the small globes, pulling inspiration from recently seeing Sam and Valtherion¡¯s advancements. Olivia reached out and idly touched one, though her finger passed through it with only a slight distortion of the illusion. She looked down at the shadow her hand cast across the blanket, and she sighed happily. Alex watched her for a moment, allowing his thoughts to wander, before speaking. ¡°Can I tell you something?¡± When she nodded, he continued. ¡°Seeing Sam evolve his class today¡­ I¡¯m happy for him, really happy. But it also reminded me that I have made no actual progress lately. Not in terms of levels, anyway.¡± ¡°Alex-¡± ¡°No, one second. I¡¯ve been thinking about it a lot, especially after what Rylan said. But I¡¯ve also been thinking about other things I want to do. It can¡¯t always be about growing stronger, and I think that I need to be okay with letting Mark and Sarah catch up; it¡¯s¡­ just harder than I thought.¡± Olivia¡¯s eyebrows came together. ¡°Rylan? What did Rylan say?¡± Alex realized he hadn¡¯t actually told her about the odd interaction the week before. ¡°Uhm¡­¡± he puffed up his cheeks and blew out some air. ¡°I don¡¯t really want to talk about it, but he just showed some of his true colors. I know everyone thinks he¡¯s turned some sort of new leaf lately, but I think it¡¯s just a mask. The moment we were alone, he got all hostile and insulting. I can¡¯t tell if he¡¯s trying to be some sort of super villain or he¡¯s just a competitive asshole.¡± ¡°Really, that serious?¡± Alex shrugged. ¡°I mean, I don¡¯t think I¡¯m blowing it out of proportion. He was with some dignitaries or something and was actually sort of nice. I thanked him and tried to say something, and he just snapped back once we were alone. Saying all this stuff about me plateauing and about him crushing us in the Teams Event.¡± She let out a small laugh. ¡°Does he not realize that we¡¯re not trying to win or anything?¡± He joined her in the laugh. ¡°Well, no. I guess he just assumed we¡¯d be trying to win, but I don¡¯t think he realizes that Mark and Sarah are so low leveled. The goal has always been to really just focus on them.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ll keep an eye on him. From what I¡¯ve seen, he really is trying to play nice with everyone in the Guild. If it¡¯s a mask¡­ it¡¯s a good one.¡± He grunted in response. ¡°What are some of these ideas you have, though?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ well, there are a lot. There is one that is pretty big and would push me forward in power massively if I could figure it out.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Well, just before Sam and I left Tianluo, I used my class skill and got some insight into how to improve a ritual. Eura talked me through it, and he was explaining that part of the rituals, how I was taught in the basic manual, was wrong or maybe just explained as a shortcut? Anyway, if I can figure out how to use catalysts properly or what I can use in those nodes that doesn¡¯t require me to use materials for every ritual, it could go a long way. Especially in variability.¡± ¡°Sounds really promising. What¡¯s stopping you?¡± ¡°Well, I think I need to learn something to go in those slots. I¡¯ve been meaning to look more into normal spell casting, but I don¡¯t think that will work. I thought it might be runes, but those also seem pretty complex. I¡¯m not sure that they could just stand by themselves in the nodes. Runes might work, but to make them work, I need to dive deeper into more complex ritual structures. And then, before I start actually trying to mash totally separate magical schools of thought together, I will probably need to create a workshop or something that¡¯s explosion-proof. I was thinking about paying someone from the Guild or trying to figure out how I can do it myself and change the mother-in-law suite out in the backyard into a sort of bomb shelter workshop.¡± There was a long pause, and Alex realized how much he¡¯d been rambling, just letting his thoughts spill from his mind. Suddenly, Olivia burst into laughter. He felt a flash of embarrassment before he also let a smile creep onto his face. She turned to face him fully, looking up at him in the warm light. "You know what I''m hearing? I''m hearing someone who''s planning for the future. Someone is building something to last. That''s growth, too, Alex. Different from Sam''s and Rylan''s, sure, but just as important. You''ll get back to those levels soon, and you''ll be stronger for the work you''re doing now.¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± he said, looking at her face and admiring how pretty she looked. The soft golden light from his illusions caught her dark hair and made her brown eyes look hazel. Even in the dim lighting, he could see the light dusting of freckles across her button nose, something he hadn¡¯t really noticed before. Her cheeks were flushed slightly from the cold air beyond their warm bubble. ¡°Different isn¡¯t bad,¡± Olivia said. She was quiet for some time before continuing. ¡°You know, before the Rifts, I wanted to open a little bookstore cafe. Nothing fancy, just somewhere cozy where people could grab coffee and browse books. I even had a name picked out. ¡®Chapter Break.¡¯¡± She laughed softly. ¡°Sounds silly now, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t,¡± Alex said, his voice quiet. ¡°It sounds perfect, actually. Very you. I always knew you were a nerd.¡± ¡°Hey, you¡¯ve had your nose in a book more than me lately!¡± She turned back to face him, and she smiled up at him. Alex felt his heart speed up as she leaned closer, and when their lips met, it was soft and he felt his head swim. The kiss was short, but left him feeling a rush. When they pulled apart, Olivia¡¯s smile was mischievous. ¡°So,¡± she said, breaking the tension with a playful tone, ¡°about that workshop of yours¡­ Exactly how many explosions are you planning on causing?¡± Alex laughed, both grateful and frustrated for her ability to shift the mood so naturally. ¡°Hopefully none, but better safe than sorry, right?¡± They talked late into the night, their conversation flowing easily between future plans and teasing banter. Alex mentioned plans about hiring someone or learning to make more permanent rituals, which he could use to increase the security around the property, and Olivia insisted she should get to test his security measures once they were in place. Alex had argued that she just wanted to test her shadow abilities, and the counterpoint was that if they could stop her, they could stop most anyone. The golden lights continued to float around them, and the warm air from his ritual kept them comfortable as they sat close together, neither wanting the evening to end. 91. Hesitation Alex stifled a yawn as he shuffled into the massive kitchen. Even with his [Sleep Resistance] passive, he felt tired after staying up late into the night with Olivia. He squinted against the light that streamed in through the glass windows of the courtyard and winced as Gabby greeted him with her normal early morning energy. ¡°Good morning, Boss!¡± She dragged out the first part of the sentence. ¡°Coffee.¡± Gabby paused and looked at him. ¡°You don¡¯t normally drink coffee. You feeling okay?¡± ¡°Just tired. Between my Willpower and one of my skills, I almost never need coffee anymore, but I love the stuff. I just want to have a cup to sip on.¡± ¡°Ahh,¡± she nodded knowingly. ¡°Alright, you just go relax in the living room, and I¡¯ll bring it to you in a minute.¡± ¡°Thanks, Gabby. You¡¯re a saint.¡± Alex waved and moved out of the kitchen. Once he got to the couch, he flopped down and wondered where the others were. Gently, so as to not wake him up, Alex felt through his bond to see if Valtherion was awake. ¡°Alex?¡± He groaned as there wasn¡¯t even the slightest pause between his reaching out and the response. The little beast was already awake and, if the feelings pulsing through their connection were any indication, currently bolting from his office down the stairs to find him. There wasn¡¯t even time to sit up before the companion¡¯s wings could be heard, and he was hovering in front of Alex. ¡°Hey, buddy. Good morning.¡± ¡°Good morning,¡± Valtherion said. It still caught Alex a bit off guard how much Val¡¯s intelligence and maturity seemed to jump with the advancement. Not only were his sentences coming out more clearly, but he seemed to lean more toward vocalizing rather than using their bond to communicate. Heavy footsteps announced Mark¡¯s arrival before he appeared. He was wearing gym shorts and a tank top that showed off his newly enhanced physique. ¡°Morning, dude. Sam up yet?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t seen him,¡± Alex said while stifling a yawn. ¡°But he was pretty excited about his class evolution last night. Did he end up picking one of the passive options yet?¡± As if summoned, they heard socked feet thumping down the stairs in a rapid tempo before Sam slid around the corner. He was still in his pajamas but held something in his hand. ¡°Guys! Look what I got when I chose the Turtle Spirit!¡± He thrust forward a small wooden totem, roughly the size of a pill bottle. The carved turtle was simple and slightly more elongated than Alex might envision a turtle, but knowing what it was, he could clearly spot the little arms, legs, and shell. The shell was the most interesting part of it, and there were some detailed swirling patterns etched into the small wooden figurine. ¡°What is it?¡± Mark asked. ¡°The System called it a token totem, I¡¯m not sure what I¡¯m supposed to do with it. But I do feel some kind of connection to it.¡± ¡°Is it the turtle spirit?¡± ¡°I guess so?¡± All three of them looked down at the totem in Sam¡¯s hand for a moment, unsure if something was going to happen. ¡°What does it do?¡± Mark said in the same tone as before. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Sam said while curling his hand around it. ¡°But I know I need to keep it with me, that¡¯s really all. Maybe I¡¯ll attach it to my staff or something? Maybe put it on a necklace? The description didn¡¯t change much from the original, so I guess I¡¯ll have to try and test what the passive does.¡± Sam shared his System window with them.
Passive Skills: [Herbal Knowledge] (Tier I) [Roots of Restoration] (Tier I) [Spiritual Communion - Turtle Spirit] (Tier I)
[Spiritual Communion - Turtle Spirit] (Tier I) - The Turtle embodies a steady presence in the face of adversity. There is a quiet wisdom in waiting and a quiet strength in not rushing. Over time, the Druid may come to realize that this spirit helps them remain composed and resilient in both body and mind.
¡°Dang, it still looks awesome,¡± Alex said. ¡°My [Mana Thread] also has a more descriptive flavor text. Normally the System just tells you the bare minimum of what the skills does.¡± Mark reached into his spatial pouch and pulled out a protein bar. ¡°Oh great, now we¡¯ve got a spiritual guru. Next thing you know, he¡¯ll be burning sage before we enter the Rifts.¡± Sam pulled the token closer with one hand while taking a playful swing at Mark with the other. Which just led the big man to laugh and flex his muscles. ¡°Can¡¯t hurt me with that, Turtle Man.¡± Alex rolled his eyes. ¡°Speaking of Rifts. Are you two ready to go for today¡¯s Rift? When do you want to leave?¡± As he was speaking, Gabby entered the living room, carrying a steaming cup of coffee. The smell immediately pulled Alex¡¯s attention to the ceramic cup. ¡°Let¡¯s go soon. I¡¯m itching to get back in there. We already took a two-day break.¡± ¡°I¡¯m happy to go whenever,¡± Sam said. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s check gear and get ready to head out in an hour or so?¡± Alex suggested. Both of the other men nodded. Meanwhile, Gabby stood there looking between the three of them. She put her hands on her hips and gave them a stern look. ¡°I know that the three of you- four, sorry Val, are not about to leave this house without eating some breakfast. Before you even get there, it¡¯ll be lunchtime.¡± All of them looked at each other. ¡°Of course not.¡± ¡°Gaabby¡­¡± Alex said, drawing out her name. ¡°Could you please make us some breakfast before we go?¡± ¡°Of course! And I¡¯ll pack a lunch for you to put in your little pouches, too.¡± She nodded happily as she turned and bustled her way back to the kitchen. After she¡¯d left, Alex turned back to Mark. ¡°How is your shield holding up? It looked pretty beat up after that last clash with the Crystal Wolves.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± He reached into his pouch and pulled out the kite shield, and held the protein bar in his mouth. Setting the shield down on the couch next to Alex, he ran his fingers over the scratch marks before removing the protein bar from his mouth. ¡°It¡¯ll hold for today, but I should hit up that equipment section of the Auction House before the girls join us on Monday.¡± Sam had already pulled out his staff and a length of cord. ¡°Maybe I could tie the totem here? Right above the grip?¡± He was talking to himself, but Alex couldn¡¯t help but give a small smile at the teenager. Before Alex could respond, Mark produced a small cloth bag from his spatial storage with a grin that made Alex groan. "Please tell me that''s not what I think it is." "Listen, all I''m saying is- the snow Rift was a bust because I couldn''t get to any dirt. This time, I''m prepared." Mark patted the bag of earth like it was precious cargo. "You''ll see. Earth magic is coming my way." Alex shared an amused look with Sam, who was still fiddling with his totem. In just a week, it felt like they were already falling into an easy rhythm. The first Rift had done a lot to develop Mark and his kit as a tank. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. By learning the [Taunt] skill on his own, he had something of an idea of how to apply mana and intent to create a skill. This firsthand experience was great, and Alex felt like he saw a lightbulb go off in Mark''s head as he understood what he and Sam had been trying to talk about. With him consuming the skill token the day before, he now had a [Charge] skill to add to the repertoire, which was something he had been trying to learn but wouldn''t need to worry about anymore. While Alex felt it was a bit of a waste, since it felt like something that might be easy to get on his own, Mark seemed giddy with excitement and wasn''t in the least bit put off by the System giving him the skill before he could develop it. With the Rift they planned to enter that day, without the girls, Alex figured Mark would likely even pass Sarah in levels. Likely in the next week or two, he would hit level ten and get to pick his class options. I need to make sure he¡¯s not getting carried. I don¡¯t want to hamper his class options just because I¡¯m helping too much, and he isn¡¯t able to actually tank. ¡°You guys ready to run a Rift without our damage dealers?¡± Mark asked jokingly as he put the dirt pouch and shield away. Alex gave a short laugh at the use of video game terminology, and he wondered if Mark was reading his thoughts. ¡°I¡¯ll give you as much damage as the Rift needs, but I¡¯m not going to make things easy for you. Sam, too. We need to make sure that you¡¯re getting challenged and working toward the goal of a tank if you want some good class options at level 10.¡± Mark made a pfft sound. ¡°Make it as hard as you can. I¡¯m going to earn an epic class, just watch.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t do that, knucklehead. You have to be D-Rank before you can get an epic class.¡± ¡°Watch me.¡± Sam looked over and held up his staff triumphantly. Happy that the small totem dangled from just below the head of the staff. ¡°Hey, I can do damage.¡± ¡°Sure you can, kid.¡± Mark ruffled Sam¡¯s hair. Using the staff, Sam pushed his hand away. ¡°You saw me fight that plant! I can too.¡± ¡°I saw those thorns almost gobble you up!¡± ¡°Yeah, but I could just heal through it.¡± ¡°Gotta keep working out in the gym to get big and strong!¡± Both Alex and Sam rolled their eyes before they all broke to get dressed before heading to the next Rift.
The acrid smell of sulfur filled Alex¡¯s nostrils as he crouched behind a jagged obsidian formation. Sweat beaded on his forehead and caused his hair to cling to his face, threatening to drip sweat in his eyes. He blinked rapidly while focusing on the volcanic field ahead, where a pack of Ember Hounds lounged. A week ago, they¡¯d have struggled with just one or two of these. Now, his team of friends moved with efficiency and confidence. Mark stepped into the open, his new shield gleaming against the backdrop of glowing lava pools. He slammed the shield with his hammer, and the sound echoed across the mostly barren landscape. Through his eye, Alex could see a pulse of energy radiate outward as [Taunt] activated and drew the attention of the flame-wreathed canines. Sam hung back but lifted his staff in one hand and raised his other high in the air as he activated a preemptive heal. His eyes darted from Mark to Olivia as she stepped forward to reposition. Sarah¡¯s melody drifted through the hot air, her flute seeming out of place, though it did a lot even in that pre-battle moment to bolster their spirits. Alex felt his muscles loosen, and a surge of energy flowed through him as her aura boost took effect. Alex grinned. They were working well now that there were a few battles under their belt and it wasn¡¯t just practice at in their backyard supporting their formations and decision making. He raised his hand and began to use his threads to create a ritual around the group. A deafening roar shook the ground beneath their feet, though it didn¡¯t break his concentration. What the- The rock formations near one of the lava pools shattered, revealing a massive, black serpentine form. Scales of dark copper glinted in the hellish light as a large beast appeared. The beast¡¯s red eye caught Alex¡¯s attention, and his breath caught in his throat. Memories of the massive form of the Firstborn flooded back. His heart beat erratically, and his already slick hands began to shake. ¡°Alex?¡± Mark¡¯s voice held a note of uncertainty. Fuck. They need to get out, they can¡¯t fight it. I need to get them out. I need- ¡°Alex!¡± Olivia¡¯s shout snapped him back. While he¡¯d hesitated, the creature had lunched forward and swung its massive lower body and tail in a sweeping arc toward Mark. Alex activated [Feather Step] to try to close the distance and help his friend, but it was too late. The tail caught Mark in the side, sending him flying. He crashed into a nearby rock formation with a sickening thud. ¡°Mark!¡± Sarah¡¯s flute faltered with a harsh note. Sam was already moving, green energy pulsing from his staff as he ran toward their fallen friend. Olivia¡¯s shadows writhed, her form blurring as she dashed between the Ember Hounds, keeping them at bay. A massive blue explosion filled part of his vision, and he looked over to find a crater where the beast had been. The front half of its elongated body was gone, replaced by a bloody mess at the bottom of the crater. ¡°Prick,¡± Valtherion said before flying over to Mark and Sam. Another large beast burst from the lava, following in the wake of the first. It undulated forward, dripping lava, and began to eat its fallen companion in one large bite. Shit. They¡¯re counting on me and I froze. That¡¯s not the Firstborn, you moron. ¡°Olivia, keep the hounds busy! Sam, get Mark back on his feet. Sarah, switch to offense!¡± Alex gave out orders and was glad to hear his voice was steadier than he felt. Blue strands shot from his fingertips as [Mana Threads] dipped into the Mana Stone dust at his waist and shot forward to wrap around the beast¡¯s head. It thrashed, nearly yanking Alex off his feet, but he held firm.
