ã€ŠPandemonium Sum Book 1 Initiationã€‹


 Chapter 1: A Day for Family

    Communication is the key to any successful relationship. The ability to talk openly and listen intently creates the foundation that people should strive for with their partners. As the morning sunlight crept into the master bedroom through a slight parting of the blackout curtains, a tight beam careened through the room and straight onto Fayde¡¯s shoulder. Pain started to wake her. It wasn¡¯t that the sun was exceptionally hot, or that the light was amplified like through a magnifying glass. No, it hurt her because she had a genetic disorder that caused her liver to create enzymes that perceived nutrients derived from natural light as hostile, which created toxicity in her body. She was quite literally allergic to the sun. Porphyria it is called. She had bought blackout curtains specifically to not allow in natural light so she could function normally throughout the day. Currently though, they weren¡¯t doing her any good. Should she get weekly blood transfusions or immunosuppressant drugs? Probably. But despite the recent success of her and her partner¡¯s books, they don¡¯t make enough to reasonably afford those kinds of treatments in America¡¯s current healthcare system. That being the case for her, it didn¡¯t take long for her to start moving out of the way of the light and communicated with her partner about the circumstance quite efficiently.

    ¡°Lith.¡± she said softly. Normally a soft sound like this wouldn¡¯t wake her partner, the deep sleeper that he was. However, her voice always reached him, even in the depths of his sleep.

    ¡°Hmm?!¡± He groaned with a start, opening his eyes wide to take in the darkness of their bedroom.

    ¡°Curtain.¡± Was all she said.

    Lith looked over to the window as he arched backwards, raising his upper half from the bed. He saw the break in the curtain and knew that he had to get up and adjust them to be closed again. He pushed back with his arms, lowering his chest, and raising his hips over his calves. Clenching his fists and flexing his muscles, a series of pops and cracks sounded from his joints and spine. Once the popping had stopped, he sat up, resting his haunches on his heels, letting the comforter slide off his back. He didn¡¯t worry about Fayde getting mad for moving the bed linens. There were four layers of cloth over her, and the comforter was the only layer he slept under. Bringing his left palm to the corner of his chin, he pushed to the right with moderate force, rapidly twisting his neck, which erupted in several more cracks. He then repeated this motion with his right hand, getting the same result. With the upper half of his forty-year-old body loosened for the time being, he moved out of the bed and started loosening his lower half. Pushing out his pelvis and standing on his toe tips, he flexed all of the muscles from his lower back to his toes, releasing another series of cracks and pops.

    He winced as his right ilium shifted again this morning against his sacrum. He¡¯d been dealing with the growing pain in his hip for twenty years. By now, even with the nerve targeting medications and twice a year epidural injection, courtesy of Veteran Affairs, the pain could be nearly debilitating when it flared up. He had resolved years ago that limiting the exertion he put on the region would be regulated to a moderate amount, and that properly activating and controlling his muscles was paramount to not suffering.

    Putting the majority of his weight on his left leg, he quietly hobbled over to the window and adjusted the curtain so that no light was coming in again. That done, and now awake for the day, he walked over to the bedside table to grab his phone. Flipping it over, he noted that it was seven in the morning.

    ¡®Good.¡¯ he thought. ¡®An extra hour to myself before Fayde and the kids are up for the day.¡¯

    He felt around on his side of the bed for the earpiece he fell asleep with the night before. He didn¡¯t find it on top of the sheets, nor under the comforter. Looking under his pillows, he didn¡¯t find it there either. Grabbing the bedside table and the bed, he kneeled down and leaned to look under the bed. Turning on the flashlight of his phone, he found it near the wall, right next to their gray tabby cat, Idun.

    ¡°Good morning kitty girl.¡± he said in a whisper as he reached for the earpiece.

    As soon as his hand began to reach under the bed, she darted off. He paid the cat no mind. She had always been skittish, even when he rescued her from the streets of New Orleans after a rare hard freeze. She was just two weeks old at the time. Now, she was an old cat.

    ¡®What is she, sixteen now?¡¯ He thought as he rose from his position, reminding himself to lift with his left leg.

    Another pop came from his left knee as he rose. While not as severe as the pain would be from his right knee, it still hurt a bit. He had arthritis in one knee and muscular atrophy in the other leg. The VA called them Service-Connected Injuries because they stemmed from the Sciatica he got from several accidents during his time in the Army.

    ¡®Damn, body is getting old. Forty going on eighty.¡¯ He mused in his own suffering as another wincing smile crossed his face. It was a small, inner laugh. A way to keep depression at bay. ¡®Gonna need the cane today it seems.¡¯

    As quietly as he could, he made his way over to his dresser and opened one of the drawers. He took out a black V-neck and put it on before closing the drawer. Opening another, he took out a pair of blue jeans and slowly put them on. He was already wearing underwear, a pair of black boxer shorts. He closed the drawer that housed several of his jeans and opened the bottom drawer, pulling out a pair of black socks. Stuffing them into his pocket, he grabbed his cane, which was propped on the side of the dresser. Quietly, he opened the door to their bedroom and closed the door behind himself. He then started moving towards the stairs.

    ¡®Yay stairs!¡¯ He thought to himself sarcastically before carefully making his way down to the foyer. He grabbed his boots, which were placed by the door, and walked into the living room. Sitting there was his chair. His great-grandfather¡¯s blue velvet rocking chair. It was squeaky as all hell, no matter how often he sprayed WD-40 on it. Setting his boots to the side of the chair, he took the pair of socks out of his pocket and sat down in his chair. Bending over slowly, he put on his socks and then his shoes, lacing them tight. With a light groan and a slight strain, using his cane to help, Lith lifted himself out of his chair. He walked back into the foyer and grabbed his jacket off the coat rack that hung on the wall next to the door.

    He slipped the jacket on and felt on the inside pocket. Waiting there for him were his pack of cigarettes and a lighter. He¡¯d tried quitting several times and was finally getting to the point where quitting was fully in sight. But still, he allowed himself one cigarette first thing in the early mornings when he had time to himself. Reminding himself that this was one of those days, he opened the door to the cold and snowy winter morning. Michigan had been kind to him since his family had fled Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Ida. It may have been a rough start, but after Fayde and him had begun their writing careers, they were finally able to provide a decent life for themselves. They owned the land they lived on now, which included three houses. One for themselves. The second for Fayde¡¯s eldest daughter and her son, Trevor, and Guidry. The third house was for Fayde¡¯s son Enki. It had laid in waiting until last year when he finally made contact and moved into his waiting abode with no strings attached.

    Stepping out onto their covered porch, Lith breathed in deep and watched as the breath let out condensated. Even though he grew up in the south, he genuinely enjoyed the frigid air. In his opinion the cold winters of Michigan were vastly better than the Summers of Louisiana. You could add more layers to keep yourself warm, but you could only take off so many until you were pushing the limits of what was legally acceptable.

    He sat down on one of the wooden rocking chairs as he took out his pack of cigarettes from the inside of his jacket pocket. Grabbing one out, he put the butt of it between his lips and returned the pack and grabbed the lighter.

    ¡®Flick¡¯ went his thumb against the grinder as a faint hiss of propellant escaped into the sparks of flint as it instantly caught fire. The lighter was already positioned to light the cigarette in his mouth. He sucked on the butt of the cigarette, pulling the fire and the air onto it as the cherry was lit. Releasing his thumb from the depressor as he broke the seal his lips formed around the cigarette, continuing to breathe in. The fire extinguished as the fuel burned up and smoke entered his lungs again for the first time in what felt like weeks. It tasted stale, but that only served as further incentive for him to quit. Slowly he breathed out the smoke, which caught in his throat, causing him to cough.

    ¡°I really need to quit soon.¡± He said aloud to himself. ¡°Think this will be the last pack.¡± The statement was made with resignation and determination.

    Out of the corner of his eye he saw a movement that stirred Lith from his musings. Looking over to Enki¡¯s house he saw his stepson coming out onto his own porch with a cup of coffee, eyes wincing a bit. He was tall, maybe six foot tall, and had an athletic build. Dirty blonde hair cut short and professionally. He had his mother¡¯s chin.

    When their eyes met, he raised his hand with a wave as a smile came across his face. Enki returned the wave slightly with a thin smile. It wasn¡¯t one of ¡®Oh great, stepdad.¡¯ It was more of ¡®Oh, you¡¯re awake.¡¯ Gentle and slightly open to conversation. Their relationship had been tenuous when they first met, both feeling like outsiders. Lith knew that Enki was mostly eager to reconnect with his mother after years of separation, and he was more than willing to encourage that rebonding of family. Lith kept his distance, trying not to impose on the young man, but gently reminding that he was there if Enki ever got in inkling to be at the very least friends. They were only twelve years apart in age after all.

    After taking another drag of his cigarette, Lith began to rise from his seat when Enki held up his hand and then motioned that he would come over to Lith. Raising his cane a little, Lith smiled and nodded in thanks. He watched as Enki walked across the yard, avoiding the likely ice-covered sidewalk to the house. Enki grabbed the railing of the stairs as he carefully made his way onto the porch.

    ¡°Good morning.¡± Enki said as he moved to one of the several rocking chairs on the porch to take a seat.

    ¡°Good morning, Enki.¡± Lith said with excited inflection in his voice. He noticed that Enki¡¯s squinting eyes were bloodshot. Looking over his face, Lith could see the veins around his temples were enlarged. ¡°Rough night?¡±

    ¡°Rough morning. That easy to tell?¡± Enki asked.

    ¡°Yesterday was Friday, and you¡¯re squinting with bloodshot eyes. I would say the coffee is a giveaway too, but your mom drinks it by the gallon so that could just be hereditary.¡± He said with a smile. Lith was trying not to come off as judgmental and figured a small joke would lighten the possibly rude observation. The last thing he wanted to do was put a further strain on their relationship.

    To Lith¡¯s relief, Enki let out a single chuckle as his smile became more sincere. ¡°You seem to know mom pretty well.¡±

    ¡°Twenty years and a child. If I didn¡¯t know your mom well by now, she would have left me by the wayside before now.¡± Lith said, chuckling himself. Enki chuckled again with him. Lith presented it as a bit of joking wisdom but was well aware that had he fucked up any worse than he already had, that Fayde certainly would have left him by the wayside.

    ¡°Still can¡¯t believe that mom is with someone twenty years younger than her.¡± Enki stated.

    And there it was. A point of contention that upset the young man. Something that further pushed Lith from the possibility of being considered ¡®Family¡¯ by Enki. Unsurprisingly, it hurt a part of Lith to hear the young man say it. As much as Lith and Fayde jested to themselves about the difference in their age, they knew it didn¡¯t matter to them. They had met when they were both adults. Lith had been home, back from the Army, for several months at the time and was feeling lost and broken. Fayde had recently gotten out of another horrible relationship with another man who hid who he really was and couldn¡¯t keep his dick in his pants. She too felt alone and very worn down, though she would never admit it.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    Like most people in New Orleans, they met in a bar. Calling it a bar wasn¡¯t purely accurate. It was more of a music venue that mostly appealed to the EDM crowd. Lith was working, and uses the term ¡®working¡¯ loosely now, for a DJ that decided to host an event at the bar. That DJ happened to hire Fayde as entertainment as he had done several times before. She was a stage performer of the Indian style of dance called Naga Atem. They had technically worked on a show together before, but Lith was chasing fleeting nights of fancy then, and Fayde was dating someone else at the time. But that night, he saw her. Smooth pale skin, raven black hair, piercing eyes and a tattoo that caressed her shoulders and back with powerful symbology and meaning. As soon as he saw her, Lith was enthralled.

    It took Fayde a bit more time, but she eventually found him out back of the bar having a cigarette at one of the tables the owners had put out. The city had banned smoking inside of bars by that time, and this one was able to accommodate a courtyard in the back. She noticed how his eyes lingered on her. Eyes of finely controlled desire and, to her surprise, respect. He was in dress slacks, dress shoes, a black button up shirt with a silky bright red tie with a slight hint of pink, and a pauldron on his left shoulder. The pauldron was out of place, but the suit did look good on him. She loved the look of a man in a suit. His sleeves were a bit short, but most men had a tough time finding clothes that fit them exactly right. It fit him well enough.

    Lith was sitting in a way that suggested he wanted to be alone, but as he turned to watch her walk out of the bar, his stance opened. His leg came off his knee and he sat up straighter as he averted his eyes and placed his hands in his lap as he looked at his phone. That was when she knew. He was a sub. In some base level of his brain, he knew that if he wanted to talk to her, he would have to wait for her to engage him first. She had an air of unapproachability. Regality. Something about her commanded attention as she walked into a room that was so unforced and natural, that words would always fail to describe exactly how she pulled it off. So began the game of cat and mouse. Fayde being the cat and Lith being the mouse. Returning to the conversation, Lith looked away from Enki and out towards the property.

    ¡°What can I say? I¡¯m a trophy husband. She¡¯s only here for my good looks.¡± he said, smiling as he took another drag of his cigarette. ¡°No, in all honesty, it was pure chemistry. She caught my eye first and she noticed and took an interest. Then I fell willingly right into her hands. Your mother is a very smart woman.¡±

    ¡°Still doesn¡¯t make sense. Why did she go after someone so close in age to her kids?¡± Enki said, taking another sip of his coffee.

    ¡°I¡¯m twelve years older than you, and ten years older than Treve. While we are close in age, I was not a child when she and I met. I was several years into being an adult.¡± Lith said and took another drag.

    ¡°You¡¯re still closer in age to us than you are to her.¡± He said rather grumpily. To Enki, the logic didn¡¯t make sense. There was still anger in him. Anger at how his mom left. Anger at how she had a new family. Her tears of regret when they finally met again nearly two decades later didn¡¯t do him any good. Neither was his hangover headache doing him any favors. He didn¡¯t want to be angry. His father and grandmother had told him how horrible of a mother Fayde was, especially to just abandon their family. Watching how she was with Trevor, Matia, even his nephew Guidry, it heavily conflicted with what he had been told most of his life. She was loving, caring, nurturing, simply different from what he had thought. Different from what he had been told to think of her. To top it all off, she opened herself, their home, everything to him as if he hadn¡¯t been left with his father for the last twenty years. For fucks sake, they had a house on their property that was vacant and waiting for him. Yet still he felt like an outsider. ¡°Maybe this isn¡¯t a good topic for a morning hangover.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re probably right.¡± Lith said with a sigh. He took another long drag of his cigarette before putting it out in the empty ashtray. ¡°Why don¡¯t you come inside, and I¡¯ll make breakfast.¡± He said as he rose from his chair. It was an offer, but also a command. Leaving things as they were and going separate ways now wouldn¡¯t be good if Lith wanted to form a proper relationship with Enki. ¡°Would you text your sister so she and Guidry can make their way over when they wake up.¡±

    Enki stood and moved to follow as he took his phone out of his pocket. ¡°Sure.¡± He said as he felt his stomach grumble. Putting decent food in his stomach sounded like an effective way to get the gunk he felt sitting in his stomach moving. ¡°What are you going to make?¡±

    ¡°Hashbrowns, eggs, bacon, sausage, and pancakes. Welcome to IHoP.¡± Lith said with a smile.

    Sometime later, Fayde woke to the darkness of her room. The smell of breakfast wafted to her senses and stirred her from strange dreams. Normally she wasn¡¯t hungry just after she woke up, but the smell of freshly cooked bacon was enticing. She sat up, removing the layers of bedding that she had made into her cocoon, and slid her legs off the side of her bed. She bent down, grabbing the two pairs of socks she left lying on the floor, and put them on.

    To her, the house was always cold when Lith set the thermostat to sixty-five degrees. She would swear that her family was trying to freeze her out, but they found the cool temperature comfortable. Lith would regularly sweat when she put the temperature to seventy-five. He would leave it for a few days before eventually setting it back, but she couldn¡¯t help switching it back every now and then.

    As she walked down the hallway to the stairs, she stopped at the thermostat and changed it to her preference. Walking down the stairs, she was greeted by one of her favorite sights; her partner and her children getting the kitchen table ready for breakfast.

    ¡°Good morning my love.¡± Said Lith as Fayde walked into the kitchen. ¡°Matia,¡± he addressed their eldest daughter, ¡°can you fix your mom a cup of coffee?¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡± Matia said with a slight roll of her eyes.

    Her dirty blonde hair was draped over to one side of her head so that it partially obscured one side of her face, reminding both Lith and Fayde of their respective goth phases in high school. That phase followed them even now, but they had decided on their own unique hair styles long ago. Lith wore his thick, long, nearly black hair parted in the center. It was pulled back into a ponytail right now, but when it dried from the shower, it resembled a lion¡¯s mane that extended past his shoulders. Fayde¡¯s hair was long as well, but she kept the sides of her head shaved, and shaved the back of her head below the nape of her neck. She hated the sensation of hair on the back of her neck. Fayde¡¯s hair was also dyed purple, which was one of her favorite colors.

    ¡°Good morning, Matia.¡± Fayde said to her daughter hoping to get more than a one-word response.

    ¡°Morning.¡± Was all Matia ordained to respond with.

    Fayde walked around the kitchen table and stopped behind her son. Giving him a kiss on the head as she rested one of her hands on his shoulder, she said ¡°Good morning, Enki.¡±

    ¡°Good morning mom.¡± he said with a groan as he continued to nurse his coffee.

    ¡°Rough night?¡± Fayde asked as she moved into her seat.

    ¡°Rough morning.¡± He responded again, mimicking the answer he gave to Lith a little while ago. ¡°No chance for an Irish Coffee?¡± he asked Lith.

    ¡°Sorry bud,¡± Lith answered as he poured pancake batter onto a skillet. ¡°You know we don¡¯t keep much alcohol on hand. If you¡¯re in the mood for a beer, I can grab one of the flavored ones I use for the beer bread.¡±

    Enki¡¯s stomach churned at the thought of ingesting another beer.

    ¡°Maybe just another regular coffee then.¡± Enki responded.

    ¡°Matia?¡± Lith prompted his daughter about the conversation.

    ¡°Sure.¡± She replied, grabbing a mug for her mother from the cabinet.

    ¡°Thank you dear.¡± Lith said as he flipped one of the hashbrowns before removing it from another skillet.

    ¡°Thanks.¡± Enki mumbled as he finished his cup and slid it across the kitchen table.

    It took them only a few more minutes to finish setting up the table for everyone and Lith finished making breakfast. Fayde took a joyous sip of her coffee after Matia brought it to her.

    ¡°Thank you, sweetie.¡± Said Fayde

    ¡°You¡¯re welcome mom.¡± Matia replied as she sat back down in her seat.

    ¡°Et voila.¡± Lith said in a mimicry of a French accent. ¡°Breakfast is ready.¡±

    Lith placed the first plate in front of Fayde. It had a single pancake, two strips of bacon, and a small pile of hashbrowns on it. Lith knew that Fayde¡¯s stomach didn¡¯t agree with eggs, so he left them off her plate. He brought similar plates to everyone else, some of them containing an additional pancake for those with a larger appetite. Finally, he sat down at the kitten table himself with his own plate and a glass of water. The rest of breakfast passed with verbal silence until the plates were empty.

    ¡°Matia, would you go to your sister¡¯s house with breakfast for Trev and Guidry?¡± Lith asked. ¡°I expected them to be awake and have come over by now, but they might have slept in. Either way, they need to start getting ready for tonight.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡± She said with a huff. She grabbed a couple of paper plates, transferred the food and covered them in foil before grabbing her jacket and leaving for her sister¡¯s house next-door.

    ¡°So,¡± started Lith, ¡°your mother and I were wondering if you¡¯d like to come to dinner with us tonight?¡± he was addressing Enki, who was just starting to rise from his seat with plate in hand.

    ¡°Sure, are we eating out or something?¡± Enki asked.

    ¡°Yes. We¡¯re going to La Grande Castille in town tonight.¡± Lith responded.

    ¡°Woah, that¡¯s pretty upscale.¡± Enki noted.

    ¡°Well, I would like tonight to be incredibly special and memorable. Which also means that dress attire is required.¡± Lith said.

    ¡°I can manage that. When are we going?¡± asked Enki.

    ¡°The reservation is for seven, so we should probably leave around five thirty.¡± Said Lith.

    ¡°I should be done with the hangover by then.¡± Enki jested.

    Lith placed a glass of water in front of Enki.

    ¡°Remember to rehydrate. I don¡¯t think I need to explain the sciences of the human body and alcohol to you.¡± Lith said and Enki took the glass and began sipping it. ¡°Hang out a while. I¡¯ve got to go and do a bit more writing, but I should be ready when everyone else is.¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡± Enki said as Lith turned towards the dishes that now needed to be cleaned.

    The next few hours passed as everyone dealt with chores before cleaning up and got ready for the evening. They all met up at Fayde and Lith¡¯s house. Fayde wore her signature two-piece suit with red and purple accents. It was custom made, so it fit her figure perfectly. She left the top two buttons undone so no tie adorned her neck. Lith wore a similar suit in all black with a red tie. Enki and Guidry wore black suits with a white button-down shirt and black ties. Matia wore a simple black dress that stopped just above her knees while Trevor wore a long dress with a high hip parting to one side.

    They loaded most of the family into an SUV while Lith and Fayde rode in a four-door sedan. The drive to the restaurant took roughly an hour and went by uneventfully. They pulled into the parking lot and met back up before heading into La Grande Castille. It was part of a collection of tall buildings in the central business district of the city. The large neon sign covered most of the front. The overhang that served as the entrance shared space with the valet for the hotel next door. They walked to the door of the restaurant and were greeted by a man in a fine pressed suit.

    ¡°Do you have a reservation?¡± the man asked.

    ¡°Yes.¡± Stated Lith. ¡°It should be under the name Howe-Rivers.¡± Lith replied.

    The man looked over the list until he found the name.

    ¡°Very well Sirs and Madams. Welcome to La Grande Castille. If you would follow me, I will take you to your table.¡± The man said as he gathered menus before walking.

    The family followed him to an elevator which they all entered with the host. He pressed a button labeled R and the doors shut.

    ¡°Rooftop?¡± Fayde asked.

    ¡°Yes ma¡¯am.¡± The man said. ¡°We don¡¯t normally make reservations for the rooftop lounge, but the owner is quite a fan of you and your partner¡¯s works. We do hope you will enjoy the evening.¡±

    Fayde looked at Lith questioningly which only got her a smile in response.

    Ding!

    The elevator stopped moving and the doors opened to reveal a mostly cleared bar area. Where there was once probably a multitude of small tables and chairs now sat a solitary table large enough to comfortably seat their family. Most of the rooftop was covered by red tinted glass held up by steel frames. Heaters sat in each of the upper corners, ushering warm air into the area where customers would gather for drinks and revelry. Tall iron fencing lined the perimeter of the roof so that overindulgent customers didn¡¯t find themselves taking a three story plummet to the ground floor.

    The host led them to the table where they each took a seat. Fayde sat at one end with Lith on the other, their children taking seats between them.

    ¡°Here are your menus.¡± Said the host ¡°I shall have the waiter come over to take drink orders¡± He waved his hand as a woman approached. ¡°If there is anything else you need, simply ask and will do our best to provide.¡±

    ¡°Good evening. My name is Kate, and I will be your server for the evening. What can I get you all to drink?¡± the woman asked.

    ¡°Coffee please.¡± Said Fayde.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have a water.¡± Said Lith

    ¡°Coke.¡± Said Matia.

    ¡°Water for me too.¡± Said Trevor.

    ¡°Budweiser.¡± Said Enki.

    ¡°Coke for me as well.¡± Said Guidry.

    ¡°One coffee, two waters, two cokes, and a Budweiser.¡± Said the server waiting for any corrections or changes. When none came, she spoke again. ¡°I¡¯ll go and get those for everyone while you look at the menus.¡± She walked off to fetch their drinks.

    A short while later, everyone had their drinks and meals before them, as well as a spread of appetizers.

    ¡°Before we begin this meal,¡± Lith started as he stood with his glass of water, ¡°I would like to say a few words.¡± Everyone put down their utensils and looked at Lith ¡°I admit that this will be very improvisational. So, I will speak from my heart.¡± Lith took a moment to compose himself and to slow his breathing and heart rate. ¡°I am so glad that we are all together. That we can all enjoy evenings like this together as a family. It warms my heart to see all Fayde¡¯s children and grandchild here at one table, living close together as a family. I have wanted this for her for an exceptionally long time. I take no generous portion of credit for us all being here. Getting to this point was a struggle, one I hope all of you will one day come to appreciate. I love all of you. You are all my children, even though I do not share blood with some of you. This past year has been a long time coming and is cause for celebration.¡± Lith started walking around the table, placing a hand on the shoulders of each of the children and adults he passed. When he arrived to where Fayde sat at the table, Lith took a knee. ¡°Fayde, we have been together for twenty years. You¡¯ve given life to three amazing children, one of which are my own blood. This has been an amazing journey, and I don¡¯t want it to stop anytime soon. I love you. I love this Family. Fayde, will you¡­¡±

 Chapter 2: Refinement

    ¡°Will you marry me?¡± Lith asked.

    His words hung in the air for a moment. Fayde looked over to her children, who were all holding hands with each other. She met eyes with the eldest of them, her look asking: ¡®did you know?¡¯ None of them knew. She turned back to Lith, tears in her eyes and a quivering smile on her face. Her right hand reached back and found Trevor¡¯s, gripping it tight. She loved him. So deeply and so completely. He had been with her for twenty years. Their longest relationship by a large margin. Despite the times he had seriously fucked up, she gave him chances that she would have never given another man. To her surprise, he changed. He became the man she knew he could become. He was a wonderful father to their children. He loved her children that were not his biologically as if they were. He started supporting her endeavors wholeheartedly. All her babies and grandbaby were here with her. For the first time in a long time, she felt whole. He had done everything she asked, become everything she knew he could be, and now, finally, after twenty long years together, he had asked her to marry him in a way they completely blew her away. She knew her answer.

    ¡°Yes.¡± She said with a smile that was only topped by when she first laid eyes on her children the moment they were born.

    Fayde put out her left hand to Lith, and he plucked the ring from its case. Holding her left hand with his, he slid the ring onto her ring finger. In this moment, to them, all was right in the world. They all wished that this moment; this happiness wouldn¡¯t end. As the ring was seated on her finger at the knuckle, the world seemed to stop. The only thing that mattered was their family. Fayde. Lith. Trevor. Enki. Matia. Guidry. Everything else could just fade away.

    And then¡­it did.

    Everything faded away from them. The dinner table. The Waitress. The Rooftop Bar. Le Grande Castille. Their small town. And finally, the world. Everything faded away. There they stood in a void of purest black, the only source of light being a soft glow from the ring on Fayde¡¯s finger. Slowly at first the light began to grow, the small glow becoming reminiscent of a flashlight¡¯s beam. It didn¡¯t stop there. The flashlight became a headlight, which became a spotlight before a small, circular ovoid emerged from the ring.

    It looked like a miniature galaxy. Not that it stayed miniature for long. Within a moment, the galaxy was as wide as Lith was tall, and it just kept on growing. Would it become the size of their home galaxy? The model galaxy¡¯s growth was becoming exponential, as if they were watching a parody of the Big Bag happen before their eyes. Before they could make a move or ask what was happening, they all began to feel an immense pressure falling upon them. They didn¡¯t collapse to their knees as the pressure seemed to come from all around them, threatening to turn them all into balls of flesh, blood, and bone.

    Fayde and Lith were the first to notice a terrifying fact. The center of the galaxy was fast approaching them. A tiny black hole, which was soon not to be so tiny, was mere inches from their bodies. In fear of what would come next, they pushed against the force holding them in place with all of their might. If the theories of astrophysicists were true, they would be in for an eternity of pain before coming to a gory mess of an end. As the event horizon began to pass over them, everything shifted. The pressure that held them firmly in place was joined by a torrent of forces inside of their bodies. It felt like their organs, muscles, even their bones were being berated by violent cascading waves. All of them found they were incapable of even yelling out in pain from the combined tirade of external and internal forces. Their minds were kept on the precipice of consciousness from the extreme forces.

    Lith, his eyes open and bloodshot, was the first to feel a sensation close to his skin being ripped open. He looked over to his right, trying to see what kind of damage was being done to his body. The external forces kept him from moving his head, but he was barely able to make out faint wisps of red floating into the air like blood in the water. Was he bleeding? How quickly until he began losing so much blood that he would pass out and die? Fighting against the forces pressing against his body, Lith tried moving his right arm closer for him to see. It was fruitless, as his entire body was still locked in place, but he did notice something. As he focused on moving his arm closer, the internal torrents moved along with his intention. Small streams of red released harmlessly from his neck, chest, and right arm, which also eased the torrential waves inside that part of his body, more so than when it felt like his skin was being ripped open. As soon as he stopped trying to move his arm, the flow from those points along his body stopped and the torrents once again became unorganized and painful.

    Wanting to recreate the sensation again, Lith tried tightening his muscles. Again, the flow of the forces acting inside of his body followed the paths of his intentions, making their way out from the same points of his body. However, this time the flow out of his body was lessened and the pain did not subside as much. When he stopped flexing, the forces inside of his body became chaotic again as the flow outwardly ceased. Realization came shortly after. Even though he could not move, the intentional exertion of movement caused the strange forces in his body to be expelled. Flexing his muscles would cause a diluted version of the expulsion of forces, but for some reason, was lacking something. Doing his best to calm his mind and focus, Lith started to try to move his body in a flailing manner. More points across his body started to exude the red wisps into the space around them as he struggled against the forces pressing down on him. He could feel the forces inside of himself flow through and out of his body through small painless holes. But the movements of the energy inside of him mimicked his own flailing attempts. Erratic. As the torrents loved with his intent, new kinds of pain assailed his body. Shortly after starting, Lith once again stopped his efforts. If he were to keep going, he might end up hurting himself more than the forces inside of his body would do by themselves.

    Taking a calming breath, Lith thought how best he could rid his body of the violent energy raking his body. It was clear that trying to move would cause whatever the red stuff to leave, but simply waving his arms wouldn¡¯t do the job while leaving him in an operable state. When he first tried to move his arm, he was intently focusing on a specific movement and straining his body to make it happen. Was that the key? To focus intently on how you were moving your body? Lith could feel the pressure inside of his body building up again. Not willing to go back to the previous levels of pain, Lith hastily put together another plan and hoped it worked. He would fight against the forces both inside and outside of his body. He closed his eyes and began to practice his martial arts.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    It had been years since he could dedicate his body to fully practicing, but focusing on it now, he could almost see a version of himself going through the motions. Punch. Step. Punch. Block. Step. Kick. Turn. He took his mind and body through the motions as if he were still able to move and could feel the wild torrents bend to the will of his mind and body. The red forces inside of him  began to churn and split off, acting more like the branching paths of a river. He could feel small bits of pressure crop up painlessly all across his body. It was the exact spots the red forces were leaving his body from. After a minute of going through and restarting his martial arts stances, one of the small pressure points felt like it popped. The rest of the energy in his body froze for a moment, eager to leave before Lith¡¯s focus on his movements and directed it back into flow. One by one, each of the pressure points along his skin suffered a similar popping effect. Most of the points were focused around his core with a few placed around his arms and legs. Of particular interest was that the second largest collection of pressure points were focused around his face and head. Then he noticed another interesting fact. With his body now expelling the red torrents from places all over his body, he was able to sense where the energy was coming from. The torrential forces actually had two sources, his head and his heart. Each beat of his heart stirred and shook off energy from within and around it, causing it to travel through and around his veins, while the energy from his mind was a continuous stream traveling down his spine and following all of the pathways of his nervous system. Lith persisted in his practice, feeling the torrents now working with his body as it moved out of him. His mind and body became lost to the process, and it wasn¡¯t until his fifth time of restarting the movements that he realized his body was no longer being assailed internally by the torrential red forces or being held in place by the external pressure.

    With a start, Lith looked over to his family to see how they were fairing. To his relief, Fayde was exuding waves of red from her body as she seemed to dance in the air. The movements reminded him of the dance form she was trained in, Naga-Atem. Each movement of her hips, legs, and arms sent out waves of red in a billowing motion. They had talked about Naga-Atem on several occasions over the years they had been together. It relied on total body muscle control incorporated into dance motions. It was also one of the oldest forms of dance on Earth. Their means of removing the red from their bodies were similar in theory, only differing in execution, as Fayde also used Naga-Atem as a meditative workout. She was also able to move freely and with ease, which told Lith that she was nearly done with removing the red from her body as well. The only other member of their family showing any other signs of success was Matia, who was periodically releasing large waves of red in a less controlled manner than what Lith had done. She would be a bit longer than Fayde, but she would make it through on her own. Of his three remaining family members, Guidry was releasing the least amount of red. Whether that was because of his age and size, or another reason was unsure, but it didn¡¯t change the fact that his grandson was crying from the situation he found himself in, red billowing from his body from red splotches that dotted his clothes and skin. It was clear that he had not figured out what most of them had already. Trusting that Fayde and Matia would take care of Trevor and Enki when they were done, Lith ran over to his grandson.

    ¡°Guidry!¡± Lith called out as he stopped in front of his grandson. He reached out and touched his grandson on the shoulder only to have his hand rebuffed and shocked.

    ¡°Grandpa?¡± Guidry asked in a panic. ¡°Grandpa, it hurts.¡± His crying became more uncontrolled as he spoke. He was more than scared. He was terrified. ¡°Make it stop Grandpa.¡±

    For a moment, the red coming from the rest of his family stopped before starting back up in a more furious nature. There was no better motivation to finish than to go to the aid of the youngest member of their family. Especially for his mother, Trevor, who was now screaming as red wisps came pouring out of her with the righteous rage of motherhood, faster than anyone else¡¯s red.

    ¡°I know. Grandpa is here.¡± Lith said in the most comforting voice he could muster. ¡°I need you to listen to me, ok?¡±

    ¡°Is Mom yelling? Is she okay?¡± Tears were streaming down his face faster than the red was coming from his body.

    ¡°Yes, she¡¯s on her way here to you. I need you to listen to me very carefully for right now. Can you do that?¡±

    ¡°Mhmm.¡± Was all that Guidry could get out between tearful snotty bursts of breath.

    ¡°I need you to take a deep breath. I know it¡¯s hard right now. I know it hurts. But give me a deep breath.¡±

    Through fits of snot induced coughs, Guidry managed to get in a few deep breaths and calm a bit. The coughs made the exhales do less to expel the red than Lith would hope, but as Guidry seemed to calm, the red did come out easier.

    ¡°There we go. Is that starting to feel better?¡±

    ¡°Mhmm. It¡­¡± Guidry paused as he let out another cough. ¡°It still hurts, but not as much.¡±

    ¡°Good man. Slow breaths. In and out. I¡¯ll breathe with you, okay.¡± Lith instructed and waited for Guidry to nod and breathe out before starting. ¡°Breath in ¡®whoooooop¡± he started watching Guidry mimic himself. ¡°And out ¡®wooooo¡¯¡±

    As Guidry exhaled, the red came out shakily but more orderly than it previously had been. Lith theorized it came out shakily because Guidry¡¯s body was still convulsing a little from his crying, but he could see it began to cease the flow from red splotches and become more organized like it came from his own body.

    ¡°Good job little man. Let¡¯s focus on trying to move your body. Think of swimming. Go through the motions. You won¡¯t be able to move, but as long as you try to go through the motions you¡¯ll be okay.¡±

    ¡°Ok Grandpa.¡± Guidry said a bit more calmly. The tears coming from his face had slowed, and his breathing was getting steadier as Guidry tried to make his body move like he was swimming. Lith watched as he coached his grandson in breathing, reminding him to go through swimming motions. He could see the points on Guidry¡¯s body where the red was flowing out in a controlled manner. Being able to see it from an outside perspective, it reminded Lith of acupuncture points. After a few moments of coaching Guidry, Trevor was by their side.

    ¡°Dad.¡± Trevor said as she kneeled next to them both. ¡°I¡¯ve got him. Thank you.¡±

    ¡°Mom?¡± Guidry asked as one of his hands reached for her, finally able to move. She immediately reached out and grabbed his hand.

    ¡°I¡¯m here baby.¡± She said as she wrapped him in a hug. ¡°Mom is right here.¡±

    Lith looked up and saw that Fayde was already coaching Enki through his purging of energy. It looked like he was starting to figure it out and that  he would be done soon. Lith¡¯s eyes fell upon his daughter Matia. Who was sitting with her knees to her chest, already done expelling the red from her body. He walked over to her and sat down next to her, wrapping an arm around her and leaning her against his side. She didn¡¯t resist, contrary to the typical behavior his rebellious teen daughter would do. They sat there for a few moments in silence before he eventually spoke.

    ¡°Good job kiddo.¡±

    She shifted a bit before releasing her knees from her chest and wrapping her arms around his chest.

    ¡°That was terrible.¡± she said with a sniffle.

    ¡°I know. It was the same for all of us. But you did an excellent job figuring it out yourself.¡± Lith could feel a wet spot forming on his chest. He knew she was crying but decided not to say anything about it. ¡°I¡¯m proud of you baby girl.¡± He said as he lightly tightened his one arm around her shoulder before looking out into the still expanding galaxy around them.

 Chapter 3: Existence

    There was a certain beauty in watching the stars move further away from them, growing in size despite their place in the center of the black hole. He wasn¡¯t sure if they were watching the birth of a new universe, the birth of their own, or something else entirely. What he was sure of was that they were not alone. Something out there, beyond the expanding galaxy before them was watching them, and had been for some time. It was only in the absence of the world that Lith became aware of the focus that had been on them since they appeared in this weird dimension. He couldn¡¯t see anything in particular that was looking at them. It felt more like what was beyond the universe had turned its attention to them the moment they appeared. So Lith waited, patiently looking out into the void beyond the observable galaxy for the being to make its presence known. Smaller galaxies started to appear in the distance as his eyes started to adjust to the darkness of the void. Although they grew at the same pace as their own, they also moved further and further away. It was hard to tell, really it was impossible to tell, but some instinctual force told Lith this was happening.

