《Fingers of Fate》 PROLOGUe PROLOGUE The sky was dull and lifeless, covered with gray clouds and an occasional spot of white clouds and bright beautiful light filtering through the gaps of all the grayness. The planet of Zyphora was known for its vibrant life and powerful monsters. There existed a system - created by the gods, which consisted of occupations, abilities, proficiency, and perquisites. This system, however, changed as time passed. Firstly, the gods decided it would be better if each individual''s ¡°system¡± would be awakened at a certain age. 18 seemed like a good choice since it was when most people started to become mature enough to not make rash or stupid decisions. They also gave the power for people who had enough proficiency in their occupation to pass it down. This in turn can give someone access to the system at an earlier age - so it was ultimately still up to the humans themselves to control the power. If it went into the wrong hands, terrible things will definitely happen. Last but not least, strands were the final and most powerful form of power. Given directly from the gods, strands are ethereal threads that connect individuals to gods, allowing them to draw upon a fragment of divine or supernatural power. All of this was meant to help the humans survive the harsh planet. Many civilizations were born upon such power, including a small town called Beorgide, which resided beside the mighty Yfelrath mountains on the beautiful planet Zyphora. Despite its small size, the town brimmed with life - 634 residents strong, always bustling with activity. This week marked the annual carnival, a six-day celebration of joy and unity, featuring vibrant festivities and the much-anticipated surprise guests of honor. As the citizens finally finished preparing everything, the day of the carnival also finally began. The mystery guests of honor also finally decided to make their grand appearance, if the yelling of their bodyguards hadn¡¯t made it apparent, ¡°Make way! Make way! Guests of honor coming through!¡± There were a squad of 6 bodyguards on horses, each with carnival spirit decorations on their armor while still staying imposing. All of which were gathered around a carriage pulled by two very elegantly decorated tritons - a very expensive and rare breed of horses that were believed to be once used by the gods for transportation. The time had finally come for the bard (basically an announcer) to very loudly clear their throat, ¡°A-HEM! May I get everyone''s attention? Please, let us welcome this year''s guests with a huge applause as they approach the stage!¡± Applause erupted from the people gathered around as two figures emerged from the carriage, one woman, one man. The woman wore a thin veil decorated with gold flowers and other designs, which did a not very adequate job at covering her head. She had long flowing white hair that seemed to shimmer faintly, as if lit from within. Her skin was pale and flawless, like porcelain, and she wore a long elegant white dress that went down to her ankles, adorned with golden embroidery resembling celestial patterns. Overall, she gived off the atmosphere of an angel that had descended from heaven, calm and serene. The man on the other hand had a black masquerade mask, and was etched with intricate golden designs, framing his face in an ominous yet regal manner and leaving only his dark red eyes visible. He wore a tailored black tuxedo with sharp lapels and a white undershirt, the simplicity of which contrasts with golden cuffs and embroidery of claw-like designs along his coat¡¯s edges. He also had a cape lined with dark crimson fabric that flows dramatically as he moves, giving off an dark, charismatic yet dangerous feeling. Some people in the crowd started murmuring. ¡°Wow, this year they got a pretty good bard!¡± ¡°I wonder who the guests this year will be. They lookin¡¯ pretty fancy heheh¡­¡± ¡°This year''s guests are dressing pretty fancy for a little town like us¡­¡± ¡°Geezers, they look so rich¡­¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Clapped the bard. ¡°Go ahead now, introduce yourselves, o¡¯ guests of honor!¡± The woman walked up to the front of the stage, her movements graceful and deliberate, as if each step were part of a never ending dance. The murmuring crowd quieted as she raised her hands, palms up, a gesture that seemed to command attention. When she spoke, her voice was soft but carried an otherworldly resonance that made everyone strain to listen.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Good people of Beorgside,¡± she began, her words wrapping around the crowd like a warm breeze. ¡°It is an honor to stand before you on this momentous occasion. My name is Lady Callista Veylan, and this,¡± she gestured behind her to the man, ¡°is my companion, Lord Malrik Drayth.¡± The man bowed, his masquerade mask glinting in the dull light. ¡°A pleasure to be in the presence of such a lively town,¡± he said, his voice smooth and almost too perfect, sending a shiver down the spines of those closest to the stage. Lady Callista continued, ¡°We have traveled far and wide, bringing with us tales of distant lands and wonders untold. But tonight is not about us; it is about celebrating the resilience, unity, and joy that defines Beorgside.¡± The crowd erupted into applause once more, though some in the audience exchanged uneasy glances. There was something... off. *Clap* ¡°LET US BEGIN THE CARNIVAL!¡± announced the bard. The carnival roared to life around them as Callista and Malrik stepped back, allowing the festivities to begin in earnest. Music played, dancers twirled in elaborate costumes, and the smell of roasted meat and sweet pastries filled the air. Amidst the revelry, if there were a few sharp-eyed townsfolk that could''ve got what was off, the bodyguards were standing rigid, scanning the crowd with expressions as cold as the Yfelrath peaks, and the guests of honor, slinking off to who knows where. *** As the festivities carried on, Lady Callista and Lord Malrik disappeared from the stage, retreating into the shadows with their guards. Some whispers started to circulate about their departure, but most of the townsfolk were too engrossed in the carnival to care. In a quiet alley behind the town square, the pair stood in silence. The woman removed her veil, revealing sharp features and piercing amber eyes that glowed subtly in the dark. Malrik leaned against the stone wall, his mask still in place. ¡°They¡¯re oblivious,¡± he said, his tone both amused and disdainful. ¡°As expected,¡± Callista replied. ¡°They¡¯d be grateful for even one middle class nobel to come around, yet alone two. But it doesn¡¯t matter. It¡¯s almost complete.¡± Malrik chuckled softly. ¡°And when it is, the Symphony of Chaos will finally begin.¡± High above them, the dull gray clouds seemed to swirl and darken, as if reacting to their words. A single bolt of lightning illuminated the Yfelrath mountains in the distance, followed by a low, ominous rumble of thunder. Another low rumble rises from beneath the town, accompanied by faint tremors that send ripples through the ground. The festive lights flicker, and a chill sweeps through the crowd. Suddenly, a massive crack forms in the ground near the carnival¡¯s main stage. A black mist pours forth, swirling and spreading like a living entity. The crowd erupts into chaos as people flee in terror. Lady Callista and Lord Malrik remain unmoving in their alley, their calm composure unhindered by the increasing panic around them. From the chasm, a booming, guttural voice echoes¡­ ¡°I have returned.¡± Lady Callista¡¯s eyes narrow, and she whispers to Malrik, ¡°Did you set it off?¡± Malrik smirks, holding his hands up. ¡°What, me? I was with you the entire time.¡± Her expression darkened. ¡°This wasn¡¯t part of the plan.¡± As the crowd scatters, a devastating wave of dark energy bursted outwards everywhere, splitting the sky and sending shockwaves that shake the entire town. Among the chaos, one of the guards near the chasm falls to his knees, clutching his chest as if trying to suppress some unseen force. His breaths were ragged, his face pale with terror. Hidden beneath his armor lay a faintly glowing talisman - something he¡¯d carried for months, unaware of its dormant, malicious power - which was now floating above him and shaking at an alarming rate. Without warning, mist bursts out of the talisman and coils around him, seeping into his soul as he struggles to resist. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to-¡± The guard lets out a strangled gasp, his eyes glowing with an unholy light before his body stiffens, corrupted. The corrupted guard collapses, his lifeless form getting sucked into the chasm as the ritual completes itself. High above, the dull gray clouds swirl into a vortex, a crimson glow radiating from their center. Lightning crackles, illuminating the Yfelrath mountains in jagged streaks. A gleeful cackle could be heard in the distance. Message of Beorgsides incident would¡¯ve spread like wildfire, possibly reaching even other continents - if only the citizens of Beorgside had escaped that is. CHAPTeR 1 CHAPTER 1 A young man, closer to a boy than a man, walked into the room, located in room 420 of Joint Judgement¡¯s Bayshore Academy of Yroishire, Elkraford. He wore thin round gold-rimmed glasses with a lazily styled yet seemingly immaculate hair, like every strand of hair was perfectly placed. Along with a perfectly fitting and ironed out black jacket that just spewed elegance and a long, dark, but not baggy pair of trousers. His confidence was notable too as he set his bag down and introduced himself, ¡°I¡¯d like to hear some silence now everyone¡­¡± He then waited for his point to get across. As the noises finally began to simmer down, he continued, ¡°Good morning. I¡¯ll be your substitute teacher today¡ª¡± But before he could finish, a sharp voice from the back interrupted, ¡°Uh, aren¡¯t you a little young for this? Shouldn¡¯t you be in school instead of teaching it?¡± The laughter spread like wildfire, rippling through the class. Amelia Lu rolled her eyes and stared out the window, while Zack, in his usual loosey goosey dark blue jeans, and his flowy and flappy jacket that he claimed he was ¡°gifted to buy by an old hobo¡±, leaned in close. ¡°Ey, Amelia, why so serious? Pitying the poor guy?¡± ¡°Pfft, as if,¡± she muttered. ¡°I just couldn¡¯t care less.¡± She opened her pocket, pulled out her earphones, which were pink and decorated with kitties, and popped them on - instantly causing the earphone to light up, connecting to her Tele-communi-phonus-mobilus?. She started playing her favorite STB playlist - a popular Chinese boy band. But as Amelia looked at the teacher again, something strange caught her eye. His hand, just for a moment, flickered like static on an old TV. Amelia blinked, unsure if her eyes were playing tricks on her. Even if he had a strand, what could his ability possibly be? If only there was a way to tell¡­ She straightened in her seat, her attention now fully on the substitute teacher. His hand was steady again, no sign of the strange distortion she thought she¡¯d seen. ¡°Alright, settle down,¡± the young man said, clapping his hands together. His voice was calm, even amused, as if he dealt with this kind of reaction every day. ¡°You can call me Mr. Asher. Let¡¯s get started.¡± The class began to quiet down, though a few students in the back kept snickering. Amelia noticed that Lex, sitting a few rows ahead, was already scribbling something in his notebook, completely unfazed. He had shiny yet dark-black hair, which was also perfectly styled, and wore a very conspicuous light blue flannel jacket with matching pastel sweatpants. Typical. Mr. Asher moved to the whiteboard and started writing something, but Amelia couldn¡¯t help but keep on staring at his hand. The way it moved seemed¡­ unnatural, like it wasn¡¯t entirely solid. And then, as he stepped aside to reveal the words on the board, she noticed something else. The marker he¡¯d been using wasn¡¯t a normal marker¡ªit was glowing faintly, the ink shimmering like liquid light. She blinked-once, and the glow and shimmer was gone. Was she seeing things? She looked around the room, noticing how no one had any reaction, excluding her. Amelia leaned in to Zack, ¡°Hey Zack, did you see that? His marker was glowing.¡± ¡°Wha- huh? Oh nah, you must be tweaking, I was watching him the entire time and I didn¡¯t see anything like that.¡± ¡°Sure you were.¡± she replied with a huff of frustration. ¡°Today, we¡¯ll be learning about the fundamental concepts of chaos and order,¡± Mr. Asher said, his tone almost too casual for such a strange topic. ¡°But before we begin¡­¡± He turned to face the class, his gaze sharp as it swept over them. For a moment, his eyes locked with Amelia¡¯s, and she swore his pupils flickered, like a glitch in a computer screen. ¡°Let¡¯s start with a question,¡± he continued. ¡°What do you think happens when order collapses into chaos?¡± The room was silent. Amelia¡¯s hand shot up before she realized what she was doing. ¡°Interesting,¡± Mr. Asher said, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡± Amelia hesitated. Why had she even raised her hand? This class doesn¡¯t even teach chaos and order or whatever! ¡°It depends¡­ Sometimes chaos reveals the truth about the order that came before it.¡± The words had spilled out of her mouth out of nowhere. The room fell quieter, so still that you could probably hear if an ant was crawling, and for a moment, Mr. Asher just stared at her. Then, slowly, he smiled. ¡°Exactly,¡± he said, his voice filled with a strange sense of approval. ¡°You¡¯re more insightful than you let on, Amelia.¡± Her stomach felt queasy. How did he know her name? Perhaps she¡¯s just having a bad day¡­wait, was she schizo- ¡°Hey,¡± Zack leaned in, ¡°how¡¯d you answer that question? This class isn''t even about chaos or whatever¡­¡± Then he noticed her face, ¡°You good there Amelia?¡± Finally snapping out of her daze, Amelia realized that the entire class was staring at her, even Lex, with a face of surprise, awe, and skepticism - which wasn¡¯t typical of him. ¡°I¡¯d actually like to know that too, Amelia.¡± Lex piped in. ¡°Oh! Uh¡­ actually I-¡± Suddenly, a scream interrupted Amelia in the middle of her excuse, causing everyone to turn their heads towards the hall, where one young boy was seen running down the hall frantically. ¡°AHHHHHHHHHHHH HEAAEAEAEEAELEAELALELPPPP!!?!?!?! THERE''S A SCARY MAN DOING SOME STRANGE THINGS OUTSIDE!!!¡± There was a second of silence before a loud explosion went off in a nearby building, and a gleeful cackle could be heard in the distance. The room instantly filled with panic, someone ran out of the door and down the hallway, trying to escape. Some were cowering under their desks. Others opened the windows and jumped out, and at this point nearly everyone was filled with fear and was scrambling about. Even Zack was muttering under his breath, ¡°what the hell is going on here?¡± The only ones who seemed relatively unfazed were Lex and Mr. Asher. Lex stood silently, his face unreadable, but his hands tightly gripping a pencil. Mr. Asher remained calm amidst the chaos, speaking to himself, his words fragmented and barely audible over the noise, ¡°Hm¡­ very interesting¡­ chaos¡­ disrupting¡­ timeline¡­¡± Lex started walking over to Amelia. Typical. ¡°Come on Amelia, follow me, I think I know what to do.¡± ¡°Wha-what? Wait, isn¡¯t there security here? We should be safe here right?¡± She replied. ¡°...¡± Lex sighed, shaking his head.. ¡°If the security were still here, then I doubt we¡¯d be hearing the explosions. The school has all sorts of wards, but those only prevent attacks from the outside - not the inside. Which means this attack was perpetrated by someone on the inside. I¡¯m sure they¡¯d have the security handed - some way or the other by now. Anyways, I think there¡¯s a basement somewhere down the hall near the principal''s office, it¡¯d be much safer since it¡¯s not easily accessible.¡±Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Wait¡­ How do you know that?¡± Amelia asked as she followed him out of the classroom. The hallway was chaos. Students ran in every direction, their screams echoing off the walls as teachers tried - and failed - to restore order. Papers fluttered through the air like fallen leaves, and lockers clanged as people slammed into them in blind panic. ¡°Well, my father is funding the school big-time so¡­ let¡¯s just say he¡¯s got some insight into things that aren¡¯t shared publicly.¡± The sound of an explosion rang loudly in a nearby building. Lex swore under his breath. ¡°Crap, we have to go. Now.¡± ¡°Is there anything you aren¡¯t telling me, Lex?¡± Amelia just couldn¡¯t shake a strange feeling, whatever it was, and it was making her uncomfortable. Lex ran off without responding. Amelia¡¯s heart pounded in her chest, but she forced her legs to keep moving, her mind racing. ¡°Lex, what the hell is going on? This isn¡¯t some random drill or prank!¡± Lex glanced over his shoulder, his face unusually serious. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but we¡¯re about to find out. Stick close.¡± Amelia wasn¡¯t sure if she should feel reassured or even more nervous. Before she could reply, another explosion rocked another nearby building, the vibrations rippling through the floor beneath them. Dust and debris fell from the ceiling as the lights flickered. More and more explosions and chaotic sounds started erupting from nearby buildings, all of them coming closer and closer to the one she was in. Realizing that it was probably better to follow someone she could trust than think about what to feel, she ran after him. Zack, who had been frozen in the classroom, stumbled after them, his face pale. ¡°Hey, wait up! You¡¯re not leaving me behind!¡± The three of them hurried down the hall, weaving past panicked students. The air was thick with tension and fear, but Amelia couldn¡¯t shake the nagging sensation that something¡ªor someone¡ªwas watching them. *** When they reached the principal¡¯s office, Lex stopped abruptly. ¡°I think it should be around here,¡± he said, his voice low. His eyes darted around the area, searching. Lex reached for a panel near the corner of the wall. He pressed something - Amelia couldn¡¯t see what - and with a faint hiss, part of the wall slid open to reveal a narrow staircase descending into darkness. Zack stared at the hidden entrance, his mouth hanging open. ¡°No way. The school has a secret basement? What kind of sketchy stuff is your dad funding?¡± Lex ignored him, grabbing Amelia¡¯s wrist and pulling her forward. ¡°Come on.