Congratulations, [Mana Thread] has leveled up! You have reached the Tier threshold of an active skill. Would you like to advance or evolve this skill? Advance: This skill stays the same and advances to an improved version in the same tree. Evolve: This skill changes based on the different ways you may have used it or pushed the bounds of its purpose. You will lose levels in this skill if you choose this option. Advance / Evolve?
He dismissed the window and focused on restraining the beast as best he could. All of his Will and intent was focused on concentrating the threads to maintain their strength and hold against the beasts thrashing. While waiting for his friends to recover, he held the beast, wanting them to get most of the experience for the kill. He used his Heavenly Eye to scan the creature and wanted to kick himself as he took in the screen.
Magma Worm - Level 11
Level eleven! You¡¯re jumping at shadows, and if it weren¡¯t for Sam, Mark would be seriously injured. Get your shit together, man. Alex berated himself, and the next few minutes were a blur of action. Mark rejoined the fray, moving slower but still drawing the beast¡¯s attention. Sam¡¯s healing spells worked over time, and they¡¯d done some immediate work with [Healing Touch]. Olivia danced among the Hounds, using her superior levels and stats to hold off several monsters at once while the rest of the group took down the worm. When the dust settled and the fight was done, they stood victorious, if exhausted. Mark leaned heavily on his shield, wincing, but a grin spread across his face. ¡°Dude, I just leveled up again! That hit was totally worth it.¡± Sam looked pale, his mana reserves nearly depleted. Sarah''s fingers trembled as she lowered her bow. Even Olivia''s usual grace seemed diminished. "I''m sorry," Alex said, the words tasting bitter. "I hesitated. I should have-" "You got us through it," Olivia cut him off, her tone firm. Mark nodded, still grinning despite his injuries. "Yeah, man. We all freeze sometimes." "But you''re all looking to me, and I can''t afford to." Sarah laid a hand on his arm. "Alex, you''re growing into this role. Leaders aren''t perfect; they learn and grow like the rest of us. Give yourself some time." Sam piped up, "And you did take charge once you snapped out of it. That was pretty cool." Valtherion flapped his wings and wrapped himself awkwardly around Alex¡¯s shoulders before head butting him. ¡°Stupid Alex, is favorite stupid. Friends are fine, all stronger.¡± There was a chorus of laughs and agreements from the others. Alex looked at them, seeing only understanding and trust- more trust than he felt like he deserved. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s talk about what we could have done better while we take a break. All of us could improve. I¡¯ll go first¡­¡± As they huddled together discussing strategies and what-ifs, Sam¡¯s {Nature¡¯s Refuge} bloomed out from around him. Alex was impressed that he could remain calm enough to activate the trait despite the current situation, but he nodded thankfully at their healer. Alex felt a warmth in his chest and knew that it had nothing to do with the volcanic heat or Sam¡¯s trait. He was happy that they were making progress in the Teams Event, but he couldn¡¯t be more proud of the progress they were making as a team. They wrapped up their debrief of the battle and before picking up to carry on through the Rift, Alex pulled up the notification he¡¯d received midbattle. Seeing the same text that he¡¯d received in his battle with Xui when he was in the Celestial Rift, Alex felt his pulse quicken with excitement. He mentally selected the option to advance the skill rather than evolve it as he¡¯d done before.
Analyzing skill usage¡­ Skill Advanced: [Mana Thread] (Journeyman - Level 1)
Seeing that the level had returned to one, but that the proficiency level of the skill had bumped to Journeyman, Alex pulled up the description of [Mana Thread] to see what had changed.
[Mana Thread] - Create impossibly thin and tightly controlled tendrils of mana. Your control and mastery over shaping mana reach new heights. Dedication and practice to controlling multiple streams of mana have led to the proficiency increase in the volume of threads. The Awakened can now easily produce a multitude of mana threads at once.
Alex let out a quick whoop of joy at seeing his skill advance and give the benefit that he¡¯d been hoping for. He¡¯d practiced and constantly tried to use the skill with the intent of having many threads active at once. Mark and Sarah asked him what had happened, and as he caught up with the group, he shared the new skill screen with them. There was a round of congratulations as they moved deeper into the hot and rocky terrain. 92. The Mana Tap The drive to New Platz had taken longer than Alex expected. Between Mark¡¯s insistence on a pitstop and Sarah¡¯s commentary on the changes to the world outside of the Safe Zone, they¡¯d arrived well after sundown. But, as Mark pulled into the parking lot, Alex had to admit that the bar seemed to be worth the wait. The converted warehouse looked awesome in the early night, with its bright blue neon sign and long line of activity. Weathered brick stretched up at least three stories, and the building¡¯s industrial look was softened by the strings of hanging blue lights that reminded Alex of experience motes. The biggest draw, though, was the sign over the entrance. Something about it drew his senses. Almost like he could see the glow differently in both his normal and Heavenly Eye. ¡°Mana Tap,¡± Mark read aloud as they walked across the gravel parking lot. ¡°Love the name. Though I¡¯m still not sure why we had to drive all the way out here when there are plenty of bars just inside the Safe Zone near us.¡± ¡°Because Olivia recommended it,¡± Sarah said as he adjusted her jacket. ¡°And after the last two weeks of Rift diving, I think we¡¯ve earned a proper night out.¡± Alex led his friends past the queue, feeling awkward as he heard the grumbles and saw pointed looks from those waiting in line. As they approached the entrance, a mountain of a man stepped forward, his massive arms crossed over his chest. Out of habit, Alex scanned the man.
Trey Wilson - Level 6 Primary Stat: Strength: 12 Secondary Stat: Constitution: 8 Tertiary Stat: Agility: 7 Most Used Abilities: Intimidation (Novice) Strong Arm (Novice) ****Shout (Novice)
He couldn¡¯t help it as his eyebrow raise upon seeing how much information he was given. He was significantly higher leveled than the man, but Alex had already scanned other, lower-level people before and hadn¡¯t seen this much information before. Is this my body- the eye, adapting and catching up to my Willpower? Eura said it could take some time, but I thought I¡¯d already achieved that. He wondered, if that was the case, how much more information he¡¯d be getting in another 10-20 levels. With his Willpower¡¯s growth so accelerated from his trait, he¡¯d soon be several times higher than anyone around him could possibly be. Shit, I¡¯ve pretty much got everything on this guy already, other than his social and credit card number. He kept his face neutral, though he wanted to snicker at his own childish joke. ¡°Evening,¡± Alex said. ¡°Uh, Olivia said to come talk to you about getting in.¡± The man¡¯s eyes narrowed, then widened in recognition. ¡°You¡¯re Alex, then? You¡¯re smaller than I thought you would be.¡± What¡¯s that supposed to mean? ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m Alex.¡± There was a moment as the man looked at the list and nodded. ¡°This is your team?¡± He made a show of counting them up. ¡°That¡¯s us,¡± Mark grinned, clapping Alex on the shoulder and leaning forward. The bouncer nodded, a smile crossed his face as he stepped aside. ¡°Enjoy your evening.¡± They entered, and Alex saw Mark sizing the other man up. His friend leaned over and whispered, ¡°See, I told you I shouldn¡¯t have put so many of my Free Points in Constitution. He looks way bigger than me. Did you see the size of that guy¡¯s arms?¡± Ignoring him, Alex looked at the inside of the bar when they entered. The din of conversation and clinking glasses washed over them, and he swept his eyes across the busy scene. He took in the high ceilings dotted with floating orbs that provided a steady golden light, while a few of them flickered in a way that reminded Alex of a candle. Modern music played from an overhead speaker system and he saw that the bar itself was full to the point that people were standing one to two people deep. There were screens over the bar, which some watched, though most chatted and laughed over their drinks. There were bottles of liquor lining the shelves behind the bar, backed by a mirror and lit from below, which caused many of the bottles to glow. Interestingly, just like the sign out front, Alex noted that a few of the bottles glowed with the faintest traces of mana. Magical booze? Alex snorted, intrigued by what magically spiked liquor might taste like. His gaze shifted across the room, and he noticed several groups gathered at various tables and booths. He was startled to see a purple hawk flutter its wings and settle on an adventurer''s shoulder. To his Heavenly Eye, he could tell that it was a magical creature, and he felt a strong desire to go and talk to the man about his companion. He hadn''t seen many others with a bond, and it was amazing to know that there was at least one other in the local area of the Guild. ¡°This place is awesome!¡± Mark said, his eyes wide while trying to take everything in. ¡°Told you it¡¯d be worth the drive,¡± Olivia said as she appeared from the crowd next to them and laughed at Mark¡¯s facial expression. ¡°Come on, I got us a table over here.¡± She grabbed Alex¡¯s hand and pulled him along to the far side of the room. ¡°No, Sam?¡± Olivia called as they got to the table, raising her voice to be heard over the crowd. ¡°No, he stayed at the house with Val,¡± Alex called back while leaning forward. ¡°What?¡± she asked while leaning in to hear him better. ¡°No, he-¡± Alex frowned and looked around. It took only a few seconds and a quick pulse of his mana to set up the sound-reducing ritual, though he didn¡¯t put the full power into it, thinking that it would be weird to be sitting in a bubble of silence in such chaos. Plus, Sarah seemed to enjoy the music as she bobbed her head up and down and looked at the surrounding crowd. ¡°Woah,¡± Mark and Olivia said at the same time as the sound became muted, as if being heard from underwater. ¡°No,¡± Alex started again in a normal tone, as if nothing happened, ¡°he stayed at the house with Val. He was bummed at first, but then Mark convinced him that the downtime was good. Going from Rift to Rift has meant that he hasn¡¯t gotten to use his class skill much.¡± ¡°Flourish? Oh, cool. So he¡¯s going to work on the courtyard a bit?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Alex answered while looking at the menu on the table. ¡°How did Val take it?¡± Mark snorted and looked over at the dark-haired woman. ¡°About how you¡¯d expect. As soon as Alex said he couldn¡¯t come, he threw a mini temper tantrum.¡± When Alex shook his head, Mark continued. ¡°Alex just did the same thing I did with Sam, though. He gave him something to work on, and it perked the little dude right up.¡± Olivia raised an eyebrow, and Alex shrugged. ¡°I told him that if he wanted to come to places like this with us, he would need to be able to hide if needed. I didn¡¯t really know if they would let companions in, so¡­¡± ¡°Ah, and since his skill still can¡¯t hide his larger form, he¡¯s going to stay and work on the skill?¡± Alex nodded and Sarah offered to go grab drinks for everyone. As soon as she walked away, another large man walked into the bubble around their table. ¡°Well! If it isn¡¯t-¡± He stopped abruptly and looked around. ¡°Holy shit, what¡¯s that?¡± Olivia began to answer, but before she could, he took a step backward, then forward once again. His eyes lit up, and he repeated the action several more times before refocusing on the group. ¡°I¡¯ll be damned, that¡¯s a pretty bit of magic. Can you make those things permanent? It¡¯s so strange to say those words¡­ Anyway, you must be the Guild¡¯s rising stars!¡± He let out a breath and adjusted his heavy frame as he held out his hand. Alex looked at the man¡¯s genuine and wide smile. He exuded an easy social expertise that Alex had always envied. ¡°Jasper,¡± Olivia greeted him warmly. ¡°Thanks for the invite. These are my friends I was telling you about.¡± She gave him a hug and gestured at the other three. ¡°Anything for my favorite troublemaker, eh?¡± Jasper winked. ¡°You must be Alex,¡± he extended his hand once again. ¡°Jasper Bronson, owner of this fine establishment. I¡¯ve heard a lot about you.¡± Alex shook his hand, noting the firm grip. ¡°Olivia loves to talk about you guys and Liam. Glad to finally meet with you.¡± They all greeted Jasper, and Alex took a quick liking to the man. Regardless of his and his wife¡¯s close relationship with Olivia, he could see himself enjoying the atmosphere the man had. It was a different kind of Charisma compared to Andrew, the first Guild recruiter he¡¯d met or his brother, who he felt was only friendly at a surface level. They almost had an excess of energy and used it for social purposes and could steer a conversation in almost any way they wanted unless you were willing to try to match their energy. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. While Jasper was loud and cursed frequently, he often wanted those in the group to speak or steer the conversation before he moved on to another group. It was a great fit as a host and owner of a new bar. ¡°Come on, let me show you guys to your booth.¡± ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t need to do that. We¡¯re just fine right here, Jas,¡± Olivia said. ¡°Nonsense. You guys are getting the VIP treatment. Now, let¡¯s go. First round is on the house.¡± Jasper waved his hand and turned to walk out of the silencing bubble before Olivia could continue to protest. Mark smiled. ¡°I like him!¡± He nudged Olivia as he walked out first, following the man. ¡°Ugh, I knew he¡¯d be like this.¡± Olivia covered her face with her hands. They moved across the bar once again, and Alex waved down Sarah as she started to make her way back to the other table with the drinks. They all settled into a comfortable circular booth. Jasper leaned against the flat end of the booth. ¡°So, what do you think of the place?¡± ¡°It¡¯s incredible,¡± Sarah said, her eyes still roaming the room. ¡°How did you come up with the concept?¡± ¡°Well, I used to run a restaurant in the city. But when they started announcing all of that Safe Zone nonsense, my wife and I picked up and moved.¡± ¡°Wait, you volunteered to move out of the Safe Zone?¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Olivia held out her hand hesitantly, but Jasper¡¯s confident voice rose over the volume of the room more naturally than hers. ¡°Of course, wouldn¡¯t trust any more of my family to this shady-ass administration. Plus, we love what Olivia is doing with the guild and figured that there would still need to be a place to wet the tongue even if it¡¯s not in the ¡®safe zone,¡¯¡± he used his fingers to make air quotes. ¡°Are you not concerned about the Rift Breaks?¡± From his position, Alex could see Olivia stand up behind Jasper and begin moving her hands back and forth as a clear signal to end the conversation. ¡°Not going to let those air heads lull us into a false sense of safety again, if we get attacked by monsters out here unprepared, then it¡¯ll just be my fault, not the failed promise of safety from some shmuck in a suit.¡± ¡°Ahh¡­ I see¡­¡± Sarah said, clearly put off and unsure of how to answer. ¡°The place looks great, Jas, seriously. Thanks for the invite. Can Alex use his magic to set up another bubble?¡± Olivia asked, easily changing the conversation. ¡°Sure. We discourage the use of skills in the bar, but I¡¯ll let Trey and his boys know that this is fine.¡± He moved away and waved over his shoulder, ¡°Welcome to the Mana Tap. Alex, get my number from Olivia. If you can make more of those magic bubbles, I¡¯d love to hire you!¡± After he was gone and Alex had reestablished the ritual, everyone looked at Olivia. ¡°What was that about?¡± Mark asked. Alex had an idea of what the man was referring to, and Olivia¡¯s next few sentences confirmed it. ¡°I don¡¯t mind telling you guys, but I don¡¯t want this to be the focus of tonight. So I¡¯ll spill the quick story, and then we move on and have some drinks and a good time. Got it?¡± Everyone nodded, and she continued. ¡°Well, before this, I was living up in Maryland with my best friend. Emily and I were friends for years, and after she split with her husband and had Liam all by herself, I lived with them to help with rent and have a place to crash. She was Jasper¡¯s daughter. Back in October, in the woods near our town, a Rift was seen. At first no one believed it was real, then the military showed up a few days later and quarantined everything off. ¡°They wouldn¡¯t let anyone near, and after a week or two, they told everyone that it was handled and wouldn¡¯t be a problem. Another week after that and there was a Rift break. Turns out that they hadn¡¯t entered the Rift at all, so none of the monsters were being culled. The break caught all of the researchers that were still on site off-guard and some of them spilled into our town. When a huge insect monster burst into our apartment, Emily died almost instantly. When the thing was trying to get at Liam in the kitchen, I grabbed a knife and killed it in our kitchen. ¡°After that, I moved down here close to the Bronsons so that Liam could be with his grandparents. That¡¯s really all there is to it.¡± There was some somber silence, filled by the muted music and conversation from around them. Sarah leaned forward with a soft expression on her face. ¡°Olivia, I¡­ I had no idea. I didn¡¯t realize, I thought-¡± She shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. Both for what happened and for¡­ well, for the times I was arguing with you without understanding.¡± Olivia gave her a small smile and mumbled a thanks, though she clearly wanted the conversation to move on. Mark coughed and then raised the bottle that Sarah had brought him. ¡°To closing that water Rift!¡± he grinned. ¡°And to two weeks of kicking ass in the Teams Event!¡± They clinked bottles, the tension of the last few weeks melting away as they enjoyed the bar''s atmosphere. As they drank and everyone felt the warm embrace of their drinks, the conversation flowed easily, and the awkward feelings from Olivia¡¯s story melted away. Alex caught Sarah looking at her intently with a considering look on her face, and Alex nudged her under the table and shook his head. She gave him a look but let the matter drop. He knew that the tension between the two wouldn¡¯t be completely fixed, but Sarah was remarkably understanding. Especially when it came to people¡¯s trauma. For her, learning that Olivia¡¯s distrust and dislike of the government came from something so recent and personal, he was certain that she¡¯d lay off some of the grandstanding. ¡°I still can¡¯t believe you managed to redirect that whirlpool,¡± Mark said, shaking his head. Alex smiled and allowed his own thoughts to be pulled to the present while raising his hands. ¡°I really wasn¡¯t sure I could. But it was a team effort, I definitely wouldn¡¯t have been able to if you guys hadn¡¯t kept that squid off of me.¡± ¡°Speaking of team efforts,¡± Olivia interjected, pulling out her phone, ¡°Have you seen the latest rankings?¡± They huddled around the small screen as he lay it flat on the table. They scanned the list of teams and scores. Alex felt an odd mix of pride and disappointment as he saw their position. ¡°Hey, seventh is pretty damn good!¡± Olivia said to the table while squeezing his hand under the table as if she knew his thoughts. ¡°Especially considering how new the team is.¡± ¡°Seriously, that¡¯s awesome!¡± Mark said enthusiastically. ¡°And we¡¯re improving every day. Still two weeks to go. There¡¯s a good chance we hit top five, for sure.¡± Another hour or so passed with everyone talking about their favorite adventure from the last two weeks. Alex was mid-laugh at one of Mark¡¯s jokes when he spotted familiar faces entering the bar. Rylan and his team walked in, their matching jackets and clearly physical-oriented builds making them look like they were military. Their confident demeanor drew a few curious glances from nearby patrons. ¡°Heads up,¡± Alex muttered, nodding towards the newcomers. As Rylan¡¯s group made their way to the bar, Alex scanned the large warrior. He was surprised when his attempt failed. It wasn¡¯t that he saw question marks, as he did when he tried to scan Eura by accident in the cave. Rather, there was just nothing. Frowning, Alex focused and pushed his Will against the wall he felt. It reminded him of the time he¡¯d done so by pushing against the ritual schematic in his office. Wary of having such a poor reaction again, Alex didn¡¯t push as hard and did so carefully. Luckily, it took minimal effort to push through whatever block was there, and the next moment, Rylan¡¯s status appeared as if nothing had happened.