    ¡°Lith.¡± Fayde said as she walked over to their daughter and him. Her voice was low, as if not trying to draw attention from the being beyond their galaxy. Did she notice it too? Surely with how intuitive she was, she had. Her tone expressed nothing. His name was a statement. He was to be alert and aware. They were already on edge from what they just went through and from their current situation. Would the being make itself known? Did it hold any answers or were they supposed to discover it on their own?

    *clap*

    The stars of their galaxy flashed brighter. The sound of the clap came from all around them, as if it echoed from the galaxies beyond their own. The flash didn¡¯t hurt their eyes nor did the clap hurt their ears, but it did startle them. Matia¡¯s grip on his chest tightened.

    ¡°What was that?¡± asked Enki.

    *clap*

    The clap was louder, and seemingly closer, as if the being beyond the void was coming closer. Again, the stars flashed, some winking out while others gained new shades of luminance. Did the stars move?

    ¡°Mom what¡¯s happening?¡± asked Guidry.

    *clap*

    It came closer again, both in proximity, and how soon it had followed the one before. More stars flashed out of existence while, yet others grew in brightness. The stars were indeed being moved. A literal manifestation of the movement of heavens and earth.

    *clap*¡­*clap*

    Closer and closer came the claps, in distance and rhythm. Twice the stars flashed and grew brighter, fewer of the stars disappeared this time.

    *clap*..*clap*..*clap*

    Faster and faster each clap came, and with every clap came a flashing of the stars. As the stars disappeared, the galaxy seemed to shrink down upon itself, growing denser. Even the black hole they were sitting in had shrunk in size. There was hardly a pause between the claps now, and it seemed more like applause. Flashing from the stars had stopped and they continually emitted a brighter light that no longer relied on the clapping to be sustained.

    Lith and Fayde were the only ones to notice something grander happening. All of the galaxies beyond their own had started moving, While the initial claps came from everywhere, the applauding claps were now focused ahead of them, towards where the galaxies were gathering. The claps became softer as the galaxies coalesced before them. They were still loud, almost to the point of deafening. Fayde was still flinching as each clap caused a small firework to burst in front of their eyes because of synesthesia, but she could still make out a figure forming in the distance out of the galaxies. As they came closer, the figure became similar to that of a person, although they had no distinguishing features. It was just a jumbled mess of galaxies in the shape of a bipedal humanoid. It continued to clap as it approached them, each step now sending shockwaves through the void as it crossed the border into their galaxy.

    Trever, Guidry, and Enki joined Fayde, Lith, and Matia closer to the center of the black hole. Lith stood and left Matia with her sister, brother, and nephew, moving to the outside and front of their formation, mirroring Fayde¡¯s movements as the vanguard of their family. Thin red rivers were now flowing from each star in their galaxy, converging on the living mass of galaxies approaching them. Each step seemed to pull increasingly from the stars. Like a living pulse that kept time with the being¡¯s steps. The only red that did not move to the being was what was inside of the black hole with them. It remained fixed in place around them, like a thin veil of foreboding death, filling the entirety of the spherical void in space.

    With each step, the rivers of red pulled into the being, and at the same time, something inside each of the members of Lith and Fayde¡¯s family shook. It wasn¡¯t a physical shaking like the bouncing of their brain in their skulls, but a stirring of something deeper. It felt like it was their body but had no physicality to be shaken. It felt more effervescent and immaterial. With startling realization, Lith and Fayde were the first to become aware of their souls. One step later the rest of their family became starkly aware of the new reality of souls as well. And their souls were shaken to their core. What was this being that was approaching?

    Step by step the being came closer and closer, drawing in the red rivers. As it neared the event horizon, the red rivers detached from the stars they originated from before disappearing completely into the being as it stood one step away from the black hole. What did it want? They had no idea. But if push came to shove, Lith and Fayde were prepared to fight the stars themselves for the survival of their family. It waited a moment, looking at them, observing them. Sweat was rolling down their backs from their recent experience and now in anticipated nervousness of the being.

    Then it stepped into the black hole and beyond the event horizon and the galaxy collapsed into the being. Now the only light was coming from the being itself, but its previously galaxy covered face was now a void that was only pointing in their direction. They stood there looking at it puzzled and nervous. Had it just destroyed their galaxy or eaten it? It was a valid question. It had been siphoning the red from their galaxy with each step and as soon as it stepped into the center of the galaxy, the galaxy in its entirety had disappeared, their red along with it. The only explanation was that it either ate or destroyed it if there was even a difference. Their question was answered as a galaxy shaped eye opened as the face of the being. Blue and white swirling lights and a black-red core. The exact image of their reforged galaxy. The question now was what happened next? That answer came quickly and was the most unexpected answer they could have fathomed.

    ¡°Well done!¡± Came a booming and echoing voice that emanated from the being before them. ¡°I admit I¡¯ve never seen a Ring Bearer and family handle integration quite like that. What a marvelous performance. Especially you Ms. Fayde.¡± It bowed, one hand in front of its waist, the other to its side, like it was in a royal court.

    They were all left speechless. The words spoken by the being hung in the air for an eternity as it remained in a bow before someone spoke up.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Are..¡± The word left Enki¡¯s mouth hesitantly with reverence in an evanescent tone. ¡°Are you God?¡± he finally asked.

    A loud, boisterous laugh followed in answer to the question. It was sincere in how comical the question seemed to it before coming to an abrupt stop. Had it realized that Enki¡¯s question was not a jest but a sincere concern from the young man? ¡°Do you truly think I would lower myself the stature of a mere God?¡± The voice was devoid of its previous humor. The tone was as serious as the question he had asked. ¡°Ah.¡± It continued with understanding. ¡°You mistake me for the being known as Yahweh from Judaism. Interesting divergence there. One became two, and then the first of the two became two again, making three. Then the third became thousands more. Begs the question; was there ever one God they all believed in, or did man invent the innumerable iterations of god themselves?¡±

    Was this being contemplating the existence of God? It had asked if it would lower itself to the stature of a God, so was it above a God of Gods? How much power did a God of Gods have? Enough to consume a galaxy apparently. But why would a God of Gods contemplate the existence of a god?

    ¡°Are you a Primordial?¡± Lith asked next.

    The being¡¯s attention turned towards Lith, who took a sharp step back.

    ¡°By primordial I assume you mean in reference to Greko-Roman theology. The beings of primordial chaos that fought and brought forth the world and other celestial bodies, birthing the Titans who birthed the Gods of Olympus. Beings made of stars, nebulae, and galaxies¡± It stopped, taking up a pose reminiscent of the statue of The Thinker, but standing. ¡°A more accurate assumption, but still not right. If it helps you to understand you can think of me as the being that birthed Primordial Chaos itself, just allowing an infinitely higher number of galaxies and universes to exist.¡±

    Everyone was staring in bewilderment at the self-proclaimed creator of all. Thousands of questions ran through their minds. Why did this happen? Is it going to kill them? Why is it just talking to them? How did it know Fayde¡¯s name? How did it know about Earth¡¯s religions and theologies? The next question came as a surprise to the rest of the family.

    ¡°So, what do we call you?¡± Asked Matia, the flame of teenage rebellion still burning in spite of the hesitant fear they all felt. ¡°Mr. Everything?¡±

    The primordial being let out another boisterous laugh before answering. ¡°You may call me Sum. I believe it means ¡®I am¡¯ in Latin. I am the Sum of all existence after all.¡± It said following it up with another laugh before abruptly stopping and pointing at Enki. ¡°And no, not like ¡®The Great I Am¡¯ in Christian theology.¡±

    Fayde and Lith shared a look. Did this thing just make a joke with its name as the punchline?

    ¡°Okay, what is this? What the hell is going on?¡± Fayde said as she dropped her guard. ¡°We get absconded from dinner at the best restaurant in town right after a marriage proposal to this blank void of existence where we are tortured by some unknown source who we might as well assume was you, only for you to menacingly approach us for the sake of giving us photophobia, tell us you¡¯re some supreme existence, and make fucking jokes?¡±

    Sum bowed to Fayde again before answering. ¡°My apologies Ms. Fayde. It does not escape my awareness that what you and your family have just gone through is traumatic, especially for the younger members. I do admit that while I do benefit from what happened to you and your entire galaxy, the process is beyond my control. My attempts at humor are common, non-harmful, coping mechanisms that your race has developed.¡±

    ¡°How do you know so much about our race and its history?¡± Guidry asked. ¡°And how do you know grandma¡¯s name?¡±

    ¡°That would be an effect of the integration of your galaxy. All information currently and previously known and experienced by every race is imprinted into my being as you become one with the greater multiverse. It enables me to know you better and helps me in your navigation of the current iteration of the system. That includes the name of every being in your galaxy.¡± Sum pointed its finger one at a time at each of them, going down the line. ¡°Fayde. Enki. Matia. Guidry. Trevor. Lith. I now know all of you and your life stories, as well as the life stories of every living being that exists and had previously existed.¡± There was a pregnant pause in the air as they all felt as if they had been violated. To have the entirety of their lives known by someone else was invasive. Neither Lith nor Fayde had given each other full details about their personal traumas to the other. Because that¡¯s what they were, personal traumas. There were things they both had meant to go to a therapist for, but never got around to. But now Sum had every personal detail about all of them, and everyone else in existence. ¡°Not bad for an all-powerful being, eh?¡±

    ¡°Nah, that¡¯s pretty fucked.¡± Said Lith. ¡°But you¡¯ve said a lot of fucked things in the last minute so I¡¯m going to need a lot of clarifications.¡±

    ¡°Same¡± agreed Fayde. The children nodded and mumbled in agreement.

    ¡°To use an Earth phrase; I am an open book.¡±

    ¡°Better be an encyclopedia with all the questions I¡¯ve got.¡± Said Fayde.

    ¡°What do you mean by ¡®integration¡¯?¡± Lith asked.

    ¡°As galaxies and universes age and grow, they eventually spread their influence into my domain. An intrinsic part of my domain is to incorporate everything into a system of self-empowerment. I call it Cultivation. The first stage of this incorporation, called ¡°The Integration¡±, is to purge all of the current inhabitants of impurities and give them all a fresh start on a new path through life. What you all went through was a process called ¡°Refinement¡±. Each galaxy or universe will experience the ¡°Refinement¡± once as a collective. Any further refinements will come to the individual through opportunities they may or may not find themselves happening upon.¡±

    ¡°And what does this ¡®Refinement¡¯ process do?¡±

    ¡°Cures sickness and disease, restores limbs where desired or potentially required, removes any potential negative or self-harming traits of the body. For example, Fayde should no longer be affected by sunlight. Lith should no longer have any issues relating to their previous sciatica. Your bodies are also put into a prime condition to deal with any coming hostilities.¡±

    ¡°Why would we have to deal with hostilities?¡±

    ¡°Integration and Refinement affects all living beings in a galaxy or universe. This has a tendency of upturning what you would call ¡®natural order¡¯. Planets that were once dominated by beings of higher intelligence or technological advances have been sundered and surpassed by newly empowered beasts and plant life on a multitude of occasions. This is because after integration comes cultivation. Every being, sapient creature, living organism, and alternative life form begins to grow. Strength. Intelligence. Fortitude. Speed. Abilities related to everything that has an effect on existence. The potential for unparallel exponential growth can all give its thanks to cultivation.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Fayde asked.

    ¡°Why to what?¡±

    ¡°Why, to all of it? What is the point?¡± she clarified.

    Sum didn¡¯t answer right away. It put its hand to its chin like it was contemplating again.

    ¡°There have been many theories across the infinite multiverses as to why cultivation only works after initiation. However, the truth is far simpler. I want it to.¡±

    ¡°You want it to?¡± Lith asked. ¡°You want millions, no quadrillions of people to die by beasts and plants, entire planets left to ruin? What purpose does that serve?¡±

    ¡°Not by beats and plants. People too. Sometimes death is self-inflicted. As for the purpose, I want to understand.¡±

    ¡°Understand what?¡± Fayde asked.

    ¡°I want to understand why existence does what it does.¡±

    ¡°But aren¡¯t you the totality of existence?¡± Fayde asked, completely baffled at this point. Was this thing going through an existential crisis?

    ¡°Yes, but you misunderstand. I know why I exist. I want to know why drives all of you to exist. Every being has its own reasons for continuing down the path of cultivation. There are so many answers as to why, I¡¯ve almost lost track of them all. I want to know what, at the core of everything, drives something to continue.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s because we were given life.¡± Enki offered. He paused a moment as Sum¡¯s singular eye focused on him. ¡°Why squander the gift of living and not make the best of your life that you can?¡±

    Sum¡¯s almost featureless face changed. The galaxy shaped eye contorted, or maybe it was more appropriate to say compacted in a way that made it seem like it was smiling. Not in a way that expressed sudden enlightenment, but in a way that one would when you entertain a child that is trying to explain something you already know, but they¡¯re very excited to tell you about.

    ¡°Good try kid, but you are narrowing your thoughts to that of people. Does an elephant think of its life a gift? Does a dog? A tree? A blade of grass? An amoeba?¡± Sum paused for a moment to let his words sink in. ¡°Does a planet? You think too big and too small at the same time. I have these questions because I see them all. I know them all. And yet I do not understand. So, I developed a way for all things to tell me.¡±

    They all staired quietly at the now presumed mad embodiment of the totality of existence. They were lost for words and scared for what was going to come next.

 Chapter 4: Classy

    ¡°Any more questions?¡± Sum offered as its eyes became one again.

    ¡°What¡¯s next for us?¡¯ Fayde asked.

    ¡°If you were being introduced into the cultivation system the normal way, you would have been presented with your starter class options a while ago. Would you like to view the options now?¡±

    ¡°Better be something good.¡± Fayde said with a huff.

    In front of each of them, three cards appeared.

    ¡°These are your class cards, hand selected based upon how you performed during the Refinement.¡± Sum explained.

    Sum just kept making things more and more complicated. First this weird void, the ¡®Refinement¡¯, cultivations, and now classes? Not wanting to have the entity go into another tirade that would have them all contemplating why they were, they directed their attention to the three cards before them. The cards themselves were simple. Tan bases that brought to mind aged papyrus with an image taking up the majority of the card. Above each image were words.

    ¡°Blade Dancer, Snake Charmer, and Life Drinker.¡± Fayde said as she looked at her cards.

    The Blade Dancer card had a woman in mostly loose clothing holding a blade above her head while the image of her body was like someone took a photo of her mid dance. The Snake Charmer was in similar garb, just of a different style, but she stood inside the coils of a massive snake. The right hand was extended outward as if she had just thrown dirt in someone¡¯s face, but instead of dirt, the snake around her was lunging out to strike with its large venomous fangs. The Life Drinker took a very different turn in appearance. The figure was garbed in leather armor wielding a sword in each hand. One sword was hanging to its side while the other was at the mouth of its wielder, who was the only one having facial features. A tongue was licking a black substance from the sword, and if colors other than black and tan were being used, Fayde knew that liquid would be blood.

    ¡°What kind of classes are these?¡± Fayde asked, a bit dejected.

    ¡°I just told you.¡± Sum said. ¡°Hand selected based upon your performance during refinement.¡±

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t there be a where is the ranged and spellcaster options? All of these are melee classes.¡± Fayde retorted.

    ¡°Too small minded. Look at the back of the cards.¡± Sum answered, waving his hand in a dismissive manner.

    Very annoyed, Fayde grabbed the Blade Dancer card and flipped it over. On the back were three boxes. The first and largest box had an outlined figure with nine circles inside of the body. Three of the circles were located in the head, while the other six were in the torso. The majority of the circles were in a straight line, except for two which were equidistantly placed on either side of the chest. None of the circles were labeled, but they reminded Fayde of the chakras from Hindu or Buddhist spiritual traditions. To the right of the image box was a thinner box that was just as long, but much less filled in. It only had two lines that read ¡®Sword Mastery¡¯ and ¡®Sound Manipulation¡¯. The third and final box was at the bottom of the card and had the most to say.

    ¡®Swing body and sword to your own tune of death. Captivate and awe them unto their own bitter ends.¡¯

    Fayde took her time to look over the Snake Charmer and Life Drinker cards as well, only really taking note of the skills on each. The Snake Charmer skills were ¡®Companion Pact¡¯ and ¡®Enhance¡¯ while Life Drinker had ¡®Sword Mastery¡¯ and ¡®Blood Manipulation¡¯.

    Of the three options, two seemed to be a mix between a melee and spellcasting class, while the third was a melee support class. The fact that two of them shared the skill ¡®Sword Mastery¡¯ didn¡¯t escape her notice. Was Sum implying that she had an affinity to the sword over other weapons. What she found amusing was the part of the names of two of her class options, Blade Dancer and Snake Charmer. During her refinement she had practiced Naga-Atem, a very specific form of Snake Dance originating in India she learned a very long time ago. Life Drinker was a standout for the fact that she showed no inclination towards vampirism during her refinement, unless Sum was using her porphyria and that no longer being an issue as a reason to suggest it, almost like a joke.

    ¡°So, my options are two melee casters and a melee support for my class?¡± Fayde asked.

    ¡°Yes, that is correct.¡± Sum answered.

    ¡°And these are the only options I¡¯m going to get?¡± She continued.

    ¡°Until you hit the next major threshold, yes.¡±

    ¡°What does threshold in your cultivation system represent?¡± Lith asked.

    ¡°It signifies a major change in your ability to grow. After a certain point, your body becomes acclimated to the power you hold and use, eventually making it possible for you to take on more power, assuming you have made your body ready for that next level.¡± Sum explained.

    ¡°Like levels in a video game?¡± Guidry asked.

    ¡°Hmm,¡± Sum thought. ¡°No. Perhaps I should explain more. You can think of cultivation coming in minor and major thresholds. As you progress, you will naturally overcome the minor thresholds, where your bodies can contain and exude more power. At a certain point, your body will have built up a tolerance to the minor thresholds, which is where the major thresholds come into play. A major threshold signifies a leap in your overall cultivation. There are requirements to overcoming a minor threshold, but you will learn them later.¡±

    ¡°Why not tell us now?¡± Matia asked sarcastically.

    ¡°Too much information too early could spoil how you cultivate. I like things to be more natural in development.¡±

    ¡°Then why are we here?¡± Fayde asked, her arms crossed and a scowl on her face.

    ¡°You can thank the little ring there.¡± Sum said as he pointed to Fayde¡¯s new engagement ring.

    ¡°This?¡± Fayde said as she raised her hand to her face, looking intently at the ring. As she watched it, the galaxy like center of the ring almost seemed to blink. She grabbed it and tried to remove it from her finger, but it was stuck. Not that her knuckle had swollen, but the ring refused to budge even a little on her finger. ¡°What the fuck is this thing? Why can¡¯t I take it off?¡±

    ¡°Different societies call it different things. But the way I have come to understand them is as a beacon. They appear in unintegrated universes. They randomly wake up when certain people put them on. As for why you cannot take it off, it is bonded to you.¡± Sum explained.

    ¡°To be clear,¡± Lith interjected, ¡°did you make it?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Sum said with a finality. ¡°We should return to the topic of your classes.¡±

    Fayde stared at Sum for a while longer, her mind racing with questions and accusations. The rest of her family had already gone back to looking over their cards. Still, her mind couldn¡¯t stray from the fact that the way Sum described the ring make it sound like it hadn¡¯t made the rings. The topic was clearly off the table for further discussion, but questions still plagued her mind as she went over her cards. Which should she pick? Blade Dancer sounded the most realistic and really appealed to her synesthesia. But she wouldn¡¯t mind having a snake companion to aid her and her family in combat. And how far did blood manipulation go? Could she control the blood inside of her enemies or was she controlling her own? The more she read, the more questions she had. She almost wished that she could try out each class or even combine the three¡­

    ¡°I can do that!¡± came a voice.

    Fayde looked around. She had heard a voice and saw the colors of it, but they were colors she had never seen before, a voice she didn¡¯t recognize.

    ¡°Hello?¡± She said aloud.

    Lith, who was standing next to her, turned to her. ¡°Yes love?¡±

    ¡°Did you say something?¡± she asked.

    ¡°No, Love. I was thinking about what class to pick.¡± He paused for a moment and turned fully towards her. ¡°Are you alright?¡±

    ¡°I mean, no.¡± She answered with a condescending laugh, before retracting her exasperation with the situation they all found themselves in. ¡°I just thought I heard someone.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t hear anyone.¡± Lith said.

    ¡°It was me.¡± Said the voice again.

    Lith¡¯s and the unknown voice overlapped. She looked to the side, rising her finger to hush Lith. ¡°Hold on.¡± She listened for the voice again, while thinking. Moments passed in silence. She became aware that her family and Sum were staring at her.

    ¡°Mom, is Grandma okay?¡± Guidry asked Trevor.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure grandma is fine honey. Go back to picking your class.¡± Trevor answered her son.

    Fayde stopped listening for the voice before turning back to Lith. ¡°Sorry. It¡¯s probably just stress. Maybe all of this is the last straw and I¡¯m finally going crazy.¡±If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    Lith took a step closer to her and extended his hands. She gladly took them in her own.

    ¡°It¡¯ll be okay.¡¯ He said in that reassuring tone that always brought her a modicum of peace. ¡°We¡¯ll make it through this together.¡±

    Fayde nodded before releasing his hands and turning back to her cards. Lith took a step away looking back at his own cards. She took all three in her hands and closed her eyes. The first time she heard the voice, it said ¡®I can do that¡¯ when she was thinking combining the cards. So, she thought about it again.

    ¡°Yeah, I can do that if you want.¡± Said the voice again. It was small, almost childlike, and coming from inside her own head.

    ¡®I really am going cray.¡¯ She thought.

    ¡°Umm¡­¡± started the voice again. ¡°I¡¯m confused.¡±

    It¡¯s confused? Yep, she was definitely going crazy. A voice inside her own head was questioning itself. Must be her CPTSD rearing it¡¯s head once again.

    ¡°I¡¯m not a random voice inside of your head. I¡¯m the ring on your finger.¡±

    Fayde opened her eyes and looked at her ring again. Once again, the galaxy like light in the middle of the ring seemed to blink once again.

    ¡®You!¡¯ She thought. ¡®Just what are you?¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯m a ring.¡± It said simply, as if that was all there was to it.

    ¡®Rings don¡¯t talk or have blinking galaxies inside of them.¡¯

    ¡°I do, and I¡¯m a ring.¡± It answered, not giving any real explanation.

    ¡®Fine.¡¯ Fayde said, fed up with bull shit nonanswers for the day. ¡®You said you can do ¡®that¡¯. What do you mean?¡¯

    ¡°I can combine the classes for you. That is what you want, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡®I mean, if it will be better.¡¯ Fayde answered, not wanting to get a bad deal.

    ¡°Oh yeah!¡± The voice said excitedly. ¡°You¡¯ll get a better class with the abilities of all the fused classes.¡±

    ¡®What¡¯s the catch?¡¯ Fayde asked. Something that good couldn¡¯t come without a price.

    ¡°Catch? Like a downside or something?¡±

    ¡®Yes.¡¯ Fayde answered.

    ¡°No, catch. It¡¯s just something I can do.¡±

    ¡®Why?¡¯ Fayde asked, skeptical of the ring still.

    ¡°Why can I combine the classes? I don¡¯t really know. I just ¡®know¡¯ that I can.¡±

    ¡®No, why are you doing it?¡¯

    ¡°Oh! Because you woke me up. Sleep is boring.¡± It answered.

    Was that all? Was that it? It was grateful for waking up when Fayde put it on, and that was reason enough for it to combine her classes. It really was just like a child. She felt kinda bad, it felt like cheating, or taking advantage of an innocent.

    ¡°Yes, I would like for you to combine my class options.¡± Fayde said. If she and her family were going to be thrown into an even more fucked up reality, she would grab every advantage she could.

    ¡°Oh boy! This is gonna be great!¡± The voice said before the ring on her finger started to shine.

    Even with her eyes already closed, Fayde still had to cover her eyes with her other hand from how bright the ring shone. And then, quite suddenly, the light faded. She then opened her eyes, looking at the singular silver card in her hand.

    ¡°Bloodletting Siren.¡± Fayde whispered to herself as she looked at the front of her new class card. The figure on the front of the card wore clothes that were similar yet different from all of the parts that went into it. The torso was covered in a thin veil of sleeveless black fabric that exposed her solar plexus to her bellybutton in a diamond. Thin red ropes seemed to have been stitched into the fabric, holding it in place as they crossed the sides. Long black cloth gloves covered the arms from just above the elbow while only covering the first knuckle of her middle finger. The forearms were reinforced with red leather bracers, and a bangle of rope bound cloth sat delicately above each of the biceps. The upper chest and neck was covered by a scale patterned leather gorget. A belt of leather and rhinestone secured loose fitting black cloth pants on the hips. The shins, like the forearms, were covered in red leather, and simple hemp sandals adorned the feet. The figure bore two curved swords, both dripping with blood, and the figure¡¯s mouth was open, looking as if it were letting out a blood curdling cry or a heart wrenching song. Behind the figure was still a massive snake, but it now bore the hood of a cobra with intimidating eye like designs on each side.

    ¡°Fayde!¡± Lith said as he touched her shoulder. ¡°Baby are you ok?¡±

    ¡°Ye-Yeah¡± Fayde said after a moment.

    ¡°What was that bright light?¡± Lith asked.

    ¡°I combined my classes.¡± Fayde answered showing him her new, silver car.

    ¡°Bloodletting Siren.¡± Lith read off the card. ¡°What are the skills?¡±

    Fayde flipped the card over and read off the skills. ¡°Sword Mastery, Companion Pact, Enhance, Sound Manipulation, and Blood Manipulation.¡±

    ¡°You got every skill from the previous classes? Is one missing? You have five skills there, but each of my class cards have two skills.¡±

    ¡°Two of my classes had the same skill, Sword Mastery.¡± Fayde explained.

    ¡°That makes sense. How did you do it? Was it that bright light?¡± Lith asked, as if she had all the answers.

    ¡°Well, the ring did it. I don¡¯t really know how, but yeah it was during the bright light.¡±

    ¡°Huh.¡± Lith said with a chuckle, looking at the ring he had proposed with. ¡°So, I got the right ring after all.¡± He began laughing hardily. ¡°Think that ring of yours can combine mine too?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the guy that gave me to you right?¡± The ring asked.

    ¡®Yes.¡¯ Fayde answered in her head.

    ¡°Sure, I can combine his classes too. Probably your whole family¡¯s classes really.¡±

    With a bit of guidance from the ring, Fayde managed to combine the classes of all of her family members. Lith combined Punishing Pugilist, Merciful Healer, and Beastmaster into the Primal Shaman class. Unlike Fayde¡¯s class, he retained all six skills from the lack of overlap. His class had Martial Arts Mastery, Rake, Healing Touch, Cleansing Balm, Companion Pact, and Enhance. The figure on his card was drabbed in a brown leather and black-brown fur vest, cut out in pattern and roughly stitched. The right arm was bare save for a small fur wristband while the left arm had two double bands of rope on its wrist and just above the bicep. Adorning the shoulders and upper back was a dark brown fur connected at the front by a necklace of sharp canine teeth. Rough leather pants were partially covered by a fur skirt, leaving the right leg exposed while barely coming down past his left knee. The shins of the pants were reinforced with leather padding and more furs, bound by rope. Sitting on the left hip, in a simple leather sheath was a bone dagger with a leather wrapped handle. The figure was crouched in a martial arts stance, but the right hand was open as if to strike out with its nails like they were claws, whereas the left hand was held towards the chest, flat, like it were about to begin a prayer. A large black wolf stood behind the figure, posed as if to begin encircling their prey. They found it interesting that they both had companion pact skills from a class, and wondered how they would diverge. They could figure it out later.

    Trevor was next. They combined Flame Blade, Shadow Scout, and Relentless Bladesmaster into Black-Fire Swordswoman with the Fire Manipulation, Shadow Manipulation, Sword Mastery, and Endure skills. Apparently all of Trevor¡¯s class options had the Sword Master Skill, but having two different manipulation skills, especially ones of opposing concepts did seem interesting. The figure on the card was covered in light leather armor, dyed black and red. The left shoulder sported a cape that was secured to an open cropped jacket with rolled sleeves. Red cords and leather belts secured thick red tassels and another layer of black cloth that further obscured the right side of the body. This figure too bore twinned blades in its hands, but black flames were blazing along the blade.

    Enki¡¯s Far-Seeing Archer, Magi-Tech Gunner, and Flashy Daggerist classes combined to make the Range Master class with the Bow Mastery, Gun Mastery, Dagger Mastery, Archer¡¯s Eye, Amplify, and Light Manipulation skills. Without a doubt, Enki would become their ranged damage dealer, although they were curious how he would balance using both a bow and a gun. The answer became clear as they looked at the figure on his card. Drabbed in fancy padded cloths of purples and greys, held together with brown leather straps and buckles and a singular pauldron on the left shoulder was a figure with two, highly advanced, hand crossbows. The limbs were disconnected from the main body, held in place by some invisible force. One of the weapons limbs were drawn back, two thin beams pulling the limbs into a cocked position were a small mote of light sat in what would pass for the latch. Like Lith¡¯s card, there was a dagger sitting on the left hip, but this one was more in line with modern hunting knives, looking multifunctional. On the hips, holding up leather chaps that were tucked into well made leather booths, were two crossed gun shell belts, each shells seeming to emit the same light as the mote in the latch of the science fiction crossbows. Looking a bot closer at the weapons, there did seems to be a cartridge just behind the latch of each.

    Matia was next in line to ger her classes used together. She fused Frigid Stalwart, Stone Breaker, and Graviturgist into a rather curiously named Pluto¡¯s Defender class. It did have the skills of Spear Mastery, Hammer Mastery, Martial Arts Mastery, Ice Manipulation, Stone Manipulation, and Gravity Manipulation, which sparked everyone¡¯s thoughts on just what she could do in battle, and what led to her gaining these classes. No one really saw when she finished her refinement, and she and Lith hadn¡¯t talked about it before Sum showed up. Looking at the figure on Matia¡¯s card, some of the workings of the class made sense. While parts of the dark blue and brown leather under armor were exposed, the chest, shoulders, forearms, hands, thighs, shins, and feet were covered in blue-white stone armor that lets off wisps of frigid air. In the right hand was a stone spear in the same color as the armor, but a blade of ice grew from one side, making it look more like a halberd. In the left hand was a rough stone shield. Topping off the regalia of the heavily armored defender was a helmet that covered most of the head and face, only leaving the cheekbones, mouth and chin exposed. Despite how heavy the armor and weapons looked, the figured carried themselves as if they were unburdened.

    Finally, Guidry was up to have his classes combined. His Storm Caller, Sea Waker, and Serpent Monk combined to the terrifying Storm Dragon Tamer. The skills of his new class were Martial Arts Mastery, Lightning Manipulation, Water Manipulation, Companion Bond, and Enhance. The figure on Guidry¡¯s card looked like a sorcerer dressed in well-made fitted cloths and robes, standing in the rain while lightning crackled between the fingertips. The right side of the chest was covered in intricately dyed leather of blues and yellow, straps securing it in place as they wrapped around the sides to the back. The armor continued down the right arm, stopping just above the wrist. A long leather skirt split in the front, revealing blue cloth plants and leather boots. The left side of the skirt sported two flowing ribbons of electric yellow and aqua marine blue, while the right was layered in leathers of blues and yellow, held together by large silver staples. Behind the figure was a long serpent like dragon bringing to mind Chinese depictions as it seemed to be standing or riding on clouds that crackled with lightning.

    Every single one of their new cards seemed powerful and promising, and with all of their classes combined, all that was left to do was select the class. They were about to ask how they did exactly that before they felt a twinge of their mental energy flow into the cards. Much like how during refinement they could feel the energy moving as they turned their bodies into action with intent, the thought of claiming the class that card represented, making it their own, sent the intent of mental energy to the card. As the mental energy touched the card, they could feel a tangible connection form, almost as if the card superimposed the body on the front of the card into themselves. Bright light blinded their vision, and they could feel their mental and physical energies converging and forming the nine cores depicted on the back of the cards. Not that they were forming inside of their physical bodies, but that where they existed in their spiritual body were being forced open. The forming cores felt like they would exhaust them minds and bodies, but as they finished forming powered returned to them, re vitalizing them. Shortly after, they could feel impressions forming on their recently realized spiritual forms. Almost intrinsically, they knew that each point where the impressions amassed were their skills, masteries, manipulations, pacts, and the rest. All of them fit into them like an open and ready slot had been available to receive them. As the skills finished forming, the light faded. As they opened their eyes, all of theme were now dressed in the armor and clothing shown in their cards, except for Matia who¡¯s armor was part of what her skills could create. She did have on a beautiful set of blue and purple finery on, ready for the armor to be manifested on top of it.

    ¡°Wonderful! Wonderful!¡± Sum said as it clapped it¡¯s hands together, creating shutters that echoed through the void. ¡°You look ready to take on your trials.¡±

 Chapter 5: Welcome to the Tower of Tumult

    ¡°Trials?¡± Fayde asked. ¡°Wasn¡¯t the torture we just went through enough of a trial?¡±

    ¡°That was the initial purging of impurities resulting from integrating with my cultivation system.¡± Sum reminded. ¡°After integration, each world will have introductory trials to help you assimilate to the new reality you find yourselves in. Think of it like a tutorial.¡±

    ¡°Trials? As in multiple? How many trials will we have to go through?¡±

    ¡°Just this one is mandatory upon integration. More may be available if you prove yourself strong enough. Those that reach the peaks of their power are always tested. Trials are randomized as to who gets assigned to them. Some will only have those of the same class. The majority will be a mashup, however. It depends on who sponsored the trial.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean ¡®sponsor the trial¡¯?¡±

    ¡°Remember when Enki asked me if I was a god? Those creatures are the ones who designed the trials. Gods.¡±

    ¡°So, God is real.¡± Enki stated.

    ¡°Gods.¡± Sum corrected. ¡°I don¡¯t know of one called Yahweh, although I don¡¯t really pay much to the middling levels of existence. I mostly just watch the up-and-coming integrations and powerhouses. It could be possible that your God exists and just isn¡¯t relevant enough in the multiverse to gain my attention.¡±

    Enki grimaced, questioning his beliefs, but he needed to focus on what was important right now. ¡°So what trial are we going to face?¡±

    The void split, creating multiple fracturing tears that exposed them to torrential forces. As the waves of energy passed, before them were hundreds of thousands of scenes, each of them had unique . Dark caves, wide snow and windswept tundra, blistering deserts, vast green forests, plateaus, mountains, plains, every diverse region one could imagine. But those were the more normal ones. Some had scenes straight from fantasy or science fiction. Massive cathedral filled graveyards, fields full of war camps, giant mechanized or organic ships, massive technologically advanced cities, and more. As they marveled in the horror of the power Sum possessed, one tear in reality caught both Lith and Fayde¡¯s eyes. It was a lone tower sitting amidst a barren wasteland of cracked and dry earth. Despite the view that revealed much of the scenery, the tower stretched upwards endlessly into the sky. That tear drew in closer to them, pushing the rest back into the void, as if knowing it was the one they were focusing on.

    ¡°Oh?¡± Sum queried as he stepped to their side of the display, observing the screen with them. ¡°Do you like this one?¡±

    ¡°Kind of reminds me of a tarot card.¡± Said Lith.

    ¡°The Tower. It means disaster, destruction, upheaval, trauma, sudden change, and chaos.¡± Fayde confirmed. ¡°Generally, it is depicted on fire and struck by lightning, so maybe that¡¯s not what it has in store for whoever goes there.¡±

    ¡°Every trial will have its own disaster that may wreck the populace that goes to it. The Tower of Tumult is just one amongst an infinite number of potentially dangerous trails that await everyone. Although I admit I have a peculiar fondness for the trial.¡± Sum admitted.

    ¡°The Tower of Tumult.¡± Fayde repeated, toying with the words as they left her mouth.

    ¡°Why is that?¡± Lith asked.

    ¡°It hasn¡¯t been used since I made it.¡±

    ¡°I thought only Gods made the trials.¡±

    ¡°Gods mostly just sponsor the trials these days. Some of them have made their own trials, but again, that hasn¡¯t happened for quite some time. Most trials available now are just Gods taking what other Gods have made, making their own changes to the trial to have it align with their path.¡±

    ¡°I think,¡± Fayde started, ¡°the more appropriate question is why hasn¡¯t it been used?¡±

    ¡°It has been available since I integrated the first universe. At that time, and for several integrations after, the trials were chosen randomly until the first Gods were invited to sponsor trials. It was available to them then, but none seemed interested in this creation. It also lacks variant trials.¡±

    ¡°Any particular reason the Gods decided not to use it?¡±

    ¡°It was too far from their paths for editing from what I have heard them said to each other. An innumerable number of Gods and somehow all of them have decided that this trial lies outside of their path. Truly a shame.¡±

    ¡°So, with no Gods to sponsor the trial, why is it presented to us as an option.¡± Asked Lith

    ¡°Because I am still able to sponsor any number of trials myself. I just have not had the inclination to in some time.¡±

    ¡°Would you be willing to sponsor this trial for us?¡± Lith continued before turning to his family. ¡°If this is the trial we want to undertake.¡±

    Fayde¡¯s gaze followed their family. It was clear that she and Lith would be making the big decisions for the family, but they would not make any big decisions without considering the opinion of everyone.

    ¡°What do you all think? Anything else caught your eyes?¡± Fayde asked.

    ¡°The big lighted city seems kind of cool.¡± Said Guidry. ¡°But It could have aliens with weird technology, and I don¡¯t think our weapons would match up well to laser guns, except Uncle Enki¡¯s crossbows.¡±

    ¡°Most of the other trials seem to be in hostile environments. We¡¯d be more likely to die to the elements that to the beasts in most of them.¡± Trevor added.

    ¡°I¡¯d rather not get succeed into the vacuum of space or be blown to bits by one of those massive spaceships.¡± Matia chimed in.