¡± Amelia hesitated. Something about the dark staircase gave her a terrible feeling, like stepping into a trap. But the sound of another explosion - this time even closer, jolted her into motion. She followed the stairs, with Zack trailing behind, as they descended into the darkness. Lex locked the door behind them. *** The stairs led to a dimly lit hallway lined with reinforced steel walls. The air was cold and carried a faint metallic scent. Amelia couldn¡¯t help but feel like they¡¯d stepped into some kind of military bunker. There was another Tyrolite reinforced titanium double door awaiting them, with a hand scanner to the right. ¡°What is this place? Is that Tyrolite? How did they get such a rare material?¡± she asked, her voice echoing in the silence. Lex glanced back at her, his expression unreadable. ¡°My dad called it the Contingency Wing. Apparently, it¡¯s meant to protect the school in case of emergencies, and he gave me permission to use this to help either myself or others. The government gatekeeps lots of information, there are actually many more elements than they admit. Tyrolite isn¡¯t that hard to get if you know what you¡¯re doing.¡± Zack frowned. ¡°Yeah, hiding information? That''s scummy. But still, that''s a really strong material. What is it supposed to be defending against? Exploding chemistry labs? This is definitely an overkill¡­¡± ¡°Contingency means unforeseen events or circumstances, we don¡¯t know what we¡¯re supposed to be defending against, but it¡¯s better safe than sorry. Plus, tell that to the explosions going on outside and see how they react.¡± replied Lex, without even looking back. ¡°Yeah well, who would possibly know the academy would get attacked in the middle of the day!? I just don¡¯t see why the academy did this.¡± Zack snapped back. He would keep that thought until a little while later. Amelia gazed at the end of the hallway, where a faint blue light pulsed rhythmically from behind the heavy doors. Lex stepped up to the door and placed his hand on a scanner. To Amelia¡¯s surprise, the doors slid open without a sound, revealing a large room filled with screens, equipment, and what looked like weaponry. There were countless doors that probably led to other rooms. The entire room was lit up by countless floating tiny balls of blue light. ¡°What is this place? They have all this under the school?¡± Zack whispered, his eyes wide as he took in the sight. ¡°I¡­ I think I''ll take back what I said earlier.¡± Amelia walked over to one of the consoles, her fingers brushing against the surface. It hummed faintly under her touch. ¡°Lex, are you sure this is just some emergency shelter? This feels like¡­ something else.¡± Lex sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, he looked at Amelia and Zack, as if deciding whether he could tell them. ¡°Yeah, okay. Maybe it¡¯s more than just a shelter. My dad doesn¡¯t really tell me that much, but maybe the weapons are here to protect us? Honestly, I don¡¯t know the details,¡± Lex admitted. ¡°But whatever¡¯s happening up there - it probably has something to do with this.¡± ¡°What the heck?¡± Zack cut in, pointing at the floating balls of light around the room. ¡°How are these balls floating?¡± Before anyone could say more, the doors behind them slid shut and the room''s largest monitor flickered to life. A distorted figure appeared on the largest screen, cloaked in shadows. Its voice was deep and chilling, filled with malice. ¡°Ah, I see, a child of Prometheus has found their way to the heart of the operation. How¡­ quaint.¡± Amelia¡¯s blood ran cold. ¡°Who¡ªwho are you?¡± The figure chuckled, a sound that seemed to echo from everywhere at once. ¡°Perhaps the child of Prometheus knows? No matter, consider this a warning. You cannot escape what¡¯s coming. The chaos has already begun.¡± The screens went dark instantly after that, leaving the room in silence. Zack was the first to break it. ¡°Okay, what the hell was that?¡± Lex tightened his fists, his jaw clenched. ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t know¡­¡± Amelia glanced back toward the staircase, her mind racing. She didn¡¯t know what was happening, but one thing was clear: whatever ¡°chaos¡± the guy mentioned had definitely started already. ¡°Lex, what should we do?¡± Amelia asked with a hint of hopelessness. ¡°Well, finding out what happened out there could be a start.¡± Lex said while pointing up. Zack snorted as if he wanted to make a remark, but kept silent. All of a sudden, the trio heard a flurry of movement outside, and some growling and slashing. Something slammed into the double door denting it. Zack panicked. ¡°The heck? How the hell did they find this place? Isn¡¯t this supposed to be some secret?¡± Lex whispered in a low voice as he scanned the room, ¡°I know another way out, it leads to the back of the school and into the forest. We should go the long way to my place, it has safety wards installed everywhere.¡± As he led the trio towards one of the doors, more and more banging could be heard, growing increasingly louder and rapid. ¡°...Right, it was 13¡­F.¡± Lex mumbled. He went up to a door labeled with the words ¡®13-5¡¯. ¡°Alright! Hurry up and just go through the door and through the tunnel, it¡¯ll lead to the forest.¡± He urged. As Zack and Amelia scurried through the tunnels the door at the front finally gave away to whatever was assaulting it, and an alarm instantly started blaring. Lex, being the one that was trying to close the door to the tunnel, saw a dark figure entering the room. Instantly, the room filled with a heavy and repressing force. Lex noticed the figure was surrounded by wolves, which was probably why they had heard growling and slashing. He quickly shut the door, not wanting to get caught in the wrath of that¡­ whatever that was, and sprinted as fast as he could to catch up to the others. CHAPTeR 2 CHAPTER 2 The forest outside was called the Heolstorbridge Woods, known for its dark and densely packed trees. But, as the trio set foot outside, what they saw instead would soon be known for its very dark and smoky ash. The intense smell of smoke and everything not right penetrated into their nostrils. ¡°How the hell did this happen? Who did this?¡± Amelia asked angrily. ¡°Did you hear what the kid said? Some strange person was outside earlier, they probably did all this.¡± Zack replied with a huff. ¡°I, uh. I saw something. No- someone back in the tunnel when I was still closing the door. There was a strange figure surrounded by wolves. I believe that¡¯s the guy responsible for everything.¡± Lex said reluctantly. ¡°You WHAT now? Where is he now? Did he see you or go after you?¡± Zack yelled with concern. ¡°Uhm¡­Lex, I have a question. Of all the people, why did you only bring me with you?¡± Amelia asked shyly. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t actually know. Just a feeling I guess. I felt like I had to¡­¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be true for anyone though? What makes me so special?¡­¡± Amelia asked, her cheeks blushing fiercely even though she tried to hide it. Before Lex had a chance to answer her awkward and very personal question, the trio heard a loud howl in the distance, coming from the school. Screams of terror ripped across the schoolyard, putting the trio on high alert. ¡°Let me try this again,¡± Zack asked Lex in a serious tone, ¡°Were. You. Followed.¡± Lex sighed, ¡°Zack, if I¡­¡± Lex abruptly stopped midway, his eyes opening wide with terror. Zack looked around, trying to see what put the great Lex in such a state. ¡°Lex? What¡¯s wro-?¡± ¡°Zack, Amelia! We have to go! NOW! It¡¯s not safe here-!¡± Lex was interrupted by a terrifying voice, enough to cause the trio to all shudder in fear. ¡°Your predictions are correct, young child of Prometheus.¡± ¡°Wh- where are you!? Re-reveal yourself now! I bet you wont!¡± Amelia yelled, flustered. ¡°You¡¯d regret that though, and I¡¯m sure the child of Prometheus knows that too¡­¡±, the voice replied. Lex clenched his jaws tightly in anger. ¡°But oh well, too late for that I suppose.¡± Darkness started to come seemingly out of nowhere, seeping the entire area around them into a dark mist, it was as if someone had turned off the sun. A tall, dark, and slender figure suddenly appeared right in front of Lex and Amelia, instantly paralyzing both of them. The two didn¡¯t even have a proper chance to react before a dark and repressing aura hit them, sending Lex to his knees and Amelia completely flattened against the ground. ¡°BEHOLD. IT IS I, THE GREAT-¡± Unexpectedly, a voice came from behind the figure and cut it off from dramatically introducing itself. ¡°STOP RIGHT THERE YOU DISGUSTING CREATURE.¡± ¡°Wha-¡± The figure turned around, surprised to see that someone wasn¡¯t caught up by their aura, but was in fact also holding a very sharp piece of tree branch. ¡°How are you-¡± Zack then promptly lunged at the figure, hands tightly gripped around his makeshift weapon, which he must¡¯ve sharpened during the time the figure was yapping. He took one great leap, two, and - was instantly flattened against the ground, with his weapon still in his hands, Zack would¡¯ve stabbed himself if he didn¡¯t react in time to move it out of the way. The figure looked down at Zack, a wicked grin spreading beneath the shadow of its hood. "Impressive, but futile." The dark figure¡¯s voice was smooth and cruel, like the edge of a blade. With a flick of its hand, a surge of energy blasted Zack away, sending him crashing into a nearby tree with a sickening thud. His vision blurred as he struggled to push himself up, but the world spun wildly around him. "Zack!" Amelia cried, her voice still tinged with panic as she tried to push herself up from the ground, but the aura still pressed down on her, keeping her pinned. "No!"The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Lex, still on his knees, clenched his fists, but the weight of the oppressive aura made it hard to move. Sweat dripped from his brow as he gritted his teeth. "Damn it... There¡¯s more than I thought." The figure, now standing tall and unbothered by Zack¡¯s failed assault, turned back toward them, its piercing eyes glowing with an unnatural light. It was a being beyond comprehension, its presence like an endless abyss that consumed everything around it. "You know nothing of the forces you¡¯re dealing with, children. You are nothing but little specks of dust on this planet that we call Zyphora." "Who are you?!" Amelia demanded, her voice trembling but filled with defiance. "What do you want from us?!" The figure smirked, as if toying with them. "A question of importance... but one that will remain unanswered for now. I suggest you focus on surviving." With that, the figure snapped its fingers. More blinding darkness erupted from its hand, and the ground around them began to tremble. The trees swayed violently, their branches creaking as if about to break. The very air grew heavy, thick with an energy that seemed to distort the world itself. Amelia¡¯s heart raced, her thoughts scrambling to make sense of everything. "Lex... What is happening?!" Before Lex could respond, a deafening roar split the air, coming from the schoolyard. The sound was monstrous, far beyond anything human, echoing with the power of something ancient and deadly. At that moment, it felt as if the entire world was on the brink of collapse. ¡°We need to get out of here¡­¡± Lex grinded his teeth, finally managing to stand, though his movements were slow and heavy from the effects of the figure¡¯s aura. He grabbed Amelia¡¯s arm and yanked her toward him, pulling her away from the crushing pressure. ¡°Zack!¡± Amelia cried out, turning to look at her fallen friend, but before she could reach him, the figure raised its hand again. ¡°Don¡¯t waste your time.¡± The figure¡¯s voice carried an almost mocking tone. But as it prepared to strike again, a flash of light cut through the darkness - including the dark entity. Another figure - with a mask covering most of their face, was cloaked in light, with an ethereal glow surrounding them¡ªappeared between them and the dark entity. The newcomer¡¯s presence was calm, almost serene, in stark contrast to the chaos that reigned around them. They held their hand out, palm facing the figure. ¡°Enough,¡± the stranger¡¯s voice was firm, yet gentle, cutting through the tension. The energy in the air shifted, like the balance of the world itself had been altered with their arrival. The dark figure growled as its dark body was pieced together again, a low rumble that seemed to shake the very ground. ¡°You... you dare intervene?¡± ¡°I dare,¡± the stranger replied, their voice unwavering. "Leave them be. This is not your moment." The figure hesitated, a dark flicker of uncertainty passing through its eyes. It turned its gaze toward Lex, Amelia, and the fallen Zack one last time, its smile turning into a twisted grimace. ¡°This isn¡¯t over, you WILL regret this!¡± It hissed, before vanishing in a flash of dark smoke, leaving behind only the remnants of its oppressive aura. The stranger stood silently for a moment, as if sensing the shift in the atmosphere, before they moved toward the trio. Lex, still gripping Amelia tightly, looked at the stranger, his eyes filled with questions. ¡°Who are you?¡± he asked, his voice steady but full of suspicion. The stranger lowered their hood, and took off their mask. Long flowing white hair fell out, and their features were elegant and sharp in a way that suggested nobility, but there was a certain weariness to their expression - like someone who had seen too much and no longer cared to belong anywhere. Their eyes were a striking shade of amber, glowing faintly in the dim light, almost like smoldering embers. They gave a slight smile, the expression warm but distant, as if it were a reflex they had long since perfected. ¡°You ask who I am, but you know the answer isn¡¯t something you want to hear.¡± Her voice soft with a hint of sadness. Lex¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°What... what are you talking about?¡± He looked away in shame. She sighed, ¡°Vey will do.¡± Suddenly another scream pierced the air, and the ground began to shake again, more violently this time. "There''s no time," Vey said urgently, grabbing Lex by the arm. "We need to move. The battle for the future has already begun. You¡¯re going to need all the help you can get." ¡°Wait! Just¡­ let me carry him first,¡± Lex said, pointing at Zack. Vey nodded, giving permission. As Lex went to pick up Zack, Amelia was still standing at the same spot, pinching herself. ¡°Please tell me this is just a really bad dream¡­please¡­ please¡­please¡­¡± Vey called out, ¡°Amelia¡­ I think it¡¯s best if you follow us too.¡± ¡°Wait what? Where are we going? And¡­ how can we trust you?¡± ¡°... It¡¯s a gut feeling. Plus it¡¯s definitely better than staying here and waiting for whatever attacked the school to find us.¡± ¡°That''s true¡­ alright.¡± Amelia responded, finally realizing that she wouldn¡¯t be able to just ¡°wake up¡± and pretend all of this never happened. Vey nodded once again, and went on to say some strange words and made strange hand gestures - causing a portal to appear, and pushed the trio in. CHAPTeR 3 CHAPTER 3 Amelia looked around at her surroundings, she was in a spaciously sized house - the walls were lined with old bookshelves, and a warm, dim light filtered in through the curtains. Lex sat in a corner, his arms folded, staring out of the window, while Zack paced back and forth with his hands buried in his hair. "What is this place?" Amelia muttered, rubbing her eyes. "It''s a safe house," Lex said without turning around. "For now, it''s the safest place we have." Amelia looked at him, then at Zack, who had stopped pacing and was now glaring at the floor, his fists clenched tightly. She knew something was off. ¡°You know what? Lex, you¡¯ve been oddly calm even in such a situation¡­ No. You¡¯ve always been calm! How are you even like that? It seems like you''re ready for anything that could possibly happen. Damn. Happen.¡± Zack spat angrily. "How long are we even going to stay here? With someone we just met at that!" Amelia gasped, she hadn¡¯t even noticed that Vey was in the room. ¡°Hey, watch your mouth, she saved us.¡± Lex said as he stared back. "And we¡¯ll stay here as long as we need to," he said, his tone low, almost calculating. "We need to be ready." Zack gave him a sideways glance. "Ready for what? You don¡¯t even know what¡¯s going on." "Does anyone?" Lex replied. He stepped away from the window and walked over to the large table in the center of the room, his fingers tracing the edge thoughtfully. Zack, still frustrated, paced around the room thinking of a rude remark to make. But before he could, a sudden wave of tension swept over the room. It was subtle at first. Lex froze. He didn¡¯t flinch, but the look on his face told Amelia that something had shifted. Zack didn¡¯t notice, still pacing. But then Lex¡¯s eyes glinted, a flash of something darker than before. "Get down!" Lex shouted, and before Amelia could react, he pulled her to the ground, his body shielding hers as a burst of powerful energy rippled through the house. It wasn¡¯t an explosion¡ªjust a pressure, like the air itself was being compressed. Zack froze. "What the hell?" he muttered, his head snapping in Lex¡¯s direction. Lex remained on his knees for a moment, breathing heavily. His hand hovered above his forehead, and a symbol, one resembling an eye surrounded by fire, flickered faintly under his skin. It was gone almost as quickly as it appeared. Amelia gasped, looking up at him. "What was that? What just happened?" Lex stood up slowly, his face grim. He didn¡¯t meet her eyes immediately. "I - I have something¡­ something that helps me sense danger. It¡¯s a strand. A demi-strand. But I¡¯ve been keeping it hidden. I wasn¡¯t ready to show it yet." He paused, glancing at Zack, who was still processing. "But it seems we don¡¯t have much choice now." Zack shook his head, frustration now mixing with confusion. "You¡¯ve had this ability this whole time, and you didn¡¯t tell us?" Lex¡¯s expression hardened. "I didn¡¯t trust it. I didn¡¯t trust myself with it." He glanced at the floor, lost in thought. "And I wasn¡¯t sure what to make of it. It doesn¡¯t make me stronger. It just lets me see the danger before it happens. It only helps me avoid it." Zack scoffed. "Sounds lame. How does it work anyways?" "Does it?" Lex¡¯s eyes sharpened. "Well, since it¡¯s a demi-strand it¡¯s still quite weak right now, but I get a kind of gut feeling for what¡¯s going to happen if it isn¡¯t that big of a problem, and if it is, my third eye starts glowing and I get a really strong feeling of what¡¯s going to happen." Amelia, still recovering from the shock, glanced between the two. She felt a tug in her chest¡ªa feeling she couldn¡¯t explain, as if the air itself had shifted, as if something in her life was missing. But she didn¡¯t know what. She clenched her fists in frustration, though she wasn¡¯t sure what she was frustrated about. "So," Zack said after a long pause, "What now? We wait for whatever''s coming next?" ¡°The child of Prometheus probably already knows this, but right now, you three are being highly targeted by an organization.