Rylan Voss - Level 29 Class: Warrior Primary Stat: Strength Secondary Stat: Willpower Most Used Ability: Intimidating Presence
As he read the status, and felt shock wash over him like cold water. Rylan hissed and stepped back from the bar. He shook his hand as if he¡¯d burned it and looked down at the back of his hand. Alex found the movement odd. The very next moment, the man was standing to his full height and looking around the bar. 29? How the hell is he leveling so quickly? The Epic Rift? He wanted to kick himself. He¡¯d asked Elana during the New Year¡¯s party if Rylan had access to a high rarity Rift, not even thinking about the fact that he was handing the man¡¯s sister an Epic one on a silver platter. Of course, he¡¯d get some kind of special treatment. That¡¯s probably why he¡¯s been playing so nice with everyone. It wasn¡¯t long before Rylan spotted them, and a smile spread across his face as he turned and approached their table with a drink in hand. ¡°Well, look who it is,¡± the blonde man said. His tone was friendly enough but with an undercurrent of something Alex couldn¡¯t quite place. ¡°Mind if we join you for a few?¡± Before anyone could respond, Rylan slid into the booth, bumping his larger frame into Mark with a gentle nudge. His team followed him over after a few seconds and hung back within earshot. Alex looked down at the two ornate rings on Rylan¡¯s fingers, each bearing a sun emblem, and the one on his middle finger seemed to rest on freshly burned, red, and irritated skin. ¡°So, Alex,¡± Rylan continued, taking a sip of his drink, ¡°how¡¯s the competition going for the group that seems to have everyone¡¯s attention? Getting the hang of things?¡± ¡°We¡¯re doing alright,¡± Alex replied, putting on an easy smile and raising an eyebrow. He glanced at Olivia, who looked immediately tired, and Sarah, whose eyes were slightly squinted looking at the man as he slurred his words. Rylan nodded, and there was a brief flicker of frustration or anger that Alex could see in his eyes, though it was quickly brought to heel. His smile returned quickly. ¡°Seventh, if it¡¯s still the same? Not bad for a new team, but I really thought you guys would be higher. You know, Alex, leading a team can be tricky. It takes a certain kind of person to really excel at it.¡± Mark shifted in his seat, clearly annoyed. ¡°What are you getting at, Rylan? You¡¯re drunk. Don¡¯t come over here and stir up shit,¡± Olivia said. Rylan held up his hands in a placating gesture. ¡°Was just gonna offer some friendly advice. This competition is looking tough, and not everyone¡¯s cut out for leading a team to the top. You¡¯ve got a lot of leadership potential, Olivia. My sister sees it.¡± Things may have turned into more of an argument if Jasper hadn¡¯t chosen that moment to return to their table for Olivia. ¡°Hey guys, mind if I steal Olivia for a second?¡± Rylan stood, deciding that he¡¯d said his piece. ¡°Nice catching up. Keep working hard, I¡¯m sure you can catch up.¡± He held up his hand and showed it to Alex with a raised eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯m assuming that was you. Hope you know it¡¯s rude to scan someone like that, but¡­ I¡¯m sure you liked what you saw.¡± He mouthed the word ¡®plateau¡¯ and with a final nod to the group, he rejoined his team and even over the sounds of the bar, Alex could hear two of them laughing as they walked back to the bar. As Rylan walked away, Alex let out a breath he didn''t realize he''d been holding. He looked around at his friends, seeing a mix of annoyance and concern on their faces. "Well," Mark said, breaking the tension, "I think someone needs to explain the concept of ''friendly advice'' to that guy." The group chuckled, the mood lightening once again as Olivia was pulled away with Jasper to meet some of his friends and new customers. Alex found it hard to pull his thoughts from a darker space and despite all the talking he¡¯d done with Olivia the week before, the feelings of falling behind were continuing to intensify. During a lull in the conversation, he shared his plan with the group. ¡°Alright, next week I¡¯m going to be working pretty much nonstop on learning some of those advanced rituals. If I can, I¡¯ll probably try to revisit the runes, too. I remember them mentioning some concepts about Activation Methods. It would be amazing if I could apply some of that same theory to my rituals.¡± He knew he should focus on one thing at a time, but since he wasn¡¯t willing to sacrifice the time with his friends and their progression for his own, he¡¯d just need to make more time for his own. Sleep really is optional, isn¡¯t it? It just feels like such a waste of time. ¡°Nice, yeah! Also, at the end of next week, since we¡¯ll be going into the last week, I say we take an inventory.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Sarah asked. ¡°Like, we have all been getting a bunch of loot and showing each other. But the System can give some really random rewards. We should pile it all together and take a look at what we all got. I don¡¯t know about you guys, but we¡¯ve all gotten close to ten System rewards from Personal Quests and Rift Quests for the five Rifts we¡¯ve helped close in the last two weeks. That¡¯s a Rift closing every two or three days, with a few days to rest in between. If we think about doing the same number or a bit more in the last two weeks, then we¡¯re going to have a huge haul to go through! Let¡¯s figure out what we want to keep and what we should sell on the Auction House.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ a great idea,¡± Sarah said with a nod. The next moment, everyone was looking at Alex. ¡°Yeah,¡± he gave a shrug. ¡°Sounds like a great idea to me. Everyone can split the profits from whatever we sell and grab the items they think will work best for them. We¡¯ve been getting a lot of Mana Stones, too, so we can make sure Val gets his fair share.¡± ¡°Nice!¡± Mark said, slapping his hand on the table and smiling. ¡°Loot party!¡± 93. The Favored Son Jake drummed his fingers against the steering wheel of the government-issued sedan. He was stuck in the unbelievably slow, crawling traffic through the Safe Zone as he made his way back to the office. Construction crews worked on yet another apartment complex expansion on the side of the road, and the large machinery caused all the passing vehicles to slow even further. Ever since the president''s announcement two months before, the city had become crowded as people from nearby counties and rural areas flocked to the safety of numbers. A year ago, the street he was driving down was the easiest way for him to cross to this section of the city. However, with the sudden increase in population, people were crammed shoulder to shoulder, and tents were set up on every stretch of grass or available space, waiting for temporary housing units to be completed. To Jake, the worst part about the drive back from a failed recruitment pitch was sitting in traffic with nothing to think about other than how differently things could''ve gone. It had been the same since he began working for the Hunters Association¡ªmany people had awakened and had an inflated sense of self-importance. The small group of four, and especially the self-proclaimed Azure Flame Guild leader, had been no exception. The kid couldn''t have been more than twenty years old, fresh out of college, and drunk on the power of having a trait and a few skills. His little group of four had taken over an abandoned convenience store that had been emptied in one of the earlier riots at the edge of the Safe Zone. They were using it as their base of operations and calling themselves a guild. Jake shifted in his seat and remembered the look on the younger man''s face when he realized Jake was there as a recruiter for the Hunters Association, not some kind of enforcer there to make them bend at the knee. He couldn''t believe the audacity of some people he was sent to recruit. After only getting a few levels and applying free points to their stats, they thought they were worth their own weight in gold. A group of children darted between the cars and laughed as they chased each other. Jake had already been moving so slowly it took nothing more than a quick tap of the brakes to stop the sedan. Their parent shouted after them from the sidewalk where a line stretched around the block as people waited to collect from one of the local food distribution centers. The contrast between the four young would-be adventurers and the desperate people waiting in line for food was clear to Jake. While some people were awakened and had newfound strength, others struggled to adapt to life in the cramped space of the Safe Zone and weren''t seeking anything other than safety. After ten more minutes of driving, the Hunters Association building came into view. It had a faded brick exterior, and he couldn''t help but compare it to the gleaming headquarters in DC. Jake pulled into his designated spot and was at least thankful that his position came with it as a perk. The two guards inside the entrance barely glanced up from the phone held between them as Jake badged himself into the building. Inside, the fluorescent lights lit up the old government building and made the odd pattern of the blue and off-white carpet seem like it hadn''t been cleaned in years. It was all a far cry from the marble floors and state-of-the-art facility that he''d gotten the tour of during his own recruitment. Back then, they''d offered him a position in DC with significantly better amenities and his own office. But he''d chosen to stay in Jersey, thinking that it would be best to stick close to his parents and potentially help Alex if he got into any kind of trouble. Some days¡­ Like that day, he wondered if he''d made the right choice. "Another successful recruitment?" Linda called from her desk as she leaned back in her office chair. The crotchety old woman didn''t even bother to hide her sarcasm, and the laughter followed her statement. Jake''s manager had told him she had been working in the building since before the Rifts appeared. Back then, she''d been handling administrative work for what used to be a different government agency and found herself doing much the same thing for the newly established Hunters Association. "They''ll come around," Jake said with a forced smile. He didn''t believe it himself, even as he said the words, but he needed to maintain an optimistic attitude. It was part of the job. The same job that''s got me driving around the overcrowded Safe Zone and trying to convince newly awakened to join the cause instead of going off and doing their own thing. He made his way over to his office, even though it was really just a converted storage closet with a desk crammed inside. Yet another large stack of recruitment files waited for him on the corner of his desk, and he had to restrain a groan. With the government''s recent mandate that all awakened within the city had to be registered and have their skills recorded by the Hunters Association on the pretense of safety, the stack never seemed to end. While he got to pick the order in which he approached the groups and focused on those that he believed to be more important or fit with the Association''s ideals, he still had to make his way through almost every one on his own. Some conversations lasted all of two minutes, while others took close to an hour of schmoozing and over-hyping incentives. The wall-mounted TV in the break room caught his attention as he looked out of the door of his office. He read the banner at the bottom and saw it was another report about the increasing crime rates within the Safe Zone. He shook his head and rubbed his face as he thought about how, even on his drive back to the office, he''d seen a few people huddled around a street corner offering to sell mana stone dust. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. He knew he should probably file a report against those people, but the local law enforcement and even the National Guard that were sent in were already spread thin, with a large amount of their focus being on protecting food depots and distribution centers. In the first two weeks of their being set up, riots and midnight raids by newly awakened had caused several of them to be completely looted, causing supplies to be spread more thinly to the normal population. Of course, the retaliatory military raids on awakened, and even some non-awakened, affiliated with those groups were swift and brutal. He let out a sigh and rubbed both hands on his face, just happy to know that his workday was coming to an end. He packed up his few belongings and slung the leather cross-shoulder strap bag over his head after filling it with a few more reports to read that evening. He said goodbye to Linda on his way out and received a tired grunt from her in response. Jake left his government vehicle and its designated spot, knowing that with the traffic, it was easier for him to walk the mile and a half to his shared apartment than it would be to drive. He zipped up his winter jacket as the late afternoon sun cast long shadows from the nearby buildings. He turned onto the sidewalk and began weaving his way through the packed groups of people. He walked on for a few blocks before he saw a crowd that was gathered and blocked most of the sidewalk. He considered crossing the street to avoid whatever was causing the holdup, but the sound of passionate shouting drew his attention. "The creatures aren''t invading! We are the destroyers of worlds!" A woman stood on top of several stacked boxes and shouted over the tops of the crowd. "Every Rift we close is another ecosystem that we destroy! These beings have as much right to exist as we do!" Jake watched as some people in the crowd nodded along, though even more seemed to scoff and shake their heads while continuing to walk past. The woman wore what looked like a hand-painted T-shirt with RRA across the front. If he remembered the flyers he''d seen earlier in the week correctly, the acronym stood for Rift Rights Alliance. "My brother was killed by one of your precious Rift creatures!" An angry voice shouted from the crowd. The preacher didn''t miss a beat. "And how many have you killed? Not only are we destroying their world every time we close a rift, but the Hunters Association treats them like targets in a shooting gallery!" Jake kept his face neutral as he worked his way past the crowd. People preaching stuff like this was dangerous¡ªhe had seen some of it firsthand. Especially because while most people believed what she was saying was incorrect, there was no actual way to prove that what she was saying was wrong. After a Rift was closed, there was no way for them to know if the world stayed intact or if it completely collapsed. At the end of the day, he''d seen enough recruitment files to know that for every person preaching peace with the Rift creatures, there were dozens more awakened people with combat-focused traits dreaming of becoming hunters. Jake really didn''t understand the appeal people saw with combat, even with the potential power that it could bring. He shook his head and continued walking. The street opened up past the crowd, and Jake quickened his pace. To his right, he passed another set of construction crews adding floors to an apartment complex that would almost be doubled in height since the creation of the Safe Zone. "Why can''t we go home? I just want my room back." He looked over and saw a girl holding onto her mother''s sleeve as they walked in the opposite direction along the sidewalk. "This is home now, sweetie. Remember what we talked about? We are safe here." His thoughts were pulled once again to the Azure Flame Guild and their stolen convenience store. While some people were in the Safe Zone simply trying to survive, others were out playing hero. His eyebrows came together as his brother''s face popped into his mind. Not the face he''d grown up seeing, slightly chubby and free of facial hair, but the hardened and serious face of a scarred warrior that had appeared on the news almost a week ago. He knew that the gap between awakened and regular citizens grew wider every day, and he wasn''t sure if his recruitment efforts were helping or making things worse. The side of his apartment complex, where both his and his parents'' new townhomes were, came into view. He was thankful that he''d at least been able to secure a comfortable living within the Safe Zone. Whether his parents appreciated that effort was another matter altogether. Jake knocked twice before letting himself into his parents'' townhome, positioned directly next to his own. The TV blared from the living room, and he could hear their favorite news station playing and casting a light across the hallway wall of the bottom floor. "Did you see this?" his mother called out. "They say Alex closed another Rift yesterday. They''re calling him a hero on the news." Jake''s chest tightened as he rounded the corner and looked over the half wall behind his parents'' reclining chairs. On the screen, Alex stood among a group of hunters, a few even looking familiar to him, but his brother looked nothing like the one he remembered. It wasn''t just the scar across his nose and the oddly colored eye, but it was his entire appearance and bearing. They''d seen Alex at Christmas in a sweatshirt; it looked like he''d lost weight, but at the time, Jake assumed it was related to work stress. Seeing him now, standing in what looked to be perfectly tailored white and gold martial arts robes and clearly in charge of a group of other competent-looking people, Jake had a hard time reconciling the two Alexs in his mind: the one he knew and had grown up with, competing in almost all things, and the one he saw praised as a hero on the TV. "Would be wonderful if he''d stop by soon," his father muttered. "It''s been a while since we''ve seen him." "I brought dinner," Jake said as he set the takeout bags on the counter. Neither parent moved nor even looked away from the TV. "You know," his mother said, "the lady next door mentioned her son just awakened. Maybe you could use your sales pitch on him and help him get a position at your work." Jake''s jaw clenched. "I need to review some files tonight. I''ll see you tomorrow." He left without waiting for a response, though he doubted they noticed. In his own townhome next door, Jake dropped his messenger bag and sank down on his couch. The stack of recruitment files spilled out across his coffee table, and he knew that he really should do some work. Looking up at the small pattern on his ceiling, Jake couldn''t get his brother''s face out of his head. He''d always been the successful one and the one he felt like his parents could count on, but in the last three weeks, his parents had barely spoken to him other than asking if he''d spoken with his brother. His mind drifted briefly to the kind of life his brother might be living now, compared to the situation he found himself in. But... Jake knew that tomorrow was another day. Another chance to make a difference in the Safe Zone and for the people who really needed the help. Even if that difference comes through paperwork and persuasion rather than combat. Jake kicked up his legs and forced himself to sit up on the couch. He grabbed the first file and began to read. 94. Small Steps Make the Big Changes Alex stirred, his consciousness split between the waking world and deep sleep. Half of his mind registered Edwin¡¯s measured footsteps approaching, while the other half clung to the cozy dream his mind had conjured. ¡°Good morning, Master Moore,¡± Edwin¡¯s crisp and formal tone cut through the last bits of his sleep, and he let his eyes open. ¡°How did your experiment go?¡± Alex grunted, fumbling around for his phone to pause the text-to-speech that had been running. He paused the playback of his notes and with a mental nudge, he turned off the [Parallel Mind] skill that he¡¯d maintained through the night. As his mind reformed into a complete unit, he studied his own thoughts. His tiredness left him quickly as his mind kicked up into full gear, and the half of his consciousness that had been awake and listening to study material for the last six hours tiredly rejoined his main thoughts. The first thing he noticed was the notification in his vision for the skill leveling up.