    ¡°Looks like we¡¯re all of a mind for the tower as our best bet.¡± Said Trevor. ¡°Will you sponsor it, Sum?¡±

    Sum nodded before gesturing to the floating screen. ¡°It would be my pleasure.¡±

    Lith nodded to Fayde. She was unquestionably the leader of their family. The pillar which supported all of them. He would always back her play. Together, Lith had no doubt that they could tackle any obstacle that came their way, including the Tower of Tumult. Fayde reached out and touched the screen showing the unending tower as it reached up towards the sky. Acknowledging their consent to use the Tower of Tumult as their Integration Trial, Sum wrapped them in a bubble of stable spacial energy before expanding the reality tear and moving it over them. They passed through, and once they were gone, Sum closed all of the tears in its void. With a wave of its hand, a sheen appeared before Sum, slowly forming a window from which the family of six could be seen. Sum laid on a bed of nothing watching them. Who knows how much entertainment they could provide.

    Fayde, Lith, Trevor, Enki, Matia, and Guidry found themselves on hot barren lands. Above them, two scorching suns rained down heat. The cracked earth beneath their feet chipped occasionally from the winds, revealing new layers of water starved dirt under it. In the distance, surrounding the tower¡¯s perimeter was what looked like a dust storm, cutting off any thoughts of escape. It wasn¡¯t so close as to be any immediate danger, but it too reached ever upwards into the sky, as if they and the tower were caught in the eye of a hurricane that stretched for miles. In their world, it would be classified above category 5 based on just the eye of the storm. The only thing they could make out above them, past the tower, was the two suns, one red and one yellow, and a red orange tinted sky. It was a very harsh contrast to the void they were previously in. They hadn¡¯t noticed how comfortable it was until they had left it.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

    Before them was the shining silver Tower of Tumult. They looked up trying to peer at the top of the tower, but it continued up until the tower itself became too small to see from their perspective, reaching a vanishing point. They were only a few yards away from the massive door leading to the tower. It was silver and bore a detail-less mechanical looking face surrounded by intricate, nonuniform, and undecipherable script. The base of the tower was so wide that they couldn¡¯t make out the curve from where they stood, although the image they were shown of it clearly made it out to be a cylinder.

    As the suns reflected off the side of the tower, a singular line of text on the door began to glow. It was on the right door at roughly eye level to them. The figures of the line began to shift as the suns seemed to focus and warp the metal door. It only took a moment before the script became decipherable.

    ¡°Behold and Beware the Tower of Tumult. Enter and Forge your own Path to the Heavens.¡± Fayde read from the door as the words finished forming.

    At her speaking of the words, a loud groan released from the doors as dust fell from between the seams. Grinding and clanking of gears could be heard as the doors began to crack and open, letting out billowing waves of chilly air. The doors open enough to let them enter standing side by side, which was only a fraction of how wide the massive doors could theoretically open. If they opened all the way, a full battalion of troops could easily walk in using the same formation.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get started.¡± Fayde said as she cracked her knuckles.

    As one, the family entered the tower doors, stepping into darkness. The doors began groaning as they closed again. As they closed with an audible thudding finality, the room they stepped into was covered in darkness for only a moment before red orange light began to pulse through lines in the walls like blood in a vein. The light started at the door before moving down the hallway, acting as a guide. As they moved a few more steps in, a brazier, recessed in the hallway, came to life on either side of them. It colored the hallway from door to the next brazier in red. As they came to the next brazier, it too came to life. This continued as they walked down the hallway following the red pulses. They had been walking for what seemed like minutes before someone spoke up.

    ¡°How long is this hallway?¡± Matia asked. ¡°Is this the first challenge the tower has for us?¡±

    As if waiting for someone to speak, a voice came from the walls themselves.

    ¡°Please proceed to the Welcome Hall.¡± Came a feminine and monotone voice.

    Some members of the family jumped at the disembodied voice. Not that they were scared, but the darkness of the hallway mixed with red pulsing lights reminded some of them of some kind of horror scene. They hadn¡¯t stopped walking even as the voice disturbed their hesitant peace. It only took a few more minutes of walking before the hallway opened to darkness. The red lights of the brazier continued along the floor but stopped as the walls came to a doorway, opening into a room.

    As they entered, more braziers lit as the entire room was washed in red light. It was massive, seeming to be able to hold an entire city¡¯s worth of people, if they were forced to stand pack in like sardines. Between the braziers were red hued humanoid statues. They lined the room from their entrance to the doors on the other side. Quick estimates from Lith numbed them to a few thousand. Fayde walked over to one of the closest statues and examined it. They were thin metallic statues, having the same undetailed face as the mural on the outer door, but the rest of their bodies were immaculately detailed. Looking closer, the mechanics of the statues look like if they were to move around they could move in the same ways that a human body could. It looked like it could come to life at any moment. Were they supposed to fight an army of metal statues as a welcome to the tower?

    ¡°Engaging protocol Alpha 1.¡± The voice came again. ¡°Welcome to the Tower of Tumult.¡±

    Six of the mechanical statues closest to the family shuddered as blue light began emanating from inside of their metal torsos. Fayde took several hurried steps back towards her family. Those that had weapons unsheathed them while those that could use an offensive element or skill readied their mental and physical energies.

    ¡°Please refrain from damaging the Allum.¡± The voice came. ¡°Activating Allum 1 through 6 in ¡®companion¡¯ mode.¡±

    Faint lines of blue began to pulse through the creatures, traveling through the intricate lines along their figures. One by one, the Allum stepped out of their recess as new Allum statues rose from the floor to replace them. The family hesitantly sheathed their weapons and deactivated their skills, yet they all kept a hand on haft of swords and their muscles tight and ready as the Allum approached. One came to stand in front of each of them.

    ¡°Please take the bonding pendant.¡± Came the voice again as each of the Allum removed a small circular piece of metal from their chest. They offered the pendant to each member of the group with an open hand.

    ¡°What¡¯s a bonding pendant?¡± Asked Fayde. She didn¡¯t want to bind her or her family to anything like the ring again before knowing exactly what they were getting into.

    ¡°The bonding pendant will allow you to communicate with the Allum. The Allum will help you in the safe zones of the Tower of Tumult.¡±

    ¡°Help us how?¡±

    ¡°The Allum will establish and maintain housing, performing any required shopping or trades while you are in the tower, and will act in your place in the Arena. An Allum bond is required to progress in the tower. Please take the bonding pendant.¡±

    ¡°Are they slaves?¡± Fayde wouldn¡¯t make anyone or anything a slave.

    ¡°Allum are rudimentary constructs, built with the intent of servitude and have no sapiency outside of the bonder¡¯s will.¡±

    ¡°So, they are just smart machines with AI programing?¡± Asked Lith.

    ¡°Referencing.¡± The voice said before pausing for a moment. ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t be a problem then, right?¡± Asked Lith to Fayde.

    Fayde took a moment to think before taking the pendant from the hand of the Allum in front of her. It was supposed to be a pendant, but how was it supposed to be put around her neck without a chain of some kind? She had a necklace on already. It was an amber stone with a tree motif made from braided wire. It hung from her neck from a thick silver braided chain. She moved to unhook the chain at the clasp on the back of her neck, but as her hand that was holding the pendant moved towards the chain, the pendant slipped from her grasp.

    ¡°Shit.¡± She said as she started looking down at the floor for the pendant. ¡°Where did it go?¡±

    ¡°Fayde.¡± Lith said as he pointed at her chest.

    She looked down and found the pendant bonded to the amber stone Lith had given her. It functioned as a frame for the stone, and even melded with the brass wired in the tree motif, turning it a silver color.

    ¡°Greetings Master Fayde.¡± Came a new monotone voice. It echoed her own voice but was distinctly robotic in how it spoke. ¡°I am Allum-1. Does Master wish to change this name?¡±

    Names were a unique thing to Fayde. A name held power and meaning. She had waited for a name to come and resonate before giving one to each of her children. She wasn¡¯t quite sure about the Allum still, but as she always did, she waited for a name to come to her for this Allum.

    She watched her family all take the pendant from their Allum and fashion it to their jewelry. Lith attached his to one of his lower lobe earrings, a dulled spike hanging from a small loop that went through his ear. It turned the black dyed metal a darker shade of silver and added a blue jewel like stripe to the spike. Trevor followed similarly to Lith with her studs and the pendant appeared to bond to both the upper and lower lobe piercings. Enki added his pendant to his mechanical watch. Matia also put her pendant on a bracelet. Guidry placed his pendant to his chest, and it shrunk a bit as the pendant made its own chain to hang from his neck from. She just realized that while they now wore the clothes from their class cards, all of their jewelry from before was still on them. Which posed the question of what happened to their clothes from before. That was a distraction. The Allum wanted a name. As Fayde looked over her family, a name came to her.

    ¡°Prometheus.¡± She said.

    It was the name of a Titan from Grecko-Roman theology. A betrayer of his brethren, and then the Gods. He brought the fires of Olympus to man as a gift when he and his brother were tasked with aiding in the creation of the world. In this case, Prometheus was the gift given to them. A guide to help them climb the figurative mountain, forging a path to claim the power of Gods if they went far enough.

    ¡°Understood. Name has been changed ¡®Allum-1¡¯ to ¡®Prometheus¡¯.¡± It responded with a small bow. Upon confirming its name change, the body of Prometheus shifted its proportions. The change only took a moment and when it was done Prometheus¡¯s figure now mimicked Fayde¡¯s body. It was still made completely of metal and had no anatomical details, but it looked like Fayde if she were a blank mannequin. ¡°How may I help you Master Fayde?¡±

    Fayde waited for the rest of her family to name their Allum before continuing, and it patiently waited. Lith had named his Allum Anthropo, a contradiction. Anthropo was a Greek prefix for human. Lith¡¯s name was Greek for stone, which could contain some unrefined metal inside of it. Lith was funny like that, giving his Allum had a contradictory name like his own. The rest of the family gave their Allum more generic names. Trevor named hers Max. Enki¡¯s was named Kate. Matia named hers Maria, a single letter difference from her own name. And Guidry named his Allum ¡®Gears¡¯. After receiving a name, each of the Allum shifted their bodies to match their bonded companion.

    ¡°What should we do next Prometheus? Or what comes next?¡± She asked, giving Prometheus her full attention again. It did not seem to mind being ignored.

    ¡°Master Fayde and her companions should establish a home here on the base floor safe zone before entering the first floor¡¯s combat zone.¡± The rest of the Allum echoed an agreement with the family.

    ¡°Alright, lead the way.¡±

 Chapter 6: The Firsts

    Prometheus nodded before leading the Allum and the family across the massive room. The doors on the opposite side of the hall swung open at their approach. Beyond the doorway was a gargantuan flat of land made from segmented metal sheets. They had been wondering why the previous room looked like it could hold a city¡¯s worth of people. Now the answer was clear. This room was the size of a city. In the center, seemingly miles away, as a glowing blue whirlpool floating in the air, just above the ground. The family admired the view. It was incredibly¡­empty.

    ¡°Where are the houses?¡± Asked Lith. Anthropo was quick to answer.

    ¡°Houses will be established by the participants as they claim a lot. Participants that wish to share housing can join another willing participant¡¯s home if there is enough room for expansion.¡±

    ¡°Where would the Masters like to make their home?¡± Asked Prometheus.

    ¡°Is that swirl of blue a portal to the first combat zone?¡± Fayde interjected.

    ¡°Yes. Very astute Master Fayde.¡± Prometheus responded.

    ¡°Should we make our home close to the portal?¡± She asked her family. They all responded with nods and agreements. ¡°Prometheus, is there a faster way of getting closer to the portal, or do we have to walk all the way there?¡±

    ¡°Access to vehicles is generally restricted in First City, but for this purpose and circumstance, we are allowed access to a platform to the center of the city, if that is where you wish to establish your home.¡± Prometheus explained.

    ¡°Let¡¯s do that then.¡± Said Fayde, curious as to what ¡®platform¡¯ the Allum would call upon.

    All the Allum except Prometheus moved away for a moment and started tapping into the air. From between them, a section of the floor rose and released itself. It began levitating. A waist high wall encapsulated the platform, leaving a section open for them to walk onto the floating metal board. Small slats of floating metal created stairs. One by one the family stepped onto the platform, guided by their Allum who climbed abord shortly after. There were no seats, but protruding poles with handles on them in twelve places on the platform arranged three across and four deep, enough for the family and the Allum. The front center position had controls that reminded Lith of the pilot¡¯s stick of aircraft. Prometheus took that position, flanked by Fayde and Lith, the others taking random positions onboard at their leisure, Guidry making sure to grab a ¡®window seat¡¯ on the floating craft. The Allum instructed them to hold onto the handles. They found that while their hands contacted the handles their feet were firmly rooted to the floor of the platform. With everyone secure on the platform, Prometheus manipulated the controls, and everyone felt their hands lock into place on the handles, is if gravity would refuse to let their hands let go. The open side of the platform closed while whole thing lifted upwards before moving forward at a pace they could not have matched at a full sprint. It brought to Lith¡¯s mind VTOL aircraft in how it moved upwards then forwards, although this devise was certainly lacking the rotors or jet engines typically associated with such machines.

    ¡°Why is this place called First City?¡± Asked Fayde as they traveled closer to the blue whirlpool.

    ¡°It is named so because this is the first city participants will have access to. Second City will be accessible once an individual has conquered the tenth floor.¡±

    ¡°And each city is named in sequence?¡±

    ¡°Yes Master Fayde.¡±

    ¡°Which city will let us use these platforms again?¡±

    ¡°Third City enables Allum to use the platforms for traversal with their Masters. Fifth City allows participants to apply for personal craft. It should be noted that use of platforms is restricted to the safe zones of the Tower and will not remain with participants when they leave the tower or enter a combat floor.¡±

    ¡°Are you allowed to tell us this information?¡±

    ¡°The information is to incentivize the participants to climb higher in the tower, so yes, it is allowed.¡± Prometheus said as it began to slow the platform.

    They had already reached the center of the city. Before them was the swirling blue portal leading to the other floors of the tower. It was surrounded by silver fences, marking it as the only current semblance of civilization in the currently barren First City.

    ¡°Would the Masters Like to make their home here?¡± Prometheus asked as the platform came to a stop, still hovering in the air just above the ground.

    ¡°This should be close enough to the portal.¡± Fayde said.

    Prometheus opened the side of the platform again, unlocking their hand restraints as the Allum started tapping the air again. They had to be communicating with some kind of internal system interface with the tower. None of them could see what the Allum were typing on, but things generally started happening rather quickly when they started tapping the air. A green outline the size of a studio apartment appeared on the ground. As each of the Allum finished tapping in the air the green outline grew, doubling a first before the expansion of the lines became fractions of the previous addition. The metal floor began shifting upwards, forming a metal angled roof. The structure continued to grow from just a roof to a three-story home before coming to a hissing halt. A silvery gate similar to the one that was around the portal surrounded their home.

    ¡°Welcome to your new home.¡± The Allum said in unison as they bowed deeply.

    The family took a moment to look at each other, marveling at one another at the impressiveness of the technology present in the tower before walking through the gate to their new home. As they crossed the threshold the scenery changed. Inside of their gate it seemed to be late afternoon or early morning as the two suns sat upon the horizon. Instead of cold metal, the ground was lush and vibrant grass. Flower beds surrounded the porch of their house. The house itself was still three-stories tall and had distinct French and Spanish influences in the architecture, reminding them of homes in New Orleans, where they had all once lived before moving to Michigan. The air was comfortably humid and warm in their yard, which suited them well.

    ¡°Prometheus, how did the tower decide to make this our home?¡± Fayde asked.

    ¡°The Bond Pendants you all wear read your surface thoughts. As you thought of what home meant to you, the tower took notes of what you desired and created what you desired. You will find that the tower will regularly present things you desire and in increased effect as you ascend.¡±

    ¡°Great.¡± Said Matia. ¡°More mind reading. As if Sum¡¯s knowing our entire life history wasn¡¯t enough.¡±

    ¡°The best counter to mind reading, mind controlling, or other mind altering affects is to increase your Will or gain an appropriate skill.¡± Maria informed.

    ¡°Will?¡± Lith asked curiously. ¡°How common are mental based classes?¡±

    ¡°We are unaware of how common mental based classes are Master Lith.¡± Answered Anthropo. ¡°We have no experience in the outside and you are the first to enter the Tower of Tumult since its creation. To answer your one word question, Will is one of the nine status attributes depicted on your class card. It is the topmost circle of the head.¡±

    ¡°What are the other eight?.¡± Lith continued in his questioning.

    ¡°In descending order; Intelligence, Perception, Toughness, Endurance on the right, Vitality on the left, Dexterity, Strength, and Agility.¡± Prometheus said as it pointed to each place where the circles were located on its own body. Although Prometheus was the one making the demonstrated explanation, the voice of their own Allum came into their minds, echoing what was said.

    ¡°And how do we increase these stats?¡± Matia asked.

    ¡°Your class will automatically allocate energy into certain stats, as you call them, and you breakthrough minor thresholds. Otherwise, exercising in relevant ways, using skills and directing energy you cultivate towards those points will gradually increase them over time. It should feel like a diluted version of a minor breakthrough when enough energy has been acclimated. It should be noted that after each breakthrough in this manner will become difficult to advance the related stat.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll have to give us advise on how to do that later. Thank you.¡± Lith said with a stretch and yawn.

    ¡°It is of no concern Master Lith. We have a purpose and serve it gladly.¡±

    ¡°Shall we head inside?¡± offered Enki. ¡°I¡¯m not sure about all of you, but I am exhausted.¡±

    A growl came from Guidry¡¯s stomach. They all suddenly realized that they had not eaten dinner because of Sum¡¯s interruption of their special evening. One by one, all of their stomachs echoed in agreement. They needed to eat.

    ¡°Do you require help with preparing food Master Lith?¡± Asked Anthropo.

    ¡°Does your mind scanning allow you to predict what I need done while cooking?¡±

    ¡°Yes, and you will find that I am able to keep pace with you as well Master Lith.¡±

    ¡°Then let¡¯s get started. Tonight is a special night after all.¡±

    ¡°Congratulations on your engagement Masters Fayde and Lith.¡± The Allum said in unison again, bowing deep to the newly engaged couple.

    The interior of the house was nice. The bottom floor had a combined kitchen and dining room with an island large enough to seat the entire family. The living room was also on the bottom floor. There was no TV or game system. There were, however, seats and a coffee table with board games: chess, shogi, backgammon, go. The theme of the games was clear. They were all meant to train a mind to be more tactical and flexible. Fayde took the others to the living room and started teaching those that didn¡¯t know how to play the games the rules of each before their Allums joined her in explanation. Before long all of them were playing against their bonded Allum.

    Meanwhile, Lith and Anthropo took to the kitchen. The fridge, cabinets, and pantry were all well stocked with food stuffs, fruits, vegetables, grains, meats, dairy, herbs, and spices. Lith immediately fell in love with the Tower. True to its word, Anthropo was adept at keeping up with Lith in the kitchen as they made sweet and sour chicken katsu, chicken fried steak, roasted vegetables, and riced potatoes. When they had finished cooking, the family all joined around the island while the Allum picked up the living room, Anthropo cleaning the used cookware. They ate and talked about home, school, fond memories that they wished to hold onto. The peace that came before the system. This was their last night to enjoy life together before starting their journey to the top of the Tower of Tumult, and they would be damned if they weren¡¯t going to enjoy the night.

    In the morning, or what passed for morning in the tower, the family found themselves feeling well rested, surprising those of drinking age as they had forsaken their practice of abstaining from alcohol. Even the eldest and most susceptible to hangovers found they woke with a clear mind and unbothered stomach. One by one they made their way downstairs, the exceptions being Lith and Fayde who came down together from their shared room. To their surprise, the Allum had made them breakfast. A decent spread of toast with butter and jams, eggs, sausage, bacon, ham, and pancakes. Fayde found that a cup of coffee was waiting for her where she had sat the night before, perfectly made just the way she liked it.

    After breakfast, they let their stomachs settle before heading out to the yard to begin practicing their skills before going into the tower. They spent equal time practicing with their Mastery skills, manipulation skills, and other useable skills. Unfortunately for Fayde, Lith, and Guidry, they had no pact companions to practice with. And while Lith could practice with his Mastery and Rake skill, being the only one with an alternate attack skill, he was unable to utilize his other skills. At some point, they decided to start sparing with each other, which let Lith get used to his Mending Touch skill before they entered the combat floors. They practiced until about noon under their miniature artificial sky before breaking for lunch.

    ¡°Are the Masters ready journey to the first floor of the tower?¡± Their Allum asked when they finished eating.

    ¡°Yes.¡± Fayde said as she looked over her family. For better or worse, they were as prepared as they could be. The tower wouldn¡¯t wait on them forever to start climbing the floors, and nothing beat actual experience. They could train more during their downtime after clearing a few floors.

    ¡°We eagerly await your return.¡± The Allum said as they bowed deeply.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

    The family left their gated front yard and were once again greeted by the vast and empty city around them and the blue whirling portal. Walking to one of the many gates of the portal¡¯s pavilion, it opened as they approached. Their nerves heightened as they drew closer to the blue swirl and the air cooled as they got closer to the portal. With determination, Fayde was the first to enter the portal. It was seemingly wet and cold as she stepped into a black void of space, somehow different from the one they experienced with Sum. She was quickly joined by the rest of her family, Lith being the second to enter, followed in descending order of age. A dais raised from the floor in front of them where a semitransparent screen flickered to life.

    Welcome to the Tower of Tumult

    Last Floor Cleared: --

    Next Floor: 1

    ¡­

    The three dots at the bottom of the screen were flashing, brining to mind a loading icon for computers. It made sense at a surface level. The Tower and the Allum were robotic an all, even if they didn¡¯t understand all of the technology that made what it did possible. It did however raise a few questions in Fayde¡¯s mind.  Why did it need time to think of where to send them? Was it random or personalized? Just how many options did the tower have for the first floor, or floors in general? The three dots on the screen continued to flash for a few more seconds before revealing a new line of text and another card.

    Destination: Alabaster Fields

    Quest: Slay 100 Alabaster Wolves

    One hundred wolves? They had to kill a hundred wolves to complete the first floor? Fayde and Lith had no idea what they should be expecting, but being thrown so far into the fire that it was more of a crucible was a more than they had anticipated. Maybe they should have stayed in the yard and trained with the Allum for a few more days. The Tower didn¡¯t give them an option to decline, so Fayde grabbed the card from the dais. As she did so the void quivered and space shifted around them. Tall translucent white grass materialized around them that reached to their hips. In the distance, hills covered in the alabaster grass rose in waves.

    ¡°Everyone on alert.¡± Said Lith as he ushed the kids into positions. He knew that only Matia and Guidry were the only actual kids in the group, but Trevor and Enki were never part of the military or similar outfits like he and Fayde. They were green as grass, and so they were kids who needed a firm guiding hand if they were going to survive this. ¡°Enki, you and Guidry are in the center of the formation. Focus on taking the wolves down at range. That¡¯s your specialty. Be aware of lines of fire. Do not shoot your sisters, mother, aunt, or grandmother respectively, or me for that matter.¡± Lith put a hand on the shoulder of both Enki and Guidry. ¡°Take a breath. Take your time. You got this.¡± He said to them in a soft but serious tone. Guidry beamed at his grandfather nervously while Enki gave him a sardonic look. Before either of them could say a word in response, Lith turned around and addressed his partner and daughters. ¡°Ladies! Time to protect the menfolk. Remember that they do have physical training too, but let¡¯s not give many of the beasts a chance. Matia, Take the lead. I¡¯ll bring up the rear. The wolves should be well adapted to the habitat. Look for any movement and make the group aware of it immediately. Fayde, give us direction.¡±

    Fayde took the right side of the formation, leaving Trevor to cover the left. Fayde had to think fast. It had been years since she was in any kind of armed unit, but she found her mind calming as she looked around and considered their options. High ground would make them a target but would also make defense easier. There was a distinct lack of trees in the area, so using foliage as cover would only leave them open to attack. If they could hold their ground on a hill and avoid being flanked on their way up, they would be able to survive, hopefully.

    ¡°We¡¯re going to take that hill.¡± Fayde commanded as she pointed to the nearest one, her hand pointing with all fingers in the standard military ¡®knife hand¡¯ fashion. ¡°Matia, you¡¯re on point so take the lead.¡±

    With everyone in position and orders given, they started making their way towards the closest hill. Matia had formed her frozen stone spear, shield, and some light armor on top of her clothes. Everyone else who had weapons had them a drawn and ready, their heads already swiveling around. Weather attracted by there mere presence or by their talking, it didn¡¯t take long before something in the distance started moving.

    ¡°Movement, right!¡± Enki shouted, bringing the party to a momentary halt. With his recently practiced focus, Enki raised one of his crossbows in the direction of the movement. Kate had taught him that Archer¡¯s Eye was essential the moments before he pulled the trigger. Through the thick grass, Enki¡¯s vision focused on the movement. Rushing towards them was a waist high white wolf. Enki activated his ocular skill, which focused on the form approaching beast. He could see that the wolf had noticed their attention focusing on it, and that it would soon adjust its movement to begin circling around them. It was coming from the side where his mother stood guard, but its head was turned slightly to the rear of their formation. Was it smart enough to realize that Lith might be the weakest point without a weapon? Enki raise his other crossbow and aimed for the wolf, one for where it would be if it continued rushing directly at them, the other where it would be if it moved to circle them was he fired. Two motes of feint blue light fired off from his weapons as he pulled their triggers, both sets or arms quickly pulling back and releasing as the trigger compressed. One mote struck the ground, while the other slammed into the wolf¡¯s head, causing it to fall to the ground with a cut off yelp. Enki felt an endowment of energy enter his body.

    The Allum had told them that they would feel a rush if energy whenever they killed something. Something about the vital energy every life form had would be relinquished to whatever killed it while the rest was dispersed to the universe itself. Some circle of life bullshit he thought. The energy flowing into him felt inverted from the red wisps that left their bodies when they had undergone refinement, like it had a pure and refined quality. It felt like his very cells were greedily drinking it up, although most of the energy flowing into cores located in his head and lower abdomen. None of them were satisfied yet, and he wondered what it would take to break a threshold.

    Kate had informed him that Archer¡¯s Eye drew on his stamina while it was active and having to claim the lives of a hundred wolves, he knew that he would have to conserve his stamina. Deactivating his skill, he noticed two more movements approaching from either side of the felled beast.

    ¡°Two more, right side.¡± He said before firing off again.

    ¡°Three on the left.¡± Trevor called out.

    ¡°Guidry, focus left and help your mom at range.¡± Lith said knowing that Fayde was focused on tracking targets on her side of the formation.

    Guidry focused his mental energy into his hand and a sparking ball of lightning formed. He stretched his hand out, being careful that his mother was not within his aim and released the energy forward. Being a bit shorter than the rest, he couldn¡¯t make out the wolf¡¯s figure well through the grass, and there was a distinct lack of a yelp as dirt and gras exploded from the ground where his bolt impacted.

    ¡°Damn.¡± He said as he created another bolt in his hand.

    ¡°Take your time baby. Momma will keep you safe.¡± Trevor said as she readied her weapons.

    Howls sounded from the fields around them. There were a lot of them.

    ¡°Movement, front.¡± Matia called out as she readied her spear and shield.

    ¡°We need to get to the hill.¡± Fayde said as she took out the wolf that had gotten close enough for her to strike at with her swords. The wolves were fast, more than a typical wolf would be. They really needed to move to the high ground.

    ¡°You heard her. Stop standing around and advance on the hill.¡± Lith commanded.

    Matia moved forward as she stabbed into a wolf, leading the formation¡¯s advance. She used gravity manipulation to slow the wolf right before she thrusted forward, catching the creature off guard before it could dodge. Lith used Rake as a few wolves started circling to the rear. Semitransparent claws covered his fingertips as he swiped his hands through the air, deeply lacerating the hide of the opportunistic wolves. Motes of light and bolts of lightning were loosed and blades and spectral claws met fangs, claws, and flesh. Howls and growls continued to be let out by the alabaster wolves as they moved towards the hill. Thankfully, none of them seemed to be hurt yet, but all it took was one mistake or one lucky wolf to change that. Seconds stretched into minutes as they made their way from the flat ground to their side of the hill. A couple of the wolves were making their way around them, rushing along their line of approach to get to halt their approach while other kept them encircled. Just like that, they were trapped.

    ¡°Matia. Guidry.¡± Fayde called as her blade sliced through the neck of another wolf. ¡°Hit that line with gravity storm. We need to get up that hill.¡±

    Following their mother and grandmother¡¯s order, Guidry came to stand just behind his aunt. He brought his hands together as lightning began to completely envelop them. Matia stabbed her spear through the neck of another wolf while bashing another to the side with her shield. It yelped as it came away with frozen rocky shards stuck in its face and neck.

    ¡°Ready Gid?¡± Matia asked as she draw her spear out of the wolf corpse.

    ¡°Ready.¡± He answered with a nod.

    Matia pointed her spear towards the line of wolves that blocked their way as she channeled her mental energy into the skill for gravity manipulation. Power flowed back out and down her arm to the tip of her spear. She swung it in a wide arc, releasing her energy and intent. Around the line of wolves, small purple motes appeared in the air before they sank down. The wolves and grass caught within the affected area all bent downward. The grass flattened while the wolves struggled to remain standing. Immediately after, Guidry stepped forward and pushed his arms out. Waves of billowing lighting erupted from his hands as he pushed mental energy into his manipulation skill. Arcs of lightning coursed from his arms as he maintained the channeling, sweeping his hands from one side of the gravity restricted line to the other. When he stopped pouring energy into the skill, all that was left was charred grass and wolf corpses.

    ¡°Not bad.¡± Matia said as she continued moving up the hill.

    Guidry was about to follow her before he heard someone cry out in pain.

    ¡°Argh!¡± Trevor cried as a wolf managed to bite her ankle. She quickly retaliated, stabbing it in the throat and kicking it off her. Another wolf took advantage of the momentary lapse in their defense, rushing through the opening between and Matia. It was going right for Guidry. It pounced at him before Trevor could or Matia could swing around to stab or slash it. As it leaped through the air, Guidry could only watch as the terrifying animal came at him, only for his uncle, Enki to tackle it to the ground. Dropping one of his crossbows, Enki grabbed the dagger from his belt and stabbed it through the wolf¡¯s neck. It yelped and whined before it stopped moving. Enki quickly sheathed his dagger and grabbed his weapon off the ground.

    ¡°Thanks Uncle Enki.¡± Guidry said with a shaky voice.

    ¡°Thank me later. Keep fighting for now.¡± Enki responded before returning to face the wolves coming from around them.

    Guidry returned to his mother¡¯s side, charging and releasing another lightning bolt. He could feel his mental energy beginning to wane. Matia and his combined attack they had came up with earlier in the day was effective at dealing with large crowds, but it ate a lot of their reserves. The needed to finish climbing the hill and dealing with these wolves soon or he would be limited to his fledgling martial arts skills.

    ¡°Incoming!¡± Matia cried.

    From atop the hill, a group of wolves jumped onto them. They were larger than the ones they had been fighting until now. The first leaped straight for Matia who planted her feet and angled her shield to deflect the wolf to her right. Enki used the opportunity to fire another mote from his crossbows into its chest. A rush of energy confirmed his tenth kill and signified a change to her body as he felt some form of threshold breaking. His mind sharpened, and some of the fatigue from the fighting and wielding of his weapons and constantly activating his Archer¡¯s Eye wore off of her. It was like catching a second wind.

    However, as the other two wolves came down the hill, they completely avoided Matia as the front line of defense. Fayde and Trevor were firmly in their crosshairs. Fayde was already dealing with two wolves on her own side, just finishing cutting one down when the one from the hill pounced and bit her left shoulder. She let out a yell of pain but drew one of her swords along the belly of the beast, cutting it open deep. It fell to the ground as it released a yelp of deep pain. It tried to stand back up using just its front paws but quickly fell to blood loss. Fayde felt the seventh and eighth flows of energy be absorbed by her body as she carved the neck of another wolf open. She felt a pressure build inside of her body. It was not painful like the buildup of red from her body, but an empowering pressure, as if the anticipation of something good was just around the corner.

    Trevor was anticipating an attack from the hill. She was ready for the incoming wolf, determined not to get bit again. She thrust both of her flaming swords up into the chest of the wolf and maneuvered the momentum, so the wolf fell on top of one of its comrades. With a quickness, she removed one of the swords and stabbed into the other wolf, claiming her ninth kill. The pressure from the energy inside of her was reaching a breaking point. Just a little more and Trevor felt like she would burst. Not that she would explode, but that something inside of her would be unleashed.

    Two more wolves, larger than any that came before, jumped down from on top the hill. They were clearly experienced hunters as they had timed their jump just as Matia was distracted with the wolf that leaped at her. The two wolves jumped over her aiming for Guidry and Enki. Fayde and Trevor were busy dealing with wolves on their flanks, and Lith was busy clawing wolved to death with rake. A trail of lupine bodies was forming behind them, some still rolling down the hill. Enki and Guidry would once again have to defend themselves.

    Thankfully, they had been expecting an attack from above. Guidry, already holding a charged ball of lightning, released it at the wolf coming straight for him, exploding its head as the currents entered its hungry mouth. Enki, with only moments to react, once gain dropped one of his crossbows before grabbing his knife from his belt. He turned and let the incoming wolf bite into his right forearm, hot blood beginning to run from his body. He stabbed into the neck of the wolf as they fell to the ground. The wolf maintained its grip on Enki¡¯s arm, now trying to pull away from the knife in its neck, further mangling Enki¡¯s wound as well as its own. Enki stabbed it a few more times, both in the neck and body, as the left slowly drained from its eyes. Enki shoved the body of the wolf off of him before looking back up to the battle around him. Many of the wolves that were once encircling them were now dispersing.

    ¡°Need a hand bud?¡± Lith said as he stood above Enki, offering his stepson his left hand.

    There was a palpable energy coming from Lith¡¯s hand. Hesitant at first, Enki took Lith¡¯s hand as he was helped back to his feet. A gentle warm energy flowed into Enki¡¯s body from Lith¡¯s grasp. It meandered around for a moment before rushing to his injured right arm. Before his eyes, the deep jagged bite from the wolf healed itself leaving only freshly spelled blood and foul smelling saliva.

    ¡°Did you already take care of Mom and Trevor¡¯s wounds?¡± Enki asked.

    ¡°She worried about her babies before herself.¡± Lith responded before putting a hand on his shoulder. ¡°You sister is fine now. How are you?¡±

    ¡°Good. A bit tired, but I think I broke a threshold.¡± Enki added.

    Lith smiled. ¡°Good. I think we all did, just about. I¡¯m gonna go tend to your mom. Wolves are backing off for now. Catch your breath.¡±

    Lith walked over to where Fayde was sitting along the hill, Matia, Trevor, and Guidry already tending to her, keeping pressure on the wound. Lith squatted down, channeling his mental energy into mending touch as he put his left hand on her uninjured right shoulder. He felt her body take in the energy, mixing with her own as it moved towards her wound. Moments later, the bleeding stopped as her wounds closed. She looked up at him as the pain subsided.

    ¡°How¡¯s Enki?¡± She asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine mom.¡± Enki answered as he joined their group huddle.

    ¡°Good. That could have gone worse.¡± She said as she looked out on the white grass coved hills around them. She watched at the retreating wolves shifted the blades while they ran. The wolves were retreating. She could hear a feint but deep growling coming from the top of the hill they sat upon, but nothing was approaching them. It was strange. Why did the wolves stop once they crossed the line of wolves Matia and Guidry killed with their gravity storm? And what was waiting for them at the top of the hill?

 Chapter 7: Alabaster Wolf

    They sat on the hill, watching the wolves run between the hills. Very few of the took a path that made any approach on the surrounding mounds, but the ones that did were quickly set upon by their larger brethren before being dragged up, supposedly as food. It was a disturbing sight, seeing wolves cannibalize each other. They had prime meat on another hill, yet they did not approach. They barely moved a few feet from their den and immediately returned. What made the hills so special that the wolves refused to leave them? They couldn¡¯t see anything of particular value on top of the other hills or their own currently. Maybe when they cleared the hill they were currently sitting on they would find out, but for now, they needed to recuperate at least some of their mental and physical energy.

    ¡°Did anyone else feel soke kind of breakthrough?¡± Enki asked as they sat

    ¡°I did.¡± Said Trevor.

    ¡°Same here.¡± Said Fayde.

    ¡°I also felt it.¡± Added Matia,

    ¡°I think I¡¯m just about there.¡± Guidry mentioned shyly.

    ¡°How far off do you think you are?¡± Lith asked.

    ¡°I feel like I¡¯m right at the threshold.¡±

    ¡°Should be there once we take out the one on top of the hill.¡± Matia mentioned.

    ¡°Strange that its waiting.¡± Fayde said contemplatively. ¡°Wolf packs generally leave the female pack leader and pups in the den. The ones that came from the top were probably the other den protectors, but why isn¡¯t she attacking?¡±

    ¡°Why would the den be at the top of the hill and not near the base?¡± Trevor asked.

    ¡°Most of the wolves that attacked us didn¡¯t come from a hill. They were spaced around the hills. When they retreated, the ones that got too close to a hill were attacked by the wolves on top of the hill. They all naturally blend into the environment and so far, we haven¡¯t seen any other predators. The safest place would be in the available high spots.¡± Fayde gestured to the horizon. ¡°And so far from what I can see the hills are the only high spots.¡±

    They continued talking about the strange circumstances surrounding the hills and the wolves. After a while, the strained pressure on their minds and bodies lessened to a point they felt comfortable with trying to take the hill again.

    ¡°Everyone ready?¡± Lith asked. The family nodded before Trevor noticed something.

    ¡°You¡¯re not going to heal your arm?¡± Trevor asked as she pointed at Lith¡¯s left forearm. There were claw marks from one of the wolves who assaulted him on the back line. The blood had stained the rope bracelet on his wrist, and while it looked like the flow of blood had mostly stopped Lith had yet to mend the wound.