¡± Vey interrupted. She was leaning against a dark corner of the room, causing Amelia gasp, as she hadn¡¯t even noticed her presence. ¡°I¡¯ve led you to one of my hideouts - which is also highly warded and as far away as I could get you - but it won¡¯t be long before they find you again, so you¡¯ll need to be ready this time.¡± Lex nodded his head slowly, finally locking eyes with Amelia. "We must move forward. We don¡¯t have a choice anymore." He said, glancing at Amelia who was still shocked. Amelia¡¯s eyes widened even further as the weight of Lex¡¯s words settled in. ¡°Alright¡­but, how are we gonna do tha-¡± But before she could finish, the world seemed to shift again, a subtle shift in the air that both of them noticed. Lex stood up straighter, his eyes narrowing. ¡°There¡¯s someone coming,¡± he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. ¡°Do not fret, child of Prometheus,¡± said Vey, ¡°I¡¯m sure they¡¯re coming, they just won''t be able to come here that quickly. I¡¯ve made the necessary precautions when I approached you.¡± Amelia, still seated on the floor, bit her lip. "Wait," she interjected, her voice trembling slightly. "You keep calling Lex the child of Prometheus. What does that even mean?" Vey¡¯s lips curved into a faint smile. " Prometheus - the god of foresight and fire. The Pearce family has a long history with Prometheus, accomplishing many great feats. So in turn, Prometheus made the exception that every child of the Pearce family will be given a demi-strand at birth - but not just any demi-strand, it¡¯s a special kind that gives a deeper connection - a child. That is why I call him the child of Prometheus."If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Zack looked at Lex in shock. "Wait, you¡¯re a child of Prometheus? And you didn¡¯t think to mention that earlier?" Lex sighed. ¡°Well, I never thought I had to mention that part.¡± He turned to Vey. ¡°How¡¯d you even get that much information on my family anyways?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just say that all information will eventually be leaked, and something like that isn¡¯t much of a secret either. Anyways, what I was trying to say earlier is that you are not safe no matter where you are - but I know someone who can help you kids train and become strong enough to stand your ground.¡± ¡°Wh-why are you doing all this for us?¡± Amelia asked. Vey looked out the window. ¡°Let¡¯s just say that I see¡­ potential. I¡¯m not too clear myself either, but I have this gut feeling that you guys are gonna be the key to stopping them¡­¡± Her voice got quieter with each word. ¡°Wait wait wait¡­ So you¡¯re telling me that us three - completely innocent students at Joint Judgement¡¯s Bayshore Academy, are getting targeted by this big, scary organization - and you want us to defeat them?¡± Zack yelled. Vey looked away. ¡°...¡± Zack paced around the room as his outburst settled. ¡°I don¡¯t get it, couldn¡¯t you have done that yourself somehow? You¡¯re way stronger than all of us combined, I¡¯m sure.¡± ¡°I¡­ I couldn¡¯t do it. I¡¯m an outsider - to both the organization and the government. I couldn¡¯t get many people to join me in stopping them¡­¡± Vey trailed off. ¡°So you¡¯re just dumping those responsibilities on us now, huh?¡± Zack remarked. ¡°Did you also somehow manage to get us targeted? Hmm?¡± Lex interrupted. ¡°Zack, that''s enough. It isn¡¯t doing us any good staying here and being sour.¡± He turned to Vey. ¡°Vey, didn¡¯t you say earlier you knew someone who could help? Who are they, and how can they help?¡± ¡°...Ah. Right. His name¡¯s Dray. He and I used to be¡­ partners back then. He¡¯s also actively working against the organization, and has way better connections than I do - including the government. He¡¯s started a school program that can act for a cover for your training. I¡¯ll schedule a meeting with him for you guys.¡± ¡°Alright, that sounds good. You¡¯re sure he¡¯ll accept us though?¡± Lex responded. ¡°He just started the school recently, and he still needs more people to join in order for the cover to be more convincing, so it¡¯ll be all good.¡± Vey said as she walked over to a dark corner in the room. A few minutes of silence later, she spoke again. ¡°... The meeting¡¯s going to be tomorrow at 7 am sharp. I¡¯ll bring you there.¡± ¡°Then¡­ what should we do in the meantime?¡± Amelia asked. ¡°You three weren¡¯t the only ones attacked, many other students were. The organization must¡¯ve found a way to target anyone who has potential. Oh! And¡­ about your families. Each of them are safe, do not worry. The school you¡¯re going to has all sorts of high quality wards. I promise you, it is much safer there than going back to your homes.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we¡­ at least talk to them?¡± Zack asked hopefully. ¡°... You have your cell phone, don¡¯t you?¡± Vey replied. ¡°Oh! Ah right, sorry I forgot.¡± Zack said sheepishly. *** Amelia couldn¡¯t sleep. She kept on tossing and turning all night, thinking about how her little box full of friends, songs, and STB that she called life was ripped apart. Vey had given her a room on the entirely opposite side of both Lex and Zack¡¯s rooms, claiming that boys, ¡°cannot be trusted.¡± Causing her to be completely alone. Usually she would¡¯ve hated having people make noises during her sleep, but having some then would¡¯ve been quite nice actually. Amelia sighed, staring at the shadows dancing on the ceiling, her thoughts swirling endlessly. Morning felt like it would never come, yet somehow, it arrived too soon. The soft creak of the door pulled her from her restless haze. "Get up, sweetie, it¡¯s time for us to go," Vey said, poking her head into the room with an encouraging smile. Amelia groaned, burying her face in the pillow. "Ugh¡­ I barely got any sleep¡­" *** ¡°We¡¯re going to walk there,¡± Vey said, tightening the straps of a small satchel across her chest. ¡°Walk?¡± Zack groaned, rubbing his temples. ¡°Why walk when teleportation exists?¡± ¡°Because,¡± Vey replied curtly, her expression unreadable. ¡°Teleporting would make it easier for us to be tracked.¡± ¡°Tracked? How does that even work?¡± Amelia asked, tilting her head as she struggled to stifle a yawn. Vey sighed and leaned against the doorframe. ¡°Teleportation works by cutting two holes in space, one here, and another at the wanted location, and weaving it together, effectively bypassing the in-between. The problem is that it leaves behind something like a scar¡ªan imprint in the fabric of space. The further you teleport, the bigger and harder it is for that scar to heal. Anyone with the right tools, magic, or¡­ other abilities can trace it. Walking leaves no such trail. It¡¯s slower, yes, but far safer. Plus, Dray has teleportation wards installed anyways.¡± Lex, standing quietly in the corner, nodded in understanding. ¡°Makes sense. Moving on foot might take longer, but it¡¯s a low-profile approach.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not far,¡± Vey added, addressing the group. ¡°A couple of miles, at most. And I¡¯ve already planned a route through paths they¡¯d never think to look for. Trust me.¡± Zack crossed his arms, still unconvinced. ¡°So what? We¡¯re just going to casually stroll through the woods while some big, scary organization hunts us down?¡± ¡°Think of it as your first test,¡± Vey replied. ¡°A test of patience.¡± ¡°Great,¡± Zack muttered. ¡°Just great.¡± Amelia tugged her coat tighter around her shoulders and stepped toward the door. ¡°Fine, let¡¯s get it over with. The sooner we start, the sooner we can get to this Dray person and figure out how to fight back.¡± Vey smiled faintly. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit. Now, stay close and keep your voices low.¡± *** The old school campus looked abandoned from the outside¡ªits brick walls cracked, windows smudged with grime, and a faint scent of mildew clinging to the air. Yet, as the group stepped through the gates, the atmosphere shifted. The hum of activity filled the air: students sparred in makeshift arenas, their movements fluid and precise; dummies glowed with scorch marks and gouges; the clang of metal echoed in the distance. ¡°This is a school?¡± Zack muttered, dodging a stray fireball that zipped past his head. ¡°Focus,¡± Vey snapped. ¡°Dray¡¯s not a patient man.¡± The man in question approached, a scarred figure with a presence that silenced the cacophony around them. Dray had a rugged, no-nonsense demeanor, his dark red eyes scanning the group with practiced precision. ¡°So these are the recruits you¡¯ve brought me?¡± he asked, voice dripping with skepticism. Vey nodded. ¡°Meet Zack, Lex, and Amelia.¡± Dray snorted, crossing his arms. ¡°If they can¡¯t survive the first week, don¡¯t blame me.¡± With a bombacious side eye, he turned away. ¡°Follow me.¡± CHAPTeR 4 CHAPTER 4 The training ground was a strange mix of modern and sci-fi. There was a field lined with holographic targets, obstacle courses that looked like they¡¯d been through a war, and sparring arenas surrounded by weathered bleachers. ¡°First rule,¡± Dray barked elegantly, pacing before the group, ¡°is that you survive. Second rule is you learn. And if you¡¯re lucky, you¡¯ll do both.¡± The session began with grueling physical exercises. Dray paced in front of the group, his sharp eyes scanning their expressions. ¡°Let¡¯s start with a warmup, I call this one the ultimate-set. It consists of a hundred pushups, one hundred situps, fifty pull-ups, a 3-minute plank with 10 pounds of extra weight, and a mile sprint with a vest at least 40% of your bodyweight.¡± Amelia and Zack¡¯s jaws dropped to the floor. Level up! Jaw Dropping Lvl. -69 ¡ú 1 *** Zack groaned as he strained to complete even a fraction of the exercises. His arms trembled with the effort of holding a plank, the weight strapped to his back feeling more like a mountain than a vest. ¡°I¡¯m strandless! Why am I even here?¡± Zack growled, collapsing face-first into the floor after another failed attempt at lasting for 3 minutes. Dray loomed over him. ¡°Good question. Figure it out, or get out.¡± Amelia - also strandless, struggled to keep up with the training just like Zack, albeit at an even higher degree. Dray noticed and walked over, dropping to a squat beside her. ¡°If physical fitness isn¡¯t your strength,¡± he said, his voice gruff, ¡°then find something else. A strategy, magic, - whatever works. But whining won¡¯t save you.¡± Zack, overhearing, groaned. ¡°Why doesn¡¯t she get called out? This isn¡¯t fair!¡± Dray spun around, facing him. ¡°Fair? You want fair? I¡¯ll give you fair - ten more sets.¡± Zack groaned louder, ¡°I take that back.¡± Meanwhile, Lex had little to no struggle during the exercises - he had always been top of every single class - including physical training. Dray noticed this and quickly put him into the sparring matches - way before Zack and Amelia even finished their first set. Typical. After seemingly hours of physical drills, they all moved to the sparring arena. Dray went over to a control panel, flipped some switches and pressed some buttons, causing the arena to transform with a flicker of holographic magic, its walls rippling like water until they resembled a dense forest. Dray clapped his hands. ¡°Now, let¡¯s see how you handle combat. Each of you will be given access to the storage room, and you may choose any equipment you see fit.¡± The heavy metal doors to the storage room groaned as they slid open. Cool blue lights lined the edges of sleek shelves, illuminating an array of weapons and gear. Blades of all shapes and sizes glinted under the light - some forged from steel, others hummed faintly with embedded runes. Rows of gauntlets, bracers, and armor pieces shimmered with iridescent finishes, their surfaces etched with intricate designs. A rack of staffs and bows stood tall in the corner, their frames crafted from wood, metal, or even crystal. On the far wall, a section was devoted to gadgets - small devices that pulsed with energy, their purposes mysterious yet undeniably tempting. The air carried a faint charge, the hum of energy making the room feel alive. Zack hesitated as he scanned the shelves, his fingers twitching with indecision. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t have a strand, so I guess I¡¯ll need something¡­ practical.¡± He finally grabbed a pair of gauntlets embedded with shock-absorbing pads and reinforced knuckles. A small compartment on the wrist held retractable grappling hooks. ¡°These¡¯ll help with punching stuff, and maybe running away if I need to,¡± he muttered, strapping them on. Dray raised an eyebrow. ¡°Practical, but let¡¯s see if you can use them.¡± Amelia went towards the weapon rack, her gaze lingering on a lightweight rapier. Its blade shimmered faintly with an opalescent sheen, its guard ornately detailed but clearly designed for precision over brute force. She tested its balance, her grip unsure but firm. ¡°This feels¡­ right,¡± she said softly. ¡°Do you know how to use it?¡± Zack teased, earning a glare. ¡°I¡¯ll figure it out,¡± she shot back. Amelia also snagged a small energy shield¡ªa compact device that unfolded into a translucent barrier. ¡°Better safe than sorry.¡± Lex walked to the bow rack. He picked up a sleek, black recurve bow with intricate gold decorations that pulsed faintly as he touched it. ¡°This looks like it was made more for show,¡± he remarked. He tested the drawstring, noting the faint hum of energy that vibrated with each pull. ¡°What kind of enchantment is this? Looks nice.¡± Dray laughed loudly. ¡°It¡¯s the self-repair enchantment - nearly all our equipment has it. We don¡¯t want to waste our stuff after all. It¡¯s not a bad choice, but bows aren¡¯t too good at close range. What¡¯s your plan if someone gets in your face?¡± Lex grabbed a dagger from the adjacent shelf without missing a beat. ¡°We¡¯ll just have to see.¡± Vey leaned against the doorway, her sharp eyes appraising each choice. ¡°Interesting picks,¡± she remarked. ¡°But remember, the best weapon isn¡¯t the one you carry - it¡¯s the one you know how to use.¡± The group stepped into the holographic arena, its walls flickering before solidifying into the interior of an abandoned castle. Cracked stone walls rose around them, the flickering glow of torches casting eerie shadows. The air was damp and heavy, the faint sound of dripping water echoing through the cavernous halls. Dray crossed his arms. ¡°The simulation is set to medium difficulty. Your goal is simple: survive and adapt. Let¡¯s see how your choices hold up in a fight. Remember, the best way to learn is through experience.¡± The walls shuddered, everything became dark, and the ground rumbled as holographic enemies materialized: spectral knights armed with ghostly swords, their hollow eyes glowing with malevolent light. A low growl reverberated through the chamber as a massive, wolf-like beast prowled into view, its body hidden by the shadows, given away by its glowing yellow eyes. Zack took to the grappling hooks immediately, using them to swing onto higher ground when the spectral knights closed in. He landed a punch squarely on one knight¡¯s helmet, the shock-absorbing pads dampening the impact while the reinforced knuckles left a crack in the ghostly armor. [Not bad,] Dray¡¯s voice came from all around the simulation. [But your movements are still clumsy.] Amelia hesitated as the knights came closer and closer. ¡°Alright¡­ I can do this!¡± Her rapier flashed in the dim light as she darted around her opponents, landing strikes whenever she could. When cornered by the wolf-like beast, she activated the energy shield, its translucent barrier absorbing the creature¡¯s lunging attack. ¡°Okay, this thing is terrifying,¡± she gasped, but she held her ground. [That could use some work. I like how you strike whenever the chance appears, that¡¯s good, but we¡¯ll have to work on how and where you should strike for the most damage or efficiency.] Lex stayed at a distance, his arrows striking true as he picked off knights from across the room. When a specter got too close, he switched to his dagger, deflecting an attack with surprising ease. Typical. Suddenly, a knight cornered Amelia, forcing her to strike desperately. Zack yelled, ¡°Move!¡± He tackled the knight with surprising force, his grappling hook pulling him away just before the wolf lunged. Amelia caught her breath. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°Yeah, well¡­ don¡¯t die,¡± Zack muttered, face flushed. After the simulation ended, everything started to fade and turned back into the normal, old, sparring arena and the trio walked out. Dray clapped slowly. ¡°Not terrible,¡± he said. ¡°Zack, you need to work on your movement - those hooks won¡¯t always be there. Amelia, good instincts, but you hesitate too much - time matters on the battlefield, one second of hesitation could end up getting you killed. As for Lex¡­ you have a talent with the bow and dagger though. You¡¯d make a good ranger or scout. BUT, don¡¯t rely too much on your strand. What¡¯ll happen when you face someone who can counter it?¡± Lex looked up and grinned. ¡°I wasn¡¯t ever planning to rely on it. Plus, the only time someone can counter me is if they can also see the future, and that privilege can only be obtained in my family.¡± Drey laughed loudly. ¡°That shows the level of understanding you have over your brand. What if, let¡¯s say, your opponent is able to react quick enough that they can outrun your predictions?¡± ¡°What? Is that even possible?¡± Lex asked, confused. Dray signaled for another trainer to come over. A young woman came over. She was an asian girl with black hair that was tied in a tight bun, and eyes as dark as the abyss. Her uniform was worn but neat, and she had an aura of extreme confidence around her. ¡°This is Ahzi,¡± Dray introduced. ¡°You¡¯ll regret talking to master Dray like that, Lex.¡± Ahzi said, practically spat his name. ¡°Hah! Lex - aren¡¯t you usually good with the girls? What¡¯s going on here? What¡¯d you do to make her so pissed?¡± Zack laughed. ¡°Both of you, get into the arena, let¡¯s start the demonstration on why you don¡¯t rely on strands as much as you do.