Congratulations, [Parallel Mind] has leveled up!
Pleased to see some progress, he pulled up the screen to note that it had moved from six to seven. It¡¯s great that the mana cost is upfront. ¡°It seems like it worked perfectly.¡± He said excitedly. ¡°I can remember listening through my notes on the Celestial Rift, and my body feels rested. I do feel kind of tired mentally, that¡¯s the longest that I¡¯ve kept the skill active for.¡± Edwin made a ¡°Hmm.¡± noise that Alex had come to realize meant that he had something on his mind but wasn¡¯t sure if he should share it. ¡°Go on, Edwin. Tell me what¡¯s on your mind,¡± Alex prompted. ¡°I worry that your mind is not meant to be running at all times. Even if it is only half of it, I don¡¯t believe that staying half awake through the entire night is going to end well.¡± Alex shrugged. ¡°I get that. But, my body isn¡¯t what it was before the integration. My Intellect and Willpower are so much higher than they used to be. I¡¯ve got to assume that my mental stat increase also shows an ability to do some things that might not have previously been possible. That¡¯s not even if I¡¯m taking into account my [Sleep Resistance] passive.¡± He smiled at Edwin, when the man still looked skeptical. ¡°I hear your concern, Edwin. Thank you. But there is only one way for me to know if this will work and what the limits are. I¡¯m going to keep doing this each night for the last week of the Teams Event and see how I¡¯m doing at the end of it. With any luck, there will be minimal side effects.¡± It was the use of his skills like this that could be applied creatively and consistently, that he thought he would see the most amount of progress. Eura had constantly talked about how important it was to continue training over time, and he¡¯d even heard annoying slogans and sayings like that during his time in advertising before the integration. Things like ¡°Just make yourself one percent better every day¡­¡± At the time, he¡¯d thought it was all nonsense, but he was beginning to think that they may have been onto something big. Edwin nodded, while schooling his features to the point that if he hadn¡¯t already seen it, Alex wouldn¡¯t have any idea that the older man was displeased or worried. ¡°Thanks, Edwin. Really, I don¡¯t mind you speaking up like that. This whole situation is weird, but I¡¯m finding different ways I can keep progressing. I¡¯ve always thought sleep was a waste of time, now I have the chance to actually study and progress through that time. Anyway, what time is it?¡± He rubbed his eye and sat up fully in his bed. ¡°Just past eight. Your appointment is at ten.¡± Edwin placed a cup of coffee on the nightstand and Alex couldn¡¯t hold in the smile that came with it. ¡°Alright, lay it on me then. I need to jump in the shower, so you¡¯ve only got a few minutes!¡± Edwin nodded. ¡°Clara sent you a thank you for giving her the day off to spend with her son, and has asked if she can bring him by soon to meet you.¡± Alex stood with the coffee and moved to the large master bathroom connected to his room. Edwin followed as he asked, ¡°Her son wants to meet?¡± ¡°She said that he is very interested in Awakened now that there is so much information coming out. She worries for his safety but knows that you are more powerful than most. She wants to see if you will answer some of his questions and maybe sign something for him.¡± ¡°Sign something? I¡¯m not a celebrity¡­¡± ¡°To a child, it might seem otherwise.¡± ¡°Okay, sure. She¡¯s a great worker and always really nice. I¡¯d love to meet her son if she wants.¡± Edwin nodded and moved on to the next topic. ¡°The construction has begun on the mother-in-law suite; it should be finished in two to three weeks¡¯ time. The Guild was most amicable in sending over two of their novice enchanters to help work on the enchantments for the construction.¡± ¡°Great,¡± Alex answered as he took off his shirt and glanced at himself in the mirror. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to an actual workshop.¡± He looked back into the mirror and took in his appearance. His brown hair was longer than he kept it before the integration, but still generally well kept. Some stubble was beginning to grow on his jaw after not shaving for several days, but what drew his attention the most was not the now-toned muscles he sported. Instead, it was his face. Always the face. The scar drew attention before anything, as it was a relatively straight line from under his left eye, across his nose, and two inches past his nose and onto the right side of his face. From there, his eye was naturally drawn to the mismatched colored eyes. Specifically, the abnormally light-colored Heavenly Eye was attention-grabbing. The black center seemed out of place compared to the yellow coloring of the rest of his eye, and the deep orange starburst pattern that ringed the iris made it almost mesmerizing to look at. He knew that if he were to lean close to the mirror and inspect the pattern, small specs could be seen, reminding him of a miniature cosmos. ¡°The last note for the morning is your finances. I attempted to mention it last Saturday before you went out to the Awakened establishment with the others, as it was the first of the month, but I think it important that you look over these, Master Moore. While I can keep your books, as head of the household, you are responsible for ensuring they are done correctly and you are pleased with how I¡¯ve handled them.¡± Edwin extended a ledger, and Alex looked down at it. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°The money from the Guild came through?¡± Edwin nodded and continued to hold the book out. ¡°Yes. The monthly payout was larger than we expected.¡± Alex gently pushed the notebook back to Edwin. ¡°I will look at it. You¡¯re right; it¡¯s something I need to do, but I¡¯m about to shower. Would you put it in the locked drawer of my desk?¡± Edwin straightened and put the book behind his back once more. ¡°Of course, Master Moore. Do enjoy your shower. I believe Mr. Thompson is downstairs and chatting with Chef Cruz.¡± After Edwin left, Alex stepped into his shower. He marveled at the pressure and how the temperature of the water didn¡¯t dip or change at all once set. The wide, heated floors with a stone base, glass walls, and ceiling rain-like water faucet were about as far from his old shower as possible. After showering, he felt refreshed and thought about the rest of his morning. He¡¯d been reviewing his notes from his time in the Celestial Rift, finding Eura¡¯s teaching to be more useful than almost any of the manuals he¡¯d read through before and since. That¡¯s exactly how I ended up hiring this guy from the Guild. Hopefully, it¡¯s not a waste. He dried himself off and shook out his hair before walking down to the kitchen. Mark sat at the island with a large stack of pancakes in front of him. He looked up as Alex entered, grinning around a mouthful of food. ¡°Seriously? You hired a tutor?¡± Mark asked, syrup dripping from his fork. ¡°Since when do you need help learning any of this magic stuff? And¡­ will they even know more than you about magic?¡± Alex shrugged as he snagged a piece of bacon from the side of Mark¡¯s plate. ¡°Maybe not about magic in general, but definitely about enchanting. And since when do I need help? Since I got tired of reading theory books. You know me- I learn better when someone shows me what to do. Sarah was the one to recommend it and gave me a contact of someone she knows.¡± ¡°From the Hunters Association?¡± When Alex nodded, Mark wrinkled his brow as he chewed. ¡°Are you supposed to be doing that? Aren¡¯t we like¡­ against them?¡± Alex rolled his eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve been spending too much time with Olivia.¡± ¡°She¡¯s your girlfriend,¡± Mark pointed at him with a fork. ¡°I know, but she sees things in black and white. Everything is definitely a gray area right now. Hell, the Guild started all of this by scraping the internet, recruiting in secret, and deleting posts. I¡¯m not saying that they were wrong, but it has always been a bit shady. Sarah seems to like what the Hunters Association is doing, and I trust her, too. I can¡¯t imagine that they are evil incarnate or trying to control everything.¡± Mark held up his hands. ¡°Alright, alright. Anyway, from what I remember in college, you definitely learn better with some hands-on work.¡± Alex nodded, grateful for the subject change. ¡°Yeah. So, I figured if it¡¯s between grabbing someone else who¡¯s already learned or read the things I would be reading¡­ it will be better to have them teach me, and we can go back and forth some.¡± ¡°And it has nothing to do with being rich enough to hire private tutors now?¡± Mark said. ¡°Hey, if I¡¯m paying someone to teach me, at least I¡¯ll feel obligated to show up for the lessons.¡± Alex poured himself another cup of coffee and thanked Gabby as she handed him his own plate of food. ¡°It just happens to be that money makes it very convenient since now the lessons can be here instead of at the Voss Estate.¡± Mark snorted. ¡°Fair enough. Just don¡¯t let it go to your head, Mr. Moneybags.¡± Gabby laughed with Mark, and Alex rolled his eyes but couldn¡¯t suppress a smile. He sipped his coffee and thought through what little he remembered from skimming the basic runic manual before. He had done a lot of his early ritual learning by himself and through the manuals, and while that had worked out well for him, he did significantly better when learning with someone. His knowledge and ability had skyrocketed from his time with Eura and the other martial masters. While his tutor from the Hunters Association wasn¡¯t likely to be a master, considering that the System Integration only began about four months before, he was excited to learn with someone and be able to ask questions and see practical examples. ¡°Mana?¡± Valtherion¡¯s voice came through their bond. Alex groaned aloud, which caused Mark to look over. ¡°Val¡¯s coming down. Do you have a Mana Stone on you?¡± Mark looked at him with mock offense. ¡°Where is your pouch?¡± ¡°It¡¯s upstairs, come on. I¡¯ll give you another one later.¡± Mark seemed to think about it, ¡°Alright.¡± He reached into his pouch and removed a stone but pulled it back before Alex could grab it. ¡°But, I want us to do the Loot Party tonight. It¡¯s the end of the third week, and we have so much stuff to sift through. We need to figure out who gets what and what gets sold to the Auction House.¡± ¡°Alright, alright.¡± Alex could feel Valtherion approaching at high speed. Mark laughed and tossed him the stone. As soon as Alex caught it, he tossed it up in the air and smiled as a blue streak sailed through the air and snatched it before it could begin to fall again. ¡°Mana good!¡± Valtherion¡¯s voice chirped, a mix of childish enthusiasm and excitement coming through. His speech was clear but still stilted, like a toddler learning to form sentences. Val hovered near Alex¡¯s shoulder, his wings flapping lazily to the point that Alex wondered if he truly even needed the wings or if he could still hover and fly like when he was a wyrm. He hummed with satisfaction as the stone was held in his mouth, and through Alex¡¯s left eye, it was clear he was siphoning the mana from the stone. The hum resembled a purr from a happy cat, and Alex watched as his companion¡¯s intelligent eyes looked at the humans present. The light, yellow eyes with slits looked so different to Alex compared to the large bug-like eyes he used to have. ¡°More?¡± he asked hopefully, his tone carrying a wheedling note that reminded him of a child begging. Alex chuckled and reached out to pat Val¡¯s head. ¡°Not right now, buddy. We¡¯ve got a guest coming soon.¡± Val¡¯s snout and brows made his face more expressive, and the pout that followed was easily seen by both Alex and Mark. He turned and slowly drifted out of the room. ¡°Val wait, be good. Val is good, mana is good. Good Val can have mana.¡± he said as he moved back to the stairs. Alex exchanged an amused glance with Mark. The little mana beast¡¯s vocabulary and assertiveness were endearing, but Alex could sense future challenges as he continued to grow smarter. Alex knew that the baby dragon¡¯s desire to be included and his increasing awareness of his own wants were a combination that would require careful handling. The doorbell chimed, echoing through the mansion. Sam, who¡¯d been lounging in the living room, waved at them through the glass and open courtyard. From the kitchen, Alex waved back and could faintly hear him yell, ¡°I¡¯ll get it!¡± He raced off toward the entrance, enjoying the attempt to answer the door before Edwin could get there. More often than not, Edwin won. His ability to anticipate tasks that dealt with his job, because of his trait, led to Sam losing. Sam swung the door open, revealing a young man in his mid-twenties. He wore a button-up shirt and khakis. There was a messenger bag slung over his shoulder and his sandy blonde hair was similar in color to Sam¡¯s, but instead of a tousled mess, it was neatly combed to the side. He wore a pair of wire-rimmed glasses and took in Sam with a quick glance. ¡°Hi there, I¡¯m Evan!¡± the man¡¯s smile was warm as he looked at Sam. ¡°You must be excited to start learning about runes today. Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll take it nice and slow-¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m not the student,¡± Sam interrupted, trying not to laugh. He shook the other man¡¯s hand anyway, happy to make him feel more at ease. ¡°Alex is.¡± He pointed toward the foyer as Alex approached from the west side of the house. Evan¡¯s practiced teacher¡¯s smile faltered slightly as he took in Alex¡¯s appearance. ¡°Oh, I¡­ I see,¡± Evan stammered before extending his hand once more. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the assumption,¡± he said as he looked from Sam to Alex and back again. ¡°No worries. I¡¯m Alex Moore. You said your name was Evan, right? Thanks for coming out here today. Sarah said you were in the Safe Zone, so thanks for making the drive.¡± Evan shook Alex¡¯s hand, his grip a bit too firm, betraying his nervousness. ¡°Evan Parker. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Moore.¡± ¡°Just Alex is fine,¡± he said, gesturing for Evan to come inside. ¡°How about we head up to the office? It¡¯s set up for our lesson.¡± Edwin appeared silently beside them. ¡°If you¡¯ll follow me, gentlemen.¡± Evan¡¯s eyes widened a bit, and he gestured behind him at the car in the driveway. ¡°Uh, I need to grab some books first, if that¡¯s okay. You requested quite a few, and I brought extras.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Edwin said. ¡°I¡¯ll help you with that, Sir.¡± After they¡¯d gotten the books, Sam returned to the living room and Mark said hello to Evan as he walked through and joined the teen on the couch. As they climbed the stairs with two dozen books, Alex tried to put Evan at ease with some casual conversation. ¡°So, how long have you been studying runes?¡± 95. Lessons in Runes Alex led Evan into his office and gestured for him to set the books down on the large wooden desk. Recently, an extra table that would eventually be moved to the new workshop was added to the office, but the office room was spacious, giving both of them plenty of space to work and stand. Evan looked with interest at the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lining both the left and right walls. The late morning light flooded into the space from the large window overlooking the estate grounds. ¡°Make yourself comfortable,¡± Alex said as he perched himself on one of the stools around the large table. Evan nodded and placed the books on the table, accidentally dropping one and apologizing. He stood again and fidgeted with the clasp on his bag as he laid out several materials for them to begin working. ¡°S- so, um, we should start with the basic principles.¡± He pulled out a folder of notes and a few basic rune-drawing tools. ¡°Before we start, could you tell me more about how you got interested in runes? I¡¯ve been looking through a manual or two, but I¡¯d love to hear about your experience.¡± Evan paused, caught a bit off guard by the more personal question. He pushed his glasses up his nose before answering. ¡°Oh, well, I¡­ I¡¯ve always been fascinated by art. And when the Rifts started appearing, and I found out magic was real, I started doing everything I could to get my hands on rune material. I was able to sign a contract with the Hunters Association to begin learning runes and work for them.¡± As Evan spoke, his posture became increasingly relaxed and Alex noted how his voice stopped shaking. ¡°I started with basic manuals, like everyone else. But there¡¯s something about runes that just¡­ clicked for me. The way they channel mana, how different combinations can create entirely new effects- it¡¯s like a language and a science rolled into one.¡± Alex nodded and was genuinely interested. ¡°That¡¯s great. You seem really passionate about it. I read that enchanting anything can actually take decades to learn to do¡­ Have you had a chance to create any working runes yet?¡± Evan¡¯s eyes lit up, clearly proud. ¡°Complex arrays can definitely take years to learn, especially when you think about how they all change depending on the material you¡¯re enchanting. But a simple trinket or charm is quite easy.¡± Noticing the lack of comprehension on Alex¡¯s face, Evan clarified. ¡°Oh, sorry. A trinket is an item with one rune in it, and a charm has a two-rune combination. Nothing too complex, but I managed to create a basic heating, two-rune combination on my coffee mug.