    ¡°It¡¯s not affecting my ability to fight, and the bleeding had stopped.¡± Lith said flexing his hand into a fish and rotating the injured arm. He winced with the pain as the coagulating blood cracked and let a small amount of blood flow.

    ¡°What was that about the bleeding having stopped?¡± Matia asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Lith said as he looked up the hill. ¡°Need to save the energy in case one of you is hurt. I¡¯m not going to let a little flesh wound like this be the reason I can¡¯t heal any of you.¡±

    They stood and nodded in understanding as they made their formation on the hill. Matia, Fayde, Lith and Trevor became the front line, all of them having a class with martial abilities, while Enki and Guidry stood behind them, planning to make their use of range to their advantage. As a family, they ascended the hill. Whatever came next, they were ready for it.

    When they first crested over the hill, they saw nothing. The growling was a constant bother on their nerves, yet they couldn¡¯t see what was making it. The only thing they could see not on top of the hill was a small cluster of alabaster rocks. It looked like a large pile of needle like stones gathered by the wolves on the hill. That was until the pile of stones started to move. The growling stopped as the mass of rock rose to the height of a draft stallion. Before them stood a massive alabaster stone covered wolf. It turned its head to the sky and let out a bellowing howl, deeper and more gravel in its tone than the furred wolves below. Similar howls began echoing from every hill in the fields around them until the air and ground were shaking from the combined vibrations from them all. As the howls died out, the Alabaster Wolf looked down on them, taking a posture ready for battle before growling and letting out a snarling bark.

    ¡°Weird flex, but ok wolfy.¡± Taunted Lith.

    ¡°Tch,¡± Matia sounded with a smirk. ¡°Leave the taunting to me, dad.¡±

    ¡°Show it what you go kiddo.¡± He said as he put a hand on her shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s get it!¡±

    Matia charged forward as she channeled her gravity manipulation to try to lock or slow the wolf down. Thankfully, once her ice armor was created, the mental energy cost to maintain it was minimal, and she was able to regain some of the energy as they rested. Trevor headed towards it¡¯s left flank, using her fire manipulation to set her swords ablaze. Fayde and Lith took the right while Fayde used her sound manipulation to damped the sounds of them rushing around. The wolf struggled against the restrictive gravity for a moment before it charged at Matia who was already holding her shield up to block. As the wolf passed the two flanking groups, Enki and Guidry released their ranged attacks. Motes of mana and blots of lightning impacted with the hard stone, sending out shards of sharp alabaster that pelted Trevor, Fayde, and Lith. Many of the small pebbles fell harmlessly to the ground while some of the larger shards lodged themselves into their armors and skin. Where the areas that had been impacted were not deep wounds, some small dots of pink now stained the otherwise white body of the wolf.

    ¡°Enki, Guidry, flank around and hit it from an open side. There spikes will wear us down. Target a single point and focus your fire.¡± Trevor called out as she removed a spoke from her leg.

    ¡°Sorry mom!¡± Guidry shouted.

    ¡°Focus baby. You got this.¡± She called back before rushing in.

    The wolf maintained its focus on Matia and its attempt to bite at her while fighting her oppressive gravity. It saw her spear as she lazily thrusted it forwards towards its head and dodged only to have its snout met with a shield. As it recoiled to the side, Matia¡¯s spear came at it again with another thrust aimed at its neck. Despite having recently experienced a breakthrough that made her feel stronger, the tip of her spear still glanced off the rocky fur, only releasing a few small chips.

    ¡°High physical defense.¡± Matia shouted to her family. ¡°I¡¯ll keep it slowed down for as long as I can.¡±

    Trevor, having the wolf shield bashed closer to her, took the opportunity to slash downward with her flame wreathed swords at the back leg closest to her. The rocks chipped and fell as he swords slid down the beast¡¯s leg, streaks of blacked rock were left in her wake. Reflexively, the wolf jumped back, away from the scorching flames, directly into Fayde and Lith. Fayde moved towards the leg Trevor had injured, continuing to hack away at the blacked marks left by her daughter while Lith took a running slide between the wolf¡¯s legs. He raised his hand and swung at the underbelly as the overlayed energy construct claws on his fingers raked through the stone fur. A small shower of pebbles fell on his before he turned his momentum into a roll that let him get from under the wolf.

    Realizing that it was beset on all sides, the wolf continued to attack Matia aiming to end her restrictive ability. Lith ran around to join Matia at the wolf¡¯s front, taking the time to jump up and swipe at the wolf¡¯s eye. Much like how their eyes would close when something came too close, the wolf¡¯s eye instinctively closed, turning what would have been a disabling strike into a futile attempt. It was however an excellent distraction. As the fangs of the wolf snapped at Lith, its neck was struck by bullet and bolt sent by Enki and Guidry, causing it to barely nip at the ends of Lith¡¯s fur half skirt. Shards of white rock sprayed the ground, finding no purchase on anything but soil. Enki and Guidry had flanked right, following a distance behind Fayde and Lith before their repositioning had given them an open side with no one for the shards of rock to impale. They had quickly decided that the best place to land their shots was the neck of the beast, and it seemed to be an effective idea as there were now signs of blood flowing from the wolf¡¯s neck. Fayde and Trevor had been dodging the half-minded scrapes in their direction from the rear paws of the wolf. The rock armor on its right hindleg was loose and about ready to split, giving them access to its all-important tendons.

    They continued to pressure the wolf, Matia thrusting with her spear while maintaining her gravity manipulation as a suppressive force on it. Lith, as insane as it seemed to some of the others, continually harassed its face with the construct claws of Rake, barely dodging the snipping bites as Matia punished the distraction with a swift bash of her shield her shield. Fayde and Trevor harassed and focus on its rear left leg, continually hacking at it with flames and metal. Eventually their efforts were rewarded with the sensation of their blades cutting into flesh and muscle. Trevor stabbed deep into the leg, pouring her flames into it while Fayde used her blood manipulation to expediate the flow of blood from the wound. In a moment, the leg went limp, and the wolf repositioned to balance itself in a three point stance. Guidry and Enki unleashed another volley of lightning and condensed mental energy landing their shots perfectly on the neck of the wolf again. While fewer shared rained down than previously, they were rewarded with a gush of blood that spread more than the rocky fur. The wolf was about to turn its attention fully towards the two ranged attackers before its body suddenly felt lighter. Matia collapsed to the ground, her mental energies now fully depleted. Her manifested ice encrusted armor was already showing signs of melting.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    The wolf, despite its wounds, was in a frenzy. It started shaking its rocky armor viciously. Shards began to shed and splinter off the Alabaster Wolf as it shook its rocky fur like armor. Guidry used his water manipulation, a skill he had somewhat neglected until now, to create a barrier of water in front of Enki and himself. Lightning crackled along its surface as he charged the water with electricity. Guidry could feel his mental energy tick away as his shield was pelted by the rocky offshoots. Fayde stepped in front of her daughter and let out a yell. Using her sound manipulation, she focused and amplified her yell, shattering the rocked that were to pelt Trevor and herself, causing them to harmlessly fall as pebbles. While the others had their own ways of dealing with the stone spikes falling way from the wolf, Matia found herself unable to even lift her shield. Lith had already stepped back to his daughter and hearing the rattling stones, looked up to see the splinters flying at them. Not wasting a moment, Lith grabbed the frozen stone shield from her hand. He nearly dropped it immediately from how cold it was, despite her mental energies no longer maintaining the freezing temperatures. He angled the shield to intercept the brunt of the shards that came raining down, doing his best to cover them both from the hail of stones.

    When the rocks had settled, the wolf stood before them. A bleeding mess of shorn flesh with rabid eyes. Those fiery eyes were still locked on the now defenseless Matia as she kneeled behind her father. Its eyes met for a moment with Lith¡¯s. His teeth were bared in a snarl and his eyes broached just as much ferocity as itself. In Lith¡¯s eyes the wolf saw what amounted to a challenge. It was wordless, as challenges between beats were, but it was definite and final. It let out a bellowing howl and with it a wave of force that pushed Fayde, Trevor, Guidry, Enki, and Matia away towards the end of the hilltop. The earth rumbled and as they recovered from the shock they looked up to see a wall of stone surrounding the wolf. Fayde, Trevor, Enki, and Guidry circled around the wall until they met each other by Matia¡¯s side. Fayde quickly gave her daughter a once over before looking around. She had expected Lith to already be here.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Lith?¡± She asked looking around at the four other members of her family.

    They looked around for a moment before Matia spoke up, her words coming out winded with exhaustion.

    ¡°He¡¯s inside the wall.¡±

    A howl and a yell could be heard on the other side of the wall. Lith was fighting the beast. By himself.

    Lith and the wolf staired each other down for a long moment. Lith was only vaguely aware that Matia was no longer behind him. He had seen his family get rebuffed by the force of the howl and found it peculiar that he was left in place. When he saw the walls of stone rise around them, he understood. This was a duel. Man verses Beast. Blood was still running down from the wolf¡¯s body from where the shed shards had ripped the flesh, but they were only minor wounds. Given time, they would heal. Lith raised his daughter¡¯s shield to cover his front, the top of the shield allowing Lith¡¯s eyes to see over it, taking in the view of the wolf¡¯s eyes and maw. He waited for a moment, letting the tension build and for the wolf to make the first move. When the wolf moved, it was quick. Shaving off the stone armor had made the beast lighter and improved its speed, more so that just having Matia¡¯s restrictive ability being alleviated. As it moved, Lith activated the construct claws of Rake on his right hand. It leaped, mostly straight. It¡¯s injured hindleg hung limply in the air while the rest of its body soared at him. Its maw was open, ready to bite down on him with all its might. Lith raised the shield to intercept the bite. The fangs bit down, crushing the ice holding the stone together. Cold chunks of frozen rock pelted him as the shield collapsed. His left eye closed one of the clunks hit his brow, ushering a gout of blood to cover his eye. Lith could feel the hot breath of the wolf on his arm as it melted the remaining ice causing cold liquid to mix with hot blood that now began to pour once more from his left arm. Lith¡¯s eyes met with the wolf¡¯s again as it looked down at him. There was no anger in its eyes, just as there was none in his. The scowl both of their faces bore was that of determination and pain. Lith kept his arm flexed as the wolf continued to bite down on his arm, the force of the bite threatening to break it. Lith kept eye contact with the wolf as his body shook slightly. His right hand was suddenly and violently drenched in blood. A small yelp escaped the mouth of the wolf. Lith had used his right hand like a knife, using the ephemeral claws to cut deep into the wolf¡¯s unarmored neck.

    The grip of teeth on his arm slowly loosened and the hot breath being expelled from the maw began to slow. With some time, the force around his arm became a weight upon it the he struggled to keep up. The wolf¡¯s dying body was heavy. He lowered his body with the wolf as its legs began to give out underneath it, letting its head come to rest on the ground. He did not remove his arm from the mouth of the wolf. Instead, he kept contact with the eyes of the wolf as it laid there dying. He watched as the last flecks of life left the eyes of the wolf. His arm felt the last exhalation of its breath. It was only then that he carefully removed his arm from its maw, prying the teeth from his flesh. He moved his hand over the eyes of the wolf and closed them. There was a certain understanding that passed between him and the wolf at the end. Its kin and family had tried to kill his own. His family had proven victorious and kill its family instead and while at first it sought vengeance, it had resolved to shed blood for blood shed. It had pride in what it was, its strength. In the end, that pride had dissolved into fear. Fear of being alone. Fear of being viciously ripped apart by the kin that came after it should it kill them. Fear of death. As Lith¡¯s hand slipped into its neck, severing vital flows of blood and scratching at its bones, it accepted its fate. It no longer feared. It would no longer worry about being alone. It would not have to worry about suffering at fangs of other wolves. It no longer felt the ominous grasp of death on the nape of its neck. Death was here. Death was looking it in the eyes. Eyes that said I will be here until the end.

    Lith was shaken from the reverie of thoughts that passed between them by the sound of clattering rock all around him. As he looked up he saw Fayde and Guidry running towards him. Enki and Trevor were slowly walking towards them, Matia held up between them as she took slow steps.

    ¡°Lith!¡± Fayde cried out. ¡°Are you okay?¡± she asked as she hugged him.

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine.¡± He said hugging her back.

    ¡°You killed it?¡± Guidry asked

    ¡°Yeah bud. Sorry for the kill steal.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, I still felt a break though just before the wall came down.¡±

    ¡°The rest of us got a fair amount of energy too, but I don¡¯t think we¡¯re even halfway to our next breakthrough.¡± Fayde mentioned.

    ¡°So, everyone that contributed got a portion of the energy, but the one who delt the final blow got the majority of the energy.¡± Lith said. He had felt a large influx of energy after the wolf drew its last breath. Not enough for another breakthrough, but he did feel fairly close to one.

    ¡°Seems so.¡± Said Fayde ¡°But at least we are all now working on our second breakthrough.¡±

    ¡°True enough.¡± Lith agreed. ¡°So, what¡¯s next?¡±

    ¡°Take a look for yourself.¡± Fayde said with an unpleasant look on her face. She held out her hand and the card with the quest appeared there.

    Kill Alabaster Wolves: 1/100

    Lith was left baffled. They had killed so many wolves climbing the hill and yet only the one on top of the hill counted towards the quest? But the card didn¡¯t end there. Several new lines were now on the card, and they left Lith feeling both excited and annoyed.

    New Quest:

    Collect 99 Alabaster Cores: 0/99

    New Quest:

    Defend the Alabaster Core as it forms:

    Time Remaining: 59 Minutes

    ¡°I¡¯m already getting tired of the system and this tower.¡± Lith said as he finally used his remaining mental energy to mend his own wounds. ¡°And of the fucking wolves.¡±

    ¡°You, Matia, and Guidry take a break. Enki, Trevor, and I can take on whatever comes up for a bit. Join in when you can.¡±

    Lith smiled. ¡°Thank you, my love.¡±

    The first wave to assail them came five minutes after the timer had begun. The pack was comprised of six wolves, none of them being an Alabaster Wolf. They died quickly. The second wave came five minutes later, again a pack of six wolves.

    ¡°Think it¡¯ll be the same in another five minutes?¡± Lith asked.

    ¡°You tell me in five minutes.¡± Fayde said as she sat down next to him. ¡°Your turn honey.¡±

    Lith stood and stretched before jabbing the air. His body felt light and strong. He put his hands on his hips in a superman pose.

    ¡°Matia. Guidry. We¡¯re up.¡± He said.

    They both stood and took a triangular formation around the top of the hill. All of them had recovered enough stamina and mana over the last ten minutes to easily take out six wolves. Like this the hour came and went. One wave of six wolves every five minutes. They switched out teams every ten minutes, just so everyone could level together as quickly as possible. During the one hour the core took to form, they watched as all the grass on and around the hill absorbed the blood spilled onto the ground. Small roots seemed to rise from the ground and dig into the wolf carcasses, draining them completely as they were covered in red roots. The whole process was rather disturbing if they were being honest, but the roots left them alone. None of them had reached the third minor breakthrough, but they were all feeling pretty close to one. A few more wolves and they would likely break another threshold.

    Quest Complete

    Defend the Alabaster Core as it forms:

    Time Remaining: 0 Minutes

    At the center of the hill, red roots sprouted from the ground. They grew rapidly before sprouting a pure white flower bud, which bloomed as quickly as it formed. Laying there in the middle of the newly bloomed flower was a small round alabaster stone. Matia walked over and picked it up.

    ¡°This is an Alabaster Core?¡±  Matia asked as she looked at it, holding it between her pointer and thumb. ¡°It¡¯s so ti¡­¡±

    The core passed through her armor and into her skin, wracking her hand in pain.

    ¡°Gah fuck! Get it out! Get it out!¡± she screamed, holding her hand by the wrist.

    ¡°Matia?¡± Fayde and Lith asked together. ¡°What¡¯s going on.¡±

    ¡°The core! It¡¯s¡­it¡¯s in my hand. Gah¡±

    Lith caught his daughter as she fell to the ground in pain. Fayde took her hand and practically ripped off her gauntlet. There was nothing there. No wound, no red mark, no blemish. She turned the hand over, examining it fully but found nothing.

    ¡°Where is it? I don¡¯t see anything.¡± Fayde said.

    The pain was excruciating, but it was lessening slightly. It felt like it was traveling through her finger and into her palm.

    ¡°It right here.¡± Matia said examining her hand, but she, too, saw nothing wrong with it, or any sign of the core. The pain was quickly subsiding as it traveled through to her wrist. Once it passed through her forearm the pain had completely subsided, leaving only a phantom soreness.

    ¡°Matia?¡± her mother called her name questioningly.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. The pain is gone.¡±

    ¡°Stop. Touching. Random. Things.¡± Each word was cut off, accentuating her words and driving them home. She should definitely stop picking up random things.

    ¡°Right. Sorry mom.¡±

    ¡°Jesus Christ kiddo. I nearly had a heart attack.¡± Lith said as he patted her shoulder. A warm sensation flowed through her body.

    ¡°What was that? Did you cast a spell?¡±

    ¡°It was Balm.¡± Lith admitted. ¡°Should purge whatever toxins or poisons that thing might have given you.¡±

    She shook her head. ¡°Can you not be so overbearing?¡±

    ¡°Can you stop picking up random things?¡±

    She blushed. ¡°Fine. Whatever.¡± She said under her breath. Her father did another examination of her hand, testing finger strength, flexibility, ensuring it still had feeling. She got a clean bill of health from her dad. She already knew she was ready to continue on their quests. The quest on the card had even updated.

    Collect 99 Alabaster Cores: 1/99

    With the core collected, they took some time to look over their gear before heading to the next hill. The grass on the hill remained red and stretched out until it was halfway to any of the other hills around it. If the hills they conquered stayed red, it would serve as a good marker for where they would have to go next. As they passed over the dividing line of red and white, they were set upon by the roaming wolves again. Lith had the family moved back into the red side and found that the wolves would not cross into the red grass. He didn¡¯t know if it was because the wolves knew their natural camouflage wouldn¡¯t work in the red grass or if the red grass would try to consume the wolves when they crossed and the wolves knew it, but for now, the red grass was a safe zone.

 Chapter 8: Everything New

    Nine hours, five hills, and three minor thresholds later, they took a break. Killing the wolves atop the hills had started becoming easier as they progressed through thresholds, but even with their increased stamina, they were running out of steam. After killing the Alabaster Wolf on top of the hills, they would have to defend it for an hour while waiting for the core to form. Once it did, it immediately flew to Matia and passed through her armor, straight into her body. Each core wracked her body in pain, but it quickly passed, with Lith casting Balm after each core absorbed, not that it had much effect, but it did ease Matia¡¯s mind to have her father care for her. Each breakthrough seemed to have required double the number of kills than the level before it, and after killing their fifth Alabaster Wolf, all of them had broken through their fourth threshold, and were surprised when their class cards appeared before them displaying several new lines.

    Fayde Howe-Rivers         Human F

    Bloodletting Siren

    Skills:

    <ol>

    <li>Sword Mastery</li>

    <li>Sound Manipulation</li>

    <li>Blood Manipulation</li>

    <li>Companion Pact</li>

    <li>Enhance</li>

    <li>Blood Curdling Shriek</li>

    </ol>

    Fayde¡¯s new skill, Blood Curdling Shriek, created a place in her throat for her mental and physical energies to feed into. While her Sound Manipulation skill relied on mostly mental energy and Blood Manipulation relied more on physical energy, she could feel the new skill was a more even split of both. It was interesting with skills. She could tell what resource pool they would draw from and how much, as well as have a basic understanding on how the skill works. With Blood Curdling Shriek, she would let out a yell while activating the skill. The mental energies would alter the pitch up to an ear ringing tone and volume while the physical energy used the sound as a carrier. As the sounds of her voice impacted and moved through some living creature with something that would be considered blood, it would slow the flow of it, acting like a coagulant. It would disrupt their ability to use physical energy directly, which would have some impact on mental energy, and would take a short while to wear off. She hadn¡¯t gotten the chance to use the skill yet but anticipated that she could also potentially blow out something¡¯s ear with the sheer volume of the skill as well.

    Lith Howe-Rivers             Human F

    Primal Shaman

    Skills:

    <ol>

    <li>Martial Arts Mastery</li>

    <li>Companion Pact</li>

    <li>Enhance</li>

    <li>Rake</li>

    <li>Mending Touch</li>

    <li>Cleansing Balm</li>

    <li>Encircle</li>

    </ol>

    Lith¡¯s new skill, Encircle, took root on the soles on both of his feet. Lith could feel the skill form with more mental energy than physical energy, much in the same way that Rake would draw from his mental energy to form the construct claws of the skill. However, he could feel that the draw of mental energy in particular could be adjusted for greater effects. As for what the skill actually did, it would create construct doppelgangers of himself, although they would be energy constructs for the most part. Compared to the semi translucent claws of Rake, the constructs of Encircle would be completely indistinguishable from Lith visually. He felt that the skill would only allow two constructs to form, and that he could switch positions between them with the expenditure of mental and physically. However, if the constructs were hit by an attack they would dissipate as the energies were disrupted. A smile crept onto his face as he realized that the skill turned him into a one man pack.

    Trevor Howe-Sharp         Human F

    Black-Fire Swordswoman

    <ol>

    <li>Sword Mastery</li>

    <li>Fire Manipulation</li>

    <li>Shadow Manipulation</li>

    <li>Endure</li>

    <li>Burning Shadows</li>

    </ol>

    Trevor¡¯s skill, Burning Shadows, formed near the base of her spine. It took in almost no physical energy as it formed, composing itself of primarily mental energy. She could feel aspects of her manipulation skills flow into it as it formed. Shadows made up the majority of its composition, with small motes of flames seeming to emerge from it before falling back inside. When the skill finished forming a small of influx of knowledge flowed into her mind. The core of the skill would cause shadows around her to catch fire. In the hilly grasslands they found themselves, causing shadows to create fires would lead to a brushfire that would quickly spread, but she knew that her skill would allow her to decide who or what the shadows affected. She assumed that the skill would focus on using the target¡¯s own shadows against them. She would have to test it out more when they encountered the next batch of wolves.

    Enki Summers    Human F

    Range Master

    <ol>

    <li>Bow Mastery</li>

    <li>Gun Mastery</li>

    <li>Dagger Mastery</li>

    <li>Light Manipulation</li>

    <li>Archer¡¯s Eye</li>

    <li>Amplify</li>

    <li>Camouflage</li>

    </ol>

    Enki¡¯s skill formed around his solar plexus. The skill, Camouflage, formed primarily out of mental energy with aspects of his light manipulation skill. It would create an effect much like that was observed in science fiction where he would become essentially invisible and what was on the other side of them from the perspective of the viewer would be seen. His Range Master class was turning out to be a stereotypical stealth archer, heavy influenced with sci-fi tropes. He wasn¡¯t upset by that fact. It was actually encouraging. He could imagine himself sitting on a high tower, building, or other vantage point, looking down the sights of his weapon, picking off enemies while they ran around trying to find cover. No one would be able to find him.

    Matia Howe-Rivers         Human F

    Pluto¡¯s Defender

    <ol>

    <li>Spear Mastery</li>

    <li>Hammer Mastery</li>

    <li>Ice Manipulation</li>

    <li>Stone Manipulation</li>

    <li>Gravity Manipulation</li>

    <li>Martial Arts Mastery</li>

    <li>Meteor Spear</li>

    <li>???</li>

    </ol>

    Matia¡¯s Meteor Spear skill formed in her right shoulder. All of her manipulation skills and energies went into the formation of the skill. It functioned much like how she currently used her skills. She would form the weapon with stone and ice, compress it with gravity until the ice covered it enough to hold in as a solid mass. The fact that skill seemed to use something she could already do was confusing until she focused on what came after. The skill required her to throw the spear up into the sky. The spear itself would be imbued with a bit of her gravity manipulation, making it completely weightless. She had no idea just how high up the spear could or would go, but at a certain point, it would flip, gravity amplifying and exerting itself on the spear causing it to reach terminal velocity immediately. She could direct where it landed as well. Thinking back to one of the strange stories her father told her, the skill reminded her of ¡°Project Thor¡± or ¡°Rod of God¡±. Even if the weapon broke on impact, the force of it would certainly be more than most could deal with, even the Alabaster Wolves.

    Guidry Howe-Sharp        Human F

    Storm Dragon Tamer

    <ol>

    <li>Martial Arts Mastery</li>

    <li>Lightning Manipulation</li>

    <li>Water Manipulation</li>

    <li>Companion Pact</li>

    <li>Enhance</li>

    <li>Storm Dragon Fist</li>

    </ol>

    Guidry¡¯s skill formed in his right forearm, taking in both of his mental and physical energies and manipulation skills. The skills itself was rather straight forward. It took advantage of his only mastery skill and forced water and lighting to take the form of a raging storm dragon that rushed forward to impact, drench, and discharge into an enemy. Guidry smiled as he raised his right fist to his face.

    Matia looked at her card with confusion.

    ¡°What does three question marks mean?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s the cores you keep eating.¡± Guidry suggested.

    ¡°I¡¯m not eating them.¡± She argued. ¡°Mother fucking stupid ass cores! I better not start growing rocks from all over the place.¡±

    ¡°Aye-yay. Language.¡± Her father scolded.

    ¡°But..¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll be fine.¡± He reassured her ¡°If you start growing rocks, we¡¯ll just pluck them like eyebrows, and I¡¯ll heal the wounds.¡±

    She stared at him with rage in her eyes. It was a really bad joke. They spent time talking about their new skills and how they could use them in combat before moving on to the next hill.

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Vincent opened his eyes to a white room wondering what the fuck was happening. He was just stocking the shelves at the retail store he was an assistant manager at, and now he was in a white fucking room. He knew the job and position was a dead end, but did it really kill him? Surely not. This couldn¡¯t be the end. He had so much to live for.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    ¡°Hello¡± said a voice coming from behind him.

    ¡°Ah Fuck!¡± he shouted, immediately turning around. The air was tinged with thing red whisps that seemed to come from his own body. Behind him stood a humanoid white void, somehow distinct from the white room around him. ¡°What are you? An angel? Am I dead? Is this heaven?¡±

    ¡°Relax human. I am not an angel, and you are not dead. This room is a holding area as you are welcomed into the multiverse. You are currently having minor impurities removed from your body. During this time, you are allowed to ask questions, although I may not be able to answer all of them.¡±

    ¡°Multiverse? That comic bull shit is real?¡±

    ¡°Yes, the multiverse is real. You, as well as the rest of the beings on your planet are being prepared to .¡±

    ¡°Why is this happening?¡±

    ¡°Your universe has grown to the point that it can withstand being integrated into the Multiverse without collapsing.¡±

    ¡°Can I travel to other universes?¡±

    ¡°Inter-universe travel is possible, yes.¡± Vincent was about to ask another question before the thing continued. ¡°Initial refinement process is complete. Please, select a class.¡±

    Three cards appeared before him. The first card showed a man with a smile waving his hand and surrounded by a crowd. Lettering above it said Mentalist. The second card showed a man in plate armor wielding a shield and sword, his helmet wreathed in a crown of light. Above the image was written Crusader. The third card showed a man laughing as he whipped a person tied to a post, blood spattering after the impact. The name of this card was Sadist. He didn¡¯t bother turning the cards over.

    ¡°Can you tell me about the classes?¡±

    ¡°The time for questions is over. Please select a class.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re fucking kidding me. I¡¯m supposed to just make a decision without any information?¡±

    ¡°The classes are fairly direct in their depiction. Please select a class.¡±

    ¡°Ugh. Fine. Whatever.¡± He said as he loved over the cards. Thinking on the mentalist card he was brought back to all the times he had to kiss some one¡¯s ass or come up with a convincing lie to get out of trouble. It was almost second nature to him now, but was that who he wanted to be moving forward into a multiverse? He looked over to the Sadist card. It exuded a desire for power and appealed to something inside of him, the thoughts her kept buried down and only posted online to anonymous forums. He could be who he truly was if he chose this card, but what would others think? Would he still be ostracized if he let these hidden desires become his outward presentation? He turned to the middle card, the Crusader. It was inspiring to look at. A brave knight wielding sword and shield, light cascading around him. It was inspirational, powerful, and positive. Something that would draw people to him as a bastion of salvation and security. He grasped the card with longing. This is who he wanted to be. He wanted people to want him. As he held the card to his chest it dispersed into motes of light that flew into his body. As he looked around at the lights and for the card, a suit of armor appeared on his body, a shield in his left hand, and a sword in his right. He immediately dropped them both as he grasped his head and chest while dropping to his knees. Both were causing him pain. He yelled in agony before the pain subsided and his mind was graced with foreign knowledge. He had two new abilities. Sword Mastery which took root in his head and Light Manipulation which took root in his chest. He laughed raggedly and he put his hands to the ground. Finally, he was a knight chosen by God to bring light to the world. He was a Crusader. He grabbed the sword and shield he had dropped, sheathing the sword in the scabbard on his right hip that came with hos new armor. Vincent stood and looked up to the nameless white void being. It had no eyes, so it was impossible to tell what it was looking at, if it were capable of looking at anything. Vincent was about to ask it another question before another parchment appeared in front of him. Two lines appeared on it, almost like someone was actively writing on it, but there was no writing instrument in sight.

    Assigning Trial

    Please Wait

    ¡°What the fuck is a trial? Did I break a rule or something?¡±

    The figure stood there in silence, not moving in the slightest, before becoming completely indistinct from the room.

    ¡°Hey!¡± Vincent cried out. ¡°Answer me! What the fuck is going on?¡±

    The writing disappeared as new writings appeared on it.

    Tial Assigned

    Destination:

    Tower of Tumult

    Vincent was about to yell into the white void again before he found himself amidst a mass of people. Looking around, all he could see was people shouting and yelling, seemingly just as confused as he was. Beyond the mass of people were two things, an incomprehensibly large silver tower and an even larger dust storm that seemed to surround them. Heat and dust pelted him through the crowd of people.

    ¡°Hey!¡± he said grabbing the white robes of a young black man next to him. ¡°What is¡­¡±

    He was about to ask what was going on before the young man shoved his hands against Vincent¡¯s chest, pushing him away and almost making himself and the people behind him fall.

    ¡°Get the fuck off me man.¡± The young man said taking a few steps back.

    Vincent let out a grunt as he ignored the pain of the impact from his chest which was surprising because he still had his plate armor on.

    ¡°Chill man. I just want to know what¡¯s going on.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to grab me to ask a question.¡± The young man responded. He had backed further away from Vincent, some of the crowd starting to impose themselves between them. ¡°And why would I have any idea what the fuck is going on?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Look, I¡¯m sorry I grabbed you. I¡­¡± Vincent started to say. He had noticed that the crowd forming between them was comprised of all melee classes like himself. Each of them had their hands resting on their weapons. At the uttering of his words, he noticed that some of their grips laxed but remained on the hilts or pommels of their weapons. What was their problem? He was just trying to get some information from someone he thought might have done something to go to a trial. Surely, they had more insight on what was going on than he did. He was innocent after all. More than innocent. He was a Crusader. He might just be here to punish those on trial. The kid probably stole and hid something in his baggy clothes at a convenience store or something.

    He went to put his hand on the hilt of his longsword. The tough and mean looking men with their unkempt hair were staring daggers at him and who knew when their violent tendencies would make them lash out. He stopped as he saw the men tighten the grips on their weapons again. None of them had drawn their weapons yet but it was only a matter of¡­

    ¡°What¡¯s going on over here?¡± Ask a gentleman from behind him. The voice sounded calm and rational but disgruntled at what he was seeing. He looked behind him and saw a tall gentleman with clean cut blonde hair and blue eyes. He seemed to be unfazed by the current situation they were all going through. Maybe he had answers.

    ¡°Just keeping the peace.¡± Answered a man from the other side. He was as tall as the man behind Vincent, but with long, dark, dreaded hair and an unkempt beard. The man¡¯s voice seemed calm, but Vincent could see a ferocity behind his eyes. He held a spear and an odd, tall ovoid shield that came to sharp points on the top and bottom.

    ¡°That your boy?¡± asked the blonde man.

    ¡°Does it matter if he is or not?¡± the dark man replied.

    ¡°I suppose it doesn¡¯t. Just make sure he stays out of trouble.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t start any trouble and there won¡¯t be any trouble.¡± The dark man was smiling now, and rather insincerely too. He was instigating the blonde man behind Vincent.

    Vincent was about to speak up before the blonde hand put a hand on his shoulder.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you come with me, son.¡±

    ¡°Umm, sure.¡± Vincent said as the blonde man led him away from the other group of people. Turning around, he noticed that there were just as many, if not more, people standing behind him. They exuded an air of superiority, in Vincent¡¯s opinion, their armor shining under the two suns of the world they now found themselves upon.

    ¡°What¡¯s your name.¡±

    ¡°Vincent, Vincent Peirce sir.¡±

    ¡°Nice to meet you, Vincent. My name is Nathaniel Jackson.¡±

    ¡°Nice to meet you too Mr. Jackson.¡±

    ¡°Oh no.¡± he said with a smile as they made their way through the crowd. ¡°You don¡¯t have to call me Mr. anything. Call me Nate.¡± Nate put his hand gently on Vincent¡¯s shoulder, which caused him to look around them. They were being followed by several of the men from Vincent¡¯s side of the divided conflict.

    ¡°Oh, alright Nate.¡±

    ¡°So, tell me, Vincent, what happened over there?¡±

    ¡°I was just trying to figure out what is going on. I was grabbing him to get his attention, and he just pushed me in the chest and started yelling.¡±

    ¡°So uncivilized.¡± Nate said, shaking his head. ¡°It¡¯s only fair that people would be confused with all of us being sent to this trial. Yet those people are so quick to revert to their primal instincts.¡±

    Vincent nodded his head in agreement. He still had so many questions, and Nate seemed to be more amenable than the group they just walked away from. ¡°Do you know what¡¯s going on here, Nate?¡±

    ¡°From the questions I got to ask before being sent here, I¡¯d say we¡¯re here to grow stronger. We must be strong enough to keep others in check and protect our way of life in this new universe.¡±

    Vincent continued to nod in understanding. Truly, he was lucky to have Nate happen upon him and that precarious situation. They were now heading towards the tower, flanked on all sides by a group of tall blonde men that escorted them. He could see a lines of hot orange metal forming on the door. He was too far away to make out what they turned into, but shortly after the orange lines disappeared, the doors opened into a wide, almost canyon like hallway. Red pulsing lights and blazing braziers lit the seemingly endless hallway.

    ¡°We will have to grow fast if we want to avoid falling into an archaic society run by those people.¡± Vincent said as he led their group into the tower.

    They spent minutes walking in silence, Nate occasionally calling one of his men over and whispering something that Vincent couldn¡¯t hear. Eventually they came to a large open room full of robots called Allum. One of them approached him and presenting him with something called a ¡®Bonding Pendant¡¯, which made the Allum his own personal servant. Finally, he had someone to do every tedious and bothersome task so he could focus on the important things. He didn¡¯t know what those important things were at the moment, but he was sure that Nate had an idea of what they should do.

    The Allum led them through the room to a large open area, big enough to build a city in. His Allum explained to him that this was called First City and was a safe zone where they could rest between their journeys through the floors. Each ten floors they cleared would allow them to move up the tower to the next city safe zone, which had new amenities for them to enjoy, like shops, training areas, and parks. Vincent made it his goal to get to the Second City as quickly as possible.

    People had been moving out through the city, some having their Allum summon a home close to the entrance while others moved closer to the portal in the center, and a house that was already constructed right next to it. They weren¡¯t the first group to pass the Allum hallway into First City, but they didn¡¯t see many other people rushing towards the center like themselves. All of the houses they had passed on their way were still rising in their construction process too. Just how had someone made it this close to the portal and finished a home for themselves before them?

 Chapter 9: The Alabaster King

    A week had passed as the family cleared one hill after another. They worked diligently for sixteen hours a day killing hundreds of wolves in each. They lost count after the first day, but Lith had kept an average tally. Each time they traveled between the hills, they fought roughly fifty Pale Wolves, as Enki had started calling them. When they got close enough to a hill to be attacked by the Den Guardian Wolves, the Pale Wolves stopped attacking. Every Hill had five Den Guardian Wolves and one Alabaster Wolf. After the Alabaster Wolf was dead and while the Alabaster Core formed, they were attacked every five minutes by a pack of six wolves, possibly trying to take the place of the six wolves that previously held the hill. In total, they killed roughly one hundred and twenty-eight wolves between each hill conquering.

    All of this had brought them to their ninth threshold as they sat on the last hill for their quest to collect ninety-nine Alabaster Cores. Something wasn¡¯t adding up. They had killed ninety-nine Alabaster Wolves, and were almost done collecting their ninety-ninth core, but they were short one Alabaster Wolf to kill. Were they supposed to find another hill to capture and kill the wolf? They had been making their way around the hills in a circular pattern, treating their first hill as the center of their conquest. As they made their way to the outer hills, they had discovered that the Alabaster Fields were actually a valley surrounded by tall, flat cliff walls. Many of the last few hills were fully surrounded by the Pale Wolves, as if they were running out of safe places to safely stay. All the wolves could do was watch as one hill after another was conquered, watching as their impending death was inflicted on the group before them.

    ¡°So, what are we supposed to do about the last wolf?¡± Asked Matia.

    ¡°Maybe we missed a hill.¡± Guidry offered.

    ¡°Not possible.¡± Said his grandmother. ¡°We started off pretty much dead center. There aren¡¯t any more Alabaster Wolves to kill that live on a hill.¡±

    ¡°Maybe some of them were brave enough to retake a hill.¡± Suggested Enki.

    ¡°Possible, but unlikely.¡± Lith said. ¡°No wolf has crossed the red for even a moment. Not even on this last hill.¡±

    ¡°So how are we supposed to complete the floor quest?¡± Trevor asked.