¡± Dray cut in. As the two walked in, the arena shifted again, this time becoming a windswept desert. Sand whipped around them as Lex and Saya squared off. Lex took a deep breath trying to lock in, being ready for his opponent¡¯s every move was his most powerful tool, more than any equipment. Saya held up a jian - a double-edged straight sword, a multipurpose cut and thrust weapon capable of stabbing, as well as making both precise cuts and slashes, as opposed to specializing in one form of use. The moment the match began, Saya closed the gap faster than he expected, her speed blurring the edges of his foresight. Lex quickly unsheathed his dagger and parried her first strike but barely had time to react to her follow-up. She moved like lightning, each step calculated to throw him off balance. Lex countered with a series of well-placed blows, his foresight giving him just enough edge to keep from being overwhelmed. But Saya was relentless. Her agility and reaction time were unbelievable, allowing her to adapt mid-strike. She feinted left, then spun into a low sweep, catching Lex off guard and sending him sprawling into the sand. As Lex scrambled to his feet, Saya stopped, her expression calm but impressed. ¡°Not bad for a newbie,¡± she said, brushing sand from her sleeve. Dray clapped once. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Lesson learned?¡± Lex nodded, panting. ¡°Yeah. Don¡¯t underestimate speed.¡± Dray grinned. ¡°If you learn to combine it with raw skill, you might actually stand a chance against someone like Ahzi.¡± As Lex defeatedly walked over to Zack and Amelia, Ahzi went over to Dray. ¡°That kid¡­ I underestimated him. His foresight makes him a hell to fight.¡± She gripped her jian tighter. ¡°Mmm¡­ You did well, Ahzi. His strand is considered one of the most powerful strands, I just didn¡¯t want him to get too cocky out there and die.¡± ¡°Him? He looks like the type of guy who comes prepared for anything.¡± Ahzi said, turning her head to stare at Lex. *** Over the following weeks, the group trained relentlessly. Dray started teaching them the basics for each and every weapon, and then made them choose an occupation - either combatant or sorcerer. Lex asked why there were only two options. Dray went on to explain that yes, there were of course also the other occupations, but it would take a lot of time and effort in order to gain a lot of proficiency in two occupations at once. Effort they had, sure. But they didn¡¯t have a lot of time considering the Chaos Organization was on their tails. Zack began to show promise as a melee combatant. He started trying to wield all sorts of melee weapons other than the gauntlet, trying to find something that perfectly suited him - but he showed the most compatibility with the bigger or more powerful weapons, like the greataxe, great spears, greatswords, and of course, the gauntlets. Although he was a bit of a reckless fighter in doing so. This led him to choose combatant as his main occupation. Level Up! Occupation Earned: Combatant Lvl. 0 ¡ú 1 Skill Earned: Gauntlet Combat Lvl. 0 ¡ú 1 He might even become a berserker or even magi-combatant in the future, since magi-combatants had an ability called inventory swap where the user has a magical inventory equipment that they can carry around wherever and instantly take out or put in equipment. This allows them to have a diverse range of attacks, and almost never fear of losing or running out of weapons. Amelia grew fond of her rapier, but given her very low endurance and stamina, she opted for more magical means. Namely using magical items that increased her mana, her magical damage, and more. So she chose sorcerer as her main occupation. Still, she kept one on her belt at all times because she felt like it. Level Up! Occupation Earned: Sorcerer Lvl. 0 ¡ú 1 Skill Earned: Basic Magic Knowledge Lvl. 0 ¡ú 1 Rapier Proficiency: Lvl. 0 ¡ú 1 ¡°Oh!¡± Amelia exclaimed, surprised. ¡°You get additional perquisites or proficiency based on real life skills.¡± Dray said with a grin. Lex, meanwhile, worked on refining his use of foresight, blending it with practical combat skills. He struggled choosing his occupation, since both would bring advantages. Combatants were of course more adept in physical means like speed, strength, or reflexes. But considering that he already had something that could definitely keep up to those once trained enough, and combined with the potent and unpredictable abilities of magic, Lex decided on sorcerer. Level up! Occupation Earned: Sorcerer Lvl. 0 ¡ú 1 Skill Earned: Basic Magic Knowledge Lvl. 0 ¡ú 1 Skill Earned: Tactical Awareness Lvl. 0 ¡ú 1 As the group trained more, their bond together became stronger. Shared sweat, bruises, and the occasional laugh forged a camaraderie none of them had expected. They also got to learn about the other trainees along with them, two of which became quite good friends. Jay and Etal, the twins, added much-needed energy to the atmosphere. They had approached the trio and welcomed them, even in such a circumstance where most would be grieving the life they had lost. Jay had a knack for making everyone laugh mid-battle with terrible puns - ¡°I¡¯d axe you to stop, but you look too sharp!¡± - while Etal, the quieter one, had a wit as sharp as Amelia¡¯s rapier. Their contrasting personalities balanced each other, and they quickly became the group¡¯s moral support. Etal had a more lean build, so his weapon of choice was a pair of chakrams, while Jay had a more burly build and wielded a halberd. Despite their goofy banter, both were formidable in combat, often covering for the others during training simulations. *** Level Up! Combatant Lvl. 1 ¡ú 2 Gauntlet Combat Lvl. 3 ¡ú 4
Level Up! Sorcerer Lvl. 1 ¡ú 2 Basic Magic Knowledge Lvl. 2 ¡ú 3 Rapier Proficiency Lvl. 2 ¡ú 3
Level Up!You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Sorcerer Lvl. 2 ¡ú 3 Basic Magic Knowledge Lvl. 3 ¡ú 4 Archery Lvl. 5 ¡ú 6 Dagger Mastery Lvl. 5 ¡ú 6
Zack blinked at the notification and whooped, punching the air. ¡°Finally! All that sweat and pain was worth it!¡± He flexed his arms, pretending to admire nonexistent muscles. ¡°Am I a pro now, or what?¡± Amelia glanced at her menu and smiled faintly. ¡°It¡¯s a start,¡± she said, feeling a spark of hope despite her exhaustion. Lex examined his menu with a more analytical eye. ¡°It¡¯s not just about the skills you¡¯ve earned. It¡¯s how you use them,¡± he said, adjusting his bow. ¡°We¡¯ve got a long way to go, but we¡¯re moving in the right direction.¡± ¡°Says the guy who¡¯s level 3.¡± Zack quipped, annoyed. Dray, observing from the sidelines, nodded approvingly. ¡°Not bad. Skill progression means you¡¯re growing. But don¡¯t get cocky - these levels are just the beginning. Real combat doesn¡¯t come with progress bars or notifications.¡± *** One night, after an especially grueling training session, the group gathered around a small campfire on the training grounds. The holographic sky above shifted to show a field of stars, casting a serene glow. Zack poked at the fire with a stick. ¡°Do you ever wonder¡­ what we¡¯re even fighting for? Like, what¡¯s the point of all this?¡± Amelia frowned. ¡°To stop the Chaos Organization from doing whatever they want to do with us, obviously.¡± ¡°Yeah, but beyond that?¡± Zack pressed. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ weird, you know? We¡¯re risking everything, and half the time, I don¡¯t even know if I¡¯m cut out for this.¡± Lex glanced up from where he was sharpening his dagger. ¡°We¡¯re fighting because we have to. Because the academy doesn¡¯t teach us life saving skills required to survive against an organization that wants to hunt us down. I¡¯m speaking more for myself, but I want to be able to save people. Many lives were lost that night, but our school wasn¡¯t the only one attacked. I heard the organization had attacked schools from all over the country. I¡¯m not sure I couldn¡¯t even protect myself against such people, let alone save others.¡± Amelia shifted closer to Zack, placing a hand on his shoulder. ¡°Besides, have you got any better ideas?¡± ¡°I¡­ agree with Lex.¡± Zack said, looking down. The moment lingered, quiet but meaningful, before Jay broke the silence with a loud fake cough. ¡°Well, that got deep. Next thing you know, Zack¡¯s going to propose.¡± ¡°Shut up, Jay,¡± Zack muttered, throwing his stick at him, though his cheeks burned red. *** One evening, Vey gathered them in a dimly lit room, her expression serious. ¡°The Chaos Organization isn¡¯t just after you because you¡¯re threats,¡± she said. ¡°They want your strand energy - your potential.¡± ¡°For what? Are they gonna steal our potential or something?¡± Zack joked. ¡°That could be possible, yes,¡± Vey replied grimly. ¡°But I don¡¯t know as much as I¡¯d like to.¡± ¡°And, why are you telling us this right now?¡± Amelia asked nervously. ¡°Since they¡¯re going to come over here soon.¡± Vey replied. ¡°They left a note saying, ¡®If you hand over the kids now, we¡¯ll have no reason to do this the hard way. You have 5 days. - Short and simple, Co H.M.¡¯ It has been brought to our attention that our cover is already blown.¡± ¡°Then¡­ what¡¯re you gonna do?¡± Amelia asked. ¡°Don¡¯t be silly - we left for a reason, there¡¯s no way in hell we¡¯re going to do this the easy way. Definitely not after y¡¯all trained this hard.¡± Vey rolled her eyes. ¡°In these five days, you¡¯re going to be training like it¡¯s your last - and it may just be.¡± ¡°Very funny.¡± Zack remarked. ¡°We¡¯re going to give you guys one final training session.¡± Vey said looking towards Dray, who had just walked into the room. ¡°You¡¯re going to face a special challenge: a team-based trial in a larger simulation meant to test their cohesion and adaptability. We have a good insight into how many people in the organization used to fight, but that won¡¯t be of help. Time has passed, and the organization will change,¡± Dray said, his tone serious. ¡°Tomorrow, you¡¯ll face your toughest opponents yet, but you¡¯ll also need to rely on each other more than ever. Win or lose, how you work together will determine your future, live everyday like it¡¯s your last - cause it might just be.¡± *** The group trained relentlessly yesterday, and they felt a newfound sense of unity. As Zack tightened the straps on his gauntlets, Amelia practiced with her magic, and Lex fine-tuned his spells. Jay and Etal, standing side by side, shared a grin. ¡°We¡¯ve got this,¡± Jay said confidently. Etal nodded. ¡°Together.¡± The six of them, along with countless other trainees stood at the entrance to the largest and usually off-limits sparring arena, two heavy doors slid open to reveal an ominous, shadowy landscape. Their final challenge awaited - but the fight was far from over. Here''s their current stats in case you''re wondering. Average stats being: Male: Strength: 20 Agility: 18 Endurance: 20 Intelligence/Wisdom: 15 Mental Fortitude: 15 Charisma: 17 Female: Strength: 15 Agility: 22 Endurance: 17 Intelligence/Wisdom: 20 Mental Fortitude: 17 Charisma: 20
Name Stats # Occupation(s) Level # Strand
Amelia Lu Strength 12 Sorcerer 2 N????????????o???????????n?????????e????????????????
Agility 25
Endurance 10
Intelligence/Wisdom 38
Mental Fortitude 5
Charisma 25
Abilities Level # Proficiency
Basic Magic Knowledge 3 15%
Fireball 4 42%
Energy Shield 2 31%
Rapier Mastery 3 56%
Perquisites
None
Name Stats # Occupation(s) Level # Strand
Zack Bright Strength 25 Combatant 2 None
Agility 23
Endurance 18
Intelligence/Wisdom 39
Mental Fortitude 19
Charisma 45
Abilities Level # Proficiency
Basic Combat Knowledge 3 96%
Gauntlet Mastery 4 69%
Brawling 2 35%
Perquisites
None
Name Stats # Occupation(s) Level # Strand
Lex Pearce Strength 30 Sorcerer 3 Demi-Strand: foresight/forethought & fire (Prometheus)
Agility 28
Endurance 20
Intelligence/Wisdom 45
Mental Fortitude 26
Charisma 45
Abilities Level # Proficiency
Basic Magic Knowledge 4 78%
Archery 6 70%
Tactical Awareness 1 45%
Dagger Mastery 6 0%
Perquisites
Demi-Strand User (+2 All Stats)
Name Stats # Occupation(s) Level # Strand
Jay Solvayne Strength 45 Combatant 5 None
Agility 19
Endurance 29
Intelligence/Wisdom 35
Mental Fortitude 31
Charisma 19
Abilities Level # Proficiency
Basic Combat Knowledge 6 0%
Halberd Mastery 7 0%
Brawling 6 0%
Perquisites
None
Name Stats # Occupation(s) Level # Strand
Etal Solvayne Strength 21 Combatant 6 None
Agility 32
Endurance 19
Intelligence/Wisdom 42
Mental Fortitude 19
Charisma 21
Abilities Level # Proficiency
Basic Combat Knowledge 6 37%
Chakram Mastery 6 26%
Perquisites
None
CHAPTeR 5 CHAPTER 5 Amelia looked around nervously. The arena was a huge circular dome shape, its ceiling high enough to make even giants feel insignificant. Compared to the usual training arenas they had used, this was on an entirely different level. It was also much better maintained, if the fact that everything was shining with polish. Light filtered through translucent panels, casting soft, shifting shadows across the very polished floor. A faint hum resonated in the air, as if the arena itself were breathing, watching, waiting. This place felt¡­ alive, which wasn¡¯t something that sounded too good, in Amelia''s opinion. Suddenly, speakers popped out from all around the arena. [You¡¯ve survived the basics,] Dray began, his voice cutting through the stillness. [Now, we test your instincts and teamwork.] Vey¡¯s voice came over the speaker. [This isn¡¯t about individual strength. It¡¯s about survival and strategy. Together.] She emphasized the last word, her tone leaving no room for argument. From the far end of the arena, two heavy doors slid open. Out stepped a new figure - a tall, broad-shouldered young man with unruly amber hair and a cocky grin. He was topless, revealing a very muscular build, with a massive greatsword slung across his back. ¡°That¡¯s Jax,¡± Jay whispered to Amelia, his tone a mix of awe and unease. ¡°He¡¯s been here longer than most of us. Rumor has it he took down a whole squad of Chaos scouts on his own.¡± Jax strode to the center of the arena, his grin widening as his eyes swept over the group. With a fluid motion, he shifted his weight, planting one foot firmly on the ground while his other leg bent slightly at the knee. He crossed his arms, the muscles rippling beneath his sleeves, and tilted his head, fixing them with a sharp, piercing gaze. Then, with a smirk that could have lit up the whole arena, he snapped his fingers, sending a faint spark of light dancing into the air. ¡°Alright, rookies,¡± his voice was deep and powerful, ¡°let¡¯s see what you¡¯re made of.¡± He held the pose for a heartbeat, letting the silence settle. This time Dray¡¯s voice was heard. [Jax will be your first opponent. Your task is simple: subdue him. No killing, of course. If you can.] Then Veys. [You will split into groups however you¡¯d like. You can go solo if you want. Each group will take turns trying to win against the current opponent. Once they are defeated, the next opponent will come out. If your team is defeated, you fail.] ¡°Are there any punishments if we fail?¡± Yelled a random trainee from somewhere random. [You know the drill. 10 more sets for you.] Dray laughed. Murmurs started spreading across the arena. Zack muttered under his breath, ¡°Great. Another guy who¡¯s going to kick our butts while looking cool doing it.¡± Jay elbowed him lightly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll get your chance to look cool too - when you¡¯re lying flat on the ground.¡± ¡°Focus,¡± Lex hissed, his eyes narrowing as he studied Jax. Dray clapped his hands. [Now now. The first group will be¡­ mmm, you six!] Six giant holographic hands appeared out of nowhere and pointed directly at Amelia¡¯s group. [Begin.] Jax moved in, his speed not befitting his size. The group scattered, barely avoiding a huge swing from his greataxe. Lex immediately took up a position at the back, firing arrows to keep Jax on the defensive. Amelia activated her energy shield, stepping in to deflect a blow aimed at Zack. ¡°Thanks,¡± Zack grunted, landing a punch on Jax¡¯s side. The strike sent a loud ring through the air, but Jax barely flinched. Instead, he laughed. ¡°Not bad, kid,¡± Jax said, swinging his sword again and forcing Zack to leap back. ¡°But you¡¯ll need more than that to take me down.¡± ¡°The hell is your skin made of?¡± Zack yelled angrily as he circled around Jax. Jay and Etal darted in from opposite sides, their movements perfectly synchronized. Etal used his chakrams for range while Jay used his halberd for deadly stabs with the spike, powerful slices with the axe, and catching Jax¡¯s greatsword with the hook at the back of the axe blade. Jay leapt in front of Jax, his halberds making a slice for his legs which was quickly deflected while Etal went behind Jax and started throwing his chakrams at him. Their strikes flowed together in an almost dance-like rhythm. For a moment, it seemed they might overwhelm Jax. But then he twisted, his greatsword sweeping low and forcing them to break formation. Amelia hesitated, unsure of where to strike. Her rapier felt flimsy compared to Jax¡¯s monstrous weapon, and she doubted the little magic she knew would be of use either. But then she caught sight of Zack struggling to regain his footing, Jax¡¯s sword swinging down toward him. Without thinking, she lunged, her rapier flashing as it struck the flat of the greatsword. The impact jarred her arm, but it was enough to deflect the blow. ¡°Nice save,¡± Zack panted, scrambling to his feet. Jax¡¯s grin widened. ¡°You¡¯ve got guts, I¡¯ll give you that.¡± Lex shouted from the sidelines, ¡°Aim for his legs! He¡¯s top-heavy - take out his balance!¡± Following Lex¡¯s advice, Zack ducked low and struck at Jax¡¯s knee while Jay did the same on the other side. Lex shot his arrows and Etal threw his chakrams, both aiming for Jax¡¯s head. Amelia assisted by launching fireballs and other basic spells. Surprisingly, Jax was doing quite well deflecting and counter attacking all of this. His giant sword helped ward off most of the projectiles, and one swing was devastating enough to cause all of his attackers to back up. Still, slowly but surely, Jax was being overwhelmed. Finally a chance came when a random fireball hit Jax square in his face, causing him to stumble and blinding him. ¡°Now!¡± Lex called, and the group surged forward. Zack¡¯s gauntlets struck Jax¡¯s chest, Jay and Etal moved in tandem to pin his arms, and Amelia drove her rapier into the ground at his feet, and with some quick thinking created a magical energy barrier that trapped him in place. Jax stopped struggling, his laughter echoing through the arena. ¡°Not bad, rookies. Not bad at all. But I¡¯m not sure that''s how you should use the barrier.¡±This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Dray¡¯s voice came over the speakers. [You passed. Barely.] As the group caught their breath, Amelia realized something had shifted between them. For the first time, they had fought as a team, each relying on the others to succeed. Lex gave her a small nod of approval, and Zack clapped her on the back. ¡°You¡¯ve got some moves, Amelia. Who knew?