¡± He chuckled, more of his nervousness fading away. ¡°It¡¯s not much, but it was incredibly satisfying to see it actually work.¡± ¡°Really? I didn¡¯t know that. I was close to giving up on runes before because I thought there wouldn¡¯t be results for a few years.¡± ¡°Oh no, you can definitely see results earlier than that. Just not as complex and powerful as some of the layered arrays and enchantments. It¡¯s why the Hunters Association is hiring and sponsoring so many people to join up as enchanters- they believe it¡¯s the key to moving the world forward. Magitech, they keep calling it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impressive, ¡° Alex said. ¡°Yeah, now that you mention it, I¡¯ve seen something about their push for magitech in the news, but I haven¡¯t seen any results from it yet. It¡¯s pretty cool to know that you were able to actually enchant something, though. I¡¯ve read some basics of theory, so I get a bit of it. But would love if you take it from the start, I don¡¯t mind relearning anything and it¡¯ll be great to be able to ask you questions.¡± Evan nodded, and his demeanor became more serious as he slipped into teaching mode. ¡°Of course. Let¡¯s start with the fundamentals, then.¡± Alex grabbed one of his leather-bound notebooks from the main desk and prepared to take notes. Evan pulled out a three-ring binder and opened it to a page filled with neatly drawn diagrams. ¡°Runes are, at their core, symbols that channel and shape magical energy- or mana, as we call it. Each rune represents a specific concept or effect. The original manual that I read worded it as ¡®a crystallized form of magical intent.¡¯¡± Scribbling notes furiously, Alex took notes and nodded along. It wasn¡¯t until his pen and mind caught up to the words Evan had said that he interrupted the man¡¯s next sentence. ¡°There are three different classifications of runes, but we can get into that shortly. For now, you should know that there are several thousand runes, but even masters only learn a few dozen over the cour-¡± ¡°Oh holy shit,¡± Alex said while standing suddenly. He didn¡¯t even register Evan¡¯s reaction as he stared at the paper and reread the last sentences of the notes twice more. Crystallized form of magical intent. He turned and grabbed his phone from the desk. Quickly trying to scroll back through the notes that he¡¯d been listening to with his skill through the night. It took a few minutes, and Evan waited a bit nervously, watching Alex mutter to himself and flip through his phone. ¡°HA!¡± Alex shouted. He read the notes over again and then walked back to the table. He wanted to slam his phone down from excitement. ¡°Holy shit, how did I not think of that.¡± ¡°Um, Mr. Moore? What are you talking about?¡± The use of his last name brought Alex back to the moment. ¡°Oh, uh, sorry. A few weeks ago, someone who was helping me with rituals was trying to explain something to me and I wasn¡¯t understanding it. But now¡­ I think it might be possible to use some runes with rituals? If I can learn how to make them work together¡­¡± He let the thought taper off as he thought through the possibilities of putting runes in the Catalyst node slots in some of his rituals. If he could do that, rather than enchanting an item, he could create an all-new kind of ritual magic. Or something even better than ritual magic. Evan looked at him skeptically, ¡°I don¡¯t think¡­¡± Alex shrugged. ¡°No way to know until I try, but the phrasing of how you said the manual you read talked about runes, is almost identical to how the ritual manual referred to catalysts. It might be a long shot, and I might have to tinker with the ritual schematic some to make it work, but there¡¯s a chance.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t just put a rune in a ritual though. By themselves, the runes don¡¯t do much. It¡¯s how they¡¯re engraved into an item and put in certain combinations that cause the effect to work. The actual mana movement and effects are a combination of the runes in the right position as an array.¡± ¡°Well, what if the ritual does the actual management for mana flow and directing the magic? The runes would really just be used individually for that intent you mentioned. I¡¯m using a shortcut now by just sacrificing stuff into the ritual to make them work.¡± ¡°You¡¯re sacrificing stuff?¡± Evan¡¯s eyes went wide, and he took a half step back. ¡°Just items,¡± Alex answered off-handedly, clearly not seeing the horror followed by relief on the younger man''s face. ¡°Hmm, it just needs the magical intent and the concept of a catalyst to influence the ritual, then it could work. Right?¡± Alex said distractedly, talking more to himself than Evan. ¡°What?¡± ¡°It totally can. I just need to figure out how to make it.¡± Alex nodded and slapped the bottom of his fist into his other palm. ¡°Oh, wow. Sorry, Evan. I got a bit carried away there, but seriously- if this works, our lesson is already well worth it. This could be a big breakthrough for me.¡± The last sentence seemed to put Evan at ease, and he smiled nervously at Alex¡¯s somewhat manic behavior. ¡°Uh, okay? It¡¯s only been like¡­ 10 minutes?¡± ¡°Right, ha¡­ Please, continue.¡± Alex picked his pen back up but didn¡¯t feel like he could sit down with the excitement running through him. "Well," Evan began, after organizing his thoughts. "There are thousands of runes, but they''re all organized into three main categories." He held up a finger. "First, there are Control Runes, which manage things like flow control, storage, and regulation of mana." He raised a second finger. "Then there are Primary Runes, which create the actual magical effect you want¡ªlike heat, spark or light. Most of these runes are specific in their function, and more broad Primary Runes like the elements themselves are much harder to learn." A third finger joined the others. "Finally, there are Modifier Runes. These alter how the Primary Runes work. They can amplify effects, speed up effects, extend duration, or control the area of effect." Alex jotted this down, then looked up. "So you need all three?" "For a proper enchantment, yes. You need at least one from each category working together for it to be considered an enchantment. Though," Evan added, seeing Alex''s expression, "you can create simpler effects with just one or two runes. They''re just not considered true enchantments." Alex nodded along, feeling more motivated to learn about runes now than ever before. ¡°Right, you said you made a two-rune combination?¡± Alex asked. Evan nodded. ¡°Yes. In practical application, there are some effects you can get on the material itself that will happen if you just use a Primary Rune or a Primary and Control Rune. Those are called trinkets and charms. However, in an ideal setup, there should also be something from the Modifier category as well, even if it¡¯s only there to be more specific in the enchantment¡¯s effect.¡± Pleased with the answer, Alex kept his head down and kept taking notes while glancing over at Evan¡¯s notes. He flipped to another page. ¡°One of the biggest parts of runic magic is precision and understanding. The shape, size, and even the material you inscribed the rune on all affect its function.¡± Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. ¡°I¡¯ve read a bit about material compatibility. It¡¯s pretty interesting how different rune combinations have to be used depending on the shape and material of an object.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Evan said as he warmed up to the subject. ¡°For instance, a fire rune etched on copper will behave differently than one on stone. It¡¯s all about resonance.¡± He pulled out a sheet with two simple runes drawn on it. ¡°These are the ones I¡¯m most comfortable with and can teach you. There is a basic activation rune and a spark rune.¡± ¡°That sounds great,¡± Alex said. ¡°Could you walk me through how you¡¯d typically teach someone to draw their first rune? I¡¯d like to start with the easiest of the elemental runes if you don¡¯t mind.¡± Evan smiled, reaching into his bag for a fresh sheet of paper and a stone slate. He set the slate on the table along with a piece of chalk. ¡°Certainly. Let¡¯s begin with an activation rune, though. While the elements are cool, they don¡¯t normally do anything on their own. You¡¯ll need an activation rune for every single enchantment, and ideally, it will give you an easy way to test and see if you¡¯ve successfully created it.¡± Alex wasn¡¯t sure that he needed an activation rune. The more he thought about the concept, the less he thought he might be actually enchanting things. Rather, he¡¯d learn different runes for the sake of his modified ritual circles. If he was able to put the rune in a catalyst node, then it was more likely that his ritual would power the rune, which would then activate inside of the ritual. However, at the moment, I¡¯m pretty limited in how I can activate the ritual circles. There constantly has to be a thread connected to them for me to pulse my mana. If I have some different ways to activate it through this rune¡­ Alex smiled and forced his excited mind to quiet down. There wasn¡¯t any need for him to act like an impatient child with a new toy. He still wasn¡¯t even sure if the concept was going to work. But there was one important factor for any of this theory to work with what he was already doing¡­ ¡°Actually, before we start practicing, I do have one more question,¡± Alex said. ¡°Do runes always need to be engraved into something?¡± ¡°Oh, well,¡± Evan adjusted his glasses. ¡°They can actually be drawn on various other materials, as well. This includes paper or parchment. Those are called talismans, even if it¡¯s a one or two-rune combination or even a complex six-link enchantment- if it¡¯s a single use, then it¡¯s considered a talisman and will burn up after activation.¡± Alex leaned forward. ¡°Single-use? But they still work?¡± ¡°Yes, but most enchanters see it as wasteful,¡± Evan explained. ¡°You need the same precision, mana control, and intent as permanent enchantments. It takes just as much skill and effort to create a talisman that will only work once as it does to create something permanent. That¡¯s why most serious enchanters focus on engraved enchantments instead. Sorry.¡± Alex couldn¡¯t help but smile as his excitement continued to grow. If runes could work on paper, then theoretically, they would work when formed purely from mana threads in his ritual circles. ¡°That¡¯s actually perfect,¡± he muttered. ¡°Perfect? Most people are disappointed when they hear about talismans.¡± "Trust me, this helps more than you know," Alex said, then gestured to the slate. "Now, let''s see that activation rune.¡± ¡°First, we¡¯ll go over the components and strokes of the rune, then I¡¯ll demonstrate, and finally, you can try it yourself on the slate. It should let us easily see any discrepancies, and you can do it as many times as you need without wasting the paper.¡± As Evan began explaining the intricacies of the storage rune, Alex listened attentively. He thought through the strokes and lines of the rune. Both the manual he¡¯d first read, and now Evan had both mentioned how important precision was when practicing and inscribing runes. An idea formed in Alex¡¯s mind while Evan continued to draw and explain each stroke, focusing on the width of the line and placement of the subsequent line. When he was done and prompted Alex to begin and do his best to replicate the process, Alex looked at the drawing. ¡°¡­don¡¯t expect or worry about getting it perfect on your first try. Seriously. The manuals recommend hours of this repetitive drawing practice every day for months.¡± Alex studied the rune that Evan had drawn, his mind racing with the possibilities. ¡°Do you mind if I try something? It feels a bit like cheating, but I want to test it out.¡± ¡°Sure?¡± Alex held his hand over the binder that held the perfect rune diagram. He activated [Mana Thread] and let several strands fall down from his hand and used his high magical control to move the threads into the exact likeness of the rune. ¡°Wait, one second. I want to see,¡± Evan said. There was a moment¡¯s pause as he looked at Alex¡¯s hand seriously and focused on activating a skill. Evan¡¯s eye flashed, signifying the activation. Gasping, he looked up at Alex. ¡°How are you doing that?¡± He leaned forward. ¡°You can see the threads?¡± ¡°Yes, my boss said that I needed to have a skill to see mana. It¡¯s almost necessary when learning runes, so they bought me the skill manual and had me learn [Mana Sight]. But your mana looks a bit fuzzy, maybe because it¡¯s so fine, it¡¯s hard to tell exactly what¡¯s happening. What are you doing with it?¡± Evan¡¯s eyes dimmed as the skill ran out. Alex shrugged, and when the form was finished, he moved it to his own slate. ¡°Well, since the mana is intangible, I thought I could use it to trace and not mess up the rune.¡± Alex looked at it for a moment before smiling to himself. ¡°And actually, if I¡¯m going to cheat, I might as well go all the way, right?¡± Standing, he moved to his desk and grabbed the spatial pouch that had been resting on the far corner. He reached within and retrieved a smaller pouch of mana stone dust. Evan¡¯s eyes went wide at the sight of the bag. ¡°Is that¡­ a spatial storage item?¡± Alex nodded and set the pouch down on the work table before holding up the other hand and extending even more threads from his fingers. The new ones, he dipped into the mana stone dust and traced his already floating image near his piece of practice slate. As the threads solidified around the outer edge of the image, he created a raised boundary. ¡°Kiddy rails, like in bowling.¡± Alex smiled at Evan, who stood staring in amazement. With careful strokes, Alex traced the rune, the chalk over the slate guided perfectly by the mana thread outline. When he finished, the result was flawless- an exact replica of Evan¡¯s diagram. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ incredible. And pretty depressing, if I¡¯m being honest.¡± They both laughed. ¡°How did you do that?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you a general idea of how the skill works if you tell me some about your [Mana Sight],¡± Alex said. He didn¡¯t feel comfortable telling someone from the Hunters Association about such a core skill of his, but he liked Evan and felt that as long as he was vague and got something in return, it could be a small show of good faith. Alex briefly explained that he had a high mana control skill and that he¡¯d learned how to bind it into a more physical substance with a substance that¡¯s ground into dust. ¡°I thought that using it like guard rails or a stencil would help with the precision you mentioned.¡± Evan nodded enthusiastically. ¡°That¡¯s brilliant. My skill seems to be a somewhat common one and it¡¯s only at level five. But, I can activate it and it allows me to see some movement of mana in a short radius around me for a few seconds. While I¡¯m learning to enchant, it can often take a while to complete something since I need to activate this multiple times over the course of a single rune to make sure I¡¯m doing everything correctly. But your method¡­ The applications for this in rune crafting and enchanting could be enormous. You could easily become one of the best enchanters on Earth using something like this.¡± Looking at the perfect tracing, Alex shook his head. ¡°Not really. This is a good tool to have so I can learn, but not really a substitute for me learning how to do it on my own. It¡¯s like tracing in art- useful for learning but not something you¡¯d rely on forever. And for that matter, you could just use a 3-D printer to create stencils of these runes if you wanted. At least for training purposes.¡± "That''s a good point. It''s an incredible technique for learning, but you''re right¡ªmastery comes from being able to do it on your own, and there¡¯s more to it than just the portions of drawing." "Exactly," Alex agreed. "I''ll still need to practice a lot to get to the point where I can draw these accurately without any aids. But I think this method might help me learn the shapes more quickly at first." Evan leaned in, examining the traced rune more closely. "It''s a great starting point. You''ll internalize the shapes faster this way, I think. But yes, definitely keep practicing freehand too." ¡°Well great, so that¡¯s it? Did I make my first rune?¡± Evan laughed at that. ¡°No, not quite. If it just came down to this, then, like you said, we could have printers coming up with perfect runes and enchantments in no time. No,¡± he said again, ¡°this is actually the easiest part. Next comes the part for learning a runic pattern in order to ¡®set¡¯ the rune. Each rune has a different pattern of how mana must be flooded through the rune, and some are very complex. Mana needs to be flushed through the rune in the right pattern and then set. The term ¡®set¡¯ is crucial and has two parts to it. ¡°The first is that you must put your intent toward the rune. You must want for it to work and succeed. The manuals say that this is often why passionate individuals are so successful in magic and that often, even those who are mad can become world-renowned enchanters, as their belief is unshakable. The second part is a little more abstract, and there¡¯s not a great way to measure it, but it has to do with your understanding of that concept.¡± ¡°Understanding of what?