    ¡°Eat up and rest.¡± Lith said as he tossed each of them some dried meat and hard tac from a pouch. He was more thankful than ever for Anthropo, who had suggested bringing supplies to last them several days. They would eat three meals a day, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but found that their appetite was slowly dwindling. They also rarely felt thirsty, despite sweating from the physical exertion of combat. They definitely needed a shower when they got back to their house. Lith took a bite of the dried meat. ¡°I get the feeling something dramatic will happen after we claim this last core.¡±

    He put his hand on his daughter¡¯s shoulder and pushed the energy of Cleansing Balm. The pained look on her face subsided. At first, each core she absorbed caused a massive amount of pain before subsiding, but now the pain was constant, although not as powerful. His skill seemed to temporarily lessen the pain she was in, so he cast it on her every time his mana topped off. They were all wondering what was going on in Matia¡¯s body. She was getting paler and paler with each core she absorbed, but other than the pain, there was no sign of injury. Lith had tried using Mending Touch a few times, but when nothing changed after the first few casts, he stopped using it. This clearly wasn¡¯t a wound his skill could handle. Just a few more kills and he would be past their ninth threshold, and if his theory was correct, he would gain another skill. Hopefully his next skill would let him help his daughter more.

    They watched as the written counter on the quest card reached zero and the red roots gathered and grew the final Alabaster Core. It immediately threw itself into Matia who shuddered from the joining. Lith immediately cast Balm again. Despite collecting all 99 Alabaster Cores, nothing changed for Matia, and she gritted her teeth in pain. It slowly subsided, but only a little. The persistent pain growing only slightly worse. It reminded her of the endometriosis she suffered during her periods, but all over her body now. Fayde looked at the quest card as the writing changed for the hundredth time.

    Quest Complete:

    Gather 99 Alabaster Cores: 99/99

    New Quest:

    Slay The Alabaster King

    ¡°What is an Alabaster King?¡± Guidry asked as they all moved to stand around Fayde

    ¡°The last wolf we have to kill.¡± Fayde answered.

    ¡°Look at the plants at the edge.¡± Trevor said pointing towards the cliff walls.

    The once white, now red grass was wilting and withering, turning black as they quickly lost all semblance of vitality. The grass wasn¡¯t wilting only at their hill. Every hill along the edge of the valley was starting to turn black as the tall grass died for seemingly no reason.

    ¡°Alabaster King?¡± Lith asked looking at Fayde.

    ¡°I¡¯m not making a bet with you about it.¡± She spoke. When Lith was confident about something, he would make a twenty-dollar bet, even if it was obvious to everyone else too.

    The black grass soon passed them as the red died. It seemed that the blood the grass had collected was flowing back towards the center of the valley. Was the blood being used to summon the Alabaster King or resurrect it? Either way, they had to kill it and following the wilting grass to the center of the valley was currently their best bet to find it. They began to walk after the dying grass. Its pace was easy enough to follow at first, but as they moved further to the center they had to jog to keep up with the receding line of grass.

    By the time they were a few hills from the center they were in a full sprint, with their stamina draining from the exertion faster than their physical energy could replenish it. In the distance they could see a hill larger than any they had come across before, certainly not one they had conquered. As they drew closer, they began to notice that the hill was moving, and it soon stopped looking like a red grass covered hill. It looked like an embryo in the womb. Something, probably the Alabaster King, was growing in the writhing mass of vines and grass, drawing in the blood of all of the fallen wolves that was previously in the Alabaster Grass.

    Cresting over the last hill, they watched as the last of the grass turned black and died. All that remained was the large moving mass of blood red roots. The roots writhed as the beast inside of it moved. Soon, the roots too started to turn black, and the movement inside stopped, turfing into dull thuds against the roots.

    ¡°Weapons out.¡± Fayde commanded as she unsheathed her shashka. ¡°Prep your skills and spread out! Everyone be ready.¡±

    They all moved. Enki dashed off before disappearing as his Camouflage skill activated. Matia dropped her shield as she began manifesting spears of stone and ice before throwing them into the air. She made six in total bit only threw five of them into the sky, keeping the sixth for herself and she picked her shield back up. Fayde and Lith stayed by their daughter¡¯s side as Trevor and Guidry dashed off aways opposite of the way Enki went. They watched in eager anticipation as the thudding inside the roots slowed and then stopped. They looked at each other for a moment, a question passing between Fayde and Lith. Had the roots smothered the beast in the womb? They couldn¡¯t be that lucky.

    Suddenly, the roots shattered to pieces as a howl louder than the first howl of the combined Alabaster Wolves was let loose. Splinters of roots rained down harmless upon them as a wolf three times larger than any of the Alabaster Wolves towered above its broken rooted womb. This wolf was not covered in rocks like the ones before it. It looked more like the Pale Wolves, covered in fur.

    ¡°Well,¡± started Lith, ¡°That¡¯s definitely the Alabaster King.¡±

    ¡°Fan-fucking-tastic.¡± Fayde said with obvious sarcasm.

    The wolf turned, focusing its head sized eyes on them. The beast shook its body, flinging the blood off its fur and creating a deafening rattle. It sounded like millions of stones clattering on each other. As the wolf stopped its shaking, they realized that the loud clattering was coming from its fur. Every hair on the wolf¡¯s body was made of alabaster stone.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    ¡°Damn.¡± Said Matia. ¡°With fur like that it¡¯s no wonder it is called the Alabaster King.¡±

    ¡°Think it¡¯s slow?¡± Trevor asked.

    And then it moved. With three strides, the beast was right on top of them, its fangs bearing right for Guidry and his fist that held the power of his Storm Dragon Fist. Matia let out a taunting roar of her own as five spears descended at incredible speeds. As quick as the spears were, so was the wolf. Two of them impacted the earth, sending black sludge and debris flying. The other three landed on the wolf as it moved, sending it rolling away from Guidry and Trevor. Shards of white stone fur protruded from the ground, shedding of the impact of Matia¡¯s spears. The wolf stood, slightly dazed from the impacts. Its entire right side was shorn of its stony fur, revealing bare white skin spotted with small flecks of blood and splattering of black rotted grass.

    Guidry and Trevor stood, the force of the spears impacts on the ground sending them sprawling back a few feet. They too were slightly dazed but were quickly on the mend. Trevor readied her swords as she activated Burning Shadows. Black flames rose from the shadow of the wolf, licking at its paws. While they were on this floor, the nonexistent sun had never moved. The sky was constantly clouded in grey, but some semblance of light still managed to illuminate the world. Their shadows remained slam and faint beneath them. It was enough to keep the wolved moving frantically and ruin any coordination. But this was no normal Alabaster Wolf. This was the Alabaster King. With leaping strides it rushed at Trevor and Guidry again. Guidry raised his left hand as a wall of electrically charged water rose in front of them. He brought his right arm to his hip, taking a stance that he grandfather had been teaching him that blended well with the guidance of his Martial Arts Mastery skill. He started pouring energies into his Storm Dragon Fist skill as water and lighting condensed around his fist. Watching the wolf approach, Guidry knew that his skill would not finish charging in time. He poured more mental energy into his makeshift shield. The wolf struck Guidry¡¯s shield with its massive paw, striking Guidry¡¯s shield so much force that it immediately dispersed. The claw pierced straight through and struck Guidry, sending him flying back with gouges down his chest.

    ¡°Guidry!¡± Trevor called out to her son. She started running towards him.

    ¡°Trevor focus!¡± Her own mother called out to her. ¡°You dad is already moving. Focus on the wolf.¡±

    Trevor took a quick glance and saw three Liths moving towards Guidry with a heal spell already charged in one his hands. Matia and Fayde had already rushed over, standing next to Trevor, between them and the wolf. They would have to be the wall and keep the beast away from their family until Guidry was healed. The beast came at them and swung its mighty claw. Matia reared her shield back before swinging it at the incoming claw. Shield met stone covered paw as she bashed it away. Between her toughness and strength, Matia managed to successfully stop the attack from doing any damage to her but was pushed several feet for her effort. He body was still wracked with pain, but something else drove her to fight the wolf. Something beyond clearing the floor and protecting her family. Desire. She didn¡¯t know what for, but something inside the wolf called to her. One she killed the wolf, the last thing she needed would be given to her. The pain would stop, and she would be whole.

    Fayde poured energy into her skill as she unleashed a Blood Curdling Shiek. The wolf slowed as it recoiled, its highly attuned hearing now being assaulted by Fayde¡¯s magically amplified voice. Its body began to shake slightly as it recovered from the assault. Fayde and Trevor took the opportunity to circle around the wolf, Trevor striking out with her flame wreathed blades at its bare skinned right side. Black and red blood spurted from the wounds she made, although the tough hide of the wolf stopped her from cutting too deep. Fayde used her blood manipulation to draw more from the wounds while striking out on her own, taking breaths between sheiks all the while.

    While the wolf was distracted by the attacks of the women of the family, Lith applied a Mending Touch to Guidry¡¯s wounds directly. The claws of the beast had cut straight through the skin and muscles on Guidry¡¯s chest and cracked a few bones, causing him to cough up blood. As the healing took effect, Guidry¡¯s wound rapidly closed. He coughed up a bit more blood before gasping for air to refill his lungs.

    ¡°You ok buddy?¡± Lith asked his grandson.

    Guidry nodded as he started charging Storm Dragon Fist again.

    ¡°Don¡¯t think the shock spell isn¡¯t going to work on this guy.¡± Lith said as he pointed to a small scorch marks on the fur of the wolf where the lightning of his combination shield had discharged. ¡°Seems like the rocks are helping to insulate the electric energy. See if you can cut through it with high pressure water.¡±

    Guidry nodded again and began to stand, Lith helping him up.

    ¡°Atta boy.¡± Lith said patting Guidry on the shoulder one more time. ¡°Back to work.¡±

    Lith ran full tilt back towards the wolf. He watched as Fayde and Trevor nimbly dodged the kicks and swipes. Matia continued to harass the wolf with her spear, bashing its muzzle away with her shield, which had started to form a few cracks. Small impacts could be seen as small motes of light impacted the wolf¡¯s face like bullets. Enki was doing his best to concentrate fire or take out its eyes while obscured in the distance. From behind him, bursts of water were fired off. They were tiny water bullets, but each one managed to mimic Enki¡¯s bolts as they shaved away small sections of the wolf¡¯s stone fur. Seconds drew out as Lith approached. Even with his higher dexterity, he still felt slow as he returned to the battle.

    ¡°Matia!¡± he called out. She looked back for a moment after recovering from being pushed back again. ¡°Shield Vault.¡±

    ¡°Stop doing crazy shit dad.¡± She said turning away from him, heading back into battle.

    ¡°Gotta weaken a vital spot.¡±

    Matia rolled her eyes as she slowed her run. She lifted her shield above her head as she squatted down in a wide stance. Lith maintained his pace before jumping up onto the shield in a crouch. Simultaneously, Matia extended her body upwards using her drastically improved strength to practically throw her father up while he leaped forward. He activated Encircle, creating two doppelgangers to appear, one on either side, while the spectral claws of Rake appeared on his right hand. The wolf was currently trying to snap its jaws at Fayde who had already managed to open a few small wounds in the wolf. Small streams of blood were trickling down its leg, proof of her efforts. Lith let out a yell, drawing the wolf¡¯s attention to him selves as it whipped around its head. It hesitated for a moment before opening it¡¯s maw wide to eat the Lith in the middle. Seeing the approaching teeth, Lith activated the second feature of Encircle, switching places with the copy of himself to the right of the wolf just in time to avoid becoming dinner. The construct copy of Lith dispersed as the mouth of the wolf closed around it, causing an audible snap to be heard at its teeth clapped together. Both the real Lith and the second copy took the opportunity to swipe as the eyes of the Alabaster King as they flew by. While the second copy¡¯s attack harmlessly phased through the wolf, Lith¡¯s actual body managed to damage the wolf as his spectral claws pierced into the soft flesh of its right eye. Vitreous and aqueous humor poured from the eye followed by blood as Lith¡¯s momentum carried him past the eye, ripping the face of the wolf from the inside from the corner of its eye.

    Lith landed on his back and let out a grunt of pain as the wind left his lungs. His dexterity had improved as they made their way through minor thresholds, but he had no practical experience with the wild moves in his head. As Lith moved to get back to his feet the wolf lifted its paw over Lith to crush him with a stomp, but as the wolf¡¯s clawed foot came down Matia stepped in, delivering another bash with her shield. She repelled the foot, only having to spin away once to recover. It was clear that their continued pressure from multiple angles was working. A strike that previously sent her reeling a few feet now only caused her to spin with the momentum.

    ¡°I swear you¡¯re gonna get yourself killed if you keep being this reckless.¡± Matia said with concern on her face.

    ¡°Forge your path is what the door said.¡± Lith quoted as he got back to his feet. ¡°Besides, I have a strong daughter to watch my back. I¡¯m not dying anytime soon.¡± He pulled a few stone quills from his hand and flexed it. The alabaster fur of the wolf wasn¡¯t only hard, each strand was adorned with a sharp, needle like point. He hadn¡¯t left that devastating blow without paying for it. He could heal himself, but that could wait. He tapped his daughter on the shoulder. The slightly pained look on her face alleviated.

    ¡°Thanks. That thing is so strong I think the impacts were starting to fracture my bones.¡±

    ¡°Should be a little easier from here on out. Let¡¯s get back to work.¡±

    Matia hadn¡¯t taken her eyes off the wolf who was currently back attacking Fayde as she targeted its hind legs. Bolts of light from Enki and bullets of water from Guidry started to land on the side of the wolf causing gouts of blood to pour out with their impact. Lith and Mait joined in striking at the already heavily marred side of the wolf.

    Realizing that the mage from earlier wasn¡¯t dead, the wolf¡¯s attention turned towards Guidry again. It howled in pain and tilted its good eye towards Guidry before running off in his direction, Lith, Fayde, Matia, and Trevor on its heels. Guidry was releasing water bullets from his left hand as he charged Storm Dragon Fist in his right. One way or another, he was going to let one of at the wolf and make it count. As much as it was weakened by the battle so far, the Alabaster King still managed to dodge a few of the water bullets as it approached. The bullets that did hit managed to land on one of its forelegs, slowing it down a bit and sending more hails of stone fur flying as it ran. The wolf was faster than any of them on foot at the moment and was upon the top of Guidry before the rest could catch up. It opened its maw wide to bite at him only to have its mouth filled with highly pressurized water and a devastating amount of electricity in the shape of a Loong dragon. The body of the Alabaster King locked up as it was assaulted with unquantified amps of lightning coursed through the inside of it. Its momentum was put to a stop as the force of Guidry¡¯s skills countered its enraged rush, and as its muscles recovered from the paralyzing effects of Guidry¡¯s attack, it remained standing. It coughed and gagged, releasing bloody water from its mouth, dousing Guidry in expelled entrails and bile. Its one good eye looked at Guidry as its legs shook. A moment passed as Guidry¡¯s heart pounded in his chest. Fear like none he had ever felt before surged like lightning through his body as he staired into the eye of the Alabaster King. And then it fell causing an audible thud as it crashed to the ground. Dead.

 Chapter 10: Return to First City

    Quest Complete:

    Kill 100 Alabaster Wolves: 100/100

    Quest Complete:

    Kill the Alabaster King:

    1/1

    Rewards: 1 Free Skill, Bronze Chest x 6

    Rewards will be distributed upon return to current home city.

    Fayde and her family looked over the quest update on the card. There wasn¡¯t a mention of rewards when they looked at the quest as it updated over the last week. Was this normal or another bonus granted to them by the ring? Fayde heard a faint chuckle in her head when she thought up the question, confirming that her sentient engagement ring was still pulling on invisible strings to improve their chances. She was happy and also confused about the free skill reward, and even more excited about the bronze chests. There were six of them, one for each member of her family. Hopefully they would get some good stuff from the chest. She looked over her family. Lith, Trevor, Matia, and Guidry laid together splayed out on the black and dead grass.

    ¡°Thank the gods that¡¯s over!¡± Lith proclaimed. ¡°I¡¯m whopped.¡±

    ¡°Same.¡± Announced Trevor

    ¡°Me too.¡± Said Guidry.

    ¡°Ditto.¡± Matia agreed.

    As they were complaining about their sore bodies and depleted reserves, the body of the Alabaster King started to shift and move. Fayde redrew her swords while Enki charged another mote while the rest rushed to their feet. Hadn¡¯t they just killed this thing? Yes, they had. The quest card confirmed as much. So why was it still moving? They watched as the chest of the Alabaster King moved violently up and down. They could barely hear sloshing, popping and crunching sounds coming from its chest, like something was trying to break its way out. By now Lith and the rest of the family had gotten to their feet, not truly prepared for round two but not willing to let their family face a challenge alone.

    The crunch sound became louder as the portion of the beast¡¯s chest, closest to where the heart would be, began to heave upwards. It looked like a dull spike was being driven through its body. It sank down once more before shooting back up again, picking up the body of the fallen Alabaster King several feet before it landed back on the ground with a thud and splattering blood, viscera, and bone fragments all around them. Floating above the corpse was a baseball-sized sphere of alabaster stone. It looked like a larger version of the Alabaster Cores they were tasked with collecting earlier on the level. They had collected the last one shortly before the Alabaster King was born. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation of breaking free the core flew directly at Matia faster than any of them could react. Matia barely had time to raise her shield before it passed straight through her shield and into her body. Her body was wracked with pain, greater than any of the cores before had caused, as she screamed. Her skin felt like millions upon millions of fire ants were biting her all over.

    ¡°Matia?¡± her father said as he tried to cast balm on her. The skill fizzled in his hand, the switching places with one of his copies draining a large portion of his available mental energy, leaving him unable to use his Cleansing Balm skill. ¡°Hang on baby girl.¡±

    Fayde and Lith each held one of her hands as Matia lay on the ground yelling and writhing in agony. She had cast off her frozen stone armor when the wolf died and had barely even started manifesting it again when the body of the wolf began moving again. The parts she had managed to form again had already fallen off of her and began to melt and sink into the blackened soil. Her skin was turning white as small stones started to grow from her. At first, they feared that she was under some form of petrification from the cores, but the stones quickly fell away only to be replaced by more. Helplessly they watched as layers of stone formed and fell away from their daughter. The stones became smaller with each shedding before it began to fall away from her skin like dead flakes of dried skin. The pain on Matia¡¯s face began to lessen as the shedding slowed and eventually the pained look and screams stopped as Matia¡¯s appearance became that of an Alabaster statue, perfectly preserving her appearance.

    ¡°Matia?¡± Fayde called trying to rouse her daughter. ¡°Baby girl?¡±

    There was silence for a long moment. The air around them seemed ominous and cold. Then Matia took in a gasp of air as she used her parents¡¯ arms to help herself sit up.

    ¡°Holy fuck!¡± she yelled.

    ¡°Are you ok my baby?¡± Fayde asked as she put the back of her hand to her daughter¡¯s forehead like she was checking for a fever. Her skin wasn¡¯t cold like Fayde expected her stony appearance to be. Instead, it felt warm, like Matia¡¯s normal body temperature.

    ¡°No! Absolutely not. It left like my skin was being melted layer by layer with some kind of acid.¡±

    ¡°Come one.¡± Said Lith. ¡°Stand up and we¡¯ll do a once over.¡±

    Matia clutched her breastplate. ¡°I¡¯m not taking off my clothes in front of you dad, that¡¯s fucking weird.¡±

    Lith¡¯s face turned confused and mildly disturbed. ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to take off your clothes. You, your mother, and your sister can do that back at the house. I¡¯m going to check your mobility and acuity.¡± He stood holding onto her hand and placing the other on her elbow to help her stand up. ¡°Now come on Ms. Porcelain Doll.¡±

    ¡°Porcelain Doll? What are you talking about?¡±

    Lith looked over at Fayde, who was so pale from lack of sunlight she was practically a ghost. ¡°You¡¯re whiter than your mother now.¡±

    ¡°What?!¡± Matia looked at her previously moderately tanned hands. They were pale white and as smooth as carved stone. ¡°My tan!¡± she exclaimed. ¡°I look like a ghost!¡±

    ¡°Yes, but a beautiful ghost.¡± Lith said reassuringly. ¡°Make all the male ghosts say ¡®wooooooooh¡¯.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not funny.¡± Matia said with a glare.

    Enki wiped the smile from his face. ¡°Hey, Matia. Check the skills on your class card. Maybe your skin is an active skill.¡±

    Matia summoned her card to her hand with hope in her heart.

    Enki¡¯s assumption was correct. The three question marks that previously held a spot on her skill list now read Alabaster Skin. She could feel a slight draw on both her mana and stamina being infused into her skin originating from a place that was both inside her body and not. With focused thought, Matia cut the flow of both mental and physical energy to the skill¡¯s place on her chest. When she opened her eyes, her hands were back to their normal tan tone.

    ¡°So? What does it do aside from making you a statue?¡± Guidry asked.

    ¡°It boosts my toughness of my skin, like an exodermal armor.¡±

    ¡°Nice! Now you don¡¯t have to wase time and energy on making that ugly frozen stone armor.¡± Trevor exclaimed.

    ¡°Hey! I like my armor. It¡¯s great training for my manipulation skills.¡±If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    ¡°Well, the deactivation seemed painless and seamless.¡± Said Lith. ¡°Hopefully activating the skill again will be the same and we won¡¯t have to wait a minute while you shed stones.¡±

    Matia shivered at the recent traumatic memory. She would rather avoid that kind of pain again. The world suddenly faded to black as a parchment appeared before them. They were back in the portal¡¯s void between floors.

    Floor Complete

    Would you like to continue or return home?

    Floor 2                 First City

    The tower took its time giving them the option to progress. Perhaps it was waiting for Matia¡¯s skill to finish forming before returning to town? Fayde walked over to the parchment and put her finger to ¡®First City¡¯. The parchment had changed to say ¡®Returning to First City¡¯ as it remained in front of them.

    A moment later, a scene different from what they remembered appeared before them. Outside of the gates surrounding the portal were people and houses. The people were running around followed by Allum. Groups were standing outside of their homes talking and showing off their weapons. The variety of weapons on display was astonishing and as varied as the ethnicity of people in the area, although there were far too many Katana held by non-Asian people for Lith¡¯s liking. He wasn¡¯t the biggest fan of cultural appropriation. Before Fayde and her family could go investigate what was happening, another parchment appeared before her, thin time with a quill.

    Please Enter Group Name for Floor Ranking

    x

    Fayde took only a moment before deciding on a name for her family¡¯s group. She didn¡¯t know exactly what the Floor Ranking was for sure, but it implied that there would be a list of positions for how far one climbed the tower. As far as they knew, they were the first people to exit the portal, and this was confirmed as Fayde wrote the name of their group.

    ¡°New Floor Ranking. Group: Par Ma¡¯at has reached first position." A voice from all around them. It was the same monotone feminine voice that had instructed them with the Allum, and everyone around the portal¡¯s gate were now looking at them. Several of the groups by the homes surrounding the gate started moving towards the portal pavilion, leaving the rest to murmur in huddled masses. The groups that approached didn¡¯t enter the pavilion, but waited outside, staring at them with questioning eyes.

    ¡°Hands are off their weapons.¡± Lith noted.

    ¡°Assuming non-hostility?¡± Fayde questioned.

    ¡°Assuming they want information. No telling what they¡¯ll do for it.¡±

    ¡°Think their numbers will match up to our breakthroughs?¡± Trevor asked.

    ¡°That group? We could probably take them.¡± Fayde answered confidently. ¡°The entire city? I¡¯d rather avoid that simply on morals.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s hope our return doesn¡¯t cause a riot then.¡± Said Lith. ¡°When did they even arrive? Have more people gone through the portal yet?¡±

    ¡°They have questions, and we have questions. Might as well go exchange information.¡± Fayde answered.

    They approached the gate where the large group stood on the other side. Several people from the group looked at each other before two people stepped forward. One was a tall white man with blonde hair and blue eyes in full plate armor. The other was a man of African heritage, equally as tall with beautifully twisted locks of hair and with armor comprised of a mix of leather and metal.

    ¡°Hello there.¡± started the white man. ¡°My name is Nathaniel Jackson. If you don¡¯t mind, my group and I have a few questions for you.¡±

    ¡°We do mind actually.¡± Fayde immediately felt something off about the man. His voice a nasty shade of green that reminded her of green and envy. ¡°We just got done fighting wolves for a week straight. We¡¯re tired and in desperate need of a shower.¡±

    ¡°A week?¡± said Nathaniel, momentarily losing his composure. He collected himself, clearing his voice before continuing. ¡°You¡¯ve been in the tower for a week?¡±

    ¡°Did you not hear what she just said?¡± Lith pressed. ¡°We are tired and in need of a bath. Kindly get out of our way.¡±

    Nathaniel was still at a slight loss for words. The entire populace of the city had only been here for about half an hour but these six had been here for a week. They were a trove of information in comparison to everyone else. He had to get them to talk to him immediately before another group got their hands on them. He would have every advantage with them on his side. Looking into the man¡¯s brown eyes however, he began to second guess himself. His irises were so dark that they were indistinguishable from the pupil, yet they seemed to radiate a barely controlled rage. His tan skin spoke of many hours spent working in the sun. He couldn¡¯t know much in the way of how the tower worked. The woman next to him, however, was different. She had eyes of silvery blue and pale skin. Perhaps she would be more amenable after she cleaned the blood and grime from her.

    ¡°Are you going to move?¡±

    The woman phrased it as a question, but it came off as a demand. He quickly moved out of the way and the crowd behind him parted as well, except the other man who had stepped forward. He stood there unmoving, looking slightly down at them. Lith was tall, but this man was even taller, if only by a few inches.

    Lith motioned with his head from his family to go ahead of him to the house. He faced the man as they moved past himself and the group of people.

    ¡°Hi. Lith.¡± Lith said as he extended his hand for a shake.

    ¡°Marcell.¡± Said the man not moving his hand to shake Lith¡¯s. ¡°Your hand is bleeding.¡±

    Lith looked down at his right hand. He had completely forgotten about the small holes in his hand from the fur of the Alabaster King. He was aware of the stinging sensation his hand felt, but it wasn¡¯t too bothersome at the moment. Maybe he was too tired or was still full of adrenaline. Or maybe the pain was less than what his sciatica used to be, and this level of pain wasn¡¯t enough. He had recovered enough mental energy to use his mending skill again, but when they saw the people around the pavilion he decided that me might have to save the energy for something else. Thankfully it hadn¡¯t come to that yet. Besides, it felt less gruesome than it seemed, to him at least.

    ¡°Ah, yes sorry.¡± Lith said as he turned his open hand into a first and presented it. ¡°How about a fist bump then.¡±

    Marcell lightly tapped Lith¡¯s fist with his own. He expected Lith to wince but got no reaction. Was something wrong with this man, Lith? He had plenty of questions for the man. What type pf class would allow him shrug off having several holes in his hand?

    ¡°Does your group not have a healer?¡±

    ¡°I am. Why?¡± Lith crossed his arms, smearing some blood on the underside of his left arm.

    ¡°Why haven¡¯t you healed yourself?¡±

    ¡°Oh!¡± Lith laughed. ¡°I haven¡¯t recovered enough mental energy to use my healing skill.¡±

    Marcell motioned to one member of his party. ¡°Julius.¡±

    A young man in white robes stepped forward. His hair was short and very curly. Nathaniel recognized the boy as the one who started the conflict with the young man from his own group. What was his name? Vincent?

    ¡°Can you heal his hand?¡± Marcell asked.

    ¡°Yes Marcell¡± the young man answered.

    Julius walked up to Lith as a green light emitted from his hand. Lith raised his hand towards Julius for him to heal. As Julius hand waved over Lith¡¯s, he felt warmth flow through his body. He could feel the small holes in his hand close up, stitching together the muscles and blood vessels. Lith flexed his hand as the warmth faded.

    ¡°Thank you, Julius.¡± Lith said with a smile. ¡°What¡¯s the name of your Allum?¡± He addressed Marcell. ¡°I will send mine, Anthropo, when we are done washing and resting. We can talk at length then, before we go back into the tower.¡±

    ¡°Bas¡¯set.¡± Marcell answered. ¡°We will look forward to that meeting.¡±

    ¡°My Allum¡¯s name¡­¡± Started Nathaniel

    ¡°I don¡¯t recall asking you for your Allum¡¯s name.¡± interrupted Lith. He stared at Nathaniel for a moment, as if daring him to speak again.

    ¡°Surely it would be best to share your knowledge with as many people as possible?¡±

    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll tell Marcell here. If you want that information you can talk to him about it or wait for him to tell others and get it from them. I¡¯m not going to explain everything a million times to everyone in this city. I¡¯ve got a tower to climb.¡±

    ¡°Then we can hold a city-wide meeting¡­¡±

    ¡°Pass. Too many people and my voice isn¡¯t loud enough to make sure everyone can hear it.¡±

    ¡°But...¡±

    ¡°Will you just stop? Talk to Marcell after or just wait for someone else to get back from the portal. I¡¯m not wasting my time on you.¡± Lith turned away from Nathaniel and back to Marcell. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to you later man.¡± Lith offered his fist to Marcell again and received another fist bump from the man as one side of his lip curved into a grin. Marcell put a bit more strength into the fist bump now that Lith¡¯s hand was healed and could feel how firm his body was. Lith moved his fist over to Julius and got another fist bump from him as well. He walked away, putting his pointer and middle fingers to his outer brow before flicking them away from his head to make a peace out motion, leaving the group.

    ¡°Tremel. Dante. Make sure he gets home unharrassed.¡± Marcell ordered the two party members in heavy armor and shields. They nodded before jogging to catch up with Lith. Marcell looked over to Nathaniel with the smirk still on his face. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± He said as turned to head back to their home.

    ¡°Why you!¡± Nathaniel said as he balled his fist and crossed the distance to strike at Marcell. Before his fist could hit, two hands intercepted it. One was from Marcell¡¯s Allum, Bas¡¯set. The other was, surprisingly, from his own Allum, Draug.

    ¡°Combat is not allowed outside of the tower combat zones and Arena.¡± Both of the Allum said in unison.

    ¡°And that is why I¡¯m not wasting my time on you.¡± Lith said from afar. He had turned around, the crowd still leaving an open path between them all. Tremel and Dante were flanking him, shields between Lith and the crowd. ¡°Disappointing.¡± Lith turned around and started moving back towards his house. Bas¡¯set released its grip on Nathaniel¡¯s wrist as Marcell and his group walked away, leaving Nathaniel and his group fuming as they were abandoned by everyone else in the crowd.

 Chapter 11: Skilled

    When Lith returned to his family¡¯s home, he found everyone but Fayde relaxing in the living room, eating from a tray of snacks. They had all changed out of their armor and were now in more loose shirts and drawstring pants. They were still covered in grime and dried blood, but they were all wearing new clean clothes. Lith wondered where they came from.

    ¡°Welcome home Master Lith.¡± Said Anthropo. It was holding a bundle of black clothes. ¡°Perhaps you would like to change into something more comfortable while you wait for the bath to become available?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Thank you, Anthropo.¡± He said as he took the clothes. He walked into the living room towards the stairs but noticed six shining objects on the kitchen island. ¡°Are those the reward chests?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Master Fayde has requested that they be opened when everyone is done washing and resting.¡± It answered.

    ¡°Fair enough.¡± Lith answered as he continued upstairs.

    Several hours passed as everyone washed up one at a time, then quickly retired to their rooms for rest. The next morning, Lith and Anthropo made breakfast after moving the reward chests to the coffee table in the living room. The chests were small, able to easily be carried in the palm of the hand. It didn¡¯t make Lith excited at the prospects of what waited for them inside the bronze chests.

    Almost as an exact replaying of last week¡¯s breakfast before they went to the first floor of the tower¡¯s combat levels, the family filed down for breakfast. Lith and Anthropo had prepared breakfast sandwiches for everyone. Thick cuts of something resembling bacon with other similar vegetables like spinach, tomatoes, and avocado, plus an egg. It was essentially a breakfast BLT, and every part had its purpose. Meats to replace lost blood. Veggies and eggs help promote healthy skin, so their scars fade well. Lith¡¯s healing had done a good job keeping them together, and he felt like their bodies replenished their resources quicker and more efficiently. Still, he thought it best to ensure their bodies had the nutrients necessary for healthy functions.

    ¡°Everyone ready to open their boxes?¡± Fayde asked as they finished their meal.

    ¡°Hell yeah!¡± Guidry shouted as he raised his arms in excitement.

    Lith and Anthropo picked up the dishes before Lith joined his family around the coffee table, Anthropo staying at the sink to wash them.

    ¡°Thanks, Anthropo.¡±

    ¡°Of course, Master Lith.¡±

    ¡°So,¡± Lith said as he sat down at the chest, they all had designated as his. ¡°Everyone ready? Are we doing this all at once or taking turns?¡±

    ¡°We can go one at a time.¡± Fayde said as she looked to her grandson. ¡°Let¡¯s start with the youngest.¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± Guidry said as he opened his chest. Laying in the chest on a red bed of cloth were two small discs. One was alabaster white with a wolf motif. The other was gold with what looked like the roman numeral one on it. He picked them both up, looking them over. ¡°What the heck are these?¡±

    Gears, Guidry¡¯s Allum, moved forward. ¡°The white disc is an upgrade token. Upgrade Tokens will be rewarded upon the completion of each level. Each token bestows an attunement to your gear based upon the primary element from the floor level. Upgrade tokens have rarity ratings from common to uncommon, rare, legendary, mystic, arcane, and finally unique. This one is common.¡±

    ¡°So, this token can be used to upgrade my clothes? And what about the other one?¡± Guidry asked.

    ¡°That is correct Master Guidry. The other one is a skill token. It can be used to gain one skill. It is of common rarity, so the skill rarity will be of the same.¡±

    ¡°And how do I use them?¡±

    ¡°The Upgrade Token can be used by placing it to the desired equipment and infusing it with your mental energy. The same is done with the skill token by placing it to your class card.¡±

    ¡°I see.¡± Guidry said as he set the Upgrade Token back in the box. Holding the Skill Token in his left hand, Guidry manifested his class card into his right hand and tapped the token to the card while infusing mental energy into it. The token shattered into motes of light that condensed into three more cards. They hovered over Guidry¡¯s class card. The first card depicted a floating, multi-pupiled eye surrounded by various items. Blade, scroll, shield, armor, plants, and rocks. Each pupil was looking at one item. While the image was slightly confusing the name at the top of the card clarified its purpose. Identify. The second card showed a man holding his hand up, several objects floating above him connected by ephemeral wisps of energy. Above the floating objects was the self-explanatory name of the skill, Telekinesis. The third and final card showed a man standing over an anvil, one hand holing a heated piece of metal with tongs and the other a hammer raised high above his head. Rather obviously, this skill was called Smithing. Guidry turned the cards around and showed them to his family.

    ¡°What do you guys think I should get?¡± Guidry asked his family.

    They took a moment to look over his cards, some of them focusing more intently on specific cards than others. They were about to start a discussion about which skill Guidry should choose before a familiar voice started speaking in Fayde¡¯s head.

    ¡°Hey, do you think you¡¯ll get a skill token too?¡± the ring she had named Noesis asked in a voice that was similar but distinct from her own.

    ¡°I think so, why?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve felt kinda useless since you all got your classes. While combining them was draining, it was still fun. Combining skills should be easier and less draining and I can be useful again. I wanna see what you all can do in the tower, so boosting any skills you get is gonna make for great entertainment.¡± It answered.

    ¡°Glad we could be a form of entertainment for you.¡± Fayde though with a bit of condescension.

    ¡°Not ¡®a¡¯ form. My only form. If you guys die on one of the floors then I¡¯ll be stuck here forever and who knows if or when someone will come to the same floor as you all again. Your survival is my top priority. Don¡¯t get mad if I gain a little something in return.¡±

    ¡°Fair enough.¡± Fayde said as a small smile crept onto her lips. ¡°What do you think you can combine those three skills into?¡±

    ¡°Well, the Smithing Skill is going to remain the focus while Identify and Telekinesis act as secondary features.¡± It paused and Fayde got the sense that it was running into a problem.

    ¡°Something wrong?¡± Fayde asked.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    ¡°It¡¯s just that he doesn¡¯t have a fire attuned skill and you all currently lack a forge of any kind.¡±

    The both thought for a moment before Fayde made a suggestion.

    ¡°If one of the issues is a source of heat then Guidry already has a solution for that. He has his Electrokinesis skill which can be used for induction heating, although I¡¯m not familiar with the specifics of how that works. Can you effect the floors that we are sent to?¡±

    ¡°The floors seem to be randomly generated. Didn¡¯t Sum say something about God¡¯s not using it because it was too far from their paths?¡±

    ¡°I believe so.¡±

    ¡°So, it¡¯s an open book of unlimited potential. Assuming the sentient AI overseeing the Tower doesn¡¯t mind me tinkering with what floors you go to, I can probably generate a floor that will give Guidry something he can use with his skill.¡±

    The mention of the sentient AI overseeing the tower didn¡¯t faze Fayde. She and her family had already ¡°You¡¯re a real life cheat code, you know that right?¡±

    ¡°Nicest thing you said so far. Worth providing me with entertainment yet?¡±

    ¡°Definitely.¡± Fayde thought before offering her hand to Guidry. ¡°Baby boy, hold my hand for a moment.¡±

    The debate from Lith and Enki on what skill Guidry should take paused as Guidry took his grandmother¡¯s hand. As soon as their hands made contact the three cards turned to motes of light that began to swirl together. Two small motes of electric blue light emerged from his chest and joined the rest before a new skill card formed. On the card was a man holding his hands out towards a mechanical device, electricity flowing from his fingers as they fed into rings of metal. Holographic displays showed a sword, a shield, and a breastplate as a metal ingot floated between the metal rings. The wording above the image said Tech Forge.

    ¡°Woah!¡± Guidry exclaimed as he looked over his new card. ¡°This is awesome! Thanks Grandma!¡± He immediately infused the card with mental energy, once more turning it into motes of light that drifted into Guidry and his class card. The skill took root in his right forearm and told him all he needed to know about itself as it finished forming. He immediately picked up the upgrade token and used the identification portion of his new skill. At his will a small semitransparent blue screen appeared.