¡± She smiled faintly, feeling a flicker of pride. [NEXT GROUP!] Yelled Dray over the speaker as another giant holographic hand pointed at another group. [Your next opponent is¡­] The rest of the final challenge was a blur, but the atmosphere was unforgettable. Everyone was hyped up and was probably the brightest they¡¯ve been ever since the trio came here. Still, Amelia couldn¡¯t help but feel tense. They only had 4 more days until the Chaos organization probably came knocking on their door. After the final challenge ended, Dray and Vey came out to the center of the arena. ¡°As you all know, this school¡¯s purpose was to serve as a cover for children like you - targeted by the Chaos Organization.¡± She continued. ¡°We¡¯d like to make a confession, one that is quite heavy and important to us.¡± ¡°We¡­ were once part of the organization.¡± Dray finished. A moment of silence. ¡°We have once believed that there needed to be chaos in order for there to be balance, but that is behind us.¡± Dray continued. ¡°We have devoted most of our lives to the organization, so leaving was quite a big burden on us¡­¡± Vey spoke up. ¡°Countless sacrifices were made in order for us to stand here before you today.¡± Someone cut in. ¡°Yeah, we kinda knew that given how much you guys knew about some shady organization.¡± Dray nodded and Vey smiled. Vey continued. ¡°And for that, we¡¯d like to congratulate you on passing the final challenge. All of you!¡± Cheers erupted all around the arena. ¡°We did good today.¡± Lex said, looking towards Amelia, Zack, Jay, and Etal. ¡°We make a good team.¡± He smiled. They were then allowed to rest and relax for the rest of the day. ¡°Finally! No more painful training sessions!¡± Zack burst with joy. The quintet was currently in a large cafeteria full of other trainees. The quintet was currently in a large cafeteria full of other trainees. They were getting in line when their senses overwhelmed by an explosion of enticing aromas and vibrant displays of food that stretched as far as the eye could see. The cafeteria truly outdid itself this time.¡°Wait, there¡¯s a LOT more stuff on here than last time.¡± Zack noted. ¡°Smells way better than school lunch,¡± Jay remarked, earning a laugh from the others. ¡°I heard that it was our little gift for passing the final challenge.¡± Lex said. ¡°You sure you didn¡¯t use your strand to know that?¡± Jay joked. First was the entr¨¦e (main meal) station, where whole roasted pheasants (a type of bird) glistened with a honey-lavender glaze, their golden-brown skin crackling as they rested on platters sprinkled with thyme and rosemary. Nearby, a carving station boasted prime rib, its perfect slices dripping with jus (meat juice/gravy), paired with a silky horseradish (plant) cream. Vegetarians weren¡¯t forgotten - they had a wild mushroom risotto, the Arborio rice cooked to creamy perfection and flecked with truffle shavings and a drizzle of herbed oil. There were also grilled eggplant roulades (rolls) stuffed with a rich ricotta-spinach filling and topped with a tangy tomato basil sauce. A salad bar shimmered with color. Bowls of baby spinach and arugula sat beside toppings like roasted butternut squash cubes, candied pecans, crumbled goat cheese, and pomegranate seeds. Next came the seafood display - towers of glistening oysters on ice, lemon wedges artfully scattered among them, alongside bowls of cocktail shrimp that shone under the cafeteria lights. A warm dish of butter-poached lobster tails sat steaming, each piece drenched in a lemon-chive beurre blanc. There was a side station that offered buttery garlic mashed potatoes, their surface swirled like soft peaks of cream, next to a fragrant saffron-infused pilaf (dish consisting of saut¨¦ed, seasoned rice steamed in bouillon, and/or poultry, meat or shellfish) with almonds and dried cranberries sprinkled on top. The freshly baked herb focaccia bread had crisp edges and pillowy insides, perfect for soaking up sauces. For dessert, a long table showcased molten chocolate lava cakes, their gooey centers oozing out at the slightest touch of a spoon. Glass goblets were filled with layered tiramisu, the mascarpone (italian cheese) and espresso-soaked ladyfingers (biscuit) dusted with cocoa powder. There were also seasonal fruit tarts, their buttery crusts holding creamy custard and glistening slices of kiwi, strawberries, and mango. Beverages ranged from chilled glasses of sparkling elderflower lemonade to steaming mugs of rich, spiced hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and shavings of dark chocolate. It was safe to say that the cafeteria had turned into an all you can eat buffet with lots of scrumptious food. The second they got their food and sat down, Amelia dug into her meal, savoring every bite. It was the first time in weeks she could eat such fine food, and could finally relax without having to worry about more grueling training sessions later. Zack was already on his second plate. ¡°So, Amelia,¡± he said between mouthfuls, ¡°did you already know you could trap people in the magical barrier, or were you just winging it?¡± Amelia flushed slightly, poking at her food. ¡°A bit of both, honestly. I guess I just... acted.¡± Lex chuckled, raising his cup of spiced cider in mock salute. ¡°Well, here¡¯s to acting. We might¡¯ve been flattened if you hadn¡¯t.¡± Jay smirked. ¡°I¡¯ll drink to that. But seriously, Zack, how do you eat so much and still complain about training being too hard?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fueling my muscles, thank you very much,¡± Zack shot back, flexing his arm. ¡°You should try it, Jay. Maybe then you wouldn¡¯t lose your halberd every time Jax smacks it.¡± The table erupted in laughter, and even Amelia couldn¡¯t help but join in. For a moment, the weight of the Chaos Organization and everything it represented felt distant, almost manageable. Etal leaned back in his chair, spinning one of his chakrams lazily on his finger. ¡°You know,¡± he said, ¡°if we don¡¯t get annihilated in the next few days, we might actually make a pretty solid squad.¡± ¡°Big if,¡± Zack cut in. ¡°Yeah, well, we¡¯ve made it this far,¡± Amelia said, surprising herself with how steady her voice sounded. ¡°Let¡¯s just... keep doing what we¡¯re doing.¡± Lex raised his cup again, his expression unusually warm. ¡°To what we¡¯re doing.¡± They clinked their cups together, the sound ringing out above the hum of the cafeteria. For a brief moment, it felt like they weren¡¯t trainees preparing for an inevitable fight. They were just friends, sharing a meal, laughing, and finding comfort in each other¡¯s company - brought together by the chaos that had started it all. But beneath the surface, cracks lingered. Amelia¡¯s smile faltered as her thoughts drifted to her family. Every night, she cried herself to sleep, the ache of missing them growing heavier with each passing day. No matter how much she thought she¡¯d grown used to it, the loneliness always found a way to creep back in. She wanted to lean on someone, to be comforted, but when she looked at her friends, she saw strength and resilience. They were struggling too - how could she burden them with her pain? Zack¡¯s cheerful mask hid his own turmoil. While others had stories of desperate searches by loved ones, his family¡¯s silence spoke volumes. They had resources, influence, and power - yet no signs, no calls, and no posters bearing his name or face. The emptiness left a sour taste in his mouth. Was he truly so forgettable? Or was there something he¡¯s missing? If only they had shared those thoughts aloud. Maybe then the weight they carried wouldn¡¯t feel so isolating. But vulnerability was a strange, fragile thing - hard to give and harder still to trust someone else with. Perhaps one day, there would be a time and a person who could break through that silence, someone who could help them bear the burdens they kept hidden. For now, they sat together, laughter filling the air, pretending that the world wasn¡¯t crumbling around them. Because sometimes, even pretending was enough to keep going. CHAPTeR [??] Cue dramatic music. Ah, greetings mortals, demigods, and those who skipped directly to this chapter hoping for spoilers! It is I, your delightful and all-knowing Narrator-sama! Back again to drop some wisdom, sprinkle in some charm, and dazzle you with my superior sense of humor. But wait! Before we dive into the juicy and mind-blowingly fascinating information. Let¡¯s take a short detour. A filler, you say? How rude. I prefer the term educational delight. Today, we¡¯ll be unraveling the glorious phenomenon known as Strands (see what I did there?) - the power system that defines this chaotic yet fascinating world. Buckle up, kiddos. It¡¯s time for some lore! STRANDS: The Best Power Source? First things first - what are Strands? Simple! Strands are fancy, glowy threads that connect people to gods. Picture an umbilical cord to divine awesomeness. Wait, that was kind of weird. PICTURE GODLY Wi-Fi, connecting chosen mortals to divine power. When you acquire a Strand, you gain access to an exclusive connection to a god¡¯s domain - be it strength, knowledge, or, I don¡¯t know, cosmic fabulousness. And here¡¯s the kicker: as soon as you¡¯re granted a Strand, the System instantly awakens within you, regardless of age. Even if you¡¯re still trying to figure out long division, bam, you¡¯ve got a fully functioning, divine skill tracker. You¡¯re officially in the big leagues now. When activated, a Strand shows up as a sick tattoo-like symbol on your body (it can be anywhere). Very edgy. It¡¯s also a major flex - like wearing limited-edition merch of Sean Combs*. But remember, this power isn¡¯t yours forever. The god can snatch it back faster than you can say, ¡°Oops." *I''M JOKING. Acquiring a Strand Beware though, only a select few can have these bad boys. BUT here are two ways to get one of them: Be Chosen If you¡¯re naturally cool, have some heroic feats, or embody a god¡¯s vibe, they might slide into your DMs like, ¡°Hey, wanna rep my brand?¡± They¡¯ll gift you a Strand, no questions asked (usually). Maybe you showed courage in a battle or demonstrated wisdom beyond your years. Or maybe they¡¯re just bored. Whatever the reason, poof, you¡¯re chosen. Seek It (The Hard Way) Not chosen? No problem! Just find a god, knock on their celestial door, and say, ¡°Hey, I want power!¡± Spoiler: They¡¯ll laugh, then toss you into a trial straight out of your nightmares. Personal Challenges: Face your inner demons. Cry about it later. Physical Challenges: Punch a dragon. Don¡¯t die. Moral Dilemmas: Save the puppy or the kitten. Choose wisely. Pass the trial? Congrats, you get a Strand! Fail? Well¡­ let¡¯s just say you might walk away with a curse or a really bad Yelp review from the god. (Second chances are hard, man.) Strand UpgradesThis tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Strands don¡¯t just stay the same. Oh no, they evolve. As you bond with your god - whether through epic feats, moral growth, or just vibing with their ideals - your Strand levels up. Imagine going from, ¡°I can lift a rock,¡± to, ¡°I can lift a mountain and throw it at my enemies.¡± But beware! If you lose faith in your god or stray from their ideals, your Strand¡¯s power can shrink faster than your Wi-Fi during a storm. Demi-Strands: Strands for the People? Not everyone gets the full VIP package. Some folks settle for Demi-Strands, which are like the lite version of a Strand. Limited power, but still better than nothing. Think of it as a trial subscription to divine energy. Impress the god enough, and you might get upgraded to the full version! The System? Ok. Earlier I said only a select few can have a god''s strands. Technically, gods can hand out as many Strands as they want. But most keep it exclusive¡ªless Spotify Family Plan, more Netflix Premium for One. Anyways, onto the system. Think of it as a tool to track your growth, refine your abilities, etc. etc. It also encourages collaboration - mentorships, teamwork, and shared knowledge. By learning from those who¡¯ve mastered an Occupation, you can awaken the System for yourself. This means even if you don¡¯t have a Strand, you¡¯re not powerless. The System ensures there¡¯s a place for everyone in this divine playground. Well, even if you don''t have anyone to teach it to you, you can learn it the hard way too... or you can wait until your 18. (it awakens for everyone at that age) Occupations: Jobs, but Make Them Cool Occupations are essentially professions or life paths, but instead of a paycheck, you get supernatural abilities. They can be learned by being taught by someone more experienced or through sheer determination. Once you unlock one, it¡¯s like gaining a blueprint for greatness. Combatant: Punch things. Stab things. Be awesome at it. Evolves into Magi-Combatant, Warrior, Scout, Ranger, Berserker, or Tank. Sorcerer: Manipulators of the arcane (mana and magic). They sparkle. A lot. Evolves into Elementalist, Warlock, Magus, or Healer. Support/Artisan/Other: The unsung heroes who keep everyone alive and equipped. Evolves into Craftsman, Alchemist, Bard, Enchanter, or Forger. Yes, yes, I know what you¡¯re thinking - how does one person choose between being a Berserker (Hulk smash) or a Bard (musical chaos)? Life¡¯s full of hard choices, my friend. And no, you can''t have multiple occupations at the same time... well you can, that''s just like really hard (I would try going one by one if I were you - UNLESS YOUR AS TALENTED AS ME). And there you have it, folks! A crash course in Strands. If your brain hasn¡¯t melted yet, congratulations. You¡¯re ready for the chaos to come. And if it has¡­ well, Narrator-sama isn¡¯t responsible for medical bills. AND NO, THIS IS A TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY UNIQUE IDEA THAT GREAT LORD AVOCADO... You caught me! Fine, yes, inspiration struck Mr. Avocado after indulging in countless nights of reading about overpowered protagonists and systems so detailed they¡¯d make your head spin. So he says a big thank you to many other litRPGs including but no limited to "The Great Works of Fiction That Shall Not Be Named." ... Ok, that''s not what he said BUT here¡¯s the twist - our Strands are not just about leveling up and showing off. They¡¯re about growth, connection, and, most importantly, looking cool while doing it. So, to those litRPG classics that paved the way: thank you for your service. Now step aside and let this magnificent story that was definitely not Great Lord Avocado''s first claim the spotlight. (Let¡¯s face it, nothing screams originality like Narrator-sama... Right?) Aw, my screen times over. But don¡¯t worry, Narrator-sama will be back to drop more wisdom and dazzle you with unparalleled charm (even if big man says no). Back to the story! Let¡¯s see who gets a Strand next, shall we? (Spoiler: No spoiler.) CHAPTeR 6 CHAPTER 6 Time was a precious gift - often spent until it¡¯s worth is realized too late, leaving only regret behind. And Amelia for sure wished she had a thousand more years of ¡°time¡± to spend before her brain decided to start going haywire with the weirdest dreams. Amelia¡¯s thoughts were restless as she lay in bed, staring at the wooden beams above her. The faint chirping of crickets outside did little to soothe her. She shut her eyes tightly, hoping for a dreamless sleep - but fate had decided otherwise. The darkness folded over Amelia like a heavy blanket. Slowly but surely, faint glimmers of light broke through - a circle of figures, their faces blurred and shifting, like smoke caught in a mirror. They didn¡¯t speak, but she could feel them watching, their silence louder than any words. That silence didn¡¯t last long however, as one of the figures started yelling, their voices also distorted, ¡°How did we¡­mess that¡­ what were¡­ doing?¡± What sounded like an intense argument broke out with lots of shouting and yelling. ¡°... Blame this on us? ¡­¡± ¡°What do you know?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t get it, do you?¡± Another man snarled. ¡°We¡¯re not just after people - we¡¯re after the system itself. If we can control the strands, we can control the gods!¡± Their words were slowly getting clearer and louder, overwhelming Amelia until¡­ everything seemed to fade away¡­ Suddenly the figure¡¯s reappeared, and it seemed like the same thing would continue once again, like an endless cycle of yelling, obnoxiousness, and¡­ There was something different this time¡­ the figures were becoming more¡­ clear? Amelia gasped. They were all looking at her. ¡°You¡­¡± One of the figures pointed a finger in her direction. ¡°No! No¡­ no no no NO!¡± Amelia screamed with terror, her voice slowly rising. ¡°Are the one.¡± The room was still, the only sounds the quiet clinking of mugs and the occasional crackle of the hearth. Amelia sat huddled on the couch, her hands wrapped around her cup of hot chocolate. She tried to focus on its warmth, but the dream still clung to her, vivid and unsettling. ¡°Yeah, they definitely weren¡¯t able to see me in my dream.¡± Amelia sighed. Lex frowned as Amelia finished recounting her dream, tapping his fingers against the table. Zack leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his face a mixture of worry and frustration. Jay and Etal exchanged nervous glances. ¡°We should take this to Dray and Vey, perhaps they¡¯ll be able to help us deal with¡­ that.¡± Lex said, breaking the silence. A sharp, feminine voice cut in. ¡°If what Amelia saw is true, then Chaos isn¡¯t what we think they were. They¡¯ve changed. We thought they were just trying to steal your powers or killing potential enemies. They¡¯re after control - complete control by abusing strands and breaking the system." Vey spoke as she and Dray walked into the room. Zack scoffed, but the tension in his shoulders betrayed him. ¡°Yeah, well, good luck to them. They¡¯re not getting anywhere near us.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate them,¡± Dray warned from the corner of the room, his tone unusually sharp. ¡°If they were able to leave a note on our heavily warded grounds without our notice, then they might be able to infiltrate too.¡± The faint hum of an alarm started, it was low and barely noticeable, but quickly grew louder. The room froze. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Amelia asked. Dray was already moving, striding to the window and pulling back the curtain. His jaw tightened. ¡°Perimeter breach.¡± ¡°Perimeter what now?¡± Zack asked, standing abruptly. ¡°Someone¡¯s here,¡± Vey said grimly. ¡°Get your weapons. Now.¡± The others exchanged nervous glances but obeyed, scrambling to grab their gear. The air seemed to grow heavier, as if the room itself knew something was wrong. That¡¯s when Lex¡¯s foresight flared to life, images flashing before his eyes - a dark figure and an open window. His stomach churned. ¡°They¡¯re coming,¡± he said, his voice low but urgent. ¡°But I can¡¯t tell where.¡± Jay moved to the door, peeking into the hallway. ¡°I don¡¯t see anyone-¡± A deafening crash from somewhere near shook the room, cutting him off. The sound of splintering wood echoed through the air, followed by hurried footsteps. Vey¡¯s portal shimmered into existence, a swirling vortex of deep purple and blue light that filled the room with an unearthly hum. ¡°Go, now!