¡± ¡°Well, it applies to all runes, but mostly to the Primary Runes. For this activation rune, though, it comes down to how you think of this rune as a concept. What does ¡®activation¡¯ mean to you? How well do you know the etymology or scientific meaning behind the word?¡± ¡°Uh, that sounds like it could be really personal to each case, right? My understanding of something like ¡®spark¡¯ or ¡®heat¡¯ is going to be different than your understanding.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right! The manuals talk about how important this is, though, and that it will naturally grow as you use the rune in enchantments, but it¡¯s also important to contemplate the concepts and combinations that you plan to use most. ¡°So, again- you need to write or engrave the rune, learn and practice its mana pattern, flush the rune, and set it with your intent and understanding. This is done for each rune in the enchantment, and the pattern of mana through the rune can change depending on the linked enchantment that it¡¯s with.¡± Alex¡¯s head spun as he realized that the creation of even one rune was more complicated than he¡¯d realized. Well, this might make things a bit harder to use with the rituals, but the theory remains. It could actually work¡­ it¡¯s just going to take a lot of practice. But it reminds me a bit of the shapes Eura had me practicing with mana-shaping exercises for rituals. I need to do the same thing all over again, just using some of the basic runes. Their session continued, with Evan explaining more about rune theory and Alex asking questions and taking notes. As their time drew to a close, both felt they had learned a great deal. ¡°This has been great,¡± Evan said as he packed up his materials. ¡°I never thought about runes quite this way before and didn¡¯t think that the manual¡¯s early words were so important.¡± Alex nodded, equally enthusiastic. "Same here. Your theory work and knowledge is great. It¡¯s so helpful to have someone to ask questions and understand something where as the manual would just keep moving along. I''d love to continue these sessions if you''re willing." Evan hesitated for a moment. "Actually, I''d be happy to come back without charge. Working with you, I feel like I''m learning as much as I''m teaching." "I appreciate that," Alex said, "but I want to pay you, at least for now. There''s still so much I can learn from you about runes. Maybe when we''ve covered everything you know, and we¡¯re on more equal footing, we can become working partners instead." Evan''s face lit up. "That would be great. Thanks." They exchanged numbers, both excited about future sessions. As Evan left, Alex could feel his excitement resurfacing. He was onto something with the use of runes; he knew it. He had a ton to learn, and safety would be key in how he moved forward, but with some extra guidance and his own abilities, he felt like he was back on the right track. He began to walk back to his office, mind buzzing with new ideas and possibilities. His train of thought was interrupted by Mark, who stuck his head into the hallway before Alex could enter his office. ¡°Hey!¡± Alex looked up. ¡°Don¡¯t get too sucked into all this! We¡¯re doing our loot pile party in a bit!¡± ¡°What time is it?¡± ¡°Almost six. You guys were at it for a while.¡± Alex groaned, wanting to keep working on the runes. As he realized the time, though, his stomach growled. ¡°I need food.¡± ¡°Loot party! I¡¯m serious, dude. Eat and then meet us in the living room. In just a day or two, the last week of the event starts, and we are gonna be finished! We¡¯ve been checking and sharing our loot as we go, but we should combine it all to take stock and make sure everyone is getting what they need. Sarah is on the way over, and Olivia said she¡¯d be here before 7:00. Come on, get with the excitement! Loot Pile Party, woo!¡± Alex nodded and waved at his large friend as he walked back down the stairs. ¡°I hear you, dude. Loot party!¡± He mustered some enthusiasm and waved both hands in the air. He heard Mark laugh as he reached the bottom of the stairs and made his way to the kitchen. 96. Loot Pile Party Alex stood in the center of his living room, surveying the transformation. After coming down the stairs, eating lunch at the kitchen counter, and swiping through social media on his phone for a bit, he heard Sarah come into the house and start talking loudly with Mark in the living room. Curious, he walked through the house and into the changed space. Multiple tables had been arranged in a rough semicircle, each with a piece of paper on it. Each paper had a quickly scribbled word on it, in Mark¡¯s messy handwriting, that designated each table for a different category of loot. He shook his head and scoffed before looking at Edwin, who was adjusting the last table. ¡°Edwin, I can¡¯t believe you actually helped Mark with this ridiculous request,¡± Alex said, with a tone between amusement and disbelief. Edwin straightened his coat and kept his expression neutral. ¡°Master Moore, it is my duty to assist with all household matters, regardless of how¡­ unconventional they may be.¡± Mark¡¯s voice rang out from the far side of the living room as he pulled some stuff out from the cabinets and mini-fridge. ¡°Oh, come on! Don¡¯t give him a hard time, dude!¡± He staggered across the room with his arms full of snacks and drinks. To top off the ridiculous image, he was bumping a whiteboard on wheels across the smooth floor with his hip and shoulder before Edwin came over to assist. ¡°This is important team bonding! If you¡¯re gonna be the team captain, you gotta do some stuff like this¡ª for morale.¡± Sarah was seated cross-legged to Alex¡¯s right on the couch. She pulled out her laptop and snorted with laughter. ¡°Is that what we¡¯re calling it now?¡± As Mark began arranging all the snacks, he suddenly stood up straight and adopted an exaggerated ceremonial pose. ¡°Oh great and mighty loot gods,¡± he intoned, holding a bag of chips over his head, ¡°accept our humble snack tribute and bless us with epic rewards!¡± Olivia leaned against the doorframe behind him and rolled her eyes. ¡°If the loot gods are real, they¡¯re probably more insulted than appeased. I can¡¯t imagine they¡¯d want Doritos¡­¡± ¡°Oh hey, when did you get here?¡± Alex said as he walked over and gave her a hug. ¡°¡­ But they¡¯re Cool Ranch¡­¡± Mark said as he lowered the bag. There was a long moment where he stood quietly and stared with a blank look. Then he just shrugged and took a bite out of a chip with a loud crunch. Alex and Olivia walked over to the table, and Alex set his spatial pouch down. ¡°Alright, well, I guess everyone can start pulling out everything we¡¯ve gotten. We can spread it out and start passing things around when Sam gets here.¡± Alex reached into his pouch and began setting items on the table in front of himself with one hand while he used his other hand and some physical threads of mana to begin gently lifting the items and sorting them neatly onto the proper tables. He paused for a moment to acknowledge internally how cool it was to magically lift things up and move them around. For some of the heavier items, it required multiple threads, or one at either end of the item, to lift it up efficiently, but it was still something that would have seemed completely absurd just a few months before. Olivia, standing next to him, raised an eyebrow. ¡°Hey Edwin, how many Mana Stones does Alex waste getting dust for little parlor tricks like this?¡± She grinned and dramatically reached out to pick up a small potion bottle with care. ¡°You know, some of us manage just fine with our hands.¡± Alex felt his cheeks warm slightly. ¡°It¡¯s efficient,¡± he muttered, but there was no real annoyance in his tone, and he knew she was only teasing. Sam entered the room with an enormous grin on his face and walking somewhat stiffly. Alex immediately rolled his eyes and covered both of his eyes with his hand. The teenager held out his spatial pouch and walked to the table before beginning to slowly unload items. All of their eyes turned to Sam as he wore a cloak that they hadn¡¯t seen before. It appeared to be of extremely high quality. A beautiful azure with gold trim and intricately designed patterns of magic across it. There was a collar that rose above the clasp and to the bottom of Sam¡¯s jaw, protecting his neck. Sam finished pulling out the twenty or so odd items that he¡¯d received from completing both his Personal and Rift Quests over the last three weeks and he stood there, smiling, and waiting for someone to say something. ¡°Wow, great! So when do we get to start?¡± Sam said. ¡°Uhh, Sam? What about the cloak? Is that one of the Rift rewards or a custom order?¡± Even though it didn¡¯t seem like it was possible, Sam¡¯s smile widened, and then he burst into laughter. Mark and Sarah looked from Sam to Alex, who was still covering his face. In a showy motion, the short cloak from around Sam¡¯s shoulders flared to life and twisted, the image distorted and shimmered as the illusion broke. ¡°Val!¡± the baby dragon called happily as if surprising the entire group with his grand reveal. Mark and Sarah both began to laugh along with Sam. Even Olivia couldn¡¯t suppress the grin from her face. ¡°I guess he advanced the illusion skill, then?¡± Alex said, watching as his companion, who had his eyes closed and his chin lifted in the air with pride. ¡°Yeah, and it was his idea to use his wings to become a cloak. At first he tried to put them over my head, but it just looked like a really weird wizard¡¯s hat.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got to admit,¡± Mark said after wiping his eye. ¡°it¡¯s actually a pretty good illusion for him. The bottom of the cloak did look a bit pointy, but it really looked like he moved around like cloth.¡± ¡°Val watch window cape!¡± ¡°You what?¡± Valtherion unwrapped himself from Sam before moving over to the large windows of the living room that face the front yard. He flapped his wings and used his long tail to grab onto a section of the curtain before hanging upside down and letting his wings hang down limp. Then, he reactivated the illusion skill and looked as if he became a perfect blend with the curtain. Mark began clapping, and after a moment, Sam and Olivia both joined him. Alex looked over to Mark and saw the large Polish man looking at Sam with a smile. When they made eye contact, Mark raised an eyebrow and nodded his head to the teen. They exchanged a silent look of pride, watching how far he¡¯d come in just a few weeks. ¡°Alright, guys,¡± Alex said, clapping his hands together. ¡°Let¡¯s get this loot party started. We¡¯ve all been accepting our rewards and talking about them or even sharing when needed. But I have a feeling this is going to be really impressive when we stop to look at everything and catalog what we¡¯ve got. Next week should be a breeze if we can use this stuff to set ourselves up well enough. It¡¯s the last week of the Teams Event, and it would be awesome to close three more Rifts in that time!¡± ¡°Woo, Loot Pile Party!¡± Mark called, followed by a whoop and cheer from Sam. The living room buzzed with excitement as everyone finished unpacking their rewards from their spatial pouches, and Alex stepped back to watch them all. ¡°Let¡¯s get a count going,¡± Sarah said, her fingers tapping on her laptop keyboard. ¡°How many Rifts did everyone participate in?¡± ¡°Eight for me,¡± Alex said, which was followed by Mark and Sam quickly echoing the same. ¡°Four for me,¡± Sarah added as she looked up from her screen. Olivia crossed her arms. ¡°Three. Guild duties kept me busy.¡± Sarah nodded and finished typing. ¡°So, that¡¯s¡­ 62 total rewards. Jeez, guys. We¡¯ve been busy!¡± As they sorted through the pile, Sam suddenly let out a whoop. ¡°Oh, hey! Check this one out, I forgot this was from the one we finished two days ago.¡± He held up a shining ring that had small runes etched into its surface. ¡°The System called it a Mana Control Ring.¡± Olivia¡¯s eyes widened, and she took a step forward. ¡°That¡¯s an Uncommon quality item?¡± Sam¡¯s excitement dimmed slightly, and he glanced between Olivia and the ring. Only a moment passed before Olivia saw Sam¡¯s face, and she shook her head quickly. ¡°You know what? You keep it, Sam. You did more Rifts, and it was your drop anyway. Use it well, kid.¡± ¡°Thanks, I will!¡± Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. ¡°That¡¯s a decent point, though,¡± Sarah pointed out. ¡°How do we want to do this? What¡¯s our main goal here?¡± ¡°I¡¯d say the main goal is to get our team outfitted first. We have a decent amount of money at our disposal from the Rift information sale. While I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll get a nice payout from selling some of this, it will be more important to have everyone set first.¡± When everyone nodded in agreement, Mark spoke up. ¡°So, if it was your drop, you get the first dibs on it? Then we can just kind of vote or pass it around to whoever on the team might need it the most after that. Then, from there, we can put stuff in a pile to be sold or traded in the Auction House?¡± More nods and agreements and Alex moved to the center of the semicircle. He started working his way around the items, scanning them and sharing with the item descriptions with the group. Sarah wrote them down as he went and he needed to take a few short breaks to give his Heavenly Eye a rest. Scanning so many items in quick succession started cause pressure to build in his head just behind his eye. ¡°Oh, what about payment,¡± Mark asked while they waited for Alex to recover during one of the breaks. ¡°Contribution-based or an even split?¡± Everyone in the room looked to Alex at the same time. ¡°Uh, I guess contribution-based,¡± He said with a shrug. ¡°While I know you guys wanted to be with us more, you were doing jobs that already pay you. Seems fair to let us keep a bit more of the loot for the Rifts we ran while you were doing that.¡± Olivia and Sarah looked at each other and shrugged while nodding and agreeing. After going through a few of the more mundane items, Mark held up a small pouch that clinked like glass was within. ¡°Oh, guys. I know what this is.¡± He gently tipped the pouch over as three small, circular-shaped items dropped into his palm. ¡°Skill tokens. These are going to be huge.¡± Alex nodded with him. ¡°Yeah, these are probably the most valuable things for our team. I looted one of them but I¡¯ll pass on it. I have a lot right now and am a bit overwhelmed with the stuff I¡¯m trying to learn as it is. Mark looted one, and Sarah looted the other; I think it¡¯s most important that you two each get one. You¡¯re the lowest level with the least number of skills. Olivia, are you okay if I give the token to Sam as well?¡± Sam looked sheepish as Olivia shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t want to get all of the good stuff,¡± he said, clearly feeling self-conscious about getting two things that the dark-haired woman could have gotten herself. ¡°No worries. I have already gotten two of them through work. Besides, I¡¯m with Alex. I need to focus on leveling and developing the stuff I¡¯ve got. I feel like too many skills could be a bad thing.¡± Sam didn¡¯t seem to be put much at ease, though he did accept the token as Mark tossed it to him. ¡°Sarah and Mark, it might be worth it for you guys to hold on to your token for a few days. We¡¯ve got to look into that a bit more, but if they are just normal skill tokens and not one of the ones that¡¯s bound to a stat type, it should give you a skill that fits you. It could be worth it to wait until you¡¯ve chosen a class before you break the token.¡± ¡°Wait, who looted this?¡± Olivia said, her attention fully focused on the far table. She held up a small black token that looked like a domino. ¡°What is it?¡± Mark and Alex asked at the same time. ¡°A Class Reset Token,¡± Olivia answered. ¡°These things are really rare, and I¡¯ve only seen one so far with the Guild. Apparently, you can crack it just like a skill token, but it will strip your class and give you a prompt just like the one you got at level 10 to choose different options for your class.¡± ¡°Woah, so you wouldn¡¯t need to wait until you hit the threshold to change?¡± She nodded. ¡°But from what I understand, you only use this if you¡¯re looking to change class types altogether. The System won¡¯t offer you the class that you¡¯re changing from, and it won¡¯t offer the evolution path either, so it can¡¯t be used as some sort of shortcut.¡± The discovery of the Class Reset Token caused a stir. After a brief discussion led by Olivia explaining its rarity and potential, they almost all agreed that it should be kept for future use, rather than going into the sale pile. As they continued sorting, the process became more efficient. Potions and Mana Stones were divided equally, ensuring everyone had essential supplies. The group naturally fell into a rhythm of fair distribution, and Sarah used her laptop to track major items and their estimated values. Alex watched Sam grow more confident in his choices and by the end, he was easily deferring items to his teammates, who could better use them. The sorting resulted in three main categories; there were personal keep piles, team resources, and a decent sized sale pile of crafting materials and redundant items. When they finished going through the pile, each member stood excitedly beside a small pile of their own loot and items. Alex looked down at his personal stash and grinned, excited for one item in particular.