    Item: Upgrade Token

    Rarity: Common

    Theme: Alabaster Wolf

    Description: An Upgrade Token used for weapons, armor, or clothing. It can be used to attune an item with a special affinity. Affinity of this token is that of the Alabaster Wolf, and earth based affinity. Multiple tokens may be infused into an item, strengthening the item further and increasing its rarity. Caution: Mixing too many affinities can lead to a weakened and unstable item.

    ¡°Here aunty.¡± Guidry said handing the token to Matia after looking over the screen. ¡°I think you should use this.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± She asked. ¡°I probably have one of my own in my box.¡±

    ¡°They stack, so the more of the same kind you use on your gear the stronger it will get.¡± He explained. ¡°It has an earth type affinity, which should pair well with your class.¡±

    Matia smiled and gave her nephew a hug as she took the token and set it on the table next to her box. The opening of the bronze chests continued, each of them receiving an Upgrade Token and a skill token. Like with their classes and Guidry¡¯s skill cards, Fayde and Noesis combined their skill cards. Matia¡¯s new skill was named Gaze of the Winter Survivalist, combined from Identify, Foraging, and Glare skills, combined with a part of her Cryokinesis skill. Its primary function was similar to Identify, with a specialization in finding opportunities for survival as the name suggested. It also had the unique ability to act as an intimidation skill if she used it one someone she did not consider friendly. Enki was next. He combined Identify, Mana Vision, and Behavioral Analysis into Eye of Truth. It was an impressive ocular skill. It told him what something or someone was, able to bypass skills that would otherwise obscure what something actually was, as well as see the inherent energy type of an object or person. With people, or other sentient beings, he would also be able to discern their intention, given enough time to observe them. Trevor followed him up, combining Identify, Weak Spot Detection, and Warrior¡¯s Intuition into Revealing Gaze. It allowed her to analyze her target, their gear, and where she could best strike to deal the most damage. Lith was next. He combined Identify, Paralyzing Gaze, and Intimidating Glare into Predatory Eye. The effects of this skill was very much in line with the skills that went into it. Aside from the ability to identify objects, it also allowed him to inflict a target with a paralyzing fear. Last was Fayde¡¯s skill. It combined Identify, Domineering Presence, and Aura Discernment into Dominion¡¯s Eye. Fayde¡¯s skill was primarily an ocular skill, but also acted like a pseudo aura skill, able to both see through them and create one of her own, within the limit of what she could see.

    After using their skill tokens, the all decided to look at the new skill on their class cards only to discover the new addition to be joined by a second. After killing the Alabaster King, they had all felt a wave of energy inside of them as they broke the ninth threshold, however they were too caught up with the ensuing chaos around Matia and the Alabaster Cores and far too exhausted after a week of near constant fighting to pay attention to the skills as they formed within their weary bodies.

    Fayde had gained Blood Echo, which, from her understanding, operated as a movement skill. She could fall into something as small as a drop of blood and reappear in any other source of exposed blood. The key word was exposed, as she could not appear inside the body of another, within their own blood. While potentially useful, the limitation existed because one¡¯s body was under the influence of their own physical and mental energies at all times, making infiltration difficult for outside skills, at least for her at her current power. Who knew exactly what the future would hold.

    Lith¡¯s new skill leaned back into the single sourced healing aspect of his class. Tranquil Mind was a skill he could use on himself primarily, but also extend the effects to others. He had a skill that could heal the body, purge it of toxins, and now a skill to cleanse the mind. It was a trifecta, but left Lith wondering what other forms of inflictions could be imposed, if something could go deeper than body and mind to effect the soul. He was aware of his own soul after their encounter with Sum and could feel his skills as they sat inside of it, influencing him in ways he didn¡¯t fully understand yet. If one¡¯s skills could affect their own souls, who¡¯s to say that another¡¯s couldn¡¯t also. It left him in a state of deep contemplation as he looked at his class card.

    Trevor¡¯s skill was called Black-Flame Cloak. The name was clear and direct in what the skill did. It covered her body in a flowing cloak of black fire. The cloak was multipurposed, contrary to the simplicity of the name. It worked with both her Umbrakinesis and Pyrokinesis, acting as a medium for those two skills to exert more influence. She could use the cloak to obscure her and blend better into darkness while unleashing tendrils of black flames to burn unsuspecting victims. It wasn¡¯t limited to working in shadows however as also acted as an additional defensive layer.

    Blinding Flash was the skill Enki got after breaking the ninth threshold. It allowed him to create a ball of light that would explode outward, hopefully blinding anyone that got too close to his position. A flash bang without the bang. He could do this naturally, but the skill took out the guess work and automated the desired effect. He could alter the intensity for greater affect at a distance, but if someone got close enough to strike at him with their own weapons having the ability to use on the fly would be of great use.

    Matia got a surprising skill. Frozen-Stone Golem summoned exactly that. A golem made of frozen stones. It consumed a great deal of mental energy, but having a second front line tank would assuredly become a great boon to their family. She had a second, larger, but arguably less flexible Defender of Pluto. Each time they broke through a threshold, they could feel their bodies grow stronger, faster, more durable. Their minds grew sharper and worked more efficiently. More than that, their body and mind¡¯s abilities to exert the reserves of energy grew in fathoms as they progressed. Matia was thankful for that as the skills they were gaining were becoming progressively more tolling on said reserves. If she had her summoning skill before her first breakthrough she wouldn¡¯t be able to use the skill at all. Even now she knew that she would only be able to summon a single golem, leaving her with roughly a third of her reserves for her remaining skills. Pacing was going to be important moving forward.

    Guidry, sometimes first and sometimes last, had gained the skill Volt jump. It was a mobility skill, allowing him to turn his body into pure lightning momentarily as it arced from the position he was currently in, to the place he wanted to go within view. It would allow him to get into and out of combat quickly, appearing in a flash to release a devastating blow only to be gone the next fraction of a second. Slowly but surely their classes were showing their ability to form into a cohesive whole.

 Chapter 12: Restitutions

    Matia received everyone but Lith¡¯s upgrade token, as he had left the upgrade token in its box after using his skill token. With their new skills sorted the family took the day to relax and go over their plans for the next floors. The goal of the tower, and possibly the system as a whole, was to create their own path in their new world. They were the first to enter the tower. The first to enter the portal and clear a combat floor. The first on their world to break through thresholds. Depending on how the rest of the climb of the tower played out, and the ongoing events in the world outside of the tower, they might be relied upon heavily in the future.

    ¡°Anthropo.¡± called Lith once their family meeting had come to an end. The kids had either returned to their rooms to rest or gone out into the yard to practice with their Allum.

    ¡°Yes Master Lith?¡±

    ¡°Get in touch with Bas¡¯set. See if Marcell wants to come over here or if he would rather have me go to him. I should talk to him about the tower before we go for another climb.¡±

    ¡°What are you going to tell him?¡± Fayde asked.

    ¡°Just about what we experienced so far in the tower. Anything referring to our unique situation will stay out of the conversation.¡±

    ¡°You plan on giving them your token, don¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡± He said with a smile. ¡°There was a young man, Julius, I believe was his name. Marcell had him heal my hand before I came back to the house.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re taking advantage of the fact that each level will reward you with an upgrade token to sow seeds of good will with Marcell¡¯s group.¡± She pressed.

    ¡°That I am.¡±

    ¡°And if that doesn¡¯t go the way you expect?¡±

    ¡°Then I can say I at least tried and not feel too bad about it. Your ring¡±

    ¡°Noesis.¡± Fayde interjected.

    ¡°Noesis, sorry, is giving us a huge advantage over everyone. If I didn¡¯t do something to give everyone else a chance at climbing the tower, I don¡¯t think I could sleep well at night.¡±

    ¡°You have a good heart my love.¡± Fayde said as she wrapped him in a hug. She tried standing on her tip toes to reach him on a more even level, but her arched his back and came down to her as he returned her embrace. ¡°What if we fall behind?¡±

    ¡°We just have to work hard enough to make sure we don¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Sometimes being a masochist is a bad thing.¡±

    Lith laughed before he kissed the top of her head. ¡°You like it, my domineering goddess. Hey! Ow!¡±

    She had grabbed a pinch of his goatee and was pulling his face down to hers. He looked into her silver blue-green eyes which held passionate violence. They both smiled before sharing a deep, passionate kiss.

    ¡°Master Lith.¡± Anthropo chimed in, interrupting their first romantic moment since the initiation. ¡°Bas¡¯set has relayed that his Master Marcell will host you in his residence for a meeting.¡±

    ¡°Wish me luck.¡± Lith said with a wink before sharing one more kiss.

    Stepping out of the gate to their house, Lith and Anthropo were met with a perverse view. Directly in front of there house were only a few people who were quickly walking away from what was practically a mob. A line of men in full plate armor stood from the high gate of the portal pavilion to the corner of the gate surrounding their house. Lith staired in bewilderment. What the hell was going on? Determined to get an answer to that exact question, Lith approached the line of men, their backs facing him.

    ¡°What the fuck is this?¡± He demanded.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry sir.¡± One of the men started. ¡°You¡¯re safe on this side of us. We apologize for the unsightly situation. Mr. Jackson has entrusted up with keeping the peace. Please, go about your day.¡±

    The bastard didn¡¯t even turn around to address Lith. He just stood there, shield in hand and shoulder to shoulder with the men next to him, talking all the while like he was some kind of authority figure. It was pissing Lith off. Then Lith noticed something that made his blood boil. All of the people in the would be mob were people of color. Black people, Asians, Latinos, Indigenous Americans, and Pacific Islanders. Everyone forming the wall was white, or primarily white looking. Looking back at all the people behind him, who had made it past the cordon of would be police, confirmed his suspicions. Everyone on his side of the wall of people were white. Lith was about to activate Rake and tear the wall of men apart limb from limb before Anthropo grabbed his wrist.

    ¡°Fighting is not allowed here Master Lith.¡± Anthropo told him through their mental connection.

    ¡°This is outrageous!¡± Lith said as he wrenched his hand free of his Allum¡¯s grasp.

    ¡°Again, I apologize sir. Hopefully the crowd will disperse soon.¡± The man said, trying to reassure him while misunderstanding what Lith meant. Anthropo added no comment.

    ¡°I need to get through.¡± Lith said as he tried to stare a hole in the back of the man¡¯s head.

    ¡°If you need to access the portal please use the gate in the other direction.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Lith said drawing out the word with clear annoyance. ¡°I need to get to that side of the city.¡±

    This made the man turn and look at him for the first time, confusion on his face. Then his eyes widened as he took in Lith. His face soured and became cold.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure how you got on this side, but if you need access to the other side of the city you need to go though the portal pavilion. We¡¯re here to keep these people out of our side of the city. Breaking the wall to let anyone through will be more of a problem than it¡¯s worth.¡±

    Lith was about to argue with the shameless racist before turning around and walking to the closest gate of the portal pavilion. Not a minute later, while on his way another man intercepted him.

    ¡°Excuse me,¡± the skinny man in purple robes and glasses started as he stopped in front of Lith. ¡°Are you Lith of Par Ma¡¯at?¡±

    Lith paid the man no mind as he walked around him, eager to get away from anyone who was ignoring, being passive towards, or encouraging the injustice that was happening behind him. The man quickly chased after Lith.

    ¡°My name is Jeffery Johnson. I represent Mr. Jackson.¡± The man continued.

    Lith couldn¡¯t tell if the man was expecting the name Mr. Jackson to make him pause from his prominence or set him off but he continued walking, acting as if he hadn¡¯t heard the man. Of the two options, the name definitely was starting to set Lith off.

    ¡°Mr. Jackson has instructed several of his assistants that if we were to see you, or a member of your family, that we were to extend you an invitation to a meeting with him about opportunities involving our new reality.¡±

    Greed. Lith thought as he mulled over what he had saw with what this man had said. Opportunities for him but not for the mass of people on the other side of his would be police wall. Jackson wanted to take advantage of what Lith and his family had learned in the tower to benefit his own men. He and his family would be a tool to build Jackson¡¯s machine before being tossed aside when they no longer became useful. That¡¯s how things would have worked in the old world. Why couldn¡¯t Jackson continue that now into this new one? Because Lith wouldn¡¯t have it. He¡¯d follow Jackson into a combat floor and rip him to shreds before that could happen.

    ¡°Not interested.¡± Lith answered as he continued walking towards the gate.

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± The man continued. ¡°I think you should reconsider. Mr. Jackson is in the process of establishing.¡±

    ¡°I said I¡¯m not interested.¡± Lith said as he turned to look the man in the eyes. He activated his new Predatory Eye skill, channeling all of his anger, frustration, and hatred into it. The sensation of boiling blood and racing heart surging into a pinpoint focus behind his iris before leaving his being. Not even a second had passed before his eyes were covered by cold metallic hands. Regret immediately filled his heart as he deactivated his skill. He didn¡¯t move away from Anthropo¡¯s grasp this time. He staired into the darkness and the words that floated there. Black bordered by a blood red.

    Jeffery Johnson           Human F

    Combat Composer

    A musician. Suddenly the odd note and symbol bespeckled design of the man¡¯s clothes made a bit more sense. Jeffery was someone who enjoyed a spirit of freedom and expression, capable of writing and performing arts that spoke to people¡¯s souls. Music was of the first freedoms that were taken away in the wake of any authoritarian regime, which Jackson so far had proven very much to be like. Hopefully, Jeffery would not stay in line with the group long. Lith¡¯s mood had turned as Anthropo¡¯s hand moved from his eyes. The young man was no longer standing is front of him. Lith adjusted his eyes downward. The man cowered before him, hand clutching his chest and tears in his eyes.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± They both said in a whisper as Lith walked away. Jeffery¡¯s voice was quivering while Lith¡¯s was remorseful, but both men were sincere in their apology.

    A while later they came to a gate leading to a series of apartment building. Getting there Lith had waded through densely packed streets, more so than in any busy city he had been in. It reminded him of when he would walk down the bar riddled Bourbon Street near the heart of New Orleans during Mardi Gras, simply because of the sheer volume of people. Just how many had been sent to this trial with them?

    Calling the buildings they stood in front of apartment buildings was probably an insult as it was really several two story quadruplexes arranged around a large central building. The interior of the complex was filled somewhat less by comparison to the streets outside, although it was still a very busy place. Roughly three dozen people sparing with their Allum in large sandboxes. Everyone seemed to have different weapons, clubs, swords, polearms, daggers, and staffs from a variety of origins. It wasn¡¯t just men either, women were working just as hard at training with their tools of war. Still more people were walking to and from the central building, which was set up as a multi storied office building from the looks of it. Lith looked on in awe of the bustle as he approached the entrance of the complex where an older man wielding a clubbed staff stood with his Allum, almost as if they were on guard duty. Lith stopped in front of the man as he extended a hand.

    ¡°Hi.¡± Lith said.

    ¡°Can I help you with something?¡± the man asked, his hands not moving from their position on his weapon and hip.

    Lith scratched the top of his head since it was clear his hand wasn¡¯t going to be shaken. ¡°I was told this is where Marcell stays. Is he available?¡±

    ¡°Marcell is a busy man. Why would he divide his attention to give some to you?¡± Lith noticed that the man put emphasis on the word ¡®you¡¯ but understood that their collective first day in the tower had already seen the resurgence of animosity that came from their previous world.

    ¡°I promised I¡¯d give him some information about the tower once my family and I were done showering and resting.¡± Lith said with a smile that, he hoped, came off as sincere.

    ¡°And how would you know more about the tower?¡±

    ¡°My family and I spent a week on the first combat floor before everyone else arrived.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re part of that crew?¡± The man asked as he looked over Lith again.

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m part of Par Ma¡¯at.¡±

    ¡°What do you know about Par Ma¡¯at?¡± he asked, raising his brow.

    ¡°What, like my family or the meaning of Par Ma¡¯at?¡± The man didn¡¯t answer, just looking questioningly at Lith waiting for an answer. ¡°There¡¯s my partner, Fayde, my stepson, Enki, my stepdaughter, Trevor, my daughter, Matia, and my grandson, Guidry.¡± The man was still looking at Lith with a questioning glance. Maybe the man was quizzing Lith on what Par Ma¡¯at meant. ¡°Par Ma¡¯at means House of Ma¡¯at. It is from Khemet, which was what Egypt was called during the time of the Pharos.¡±

    ¡°Good to know you acknowledge culture. Don''t tell me who you are though.¡±

    ¡°Oh! I¡¯m Lith.¡± He said with a chuckle, realizing he forgot to introduce himself.

    ¡°Mhmm.¡± The man grunted, seemingly displeased.

    Lith stood there with the man for a moment in silence. He was waiting for the man to invite him in, knowing the rules of their houses made invading someone¡¯s abode uninvited impossible. Trying to force his way through would result in him running face first into an invisible wall of force. The man knew why Lith was there now, and who he was. Should he ask to enter? Thankfully the silence was broken by a call from a familiar face.

    ¡°Antoine! Stop giving him a hard time. Marcell has a meeting with him.¡± The voice came from Julius who was walking out of a house at the center of the compound.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    Julius was still wearing white robes from when they had first met at the portal pavilion. Lith, now in more relaxed and comfortable cloth pants and shirt, stood out compared to the mostly armored crowd. A notable amount of sweat could be seen on his face and darkening his robes. Had Julius worked up a sweat by running around or had he participated in practicing with his Allum? There weren¡¯t any noticeable bruises, scratches, or residual sand on him. Out of the corner of his eye, Lith saw the older man, Antoine, move. He had motioned his head for Lith to move on through the gate, his eyes never leaving Lith as he entered the compound.

    ¡°Remember to respect where things come from.¡± Antoine said as Lith passed through the gates.

    ¡°Yes sir, Mr. Antoine. Always will.¡± Lith said with a knowing nod.

    ¡°What was that about?¡± Julius asked as he and Lith met inside the compound.

    ¡°He seems to take his position as guard seriously.¡± Lith answered as Julius led them towards the building he had just exited. ¡°Just making sure I was the person Marcell was supposed to have a meeting with.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, Antoine has been standing at the gate since he talked with Marcell a few hours ago. Dante is going to relieve him in a bit.¡±

    ¡°Dante is one of the guys who escorted me back to my home, right? Him and¡± He paused for a moment as his mind fetched the name. ¡°Tremel.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. Did you speak with them on the way?¡±

    ¡°No, I heard Marcell call for them as I walked away.¡±

    ¡°You heard that? He didn¡¯t speak that loudly. You should have been out of ear shot by then.¡± Julius said as his hands moved to a contemplative pose on his chin as they walked.

    ¡°You haven¡¯t noticed any changes since the beginning of this, have you?¡±

    ¡°Yeah! I used to be two hundred and sixty pounds.¡± Julius admitted as he patted his stomach. Clearly the young man¡¯s thin and somewhat lanky body was not that of a man that weighed two hundred and sixty pounds. ¡°But the extra weight left me as some weird red mist when I was in the white room.¡± It took Julius saying that to realize that he had not soon a single overweight person since they came back through the portal. Even the older man Antoine at the gate lacked the telltale belly of age. ¡°Didn''t something similar happen to you and your family?¡±

    ¡°It did.¡± Lith admitted with a slight smile. Julius had just given him valuable information. If he was to make it seem like he and his family had gone through the integration like everyone else, he needed to know what they all had experienced. Was it bad to lie, especially to a potential ally? Without a doubt, it was. And it weighed on his conscience. So, he would make reparations, giving back what he earned to those who did not get their unique advantage, even if that meant giving up on his own progression. ¡°I had sciatica before all of this. Love handles and a gut too. The same red mist seemed to have rid my body of the damage causing me debilitating pain.¡± Lith elbowed Julius on the arm lightly. ¡°And I shaved off a few unwanted pounds as well.¡± He said with a laugh, tapping his own stomach.

    Julius smiled. ¡°We should save this conversation for Marcell. Little point in saying everything twice.¡± Julius said as he opened the door into the central building.

    As they walked inside, Lith took note of people the holding each other, some crying and others conversing. Most were adults and their children, with others of adult ages running around with their Allum bringing small plates of food and glasses of water. Other people with clipboards and writing instruments were talking to groups of families. From what Lith could overhear, they were talking about living arrangements and doing their best to keep people calm in spite of being inside of a trial. Hours had passed and yet some people still didn¡¯t have a place to call home.

    With so much space, you would think finding a place to build a home would be easy. Then Lith remembered the wall of white men at the corner of his house and rage rekindle and swell in his heart once more. Racism was alive and well, and he hated it. Lith just wanted to punch ignorant assholes like that wall of men in their faces. People like them and their leaders, like Jackson.

    ¡°Lith?¡± Julias said as he put a hand on Lith¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You alright man?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, sorry.¡± Lith said, putting on a sorrowful smile. ¡°Just seeing the effects of what is happening to all these people here¡­¡± He trailed off a moment. ¡°Let me know what I can do to help when we are done with the meeting.¡±

    ¡°Marcell actually wanted to talk to you about that, I think.¡± Julius said as he guided them to a room on the second floor.

    ¡°Marcell.¡± Julius said as he knocked on the double door to the room. ¡°Lith is here.¡±

    ¡°Come on in.¡± Marcell said.

    Julius opened the door to the room revealing an unarmored Marcell and his Allum, Bas¡¯set, looking out of the window. He was wearing a red sleeveless turtleneck and black cloth pants. The room had two couches with a table between them. It was rather bare otherwise, but what could you stock in a room when there was nothing really to stock a room with. Marcell didn¡¯t turn around as Lith entered, so Lith walked over to the window. Bas¡¯set moved as he approached, joining Anthropo to the side of the room. They stood there in silence for a moment.

    ¡°What did you see out there?¡± Marcell asked, his eyes fixated in the distance.

    Lith took a moment to reflect what he had seen on his way here. The line of men verses a once more oppressed mob. Huddled masses who looked equally tired and hungry. Half a city sparsely packed while the other was overcrowded. As Lith observed the ongoings of Marcell¡¯s complex and what lie outside of it, he noticed a group of pale faced men in dark clothing. Their eyes were scanning not only the building surrounding them but the people as well. The group didn¡¯t look intimidating to Lith, but that could have been because he knew he was stronger. And he knew that the Allum would stop any fights from breaking out. And yet, those men represented something to the people inside the compound. To the population at large. Those men represented everything that should have died a long time ago. Bigotry. Hatred. Racism. Classism. Treachery. The system of the old world, which should have died the moment they were initiated into their new reality. Humans truly are flawed creatures.

    ¡°Division.¡± Lith said as he stared at the group of pale skinned people across the way. Then he remembered the musician, Jeffery. He remembered the faces of the people he had seen on the way here. Not all of them were sad or scared. A good portion of the people had been laughing, hugging, making jokes and small talk as they began forming prospective groups to begin their climb of the tower. He remembered the look of determination on the faces of some men and women as they trained with their Allum. ¡°And Hope.¡±

    Marcell moved finally, looking directly at Lith. Their eyes met. There was a fire in Marcell¡¯s eyes. Passion. A desire to grow and see his community grow. Lith felt for him. He wanted to see his own family grow. But should it end there? Should all that he cares about be his own family? He already made his decision, however. He would help Marcell, and his community grow. He would not be a cog in the machine from the old world to toil on into their new one.

    ¡°It¡¯s good you can see things clearly, Lith.¡± Marcell said as he stepped back from the window and moved to one of the couches. Lith followed him and sat on the couch opposite him. ¡°Strange name by the way.¡± He continued as he took a sip from a glass of water. ¡°Where does it come from?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s old Greek. Means stone.¡± Lith answered as he drank from his own glass.

    ¡°And Anthropo?¡± Marcell gestured to Lith¡¯s Allum.

    ¡°Same origin. Means human.¡±

    Marcell laughed. ¡°A human named Stone, and a machine named Human. Man, are you strange.¡±

    ¡°Do you know what your name means, Marcell?¡± Lith asked as he set his water on the table.

    ¡°War.¡± He said, also putting his glass to the table. ¡°Roman, however, to your Greek. It¡¯s a derivative of Mars, God of War.¡± Marcell smiled. ¡°And Bas¡¯set is just Khemetic inspiration. So far as I know, it has no real meaning aside from being a name.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not a combination of Bast and Seth?¡± Lith asked ¡°A protector Goddess and a war God.¡±

    Marcell¡¯s toothy smile grew slightly. ¡°You got me.¡± He raised his hands as if to say, ¡®I give up¡¯. ¡°More versed than I took you for. But enough of names and origins.¡± His hands came to rest in his lap as he crossed one leg over his knee. ¡°We¡¯re here to exchange information.¡±

    Lith and Marcell talked about their integrations, Lith prompting Marcell first to make sure the information Julius gave him was accurate. Julius had left out the white, ghost-like entity in the white room that answered a few questions before they were forced to choose a class, but Marcell was gracious enough to include that information first. Lith offered up a similar story, explaining that he held out questions until after the trial was selected, which his own ghost allowed because no questions were asked prior. He had no real explanation for why they showed up seemingly a week early. There were no waves of mass disappearances. Had they gone missing a week early during their dinner? That didn¡¯t make sense to Lith. Sum seemed to absorb the red from their galaxy¡¯s projection at the same time, saving their own for last. Something else must have happened. Time dilation perhaps? What could or couldn¡¯t an all-powerful entity do? Of course, Lith left that theory and any mention of Sum out of the conversation. It would remain a mystery for both of them.

    Lith gave Marcell the details of their weeklong excursion into the first combat floor, detailing their acquiring of skills after their fourth and ninth breakthroughs, but not disclosing what the skills they had received were. Marcell questioned the use of the terms breakthrough and thresholds, which Lith had explained way as the sensation itself. Marcell made suggestion that they refer to them as a level, like in a video game, and Lith agreed to the familiar terminology. Assuming that they all started at level one, breaking through the ninth threshold would make Lith and his family level ten, with new skills gained at levels five and ten. Lith suggested that this would likely be the same for everyone, and that they would gain a skill every five levels. At their current rate of growth, Lith explained that each level took more energy to achieve than the last, and that it would likely continue to grow exponentially. So far the only way they found of progressing through levels was by fighting enemies on the tower floors.

    ¡°There is one more thing.¡± Lith said as he motioned Anthropo to give Marcell the bronze box containing the upgrade token. ¡°We each received one of these after we completed the floor. Our Allum were waiting with them inside our homes. They came in what the quest reward called a Bronze Box, as you can see. Our Allum explained that we would gain an appropriately themed item after the completion of each floor.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡± Marcell asked as he opened the box revealing the white disc with a wolf insignia inside.

    ¡°It¡¯s an upgrade token. This one in particular is themed after an Alabaster Wolf, a wolf with fur as hard as stone. Anyone should be able to use it on their gear, be it armor, clothing, or weapons as there is no class restriction. Anthropo has told me that using more than one on an item imbued with a similar elemental theme would increase its strength, and that mixing elements too much could make something unstable.¡± Lith explained like a sales pitch, noting all the merits of the item as well as the warning that Guidry had given them after using his identifying skill on it.

    ¡°You haven¡¯t used it yet?¡± Marcell asked as he looked it over. Lith shook his head ¡®no¡¯. ¡°So why show this to me?¡±

    ¡°I want you, or someone in your group, to have it.¡± Lith stated, his eyes meeting with Marcell¡¯s again. They held the stare for a moment, gaging each other¡¯s reactions.

    ¡°Julius.¡± Marcell called.

    The door opened, revealing Julius who had been standing outside, waiting for them to finish.

    ¡°Yes Marcell.¡± The young man answered.

    ¡°Use this on your robes.¡± Marcell said as he tossed the token to him.

    Julius fumbled the token a bit before clasping it tight in his hands.

    ¡°What is it?¡± the young man asked.

    ¡°A gift from our new friend.¡± Marcell answered.

    ¡°Oh.¡± Julius said as he looked it over. ¡°How do I use it?¡±

    ¡°Place it on your clothes and infuse it with some mental energy. Your Allum has explained how do that right?¡± Lith advised.

    Julius nodded in the affirmative before he touched the token to his clothes and closed his eyes in focus. They watched as his pure white robes turned slightly grey. The loose sleeves on his arms unthreaded before being reformed into a sleeve of well woven and layered cloth on his left arm. A sturdy looking piece of leather with a styling of a wolf covered the left side of his chest and ran over his shoulder like a pauldron. His right arm remained bare but for a gauntleted bracer of white leather encrusted with alabaster stone knuckles. His plain white cloth skirt turned to pure white fur on his left side as the right gained the embroidered with another wolf motif. There were other changes to the young man¡¯s clothes, but these were the greatest of the changes. With a bit of jealousy in his heart, Lith used the identification feature of Predatory Eye.

    Battle Robes of the Alabaster Wolf

    F Grade           Common

    Robes made from the stone like fur of the Alabaster Wolf. Earth Attuned.

    ¡°Regretting your gift?¡± Marcell asked as Julius looked over his new clothes.

    ¡°Would be lying if I said no.¡± Lith admitted. ¡°But I¡¯ll undoubtedly come across something else as we climb. Something more suited to me.¡±

    ¡°More suited to your path than another set of leather and fur armor? Hmm.¡± Marcell considered as he looked over Julius. ¡°Ah. I see. This was meant for another member of your family. It¡¯s the affinity right?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Lith answered with a nod.

    ¡°I see.¡± Marcell said with a nod of his own. ¡°There was one other thing from me.¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve given one of my people a precious gift. If things were like before I would take it and give nothing back, alas I have nothing to give in return at the moment as well. But should I be so inclined as to search for something to repay you. What would you prefer? And let¡¯s keep it to the overall theme of an upgrade token.¡±

    Lith hesitated for a moment as he thought. What type of upgrade token would he want? The one he gave over to Julius was half themed in his favor, the being the bestial nature of a wolf. It was the aspect of stone that was better suited for Matia over him. Should he ask for something to replace the token he should have given to his daughter? Something stone or earth attuned? Perhaps ice or gravity based to bolter her other skills? It would be fair to ask for something like that. Thinking it over, Lith realized that this was also a test from Marcell. Lith could either ask for something similar to what he had given up to replace what he otherwise would have given to his daughter, or he could ask for something for himself. If he came off as too eager to please others, could he be trusted? Was it not ok be a little selfish once in a while? But what would he want? Something bestial for sure, but what of the secondary attribute? Was there something like a healing element, or something like force to enhance the abilities of his spectral claws. Would that even work? He had only seen that grade, rarity, and description of the robes that Julius wore, not that it said it enhanced anything. What would best suit him? After another moment of contemplation Lith came to a decision.

    ¡°If you happen into something with a nature like attunement, I would appreciate it.¡± Lith said. ¡°And I would like to propose a trade agreement of sorts going forward.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Marcell asked curiously.

    ¡°As we climb the tower, we will likely gather tokens that are not suited to our class or desires. If we encounter tokens that are unsuited to any of our classes, we will offer them up as trade to you for a token more in line with our own, should anyone you know have one they wish to trade away.¡±

    Marcell was quiet for a moment as he thought. ¡°That¡¯s rather straight forward. A one to one trade of resources that will benefit people directly. I will admit that when you first explained to me that the token was I had thought about this being something to implement in the future, or even implement a bounty system should people need more incentive once things get more settled and things became clearer.¡± Marcell paused for a moment. ¡°Sure. Sounds like a fair and equitable deal.¡±

    ¡°Great!¡± Lith said with a smile.

    Marcell chuckled happily ¡°With that, I believe our business is done.¡± The men shook hands. ¡°Be sure to come by if you discover anything new. I¡¯ll send messengers if we discover anything as well, and when we find something you might be interested in.¡±

    ¡°When do you think you¡¯ll enter the portal?¡± Lith asked as their hands stopped shaking.

    ¡°I plan on taking a group later today. Just waiting on a few people to get back.¡±

    ¡°Best of luck, Marcell.¡±

    ¡°Best of luck to you too, Lith.¡±

    Lith gave Julius a list of elemental themes that his family would like for them to keep a look out for before leaving the complex. He made his way back towards his home through the crowded street before eventually meeting the mob of people still pushing for entry to the rest of the city. Cautiously and politely, he made his way through the crowd until he stood before the who¡¯s back had talked to him when we was leaving his home. Lith stood there, staring at his face with passive disdain before a happy little thought crossed his mind as a happy little smile joined it. He couldn¡¯t attack the wall of people, but with his enhanced strength, who was to stop him from simply going for a walk?

    Lith took a step forward, his foot landing between the shoulder width relaxed stance of the man before him. The look on the man¡¯s face was stuck somewhere between annoyance and confusion. Then Lith took another step, their bodies colliding with the simplicity of the motion. He could feel the man¡¯s body struggle to stay in place as he fought against Lith¡¯s simple action, but it wasn¡¯t enough. Lith pushed just a little harder in his singular stride and the man fell flat on his ass, opening a hole in the wall of pale men in plate. Lith stepped over the man as he walked. A fist was caught by the man¡¯s Allum as he tried to punch at Lith, curses and expletives leaving the man¡¯s lips. And then came the tide. People rushed through the sudden opening that Lith had made, The wall of men were stopped from grabbing them by their Allum, stopping the hole from being plugged. Even the man Lith knocked over was having a hard time as his Allum had to constantly stop him from striking out at the people. The smile never faded from Lith¡¯s face as he walked back into his home.

 Chapter 13: Casualties

    The family continued to rest or train their mastery skills until the loud voice of the tower¡¯s AI sounded an announcement.

    ¡°New Floor Ranking. Group, Fracture, has reached second position."

    Someone else had exited the portal, and it only took them two days to complete their first-floor trial. Lith and Anthropo quickly packed their bags with dried food rations and water skins. Everyone was already back in their clothes for the combat floors as they had planned to head out within the hour. They all met on the front lawn, each of them taking a bag from Lith and securing it to their waists.

    ¡°Everyone ready?¡± Fayde asked.

    The family nodded, a determined look in their eyes. If they wanted to maintain their lead on the Floor Ranking, they would have to constantly climb the tower. They left the gate of their house for the portal just around the bend. The mob of people that remained outside even now had moved to surround the pavilion, making it impossible for them to see who had exited or what state they were in. Several of them were making noticeable commentary.

    ¡°Oh god.¡± One said.

    ¡°Those poor people.¡± Said another.

    It left them wondering about the state of the people who had just left the tower¡¯s combat floor, and they hurried over to the entrance. Around the gate opening to the pavilion was a mass of people. The gathering reminded them of when they exited the portal, but now they were the outside observers. They made their way through the crowd, some people moving out of their way while others had to be asked or forcibly pushed out of the way with their increased strength. Lith had explained to them what happened when he went for a walk earlier. As they made their way to the front, they could see several people laying on the ground, some of them were too still.

    ¡°Shit.¡± Lith said as he made his way to the front of their party and started moving through the group of people just standing around. ¡°Healer coming through.¡±

    They were just standing there with looks of shock and horror plastered to their faces. If they weren¡¯t going to help, they needed to move out of his way. When he finally made it to the front of the crowd, he could see the five bodies laying on the ground. Two of them were in full plate armor, another wore leather armor with a quiver on their back and a bow lying to their side, and the last two wore the primarily cloth armor of mage classes. Of the five, the two mages were the closest to him.

    He pushed out of the crowd and over to the two still moving people, mental energy already surging into his Mending Touch skill in his left hand. They had minor wounds but must have expended the majority of their energies taking out the boss of their combat floor. He put his palm to their chest one at a time as soon as the skill finished each infusion, releasing healing energy into them before moving on to the three unmoving bodies. It was right now he regretted only being able to use his healing skill with his left hand. As he approached the Archer, his stomach turned. The leather armor had been pierced straight through on each of his limbs with one of his legs and both arms ripped off and laying on a mock appropriation of how a person would lay, splayed out as if making a bloody snow angel. Several places on the body looked like they had begun to be eaten, including the skull, which was now leaking blood and brain. Lith forced himself to turn away. Not even his mending touch spell would help him bring that person back. It could mend a body, but it couldn¡¯t restore a life that had already been extinguished.

    Lith moved towards the warriors in heavy armor. One of them was a lost cause like the archer. They had puncture marks all over their body, and it looked like their head had been bitten off completely. Their armor and sword were covered in a gory mix of pale yellow and red. The second of the heavily armored warriors was weakly gurgling on their own blood. His eyes were wide in pain. His shield arm was laying off to the side of him, ripped off much like the archer¡¯s body. A pool of blood was forming under him and Lith could see a golf ball sized puncture between his neck and shoulder. Sending energy flooding back into his Mending Touch skill, Lith rolled the man to his right side to help him breath as he coughed up more blood. After a moment of coughing fits, the man finally gasped properly for air. As the man coughed and gasped, Lith ran to his left arm where it laid several feet away from them. Rushing back, the held the severed arm in his right hand while positioning back from where it had been cut from. Placing his left hand around the wound where the limb would be reattached, Lith channeled more energy into his healing skill as he held the two ends of the severed wound together. He had to act quickly before too much life faded from the man¡¯s severed arm. The man began yelling as bone, muscle, skin, and nerves were reconnected slowly as the skill took effect. He was still riding the high that Mending Touch provided as it flooded the body with endorphins, but having his limb forcefully rejoined must be an altogether new level of pain. Lith was surprised the man had the energy to yell with how much blood was on the ground, but after a moment the man went silent.

    Something had changed in the skill as the man went unconscious. When Lith began the infusion, he could feel a draw on his mental energy as well as the man¡¯s own physical energy aiding in the reattachment of the arm. There was also something more joining the two primary energies Lith was acquainted it. Something more like vital energy or life energy. He had felt a wisp of it draining from the man¡¯s severed arm before trying to reattach it. But as the man¡¯s yelling stopped, Lith felt the flow of vital energy from the man stop, and a pull on his own start. The pull on his body seemed to be coming from is very own blood. His body began to ache as he flooded the man¡¯s limb with the skill¡¯s energy and burned his own vitality to mend the arm back together. He could feel the bone coming back together, the strands of muscle stitching back together, the cells of the skin regrowing, and blood vessels connecting. By the time he finished mending the arm back together, Lith¡¯s mental energy was completely tapped dry and his whole body ached like he had just given a blood transfusion. He felt like he had just finished fighting the Alabaster King again, mind and body slow and sore. Why was reconnecting the man¡¯s arm different from stitching together other wounds? And what exactly was the source of that third energy?