¡± she commanded, motioning toward the portal as she drew her blade. Amelia hesitated, her legs frozen in place. ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be right behind you!¡± Vey snapped. ¡°Move!¡± Lex grabbed Amelia¡¯s arm, practically dragging her toward the portal. Zack and Jay followed close behind, weapons clutched tightly in their hands. Dray shrugged off his jacket, revealing a series of intricate runes etched into his arms that began to glow faintly. ¡°I¡¯ll hold them off, Vey,¡± Dray said, stepping toward the door. ¡°Plan A. You get as many people as you can to safety.¡± The group plunged into the portal, the world around them twisting and warping as the magic carried them away. A harsh, metallic clang echoed through the room as Chaos agents finally forced their way in. Vey turned, but just as she went toward the portal, an armored agent lunged at her. She twisted to avoid the blow, her sword flashing in the dim light as she parried the attack. Dray slammed into the agent to give her a moment to recover. He seemed to be waiting until everyone left. When Vey glanced back, the portal was already destabilizing, flickering like a dying flame. ¡°Damit,¡± Vey hissed, her knuckles white around the hilt of her sword. Dray slammed his fist into the ground. A surge of energy erupted, sending several agents flying backwards. The portal flickered one last time and vanished, leaving only empty air. ¡°Just get the others,¡± Dray said. ¡°They¡¯ll be fine.¡± The group stumbled out of the portal and into the dense shadow of a forest. The air was cold and damp, and the sound of rustling leaves filled the silence left by their hasty escape. ¡°Where¡¯s Vey?¡± Zack asked, spinning around as if expecting her to appear at any moment. ¡°The portal must¡¯ve collapsed before she could get through.¡± Lex said grimly, scanning their surroundings. His foresight buzzed faintly, seeing flashes of steel and clashing at the edges of his mind. Amelia¡¯s breath came in shallow gasps as she clutched her rapier. ¡°We¡¯re on our own?¡± ¡°Looks like it,¡± Jay muttered, his eyes darting to every shadow. ¡°Where even are we?¡± ¡°No idea,¡± Lex replied, stepping forward. ¡°But we can¡¯t stay here. They¡¯ll track us. Let¡¯s use the Linker.¡± He pulled out a small, disk-shaped device. It gleamed faintly under the dim light. He pressed his thumb to the glowing center, causing the runes to flicker to life, a sign that it recognizes the user. He murmured the activation spell - a simple, rhythmic chant Vey had drilled into them. The air around the device shimmered, and a soft, golden mist began to swirl within the disk¡¯s crystal center. Slowly, the mist turned into an arrow-like shape, pointing steadily toward the east. The Linker works linking to another Linker that has the same (something magical) or the creator can set a specific target location for the Linker to point towards. It might be a little off, but it¡¯s within the margin of error. The group exchanged uneasy glances, but there was no time for debate. They began to move, their footsteps crunching softly against the underbrush. Amelia stumbled, her head still spinning from the dream, the fight that was probably happening, and now the escape. Suddenly, a distant howl cut through the forest, low and haunting. Jay froze. ¡°Please tell me that wasn¡¯t the trackers.¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be,¡± Lex muttered, his foresight flaring once again. Images of many dark figures stalking through the forest flooded his mind. ¡° But they¡¯ve definitely sent trackers,¡± Lex said, his voice grim. ¡°We need to keep moving.¡± And so they ran, hopefully to safety - they were never told where it would lead them to, they were just told to follow the Link, and occasionally stopping to check the Link again and correct their path. However, no matter how much they ran, the howling just kept on getting louder. Soon, it was a chorus, their cries rising into a haunting melody that seemed to echo from all directions. Another howl pierced the air, closer this time. The group instinctively started running even faster. Lex¡¯s foresight flickered, showing flashes of glowing eyes in the darkness, bared teeth, and a towering figure with fur as black as night and eyes burning with darkness. Lex gasped, visibly shaken. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Zack hissed. ¡°You gonna tell us what you saw yet?¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­ I think it¡¯s the guy I saw back in the school basement.¡± ¡°Is he part of the trackers or Chaos?¡± Zack asked. ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± Lex replied grimly. ¡°Well that doesn¡¯t sound too good.¡± Jay remarked. ¡°We should probably pick up the pace then, eh?¡± And so they sprinted, at full speed, not looking back at the wolves that were definitely chasing them. There has to be a way to stop this chaos¡­ to find balance, Amelia thought. Suddenly, she stopped. My world is getting torn apart. I¡­ I need to stop the chaos. I can¡¯t just keep on running for my life. She realized one thing - if she could find a way to stand firm in the storm, to accept what came her way without breaking, then perhaps¡­ perhaps she could find a way to help them all survive. She took a deep breath, focusing not on the wolves or the threat ahead but on herself, on her balance. She wasn¡¯t fighting. She was running. That was going to stop. Now. She turned back, holding up her rapier in one hand, her other hand getting ready to launch spells. ¡°I¡¯ll take them on, I don¡¯t care anymore!¡± She screamed with as much courage as she could muster. Oh my god, I regret doing that. That was a horrible decision. I¡¯m definitely going to die now. ¡°Crap! Amelia are you crazy?¡± Zack shouted, his panic cutting through the stillness. His eyes locked onto her, wild with worry. ¡°If you are, let¡¯s be crazy together!¡± He sprinted toward her. The hum stopped. A shockwave shot out from Amelia¡¯s body, faint but undeniable, stopping everyone and everything - the leaves, the group, their pursuiters, and even the forest. A notification rang out - a ding from somewhere within her.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Level up! New Strand Unlocked: Harmonic Nexus Lvl. 0 ¡ú 1 You are the eye of the storm. Where others see chaos or order, you see their potential union. Wield it wisely. - Ometecuhtli Skill Earned: Balance of the Cosmos Lvl. 0 ¡ú 1 You now possess the unique ability to influence the balance between opposing forces. When your body and mind align with both chaos and order, you can manipulate the flow of energy to restore balance. The greater the imbalance, the greater energy required to balance. Perquisite Earned! Strand-User (+5 All stats) A yin and yang symbol appeared on Amelia''s right hand, marking the awakening of her strand. But before the group had any chance to process what just happened, a voice - cold and calm - broke the silence. ¡°Very well done,¡± the voice said. ¡°Very well done indeed.¡± A man stepped out from the shadows, his black cloak billowing with an unnatural wind. Amelia staggered back, gripping her rapier tightly, the glow of her newly awakened Strand still flickering around her. ¡°Who are you?¡± she demanded, trying to keep her voice steady. He chuckled, the sound reverberating through the stillness. ¡°Let¡¯s just say I¡¯m someone who appreciates¡­ potential. Yours, in particular, is extraordinary. Join me, and I¡¯ll show you how to wield that power without restraint.¡± Amelia glared at him, her courage flaring despite the fear clawing at her chest. ¡°Thanks, but I¡¯ll pass. I¡¯m not interested in joining Chaos. All I¡¯ve seen is them doing more harm than good.¡± His smirk widened. ¡°A pity. There is no order without chaos, There is no chaos without order. Order is brought to chaos, or Chaos is brought to order. Chaos is the natural order of things. And even the most ordered system has some elements of chaos. They are both essential and inevitable. Good and bad are¡­ not very good terms to use past elementary school.¡± He raised a hand, and the wolves behind him tensed, ready to pounce. ¡°But I¡¯m not unreasonable. If you won¡¯t join me willingly¡­ I¡¯ll just have to take what I want.¡± Zack stepped forward, planting himself beside Amelia, his fists clenched. ¡°You¡¯ll have to get through us first.¡± The man advanced, his hand extending as an ominous black chain materialized, snaking toward the group. Zack moved closer to Amelia, his fists clenched tightly as despair began to settle over the group. The man¡¯s chains lashed out, a flurry of blackened steel snaking through the air. Lex dodged, barely avoiding a blow that slammed into the ground where he had stood moments before. Amelia launched a barrage of spells, but they fizzled against the darkness that seemed to shield the controller. The group fought back with everything they had. Zack used his gauntlets to strike the wolves, yet they didn¡¯t seem to be taking much damage. He even tackled a wolf mid-leap, wrestling it to the ground, while Lex shot arrows along with magic spells and used his foresight to call out attacks. Occasionally parrying and dodging any wolves that came too close. Amelia, exhausted but determined, sent bursts of flame toward the advancing beasts. Yet it wasn¡¯t enough. A massive wolf broke through their defenses, knocking Zack into a tree with a sickening thud. Lex shouted ¡°CRAP!¡± As Zack slumped to the ground, he groaned but was luckily still alive. Amelia tried to use her newly acquired strand. She closed her eyes for a moment, centering herself. The world around her seemed to pulse with energy, chaotic and wild. She felt it - both order and disorder, their raw forces tearing at the fabric of everything. But she could also feel the potential for balance. The power to realign them, to restore balance. "Balance¡­" she whispered under her breath. Suddenly, the hum returned. But this time, it was stronger, deeper, like a cosmic symphony. A surge of energy erupted from Amelia¡¯s body, a brilliant pulse of light that bent reality around her. The wolves¡¯ controller stopped in his tracks, his smirk faltering as he felt the disturbance. The forest itself seemed to hold its breath. Chaos and order, opposites in constant friction, began to intertwine under Amelia¡¯s command. Her eyes glowed faintly. The winds calmed, the trees stopped swaying, and the chaos that was powering the controller started to fade out with the order. Balance was restored. But only temporarily. Amelia shuddered as the power drained through her energy reserves. The effort of maintaining such control overwhelmed her. The balance she had imposed was temporary, and she could already feel it slipping. The chaos around her, the constant instability, was too much. It was too powerful - including the man. ¡°Is this¡­ all I can do?¡± she whispered, her vision blurring. The man grinned, sensing her weakening state. ¡°You think you can stop me with your new strand? I am an incarnation of Chaos girl. You¡¯re just a speck in my storm.¡± Amelia¡¯s breath quickened. She tried to push back, tried to realign the forces. But it was too much. Her arms trembled, and the glow in her eyes faded as the flow of energy became erratic, unstable. She had to stop - she couldn¡¯t keep this up. The air around her felt suffocating. She was running on empty, and she could see it now. The chaotic force of the enemy was greater than her own power could handle, especially with everything spiraling out of control - the trackers, the bombings at the school. There was not enough order in the air to fuel her abilities either. She was collapsing. ¡°Amelia!¡± Jay and Etal screamed. The man advanced toward her, sensing his opportunity. ¡°Pathetic,¡± he sneered. ¡°Chaos could¡¯ve grown your massive potential so much.¡± But before he could do anything, there was a sudden shift in the air. A pulse of raw, focused energy cracked through the battlefield. The man staggered, his sneer replaced with surprise. A figure leapt into the clearing, a blur of motion. The air seemed to crackle with the intensity of his arrival. He landed with a shockwave that shook the ground, his eyes locked on the controller, cold and unyielding. The man snarled, ready to fight back, but the new arrival raised his hand, and everything around them seemed to freeze. Time slowed to a crawl, the energy in the air bending at his will. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare touch her,¡± the figure said, his voice calm but filled with authority. The figure wore a mask hiding their identity, but it did little to hide their aura of overwhelming power - no, order. The man barely had time to react before the new arrival struck, a single blow of raw energy sending him flying back. The man hit the ground hard, groaning as he struggled to regain his footing. Amelia¡¯s eyes fluttered open, seeing the figure standing in front of her. The energy in the air was still, calm. Balanced. "Who... who are you?" she whispered, still dazed. They laughed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that right now. I¡¯m here to make sure you survive this.¡± They turned toward the man, who was already on his feet, rage in his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re lucky I¡¯m not in the mood to kill today. But trust me, that won¡¯t be the case next time.¡± The man hesitated, clearly calculating whether to engage in another fight. But with a sudden snarl, he began to change. Bones cracked, his body twisting and shifting in ways that defied logic, his form elongating into a hulking, ferocious wolf. The air around him thickened, the trees seeming to shudder under the force of the transformation. His eyes glowed an eerie, unnatural yellow, and his teeth were as sharp as daggers. ¡°This is my world now,¡± the man-wolf growled. ¡°You¡¯ll be nothing but prey in my darkness.¡± The two clashed - fists and claws meeting in a flurry of motion that sent shockwaves through the air. The ground trembled beneath them as they fought, the force of their blows causing trees to snap and the very earth to shake. The man-wolf used his domain to summon shadows and darkness to overwhelm. As the battle dragged on, the man-wolf was slowly starting to show signs of weakness. The domain was pushing him to his limits, and the figure attacking him wasn¡¯t pulling their punches. Their attacks were precise, each strike echoing with the weight of unyielding power. Every time the man-wolf attempted to summon his dark domain, the figure summoned bright energy countering it, pushing the darkness back. But as the battle continued, the man-wolf¡¯s ferocity only seemed to increase. His eyes glowing a deeper yellow. Suddenly he glared at the group. Sensing danger, the figure raised a hand, and a barrier of light formed, shielding the group RIGHT before wolves reappeared around them, snarling, but they couldn¡¯t break through the protective force. ¡°You won¡¯t win this one,¡± the mysterious figure said coldly, as they raised their other hand toward the sky. ¡°Give up.¡± A wave of bright holy energy cascaded through the air, a burst of force so intense that it sent shockwaves through the trees. The man-wolf faltered, the dark energy around him shrinking rapidly. The figure stepped forward, unfazed by their lightshow. ¡°Go now,¡± he said to the group, his voice commanding. Amelia¡¯s legs felt like jelly, and she could barely keep herself upright, but the figure¡¯s command didn¡¯t leave room for argument. Lex was already ushering the others back, grabbing Zack, who had barely gotten to his feet after being knocked into the tree. She hesitated for a moment, looking at the figure as the terrifying battle raged on. They were powerful, yes, but they weren''t invincible. She didn¡¯t want to leave him alone in this fight, but there wasn¡¯t anything she could do otherwise. Feeling powerless, the group scrambled through the forest as the wolves gave chase. The barrier, while powerful, would not hold forever. Their only chance was to distance themselves and get out of the immediate danger zone. Amelia could barely keep up, her legs shaking and her energy spent, but she pushed forward. The wolves weren¡¯t far behind - they were coming in quick. The group finally reached a dense group of trees and bushes, with vines twisting into a nearly impenetrable wall. ¡°This way!¡± he shouted, cutting through the foliage with a quick swipe of his blade. ¡°We can lose them here!¡± The group dove into the thicket, moving swiftly, staying low. Behind them, the wolves¡¯ growls and the controller¡¯s dark laughter rang through the trees, but the thick underbrush slowed the pack down. The group was already gaining distance. ¡°We need to get higher, use the trees,¡± Zack said, gasping for breath as he shoved a massive branch out of his path. ¡°They¡¯re fast on the ground.¡± He led the way up a nearby tree, his agility shining through the chaos around them. The others quickly followed, clambering up with varying degrees of skill. From their new point of view, they could see the wolves¡¯ leader snarling, the pack still searching for their scent. ¡°We¡¯ll have to wait until they pass,¡± Lex muttered, keeping his voice low. ¡°If we move too much, we¡¯ll be spotted. Once they¡¯re past, we use the linker and go back on our way to safety.¡± But as they waited, the air thick with tension, something unexpected happened. There was a sudden shift in the air, and a cold, eerie laugh escaped the man-wolf¡¯s lips. ¡°You think you¡¯ve won?¡± he sneered. ¡°I¡¯ve learned a trick or two from the depths of Chaos!¡± Before the figure could react, the man-wolf¡¯s hand shot out downwards, not in a physical strike, but into a pose that seemed to warp reality itself. A swirling dark energy exploded outward in a pulse of shadowy tendrils. They writhed like snakes, bending the very fabric of space and time reaching the figure at lightspeed. Tendrils of dark energy coiled around the figure like chains, pulling them into a vortex of pure darkness. The world seemed to twist and distort as the figure tried to resist and failed, and POOF. The figure was gone. This world is a world that left behind those that were too slow to keep up. Dray and Vey¡¯s Pov Before the chaos agents had infiltrated the school, Dray and Vey had prepared beforehand with a tiny communication device (called ¡°Thought Transmitter¡± or T.T as short) to talk to each other once they were separated. The device worked through magic - it would intercept the brain''s conscious thought signals once activated. It was activated by a quick keyword, with Dray¡¯s being ¡°melon¡±. The opposite sides would instantly hear the thought without having to activate theirs. They also came up with plans, and were currently executing Plan A. Namely letting Chaos attack, as a form of training for the trainees. Yes, they lied about the final challenge being the ¡°final.