E Rank Item - Introduction to Spellcasting Rarity: Common Type: Manual
¡°I¡¯ve really been looking forward to getting into Spellcasting. At least now, when I want to get into it, I don¡¯t have to buy a manual from the Auction House.¡± Mark picked up his own manual. The Physical Training Regimen of the Iron Kingdom seemed promising. Even at first glance, it seemed to focus more on methods for training and developing a strong Constitution rather than high Strength. The other manual of note was Olivia¡¯s. ¡°Yeah, the manuals are pretty big. I wouldn¡¯t have thought about getting one like this, but since it¡¯s here, I can see how it would be a great fit for me. This will definitely improve my scouting skills and will help me make some maps.¡±
E Rank Item - Fundamentals of Cartography Rarity: Common Type: Manual
In the end, they distributed the Mana Stones based on contribution among the group. While it didn¡¯t seem like a lot over three weeks, they¡¯d moved at a pretty leisurely and safe pace through their Rifts. And that was also only looking at the raw Mana Stones gained. If they were to sell more items or trade for Mana Stones, they¡¯d have gained far more money. The group laughed as Val dove into his small pile of stones, chomping down on one while seeming to bask in the feeling of laying on a pile of pure crystalized mana. Alex felt proud of how smoothly the entire thing had gone. Each of them had prioritized the group benefits over their own gain, and while he hadn¡¯t thought that there would be any problem, he¡¯d seen far too many games where people in social situations only wanted to look out for themselves and their own personal gain. ¡°Well,¡± Alex said, ¡°I¡¯d say this was a successful loot party. We¡¯re better equipped, have backup resources, and should make a decent profit. Not bad for three weeks of work, huh?¡± The others all agreed, and a sense of accomplishment clearly settled into the room. They began packing up their new items, and the conversation naturally shifted toward the challenges ahead in the final week of the Teams Event. As they finished organizing their loot and Alex began to put items into his bag, Olivia cleared her throat. ¡°I¡¯ve got some Guild news. The new Headquarters is almost complete, and they¡¯re planning to host the final Teams Event ceremony there next week.¡± Alex noticed Sarah shift uncomfortably at the mention of going to the Guild event at the end of the competition. Olivia must have caught the look as well, as she quickly added, ¡°Sarah, you can come too. Though I can warn you guys a little more than others, Elana will almost certainly use this event as a time to bring in some press and recruit some new Guild members, too.¡± Sarah¡¯s shoulders relaxed slightly. ¡°Thanks, I do want to join. Even if we aren¡¯t first or anything.¡± Mark chimed in, ¡°Speaking of the Guild, any word on that Hunters Association criticism?¡± Olivia sighed. ¡°Yeah, they¡¯re not thrilled with our expansion and the use of intermediaries to get through the Safe Zone checkpoints, but it¡¯s all playing by their rules¡­ so I don¡¯t really see what they can say about it. But honestly, we¡¯re just trying to establish a stable network.¡± She glanced at Alex. ¡°Which reminds me, they¡¯re talking about potentially sending a team to Europe. They¡¯d send a few Peacekeepers and some of our stronger members to help establish a branch in Belgium.¡± Sarah raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you saying that intentionally with me here?¡± ¡°Elana made it clear that I could share it with the team, you included. I think she wants to make it clear that we¡¯re not making shady deals with another country or something, just attempting to expand and make branches.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not reporting stuff you tell me to other people.¡± Sarah shrugged, repeating her previous statement. ¡°It¡¯s not my job, and the moment they start to pressure me to spy on friends is the moment I leave. If it¡¯s a big deal, I¡¯m sure the Hunters Association has other, more reliable ways of finding things out.¡± The room fell silent for a moment as they processed the information and the large step that the Guild was about to take internationally. Alex broke the silence. ¡°Well, let¡¯s focus on what we can control, yeah? We¡¯ve got one week left in the Teams Event, and then the celebration at the new HQ. I say we aim for three more Rifts, push our limits a bit, and maybe make these loot parties a more regular thing?¡± Enthusiastic nods all around. ¡°Great,¡± Mark said while pulling out his phone. ¡°But first, we need a team photo with all this sweet, sweet loot. Everyone, get in!¡± They huddled together in the middle of the semicircle of tables. They were still surrounded by most of the small piles of distributed treasures. As Mark held up his phone, Alex looked at his friends and was just in time to see Valtherion¡¯s head pop up from over Olivia¡¯s shoulder and enter the picture before the flash. Mark and Sam cheered after the picture and Olivia chased Mark around the living room, telling him to let her see the photo. Sarah walked over to him as Val joined the chaos and held up her laptop. ¡°Just in case you wanted to see the full list of the distribution. I sent it to your email, too.¡± ¡°Awesome, thanks for doing that. I have a feeling that we have a lot more loot coming our way if we keep this up,¡± Alex said as he accepted the computer and began to read through the list.
Loot Distribution by Team Member Alex

Valtherion

Mark Sarah Olivia Sam Group Stockpile Sell Pile 97. Extended Insight ¡°Okay,¡± Mark said as he dropped his pack on the floor of the foyer and held his hands up in the air. ¡°As our own celebration for completing our final Rift of the Teams Event, I do hereby declare that a night out is in proper order!¡± Alex scoffed but Sam was the first to speak up as he walked past Alex to the stairs. ¡°I can come this time, right? You said I could!¡± ¡°Yes, you can come.¡± ¡°Alex asked Jasper specifically last time we were there. He said they¡¯ve got plenty of food and nonalcoholic stuff for you,¡± Mark said. "Yes!" He dragged out the last syllable before turning to dart up the stairs. Alex checked the time quickly on his pocket watch before calling after him, "We won''t leave until around seven, Sam. If you need to grab something to eat, just ask Gabby." They could all hear a muffled, "Okay," before his bedroom door closed. "A night out could be fun," Olivia said as she bumped into Alex playfully as she took off her outdoor boots next to the door. Alex nodded with a smile, though internally he wondered at the amount of stress he might be feeling if it weren''t for [Parallel Mind]. At least with the skill, he was able to be practicing and thinking through magical problems while doing mundane tasks. Hanging out with friends isn''t a mundane task or waste of time. He chastised himself as they gathered their bags, and all began to ascend the stairs to take showers and unwind for a few hours before going out. "I''ll text Sarah and see if she wants to meet us there," Mark said, phone already in hand. "Sounds good." Alex and Olivia turned left at the top of the stairs while Mark turned right to head to his room. They went to his room to wash away the sweat and dirt from their most recent Rift. After they entered the room, Olivia slid under his arm and got close to his face. "Stop being distracted," she said playfully. Alex felt the heat rise to his cheeks. "Half of my mental stats is still more than I ever had before the integration. You have my full and undivided att¡ª wait¡­ that doesn''t technically work here. Does it? It kind of is divided." Olivia laughed prettily before creating some space. "I just wanted your attention for a second. I''ve got something for you." "Oh?" ¡°Mhm. Wait here,¡± Olivia said. He felt his pulse pick up as he could guess where something like this was going. But his expectations were dashed as, instead of heading to the bathroom, she walked out of the bedroom and down the hall. Alex stood alone in his bedroom, glancing left and right uncertainly. He scratched the back of his head, bewildered. Is this where someone jumps out and says I''ve been punked? A few minutes went by before he heard the rush of bare feet across the carpet in the hall, and Olivia reappeared in the doorway. Raising an eyebrow at her, he raised both hands. "What are you doing?" he asked, glancing at the object in her hands. ¡°Well, I know it¡¯s a bit lame¡­ and I swear you better not laugh,¡± Olivia said as she fidgeted with the small black object. "Okay, no laughing," he said and gestured with an ''x'' over his heart. It was clear that the black object in her hands was a gift of some kind, and Alex''s stat-enhanced brain immediately jumped into thought, thinking about what it could be. A manual, maybe? I gave her one. Maybe she feels the need to pay me back with one of her own? What would I even need to learn, though? Maybe it''s a skill token? I just need to keep studying, not get more skills. Eh, the black box is too thin anyway¡ªthe skill token from the AG came in a case much thicker than that. In the few seconds that it took Olivia to work up her courage and close the last few steps between them, Alex''s mind had run through a hundred scenarios of what she wanted to give to him. She held out her hands and presented it to him. Looking down, Alex saw a picture of them together. He realized Mark must have taken it before they entered a Rift. He studied the stylized photo and wondered whether she or Mark had edited it. Their pose was striking. Olivia stood close to him and her hand was on his chest as she gazed past his shoulder at an angle toward the looming Rift. The image made it look like he was dramatically positioned between her and the Rift, and appeared perfectly calm and composed. And, even though there had been many people around them in that moment, the edited black-and-white photo showed just the two of them alone in the forest clearing, with the grey-shaded Rift casting ominous shadows around them, though they both stood in the light. "Liv... I¡ªI love it. This is awesome," he said. "Really?" she asked. Normally so confident and forward, Alex found it adorable how she seemed less comfortable than he was with the thought of romantic gestures. It made his own embarrassment at his earlier thoughts die down a bit. "Really," he said while giving her a kiss. "Where do you think it should go?" He stepped away and walked to the table next to his side of the bed to set it up, angled toward the bed and doorway. "Perfect." "It''s an awesome picture. Thanks for doing that, it''ll be a good memory to have." His smile grew and felt more genuine as he looked down at the black and white photo. "It''s funny, my mind immediately went to all kinds of Awakened things that it could be." She gave a snort. "And then all you ended up getting was a picture." "No¡ªwell, yes. But I like it a lot. My head''s been a little too full of the adventuring life, Rifts, quests, and skills lately." "Well, good. I''m glad you like it. Do you... like it enough to let me take the first shower?" she asked sweetly while giving him a hug. He laughed again. "Yeah, go for it. I''m going to check on Gabby and Edwin while I wait, so take your time." This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. She gave him a peck on the cheek before moving to the bathroom. He looked at the photo one more time with a smile before walking downstairs to the staff rooms.
An hour later, Alex found himself seated at the chair behind his desk. He felt clean and for some reason was feeling quite optimistic about how the last few days of Rift delving had gone. He smiled to himself and let out a deep breath before leaning forward. Where to start, where to start? He pulled up his Status Screen and glanced over things. He felt some frustration that he hadn¡¯t made much progress in his over all level in the last four weeks, but he knew that he¡¯d made some great gains in his skill levels and understanding how to use them better. Not only that, but Sarah¡¯s made some decent progress, and Mark has really made a good leap. Looking at his blue status screen, Alex pushed the thoughts aside.
Status Name: Alex Moore - Level 26 Class: Ritualist (Novice) HP: 570/570 MP: 555/555 Traits: (1/3) {Primordial Will} Titles: < Control Freak > Pathfinder Unbound One Against Many Control Freak Physical Stats: Strength: 24 Agility: 41 Constitution: 57 Vitality: 26 Magical Stats: Intellect: 42 Willpower: 343 Mana: 26 + 30 Wisdom: 74 Bond Skills: [Mana Siphon] (Novice - Level 17) Primary Stat Shared - Mana Active Skills: [Mana Thread] (Journeyman - Level 2) [Mana Infusion] (Novice - Level 17) [Feather Step] (Novice - Level 13) [Mirage] (Journeyman - Level 11) [Ritual Insight] (Novice - Level 18) [Parallel Mind] (Journeyman - Level 9) Passive Skills: [Sleep Resistance] (Tier I) [Efficient Rites] (Tier I) Bound Items: Unique E Rank Growth Item - Heavenly Eye of the Celestial Sage
He drummed his fingers against the desk and knew that [Ritual Insight] had recently come off of cooldown and that it was approaching the peak of Novice proficiency. "Easy place to start I guess," he mumbled to himself as he stood and grabbed one of the notebooks he''d been making scribbles and notes in as he improved his modified ritual circles. He flipped through the pages and realized that it was the wrong notebook before walking to the bookshelf that had his own books on them, and grabbed the correct one. I really need to start consolidating this stuff into one main notebook. Looking at the small list of rituals he had available to himself, Alex considered where he wanted to progress.
Gust Ritual Concentrated Heating Ritual Heating Ritual Cooling Ritual Weight Reducing Ritual Weight Increasing Ritual Binding Ritual Sound Dampening Ritual (In/Out) Explosion Ritual
His go-to ritual lately had been the Gust Ritual, especially since it required no materials and synergized well with his wand combat. During his time in the last few weeks of using [Ritual Insight] on cooldown, he felt like he was getting a better feel for the skill and wanted to begin thinking about the direction he''d like to push the skill as it came closer to its advancement. After all, pushing the limits and uses of a skill had proven to be the best way to gain the last several levels. I suppose I could just go for "more" and attempt to push harder with the skill''s activation. Hopefully that would lead to the skill generally giving me more information with each use. But what if, instead of all at once, I tried to hold on to the moment of learning and got a similar effect? Could I make my own observations during that time? Is that possible? Still standing, he closed the notebook and walked to Sam''s room. When he knocked and Sam answered, he asked him for help. "Hey dude, can I get you to watch me for a second? I''m sure this will either work well, or it won''t work at all... but just in case?" "Yeah, of course," Sam said as he followed Alex back into the office. Just like they had with the testing of [Parallel Mind], Alex sat on the floor with Sam behind him. He found a comfortable position and focused on the notebook in his lap. He felt that while testing this new method of using the skill, it would be best to use it on a ritual he already knew rather than a brand new one. "Alright, ready?" "Yep," Sam answered. Alex looked at the gust ritual on the paper and activated [Ritual Insight; however, unlike he usually did, he attempted to mentally push down on the skill. Rather than allowing its activation to come out as a torrent and to be over in a matter of seconds, leaving him with the knowledge magically in his head, he pushed his will and intent on the skill to slow the rush. There was a bit of resistance, and then, the skill began to slow. He could understand the knowledge as it was brought into his head. Visualizing the effect seemed to help Alex even more, slowing the process to something that was easily digestible. Picturing a hose of water, where the hose was the skill and the water was the granted knowledge, he ''pressed'' his will down on the hose to pinch off the flow, or at least stem it. The skill had never hurt him before, likely an effect of the skill being System controlled and performed. However, he felt that there was almost no pressure at all on his mind as he did his best to hold down pressure on the insight skill. "Wow..." Alex breathed as the skill came to an end. "All good?" Sam''s voice was tense behind him. "Yeah, sorry. That worked perfectly," Alex said. "Thanks for watching just in case. How long was I focused? I should have started a timer on my phone." "About two minutes?" "That''s great. I don''t see there being a huge benefit from this right now. I gained the same knowledge. But, if I can extend the time longer and longer, then perhaps I''ll start gaining more knowledge." Alex thought out loud and felt like he had another idea just at the edge of his mind. "I''m going to head back to my room for a bit. It''s already six. Don''t forget we leave in an hour." "Wha¡ª Oh, right." He looked up at Sam and gave him a smile, his mind still spinning with the new knowledge from the gust ritual. He felt an urge to go out into the woods behind the house and practice with it and tamper with the ritual, though he knew it was something he''d likely get sucked into. I just don''t have the time for that right now. Instead, he decided to practice with one of his other skills for the next half hour before he knew he''d need to go get changed and ready to leave with the group. "Might as well get comfortable," he said as he stood from the floor. Valtherion came into the office holding something in his mouth gingerly. Alex smiled at his bond and spoke up to him as he sat. "What do you have there, buddy?" Val''s tail wiggled back and forth as he hovered in front of Alex and proudly presented the can he held in his mouth. Alex''s face went deadpan. "Val, seriously. Don''t encourage him. He''s literally making fun of you!" Alex explained. Despite his words, the feeling of pride that came through their bond made him lower his head into his palm. "There are so many other things he could call you. You don''t want to be a Soup Can." "Soup Can, Val!" the little bond chirped. "No, no, no. He could call you... uhh, a little mana noodle?" "Noodle Soup." He bumped the can with his snout. "Shit... that is still soup. Uhm, he could just call you a baby dragon!" Alex said while snapping his fingers. "That''s literally what you are. Baby dragons are so much cooler than soup cans." He nodded his head and sent through feelings of complete and utter confidence. "Dragon?" Val said the word as if trying it out. "Yep. Go tell Mark that''s what you are. Then roar at him¡ªlike this." Alex tried to make the sound of a lion or what he might imagine a mighty dragon to sound like. Valtherion cocked his head and moved backward from him a foot or two. There was a long pause before he nodded and turned in the air, his blue wings and tail moving fluidly in the air in a graceful arc. As he was exiting the office to find Mark, Alex heard his companion speaking out loud as if practicing. "I am Dragon Val, roar." The amphiptere was saying the word "roar" as Alex had described the sound rather than actually making the sound. Alex groaned loudly and tried to call after him, but he was already gone. Mark is never going to let that go... Maybe I need to find a YouTube video of a dragon and show it to him or something so he understands what the sound is and what they look like. Shaking his head, Alex pushed the thoughts aside and looked at the soup can on his desk. Shrugging, he created a small heating ritual under it and began to heat it up in the can. While it warmed, he split his mind and allowed half of his consciousness to begin practicing [Mirage] while letting the other focus on practicing small parts of the runes he''d begun learning with Evan. Man, doing two things at once is amazing... 98. Power Play "...in what appears to be the work of the first superpowered serial killer. Over the past several days, bodies have been discovered in two Northeast Safe Zones, all bearing the same gruesome signature. Victims seem to have been burned from the inside out, leaving authorities baffled and residents terrified.¡± Mark looked at Sarah. "This is pretty messed up, right? If someone can get in and out of two Safe Zones, they must be registered with the government somehow." The reporter continued, "This development is particularly alarming given the government''s recent crackdown on unauthorized power usage and registration protocols. The ease with which the killer appears to be operating raises serious questions about the effectiveness of current security measures." "Can I turn it off, Mark?" Sarah asked, her voice sounding tight. "It''s all anyone''s been talking about at work, and it''s just so gruesome." Mark turned it to a different station. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s heavy stuff. Let¡¯s focus on the celebration for today, huh?