    Lith rolled the man onto his back and checked his breathing. It was shallow, and his mouth was covered in his own red blood, but the man was breathing. Lith reached his hand to the man¡¯s neck and felt his pulse. It was slow and very weak, but the man had a pulse. Lith sat back relieved. He had saved the man from the brink of death. It had taken everything he had, but the man would live.

    ¡°Lith?¡± Asked Fayde as she joined him, kneeling down next to him. ¡°Is he¡­?¡± She trailed off.

    ¡°He¡¯s alive.¡± Lith said. ¡°He¡¯s just unconscious.¡±

    ¡°And the other two?¡± She asked, looking over to the mangled and headless bodies of the archer and other warrior.

    ¡°DOA. There was nothing I could do for them.¡± He said somberly.

    He looked back to the two he healed earlier. One, the man leather armor, was sitting in a fetal position with the mage man kneeling next to him, his hand resting on his shoulder. Lith had a momentary thought of wasn¡¯t that a mage woman a minute ago? Lith pushed it to the back of his mind as his heart sang with relief that three of the five people survived, although he still felt sick from the horrible state of the other two members of Fracture.

    This was the second group to exit the portal, but the first group to have casualties. If it weren¡¯t for his arrival and fast action, there would only be two survivors. It set the tone for the tower going forward. Surviving the tower would be a grueling experience. But wasn¡¯t this the reality of their world now? People would die as they sought strength, power, and influence. Who knew how many more people would die before they faced some semblance of peace if that was even in the cards for them anymore.

    Trevor, Enki, Matia, and Guidry were still standing in the crowd. They looked like they would be sick. Then Lith noticed Julius and Marcell make their way to the front. Julius immediately ran forward and checked on the man and woman. Marcell moved towards himself and Fayde.

    ¡°Lith, what happened?¡± Marcell asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Lith started explaining. ¡°We rushed to get ready and by the time we got here the crowd had already formed. I healed the two Julius is talking to before checking on the rest. The archer and one of the warriors are dead. This one is alive but knocked out. Not sure when he will wake up.¡±

    ¡°What was the yelling about? What did you do to him?¡±

    ¡°I used one of my skills to reattach his arm. The pain is what caused him to yell.¡±Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    Marcell nodded and looked over to the two dead bodies, a disgusted frown on his face which was starting to look a shade of green. Bas¡¯set and a few other Allum were entering the portal area, which was something none of them had seen before. The Allum didn¡¯t enter the portal pavilion.

    ¡°We¡¯ll take the survivors to our compound and make sure they are taken care of. We have a few healers that should help him, and the others recover. Good job saving his life.¡± Marcell said as he offered a hand to help Lith stand. Lith took it gratefully.

    ¡°By the way, Marcell. This is my partner, Fayde.¡± Lith said, making a long overdue introduction. ¡°Fayde, this is Marcell.¡±

    ¡°Nice to meet you Fayde.¡± Marcell said as he extended his hand for a shake.

    ¡°A pleasure to meet you as well Marcell.¡± Fayde said as she took his hand and shook it. ¡°And thank you for looking after them.¡±

    ¡°Of course. They have suffered enough. We will see them back to health. Whether they want to try taking on the tower again will be up to them.¡±

    Lith nodded somberly.

    ¡°We¡¯ll come and check on them after we get back from the second floor.¡± Fayde said.

    ¡°You¡¯re going now?¡± Marcell asked. ¡°So soon after this situation?¡±

    ¡°Not much of a choice.¡± Lith said as he took out some dried meat to chew. His body was craving protein. ¡°We can¡¯t wait around. We either climb or we don¡¯t. The only way through is up.¡±

    ¡°Trevor, Enki, Matia, Guidry, let¡¯s go.¡± Fayde called her their family. They took a moment, weighing the decision of their mother and grandmother before leaving the group of people around the gate and headed towards the portal.

    ¡°Time to get back to it.¡± Lith said, shaking Marcell¡¯s hand.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be taking a group in shortly after we get these people sorted back at the compound.¡± Marcell said. ¡°Take care of yourselves.¡±

    ¡°See you when you get back.¡± Lith said.

    ¡°Not If we make it back first.¡± Marcell answered with a smile as he motioned for several of his men over.

    Lith and Fayde joined their children and grandchild at the portal before entering together. Back in the void between the floors they were greeted by a familiar parchment.

    Welcome back to The Tower of Tumult

    Last Floor Cleared: 1

    Next Floor: 2

    Destination:

    ¡­

    The parchment stopped after writing the three dots and Noesis¡¯ voice called in Fayde¡¯s head.

    ¡°Hey, Guidry has a companion pact skill right?¡± they asked.

    ¡°Yes, why?¡± Fayde answered.

    ¡°Figured we¡¯d take out two birds with one stone on this floor.¡± They answered before the writing on the parchment continued.

    Destination:

    Ruinous Research Lab

    As the text completed, the void gave way to the scenery of the second combat floor. It was a half sunken city of an island, completely disconnected from any semblance of actual land mass. They were buffeted by hard rain as soon as they arrived. Dark clouds crackled with heat lighting, which occasionally struck one of several tall spikes that reached up into the skies. The ground beneath them vibrated slightly when the lightning hit. As they looked around, taking in the view of nature¡¯s wrath, a quest card appeared before them.

    Complete Research Project 5H3N-100N6:

    0/1

    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be damned.¡± Lith started. ¡°From fantasy survival to science fiction survival.¡±

    ¡°It does seem pretty advanced.¡± Fayde commented.

    ¡°So does this mean cultivation is based on magic or science?¡± Matia asked.

    ¡°Who¡¯s to say magic isn¡¯t just science we don¡¯t understand yet.¡± Lith offered.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you just save a man¡¯s life with magic?¡± Guidry asked.

    ¡°Yeah.¡± He responded.

    ¡°So, it¡¯s magic. You didn¡¯t need any advanced technology to heal him.¡± Guidry offered.

    ¡°True, but I have two magi-tech crossbows, and you have the Tech Forge skill. It¡¯s clearly both, or maybe dependent on the class?¡± Enki countered.

    ¡°Hmm, maybe.¡± He nodded in agreement with his uncle.

    ¡°We should start looking around.¡± Fayde said as she looked at the city before them.

    ¡°Can we wait for the rain to end first?¡± Enki asked.

    ¡°Don¡¯t think that¡¯ll be happening anytime soon.¡± Trevor said as she pointed at one of the spikes that protruded from a distant building. ¡°I think the base is using the storm to power itself.¡±

    ¡°So, it¡¯ll automatically be destroyed if the storm ends right, by sinking into the sea?¡± Enki looked up curiously as lightning continuously struck the spikes that reached up into the sky. He let a moment pass as he took in the rusted buildings, the heavily weathered grounds, and the endless storm covered sky. ¡°It¡¯s not going to end, is it?

    ¡°Embrace the suck.¡± Lith said as he opened his arms wide to embrace the rain before they started to move into the city.

    They had arrived at the edge of the floating island in what appeared to be a mud field, so it took them a few minutes to walk into the city proper from where they had appeared. Most of the buildings seemed to be residential houses with a few shops and restaurants dotted about the place, although all of them were ruined. It also didn¡¯t take them long to find their first enemies. Crawling out from one of the storefronts came a crab as tall as them.

    ¡°Think refinement got rid of my seafood and shellfish allergies?¡± Fayde asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m still low of mental energy for the next while, so let¡¯s play it safe until I recuperate a bit more.¡± Lith answered.

    Drawing their weapons, they engaged the crab, who was clacking its claws together. Its friends inside the building soon joined the fray. They were apparently using the buildings as their new watery homes. Lith, Trevor, and Enki had the hardest time with the crabs. While Enki¡¯s motes of energy could easily hit the wide bodies of the crabs, as the thick chitinous shells proved to be more durable than the stone skin of the Alabaster Wolves. Lith, being low on mental energy, was unable to inflict any real damage to their shells as well. He could use Rake, but the expenditure could result in him not having enough energy in case someone got critically injured. His increased strength did allow him to physically contend with one crab at a time, although he had to remain aware of the pincers that could likely still sever his limbs as well as their sharp and pointy legs. Of the three, Trevor was faring better than her father and brother. She was able to keep the claws at bay with sword skills while slowly cooking the crabs alive with her fire skills. Being in a place surrounded by water did make the exertion less effective, but the key to a good crab boil was time.

    Fayde, Matia, and Guidry, however, proved a more effective pairing with their new skills. Fayde¡¯s ability to jump in and out of blood let her strike precisely at the joints of the crabs as the fight continued on. By the end of her sprees, the city was littered with perfectly broken down and boiled crabs by the hundreds. Matia and her summoned Golem proved the most resilient to the crab¡¯s powerful claws. They both would tank the bashes and crushing grasp with their bodies of solid stone and toughened physiques before using their own strength and hammers to smash the crabs to pieces. Guidry proved the most effective in their current environment. Between his Electrokinesis and the storm raging above them, the crabs never stood a chance as their bodies were flooded by amps of electricity in staggering quantities. He fried one crab after another with terrifying efficiency.

    Hours later, they had cleared out most of the city before arriving at the centermost building. They had taken a bit of time looking though old buildings they thought were offices but found nothing of use but crabs. The centermost building was also the tallest building in the entire city, three times larger than the tallest apartment-like complex, and topped with one of the lightning rods that were still protecting the city from the storm above. They had assumed that it was a governmental building and saved it for last.

    ¡°Any chance we can stop for a bite before we continue?¡± Fayde asked as she eyed one of the crab¡¯s pincers with a ferocious hunger.

    ¡°Big piece like that?¡± Lith inquired. ¡°I mean if you want bland and flavorless meat, we can ask Trev to hit it with her fire a for a bit. That should cook it well enough.¡±

    Fayde looked hopefully at her daughter.

    ¡°Umm¡­¡± she said nervously and let out a sigh before willing her mental energy into her Pyrokinesis skill. The flames lapped the claw of a crab that Matia¡¯s golem had recently smashed open. Water began to boil, and meat began to sizzle as it was cooked in her fire. Lith took the dagger out of the sheath on his side before cleanly separating the cooked claw from the rest of the crab. He swing his dagger in a downward arc, flicking the juices from his shamanic dagger and wiped it on his water soaked fur skirt. Lith grabbed the inside of the pincers in each hand before pushing them apart. A satisfying pop and crunch later, he had a beautiful piece of juicy crab meat ready for sampling. He tore a piece off for himself to sample first, of course. He wouldn¡¯t allow his personal Goddess¡¯s palette to be soured by foul tasting food. He could tell that the meat would be chewier if he were going by his pre-integration standards, but their increased strength apparently also translated to his jaw strength. The flavors were adequate for being boiled without seasoning. It was still juicy with distinct sweet seafood and umami notes, simple and eloquent. He would have preferred to use some other seasonings to add savory notes, but it was passable for their current circumstances.

    ¡°Here.¡± he said as he offered the torso sized chunk of crab to Fayde.

    Fayde accepted the chunk of delicious meat before biting directly into it. She was in heaven. It had been years since she even dared to enjoy food they jokingly labeled as ¡®death¡¯. The sweet juices of the crab cascaded down her throat and chin as she tore into it as if she herself were a vicious animal. Tears began rolling down her cheeks.

    ¡°It¡¯s so fucking good.¡± She spoke before digging into the meat again.

    Lith smiled and chuckled as he watched Fayde thoroughly enjoy her meal. He put his hand out to Trevor for a low high five.

    ¡°Good job, kiddo.¡± He spoke.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad she can enjoy seafood again.¡± Trevor said as she slapped Lith¡¯s hand, completing their typical scheming ritual.

    A moment later, however, Fayde was grabbing at her throat as she choked. Had the refinement not gotten rid of her anaphylactic reaction to shellfish?

    ¡°Fayde?¡± Lith said as he poured mental energy into Cleansing Balm. He held his partner close as he unleashed the skill into her. He had expected the effects to be near immediate, but she was still coughing, and her eyes were becoming bloodshot. Could his spell not treat anaphylaxis?

    ¡°Mom?!¡± Trevor shouted. Had they just accidentally killed their mother and partner?

    Matia walked up to her mother and slapped her with an open hand in the abdomen. A chunk of crab meat flew out of Fayde¡¯s mouth before Fayde drew in a breath of air.

    ¡°She was eating too fast.¡± Matia stated, as if she could tell the entire time.

    The rest of the family let out a breath they had been holding while Fayde was choking. No more anaphylaxis.

    ¡®Thank all the Gods.¡¯ They collectively thought.

 Chapter 14: Into the Depths

    With Fayde¡¯s curiosity about her food allergies sated and the related crisis averted, they entered the large government building in the center of the city. To their surprise, the government building was clear of crabs on the ground floor. It did have a large hole in the middle of the ground. It was clearly man made as it was constructed out of the rusted metal like the rest of the building. There were four columns, one to each corner, that held now empty pullies. Each wall of the shaft had grooves carved into it that suggested the platform that would have been used had gears or tracks of some kind as well. Unfortunately, the platform wasn¡¯t in sight as they peered down the shaft, although there was an access ladder for the shaft. They decided to leave it for later exploration before looking for a way to access the upper floors.

    They eventually found a mostly intact stairwell for them to use as they moved floor by floor, scouring the building for anything relevant to project 5H3N-100N6. They scoured what served as filing cabinets, finding that most of the documents inside were waterlogged to indecipherability or in a completely foreign language heavily divergent from anything back on earth. That was until they entered a seemingly important office near the top of the building. Laying on the desk of the office was a seemingly untouched folder. Matter of fact, the entire room was perfectly preserved with not a drop of water in sight.

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Guidry asked as he picked up the folder.

    His question was quickly answered as the folder had ¡®Top Secret: Project 5H3N-100N6¡¯ written on it in plain English. It was suspiciously convenient. Was the Tower scanning their brains like the Allum to create scenarios to test them? If so, where was this file the only one in a language they could read? Fayde wondered if this was partially due to Noesis¡¯ influence. She tried prodding the ring¡¯s conscious with her own but got no answer. Fayde made a mental note to ask Noesis when they spoke gain, but who knew when that would be. They only talked when there was something they could contribute. Fayde motioned for Guidry to read the file on their quest target.

    According to the file, Project 5H3N-100N6 was an attempt to harness the innate power of a local sea beast as a power source for the city. The beast had the power to summon massive storms which they planned to use power the generators that kept the city afloat. Things were progressing well for a while, but something happened to the beast while it was in their captive care. It hadn¡¯t escaped but had fallen victim to a disease that was slowly killing it. They had called for the best healers and doctors in their sector, as they called it, but no one seemed to be able to revitalize or cure the creature.

    Thankfully the creature laid a clutch of eggs before it died, leaving them with hope for the future. The storms weakened as the elder creature died, but as one of the eggs hatched they returned to their normal levels of activity, securing their power supply. The freshly hatched beast also grew incredibly quickly, meeting the size of its forebearer within a mater of weeks. However, the spawn was soon afflicted by the same sickness as its parent. One by one the cycle repeated. The creature would die. An egg would hatch, and the spawn would grow only to become sickened and die. When the last egg hatched, it would lay another clutch of eggs, displaying it¡¯s ability of asexual reproduction, to not needing fertilization of another of its kind. The cycle seemed self-perpetuating if inefficient. They would restrict power usage while the between the death of one creature and the hatching of another. Yet no system could be perfect. Each time an egg hatched, the time the new creature would remain alive grew shorter and shorter until the last documented clutch only lasted a few months before one of the spawn would die. The project was labeled a failure, and the research base was soon abandoned.

    Yet the last page in the file took a different turn from the rest. It wasn¡¯t a report but a proposition. One of the scientists at the research base had suggested that instead of using the creature to power a building, they could convert its life energy into and unique abilities into a unique set or armor that could summon a storm at the whim of its user. The scientist explained that he was near perfecting the production a dual affinity mental he called Storm Soul Steel. He highlighted in his reports that it could contain the immense energy the creature could create with storms while infusing the metal with the latent spirituality of the beast to aid in the control of the energies. The scientist had even clarified part of the identification number of the project. The last creature left alive within the facility before it was abandoned was the sixth egg of the one hundredth clutch. While the majority of the proposal referred to the creature as number six, there was one pleading line where it was referred to as Shen. It seemed like a promising proposal, but the paper had a stamp on it demarking the denial of the proposal.

    ¡°So, we have to finish the research that scientist started to complete the quest on this floor?¡± Matia asked as she looked over her nephew¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°Seems so.¡± Guidry said. A frown was plastered in his face. ¡°Those poor creatures though. Being held in captivity like that and used as an experimental power source. I can¡¯t imagine what they all must have felt.¡±

    Matia put her hand on her nephew¡¯s shoulder before pulling him into a hug. ¡°I know Giddy. People are cruel.¡±

    ¡°Do we have to complete the projects?¡± He asked. ¡°It would be like switching one prison for another.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll see if there is another way to complete the quest.¡± Fayde said. ¡°I have no idea if quest failure is even an option supposing we don¡¯t die.¡± A moment passed in silence as they considered that terrifying thought ¡°Let¡¯s make our way back down to the ground floor and use the access ladder of the shaft.¡±

    ¡°Are we sure that¡¯s the safest way down?¡± Enki asked.

    ¡°We didn¡¯t see another way down when we were exploring the ground floor.¡± Said Trevor. ¡°All of the stairwells went up, not that many of them were useable.¡±

    ¡°So, we have to climb that ladder all the way down?¡± Matia asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯d be able to survive a fall from that height, even with our boosted bodies.¡± Lith acknowledged.

    ¡°Well,¡± Guidry said as he put the folder back on the desk. ¡°Let¡¯s go see about saving Shen.¡±

    Returning to the ground floor, they started to descend the rusty ladder to the lower levels of the government research building. Flickering lights let them see the rungs of the latter as they climbed. They were starting to wonder just how deep below the surface the actual research portion of the base was. They had been descending for what seemed like an hour. They had even taken the time to rest while climbing, looping their arms and legs on the ladder, several times during their descent. Lith and Fayde were very aware that climbing up and down ladders was tiring work from the drills they used to perform while in the service and as a security contractor, respectively.

    Finally, they came to what seemed to be the bottom of the shaft. Stepping down onto the surface caused a groaning creak. Fayde, leading the group down the shaft, kicked her foot against the surface. More metallic creaks and groans were elicited, but the ground didn¡¯t show any sign of giving way. One by one, they stepped off the latter and onto the floor. Each new person caused the floor to make more unsettling noises, but it remained stable. Looking around the bottom of the shaft they¡¯ve found themselves in, they were unable to see any doors. The only thing they did find on their level was a half dead console that occasionally sparked from exposed wires below.

    ¡°This can¡¯t be the bottom floor.¡± Matia said. ¡°There is nowhere to go.¡±

    Looking around, they came to similar conclusions. There were four large fenced off squares in the floor near the corners of the shaft. The fence of each hole was bent in towards the center of the floor, like something heavy had hit them, trying to knock them over. Past the fenced off squares were piles of stone rubble. That¡¯s not to say that there was not rubble strewn about the floor, but the corners seemed to be where the stones strewn across the floor came from. Fayde, Lith, and Mita worked together to move the larger pieces of rubble out of the corners. They were looking for safer ways down than the four large holes. Beneath the largest pieces on the corner were several fist sized holes. Based on the positioning of the holes, they were likely for the cables used to raise and lower the floor they stood on, which means the stone all over the floor was the counterweight for the platform floor they stood on. Looking down the holes they could see more lights heading down. Lith kicked one of the smaller pieces of rubble into one of the fenced openings. It clanged against the side wall of the shaft before bouncing off to hit another. The rock elicited clanging noises as it traveled further and further away from the platform until they could no longer hear it. Just how deep below the surface was this research base?

    ¡°Well, any idea how we keep going without falling to our death?¡± Asked Lith.

    ¡°Jumping down is out of the question.¡± Stated Matia.

    ¡°The ladder continues past the platform.¡± Mentioned Enki. ¡°But it¡¯s too far for us to jump from one of the openings.¡±

    ¡°Then there has to be some kind of way to access the ladder.¡± Fayde encouraged. ¡°Guidry, help me take a look at the console.¡±

    The console in the center of the platform was flickering on and off in time with the sparks from the exposed wires. It was two sided and seemed to operate on a touch pad program. There was an arrow pointing up, and arrow pointing down, and two strange symbols that they couldn¡¯t rightly understand. Calling the up and down buttons ¡®arrows¡¯ was also a guess as they only closely resembled arrows. Pressing either of them caused a voice to emit from the console.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    ¡°Ek..a. Na p..sh et ap..dea.¡± The voice came in broken static, cutting the foreign words into further undecipherable gibberish.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to assume that means we can¡¯t use the elevator platform since it¡¯s not moving.¡± Suggested Guidry. ¡°Strange though.¡±

    ¡°What is?¡± Matia asked.

    ¡°The written language from the file was in English, but the spoken language is something we can¡¯t understand through the static, although I doubt we¡¯d be able to understand it if it weren¡¯t staticky.¡± He observed. ¡°The symbols on the console are foreign as well, although some of them look like ones we¡¯re used to.¡±

    ¡°Maybe the Tower is only translating what we need to complete the quest and leaving the rest for us to figure out?¡± Lith offered.

    ¡°Maybe.¡± Guidry said as he pressed one of the other buttons on the console as it momentarily lit up.

    It was yellow and vaguely resembled a hatch opening. Thankfully, a hatch did open. Below the ladder they had climbed down, a part of the floor pulled away from the wall, allowing access to more rungs leading downward. Bodies still aching from the journey so far, they took a bit to let their muscled relax, which included eating a bit of dried meat and taking a few swigs of water during their break. They took their time to stretched before continuing down the long shaft to the bottom.

    What seemed like hours later, they finally reached the lower floors. Sparks would regularly fly from exposed wiring above the waterline. Thankfully, the knee deep water at the base of the shaft didn¡¯t seem to be carrying any current, so they could safely navigate to the section of the base that held the last of the creatures. A door was open on each of the four walls. Next to each door, on both sides, was what could best be labeled as a map. The bottom portion of the base was circular in design, almost as large as the top portion of the base and separated into three sections. From the map they were able to gleam the intended purpose from each area. The topmost section of the map had some esoteric symbol that made them think of a battery. More than likely this area would be where the scientists stored the collected energy from the storms. The lower left section had a symbol that both looked like a beaker and a gear while the section to the lower right had a symbol resembling some snake like creature. They made quick mental notes about the map before heading to their first destination.

    As they made their way to the section where they would most likely find the creature, they found their path barred by monsters. Mostly it was more crabs, but the lower levels of the base also held new enemies in the form of highly electrified eels and metallic fish with razor sharp fins and teeth. Matia took up her role as the group¡¯s vanguard as she activated Alabaster Skin to take care of the eels, her stone like skin serving as a proper insulator to its conductive forces as she skewered them on frozen stone tridents. Meanwhile, Guidry was tiring off tendrils of lightning at the metallic fish, their aquatic nature and metal like flesh multiplying the effectiveness of his attacks. That¡¯s not to say that the rest were not helping out. Lith¡®s ethereal claws were ripping through eels as they struggled to determine which of his three bodies to attack. Fayde was a blur as she slipped in and out of the diluted blood water slashing away as the creatures as they came. Enki picked off a decent number as the eels and fish rushed at them from down the long hallways of knee high water. And while Trevor¡¯s fire based skills were less effective with so much water around, she made do with her sword skills and recently training sessions with her Allum.

    It took a few hours for them to navigate around collapsed or completely submerged tunnels as they wove up and down in mysterious ways, all while fighting the variety of aquatic creatures making the lower sections of the base their home, but they did manage to find the room holding the solitary creature. A massive tank, larger than any belonging to a single aquarium back on earth, took up the majority of the available space in the room. Its glass was scarred by long marks, like something had tried to break out of it. Yet the glass containing the water remained unbroken, as there was a haze in the tank, more than what would form on old glass.

    The aquarium tank wasn¡¯t the only thing in the room. The walls were covered in display screens, what they assumed were the original inhabitant¡¯s versions of keyboards, and what they assumed were diagnostic machines geared at monitoring the creature inside of the tank. There was one other contraption in the room that stood out from the rest. In the middle of the room was a cylindrical capsule with an obscure outline sitting inside of it. Guidry approached the capsule, wiping away the layers of dust as he looked inside.

    ¡°Woah. What¡¯s this?¡± He said softly.

    What was behind the glass was a rudimentary representation of a non-humanoid skeletal system. It brough to mind a snake with legs, although the bulk of the limbs, as well as the skull were missing. It was roughly the size of an average human and made completely of metal, although a shade of deep blue.

    ¡°Looks creepy.¡± Said Matia as she stood over his shoulder.

    ¡°Think it¡¯s part of the project?¡± Fayde asked.

    ¡°Maybe.¡± Guidry thought. ¡°Might have something to do with the proposal that was denied.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s have a look around.¡± Suggested Lith. ¡°Maybe we can find out how to complete the quest without killing the creature. There has to be a way to free it.¡±

    ¡°You think freeing it will cause us to fail the quest?¡± Fayde asked.

    ¡°If we can¡¯t complete the project, we can¡¯t finish the quest according to the proposal.¡±

    ¡°And if that get¡¯s us stuck here until we die?¡± Enki asked.

    There was silence for a moment after Enki¡¯s question. They hadn¡¯t put much thought into the consequences of failing the quest or making it to where they couldn¡¯t complete it. Guidry and Matia had already made their opinions know that they didn¡¯t want to kill the imprisoned creature to complete the project as the quest commanded. They wanted to free it, break the cycle that its forebearers were stuck in for a hundred generations. The act would go against their moral sensibilities, but that did lead to the possibility that they would all die here.

    ¡°We¡¯ll go through the process of completing the quest.¡± Fayde instructed. ¡°If we can find a way of freeing the creature while completing the objective then we¡¯ll do that instead. No one is dying here.¡±

    ¡°But mom!¡±

    ¡°But Grandma!¡± Matia and Guidry said in unison.

    ¡°That¡¯s the end of it.¡± She said adamantly. ¡°Your survival, the survival of this family is the priority. I¡¯m sorry, but if I have to choose between you and a creature that¡¯s been in captivity all its life, I will always choose you. Death is a preferable outcome to being in captivity. It is merciful.¡±

    Silence remained in the air after Fayde¡¯s decree. It was a somber one, holding the life of an innocent creature in your hands, but Fayde had a point. Their survival was paramount. Death was preferable to captivity, especially isolated captivity.

    ¡°Deaaath.¡± Came a voice that shook the room. It was deep and gravelly, and while it wasn¡¯t loud, it seemed to be coming from all around them. The room stopped its shaking as the word came to an end

    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Asked Fayde as she drew her weapons.

    ¡°Neeew.¡± Came the voice again. ¡°Freeeedooom. Deaaaath.¡±

    They looked around the room for where the voice came from, fining nothing.

    ¡°Show yourself!¡± Challenged Lith, the construct claws of Rake already covering his right hand.

    They were all still looking around as the voice repeated the drawn out words.

    ¡°Death. Freedom. Death. Freedom. Death.¡±

    Guidry¡¯s eyes were drawn to the viewport of the massive tank that should contain the creature. Faintly he could see arcs of lighting from within that sent the hairs on the back of his neck to standing upright. He approached the glass.

    ¡°Death. Freedom.¡± It repeated, the words coming faster and less drawn out.

    Guidry stopped a foot away from the glass as he watched the arcing lightning from within. Then two small blue eyes met his gaze. They were faint in the water, and seemingly distant. The gaze caused his heart to race in panic, and he reactively activated Electrokinesis, causing electricity to crackle over his own body. The constant chanting of death and freedom stopped, as the eyes grew  larger as the creature inside the tank grew closer.

    ¡°Storm-Child.¡± The voice said quietly, almost in awe before the mood changed once again.

    The eyes grew rapidly closer and impossibly larger.

    ¡°STORM! DEATH! STORM! FREEDOM!¡± the voice shouted, shaking the room more violently than before.

    The creature ran its massive head against the tank, which was apparently made of twenty foot thick glass based on how far away it impacted. Not even a crack was left by the impact. The creature itself was massive. Its head alone took up the entire width fifty foot of the viewport, bright blue eyes shining and a crown of antlers growing from its brow. It swam up, showing off the torso sized azure scales of its long body as they rubbed against the glass like a snake. Massive, clawed hands scratched the glass as they passed.

    ¡°STORM! DEATH! STORM! FREEDOM!¡± it continued.

    ¡°Is that a dragon?¡± Lith asked.

    He was right. It did remind them of the Shenlong from Chinese mythology. Going off the paperwork from the file, it also made sense. Shenlong was a spirit dragon, or Loong if using the Chinese word. God of the tempest and storms, and master of rains. They had captured a mythical god and were trying to make it into a power source. Blasphemy of the highest level. The nickname used one in the proposal also made sense. Shen. Shenlong. Even the project number was an allusion to it. Switch a few letters for similar shaped numbers, and an O and Shenlong became 5H3N-100N6. Was this a joke?

    ¡°We should go, right now.¡± Trevor suggested as she grabbed her son¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°No wait.¡± Guidry said as he pulled out of her grasp. He put his hand to the glass as he made his skill cause his body to wreath in electricity again. ¡°Shen!¡±

    ¡°Guidry?¡± Enki asked. ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°Just hold on. I¡¯ve got an idea.¡±

    Trevor tried to grab her son¡¯s shoulder again only to draw her hand away as it was shocked by the wreath of lightning on her son¡¯s body.

    ¡°STORM! DEATH! STORM! FREEDOM!¡± The Shenlong continued as it railed against its cage.

    ¡°Shen calm down! We will free you.¡± He shouted.

    The shouting from the Shenlong stopped and the shacking of the room lowered to a low vibration. The long body of Shenlong continued to move in the tank until the massive head once more took up the entirety of the viewport.

    ¡°Freedom.¡± It said more quietly although the room still shook. It¡¯s eyes were locked on Guidry as lightning continued to course over his body.

    ¡°Yes.¡± Guidry said a bit exasperated from the situation and from the exertion of his skill. ¡°We¡¯re going to try and free you.¡±

    The eyes of the creature moved from Guidry to the cylinder in the center of their room.

    ¡°Death. Freedom.¡± The Shenlong said, its voice both a question and a statement.

    ¡°The project?¡± Guidry asked. ¡°Yes, the project said it would kill you in the process. Project. Death.¡±

    ¡°Death. Project. Freedom.¡± It continued, shaking its head side to side.

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand. You want to continue the project even though it will kill you?¡±

    It shook its head in the affirmative. ¡°Death, Project, Freedom. Death, Freedom. Freedom, Death.¡±

    ¡°Death is preferable to captivity.¡± Guidry said in a whisper, echoing what his grandmother said earlier. ¡°Fine. We¡¯ll complete the project.¡±

    The Shenlong nodded its head once before swimming back and away from the viewport. As it swam away, Guidry deactivated his skill, dispersing the lightning that covered his body. His heart was still racing from the experience even though it felt like it was caught in an emotional vice. A pair of arms wrapped around him.

    ¡°Baby, are you okay?¡± His mother asked.

    ¡°Yeah.¡± He said wiping a tear from his eye. ¡°Let¡¯s just get this over with.¡±

 Chapter 15: Death and Freedom

    After Guidry¡¯s conversation with the Shenlong, the family decided to continue exploring the lower sections of the base so they could complete the quest. It was sad that the Shenlong rejected a chance at freedom, but in a way, Death was a form of Freedom.

    ¡°Where should we go next?¡± Matia asked as she stood near the doorway.

    ¡°The documents mentioned using Storm Soul Steel in its construction. If we go by the designs on the map we will likely find it in the lower left section, the area with the beaker and gear.¡± Guidry explained.

    ¡°No time to waste. The faster we get this done, the faster we can give it freedom.¡± Lith said as he put a hand on Guidry¡¯s shoulder. ¡°We¡¯re doing the right thing here bud.¡±

    Guidry nodded solemnly. ¡°I know.¡±

    ¡°What do we do about the power? All of the consoles here are dead. We can¡¯t activate the project.¡± Enki questioned.

    ¡°The base was probably left in low power mode when everyone left. Not sure if it was the merciful thing or not, drawing out its suffering like that, but the power control room should be in the northern part of the map where the battery looking thing was.¡± Guidry continued.

    ¡°So do we knock them out one at a time or should we split up?¡± Matia asked.

    Guidry looked up waiting to see that his grandmother and grandfather would decide. However, they were looking at him expectantly. Did they want him to decide? He didn¡¯t answer immediately. He just looked to and from them both.

    ¡°It¡¯s your choice little man.¡± His grandmother encouraged. ¡°This is your quest.¡±

    ¡°My quest?¡± she asked. He looked at her with confusion on his face. What did that mean?

    ¡°The last level, you aunt got a skill. Sure, we were all involved and got the reward chests after, but the skill cores she absorbed and the skill she got at the end was practically custom made for her and her class.¡± Fayde explained. ¡°Look around you. This floor is covered in an eternal storm. We¡¯re in a research base floating in the middle of the ocean. There¡¯s a literal storm dragon inside that tank behind you and it talked to you, not any of us. This is your quest.¡±

    Guidry stammered for a moment as the thought set in. A quest custom tailored for him? Was that possible. Furthermore, why? The questions were maddening and did not make the emotional vice on his heart any better. He needed to make a decision, or rather several. Putting his emotions aside, Guidry steeled his resolve.

    ¡°We¡¯ll split up. Mom, you and grandma come with me. We¡¯re going to get the power turned back on. Grandpa, Uncle Enki, and Aunty Matia. You guys are going to head over to get the materials ready for the project, although you might have to wait for the power to get turned back on.¡± Guidry said with confidence.

    They all nodded.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± He said before making his way out of the observation room.

    Lith, Enki, and Matia went the opposite way of them down the hallway at a light jog. Of course, the journey to the power control room was not an easy one. They were constantly beset by more crabs, eels, and blade fish. Having their fighting power cut in half did make the fighting more difficult and without their grandfather around to heal their wounds they did have to fight more defensively, but they made it through the waves of aquatic creatures with only a few scratches. It took them roughly an hour to painstakingly make their way to the power related section of the lower levels, and another hour and a half to find what they thought was the power control room.

    Seven large tubes fed into seven cylindrical containers the reminded them of the singular tube back in the Shenlong observation room. However, instead of a snake like metal skeleton, a series of copper looking coils wrapped around a metal rod sat inside of each, lightning occasionally sparking down from the tubes. Were these connected to the spikes reaching into the sky on the surface of the base?

    ¡°Come on.¡± Fayde said as she put her hand on her grandson¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s figure out how to turn this thing back on.¡±

    Guidry nodded and they began inspecting the room. Each tube fed into a larger machine beneath the coils. Six of the machines had six cylindrical tubes, roughly three feet in length and a foot in width, extending vertically from a console. The seventh machine had no extended cylinders, but five risen points where the cylinders from the others would have been. There was space for two more, but they were open, exposing a hole into the machine. On the floor were two cylinders that looked like they had burst, exposing the insides.

    ¡°These canisters look like batteries.¡± Guidry said as he looked over the two broken cylinders on the floor.

    They were made of a metal casing with layered metals, cloth and powder. There was also residue from a long dried fluid of some kind on the floor that had discolored it.

    ¡°Batteries? Why would a place like this operate on batteries?¡± his mother asked.

    ¡°They probably collected and stored the power from the storm in them. See the things in the tube?¡± He said pointing to the coils. ¡°They are adjusting the flow of the storm that¡¯s being fed into them before moving the energy into the machine. Each of these machines probably power a different part of the base.¡±

    ¡°What makes you come to that conclusion?¡± Asked his mom.

    Guidry put his hand to chin as he took up a thinking posture. He knew there was electricity there, but how did he know? What gave him that sense and how could he explain it to his mother and grandmother. It really boiled down to a feeling.

    ¡°Mom, do you feel the shadows around you or the fire you unleash?¡± He asked.

    Trevor was about to say that was a ridiculous notion before she actually took a moment to think about it. Whenever she used her fire skills she expended mental energy. She thought about the way she wanted the fire to move, where it would go, what it would burn. Calling it an extra limb was wrong. There was no physical sensation to it, no feedback when it touched something. And when it expired as the wisps of the flame left the main body, all that she felt was the expenditure of her mental energy. But wasn¡¯t the process of controlling the fire with her mind and energy a form of feeling? And then there was her shadow related skills. She controlled which shadows unleashed the black fires and who they would burn. All she had to do was push mental energy into the shadows and the skill would take care of the rest. But how did she know where all the shadows were, which shadows to activate, when to turn the power off? Because she could feel where they were was the answer. All of a sudden, the implications of her son¡¯s question made sense.

    ¡°I do.¡± She admitted. ¡°And you can feel the energy inside the machines.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± He admitted, happy that his mother understood. ¡°New we need to figure out what machines to power.¡± He looked around the barely lit room. ¡°Mom, can you give us some light?¡±

    Trevor ignited flames in her hand. ¡°Sure thing baby.¡±

    They took their time looking over the machines, finding that each one held a symbol. The central machine with the two broken batteries had a symbol that looked like what they imagined the overall structure of the base to be with two arrows pointing towards it. Figuring it was the main power for the entire structure, they made note of it and moved on. Identifying the other machines, they found three with symbols familiar to them. One was to Shen¡¯s containment room. The second was to the section of the base that Lith, Enki, and Matia were headed to. The third, confusingly enough, was for the section they were currently in, power control. If the fourth machine to the power control, what was the first one to?

    ¡°Maybe the arrows are the key?¡± Fayde suggested.

    ¡°Maybe, but what do arrows mean in relation to the base as a whole?¡± Trevor continued.

    Guidry sat down in thought. He was tired of standing and walking around, and a little sore from all the fighting. He wanted nothing more to relax his body and take a break. Normally sitting down would be relaxing enough, but his muscles strained as they continued to fight to keep him upright. The tilt on the surface of the base was barely noticeable, but here in the lower sections, it seemed almost exaggerated, although he was glad that the water wasn¡¯t reaching their current location. Sitting in knee high water would be fairly uncomfortable. And then Guidry slapped himself in the forehead before coming to a stand.