¡± Vey¡¯s duty was to watch over all the trainees and make sure none of them were able to get injured too seriously. ¡°Vey, report status.¡± Dray thought as he did a graceful frontflip over a group of Chaos agents, landing in the middle, and creating a red magical sword with the tip of his finger, and with a flick of a wrist cleanly and soundlessly killed all the chaos agents around him with a 360 degree slice. He didn¡¯t have to join really, but he claimed that he had some ¡°revenge¡± to take care of (he definitely didn¡¯t just want to have fun killing some Chaos agents). ¡°Everyone¡¯s fine, Dray. They¡¯re fighting back very well.¡± Vey rolled her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate your training.¡± Dray laughed. ¡°It¡¯s just that, we don¡¯t know all the variables - who¡¯s coming and who¡¯s not. It¡¯s a bit of a wild try, but I¡¯m glad it¡¯s turning out to be well.¡± Outside the room, in the schoolyard were many more Chaos agents, some of which mounted upon Deorchors, a rare and expensive breed of elegant dark horses once believed to have been used by the devils themselves. The devils in this world were like gods - except opposite in every way. Still, they had one similarity - they support those that support them (although in the case of the devils, they rarely give back support unless it was tremendous). One case of such support was Chaos - an organization strived on spreading more and more chaos for some unknown reasons. It was mostly hidden away from the public and under the government''s nose until recently, they had launched a huge attack on schools all over the country Elkraford. Suddenly, a loud, guttural roar echoed across the schoolyard. Both of them turned their attention to the source of the sound. Emerging from the shadows was a massive figure - a Chaos general. He was in jagged black armor, his face obscured by a spiked helmet. He held a massive war axe that seemed to hum with an ominous energy. "Ah, a big fish," Dray muttered, his excitement barely restrained. He cracked his knuckles, preparing to leap back into the fray. Dray groaned but stayed his hand, though the itch to fight was almost unbearable. ¡°Fine. But if he even looks at our trainees the wrong way¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯ll handle it,¡± Vey said, her tone firm. ¡°Focus on sticking to the plan. Chaos doesn¡¯t know we¡¯re monitoring them this closely. Let¡¯s keep it that way.¡± The Chaos general barked orders, rallying the remaining agents into a tighter formation. Vey continued to watch intently while Dray retreated into the shadows, ready to move in incase things escalated too far. CHAPTeR 7 CHAPTER 7 Meanwhile, back in the trees, the group could see the situation unraveling quickly. Their savior - the figure, got pulled into a teleportation portal unexpectedly, and given how powerful the man-wolf was, let¡¯s just say that the figure isn¡¯t coming back anytime soon. ¡°Where¡¯d he go?¡± Zack asked, looking around frantically. ¡°Let¡¯s just¡­ go quickly.¡± Lex muttered as he pulled out the Linker. The Linker shimmered again, and a soft, golden mist formed an arrow-like shape, pointing steadily toward the eastwest. ¡°We¡¯re off course a little¡­¡± He looked at the surroundings, they were deep in the forest where there were still trees, which was both good news and bad news. Good since it would be easier to lose their pursuers, bad because there were going to be other dangerous beasts and animals to be wary of. ¡°Follow me.¡± Lex commanded in a low voice. He leapt onto a nearby branch, then continued to walk forward towards the end of the branch, balancing by sticking out both arms. ¡°We¡¯re going to travel tree by tree.¡± His deduction was quite wise, as there were indeed less beasts up here, and the wolves couldn¡¯t notice them all the way up there either. Level Up! Art of Climbing Lvl. 0 ¡ú 1 The ability to scale various surfaces with agility and precision. It includes techniques for navigating steep, challenging terrains, relying on a climber''s balance, strength, and stamina. The higher you go, the less you scream on the way down. (Falling hurts.) As the group went their way (some more graceful than others), they each acquired the new skill ¡°art of climbing¡±, as well as earning some good proficiency. Lex and Etal by far seemed to have the least problems in travelling atop of trees, given their acrobatic like poses as they leapt from branch to branch, vine to vine, and even tree to tree. Their newfound skill provided some comfort, though their uneven pace left gaps in their line. The forest around them grew quieter, an eerie stillness settling over the air. One thing that they didn¡¯t account for was that the fewer monsters there were in an area, the more likely there was a tyrant ruling the place, kicking out many of the smaller monsters. ¡°Why¡¯s it so quiet?¡± Zack asked, pausing to catch his breath. His question was answered by a loud crash nearby, continued with loud flapping sounds which became increasingly louder, and a deep and terrifying roar. ¡°What the hell¡¯s coming after us now!?¡± Zack yelled, pissed off. Big monster noises didn¡¯t help one calm down as they tiresomely traverse through climbing trees, it seemed. That was when the group saw a massive creature - a tyrant beast, its body an unsettling fusion of feline grace and serpentine menace, topped off with tiny wings that shouldn¡¯t be able to hold its weight. Though it clearly did if the fact that it was currently diving towards the group at a high speed wasn¡¯t an indication. The beast¡¯s snake-like eyes gleamed with intelligence as it came closer. It had claimed this part of the forest as its territory, and intruders were not welcome. ¡°Move!¡± Lex yelled, snapping the group out of their daze. Branches cracked like thunder under the beast¡¯s weight. Zack swung wildly with his branch, but the creature dodged easily, its claws scraping bark as it lunged. Lex ducked under a swipe, rolling across a thick limb. ¡°Split up!¡± he shouted, hurling a piece of wood he had just broken off a branch at the beast. It bounced harmlessly off its hide, but the distraction worked. Amelia stumbled as she turned, her foot slipping. She cried out, gripping the branch tightly. The beast¡¯s head snapped toward her, its eyes narrowing. ¡°Over here you monster!¡± Zack yelled, hurling another branch with so much force it was like a spear. It struck the beast¡¯s shoulder, but wasn¡¯t enough to damage it. It turned with a snarl. Zack met its gaze, defiance burning in his eyes. Level Up! Reflexes Lvl. 0 ¡ú 1 You¡¯re no longer a walking target. Your reaction time improves from "Wait, what?" to "Dodge this!" You can now swerve around attacks and look cool doing it. (You¡¯ll probably catch your keys the next time you drop them.) Intimidation Lvl. 0 ¡ú 1 The ability to instill fear or assert dominance over others through presence, body language, or spoken words. Your stare is now a weapon. You can make people second-guess their life choices just by looking at them. (You look weird staring at it, stop staring.) She didn¡¯t hesitate before scrambling to the next tree, knowing she had to take every chance she was given if she wanted to live. Behind her, Zack¡¯s shouts faded into the sounds of cracking wood and the beast¡¯s growls. Lex and Etal had already gained ground, both moving with amazing agility. ¡°This way,¡± Etal said, his voice low but certain. He gestured toward a faint glow ahead - an ancient shrine almost hidden by vines and moss. Lex hesitated, his instincts warring with his curiosity. ¡°The Linker...¡± he murmured, glancing at the device in his hand. It pulsed brighter as they neared the shrine, its golden light resonating with the symbols carved into the stone. ¡°Hurry!¡± Etal snapped, snapping him out of his daze. Back in the clearing, Zack¡¯s breath came in short bursts. The beast was faster, stronger, somehow smarter. Maybe I¡¯m just¡­ nevermind. Zack thought. It had backed him against a thick trunk, its wings folding as it stalked closer. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of you,¡± Zack said through clenched teeth. The beast lunged, and time seemed to slow until a loud clang was heard, knocking it and sending the beast tumbling down the trees - originated from a very durable steel halberd wielded by none other than Jay, who had stayed back to help Zack. ¡°This one¡¯s got some tough skin, damnit.¡± Jay yelled. ¡°Thanks for the save though.¡± Zack said as he ran to catch up with the others. ¡°Yeah, well climbing and running through these tree¡¯s ain''t exactly easy for a guy like me.¡± Jay sighed. Meanwhile, Lex and Etal moved deeper into the forest following the Linker. They stumbled upon a clearing dominated by an ancient shrine. Weathered stone pillars surrounded a central altar etched with cryptic symbols. The air here was heavy, charged with an energy that made the hairs on Lex¡¯s arms stand on end. ¡°What is this place?¡± Lex asked, approaching the altar cautiously. ¡°Something old,¡± Etal murmured, his gaze lingering on the symbols. ¡°Older than the Strands, maybe. Look at this.¡± He pointed to an engraving of a figure holding a radiant sphere. Around the figure, strands of light connected to shapes resembling gods, humans, and beasts. Lex¡¯s fingers brushed the carvings, a strange sense of familiarity washing over him. Before he could ponder further, a distant roar snapped him back to the present. ¡°Crap, where¡¯d the others go? We gotta find them.¡± he said, urgency lacing his words. Etal nodded, but there was a shadow of something unreadable in his expression - knowledge he wasn¡¯t sharing. The separated groups converged in a clearing, as if guided by fate. Lex burst through the underbrush, his blade drawn, with Etal close behind. Zack and Jay stumbled into view from the opposite side. Lex quickly noticed something was wrong. ¡°Where¡¯s Amelia? She just ran off and disappeared..¡± Zack looked around and cursed under his breath. The tyrant beast wasn¡¯t far behind, its massive form crashing into the clearing. ¡°... I¡¯ll go find Amelia, you guys come up with a plan to deal with that.¡± Lex said, pointing towards the beast. Everyone nodded. ¡°Scatter!¡± The battle was chaotic. The group darted in and out of range, striking whenever they could, their damage slowly accumulating. However, it wasn''t nearly enough - only chipping away tiny pieces of its monstrous vitality. It was gonna be a long, hard battle, but it seemed that the group would definitely be able to overcome it with enough time. Until a good blow right to the creature¡¯s face woke it up. It let out a loud noise, forcing the group to back off in caution. Skill Activated: Rage (Berserker) All stats doubled for the next 8 minutes. (Time scales with level.) Dractigrisscanagardein¡¯s Pov The beast''s vision blurred red as its rage boiled over. Its body surged with renewed strength, muscles bulging, eyes glowing with fiery intensity. I am the lord of this domain. I AM THE GREAT DRACTIGRISSCANAGARDEIN! HOW DARE THESE INSOLENT BEINGS TREAD ON MY GROUND. The thought rumbled like thunder in its mind, an instinct as ancient as the trees that dared to reach for the skies around it. It had claimed this forest long before these intruders dared to tread its sacred ground. Fools. They think they can escape? Its wings flared as it flew towards the trespassers, every fiber of its body filled with power. The taste of fear hung thick in the air - a delicious, heady aroma that sharpened its senses. But there was something else, too. Something unfamiliar. A strange energy coming from the faint glow of that shrine. It made its instincts churn with unease, but also stoked its rage. Not that it had thought about it, when had that shrine showed up on its territory? Has it always been there? It shook its head, ridding itself of such thoughts. These creatures - these fragile, pathetic intruders - reeked of something more than fear. They carried a scent of potential, of defiance. And it could not allow such insolence to fester. When one of them - short and weak-looking, flailing about with branches - met its gaze and did not flinch, something stirred within the beast. Ah, so you wish to challenge me? I will savor your screams the most. As the fight progressed, pain blossomed across its hide, though the injuries were superficial. Insects. Gnats. They dare to resist me? Rage. I am rage incarnate. I will crush them. The Dractigrisscanagardein let out another roar, shaking the treetops as it launched itself at the bug carrying the halberd with terrifying speed. They barely managed to dodge, their halberd striking sparks as it scraped along the creature¡¯s scaled hide. This pissed off the Dractigrisscanagardein even more. ¡°This thing just got a lot stronger!¡± Jay shouted, backing up to regroup with Zack. ¡°Yeah, no kidding!¡± Zack yelled, clutching his side where a branch had bruised his ribs during their earlier escape. Meanwhile, Etal¡¯s sharp eyes scanned the battlefield, calculating. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The Rage skill - it¡¯s making it stronger, but it¡¯s also more predictable.¡± ¡°So what¡¯s the plan, genius?¡± Jay snapped, ducking another swipe. ¡°We buy time,¡± Etal replied, his voice calm despite the chaos. ¡°Lex will find Amelia, and we¡¯ll regroup. Until then, we keep it distracted.¡± Jay groaned but nodded, raising his halberd again. Zack, breathing hard, gave a shaky thumbs-up. Lex sprinted through the forest, following faint tracks in the soft earth. His mind raced. Where could she have gone? Why didn¡¯t I notice sooner? The Linker in his hand pulsed faintly, its light flickering erratically. He paused, trying to steady his breath, and listened. A faint rustle to his left made him turn sharply. ¡°Amelia?¡± he called out. A shadow emerged from the underbrush - it was Amelia, her face pale but determined. ¡°Lex!¡± she gasped. ¡°I found something - something important.¡± She held out her hand, revealing a small, glowing shard that pulsed with the same golden light as the Linker. ¡°What is that?¡± Lex asked, his eyes narrowing. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Amelia admitted, ¡°but it feels¡­ connected. Like it¡¯s calling to me.¡± Lex hesitated, but the distant roars of the tyrant beast spurred him into action. ¡°We¡¯ll figure it out later. Right now, we need to regroup.¡± Back in the clearing, the battle raged on. Zack, Jay, and Etal were battered but still standing. The beast, now a whirlwind of claws and fury, had forced them into a tight circle. ¡°Any bright ideas?¡± Zack panted, glancing at Etal. ¡°Just one,¡± Etal said, a smirk tugging at his lips. He raised a hand, and a faint glow surrounded his fingers. ¡°We lure it to the shrine.¡± Jay blinked. ¡°The shrine? You think that¡¯s gonna help?¡± ¡°Trust me,¡± Etal said, already leaping toward the ancient structure. The others followed, the beast hot on their heels. As they reached the shrine, Lex and Amelia burst into the clearing. ¡°Amelia!¡± Zack shouted, relief flooding his voice. ¡°No time to explain,¡± Lex said, his eyes locking onto the glowing shard in Amelia¡¯s hand. ¡°Use it.¡± Amelia hesitated, then stepped forward, holding the shard tightly. The symbols on the shrine began to glow along with the shard. The air crackled with energy, and a spear-like projection of light solidified above the altar, instantly destroying the shard. Amelia grasped it, her movements guided by an unseen force. There was one obvious thing to do. ¡°Everyone, move!¡± she shouted. The group scattered as Amelia hurled the glowing spear with all her strength. It struck the beast square in the chest, piercing through its armored hide. The Dractigrisscanagardein let out a final, ear-splitting roar before collapsing, its massive body dissolving into black mist. As the mist faded, the forest grew eerily quiet. The shrine¡¯s glow dimmed, leaving only faint traces of the battle that had taken place. The group stayed silent for what seemed like an eternity, even though it was just a second, processing what had just happened. Amelia dropped to her knees, the weight of the moment crashing over her. Lex went over and knelt beside her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. ¡°You did it, I don¡¯t know how, but you did,¡± he said softly. Zack and Jay approached, both battered but smiling. ¡°Nice throw,¡± Zack said, giving her a thumbs-up. Etal, standing near the altar, studied the remaining carvings with a thoughtful expression. ¡°This shrine... it¡¯s more important than we thought.¡± Lex glanced at him, frowning. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Etal¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°This isn¡¯t just any shrine. It¡¯s connected to the Strands - and to something much older. These carvings,¡± he pointed to a central motif of intertwining lights, ¡°they depict an origin story. Not just of the Strands but of the balance between order and chaos. And we¡¯re standing in the middle of it.¡± Lex¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°How do you know this?¡± Etal hesitated, his eyes flickering with something unspoken. ¡°I¡¯ve seen these symbols before,¡± he admitted. ¡°Back in the archives of my home. My family studied ancient relics like this¡­ before the war.¡± His voice lowered, as though reluctant to share more. ¡°There are stories about places like this - shrines that hold dormant power. If the Chaos Organization knows about it¡­¡± The group exchanged uneasy looks as the weight of his words settled over them. ¡°So what? Are we sitting on some doomsday device?¡± Zack said. ¡°Cause if we are, I vote we run.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t just leave it,¡± Etal said sharply, his usual calm replaced by a rare urgency. ¡°If this shrine falls into the wrong hands, it could tip the balance of power. This place wasn¡¯t meant to be found.¡± ¡°Yet here we are,¡± Lex muttered, glancing at the Linker. ¡°And something tells me this thing led us here for a reason.¡± Average Stats: (holy crap the stats took forever to make - I''m not too good at these things ??)Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Male: Strength: 20 Agility: 18 Endurance: 20 Intelligence/Wisdom: 15 Mental Fortitude: 15 Charisma: 17 Female: Strength: 15 Agility: 22 Endurance: 17 Intelligence/Wisdom: 20 Mental Fortitude: 17 Charisma: 20
Name Stats # Occupation(s) Level # Strand
Amelia Lu Strength 15 Sorcerer 4 Harmonic Nexus You are the eye of the storm. Where others see chaos or order, you see their potential union - Ometecuhtli (The god of duality. Duality was the Aztec idea that pairs of opposite forces make up the world. These pairs include male and female, light and dark, motion and stillness, and order and disorder.)