¡± In the backseat, Alex sat with his eyes closed, his mind split between two tasks. One part of his consciousness was deep in focusing on the cycling technique he¡¯d been doing daily. The spinning of his mana had gradually increased, though it still wasn¡¯t powerful enough to push impurities to the edge of his Core like Eura had told him to anticipate. The other part of his mind was engrossed in mana-shaping exercises he¡¯d created for himself over the past week. The new exercises were modeled after those Eura had taught him, but instead of Ritual components, they were designed to help with mana rune patterns that were used in ¡°setting¡± the rune. Evan had given him the patterns to the two runes that he felt comfortable teaching, which were the activation rune and the spark rune. While Alex couldn¡¯t create either of them himself yet, the mental exercises and mana shaping would help lay the groundwork for his future plans and progression. The car fell into a comfortable silence for a time as they neared the new Guild Headquarters site. Soon, Mark pulled the vehicle into the busy parking lot, and they could all hear the sounds of laughter and cheering. ¡°Woah, there¡¯s a lot more going on here than Olivia let on, huh?¡± he said. Alex leaned over in the back seat and looked through the front window between Mark and Sarah. He was stunned to see such a large amount of development had happened in the month and a half since he sold the Rift information on New Year¡¯s. ¡°No kidding. This is crazy. Seriously, this was all woods when Sam and I left here.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sad he didn¡¯t come with us. I barely got to see him this week,¡± Sarah said. ¡°Well, you¡¯ve been too busy helping out at your fancy job,¡± Mark said. ¡°Though, even with you and Olivia having to work, I feel like fourth place is still pretty damn good.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah. I told you I was sorry I couldn¡¯t help more in this last week, but things have been crazy at work. Director Matthews wants me to be at so many of these meetings to observe peoples¡¯ aura that it¡¯s actually getting to be a bit frustrating. It¡¯s not what I signed up for¡­ anyway, I¡¯m glad he¡¯s getting to spend time with his parents. I think it will really help him keep healing from his time in the Rift.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s been great to see their relationship grow. I¡¯m surprised that they seem to understand the changes he went through in there. It¡¯s a lot to recover from, that¡¯s for sure.¡± Mark looked over his shoulder. ¡°Just him?¡± Alex raised both hands. ¡°I¡¯m doing fine, seriously. I was only in there for what felt like two months. He was in there for almost two years. Also, they only kept me locked up for a day. Sam had it way, way worse.¡± Mark¡¯s reflection in the rear mirror tightened, but Sarah spoke up first. ¡°I know, it was horrible. Just don¡¯t keep pushing aside your own healing. You have a tendency to shove it down and just focus on other things; now, with all of your plans and supercharged willpower, you just keep pushing on for days.¡± Alex rolled his eyes, and when he refocused, he saw Mark nodding along with her. He rubbed his eyes and knew that they had a point, particularly with his recent use of [Parallel Mind] through the night, he was beginning to feel a bit stretched thin and he realized he might not just be pushing himself to grow for the sake of power, but also to distract. ¡°Alright, alright. We can talk later, Sarah. You can put me in touch with one of your coworkers from before the integration. As long as they don¡¯t work for the Hunters Association, I¡¯m happy to talk with one of them. For now, let¡¯s park and figure out what¡¯s going on with all of this. I thought it was just a celebration. There¡¯s got to be a hundred cars here.¡± The paved parking lot was huge and large sections of forest had been leveled to even allow for parking in dirt areas off of the paved lot. When they found a spot to park and piled out of Mark¡¯s SUV, Alex looked into the back and called for Valtherion to join them. ¡°Alright, buddy. Time for the cloak illusion. And remember, tone down the flashiness this time.¡± ¡°Understand. Val will make best cloak!¡± The air shimmered as his companion wrapped around his shoulders and let both wings drape down diagonally from his left shoulder on either side of his body. As the illusion settled, it suddenly looked like Alex was wearing an elegant blue cloak with subtle gold trim. Alex sighed. ¡°I said tone it down. Can you make it brown instead? At least then it¡¯ll just look like I¡¯m wearing some normal cloth.¡± ¡°No! Val is blue, so cloak is blue. Brown is not Val color.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not how colors work, Val. Just because you¡¯re blue doesn¡¯t mean everything blue is ¡®Val color¡¯.¡± Val¡¯s tone took on a stubborn note. ¡°Nope. Everything blue is Val. Val is best color.¡± Mark and Sarah burst into laughter as they waited for their conversation to end, and Alex pinched the bridge of his nose. ¡°Fine, keep it blue. But can you at least make the trim less¡­ sparkly?¡± The gold trim dulled slightly, and Alex nodded in resignation. ¡°That¡¯ll have to do. At least in the drive up we saw some people with capes and armor on.¡± The group began walking toward the main set of buildings when Mark pointed out two news vans parked in closer spots. The new Adventurer Guild Headquarters sprawled across several acres, with buildings connected by brick walkways. It reminded Alex of some of the fancier college campuses he¡¯d seen. Construction crews were still working at the edges of the property. The sound of their equipment mixed with the voices of the crowd heading toward the buildings. Where there used to be forest, Alex now saw freshly cut stumps and construction trailers lined up along the tree line. People kept streaming in from the parking lots - some wore uniforms and directed traffic, while others wore business clothes or just regular street clothes. The Guild has uniforms now? "Check it out," Mark said, pointing to a group in matching shirts. The words ''Future Guild Member'' were printed across their chests. "Someone''s already cashing in. This is like a college campus tour," Alex said. He watched as a Guild member in a fancy uniform took pictures with some kids nearby. "Looks like Val fits right in as a fashion piece," Sarah said teasingly while nodding towards some attendees wearing colorful robes and cloaks, likely looted as System rewards. As they made their way through the crowd, they saw a large banner with the top ten teams listed. Their team was listed in a box with their five names, and Mark gestured toward it. ¡°Fourth place. Man, if we¡¯d been able to just clear a few more Rifts this last week¡­¡± ¡°Hey, considering our team was brand new to this, I¡¯d say we did pretty well,¡± Sarah said. Alex was sure he could hear a hint of competitive disappointment in her voice, though. ¡°Yeah, and the two of you literally only had a couple of levels to start with. Now, you¡¯re both close to your class selections. We made huge progress and you got some big gains. It might not feel like a lot compared to my growth in the other Rift, but I¡¯m serious. It took Olivia more than two months to hit level 12, and she was doing this stuff every day and as her job. Mark, the fact that you¡¯re nine in under a month of pushing is pretty wild. That¡¯s not even to mention that we¡¯re moving and fighting a lot more like a team now, too.¡± There were nods from them both as they kept moving through the opening campus area. They passed a table laden with various magical items for showing as examples. Unfortunately, this included several glowing Mana Stones. Suddenly, a scaly blue tendril snaked out from Alex''s cloak and snatched one of the stones from the table. "Val!" Alex hissed, but the stone had already disappeared beneath the cloak''s folds. He laughed nervously and waved to the table, giving a quick apology and pressing his hands down on the edges of his cloak. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Mark quickly pulled a stone from his backpack, which held his spatial pouch and placed it on the table. "Sorry about that," he said to a nearby attendant, who looked confused but shrugged it off. "We really need to work on his impulse control," Sarah muttered as they moved away from the table. Alex nodded and felt a mixture of exasperation and amusement. "Tell me about it. At least he''s getting better at blending in... mostly?" As the four of them approached a small crowd forming on one of the sidewalks that entered into the campus, Alex used his uncovered Heavenly eye to scan several people. Suddenly, he realized what was happening. ¡°Some of these people aren¡¯t even Awakened.¡± ¡°What, seriously?¡± ¡°Yeah, when I try to analyze them, nothing happens. On top of that, they don¡¯t have any mana leaking from their skin.¡± ¡°Oh hey! Newcomers, come on up!¡± A short woman with brown hair waved with a smile. The three of them looked at each other, and there was a brief pause. Then Alex shrugged and walked over. ¡°Are you guys here for the tour?¡± ¡°We¡¯re actually a team, here to watch the podium event,¡± Alex said. ¡°What¡¯s happening here?¡± He scanned her and saw that her name was Jennifer. She was only level three, Intellect as her highest stat, and a plethora of other information that he didn¡¯t need. The girl''s breath caught when she saw Alex''s face. She brought her hand up to cover her mouth, and her eyes went wide. Alex noticed how she looked between his normal eye and his celestial one before catching herself staring. She recovered pretty quickly, but her voice was higher than before. "People have been arriving most of the norming, and the main event hasn¡¯t started yet, so you¡¯re not too late! Our Guild Members are sharing stories and experiences from the Teams Event in the main building before the actual awards for placements are handed out. In the meantime, the Moderators of the Adventurers Guild have asked that we give tours to anyone interested." She smiled brightly and nodded to the group of ten or so who were standing nearby. "Would you like to join us? We were just about to begin.¡± Alex looked at Mark and Sarah and agreed after receiving a shrug and a nod. They waited a few more minutes, and their small group stood apart from the others. Alex caught a few strangers staring in his direction, and he did his best to ignore their looks. It¡¯s something I¡¯ve just got to get used to. It really doesn¡¯t matter what they think. Despite knowing what he was thinking was the truth, it didn¡¯t stop him from turning to Mark and Sarah so that his back faced the others. ¡°You know, if you stopped scowling, the scar and the eye might not look so intimidating,¡± Sarah whispered conspiratorially as he watched a group of two teenagers from the corner of his eye. ¡°I¡¯m not scowling.¡± ¡°Uh- yeah, ya are,¡± Mark said with a snort. Alex forced his brow and forehead to relax after realizing that he had, in fact, been scowling. ¡°Ugh, I just forget that my face has even changed sometimes. Being at the new house is so nice and secluded and you guys are all used to the changes, it¡¯s easy to forget.¡± Mark and Sarah shared a look. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say that we¡¯re used to it. It definitely makes you look more serious, and your demeanor has changed a lot overall since returning. Sometimes,¡± Sarah said, ¡°if it weren¡¯t your voice and the normal way you speak coming out of your mouth, I really would think you were a different person.¡± Mark nodded in agreement. Alex grumbled a response and heard the guide speak up to call everyone to follow their lead through the new headquarters. Jennifer- as they learned, was a Guild Member and newly awakened. She led them around, and Alex kept catching her sneaking glances at him when she thought he wasn''t looking. Every time she did, she''d stumble over her practiced speech a bit. He could tell she was trying hard to stay professional, but it was clear she had questions she was dying to ask. Fuck. I mean, I know the scar and eye look a little wild, but it can¡¯t be that distracting, right? She continued to lead the group, floating around like a bubble of positive energy. She pointed at several management buildings, built in a modern fashion that reflected the morning light. Alex was impressed by the sheer amount of work that had been finished in a short amount of time. Jennifer guided their group past a carefully positioned Guild banner. Alex noticed the crew of cameras and an interviewer doing a segment with their group and the banner in the background. From there, it became increasingly obvious to Alex that the tour- or likely the entire event - was choreographed. Their guide told an exaggerated tale of how the Guild had promising members enter and scout Epic Rifts for them before giving a brief description of how valuable an Epic Rift would be for the Guild. She led them past some painfully staged groups of Guild Members training in a nearby open space. They moved in a tight formation and swung fake swords or practiced flashy fire skills. Good lord, Elana. Is there even a real celebration? Or is this all just one big PR campaign? They passed another group of Guild members doing some kind of rescue demonstration. One guy floated in the air using wind magic that looked way more ostentatious than it needed to be. The others called out lines about teamwork and being prepared that sounded rehearsed. This is nothing like the real thing. He remembered how messy and scary actual Rift combat was. They''re making it look like some kind of game. Alex was beginning to feel a bit miffed when his train of thought was interrupted by what Jennifer was saying. "And here we have the Grant Training Facility," their guide announced with rehearsed enthusiasm. "Named after the wonderful family who previously owned this land. In fact¡ª" she brightened, "the Grants are here today with their recently returned son, Samuel. They''ve been incredibly supportive of the Guild''s mission." Alex''s step faltered. Beside him, Mark perked up. "Did she say Sam''s here?" Mark whispered, nudging Alex. Through the building''s massive windows, they could see Sam with his parents, surrounded by a small crowd of interested onlookers. The teenager looked simultaneously uncomfortable with the attention and happy to be near his family. Mrs. Grant kept one hand on Sam''s shoulder as she spoke to the group, her sandy blonde hair and bright smile matching her son''s. "Look at him trying to hide behind his mom," Alex said with a small grin. Sam was fidgeting with the neckline of his hoodie, which was a nervous habit they''d all grown familiar with, though they had seen less and less of it in the last couple of weeks. Their guide continued, "The Grants have an inspiring story to share about the importance of our mission. Samuel returned home just a month ago after being trapped in an Epic Rift for over a year. He possesses an incredibly rare healing class and is one of the first people to level high enough to be a D-Rank awakened. And, thanks to the heroic efforts of Guild Member, Alex Moore¡ª" Mark let out a poorly disguised snort. "Oh man, heroic efforts? Is that what we''re calling getting yourself trapped in a Rift now?" Alex elbowed him in the ribs. "Shut up." Sarah shook her head, her expression a mix of amusement and disapproval. "I can''t believe they''re advertising his power like this. A rare healer? Might as well paint a target on his back. Though I suppose that''s the point¡ªshowing off their valuable new member." ¡°Yeah, he said he had someone pretty aggressively try to recruit him at the hospital a week or two ago. I can¡¯t imagine this is going to help very much.¡± Alex said, wondering if he should speak to Elana on Sam¡¯s behalf. ¡°I don¡¯t know, maybe it will? If word gets out that he¡¯s with the Guild and has their full support and backing, that could give him something to lean on if he¡¯s approached by Mr. Rich Somebody looking for a personal healer.¡± Mark countered. Alex responded with a skeptical snort and looked to his left as one of the tour group members spoke up, "Actually could we meet them? It would be amazing to hear their story firsthand." Jennifer beamed. "Of course! The Grants have graciously agreed to speak with visitors today. Let''s head inside." As their group filed into the building, Alex noticed Sam hadn''t spotted them yet. The teenager was nodding politely at something an older woman was saying, though his eyes kept wandering to look at other spots in the room. Alex focused on a thin thread of mana, directing it toward Sam. Need an escape plan? Sam''s head jerked up, his eyes going wide. "Alex? Where¡ª" Look for the enormous dude waving like an idiot. Sure enough, Mark was already standing at his full height, grinning and waving both arms above his head like an overexcited parent at a school play. Several people in the crowd turned to stare at him or shuffled away to make some space, but Mark seemed entirely unbothered. Sam''s face lit up when he spotted them, relief washing over his features. He quickly covered his mouth to hide his laugh at Mark''s antics, though his shoulders shook with the truth. "You''re going to get us kicked out," Sarah muttered, with a smile of her own. "What? I''m just being supportive of our local celebrity healer," Mark said, still waving. "Hey, Sam! Great job being heroically rescued by Alex! Really stellar work!" Alex groaned. "I''m never going to hear the end of this, am I?" "Not a chance, hero." While Sam remained with his parents on stage, Jennifer led their group onward with the tour, and Alex, Mark, and Sarah followed along, curious to see what other parts of the headquarters would be revealed. As they moved through the final sections of the complex, Sarah began grumbling under her breath. Alex wasn¡¯t sure what had gotten under her skin, but he waited for her to voice her thoughts. ¡°Doesn¡¯t this just feel kind of sleazy to you guys?¡± ¡°Ah,¡± he answered, realizing that the way that the Guild was going about the event frustrated her. ¡°Yeah, a bit.¡± ¡°I mean seriously. Everything is so staged; even some of the powerful people are stationed near the entrances to make their ¡®success stories¡¯ more noticeable.¡± ¡°The Hunter¡¯s Association doesn¡¯t do PR stuff?¡± Mark said skeptically. ¡°Wait- How can you tell who¡¯s stronger?¡± Alex asked. He wondered if she picked up an [Analyze] skill or something similar through her work. ¡°Their auras are just bigger. I¡¯ve started to realize that means someone is usually stronger.¡± ¡°Usually?¡± Alex asked, interested. He was focused on their conversation, but he let his eyes wander to passersby and couldn¡¯t help but wonder at what some of these people had gotten as their trait and skills. ¡°Well,¡± Sarah said, giving him an odd look from the corner of her eye, ¡°There is always an outlier. Some people might be really strong and not have a huge aura, so I¡¯m trying not to judge things from the size too often.¡± Mark snickered, and Alex smirked as he heard Sarah scoff so hard that he could almost hear her eyes roll. Alex assumed she was referring to how he kept his mana pulled into his skin. Sarah seemed to believe that mana and aura were connected in some way, though no real connection had been made through her testing. He changed the subject back to her complaint while shrugging. ¡°It¡¯s not all that different from anyone trying to sell something back when things were normal. Tech startups courting investors would set up entire conference centers like this. It''s the same thing with college campuses attempting to impress potential students and their parents. Everyone is doing their best to sell what they have.¡± Mark nodded along, recognizing many of the same tactics they¡¯d coached clients through during their previous job being used at the new Adventurer''s Guild tour. ¡°He¡¯s not wrong- but, I mean, I hated those asshole tech start-ups. It felt like the modern used cars salesman, ya know?¡± ¡°Before the System, there were clients of ours that would spend millions just to look half as professional as all this.¡± Alex let his eyes sweep the crowds again before turning back to Sarah. ¡°It does feel a bit shady. Hell, it is a bit shady. They¡¯re literally trying to create something out from under the supervision of the government. I mean, even we came here today expecting a ceremony or celebration for the top three teams and maybe get a participation trophy or something for being in the top ten. Instead, they¡¯ve turned it into this whole recruitment drive.¡± ¡°Okay, but why? More money?¡± Sarah followed his eyes and scanned the hundred-plus people walking around as if the new campus were a state fair. ¡°Power,¡± Alex said simply, thinking back to his many talks on the topic with Eura and wondering just how much of it would apply to the new world that was being created on Earth. It wasn¡¯t long before their tour had ended, and they were guided through the entry and welcoming area and into the main part of the Grant Training Facility.