    ¡°It¡¯s a ballast system to keep the base balanced. The water was knee high in the center but there¡¯s hardly any water on this side of the base.¡± He said walking to one of the three other unidentified machines.

    He tried lifting one of the batteries out, but found it stuck. Trying another approach, he tried twisting the battery and found that it could do a quarter turn after which he was able to remove it.

    ¡°We need to get the base leveled out before we finish powering the base up. Based on the lean and lack of water here it¡¯s likely that the side of the base the rest went to is submerged.¡± He continued before slotting the battery into one of the open slots and giving it a quarter turn the opposite way he had done to remove it.

    ¡°Can one of you grab another one from the three we haven¡¯t figured out yet?¡± Guidry asked.

    ¡°On it.¡± Said his grandmother as she walked over to one of the machines that still had six batteries sticking out.

    Guidry tried pushing the battery down, but found there was to much resistance. Looking around the base of the battery he found a button, which after pressing, lowered the battery fully into the machine. The room started shaking and he could feel the tilt of the base slowly lessen which made Fayde almost drop her battery. Thankfully their recent gains on the first level had also improved their dexterity and reaction, so she managed not to loose her grip. Within short order they managed to get the other battery slotted and sunk into the machine to fully balance out the base, after which they turned their attention to ensuring the three main facilities they needed were properly powered by pressing the buttons to have their machined accept the currently slotted batteries. All they needed to do now was head back to the room with Shen and wait for the others.

    Meanwhile, Lith, Enki, and Matia were bracing themselves in doorways along one of the halls leading towards what they hoped was the manufacturing area. Water was rushing past them, threatening to pull them away with the current.

    ¡°What the fuck is happening?¡± Yelled Enki.

    ¡°And why is it happening again?¡± Matia continued, echoing her brother¡¯s sentiment.

    ¡°No idea but hold on.¡± Lith yelled back.

    After another minute, the water had finished running its course and was once again lower than it was previously now barely covering their toes.

    ¡°This is the weirdest sinking experience I have ever heard of. Isn¡¯t water supposed to flood in when the ship sinks?¡± Asked Matia

    ¡°Agreed, the proverbial ship here seemed to be righting itself with that logic.¡± Enki continued.

    ¡°Either way, we should keep headed for the materials room. Should be easier now that the water has gone down.¡± Lith said trying to get the kids back on track.

    They had spent way too long wandering back a fourth through the hallways looking from paths that weren¡¯t submerged underwater. They were about to give up and head back and look for the others when the whole complex started shaking. Water began rushing past them and they barely had enough time to grab onto a few doorways before one of them could be dragged off. They did have to defend themselves from eels and razor fish that came rushing by in the water, but Lith was able to heal the wounds they accumulated from the encounters. Thankfully, now they water was gone, and the base seemed to have righted itself. Whether it was Guidry and the others, some sort of divine providence, or the place doing some sort of weird pre sinking adjustments was beyond them. Either way, it only took them another thirty minutes to find the materials room, with the lights coming to life after a few minutes of walking.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Well, this has to be the place.¡± Lith said as they looked at a sign that read Materials Production Room in English.

    ¡°Do you think the tower is calling us stupid?¡± Matia asked.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got a 4.0 GPA so there¡¯s no way it¡¯s calling me stupid.¡± Enki countered.

    ¡°Well, mine is 3.5, so I¡¯m not that far behind.¡± Matia retorted as she stuck out her tongue.

    ¡°I¡¯m so lucky that my children are so brilliant.¡± Lith said as he wiped a tear from his eye. There was no way he was going to tell them his high school GPA was 2.5.

    Stepping into the room they were greeted by a large series of machines, conveyor belts, dispensers, and what they could only assume was raw or processed materials. Stepping over to a series of terminals with the strange keyboards from earlier, they tried to find one in English. If the pattern they had been seeing so far continued, the tower had already set one up to be in their native language. Thankfully, the twenty-ninth terminal and keyboard they looked at was in English as Enki sat down in front of us using the provided chair. It was surprisingly comfortable despite the strange design. It almost seemed to mold to him. Looking at the terminal there was a prompt to select a material to fabricate followed by a list of mostly unintelligible language. Scrolling down a bit with the keyboard, Enki eventually found the only item listed in English. Storm Soul Steel. Pressing the enter button, Enki was then prompted to choose a design, quantity, and destination. Thankfully, after choosing the metal needed for the project the other selections only had one option, essentially making their job idiot proof. There was a final option to add a mini forge accessory, and after a moment of contemplating, Enki decided to add it to the project as he remembered that Guidry Tech Forge skill required access to a forge to work.

    ¡°I¡¯m really starting to think the tower is calling us stupid.¡± Matia said over he brother¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just that easy in the tower.¡± Lith offered. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t give us a quest we couldn¡¯t complete and is only keeping the information given to what is necessary to complete the quest.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a very long winded way of saying the tower calling us stupid.¡± Enki pointed out.

    He and Matia were now staring at Lith suspiciously.

    ¡°Hey Dad?¡± Matia asked in a questioning tone.

    ¡°Yes baby girl?¡± Lith responded.

    ¡°What was your GPA?¡±

    Lith was silent for a moment before hanging his head. ¡°2.5¡±

    ¡°How?¡± Enki asked a bit shocked.

    ¡°I hated doing homework.¡± He admitted. ¡°Plus, chemistry sucked. And social studies got really repetitive. I hate repetitive work.¡±

    Enki and Matia let out a collective sigh before moving away from the terminal. Machines behind them had already started moving containers into what they assumed were furnaces.

    ¡°So, that¡¯s it?¡± Lith asked.

    ¡°Yep. Process is automated, and it should deliver the materials to the Shenlong room once it¡¯s done. It¡¯s Lith proof.¡± Enki joked as he started walking towards the way they came in.

    ¡°I¡¯m never gonna live this down am I?¡±

    ¡°The slacker father than was adamant about his daughter doing all of her homework since kindergarten? Not a chance.¡± Matia said as she joined her brother.

    Lith let out an aggrieved sigh before jogging up to his children, wrapping an arm around each of their shoulders. ¡°What parent doesn¡¯t want their children to exceeded their legacy?¡±

    The journey back took them roughly an hour, a drastic improvement on their time to get to the manufacturing room. When they arrived Fayde, Trevor, and Guidry were already there waiting for them.

    ¡°Are you guys why the base if floating level now?¡± Enki asked as he walked through the door.

    ¡°Yeah. We figured you guys would need get rid of the water to access the production area.¡± Guidry responded. ¡°Where are the materials?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re on the way. You¡¯re lucky they didn¡¯t get washed away with the tide as the base righted itself. We nearly got pulled under ourselves.¡± Enki said with a playful smile.

    ¡°Oh shit. Sorry. I didn¡¯t even think of that.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay bud. We all made it back safe. Now we just have to wait for the materials to arrive.¡±

    ¡°So how do we get this thing started?¡± Lith asked. ¡°Is Shen still alright with carrying on with the project?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, Shen is still willing to go through with the project.¡± Guidry answered.

    Just then, one of the previously dormant terminals beeped to life. Guidry and Enki walked over to inspect it. It displayed details for the final stage of the project as well as a check list. Power levels were optimum, materials were standing by, subject 5H3N-100N6 was verified. The only thing not checked off on the list was what the terminal called a Receiving Subject that was not present in the Convergence Container, which they assumed was the central tube with the metallic snake skeleton.

    ¡°What does that mean?¡± Trevor asked as they read off the checklist.

    ¡°I guess it¡¯s supposed to bond with someone during the process.¡± Guidry explained. ¡°I didn¡¯t mention it before, but the documents from the office mentioned the project requiring the someone to act as a focus for Shen and the final product.¡±

    ¡°Why did you leave that information out?¡± his mother asked,

    ¡°Because it means that I have to step into that central chamber before the process can begin. The armor will be built around me before infusing it with Shen¡¯s abilities and their innate spirituality, at least that¡¯s according to the documents.¡±

    ¡°Why would you keep that information from us?¡± his mother asked as she grabbed his shoulders. ¡°Is it dangerous?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a seventy-five percent chance of success according to the documents.¡±

    ¡°And the other twenty-five percent?¡±

    ¡°If the project fails, both Shen and I will probably die. Shen certainly will either way, but I have a seventy-five percent chance of survival.¡±

    The room was quiet for a moment. They had all already agreed to complete the project to finish the quest and move on, but as Fayde had said, the survival of their family was the most important. But now, to complete the quest and move on they would have to risk the life of the youngest member of their family.

    ¡°Storm-child.¡± Shen called quietly from their tank.

    Guidry walked over to the viewport as Shen¡¯s massive head came into view.

    ¡°Hey Shen.¡± He said with a sad smile. ¡°You ready to get started.¡±

    ¡°Shen, Death. Storm-child, Freedom. Shen, Storm-Child, Freedom.¡± It said before nodding its head.

    As Shen nodded its head, Guidry felt a slight pressure in his chest. At first he thought it was the vice of emotions around his heart tightening, but on further inspection he recognized it as the place where his companion pact skill sat inside his soul.

    ¡°You want to bond with me before the end?¡± Guidry asked.

    ¡°Shen, Storm-child, Freedom.¡± Shen said as it nodded again.

    Guidry¡¯s sad smile grew a little deeper as his eyes started to well. ¡°Sure Shen. I won¡¯t let you go through this alone.¡±

    Enki pushed mental energy into the skill he had yet to use. With Shen¡¯s mental push already knocking at the door of the skill, the bond was immediately formed. A faint mental connection formed between the two and Guidry¡¯s smile grew a little less sad as he turned around.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get started.¡± Guidry sad as he walked over to the central glass container.

    Enki pressed a button on the console and the cylinder split open to allow Guidry inside. With confidence, he stepped in and turned around and faced his family. No words were said in fear that they would jinx their chances and turn into someone¡¯s final words. Guidry nodded at Enki, and he pressed a button on the console. The glass closed around Enki before the snake like skeleton moved to  align itself with his back.

    ¡°Initiating phase one.¡± Enki announced as he read from the screen.

    The serpentine backbone aligned with Guidry¡¯s own as the incomplete arms and legs wrapped around his shoulders and thighs. As soon as the metal parts stopped moving, several small mechanical arms released themselves from above Guidry. They began removing small metal scales from a dispenser above his head before placing them over his body staring around his neck where the metal frame adhered to him. The process started slowly at first, but once enough scales were placed more arms joined the process. Eventually Guidry¡¯s neck, shoulders, back, chest, arms, torso, and legs were covered in a thin layer of metal scales. They didn¡¯t look cumbersome, and were fitted neatly to his smaller, still growing figure. Most of the arms pulled away before two copper looking rings were added around his wrists and ankles. They stood out against the blue silver metal that made the rest of his armor. Guidry was about to ask what they were because he didn¡¯t remember seeing them in the schematics from the proposal, but Enki continued to read from the screen. No time for second guesses, they needed to complete the project before Guidry lost his resolve.

    ¡°Phase one complete. Ready for phase two?¡± Enki asked.

    Guidry didn¡¯t say anything but nodded in his uncle¡¯s direction. Enki pressed the butting to continue prompting them to hear a pop and whir from inside Shen¡¯s container. Guidry turned around to see what was happening and watches as several massive rings with metal rods were deposited into the tank. Shen swam around the tank, their blue eyes glowing in the water before looking once more towards Guidry in his own container. Several sensations passed through their mental connection. Sorrow. Joy. Hesitation. Resolve. There was more, but once resolve hit, it remained the strongest. Guidry put his hand to the glass around him towards Shen, who nodded before swimming towards the rings. They acted as if they had a mind of their own as they moved towards Shen, adjusting themselves into some weird sequence without crossing the lines that connected them to something above.

    ¡°Shen¡¯s in place. Stage two complete.¡± Enki said before looking over to Guidry once more. ¡°Final Stage is ready.¡±

    ¡°Start the final stage.¡± Guidry said softly as a tear ran down his face.

    Enki hit the commend to start the third and final phase. Several things. First all the lights in the room went dark. Second, the metal rods protruding from the outside of the rings around Shen forcefully injected themselves into the rings causing Shen to roar out in pain as red began to taint the water. Lightning began arcing over Shen¡¯s body which was seeming siphoned into the rings before traveling up the cables. Shortly after that, the container Guidry stood in was drenched in torrents of electricity. Guidry began yelling out in pain.

    ¡°Guidry!¡± Trevor called out as she tried to run forward, only to be held back by Fayde and Lith. ¡°Let go! I have to go to him.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have a lightning ability.¡± Lith pointed out. ¡°He does. He has a high chance of making it through this. If you try and interfere, you might kill both of yourselves.¡±

    She continued to struggle for a moment as her son and the Shenlong yelled before she eventually let in to her restraints turning them into a hug from her parents. Lightning continued to arc from Shen and down onto Guidry. Each arc seemed to strike one of the scales that made up Enki¡¯s new armor. Once a scale was struck it began to glow slightly, and Guidry could feel the charge remain inside of the metal instead of running a course to try and ground itself out. Yet the pain was unrelenting. The lighting wasn¡¯t hurting Guidry, it was the pain from the scales being struck as they became superheated. Guidry felt like his skin was going to be burnt off. Trying to think of some way to cool it off, Guidry remembered that he don¡¯t just control lighting, she also controlled water. He quickly poured mental energy into his Aquakinesis skill which began filling the tank he was in with water. As the water rose, the scales of his armor began to cool, causing the burning sensation on his skin to lessen. However, as the metals cooled, the temperature of the water began to rise. If this process kept goin, he was soon to turn himself into a crab boil. Thankfully, his aunt Matia was already running a form of damage control. He could see the glass around him slowly beginning to frost over, which only lasted a moment before the constantly changing temperature of water began melting the frost away. Guidry continued to fill the container he was in with water until every part of his body covered in mental was fully submerged, even the parts of the metallic spine that sat on the back of his neck. This of course made him tilt his head to keep it above water, but his skin was saved from blistering and burning off completely.

    Since he was taken care of, Guidry chose to check his companion bond with Shen. It was not going well. Not that he expected it to since Shen would die from this, but he was not doing well. They had been kept here too long. He was old and tired. Guidry could also feel that some of the charge in his armor was starting to dwindle and ground into the water around him. His mind was racing to figure out a solution. He first had to figure out how to keep a charge in his armor. That would take some pressure off of Shen. And what better way to charge the scales than with his own electricity. Guidry activated his Electrokinesis skill, once more covering his body with crackling lightning. The metal on his body greedily absorbed his and Shen¡¯s lightning both. He could almost feel the metal changing to a state where it would retain the charge, so he kept the skill going while thinking of how he could help Shen more directly.

    Thinking to his recent skill bonding with Shen, Guidry though of the other skill that came from the taming class that made his Storm Dragon Tamer, Enhance. He knew the skill could empower certain aspects of his companion, and that the skill was relatively flexible. He just didn¡¯t know exactly what he needed to do to help Shen through this. Providing Shen with a boost to their health might help, but it would also prolong their suffering. There was no point in boosting their defense, as the metal rods had already pierced their skin. What did Shen need to finish this? He send the impression of the question to Shen through their connection and Shen responded. The response came with a multitude of other impressions, but what Shen needed from him was clear. Determination and will. Shen was willing to complete this, to give up its life for a chance at freedom in another from, they just needed a helping hand from Guidry to finish their transition. What Shen meant by transition was kind of hazy in meaning, but Guidry immediately gave Shen what they needed.

    Activating his Enhance skill on Shen, Guidry boosted their ability to influence the world around them with their will. Guidry¡¯s eyes were still focused on Shen, who was barely visible through the haze of red dyed water, but he could see several blue green lights flare to life on the rings holding Shen. They steadily grew brighter as Guidry continued to infuse Shen with their chosen enhancement. The lights kept growing brighter and brighter as a new series of components  emerged from the top of Guidry¡¯s tank. Looking up he could see what appeared to be a crown with a metal antler like wreath. They looked nearly identical to Shen¡¯s antlers. The crown itself was simple save for the blue green gem in the center and two long pieces that emerged from the back. They joined at their end, and gaging from their length, Guidry could tell they were meant to meet with the top of the spine of his armor.

    Guidry sent an impulse for strong determination and finality to Shen through their link. Shen¡¯s response was immediate and mirrored Guidry¡¯s own sentiments. They both flared their power, unleashing the rest of their mental and physical energies as quickly as their skills would allow. Both of them began yelling from the exertion and pain. Guidry could feel energy gathering in the crown that floated above his head. He was waiting for it to descend but felt like time was running out. He grabbed the crown, pulling it onto his head. He felt the back of it join with the top spinal portion of his armor just before the world went dark.

 Chapter 16: Bizarre Bazaar

    Guidry opened his eyes to a dream of clouds. His body felt sluggish and slow. He tried shaking himself awake, but the quagmire he was in extended to his mind as well. Still, he corralled his will until he began to stand. His arms and legs were shaky as he rose, sore as though he had just run a marathon across the Alabaster Fields in their entirety. He struggled to maintain his balance through the multiple forms of exhaustion. Looking around, Guidry noticed that he wasn¡¯t just surrounded in clouds, he was standing on them.

    ¡°Did I¡­die?¡± He asked aloud.

    No one was around to answer, but it gave movement to the world. Clouds swirled as winds gathered around him. Slowly they changed from snow white to a darker grey as blue lightning began crackling in the distance. Guidry tried to move his legs but found his body unwilling. He could only stand there as the approaching lightning grew closer. A shadow began to from in the distance, wreathed in the blue streaks. It grew larger and larger as it drew nearer to him. Before long, Guidry could make out what the figure was. It was familiar, as he had met the creature not that long ago. Clouds dispersed as the massive head of Shen emerged, and the quagmire of clouds around them parted from the force of their arrival.

    ¡°Shen?¡± Guidry asked.

    ¡°Storm-child.¡± Shen responded with a bowing nod of its head.

    ¡°I though you died?¡±

    ¡°I have.¡±

    ¡°So, that means I am dead too¡­¡± he said solemnly.

    ¡°No.¡± It said shaking its head. ¡°You still live. As do I.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡±

    ¡°My body has died.¡± Shen explained. ¡°But my soul now resides in the armor that was made. The armor you now wear.¡±

    Guidry looked down at his body. The armor he remembered from the project was gone, but his clothes had changed. His chest, shoulders, and back was covered by leather armor that seemed to be dyed a metallic blue. It sported the motif of a sleeping dragon¡¯s head that rested over his heart. Two arms of the imprinted dragon curled around him, one over his right shoulder, the other around his left ribcage almost as if the dragon was cuddling him in its sleep. His sleeves still bore the metallic scales, but they were shrunken to even smaller sizes, joined by two copper bands on each wrist.

    ¡°You soul is part of the armor? What does this mean?¡± Guidry asked as he marveled at his new gear.

    ¡°It means you kept your promise. I will go with you and experience freedom for the first time in many cycles.¡±

    ¡°Cycles?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I was captured by the scientists of that base many years ago. I died, and my soul and memories were carried on into the next life as I hatched from the eggs.¡±

    ¡°You experienced death and rebirth for years in that abandoned laboratory?¡± Guidry asked aghast. ¡°Shen, I¡¯m so sorry. That must have been so horrible.¡±

    ¡°It was.¡± Shen agreed. ¡°But you have given me freedom. And as willing as I am to see the world again, my soul is tired. I must sleep.¡±

    ¡°Go ahead and sleep Shen. I¡¯ll be here when you wake up.¡± He said with a smile.

    Shen nodded once more before its entire body turned to lightning. It rushed forward, throwing itself into Guidry¡¯s chest. The armor began to crackle with electricity. The metal scales on his arms began to grow and move around him. They crawled over his shoulders and chest, down his back and up his neck to the crown of his head before covering him nearly completely from head to toe. The crown of metallic antlers once more wreathed his head as scales crawled onto his cheeks. Looking down at his armor again, it looked like it had when it was done being assembled by the mechanical arms of the machine, except for two noticeable conditions. Both his hands and feet were covered in the armor now too and they looked like Shen¡¯s claws, except the hands where more inline with his normal human physique than the splayed fist of a Loong. His feet did now only have four toes in the front, with a fifth poised at his heel. Of course, this was only the armor and not his actual feet, but he did feel like he could control the armored toe much like his own. The armor lasted like this for only a moment before reverting to the leathered chest and armored sleeves with copper bangles.

    ¡°Goodnight Shen. Sleep well.¡± Guidry said as he brought his hand to his heart where their companion bond rested in his soul.

    Guidry felt the quagmire suffusing his mind and body slowly loosen as he closed his eyes. He began to feel a falling sensation as the clouds beneath him gave way. Guidry didn¡¯t start flailing as he fell, and slowly the feeling of falling gave way to hard ground beneath him as his head lay on something softer.

    ¡°Guidry?¡± came his mother¡¯s voice came in a panicked rush.

    He slowly opened his eyes as a drop of water landed on his face. He had to blink several times as his mind wore away at the weariness that bogged him down. Opening them fully, he took in his mother¡¯s tearful expression, her hair falling along the side of her face as she looked down at him.

    ¡°Hey mom.¡± He said weakly.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d wake up again. I thought...¡± she said before cutting her sentence off with a sob.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine mom. It worked.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just glad you¡¯re alive.¡± She said as a smile returned to her face.

    ¡°Gave us quite a scare there little man.¡± Lith said as his face came into view above his mother¡¯s. ¡°You weren¡¯t breathing when we pulled you from that capsule. Mending Touch told me there wasn¡¯t much to heal, and I could still feel the life in you, but still. You gave us all a good scare.¡±

    ¡°Sorry everyone.¡± Guidry said as he slowly rose into a sitting position.

    Looking around, Guidry could tell they were back in the void between floors. Everyone was looking at him with relied expressions. A parchment was floating in the air just behind his grandmother.

    ¡°What¡¯s the plan?¡± He asked,

    ¡°We¡¯re going back to First City.¡± Fayde said. ¡°Just wanted to make sure you pulled through before we returned and created a spectacle.¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t have to go back on account of me.¡± Guidry insisted. ¡°I went unconscious from using all of my mental energy. I¡¯m fine.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to push yourself Giddy.¡± His aunt interjected. ¡°We can take a break and¡­¡±

    ¡°I said I¡¯m fine.¡± Guidry said, cutting her off. ¡°Let¡¯s just continue. I¡¯ll recover my mental energy and hang in the back. I won¡¯t hop into a fight until I feel confident I won¡¯t get in the way.¡±

    He felt his mother¡¯s hand on his shoulder.

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± She asked reassuringly.

    ¡°Yeah.¡± He said with a smile. ¡°The quicker we finish climbing this tower, the quicker this trial will be over, and we can return home.¡±

    They all looked to Fayde who nodded before turning around to read the parchment for the first time after completing the second floor.

    Quest Complete:

    Complete Research Project 5H3N-100N6

    1/1

    Rewards: Omniglot x 6, Bronze Chest x 6

    A small blue pearl appeared in each of their hands. As soon as they acknowledged the core in their hands, it cracked and shattered, becoming a faint motes of light that floated towards and merged into their heads. They could feel an infusion of information in their minds as yet another skill formed inside of them. Vague concepts related to their own language, both spoken words and written passed through their minds at a rapid pace. Lith was the first one to understand what the skill was.

    ¡°It¡¯s a language based skill.¡± Lith stated. ¡°Omniglot is in reference to someone who has mastered every language.¡±

    ¡°Why would the Tower give us this skill now?¡± Enki asked.

    ¡°Maybe so we can understand languages on the floors going forward? It was weird finding only a few things amongst a world full of alien languages.¡± Trevor offered.

    ¡°True. You think we¡¯ll encounter more floors like that?¡± Enki inquired.

    ¡°Anything can happen in the next ninety-eight floors.¡± Trevor stated. ¡°It¡¯s best to be prepared for every situation.¡±

    ¡°Exactly right.¡± Fayde reaffirmed. ¡°How is everyone feeling?¡±

    ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t level.¡± Lith stated as he changed the reference that Sum used to what he and Marcell had discussed. ¡°Anyone else fare any better?¡±

    They all nodded in the negative before summoning their class cards. Each of them had a new line under their skills for Omniglot.

    ¡°Damn. Ten levels on the first floor and none of the second. No power leveling for us.¡± He said with a laugh before Fayde¡¯s attention was drawn to the parchment once more.

    Floor Complete

    Would you like to continue or return home?

    Floor 3            First City

    Guidry and Trevor rose from the floor they had been laying down and began to stretch. They had only been on the second floor for about a day, and they were nowhere near tired enough to call it quits, save for Guidry who was only suffering from depleted mental energy. This was a race after all. Could they go back and get the tokens from the bronze chests and then head right back in? Sure, but Lith had traded his token. The only one who¡¯s path would benefit from the second floor¡¯s tokens was Guidry. Returning now would only slow them down in the long run.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    ¡°Everyone ready for the next floor?¡± Fayde asked.

    The entire family nodded yes before Fayde put her finger to the parchment to select Floor 3. A moment later, the wording changed.

    Floor 3

    Destination: Djinn¡¯s Bazaar

    Quest: Reclaim Sun and Shadow

    The color drained from Fayde¡¯s face before the void began to shift again. She had only a moment to think about how vague the quest was before they found themselves in the middle of a busy street full of people, although they were certainly not human. Everyone around them had taller and lankier bodies with a deep bronzed skin tone. Patches of thick fur covered their forearms, shoulders, upper backs, shins, and outer thighs. Two-antlered horns protruded from either side of their forehead, roughly where their temples should be, and a mote of fire sat between the horns as if it were being framed. Each of them had long, dark hair on their heads, which most wore in a variety of braids and locks. Their eyes were blazing balls of fire that only allowed faint whisps of smoke escape from the corner of their eyelids. Their canine teeth were enlarged slightly, giving them a more predatory air.

    Fayde and Matia were about to draw their weapons before Trevor motioned for them to stop. Half of their family were already activating the identification abilities of their skills. These people were not bestial monstrosities as they had first though. Looking on, they noticed that they were talking, laughing, trading, holding hands, smiling longingly at each other, everything that separated humanity from other, more simplistic animals. Thin embroidered cloth covered their bodies, suspended by gold and silver interlinked chains.

    ¡°They all have names.¡± Enki said as she stopped using his identifying skill. ¡°I don¡¯t think they¡¯re mindless beasts like the wolves or crabs, but they are all a race called Djinn.¡±

    ¡°What was the quest for this floor mom?¡± Matia asked as she stopped the formation of a frozen stone spear. ¡°Does it have anything to do with them?¡±

    ¡°We have to recover Sun and Shadow.¡± Fayde said as she placed her hand on her daughter¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Might as well try talking with them before breaking first contact protocol.¡±

    ¡°First contact protocol?¡± Matia asked before a female of the demon like species approached with open arms and a smile on her face.

    ¡°Hello friends!¡± she said as her four fanged teeth flashed. She was tall, as were all of the strange people around them, and she put her hands on her knees, bending over to be eye level with them. ¡°Welcome to the renowned Djinn¡¯s Bazaar! My name is Ishi. Is this your first time here?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Fayde answered.

    ¡°In that case, may I interest you in a tour? It¡¯s only five credits per head.¡± The beautiful Djinn woman offered.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid we don¡¯t have any¡­credits.¡± Fayde said.

    What were credits? They hadn¡¯t seen anything about credits, the Allum hadn¡¯t mentioned them before, nor had they been rewarded any credits at any point so far. It sounded like they were a form of currency since Ishi was asking for it in exchange for giving them a tour of the Bazaar.

    ¡°Oh no!¡± She said putting up a pitying air. ¡°You¡¯re as poor as paupers? You poor things.¡± She stood back up and placed her hands on her hips. ¡°Well, I can¡¯t give you a tour without being paid, but it wouldn¡¯t be good to leave without helping you find a way of paying me later.¡± She put one hand out to the side, pointing a finger to the air while keeping her elbow bent. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you how you can make some quick money, but I¡¯ll add it to what you owe me for a tour later.¡± She extended her hand to Fayde like she was going to shake hands. ¡°Let my touring services be your first purchase for six credits per head and I will tell you how to make some credits.¡±

    Fayde waited a moment as she thought. Information was always better free, but she was a beautiful woman, even if she were a different species from them. Plus, she would give them a tour of the area later? Fayde was already being allured by the beautiful sounds of a busy market and the smells of delicious foods. Having reasoned enough, Fayde shook Ishi¡¯s hand. What was an additional credit in exchange for a guiding hand in how to make some money after all? Ishi seemed nice enough, so getting a tour from her couldn¡¯t be a bad thing. These were the last things to go through Fayde¡¯s mind as she shook Ishi¡¯s hand, which was followed by a warm feeling through her body before the back of her hand started to feel like it was burning. Fayde pulled her hand back and swatted at the burning area before looking at her hand. Now imprinted on the back of her hand was a brand of fire. She tried dousing the flame by swinging her hand and patting the flames out again, but they persisted but somehow refused to burn her clothes. The previously felt pain also quickly faded.

    ¡°What the fuck did you do?¡± Fayde asked as she drew her swords. Matia quickly manifested a spear as Trevor also drew her weapons. Guidry charged a water bullet which quickly fell apart. Enki pointed both of his crossbows at the woman as Lith struggled to decide if he should activate the spectral claws of Rake or Mending Touch before doing both.

    ¡°We¡¯ve made a promise darling.¡± Ishi said as she raised her hands in a show of giving up. ¡°This is how my skills work. We make a promise, and the brand makes sure it is kept.¡±

    ¡°Why would you use your skill to ensure I came back? I¡¯m not the type of person to go back on their word.¡± Fayde retorted. She activated Dominion¡¯s Eye as an invisible wave spread through her line of sight. There was no real physicality to the aura, but everyone she could easily see turned in shock, some stumbling as a foreign mental pressure assaulted their minds. ¡°Take this brand off of me, now.¡±

    Ishi¡¯s cheerful persona changed to that of fear as she was fully enveloped in the aura.

    ¡°I¡­I can¡¯t.¡± She stammered. ¡°Once a promise is made and the brand is implanted it must be seen through to completion, or the person will be burned by the broken promise. I can¡¯t cancel the skill.¡±

    Djinn had started moving away from the group, feeling from Fayde¡¯s aura skill. At the same time several more muscular Djinn ran over with weapons in hand, forming a circle around the entire group, Ishi included.

    ¡°What is going on here?¡± Asked one of the more muscular Djinn.

    ¡°She put a brand on me.¡±

    ¡°We made a promise.¡±

    Both Ishi and Fayde said at the same time.

    ¡°Young madam.¡± Continued the Djinn. ¡°You¡¯ve made a promise.¡± He said as he looked from Fayde¡¯s hand to Ishi¡¯s hand. He grabbed Ishi¡¯s hand and faced the palm to show them. Ishi¡¯s hand had a matching brand. ¡°What were the conditions of the promise?¡±

    ¡°They are to pay me six credits per head for a tour.¡± Ishi stated.

    ¡°That¡¯s a credit more than you normally charge. What¡¯s your end of the promise?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s supposed to tell us how we can make credits to pay her with.¡± Fayde answered.

    ¡°You charge them a credit extra for well-known information. Shame on you Ishi.¡± The Djinn said as his grip tightened on her wrist. ¡°Young madam, there is no cause for bloodshed. We will hold Ishi and discipline her for acting in bad faith. When you return from procuring some credits, we will release her and ensure she upholds the promise immediately so you may enjoy your stay in the Bazaar.¡±

    ¡°That is not necessary.¡± Fayde said as she and her family put away their weapons. ¡°The detaining and punishing part anyway. Just make yourself easy to find and we will see that our part of the deal is done.¡±

    Fayde deactivated her skill as she closed her eyes to recompose her thoughts. She had used it periodically against the crabs, eels, and razor fish in the last floor, but it only caused a slight hesitation when they attacked her and made it easier for her family to dodge attacks as her skill distracted them. Seeing its effect on beings with higher intellect, like the Djinn, Fayde started second guessing herself about using it on people. Did she enjoy seeing the fear in someone¡¯s eyes? Yes, but only from those who deserved or asked for her ire.

    ¡°I will be sure to make myself available.¡± Ishi said as she pointed to a large gate behind them. ¡°Out there you can find Ember Back Boars. Their hide, tusks, and meat can be sold for a good number of credits, between the bounties and the crafters who find their parts desirable.¡±

    ¡°And how are we supposed to transport these boars back for the bounties? Just carry them on our backs?¡± Lith asked.

    ¡°The Bounty Master outside the gate can lease spacial bags for storage of any you manage to kill.¡± Ishi answered. ¡°Although his fees for leasing a bag are high until you purchase your own.¡±

    ¡°A spacial bag?¡± Guidry asked.

    ¡°It is a common item that holds a large pocket of space inside. I¡¯m unfamiliar with the crafting process or necessary magics behind it, but almost everyone has at least one.¡± Ishanti added. ¡°This information I give freely as it is well known.¡± She bowed her head low while still standing, her arms spread like wings behind her. The Djinn standing beside her nodded in both confirmation and approval.

    ¡°Thank you, Ishi.¡± Fayde said. ¡°We will return with credits for that promised tour.¡±

    ¡°Be well!¡± She said after them as Fayde and her family headed to the gate.

    The large wood and metal door opened at their approach releasing a wave of billowing heat. The world outside the bazaar was a sea of orange sand and sky. They paused a moment as they looked at the dunes of sand that rushed away before them. Stepping out of the bazaar and onto the exterior platform they could see that the town sized building was sliding across the sands on skis that extended past the platform. Looking up and above the collection of buildings, they could see massive sails that were taught with the force of the winds behind them.

    ¡°Hello travelers!¡± said a surprisingly rotund Djinn nearby. ¡°Setting out for the Ember Back Boar bounties?¡±

    ¡°We are. Are you the Bounty Master?¡± Asked Fayde.

    ¡°Indeed I am.¡± The Djinn confirmed. ¡°You¡¯re the only group for this drop point and we have roughly five minutes before the exchange. If you have any questions or needs, let¡¯s get sorted now.¡±

    The Bounty Master explained to them how the barge town and the bounty system worked. The Djinn¡¯s Bazaar sailed across the sands in a circle and was the only trade hub in the desert. It would take the bazaar five days to circle back to their drop off point to pick them up. The drop itself would pick up an open air capsule from an exchange point, retrieving any persons, supplies, or bodies that lay inside and switch it with a capsule the bazaar had prepared with a round of new hunters and supplies for those who remained living in the desert. They also leased a spacial bag from the Bounty Master for ten credits a day, meaning they would owe the well fed Djinn fifty credits upon their return.

    Thankfully the average going price of an Ember Back Boar was between fifty and twenty-five credits depending on what condition the body was in. Between Ishi and the Bounty Master, they were in the hole eighty two credits, meaning that catching between two and four of the boars would clear them of their debts and leave them with some change to work with. But where was the fun in that? It was time to go big or stay broke. Who knew if these credits would stay with them past the floor, but with an entire town barge of traders, why not try to take advantage of the floor they were on? What was that old adage? Shop till you drop. They would hunt for as many boars as they could over the next five days before returning and reaping as many rewards as possible.

    ¡°If you are interested,¡± The Bounty Master continued, ¡°There is a challenge for competitive hunters. If you beat the current record of boar bodies returned within the five day period you¡¯ll be gifted with a spacial bag each and one thousand credits for the team.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the current record?¡± Lith asked.

    ¡°Ninety-five boars is the current record. So, you¡¯ll need at least ninety-six to beat it.¡± The Bounty Master said as he closed the door to the wood and metal capsule the family was now standing in.

    He leaned over the side of the platform, looking towards the front of the barge. They were all in position to see what the Djinn was looking at. Coming up in the distance was a tower at roughly the same height as their capsule with another, near identical capsule sitting atop it. They couldn¡¯t make out any humanoid figures in the capsule, but with any luck there were fresh supplies from the Djinn that decided to live in the desert.

    ¡°Hold on tight until the capsule is done docking with the tower.¡± The Djinn said before he backed away from their capsule.

    ¡°Before we go, Have you heard of Sun and Shadow?¡± Fayde asked.

    ¡°Sun and Shadow eh?¡± The rotund Djinn echoed as he rubbed this beard. ¡°I can see the sun above and shadows around the Bazaar, but I assume you mean of the legend beneath the sands.¡± His gaze turned analytical as he looked over the family. ¡°I normally don¡¯t like to spread the rumors of such things as it leads to too many people getting lost in the desert, but you have a certain look about you. Sun and Shadow are two swords of legend, said to be wielded by the founding Sultans, Jierti and Uma El Shai. One day they left their palace to wander into the sands, never to be seen or heard from again. Explorers that have retuned on death¡¯s door have mentioned caverns below the sands, vast catacombs, lava strewn canyons, and, most interesting of all, a castle shrouded in darkness with a star shining brightly in its center.¡±

    Fayde was about to ask more questions about how to access the caverns beneath the sands, but a moment later, their capsule shifted away from the barge. It was suspended above the sands as a pully system at the front of the barge caught the top ring of the capsule on the tower. A hook caught the ring atop their own, causing a loud clang and a shake as they dislodged from the barge. Their momentum carried them down the tower¡¯s horizontal pulley system like a gondola until they came to a smooth rest at the top of the tower.

    ¡°Oh! Look out for temajin.¡± shouted the Djinn Bounty Master before the winds and distance drowned out his voice.

    ¡°Look out for what?¡± Shouted Lith in return.

    ¡°The Mad Djinn!¡± Aseem shouted again as they moved further from the barge. He doubted the people called humans could hear him anymore with how far away they were. He wished they had walked onto his balcony sooner. He could have warned them properly about how the desert heat can turn some people mad. It was part of the reason why they only made a five day circuit, and even that was cutting it close. Looking at the retrieved capsule, he let out a disappointing sigh. There were no returners at this tower either and now there were no supplies either. ¡°What in the Fiery Rings is going on?¡± He wondered.