Agility 25
Endurance 10
Intelligence/Wisdom 38
Mental Fortitude 5
Charisma 25
Abilities Level # Proficiency
Basic Magic Knowledge 5 12%
Fireball 6 15%
Energy Shield 3 11%
Rapier Mastery 3 76%
Art of Climbing 1 78%
Balance of the Cosmos 1 0%
Perquisites
Strand-User (+5 All stats)
Name Stats # Occupation(s) Level # Strand
Zack Bright Strength 25 Combatant 4 None
Agility 23
Endurance 18
Intelligence/Wisdom 39
Mental Fortitude 19
Charisma 45
Abilities Level # Proficiency
Basic Combat Knowledge 5 69%
Gauntlet Mastery 5 96%
Brawling 3 53%
Art of Climbing 2 56%
Intimidation 1 0%
Perquisites
None
Name Stats # Occupation(s) Level # Strand
Lex Pearce Strength 30 Sorcerer 5 Demi-Strand: foresight/forethought & fire (Prometheus)
Agility 28
Endurance 20
Intelligence/Wisdom 45
Mental Fortitude 26
Charisma 45
Abilities Level # Proficiency
Basic Magic Knowledge 6 87%
Archery 7 7%
Tactical Awareness 2 54%
Dagger Mastery 6 93%
Art of Climbing 3 72%
Perquisites
Demi-Strand User (+2 All Stats)
Name Stats # Occupation(s) Level # Strand
Jay Solvayne Strength 45 Combatant 6 None
Agility 19
Endurance 29
Intelligence/Wisdom 35
Mental Fortitude 31
Charisma 19
Abilities Level # Proficiency
Basic Combat Knowledge 6 0%
Halberd Mastery 7 0%
Brawling 6 0%
Art of Climbing 2 28%
Perquisites
None
Name Stats # Occupation(s) Level # Strand
Etal Solvayne Strength 21 Combatant 6 None
Agility 32
Endurance 19
Intelligence/Wisdom 42
Mental Fortitude 19
Charisma 21
Abilities Level # Proficiency
Basic Combat Knowledge 6 37%
Chakram Mastery 6 26%
Art of Climbing 4 5%
Perquisites
None
CHAPTeR 8 CHAPTER 8 The group realized that the Linker had indeed been pointing them towards this shrine. The realization hit them, hard. ¡°So uh, how is this shrine supposed to help us?¡± Zack asked, annoyed. ¡°We don¡¯t know, Vey and Dray never told us.¡± Lex sighed. The group didn¡¯t know what to do, or where to continue. Heck, they didn¡¯t even know if Vey and Dray were still alive! But they clung to hope like a rope in a storm. If they¡¯d been told to come here, then this place had to matter. Until they figured it out, they decided to stay put and make the best of their limited supplies. Their "camp" was as crude as it could get. With no tents or proper bedding, they resorted to piling leaves over the dirt ground and huddled around a modest campfire. Comfort was a distant dream. Amelia, however, was too preoccupied to care. She spent the night pondering about her new strand and abilities. The art of climbing was useful for getting out of more hairy situations, and her new strand seemed to be going on about some ¡°Chaos and Order¡± stuff. She didn¡¯t even know who the heck Ometecuhtli was, so she assumed him to be a minor god of little importance. However, the powers she gained said otherwise. Balance of the Cosmos The unique ability to influence the balance between opposing forces. When your body and mind align with both chaos and order, you can manipulate the flow of energy to restore balance. The greater the imbalance, the greater energy required to balance. The skill sounded impressive, however it was so broad she had no idea how to actually use it. She thought back to her battle with the wolf-man. How did I even do that? Mind and body aligning with chaos and order? What the heck? This skill could use some better explaining¡­ Indeed, it was easier said than done. To use the skill, its user would have to be able to understand it at a certain level, and the more they understood, the better they could use it. If I can truly grasp the way this skill works, I¡¯ll be able to use it properly¡­ a skill is useless if you don¡¯t know how to use it after all. So she thought. She thought hard, straining the limits of her knowledge. What exactly is "chaos and order"? Is it based on my own perspective? Like, if I think something is chaotic, is that enough for the skill to respond? Or does it have its own definition? The wolf-man... did I suppress him because I thought he was chaos? Or was it the skill itself that judged him? Her thoughts spiraled into more questions. Did the skill convert my energy into "order" to balance him? How? And why did it work the way it did? Amelia was exasperated. She had all these questions, yet no answers. This was getting her nowhere. Suddenly, a memory resurfaced - something Dray had told them back in training: ¡°The best way to learn is through experience.¡± That¡¯s right! I just need to put my ideas to the test and see! Sitting here and overthinking wasn¡¯t going to magically give her answers. If she wanted to understand Balance of the Cosmos, she needed to use it, test it, and learn from what happened. Quietly, she rose to her feet and stepped out of the camp. The night air was cold and sharp against her skin as she ventured further into the clearing. She glanced around, ensuring she wouldn¡¯t disturb the others - or accidentally burn down the forest. Then, taking a deep breath, she focused inward. ¡°Okay,¡± she whispered to herself. ¡°Time to see what this strand can do.¡± Amelia closed her eyes and tried to recall the sensation from the fight - the surge of energy, the instinctive certainty of what she needed to do. She reached for that feeling again, hesitantly at first, then with growing confidence. She scanned her surroundings, trying to see things differently¡ªnot as a tired traveler or an exhausted fighter, but as someone searching for meaning in the world itself. Her eyes landed on a patch of thorny bushes tangled together at the base of a tree. The bushes were wild, their thorns twisting in every direction. A chaotic mess. But the tree they clung to stood tall and sturdy, growing straight up - as if trying to reach the sky. ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Amelia whispered, approaching the bush. ¡°Chaos in the thorns, order in the tree.¡± She placed a hand on the bush, ignoring the prick of a thorn. Closing her eyes, she imagined drawing the chaotic energy from the bush into her left hand, while channeling the tree¡¯s steady order into her right. The glow returned to her hands, faint but steady, and she felt a subtle shift - like two opposing forces brushing against each other. At first, it seemed to work. The bush rustled, its thorns quivering as though alive. But then the energy grew unstable, and Amelia yelped as a thorn pricked her finger. She pulled back, watching as the glow faded. ¡°Not that simple,¡± she muttered, sucking on her bleeding finger. Her gaze shifted to a shallow stream nearby, its water rushing over rocks. Chaos was in the unpredictable splashes and ripples, but order was in the stream¡¯s unyielding flow, following its path downhill. ¡°This might work better,¡± she murmured. She crouched by the stream, dipping her hands into the icy water. The chill made her shiver, but she focused, trying to feel the balance in the current. She envisioned pulling the chaos from the splashes and ripples, weaving it into the order of the stream¡¯s steady flow. The water seemed to respond. The splashes smoothed out, and the stream¡¯s surface grew calm. A grin spread across Amelia¡¯s face - until the calm gave way to a sudden burst of turbulence, water spraying wildly as the balance snapped, drenching her with icy droplets. She stumbled back, coughing and sputtering.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Okay, that was not it,¡± she grumbled, shaking water from her hair. The failures stung, but they only made her more determined. Amelia turned her attention to the stars overhead. The night sky was both chaos and order - stars scattered randomly, yet moving in perfect harmony with the cosmos. She stood and raised her hands to the sky, drawing on the vastness above her. ¡°Balance of the Cosmos,¡± she whispered. ¡°If you¡¯re really about balance, show me how to find it here.¡± The glow returned, brighter this time, and Amelia felt something shift deep within her. It wasn¡¯t just about controlling chaos or order - it was about understanding how they worked together, and to find a balance. She lowered her hands and glanced around, searching for her next test. Her eyes landed on a fallen log half-buried in the dirt. One side was smooth, the other was rough and splintered., crumbling into the soil. Chaos and order, side by side. Amelia knelt by the log, placing one hand on the decayed side and the other on the splinters. She focused on bringing the two into harmony, letting the energies flow through her. This time, the glow didn¡¯t falter. The decay slowed, and the splinters seemed to soften, their sharp edges dulling slightly. Her heart raced with excitement. She was doing it! By the time the first light of dawn crept through the trees, Amelia was exhausted but exhilarated. She had tested her skill on bushes, streams, and even the stars above. Each attempt brought her closer to understanding Balance of the Cosmos. By the time dawn broke, Amelia was exhausted but exhilarated. She had tested her skill on bushes, streams, and even the stars. Each attempt brought her closer to mastering Balance of the Cosmos. As she trudged back to camp, she felt a strange sense of peace. Chaos and order were everywhere - she just had to know where to look. Better get back before the others start panicking. Level Up! Balance of the Cosmos Lvl. 1 ¡ú 2 The unique ability to influence the balance between opposing forces. When your body and mind align with both chaos and order, you can manipulate the flow of energy to restore balance. The greater the imbalance, the greater energy required to balance. Lex sat by the campfire, feeding it with small sticks to keep the embers alive. He turned as she approached, his gaze sharp. ¡°You¡¯re up early.¡± ¡°Couldn¡¯t sleep,¡± she replied, knowing he would understand. ¡°Needed to clear my head.¡± She dropped onto a patch of leaves near the fire. Lex raised an eyebrow but didn¡¯t press her further. Zack, on the other hand, stirred from his mess of a sleeping spot, rubbing his eyes. ¡°Ugh¡­ What¡¯s for breakfast?¡± ¡°Whatever we¡¯ve got left,¡± Lex said, tossing a small pouch of dried fruits in Zack¡¯s direction. Zack groaned. Amelia glanced at the Linker, resting dormant on a flat stone. It had led them here, to the mysterious shrine surrounded by ancient trees. Despite its current stillness, she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that it wasn¡¯t done with them yet. ¡°What are we supposed to do here?¡± she asked, breaking the silence. Lex shrugged. ¡°Vey and Dray didn¡¯t exactly leave us instructions. They just said to follow the Linker.¡± Zack groaned dramatically. ¡°Great. So we¡¯re just supposed to sit around and wait for something to happen?¡± As if in response, the Linker began to glow faintly. The group froze, their attention snapping to the artifact. Its light pulsed in a steady rhythm, growing brighter with each beat. ¡°What did you do?¡± Zack asked, inching away. ¡°Nothing¡­?¡± Lex replied slowly. The light from the Linker spread outward, forming a glowing path that led directly to the shrine¡¯s entrance, beckoning for them to go in. The air grew thick, and the ground beneath them trembled. Lex was already on his feet and grabbing his bow, causing the rest of the group to approach the shrine cautiously, their weapons ready. The ancient stone structure was full of patterns and symbols, some of which began to glow as they got closer. At the center of the shrine, a circular stone door shifted, grinding open to reveal a staircase descending into darkness. Suddenly, a notification ¡°Going down dark creepy stairs is always a good idea,¡± Zack muttered. The air grew colder as they descended, the light from the glowing path illuminating the way. At the bottom, they entered a vast chamber unlike anything they¡¯d ever seen. The walls were covered in carvings showing battles between gods and mortals, chaotic storms, and serene, orderly skies. The chamber pulsed with an ancient and unrecognizable energy that seemed to react with their strands. In the center of the room stood a pedestal with a crystalline orb that rested on top of it, shimmering with bright colors that changed as you moved. Around the pedestal, a series of patterns were etched into the ground, like some kind of ritual. ¡°What is this place?¡± Amelia whispered, her voice quiet. ¡°Look at that,¡± Zack said, his eyes gleaming. ¡°It¡¯s practically screaming, take me!¡± Jay frowned, halberd in hand. ¡°And also trap, Zack. It¡¯s also screaming trap.¡± Etal rolled his eyes, spinning a chakram idly in his hand. ¡°I don¡¯t think we should just walk up and grab it.¡± But Zack, ignoring the warnings, strode toward the pedestal. ¡°What¡¯s the worst that could happen?¡± Amelia laughed. ¡°Zack you¡¯re not actually gonna-¡± Before she could finish, she was cut off by a loud hum. Zack had stepped onto the glowing patterns surrounding the pedestal, and the lines on the floor instantly lit up with light. The orb emitted the loud hum, and the patterns moved beneath Zack¡¯s feet. Suddenly the pedestal sank into the floor, and the orb hovered higher into the air. The hum deepened, reverberating in their bones. ¡°Oh, great,¡± Zack muttered, backing away. Definitely not touching that thing again anytime soon. Was a thought everyone unconsciously shared. The glowing patterns erupted, creating walls of light that separated the group into different sections of the chamber. A deep, resonant voice echoed through the air. ¡°You seek the Light of Balance, yet balance must be proven. The Trials await.¡± The walls around them shifted, revealing doors marked with the symbols of all sorts of elements - water, fire, earth, wind, and¡­ darkness? Whatever they were, it definitely beckoned them to go in. Zack sighed, flexing his fists. ¡°That¡¯s not ominous at all.¡± Lex groaned in frustration. ¡°Everyone, listen to me! We have to split up if we¡¯re going to pass this trial, whether we like it or not! If you fail I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Lex shouted. ¡°Very helpful Lex!¡± Jay laughed. Perhaps this would be the last they would ever see each other. Who knows. Only fate could tell (or me). CHAPTeR 9 CHAPTER 9 The heavy stone door creaked open, revealing a cavernous chamber bathed in dim, greenish light. The air was thick and damp, and massive stone pillars were placed all around. A low rumble echoed through the chamber, vibrating in Zack¡¯s chest as he stepped inside. The door slammed shut behind him. He turned sharply, but there was no handle, no mechanism to pry it open. Only a symbol of the earth etched into the stone, glowing faintly. What the heck man? Did Vey and Dray plan to make us go through an entire dungeon¡­ or trial¡­ whatever the heck this is? He sighed. ¡°Welp,¡± Zack said aloud to no one in particular. ¡°Guess there¡¯s no way out but forward.¡± The ground trembled as if answering him. From the far end of the chamber, a hulking figure emerged from the shadows. A stone golem, towering at least three times Zack¡¯s height, lumbered forward. Its eyes glowed emerald, fixed on him with a predatory focus. Cracks on its surface pulsed faintly with light, as if veins of molten energy coursed through its core. ¡°Great,¡± Zack said, raising his fists. ¡°Big rock guy. I¡¯ve punched worse.¡± Thanks a lot Dray. The voice from earlier echoed around him once again. ¡°Strength is not enough. Endurance must guide your hand.¡± The golem roared, its guttural cry shaking loose bits of stone from the ceiling. Zack barely had time to brace himself before it charged, each step shaking the ground. He rolled to the side as a massive fist slammed into the ground where he¡¯d stood, the impact sending a shockwave through the chamber. Stumbling to his feet, Zack launched himself at the golem, delivering a powerful punch to its knee. Pain shot up his arm. His gauntlets absorbed some of the force, but striking solid rock still hurt. Or was it solid rock? The golem barely flinched, sweeping its arm outward. Zack ducked just in time, feeling the rush of air as the massive limb sailed past. There¡¯s no way this thing is rock! This fricking hurts! Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Okay,¡± he panted, backing away. ¡°I guess hitting harder isn¡¯t gonna cut it.¡± The golem advanced, its movements slow but relentless. Zack dodged another swing, his mind racing. The golem was massive, yes, but it was also heavy and cumbersome. Every time it attacked, it overcommitted, its weight throwing it off balance. An idea began to form. The next time the golem swung, Zack didn¡¯t dodge outright. Instead, he stepped into the attack, letting the momentum carry him close to its torso. He slammed his gauntlets into its side, not aiming to break it but to disrupt its balance. The golem staggered, its foot slipping on the loose stones beneath it. Zack grinned. ¡°You don¡¯t like that, do you?¡± he taunted, weaving around to its back. ¡°Big and scary, but not so stable.¡± The golem roared, twisting to face him. Its massive hands slammed into the ground, shaking the chamber. Zack leapt back, narrowly avoiding the fissures that spidered out from the impact. ¡°Gotta be quicker than that!¡± Zack yelled, adrenaline pumping. He kept moving, circling the golem and striking at its legs and joints, targeting the weak points he¡¯d noticed earlier. If power didn¡¯t cut it, precision would. Finally, the creature messed up, its weight shifting too far forward. Zack saw his chance. He darted behind it, slamming both gauntlets into the back of its knees with all his might. The golem let out a low groan as its legs buckled, sending it crashing to the ground. It tried to push itself back up, but Zack was already moving. He climbed onto its back, aiming for the glowing cracks that pulsed near its core. With a roar of his own, he drove his fists down, striking right on the core. The chamber shook violently as the golem let out one final, earth-shaking cry. Its body crumbled into rubble, leaving Zack standing atop a pile of stone, panting heavily. As the dust settled, a doorway appeared on the far wall, glowing faintly. Zack grinned, wiping sweat from his brow. ¡°Endurance, huh? Guess I¡¯ve got plenty of that.¡± He stepped through the doorway, the glow enveloping him, taking him away to somewhere. Hopefully somewhere safe. Please tell me this is over.